Still Daring to Dream: Economic Outlook and Imperatives for the Philippines Beyond 2025 (Ateneo Eagle Watch Annual Economic Briefing)

𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺: 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 is the Ateneo Eagle Watch annual economic briefing. 

In its Philippine Growth and Jobs Report launched last 15 July 2025, the World Bank described the country’s path to sustained, inclusive growth as “running uphill”—a metaphor for the monumental effort needed to break free from the lower-middle-income trap. The report highlights several major challenges: slowing global growth, climate change, technological disruptions such as AI and automation, and geopolitical fragmentation. Following up on our Economic Briefing last March, this year’s briefing will focus on the current state of the Philippine economy and what must be done for the country to become “a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor.” 

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀: 

• 𝗗𝗿 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗙. 𝗗𝘂𝗺𝗹𝗮𝗼 will examine price, employment, and income trends in the economy. He will also discuss the current state of public and private finance. He will share the usual economic forecasts for 2025 and beyond.
• 𝗗𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗞. 𝗣𝗲ñ𝗮-𝗥𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 will provide a situationer on the Philippine middle class. He will discuss the role that the middle class will play in economic development and the changes that must happen to fully utilize the potential of the middle class in powering the economy.
• 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿: 𝗗𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗠. 𝗔𝗹𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗮 will discuss a major economic headwind—the US tariffs and their broader effects on the Philippine economy. Indeed, this matter has caused much uncertainty, especially among investors. 

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 
Date: 28 October 2025 (Tuesday) 
Time: 9:00 – 11:30 AM 
Venue: Amphitheatre, Ateneo Rockwell Campus, 
20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City 

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:
Super Early Eagle Rate: Php 2,500.00 (valid until September 29) 
Early Eagle Rate: Php 3,500.00 (valid until October 14) 
Special Rate for Ateneo community and alumni: Php 2,900.00 
(Please submit a valid ID or document for validation purposes.) 
Regular Rate: Php 4,500.00 
Register Now: https://forms.gle/qF4AuPDTJdW76cB97 
For more details, contact AA Agabao at (+63) 945 590 3728 or email aagabao@ateneo.edu