NIGHT OWL The Scottish philosopher Adam Smith believed in the idea that man should be given the liberty to pursue his own interest so long that he does not violate the laws of justice; as it is in the pursuit of enlightened self-interest that he can contribute to the good of society. The...
NIGHT OWL In times of war and conflict, no matter who emerges as the victor, children always end up as collateral damage. The displacement, disrupted education, witnessing death and destruction—these are all too much for a very young mind. The absence of a safe space is highly distressing for...
NIGHT OWL In an industry often associated with glitz, glamour, and red carpets, actor Matt Damon has transcended the traditional boundaries of Hollywood stardom to become a formidable force in the realm of global water conservation and access. Beyond the silver screen, Damon's unwavering...
NIGHT OWL According to UN Women, the digital divide has become the new face of gender inequality. Global figures show that women are 18 percent less likely than men to own a smartphone, and far less likely to access or use the Internet. Last year, 259 million more men than women were...
NIGHT OWL We cannot expect a better tomorrow if we are not investing enough in the next generation of leaders and citizens of this earth — the adolescents and young people of today. One-fifth of the global population, or 1.8 billion are adolescents and youth, aged 10-24 years, whose development...
NIGHT OWL Care work is something that has been existing within our homes and in our communities, but it has yet to be fully recognized for its worth, even if over one billion people around the world rely on a caregiver. In recent years, the concept of the care economy has gained significant...
NIGHT OWL In December last year, Hungary approved its National Digital Citizenship Program that is aimed at creating a digital environment that would streamline communication between the government and its citizens. This program hopes to create public administration spaces that are accessible...
NIGHT OWL When I met with Poland’s Chargé d’Affaires Jarosław Szczepankiewicz early this year, we talked about possible areas of digital cooperation between the Philippines and Poland. In the 2022 edition of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), Poland ranks 24th of 27 European Union...
NIGHT OWL Digitalization is an integral component of realizing a nations’ sustainable development agenda. In the United Kingdom, the government has launched a digital strategy that it sees as vital to achieving its ambitious priorities of decarbonizing its economy to net zero by 2050, as well as...
NIGHT OWL There’s no arguing that the Covid-19 pandemic gave much emphasis to the need for digital transformation. A lot of nations have set out their digitalization plans based on the challenges and opportunities that emerged during that period of our history. Ireland, for instance, launched its...
NIGHT OWL It gives us much pride when the Filipino talent is recognized on a global stage. But our support for culture and the arts, and the creative industry as a whole, should not be limited to our praises and applauses. In fact, the World Economic Forum (WEF) says that cultural...
NIGHT OWL In its Creative Economy Outlook 2022, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said that the creative economy offers a feasible development option to all countries, particularly developing economies. A creative economy, according to UNCTAD, “builds on the...
