Angara remains as revamp rumors fadeEducation Secretary Sonny Angara has dodged a bullet. ‘That’s crazy’But in the case of Angara, no less than President Marcos himself seemed in disbelief over the grapevine talk that his education secretary would vacate his post. In fact, a recent non-commissioned Tangere satisfaction and trust survey showed that Angara ranked highest among President Marcos’ Cabinet members with 52.71 percent satisfaction rating and 53.95 percent trust rating. In case he doesn’t know it yet, 2026 is a make-or-break year for President Marcos. Just last week, Hotel101 Global announced the signing of binding agreements to develop a 766-room Hotel101 in Melbourne’s Central Business District at 540 Flinders Lane, Australia.

Light glows from homes along the shore as the sun sets over the coastline in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 23, 2026.An Air Greenland aircraft rolls along the runway after landing at Nuuk Airport, Greenland, on January 23, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)

Financial system resources hit P35.8 trillionPreliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that banks and non-bank financial institutions booked a 7.1-percent growth in assets from P33.38 trillion in the same period in 2024. MANILA, Philippines — The total resources of the country’s financial system rose to P35.76 trillion as of end-November last year, reflecting sustained deposit growth, steady credit demand and continued confidence in the banking system. Financial system resources cover funds and balance sheet items such as deposits, capital, loans, bonds, equities and other debt securities held by banks and BSP-supervised non-bank institutions. These resources are often used as a broad gauge of liquidity, savings behavior and the overall depth of the financial system. Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said the sustained expansion reflects confidence in the financial system.

Otom bags 5th gold at ASEAN Para GamesMANILA, Philippines — Touched by an angel. Tanker Angel Mae Otom created tidal waves by capturing a fifth gold medal yesterday that kept the Philippines at fourth overall in the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand yesterday. Otom clocked 44.51 seconds in ruling the women’s 50-meter freestyle S4-S5 class to add to her earlier triumphs in the 50m and 100m backstroke and 100m and 200m free. Gary Bejino also came through in the pool after he topped the men’s 50m free S6 in 33.26 seconds for his third mint. The effort kept the country on track in surpassing its fifth-place (33-33-50) haul in the last edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia three years ago.

Sugarcane planters worried over declining millgate pricesThe warning, which was contained in a position paper submitted by the Confederation of Sugarcane Producers Association Inc. (CONFED), was aired by former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Rafael Coscolluela during a public consultation conducted by the Senate and House of Representatives on Friday in Talisay City. BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Sugar stakeholders in Negros Occidental have expressed alarm over the declining millgate prices of sugar and mollasses, saying the industry’s foregone revenues may exceed P20 billion in June if the problem is not addressed properly. CONFED blamed the drastic decline in millgate prices to over-supply of imported refined sugar, large inventories of raw sugar, unchecked molasses importation and unregulated entry of sugar substitutes. From October to December last year, the decline in the millgate prices resulted in foregone revenues of P5.3 billion from sugar sales, and P1.73 billion from molasses sales or a total of P7.28 billion. “This public consultation will be used for our official inquiry in aid of legislation.

For business leaders, these shifts are transformative. For business leaders, this is not the time for reckless expansion or debt-driven optimism. The primary risk in 2026 is not machines replacing people, but leaders outsourcing critical thinking and relying on technology to compensate for weak strategy or poor judgment. Good leaders make a lasting impact because of their character, not just their business plans. Successful leaders will recognize that character is more enduring than strategy.

5 Chinese held over unregistered drinksThe suspects – identified only as Fan, Xiong, Xiang, Zhang and Ze – were collared during a raid on a warehouse in Barangay San Pablo Libutad on Jan. 19. MANILA, Philippines — Five Chinese nationals have been arrested for allegedly selling unregistered drinks in San Simon, Pampanga, the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) reported yesterday. The suspects – identified only as Fan, Xiong, Xiang, Zhang and Ze – were collared during a raid on a warehouse in Barangay San Pablo Libutad on Jan. 19. The raid resulted in the seizure of 4,176 boxes of milk and energy drinks worth P1.6 million, according to CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II. Charges for violating Republic Act 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act were filed against the suspects who failed to present travel documents and pertinent papers to authorities.

Logistics players mixed on 2026 growth prospectsBased on DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report, 50 percent of shippers in the Philippines are expecting trade to grow this year at the same rate as 2025. MANILA, Philippines — At least half of the Philippine logistics industry is looking at 2026 with growth prospects, betting against forecasts that global trade would slow down on the weight of policy uncertainties. Their confidence is unbothered by initial projections made by the world’s most reputable lenders like the International Monetary Fund, which expects trade growth to slow to 2.3 percent in 2026. Globally, the report pointed to technology as the industry with the highest growth prospects this year. The report, funded by DP World and developed with the Horizon Group, gathered the insights of about 3,500 executives from the logistics industry across eight industries and 19 countries.

Showtime at homeAlex Eala escapes the prying eyes of the fans during a short practice session on January 24, 2026. If Eala could draw her countrymen on foreign soil, the support that she’s bound to get at home is quite unimaginable. And, you know, this support in the end has led to milestones like this, a home tournament for the Filipinas,” she said. The Philippines had never hosted a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event until Eala’s phenomenal rise at only 20 years of age. The support, in the end, has led to milestones like this, a home tournament for the Filipinas.

Last September, House Bill 4773 was introduced by House Rep. Maximo Dalog, which seeks to amend specific provisions of the IPC to address its limitations in addressing online infringement. But with widespread access to the web, there has been a stark rise in the consumption of pirated content online. Streaming, in fact, now accounts for almost 80 percent of pirated content in the entertainment industry. It pointed out that this impact on the creative industry has not only disrupted original creations and affected their livelihoods, but that rampant counterfeiting has also led to a cut in revenues and employment in the television and film industry. The creative industry is facing imminent demise unless adequate measures are put in place to stop online piracy.

Your social media postings could result in visa refusalThe US Department of State (DOS) announced that as of Dec. 15, 2025, US embassies will more intensely examine visa applicants’ “online presence” for H-1B, H4, F, M and J non-immigrants. However, this social media vetting could easily apply to applicants for immigrant visas as well. Visa applicants are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public” to enable the US government to review their postings. Screening a person’s social media postings is yet another part of President Trump’s “extreme vetting,” to search out and catch people who may be coming to the US, intending to engage in illegal activities, terrorism, etc. But there still is a reason to be concerned about social media postings.

When the Bar results speak beyond numbersThe 2025 Bar passers emerging from the environment of DivinaLaw carry with them more than fresh titles. When the results of the 2025 Bar Examinations were released, they did more than announce who had passed. When law schools perform well, they do more than produce passers; they replenish the ranks of those entrusted with these responsibilities. A generation that chose the hard wayListening to the new lawyers speak, a pattern emerges. Perhaps this is why the country still pauses when the Bar results are released.

After reform talks, BIR readies audit restartIn a public-private consultation held on Jan. 21 under the BIR Partnership with the Multi-Sectoral Group (BIR-PMSG), the agency presented proposed reforms and new guidelines that will govern the conduct of audits once operations restart. The discussion was led by the Technical Working Group Review Committee on Assessment Integrity and Audit Reform (TWGRC-AIAR), headed by Deputy Commissioner Marissa O. Cabreros. The BIR also outlined changes in audit selection, noting that non-mandatory audits will now be risk-based and system-assisted. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the audit reforms form a core part of BIR D.A.R.E.S., the bureau’s five-point priority reform and legacy agenda, which stands for Digital and Data Transformation, Audit Reform and Accountability, Revenue Collection and Base Protection, Employee Empowerment and Welfare Promotion and Service Excellence and Stakeholder Engagement. He stressed that audit reform is a key pillar of the institution’s broader, phased transformation.

Obiena resumes questMANILA, Philippines — EJ Obiena is bidding to reenter the world top 10 pole vault rankings after slipping from No. He started his drive at the ISTAF Indoor Championships, a World Athletics Tour Silver, in Dusseldorf, Germany, last night (early this morning, Manila time) with results not available at presstime. The start of the World Indoor Tour Gold for me is in Karsruhe, Germany, on Feb. 8. I’m invited to join the event but it conflicts with the Asian Indoor Championships in Tianjin, China, on Feb. 6-8. The Tour Gold has bigger points than Tianjin.”Obiena aims to qualify for the World Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, on March 20-22 and is building up points to make it.

Rape suspect nabbed at NAIAActing PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said personnel from the NAIA police station 1 arrested the foreigner at around 11:46 p.m.MANILA, Philippines — A South Korean wanted for rape in Manila was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Friday night, the Philippine National Police reported. Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said personnel from the NAIA police station 1 arrested the foreigner at around 11:46 p.m. He did not disclose the suspect’s name, but said the Korean is facing a rape case before a Manila court, which has not granted bail. He emphasized that the operation reflects the importance of police presence in airports to prevent wanted persons from eluding justice. “Our responsibility is to ensure that justice is pursued and that victims are given the protection they deserve,” Nartatez said.