Beginning with pure profit intent, the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund has metamorphosed into a “deemed national development tool,” with income now a secondary goal. So said Stephen CuUnjieng, investment banker and chairman of the Maharlika Investment Committee, during a recent FINEX...
Under Article XIII, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution, the State is mandated to make decent housing and basic services” available to underprivileged and homeless citizens at an affordable cost. However, the wanton increase in Real Property Taxes (RPT)—which have surged by as much as 2,300...
Agritourism is a subsector of the ecotourism industry in which tourists visit farms, ranches, or other agricultural businesses whether for education or entertainment. Beyond the camaraderie and the attractive sceneries, agritourism fosters a deeper understanding of global farming processes through...
For decades, the Philippines relied on mandated credit quotas to push banks toward underserved sectors. The Agri-Agra Law and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) lending requirements under the Magna Carta were intended to correct market failures by steering resources toward agriculture and...
A state-run think tank is warning that the Philippines risks erasing significant educational progress by reversing its mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) program, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. In a Dec. 16 discussion paper titled “Linguistic Mismatch and...
The Philippine herbal medicine industry is growing, driven by rising consumer interest in natural, plant-based remedies. According to Insight10, a healthcare-focused research and consulting firm—as mentioned in a BusinessWorld article last month—the Philippine herbal supplement market was...
I tend to agree with the Andy Williams song: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” While other people may not have nice things to say about the Christmas season, the point is that it is, indeed, the best time of the year. Top of mind among the things that make this season special is the...
For the graduating students of SoFA Design Institute, “Blanc” 2025 was more than a fashion show, it was a moment of arrival. Held last November 7, 2025, at Whitespace MNL, the “Blanc Graduation Show” brought together 19 designers from Design Studio 4 and Design Studio 8, each presenting six...
We all look forward to celebrating Christmas and the holidays in December. But for some, it’s a mixed feeling—especially those who have revenue targets to meet, reports to complete, and taxes to comply with. And December often carries the highest financial budget for most companies. Businesses...
SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) Chairman Emeritus Jose T. Sio has been named an honorary life member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Accountants (PICPA), the accredited professional organization of certified public accountants (CPAs). The organization recognized Sio for “over 20 years of...
Ten years ago, my graduate school research proposal aimed to assess the public’s perception of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). My initial question was why CPAs do not seem to receive the same level of respect accorded to other esteemed professions such as doctors and lawyers. My research...
Nov. 23 was a red-letter day for my family. Four days before his birthday, my son, Carl Lorenz Cervantes, launched his book, Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being, published by North Atlantic Books. It is a proud moment for a parent, naturally. But as I...
