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Disappointing Economic Growth Ahead for the Philippines Until Mid-2028

For Capital Economics, the economic growth of the Philippines will end up disappointing by finishing below the national government’s targets until the middle of 2028, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. Capital Economics also sees the inflation rate of the country reaching 5.6% this year.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine economy is expected to “disappoint” until the end of the Marcos Jr. administration in 2028 as the lingering effects of the energy shock, weak business confidence, tighter fiscal policy, and El Niño weigh on recovery, according to think tank Capital Economics.

In a report last Tuesday, Sept. 29, Capital Economics forecast Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth at just three percent in 2026, before picking up to 4.5 percent in 2027, and 5.5 percent in 2028.

Capital Economics’ forecasts for 2026 and 2027 fall short of the government’s downgraded economic growth targets of 3.5 to 4.5 percent and five to six percent, respectively, while the 2028 projection falls within the five- to six-percent target but remains below the economy’s estimated potential annual growth of about six percent.

Despite the gradual recovery, Capital Economics noted that its growth forecasts for the Philippines from 2026 through 2028 remain below consensus estimates.

“The Philippines has been among the hardest hit economies globally by the energy shock and the recovery will be sluggish,” Capital Economics said.

The think tank noted that the Philippine economy was already on weak footing, even before the global energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East, due to the fallout from the multibillion-peso flood-control corruption scandal. As such, GDP growth slowed further to a post-pandemic low of 2.3 percent year-on-year in the second quarter.

Capital Economics also cited that the second-quarter GDP expansion was the weakest outside the Covid-19 pandemic and the global financial crisis in 2008 to 2009, while pointing to more timely indicators such as purchasing managers’ indexes (PMIs), which have provided mixed signals on economic activity in the third quarter.

The Philippine economy grew by an average of 2.6 percent during the first half of 2026, well below the government’s full-year growth target.

Capital Economics sees elevated global energy prices keeping Philippine inflation above six percent for the rest of the year, which the think tank said would dampen consumer spending.

Headline inflation eased slightly to 6.1 percent last August, but the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects the September rate to settle within the 6.4- to 7.4-percent range, potentially accelerating amid higher oil and food prices, plus a weaker peso.

Inflation averaged 5.2 percent during the first eight months of 2026, way above the government’s two- to four-percent target band for manageable year-on-year consumer price hikes.

Capital Economics expects Philippine inflation to average 5.6 percent this year, before easing to a within-target three percent next year and 2.3 percent in 2028.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Considering all the factors and what has happened economically over the past six months, are you convinced that there is no way to boost the nation’s economic growth this year? Do you think the government has been negligent with economic management? Do you find it ironic that as host of the ASEAN Summit, the Philippines is looking like the economic weakling of ASEAN?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Google adds 2 Search Central playlists for SEO beginners and developers: Six topic clusters span crawl budget, robots.txt and bulk exports for site owners and engineers. Will a fixed viewing order change how Search training is used? https://ppc.land/google-adds-2-search-central-playlists-for-seo-beginners-and-developers/ #SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #GoogleSearch #DigitalMarketing #WebDevelopment

If you still like using Google, but you want to avoid AI overviews altogether, there's a trick. Once you go to a search result page, add ampersand udm equals one four. For the time being, that only surfaces text links. Now there's Google Classic.

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What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 157

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Popcorn in Bed’s X-Men movie reaction videos – I enjoy watching the movie reaction videos posted by Popcorn in Bed. For the most part, Cassie and her sister Carly (who joined her many times in reaction videos) are pretty reactive to the movies they saw for the first time ever regardless of genre. Recently, I replayed watching their reaction videos of the live-action, X-Men movies (the main ones specifically) from 2000’s X-Men to 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse. Each X-Men reaction video of theirs is fun to watch and I noticed how Cassy and Carly discovered who the characters are, familiarized themselves with them, and still succeeded on following the stories even though there were so many characters in each film. That said, I encourage you all to watch their videos below.

https://youtu.be/rWHaYw2_60M?si=BHaXD98dhA_–Ci2

https://youtu.be/So6m45UeO98?si=6DyQ82f-sFTbTLcL

https://youtu.be/ke9eprY-6jU?si=khyVs1qpIZ-8zfyb

https://youtu.be/BvLJp_DJkXA?si=MeWYLEsCERlfpPq7

https://youtu.be/fmHAoDvF89Y?si=JtDN_Ye_tTx6WQvf

https://youtu.be/D5JAY0-AOvE?si=p-FPDHmqDQNOMDd5

#2 The Sherman Oaks Galleria today – You may not have visited the Sherman Oaks Galleria in California, but you might have seen it in films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Chopping Mall, Commando, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Indeed, the said shopping mall was used as a location in the movies and given the fact that a lot of shopping malls across America have closed down, revisiting the Sherman Oak Galleria’s legacy is both nostalgic and even educational. To find out what the Sherman Oaks Galleria looks like today, watch the video below. Tell me if you can recognize the malls spots that appeared in movies.

https://youtu.be/UvRplNA1Uyo?si=DZbPdRzaPo1ClufT

#3 Magic Johnson’s 1996 Comeback as a Lakers Player – Looking back at the career of Magic Johnson, the 1990s was a series of drastic changes about him. He quickly retired in 1991 because he had Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but returned as a player in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game and represented the United States as a Dream Team members in the Barcelona Olympics. He retired again in 1992 as controversy and protests grew from players over his plan to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers for the 1992-93 season. He came back to the NBA as Lakers head coach in 1994 winning 5 games and losing 11, and eventually stepped down. In 1996, he came back as a player for the Lakers taking a new role as a power forward. Magic Johnson’s presence on the basketball courts looked exciting on face value but there was a lot of tension behind the scenes and even division among the Lakers. To discover what happened, watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/G_bJs-BPS6A?si=n74PFOcHHj2Go0dh

#4 Eels to eat in Japan – I enjoy eating Unadon, the classic Japanese dish that has eel (unagi) grilled in the kabayaki way and served in a rice bowl. I had Unadon during my visits to Japan and in Japanese restaurants (both locally and overseas). Eels are truly popular in Japan. Even though supply constraints of live eels are felt by consumers and businesses, somehow the Japanese food joints found ways to secure enough of them and offer them to hungry customers in creative ways. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

https://youtu.be/x3MWX7DqF9M?si=azaxs9yrP-_Yoeo0

#5 Retro World Expo 2026 – I always wanted to attend a retro gaming convention in America. I saw this video about Retro World Expo 2026 which took place in Connecticut and it was enjoyable to see. There is nothing like playing classic arcade games and classic console/computer games running on their original hardware. Watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/NyMT0p1qk_8?si=FJX-b0F0VfFb8Adz

#6 You, Me and the Movies react to Resident Evil: Degeneration – If you are a fan of the Resident Evil games and movies, do you really enjoy watching the computer-generated Resident Evil movies? Back in 2008, the pure-CGI movie Resident Evil: Degeneration was released in cinemas and there was some excitement for it among RE enthusiasts as it had fan-favorite characters Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Not only that, RE fans who were disappointed with the Milla Jovovich-led live-action movies wanted to see RE movies that were more connected with the games they enjoyed. You, Me and the Movies recently posted their reaction video about Resident Evil: Degeneration and it is a must-watch.

https://youtu.be/hikyGLzHxoc?si=0QSD30IM7xovSDGp

#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Transformers: The Movie – Finally, Ashleigh Burton saw the animated classic The Transformers: The Movie and posted her reaction video of it. It is nice that the animated movie got featured by her as this year marks its 40th anniversary. Go watch her video now! It’s fun to watch.

https://youtu.be/fNvouP3etMA?si=V5bgOpCH-zIu8C9J

#7 Deathmate and the 1990s comics revisited – As a long-time comic book reader, I personally witnessed the presence and impact of the Deathmate crossover comic books in 1993. The Deathmate comics published by Valiant were released on time while those from Image Comics really arrived late. Local comic book collectors near me had no excitement for Deathmate even though famous artists like Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio participated in it in various degrees. The video below is very comprehensive with its focus on not just Deathmate but also the comic book speculator boom, the 1990s comics trends, the intrigue behind the scenes and more. Watch the video now.

https://youtu.be/FmY_cdGfQNs?si=5VSfN0KvneqZ4lNm

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

P50-million Expansion Facility of New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corp. in Subic Bay Freeport Zone Inaugurated

New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corporation – a dynamic commercial vehicle dealership and direct importer specializing in reconditioned Japanese surplus trucks and other types of industrial machines – formally inaugurated its P50 million facility inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), according to the official announcement by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Reflecting the robust growth of the trucking industry within the Freeport zone, New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corp. inaugurated its PHP 50-million expansion facility at the Tipo Hightech Eco Park (THEP) on September 21, 2026.

“The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) takes great pride in developments like this,” said SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño. “A Freeport’s strength lies in the enterprises that choose to invest, expand, and remain within its borders.”

Aliño noted that New Asahi Group’s decision to consolidate its expertise in sourcing, importation, reconditioning, fabrication, and after-sales support under the Apex Trucks brand, and to do so here in Subic, is a strong vote of confidence in both the Freeport and the favorable business (climate) that the SBMA diligently maintains.

The expansion spans 5,231.60 square meters within THEP and is projected to create 25 additional jobs. The facility will handle importation, exportation, transshipment, warehousing, rebuilding, and trading of trucks, buses, as well as heavy and industrial equipment.

New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corporation specializes in the dealership and importation of commercial vehicles, focusing on reconditioned Japanese trucks, heavy equipment, and industrial machinery. Operating under the Apex Trucks name, the company is involved in the import, export, transshipment, storage, rebuilding, and wholesale of trucks, buses, heavy and industrial equipment, along with new and used spare parts and accessories.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by prominent figures including SBMA Chairman Eduardo Jose L. Aliño; New Asahi Group Chairman Ahamed Mohamed Mohamed Hussain; President Shukry Hussain; CEO Riza Nazeer; SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business & Investment Barney W. Lee III; and Olongapo City Mayor Atty. Rolen C. Paulino, Jr., who collectively led the ribbon-cutting.

Representatives from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Philippines, along with Xantheng (Subic) International Corporation (XSIC) President Simon Su and XSIC Vice-President for Operations Kelly Uy, were also in attendance.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone continues to manage a consistent inflow of truck and heavy equipment imports through its major locators.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that this expansion inside the SBFV will inspire the remaining freeport investors to maintain their operations?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

ICYMI: Google may skip sitemaps on sites it deems low quality: Site owners with valid XML files can still see 'couldn't fetch' errors, Mueller said on October 1. Do RSS feeds or llms.txt change what AI crawlers can find? https://ppc.land/google-may-skip-sitemaps-on-sites-it-deems-low-quality/ #SEO #GoogleSearch #Sitemaps #XML #WebCrawling

Google's DNA is changing. The world is changing. It doesn't matter whether or not you like the way it's happening. It's happening.

https://youtu.be/EOjaRendQT4

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Poland’s Antitrust Regulator Accuses Google of Skewing Publisher Payment Talks — BigGo Finance

Poland’s competition authority has opened a new front against Alphabet Inc.’s Google, alleging the technology giant exploited its…
#Poland #Polska #PL #Europe #Europa #EU #AlphabetInc. #Ceneo #EuropeanCommission #Google #GoogleIrelandLimited #Googlenews #GooglePoland #GoogleSearch #TomaszChrostny #UOKiK
https://www.europesays.com/poland/29033/

Strategic Partnership Between SBMA and Hellenic ASEAN Business Council Established

Economic cooperation and growth between the Philippines and Greece got boosted recently as a result of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Hellenic ASEAN Business Council (HABC) formally signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which sealed a strategic partnership, according to the official announcement by the SBMA. As of this writing, five foreign companies have expressed interest to invest within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Hellenic ASEAN Business Council (HABC) have formalized a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance economic cooperation and growth between Greece and the Philippines.

The MOU was signed on 17 September 2026 at Building 225 in Subic Bay Freeport by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and HABC Chairman Nick Stasinopoulos. The agreement aims to promote bilateral trade, investment, tourism, logistics, maritime cooperation, infrastructure development, and sustainable economic growth, leveraging active engagement from both private sectors and institutional partners.

This collaboration will spotlight investment opportunities within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) and facilitate business matching, trade delegations, and commercial ventures in key sectors. Specific areas of focus include shipbuilding, ship repair, port operations, logistics, marine maintenance, tourism, cruise terminal development, and waterfront enhancements.

“Subic Bay has evolved into one of the Philippines’ premier investment and economic hubs,” said Aliño. “We are proud to welcome HABC and the broader Hellenic business community as partners in this promising new chapter. This agreement represents a shared commitment to fostering enduring ties that will benefit both our nations for years to come.”

Stasinopoulos emphasized the significance of the pact, noting, “Today’s signing marks a vital milestone in strengthening the relationship between Greece and the Philippines. Our partnership builds on ongoing dialogues, visits, and direct exchanges between both sides.”

Highlighting the maritime sector’s role, he added, “The synergy between our countries is undeniable — Greece is home to the world’s largest maritime communities, while the Philippines is a key contributor to the global maritime workforce. Subic Bay has emerged as a crucial maritime and economic hub, integrating port operations, logistics, manufacturing, and investment.”

The HABC chairman outlined the council’s objectives under the agreement: “We aim to facilitate greater exchanges between Greek and Philippine maritime stakeholders, identify mutual investment opportunities, foster business partnerships, and encourage the sharing of knowledge and expertise.”

Five companies have already expressed interest in investing within the SBFZ, including ERMA Tech Group, a global leader in sustainable maritime technologies specializing in decarbonization, water and wastewater treatment, and marine equipment solutions. Also among the interested investors is Fontanakis Ship Repair, a Piraeus-based Greek company specializing in ship repairs, dry-docking services, engineering studies, and yacht building and restoration.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that trade and cooperation between Greece and the Philippines will create positive economic impact in the near future? Do you think this will make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone even more attractive to foreign investors?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japan Tightens Guidelines for Granting Permanent Residency, To Take Effect in April 2027

In its latest move on reforming immigration, Japan has officially revised its guidelines for granting permanent residency to foreign nationals and these will take effect in April 2027, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Guidelines include Japanese language-proficiency and having an above-average income compared with Japanese households.

To learn about the events that preceded the new residency fees, click here, here and here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s immigration agency on Thursday revised its guidelines for granting permanent residency to foreign nationals, requiring applicants to have an income above the average for Japanese households and demonstrating a certain level of projected pension benefits.

The revised guidelines, which are set to take effect in April 2027, also require applicants to demonstrate Japanese-language proficiency at the level of an “independent user.”

The income requirement will be applied retroactively to applications made from April 2026 onward, as the immigration authorities aim to ensure that foreign applicants are financially independent. The average annual income per household was around 5.75 million yen ($36,500) in 2024.

The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been seeking to tighten regulations on the acceptance of foreign nationals. Fees for residence status applications were also hiked sharply on Thursday.

Applicants will also be required to have projected pension benefits equivalent to those payable after 30 years of enrollment in the employees’ pension program at their income level at the time they apply.

In principle, applicants must have lived in Japan for more than 10 years to qualify for permanent residency.

Previously, spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents could obtain permanent residency if they had been married for at least three years and had resided in Japan for at least one year.

However, the revised guidelines raise those thresholds to five years of marriage and three years of residence.

The Immigration Services Agency received around 5,000 public comments since it unveiled the draft guidelines in August.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that the Japanese government is executing the right moves with the revised guidelines? Do you think this latest immigration reform by Japan could inspire other nations to follow suit? What do you think could be the reasons why foreigners want to live permanently in Japan without following their rules, without paying their bills and without learning the Japanese language?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Google has finally caught up with indexing TikTok videos in the search results 🆗

It's useful at times! Because it used to be impossible to find even the most popular TikToks through search 😬

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