Category: Asia

Philippines

JV Ejercito May Reassign Legarda’s 2027 Budget Hearings — But Her Absence Is Creating a Bigger Senate Problem

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda’s prolonged absence from the Senate could soon force a reshuffling of key assignments in the deliberations over the proposed ₱7.2-trillion 2027 national budget, as lawmakers race to keep one of Congress’ most important annual responsibilities on schedule. Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the agencies assigned to Legarda for budget scrutiny may have to be distributed among other finance committee vice chairp

September 2, 2026

Singapore

Singapore’s Economy Gets a Major Upgrade — But a New Risk Is Emerging

Private-sector economists have dramatically upgraded their outlook for Singapore’s economy, raising the 2026 GDP growth forecast to 5% from 3.5% as artificial-intelligence demand, exports and manufacturing continue to outperform expectations. The latest forecast comes from the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Survey of Professional Forecasters, released on September 2, with 21 economists and analysts participating. AI boom pushes Singapore growth higher The upgrade follows surprisingl

September 2, 2026

Business

JOLLIBEE TAKES ITS GLOBAL EMPIRE TO HONG KONG: Why the Filipino Fast-Food Giant Just Ditched Its U.S. Listing Plan

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee Foods Corp. is taking a major step toward transforming its overseas restaurant business into a separately listed global company, with Hong Kong now emerging as the preferred destination for the planned stock-market debut. The Philippine fast-food giant announced on September 1 that it is moving forward with plans to separate its international operations from its Philippine business and is now considering The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited as the listing venue

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Says the Philippines Had a Flood-Control Plan for Decades—So Why Was It Never Carried Out?

MANILA, Philippines — As millions of Filipinos count the cost of another devastating stretch of floods, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made a striking admission: the Philippines has had flood-control plans for decades, but many were never fully carried out. Now, as communities across Luzon recover from weeks of relentless rain, damaged infrastructure and widespread flooding, the government says it is finally moving to put long-delayed plans into action. But there is a complication. The De

September 2, 2026

Business

SM Megamall Just Changed The Edsa Commute— But Is This The Future Of Metro Manila’s Malls?

For millions of Filipinos who rely on EDSA every day, a few hundred meters of walking can mean battling heat, rain, crowds and congested footbridges. That is precisely the problem SM Megamall’s new EDSA Busway Concourse is designed to address. Opened to the public in April 2026, the elevated, covered connection links SM Megamall Building A directly with the Ortigas station of the EDSA Bus Carousel. Instead of forcing commuters to navigate a lengthy and congested route across EDSA, the new walk

September 2, 2026

Business

SONNY DOMINGUEZ MAKES A MAJOR BOARDROOM RETURN: Ex-Finance Chief Named Megaworld’s Lead Independent Director — What His New Role Could Mean

Former Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” G. Dominguez is taking on a major new corporate role, joining the board of property giant Megaworld Corp. as its lead independent director. Megaworld confirmed the appointment effective September 1, 2026, bringing the veteran government official and corporate executive back into the spotlight at a time when the property developer is expanding its township, hospitality and recurring-income businesses. The appointment was also disclosed to the Philippine S

September 2, 2026

Business

Jollibee, UPLB Bring Agri-Tech to Filipino Farmers as ₱1-Billion Farm Program Enters Its Next Phase

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee is making a deeper bet on where some of its food begins: the farm. Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) has joined forces with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in a new partnership designed to bring agricultural research, technology and more specialized training closer to Filipino smallholder farmers. But this is more than another corporate social responsibility agreement. The partnership could help answer one of Philippine agriculture's persistent

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Tatler Reinvents Its Style Power List: “Asia’s Most Stylish” Becomes “Tatler Most Stylish” for 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Tatler is giving one of its best-known fashion franchises a major makeover. For 2026, “Asia’s Most Stylish” has been rebranded as “Tatler Most Stylish,” marking a shift away from conventional best-dressed lists and toward a broader definition of style built around identity, cultural heritage, personal conviction and self-expression. The change is more than a new name. Tatler says the refreshed platform is intended to position Asian style as a force that shapes global fash

September 2, 2026

Business

Maynilad Cut Water Losses Below 30%—But the Bigger Payoff May Be What It Means for Investors

MANILA, Philippines — Maynilad Water Services Inc. may have just collected five Philippine Quill Awards for communication campaigns, but the numbers behind those campaigns tell a much bigger story. The West Zone water concessionaire is increasingly turning one of the utility sector’s oldest problems—water disappearing through leaks, faulty meters, illegal connections and other system losses—into a potential source of additional supply, lower operating costs and stronger returns on billions of p

September 2, 2026

Business

THE SECRET BEHIND CHICKEN McDO: Why McDonald’s Says Every Piece Must Pass Its “Gold Standard” Before It Reaches Your Table

For millions of Filipinos, Chicken McDo is a familiar fast-food staple—but the consistency behind that familiar taste involves far more than simply dropping chicken into a fryer. McDonald’s Philippines says it has established detailed “Gold Standards” governing Chicken McDo—from its appearance and crispiness to its flavor, juiciness, freshness and food-safety requirements. At the center of that system are roughly 3,200 trained “Chicken Experts” working across McDonald’s restaurants in the Phil

September 2, 2026