About the Author

Mr. Lucas has been a journalist since 1999, having covered banking and finance, telecommunications, transportation, energy, capital markets and the presidential palace beats.

He has worked for The Business Daily, BusinessWorld, The Manila Times, Today and the Manila Standard Today. He spent 18 years at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, starting as a reporter in 2005 before becoming its business news editor until Dec. 31, 2023.

He earned a business management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1994.

Latest from the Author

2 days ago

PCSO’s e-lotto, still on a test run, produces second major prize winner

By: Daxim L. Lucas

The new digital betting platform produced its second major prize winner on Friday night when a resident of Quezon province guessed all six digits of the “Ultra Lotto” draw through ticket purchase online.

5 days ago

San Miguel is an Asean whale, but 'Philippines Inc.' is just a regional minnow

By: Daxim L. Lucas

When it comes to total sales, San Miguel Corp. is the undisputed leader among Philippine conglomerates with over $26 billion in revenues last year, according to the inaugural edition of the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 list.

12 Jun 2024

1:00PM

Independence Day: BDO Securities’ tips for financial freedom

By: Daxim L. Lucas

Financial freedom is a goal that many people aspire for, but few completely achieve achieve. But it can be achieved through with disciplined saving, managing expenses, and proper investing.

8 Jun 2024

12:13PM

Armscor to enter 5.56 mm rifle market with new civilian semi-auto

By: Daxim L. Lucas

Philippine weapons manufacturer Armscor Global Defense Inc. has revealed plans to offer 5.56 semi-automatic rifles — civilian versions of military assault weapons — in the local market after law enforcement authorities recently announced plans to relax gun ownership rules.

3 Jun 2024

10:11AM

INSIDER INFO: Newport Resorts World shakeup as Kingson Sian ‘retired’; new CEO, COO chosen

By: Daxim L. Lucas

The slow burn shakeup at Newport Resorts World — the premiere gaming and leisure development of Alliance Global Group — has reached its climax with the appointment of a new CEO and COO that effectively ends a transition period that lasted two years.

3 Jun 2024

8:46AM

INSIDER INFO: Ukrainian presidential jet arrived in Manila late Sunday night

By: Daxim L. Lucas

The Airbus ACJ319 flew into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport past 11 p.m. from Singapore's Paya Lebar air base, according to FlightAware.com.

30 May 2024

4:29PM

Peso slips further south as BSP lets currency ‘find its own level’

By: Daxim L. Lucas

The Philippine peso ended another trading day weaker against the US dollar, with bankers noting that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas was, for the most part, allowing the local currency to “find its own level” against the strong US dollar.

29 May 2024

5:19PM

‘Mighty dollar’ pummels peso to P58.42 in heavy trading

By: Daxim L. Lucas

The Philippine peso slid by 45 centavos against the surging US dollar on Wednesday, declining to a level not seen since late October 2022.

28 May 2024

9:09AM

Expect inflation rate spike from May to July, BSP official says

By: Daxim L. Lucas

The pace of price increases for basic goods and services will likely accelerate over the May to July period before reverting to more comfortable levels toward the end of 2024, a ranking central bank official said on Monday.