Thursday, July 23, 2026

The impeachment court is now going after the money trail. On Day 9 of Vice President Sara Duterte's trial, senator-judges granted the prosecution's subpoena for the bank, tax, and anti-money-laundering records of Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, even as five senator-judges, including Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, and Cynthia Villar, filed reservations. NBI Director Melvin Matibag stayed on the stand for cross-examination over the alleged plot against President Marcos, while Duterte herself sat out the day from The Hague on a government-approved travel authority (via GMA News).

Metro Manila is turning into a fortress ahead of Monday. Security is being tightened for Marcos's fifth and second-to-last State of the Nation Address on July 27, with the PNP deploying more than 20,000 personnel, a no-fly and no-drone zone over the Batasan, a nationwide suspension of firearm permits, and road closures around the complex as protest groups line up their own rallies (via BusinessWorld).

The House says the venue itself is good to go. Speaker Faustino Dy said the Batasang Pambansa complex is ready to host Marcos's penultimate SONA, pointing to completed upper floors, upgraded hallways, and new al fresco lounges for guests and lawmakers (via Manila Bulletin).

Kiyapo is here, and Northern Luzon is in its path. The low pressure area east of Luzon strengthened into Tropical Depression Kiyapo at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, the country's 11th cyclone of the year, sitting about 1,080 km east of southeastern Luzon and moving northwest at 25 km/h with 45 km/h winds. PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 over eastern parts of Cagayan and Isabela, and expects Kiyapo to reach tropical storm strength by Friday and make a close approach or landfall over the Babuyan Islands that evening before exiting Saturday (via GMA News). Forecasters flagged 100 to 200 mm of rain over Cagayan from Thursday evening through Friday, and said Signal No. 2 is possible if the system deepens (via GMA News).

Even before Kiyapo makes its move, the habagat is doing the soaking. The southwest monsoon, pumped up by the approaching storm, is dropping moderate to heavy rain over much of Luzon, with rough coastal waters and the usual flash-flood and landslide warnings wherever the downpours turn severe (via Rappler).

The central bank is caught between two fires. Analysts say the BSP faces twin inflation shocks, a weaker peso amid volatile oil prices plus the incoming NCR dual-tranche wage hike, all while growth cools. First-quarter GDP slowed for a third straight quarter to 2.8 percent, and June inflation ran hot at 6.4 percent, above target for a fourth month, leaving the BSP's next rate move a genuine test of its credibility (via BusinessWorld).

The stock exchange is rewriting its rulebook for the first time in over a decade. The PSE overhauled how it picks and weights index members, adding new liquidity screens, a market-cap test, and a revised public float rule, with the changes taking effect at the February 2027 rebalancing. It is the first major update since the framework was set in April 2011 (via BusinessWorld).

Business groups want Congress to get moving. Industry leaders pressed lawmakers to prioritize economic reform bills, including a proposed International Maritime Trade Competitiveness Act, arguing the measures are needed to sharpen export competitiveness and push the digital economy (via BusinessWorld).

Stocks slipped and the peso flirted with its floor again. In the last confirmed session, Wednesday, July 22, the PSEi fell 65.95 points, or 1.04 percent, to close at 6,267.85, dragged by the oil-price spike and war-risk jitters. Thursday's markets had not opened as this digest went out (via Philstar).

The currency is right back at the edge. The peso weakened to P61.75 against the dollar on July 22, matching its all-time low first set on May 19, 2026, as higher crude prices and a firmer greenback kept the pressure on (via BusinessWorld).

Brace your wallet, the pump pain is not done. Oil firms are looking at another price hike next week of up to P3 a liter, piling onto July 21's brutal round that added as much as P10.68 to diesel, as Middle East tension around the Strait of Hormuz keeps global fuel prices elevated (via PNA).

Rice is the one bright spot the government is trying to protect. The Department of Agriculture recommended a 60-day extension of the P50-per-kilo price cap on 5 percent broken imported rice after the earlier cap lapsed, with Marcos weighing the coming monsoon's hit to harvests before deciding. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned that lifting it now, with no harvest in sight, could send prices climbing again (via PNA).

Talk about a giant killing. The Titan Ultra Giant Risers stunned defending champion TNT Tropang 5G 103-87 in the PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday, July 22, grabbing their first win after three straight losses. Import Tirrell Brown poured in 29 points and Joshua Munzon chipped in 13 to hand the titleholders a jarring loss (via Inquirer).

Alex Eala just locked in her biggest stage yet. The Filipina, now ranked WTA No. 29, officially landed on the US Open entry list for the year's final major, running August 23 to September 13 in New York. First she heads to the Mubadala DC Open from July 25, where she reunites with Venus Williams in the doubles draw (via Inquirer).

MarJo is back, and this time it is daily. Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal are reuniting their beloved love team for a new TV5 series premiering September 14, airing right before Eat Bulaga!, directed by Roman Perez Jr. and mapped out for three seasons (via PEP.ph).

Call it a co-parenting flex done right. Andi Eigenmann expressed gratitude to Jake Ejercito for the smooth partnership they have built raising their daughter Ellie, a rare drama-free note in showbiz parenting (via PEP.ph).

A quiet shout-out cut through the noise. Mika Salamanca publicly praised Barbie Forteza's work ethic, adding to the good vibes around the younger Kapuso star (via PEP.ph).

Cheap flights alert, and the timing is generous. Sunlight Air is marking its seventh anniversary with a seat sale offering base fares as low as P99, launched July 22 for travelers hunting a budget getaway (via Philstar Life).

An end of an era for Manila diners. Cafe Ysabel, one of the city's oldest restaurants and a fine-dining institution, is closing its San Juan branch on July 23, drawing a line under decades of service (via Philstar Life).

Samsung just dropped its foldable arsenal in the Philippines. The company launched the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra from P123,990, the Z Fold8 from P109,990, and the Z Flip8 from P77,990, with the Fold8 Ultra flaunting a 200MP main camera, a 7.6-inch display, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip (via NewsBytes.ph).

The wrist gadgets got an upgrade too. Samsung rolled out the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 at P44,990, complete with a diving app and an 800mAh battery, alongside the Galaxy Watch9 starting at P22,990 for the 40mm size (via NewsBytes.ph).