![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fake-News-2.jpg\")
Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-SideFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe pandemic is changing the way we design our world and the way we move around in it.
\n\u201cIf you\u2019re creating a journey from home to destination, then obviously everything you touch and interact with is design,\u201d said Paul D. Priestman, founder and chair of PriestmanGoode, a design consultancy out of the United Kingdom that counts Airbus SE, Hong Kong\u2019s Mass Transit Railway, and Transport for London as its clients.
\n\u201cGood design is not an add-on but a crucial part of what makes a business successful,\u201d he tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol. \u201cWhen used effectively, it can make a massive difference to any business.\u201d
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nHealth and wellness are now part of every design brief because of the pandemic.
\nWhen it comes to public transit, designers are incorporating crowd control; social distancing; and self-cleaning materials that wear well, such as brass. The coronavirus has pushed health and wellness to the top of the priority list when it comes to design briefs.
\n\u201cThere are universal principles when it comes to good design,\u201d Mr. Priestman said, \u201cthe first of which is that you really have to understand who you\u2019re designing for. What are the problems you are trying to solve?\u201d\u00a0
\nA key element that drives the work the design consultancy has done for its clients is the enhancement of customer service. \u201cHow can we create an environment that provides comfort, convenience, and efficiency for passengers?\u201d he added. \u201cHow can we include design elements that also make the crew and maintenance staff jobs easier?\u201d
\nCompanies gain a competitive advantage with good design.
\nDesign is a strategic tool that improves business profitability as well as the appeal of a product or service, said Mr. Priestman, who pointed out that good design is essential for companies wanting to compete at the international level. \u201cDesign is not an add-on cost. It\u2019s one that improves profitability and saves expense and money,\u201d he said, adding that most successful brands in the world use design effectively.\u00a0\u00a0
\nDesign creates a sense of place.\u00a0
\nAnother key element is creating a sense of place. \u201cWe work a lot with national airlines, and our designs always focus on referencing the cultural heritage of that country, so that the interiors don\u2019t just look like every other aircraft, but that they look distinct, and of that place,\u201d said Mr. Priestman. The rebrand of Aegean Airlines, for instance, references the classical architecture of Greece translated into cabin patterns and motifs.
\nTransport plays an important role in how people experience places. It becomes one of the reasons people visit a city, he said. Travelers in Hong Kong go on the Star Ferry, visitors in New York get on its iconic yellow taxis. Transport has to be a cultural experience because part of the enjoyment of travel is doing something different.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe\u2019re working in Austria, where we have to create places for putting skis so people can go skiing,\u201d Mr. Priestman shared as he talked more about designing products that become a cultural symbol of a country. \u201cIn the vestibules where you get on and off trains in China, people like to have hot water, but in the UK it\u2019s not necessary.\u201d\u00a0
\nDesigning to include the needs of the elderly will be a growing trend.
\nOne of the other important issues shaping up in the world\u2014apart from the pandemic and climate change\u2014is its aging demographic. \u201cThink about designing for your grandmother or grandfather. When designing a new product, ask: can they use it? That\u2019s what we need to constantly reference,\u201d said Mr. Priestman.
\n\u201cWhy take the fast train? Take the slow lane. Enjoy the travel experience,\u201d he added. \u201cEnjoy living. Design has everything to do with enhancing that.\u201d\u00a0
\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Jan. 13. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe pandemic is changing the way we design our world and the way we move around in it.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re creating a journey from home to destination, then obviously everything you touch and interact with is design,\u201d said Paul D. Priestman, founder and chair of PriestmanGoode, a design consultancy out of the United Kingdom that counts Airbus SE, Hong Kong\u2019s Mass Transit Railway, and Transport for London as its clients.\n\u201cGood design is not an add-on but a crucial part of what makes a business successful,\u201d he tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol. \u201cWhen used effectively, it can make a massive difference to any business.\u201d\nTAKEAWAYS\nHealth and wellness are now part of every design brief because of the pandemic.\nWhen it comes to public transit, designers are incorporating crowd control; social distancing; and self-cleaning materials that wear well, such as brass. The coronavirus has pushed health and wellness to the top of the priority list when it comes to design briefs.\n\u201cThere are universal principles when it comes to good design,\u201d Mr. Priestman said, \u201cthe first of which is that you really have to understand who you\u2019re designing for. What are the problems you are trying to solve?\u201d\u00a0\nA key element that drives the work the design consultancy has done for its clients is the enhancement of customer service. \u201cHow can we create an environment that provides comfort, convenience, and efficiency for passengers?\u201d he added. \u201cHow can we include design elements that also make the crew and maintenance staff jobs easier?\u201d\nCompanies gain a competitive advantage with good design.\nDesign is a strategic tool that improves business profitability as well as the appeal of a product or service, said Mr. Priestman, who pointed out that good design is essential for companies wanting to compete at the international level. \u201cDesign is not an add-on cost. It\u2019s one that improves profitability and saves expense and money,\u201d he said, adding that most successful brands in the world use design effectively.\u00a0\u00a0\nDesign creates a sense of place.\u00a0\nAnother key element is creating a sense of place. \u201cWe work a lot with national airlines, and our designs always focus on referencing the cultural heritage of that country, so that the interiors don\u2019t just look like every other aircraft, but that they look distinct, and of that place,\u201d said Mr. Priestman. The rebrand of Aegean Airlines, for instance, references the classical architecture of Greece translated into cabin patterns and motifs.\nTransport plays an important role in how people experience places. It becomes one of the reasons people visit a city, he said. Travelers in Hong Kong go on the Star Ferry, visitors in New York get on its iconic yellow taxis. Transport has to be a cultural experience because part of the enjoyment of travel is doing something different.\u00a0\n\u201cWe\u2019re working in Austria, where we have to create places for putting skis so people can go skiing,\u201d Mr. Priestman shared as he talked more about designing products that become a cultural symbol of a country. \u201cIn the vestibules where you get on and off trains in China, people like to have hot water, but in the UK it\u2019s not necessary.\u201d\u00a0\nDesigning to include the needs of the elderly will be a growing trend.\nOne of the other important issues shaping up in the world\u2014apart from the pandemic and climate change\u2014is its aging demographic. \u201cThink about designing for your grandmother or grandfather. When designing a new product, ask: can they use it? That\u2019s what we need to constantly reference,\u201d said Mr. Priestman.\n\u201cWhy take the fast train? Take the slow lane. Enjoy the travel experience,\u201d he added. \u201cEnjoy living. Design has everything to do with enhancing that.\u201d\u00a0\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Jan. 13. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2021-02-15T11:28:40+08:00", "date_modified": "2021-04-02T23:53:10+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "B-Side", "design", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Podcast", "PriestmanGoode", "Sam L. Marcelo" ] }, { "id": "/?p=339505", "url": "/podcast/2021/01/18/339505/b-side-podcast-how-female-founders-can-get-the-funding-they-need/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] How female founders can get the funding they need", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nOnly 3% of invested dollars went to female-only founders in 2019. According to a Crunchbase report on gender disparity in startup funding, female-only founded companies raised $6 billion dollars; their male counterparts, $195 billion.
\nIn this episode of B-Side, Nicole Denholder, founder and CEO of Next Chapter Raise, tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol why this gap exists and what women entrepreneurs\u2014and the business community at large\u2014can do about it.
\nNext Chapter Raise is a funding ecosystem based in Asia with one mission: to get female founders funded faster.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nFemale founders face a steep uphill battle.
\n\u201cMany female founders are sole founders. If they fall ill, the business could stop,\u201d said Ms. Denholder. \u201cA sole founder won\u2019t have all the skills necessary anyway to build a business.\u201d
\nWomen are expected to work in stereotypical industries such as fashion and wellness, less so in fields such as technology and engineering. \u201cThe expectation is that women aren’t that engaged and working in those industries so how do they have that industry knowledge? Or how do they understand what the problem is? Or how do they understand the client?\u201d Ms. Denholder said.
\nMen start their business with twice as much financial capital as women. Women, on the other hand, bootstrap for two to three years on average, Ms. Denholder said.\u00a0
\nFind a co-founder that complements what you bring to the table.\u00a0
\nMs. Denholder advised looking at the way the team is built and what the business needs, especially if you happen to be a sole founder.
\n\u201cMake sure you have the right agreements in place, and clarity in roles and responsibilities. Regardless of gender, you need to understand what both of you bring to the table,\u201d she said. \u201cOver time, you need to make sure you’re continually aligned to be delivering on the business.\u201d
\nEven if asked the wrong questions, reply with the right answers.
\nInvestors, too, demonstrate unconscious bias in how they assess founders. A 2018 study by Dana Kanze, Laura Huang, Mark A. Conley, and E. Tory Higgins discovered that men are asked \u201cpromotion\u201d questions, or questions about how great everything will be. Women, meanwhile, are asked \u201cprevention\u201d questions, or questions about how horrible everything will be.\u00a0
\nExamples of prevention-based questions are: \u201cHow long will it take you to break even?;\u201d \u201cHow predictable are your future cash flows?;\u201d and \u201cIs it a defensible business wherein other people can\u2019t come into the space to take share?\u201d Examples of promotion-based questions include: \u201cHow do you plan to monetize this?;\u201d \u201cWhat major milestones are you targeting for this year?;\u201d and \u201cWhat\u2019s the brand vision?\u201d
\nThose asked promotion questions were more likely to answer in promotion-based ways, which left a positive taste in an investor\u2019s mouth. The result from the study showed that male-led startups ended up receiving five times more funding, with promotion-based Q&As receiving $16.8 million in funding, as compared to the $2.3 million raised from prevention-based Q&As.
\nFemale founders can counter this unconscious bias by being aware of the language they use in their responses. Answering in a promotion-based manner is preferable to answering in a prevention-based way. The former tend to include words such as \u201cgrowth,\u201d \u201cacquire,\u201d \u201cplans,\u201d \u201ctargets,\u201d \u201cmilestones,\u201d and \u201cvision.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe best funding type will depend on where you are in your business journey.
\nFunding a business is not one-size-fits-all. Female founders need to determine what stage the business is, what the goals are, and what the funds are needed for\u2014whether it be working capital or investment growth.\u00a0
\nThose in the idea or pre-seed funding round, or the stage where startups are trying to get their idea off the ground, might seek the assistance of friends and family. Angel investors, meanwhile, may be tapped for those in the seed funding round, or the phase where the founders are perfecting their product or service.\u00a0
\nMs. Denholder advised looking at accelerators and rewards-based crowdfunding in the idea stage, and then moving on to venture capital for the later stages.\u00a0
\n\u201cLook too at competitions and grants programs. Often, you don’t just get money but also a bit of media. You might get mentoring. Those can really help legitimize or boost your business,\u201d she said. \u201cThink about it in the longer term. Plan out your funding journey alongside your business plan. If you’ve set goals and you have plans to achieve them, analyze: what money do I need to get there?\u201d
\nTapping a supportive network will help leverage resources and open doors.
\n\u201cAt Next Chapter Raise, we built the business around three aspects: community, knowledge, and access to the investment community,\u201d said Ms. Denholder. \u201cWe’re trying to make female founders feel they can be an equal at the table and navigate the discussions around funding.\u201d
\nShe added: \u201cThere\u2019s not a lot of female role models out there. It\u2019s really great to be able to connect women.\u201d
\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Dec. 16, 2021. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nOnly 3% of invested dollars went to female-only founders in 2019. According to a Crunchbase report on gender disparity in startup funding, female-only founded companies raised $6 billion dollars; their male counterparts, $195 billion.\nIn this episode of B-Side, Nicole Denholder, founder and CEO of Next Chapter Raise, tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol why this gap exists and what women entrepreneurs\u2014and the business community at large\u2014can do about it.\nNext Chapter Raise is a funding ecosystem based in Asia with one mission: to get female founders funded faster.\nTAKEAWAYS\nFemale founders face a steep uphill battle.\n\nKey-person risk\u00a0\n\n\u201cMany female founders are sole founders. If they fall ill, the business could stop,\u201d said Ms. Denholder. \u201cA sole founder won\u2019t have all the skills necessary anyway to build a business.\u201d\n\nIndustry bias\u00a0\n\nWomen are expected to work in stereotypical industries such as fashion and wellness, less so in fields such as technology and engineering. \u201cThe expectation is that women aren’t that engaged and working in those industries so how do they have that industry knowledge? Or how do they understand what the problem is? Or how do they understand the client?\u201d Ms. Denholder said.\n\nLesser capital\n\nMen start their business with twice as much financial capital as women. Women, on the other hand, bootstrap for two to three years on average, Ms. Denholder said.\u00a0\nFind a co-founder that complements what you bring to the table.\u00a0\nMs. Denholder advised looking at the way the team is built and what the business needs, especially if you happen to be a sole founder.\n\u201cMake sure you have the right agreements in place, and clarity in roles and responsibilities. Regardless of gender, you need to understand what both of you bring to the table,\u201d she said. \u201cOver time, you need to make sure you’re continually aligned to be delivering on the business.\u201d\nEven if asked the wrong questions, reply with the right answers.\nInvestors, too, demonstrate unconscious bias in how they assess founders. A 2018 study by Dana Kanze, Laura Huang, Mark A. Conley, and E. Tory Higgins discovered that men are asked \u201cpromotion\u201d questions, or questions about how great everything will be. Women, meanwhile, are asked \u201cprevention\u201d questions, or questions about how horrible everything will be.\u00a0\nExamples of prevention-based questions are: \u201cHow long will it take you to break even?;\u201d \u201cHow predictable are your future cash flows?;\u201d and \u201cIs it a defensible business wherein other people can\u2019t come into the space to take share?\u201d Examples of promotion-based questions include: \u201cHow do you plan to monetize this?;\u201d \u201cWhat major milestones are you targeting for this year?;\u201d and \u201cWhat\u2019s the brand vision?\u201d\nThose asked promotion questions were more likely to answer in promotion-based ways, which left a positive taste in an investor\u2019s mouth. The result from the study showed that male-led startups ended up receiving five times more funding, with promotion-based Q&As receiving $16.8 million in funding, as compared to the $2.3 million raised from prevention-based Q&As.\nFemale founders can counter this unconscious bias by being aware of the language they use in their responses. Answering in a promotion-based manner is preferable to answering in a prevention-based way. The former tend to include words such as \u201cgrowth,\u201d \u201cacquire,\u201d \u201cplans,\u201d \u201ctargets,\u201d \u201cmilestones,\u201d and \u201cvision.\u201d\u00a0\nThe best funding type will depend on where you are in your business journey.\nFunding a business is not one-size-fits-all. Female founders need to determine what stage the business is, what the goals are, and what the funds are needed for\u2014whether it be working capital or investment growth.\u00a0\nThose in the idea or pre-seed funding round, or the stage where startups are trying to get their idea off the ground, might seek the assistance of friends and family. Angel investors, meanwhile, may be tapped for those in the seed funding round, or the phase where the founders are perfecting their product or service.\u00a0\nMs. Denholder advised looking at accelerators and rewards-based crowdfunding in the idea stage, and then moving on to venture capital for the later stages.\u00a0\n\u201cLook too at competitions and grants programs. Often, you don’t just get money but also a bit of media. You might get mentoring. Those can really help legitimize or boost your business,\u201d she said. \u201cThink about it in the longer term. Plan out your funding journey alongside your business plan. If you’ve set goals and you have plans to achieve them, analyze: what money do I need to get there?\u201d\nTapping a supportive network will help leverage resources and open doors.\n\u201cAt Next Chapter Raise, we built the business around three aspects: community, knowledge, and access to the investment community,\u201d said Ms. Denholder. \u201cWe’re trying to make female founders feel they can be an equal at the table and navigate the discussions around funding.\u201d\nShe added: \u201cThere\u2019s not a lot of female role models out there. It\u2019s really great to be able to connect women.\u201d\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Dec. 16, 2021. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2021-01-18T11:01:10+08:00", "date_modified": "2021-04-02T23:52:23+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "entrepreneurship", "funding", "Next Chapter Raise", "Nicole Denholder", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Sam L. Marcelo", "startups", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=338166", "url": "/podcast/2021/01/11/338166/b-side-podcast-the-sports-industry-down-but-not-out/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The sports industry: down but not out", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nEverybody loves a comeback story, where the underdog\u2014beaten and bruised\u2014wins it all despite the odds. The sports industry has to recover from a year that saw tournaments canceled and stadiums silent and empty. In this B-Side episode, Rely San Agustin, a sports marketing professional who has been in the industry for more than 20 years, tells 大象传媒 reporter Michael Angelo S. Murillo how sports stakeholders are dealing with the harsh reality that getting fans back into the stands will take time. \u201cA bubble setup makes sense,\u201d said Mr. San Agustin. \u201cSeclusion is needed. You really have to control movement in and out of the venues.\u201d
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nLast year\u20142020\u2014is a lost year for sports.
\nThe effects of the coronavirus hit the revenues of various sports leagues, which were forced to shut down to comply with government quarantine, as well as budgets reserved for sports activities and programs.
\n\u201cWe were taken by surprise by the pandemic, leaving stakeholders scrambling for what\u2019s next to be done to move forward,\u201d said Mr. San Agustin.
\nTo survive, sports leagues are replicating the \u201cNBA Bubble.\u201d
\nSports leagues, such as the Philippine Basketball Association and Philippines Football League went the \u201cbubble\u201d way for their activities\u2014a setup where they had all tournament participants holed up in a specific area for a duration of time to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.
\nIt is proving to be a viable option but requires utmost commitment across all levels to succeed.\u00a0
\nIt\u2019s going to be a long trek back, requiring patience and the ability to adapt.
\nThe sports industry will be among the last to return to normal, which is why stakeholders must use the time they have right now to carefully chart the path they are going to take.
\nBut all is not lost for the sector as there are avenues to take in its return push, including bringing sports entertainment and brands to consumers through a digital approach\u2014going online and exploring the potential of e-sports. The role of social media is now more valuable than ever.
\nIt is still wait-and-see for sports but it will recover gradually.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely in December 2020. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nEverybody loves a comeback story, where the underdog\u2014beaten and bruised\u2014wins it all despite the odds. The sports industry has to recover from a year that saw tournaments canceled and stadiums silent and empty. In this B-Side episode, Rely San Agustin, a sports marketing professional who has been in the industry for more than 20 years, tells 大象传媒 reporter Michael Angelo S. Murillo how sports stakeholders are dealing with the harsh reality that getting fans back into the stands will take time. \u201cA bubble setup makes sense,\u201d said Mr. San Agustin. \u201cSeclusion is needed. You really have to control movement in and out of the venues.\u201d\nTAKEAWAYS\nLast year\u20142020\u2014is a lost year for sports.\nThe effects of the coronavirus hit the revenues of various sports leagues, which were forced to shut down to comply with government quarantine, as well as budgets reserved for sports activities and programs.\n\u201cWe were taken by surprise by the pandemic, leaving stakeholders scrambling for what\u2019s next to be done to move forward,\u201d said Mr. San Agustin.\nTo survive, sports leagues are replicating the \u201cNBA Bubble.\u201d\nSports leagues, such as the Philippine Basketball Association and Philippines Football League went the \u201cbubble\u201d way for their activities\u2014a setup where they had all tournament participants holed up in a specific area for a duration of time to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.\nIt is proving to be a viable option but requires utmost commitment across all levels to succeed.\u00a0\nIt\u2019s going to be a long trek back, requiring patience and the ability to adapt.\nThe sports industry will be among the last to return to normal, which is why stakeholders must use the time they have right now to carefully chart the path they are going to take.\nBut all is not lost for the sector as there are avenues to take in its return push, including bringing sports entertainment and brands to consumers through a digital approach\u2014going online and exploring the potential of e-sports. The role of social media is now more valuable than ever.\nIt is still wait-and-see for sports but it will recover gradually.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely in December 2020. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2021-01-11T18:05:34+08:00", "date_modified": "2021-04-02T23:52:06+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "B-Side", "Michael Angelo S. Murillo", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Rely San Agustin", "Sam L. Marcelo", "sports" ] }, { "id": "/?p=336865", "url": "/podcast/2021/01/04/336865/b-side-podcast-bang-for-your-buck-how-businesses-can-change-the-world-a-dollar-at-a-time/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Bang for your buck: how businesses can change the world a dollar at a time", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side
\nJeremy Meltzer, founder of cause marketing platform i=Change, explains how brands and consumers can make a difference, a dollar a time.
\n\u201cCause marketing\u201d is a term coined in 1983 by American Express to describe its campaign to raise money for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. American Express donated one cent toward restoring the statue every time someone used its charge card. As a result, the Restoration Fund raised over $1.7 million.
\nBusinesses on i=Change give back a dollar to a specific cause with every sale they make. “Customers understand what a dollar is,” Mr. Meltzer told 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol. “It’s more understandable than ‘we give back 1% of our profit to charity.'”
\nHe added: “Don’t think about how clever you can be. Think about how authentic you can impart your message to your customers.”
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nCause marketing differs from corporate social responsibility.
\nCorporate social responsibility is an umbrella phrase for how corporations behave and choose policies, guidelines, purchasing practices, and waste management. Mr. Meltzer described it as a broad term that looks at the way businesses are responsible for a whole series of indexes.\u00a0
\n\u201cBusinesses realize they operate as part of a broader community,\u201d he said. \u201cTo be successful, businesses realize they need a social license to operate. A business can\u2019t thrive in a community that doesn\u2019t. Cause marketing, on the other hand, is more specifically geared around how brands are giving back to causes hoping to achieve a marketing result.\u201d
\nAuthenticity, transparency, and simplicity get your message across.
\n\u201cCause marketing hasn\u2019t been done properly in the past,\u201d Mr. Meltzer said. \u201cWe set out to reimagine it as an experience for the customer and a solution for the retailer, to make it simple for them to give back and simple for them to integrate [giving back] in the customer experience.\u201d
\nHe adds that authenticity is crucial in cause marketing. Brands need to be transparent and support causes that are aligned with their core values, else customers will see through the false ploy.\u00a0
\n\u201cDon’t think about how clever you can be. Think about how authentic you can impart your message to your customers,\u201d he told 大象传媒.
\nMr. Meltzer cited the US brand Reformation as a company that knows how to do cause marketing: \u201cSimilar to Patagonia, that brand has become synonymous with\u00a0 transparency, synonymous with impact, synonymous with being a steward of the community and of the environment.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s easier to understand a dollar than \u20181% of profit.\u2019
\nMost of the businesses on i=Change give back a dollar to a specific cause with every sale they make. “Customers understand what a dollar is,\u201d Mr. Meltzer explained. \u201cIt\u2019s more understandable than \u2018We give back 1% of our profit to charity.\u2019\u201d\u00a0
\nMr. Meltzer said that being a force for change makes a business relevant, and that both product and purpose have to be part of the new normal. He hopes that more businesses become stewards of the community and the environment and that they would consciously choose to integrate these values with the way they do things.
\n\u201cWe cannot continue living in a world where profit is the lens in which we measure success. We are all intricately connected to our communities, to our environment, and to the broader world,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s only a lack of vision and imagination and consciousness that prevents us from understanding the importance of that.\u201d
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side\nJeremy Meltzer, founder of cause marketing platform i=Change, explains how brands and consumers can make a difference, a dollar a time.\n\u201cCause marketing\u201d is a term coined in 1983 by American Express to describe its campaign to raise money for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. American Express donated one cent toward restoring the statue every time someone used its charge card. As a result, the Restoration Fund raised over $1.7 million.\nBusinesses on i=Change give back a dollar to a specific cause with every sale they make. “Customers understand what a dollar is,” Mr. Meltzer told 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol. “It’s more understandable than ‘we give back 1% of our profit to charity.'”\nHe added: “Don’t think about how clever you can be. Think about how authentic you can impart your message to your customers.”\nTAKEAWAYS\nCause marketing differs from corporate social responsibility.\nCorporate social responsibility is an umbrella phrase for how corporations behave and choose policies, guidelines, purchasing practices, and waste management. Mr. Meltzer described it as a broad term that looks at the way businesses are responsible for a whole series of indexes.\u00a0\n\u201cBusinesses realize they operate as part of a broader community,\u201d he said. \u201cTo be successful, businesses realize they need a social license to operate. A business can\u2019t thrive in a community that doesn\u2019t. Cause marketing, on the other hand, is more specifically geared around how brands are giving back to causes hoping to achieve a marketing result.\u201d\nAuthenticity, transparency, and simplicity get your message across.\n\u201cCause marketing hasn\u2019t been done properly in the past,\u201d Mr. Meltzer said. \u201cWe set out to reimagine it as an experience for the customer and a solution for the retailer, to make it simple for them to give back and simple for them to integrate [giving back] in the customer experience.\u201d\nHe adds that authenticity is crucial in cause marketing. Brands need to be transparent and support causes that are aligned with their core values, else customers will see through the false ploy.\u00a0\n\u201cDon’t think about how clever you can be. Think about how authentic you can impart your message to your customers,\u201d he told 大象传媒.\nMr. Meltzer cited the US brand Reformation as a company that knows how to do cause marketing: \u201cSimilar to Patagonia, that brand has become synonymous with\u00a0 transparency, synonymous with impact, synonymous with being a steward of the community and of the environment.\u201d\nIt\u2019s easier to understand a dollar than \u20181% of profit.\u2019\nMost of the businesses on i=Change give back a dollar to a specific cause with every sale they make. “Customers understand what a dollar is,\u201d Mr. Meltzer explained. \u201cIt\u2019s more understandable than \u2018We give back 1% of our profit to charity.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\nMr. Meltzer said that being a force for change makes a business relevant, and that both product and purpose have to be part of the new normal. He hopes that more businesses become stewards of the community and the environment and that they would consciously choose to integrate these values with the way they do things.\n\u201cWe cannot continue living in a world where profit is the lens in which we measure success. We are all intricately connected to our communities, to our environment, and to the broader world,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s only a lack of vision and imagination and consciousness that prevents us from understanding the importance of that.\u201d\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2021-01-04T10:45:24+08:00", "date_modified": "2021-04-02T23:51:54+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "B-Side", "cause marketing", "corporate social responsibility", "i=Change", "Jeremy Meltzer", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=335364", "url": "/podcast/2020/12/21/335364/b-side-podcast-shipping-news-lessons-from-ups/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Shipping news: Lessons from UPS", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic to global supply chains were unexpected.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cThis has really been one of the most challenging times \u2026 in all walks of life,\u201d said Christopher Buono, managing director of UPS Philippines, who has been in the industry for 18 years.
\nUPS is one of several logistics groups tasked with delivering billions of coronavirus vaccine doses to the world. On top of that, it\u2019s the holiday season and packages have to be delivered.
\nFor the logistics industry, the new normal means operating in a peak-like environment for the entire year.
\nIn this episode of B-Side, Mr. Buono speaks with 大象传媒 senior reporter Arjay L. Balinbin, and takes stock of this year against the backdrop of the ongoing health crisis.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nBusinesses are now rethinking how their supply chains are set up, not just from a cost-efficiency standpoint but also from a resiliency perspective.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve even seen their maturity, just in the last eight to nine months, where companies got online, initially in March and April just to stay afloat, just to keep their heads above water\u2026 They\u2019ve learned a lot over the last eight months, and they\u2019ve become much more mature as they work to continue to grow,\u201d Mr. Buono said.
\nTo be resilient, he said, businesses should ensure business continuity, which can mean transforming their business model and utilizing digital channels.
\nDigital tools being made available to businesses help them identify growth opportunities amid the pandemic.
\nMr. Buono said technology solutions allow businesses \u201cto look at data, tell them where their customers are, and what sort of behaviors they may have online.\u201d
\nFor the logistics industry, the new normal means operating in a peak-like environment for the entire year.
\nUPS alone has gotten more than 600 flights in the second quarter of 2020 and more than 260 in the third quarter to cater to the demand coming out of Asia, Mr. Buono said.
\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on November 27. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic to global supply chains were unexpected.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cThis has really been one of the most challenging times \u2026 in all walks of life,\u201d said Christopher Buono, managing director of UPS Philippines, who has been in the industry for 18 years.\nUPS is one of several logistics groups tasked with delivering billions of coronavirus vaccine doses to the world. On top of that, it\u2019s the holiday season and packages have to be delivered.\nFor the logistics industry, the new normal means operating in a peak-like environment for the entire year.\nIn this episode of B-Side, Mr. Buono speaks with 大象传媒 senior reporter Arjay L. Balinbin, and takes stock of this year against the backdrop of the ongoing health crisis.\nTAKEAWAYS\nBusinesses are now rethinking how their supply chains are set up, not just from a cost-efficiency standpoint but also from a resiliency perspective.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve even seen their maturity, just in the last eight to nine months, where companies got online, initially in March and April just to stay afloat, just to keep their heads above water\u2026 They\u2019ve learned a lot over the last eight months, and they\u2019ve become much more mature as they work to continue to grow,\u201d Mr. Buono said.\nTo be resilient, he said, businesses should ensure business continuity, which can mean transforming their business model and utilizing digital channels.\nDigital tools being made available to businesses help them identify growth opportunities amid the pandemic.\nMr. Buono said technology solutions allow businesses \u201cto look at data, tell them where their customers are, and what sort of behaviors they may have online.\u201d\nFor the logistics industry, the new normal means operating in a peak-like environment for the entire year.\nUPS alone has gotten more than 600 flights in the second quarter of 2020 and more than 260 in the third quarter to cater to the demand coming out of Asia, Mr. Buono said.\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on November 27. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-12-21T10:48:25+08:00", "date_modified": "2021-04-02T23:51:41+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Arjay L. Balinbin", "Christopher Buono", "digitalization", "e-commerce", "logistics", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Sam L. Marcelo", "shipping", "supply chain", "UPS", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=333856", "url": "/podcast/2020/12/14/333856/b-side-podcast-curbing-the-plastic-pandemic-with-eco-friendly-packaging/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Curbing the \u2018plastic pandemic\u2019 with eco-friendly packaging", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe plastic pandemic is only getting worse during COVID-19, the World Economic Forum (WEF) warned in July. As people continue to stay home to avoid getting the coronavirus, we have also become more dependent on courier services. Unfortunately, more food delivery and e-commerce shopping also mean more plastic packaging.
\nIn this episode of B-Side, Inna Serafin and Nikki Sevilla of EcoNest Philippines tell Mariel L. Aguinaldo about biodegradable packaging alternatives that work just as well as plastic. Ms. Serafin is the strategic sales and marketing director of the eco-friendly packaging marketing and distribution company, Ms. Sevilla is its founder and chief executive officer.\u00a0
\nQuoting the WEF report, Ms. Serafin said: \u201cIf we are not are careful, short-term thinking during the pandemic could lead to an even larger environmental and public calamity in the future.\u201d
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nBeware of greenwashing.
\nWhile some products banner themselves as being eco-friendly, not all of them are actually biodegradable or compostable. This misleading practice is called \u201cgreenwashing.\u201d
\nMs. Sevilla founded EcoNest in 2018 after she realized that the only readily available \u201ceco-friendly\u201d packaging at the time was plastic with plant-based additives mixed in.
\n\u201cFor us, we want it to be fully plant-based,\u201d she said. EcoNest carries \u201ccassabags,\u201d bio-bags made from cassava starch, vegetable oil, and compostable polymers. These bags disintegrate in hot water at 80 degrees Celsius. EcoNest also carries Geami honeycomb wrap, which replaces plastic bubble wrap, and sugarcane food trays.
\nEco-friendly packaging improves brand image. It also produces a \u201cgreen halo\u201d that gives customers a sense of fulfillment and pride.
\n\u201cPeople in the Philippines are aware already of plastic pollution,\u201d said Ms. Sevilla. \u201cA lot of people would actually support brands or companies that have a sustainability plan or are already making use of eco-packaging. They feel good that they\u2019re doing what they can in order to protect the environment.\u201d
\nThere are other responsible solutions\u2014aside from eco-friendly packaging\u2014that companies can and must start using.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe can\u2019t really eliminate plastic from our lives,\u201d said Ms. Serafin, who pointed out that single-use plastics like surgical masks are crucial during the pandemic. The greater the need, then, to implement sustainable solutions where possible. \u201cSustainability will dictate how businesses operate in the future,\u201d said Ms. Serafin.
\n\u201cWe are already at a climate crisis and it\u2019s about time that we act on it\u201d added Ms. Sevilla. \u201cStart somewhere: segregation, recycling\u2014there are a lot of solutions already within reach.\u201d
\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on November 18. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe plastic pandemic is only getting worse during COVID-19, the World Economic Forum (WEF) warned in July. As people continue to stay home to avoid getting the coronavirus, we have also become more dependent on courier services. Unfortunately, more food delivery and e-commerce shopping also mean more plastic packaging.\nIn this episode of B-Side, Inna Serafin and Nikki Sevilla of EcoNest Philippines tell Mariel L. Aguinaldo about biodegradable packaging alternatives that work just as well as plastic. Ms. Serafin is the strategic sales and marketing director of the eco-friendly packaging marketing and distribution company, Ms. Sevilla is its founder and chief executive officer.\u00a0\nQuoting the WEF report, Ms. Serafin said: \u201cIf we are not are careful, short-term thinking during the pandemic could lead to an even larger environmental and public calamity in the future.\u201d\nTAKEAWAYS\nBeware of greenwashing.\nWhile some products banner themselves as being eco-friendly, not all of them are actually biodegradable or compostable. This misleading practice is called \u201cgreenwashing.\u201d\nMs. Sevilla founded EcoNest in 2018 after she realized that the only readily available \u201ceco-friendly\u201d packaging at the time was plastic with plant-based additives mixed in.\n\u201cFor us, we want it to be fully plant-based,\u201d she said. EcoNest carries \u201ccassabags,\u201d bio-bags made from cassava starch, vegetable oil, and compostable polymers. These bags disintegrate in hot water at 80 degrees Celsius. EcoNest also carries Geami honeycomb wrap, which replaces plastic bubble wrap, and sugarcane food trays.\nEco-friendly packaging improves brand image. It also produces a \u201cgreen halo\u201d that gives customers a sense of fulfillment and pride.\n\u201cPeople in the Philippines are aware already of plastic pollution,\u201d said Ms. Sevilla. \u201cA lot of people would actually support brands or companies that have a sustainability plan or are already making use of eco-packaging. They feel good that they\u2019re doing what they can in order to protect the environment.\u201d\nThere are other responsible solutions\u2014aside from eco-friendly packaging\u2014that companies can and must start using.\u00a0\n\u201cWe can\u2019t really eliminate plastic from our lives,\u201d said Ms. Serafin, who pointed out that single-use plastics like surgical masks are crucial during the pandemic. The greater the need, then, to implement sustainable solutions where possible. \u201cSustainability will dictate how businesses operate in the future,\u201d said Ms. Serafin.\n\u201cWe are already at a climate crisis and it\u2019s about time that we act on it\u201d added Ms. Sevilla. \u201cStart somewhere: segregation, recycling\u2014there are a lot of solutions already within reach.\u201d\nThis B-Side episode was recorded remotely on November 18. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-12-14T11:51:41+08:00", "date_modified": "2021-04-02T23:51:07+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=332550", "url": "/podcast/2020/12/07/332550/b-side-podcast-weathering-the-storm-how-to-protect-the-farming-sector-from-typhoons/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Weathering the storm: how to protect the farming sector from typhoons", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nTyphoon season isn\u2019t over. Before 2020 finally says goodbye, two to three more storms could make landfall and wreak havoc on a country that\u2019s already been battered by storm after storm after storm.\u00a0
\nThe Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates that the farming sector incurred losses worth P6.72 billion from Typhoon Ulysses alone.
\nRaul Q. Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers, talks about the impact of these natural calamities on Filipino farmers and how to protect them. Mr. Montemayor gives 大象传媒 reporter Revin Mikhael D. Ochave a crash course on the effects of the Rice Tariffication Law and what the agriculture sector will look like, moving forward.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nFarmers need data and support that is location-specific in order to increase their preparedness and resiliency.
\nThe DA has to translate data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration into localized information that is useful to farmers. In addition to knowing when it’s going to rain, where, and how much, farmers need to know if the amount of expected rain is too much or too little for a certain crop at a certain stage of planting, said Mr. Montemayor.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe needs of communities and farming areas are different,\u201d he said.
\nAgriculture may not be the bright spot that the DA is making it out to be.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not surprised that agriculture had positive growth. We are comparing [2020] to 2019, which was a drought year,\u201d Mr. Montemayor said, who characterized the reported growth as \u201cdeceptive.\u201d He added: \u201cWe are just back to where started. I don\u2019t call that a big achievement.\u201d
\nAccording to Mr. Montemayor, the DA tends to oversell its achievements: \u201cOur impression is that they [the DA] have a lot of hype in mass media, in public statements, but compare that with the feedback we get from the field, it is not the case.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe Rice Tarrification Law could become a political issue in the next election.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s growing\u2014the sense of desperation and the disappointment in the government,\u201d said Mr. Montemayor, who wants stronger language on safeguards for farmers; the return of licensing as a better way to manage imports; and the clarification of the role of the National Food Authority.
\n\u201cYou go to the field, it\u2019s all the same. It\u2019s the same problems and, to some extent, even worse problems now than before. I\u2019m a little bit pessimistic,\u201d said Mr. Montemayor.
\nThis episode was recorded remotely on November 17. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nTyphoon season isn\u2019t over. Before 2020 finally says goodbye, two to three more storms could make landfall and wreak havoc on a country that\u2019s already been battered by storm after storm after storm.\u00a0\nThe Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates that the farming sector incurred losses worth P6.72 billion from Typhoon Ulysses alone.\nRaul Q. Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers, talks about the impact of these natural calamities on Filipino farmers and how to protect them. Mr. Montemayor gives 大象传媒 reporter Revin Mikhael D. Ochave a crash course on the effects of the Rice Tariffication Law and what the agriculture sector will look like, moving forward.\nTAKEAWAYS\nFarmers need data and support that is location-specific in order to increase their preparedness and resiliency.\nThe DA has to translate data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration into localized information that is useful to farmers. In addition to knowing when it’s going to rain, where, and how much, farmers need to know if the amount of expected rain is too much or too little for a certain crop at a certain stage of planting, said Mr. Montemayor.\u00a0\n\u201cThe needs of communities and farming areas are different,\u201d he said.\nAgriculture may not be the bright spot that the DA is making it out to be.\n\u201cI\u2019m not surprised that agriculture had positive growth. We are comparing [2020] to 2019, which was a drought year,\u201d Mr. Montemayor said, who characterized the reported growth as \u201cdeceptive.\u201d He added: \u201cWe are just back to where started. I don\u2019t call that a big achievement.\u201d\nAccording to Mr. Montemayor, the DA tends to oversell its achievements: \u201cOur impression is that they [the DA] have a lot of hype in mass media, in public statements, but compare that with the feedback we get from the field, it is not the case.\u201d\u00a0\nThe Rice Tarrification Law could become a political issue in the next election.\n\u201cIt\u2019s growing\u2014the sense of desperation and the disappointment in the government,\u201d said Mr. Montemayor, who wants stronger language on safeguards for farmers; the return of licensing as a better way to manage imports; and the clarification of the role of the National Food Authority.\n\u201cYou go to the field, it\u2019s all the same. It\u2019s the same problems and, to some extent, even worse problems now than before. I\u2019m a little bit pessimistic,\u201d said Mr. Montemayor.\nThis episode was recorded remotely on November 17. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-12-07T17:42:35+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-12-07T17:42:35+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Department of Agriculture", "Federation of Free Farmers", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Raul Q. Montemayor", "Revin Mikhael D. Ochave", "Rice Tarrification Law", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Typhoon Ulysses", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=331549", "url": "/podcast/2020/12/01/331549/b-side-podcast-the-future-of-consumption-a-fireside-chat-from-the-businessworld-virtual-economic-forum/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The future of consumption (a fireside chat from the 大象传媒 Virtual Economic Forum)", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nOn November 25 and 26, 大象传媒 held a two-day virtual economic forum with the forward-looking theme \u201cForecast 2021: ReBoot. ReThink. ReShape.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe event gathered over 40 local and international speakers who discussed the great economic reset as well as the future in a post-COVID era.
\nB-Side is sharing excerpts from the forum, beginning with this fireside chat between Satish Shankar, regional managing partner for Bain and Company, Asia-Pacific, and Sam L. Marcelo, 大象传媒 multimedia editor.
\n
Over the course of this public health crisis, we\u2019ve witnessed changes in consumption, specifically further shifts to essential goods and digital services.\u00a0
\nNevertheless, consumption will contribute to growth in Southeast Asia, as Bain & Company estimates that the region will generate a total of US$4 trillion in terms of consumption in the next decade.\u00a0
\nIn order to unlock the region\u2019s full potential, it is encouraged that stakeholders ensure efficient and effective recovery from COVID-19, focus on talent development and socio-economic inclusion, upgrade infrastructure to support urbanization and resource management, and push for open and integrated regulation, with a hyper-local approach.
\nThis episode was recorded remotely on November 26. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nOn November 25 and 26, 大象传媒 held a two-day virtual economic forum with the forward-looking theme \u201cForecast 2021: ReBoot. ReThink. ReShape.\u201d\u00a0\nThe event gathered over 40 local and international speakers who discussed the great economic reset as well as the future in a post-COVID era.\nB-Side is sharing excerpts from the forum, beginning with this fireside chat between Satish Shankar, regional managing partner for Bain and Company, Asia-Pacific, and Sam L. Marcelo, 大象传媒 multimedia editor.\n\n\nOver the course of this public health crisis, we\u2019ve witnessed changes in consumption, specifically further shifts to essential goods and digital services.\u00a0\nNevertheless, consumption will contribute to growth in Southeast Asia, as Bain & Company estimates that the region will generate a total of US$4 trillion in terms of consumption in the next decade.\u00a0\nIn order to unlock the region\u2019s full potential, it is encouraged that stakeholders ensure efficient and effective recovery from COVID-19, focus on talent development and socio-economic inclusion, upgrade infrastructure to support urbanization and resource management, and push for open and integrated regulation, with a hyper-local approach.\nThis episode was recorded remotely on November 26. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-12-01T11:24:22+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-12-01T11:24:22+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Bain & Company", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Satish Shankar", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=330226", "url": "/podcast/2020/11/23/330226/b-side-podcast-if-its-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is-debunking-fake-covid-facts/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] If it\u2019s too good to be true, it probably is: Debunking fake COVID facts", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
Fake COVID-19 cures and preventive measures are proliferating online, in chat groups and social media. Bananas, saltwater, and onions have all made the rounds as coronavirus remedies (which they aren’t).
\nAs the world waits for an effective vaccine against the virus, netizens may fall prey to these fake stories and forward them.
\nFlipScience, a Filipino science news and features website, has contributed to the \u201cCOVID-19 fake fact debunking\u201d movement in the country.
\nFlipScience co-founder Mikael Angelo Francisco tells 大象传媒 reporter Angelica Y. Yang how citizens can identify and debunk fake news about the virus.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nBe wary of bold headlines.
\nThe anatomy of a fake news story begins with a bold headline, such as \u201cBananas prevent coronavirus.\u201d\u00a0
\nAnother component is the lack of any scientific evidence or cherry-picked lines from studies, said Mr. Francisco. He added that independent websites are usually the culprits in spreading these stories, but well-meaning people who don\u2019t do enough research can also unknowingly spread misinformation among family and friends via social media or online chat groups.
\nOn rare occasions, big news establishments can also publish a fake news story. \u201cJust because it\u2019s viral, doesn’t mean you can trust it,\u201d Mr. Francisco said.
\nIf it\u2019s too good to be true, it probably is.
\nMr. Francisco suggested that netizens take these three steps whenever they get a forwarded message:
\n\u201cWhen you find something that sounds too good to be true\u2014if it\u2019s like a magic cure for COVID-19, or something that \u2018the doctors don’t want you to know about\u2019\u2014that should raise some red flags already,\u201d he said.
\nInstead of passively consuming these stories, one must be critical.
\n\u201cFor example, going back to the advice that bananas can protect you from the COVID-19, you should think back and try to reflect on what you know about bananas. Have they ever been prescribed as a cure for any respiratory illnesses or diseases?\u201d he said.\u00a0
\nThe last step is reading scientific studies or asking an expert to verify the claims. \u201cIf you can’t find any reliable source that reaffirms that advice or proves that it’s true, it’s probably false,\u201d Mr. Francisco said.
\nRecorded remotely on November 13. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n\n
Related stories:
\nCalling BS in a data-driven world
\nOn social media, it\u2019s better to be a skeptic
Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nAnchanto, a Singapore-based automation and logistics platform, projects that cross-border e-commerce in the Asia-Pacific region will grow to US$ 1.5 trillion by 2023. The Southeast Asian market\u2014which has the highest number of young people with Internet access\u2014is expected to account for 40% of this trajectory.
\nVaibhav Dabhade, founder and CEO of Anchanto, tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol how local micro, small, and medium enterprises or (MSMEs) can compete against established brands in the online marketplace.
\n\u201cYou are one product out of millions,\u201d Mr. Dabhade said. \u201cUnless and until you optimize your catalog, unless and until you create specific marketing campaigns, your chances of getting visible without effort is almost zero.\u201d
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nCross-border sellers have to adopt local payment methods.\u00a0
\nCross-border e-commerce has been here for more than 15 years, with Alibaba being the pioneer. Buyers used to pay for their purchases upfront before Lazada pioneered the cash-on-delivery (COD) model. COD has propelled acceptance of cross-border e-commerce in Southeast Asia.
\nMarketplaces are creating models to minimize the impact of last-mile delivery costs.
\nBusiness has been challenged with the heavy cost of last-mile delivery amid the pandemic. According to Mr. Dabhade, limited flights have tripled the cost of shipping from the UK to Malaysia as of October 2020. To minimize the impact of such costs, companies and marketplaces are delivering products via the postal system, which is slower but cheaper.\u00a0
\nMSMEs need structural support.
\nMr. Dabhade cited Singapore and South Korea as countries that can be used as models: Singapore provides access to consultants in content, marketing, and pricing while South Korea identifies organizations with global infrastructure that can help MSMEs sell their products overseas.
\nThis level of support is vital because MSMEs get excited about the prospect of e-commerce only to get demotivated after months without sales. \u201cYou are one product out of millions,\u201d said Mr. Dabhade. \u201cUnless and until you optimize your catalog, unless and until you create specific marketing campaigns, your chances of getting visible without effort is almost zero.\u201d
\nPhilippine import and export guidelines remain unclear.
\n\u201cThe Philippine market is very similar to India,\u201d Mr. Dabhade said. \u201cImport and export is difficult\u2026 cargo is stuck at customs so sellers get despondent.\u201d
\nThe Filipino diaspora is a market just waiting to be tapped.\u00a0
\nWherever there are Filipinos, there are stores selling Philippine-made products. These products can be optimized, but there is no structure for this as of yet, said Mr. Dabhade.
\nStudy the market you\u2019re planning to serve.
\nEntrepreneurs need to spend time to understand the main commerce restrictions of each country they plan to serve.\u00a0
\nAnchanto had a client whose skincare product description included the line: \u201cTested on Asian skin.\u201d The product, which was shipped to Canada, got stuck in customs because the language was deemed borderline discriminatory. Knowing what\u2019s acceptable and what\u2019s not per region will prevent your products from getting flagged at the outset, said Mr. Dabhade.
\nOther tips he offered are: choosing a strong payment gateway; and making the fulfillment terms and conditions clear to minimize fraudulent transactions.
\nRecorded remotely on October 14. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nAnchanto, a Singapore-based automation and logistics platform, projects that cross-border e-commerce in the Asia-Pacific region will grow to US$ 1.5 trillion by 2023. The Southeast Asian market\u2014which has the highest number of young people with Internet access\u2014is expected to account for 40% of this trajectory.\nVaibhav Dabhade, founder and CEO of Anchanto, tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol how local micro, small, and medium enterprises or (MSMEs) can compete against established brands in the online marketplace.\n\u201cYou are one product out of millions,\u201d Mr. Dabhade said. \u201cUnless and until you optimize your catalog, unless and until you create specific marketing campaigns, your chances of getting visible without effort is almost zero.\u201d\nTAKEAWAYS\nCross-border sellers have to adopt local payment methods.\u00a0\nCross-border e-commerce has been here for more than 15 years, with Alibaba being the pioneer. Buyers used to pay for their purchases upfront before Lazada pioneered the cash-on-delivery (COD) model. COD has propelled acceptance of cross-border e-commerce in Southeast Asia.\nMarketplaces are creating models to minimize the impact of last-mile delivery costs.\nBusiness has been challenged with the heavy cost of last-mile delivery amid the pandemic. According to Mr. Dabhade, limited flights have tripled the cost of shipping from the UK to Malaysia as of October 2020. To minimize the impact of such costs, companies and marketplaces are delivering products via the postal system, which is slower but cheaper.\u00a0\nMSMEs need structural support.\nMr. Dabhade cited Singapore and South Korea as countries that can be used as models: Singapore provides access to consultants in content, marketing, and pricing while South Korea identifies organizations with global infrastructure that can help MSMEs sell their products overseas.\nThis level of support is vital because MSMEs get excited about the prospect of e-commerce only to get demotivated after months without sales. \u201cYou are one product out of millions,\u201d said Mr. Dabhade. \u201cUnless and until you optimize your catalog, unless and until you create specific marketing campaigns, your chances of getting visible without effort is almost zero.\u201d\nPhilippine import and export guidelines remain unclear.\n\u201cThe Philippine market is very similar to India,\u201d Mr. Dabhade said. \u201cImport and export is difficult\u2026 cargo is stuck at customs so sellers get despondent.\u201d\nThe Filipino diaspora is a market just waiting to be tapped.\u00a0\nWherever there are Filipinos, there are stores selling Philippine-made products. These products can be optimized, but there is no structure for this as of yet, said Mr. Dabhade.\nStudy the market you\u2019re planning to serve.\nEntrepreneurs need to spend time to understand the main commerce restrictions of each country they plan to serve.\u00a0\nAnchanto had a client whose skincare product description included the line: \u201cTested on Asian skin.\u201d The product, which was shipped to Canada, got stuck in customs because the language was deemed borderline discriminatory. Knowing what\u2019s acceptable and what\u2019s not per region will prevent your products from getting flagged at the outset, said Mr. Dabhade.\nOther tips he offered are: choosing a strong payment gateway; and making the fulfillment terms and conditions clear to minimize fraudulent transactions.\nRecorded remotely on October 14. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-11-16T11:08:09+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-11-16T11:08:09+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Anchanto", "e-commerce", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=327492", "url": "/podcast/2020/11/09/327492/b-side-podcast-are-you-okay-treating-the-workforce-as-human-beings-not-just-human-resources/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Are you okay? Treating the workforce as human beings, not just human resources", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe eight-month lockdown, one of the longest in the world, has kept much of the country\u2019s workforce at home. Separation from colleagues, coupled with fears of the virus, has raised the level of anxiety among the working population.\u00a0
\nNikki Vergara, co-founder and chief well-being officer of Positive Workplaces, a training and consultancy organization, tells 大象传媒 reporter Jenina P. Iba\u00f1ez what individuals and companies can do to promote psychological well-being in the workplace (whether that means the office or the home).\u00a0
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nThe absence of mental illness is not the same as mental health.
\nThose who feel unable to function normally should be given access to psychology professionals that can help.\u00a0
\nThis is particularly important because Filipinos are now experiencing additional stressors\u2014such as worries about their health and the government\u2019s response to the virus\u2014while having fewer ways to cope because of the lockdown.
\n\u201cSocial ties help us cope with the most difficult parts of life. In the past, we could rely on hanging out with each other,\u201d said Ms. Vergara.\u00a0
\nWorkers have different ways of coping with a work-from-home environment.
\nWorkers at home have been staying in the same space throughout the day, blurring the lines between their job and other parts of their lives.
\nThe biggest complaint among employees, said Ms. Vergara, is that \u201cpeople are unable to stop working. Citing a Google study, she advised knowing what kind of person you are\u2014a segmentor or an integrator?\u00a0
\nSegmentors distinguish work hours from leisure time while intergrators switch back and forth throughout the day. The former must identify and communicate specific hours reserved for work, while the latter must ensure they get enough reset.
\nCompanies must then measure the well-being of their employees and be aware of the well-being issues among their workforce. If the lockdown has removed positive reinforcement measures from the company, the organization must find new ways to commend their employees.
\nManagers must be open to feedback, intentional about praise.
\nFilipino workers are inclined to work hard despite low salaries or hard conditions because they are afraid to lose their jobs. They are also hesitant to talk about their needs to sustain mental health and offer feedback about tasks, especially given a hierarchical workplace.
\nManagers must be open to getting feedback from employees, especially because they need to find out if the tasks they assign are doable given the pandemic.
\n\u201cIn uncertainty, two-way feedback is important,\u201d Ms. Vergara said, adding that managers should rethink the way they reassure employees. \u201cComplimenting is no longer the natural thing. Under lockdown, managers should be more intentional about praise.\u201d
\nRecorded remotely on October 22. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe eight-month lockdown, one of the longest in the world, has kept much of the country\u2019s workforce at home. Separation from colleagues, coupled with fears of the virus, has raised the level of anxiety among the working population.\u00a0\nNikki Vergara, co-founder and chief well-being officer of Positive Workplaces, a training and consultancy organization, tells 大象传媒 reporter Jenina P. Iba\u00f1ez what individuals and companies can do to promote psychological well-being in the workplace (whether that means the office or the home).\u00a0\nTAKEAWAYS\nThe absence of mental illness is not the same as mental health.\nThose who feel unable to function normally should be given access to psychology professionals that can help.\u00a0\nThis is particularly important because Filipinos are now experiencing additional stressors\u2014such as worries about their health and the government\u2019s response to the virus\u2014while having fewer ways to cope because of the lockdown.\n\u201cSocial ties help us cope with the most difficult parts of life. In the past, we could rely on hanging out with each other,\u201d said Ms. Vergara.\u00a0\nWorkers have different ways of coping with a work-from-home environment.\nWorkers at home have been staying in the same space throughout the day, blurring the lines between their job and other parts of their lives.\nThe biggest complaint among employees, said Ms. Vergara, is that \u201cpeople are unable to stop working. Citing a Google study, she advised knowing what kind of person you are\u2014a segmentor or an integrator?\u00a0\nSegmentors distinguish work hours from leisure time while intergrators switch back and forth throughout the day. The former must identify and communicate specific hours reserved for work, while the latter must ensure they get enough reset.\nCompanies must then measure the well-being of their employees and be aware of the well-being issues among their workforce. If the lockdown has removed positive reinforcement measures from the company, the organization must find new ways to commend their employees.\nManagers must be open to feedback, intentional about praise.\nFilipino workers are inclined to work hard despite low salaries or hard conditions because they are afraid to lose their jobs. They are also hesitant to talk about their needs to sustain mental health and offer feedback about tasks, especially given a hierarchical workplace.\nManagers must be open to getting feedback from employees, especially because they need to find out if the tasks they assign are doable given the pandemic.\n\u201cIn uncertainty, two-way feedback is important,\u201d Ms. Vergara said, adding that managers should rethink the way they reassure employees. \u201cComplimenting is no longer the natural thing. Under lockdown, managers should be more intentional about praise.\u201d\nRecorded remotely on October 22. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-11-09T10:32:17+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-11-09T10:32:17+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "B-Side", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "Jenina P. Iba\u00f1ez", "lockdown", "Mental health", "Nikki Vergara", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Positive Workplaces", "Sam L. Marcelo" ] }, { "id": "/?p=326491", "url": "/podcast/2020/11/03/326491/b-side-podcast-dutertes-dual-track-approach-to-china-and-why-it-wont-work/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Duterte\u2019s \u2018dual-track approach\u2019 to China, and why it won\u2019t work", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nIt is a mistake for the Duterte administration to think that it can separate its maritime dispute with China from issues like trade, investment, and official development assistance, said International Studies Professor Renato Cruz De Castro, a trustee and convenor of the National Security and East Asian Affairs Program of the Stratbase ADR Institute.
\nAt the United Nations General Assembly this September, 大象传媒 reported that \u201cPresident Rodrigo R. Duterte gave his most forceful defense of a 2016 United Nations (UN) ruling favoring the Philippines in a sea dispute with China, in a move that could signal the end of friendly ties with its neighbor.\u201d\u00a0
\nThis October, Mr. Duterte, changed his tone in one of his recent COVID-19 addresses and reiterated that the Philippines wants to strike a government-to-government deal with China for COVID-19 vaccines.
\nThis compartmentalizing strategy, which Mr. De Castro calls the \u201cdual-track approach,\u201d won’t work with China.\u00a0
\n\u201cChina doesn\u2019t play that game,\u201d he tells 大象传媒 reporter Gillian M. Cortez. \u201cChina is a traditional big power; it will act like any big power. It will never deal with us [the Philippines] in an equitable manner.\u201d
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nDuterte\u2019s policy toward China is a \u2018policy of appeasement.\u2019
\n\u201cHe [Mr. Duterte] distanced the Philippines from the United States and pushed the Philippines to the waiting arms of China,\u201d said Mr. De Castro, who cited the current administration\u2019s concessions to China and the delays in the US-Philippine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which the Aquino administration signed in 2014. \u201cThe very essence of President Aquino\u2019s foreign policy of challenging China was unraveled by his successor, President Duterte.\u201d
\n\u2018China will literally run over us.\u2019
\nMultiple surveys show that the majority of Filipinos do not trust China. \u201cYour neighbors are not usually your best friend,\u201d said Mr. De Castro, who characterized China as an expansionist power intent on dominating Asia.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cWhen China thinks its territorial integrity is being undermined, China will throw everything off the table,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s not fool ourselves. China has a goal\u2014that\u2019s maritime expansion. If we happen to be in its path, China will literally run over us.\u201d
\nAn international ruling has to be enforced by countries that have a stake in it.
\nIn an online briefing, Presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque said: \u201cYou do not enforce an arbitral ruling \u2026\u00a0 The assumption in international law is that all countries will comply with their international obligations particularly with the arbitral award because it freely consented to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal.\u201d
\nMr. Roque was wrong, said Mr. De Castro. \u201cInternational law has to be enforced,\u201d he said. \u201cAll naval powers have an interest in the ruling because they don\u2019t want to see the South China Sea transformed into a Chinese lake.\u201d\u00a0
\nMr. Roque\u2019s interpretation, he continued, is \u201ca justification for inaction, which the Duterte administration is known for when it comes to the West Philippine Sea.\u201d
\nThere are three things that the Duterte administration can do right now, according to Mr. De Castro:
\nRecorded remotely on October 14. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nIt is a mistake for the Duterte administration to think that it can separate its maritime dispute with China from issues like trade, investment, and official development assistance, said International Studies Professor Renato Cruz De Castro, a trustee and convenor of the National Security and East Asian Affairs Program of the Stratbase ADR Institute.\nAt the United Nations General Assembly this September, 大象传媒 reported that \u201cPresident Rodrigo R. Duterte gave his most forceful defense of a 2016 United Nations (UN) ruling favoring the Philippines in a sea dispute with China, in a move that could signal the end of friendly ties with its neighbor.\u201d\u00a0\nThis October, Mr. Duterte, changed his tone in one of his recent COVID-19 addresses and reiterated that the Philippines wants to strike a government-to-government deal with China for COVID-19 vaccines.\nThis compartmentalizing strategy, which Mr. De Castro calls the \u201cdual-track approach,\u201d won’t work with China.\u00a0\n\u201cChina doesn\u2019t play that game,\u201d he tells 大象传媒 reporter Gillian M. Cortez. \u201cChina is a traditional big power; it will act like any big power. It will never deal with us [the Philippines] in an equitable manner.\u201d\nTAKEAWAYS\nDuterte\u2019s policy toward China is a \u2018policy of appeasement.\u2019\n\u201cHe [Mr. Duterte] distanced the Philippines from the United States and pushed the Philippines to the waiting arms of China,\u201d said Mr. De Castro, who cited the current administration\u2019s concessions to China and the delays in the US-Philippine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which the Aquino administration signed in 2014. \u201cThe very essence of President Aquino\u2019s foreign policy of challenging China was unraveled by his successor, President Duterte.\u201d\n\u2018China will literally run over us.\u2019\nMultiple surveys show that the majority of Filipinos do not trust China. \u201cYour neighbors are not usually your best friend,\u201d said Mr. De Castro, who characterized China as an expansionist power intent on dominating Asia.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cWhen China thinks its territorial integrity is being undermined, China will throw everything off the table,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s not fool ourselves. China has a goal\u2014that\u2019s maritime expansion. If we happen to be in its path, China will literally run over us.\u201d\nAn international ruling has to be enforced by countries that have a stake in it.\nIn an online briefing, Presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque said: \u201cYou do not enforce an arbitral ruling \u2026\u00a0 The assumption in international law is that all countries will comply with their international obligations particularly with the arbitral award because it freely consented to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal.\u201d\nMr. Roque was wrong, said Mr. De Castro. \u201cInternational law has to be enforced,\u201d he said. \u201cAll naval powers have an interest in the ruling because they don\u2019t want to see the South China Sea transformed into a Chinese lake.\u201d\u00a0\nMr. Roque\u2019s interpretation, he continued, is \u201ca justification for inaction, which the Duterte administration is known for when it comes to the West Philippine Sea.\u201d\nThere are three things that the Duterte administration can do right now, according to Mr. De Castro:\n\nThe Philippines can file its extended continental shelf claim in the West Philippine Sea.\u00a0\nThe Philippines can enforce\u2014not just acknowledge\u2014the arbitral ruling.\nThe Philippines can organize an international coalition of countries that have an interest in enforcing the ruling.\n\nRecorded remotely on October 14. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-11-03T08:44:19+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-11-03T08:44:19+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "China", "Gillian M. Cortez", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Renato Cruz De Castro", "Rodrigo Duterte", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=324933", "url": "/podcast/2020/10/26/324933/b-side-podcast-bend-dont-break-business-lessons-from-bamboo/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Bend, don\u2019t break: business lessons from bamboo", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe COVID-19 pandemic wiped out 80% of the revenue of Bambike, a socio-ecological enterprise that handcrafts bamboo bicycles. Prior to the lockdowns, Bambike was renting out thousands of bikes a month for its ecobike tours, which won the company a Tripadvisor award in March. Bambike founder Bryan Benitez McClelland tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol how the company is bouncing back. \u201cBe resilient like the bamboo,\u201d he said.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nRecognize the value of your assets.
\nWhen Bambike\u2019s city tours evaporated, Mr. McClelland realized that he could turn his idle fleet of bamboo bikes into transportation for frontliners who were having trouble getting to work because of the lockdowns.\u00a0\u00a0
\nBicycles are enjoying a growing acceptance among a populace long burdened by poor public transport. Bambike has pivoted from conducting tours to selling bikes to customers. While operations are still not back to pre-pandemic levels, Bambike nonetheless finds itself fortuitously positioned in a growth market.\u00a0
\n\u201cYour business plan is never executed exactly as you wrote it\u2026 We\u2019re very fortunate to be positioned in a growth market. We are able to survive now,\u201d he said.
\nThe future of transportation is electric.
\nBambike began producing e-bikes during the pandemic. Capable of covering longer distances with less pedaling power (and less perspiration), e-bikes get people around without emitting carbon. Bambike offers a range of e-bikes, from 500-watt commuter kits for easy cruising to 1,500-watt turbo kits for long distances to 3,000-watt hauler kits for extra power.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe\u2019re making sure we\u2019re doing the right thing for people and the planet as we become part of the new green economy and the next normal,\u201d said Mr. McClelland.\u00a0
\nSupport local.
\nMr. McClelland makes a case for supporting MSMEs like Bambike instead of hopping on e-commerce platforms and importing goods. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to be said about still purchasing things from the palengke, or going to the small shops, or finding the entrepreneurs that just opened their online stores and are trying to continue to make a living,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cWe should always look to buy Filipino first. It will pay off in the long run.\u201d\u00a0
\nBe like bamboo.
\nThis year is going to be \u201ca year of survival, tenacity, and grit,\u201d according to Mr. McClelland, who considers Bambike to be a customer service company at heart and counts on his team to adjust to the needs of the times, whether it\u2019s by touring clients or selling bikes. \u201cThe goal is to keep all people employed and pull through together,\u201d he said. \u201cBe resilient like the bamboo, where you bend but you stay strong and stay firm throughout the challenging times.\u201d\u00a0
\nRecorded remotely on October 1. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side\nThe COVID-19 pandemic wiped out 80% of the revenue of Bambike, a socio-ecological enterprise that handcrafts bamboo bicycles. Prior to the lockdowns, Bambike was renting out thousands of bikes a month for its ecobike tours, which won the company a Tripadvisor award in March. Bambike founder Bryan Benitez McClelland tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol how the company is bouncing back. \u201cBe resilient like the bamboo,\u201d he said.\nTAKEAWAYS\nRecognize the value of your assets.\nWhen Bambike\u2019s city tours evaporated, Mr. McClelland realized that he could turn his idle fleet of bamboo bikes into transportation for frontliners who were having trouble getting to work because of the lockdowns.\u00a0\u00a0\nBicycles are enjoying a growing acceptance among a populace long burdened by poor public transport. Bambike has pivoted from conducting tours to selling bikes to customers. While operations are still not back to pre-pandemic levels, Bambike nonetheless finds itself fortuitously positioned in a growth market.\u00a0\n\u201cYour business plan is never executed exactly as you wrote it\u2026 We\u2019re very fortunate to be positioned in a growth market. We are able to survive now,\u201d he said.\nThe future of transportation is electric.\nBambike began producing e-bikes during the pandemic. Capable of covering longer distances with less pedaling power (and less perspiration), e-bikes get people around without emitting carbon. Bambike offers a range of e-bikes, from 500-watt commuter kits for easy cruising to 1,500-watt turbo kits for long distances to 3,000-watt hauler kits for extra power.\u00a0\n\u201cWe\u2019re making sure we\u2019re doing the right thing for people and the planet as we become part of the new green economy and the next normal,\u201d said Mr. McClelland.\u00a0\nSupport local.\nMr. McClelland makes a case for supporting MSMEs like Bambike instead of hopping on e-commerce platforms and importing goods. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to be said about still purchasing things from the palengke, or going to the small shops, or finding the entrepreneurs that just opened their online stores and are trying to continue to make a living,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cWe should always look to buy Filipino first. It will pay off in the long run.\u201d\u00a0\nBe like bamboo.\nThis year is going to be \u201ca year of survival, tenacity, and grit,\u201d according to Mr. McClelland, who considers Bambike to be a customer service company at heart and counts on his team to adjust to the needs of the times, whether it\u2019s by touring clients or selling bikes. \u201cThe goal is to keep all people employed and pull through together,\u201d he said. \u201cBe resilient like the bamboo, where you bend but you stay strong and stay firm throughout the challenging times.\u201d\u00a0\nRecorded remotely on October 1. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-10-26T11:11:07+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-10-26T11:11:07+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Bambike", "bikes", "Bryan Benitez McClelland", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "e-bikes", "MSMEs", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=323415", "url": "/podcast/2020/10/19/323415/b-side-podcast-at-home-yet-unsafe-lockdowns-are-worsening-online-sexual-exploitation-of-children/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] At home yet unsafe: lockdowns are worsening online sexual exploitation of children", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nOnline sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) is a crime that often happens at home at the hands of family, the very people who are trusted the most by the victims of this horrible crime.
\nThis episode jumps off from a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council on the surge of online child pornography transactions during the lockdown.\u00a0 Reynaldo Bicol, Manila field office director of the International Justice Mission, tells 大象传媒 reporter Luz Wendy T. Noble why the Philippines is a global hotspot for this crime, how the pandemic is making it worse, and what we can do about it.
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/1019-infog-osec.jpg\")
TAKEAWAYS
The Philippines is an OSEC hotspot for three reasons: English language proficiency;\u00a0 widespread Internet access and cheap gadgets; and a robust money remittance infrastructure.\u00a0
\nEnglish proficiency, which has long made the Philippines the darling of the Business Outsource Processing (BPO) sector, also makes it easier for traffickers to communicate with customers from Western countries.\u00a0
\nInternet penetration in the Philippines, as of January 2020, is at 67%, with Filipinos topping the ranking for Internet and social media use. According to an IJM report, most traffickers communicated and exchanged materials with customers on the Surface Web or searchable web (as opposed to the Dark Web).\u00a0
\nFinally, a robust remittance infrastructure\u2014birthed by the Philippine economy\u2019s reliance on overseas Filipino workers\u2014also facilitates transactions with offenders, who are, as mentioned, from Western countries.
\nWhile there are laws in place, the government needs to further invest in its capacity to attend to the needs of the children.
\n\u201cWhat is needed really is the implementation of these laws,\u201d said Mr. Bicol, of the already existing laws that protect children from OSEC: there\u2019s Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti\u2013Trafficking Persons Act; Republic Act No. 9775, or the Anti\u2013Child Pornography Act; and Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2005.\u00a0
\nThere is a big gap in the aftercare services for survivors of OSEC.
\nEach survivor has his/her own unique story of abuse of exploitation which has given them massive trauma. Recovery is mapped out according to individualized intervention plans\u2014there\u2019s no uniform timeline or exact formula to restore them.
\nWhere we can improve: finding safe placement facilities and families willing to take care of victims through a foster care system; enrolling victims into comprehensive mental healing programs that will help them with their trauma; and helping these children gain life skills to prepare them for their eventual reintegration into the community.
\n\u201cAs the saying goes, it takes a community to protect a child,\u201d said Mr. Bicol.
\nRecorded remotely on October 2. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nOnline sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) is a crime that often happens at home at the hands of family, the very people who are trusted the most by the victims of this horrible crime.\nThis episode jumps off from a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council on the surge of online child pornography transactions during the lockdown.\u00a0 Reynaldo Bicol, Manila field office director of the International Justice Mission, tells 大象传媒 reporter Luz Wendy T. Noble why the Philippines is a global hotspot for this crime, how the pandemic is making it worse, and what we can do about it.\nTAKEAWAYS\nThe Philippines is an OSEC hotspot for three reasons: English language proficiency;\u00a0 widespread Internet access and cheap gadgets; and a robust money remittance infrastructure.\u00a0\nEnglish proficiency, which has long made the Philippines the darling of the Business Outsource Processing (BPO) sector, also makes it easier for traffickers to communicate with customers from Western countries.\u00a0\nInternet penetration in the Philippines, as of January 2020, is at 67%, with Filipinos topping the ranking for Internet and social media use. According to an IJM report, most traffickers communicated and exchanged materials with customers on the Surface Web or searchable web (as opposed to the Dark Web).\u00a0\nFinally, a robust remittance infrastructure\u2014birthed by the Philippine economy\u2019s reliance on overseas Filipino workers\u2014also facilitates transactions with offenders, who are, as mentioned, from Western countries.\nWhile there are laws in place, the government needs to further invest in its capacity to attend to the needs of the children.\n\u201cWhat is needed really is the implementation of these laws,\u201d said Mr. Bicol, of the already existing laws that protect children from OSEC: there\u2019s Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti\u2013Trafficking Persons Act; Republic Act No. 9775, or the Anti\u2013Child Pornography Act; and Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2005.\u00a0\nThere is a big gap in the aftercare services for survivors of OSEC.\nEach survivor has his/her own unique story of abuse of exploitation which has given them massive trauma. Recovery is mapped out according to individualized intervention plans\u2014there\u2019s no uniform timeline or exact formula to restore them.\nWhere we can improve: finding safe placement facilities and families willing to take care of victims through a foster care system; enrolling victims into comprehensive mental healing programs that will help them with their trauma; and helping these children gain life skills to prepare them for their eventual reintegration into the community.\n\u201cAs the saying goes, it takes a community to protect a child,\u201d said Mr. Bicol.\nRecorded remotely on October 2. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-10-19T11:49:42+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-10-19T11:49:42+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "abuse", "B-Side", "exploitation", "International Justice Mission", "Luz Wendy T. Noble", "Nina M. Diaz", "OSEC", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Reynaldo Bicol", "Sam L. Marcelo" ] }, { "id": "/?p=322118", "url": "/podcast/2020/10/12/322118/b-side-podcast-resparking-your-business-tips-from-seven-entrepreneurs/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Resparking your business: tips from seven entrepreneurs", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nPatrick \u201cPatch\u201d Dulay,\u00a0 co-founder of local crowdfunding platform The Spark Project, is turning a series of webinars into a book titled Respark, which collects tips on restarting a business amid uncertain times.
\nSeven years after he set up the crowdfunding platform, Mr. Dulay has come full circle: he posted the book he\u2019s been working on on The Spark Project, hoping it gets published with the help of the community he helped create in 2013.
\nIn this episode, the first-time author gives 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol a rundown of Respark.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nHelpful knowledge must be shared.
\nThe book sprang from a desire to share the knowledge Mr. Dulay learned through the webinars and virtual conferences organized by The Spark Project to help creatives and entrepreneurs survive the pandemic.
\n\u201cI was fortunate enough to pick the brains of our resource persons. I thought, \u2018sayang naman [it\u2019s a shame] if the things I learned just stayed in these webinars,\u2019\u201d he said.
\nBusinesses need to go back to the basics and define what is essential\u2026\u00a0
\nIn Respark, Mr. Dulay picks the brains of seven entrepreneurs. ECHOstore founder Pacita \u201cChit\u201d U. Juan talks about having an entrepreneurial mindset as well as the openness to accept what is. Life coach Kitty Ferreria notes the importance of pausing and advises against rushing into new beginnings. Gino Borromeo, SM Supermalls vice-president of strategy and development, meanwhile, recommends that brands communicate being helpful, useful, and uplifting. He also suggests defining what is essential right now.
\n\u201cThe silver lining of this pandemic is that it gives us the opportunity to distill the way we do things to its core. It\u2019s about going back to our values and vision,\u201d Mr. Dulay said.
\n…even as they need to continue to deal with the nitty-gritty of daily operations.\u00a0
\nLofty ideals must be paired with effective and practical action. In Respark, ATBP Co. partners Pinky Poe and Vini Salonga unpack tips on the necessary evil that is financial management. Limitless Lab Chief Executive Officer Joie Cruz shows how design thinking can create new processes. Shirt.ly co-founder James Fernando rounds things up with tips on maximizing technology to bring businesses to the new e-commerce frontier.
\nRecorded remotely on September 25. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nPatrick \u201cPatch\u201d Dulay,\u00a0 co-founder of local crowdfunding platform The Spark Project, is turning a series of webinars into a book titled Respark, which collects tips on restarting a business amid uncertain times.\nSeven years after he set up the crowdfunding platform, Mr. Dulay has come full circle: he posted the book he\u2019s been working on on The Spark Project, hoping it gets published with the help of the community he helped create in 2013.\nIn this episode, the first-time author gives 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol a rundown of Respark.\nTAKEAWAYS\nHelpful knowledge must be shared.\nThe book sprang from a desire to share the knowledge Mr. Dulay learned through the webinars and virtual conferences organized by The Spark Project to help creatives and entrepreneurs survive the pandemic.\n\u201cI was fortunate enough to pick the brains of our resource persons. I thought, \u2018sayang naman [it\u2019s a shame] if the things I learned just stayed in these webinars,\u2019\u201d he said.\nBusinesses need to go back to the basics and define what is essential\u2026\u00a0\nIn Respark, Mr. Dulay picks the brains of seven entrepreneurs. ECHOstore founder Pacita \u201cChit\u201d U. Juan talks about having an entrepreneurial mindset as well as the openness to accept what is. Life coach Kitty Ferreria notes the importance of pausing and advises against rushing into new beginnings. Gino Borromeo, SM Supermalls vice-president of strategy and development, meanwhile, recommends that brands communicate being helpful, useful, and uplifting. He also suggests defining what is essential right now.\n\u201cThe silver lining of this pandemic is that it gives us the opportunity to distill the way we do things to its core. It\u2019s about going back to our values and vision,\u201d Mr. Dulay said.\n…even as they need to continue to deal with the nitty-gritty of daily operations.\u00a0\nLofty ideals must be paired with effective and practical action. In Respark, ATBP Co. partners Pinky Poe and Vini Salonga unpack tips on the necessary evil that is financial management. Limitless Lab Chief Executive Officer Joie Cruz shows how design thinking can create new processes. Shirt.ly co-founder James Fernando rounds things up with tips on maximizing technology to bring businesses to the new e-commerce frontier.\nRecorded remotely on September 25. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-10-12T10:58:21+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-10-12T10:58:21+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "B-Side", "entrepreneurship", "MSMEs", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patch Dulay", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Patrick Dulay", "Sam L. Marcelo", "startups", "The Spark Project", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=320749", "url": "/podcast/2020/10/05/320749/b-side-podcast-love-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-pandemic-brides/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Love in the time of corona(virus): pandemic brides", "content_html": "\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has stripped away a lot of what we expect from weddings: the pageantry, the ceremony, the large number of guests. Bridal designer Patricia \u201cPatty\u201d Pascual and 大象传媒 reporter Joseph L. Garcia talk about love in the time of corona.\u00a0
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nThere are two kinds of brides: practical and optimistic.
\nAmid the pandemic, Ms. Pascual has met two kinds of brides: the practical ones who take advantage of discounts offered by suppliers and get married in intimate ceremonies\u2014with guests participating via Zoom;\u00a0 and the optimistic ones, who believe in their hearts that they\u2019ll have the wedding of their dreams in 2021.
\nIn terms of design, bridal gowns are going minimalist while face masks are statement pieces.
\nFully beaded ball gowns with full skirts and detachable long trains are out. \u201cWe\u2019re into delicate silhouettes that are very modest,\u201d said Ms. Pascual. To make a statement, brides can choose from custom face masks. \u201cIt\u2019s the new accessory during weddings,\u201d said Ms. Pascual, who offers face masks bedazzled with Swarovski crystals. \u201cYou\u2019re still sparkling on your wedding day.\u201d
\n(Grooms, don\u2019t fret: Ms. Pascual can match your mask to your suit.)
\nPush through with your wedding\u2014but follow health protocols\u2014Ms. Pascual recommends.\u00a0
\n\u201cEverything is discounted,\u201d she reasoned, adding that a guest list of under 10 persons\u2014in keeping with community quarantine guidelines for social gatherings\u2014will also cut costs. \u201cI\u2019m a very practical designer.\u201d\u00a0
\nAnd if you\u2019re an optimistic bride holding out for your dream wedding? \u201cContinue with your planning, don\u2019t stress yourself\u2014you need to be healthy on your big day,\u201d said Ms. Pascual.
\nRecorded remotely on September 25. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.
\n", "content_text": "The COVID-19 pandemic has stripped away a lot of what we expect from weddings: the pageantry, the ceremony, the large number of guests. Bridal designer Patricia \u201cPatty\u201d Pascual and 大象传媒 reporter Joseph L. Garcia talk about love in the time of corona.\u00a0\nTAKEAWAYS\nThere are two kinds of brides: practical and optimistic.\nAmid the pandemic, Ms. Pascual has met two kinds of brides: the practical ones who take advantage of discounts offered by suppliers and get married in intimate ceremonies\u2014with guests participating via Zoom;\u00a0 and the optimistic ones, who believe in their hearts that they\u2019ll have the wedding of their dreams in 2021.\nIn terms of design, bridal gowns are going minimalist while face masks are statement pieces.\nFully beaded ball gowns with full skirts and detachable long trains are out. \u201cWe\u2019re into delicate silhouettes that are very modest,\u201d said Ms. Pascual. To make a statement, brides can choose from custom face masks. \u201cIt\u2019s the new accessory during weddings,\u201d said Ms. Pascual, who offers face masks bedazzled with Swarovski crystals. \u201cYou\u2019re still sparkling on your wedding day.\u201d\n(Grooms, don\u2019t fret: Ms. Pascual can match your mask to your suit.)\nPush through with your wedding\u2014but follow health protocols\u2014Ms. Pascual recommends.\u00a0\n\u201cEverything is discounted,\u201d she reasoned, adding that a guest list of under 10 persons\u2014in keeping with community quarantine guidelines for social gatherings\u2014will also cut costs. \u201cI\u2019m a very practical designer.\u201d\u00a0\nAnd if you\u2019re an optimistic bride holding out for your dream wedding? \u201cContinue with your planning, don\u2019t stress yourself\u2014you need to be healthy on your big day,\u201d said Ms. Pascual.\nRecorded remotely on September 25. Produced by\u00a0Nina M. Diaz,\u00a0Paolo L. Lopez, and\u00a0Sam L. Marcelo.", "date_published": "2020-10-05T10:58:11+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-10-05T10:58:11+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "face masks", "fashion", "Joseph L. Garcia", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patricia Pascual", "Patty Pascual", "Sam L. Marcelo", "weddings", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=318042", "url": "/podcast/2020/09/21/318042/b-side-podcast-warehousing-and-logistics-a-bright-spot-in-an-otherwise-battered-economy/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Warehousing and logistics: a bright spot in an otherwise battered economy", "content_html": "\nThanks to e-commerce and changing consumer habits, the logistics and warehousing sector still expects to grow by 8% in the next three years despite the pandemic. This is a bright spot in an otherwise battered economy that dropped by 16.5% in the second quarter.
\nSheila G. Lobien, CEO of property consultancy firm Lobien Realty Group, speaks with 大象传媒 reporter Denise A. Valdez about the impact of new consumer patterns on the future of the industry, and how the Philippines compares with the rest of Southeast Asia\u20148% growth is good, but that rate is slower when compared to the likes of Vietnam. Ms. Lobien shares insights on what the country has to do to get a bigger slice of the warehousing pie.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nE-commerce and the demand for essentials\u2014food or medical goods\u2014is driving the logistics and warehousing sector, which continues to grow despite a general drop in real estate demand during the pandemic.
\n\u201cThe warehousing industry is one of the luckiest sectors,\u201d said Ms. Lobien, who added that the pandemic has sped up the growth of the logistics and warehousing industry.
\nTo maximize the potential of the logistics and warehousing industry, government must make good on its \u2018Build, Build, Build\u2019 projects.
\nDue to limited space in Metro Manila, rental rates in Central Business Districts have increased to P1,000/square meter from about half that price two years ago.\u00a0
\nBig players such as Ayala Corp. and SM Prime Holdings are eyeing building warehousing facilities outside Metro Manila. Cavite, Bulacan, and Laguna are ideal locations since they are accessible, flood-free, and near the center.\u00a0
\nFor warehouse operators to locate in the provinces, they need better infrastructure to ensure the seamless transfer of goods.
\nThe Philippines\u2019s logistics and warehousing sector still has a lot of room to grow to level with its regional peers.
\nLocal demand is fueling the growth of the logistics and warehousing industry. The 8% growth rate cited by Ms. Lobien is slower compared to, say, Vietnam\u2019s warehousing industry, which is booming thanks to government support, lower cost of utilities, better road networks, and low COVID-19 numbers.\u00a0
\nTo catch up, the Philippines must address red tape, port congestion, and the sorry state of the country\u2019s roads. The government must also step up its response to the worst COVID-19 outbreak in Southeast Asia.
\nMeanwhile, warehouse operators have to adapt to e-commerce and employ artificial intelligence and robotics to make the transfer of goods faster.
\nRecorded remotely on September 3. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\n\n
Related episode:
\n\n", "content_text": "Thanks to e-commerce and changing consumer habits, the logistics and warehousing sector still expects to grow by 8% in the next three years despite the pandemic. This is a bright spot in an otherwise battered economy that dropped by 16.5% in the second quarter.\nSheila G. Lobien, CEO of property consultancy firm Lobien Realty Group, speaks with 大象传媒 reporter Denise A. Valdez about the impact of new consumer patterns on the future of the industry, and how the Philippines compares with the rest of Southeast Asia\u20148% growth is good, but that rate is slower when compared to the likes of Vietnam. Ms. Lobien shares insights on what the country has to do to get a bigger slice of the warehousing pie.\nTAKEAWAYS\nE-commerce and the demand for essentials\u2014food or medical goods\u2014is driving the logistics and warehousing sector, which continues to grow despite a general drop in real estate demand during the pandemic.\n\u201cThe warehousing industry is one of the luckiest sectors,\u201d said Ms. Lobien, who added that the pandemic has sped up the growth of the logistics and warehousing industry.\nTo maximize the potential of the logistics and warehousing industry, government must make good on its \u2018Build, Build, Build\u2019 projects.\nDue to limited space in Metro Manila, rental rates in Central Business Districts have increased to P1,000/square meter from about half that price two years ago.\u00a0\nBig players such as Ayala Corp. and SM Prime Holdings are eyeing building warehousing facilities outside Metro Manila. Cavite, Bulacan, and Laguna are ideal locations since they are accessible, flood-free, and near the center.\u00a0\nFor warehouse operators to locate in the provinces, they need better infrastructure to ensure the seamless transfer of goods.\nThe Philippines\u2019s logistics and warehousing sector still has a lot of room to grow to level with its regional peers.\nLocal demand is fueling the growth of the logistics and warehousing industry. The 8% growth rate cited by Ms. Lobien is slower compared to, say, Vietnam\u2019s warehousing industry, which is booming thanks to government support, lower cost of utilities, better road networks, and low COVID-19 numbers.\u00a0\nTo catch up, the Philippines must address red tape, port congestion, and the sorry state of the country\u2019s roads. The government must also step up its response to the worst COVID-19 outbreak in Southeast Asia.\nMeanwhile, warehouse operators have to adapt to e-commerce and employ artificial intelligence and robotics to make the transfer of goods faster.\nRecorded remotely on September 3. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\n \nRelated episode:", "date_published": "2020-09-21T10:16:44+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-09-21T10:16:44+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "and Sam L. Marcelo", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "Denise A. Valdez", "Lobien Realty Group", "logistics", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "real estate", "warehousing", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=316506", "url": "/podcast/2020/09/14/316506/b-side-podcast-the-new-poor-created-by-the-covid-19-pandemic/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The \u2018new poor\u2019 created by the COVID-19 pandemic", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nA million-and-a-half Filipinos could fall into poverty because of the pandemic, according to a discussion paper titled \u201cPoverty, the Middle Class, and Income Distribution amid COVID-19,\u201d co-authored by Dr. Jose Ramon G. Albert, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.\u00a0
\nIn this study, a million-and-a-half Filipinos creating a new kind of poor is neither the best- nor worst-case scenario. It\u2019s midway, where income declines by 10%.\u00a0
\nMr. Albert explains the simulations and scenarios he and his co-authors ran to arrive at their numbers. He tells 大象传媒 reporter Beatrice M. Laforga that the government\u2019s emergency subsidy programs minimized the pandemic\u2019s impact on poverty. Without financial aid, he said, 5.5 million Filipinos could have been pushed into poverty.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nEconomic recovery depends on the government\u2019s ability to promote the proper environment for businesses to flourish.\u00a0
\nInvesting in human capital is the most critical element to the Philippines\u2019 ability to bounce back from the economic contraction, Mr. Albert said.
\nThe paper elaborates on this point:\u00a0 \u201cThere is a lot of room not only for improving the health system, but also the entire system for formal education and learning. The latter is important to prepare the workforce, especially the poor and low income, for possible consequences of changes in the entire economy, whether among big businesses or micro-small-and-medium enterprises (MSMEs), triggered by the pandemic. While government is working toward a stimulus package in the neighborhood of 10 percent of GDP, it will have to find a proper balance for supporting businesses, i.e. selected large firms, say in the aviation industry, as well as MSMEs, especially given that the concentration of the country\u2019s workforce is in MSMEs.\u201d
\nThe state of the country\u2019s ICT (Information and communications technology) infrastructure has to be improved. Online access will allow Filipinos to maximize digital platforms and create new markets.
\n\u201cGovernment has not advocated the use of digital solutions,\u201d said Mr. Albert.
\nAccording to the discussion paper, the pandemic has highlighted the \u201cglaring digital divide\u201d across income classes. \u201cGovernment has to seriously strengthen digitalization efforts, improve access to and cost of technology, especially the internet, that can help not only citizens but firms retrofit in the midst of current uncertainties,\u201d the authors recommended.
\nPoverty reduction should be at the heart of the country’s development agenda. No one should be left behind.
\n\u201cThe government and all Filipinos should ultimately ensure that the poor are at the center of policy attention, especially given all the reduced economic activities from COVID-19 and the likely undercounts of COVID-19 infection among the poor, who do not have the luxury to seek health care, and for whom \u2018washing hands\u2019 is also a luxury (as they have no access to safe water and safe sanitation services). The poor, as well as certain other non-poor groups, are vulnerable from both the public-health challenges of the COVID-19 and the economic consequences of efforts to contain the virus,\u201d wrote Mr. Albert and his co-authors in \u201cPoverty, the Middle Class, and Income Distribution amid COVID-19.\u201d\u00a0
\nRecorded remotely on September 1. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nA million-and-a-half Filipinos could fall into poverty because of the pandemic, according to a discussion paper titled \u201cPoverty, the Middle Class, and Income Distribution amid COVID-19,\u201d co-authored by Dr. Jose Ramon G. Albert, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.\u00a0\nIn this study, a million-and-a-half Filipinos creating a new kind of poor is neither the best- nor worst-case scenario. It\u2019s midway, where income declines by 10%.\u00a0\nMr. Albert explains the simulations and scenarios he and his co-authors ran to arrive at their numbers. He tells 大象传媒 reporter Beatrice M. Laforga that the government\u2019s emergency subsidy programs minimized the pandemic\u2019s impact on poverty. Without financial aid, he said, 5.5 million Filipinos could have been pushed into poverty.\nTAKEAWAYS\nEconomic recovery depends on the government\u2019s ability to promote the proper environment for businesses to flourish.\u00a0\nInvesting in human capital is the most critical element to the Philippines\u2019 ability to bounce back from the economic contraction, Mr. Albert said.\nThe paper elaborates on this point:\u00a0 \u201cThere is a lot of room not only for improving the health system, but also the entire system for formal education and learning. The latter is important to prepare the workforce, especially the poor and low income, for possible consequences of changes in the entire economy, whether among big businesses or micro-small-and-medium enterprises (MSMEs), triggered by the pandemic. While government is working toward a stimulus package in the neighborhood of 10 percent of GDP, it will have to find a proper balance for supporting businesses, i.e. selected large firms, say in the aviation industry, as well as MSMEs, especially given that the concentration of the country\u2019s workforce is in MSMEs.\u201d\nThe state of the country\u2019s ICT (Information and communications technology) infrastructure has to be improved. Online access will allow Filipinos to maximize digital platforms and create new markets.\n\u201cGovernment has not advocated the use of digital solutions,\u201d said Mr. Albert.\nAccording to the discussion paper, the pandemic has highlighted the \u201cglaring digital divide\u201d across income classes. \u201cGovernment has to seriously strengthen digitalization efforts, improve access to and cost of technology, especially the internet, that can help not only citizens but firms retrofit in the midst of current uncertainties,\u201d the authors recommended.\nPoverty reduction should be at the heart of the country’s development agenda. No one should be left behind.\n\u201cThe government and all Filipinos should ultimately ensure that the poor are at the center of policy attention, especially given all the reduced economic activities from COVID-19 and the likely undercounts of COVID-19 infection among the poor, who do not have the luxury to seek health care, and for whom \u2018washing hands\u2019 is also a luxury (as they have no access to safe water and safe sanitation services). The poor, as well as certain other non-poor groups, are vulnerable from both the public-health challenges of the COVID-19 and the economic consequences of efforts to contain the virus,\u201d wrote Mr. Albert and his co-authors in \u201cPoverty, the Middle Class, and Income Distribution amid COVID-19.\u201d\u00a0\nRecorded remotely on September 1. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-09-14T11:12:54+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-09-14T11:12:54+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "B-Side", "Beatrice M. Laforga", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "income distribution", "inequality", "Jose Ramon G. Albert", "middle class", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Philippine Institute for Development Studies", "Podcast", "poor", "Sam L. Marcelo" ] }, { "id": "/?p=315164", "url": "/podcast/2020/09/07/315164/b-side-podcast-the-government-has-failed-us-students/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The government has failed us \u2014 students", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe Duterte administration deserves a failing grade for its preparations for the upcoming academic year, says student leader Raoul Manuel. In this episode, Mr. Manuel, president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), lists the union\u2019s primary demands for the safe reopening of classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0
\n\u201cNaging insensitive at para bang nagde-daydream ang ating gobyerno \u2014 pinagpipilitan niya through its press conferences at iba-ibang mga briefings na siya ay handa. Hindi niya nire-represent ang hinaing at pangamba ng mga guro at mga estudyante at kanilang mga magulang sa pagsisimula ng school year,\u201d Mr. Manuel tells 大象传媒 reporter Adam J. Ang. (\u201cOur insensitive government has been daydreaming \u2014 it insists through its press conferences and briefings that it’s ready for the start of the school year. It doesn’t represent the fears and anxieties of the teachers, students, and parents.\u201d)
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nResources and settling school fees are the top concerns of students as the Philippine education system heads towards the new normal in the upcoming academic year
\nEnergy and Internet fees should be deducted from tuition, said Mr. Manuel, who said that these charges become unnecessary if distance learning is instituted.\u00a0
\nGovernment, he added, should provide\u2014or at least subsidize\u2014devices such as laptops or tablets, and routers.
\nMaintaining a numeric grading scheme \u2018isn\u2019t realistic\u2019
\nGiven the pandemic and the distance learning scheme, Mr. Manuel believes that schools should shift to a pass-or-fail grading system, which, he says, is more compassionate.\u00a0
\nThe Department of Education has already rejected this suggestion, despite the urging of students and teachers.
\nStill, Mr. Manuel believes that maintaining a numeric grading system and the usual attendance policies \u201cisn\u2019t realistic.\u201d
\nThe Duterte administration deserves a failing grade for its preparations for the upcoming academic year
\nThe pandemic has exposed the long-standing ills of the country\u2019s educational system, according to Mr. Manuel.
\nResuming in-person classes will be difficult given that a classroom can hold as many as 60 students at a single time. \u201cMatagal na nating pinapanawagan na dagdagan ang mga classrooms,\u201d Mr. Manuel said. (\u201cWe have long been asking for more classrooms.\u201d)
\nHe added that the government should improve its capacity to provide free and accessible education.
\nRecorded remotely on August 15. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nRelated podcast
\n\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe Duterte administration deserves a failing grade for its preparations for the upcoming academic year, says student leader Raoul Manuel. In this episode, Mr. Manuel, president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), lists the union\u2019s primary demands for the safe reopening of classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0\n\u201cNaging insensitive at para bang nagde-daydream ang ating gobyerno \u2014 pinagpipilitan niya through its press conferences at iba-ibang mga briefings na siya ay handa. Hindi niya nire-represent ang hinaing at pangamba ng mga guro at mga estudyante at kanilang mga magulang sa pagsisimula ng school year,\u201d Mr. Manuel tells 大象传媒 reporter Adam J. Ang. (\u201cOur insensitive government has been daydreaming \u2014 it insists through its press conferences and briefings that it’s ready for the start of the school year. It doesn’t represent the fears and anxieties of the teachers, students, and parents.\u201d)\nTAKEAWAYS\nResources and settling school fees are the top concerns of students as the Philippine education system heads towards the new normal in the upcoming academic year\nEnergy and Internet fees should be deducted from tuition, said Mr. Manuel, who said that these charges become unnecessary if distance learning is instituted.\u00a0\nGovernment, he added, should provide\u2014or at least subsidize\u2014devices such as laptops or tablets, and routers.\nMaintaining a numeric grading scheme \u2018isn\u2019t realistic\u2019\nGiven the pandemic and the distance learning scheme, Mr. Manuel believes that schools should shift to a pass-or-fail grading system, which, he says, is more compassionate.\u00a0\nThe Department of Education has already rejected this suggestion, despite the urging of students and teachers.\nStill, Mr. Manuel believes that maintaining a numeric grading system and the usual attendance policies \u201cisn\u2019t realistic.\u201d\nThe Duterte administration deserves a failing grade for its preparations for the upcoming academic year\nThe pandemic has exposed the long-standing ills of the country\u2019s educational system, according to Mr. Manuel.\nResuming in-person classes will be difficult given that a classroom can hold as many as 60 students at a single time. \u201cMatagal na nating pinapanawagan na dagdagan ang mga classrooms,\u201d Mr. Manuel said. (\u201cWe have long been asking for more classrooms.\u201d)\nHe added that the government should improve its capacity to provide free and accessible education.\nRecorded remotely on August 15. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nRelated podcast\n\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-09-07T11:24:07+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-09-07T11:24:07+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Adam J. Ang", "and Sam L. Marcelo", "B-Side", "blended learning", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "Department of Education", "distance learning", "duterte", "education", "National Union of Students of the Philippines", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Raoul Manuel", "remote learning" ] }, { "id": "/?p=313999", "url": "/podcast/2020/09/01/313999/b-side-podcast-biking-the-city/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Biking the city", "content_html": "\nWhen public transportation was suspended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, people turned to biking as a means of getting from one place to another.
\nThousands of bikes were donated to frontliners and essential workers who initially were walking to work. This June, bike lanes popped up along EDSA, the busiest highway in Metro Manila.
\nBike commuters like Karen Sison hope that this is the beginning of a bike revolution. Ms. Sison is a member of Cycling Matters, a group that describes itself as \u201ca happy collective of cyclists who have gotten tired of just waiting and ranting about how unhappy our local biking conditions can be.\u201d
\nMs. Sison tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol what kind of infrastructure Metro Manila needs to become a bike-friendly city. Bikes are “the most accessible, sustainable, and responsible mode of transportation,” she added, making a case for integrating bikes with buses, jeeps, and trains in a bi-modal transportation system.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nCities should be designed with people, not cars, in mind.\u00a0
\nThe Philippines is a car-centric society and it shows in our infrastructure. Decision-makers should rethink urban design and put people at the center. Aside from being more walkable, cities planned with people in mind have a dedicated network of bike lanes and reliable mass transit.
\nBicycles complement\u2014not replace\u2014other forms of public transport.
\nBicycles aren\u2019t meant to replace public transportation. Cycling complements mass transit \u2014 buses, jeeps, trains \u2014 in a bi-modal transportation system.\u00a0
\nCycling is the most accessible, sustainable, and responsible mode of transportation.
\nAnyone can get a secondhand bike for P2,500. A bike is easier \u2014 and cheaper \u2014 to maintain than a car, and it has a lower carbon footprint.\u00a0
\nWhen buying a bike, remember that it isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all.
\nA few factors to consider when buying a bike: who will use it (the measurements of the bike should be appropriate for the build of its owner), where it will be used (road bikes are different from mountain bikes are different from commuter bikes), and how much load it will carry.\u00a0\u00a0
\nThis episode was recorded remotely on August 13. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\n", "content_text": "\ufeff\nWhen public transportation was suspended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, people turned to biking as a means of getting from one place to another.\nThousands of bikes were donated to frontliners and essential workers who initially were walking to work. This June, bike lanes popped up along EDSA, the busiest highway in Metro Manila.\nBike commuters like Karen Sison hope that this is the beginning of a bike revolution. Ms. Sison is a member of Cycling Matters, a group that describes itself as \u201ca happy collective of cyclists who have gotten tired of just waiting and ranting about how unhappy our local biking conditions can be.\u201d\nMs. Sison tells 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol what kind of infrastructure Metro Manila needs to become a bike-friendly city. Bikes are “the most accessible, sustainable, and responsible mode of transportation,” she added, making a case for integrating bikes with buses, jeeps, and trains in a bi-modal transportation system.\nTAKEAWAYS\nCities should be designed with people, not cars, in mind.\u00a0\nThe Philippines is a car-centric society and it shows in our infrastructure. Decision-makers should rethink urban design and put people at the center. Aside from being more walkable, cities planned with people in mind have a dedicated network of bike lanes and reliable mass transit.\nBicycles complement\u2014not replace\u2014other forms of public transport.\nBicycles aren\u2019t meant to replace public transportation. Cycling complements mass transit \u2014 buses, jeeps, trains \u2014 in a bi-modal transportation system.\u00a0\nCycling is the most accessible, sustainable, and responsible mode of transportation.\nAnyone can get a secondhand bike for P2,500. A bike is easier \u2014 and cheaper \u2014 to maintain than a car, and it has a lower carbon footprint.\u00a0\nWhen buying a bike, remember that it isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all.\nA few factors to consider when buying a bike: who will use it (the measurements of the bike should be appropriate for the build of its owner), where it will be used (road bikes are different from mountain bikes are different from commuter bikes), and how much load it will carry.\u00a0\u00a0\nThis episode was recorded remotely on August 13. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.", "date_published": "2020-09-01T10:25:25+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-09-01T10:25:25+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "and Sam L. Marcelo", "B-Side", "biking", "Cycling Matters", "EDSA", "Karen Sison", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Podcast", "transportation" ] }, { "id": "/?p=312578", "url": "/podcast/2020/08/24/312578/b-side-podcast-moving-on-moving-forward-logistics-and-supply-chain-management-during-the-lockdown/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Moving on, moving forward: Logistics and supply chain management during the lockdown", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nAfter several months, the coronavirus pandemic is still wreaking havoc on supply chains. Rosemarie P. Rafael, chair and president of express courier company Airspeed Philippines, tells reporter Arjay L. Balinbin what kind of commodities are moving, and what kind of technological innovations are changing the logistics industry.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nOn-demand delivery aggregators are doing well. Institutional mailers and traditional companies that depend on import/export are not.
\nThe fate of a logistics company amid the pandemic depends on what kind of commodities they deliver. Those who deliver food and groceries have been in demand because of the lockdown while those in the traditional forwarding business have suffered due to the grounding of flights, which have limited their capacity.
\nThe increasing number of players in the last-mile delivery space has sparked an unsustainable price war.
\n\u201cIt will not last,\u201d said Ms. Rafael of the said price war among competitors. \u201cOperational excellence has to be there. That cannot be supported if we do not price our service right.\u201d
\nThe logistics industry, like every other industry, is using technology to become as contactless as possible.
\nMs. Rafael enumerated contactless payments, interbank transfers, and acronyms such as BOPIS (buy online, pick-up in store) and BOPUC (buy online, pick up curbside) as ways of reducing points of contact. \u201cWhat we used to do is being transformed,\u201d she said, adding that track-and-tracing of packages is intact without having to do manual work.
\nOnline shopping is a bright spot for the logistics industry.
\n\u201cOne thing that I know: Online shopping will be there. And when there is online shopping, there is going to be delivery,\u201d said Ms. Rafael.
Recorded remotely on August 13. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nAfter several months, the coronavirus pandemic is still wreaking havoc on supply chains. Rosemarie P. Rafael, chair and president of express courier company Airspeed Philippines, tells reporter Arjay L. Balinbin what kind of commodities are moving, and what kind of technological innovations are changing the logistics industry.\nTAKEAWAYS\nOn-demand delivery aggregators are doing well. Institutional mailers and traditional companies that depend on import/export are not.\nThe fate of a logistics company amid the pandemic depends on what kind of commodities they deliver. Those who deliver food and groceries have been in demand because of the lockdown while those in the traditional forwarding business have suffered due to the grounding of flights, which have limited their capacity.\nThe increasing number of players in the last-mile delivery space has sparked an unsustainable price war.\n\u201cIt will not last,\u201d said Ms. Rafael of the said price war among competitors. \u201cOperational excellence has to be there. That cannot be supported if we do not price our service right.\u201d\nThe logistics industry, like every other industry, is using technology to become as contactless as possible.\nMs. Rafael enumerated contactless payments, interbank transfers, and acronyms such as BOPIS (buy online, pick-up in store) and BOPUC (buy online, pick up curbside) as ways of reducing points of contact. \u201cWhat we used to do is being transformed,\u201d she said, adding that track-and-tracing of packages is intact without having to do manual work.\nOnline shopping is a bright spot for the logistics industry.\n\u201cOne thing that I know: Online shopping will be there. And when there is online shopping, there is going to be delivery,\u201d said Ms. Rafael.\n\nRecorded remotely on August 13. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-08-24T10:50:04+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-08-24T10:50:04+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Airspeed", "Arjay L. Balinbin", "B-Side", "COVID-19", "logistics", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Rosemarie Rafael", "Sam L. Marcelo" ] }, { "id": "/?p=311432", "url": "/podcast/2020/08/17/311432/looking-for-a-job-in-a-down-market/", "title": "[B-Side Podcast] Looking for a job in a down market", "content_html": "\nThe latest official labor data showed that the jobless rate shot up to double-digits, as millions of Filipinos became unemployed. The Philippine Statistics Agency reported that as of April 2020, there were around 7.3 million jobless Filipinos.\u00a0
\nJobstreet, an online platform that has around 42,000 listings, saw two million visitors checking out their website from April to June.
\nIf you\u2019re looking for a job, forget those numbers. Career coach Caroline Ceniza-Levine says that the only numbers you should be concerned about are your own, whether in a pandemic or not.\u00a0
\nIn this episode, Ms. Ceniza-Levine tells multimedia reporter Patricia B. Mirasol that the coronavirus is not the end of your career. She gives practical advice, from tips on how to handle online interviews to the two main skills that you have to be thinking about if you\u2019re looking for a job.
\nMs. Ceniza-Levine is a career coach, co-founder of career coaching and consulting company SixFigureStart, and senior contributor at Forbes Magazine. She is no stranger to the rigors of job-seeking and the vagaries of job markets, having worked more than two decades as a recruiter and career coach with professionals from Amazon, Google, McKinsey, and other leading firms.
\nTakeaways
\nThere is always hiring\u2014even in a down market.
\nAs a job seeker, the only employment numbers that should matter to you are zero or a hundred percent. It\u2019s either you\u2019re employed or you\u2019re not. Job market numbers tend to scare people. Focus instead on numbers that reflect your effectiveness: how much time are you spending on job research? How many callbacks are you receiving? Employers are still hiring, albeit more cautiously.
\nNegotiate and position yourself for the right roles at the right level. If you\u2019re a good negotiator, employers will be excited to have you on their team because they will want you to negotiate as hard for them as you do for yourself.
\nNegotiation is a hyperlocal situation. While each case is different, a job seeker would, of course, prefer to negotiate in a hot market where employers are fighting over job applicants.\u00a0
\nRegardless of circumstances, there is always room to negotiate. The reality is that when you get a job offer you already have leverage. Your prospective employer\u2019s already invested in you. Start negotiating and putting your best foot forward early in the process, but don\u2019t talk numbers at the get-go; that\u2019s presumptuous. Ask for more in a way that\u2019s confident and polite. If you\u2019re a good negotiator, employers will be excited to have you on their team because they will want you to negotiate as hard for them as you do for yourself.
\nResilience and the ability to learn: these are the two skills a job seeker should have.
\nThe ability to bounce back, coupled with an openness to change and a willingness to learn and relearn, are must-have skills, said Ms. Ceniza-Levine. It\u2019s not just about the pandemic. We\u2019re also dealing with pressing issues such as social justice and climate change, as well as rapid advancements in technology that are changing the way economies work.\u00a0
\nRecorded remotely on July 29. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\n", "content_text": "The latest official labor data showed that the jobless rate shot up to double-digits, as millions of Filipinos became unemployed. The Philippine Statistics Agency reported that as of April 2020, there were around 7.3 million jobless Filipinos.\u00a0\nJobstreet, an online platform that has around 42,000 listings, saw two million visitors checking out their website from April to June.\nIf you\u2019re looking for a job, forget those numbers. Career coach Caroline Ceniza-Levine says that the only numbers you should be concerned about are your own, whether in a pandemic or not.\u00a0\nIn this episode, Ms. Ceniza-Levine tells multimedia reporter Patricia B. Mirasol that the coronavirus is not the end of your career. She gives practical advice, from tips on how to handle online interviews to the two main skills that you have to be thinking about if you\u2019re looking for a job.\nMs. Ceniza-Levine is a career coach, co-founder of career coaching and consulting company SixFigureStart, and senior contributor at Forbes Magazine. She is no stranger to the rigors of job-seeking and the vagaries of job markets, having worked more than two decades as a recruiter and career coach with professionals from Amazon, Google, McKinsey, and other leading firms.\nTakeaways\nThere is always hiring\u2014even in a down market.\nAs a job seeker, the only employment numbers that should matter to you are zero or a hundred percent. It\u2019s either you\u2019re employed or you\u2019re not. Job market numbers tend to scare people. Focus instead on numbers that reflect your effectiveness: how much time are you spending on job research? How many callbacks are you receiving? Employers are still hiring, albeit more cautiously.\nNegotiate and position yourself for the right roles at the right level. If you\u2019re a good negotiator, employers will be excited to have you on their team because they will want you to negotiate as hard for them as you do for yourself.\nNegotiation is a hyperlocal situation. While each case is different, a job seeker would, of course, prefer to negotiate in a hot market where employers are fighting over job applicants.\u00a0\nRegardless of circumstances, there is always room to negotiate. The reality is that when you get a job offer you already have leverage. Your prospective employer\u2019s already invested in you. Start negotiating and putting your best foot forward early in the process, but don\u2019t talk numbers at the get-go; that\u2019s presumptuous. Ask for more in a way that\u2019s confident and polite. If you\u2019re a good negotiator, employers will be excited to have you on their team because they will want you to negotiate as hard for them as you do for yourself.\nResilience and the ability to learn: these are the two skills a job seeker should have.\nThe ability to bounce back, coupled with an openness to change and a willingness to learn and relearn, are must-have skills, said Ms. Ceniza-Levine. It\u2019s not just about the pandemic. We\u2019re also dealing with pressing issues such as social justice and climate change, as well as rapid advancements in technology that are changing the way economies work.\u00a0\n\nRecorded remotely on July 29. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.", "date_published": "2020-08-17T12:08:31+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-08-17T12:08:31+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Adolfo Alix", "B-Side", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "Entertainment", "FDCP", "Film", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Zsarlene B. Chua" ] }, { "id": "/?p=308885", "url": "/podcast/2020/08/03/308885/b-side-podcast-the-university-of-the-future-philippine-tertiary-education-amid-the-pandemic/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The university of the future: Philippine tertiary education amid the pandemic", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe academic year is about to start. Universities and colleges are shifting to remote learning as physical classrooms all across the world have shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
\nDuring his address, President Rodrigo Duterte said that face-to-face classes would be allowed only when a vaccine becomes available. We don\u2019t know when that is.\u00a0
\nIn this episode, Raymundo D. Rovillos, chancellor of the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio, talks about the university\u2019s plans for remote learning. Turns out, the UP System has to play catch up with the likes of Mapua Institute of Technology and Far Eastern University, schools that embraced remote learning long before the coronavirus hit because of Manila\u2019s notorious traffic jams.\u00a0
\nMr. Rovillos also tells 大象传媒 reporter Revin Mikhael Ochave that shifting to remote learning isn\u2019t just about technology. It\u2019s about overhauling expectations and mindsets. Teachers have to change the way they teach, and they\u2019ll have to change the way students are evaluated. The chancellor knows that there will be bumps in the road, but he\u2019s hopeful.
\nThis wide-ranging episode covers grades, enrollment, entrance exams, things like UP\u2019s maximum residency rule, even how long Christmas break is going to be.\u00a0
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nThe pandemic fast-tracked the shift to remote learning; UP has to play catch up with other institutions.
\n\u201cThe entire educational system of the world will continue to migrate to an online or a blended style of learning, the pandemic has just fast-tracked it. In the future it will be a standard,\u201d Mr. Rovillos said.\u00a0
\nRemote learning, he added, maximizes available technological infrastructure: texting, social media websites, e-mail, thumb drives containing learning modules, and any other assets that can deliver education to the students. \u201cPrevious syllabi cannot be used now as they are designed for a different type of setting in mind,\u201d Mr. Rovillos said.
\nThe chancellor noted that UP lags behind universities such as Mapua Institute and Far Eastern University, which invested in virtual learning because of the traffic snarls in Manila.\u00a0
\nConnectivity is a primary concern among students.\u00a0
\nThere will be many obstacles and issues that educational institutions will have to face.
\n\u201cAs early as March, UP Baguio already had data regarding Internet availability for students on hand. There is an expressed need among students for internet connection support. There is currently a need to subsidize Internet connection especially those within areas that have no connection at all,\u201d Mr. Rovillos said. \u201cThere is also the need to invest in massive online learning operating systems that can be used within entire systems of education such as the UP system.\u201d\u00a0
\nExpectations have to be overhauled.
\n\u201cWe have to change the mindset of the people,\u201d said Mr. Rovillos. The manner of teaching, performance evaluation, and requirements will have to change to accommodate the resources available to students as well as their psychological and mental well-being. \u201cNow is the time for greater compassion and understanding. \u2026 But, of course, deadlines are still deadlines.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe university is aware of the mental stress this pandemic is causing. And so UP is offering counseling and other forms of psychological support to those who need it.
\nThis episode was recorded remotely on July 4. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe academic year is about to start. Universities and colleges are shifting to remote learning as physical classrooms all across the world have shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.\nDuring his address, President Rodrigo Duterte said that face-to-face classes would be allowed only when a vaccine becomes available. We don\u2019t know when that is.\u00a0\nIn this episode, Raymundo D. Rovillos, chancellor of the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio, talks about the university\u2019s plans for remote learning. Turns out, the UP System has to play catch up with the likes of Mapua Institute of Technology and Far Eastern University, schools that embraced remote learning long before the coronavirus hit because of Manila\u2019s notorious traffic jams.\u00a0\nMr. Rovillos also tells 大象传媒 reporter Revin Mikhael Ochave that shifting to remote learning isn\u2019t just about technology. It\u2019s about overhauling expectations and mindsets. Teachers have to change the way they teach, and they\u2019ll have to change the way students are evaluated. The chancellor knows that there will be bumps in the road, but he\u2019s hopeful.\nThis wide-ranging episode covers grades, enrollment, entrance exams, things like UP\u2019s maximum residency rule, even how long Christmas break is going to be.\u00a0\nTAKEAWAYS\nThe pandemic fast-tracked the shift to remote learning; UP has to play catch up with other institutions.\n\u201cThe entire educational system of the world will continue to migrate to an online or a blended style of learning, the pandemic has just fast-tracked it. In the future it will be a standard,\u201d Mr. Rovillos said.\u00a0\nRemote learning, he added, maximizes available technological infrastructure: texting, social media websites, e-mail, thumb drives containing learning modules, and any other assets that can deliver education to the students. \u201cPrevious syllabi cannot be used now as they are designed for a different type of setting in mind,\u201d Mr. Rovillos said.\nThe chancellor noted that UP lags behind universities such as Mapua Institute and Far Eastern University, which invested in virtual learning because of the traffic snarls in Manila.\u00a0\nConnectivity is a primary concern among students.\u00a0\nThere will be many obstacles and issues that educational institutions will have to face.\n\u201cAs early as March, UP Baguio already had data regarding Internet availability for students on hand. There is an expressed need among students for internet connection support. There is currently a need to subsidize Internet connection especially those within areas that have no connection at all,\u201d Mr. Rovillos said. \u201cThere is also the need to invest in massive online learning operating systems that can be used within entire systems of education such as the UP system.\u201d\u00a0\nExpectations have to be overhauled.\n\u201cWe have to change the mindset of the people,\u201d said Mr. Rovillos. The manner of teaching, performance evaluation, and requirements will have to change to accommodate the resources available to students as well as their psychological and mental well-being. \u201cNow is the time for greater compassion and understanding. \u2026 But, of course, deadlines are still deadlines.\u201d\u00a0\nThe university is aware of the mental stress this pandemic is causing. And so UP is offering counseling and other forms of psychological support to those who need it.\nThis episode was recorded remotely on July 4. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-08-03T10:47:38+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-08-03T10:47:38+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "education", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "remote learning", "Revin Mikhael D. Ochave", "Sam L. Marcelo", "University of the Philippines", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=307720", "url": "/podcast/2020/07/27/307720/b-side-podcast-creating-despite-covid-the-entertainment-industry-and-the-pandemic/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Creating despite COVID: The entertainment industry and the pandemic", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nWe\u2019ve been consuming a lot more content since the pandemic left us housebound. Filmmakers are streaming their films on YouTube and similar platforms, giving us hours of entertainment.
\nBut how is the entertainment industry itself doing?
\nAdolfo Alix Jr., the award-winning film director behind films like Mater Dolorosa and Circa, says that the virus has left entertainment workers vulnerable. Many of them work on a per-project basis, with none of the usual benefits regular employees have.
\nIn this episode, the director tells reporter Zsarlene B. Chua\u00a0how COVID-19 is changing the way films and shows are shot. He also pays tribute to actor Anita Linda, who passed away this June at the age of 95.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nFilms and shows will look different.
\nMr. Alix said that the filming guidelines announced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in June will cut the number of production people by half. This isn\u2019t entirely a bad thing, he said, since it forces film crews to think outside the box.
\n\u201cI want to see how this would work,\u201d he said, citing that the number of people on set will be limited to 50 to 70 from the usual hundred. \u201cThe idea is to be able to maximize your potential as a part of the group and that\u2019s where you will realize\u2014not only for creative but also technical people\u2014the value of each role, each person\u2019s role in the production is.\u201d
\nPeople are generous.\u00a0
\nThe Extend the Love project started in April initially as a way for the director to help the people within his immediate network. The project included a film series that featured several of his films and shorts including 4 Days and a talk show called Actors\u2019 Cue where he discussed the craft with prominent actors including Gina Alajar, Nonie Buencamino, and newer actors like Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. The last episode of Actors\u2019 Cue was released and was a tribute to the recently departed Anita Linda.
\nExtend the Love, at the time of the interview, raised more than P200,000 to help more out-of-work film and TV crew members beyond Mr. Alix\u2019s circle.
\nActors and entertainment workers are also essential workers
\nDuring one of his Actor\u2019s Cue sessions, a question came up about why actors and entertainment workers are essential. A guest replied their work inspires people.\u00a0
\n\u201cYou get people to smile, to empathize with the characters,\u201d said Mr. Alix. \u201cI think [the actor] was right in saying that people in the entertainment industry are also essential because we give inspiration and hope to people in these very difficult times.\u201d
\nA note on the timing of this interview: It was recorded remotely on June 20, weeks before the Film Development Council of the Philippines released guidelines requiring the submission of additional production documents\u2014an unnecessary level of bureaucracy that earned the ire of entertainment guilds. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nWe\u2019ve been consuming a lot more content since the pandemic left us housebound. Filmmakers are streaming their films on YouTube and similar platforms, giving us hours of entertainment.\nBut how is the entertainment industry itself doing?\nAdolfo Alix Jr., the award-winning film director behind films like Mater Dolorosa and Circa, says that the virus has left entertainment workers vulnerable. Many of them work on a per-project basis, with none of the usual benefits regular employees have.\nIn this episode, the director tells reporter Zsarlene B. Chua\u00a0how COVID-19 is changing the way films and shows are shot. He also pays tribute to actor Anita Linda, who passed away this June at the age of 95.\nTAKEAWAYS\nFilms and shows will look different.\nMr. Alix said that the filming guidelines announced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in June will cut the number of production people by half. This isn\u2019t entirely a bad thing, he said, since it forces film crews to think outside the box.\n\u201cI want to see how this would work,\u201d he said, citing that the number of people on set will be limited to 50 to 70 from the usual hundred. \u201cThe idea is to be able to maximize your potential as a part of the group and that\u2019s where you will realize\u2014not only for creative but also technical people\u2014the value of each role, each person\u2019s role in the production is.\u201d\nPeople are generous.\u00a0\nThe Extend the Love project started in April initially as a way for the director to help the people within his immediate network. The project included a film series that featured several of his films and shorts including 4 Days and a talk show called Actors\u2019 Cue where he discussed the craft with prominent actors including Gina Alajar, Nonie Buencamino, and newer actors like Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. The last episode of Actors\u2019 Cue was released and was a tribute to the recently departed Anita Linda.\nExtend the Love, at the time of the interview, raised more than P200,000 to help more out-of-work film and TV crew members beyond Mr. Alix\u2019s circle.\nActors and entertainment workers are also essential workers\nDuring one of his Actor\u2019s Cue sessions, a question came up about why actors and entertainment workers are essential. A guest replied their work inspires people.\u00a0\n\u201cYou get people to smile, to empathize with the characters,\u201d said Mr. Alix. \u201cI think [the actor] was right in saying that people in the entertainment industry are also essential because we give inspiration and hope to people in these very difficult times.\u201d\n\nA note on the timing of this interview: It was recorded remotely on June 20, weeks before the Film Development Council of the Philippines released guidelines requiring the submission of additional production documents\u2014an unnecessary level of bureaucracy that earned the ire of entertainment guilds. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-07-27T10:35:37+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-07-27T10:35:37+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Adolfo Alix", "B-Side", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "Entertainment", "FDCP", "Film", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Zsarlene B. Chua" ] }, { "id": "/?p=304766", "url": "/podcast/2020/07/13/304766/b-side-podcast-hitting-the-gym-how-the-local-fitness-industry-is-dealing-with-the-coronavirus/", "title": "[B-Side Podcast] Hitting the gym: how the local fitness industry is dealing with the coronavirus", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe local fitness industry was booming before the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic hit, with international chains and small fitness studios popping up to satisfy the demand for health and wellness.
\nWhen the country was placed under lockdown to contain the pandemic, the industry\u2014which relies on foot traffic\u2014ground to a halt.
\nIn this episode, Gab Pangalangan, marketing manager of UFC Gym Philippines, fitness coach and founder of combat sports website Dojo Drifter, talks to 大象传媒 sports reporter Mike Murillo about the impact COVID-19 has had on the industry, how gyms are dealing with it, and what lies ahead for them. They discuss why gyms see themselves as essential businesses and how even a \u201chigh-touch\u201d industry like physical fitness is moving to digital.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nThe fitness industry, which relies on foot traffic, was hit hard by the lockdown.
\nWhen the pandemic began to take root in the country, the fitness industry was one of the hardest hit as face-to-face communication and mass gatherings were prohibited as part of mitigating measures to stop the spread of the disease. This setup is not ideal for an industry that needs foot traffic to get its operations going.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cThe fitness industry relies on people,\u201d said Mr. Pangalangan. \u201cIf there are no people, there\u2019s no revenue.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe fitness industry sees itself as an essential service.
\nA contentious issue right now as the country moves into the \u201cnew normal\u201d is whether it is time for fitness gyms to open amid concerns that they are \u201chigh-risk areas\u201d to get COVID-19.
\nThe industry views itself as an essential service\u2014going to the gym, as Mr. Pangalangan said, is about the pursuit of physical and mental health, and a person\u2019s overall well-being.
\nGetting back into the swing of things will also afford industry workers, mostly independent contractors, to earn a living after months of being deprived from doing so.
\nIt will be an uphill battle for gyms to convince people, especially authorities, that they are safe.
\nCOVID-19 has changed how affairs across the board are conducted, and for the fitness industry to survive it needs to adjust and adapt to what it is presented with.
\nA lot of challenges lie ahead, including convincing people, especially authorities, that gyms are essential and restore confidence that everything is safe, and the industry must act accordingly to address these.
\nPeople have been buying their own fitness equipment as well and working out on their own at home. Mr. Pangalangan wonders if this trend will continue post-pandemic. \u201cWe are at the mercy of the pandemic, unfortunately,\u201d he said.
\nDigital is the way to go \u2014 even for a \u201chigh-touch\u201d industry like physical fitness.
\nCoaches are strengthening their online presence and boosting their personal brands through podcasts, live-stream workouts classes, and YouTube videos. \u201cWe really have to pivot and adapt to the times,\u201d said Mr. Pangalangan. Those who already had a digital presence prior to the pandemic benefit from not having to start from scratch.
\nRecorded remotely on May 15. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe local fitness industry was booming before the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic hit, with international chains and small fitness studios popping up to satisfy the demand for health and wellness.\nWhen the country was placed under lockdown to contain the pandemic, the industry\u2014which relies on foot traffic\u2014ground to a halt.\nIn this episode, Gab Pangalangan, marketing manager of UFC Gym Philippines, fitness coach and founder of combat sports website Dojo Drifter, talks to 大象传媒 sports reporter Mike Murillo about the impact COVID-19 has had on the industry, how gyms are dealing with it, and what lies ahead for them. They discuss why gyms see themselves as essential businesses and how even a \u201chigh-touch\u201d industry like physical fitness is moving to digital.\nTAKEAWAYS\nThe fitness industry, which relies on foot traffic, was hit hard by the lockdown.\nWhen the pandemic began to take root in the country, the fitness industry was one of the hardest hit as face-to-face communication and mass gatherings were prohibited as part of mitigating measures to stop the spread of the disease. This setup is not ideal for an industry that needs foot traffic to get its operations going.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cThe fitness industry relies on people,\u201d said Mr. Pangalangan. \u201cIf there are no people, there\u2019s no revenue.\u201d\u00a0\nThe fitness industry sees itself as an essential service.\nA contentious issue right now as the country moves into the \u201cnew normal\u201d is whether it is time for fitness gyms to open amid concerns that they are \u201chigh-risk areas\u201d to get COVID-19.\nThe industry views itself as an essential service\u2014going to the gym, as Mr. Pangalangan said, is about the pursuit of physical and mental health, and a person\u2019s overall well-being.\nGetting back into the swing of things will also afford industry workers, mostly independent contractors, to earn a living after months of being deprived from doing so.\nIt will be an uphill battle for gyms to convince people, especially authorities, that they are safe.\nCOVID-19 has changed how affairs across the board are conducted, and for the fitness industry to survive it needs to adjust and adapt to what it is presented with.\nA lot of challenges lie ahead, including convincing people, especially authorities, that gyms are essential and restore confidence that everything is safe, and the industry must act accordingly to address these.\nPeople have been buying their own fitness equipment as well and working out on their own at home. Mr. Pangalangan wonders if this trend will continue post-pandemic. \u201cWe are at the mercy of the pandemic, unfortunately,\u201d he said.\nDigital is the way to go \u2014 even for a \u201chigh-touch\u201d industry like physical fitness.\nCoaches are strengthening their online presence and boosting their personal brands through podcasts, live-stream workouts classes, and YouTube videos. \u201cWe really have to pivot and adapt to the times,\u201d said Mr. Pangalangan. Those who already had a digital presence prior to the pandemic benefit from not having to start from scratch.\nRecorded remotely on May 15. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-07-13T10:07:41+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-07-13T10:07:41+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9965230d2fd009579b4e8df9a934f6d1021b1ee67e60bcb4cad3b7249a2900ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "Fitness", "Gab Pangalangan", "health", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Sam L. Marcelo", "UFC Gym" ] }, { "id": "/?p=300963", "url": "/podcast/2020/06/22/300963/b-side-podcast-artificial-intelligence-the-key-to-a-thriving-post-pandemic-economy/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Artificial intelligence: the key to a thriving post-pandemic economy", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nArtificial intelligence (AI) may be the key to helping the Philippine economy get back on its feet. Without sufficient technology and automation in place, high-touch human operations are paralyzed. As the world recovers, it will require a re-imagination of human and business processes to future-proof against the next crisis.
\nIn this episode,\u00a0大象传媒 reporter Jenina P. Ibanez speaks with Dong Shou, co-founder and chief operating officer of ADVANCE.AI, an artificial intelligence and big-data company headquartered in Singapore.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nAI is essential to the digital transformation of a business.
\nAI\u00a0\u2014 specifically\u00a0optical character recognition (OCR, which converts images of typed, handwritten or printed text into machine-encoded text), facial recognition, natural language processing, along with big data analysis\u00a0\u2014 can aid the digital transformation of traditional offline businesses by automating processes and improving productivity.
\nThese technologies also allow machines to sort\u00a0through big data and improve contactless customer experience.
\nImagine walking into a bank without having to present any sort of identification to complete a transaction since you’ve already been vetted by the bank’s facial recognition system.
\n“Digital transformation is a process. It takes time. You don\u2019t have to go from the beginning to the end in one big step. You can take small steps along the way to your big goal,” said Mr. Shou.
\nIn 2019, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) began drafting the government’s AI roadmap\u00a0with the help of data scientists. Mr. Shou’s recommendations include upgrading national infrastructure in order to move to 5G networks from 4G; improving national education and emphasizing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); supporting digital startups and entrepreneurs and allowing them to experiment in a regulatory sandbox; fostering a friendly investment climate; and committing public and private support to educate the current workforce.
\nThe shift to digital must be accompanied by increased data security.
\nData must be used for clear and specific purposes. For example, respect for patient confidentiality must be maintained even in the online world. Systems must be tested rigorously before they are deployed and government must set up regulations to prevent bad actors from abusing personal data.
\n
BPOs and other labor-intensive industries must upskill and retrain their people.\u00a0
\nGiven that the pandemic forced global multinational corporations to reduce their offshore operations,\u00a0BPOs must upskill and retrain their people, who, in turn, must learn to work with AI systems. “Being able to speak good English, especially for the Philippines, is no longer a big advantage because now we have chatbots which can do the work faster with lower cost,\u201d said Mr. Shou. Released from rote tasks, human beings can focus their energies on high-value tasks that require creativity and critical thinking.
\nRecorded remotely on April 20. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nArtificial intelligence (AI) may be the key to helping the Philippine economy get back on its feet. Without sufficient technology and automation in place, high-touch human operations are paralyzed. As the world recovers, it will require a re-imagination of human and business processes to future-proof against the next crisis.\nIn this episode,\u00a0大象传媒 reporter Jenina P. Ibanez speaks with Dong Shou, co-founder and chief operating officer of ADVANCE.AI, an artificial intelligence and big-data company headquartered in Singapore.\nTAKEAWAYS\nAI is essential to the digital transformation of a business.\nAI\u00a0\u2014 specifically\u00a0optical character recognition (OCR, which converts images of typed, handwritten or printed text into machine-encoded text), facial recognition, natural language processing, along with big data analysis\u00a0\u2014 can aid the digital transformation of traditional offline businesses by automating processes and improving productivity.\nThese technologies also allow machines to sort\u00a0through big data and improve contactless customer experience.\nImagine walking into a bank without having to present any sort of identification to complete a transaction since you’ve already been vetted by the bank’s facial recognition system.\n“Digital transformation is a process. It takes time. You don\u2019t have to go from the beginning to the end in one big step. You can take small steps along the way to your big goal,” said Mr. Shou.\nIn 2019, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) began drafting the government’s AI roadmap\u00a0with the help of data scientists. Mr. Shou’s recommendations include upgrading national infrastructure in order to move to 5G networks from 4G; improving national education and emphasizing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); supporting digital startups and entrepreneurs and allowing them to experiment in a regulatory sandbox; fostering a friendly investment climate; and committing public and private support to educate the current workforce.\nThe shift to digital must be accompanied by increased data security.\nData must be used for clear and specific purposes. For example, respect for patient confidentiality must be maintained even in the online world. Systems must be tested rigorously before they are deployed and government must set up regulations to prevent bad actors from abusing personal data.\n\nBPOs and other labor-intensive industries must upskill and retrain their people.\u00a0\nGiven that the pandemic forced global multinational corporations to reduce their offshore operations,\u00a0BPOs must upskill and retrain their people, who, in turn, must learn to work with AI systems. “Being able to speak good English, especially for the Philippines, is no longer a big advantage because now we have chatbots which can do the work faster with lower cost,\u201d said Mr. Shou. Released from rote tasks, human beings can focus their energies on high-value tasks that require creativity and critical thinking.\nRecorded remotely on April 20. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-06-22T09:06:06+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-06-22T09:06:06+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "5G", "Artificial intelligence", "Coronavirus", "COVID-19", "Dong Shou", "Jenina P. Iba\u00f1ez", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Podcast", "Sam L. Marcelo" ] }, { "id": "/?p=298579", "url": "/podcast/2020/06/08/298579/b-side-podcast-lack-of-preparation-threatens-philippine-agriculture-sector/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Lack of preparation threatens Philippine agriculture sector", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nCOVID-19 has exposed how fragile the agriculture sector is. Local farmers are among the hardest hit by the pandemic and the protracted crisis is putting a strain on the country’s food supply chains. Magsasaka Party-List Representative Argel Joseph T. Cabatbat and 大象传媒 reporter Genshen L. Espedido talk about the consequences of the delays in modernizing our rice farms and why we should aim for food sovereignty in the long-term.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nGovernment has to work harder to ensure that our food supply chain remains intact.
\nAllied businesses of the agricultural sector were not granted frontliner exemptions during the lockdown. As a result, the delivery of supplies and equipment critical for the operation of the agricultural sector was limited. Government should make sure that the transportation of agricultural products and farm inputs remains unhampered especially during a crisis.
Farmers are among the hardest hit by the pandemic.
\nCOVID-19 greatly disrupted the country’s agricultural sector. The pandemic made it more difficult to distribute the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which was supposed to equip farmers with modern machinery to facilitate efficient farming. At the same time, farm produce anticipated to be sold in bulk during this season was wasted. Aid should be distributed immediately to farmers to help them recover from their losses.
In the long-term, we should aim for food sovereignty.
\nThe pandemic showed that the Philippines cannot continue relying on importation, as other countries limit their exports to secure their own food supply for their citizens. The country should prioritize Filipino farmers by giving them enough financial and material resources, thus ensuring food sovereignty.
Recorded remotely on April 28. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\n\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nCOVID-19 has exposed how fragile the agriculture sector is. Local farmers are among the hardest hit by the pandemic and the protracted crisis is putting a strain on the country’s food supply chains. Magsasaka Party-List Representative Argel Joseph T. Cabatbat and 大象传媒 reporter Genshen L. Espedido talk about the consequences of the delays in modernizing our rice farms and why we should aim for food sovereignty in the long-term.\nTAKEAWAYS\nGovernment has to work harder to ensure that our food supply chain remains intact.\nAllied businesses of the agricultural sector were not granted frontliner exemptions during the lockdown. As a result, the delivery of supplies and equipment critical for the operation of the agricultural sector was limited. Government should make sure that the transportation of agricultural products and farm inputs remains unhampered especially during a crisis.\nFarmers are among the hardest hit by the pandemic.\nCOVID-19 greatly disrupted the country’s agricultural sector. The pandemic made it more difficult to distribute the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which was supposed to equip farmers with modern machinery to facilitate efficient farming. At the same time, farm produce anticipated to be sold in bulk during this season was wasted. Aid should be distributed immediately to farmers to help them recover from their losses.\nIn the long-term, we should aim for food sovereignty.\nThe pandemic showed that the Philippines cannot continue relying on importation, as other countries limit their exports to secure their own food supply for their citizens. The country should prioritize Filipino farmers by giving them enough financial and material resources, thus ensuring food sovereignty.\nRecorded remotely on April 28. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\n\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-06-08T09:43:00+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-06-08T09:43:00+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Genshen L. Espedido", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=297265", "url": "/podcast/2020/06/01/297265/b-side-podcast-q1-gdp-not-a-pretty-picture/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Q1 GDP: Not a pretty picture", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nThe COVID-19 pandemic ended a 21-year growth streak in the Philippine economy as strict lockdown measures aimed at containing the coronavirus outbreak brought economic activity to a near standstill.
\nShortly after Q1 GDP data was released in early May, Research Head Leo Uy asked Geoffrey Ducanes, an Associate Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics, and Sarah Lynne Salvador Daway-Ducanes, an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, to break down the data to see how the first two weeks of lockdown affected the Philippine economy.
\nAfter parsing the numbers, they also shared their outlook for the second quarter and beyond. Both agree that it\u2019s going to be a long, tough road to recovery: Q2 is probably going to be worse than Q1, as the numbers will reflect the brunt of the lockdown.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nQ1 GDP was bad. Q2 GDP will probably be worse.
\nUsing the new base year of 2018, gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 0.2% in January to March, ending 84 quarters or 21 years of uninterrupted growth. The last time GDP fell into negative territory was in the fourth quarter of 1998, when the economy contracted by 3% amid the Asian financial crisis. Q2 is shaping up to be even worse as consumption, which accounts for 75% of GDP, will likely be in negative territory due to quarantine measures. “It looks pretty bleak. There’s really not a lot of room for maneuvering,” said Mr. Ducanes, who added that a contraction of more than 10% in Q2 is possible.
The government’s revised targets for the Philippine economy are “optimistic.”
\nThe Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) expects the Philippine economy to shrink by 2% to 3.4% this year. The Ducaneses believe that even the low end of this projection is optimistic. These targets, while possible, will be “very, very difficult to achieve.”
The COVID-19 pandemic makes it unlikely for the Philippines to reach its goal of reducing the poverty rate to 14% by 2022.
\nPost-pandemic simulations show that poverty incidence will more than double from the 2018 level, and the effect on the poverty gap and severity will triple or quadruple.
Remittances won’t save us.
\nRemittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) acted as a lifeline for the Philippine economy during the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the financial crisis of 2007\u201308. That is not the case now as the pandemic has displaced thousands of OFWs (around 300,000 are expected to return home this year). According to projections, remittances may fall by as much as 30%.
Recorded remotely on May 14. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nThe COVID-19 pandemic ended a 21-year growth streak in the Philippine economy as strict lockdown measures aimed at containing the coronavirus outbreak brought economic activity to a near standstill.\nShortly after Q1 GDP data was released in early May, Research Head Leo Uy asked Geoffrey Ducanes, an Associate Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics, and Sarah Lynne Salvador Daway-Ducanes, an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, to break down the data to see how the first two weeks of lockdown affected the Philippine economy.\nAfter parsing the numbers, they also shared their outlook for the second quarter and beyond. Both agree that it\u2019s going to be a long, tough road to recovery: Q2 is probably going to be worse than Q1, as the numbers will reflect the brunt of the lockdown.\nTAKEAWAYS\nQ1 GDP was bad. Q2 GDP will probably be worse.\nUsing the new base year of 2018, gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 0.2% in January to March, ending 84 quarters or 21 years of uninterrupted growth. The last time GDP fell into negative territory was in the fourth quarter of 1998, when the economy contracted by 3% amid the Asian financial crisis. Q2 is shaping up to be even worse as consumption, which accounts for 75% of GDP, will likely be in negative territory due to quarantine measures. “It looks pretty bleak. There’s really not a lot of room for maneuvering,” said Mr. Ducanes, who added that a contraction of more than 10% in Q2 is possible.\nThe government’s revised targets for the Philippine economy are “optimistic.”\nThe Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) expects the Philippine economy to shrink by 2% to 3.4% this year. The Ducaneses believe that even the low end of this projection is optimistic. These targets, while possible, will be “very, very difficult to achieve.”\nThe COVID-19 pandemic makes it unlikely for the Philippines to reach its goal of reducing the poverty rate to 14% by 2022.\nPost-pandemic simulations show that poverty incidence will more than double from the 2018 level, and the effect on the poverty gap and severity will triple or quadruple.\nRemittances won’t save us.\nRemittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) acted as a lifeline for the Philippine economy during the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the financial crisis of 2007\u201308. That is not the case now as the pandemic has displaced thousands of OFWs (around 300,000 are expected to return home this year). According to projections, remittances may fall by as much as 30%.\nRecorded remotely on May 14. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-06-01T11:00:49+08:00", "date_modified": "2020-06-01T11:00:49+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=296270", "url": "/podcast/2020/05/26/296270/b-side-podcast-navigating-the-next-normal-according-to-mckinsey-and-company/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Navigating the \u2018next normal,\u2019 according to McKinsey and Company", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\nAfter two months in lockdown, Philippine cities are slowly opening up to a new reality,
\nManagement consulting firm McKinsey and Company recently released a report titled \u201cBeyond coronavirus: The path to the next normal\u201d that defined this \u201cnew reality,\u201d this \u201cnext normal\u201d as a time when \u201cwe will witness a dramatic restructuring of the economic and social order in which business and society have traditionally operated.\u201d
\nIn this episode, Kristine Romano, managing partner of McKinsey Philippines elaborates on this report and applies it to the Philippine context. She tells 大象传媒 reporter Jenina Ibanez how the country\u2019s business leaders might navigate the COVID-19 crisis and find an economically and socially viable path to the next normal.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nThis is a unique crisis.
\nThe COVID-10 pandemic, unlike previous global crises, affects both supply and demand. Businesses have a hard time producing goods, and worried consumers are holding back on buying.
Remittances grew amid the 2008 global financial crisis, and outsourcing bounced back. But McKinsey sees the risks of a contraction in remittances, and outsourcing contracts may be cancelled among companies unable to shift to work-from-home measures.
\nBusinesses will prioritize resilient supply chains.
\nIn the past, economies of scale was king. But creating efficient supply chains by consolidating resources in one place is now considered risky. Supply chains could easily be disrupted by lockdowns. As a result, business priorities will shift to resilient supply chains retaining flexibility and productivity through automation and training.
The new normal will also see a shift to digital transactions, and companies that give value for money will likely capture a bigger share of the market.
\nVulnerable businesses and workers may see new opportunities.
\nThere is a significant number of Filipino workers on \u201cno work, no pay\u201d schemes. The social safety nets for these workers are not as strong as those of developed countries. But opportunities may shift to other sectors as the need for sanitation and delivery services requires manpower.
The country also has a reputation for high manufacturing productivity and a talented workforce that could attract firms shifting operations from China.
\nRecorded remotely on April 28. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.
\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side\nAfter two months in lockdown, Philippine cities are slowly opening up to a new reality,\nManagement consulting firm McKinsey and Company recently released a report titled \u201cBeyond coronavirus: The path to the next normal\u201d that defined this \u201cnew reality,\u201d this \u201cnext normal\u201d as a time when \u201cwe will witness a dramatic restructuring of the economic and social order in which business and society have traditionally operated.\u201d\nIn this episode, Kristine Romano, managing partner of McKinsey Philippines elaborates on this report and applies it to the Philippine context. She tells 大象传媒 reporter Jenina Ibanez how the country\u2019s business leaders might navigate the COVID-19 crisis and find an economically and socially viable path to the next normal.\nTAKEAWAYS\nThis is a unique crisis.\nThe COVID-10 pandemic, unlike previous global crises, affects both supply and demand. Businesses have a hard time producing goods, and worried consumers are holding back on buying.\nRemittances grew amid the 2008 global financial crisis, and outsourcing bounced back. But McKinsey sees the risks of a contraction in remittances, and outsourcing contracts may be cancelled among companies unable to shift to work-from-home measures.\nBusinesses will prioritize resilient supply chains.\nIn the past, economies of scale was king. But creating efficient supply chains by consolidating resources in one place is now considered risky. Supply chains could easily be disrupted by lockdowns. As a result, business priorities will shift to resilient supply chains retaining flexibility and productivity through automation and training.\nThe new normal will also see a shift to digital transactions, and companies that give value for money will likely capture a bigger share of the market.\nVulnerable businesses and workers may see new opportunities.\nThere is a significant number of Filipino workers on \u201cno work, no pay\u201d schemes. The social safety nets for these workers are not as strong as those of developed countries. But opportunities may shift to other sectors as the need for sanitation and delivery services requires manpower.\nThe country also has a reputation for high manufacturing productivity and a talented workforce that could attract firms shifting operations from China.\nRecorded remotely on April 28. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.\nFollow us on Spotify 大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2020-05-26T09:21:52+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-10-20T17:32:41+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/winseciontainkes/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5aebc87a76b327f90fc9671dea4220c74092c328c9b13ee03e93a20601e350d3?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Jenina P. Iba\u00f1ez", "Nina M. Diaz", "Paolo L. Lopez", "Sam L. Marcelo", "Podcast" ] } ] }