The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. - Tertullian

What places do you encounter sorrow in your story and in others’ stories?

Two disturbing reports I learned about on Thursday: 1) the Philippine economy has slowed down considerably and has consistently missed annual growth targets of 6.5 to 8 percent, since 2022 and 2) the Year 2 report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom II) which said that the Philippine education system, already failing, failed even more or worsened, in 2024.

While the House of Representatives advances a bill proposing a P200 daily wage hike, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains on the fence, saying that the issue “still deserves a great deal of study.”

he proposed measure for a P200 across-the-board increase in the daily minimum wage of private sector workers is counterproductive and could have unwanted consequences on the economy, according to the country’s umbrella group of employers.

The Philippine economy grew by 5.6 percent in 2024, below the government’s growth target as extreme weather disturbances, geopolitical tensions and weak global demand dampened economic activity in the last quarter of the year.