Hello PW Readers!
Weekend is for recharging. But staying ahead does not pause. While you rest, markets move, governments borrow, oil prices shift, and companies expand abroad. Spend five minutes with this briefing so Monday feels lighter, smarter, and clearer. Recharge, yes. But never disconnect from what shapes your money and future.
Stay sharp.
TOP STORY
Jollibee Buys Korea’s Top Hot Pot Chain for ₱4.9B
Big picture: Jollibee Foods Corp. is buying its way into Korea’s booming hot pot scene. Through its 70%-owned subsidiary Jolli-K Co. Ltd., the company will fully acquire All Day Fresh Co. Ltd., operator of Shabu All Day, for about $87 million or roughly ₱4.9 billion. The deal is still subject to closing and financing conditions.
By the numbers: Founded in 2014 and based in Seoul, Shabu All Day runs 169 stores across South Korea and generates around $285 million in annual systemwide sales, making it the country’s largest hot pot chain by store count.
Why it matters: The acquisition strengthens Jollibee’s Chinese cuisine portfolio and deepens its Korea presence, following its earlier investment in Compose Coffee. Once completed, international operations could make up about 46% of Jollibee’s global revenues.
IN 60 SECONDS
Why interest rates matter even if you don’t invest
You don’t need stocks or crypto to feel interest rates. In the Philippines, when the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raises or cuts rates, banks adjust how much they charge for loans and how much they give for savings. That decision affects housing, car payments, small businesses, and even job growth. In short, interest rates help control inflation and spending across the economy.
Debts becomes more expensive. Higher rates mean higher monthly payments for home loans, car loans, and credit cards.
Savings earn more or less. When rates are high, time deposits and savings accounts usually offer better returns.
Prices and jobs can shift. Higher rates slow spending to fight inflation, but they can also slow hiring and salary growth.
Even if you never invest, interest rates still affect your rent, groceries, and monthly bills.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT
PH Targets ₱139 Billion in New Japan Loans for Infrastructure
The Philippine government plans to sign 11 new loan deals worth ¥371 billion or about ₱139 billion with Japan this year to speed up infrastructure projects after a corruption scandal slowed spending. Three more JICA loans worth $1.58 billion are also set for signing, reinforcing Japan’s role as the country’s top ODA lender.
No New Fuel Fee Hike for Summer Travelers
Good news if you’re booking a summer trip. The Civil Aeronautics Board will keep the fuel surcharge at Level 4 in March, the same level since August. That means airlines may charge ₱117 to ₱342 extra for domestic flights, depending on distance, and up to ₱2,867 for international routes. Jet fuel prices ticked up globally, but not enough to push fares higher.
Diesel, Kerosene Prices Seen to Rise in Late February
The Department of Energy said diesel and kerosene prices may increase by P0.05 and P0.10 per liter, respectively, in the last week of February, while gasoline could drop by P0.45. Officials cited Middle East tensions and Strait of Hormuz risks as key drivers of volatility.
BoP Deficit Narrows to $373M as Reserves Hit 16-Month High
The Philippines’ balance of payments deficit narrowed to $373 million in January 2026 from $4.078 billion a year earlier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said. Gross international reserves rose to $112.6 billion, covering 7.5 months of imports. Economists said the manageable gap supports currency stability and investor confidence.
TECH
PH, Luxembourg Boost Trade and Tech Ties
The Philippines and Luxembourg agreed to deepen cooperation on trade, investment, technology, and creative industries, signing an MOU for regular consultations while Luxembourg supports the Philippines’ bid for a UN Security Council seat. (Read More)
PLDT, Smart Expand Digital Farming Program
PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications are scaling up the Digital Farmers Program with DA-ATI, training farmers nationwide in digital skills, online safety, and digital entrepreneurship to modernize Philippine agriculture.(Read More)
RentAHuman Lets Bots Hire Humans for Real-World Jobs
RentAHuman is an online marketplace where AI agents hire humans for tasks like counting pigeons, delivering CBD gummies, and playing exhibition badminton, creating jobs for over 500,000 people worldwide.(Read more)
LGBTQ+ Teens Improve AI Sexual Health Chatbot
LGBTQ+ teenagers partnered with Planned Parenthood to co-design the AI chatbot Roo, giving feedback on inclusivity, tone, and usability, helping enhance the delivery of affirming, trustworthy sexual health information. (Read more)
DEEP DIVE - SCIENCE
Researchers Find Brain Region Behind “Flashes of Intuition”
The big idea: Scientists at NYU Langone Health have identified where the brain stores the “priors” that power one-shot perceptual learning. These are the fast aha moments when a blurry image suddenly becomes clear. The key region is the high-level visual cortex or HLVC.
How they proved it:
Researchers combined ultra-high resolution fMRI scans, intracranial EEG recordings, behavioral tests using Mooney images, and a custom AI model.
What they found:
HLVC activates first, about 225 milliseconds after seeing the image.
Priors store visual patterns, not abstract ideas.
An AI transformer model replicated human one-shot learning using a prior storage system.
Why it matters:
The findings may help explain hallucinations in schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease and guide the design of smarter AI systems.
QUICK HITS
Palace Calls Marcos Robredo Endorsement Talks Untimely
Malacañang said speculation about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. backing Leni Robredo for 2028 is premature. (Read more)
Sotto Files Overspending Case vs Discaya
Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto accused rival Sarah Discaya of overspending and false campaign expense declarations in the 2025 elections. (Read more)
Duterte Waives ICC Hearing Attendance, Judges Allow Proceedings in His Absence
Duterte will skip next week’s ICC confirmation of charges hearing after legally waiving his right to be present at proceedings. (Read more)
Shear Line Floods Hit Caraga
Heavy rains flooded 61 barangays in Caraga, affecting 93,756 people, forcing evacuations and raising blue alert levels. (Read more)
Deadly Landslides Kill Seven in Davao Region
Continuous rains from the shearline caused landslides in Mati and Monkayo, killing seven and prompting evacuations across the region. (Read more)
WORLD STORIES
Ex-Prince Andrew Arrested in Misconduct Probe
Former Prince Andrew was held for hours by UK police over alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein, marking a historic blow to the British monarchy as investigations continue.
Trump: World Has 10 Days to See if Iran Strikes Deal or Faces Consequences
US President Donald Trump warns Iran to reach a “meaningful deal” within 10–15 days or face possible military action, amid ongoing indirect talks in Geneva and rising Gulf tensions.
Mystery Gold Bars Aid Osaka Water Fix
A secret benefactor donated 21kg of gold worth about $3.6 million to help Osaka repair its ageing water system, city officials say, with the donor choosing to remain anonymous.
ATBP…
📝 SB19 spotlights visa struggles of Filipinos in bold new single ‘VISA’ (Watch)
📝 ‘Lumpia Queen’ Abi Marquez featured on Gordon Ramsay’s Netflix docuseries.
📝Tricycle caught performing a dangerous stunt in Taytay.
📝 Mechanical Engineers Licensure Exam 2026 are out with 52 percent pass rate
📝 Why saving alone keeps Filipinos stuck and missing out on real wealth growth (Watch)
WORTH YOUR TIME
Learning & Growth
Tool: Khan Academy (Filipino) – High-quality education for kids and adults, now with more localized content for learners. (Start learning)
Podcast: Gabi ng Bading – A hilarious and culturally relevant podcast for Gen Z and Millennials about the queer experience in the PH. (Listen on Spotify)
Book: "The Art of War" (Sun Tzu) translated for Filipinos – Timeless strategy that is surprisingly useful for navigating "office politics" in Manila. (Check it out)
App: SkyView Lite – Point your phone at the Philippine night sky to identify constellations; great for camping in Rizal or Batangas. (Download here)
Historybook: Magsaysay’s Presidency
Ramon Magsaysay, elected in 1953, was known as “the man of the masses.” His populist leadership and anti-corruption drive restored faith in democracy but his sudden death in 1957 ended a promising era.
