Philippines

The Philippines is one of the most cash-dependent countries in the world, with cash transactions accounting for 99% of the total volume and 60% of the total value of payments in 2019¹. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to digital payments, as more Filipinos opt for contactless and convenient ways to pay and receive money. According to the …

The Philippines is home to some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world, who have amassed their fortunes from various sectors, such as real estate, banking, retail, telecommunications, and food. According to the 2022 Forbes list, there are 10 billionaires in the Philippines, with a combined net worth of $46.05 billion. Here are the 10 richest billionaires …

Mariel Padilla, a Filipino actress and TV host, has caused a public uproar after she posted a video of herself getting a skin-whitening IV drip in the office of her husband, Senator Robin Padilla. The video, which has since been deleted, showed Mariel sitting on a couch with an IV bag hanging above her, while her husband sat at his …

The farm internship program is an initiative by the Taiwan Council of Agriculture (COA) to promote agricultural education and exchange among young people from different countries. The program aims to provide participants with hands-on experience in organic farming, rural tourism, and cultural immersion in Taiwan. Who can apply for the program? The program is open to anyone who is between …

Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” and the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) megachurch, is wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a sex trafficking scheme that exploited and abused young women and girls. Quiboloy, who is also a close friend and spiritual adviser of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, has been hiding …

The Philippines (PH), a Southeast Asian country, has been conducting air patrols over the South China Sea (SCS), a disputed and strategic waterway, where it claims sovereignty and rights over some islands and features, such as the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal. The PH air patrols, which involve military aircraft and personnel, are aimed to assert and defend the …

The South China Sea is a strategic and resource-rich waterway that is claimed by several countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. China claims almost the entire sea, based on its historical rights and its nine-dash line, which was rejected by an international tribunal in 2016. The other claimants base their claims on the United Nations Convention …

On February 15, 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced that its official X account, @coastguardph, had been hacked and compromised by unknown perpetrators. The incident, which lasted for about an hour, resulted in the deletion of all the posts and media on the account, and the disruption of the PCG’s communication and information dissemination to the public.  The incident …

On the night of February 7, 2024, a massive landslide struck the gold-mining village of Masara in Maco town, Davao de Oro province, Philippines, burying hundreds of people and vehicles under tons of mud and debris.  The disaster, triggered by weeks of heavy rain and exacerbated by the unstable soil and deforestation in the area, claimed at least 54 lives …

The Philippines is closely monitoring the situation in Taiwan, as the island faces increasing pressure and threats from China, which claims it as part of its territory. The Philippines, which has its own territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, is concerned about the implications of a potential conflict between Taiwan and China for its security and interests …