Filipino chef crowned as Young Chef England 2026

Filipino chef Stephen Raymundo crowned as Young Chef England 2026

Jude Cartalaba
ABS-CBN News
June 26, 2026 

In the high-stakes, pressure-cooker world of global gastronomy, the Philippines has found its newest torchbearer in Stephen Raymundo.

The young Filipino chef, currently part of the team at Claridge's in London, was recently crowned Young Chef England 2026. 

While the accolade places him among the country's most promising culinary talents, his path to the award began far from professional kitchens. He did not study in an elite culinary institute or undergo traditional culinary training. Instead, his passion for cooking started at home at the tender age of 13.

“My mum was the first person who taught me how to cook, and the first dish I ever made was adobo, a Filipino classic,” Raymundo shared, looking back with a smile. 

“From that moment, it became something special between us. Whenever she was not home or was on her way back, she would text me and say, ‘Cook me adobo!’ Looking back now, that was the beginning of my connection with food.”

Today, while he spends his days mastering the rigorous, meticulous techniques of British and French haute cuisine at Claridge’s, his heart remains anchored to his roots. For Raymundo, the ultimate goal is to weave his heritage into his cooking, serving up world-class dishes inflected with a distinct Filipino twist.

Flavor and emotion

For this young chef, cooking is far more than a display of technical skill — it is an exercise in empathy and human connection.

“My philosophy as a chef is to make a memory for the guest,” he explained. “I want my food to be something people remember, not only because of how it tasted, but because of how it made them feel.”

“I love seeing people react to something I have cooked, especially friends and family who do not know I am a chef. Seeing their faces light up and hearing them say, ‘Wow, this is nice’—is one of the most rewarding feelings. Food has the ability to bring back memories, create new ones, and connect people through flavour, smell, and presentation,” Raymundo said.

It is this profound understanding of individuality that sets him apart in a sea of talent.

“You could give three chefs the exact same ingredients, garnish, and brief, and each one would create something completely different,” he noted. “That is what makes food so exciting. Every plate carries the personality, creativity, and perspective of the chef behind it.”

Working in Claridge’s

Raymundo attributed the sharp trajectory of his growth to the unforgiving, elite standard of his current culinary home.

“Much of my development has come through real kitchen experience, especially through the daily trials and standards at Claridge’s. Working there has taught me discipline, consistency, speed, flavour, presentation, and respect for ingredients,” he said.

That rigorous discipline was put to the test at the World Young Chef Young Waiter (YYY) England Finals 2026. Facing down an esteemed, eagle-eyed panel of industry titans — including celebrity chef Calum Franklin, Simon Attridge of Claridge's, Mario Perera of Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Tom Booton, and Roy Ner — Raymundo excelled under immense live pressure.

The competition goes far beyond the plate, evaluating emerging professionals on technical prowess, organization, creativity, teamwork, and mental fortitude.

Established in the UK in 1979, the YYY competition is an internationally revered platform celebrating the finest hospitality talent aged 28 and under. Designed to champion hospitality as a noble vocation, it fosters mentorship and opens global doors for the industry’s future leaders.

Raymundo shared the 2026 England podium with two equally formidable peers: Alex Coward from London's Hide, who claimed Young Waiter of the Year; and Juni Guthrie from Sexy Fish, who secured Young Mixologist of the Year.

Together, this trio will proudly represent England at the upcoming World Finals, where they will face off against the absolute best young hospitality talent on the planet.

As Raymundo prepares to take his place on the global stage, he carries with him the discipline of Claridge's, the prestige of England's culinary elite, and the unforgettable aroma of a mother's home-cooked adobo.

That fascination with the emotional resonance of food drives his daily hustle.

Fil-Canadian Nurse John landed on Forbes magazine's "Top Creators of 2026" list

Filipino-Canadian nurse John makes Forbes' new top creators list

Kristofer Purnell
Philstar Global
26 June 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-Canadian nurse and content creator John Dela Cruz, more popularly known as Nurse John, landed on Forbes magazine's "Top Creators of 2026" list.

Nurse John figured in the No. 28 spots, a good middle finish in between American content creators Marques Brownlee and Tana Mongeau.

Forbes noted that Nurse John scored a 12.97% average engagement from his over 19 million followers. His $7.2 million (PP441 million) earnings garnered him an Entrpreneurship Score of 3.

The magazine mentioned in a write-up how the creator "turned hospital burnout into a multimillion-dollar stand-up career," recalling Nurse John's frontline services during the pandemic and the TikTok videos he posted to cope with his industry's chaos.

The past couple of years saw Nurse John sell out a number of comedy shows — including his "Short Staffed Tour" visiting the Philippines earlier this year — as well as appearances in several comedy events like Netflix Is a Joke and Just for Laughs.

It should come as no surprise that topping Forbes' list is Jimmy Donaldson or MrBeast, the most-followed YouTuber to date.

MrBeast was followed by Dhar Mann and Steven Bartlett, with Markiplier and Rhett & Link rounding out the Top 5.

Other familiar names on the list include Druski, I Show Speed, Mark Rober, Khaby Lame, Ms. Rachel, Jacksepticeye, Steven He, and the D'Amelio sisters Charli and Dixie.

Put together the 50 listed creators have combined earnings worth more than a billion dollars.

Seven Philippine companies secured spots in 2026 Forbes Global 2000

7 Philippine firms land on Forbes Global 2000 list

Emmanuel John B. Abris 
Inquirer.net
26 June 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Seven Philippine companies secured spots in the 2026 edition of the Forbes Global 2000, with SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) emerging as the country’s highest-ranked on the annual list of the world’s largest publicly traded firms.

SMIC placed 1,029th globally, 

ahead of BDO Unibank Inc. at 1,082nd.

The others include Top Frontier Investment Holdings Inc. (1,170th), 

International Container Terminal Services Inc. (1,375th), 

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (1,383rd), 

Ayala Corp. (1,532nd) 

and Manila Electric Co. (1,704th).

Now in its 24th year, the Forbes Global 2000 ranking is based on four equally weighted metrics: sales, profits, assets and market value.

“This reflects the trust of our customers and investors, the work of our people, and the strength of the businesses we have built over the years,” said Frederic C. DyBuncio, president and CEO of SMIC.

“We continue to invest in the Philippines because we believe in the country’s future and long-term growth,” DyBuncio added.

Forbes said companies included in this year’s rankings posted record-high figures despite trade tensions, geopolitical uncertainty and persistent inflation.

Collectively, the 2,000 companies generated $56 trillion in annual revenue, $5.5 trillion in profit, held $272.2 trillion in assets and accounted for $121.9 trillion in market value. These are based on financial data available as of May 15, 2026.

Forbes said the rankings reflected the continued dominance of banking, technology and energy companies in the global economy.

JPMorgan Chase retained the No. 1 spot for the fourth consecutive year, leading 593 US-based companies on the list. Amazon climbed to second place, followed by Berkshire Hathaway in third.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, ranked fourth as the artificial intelligence boom continued to lift major technology companies, while Saudi Aramco rounded out the top five.

The rest of the top 10 consisted of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (sixth), Bank of America and Microsoft (tied at seventh), China Construction Bank (ninth) and Agricultural Bank of China (10th). INQ

Philippines climbs four places in a global competitiveness ranking 2026

PH climbs four spots in competitiveness list

Niña Myka Pauline Arceo
The Manila Times

19 June 2026

THE Philippines has gained four places in a global competitiveness ranking, reflecting improved perceptions of the country’s ability to foster a business-friendly environment despite lingering concerns over supply chain disruptions and exchange-rate volatility.

The country ranked 47th out of 70 economies this year, up from 51st in 2025, according to the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook released by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

The improvement allowed the Philippines to retain its position as the 10th most competitive economy among countries with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita below $20,000.

The annual ranking assesses economies based on their capacity to create and maintain an environment that sustains the competitiveness of enterprises. It evaluates countries using four broad factors: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure.

“I’ve seen improvements in institutional quality of the country based both on government and business efficiency,” World Competitiveness Center Director Arturo Bris told The Manila Times late on Wednesday.

“The country’s performance in the economic performance factor is the one that marks the country’s performance in the overall ranking,” he added.

Singapore returned to the top of the competitiveness rankings in 2026 after placing second last year, helped by a sharp improvement in business efficiency that propelled it to first place globally.

Hong Kong climbed to second place, extending its steady rise over the past three years and reinforcing the strong presence of Asian economies at the top of the list.

Switzerland slipped to third from first in 2025 after a decline in economic performance, one of the ranking’s four key factors, falling 24 spots to 37th.

Meanwhile, Taiwan rose two places to fourth, continuing its upward trend from eighth in 2024 and sixth in 2025. The United Arab Emirates remained in fifth place.

The Philippines, meanwhile, remained 13th out of 15 economies in Asia-Pacific region.

The country’s improved standing came against the backdrop of an increasingly fragmented global economy marked by geopolitical tensions, supply chain realignments and heightened uncertainty.

The IMD said competitiveness in today’s environment extends beyond traditional indicators such as market size, low labor costs and growth prospects.

Instead, institutional credibility, regulatory predictability and governments’ ability to respond to shocks have become increasingly important determinants of investor confidence.

“I think the good news for the Philippines is that institutional quality keeps on improving, that tends to be in the long term the best predictor of the competitiveness ranking,” Bris said.

“Because of the turmoil in the world economy last year and the stability created by tariffs and other geopolitical events, the country has suffered, in which I would say it’s only a temporary event,” he added.

But despite the country’s improved ranking, Filipino executives continued to identify several risks that could undermine confidence and future competitiveness gains.

About 67.4 percent of the executives surveyed cited supply chain disruptions as a major factor affecting business confidence. Meanwhile, 69.8 percent pointed to exchange-rate volatility as a significant concern, underscoring the vulnerability of businesses to external shocks and fluctuations in global financial markets.

The IMD identified several challenges the Philippines needed to address this year, including sustaining economic growth while keeping inflation in check amid external shocks.

It also stressed the need to improve government efficiency and reduce corruption risks, ensure quick responses to energy and food supply disruptions, address issues affecting access to and the quality of basic education and encourage investments in renewable energy and climate resilience.

The Philippines was named as the world’s No. 1 retirement destination for 2026 by the Expatriate Group

PH named world No. 1 retirement destination

Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
Cebu Daily News
19 June 2026

MANILA – The Philippines was named as the world’s No. 1 retirement destination for 2026 by the Expatriate Group, an addition to its list of accolades affirming its appeal as a destination for expats.

The country ranked first as the best country to retire to in 2026, scoring 78 out of 100, in the group’s latest Retirement Abroad Index.

The index ranks the world’s “most retiree-friendly” countries based on healthcare quality, visa accessibility, health insurance requirements, cost of living, and expat community and integration.

The Expatriate Group said the Philippines performed strongly for affordability and visa accessibility, which was further elevated by its “strong private healthcare sector” that “offers reassurance for retirees.”

“Affordability remains one of the country’s biggest strengths. A retired couple can typically live comfortably on around £750 – £1,000 per month, although costs are generally higher in Manila than in the smaller cities and coastal communities,” it said.

“Combined with a well-established expat population across Manila, Cebu, and popular island destinations, this makes the transition to life overseas much easier than in many competing retirement destinations.”

Thailand followed in second place with a score of 77, driven by the joint-highest healthcare score in the index. Colombia took third place with a score of 73, combining low living costs with one of the most accessible retirement visa pathways.

The Philippines’ new recognition follows its recent citation as the Best Retirement Destination in Asia at the 2025 TripZilla Excellence Awards.

Special Resident Retiree’s Visa

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday welcomed the ranking and vowed to continue strengthening the country’s Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV), the flagship initiative of the Philippine Retirement Agency (PRA) for qualified foreign nationals looking to retire in the Philippines.

“Under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to continuously improve the quality of tourism services and position the Philippines as a premier destination for visitors across all age segments, this recognition affirms the progress we are making in creating a more welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable experience for travelers and retirees alike,” Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said.

Beyond natural attractions

“Beyond our natural attractions, the Philippines offers warm hospitality, affordable living, quality services, and vibrant communities that allow people to live, travel, and thrive. We will continue working with the Philippine Retirement Authority and our stakeholders to further strengthen the country’s competitiveness as a world-class retirement and tourism destination.”

PRA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Bob Zozobrado, meanwhile, described the recognition as a reaffirmation of the country’s “growing reputation as a premier choice for retirees seeking a fulfilling and comfortable lifestyle abroad.”

“We remain committed to enhancing the retirement experience for foreign nationals and showcasing the many advantages that make the Philippines truly a home away from home,” he said.

The Expatriate Group is a leading provider of international health insurance serving expatriates and retirees across more than 180 countries. (PNA)

Filipina chef Rhoda Magbitang wins Top Chef season 23

Filipina chef Rhoda Magbitang wins Top Chef season 23

GMA Lifestyle
11 June 2026

Filipina chef Rhoda Magbitang strengthened the country's place on the map after she clinched the title of the American television series Top Chef Season 23.

Rhoda wowed the editor-in-chief of Food & Wine magazine, Hunter Lewis, chefs Eric Ferguson, Camari Mick, and Nok Suntaranon, and Top Chef alums Sara Bradley, Joe Flamm, and Stephanie Izard with a four-course meal.

The Filipina chef prepared sweet potato and uni, lugaw, and a grilled eggplant omelet with lap cheong XO and pork belly. She also served caldereta braised in liver instead of dessert to honor her father.

“This is a toast to my dad— caldereta braised in liver and vegetables,” Rhoda told the judges.

She added, “After we talked about all the courses being a 'toast to something,' it was important for me to honor my parents.”

After an excruciating showdown of grit and talent in the kitchen, Rhoda ultimately won against Sherry Cardoso and Laurence Louie.

According to reports, Rhoda will take home $250,000 (P15,366,125.00), a feature in Food & Wine magazine, an appearance at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colo., headline her own exclusive dinner at the historic James Beard House in New York, and have the opportunity to present at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.

Alex Eala wins Birmingham Open title

Alex Eala wins Birmingham Open title, ends Czech curse

Story by Mark Giongco 
Inquirer.net
08 June 2026

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala raised her first trophy of the season and lifted a curse that has haunted her for the past several years.

Eala rallied past up-and-coming Czech Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, to win the WTA 125 Birmingham Open on Sunday night (Manila time).

The 21-year-old Eala won her second WTA crown after ruling the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico last September.

Eala’s victory also marked her first against a Czech in 14 tries since turning pro in 2020.

“I’m so honored to lift this trophy today. Lifting this trophy only makes me more motivated to keep working,” said Eala.

“It’s one of those days where I hope we can both win. It’s an incredible match.”

The 21-year-old Eala joined the likes of former Grand Slam champions and world number ones in Maria Sharapova, Ashleigh Barty, and Angelique Kerber to name a few, who all won the Birmingham Classic at some point in their celebrated careers.