rhk111's Blog

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Vietnam’s success is because they focused on Exports and Foreign Investments while the Philippines focused on weaker Strategies

Here is a good Article about how and why the Philippines is already lagging behind Vietnam, and here are the Key Points on why it is so:

In 2024, the difference in Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita between Vietnam and the Philippines was only $20 with Vietnam ahead, but just a Year later in 2025 Vietnam has now increased its Lead to $120. "GNI per Capita" means the Total Income earned by all of a Country's Residents divided by its Population.

Vietnam's success is because they focused on providing Exports and getting Foreign Investments. The Philippines on the other Hand just focused on exporting Labor and depended on Domestic Consumption, which clearly now shows as the weaker Strategy, especially now.

Vietnam took only around two Decades to enter the Lower Middle Income (LMI) Category and "graduate" to Upper Middle Income (UMI) Status while the Philippines took around twice as long or around four Decades to do the same.

Below is the GNI per Capita of most of the Countries in South East Asia (SEA): 1) Singapore - $81,760 2) Malaysia - $12,380 3) Thailand - $7,690 4) Indonesia - $5,120 5) Vietnam - $4,970 6) Philippines - $4,850

SOURCE: A Tale of two Economies: Why the Philippines now lags Vietnam {Archived Link}

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Philippines again left behind in 2025 as Foreign Investors chose to invest in other South East Asian Countries instead

The Philippines last Year of 2025 was again left behind the Investment Boom that has been sweeping most of the other Countries in South Easth Asia (SEA) according to the 2026 World Investment Report that was released recently by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Philippines only received around Usd 9 billion worth of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in 2025 which is almost 17 times lower than that of Singapore which received Usd 151 billion worth of FDIs last Year.

Indonesia ($21.44 billion), Vietnam ($20.35 billion) and Thailand ($19.1 billion) had more than twice more FDIs than the Philippines while Malaysia at $ 15.4 billion had more than 1 1/2 times more. This shows that Foreign Investors actively chose to invest more in other SEA Countries than in the Philippines.

SOURCE: Philippines left behind as $244 billion in Foreign Capital floods Southeast Asia {Archived Link}

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Indonesia successfully test fires its locally made 70 mm caliber RD-702 Wrap Around Fin Aerial Rocket (WAFAR) Practice Rocket

Just a Reminder of how far ahead most of our South East Asian (SEA) Neighbors are ahead of us, especially when it comes to Self Reliance in Defense after Indonesia successfully tested their locally-made RD-702 70 mm caliber Wrap Around Fin Aerial Rocket (WAFAR) Practice Rocket.

The Rocket is made by the Indonesian Company "PT Dirgantara" and is mostly used by Aircraft. Our own Air Force extensively uses such Rockets also on our Helicopters and Fixed-Wing Aircraft. Even if this Version is currently just a “Practice Rocket”, it is still a big Step for Indonesia, and will pave the Way for the deadly, armed Versions later on.

No Timeline yet was mentioned on when Indonesia intends to mass produce these Rockets, but the Test Firing is Part of the Development and Certification Process for the eventual use of them by their Armed Forces.

SOURCE: Dislitbangau Uji Performa Roket WAFAR RD-702, Dukung Kemandirian Industri Pertahanan Nasional {Archived Link}

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Today, June 11, 2026 marks the 113th Year since the Bud Bagsak Massacre in Sulu where US Forces killed at least 300 Moros

Since both the Philippine and United States (US) Government refuse to commemorate Events like these in our History, then it is up to us Citizens to help everybody remember in our own Way.

Today Marks the Start of the “Battle of Bud Bagsak”, or also known as the “Bud Bagsak Massacre” in 1913 or 113 Years ago. This was a Battle held in Mount Bagsak in Jolo, Sulu between the US Forces led by General John Pershing with a force of around 1,200 Soldiers versus the Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu led by Datu Amil numbering around 1,000 Moros.

The Battle ended four Days later with the Filipino Moros defeated and suffering at least 300 and up to 500 dead while the American Soldiers only suffered around 15. This Battle effectively marked the End of the Moro Rebellion in the Philippines against the Americans.

SOURCE: Battle of Bud Bagsak Grokipedia Entry {Archived Link}

[rhk111sblog]

TikTok invested Usd 5 billion in Vietnam in the last 7 Years, now to officially put up a Local Company there

TikTok recently announced that they have already invested around Usd 5 billion in Vietnam in the last seven Years, or since 2019. This means an average of around Usd 714 million per Year in Terms of Investments.

They said that Vietnamese average around 100 million hours watching Videos on the Platform daily, and that there are now six million Vietnamese Content Creators in the Platform.

In Terms of the TikTok Shop, there are now half a million Sellers and another half a million Advertisers there, and up to three billion Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) Orders are being processed in Vietnam per Year.

Because of that, the Shop is now the second biggest E-Commerce Platform there with a Market Share of 41%, just behind Shopee which is Number One with a 46% Market Share.

As a Result of these, TikTok is now planning to officially open up a local Company in Vietnam which will improve Data Management, simplify Procedures of Data Submission and improve collaboration with Local Authorities.

SOURCE: TikTok invests $5B in Vietnam, plans to establish Local Entity to boost Data Management {Archived Link}

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Philippines now has the highest Fiscal Deficit and strongest Pressure to reduce Spending in South East Asia

"Oxford Economics", an Independent Economic Advisory Company that is based in the United Kingdom (UK), recently said that Philippines has the highest Fiscal Deficit in the entire South East Asia (SEA) which is equivalent to 5.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

As a Result, it also has the strongest Pressure to lower its Spending to either stop the Deficit from worsening, or even lower the Deficit if the reduction in spending is enough. But this of course will affect the funding of the Government's various Projects.

A "Fiscal Deficit" happens when the Government is spending more than it is earning, and thus one Way of solving this is to borrow Money more from Lenders so it will be able to spend for its Programs. This is one main Reasons why this Government is getting a lot of Loans now from various Institutions.

The Philippine Government is not earning enough in Part because its Economy or GDP has not been growing at what it is targeting, which is between five to six percent, but the latest Data for the first Quarter of 2026 showed that the GDP grew by only 2.8%.

SOURCE: Philippines faces strongest Pressure to slash Spending as Debt Costs surge {Archived Link}

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Another Major Financial Company, Nomura Holdings, lowers forecast of 2026 Philippine Economic Growth to below 5%

The Japanese Investment and Brokerage Company "Nomura Holdings Incorporated", one of the biggest Financial Companies in the World, recently lowered their forecast of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth rate of the Philippines this Year of 2026 from their previous five percent to now only 4.6 percent.

This is way below the Target of the Philippine Government of five to six percent. Nomura says that one Factor for their Downgrade is they expect the Inflation Rate to higher at 6.1% for this Year, much higher than the no more than 4% Target of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Nomura also said that the Philippines' heavy reliance on imported Oil makes it very vulnerable to Crisis in the Oil Supply from the Middle East like the ongoing War in Iran by the United States (US).

As I have posted about a couple of Weeks ago, the Hong Kong-Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) predicted that the Philippines' GDP will only grow by 3.6%, even lower than Nomura's Prediction.

SOURCE: Nomura downgrades Philippine Growth outlook amid Energy, Inflation Risks {Archived Link}

[rhk111sblog]

Samsung Electronics adds even more Investments in Vietnam by putting up Usd 1.5 billion Semiconductor Testing Plant there by 2027

The South Korean Company "Samsung Electronics", one of the biggest and most famous Technology Companies in the World announced recently that they have submitted a Proposal to the Vietnamese Government to put up a brand new and modern Semiconductor Testing Facility there which will be worth Usd 1.5 billion.

The Facility will located around 60 km North of the City of Hanoi, and will focus on testing Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and Not-And (NAND) Memory chips. The Plant is targeted to start Commercial Operations in November 2027.

Samsung is already the biggest Foreign Investor Company in Vietnam, with a total Investment Value of Usd 23 billion providing 90,000 Jobs to the Vietnamese People. Samsung is producing mostly Smartphones and Consumer Electronics in Vietnam, and this new Investment will strengthen further their Presence in the Semiconductor Business there.

SOURCE: Samsung Electronics plans $1.5B Semiconductor Testing Plant in Vietnam by November 2027 {Archived Link}

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US Company Amazon to invest Usd 33 billion in Infrastructure by 2039 to 4 Countries in South East Asia, but not in Philippines

The United States (US) Company "Amazon.com, Incorporated", one of the biggest and most recognizable Companies in the World, recently announced that it intends to invest Usd 33 billion by 2039 in four major Countries in South East Asia (SEA), but the Philippines is not one of them.

The four SEA Countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and Amazon will be investing in Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure into those Countries. The Company estimates that these Investments will contribute around Usd 64 billion into the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide 56,300 Full Time Jobs into those four Countries.

Amazon also said that they are not only building Infrastructure there, but also training Local Workforces and enabling Local Businesses with those Investments.

SOURCE: Amazon plans over $33B AI, Cloud Infrastructure Investments in Southeast Asia by 2039 {Archived Link}

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HSBC warns Philippine Economy is slowing down while Inflation and Unemployment worsening, lowers 2026 GDP Growth Forecast to 3.4%

The Global Investment Research Division of the Hongkong-Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) recently said that the lower than expected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth of only only 2.8% of the Philippines in the first three Months or first Quarter of this Year of 2026 is a Sign that "Stagflation" is beginning to happen to the Philippine Economy.

"Stagflation" means that the Economic Growth is slowing down while the Inflation and Unemployment rates simultaneously goes up. The latest Data for the Inflation Rate is at 7.2%, the highest in three Years. The Unemployment Rate on the other Hand rose to above 5%.

HSBC warns that Things could even get worst if the ongoing Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues as it will affect Fertilizer Supply which in turn will affect our Agricultural Output. Another Issue is the ongoing El Nino Weather Phenomenon which will affect our Agriculture even more.

As a Result of these, HSBC has lowered its GDP Growth Forecast for the Philippines in 2026 even further down to only 3.4% from their previous Forecast of 4.6%. If this happens, then it will be lowest Growth since the Corona Virus Disease-19 (Covid-19) Pandemic in 2020 when the Economy went down by -9.5%.

If the Pandemic Data is excluded, then this will be the lowest GDP Growth rate since 2009, when the Economy grew by just 1.4%. The current Projection of the Marcos Jr. Administration is the GDP will grow by 5 to 6% in 2026 which is now very far from the HSBC estimate.

SOURCE: ‘Signs of Stagflation now apparent in PHL’ {Archived Link}

[rhk111sblog]

Australian Company AirTrunk to invest Usd 3 billion more in Malaysia to build two more Data Centers

The Australian Company "AirTrunk" will invest an additional Usd 3 billion in Malaysia to build two more Data Centers there. They had previously invested Usd 3.8 billion to build their first two Data Centers in the City of Johor Bahru.

Once completed, AirTrunk will have a total of four Data Centers worth Usd 6.8 billion in Malaysia. The two new Data Centers will reportedly use 100% Recycled Water to minimize their Impact on the Environment.

Data Centers are specialized Facilities that house Computing Infrastructure to store, process and manage large Volumes of Digital Data and Information Technology (IT) Services.

SOURCE: AirTrunk pumps another $3bn into Malaysia {Archived Link}

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Vietnam again called on Philippines to respect its Sovereignty in Sandy Cay and stop sending People there without their Permission

Not being reported again by the shameless, overly corrupt and biased Philippine Press is the Fact that Vietnam has just officially released a Statement urging the Philippines to respect their Sovereignty over Hoai An Reef.

The Reef is known internationally as the "Sandy Cay" Reef and is called as the "Pag-Asa Cay 2" Reef by the Philippines.

No less than the Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam, Pham Thu Hang, said that, "The Fact that the relevant Parties allowed People to go to the Features of the Spratly Islands without Vietnam's Permission is an act of violating Vietnam's Sovereignty under International Law, contrary to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) as well as the efforts of Countries in negotiating the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (COC) currently underway".

The Philippine Press is among the Sections of Philippine Society which only tries to endlessly antagonize China, but is submissive and willing to appease other Countries it has Territorial Disputes with like Vietnam.

SOURCE: Vietnam opposes the Activities of China and the Philippines in the Spratly Islands {Archived Link}

[rhk111sblog]

“Ang Tagapaghatid” na Drayber ng NBI ang nakalaban ng Philippine Marines sa Senado bago lang kaya sila nahirapan … 😄

Kaya pala hirap na hirap maski ang Philippine Marines natin sa Senado bago lang kasi hindi pala ordinaryong Drayber ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ang nakalaban nila, ito ay walang iba kung hindi “Ang Tagapaghatid” pala … No wonder … LOL.

Imahe ay gawa ng ChatGPT na Artificial Intelligence (AI) …

[rhk111sblog]

Vietnamese Government to provide 400,000 free Smartphones per Year to Poor Households from 2026 to 2030

The Government of Vietnam will be providing 400,000 free Smartphones to Poor and near-Poor Households starting this Year of 2026 and until 2030, so that's 2 million Smartphones to be given in total. The only Condition given is that the Households should not have previously received State-funded in the last five Years.

Vietnam said that these free Smartphones are intended to expand access to Digital Services, improve Connectivity for Disadvantaged Groups, and support a broader Socio-Economic Development, National Defence and Security Objectives.

Aside from this, Vietnam will also subsidize Broadband Access in Kindergartens, Schools, Health Stations in Disadvantaged Areas.

SOURCE: Government to offer 400,00 Smartphones to Low-Income Households {Archived Link}

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I hope the AFP realizes that their Modernization is tied to GDP Growth. Low GDP Growth as it is now means little Money for their Modernization

[rhk111sblog]

While Japan provides Vietnam with Usd 5 billion in Investments per Year, they only offered War Machines to the Philippines

As I reported earlier, the Prime Minister of Japan, Takaichi Sanae made an official State Visit to Vietnam recently where among the many Things she promised there was for Japanese Businesses to invest Usd 5 billion per Year in Vietnam.

However, Sanae has no plans to do the same or even visit the Philippines soon, and instead she sent her Defence Minister to try to sell War Machines here. The Article theorized that the Philippines could be the recipient of well used, secondhand Soryu class Submarines that Japan intends to retire at the end of this Decade.

In return, Japan could ask that they become the Philippines' preferred Supplier of Military Equipment. Note that Sanae is a Rightist and thus very much against China, and is now gearing up her Country to not only strengthen militarily even more, but also export more of their Arms to other Countries like the Philippines.

SOURCE: Japan offers Indonesia and the Philippines Lethal Muscle to counter China {Archived Link}

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Thailand hit record-high Usd 42 billion in Foreign Investments in 2025, with Investments from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, BYD, etc.

The Board of Investment of Thailand last Year of 2025 recorded a 60 Year high of Usd 42 billion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Applications, which included some of the biggest American and Chinese Companies.

These Companies are the following:

Amazon, which committed Usd 5 billion to build a "Cloud Region", or a Regional-based Data Center/s in Thailand

Google, which will invest Usd 1 billion to build Data Centers and Cloud Infrastructure

Microsoft, which will invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Regions

ByteDance, which will turn Thailand into their Data Hub for the South East Asian Region

BYD, Great Wall Motor and Changan are investing heavily in Thailand's Automotive Manufacturing Industry

That Usd 42 billion in FDIs is more than five times what the Philippines got last Year, which was only at around Usd 7.8 billion.

SOURCE: Thailand hits 60-year Investment Record as Amazon, Google, BYD and others bet Big {Archived Link}