Try GOLD - Free

The future, now

Manila Bulletin

|

August 02 2025

While dearly, duly elected public officials are keeping their eye on the calendar leading to 2028, urban planner Jun Palafox is celebrating his company’s 36th anniversary and sending out their “Postcards from the Future” circa 2050 through 2100.

- JULLIE Y. DAZA

Minus a crystal ball, Jun is looking at the country of his birth as a “first-world country with a first-world economy, a plan and design through visionary, inclusive, and sustainable development.” Sounds like a tall order especially if you’re a pessimist rather than an optimist. The next generations would do well to be hopeful, rather than skeptical. For saying that, I affirm that yes, you could say I am an optimist, too.

MORE STORIES FROM Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

October FDI inflows slump on debt

Net inflows of brick-and-mortar foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Philippines plunged to $642 million in October 2025 from $1.07 billion in the same period in 2024, due to a massive drop in net debt instruments.

time to read

1 mins

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

PH signs $860-M ADB loans

Before 2025 ended, the Philippines signed two loan agreements with the Manila-based multilateral lender, Asian Development Bank (ADB), worth nearly $900 million, committing to repay debts that will run until 2040.

time to read

2 mins

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

Corruption puts investors on edge

The country's largest business group warned that investment sentiment will continue to deteriorate unless the government moves to hold high-level personalities implicated in the multibillion-peso corruption scandal accountable.

time to read

2 mins

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Marcos seeks extradition treaty with Portugal for Zaldy Co's arrest

President Marcos is eyeing the formal application for an extradition treaty with Portugal in a bid to arrest fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co who is believed to be staying in that European country.

time to read

1 min

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

Ex-DPWH engineer Alcantara will not recant testimonies

Resigned Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district engineer Henry C. Alcantara will not recant his testimonies in the anomalous flood control projects.

time to read

1 min

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

11,427 megawatts in Leviste solar firm deals canceled

The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking ₱24 billion in penalties from Leviste-led Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. for failing to meet construction deadlines.

time to read

1 mins

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

Spending bottleneck slows growth

The Marcos Jr. administration's pivot toward stricter budget oversight and institutional reform is creating a persistent fiscal drag that threatens to pull economic growth below four percent by the end of 2025, according to HSBC.

time to read

2 mins

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Sotto vows to act 'forthwith' on any impeachment complaint

Senate President Vicente \"Tito\" Sotto III said, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, that he will immediately act on any impeachment complaint - whether it be against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. or Vice President Sara Duterte - that will be endorsed to the Senate from the House of Representatives.\"

time to read

1 min

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

PH signs historic free trade deal with UAE

The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) during President Marcos' working visit to Abu Dhabi.

time to read

1 mins

January 14, 2026

Manila Bulletin

China ready to engage PH in candid dialogue

China has said it is ready to engage in candid dialogue with the Philippines, like what it says it does with other neighboring countries, as disputes in the South China Sea continues, involving now even Philippine government officials.

time to read

3 mins

January 14, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size