The Market Monitor

05/01/2025

The beginning of the year marks the birthday celebration of Ihman Basas Esturco, Coco Martin’s ex-talent manager who has been a perennial balikbayan during this season to mark time and again his nth summers.

2025 is as significant and memorable for Ihman as any of his birthdays in the past.

Couple Coco Martin and Julia Montes celebrate birthday shindig of actor’s ex-manager • Limelight • The Market Monitor

02/01/2025

In the days leading to Christmas and New Year, I never saw, read or heard any prohibition against fireworks, which is why it did not surprise me that on New Year's eve, I saw powerful and deafening fireworks being blasted in the air and land, which cause the poor air quality in Manila.

It is not surprising that our water quality was also affected by the ash and paper or metal debris from those fireworks that were blown by the wind or those that settled after rainshowers, which occurred before and during New Year's day.

An open season for fireworks led to poor air quality • Top News • The Market Monitor

30/12/2024

Has it really been 10 years? Where did all those days, weeks, and months go?

Time truly flew so fast we could now hardly remember what went on in-between opening day of Limbaga 77 in 2014 and the here and now. How many lunches and dinners have we hosted here, how many events have we covered, how many meetings have we had in this place, this restaurant, fashioned after an old house that has been rendered new life by a team of like-minded friends led by businessman and movie producer, Rex A. Tiri.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/limbaga-77-celebrates-10th-year-lines-up-new-dishes-desserts/

30/12/2024

The Metropolitan Theater celebrated its 93rd anniversary with a grand performance entitled “Samot-Saring Bida: Bodabil ng Pag-Asa” last December 7, 2024 at its very own stage in Ermita, Manila.

Bodabil is the Filipino term for vaudeville, a form of entertainment popular in the Philippines during the 1910s to the mid-1960s. It was a source of mass entertainment in theaters, showcasing the different talents of its performers.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/the-met-celebrates-93rd-anniversary-with-bodabil-ng-pag-asa/

30/12/2024

Pablo Tariman’s second book, Encounters in the Arts, is due for release in January 2025.

With introduction by writer Jose Dalisay, the book has 586 pages with profiles and reportage on the country’s leading artists from music, opera, literature and cinema.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/leading-artists-in-tamarins-encounter-in-the-arts/

29/12/2024

Like the iconic Beatles, Hollywood action star, martial artist and Hong Kong Prid6e Bruce Lee is immortalized in the annals of global popular culture history as the finest actor on the kiss-kiss, bang-bang genre.

Fans were devastated when Bruce's life ended tragically at the age of thirty two in 1973.

Action star Vic Tiro relives Bruce Lee • Limelight • The Market Monitor

28/12/2024

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has spent nearly P6 billion for the production abroad of polymer bank notes in P1,000; P500; P100 and P50 denominations, which also erased the memories of heroes who have shed their blood and lives for the independence and integrity of the country.

Instead, the BSP has completely replaced them with the country's endangered species in keeping with the global effort to foster the urgency of environmental awareness, preservation and conservation.

BSP's huge cost of erasing memories of heroes • Banking & Finance • The Market Monitor

28/12/2024

The idea of removing labels like imported rice and premium or special tags in rice sold in all markets is just an affirmation of the lingering colonial mindset of Filipinos when buying products like food, specifically rice as it gives them an image of being well-off than the rest of the hoi polo in their food choices.

However, considering that most of our rice imports are just coming from fellow ASEAN members and even India– not the Western economies– must their grain be more superior than what our local farmers produce. I beg to disagree.

DA wants labels removed from rice sold in markets • Agriculture • The Market Monitor

28/12/2024

ArenaPlus, the country's 24/7 digital sports entertainment gateway, gifted Filipino fans with a special experience on December 23, 2024.

Lucky fans got to video call with Reaves and even more got to chat and ask their favorite basketball star questions on life in the league, his experience in the Philippines, and his partnership with ArenaPlus.

ArenaPlus brings Austin Reaves Fan a Once in a Lifetime Experience • Companies • The Market Monitor

28/12/2024

BingoPlus, the country’s premiere digital entertainment platform in the country, awarded one lucky player a brand-new car on November 22, 2024. The fortunate winner obtained the luxurious car during the BingoPlus Day campaign.

A 5-month BingoPlus player finally had his moment of success, but still could not believe the moment he won the car. In a state of disbelief, the friendly and determined man was overwhelmed when BingoPlus confirmed his win.

BingoPlus Day campaign’s lucky jackpot winner claims brand new car • Companies • The Market Monitor

28/12/2024

LANDBANK reaffirms its financial strength and stability, following the Bank’s P50-billion contribution to the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), and remains fully committed to its mandate as a reliable partner to the national government’s inclusive development agenda.

The state-run Bank has consistently met and exceeded the minimum requirements of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)—a critical benchmark of financial health—as it stays financially robust with no urgent need for additional capital.

LANDBANK remains financially strong, regulatory compliant • Banking & Finance • The Market Monitor

27/12/2024

With four days left before the year ends, the President is now hurdling the biggest challenge to his leadership– a flawed budget courtesy of the greedy members of the House of Representatives, which he must correct or face impeachment.

At this juncture, it is anybody's guess what motivated the members of HoR to cut the budget for education– which has topmost priority under the Constitution second to none– depriving the Philhealth of its subsidy because of inefficiency in using its moneys and cutting budgets for social services, among others but bloating the budget of public works which did not request for such augmentation but which obviously is intended for the disposal of the greedy politicos in the House to fund their 2025 campaigns and patronage projects, in short for the outlawed pork barrel system.

Correcting the budget is better, than rushing its signing • Top News • The Market Monitor

27/12/2024

SM Foundation continued its medical and dental missions across the country during the last quarter of the year to help ensure the well-being of beneficiaries in communities where SM businesses operate. From October to December, these medical and dental missions were conducted across the country in collaboration with local government units and partner organizations. Like prior SM Foundation medical and dental missions, beneficiaries availed of medical consultations, diagnostics laboratory examinations and dental services. Prescription medicines and vitamins were also given out to the patients at no cost. Volunteer medical professionals were present as well as the SM mobile clinics.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/sm-foundations-last-quarter-medical-missions/

27/12/2024

The massive destruction caused by recent typhoons on corn farms of the country and the high cost of production would necessitate higher imports of corn for animal feeds of by 7.2 percent or 1.63 million metric tons for 2024-2025, according to the USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila.

The USDA also sees corn production only growing by 0.4 percent to 8.15 MMT from 8.119 MMT the year before.

More corn imports seen for animal feeds • Agriculture • The Market Monitor

23/12/2024

Senator Loren Legarda believes the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has enough resources to expand benefit packages and address gaps in public healthcare access despite the removal of the agency’s P74-billion government subsidy under the proposed 2025 national budget.

Legarda made this assertion during a Senate hearing on December 18, as she urged PhilHealth to utilize its P150 billion surplus funds to ensure the effective implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/philhealth-urged-to-utilize-surplus-funds-amid-subsidy-cut/

23/12/2024

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) have solidified a partnership aimed at addressing critical urban traffic issues through the expanded use of GSIS properties.

The agreement was signed on December 18 by GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso and MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, with MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana as witness.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/mmda-gsis-sign-deal-to-address-traffic-woes/

23/12/2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernization program in addressing cybercrime and other evolving national security threats during the AFP’s 89th founding anniversary celebration at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday.

In his speech, Marcos praised the AFP’s agility and adaptability to modern security challenges.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/bbm-cites-afp-modernizations-role-in-thwarting-cybercrime-emerging-national-security-threats/

23/12/2024

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) has approved a P500 increase in the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers (kasambahay).

In Wage Order No. NCR-DW-05, the NCR wage board said the new minimum wage in the region for the sector will be at P7,000 a month.

https://marketmonitor.com.ph/kasambahays-in-ncr-to-get-p500-pay-hike/