In her first episode as a PGMN anchor, Antonette Aquino examined how the ₱1.7-trillion stock market crash in October 2025 — triggered by the flood-control corruption scandal — wiped out massive value from the Philippine Stock Exchange. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the sharp downturn was driven by corruption concerns that eroded investor confidence and sparked widespread sell-offs across sectors, marking one of the market’s steepest declines in recent years.
Aquino began by explaining that while many Filipinos dismiss the stock market as something only the wealthy should worry about, it serves as the pulse of national confidence. A strong market, she said, signals growth, business expansion, and job creation. But when that confidence collapses, the damage spreads quickly — affecting everything from the value of the peso to the price of basic goods.
Watch the full episode here:
The episode examined how billions of pesos meant for public infrastructure were reportedly funneled into ghost projects and overpricing schemes, eroding investor trust and prompting widespread panic in the financial sector. Aquino said that this loss of confidence — not poor corporate performance — was the main reason behind the sharp decline.
She detailed how the effects rippled across social classes. For high-income earners, the crash meant steep portfolio losses and declining business valuations. The middle class, on the other hand, experienced smaller bonuses, delayed promotions, and rising prices. Meanwhile, low-income Filipinos felt the immediate impact of inflation — higher transportation fares, costlier electricity bills, and more expensive groceries.
Aquino explained that these effects compound as government revenues shrink during downturns. With fewer taxes collected, the state’s capacity to deliver basic services weakens. “Pag humina ang negosyo, mas konti ang taxes na nakokolekta ng gobyerno. Kaya kumokonti ang pera para sa ospital, paaralan, at mga tulong sa mahihirap,” she said.
She added that when funding runs short, public hospitals face shortages, schools lose scholarship programs, and local aid becomes harder to sustain — leaving millions of families more vulnerable.
Throughout the episode, Aquino emphasized that corruption in government spending has real-world consequences that go far beyond the headlines. She said it limits opportunities for growth, squeezes ordinary families, and diminishes the country’s capacity to recover.
Her most striking statement came near the end: “Ang stock market, mukhang para lang sa mayayaman. Pero kapag bumagsak ‘yan, walang exempted.”
Aquino closed by reminding viewers that every Filipino — regardless of income or status — is connected to the country’s economic heartbeat. When corruption breaks public trust, she said, the shockwaves reach everyone.
