Good morning, December is here.

Good morning PW readers. The world was busy this week, and so were we. Hong Kong saw its deadliest fire in decades, Filipinos marched nationwide, telcos are circling the PH market, AI keeps leveling up, and the country’s biggest companies are gearing up for 2026. Let’s get into it.

If you missed anything, this issue brings you the clearest, no-nonsense snapshot of what mattered most. Got ideas or feedback? Email us anytime at [email protected].

Stay sharp,
Team PesoWeekly

The Philippine National Police said around 90,000 people joined Bonifacio Day protests nationwide, making it one of the largest mobilizations of the year. A total of 87 protest actions had wrapped up by late afternoon, while 32 were still ongoing. Metro Manila drew the biggest crowd with about 16,000 participants, many of whom gathered at the People Power Monument and Luneta to demand accountability and the return of stolen public funds.

On the ground
PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. thanked organizers and protesters for keeping events peaceful. Police noted a few attempts to disrupt programs, but quick response teams intervened before tensions escalated. Celebrities and public figures were also spotted in the crowds, adding visibility to the anti corruption message. Protests across the provinces echoed the same theme: jail the corrupt, protect public money and push for reforms.

So what
The peaceful turnout shows broad frustration over corruption as a unifying issue across sectors. It also highlights growing civic participation at a time when public trust in institutions remains shaky. The PNP says it has now shifted to securing major roads and ensuring participants can travel home safely after the nationwide demonstrations.

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Big picture
China controls 72% of the Philippines’ fresh fruit import market. The US holds just 3%. Now Washington is trying to change that by introducing new fruit varieties that Filipino consumers will pay attention to. A new USDA report says varieties like Ambrosia, Cosmic Crisp and SugarBee apples gained traction last year, helped by Filipinos’ love for trying new products and posting them on social media. The strategy is simple. If the US can’t win on price, it will try to win on novelty and perceived quality.

How it works
US fruits face stiff disadvantages: no free trade agreement with the Philippines, MFN tariffs as high as 15%, and higher shipping costs than regional competitors. Meanwhile, China, Australia and ASEAN suppliers enjoy lower costs and zero tariff deals. Still, US apples and berries have a strong reputation for quality and long shelf life. The USDA says the opportunity lies in timing. Since the Philippines only produces bananas and papayas year-round, US exporters can fill gaps with premium options, then build loyalty through marketing campaigns.

So what
The USDA expects PH fruit imports to hit $400 million this year, up 25% from 2024. If US exporters can carve out a bigger share with new varieties and branding, they could slowly chip away at China’s near monopoly but only if Filipinos decide premium taste is worth the price.

The Philippines jumped to 75th in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index, its best showing in years and the highest among lower middle income economies. The country scored well in soft skills, lifelong learning and professional management, even landing in the global top 10 for soft skills. But big gaps remain. The Philippines ranked 88th in attracting foreign talent, weighed down by weak openness, governance issues and ongoing brain drain. The report says adaptability will define future competitiveness.

SM Prime is sticking with a huge ₱100 billion capex budget next year as it doubles down on malls, housing and massive mixed-use developments. Most of the money, ₱67 billion, goes to new residential projects and integrated property hubs across Luzon and Visayas. Another ₱21 billion is for mall expansion, plus ₱12 billion for offices, hotels and convention spaces. Backed by strong revenues and a recent $350 million bond sale, SM says it’s gearing up for years of sustained growth.

The government is preparing to let foreign telcos enter the Philippine market, with DICT Secretary Henry Aguda saying several reputable operators have already shown strong interest. The agency is finalizing rules that require foreign players to partner with local telcos so competition improves without destabilizing the market. Once the Konektadong Pinoy Act’s IRR takes effect in mid December, new frameworks will guide these tie ups. The goal is simple. More competition, better service and lower internet costs for Filipinos.

Cebu Landmasters reported P3.1 billion in net income for the first nine months of 2025, up 6% from last year. A new Colliers study also confirmed CLI is still the top residential developer in VisMin with an 18% market share. Revenues hit P14.3 billion, powered by strong housing demand and fast growth in hotels and leasing. Reservation sales jumped 27%, driven by new launches across emerging cities. CLI says the numbers prove real demand in VisMin is still strong.

A ₱30K monthly salary feels tight, but it’s not a dead end. Wealth-building at this income level is less about earning big right away and more about building systems that survive low income, high expenses and inconsistent cash flow. The goal is simple: create small financial wins that compound over years.

Where your money should go 📌
Start with a clean structure.

Small moves that build real wealth 💡

Why it matters:
Wealth at ₱30K isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency. You won’t feel rich in a year, but in five years, these habits separate those who stay stuck from those who quietly build stability and freedom.

Big picture
Scientists from Barcelona and Harvard just unveiled popEVE, an AI model designed to spot whether a never-before-seen genetic mutation is likely to cause disease. Rare disorders affect hundreds of millions globally, yet many patients remain undiagnosed because doctors have little to no information on unique mutations. PopEVE changes that by using a huge evolutionary database built from hundreds of thousands of species to judge which mutations look harmful. The idea is simple. If a mutation never appears in nature, there’s probably a reason.

How it works
PopEVE analyzes how single amino acid changes alter protein function. It mixes three data streams: evolutionary sequences from animals, human population data from UK Biobank and gnomAD, and patient genomes. In tests on 31,000 families with severe developmental disorders, popEVE identified the most damaging mutation 98% of the time in cases with brand new variants. It also surfaced 123 genes that may be linked to these disorders, many active in the developing brain.

So what
Unlike some heavyweight models, popEVE doesn’t require huge energy to run, making it useful for clinics in low and middle income countries. It’s already helped diagnose patients in Senegal. If adopted widely, popEVE could give doctors a powerful tool to interpret any mutation in any patient, pushing rare disease diagnosis into a faster, more accurate era.

Project Prometheus, Jeff Bezos’ quiet AI venture, has snapped up General Agents, a startup known for Ace, an ultra-fast on-device computer agent. Corporate filings show the deal happened right after a private San Francisco dinner in June. Prometheus has about $6.2 billion behind it and more than 100 hires, including former General Agents staff. The move signals Bezos wants AI that can run real machines in real time, giving him a serious edge in industrial and manufacturing tech.

Alibaba has entered the global wearables fight with its new Quark AI glasses, now on sale in China for 1,899 yuan (15,726.22) . Powered by the company’s Qwen AI model, the glasses look like normal eyewear but plug straight into Alipay, Taobao and other Alibaba apps. Users can translate on the go or scan prices instantly. With Meta holding nearly 80% of the VR market, Alibaba is betting that life assistant-style glasses can become the next traffic gateway in China’s tight e-commerce race.

A new study in Neurology Open Access says adults with gum disease were more likely to show bright spots on brain scans that signal white matter damage. These spots are linked to memory issues and higher stroke risk. The study looked at 1,143 adults and found people with gum disease had 56% higher odds of serious white matter changes. It doesn’t prove cause, but it suggests one thing. Taking care of your teeth might also protect your brain.

A 2025 study in Communications Biology found that sound waves can directly change how cells behave. Using a custom setup that sends vibrations straight into cell cultures, researchers identified nearly 190 genes that respond to sound. Even more surprising, nonstop acoustic exposure blocked more than 70% of fat cell formation. The sound acted like a physical push on key gene pathways. The big idea behind the work? Future “acoustic therapies” could shape tissues without drugs or surgery.

Metformin has been used for 60 years to control blood sugar, but a new study from Baylor College of Medicine says the drug also works in the brain. Researchers found it travels to a region called the VMH and switches off a protein tied to poor glucose control. When that protein was removed in mice, metformin stopped working. The discovery could lead to new treatments that target the brain’s glucose pathway for stronger diabetes control.

Big picture
A new nationwide study by Boston Consulting Group found that 64% of Filipino families cannot pay a ₱10,000 medical bill outright. Even smaller costs trigger financial stress. Twenty percent say they would need to borrow for a bill under ₱1,000. The result is a country where health security, not savings or education, has become the top household priority. Seven in ten families now rank medical readiness as their biggest concern, a shift BCG says was accelerated by the pandemic.

What the data shows
Coverage gaps worsen the pressure. Only 15% of children and 27% of seniors have HMO protection. Most adults still rely on loans, family pooling or delayed treatment to cope with emergencies. Barely 9% of families can afford a ₱25,000 to ₱100,000 bill without help, and only 4% can manage costs above ₱300,000. One major surgery or extended hospitalization can push a family into years of debt.

So what
The study shows how health costs shape daily choices. Families prioritize buffers over long term goals, often delaying their own care to protect kids and elderly relatives. BCG’s warning is clear. Illness isn’t just a medical event in the Philippines. It’s a financial shock that can wipe out progress overnight.

A Filipina domestic worker was confirmed dead in the Tai Po fire that killed at least 128 people, the Philippine Consulate said on Saturday. Seventy nine Filipinos have been accounted for and are safe, while one is injured and 12 still need verification. The consulate is working on the ground to locate missing workers and support survivors. The blaze spread across seven towers wrapped in scaffolding, prompting arrests tied to unsafe renovation materials and possible corruption.

Thousands filled the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño on Sunday as Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy led a Mass tied to nationwide anti corruption protests. Uy told the crowd that spiritual complacency has allowed corruption to spread and urged Filipinos to “wake up because our nation is being victimized by thieves.” After the Mass, the Church led a two kilometer march to Fuente Osmeña Circle, where protesters continued calling out government corruption and demanding accountability.

A fire in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court tore through seven towers and killed at least 128 people, but what shocked residents most was the silence. Many said the alarms never went off. With buildings wrapped in scaffolding and windows sealed for renovations, nearly 5,000 people had no warning as the fire climbed the structures like a fuse. Arrests have begun, and more may follow, as officials ask how a modern housing complex became a deadly trap.

As Luigi Mangione heads back to a Manhattan courtroom, his support network is somehow still growing. Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, yet supporters have raised $1.4 million for his defense, sent more than 6,000 letters and even funded billboard trucks. Many say the case highlights their own battles with insurance denials. Prosecutors call it premeditated murder, but for some, Mangione has become a symbol of anger at the healthcare system rather than a man on trial.

Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, his first trip to a Muslim place of worship since becoming pope in May. He bowed on entry but did not pray, unlike past popes. The Vatican said the visit was meant as quiet reflection and respect. The stop is part of a four day trip to Turkey and then Lebanon, where he will meet faith leaders and hold Mass at Beirut’s waterfront to honor victims of the 2020 port explosion.