Stranger thingsNo, this is not about the popular Netflix series which I have not gotten around to watching. However, after watching with a mixture of fascination and disbelief the more than hour-long rambling speech of the US President at Davos, I could not help but acknowledge that the whole world has been living in a “Stranger Things” scenario, minus perhaps the sci-fi elements but complete with all the strange things we are seeing and hearing from the leader of a once respected global power. In the past, we ourselves were among those countries whose leader was called a dictator. Unfortunately, as noted by economists of AMRO, the Philippines is not benefiting from the shifting global structure in terms of investments. For this year, AMRO now projects growth to reach 5.3 percent, down from its previous projection of growth in 2026 of 5.5 percent.

Source: Philippine Star January 22, 2026 16:33 UTC