Business & Capital

Coverage of capital movement, market structure shifts, and business dynamics shaping the Philippine economy. Where money flows, who controls it, and what it means for the players in the room.

Pickup Coffee Tests Franchise vs Company-Owned Stores

Pickup Coffee grew on company-owned stores before franchising. Franchise vs company-owned stores decides who funds growth and who carries the risk.

November 11, 2026

Canva Layoffs Turn on Location, Not Just Headcount

Canva layoffs cover 1,271 people but not 1,271 lost jobs. Location now decides who is asked to move, and Philippine law sets its own pay floor.

November 9, 2026

PLDT Auditor Resignation Hands Isla Lipana Only the Philippine Audit

The PLDT auditor resignation moved the Philippine audit to Isla Lipana, but PLDT still has no IFRS auditor behind two years of withdrawn opinions.

November 7, 2026

Consumers Fund the Price Certainty in Hydropower Investment

DOE’s ₱5 trillion hydropower investment pitch rests on up to 650 MW with a defined price route, funded by consumers and financed at a 5.50 percent policy rate.

November 4, 2026

PERA Feeder Fund Adds Risk to Retirement Accounts

BIR has listed a semiconductor PERA feeder fund as tax-exempt while self-employed enrollment surges. The exemption covers income, not losses.

October 30, 2026

Weak Peso and a 5.5% Policy Rate Squeeze Importers Twice

A weak peso closed at a record ₱63.52 hours after the BSP’s 50-basis-point hike, leaving importers to pay more per dollar invoice and more to borrow.

October 29, 2026

Four-Fifths of the Mynt IPO Goes to Sellers

Most of the Mynt IPO is existing shares changing hands, not new capital. The 12% float rule and an April 2027 lock-up shape who holds the risk.

October 28, 2026

Coffee Bean Supply Squeeze Hits Independent Cafés First

Local coffee bean supply is tightening while world arabica prices fall. Independent cafés buying per order carry the squeeze while chains hold supply.

October 27, 2026

Grab-Atome Acquisition Squeezes Standalone BNPL Lenders

Grab-Atome acquisition puts a funded Philippine BNPL card book behind Grab’s daily app traffic, and standalone lenders now face a structural cost gap.

October 13, 2026

iSON’s Pledge Cycle Tests CREATE MORE Incentive Eligibility

iSON Group’s $375 million Philippine pledge tests CREATE MORE incentive eligibility, exposing gaps between announced capital and verified delivery.

October 6, 2026

Pleased.com Opens Philippine Office in BGC, Eyes 110 Hires

Customer service software firm Pleased.com has opened its Philippine office in BGC, with plans to hire up to 110 employees in technology and product roles.

October 1, 2026

Luka’s Butter Steaks Grows Its Steak Franchise Model

Luka’s Butter Steaks grows its steak franchise model with new frozen pasta sauces, expanding a brand that started in one home kitchen in 2020.

September 25, 2026

Vandercraft Cafe Builds Its Online Store With Magic by Mise

Vandercraft Cafe, a queer-owned neighborhood coffee shop, grew its orders and loyalty program after moving its storefront online with Magic by Mise.

September 23, 2026

Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Delays Favor One Operator

ICTSI’s one-stop shop pitch reframes Luzon Economic Corridor investment delays as a routing fix, but the design favors whoever proposed it first.

September 21, 2026

Reelist8’s Property Auction Platform Earns National Recognition

Reelist8’s property auction platform reached the national finals of the 2026 Presidential Filipinnovation Awards, one of just 16 finalists nationwide.

September 12, 2026

TikTok Shop Promotion Performance Score Shifts Risk to Creators

TikTok Shop Promotion Performance Score ties creator visibility to seller product quality, converting a discovery tool into shared platform risk for both sides.

September 10, 2026

The Signal Weekly

One email a week with the policy, business and technology stories Filipino professionals need to read.