Philippines-Japan Business & Security: President Marcos’ Japan state visit gathered fresh momentum for defense and trade, including the signing of a double taxation deal and the start of talks on a GSOMIA, while Japan pledged about $3.4B (P210B) in investments and cooperation on energy and maritime security. Power & Energy: The Visayas grid stayed on tight alert, with possible rotational brownouts in Cebu and nearby areas as NGCP flagged red/yellow conditions; separate analysis warned Luzon’s aging grid and delayed transmission projects are becoming a resilience problem. Agriculture & Food Supply: Pork import allocations were sharply increased, drawing pushback from hog raisers who fear it will derail ASF recovery; El Niño risks also threaten rice output. Finance & Markets: MREIT plans a major ₱25B asset expansion via property-for-share swaps, shifting its portfolio toward a more diversified mix. Governance & Courts: Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant and hold departure order for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan in a graft/plunder case tied to alleged flood-control budget insertions. Trade & Regional Deals: New Zealand and the Philippines signed a Joint Economic Commission framework to deepen trade and investment, targeting a big jump in two-way trade by 2030. Remittances & Payments: A commentary argues migrant workers’ remittance impact is blunted by high fees and friction, while stablecoins and clearer rules could reduce costs. Public Safety: Customs filed criminal complaints over abandoned balikbayan boxes at ports, and authorities continued rescue operations after a deadly building collapse in Angeles City.