More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/965045/egypt-opens-door-to-tourism-cooperation-with-ph-as-grand-egyptian-museum-debuts/story/ |
Egypt is open to collaborating with the Department of Tourism, private tourism groups, and educational institutions to explore ways to encourage more Filipinos to visit, coinciding with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the Giza pyramid complex in Giza, Egypt’s envoy in Manila said.
According to Ambassador Nader Nabil Zaki, Filipino tourist arrivals to Egypt fell sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid regional tensions, but improving peace prospects provide “a good opportunity” for history-minded travelers to see not only the Pyramids of Giza but also the new museum, which Egypt’s president has described as “a new chapter in the history of the present and the future.”
“So we're inviting the Filipinos to come back,” Zaki said. “And we're trying to understand what they need and try to make it available for them. It's essential for us, Filipino tourists, either for history, for museums, for also beaches.”
He added, “I am I would like to see another exhibition here in the Philippines and I am so sad to say that the last exhibition was in 1975.”
The ambassador said Wednesday’s engagement is “the start of the cooperation,” adding: “I will be in contact, I'm trying to establish this relationship with the travel agencies here, to listen to them, to understand what's the different as I'm saying the Filipino tourist what's looking for and making connections between them and travel agencies in Egypt… so it has to go both ways you know also Egyptians I would like to encourage them to come here.”
As part of the briefing, the Egyptian Embassy showed tourism stakeholders a video tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum, highlighting its approximately 500,000-square-meter complex, a collection of around 100,000 artifacts, and views of the Giza pyramids.
Filipinos tourists are essential to the Egyptian economy? Who knew!?
The economy is at the lowest it's been in 4 years since the height of the pandemic in 2021. A large part of that slump is due to corruption.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/556803/philippine-gdp-growth-eases-to-4-in-q3-amid-graft-probe |
The economy grew by 4 percent in the third quarter, the slowest pace seen in four years, as the recent infrastructure scandal curbed public spending while a series of typhoons disrupted activities.
This marked the slowest performance since the first quarter of 2021, when the local economy had contracted by 3.8 percent due to the stringent lockdown protocols triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The third quarter growth failed to meet the Marcos administration’s target of 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent. It was also much lower than the market consensus of 5.2 percent based on a poll by Bloomberg.
GDP in the three months ending September also dropped sharply from 5.5 percent in the second quarter, as well as from the 5.2 percent growth recorded in the same period last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.
The economy grew by 4 percent in the third quarter, the slowest pace seen in four years, as the recent infrastructure scandal curbed public spending while a series of typhoons disrupted activities.
This marked the slowest performance since the first quarter of 2021, when the local economy had contracted by 3.8 percent due to the stringent lockdown protocols triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The third quarter growth failed to meet the Marcos administration’s target of 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent. It was also much lower than the market consensus of 5.2 percent based on a poll by Bloomberg.
GDP in the three months ending September also dropped sharply from 5.5 percent in the second quarter, as well as from the 5.2 percent growth recorded in the same period last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.
“The Philippine economy continues to grow, but the third quarter performance reminds us of the urgent need to address key challenges and strengthen our foundations for rapid, sustained and inclusive growth,” said Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development.
According to Balisacan, services and industry posted a weaker growth this third quarter. These sectors were dragged by the sharp contraction in public construction amid delayed infrastructure spending, as probes into the anomalous flood control projects continue.
He added that household consumption also slowed to 4.1 percent, driven by typhoon disruptions that dampened spending.
The main contributors to the third quarter growth were: wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, 5 percent; financial and insurance activities, 5.5 percent; and professional and business services, 6.2 percent.
By sector, the services sector posted the highest growth rate of 5.5 percent.
The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector grew by 2.8 percent.
The industry sector grew by a modest 0.7 percent.
Coupled with the benign inflation rate of 1.7 percent in October, the latest growth data keeps the door open for more policy rate cuts through the rest of the year and into 2026, which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will review on Dec. 11.
Normal Philippine government operations are just as economically damaging as the pandemic!
Mall vacancy rates are back to pre-pandemic levels.
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| https://tribune.net.ph/2025/11/04/phl-mall-vacancy-rates-recover-to-2019-levels |
Mall vacancy rates in the Philippines are on track to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to a study by real estate services and research firm Colliers Philippines.
The report noted that the recovery of the retail property sector is being fueled by the entry of foreign retailers, the expansion of existing brands, and increased developer investment in both new and existing malls — particularly those located outside Metro Manila.
Colliers found that retail space vacancy in Metro Manila had eased to 11.4 percent as of end-September 2025, nearing the 9.3 percent vacancy rate recorded in the third quarter of 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The firm attributed the steady rebound to the arrival of international brands such as Anko, Bath & Body Works, DALI Everyday Grocery, and Alo Yoga, all of which have entered the Philippine market within the past five years. Their presence, alongside the expansion of popular dining brands like Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse, as well as homegrown concepts such as Pickup Coffee, has helped revive consumer appetite for in-person shopping and dining.
Colliers projects that mall vacancy could drop further to 8.2 percent by 2027, surpassing pre-pandemic occupancy levels. This improvement is expected to be supported by sustained investments from major property developers including SM Prime Holdings and Ayala Malls, both of which have announced plans for new developments and redevelopments extending beyond the capital region.
Colliers Philippines is the Philippine branch of Colliers International, a global real estate services and investment management company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The company provides market research, advisory, and management services related to property and real estate.
That is a lot of foreign investment in the local market. What about local brands though?
When the pandemic hit Ronerick "Jackhammer" Ballesteros was training to be a boxer. At the end of the pandemic he decided he wanted to be a professional boxer.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1262500 |
Ronerick "Jackhammer" Ballesteros is eyeing no less than a world title to bring pride and honor to the country.
Ballesteros, 21, won the Philippine Youth lightweight belt during the "Thrilla in Manila 2" at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Oct. 29.
He beat Cebu's Speedy Boy Acope by technical knockout in the fifth round.
He remained unbeaten in seven fights, six of them by knockout.
Ronerick, who is coached by his father, said he wants their town and the province to be known in the international scene.
He was 12 when he started training and plucked gold two years later in the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships hosted by Baguio City and Benguet province.
"I tried other sports like running, track and field, basketball, among others. Boxing is different. I enjoy it more. I really like it. Boxing gives me joy," he said in an interview.
He was training with the Philippine team when the Covid-19 pandemic erupted in 2020.
"There were no competitions during that time. And when the pandemic ended, I opted to become a professional boxer because that is what I really like to do," he said.
He earned his first win as a professional boxer in 2023 in Bayambang town.
Ronorick, Ballesteros' father, said he saw his son's passion for boxing and the discipline he developed.
"You need to sleep early. You need to wake up early. You need to eat well. You need to practice. You need to do everything," he said.
Ballesteros thanked the local government, national government through the Philippine Sports Commission, and organizers Manny Pacquiao Promotions and International Boxing Association for the event, which marked the 50th year of the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier heavyweight bout.
"It was an international event. I was so happy because I never thought that I would be able to join Thrilla in Manila. It was such a big event. A lot of fighters wanted to be able to join. I never thought that I would be able to join the event," he said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed the fight between Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, and Thai boxer Kittisak Klinsom in a middleweight clash, which ended in a draw.
In a Facebook post, Marcos reflected on the country’s historic role in hosting the 1975 bout, calling it “a moment that cemented our country’s place in global sports.”
“Fifty years ago, the world watched the Philippines host one of the greatest boxing matches in history. The Thrilla in Manila was a moment that cemented our country’s place in global sports,” he said.
His passion for the sport paid off as he had a slot at the Thrilla in Manila 50th anniversary fight.
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