NIGHT OWL Democracy, at its core, is the belief that every individual has a voice and a right to shape the collective future. It is the cornerstone of freedom, equality, and accountability — a system that thrives when citizens are informed, engaged, and empowered. While democracy has proven to be...
NIGHT OWL As nations stride toward equality, the global gender gap remains a poignant reminder of the uneven progress across different regions. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently highlighted a concerning trend: it could take up to 131 years to close the global gender gap. This projection...
NIGHT OWL The Philippines concluded its 2024 Paris Olympics campaign on a high note after achieving its best performance to date. On our centennial participation in the Olympic Games, we finished with two gold medals courtesy of gymnast Carlos Yulo, two bronze medals from boxers Aira Villegas...
NIGHT OWL The Olympic Gold—once an elusive dream for the Philippines, became a reality in 2021 and was recently repeated twice, as if telling all of us that: Yes, we are capable of world excellence. Thanks to Carlos Edriel Yulo, who boosted not only the pride of Filipinos but also the morale of...
NIGHT OWL One of our main advocacies at Build Initiative is harnessing technology to promote climate action and sustainable development. In line with this, we initiated a partnership with The Climate Coalition (TCC), the United Kingdom’s largest group of people dedicated to action on the climate...
NIGHT OWL GPT — Manila Bulletin (MB) Executive Editor Edgardo C. Bartilad and Build Initiative Chief Future Officer Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo are shown after the signing of the partnership agreement between MB and Build Initiative that will integrate the newspaper’s reliable and comprehensive data...
NIGHT OWL The Earth’s temperature continues to rise year by year. The glaring evidence of climate change affects us all that it has impossible to ignore. And as stewards of the planet, it is inevitable that each and every one of us does his/her part in solving the climate crisis. It cannot be...
NIGHT OWL More than a decade ago, just a few months before my graduation in 2012, I visited the indigenous people of Tagbanua in Sitio Calauit in Palawan. I was there for a few days and one thing I wondered about is how they were able to survive without electricity, no cellphone signal, and barely...
NIGHT OWL Human activity has caused dangerous decline in nature. According to the United Nations, one million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades. The Philippines, one of the world’s 18 megadiverse countries, is home to two-thirds of the Earth’s...
NIGHT OWL I have always believed in the power of collective action. That if we are able to invite others to join a worthy cause, we can achieve results that are far better, wider in reach, and more sustainable. When I was working with the United Nations, helping carry out the United Nations...
NIGHT OWL Access to information is essential for society to survive and thrive. According to the United Nations (UN), access to information creates empowered citizens, who are able to make informed choices, to monitor their government, and to know about decisions affecting their lives. In fact,...
NIGHT OWL Have you ever wondered why in some road intersections, there are roundabouts even if the area could actually do one without? For one reason, roundabouts or rotundas can keep our roads safer. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), roundabouts are more effective than enforcement in...
