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Chef Josh Boutwood’s Helm remains the Philippines’ only two-Michelin-star restaurant, retaining its prestigious distinction at a Michelin Guide ceremony attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Nine other restaurants earned one Michelin star, including Toyo Eatery, Gallery by Chele, Hapag, Inato, Celera, Asador Alfonso, Linamnam, Kasa Palma and FLOW, which received its first star. Meanwhile, Aurora, Antonio’s, Blackbird and other dining spots made the Michelin-selected list, showcasing the growing diversity of the Philippine food scene. 📸: Vanessa Hidalgo

NGCP vice chair Henry Sy Jr. said the company’s Project Airbag will deploy battery energy storage systems that can store available electricity and release it when the grid is under pressure, including during short-duration shortages, disturbances and evening peak periods. READ: insiderph.com/ngcp-battery-s…

Another Villar mall on the block as Vista Land explores asset sales ------ Tycoon Manuel Villar Jr.’s Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. said it is evaluating “strategic alternatives” in its real estate portfolio after the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) sought clarification on reports that another company-owned mall was up for sale. READ: insiderph.com/another-villar…

ABS-CBN makes ELJ building its official headquarters ------- ABS-CBN Corp. has officially changed its business address following the P6.24-billion sale of most of its historic Quezon City headquarters to property giant Ayala Land Inc. READ: insiderph.com/abs-cbn-makes-…

Tycoon Razon’s ICTSI brings greener muscle to Manila port ------ Billionaire Enrique Razon Jr.’s International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is bringing more muscle to Manila’s main domestic cargo gateway with four new hybrid cranes at NorthPort. The equipment is designed to handle growing cargo volumes while cutting carbon emissions by as much as 58.7 percent compared with conventional cranes. The new cranes combine large batteries with smaller diesel engines to reduce fuel consumption. ICTSI is also strengthening Pier 14 and upgrading Pier 16, with the infrastructure works targeted for completion by the end of 2027.

AUB 9-month profit growth stalls as trading gains vanish ------- Net income edged up just 0.3 percent to a record P9.4 billion, even as loans expanded by double digits and the bank's core interest business delivered stronger earnings. READ: insiderph.com/aub-9-month-pr…

More bad news for the Philippine condo market: Metro Manila is currently swimming in about 80,000 unsold units. @shawnyao reports... READ: insiderph.com/metro-manila-h…

Meralco lines up more power to cushion El Niño impact on electricity bills ------ The country's largest power distributor said its existing supply contracts are sufficient to meet customer requirements, but it is taking extra precautions against a surge in demand as households and businesses use more electricity for cooling. “With higher temperatures expected during the El Niño, we anticipate increase in electricity demand,” Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said in a statement on Thursday. READ: insiderph.com/meralco-lines-…

SPNEC shares surge as P5-B asset deal puts second IPO back in focus -------- SPNEC shares jumped 11.2 percent to P1.39 as the Meralco-backed company unveiled plans to expand its renewable energy business. The deal has also brought its possible second IPO back into the conversation, although there's no firm timetable yet. READ: insiderph.com/spnec-shares-s…

Meralco raises 2026 profit target to P56.6B as power generation gains ------ Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has upgraded its 2026 core profit target to P56.6 billion, putting the power giant on track for another record year as its expanding power generation business and a landmark solar project that was inaugurated earlier this year. The full-year target would represent growth of nearly 12 percent from 2025 READ: insiderph.com/meralco-raises…

‘No retreat’: MVP urges businesses to invest despite economic headwinds ------- "We have to be proactive in helping the economy recover and helping the government do that in whatever way we can," says tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan. READ: insiderph.com/no-retreat-mvp…

BREAKING: After GCash’s blockbuster IPO, Pangilinan eyes Maya listing in 2027 ----- After GCash’s blockbuster IPO, tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan is hoping Maya can follow in 2027. He’s also pushing for a Philippine listing even if foreign shareholders prefer Nasdaq. And Maya isn’t the only one on his list, with PLDT's VITRO, tollways and hospitals all potential candidates for future IPOs. READ: insiderph.com/after-gcashs-b…

Meralco on track for record P56.6B profit, solar unit eyes turnaround ——— Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Meralco is on track to hit its upgraded profit target of P56.6 billion in 2026, up 12 percent from last year and potentially setting another record. The power giant earned P44.8 billion in the first nine months, up 12 percent, with power generation contributing 41 percent of earnings. Its listed renewable energy arm, MGEN Renewables, is also eyeing its first full-year profit of more than P700 million, thanks to the massive MTerra Solar project. Meralco has poured P76 billion into expansion, with 72 percentgoing to renewable energy and battery storage projects. 📸: Miguel R. Camus

UnionBank cuts jobs at UnionDigital, UBX in sweeping digital reset ----- Big changes are underway at UnionBank, one of the pioneers of digital banking in the Philippines. The Aboitiz-led lender is cutting jobs at UnionDigital and UBX as it brings both businesses into its main operations, raising questions about what's next for its digital ambitions. Affected employees are getting help finding new opportunities, including possible openings elsewhere in the Aboitiz Group. READ: insiderph.com/unionbank-cuts…

SGV & Co., the Philippines' largest professional services firm, has named veteran assurance partner Michael Sabado as its next chairman and country managing partner, succeeding Rossana Fajardo effective November 3, 2026. READ: insiderph.com/michael-sabado…

The recognition from Singapore-based financial research organization The Asian Banker reflects the bank's sustained financial performance, asset quality and risk management amid changing economic conditions. READ: insiderph.com/metrobank-is-p…

MGEN eyes second IPO with P5-billion renewable energy asset deal ------- MGEN Renewables Inc., a unit of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), is setting the stage for a second public share offering with a nearly P5-billion asset deal that would expand its business beyond the world's largest single-site solar and battery storage project. The company, formerly SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC), approved the acquisition of five renewable energy investments on Oct. 27 in exchange for about 3.11 billion new shares. The assets are valued at P4.98 billion, with the shares priced at P1.60 each, a 30-percent premium to MGEN's Oct. 23 closing price of P1.23.

Another day, another all-time low for the peso. Are the BSP traditional tools enough? Or does the regulator need a more innovative response to the local currency's weakness? @shawnyao reports...

Tough times, but PH mall giants bet P184B on shoppers, pickleball ----- The Philippine mall isn’t going anywhere, but it might look very different in a few years, according to Colliers Philippines. With Filipinos spending more on essentials like food, education and healthcare while cutting back on dining out and leisure, SM, Ayala Land, Megaworld and Robinsons Land are betting P184 billion on new malls and makeovers through 2030. READ: insiderph.com/tough-times-bu…