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You might be surprised to see PesoWeekly land on a Saturday. We’ve been quietly working behind the scenes, putting more time and care into the newsletter itself. Still a work in progress, but every issue gets us closer to the one we want you to actually enjoy reading.

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Team PesoWeekly

What happened: After the 2026 budget veto raised alarms, the Marcos administration says it has secured a new funding solution for the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program. Finance Secretary Frederick Go said the move reassures carmakers that government commitments will be honored, despite the earlier removal of ₱4.32 billion from the proposed budget.

Why it matters: The CARS program, launched in 2015, is central to the Philippines’ push to become a regional auto manufacturing hub. It offers incentives to firms that meet large-scale local production targets, including Toyota Motor Philippines and Mitsubishi.

Context: Lawmakers and business groups earlier warned the veto could hurt investor trust. The new funding plan aims to prevent reputational damage and keep long-term industrial plans on track.

Started with rejection: As a young businessman helping run his family’s flour mill, George S.K. Ty struggled to secure a loan to finish the factory. Banks were conservative; funding for people like him was hard to get.​

The insight: If entrepreneurs and mid‑sized businesses could not borrow, there was a gap in the system. Ty resolved to build a bank that would actually understand and support local businessmen, not only established names.​

The build: In 1962, he opened Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company’s first office at the Wellington Building in Binondo. From that single branch, Metrobank grew branch by branch, later becoming a universal bank and the core of a full financial group.​

Lesson: Quiet execution beats loud ambition. Solve a real credit pain point, manage risk with discipline, and play the long game.

Abu Dhabi-based G42 plans to invest up to $500 million in a Philippine data center, DICT said. The project may span three to five years. Officials cited strong subsea cables and the fiber backbone. Key hurdles remain land availability, power supply, and water access as AI and digital demand accelerates.

Globe Telecom partnered with Starlink to roll out Southeast Asia’s first direct-to-cell satellite service in the Philippines. The service lets regular LTE phones send texts, make calls, and access data using satellites, helping connect remote areas and provide backup communication during disasters by March.

Analysts said Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on certain advanced semiconductors will likely hit Philippine manufacturers indirectly, not immediately. Most local exports involve assembly and testing, often exempt. Risks lie in disrupted global supply chains, higher costs, and firms reconfiguring sourcing, prompting exporters to diversify markets over time in response worldwide.

The Philippines and Poland signed an ASF regionalization agreement allowing pork imports from ASF-free Polish areas. The Department of Agriculture lifted the import ban to stabilize supply and prices. Poland is an accredited supplier, exporting 22.33 million kilograms of meat to the Philippines from January to September 2025.

Viu announced Alden Richards and Nadine Lustre’s romance drama Love, Siargao, raising speculation it could compete with ABS-CBN’s upcoming Kathryn Bernardo and James Reid series in 2026. (Read More)

Perez’s 41 Sends San Miguel Back to the PBA Finals

CJ Perez erupted for 41 points as San Miguel Beermen overwhelmed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, sealing a PBA Philippine Cup Finals berth after a historic 30-point first quarter performance.(Read More)

Louis Tomlinson returns January 23, while Harry Styles eyes March 6, marking a busy 2026 comeback for former One Direction stars. (Read More)

TikTok will roll out age-detection technology across Europe, using profile data, videos, and behavior to flag under-13 accounts, with human moderators reviewing cases due to growing European regulations. (Read More)

YouTube introduced new parental controls allowing parents to limit or block Shorts scrolling, set time limits, bedtimes and breaks, as the platform strengthens teen protections amid rising scrutiny from regulators. (Read more)

Sweden’s music industry removed an AI-created hit from official charts despite millions of streams, ruling that mainly AI-generated songs are ineligible, showing rising tensions over artificial intelligence and human creativity. (Read more)

Google is adding Gemini-powered tools to Gmail, giving users AI search, email summaries, and to-do lists. This raises questions as users consider productivity benefits versus data access and privacy concerns. (Read more)

Scientists found a vitamin A byproduct weakens the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, but blocking it improved immune response and slowed tumor growth in animal tests.

A long-term UK study found statins lowered deaths and heart attacks in adults with type 2 diabetes, including those considered low risk, with minimal safety concerns.

Scientists discovered regulatory T cells actively suppress immune responses, overturning the idea that immunity is only triggered by threats and reshaping treatments for autoimmune disease, cancer, and immune disorders.

A US study found older adults who ate at least one egg weekly had lower Alzheimer’s risk and less brain protein buildup, possibly due to choline and omega-3 nutrients.

The government banned Grok for producing sexually explicit, potentially child‑exploitive images and plans talks with X while ISPs enforce nationwide. (Read more)

Philippines and Japan signed a defense pact easing tax free military supplies, joint drills, disaster response, and cooperation amid tensions. (Read more)

Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy faces deportation to Russia after serving nine months for harassment and theft during stunts in Manila. (Read more)

Atong Ang, accused of killing over 100 sabungeros, is the country’s top most wanted, armed and hiding in Luzon. (Read more)

Chinese universities now lead global research rankings, with Zhejiang University at No. 1, while top U.S. schools like Harvard fall as China boosts funding and U.S. research support shrinks.

European Troops Deploy to Greenland as U.S. Interest Grows

European forces from France, Germany, Sweden and Norway launched a two-day deployment to Greenland to boost Arctic defenses, as Denmark warns the Trump administration still wants to take over the territory.

Machado Gives Trump Nobel, Gets No Backing

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize but received praise and a swag bag without firm US political backing support.

📝 Armed robbers hit a Manhattan Pokémon store, stealing up to $100,000 in collectibles.

📝 Mattel launches its first autistic Barbie to promote inclusion and representation.

📝 Fans in Russia risk jail to stream queer hockey drama Heated Rivalry.

📝 A 30ft wave strikes an Argentine beach, killing a young rider and injuring dozens of beachgoers. (Watch)

📝 Jupiter’s oxygen-rich core offers clues to the solar system’s origins.