The Middle East conflict of 2026 has exposed the Philippines’ overreliance on imported fossil fuels and its structural vulnerabilities that have been accumulating over the years. Spiking oil prices, soaring inflation, and supply chain disruptions have triggered a national energy emergency – the...
The modern marketer is changing fast, and I do not think many organizations fully realize how deep that shift is. For years, companies built marketing teams around specialization. One person handled branding; another focused on advertising. Others owned communications, social media, events,...
Reports indicate a condominium glut of 74,000 to 75,300 unsold units, an inventory that could take 5.8 to 8.2 years for the market to absorb. A similar trend is emerging in residential housing, where “For Sale” and “For Rent” signs multiply with few takers in a softening market. Why did...
AGANA, Guam – Despite being separated by thousands of kilometers, Guamanians and Filipinos are bound by a deep Pacific-Latino kinship. Centuries of Spanish and American colonization fused their faiths and flavors, while modern migration has woven their families together. This shared heritage...
A number of years ago, someone very close to me confided that the chief operating officer (COO) of their company was threatening to resign. This was despite the fact that the executive was already receiving a massive salary, along with perks and compensation that would be the envy of most senior...
On April 17, my mother turned 88. To me, her life represents an 88-year masterclass in work ethic, human capital development, and the eventual transition from the classroom to the boardroom. My mother’s career began in 1955 at the age of 17. Teaching English and Literature at Rizal Memorial...
MILAN, Italy – As the undisputed Italian financial capital, Milan is a powerhouse of economic activity, pulsating with the energy of the Borsa Italiana stock exchange and a sophisticated network of global investors. While Rome serves as the seat of government, Milan is where the country 's...
Sometime in 2017, we were in discussion with Ted Sazon—a Merrill Lynch alumnus of 23 years—about a discernible pattern of significant global “bad news” occurring at the end of each decade. This trend arguably started in 1929 with the Wall Street Crash that led to the Great Depression. This...
The 2nd JFINEX Summit, held last March 5, 2026, at the Brittany Hotel in BGC, brought together some of the country’s most promising young finance students—top teams from the Intercollegiate Finance Competition—under the theme: “Confident to Lead: Building the Next Generation of Finance...
So much has been said about businesses bracing for a possible economic crisis ahead. But are we, as individuals, equally prepared? Everything begins at home—even if our businesses can withstand the crisis, how will we manage on a personal level? The right mindset, first of all, is not to panic....
Oil shocks have a way of reminding nations how exposed their economies remain to global energy volatility. When crude prices surge, the consequences ripple quickly through daily life: transport fares climb, delivery costs rise, and food prices inevitably follow. The Philippines is no exception. In...
We have seen this pattern before. A crisis hits, and at first, people freeze. Then slowly, almost quietly, behavior starts to shift. What feels temporary begins to leave permanent marks. We saw it during the pandemic; we are seeing it again now with rising oil prices. The current oil shock is about...
