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One of the sectors that took a beating at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was education. The UNICEF, which continues to advocate for the resumption of in-person classes in various countries, mentioned in an article that in 2020, while schools globally were forced to suspend operations for an average of 79 days, schools in the Philippines did not hold face-to-face classes for more than a year and opted instead to have classes through online and distant learning modalities.

Companies operating in today’s evolving business landscape are no strangers to change and disruptions. They have become too aware, based on experience, about the different changes that can make or break their business.

“The enterprise that does not innovate ages and declines, and in a period of rapid change such as the present, the decline will be fast.” This was according to Peter Drucker, a renowned management consultant who has contributed a lot in the field of practical foundations in business corporations.

Ten hours and 27 minutes. This is the average time Filipinos aged 16 to 64 years old spend browsing the internet and staying online. Social media management firm Hootsuite and creative agency We Are Social’s Digital 2022 Global Overview Report reveals that Filipinos are among those who spend the longest time connected online.

“The higher the risk, the higher the return.” This is perhaps the most common investment principle that every entrepreneur is very familiar with. However, often, the emphasis is more on return than risk; that is, focusing on the positive side of the principle rather than dealing with the “negative” side, or the risk. Many have considered risk management as an expensive and complicated activity. Its contributions to revenue generation are not clear and evident as compared to profit (or return) management. Such typical scenario leaves risk with diminutive attention, and businesses, especially the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), vulnerable to ever changing economic and market conditions.

In April 2021, the Philippines committed to a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its 2020 numbers as part of the Paris Agreement. It also aimed to increase renewable energy (“RE” or “renewables”) usage to 35% to enable this goal. Plans are still in motion for the country’s RE transition, but as far as progress is concerned, Southeast Asia’s Green Economy 2022 Report found the Philippines to be a laggard in the race for green energy. According to the report, this slow pace is due to a lack of concrete implementation to accompany our loftier plans, so high hopes rest on the incoming administration to catch up and make good on our commitment to GHG reduction.

In 2013, Yahoo dealt with what the world now dubs as one of the biggest, if not the most massive, data hacks in history. At that time, the company was in the process of a huge takeover deal with another firm. According to a Reuters article, the breach took place in 2013 but was publicized by Yahoo only in 2016 when the company admitted that accounts of over a billion of its subscribers were compromised. Although the hackers were able to access security questions and answers, the attackers were not able to steal payment card and other bank details of the company’s subscribers.

Can you remember the very first time you logged your financial details online or made a cashless transaction? As late as 2016, I can still recall a general hesitance to sign up for e-wallets or streaming platforms due to a fear that any attempt to put one’s credit card or bank details online would immediately lead to theft. Some five years later, however, financial technology (fintech) has proliferated in the mainstream.