The Philippines remains to be one of the fastest growing markets in Southeast Asia, with a GDP growth of 6.4% at the first half of 2017 (Asian Development Bank, 2017). Investors are projecting that economic growth can reach up to 7% or even up to 7.5% this 2018 "fueled by heightened private capital spending, rising government infrastructure spending, rebound in exports, revival in manufacturing, stable remittances from overseas Filipinos and tourism boom" (Dela Paz, 2018).
However, 2018 also gives rise to a year of uncertainty. The political climate, changes in taxation, and slow infrastructure development challenge the everyday Filipino consumer....