Ramon Royandoyan

4 weeks ago | asia.nikkei.com | Ramon Royandoyan

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- For Filipinos like Randy Martinez, May 12's midterm elections for the House of Representatives, half of the Senate and thousands of city and municipal council seats come at a time when crucial policymaking and legislation could have a hand in spurring development across a country falling short of its economic growth targets. Weak consumption and a battery of typhoons clipped growth toward the second half of 2024.

1 month ago | asia.nikkei.com | Ramon Royandoyan

MANILA -- The Philippine peso is bracing for a potential jolt as U.S. President Donald Trump's promised crackdown on immigration threatens to disrupt global labor markets and squeeze the billions sent home by overseas Filipino workers, a key economic lifeline. Over the past couple of weeks, global financial markets have been roiled by the other side of Trump's policies -- tariffs.

2 months ago | asia.nikkei.com | Ramon Royandoyan

MANILA -- Many times in recent years, Philippine naval vessels have been isolated and surrounded in the South China Sea by more heavily armed and numerous Chinese ships. These days, though, more and more countries are reaching out to the Philippines to show that it is not alone.

2 months ago | asia.nikkei.com | Ramon Royandoyan

MANILA -- The number of Jollibee Foods' group restaurants is set to surpass 10,000 this year as the conglomerate moves to a franchising strategy in North America to speed up expansion. At the end of last year, the Philippine restaurant group had 9,766 outlets worldwide, including those of its flagship fried chicken Jollibee chain.

2 months ago | asia.nikkei.com | Ramon Royandoyan

MANILA -- Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will remain a candidate in May's midterm elections while he awaits possible trial at the International Criminal Court in the Hague for crimes against humanity, according to officials. The Philippines' Commission on Elections said the ex-leader will remain a candidate in the Davao City mayoral election. The region is his family's bailiwick and his second son Sebastian, who is currently mayor of the city, is running for vice mayor.