Cathy Yang

2024 TO REMEMBER 🙏🏼🥹 2024 has been truly eventful — the full ecosystem of Tech, Media and Telco (TMT) coming together for me in quite unexpected ways, deepening and broadening my roles as journalist and corporate citizen. I am immensely grateful for the international recognitions that have come along while straddling both worlds for nearly four and a half years — from Asian TV Awards’ 2023 Best Talk Show Host to Stevie® Gold Award for Technology Excellence 2024 Executive of the Year — Communications Technology. And most recently, as the Asian Academy Creative Awards’ 2024 National Winner (Philippines) for Best Factual Presenter. For 2025, the clarion call comes from Media. With five seasons in — and multiple international awards to boot — Thought Leaders with Cathy Yang turns out to be just the start. Thank you to all my Kapatid at @PLDT Group — I am incredibly privileged to have worked with you all. And to all my Kapatid in Cignal One News, I look forward to the new year creating more content and conversations for our fellow Pinoys — on air, on ground, and online. ❤️ See you all soon! 🤩

Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Ramon Monzon said the flood control corruption scandal significantly impacted Philippine markets but believes the uncertainty has already peaked. He also cited the strong performance of Maynilad Water Services’s November IPO, which attracted both local and foreign investors, as evidence of improving confidence despite recent market declines. 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/18Dsph…

Philippine Stock Exchange president and chief executive officer Ramon Monzon assures retail investors that the PSE index is still “a good place to invest” amid uncertainties and weakening sentiment. Monzon tells One News’ “Money Talks” that the PSE was already nearing bull territory in February until the Middle East conflict weighed on investor sentiment. The PSEi dropped by seven percent in 2025 due to the corruption scandal, but has since gained ground. Monzon says uncertainties over that issue have already “peaked,” as evidenced by Maynilad’s initial public offering in November. Monzon believes the PSEi offers “healthier or bigger dividend yields” compared to “money market placement deals or time deposit yields.” 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/18Dsph…

The plan of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to impose term limits on broker-directors of the Philippine Stock Exchange “comes at the wrong time,” says PSE president and chief executive officer Ramon Monzon. Monzon says in an exclusive interview with One News’ “Money Talks” that the PSE “did not give any comments” on the proposed circular, which will limit the tenure of broker-directors to 10 years. The move may affect four of five current broker-directors on the PSE board, including Ma. Vivian Yuchengco, founder of First Resources Management and Securities Corp. and chair of the Philippine Association of Securities Brokers and Dealers Inc. (PASBD) Monzon says he doesn’t want to muddy the situation and will let the PASBD handle the issue. If successful, SEC’s term-limit proposal will be its biggest move against the PSE’s leadership since the BW Resources scandal of 1999, which led to sweeping reforms and the passage of the Securities Regulation Code of 2000. | via Money Talks 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/18Dsph…

Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Ramon Monzon said investors remain in a risk-off mode due to the Iran conflict but expressed hope that market fears are temporary amid early signs of recovery in the peso and stock market. He added that oil prices need to fall to around $80 per barrel to signal easing tensions and restore market stability. 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/18Dsph…

‘RISK-OFF MODE’ IN MARKETS PSE President and CEO, Ramon Monzon, says investors remain in a risk-off mode amid geopolitical tensions, though early gains in the peso and equities suggest fears may have been overstated. He adds that oil prices easing back to around $80 per barrel would signal stability and help restore market confidence. YT: youtube.com/live/P6s1fKbyO… FB: facebook.com/share/v/1DKBpH… Catch us live Monday to Friday at 9:30 AM Manila time on ONE News. #MTWCY #CathyYang

The Philippine peso hit a historic low, closing at ₱60.30 to the US dollar as of Monday, 4:10 PM, Philippine Standard Time. It traded between a high of ₱60.37 and a low of ₱60.15 during the day. #CathyYang #MoneyTalks

Escalating Middle East tensions are beginning to reshape the country’s inflation outlook. According to RCBC Chief Economist Mike Ricafort, the earlier 2.4% inflation print is “already passé” and no longer reflective of current conditions, as rising oil prices introduce a “new normal” for price pressures. These external factors, he says, are beyond domestic control but have immediate and widespread effects. He said inflation could settle at 4% or higher, with the final trajectory hinging on the duration of the conflict and the extent of pass-through effects across the economy. 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/1EAofr…

Mike Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, said the peso’s outlook remains uncertain and largely dependent on the level of intervention and “smoothening activities” by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). He noted that while the currency is now allowed to adjust more based on market forces, central bank actions continue to play a key role in managing volatility. Ricafort added that hedging and import-related dollar demand, particularly for oil, also influence the peso’s movement. 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/1EAofr…

Mike Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been consistently intervening in the foreign exchange market to smooth peso volatility, resulting in a semblance of stability despite the currency hovering near record-high levels. He noted that these “smoothening activities” have been evident in recent days and weeks, especially since the onset of global tensions, keeping fluctuations to modest day-to-day movements such as less than 10 centavos. 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/1EAofr…

FUEL SPIKE AND INFLATION Mike Ricafort, Chief Economist at RCBC, says the recent spike in oil prices could push inflation in the Philippines to 4% or higher, depending on how long global conflicts persist and their pass-through effects. YT: youtube.com/live/7RddVVSb0… FB: facebook.com/share/v/1LZh8e… Catch us live Monday to Friday at 9:30 AM Manila time on ONE News. #MTWCY #CathyYang

As of Monday, March 23, 12:05 p.m. PST, the Philippine peso hit its intraday weakest level ever at ₱60.295 against the US dollar, after opening the day at ₱60.15. #MoneyTalks #CathyYang

AI & E-COMMERCE: CATALYST OR COLLAPSE? In my Thought Leaders interview with Lazada Philippines & Indonesia CEO Carlos Barrera, he said AI is rapidly transforming e-commerce—automating store operations, enhancing product discovery, and evolving into a core commerce tool that is reshaping how people shop and sell online. 📺 WATCH here: youtu.be/Bk5421dcIdU?si… ▶️ Stream all episodes of Thought Leaders with Cathy Yang on Spotify and catch it on the #OneNewsPH YouTube channel—now airing at its new time slot, 7:00 PM. #TLWCY #CathyYang

STOCKING UP In my Thought Leaders interview with Lazada Philippines & Indonesia CEO Carlos Barrera, he said rising oil prices amid the Middle East conflict are pushing consumers to compare prices and stock up early online, boosting short-term demand even as retailers hold off on price increases. 📺 WATCH here: youtu.be/Bk5421dcIdU?si… ▶️ Stream all episodes of Thought Leaders with Cathy Yang on Spotify and catch it on the #OneNewsPH YouTube channel—now airing at its new time slot, 7:00 PM. #TLWCY #CathyYang

As fuel prices rise, ride-hailing platform Angkas is adjusting its commission structure to support its riders. Angkas CEO George Royeca says commissions can go as low as 0% based on performance, as drivers take on more trips to maintain their earnings. The move comes alongside other incentives aimed at helping riders manage higher operating costs. | via Money Talks 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/1MukGo…

Julian Tarrobago, Investment Coach, said valuation models suggest the Philippine peso’s fair value is around the mid-50s, even as it weakens toward 60. He explained that the currency’s decline is driven more by market sentiment and behavioral factors than a breakdown in economic fundamentals. Tarrobago warned that while 60 is “uncomfortable,” understanding this distinction is key for how households and investors should respond. 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/1Atbqx…

George Royeca, CEO of Angkas, said the company remains financially healthy and profitable despite lowering rider commissions to as low as 0% through performance-based incentives. He explained that strong demand and backend efficiency enable Angkas to support riders amid rising fuel costs. Royeca also noted the company’s resilience through past crises such as the pandemic and oil price hikes. 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/1MukGo…

PESO PRESSURE Investment coach Julian Tarrobago says the peso slipping past ₱60 feels “uncomfortable” for investors, though market sentiment—not underlying economic fundamentals—is the main driver. YT: youtube.com/live/UJesUWI6e… FB: facebook.com/share/v/1KkXTS… Catch us live Monday to Friday at 9:30 AM Manila time on ONE News. #MTWCY #CathyYang

FUEL HIKE IMPACT George Royeca, CEO of Angkas, says fuel hikes cost riders roughly one trip’s worth of income, requiring an extra 15–20 minutes per ride to maintain earnings, though motorcycles’ fuel efficiency makes the impact less severe than for other vehicles. YT: youtube.com/live/UJesUWI6e… FB: facebook.com/share/v/1KkXTS… Catch us live Monday to Friday at 9:30 AM Manila time on ONE News. #MTWCY #CathyYang

The Philippine peso slipped to a fresh record low on Thursday, dropping past the 60-per-dollar threshold to close at ₱60.10. This represents a decline of 58 centavos from Wednesday’s closing rate of ₱59.52 against the US dollar. #MoneyTalks #CathyYang

The government has lost its “moral ascendancy” to tackle revenue loss because it has yet to resolve longstanding corruption issues, according to Mon Abrea, chief tax advisor of Asian Consulting Group. Abrea tells One News’ “Money Talks” that the current rollout of fuel subsidies may still be susceptible to corruption, given how last year’s flood control scandal has remained unresolved. The Department of Finance said the country lost an average of P113.5 billion annually from 2023 to 2025 due to the flood control mess. | via Money Talks 📷: One News WATCH: facebook.com/share/v/1HFvac…