NIGHT OWL When little children are asked what they wish to become in the future, their young minds are unaware of any limitations. They dream big—the possibilities are as endless as the vast sky and their hopes are as high as the stars. But as they grow older, the realities that surround...
NIGHT OWL As an archipelagic nation with rich natural resources, the Philippines has a large amount of water resources, particularly from rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Ironically, water security remains a challenge for the country. In the past months, weather patterns and climate...
NIGHT OWL We cannot choose the circumstances into which we are born. In fact, we only realize that there are differences in life when we start interacting with other people and see the disparity in our way of living, how we access basic needs, the way we are the treated, the availability and...
NIGHT OWL As centers of commerce, growth and innovation, cities play a crucial role in driving not only national but also global economic progress. They contribute more than 80 percent of global GDP. Since cities provide more and better economic opportunities as well as better access to key...
NIGHT OWL Indigenous peoples make up only five percent of the global population, and though among the marginalized sectors of society, their traditional knowledge and practices are becoming sources of hope for the world’s complex problems. After centuries of neglect of their needs, abuse...
NIGHT OWL One of the common complaints of working Filipinos, especially those in the cities, is the amount of time they spend going to work and back to their homes. Whether they have their own cars or taking public transportation, it is hard to predict the amount of time it will take for them...
NIGHT OWL An average of 3.6 million vehicles are cramped in the streets of Metro Manila every day. Most of these are motorcycles and private cars. No wonder, it takes about 25 minutes and 30 seconds to drive for just 10 kilometers in the metropolis. Figures from Amsterdam-based traffic data...
NIGHT OWL In our quest to make our cities and communities sustainable and inclusive, one important aspect that we must focus on is transportation — providing citizens access to mobility options that are safe, environment-friendly, and affordable. In essence, almost everyone can walk and many can...
NIGHT OWL “Where are you from?” It’s a question I’m always asked when I am abroad. And simply saying that, “I’m from the Philippines,” does not seem enough. This beautiful archipelago of 7,641 islands with over 100 indigenous communities and about the same number of...
NIGHT OWL No one knows the land we live on better than indigenous peoples, whose way of life is deeply connected to the earth. Even amidst the rapid development of technology, we can still learn a lot from them. It will certainly serve humanity better if we work together with our indigenous...
NIGHT OWL Imagine being able to access your basic needs and services—markets, groceries, schools, hospitals, banks, or even your workplace—without having to ride a car or spend an hour or so sitting on a bus or jeep. Right now, this scenario is far from reality in the densely populated...
NIGHT OWL Water is a fundamental necessity, yet a significant portion of the global population, numbering in the billions, remains without reliable access to clean and safe drinking water. In the United Nations’ World Water Development Report 2023, roughly two billion individuals globally lack...
