Malaya Business Insight

24/11/2025

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 'VERBENA' TO BRING RAINS, FLOODS TO VISAYAS, MINDANAO

Tropical depression "Verbena" was forecast to bring rains and gusty winds to central and southern Philippines on Monday, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said, warning of potential floods and landslides.

Tropical depression “Verbena” was forecast to bring rains and gusty winds to the central and southern Philippines on Monday, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said, warning of potential floods and landslides. In its 4 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said...

24/11/2025

FULL STORY: https://malaya.com.ph/business/business-news/gasoline-prices-set-to-fall-diesel-seen-likely-up/

Local oil firms expect gasoline prices to fall by ₱0.30–₱0.50 per liter on Tuesday while diesel may rise by ₱0.40–₱0.60, driven by geopolitical risks, strong middle-distillate fundamentals, and tight regional supply. Kerosene prices are also likely to increase as global oversupply concerns, weak economic indicators, and recent inventory trends shape this week’s mixed price adjustments.

Local fuel retailers said mixed movements in pump prices may be expected this week, with the cost of gasoline set to drop and of diesel likely to rise. Jetti Petroleum Inc. said over the weekend the downward price adjustment for gasoline this Tuesday may range from P0.30 to P0.50 per liter, while an...

24/11/2025

FULL EDITORIAL: https://malaya.com.ph/opinion/editorial/the-lie-of-weak-leadership/

Those who once thrived in impunity are now crying “weakness,” the latest lie about the president, because accountability is finally closing in on those who turned vulgarity into politics and impunity into a way of life.

The loudest voices portraying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a weak leader belong to the same bloc that once abandoned justice for power.

The claim is not critique but camouflage. It comes from those scrambling down the slope of accountability — patronage-fed dynasts and the remnants of a regime whose president now faces trial before the International Criminal Court.

23/11/2025

FULL STORY: https://malaya.com.ph/business/business-news/biodiesel-group-warns-against-short-sighted-savings/

TPBA urged lawmakers to consider the long-term economic, environmental, and public-health benefits of coco-biodiesel as they deliberate on HB 4151, noting that blended diesel is not always more expensive and can even improve fuel efficiency enough to yield net consumer savings. The group warned that weakening the coco-biodiesel mandate could harm 25 million Filipinos who depend on the coconut industry and undermine gains in emissions reduction, energy security, and farmer welfare.

The Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) is urging the government to weigh the broader national benefits of biofuels as lawmakers deliberate on House Bill (HB) 4151, or the Murang Langis Act. The measure seeks to empower the president to suspend the mandated coco-biodiesel blend whenever blended....

23/11/2025

FULL STORY: https://malaya.com.ph/business/business-news/usda-ph-retail-sales-to-rise-5-7-to-110b-in-2025-fb-accounts-for-62b-more-than-half-of-the-total/

USDA-FAS expects Philippine retail sales to reach $110 billion in 2025, driven by solid consumer demand, better employment conditions, and the continued rise of modern retail and e-commerce. Food and beverage sales will account for $62 billion of the total, as expanding supermarkets, convenience stores, and online platforms reshape buying habits despite weather-related risks and persistent reliance on traditional retailers in rural areas.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Manila said total retail sales in the Philippines are projected to climb by about 5.7 percent to $110 billion in full-year 2025 from $104 billion in 2024. The increase is driven by steady consumer demand, an...

23/11/2025

FULL STORY: https://malaya.com.ph/business/business-news/dlsu-economists-to-govt-heed-q3-wake-up-call-boost-spending-punish-corruption/

Cutting the central bank policy rate alone may not significantly boost investor and consumer confidence, but combined with a large increase in public spending and rigorously addressing corruption in public works, the DLSU economics team says the economy could stay close to the government’s medium-term growth targets. According to their latest report, they forecast GDP growth of about 5.6% in 2026 and 5.8% in 2027, still within the government’s revised 5.5%–6.5% target range.

Cutting the central bank policy rate alone may do little to boost investor and consumer confidence, but matched by a massive boost in public spending and justice in the ongoing investigations into anomalous public works projects, the economy would not trail too far behind the government’s growth t...

23/11/2025

Holiday malling hits different at SM City Santa Rosa! 🎄🛍✨

As the second stop of SM South Luzon’s Ribbons and Rhythm Grand Musical Play, the parade brought the ultimate Holiday AweSM malling vibes — fun, festive, and full of family moments.
Shoppers danced along with Christmas characters, snapped photos at every corner, and enjoyed a musical play that transformed the mall into a wonder-filled holiday stage. 🎶💖

This is the kind of Christmas malling we love at SM — magical, lively, and unforgettable. 💫

23/11/2025

FULL READ: https://malaya.com.ph/weekender/grateful-ish-filipinos-thanksgiving-and-other-turkeys/

Thanksgiving isn’t a Filipino holiday. There was no moment in our history where someone declared, “Let’s eat a bird the size of a toddler and call it gratitude.”

Seriously. No one here ever woke up thinking, “You know what this tropical country needs? A holiday celebrating pilgrims, seasonal root vegetables, and a giant bird that cooks for six hours and still tastes like printer paper and emotional compromise.” And yet — because colonizers were persistent and America is the clingy ex who still sends playlists and life advice we didn’t ask for, here we are, setting tables, Googling “how to brine,” and pretending cranberry sauce makes emotional sense.

We don’t have autumn leaves or heritage pumpkin recipes. What we do have is S&R panic energy, imported gravy, and one person — every year — who insists “this time, the turkey will be moist.” (Spoiler: It will not. It never will be. Turkey is a dry apology masquerading as a bird.)

But every year, someone asks the question no one wants to answer sincerely:

“So… what are you thankful for?”

And everyone immediately behaves like gratitude is a group project they forgot was due.

So fine. In the spirit of participation and mild emotional maturity, here’s a list no one asked for of things we are allegedly grateful for this year — starting with the only thing that actually matters.

23/11/2025

FULL COMMENTARY: https://malaya.com.ph/weekender/feature-commentary-the-republic-that-speaks-in-storms/

THE REPUBLIC THAT SPEAKS IN STORMS

Noise is not the enemy. It means people are awake, institutions are being watched, and leaders are being challenged. Silence, by contrast, can mean resignation or fear.

Philippine democracy does not run on silence. It runs on a chorus—sometimes discordant, often weary, yet undeniably alive.

It’s true. Our democracy is rarely soft-spoken. It is noisy, messy, emotional, imperfect. But alive. We argue with conviction, laugh through tension, pray through crisis, and move forward even when the path may seem unclear. In the end, every storm that passes leaves a nation that speaks louder, wiser, and alive.

23/11/2025

ENRILE BURIED WITH MILITARY HONORS

Former senator and defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile was buried with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Friday, concluding more than five decades of political career that shaped the nation’s modern history.

Former senator and defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile was buried with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Friday, concluding more than five decades of political career that shaped the nation’s modern history. Senior Armed Forces officers stood at salute as an honor...

22/11/2025

FULL STORY: https://malaya.com.ph/weekender/gen-alpha-and-teaching-in-todays-world/

If you've ever been told something was "sus" and drew a blank, or watched a student try to explain a meme only to give up because "you wouldn't get it," or have no idea what is so funny about “six, seven”—you're not alone.

But the good news: that confusion might be the starting point for real connection, not a barrier to it.
Connecting with Gen Alpha means getting past the screen and truly seeing who they are. These children have grown up with technology at their fingertips, but they still want to be heard and understood like any other generation. To really connect, adults need to listen without distractions, ask open questions, and show genuine interest in both their digital and real worlds. Making time for meaningful conversations (not just quick check-ins) helps build trust and bridges the generation gap.