Philippines to host Asean 2026

Philippines to host Asean 2026

Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo
sunstar.co.ph
29 October 2025

THE Philippines will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2026.

During the Kapihan with the Media in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Marcos said the Philippines’ hosting of the 2026 Asean Summit will be “chill and hospitable.”

Marcos formally received the Asean chairmanship gavel from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the symbolic handover at the closing ceremony of the 47th Asean Summit, marking the Philippines’ assumption of the Asean chairmanship next year.

The Philippines last hosted the Asean Summit in 2017.

“We are now in the process of putting together the different elements of where we think Asean should be focusing,” said Marcos.

“So one of the things is the COC (Code of Conduct), for example. Number one para sa atin. The other member states, that’s not as a big priority to them as it is to us. So, this is our chance to really promote that and to highlight that, and hopefully we will succeed,” he added.

The President was referring to the COC in the South China Sea being negotiated among Asean member states and China amid the ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos also welcomed the social media characterization of the Philippines as the “chill dude” member of the Asean, noting that it reflects the Filipino people’s well-known values of hospitality and friendliness.

“I’m glad that ang starting point natin, ang tingin sa Pilipino ay ‘yun na nga ‘chill’ at madaling kausap. That’s a big help pagka you’re trying to find consensus,” he said.

(I’m glad that our starting point is seeing Filipinos as ‘chill’ and easy to talk to. That’s a big help when you’re trying to find consensus.)

Marcos stressed that the Filipinos’ nature of being lighthearted and approachable continues to serve the country well, especially in international relations.

“I agree. Sa palagay ko naman totoo din naman na talagang ganoon ang Pinoy. Magaan ang ugali ng Pinoy talaga. And that is to our advantage,” he said.

(I agree. I also think it’s true that Filipinos are really like that — they have an easygoing nature. And that is to our advantage.)

“We will present always the best possible side so that we are met with the most possible successes,” he added. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)

Philippines officially assumed the 2026 Chairship of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council

Philippines assumes 2026 ASEAN-BAC chairship

Philstar Global
29 October 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The Philippines officially assumed the 2026 Chairship of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) on October 26, 2025, as ASEAN-BAC Malaysia handed over leadership of the regional body.

The council provides private sector guidance to boost ASEAN’s economic integration and identifies priority areas for consideration by ASEAN Leaders.

The ASEAN-BAC Philippines delegation, led by Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III and council members George Barcelon and Michael Tan, traveled to Kuala Lumpur for the handover ceremonies.

The event was a highlight of the ASEAN-BAC Events and Related Summits held from October 24 to 27, which included the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit, the ASEAN Business Awards and the inaugural ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit.

These events coincided with the 47th ASEAN Summit, which gathers leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN-BAC Philippines will continue to follow the guiding theme of “Prosperity for All”, first adopted during its previous chairship in 2017.

“There has been plenty of exchanging of ideas, and I am glad to hear how some resonate with my own views of the role of ASEAN and the private sector in bringing about inclusive, sustainable growth,” Concepcion said.

“As we take on this new role, our goal is to build on this momentum, empowering MSMEs and strengthening partnerships that drive inclusive growth and food security across the region. Together, we can ensure that the ASEAN spirit of unity, innovation, and entrepreneurship continues to thrive,” he added.

BSP Gov bags highest grade in Global Finance report card

Remolona gets ‘A-’ in global central bankers’ report card

Story by Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Inquirer.net
26 August 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. bagged an “A-” grade for his first year as head of the Philippine central bank in the 2024 report card of New York-based Global Finance magazine.

Remolona, who took over the BSP helm in June 2023, got the third highest grade in the annual report card that uses an “A+” to “F” scale for success in areas such as inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability and interest rate management.

Notably, he earned the same grade as US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who announced in a hotly anticipated speech last week that “the time has come for policy to adjust” amid a slowdown in the American job market.

“A” represents an excellent performance, with “A+,” “A” or “A-” being the highest grades that central bank governors of nearly 100 key countries can receive. An “F” means outright failure.

Global Finance announced only the top-rated central bankers for this year in a statement dated Aug. 19. Published annually since 1994, the full 2024 report card will appear in its October issue.

Fighting inflation

“Central bankers have waged war against inflation over the past few years, wielding their primary weapon: higher interest rates. Now, countries around the world are witnessing the tangible results of these efforts, as inflation has dropped significantly,” said the magazine’s founder and editorial director Joseph Giarraputo.

“Global Finance’s annual Central Banker Report Cards honor those bank leaders whose strategies outperformed their peers through originality, creativity and tenacity,” Giarraputo added.

In his first year as BSP governor, Remolona carried on the works of his predecessor, Felipe Medalla, in battling persistently high consumer prices.

In a bid to tame inflation, the BSP raised its policy rate by a total of 450 basis points (bp) to a more than 17-year high of 6.5 percent, among the most aggressive tightening in Asia.

This included an urgent 25-bp rate hike during an off-cycle meeting of the BSP’s policymaking Monetary Board (MB) that Remolona presided over in October last year.

A flare-up in inflation was seen again in 2024 due to high global energy prices and the El Niño onslaught.

In July, inflation jumped to 4.4 percent, the first time this year that price growth breached the BSP’s target band again.

But the BSP now expects inflation to go on a downtrend starting in August, as lower rice tariffs reduced the risks of upward price pressures in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the economy grew 6.3 percent in the second quarter, but favorable base effects masked an anemic consumption that had been weakened by high prices and expensive borrowing costs.

To finally give the economy a shot in the arm, the BSP early this month announced a 25-bp reduction in its policy rate, its first easing move in nearly four years, and Remolona said one more cut of the same size is possible either at the October or December policy meeting of the MB.

Solid experience

This year, only three central bank governors got an A+ grade from Global Finance: Denmark’s Christian Kettel Thomsen, India’s Shaktikanta Das and Switzerland’s Thomas Jordan.

Remolona is the seventh governor of the BSP and MB chair.

He has extensive policy and operational experience in monetary policy and international finance, having worked for 19 years at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and 14 years for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The Basel, Switzerland-based BIS is an international organization that serves as a bank for central banks, acting as a forum to promote discussion and policy analysis and a center for economic and monetary research.

From 2019 to 2022, Remolona served as professor of finance and director of central banking at the Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur.

He also taught at Williams College, Columbia University, New York University and the University of the Philippines-School of Economics.

Before his appointment to the MB in 2022, Remolona served as an independent director of the Bank of the Philippine Islands and chair of its risk management committee.

Makati's The Curator in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024

The Curator in Makati bags 33rd spot in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024

Story by Ayie Licsi 

Philstar Global

17 July 2024

Makati's The Curator has again made the list of Asia's 50 Best Bars for the ninth year.

50 Best has released its full list of top choice bars across the continent after previously revealing its 51 to 100 list. Southbank Cafe + Lounge made the rankings placing at 82.

For the top 1 to 50 bars, The Curator emerged as no. 33, being the lone bar in the Philippines.

The top 1 best bar in Asia is Bar Leone in Hong Kong, with Zest in Seoul in second place, and Jigger & Pony in Singapore in third place. Hong Kong's Coa and Tokyo's Bar Benfiddich round out the top 5. Singapore had 11 bars in the 2024 list.

Established in 2016, The Curator is located in Legazpi Village in Makati and has been on the list since. It also won the accolade as The Best Bar in the Philippines for the fourth time this year.

50 Best describes the Makati bar as an "excellent hostelry" with a dedication to caffeinated beverages and mixed drinks. It also took note of the cocktails served in an intimate backroom and how The Curator hosts international bartender takeovers.

The bar's menu features drinks designed with notable figures in mind. For example, The First Refrain is inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda and "delivers a symphonic combination of whiskey, chai-spiced red vermouth and bitters," as per the list.

Other bars that made the list include Nutmeg & Clove in Singapore, BKK Social Club in Bangkok, Penrose in Kuala Lumpur, Argo in Hong Kong, Virtù in Tokyo, Penicillin in Hong Kong, Craftroom in Osaka, Bar Mood in Taipei, Barc in Kathmandu, Alice in Seoul, and The Haflington in Hanoi.

The Asia's 50 Best Bars list was fully unveiled on July 16 at a live awards ceremony at Rosewood Hong Kong.

Manila Placed 103rd in QS Best Student Cities 2025 Ranking

Manila Placed 103rd in QS Best Student Cities 2025 Ranking

Story by Hanna Panoringan 
Spot.ph
21 June 2024

(SPOT.ph) Manila remains the only city in the Philippines that secured a spot in the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities Ranking.

The Philippines' capital city, home to the University Belt or U-belt, placed 103rd in the global rankings. It scored 59.4 overall, a few notches higher than last year's score of 55.7.

Of the ten Southeast Asian cities included in the rankings, Singapore came on top with a global ranking of 15th, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (23rd), Bangkok, Thailand (59th), and then Manila.

As students from various regions of the Philippines and beyond gather in Manila, the city continues to be an appealing destination for those seeking more than just a degree.

The U-Belt area, in addition to its academic offerings, serves as a vibrant hub of student activity. It features numerous cafes, bookstores, affordable eateries, and recreational spaces to meet the needs and preferences of its youthful population.

2025 Best Student Cities Rankings

QS Top Universities, the platform behind the global ranking, annually researches and compiles the most prime locations in the world for students.

As for the methodology, each city are ranked based on the following six key categories:

University rankings, which evaluate the city's performance in the QS World University Rankings

Student mix, which refers to the proportion of students in the city’s population

Desirability, which covers the city's safety, pollution levels, and number of students who want to study in the city

Employer activity or youth employment in the city

Affordability, which looks into a university’s tuition cost and the city's cost of living

Student view, which is based on a survey of students' experiences while studying in the city

Looking at Manila's stats, it performed best in employer activity (77), followed by affordability (74.6), student view (58.8), student mix (29.1), university rankings (29), and desirability (20.4).

QS covered a total of 150 cities in this year's edition, with London, United Kingdom, as the top city for students for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea.

A city is eligible for assessment by QS if it meets the following criteria: it has a population of more than 250,000, at least two universities that appeared in the recent QS World University Rankings, and is in a country marked as "insignificant to the medium" by the global medical and security services company International SOS index.

In the Philippines, Manila-based educational institutions, the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University, landed a spot in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.