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Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) has retained its title as the Philippines’ strongest bank for the sixth consecutive year, according to financial research and intelligence provider The Asian Banker.

The recognition forms part of The Asian Banker’s annual ranking of the world’s 1,000 largest and strongest banks, which evaluates financial institutions based on their balance sheet strength, profitability, asset quality, liquidity and risk management.

The ranking assesses banks’ financial health and resilience, including their ability to absorb potential losses and maintain stable operations during challenging economic conditions.

‘Our strength comes from the trust our customers place in us and the dedication of our Metrobankers, who remain committed to delivering financial solutions that help our clients succeed in different market conditions,’ Metrobank president Fabian Dee said.

‘This recognition reflects how we continue to grow stronger together with our clients, communities and partners through every challenge and opportunity,’ Dee added.

The recognition comes as Metrobank continues to report solid financial results, with net income reaching P24.9 billion in the first half.

The bank’s nonperforming loan ratio stood at 1.8 percent, significantly below the banking industry’s average of 3.4 percent. Metrobank also maintained an NPL coverage ratio of 133.3 percent.

Members of the Senate sit as judges in the impeachment case involving the Vice President. It is not a good look if any of those sitting as judges remain silent about the possibility that they are named to replace Vice President Sara Duterte in the event of conviction.

There is clearly a conflict of interest situation when the judge is potentially a beneficiary of his decision. Any judgment by a chamber composed of potential beneficiaries of the outcome cannot be credible.

The impeachment trial is curious to begin with. This is the first time a vice president – normally a powerless post – is being tried. And by a chamber of elected politicians, some of whom with unremarkable records for probity. She was impeached by an even rowdier chamber: the Lower House, which is now on trial in the court of public opinion for mangling the national budget.

Public interest in the trial is tepid at best. Our citizens have not bothered to closely observe trial proceedings. Only a minority, according to the surveys, believe the judgment will be fair. A plurality thinks the defense has done a better job – even as their formal presentation has yet to begin.

I think this is a useless exercise perpetrated by those who had the power but not the credibility to properly lead. Whatever the final outcome will be, everybody loses. The nation is distracted while the economy sinks. This whole circus will likely backfire, producing deep polarization in a country that needs to unite to solve a rapidly worsening crisis.

To address the taint of a possibly conflicted chamber, Sen. Francis Escudero declared he was unavailable to replace Sara Duterte in the event she is convicted. Sen. Alan Cayetano seconded the trial presiding officer, challenging all the senator-judges to declare they would refuse appointment to Sara’s post. This should discourage perception that the Senate arrived at a judgment from a conflicted position.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Claire Castro, silent about Escudero’s disavowal of interest, joined in chorus to denounce Cayetano’s seconding of the motion. A collective disavowal of interest in succession, the duo argued, restricts the President’s power to name the successor.

Which was not the issue. The President can name his own son if he wants to. The issue is the taint of conflict of interest that hangs like a dark cloud over the trial. This has to be addressed somehow.

We have seen enough hypocrisy in this contrived impeachment. Most understand this is nothing more than a cynical ploy to prevent a popular Vice President from becoming elected successor.

It is a ploy contrived by those guilty of worse crimes against our people.

Chief Justice

A fateful decision is coming up. The Judicial and Bar Council has submitted to the President its shortlist for Chief Justice. The incumbent retires just over a week from today.

The Supreme Court has become a more vital institution than usual. Both the presidency and Congress have lost legitimacy in our people’s eyes the past few years. Public opinion polls show net negative ratings for these two branches of government. This is understandable, considering the volume of scandal, mediocrity and brazenness that infected them.

The Supreme Court, on the other hand, repeatedly championed rights and due process the past few years when it seemed governance has run awry. The Court declared the first impeachment of Sara Duterte unconstitutional. The Court reversed the arbitrary decision to take money away from PhilHealth to use for purposes other than public health. Most recently, the Court declared unconstitutional the congressional practice of using ‘unprogrammed allocations’ to inflate the budget and move funds to pork barrel projects.

There are many layers of consideration in choosing the Chief Justice. Judicial philosophy is a consideration. Seniority is another. Legal scholarship needs to be assessed. Professional reputation is indispensable.

We had trouble in the past when seniority was brashly ignored. There was even bigger trouble when appointment to the highest judicial post was seen as animated by narrow political considerations.

Many see the Supreme Court as the last fully functioning branch of our tripartite government. The other two appear to have been overrun by corruption and incompetence such that we are intently waiting for 2028 for change to happen.

The Supreme Court these days is more than merely the court of last resort. It is seen as the reliable guardian of a genuinely constitutional political order. Without its guiding wisdom, we could be wandering in some dark space between tyranny and kleptocracy.

Needless to say, the choice of the next Chief Justice must be as solid as possible. The next leader of the judiciary must steer a fraught path, retaining its institutional credibility instead of being sunk by the waves of politicking. The choice the the next Chief Justice could be the last opportunity for Marcos Jr. to pay our democracy a lasting tribute.

The rumor is that the frontrunner for the highest judicial post is Rodil Zalameda. He is seventh in seniority and is said to be in contention because he penned two decisions favorable to the President’s family: the 2023 ruling that threw out the P41-billion ill-gotten wealth case against the Marcoses and Lucio Tan and this year’s decision that reversed Imelda Marcos’ 2018 graft conviction.

He may have other sterling credentials. But these two cases will invite public interpretation that the choice was political.

Investors yesterday made sure to cash in profits before heading into the Undas break, having no motivation to buy more due to uncertainties on the economic front.

Meanwhile, the peso continued to appreciate after President Marcos made an assurance that economic managers are trying ‘as hard as we possibly can’ to defend the local currency.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) yesterday slipped by 0.44 percent or 25.23 points to settle at 5,680.35, as investors resorted to profit-taking activity to maximize last Thursday’s gains.

The broader All Shares index also dipped by 0.51 percent or 16.31 points, closing at 3,178.42.

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said investors have cashed out of the PSEi to defend their profits before a long weekend.

Likewise, he said investors reduced their exposure because of economic uncertainties hounding the market.

‘The local bourse retreated in yesterday’s session as investors resorted to profit-taking following prior day’s gains. This reflects continued market caution,’ Limlingan said.

‘Investors maintained defensive positions and reduced exposure ahead of the long weekend amid lingering macroeconomic and external uncertainties,’ he added.

Losers edging out the winners, 110 to 63, while 68 issuers were unchanged.

Data from the Banker’s Association of the Philippines show the peso appreciated by 11 centavos to close at 63.74 to $1 from Thursday’s 63.85 per dollar level.

The peso has bounced back after hitting a record low of 64.17 on Oct. 27, prompting President Marcos to assure that there is no need to panic over the weakening local currency.

‘First of all, do not take it with alarm. Don’t panic. It is still an effect of the rising prices of oil and fuel and its impact on the economy,’ Marcos earlier told reporters.

Simply electric.

Following his visit to the Philippines, basketball content creator Matt Kiatipis reveled on the environment the country showcased during his stay here.

Kiatipis, also known as MK, had several one-on-one games with local players in the country.

‘Every place is electric is nowadays, but I was very surprised by Asia. We have been to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and now the Philippines, all of them. Asia is just so passionate about basketball. They love it,’ said Kiatipis, who has more than 9 million followers on social media.

‘I was not expecting this many people to show up, this many people to be excited, this culture to be so deep; it is an amazing surprise. So much passion and so much skill,’ he continued.

Hundreds of people watched MK’s matches, which showcased the content creator’s brash on-court personality and aggressive style.

‘The Philippines, they love basketball, and I love basketball, but I got to love it as much as them.’

Joe Gomez de Liaño, who faced MK, said that such initiatives ‘offer an opportunity to bring basketball enthusiasts together and build stronger connections within the local basketball community.’

‘It was very nice putting the community together; it is good for the crowd they loved watching it. SportsPlus, keep continuing to grow and have more events. You guys are doing well, and for MK, keep up your vlogging. It is a hit everywhere in the world,’ said Gomez de Liaño.

The Department of Education (DepEd) gained international recognition for its recent performance improvements in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Harvard Graduate School of Education dean Nonie Lesaux praised the Philippines for its 2025 PISA results, where the country emerged as the world’s fastest-improving nation in reading performance and ranked among the top improvers overall, significantly increasing scores across reading, mathematics and science.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the commendation, emphasizing that external validation serves as a morale boost for the country’s teachers and learners while underscoring the urgency of compounding these early gains through systemic reforms.

‘We see this as a clear mandate to work harder. Our goal is to ensure that every Filipino child is actually learning, comprehending and thriving,’ Angara said during a forum organized by the Harvard Club of the Philippines Global at the Manila House Private Club in Bonifacio Global City.

The dialogue, attended by DepEd officials and Harvard alumni, focused on strategies to transform foundational learning, strengthen teacher competencies, utilize education-technology effectively and bridge persistent learning gaps.

Lesaux, an internationally recognized scholar in language and literacy development, shared insights closely aligned with DepEd’s ongoing structural interventions.

These include the flagship Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, which has driven measurable gains in literacy and grade-readiness.

‘When experts from institutions like Harvard point out that our PISA performance trends are moving in the right direction, it tells us that our teachers are delivering, our kids are catching up and our programs like ARAL are hitting the mark. But the real work lies in scaling these successes so that geography or background never dictates a child’s future,’ he added.

Mixed movements in pump prices are projected to continue as November starts next week.

An oil industry source said motorists should expect a P2.90 to P3.20 increase in gasoline prices.

Meanwhile, diesel prices may see a slight cut of around P0.40 to P0.60 per liter.

According to the source, eased diesel export restrictions by South Korea helped lower the product’s price, which increased by P1.20 per liter earlier this week.

These prices, however, continue to be affected by energy supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, as well as concerns over another United States strike on Iran after the former’s midterm elections next week.

The peso’s slide to record lows against the dollar also threatens to push fuel prices even higher, with Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin saying that the weakening peso could drive up the cost of imported coal, diesel and liquefied natural gas.

On Tuesday, October 27, the currency hit an all-time low exchange rate of P64.17 to the dollar.

Although the peso traded higher in the following days, it has lingered near the P64-per-dollar mark since.

At seven years old in dark-lit pool halls in Antipolo, AJ Manas took up billiards and dreamt of becoming Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante someday. He is getting there.

The cue artist known as ‘Starboy’ came close to snatching a major crown after barging into the Qatar World Cup 10-ball finals before falling to German Joshua Filler, 6-13, at the Ezdan Palace Hotel in Doha yesterday.

It was another close shave at glory for Manas after also finishing runner-up in the WPA Men’s Doubles 10-ball World Championship early this month in Bali, Indonesia where he teamed up with mentor Carlo Biado.

Tomorrow morning, before most Filipinos have finished breakfast, they will already have depended on the maritime industry several times without realizing it.

The fuel that brought food to the supermarket. The wheat in bread. The farmer’s fertilizer. The medicine at the pharmacy. Much of what we use has traveled by sea.

We rarely think about the ships, ports or people that moved them.

That may be the maritime industry’s greatest paradox.

The better it works, the less we notice it.

But stop the ships. Close a port. Interrupt a supply chain. Damage a fishing ground. Suddenly, maritime is no longer invisible.

It is food prices. Fuel supplies. Raw materials for industries. A fisherman’s livelihood. An island awaiting relief after a typhoon.

For an archipelago, the sea does not merely surround the economy. The sea is part of the economy. And yet we have never quite learned to think about it that way.

We talk about seafarers as a labor. Ports as infrastructure. Shipbuilding as industrial policy. Fisheries as agriculture. Maritime security as defense. Education as training Filipinos to work aboard ships.

Each matters. But the sea does not divide itself according to the government’s organizational chart. We miss the larger picture connecting them.

That is the proposition behind Blue Philippines: to look at our maritime and marine ecosystem as one national development platform.

Congress is taking an important step through proposed Blue Economy legislation. The House-approved measure recognizes fisheries, tourism, shipping, shipbuilding, renewable energy and maritime education, providing a foundation for sustainable ocean development.

But we should go further. The Blue Economy framework can help us govern the ocean asset. Blue Philippines should ask how we organize the national economy around the full value that asset can sustainably support.

Consider what is already there. The Philippine ocean economy generated about P1.08 trillion in 2025 and employed 2.46 million Filipinos. More than half a million Filipino seafarers were deployed internationally, generating billions in remittances.

We are also a significant shipbuilding location, with enormous potential in offshore renewable energy. Our marine ecosystems support food, tourism, livelihoods and coastal protection.

The pieces already exist. What we have not done is connect them. And perhaps our greatest opportunity lies not beneath the sea or inside our ports, but in our people. For generations, one Philippine maritime success story has stood above all others: the Filipino seafarer.

Filipinos help operate the ships that carry the world’s food, energy, raw materials and manufactured goods. Few global industries have Filipinos playing such a significant role.

We should be proud of that achievement and protect it. But perhaps it has also narrowed our imagination. In the Philippines, maritime has too often become synonymous with seafaring.

It is not.

Someone owns a ship. Someone finances and insures it. Someone designs, builds and repairs it. Someone manages and supplies it. Someone writes its software, handles its cargo and advises on its law and regulation.

Around it are ports, logistics networks, shipyards, energy installations, universities, technology companies and coastal communities.

Why shouldn’t Filipinos participate in much more of that value chain? This question becomes especially important in education. The Philippines has more than 80 maritime higher-education institutions. Yet our system still largely defines maritime education as preparation for work aboard a ship.

International maritime degrees require onboard training, but berths are limited. Some students cannot complete the pathway they entered.

The answer is not to lower standards for going to sea. Those standards must remain high. The answer is to widen the number of places a maritime education can take a young Filipino.

Imagine a Philippine Maritime and Marine Skills Framework mapping the professions our economy will need over the next 10 or 20 years.

A marine engineering student might become a ship’s engineer or pursue shipbuilding, marine technology or offshore energy. A marine transportation student might go to sea or build a career in ports, logistics or fleet operations.

Then add marine science, maritime law, insurance, finance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and environmental management.

Instead of educating Filipinos principally for jobs on ships, we begin educating them for careers across the maritime world. That is how a manpower advantage can become a knowledge advantage and eventually an economic one.

The same thinking should extend across the country.

Ports should become engines of regional development. Shipyards should anchor industrial clusters. Marine ecosystems should be treated as productive natural capital. Maritime technology should become an innovation opportunity. Offshore energy should build Filipino engineering and service capabilities, not simply generate electricity.

And environmental protection cannot be an afterthought. There can be no Blue Philippines if the blue disappears.

Healthy seas are not the alternative to development. Sustainable maritime growth depends on them. All of this requires policy, investment and institutions. But perhaps it begins with something even more basic.

A conversation.

A finance official asking why more maritime value is captured elsewhere. A university president asking what new professions a maritime school could teach. An entrepreneur wondering what maritime technology company could be built here. A mayor asking how better ports could transform a local economy. A student discovering that a career connected to the sea does not necessarily mean going to sea. A policymaker asking why an archipelago has never organized development around one of its most obvious advantages.

One question creates another. One conversation creates another. We do not need 50 million maritime experts. We need 50 million Filipinos who understand why maritime matters.

This is one of the few truly global industries that moves food, energy, trade, people and opportunity across borders every day.

Filipinos are already helping move it. They represent 25% of the total global workforce working on the international fleet. The Philippines is already a maritime nation by geography. The question is whether we now have the imagination to become a maritime economy by design.

We have spent decades helping move the world. It is time to ask what maritime can do to move the Philippines.