Business

The United States has committed US$34.1 million (approximately PHP2 billion) to support the development of the Philippines’ purple yam industry, known locally as ube, as international demand for the crop continues to grow. The funding, announced by US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton on October 22, 2026, will support an agricultural development programme expected […]

United States President Donald Trump will visit Manila in November to attend the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, the Philippine government has confirmed. The visit will mark his first trip to the Philippines since November 2017, when he attended the regional gathering during his first presidential term. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro […]

Good news for travellers heading to the US! Philippine Airlines (PAL) is launching a new non-stop route between Manila-Chicago on 9 November 2026, making it easier to travel between the Philippines and the American Midwest without a connecting flight. The new service will operate three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, using an […]

Apple has revealed local pricing for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, giving Filipino consumers an early look at how much the new devices will cost in the Philippines. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₱94,990 for the 256GB model, while the iPhone 18 Pro […]

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is adding more flights between Manila and Melbourne just in time for the year-end travel season. From 19 November 2026, the airline will operate the route daily, increasing its current schedule from five flights a week to seven. The move comes as PAL prepares for higher demand around Christmas and the holiday […]

Passengers flying with Cebu Pacific could soon stay connected throughout their journey, as the Philippine low-cost carrier plans to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi on its aircraft from 2027. The airline announced the plan on Tuesday, saying it will work with Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, to provide high-speed and low-latency internet during flights. […]

Apple Pay is now officially available in the Philippines, allowing eligible iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac users to add Philippine-issued credit and debit cards to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments. Apple announced the launch on 4 August, giving Filipino consumers another option for making payments in shops, through apps and online wherever contactless […]

The Philippine passport has climbed three places in the latest Henley Passport Index, rising from 75th in 2025 to 72nd in the second 2026 edition of the global ranking. Released on 21 July to mark the index’s 20th anniversary, the Henley Passport Index ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can enter […]

The Philippines recorded the highest level of worker stress among Southeast Asian countries in 2026, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace 2026 report. The findings place the country ahead of Myanmar and Singapore, while Indonesia and Vietnam reported the lowest levels of workplace stress in the region. The report, released in April […]

If the United Arab Emirates has been on your travel bucket list, planning your next vacation just got a whole lot simpler. The Department of Foreign Affairs recently shared an exciting update for Philippine passport holders. Starting June 25, 2026, the UAE has officially opened up a visa-on-arrival scheme for eligible Filipinos. This means instead […]