Family values and\u00a0customer\u00a0insight\u00a0are among the key factors that drive CDO\u00a0Foodsphere, Inc.\u2019s longevity. According to president and CEO Jerome D. Ong, listening to the market\u00a0was what led them to\u00a0some of their bestsellers, like\u00a0the\u00a0jumbo hotdog\u00a0with cheese.
\n\u201cWe noticed that many consumers eat their hot dogs with cheese, so we said, why don\u2019t we save them the trouble of looking for cheese to put on their hot dogs?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said in an October 2025\u00a0interview.\u00a0
\nThe first cheese dog, which came in a clear-colored casing, was offered from 1993 to 1994. The red-colored variant debuted between 2007 to 2010. \u00a0
\n\u201cWhen it comes to cheese hotdogs, I\u2019m pleased to\u00a0share that we\u2019ve been the market leaders for a long time,\u201d he added. \u00a0\u00a0
\nCDO was founded 50 years ago by Ong matriarch\u00a0and Mr. Ong\u2019s mother,\u00a0Corazon D. Ong.\u00a0
\nHer purpose was not to build a company but\u00a0rather\u00a0help augment the family income. The business started small,\u00a0operating\u00a0from home, after Ms.\u00a0Ong\u00a0took short courses on making longganisa\u00a0(a Filipino sausage)\u00a0and tocino (a cured pork dish).\u00a0Her\u00a0husband Jose joined her\u00a0in the business\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0years after.\u00a0\u00a0
\nMr. Ong\u00a0now\u00a0runs the company together with his siblings Charmaine, who handles corporate purchasing and treasury, and Jason, who heads both\u00a0corporate social\u00a0responsibility\u00a0and the emerging business arm.\u00a0
\nCHALLENGES AND LESSONS
\nThe\u00a0company learned lessons borne from challenges\u00a0over\u00a0the years, Mr. Ong said.\u00a0
The first is the \u201cbig headache\u201d of credit risk.\u00a0
\n\u201cWhen\u00a0we were\u00a0rather small, uncollected debts really put pressure on our cash flow and finances,\u201d he told\u00a0大象传媒. \u201cWe learned to put control measures in place to establish credit limits,\u00a0[and] to do\u00a0our due diligence before extending credit.\u201d\u00a0
\nAnother is supply chain issues, such as logistical disruptions that increased shipping time by up to 20 days which led to the company diversifying its source of raw materials like meat.\u00a0
\nA third one\u00a0is\u00a0the war on talent,\u00a0which prompted the company to improve its hiring process and retention program. \u00a0
\nTheir staff care about the company because management demonstrates that it cares for their welfare, Mr. Ong also said.\u00a0
\nDuring the pandemic, he said,\u00a0CDO\u00a0operated at full\u00a0throttle,\u00a0so\u00a0everyone who wanted to work was able to.\u00a0Food, vitamins, and transportation were likewise provided for.\u00a0
\n\u201cIf we want our people to have malasakit\u00a0[the Filipino value of showing concern and empathy],\u00a0we have to walk the talk and show that we have malasakit for\u00a0them,\u201d he added.\u00a0
\nRESEARCH AND INNOVATION
\nThe biggest ongoing challenge, however, is market competition. \u00a0
\u201cWe continue to stay relevant by developing products \u2013 or improving existing products \u2013 to meet the evolving preferences of consumers,\u201d Mr. Ong said. \u00a0
\nOne insight gleaned from the company\u2019s market research, for instance, led to the formulation of its Karne Norte corned beef.\u00a0
\n\u201cResearch told us that it\u2019s not just the taste of the product that attracts customers,\u201d he told\u00a0大象传媒. \u201cAroma is an important factor too, because once the consumer opens the can, the first thing he or she notices is the aroma, so we made sure that Karne Norte had that flavorful aroma.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
\nAnother\u00a0insight came from the dwindling sales of its\u00a0now-shelved hamonado\u00a0(flavored smoked pork sausage), which used to be a bestseller\u00a0in the 1990s.\u00a0\u00a0
\nWhen it gradually lost\u00a0its\u00a0relevance as new types of longganisa\u00a0emerged\u00a0in the market, the company tried to revive\u00a0sales\u00a0of\u00a0the hamonado\u00a0by offering promos\u00a0and samplings, but to no avail.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe can keep on nurturing a brand, but we cannot\u00a0fall in love with it,\u201d Mr. Ong said. \u201cWhen the market\u00a0says,\u00a0\u2018time is up,\u2019 we just have to pull the plug and move on.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
\nCDO\u2019s goal is\u00a0for its brands to be patronized by nine out of 10 Filipino households in five years, up from the current\u00a0six\u00a0out of 10.\u00a0
\nMr. Ong says this goal, as well as\u00a0the challenge of taking on the\u00a0future, is doable with the guidance of the core family values that\u00a0brought\u00a0them to where they are.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cThe most successful companies continue to thrive and flourish and enter new avenues of growth\u00a0even\u00a0after the founders have retired,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s important for us is to prepare the next generation of family members, the next generation of leaders, to future-proof the company for the next 50 years and beyond.\u201d \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "Family values and\u00a0customer\u00a0insight\u00a0are among the key factors that drive CDO\u00a0Foodsphere, Inc.\u2019s longevity. According to president and CEO Jerome D. Ong, listening to the market\u00a0was what led them to\u00a0some of their bestsellers, like\u00a0the\u00a0jumbo hotdog\u00a0with cheese.\n\u201cWe noticed that many consumers eat their hot dogs with cheese, so we said, why don\u2019t we save them the trouble of looking for cheese to put on their hot dogs?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said in an October 2025\u00a0interview.\u00a0\nThe first cheese dog, which came in a clear-colored casing, was offered from 1993 to 1994. The red-colored variant debuted between 2007 to 2010. \u00a0\n\u201cWhen it comes to cheese hotdogs, I\u2019m pleased to\u00a0share that we\u2019ve been the market leaders for a long time,\u201d he added. \u00a0\u00a0\nCDO was founded 50 years ago by Ong matriarch\u00a0and Mr. Ong\u2019s mother,\u00a0Corazon D. Ong.\u00a0\nHer purpose was not to build a company but\u00a0rather\u00a0help augment the family income. The business started small,\u00a0operating\u00a0from home, after Ms.\u00a0Ong\u00a0took short courses on making longganisa\u00a0(a Filipino sausage)\u00a0and tocino (a cured pork dish).\u00a0Her\u00a0husband Jose joined her\u00a0in the business\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0years after.\u00a0\u00a0\nMr. Ong\u00a0now\u00a0runs the company together with his siblings Charmaine, who handles corporate purchasing and treasury, and Jason, who heads both\u00a0corporate social\u00a0responsibility\u00a0and the emerging business arm.\u00a0\nCHALLENGES AND LESSONS\nThe\u00a0company learned lessons borne from challenges\u00a0over\u00a0the years, Mr. Ong said.\u00a0\nThe first is the \u201cbig headache\u201d of credit risk.\u00a0\n\u201cWhen\u00a0we were\u00a0rather small, uncollected debts really put pressure on our cash flow and finances,\u201d he told\u00a0大象传媒. \u201cWe learned to put control measures in place to establish credit limits,\u00a0[and] to do\u00a0our due diligence before extending credit.\u201d\u00a0\nAnother is supply chain issues, such as logistical disruptions that increased shipping time by up to 20 days which led to the company diversifying its source of raw materials like meat.\u00a0\nA third one\u00a0is\u00a0the war on talent,\u00a0which prompted the company to improve its hiring process and retention program. \u00a0\nTheir staff care about the company because management demonstrates that it cares for their welfare, Mr. Ong also said.\u00a0\nDuring the pandemic, he said,\u00a0CDO\u00a0operated at full\u00a0throttle,\u00a0so\u00a0everyone who wanted to work was able to.\u00a0Food, vitamins, and transportation were likewise provided for.\u00a0\n\u201cIf we want our people to have malasakit\u00a0[the Filipino value of showing concern and empathy],\u00a0we have to walk the talk and show that we have malasakit for\u00a0them,\u201d he added.\u00a0\nRESEARCH AND INNOVATION\nThe biggest ongoing challenge, however, is market competition. \u00a0\n\u201cWe continue to stay relevant by developing products \u2013 or improving existing products \u2013 to meet the evolving preferences of consumers,\u201d Mr. Ong said. \u00a0\nOne insight gleaned from the company\u2019s market research, for instance, led to the formulation of its Karne Norte corned beef.\u00a0\n\u201cResearch told us that it\u2019s not just the taste of the product that attracts customers,\u201d he told\u00a0大象传媒. \u201cAroma is an important factor too, because once the consumer opens the can, the first thing he or she notices is the aroma, so we made sure that Karne Norte had that flavorful aroma.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\nAnother\u00a0insight came from the dwindling sales of its\u00a0now-shelved hamonado\u00a0(flavored smoked pork sausage), which used to be a bestseller\u00a0in the 1990s.\u00a0\u00a0\nWhen it gradually lost\u00a0its\u00a0relevance as new types of longganisa\u00a0emerged\u00a0in the market, the company tried to revive\u00a0sales\u00a0of\u00a0the hamonado\u00a0by offering promos\u00a0and samplings, but to no avail.\u00a0\n\u201cWe can keep on nurturing a brand, but we cannot\u00a0fall in love with it,\u201d Mr. Ong said. \u201cWhen the market\u00a0says,\u00a0\u2018time is up,\u2019 we just have to pull the plug and move on.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\nCDO\u2019s goal is\u00a0for its brands to be patronized by nine out of 10 Filipino households in five years, up from the current\u00a0six\u00a0out of 10.\u00a0\nMr. Ong says this goal, as well as\u00a0the challenge of taking on the\u00a0future, is doable with the guidance of the core family values that\u00a0brought\u00a0them to where they are.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cThe most successful companies continue to thrive and flourish and enter new avenues of growth\u00a0even\u00a0after the founders have retired,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cWhat\u2019s important for us is to prepare the next generation of family members, the next generation of leaders, to future-proof the company for the next 50 years and beyond.\u201d \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2026-02-12T17:41:32+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-02-12T17:41:32+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Jerome-D.-Ong.jpg", "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Arts & Leisure" ] }, { "id": "/?p=712461", "url": "/top-stories/2025/11/17/712461/philippines-now-turns-to-technology-after-flood-control-projects-vanish/", "title": "Philippines now turns to technology after flood control projects vanish", "content_html": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer
\nAPRIL B. ELISTERIA wades through knee-deep water every time it rains in her neighborhood in Las Pi\u00f1as City. The 39-year-old helper at a private elderly care home and mother of four has lived with floods for as long as she can remember.
\n\u201cSometimes the floodwaters are thigh-high near the entrance of our community,\u201d she said in an Oct. 8 Viber interview. \u201cI walk a fair distance to the entrance because no car can enter our place anymore,\u201d she added in Filipino.
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BW-Bullseye-2020-030420-e1660135233647.jpg\")
Her family has elevated their home to keep floodwaters from seeping in. \u201cWe\u2019ve been here for so long, we already got used to the situation,\u201d Ms. Elisteria said. \u201cWhen I get home, I take a shower right away to avoid getting sick.\u201d
Floods remain a part of daily life for many urban poor Filipinos despite decades of government projects meant to address them. Now, those projects themselves are under scrutiny.
\nGovernment investigators recently confirmed that 421 of roughly 8,000 flood control projects nationwide were \u201cghosts\u201d \u2014 nonexistent despite being allocated funds. The revelations triggered the removal of P255 billion ($4.4 billion) worth of projects from the proposed 2026 national budget, effectively cutting flood control allocations to zero.
\nAs the scandal unfolds, public officials are looking to technology to restore trust, improve transparency, and curb corruption by design. Blockchain ledgers, livestreamed bidding and satellite mapping are now being tapped to track how every peso of public works spending moves \u2014 and whether something actually gets built.
\nThe Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has faced recurring questions over the integrity of its flood control program, a key infrastructure item in annual budgets. The \u201cghost\u201d project revelations reinforced long-standing suspicions of systemic graft tied to infrastructure contracts.
\nDigitalization, automation and the removal of personal discretion create systems that make corruption more difficult, experts said.
\nThe DPWH has begun livestreaming procurement activities, and on Sept. 30 launched \u201cIntegrity Chain,\u201d a blockchain-powered transparency platform developed with the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP).
\nThe system aims to embed accountability into infrastructure workflows by maintaining immutable records that cannot be secretly altered.
\nThe platform functions like a digital ledger, Mark S. Gorriceta, a founding BCP trustee, said in a Zoom interview. Every transaction, every data point is permanent once entered, and any tampering will be visible, he pointed out.
\nThe Integrity Chain will initially cover foreign-assisted projects, which already follow stricter standards.
\n\u201cValidation does not rely solely on the government,\u201d Mr. Gorriceta said. \u201cIndependent validators from civil society, the academe, media, and nongovernment groups will check the data before it\u2019s finalized.\u201d
\nPublic Works Secretary Vivencio \u201cVince\u201d B. Dizon said during the platform signing that he welcomes private sector scrutiny. \u201cEveryone should be watching,\u201d he said.
\nMr. Gorriceta said AI (artificial intelligence) would also be integrated to verify data accuracy. In three months, he expects the players to share the results from the pilot phase.
\nAt least 10 blockchain-related bills are pending in Congress. But experts warn against seeing blockchain as a cure-all.
\n\u201cBlockchain won\u2019t prevent collusion among vendors and government officials,\u201d Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, a former undersecretary at the Department of Information and Communications Technology, said in a Facebook post.
\nHe also said the government\u2019s lack of expertise could create dependence on proprietary systems \u201cakin to graft.\u201d Mr. Dy has suggested limiting blockchain to transactional data, defining clear rules on data use, and determining who should access it.
\nWATCHING FROM SPACE
\nBeyond blockchain, agencies are turning to space-based monitoring to catch irregularities early. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is integrating satellite and geospatial data into its oversight systems.
Its Automated Land Use and Zoning Compliance Assessment and Monitoring (AutoCAM) tool uses remote sensing, machine learning and geographic information systems to track whether land use complies with local plans \u2014 and whether flood control projects are built in appropriate areas.
\nIbani C. Padao, officer-in-charge director at the DHSUD\u2019s Environmental, Land Use and Urban Planning and Development Bureau, said AutoCAM could detect zoning violations in real time.
\n\u201cIn protected agricultural zones, for example, if the tool detects that residential structures are being built, it will be tagged as not allowed or conditionally allowed,\u201d he told 大象传媒 via Zoom.
\nDHSUD Assistant Secretary Mylene A. Rivera said the agency\u2019s challenge lies in ensuring local governments use their approved land-use plans.
\n\u201cAfter approval, these plans are often shelved and not used as a reference for development,\u201d she said in the same Zoom call in Filipino. \u201cEven diligent local governments learn about violations only after the fact because they don\u2019t see everything.\u201d
\nMs. Rivera said AutoCAM could compare approved land-use maps with satellite images from the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). \u201cIf the plan doesn\u2019t match what\u2019s happening on the ground, the system flags it in real time,\u201d she said. \u201cThat saves local governments a lot of time.\u201d
\nThe DHSUD will also launch a digital platform called PlanSmart for Sustainable Human Development on Nov. 17. It integrates hazard maps with planning data to help local governments make risk-informed decisions.
\nThe initial rollout will cover 15 local governments per regional office, or about 200 nationwide. The target is for all local governments to have risk-informed plans by 2028. AutoCAM is slated for nationwide rollout by May 2026.
\nThe Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has revived an older technology-driven project tracking system known as Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation, or DIME. First launched in 2017, it uses drones, geotagging, and satellite images to monitor major public investments. It was discontinued in 2021 and relaunched in 2023 through a partnership with the local space agency.
\n\u201cThe initial goal is to integrate PhilSA\u2019s imagery with DBM\u2019s platform,\u201d Romer Kristi D. Aranas, information technology officer at the space agency\u2019s High-Performance Computing and Information Systems Division, said via Zoom.
\nPhilSA expects project images to be publicly available through the DIME website by 2026.
\n\u201cWe are ready as far as technical capability and access to data are concerned,\u201d Julius M. Judan, senior science research specialist at PhilSA\u2019s Space Mission Control and Operations Division, said in the same Zoom interview.
\nHe added that satellite data would be cross-validated with project timelines and milestones \u201cto reach relevant conclusions.\u201d
\nBEYOND THE TOOLS
\nBoth Mr. Aranas and Mr. Judan stressed that government capacity-building is critical. \u201cWe integrate the data processing know-how and what the technical requirements are so it would be self-sustaining, and they can do it themselves long term,\u201d Mr. Judan said.
Ms. Rivera of DHSUD said some local governments still lack the resources and expertise to use such tools effectively.
\n\u201cYou can\u2019t give solutions if you don\u2019t understand the situation on the ground,\u201d she said in Filipino. \u201cThe goal is to make planning easy for them, to give them a template they can adapt to local realities.\u201d
\nExperts say the technologies being deployed \u2014 blockchain, AI and satellite monitoring \u2014 mark progress toward transparency. Yet they emphasize that digital systems cannot replace political will.
\nScience and technology can provide tools that enable desired social outcomes, William G. Padolina, chairman of the Science, Technology and Innovation Foresight Steering Committee of the National Academy of Science and Technology, said in an e-mailed reply to questions.
\n\u201cBut the choice to harness which of these tools can promote societal interests, especially to recover from shocks, remains a political decision,\u201d he added.
\nMr. Dy said flood control corruption starts with budget enactment, which no technology could capture. \u201cPerhaps the stance should shift from \u2018anti-corruption\u2019 to \u2018increasing transparency in government.\u2019\u201d
\nTransparency advocates have long argued that corruption thrives in discretionary budgeting \u2014 a point made clear by the \u201cghost\u201d projects\u2019 discovery. Oversight mechanisms are often activated only after projects have been funded and payments released.
\nEconomists note that eliminating P255 billion in questionable allocations could improve fiscal discipline in 2026, but warn of gaps in actual flood mitigation if legitimate projects are also delayed.
\nState efforts to digitize oversight represent a rare convergence of science, policy and accountability. Whether these systems will outlast political cycles \u2014 and actually prevent \u201cghost\u201d projects \u2014 remains to be seen.
\nFor residents like Ms. Elisteria, though, the test of reform will be simpler: the day her street finally stays dry. \u201cI just hope the floods stop becoming a fixture in our lives because it\u2019s so hard.\u201d
\n", "content_text": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer\nAPRIL B. ELISTERIA wades through knee-deep water every time it rains in her neighborhood in Las Pi\u00f1as City. The 39-year-old helper at a private elderly care home and mother of four has lived with floods for as long as she can remember.\n\u201cSometimes the floodwaters are thigh-high near the entrance of our community,\u201d she said in an Oct. 8 Viber interview. \u201cI walk a fair distance to the entrance because no car can enter our place anymore,\u201d she added in Filipino.\nHer family has elevated their home to keep floodwaters from seeping in. \u201cWe\u2019ve been here for so long, we already got used to the situation,\u201d Ms. Elisteria said. \u201cWhen I get home, I take a shower right away to avoid getting sick.\u201d\nFloods remain a part of daily life for many urban poor Filipinos despite decades of government projects meant to address them. Now, those projects themselves are under scrutiny.\nGovernment investigators recently confirmed that 421 of roughly 8,000 flood control projects nationwide were \u201cghosts\u201d \u2014 nonexistent despite being allocated funds. The revelations triggered the removal of P255 billion ($4.4 billion) worth of projects from the proposed 2026 national budget, effectively cutting flood control allocations to zero.\nAs the scandal unfolds, public officials are looking to technology to restore trust, improve transparency, and curb corruption by design. Blockchain ledgers, livestreamed bidding and satellite mapping are now being tapped to track how every peso of public works spending moves \u2014 and whether something actually gets built.\nThe Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has faced recurring questions over the integrity of its flood control program, a key infrastructure item in annual budgets. The \u201cghost\u201d project revelations reinforced long-standing suspicions of systemic graft tied to infrastructure contracts.\nDigitalization, automation and the removal of personal discretion create systems that make corruption more difficult, experts said.\nThe DPWH has begun livestreaming procurement activities, and on Sept. 30 launched \u201cIntegrity Chain,\u201d a blockchain-powered transparency platform developed with the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP).\nThe system aims to embed accountability into infrastructure workflows by maintaining immutable records that cannot be secretly altered.\nThe platform functions like a digital ledger, Mark S. Gorriceta, a founding BCP trustee, said in a Zoom interview. Every transaction, every data point is permanent once entered, and any tampering will be visible, he pointed out.\nThe Integrity Chain will initially cover foreign-assisted projects, which already follow stricter standards.\n\u201cValidation does not rely solely on the government,\u201d Mr. Gorriceta said. \u201cIndependent validators from civil society, the academe, media, and nongovernment groups will check the data before it\u2019s finalized.\u201d\nPublic Works Secretary Vivencio \u201cVince\u201d B. Dizon said during the platform signing that he welcomes private sector scrutiny. \u201cEveryone should be watching,\u201d he said.\nMr. Gorriceta said AI (artificial intelligence) would also be integrated to verify data accuracy. In three months, he expects the players to share the results from the pilot phase.\nAt least 10 blockchain-related bills are pending in Congress. But experts warn against seeing blockchain as a cure-all.\n\u201cBlockchain won\u2019t prevent collusion among vendors and government officials,\u201d Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, a former undersecretary at the Department of Information and Communications Technology, said in a Facebook post.\nHe also said the government\u2019s lack of expertise could create dependence on proprietary systems \u201cakin to graft.\u201d Mr. Dy has suggested limiting blockchain to transactional data, defining clear rules on data use, and determining who should access it.\nWATCHING FROM SPACE\nBeyond blockchain, agencies are turning to space-based monitoring to catch irregularities early. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is integrating satellite and geospatial data into its oversight systems.\nIts Automated Land Use and Zoning Compliance Assessment and Monitoring (AutoCAM) tool uses remote sensing, machine learning and geographic information systems to track whether land use complies with local plans \u2014 and whether flood control projects are built in appropriate areas.\nIbani C. Padao, officer-in-charge director at the DHSUD\u2019s Environmental, Land Use and Urban Planning and Development Bureau, said AutoCAM could detect zoning violations in real time.\n\u201cIn protected agricultural zones, for example, if the tool detects that residential structures are being built, it will be tagged as not allowed or conditionally allowed,\u201d he told 大象传媒 via Zoom.\nDHSUD Assistant Secretary Mylene A. Rivera said the agency\u2019s challenge lies in ensuring local governments use their approved land-use plans.\n\u201cAfter approval, these plans are often shelved and not used as a reference for development,\u201d she said in the same Zoom call in Filipino. \u201cEven diligent local governments learn about violations only after the fact because they don\u2019t see everything.\u201d\nMs. Rivera said AutoCAM could compare approved land-use maps with satellite images from the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). \u201cIf the plan doesn\u2019t match what\u2019s happening on the ground, the system flags it in real time,\u201d she said. \u201cThat saves local governments a lot of time.\u201d\nThe DHSUD will also launch a digital platform called PlanSmart for Sustainable Human Development on Nov. 17. It integrates hazard maps with planning data to help local governments make risk-informed decisions.\nThe initial rollout will cover 15 local governments per regional office, or about 200 nationwide. The target is for all local governments to have risk-informed plans by 2028. AutoCAM is slated for nationwide rollout by May 2026.\nThe Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has revived an older technology-driven project tracking system known as Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation, or DIME. First launched in 2017, it uses drones, geotagging, and satellite images to monitor major public investments. It was discontinued in 2021 and relaunched in 2023 through a partnership with the local space agency.\n\u201cThe initial goal is to integrate PhilSA\u2019s imagery with DBM\u2019s platform,\u201d Romer Kristi D. Aranas, information technology officer at the space agency\u2019s High-Performance Computing and Information Systems Division, said via Zoom.\nPhilSA expects project images to be publicly available through the DIME website by 2026.\n\u201cWe are ready as far as technical capability and access to data are concerned,\u201d Julius M. Judan, senior science research specialist at PhilSA\u2019s Space Mission Control and Operations Division, said in the same Zoom interview.\nHe added that satellite data would be cross-validated with project timelines and milestones \u201cto reach relevant conclusions.\u201d\nBEYOND THE TOOLS\nBoth Mr. Aranas and Mr. Judan stressed that government capacity-building is critical. \u201cWe integrate the data processing know-how and what the technical requirements are so it would be self-sustaining, and they can do it themselves long term,\u201d Mr. Judan said.\nMs. Rivera of DHSUD said some local governments still lack the resources and expertise to use such tools effectively.\n\u201cYou can\u2019t give solutions if you don\u2019t understand the situation on the ground,\u201d she said in Filipino. \u201cThe goal is to make planning easy for them, to give them a template they can adapt to local realities.\u201d\nExperts say the technologies being deployed \u2014 blockchain, AI and satellite monitoring \u2014 mark progress toward transparency. Yet they emphasize that digital systems cannot replace political will.\nScience and technology can provide tools that enable desired social outcomes, William G. Padolina, chairman of the Science, Technology and Innovation Foresight Steering Committee of the National Academy of Science and Technology, said in an e-mailed reply to questions.\n\u201cBut the choice to harness which of these tools can promote societal interests, especially to recover from shocks, remains a political decision,\u201d he added.\nMr. Dy said flood control corruption starts with budget enactment, which no technology could capture. \u201cPerhaps the stance should shift from \u2018anti-corruption\u2019 to \u2018increasing transparency in government.\u2019\u201d\nTransparency advocates have long argued that corruption thrives in discretionary budgeting \u2014 a point made clear by the \u201cghost\u201d projects\u2019 discovery. Oversight mechanisms are often activated only after projects have been funded and payments released.\nEconomists note that eliminating P255 billion in questionable allocations could improve fiscal discipline in 2026, but warn of gaps in actual flood mitigation if legitimate projects are also delayed.\nState efforts to digitize oversight represent a rare convergence of science, policy and accountability. Whether these systems will outlast political cycles \u2014 and actually prevent \u201cghost\u201d projects \u2014 remains to be seen.\nFor residents like Ms. Elisteria, though, the test of reform will be simpler: the day her street finally stays dry. \u201cI just hope the floods stop becoming a fixture in our lives because it\u2019s so hard.\u201d", "date_published": "2025-11-17T00:31:55+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-11-16T20:04:21+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pedestrian-flood.jpg", "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Editors' Picks", "One News", "大象传媒" ], "summary": "APRIL B. ELISTERIA wades through knee-deep water every time it rains in her neighborhood in Las Pi\u00f1as City. The 39-year-old helper at a private elderly care home and mother of four has lived with floods for as long as she can remember." }, { "id": "/?p=706152", "url": "/top-stories/2025/10/17/706152/philippines-faces-skill-gap-as-green-economy-push-gains-pace/", "title": "Philippines faces skill gap as green economy push gains pace", "content_html": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer
\nBUSINESSES and policymakers face a widening gap between the demand for skilled labor and the workforce\u2019s readiness to fill green jobs, as the Philippines accelerates its transition to a green economy.
\nIndustry leaders and government officials warn that unless the country scales up training programs, the promise of economic growth from renewable energy, electric vehicles and sustainable construction could be undermined by the lack of qualified workers.
\n\u201cAre we ready for these changes?\u201d Francis A. Macatulad, program director at the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), a nonprofit that promotes capacity-building and sustainable practices, told 大象传媒 in a virtual interview. \u201cUnfortunately, we are not. We don\u2019t have the technicians.\u201d
\nHis warning underscores a structural challenge for Southeast Asia\u2019s second-most-populous nation.
\nAs climate change reshapes economies worldwide, the Philippines is under pressure to retrofit aging infrastructure, decarbonize energy systems and adopt greener modes of transportation. But the country is still scrambling to align its workforce with those demands.
\nThe World Economic Forum projects that green and energy-transition roles such as renewable energy engineers and electric vehicle specialists will be among the fastest-growing job categories in the coming years.
\nThe International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that the shift to a green economy could create 24 million jobs globally by 2030.
\nThe Asia-Pacific region is particularly exposed, with 43% of its workforce considered vulnerable to climate-related shocks and the disruptions from decarbonization, according to the ILO. For the Philippines, where millions of workers remain in carbon-intensive or informal industries, the transition risks leaving many behind without targeted support.
\nLabor Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres said the government is working to balance the creation of green jobs with inevitable losses in traditional industries such as coal and fossil fuel-based transportation.
\n\u201cThe transition to a green economy should be just and inclusive, ensuring that workers in traditional industries are not left behind,\u201d she said in an e-mailed reply to questions. \u201cThis aims to shift towards environmentally friendly practices while ensuring the creation of decent work opportunities and addressing social inequalities.\u201d
\nStill, she acknowledged persistent challenges: gaps in training programs, limited funding, and the lack of awareness among workers and employers about opportunities in the green sector.
\nSome of the country\u2019s biggest companies are trying to bridge the gap by embedding sustainability across their organizations.
\nAyala Corp., one of the Philippines\u2019 oldest business groups, ensures its sustainability agenda extends beyond dedicated teams.
\n\u201cOur corporate strategy, business development, investor relations, and treasury teams, among others, are updated on the latest and most relevant thinking in sustainability to ensure that it is embedded into our long-term planning and investments,\u201d Francisco R. Milan, Ayala\u2019s chief human resources officer, said in an e-mailed reply to questions.
\nAyala Land, Inc., the group\u2019s property arm, hosts quarterly forums on topics such as decarbonization, regenerative design and water resource management. Globe Telecom, Inc., meanwhile, launched an online Sustainability Academy in 2021 to help its 8,000 employees adopt sustainable practices at home and at work.
\n\u201cAcross the group, sustainability and human resource teams are working closely to identify ways to more widely embed the value of sustainability among all employees,\u201d Mr. Milan said.
\nThe Aboitiz Group has also made sustainability central to its real estate and infrastructure ventures. Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.\u2019s economic estates, including Lima Estate in Batangas, have earned a five-star Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) district certification. It features a sustainability hub with a waste-to-eco brick facility, rainwater harvesting and compost-to-fertilizer systems.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s about shifting how everyone in the organization thinks about placemaking and future-proofing for the new economy,\u201d Monica L. Trajano, vice-president for business development at Aboitiz unit LIMA Land, Inc., told 大象传媒 in an interview.
\n\u201cWe must be able to integrate agility and innovation as we emphasize sustainability and best practices,\u201d she added.
\nWorking with urban planning consultants such as Singapore-based Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd., Aboitiz has identified specific workforce gaps in renewable energy and sustainable construction. \u201cThere is a skill gap in practical areas like installation, maintenance, repair and even the basic knowledge in sustainable construction,\u201d Ms. Trajano said.
\n\u2018MINDSET SHIFT\u2019
\nWhile infrastructure upgrades are critical, advocates stress that behavior change is just as important.
\u201cDesigning green is the easiest part,\u201d Christopher C. de la Cruz, chief executive officer at the Philippine Green Building Council, said in an interview. \u201cStaying green is the biggest problem.\u201d
\nHe noted that even the most energy-efficient systems are wasted if occupants use them improperly. \u201cIt\u2019s a mindset shift.\u201d
\nThe council administers the BERDE green building rating system and partners with organizations such as the Philippine Business for Education to develop training programs. It also works with universities like the University of San Carlos in Cebu to update curricula so graduates are equipped with green skills from the outset.
\nGreen jobs are for everyone \u2014 including janitors, messengers, and plumbers, Mr. De la Cruz said. \u201cIf you\u2019re able to transition your work today into a cleaner kind of work that contributes [to mitigating] the climate crisis, then it\u2019s a green job.\u201d
\nNonprofit groups are stepping in to address the training deficit. ASSIST, for example, works with technical-vocational associations in Mindanao and Metro Manila to give instructors updated training materials.
\nIt has also established an advisory committee with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and chambers of commerce to identify skill gaps.
\n\u201cWe are upskilling the current tech-voc students, or in some cases reskilling technicians to be able to work with the new technologies,\u201d Mr. Macatulad said.
\nThe Philippines already has a legislative framework in place. The Green Jobs Act of 2016 seeks to identify skill needs, train and certify workers and provide financial support including tax deductions for green-skill programs.
\nThe Labor department and TESDA have also issued a joint memo to strengthen career guidance and training alignment with industry needs.
\n\u201cEfforts such as those by TESDA are crucial for developing a workforce capable of meeting these demands,\u201d Ms. Torres said. \u201cBoth public and private sector investments are needed to support the development of a robust green job training ecosystem.\u201d
\nFor the private sector, investment in education is vital to long-term competitiveness.
\n\u201cWe recognize that no single institution or the private sector acting alone can produce the necessary talent at scale,\u201d Mr. Milan said. Government investment in education is critical so Philippine schools can produce a workforce that supports the drive of industries for sustainability, he added.
\nAboitiz\u2019s Ms. Trajano called the skill gap both a challenge and an opportunity.
\n\u201cOur biggest opportunity as a country is our labor force, and we really must focus on that, with the public and private sectors working together,\u201d she said. \u201cThe skill gap is also our biggest opportunity in terms of influencing the quality of our educational institutions.\u201d
\nAs the Philippines braces for the impacts of climate change \u2014 rising sea levels, stronger typhoons, and disrupted agricultural cycles \u2014 building a workforce ready for the green economy has become more than an economic necessity.
\nThe Philippines is in a race against time. \u201cThere are a lot of projects that will be coming on stream very soon, and they need technicians,\u201d Mr. Macatulad said.
\n", "content_text": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer\nBUSINESSES and policymakers face a widening gap between the demand for skilled labor and the workforce\u2019s readiness to fill green jobs, as the Philippines accelerates its transition to a green economy.\nIndustry leaders and government officials warn that unless the country scales up training programs, the promise of economic growth from renewable energy, electric vehicles and sustainable construction could be undermined by the lack of qualified workers.\n\u201cAre we ready for these changes?\u201d Francis A. Macatulad, program director at the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), a nonprofit that promotes capacity-building and sustainable practices, told 大象传媒 in a virtual interview. \u201cUnfortunately, we are not. We don\u2019t have the technicians.\u201d\nHis warning underscores a structural challenge for Southeast Asia\u2019s second-most-populous nation.\nAs climate change reshapes economies worldwide, the Philippines is under pressure to retrofit aging infrastructure, decarbonize energy systems and adopt greener modes of transportation. But the country is still scrambling to align its workforce with those demands.\nThe World Economic Forum projects that green and energy-transition roles such as renewable energy engineers and electric vehicle specialists will be among the fastest-growing job categories in the coming years.\nThe International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that the shift to a green economy could create 24 million jobs globally by 2030.\nThe Asia-Pacific region is particularly exposed, with 43% of its workforce considered vulnerable to climate-related shocks and the disruptions from decarbonization, according to the ILO. For the Philippines, where millions of workers remain in carbon-intensive or informal industries, the transition risks leaving many behind without targeted support.\nLabor Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres said the government is working to balance the creation of green jobs with inevitable losses in traditional industries such as coal and fossil fuel-based transportation.\n\u201cThe transition to a green economy should be just and inclusive, ensuring that workers in traditional industries are not left behind,\u201d she said in an e-mailed reply to questions. \u201cThis aims to shift towards environmentally friendly practices while ensuring the creation of decent work opportunities and addressing social inequalities.\u201d\nStill, she acknowledged persistent challenges: gaps in training programs, limited funding, and the lack of awareness among workers and employers about opportunities in the green sector.\nSome of the country\u2019s biggest companies are trying to bridge the gap by embedding sustainability across their organizations.\nAyala Corp., one of the Philippines\u2019 oldest business groups, ensures its sustainability agenda extends beyond dedicated teams.\n\u201cOur corporate strategy, business development, investor relations, and treasury teams, among others, are updated on the latest and most relevant thinking in sustainability to ensure that it is embedded into our long-term planning and investments,\u201d Francisco R. Milan, Ayala\u2019s chief human resources officer, said in an e-mailed reply to questions.\nAyala Land, Inc., the group\u2019s property arm, hosts quarterly forums on topics such as decarbonization, regenerative design and water resource management. Globe Telecom, Inc., meanwhile, launched an online Sustainability Academy in 2021 to help its 8,000 employees adopt sustainable practices at home and at work.\n\u201cAcross the group, sustainability and human resource teams are working closely to identify ways to more widely embed the value of sustainability among all employees,\u201d Mr. Milan said.\nThe Aboitiz Group has also made sustainability central to its real estate and infrastructure ventures. Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.\u2019s economic estates, including Lima Estate in Batangas, have earned a five-star Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) district certification. It features a sustainability hub with a waste-to-eco brick facility, rainwater harvesting and compost-to-fertilizer systems.\n\u201cIt\u2019s about shifting how everyone in the organization thinks about placemaking and future-proofing for the new economy,\u201d Monica L. Trajano, vice-president for business development at Aboitiz unit LIMA Land, Inc., told 大象传媒 in an interview.\n\u201cWe must be able to integrate agility and innovation as we emphasize sustainability and best practices,\u201d she added.\nWorking with urban planning consultants such as Singapore-based Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd., Aboitiz has identified specific workforce gaps in renewable energy and sustainable construction. \u201cThere is a skill gap in practical areas like installation, maintenance, repair and even the basic knowledge in sustainable construction,\u201d Ms. Trajano said.\n\u2018MINDSET SHIFT\u2019\nWhile infrastructure upgrades are critical, advocates stress that behavior change is just as important.\n\u201cDesigning green is the easiest part,\u201d Christopher C. de la Cruz, chief executive officer at the Philippine Green Building Council, said in an interview. \u201cStaying green is the biggest problem.\u201d\nHe noted that even the most energy-efficient systems are wasted if occupants use them improperly. \u201cIt\u2019s a mindset shift.\u201d\nThe council administers the BERDE green building rating system and partners with organizations such as the Philippine Business for Education to develop training programs. It also works with universities like the University of San Carlos in Cebu to update curricula so graduates are equipped with green skills from the outset.\nGreen jobs are for everyone \u2014 including janitors, messengers, and plumbers, Mr. De la Cruz said. \u201cIf you\u2019re able to transition your work today into a cleaner kind of work that contributes [to mitigating] the climate crisis, then it\u2019s a green job.\u201d\nNonprofit groups are stepping in to address the training deficit. ASSIST, for example, works with technical-vocational associations in Mindanao and Metro Manila to give instructors updated training materials.\nIt has also established an advisory committee with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and chambers of commerce to identify skill gaps.\n\u201cWe are upskilling the current tech-voc students, or in some cases reskilling technicians to be able to work with the new technologies,\u201d Mr. Macatulad said.\nThe Philippines already has a legislative framework in place. The Green Jobs Act of 2016 seeks to identify skill needs, train and certify workers and provide financial support including tax deductions for green-skill programs.\nThe Labor department and TESDA have also issued a joint memo to strengthen career guidance and training alignment with industry needs.\n\u201cEfforts such as those by TESDA are crucial for developing a workforce capable of meeting these demands,\u201d Ms. Torres said. \u201cBoth public and private sector investments are needed to support the development of a robust green job training ecosystem.\u201d\nFor the private sector, investment in education is vital to long-term competitiveness.\n\u201cWe recognize that no single institution or the private sector acting alone can produce the necessary talent at scale,\u201d Mr. Milan said. Government investment in education is critical so Philippine schools can produce a workforce that supports the drive of industries for sustainability, he added.\nAboitiz\u2019s Ms. Trajano called the skill gap both a challenge and an opportunity.\n\u201cOur biggest opportunity as a country is our labor force, and we really must focus on that, with the public and private sectors working together,\u201d she said. \u201cThe skill gap is also our biggest opportunity in terms of influencing the quality of our educational institutions.\u201d\nAs the Philippines braces for the impacts of climate change \u2014 rising sea levels, stronger typhoons, and disrupted agricultural cycles \u2014 building a workforce ready for the green economy has become more than an economic necessity.\nThe Philippines is in a race against time. \u201cThere are a lot of projects that will be coming on stream very soon, and they need technicians,\u201d Mr. Macatulad said.", "date_published": "2025-10-17T00:33:37+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-10-16T20:56:00+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Editors' Picks", "One News", "大象传媒" ], "summary": "BUSINESSES and policymakers face a widening gap between the demand for skilled labor and the workforce\u2019s readiness to fill green jobs, as the Philippines accelerates its transition to a green economy." }, { "id": "/?p=699103", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2025/09/18/699103/sonyas-garden-reinventing-business-in-the-face-of-disruption-in-the-hospitality-sector/", "title": "Sonya\u2019s Garden: Reinventing business in the face of disruption in the hospitality sector", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nCOMING UP with new product offerings has ensured the continued success of Sonya\u2019s Garden, a sustainable farm and hospitality business in Alfonso, Cavite, all throughout its almost two decades in business.
\nAn example of this was during the pandemic, said Sonya Garcia, the business owner.
\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t sit back and complain,\u201d she said in an interview with 大象传媒.
\n\u201cWhat we did was our massage therapists \u2014 instead of tending the body \u2014 started tending the soil,\u201d she said. \u201cThey grew plants and veggies, and then we delivered these to the plantitos (plant dads) and plantitas (plant moms) [through our] distributors in the city.\u201d
\nThe hospitality industry was one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Tourism reported that international tourist receipts in the first quarter of 2020 declined to P85 billion, 36% lower than the revenues in the same period the previous year.
\nBOTTLING ITS PRODUCTS
\nThe erstwhile private retreat also started producing \u201cfast food in a bottle,\u201d with offerings like Basil Pesto in Olive Oil or Puttanesca Sauce, during the lockdown.
\u201cAll you do is pour it over pasta or rice and that\u2019s it,\u201d Ms. Garcia said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to go to the market anymore to buy food.\u201d
\nThe company is \u201choping to export its products,\u201d she added.
\nSonya\u2019s Garden products \u2014 including its jams, calamansi (native lemon) concentrate, and salad dressing \u2014 are found on the ecommerce platform Lazada at present. Its salads, entrees, and breads are likewise available in the food delivery app Foodpanda.
\nMs. Garcia was a banker who left her career to create her private sanctuary. It opened as a business in 1998 after a wedding proposal was held in the garden and word subsequently spread about the place.
\nThe enterprise specializes in farm-to-table food and houses a restaurant, bed and breakfast, spa, bakery, and event venue within the property.
\nTo meet customer demands, it now also offers Filipino food and catering services.
\nSonya\u2019s Garden has evolved into health and wellness, with a spa that keeps guests coming back for more, Ms. Garcia told 大象传媒.
\n\u201cWe have a Korean master acupuncturist with a 99% success rate,\u201d she added. \u201cIf you are suffering from different ailments… because of consuming a lot of industrial food, our doctor will be able to help you out.\u201d
\nIT\u2019S NOT THE MONEY
\n\u201cDon\u2019t do anything for money\u201d is Ms. Garcia\u2019s tip to aspiring and current business owners.
\u201cEnjoy what you do and take care of your people and their wellbeing,\u201d she said.
\nIn line with this goal, Sonya\u2019s Garden provides its staff \u2014 typically locals from the neighboring community \u2013 with interest-free loans to enable them to build their homes.
\nA succession plan is also already in place.
\n\u201cI want them to run this place the way I would\u2019ve wanted it when I perish from this earth,\u201d Ms. Garcia said. \u201cThat is a legacy I will leave to them.\u201d \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol and Edg Adrian A. Eva
\n", "content_text": "1 of 3\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nCOMING UP with new product offerings has ensured the continued success of Sonya\u2019s Garden, a sustainable farm and hospitality business in Alfonso, Cavite, all throughout its almost two decades in business.\nAn example of this was during the pandemic, said Sonya Garcia, the business owner.\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t sit back and complain,\u201d she said in an interview with 大象传媒.\n\u201cWhat we did was our massage therapists \u2014 instead of tending the body \u2014 started tending the soil,\u201d she said. \u201cThey grew plants and veggies, and then we delivered these to the plantitos (plant dads) and plantitas (plant moms) [through our] distributors in the city.\u201d\nThe hospitality industry was one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Tourism reported that international tourist receipts in the first quarter of 2020 declined to P85 billion, 36% lower than the revenues in the same period the previous year.\nBOTTLING ITS PRODUCTS\nThe erstwhile private retreat also started producing \u201cfast food in a bottle,\u201d with offerings like Basil Pesto in Olive Oil or Puttanesca Sauce, during the lockdown.\n\u201cAll you do is pour it over pasta or rice and that\u2019s it,\u201d Ms. Garcia said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to go to the market anymore to buy food.\u201d\nThe company is \u201choping to export its products,\u201d she added.\nSonya\u2019s Garden products \u2014 including its jams, calamansi (native lemon) concentrate, and salad dressing \u2014 are found on the ecommerce platform Lazada at present. Its salads, entrees, and breads are likewise available in the food delivery app Foodpanda.\nMs. Garcia was a banker who left her career to create her private sanctuary. It opened as a business in 1998 after a wedding proposal was held in the garden and word subsequently spread about the place.\nThe enterprise specializes in farm-to-table food and houses a restaurant, bed and breakfast, spa, bakery, and event venue within the property.\nTo meet customer demands, it now also offers Filipino food and catering services.\nSonya\u2019s Garden has evolved into health and wellness, with a spa that keeps guests coming back for more, Ms. Garcia told 大象传媒.\n\u201cWe have a Korean master acupuncturist with a 99% success rate,\u201d she added. \u201cIf you are suffering from different ailments… because of consuming a lot of industrial food, our doctor will be able to help you out.\u201d\nIT\u2019S NOT THE MONEY\n\u201cDon\u2019t do anything for money\u201d is Ms. Garcia\u2019s tip to aspiring and current business owners.\n\u201cEnjoy what you do and take care of your people and their wellbeing,\u201d she said.\nIn line with this goal, Sonya\u2019s Garden provides its staff \u2014 typically locals from the neighboring community \u2013 with interest-free loans to enable them to build their homes.\nA succession plan is also already in place.\n\u201cI want them to run this place the way I would\u2019ve wanted it when I perish from this earth,\u201d Ms. Garcia said. \u201cThat is a legacy I will leave to them.\u201d \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol and Edg Adrian A. Eva", "date_published": "2025-09-18T00:04:18+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-09-17T19:32:19+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sonyas-Garden-1.jpg", "tags": [ "Edg Adrian A. Eva", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Arts & Leisure" ] }, { "id": "/?p=697277", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2025/09/10/697277/f-sionil-jose-heir-talks-on-the-potential-sale-of-solidaridad-bookshop/", "title": "F. Sionil Jos\u00e9 heir talks on the potential sale of Solidaridad Bookshop", "content_html": "SOLIDARIDAD BOOKSHOP, a 60-year-old enterprise founded by the late National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jos\u00e9, is in the midst of a potential buyout. Antonio J. Jos\u00e9, the second-generation owner, talked to 大象传媒 about the bookshop\u2019s history, the management changes he has adopted, and the lack of a third-generation successor to the business.
\nThe family is in talks with an interested buyer of the bookshop, although everything is still under negotiation, Mr. Jos\u00e9 said in a Sept. 3 phone call.
\nThe potential next owner, he said, is a good friend of his father\u2019s and plans to continue operating the bookshop.
\nSolidaridad was established in June 1965 by F. Sionil Jos\u00e9 and his wife, Teresita J. Jos\u00e9, who both dreamed that Filipinos read more often. It was named after La Solidaridad, the bi-weekly Spanish era newspaper published by the Propaganda Movement, which was led by Filipino intellectuals in Europe such as Jose P. Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar.
\nSTATE OF THE BUSINESS
\nThe bookshop was not making money when Mr. Jos\u00e9 took over the reins from his parents about 12 years ago after living overseas.
\u201cWhen I took over, and when they passed away [both in 2022], there were a lot of headaches,\u201d he said in a Nov. 5, 2024 interview. \u201cThat\u2019s how it was.\u201d
\n\u201cWe can pay the bills, but profit-wise? Hardly,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s hard.\u201d
\nMr. Jos\u00e9 introduced a computer system to manage inventory, a task his mother had done manually in the past.
\nHe also maintained a professional relationship with the staff, in contrast with his mother\u2019s personal approach.
\n\u201cI\u2019m used to the American way of running a business,\u201d he said. \u201cI know you\u2019re married, that you have kids… but I\u2019m not going to go further than that, like know what you do on weekends.\u201d
\n\u201cIf you\u2019re too close to your employees, professionalism starts to go away,\u201d he added.
\nAlthough the bookshop does not have a presence on any e-commerce platforms, it has a Facebook page where patrons can inquire and order books online.
\nThe management changes, Mr. Jos\u00e9 told 大象传媒, have led to more stable operations.
\n\u201cMy parents ran it like a small business,\u201d he said last November. \u201cWhat you see downstairs is how it looked like 59 years ago.\u201d
\nPROMOTING FILIPINIANA
\nSolidaridad\u2019s unique selling proposition is its \u201cunmatched\u201d Filipiniana section of 2,795 titles, according to Mr. Jos\u00e9.
\u201cA lot of people come up for the Filipiniana section… We have foreign titles [too] but we hardly have any bestseller,\u201d he said.
\nIn line with its vision, the bookshop also promotes Filipino literature by hosting events like book launches and meetings by Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists (PEN), whose Philippine chapter the elder Mr. Jos\u00e9 founded in 1957.
\nIt likewise does community outreach through book donations to public libraries and schools.
\nMr. Jos\u00e9 was the only sibling who returned to the Philippines to manage Solidaridad and care for his parents. The rest are overseas.
\nNo one in his family \u2014 including his nephews, nieces, and daughters \u2014 is interested in continuing the business.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not getting any younger,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a very hard and sad decision for us to sell it.\u201d \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol
\nRelated videos:
\n1 – https://youtu.be/5aBVsSoopRU?si=PM6uEC5el5GrTAjO
\n2 – https://youtu.be/Z9IQF_WuMDE?si=p51zMal4dTHrFOGb
\n3 – https://youtu.be/TNOEvbHW5U4?si=EuLAgegLTzvu9-al
\n", "content_text": "SOLIDARIDAD BOOKSHOP, a 60-year-old enterprise founded by the late National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jos\u00e9, is in the midst of a potential buyout. Antonio J. Jos\u00e9, the second-generation owner, talked to 大象传媒 about the bookshop\u2019s history, the management changes he has adopted, and the lack of a third-generation successor to the business.\nThe family is in talks with an interested buyer of the bookshop, although everything is still under negotiation, Mr. Jos\u00e9 said in a Sept. 3 phone call.\nThe potential next owner, he said, is a good friend of his father\u2019s and plans to continue operating the bookshop.\nSolidaridad was established in June 1965 by F. Sionil Jos\u00e9 and his wife, Teresita J. Jos\u00e9, who both dreamed that Filipinos read more often. It was named after La Solidaridad, the bi-weekly Spanish era newspaper published by the Propaganda Movement, which was led by Filipino intellectuals in Europe such as Jose P. Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar.\nSTATE OF THE BUSINESS\nThe bookshop was not making money when Mr. Jos\u00e9 took over the reins from his parents about 12 years ago after living overseas.\n\u201cWhen I took over, and when they passed away [both in 2022], there were a lot of headaches,\u201d he said in a Nov. 5, 2024 interview. \u201cThat\u2019s how it was.\u201d\n\u201cWe can pay the bills, but profit-wise? Hardly,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s hard.\u201d\nMr. Jos\u00e9 introduced a computer system to manage inventory, a task his mother had done manually in the past.\nHe also maintained a professional relationship with the staff, in contrast with his mother\u2019s personal approach.\n\u201cI\u2019m used to the American way of running a business,\u201d he said. \u201cI know you\u2019re married, that you have kids… but I\u2019m not going to go further than that, like know what you do on weekends.\u201d\n\u201cIf you\u2019re too close to your employees, professionalism starts to go away,\u201d he added.\nAlthough the bookshop does not have a presence on any e-commerce platforms, it has a Facebook page where patrons can inquire and order books online.\nThe management changes, Mr. Jos\u00e9 told 大象传媒, have led to more stable operations.\n\u201cMy parents ran it like a small business,\u201d he said last November. \u201cWhat you see downstairs is how it looked like 59 years ago.\u201d\nPROMOTING FILIPINIANA\nSolidaridad\u2019s unique selling proposition is its \u201cunmatched\u201d Filipiniana section of 2,795 titles, according to Mr. Jos\u00e9.\n\u201cA lot of people come up for the Filipiniana section… We have foreign titles [too] but we hardly have any bestseller,\u201d he said.\nIn line with its vision, the bookshop also promotes Filipino literature by hosting events like book launches and meetings by Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists (PEN), whose Philippine chapter the elder Mr. Jos\u00e9 founded in 1957.\nIt likewise does community outreach through book donations to public libraries and schools.\nMr. Jos\u00e9 was the only sibling who returned to the Philippines to manage Solidaridad and care for his parents. The rest are overseas.\nNo one in his family \u2014 including his nephews, nieces, and daughters \u2014 is interested in continuing the business.\n\u201cI\u2019m not getting any younger,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a very hard and sad decision for us to sell it.\u201d \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol\nRelated videos: \n1 – https://youtu.be/5aBVsSoopRU?si=PM6uEC5el5GrTAjO\n2 – https://youtu.be/Z9IQF_WuMDE?si=p51zMal4dTHrFOGb\n3 – https://youtu.be/TNOEvbHW5U4?si=EuLAgegLTzvu9-al", "date_published": "2025-09-10T00:09:37+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-09-09T18:30:09+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/F.-Sionil-Jose.jpg", "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=695829", "url": "/special-reports/2025/09/08/695829/ai-adoption-in-philippine-e-commerce-faces-hurdles-despite-consumer-enthusiasm/", "title": "AI adoption in Philippine e-commerce faces hurdles despite consumer enthusiasm", "content_html": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer
\nArtificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the e-commerce landscape in the Philippines, offering new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and personalized shopping experiences.
\nWhile Filipino consumers are quick to embrace AI-powered features, adoption among businesses \u2014 particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) \u2014 remains uneven due to cost, complexity, and infrastructure challenges.
\nA 2025 survey by e-commerce platform Lazada found that sellers across six Southeast Asian (SEA) countries already use an average of four AI tools in their operations. In the Philippines, 76% of sellers are familiar with AI \u2014 well above the regional average of 68%, according to research by Kantar in partnership with Lazada. But 64% of Filipino sellers said AI adoption could be \u201ccostly and time-consuming.\u201d
\nThe study also found that 37% of Filipino merchants fall under the \u201cAI agnostic\u201d category \u2014 those who are cautious, have low trust in the technology and keep a neutral stance toward adoption. Many of these sellers struggle to transition from manual processes to AI-driven systems.
\nElyse P. Juan, creative director at Filipino gift shop Papemelroti, cited the need for better support and clearer communication from e-commerce platforms.
\n\u201cWhen you roll out new features like these, you need to inform us local businesses beforehand,\u201d she said in an Aug. 7 interview. \u201cOur people don\u2019t come from technically trained backgrounds. There\u2019s also a language barrier on the dashboards. There\u2019s so much jargon.\u201d
\nAdmir Masin, a conversational AI expert at global cloud communication platform Infobip, noted that while the Philippines has a strong digital foundation \u2014 high mobile penetration and increasing cloud adoption \u2014 other challenges persist.
\nInfrastructure issues like inconsistent internet connectivity and reliance on legacy systems are real, he said in an e-mailed reply to questions. \u201cBut the bigger barriers tend to be organizational readiness, siloed data and limited awareness of AI\u2019s strategic value.\u201d
\nMr. Masin said industry-specific playbooks and unified omnichannel strategies \u2014 where customers experience seamless service across all touchpoints \u2014 could help scale AI adoption.
\nCONSUMERS LEAD THE WAY
\nWhile businesses remain cautious, Filipino consumers are more open to AI-enhanced shopping. A study by Shopee involving 400 Gen Z participants found that 70% rely on e-commerce platforms as their primary source of product information.
Clariza Yu, Shopee\u2019s head of mall solutions, said 80% of buyers prefer visual content, and 60% made purchases after seeing products promoted by influencers.
\n\u201cInfluencers play a very big role in winning over Filipino consumers,\u201d she said via Zoom. \u201cPeople look for authentic storytelling and a genuine connection.\u201d
\n\u201cFilipinos also have a very aspirational culture \u2014 if they see someone they look up to in TV or on social media promoting a certain product, it becomes more credible for them,\u201d she added.
\nBoth Shopee and Lazada have integrated AI tools to enhance customer engagement and streamline the shopping experience.
\nLazada\u2019s AI curates personalized catalogs based on user preferences, said Pauline DLC Castro, head of user product operations at Lazada Philippines.
\n\u201cImagine a catalog that knows your skincare goals, your favorite brands and even the specific concerns you\u2019re trying to address \u2014 AI does exactly that,\u201d she said in an e-mailed reply to questions.
\nLazada\u2019s generative AI tool, AI Lazzie, helps users find the right products and deals. It also analyzes spending habits to offer tailored vouchers. During Lazada\u2019s 2025 6.6 Super Wow Sale, AI Lazzie\u2019s contribution to sales tripled compared with the 2024 12.12 All-Out Pasko Sale.
\nShopee, meanwhile, reported a 15% improvement in user satisfaction and a 0.5-day reduction in average customer inquiry and case resolution times in 2025 compared with early 2024.
\nMs. Yu also highlighted Shopee\u2019s virtual fitting room feature, which allows users to upload images and try on apparel virtually. \u201cAI has helped buyers feel more informed and confident in their online shopping decisions,\u201d she said.
\nAI presents significant opportunities for MSMEs, which are the backbone of the Philippine economy. A 2023 McKinsey & Co. study found that businesses using AI in sales and marketing could increase revenue by as much as 15% and cut costs by 20%.
\nAI-driven solutions are projected to contribute more than $1 trillion to the Southeast Asian economy by 2030.
\nAI levels the playing field for small businesses, said Arlie Jophen F. Matubis, a digital marketer at education technology firm Techedify. For example, AI can optimize your website to rank higher on Google or generate content at scale for social media marketing.
\nHowever, not all experiences with AI are positive. Ms. Juan of Papemelroti said AI-assisted features like chatbots could be frustrating, especially when dealing with customer complaints or shipping issues.
\n\u201cWe can\u2019t be penalized for a courier\u2019s mistake,\u201d she said. \u201cThe algorithm might flag us, but the delay could be because the parcel wasn\u2019t picked up by the courier.\u201d
\nAs AI becomes more embedded in daily life, concerns about data privacy and ethical use are growing.
\nFilipinos often prioritize convenience over privacy, said Sherwin M. Pelayo, executive director at the Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines (AAP). \u201cWe don\u2019t read those terms and conditions because we just want to be in the bandwagon.\u201d
\nHe cited the importance of ethical guidelines such as data minimization and opt-out options for data collection.
\nSammuel P. Sanclaria, a senior software engineer at Techedify, said tracking technologies like cookies are activated when users visit websites. Ignoring consent popups effectively allows full tracking of user behavior.
\nThese are used for cross-selling and upselling, he said. \u201cPersonally, I only allow necessary tracking data. That\u2019s one way to protect ourselves from data mining.\u201d
\nMr. Pelayo warned that while AI offers convenience, it also poses risks. \u201cWe\u2019re giving out our personal data unknowingly to all these AI engines,\u201d he said.
\nTo address these concerns, the Private Sector Advisory Council for Jobs and Education has presented a national AI upskilling roadmap to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. The roadmap, which seeks to promote digital literacy, assigns implementation responsibilities to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education and the AAP by 2026.
\n\u201cOur staff learned through Lazada University and Shopee University,\u201d Ms. Juan said. \u201cBut if these platforms really want to empower more Filipino businesses, it would be great if they conducted more face-to-face training.\u201d
\nAs AI continues to evolve, bridging the gap between consumer enthusiasm and business adoption will be key to unlocking its full potential in Philippine e-commerce.
\n", "content_text": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer\nArtificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the e-commerce landscape in the Philippines, offering new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and personalized shopping experiences.\nWhile Filipino consumers are quick to embrace AI-powered features, adoption among businesses \u2014 particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) \u2014 remains uneven due to cost, complexity, and infrastructure challenges.\nA 2025 survey by e-commerce platform Lazada found that sellers across six Southeast Asian (SEA) countries already use an average of four AI tools in their operations. In the Philippines, 76% of sellers are familiar with AI \u2014 well above the regional average of 68%, according to research by Kantar in partnership with Lazada. But 64% of Filipino sellers said AI adoption could be \u201ccostly and time-consuming.\u201d\nThe study also found that 37% of Filipino merchants fall under the \u201cAI agnostic\u201d category \u2014 those who are cautious, have low trust in the technology and keep a neutral stance toward adoption. Many of these sellers struggle to transition from manual processes to AI-driven systems.\nElyse P. Juan, creative director at Filipino gift shop Papemelroti, cited the need for better support and clearer communication from e-commerce platforms.\n\u201cWhen you roll out new features like these, you need to inform us local businesses beforehand,\u201d she said in an Aug. 7 interview. \u201cOur people don\u2019t come from technically trained backgrounds. There\u2019s also a language barrier on the dashboards. There\u2019s so much jargon.\u201d\nAdmir Masin, a conversational AI expert at global cloud communication platform Infobip, noted that while the Philippines has a strong digital foundation \u2014 high mobile penetration and increasing cloud adoption \u2014 other challenges persist.\nInfrastructure issues like inconsistent internet connectivity and reliance on legacy systems are real, he said in an e-mailed reply to questions. \u201cBut the bigger barriers tend to be organizational readiness, siloed data and limited awareness of AI\u2019s strategic value.\u201d\nMr. Masin said industry-specific playbooks and unified omnichannel strategies \u2014 where customers experience seamless service across all touchpoints \u2014 could help scale AI adoption.\nCONSUMERS LEAD THE WAY\nWhile businesses remain cautious, Filipino consumers are more open to AI-enhanced shopping. A study by Shopee involving 400 Gen Z participants found that 70% rely on e-commerce platforms as their primary source of product information.\nClariza Yu, Shopee\u2019s head of mall solutions, said 80% of buyers prefer visual content, and 60% made purchases after seeing products promoted by influencers.\n\u201cInfluencers play a very big role in winning over Filipino consumers,\u201d she said via Zoom. \u201cPeople look for authentic storytelling and a genuine connection.\u201d\n\u201cFilipinos also have a very aspirational culture \u2014 if they see someone they look up to in TV or on social media promoting a certain product, it becomes more credible for them,\u201d she added.\nBoth Shopee and Lazada have integrated AI tools to enhance customer engagement and streamline the shopping experience.\nLazada\u2019s AI curates personalized catalogs based on user preferences, said Pauline DLC Castro, head of user product operations at Lazada Philippines.\n\u201cImagine a catalog that knows your skincare goals, your favorite brands and even the specific concerns you\u2019re trying to address \u2014 AI does exactly that,\u201d she said in an e-mailed reply to questions.\nLazada\u2019s generative AI tool, AI Lazzie, helps users find the right products and deals. It also analyzes spending habits to offer tailored vouchers. During Lazada\u2019s 2025 6.6 Super Wow Sale, AI Lazzie\u2019s contribution to sales tripled compared with the 2024 12.12 All-Out Pasko Sale.\nShopee, meanwhile, reported a 15% improvement in user satisfaction and a 0.5-day reduction in average customer inquiry and case resolution times in 2025 compared with early 2024.\nMs. Yu also highlighted Shopee\u2019s virtual fitting room feature, which allows users to upload images and try on apparel virtually. \u201cAI has helped buyers feel more informed and confident in their online shopping decisions,\u201d she said.\nAI presents significant opportunities for MSMEs, which are the backbone of the Philippine economy. A 2023 McKinsey & Co. study found that businesses using AI in sales and marketing could increase revenue by as much as 15% and cut costs by 20%.\nAI-driven solutions are projected to contribute more than $1 trillion to the Southeast Asian economy by 2030.\nAI levels the playing field for small businesses, said Arlie Jophen F. Matubis, a digital marketer at education technology firm Techedify. For example, AI can optimize your website to rank higher on Google or generate content at scale for social media marketing.\nHowever, not all experiences with AI are positive. Ms. Juan of Papemelroti said AI-assisted features like chatbots could be frustrating, especially when dealing with customer complaints or shipping issues.\n\u201cWe can\u2019t be penalized for a courier\u2019s mistake,\u201d she said. \u201cThe algorithm might flag us, but the delay could be because the parcel wasn\u2019t picked up by the courier.\u201d\nAs AI becomes more embedded in daily life, concerns about data privacy and ethical use are growing.\nFilipinos often prioritize convenience over privacy, said Sherwin M. Pelayo, executive director at the Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines (AAP). \u201cWe don\u2019t read those terms and conditions because we just want to be in the bandwagon.\u201d\nHe cited the importance of ethical guidelines such as data minimization and opt-out options for data collection.\nSammuel P. Sanclaria, a senior software engineer at Techedify, said tracking technologies like cookies are activated when users visit websites. Ignoring consent popups effectively allows full tracking of user behavior.\nThese are used for cross-selling and upselling, he said. \u201cPersonally, I only allow necessary tracking data. That\u2019s one way to protect ourselves from data mining.\u201d\nMr. Pelayo warned that while AI offers convenience, it also poses risks. \u201cWe\u2019re giving out our personal data unknowingly to all these AI engines,\u201d he said.\nTo address these concerns, the Private Sector Advisory Council for Jobs and Education has presented a national AI upskilling roadmap to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. The roadmap, which seeks to promote digital literacy, assigns implementation responsibilities to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education and the AAP by 2026.\n\u201cOur staff learned through Lazada University and Shopee University,\u201d Ms. Juan said. \u201cBut if these platforms really want to empower more Filipino businesses, it would be great if they conducted more face-to-face training.\u201d\nAs AI continues to evolve, bridging the gap between consumer enthusiasm and business adoption will be key to unlocking its full potential in Philippine e-commerce.", "date_published": "2025-09-08T00:11:21+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-09-07T14:53:06+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/person-adding-clothes-cart-closeup-online-shopping-campaign.jpg", "tags": [ "BW38", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Special Reports" ], "summary": "Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the e-commerce landscape in the Philippines, offering new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and personalized shopping experiences." }, { "id": "/?p=690679", "url": "/health/2025/08/08/690679/marcos-administrations-health-commitments-face-scrutiny-amid-philhealth-budget-cuts/", "title": "Marcos administration\u2019s health commitments face scrutiny amid PhilHealth budget cuts", "content_html": "While advocates commended President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.\u2019s health-related initiatives in his fourth State of the Nation (SONA), others pointed out the \u201ccontradiction\u201d of these initiatives with the defunding of the national health insurer, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).\u00a0
\nThe initiatives mentioned in the SONA are \u201cexpected to significantly enhance access to essential health services, spanning the full continuum of care from prevention and early diagnosis to treatment and recovery,\u201d said Teodoro B. Padilla, executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), which represents the biopharmaceutical research industry in the country.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cThese reforms represent a significant step forward in the country\u2019s journey toward universal health coverage,\u201d he said in an August 1 email.
\n\u201cThe PHAP recognizes that the government\u2019s increasing investment in health is essential to ensuring that every Filipino receives timely and equitable care.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe President outlined healthcare-related pronouncements on his July 28 address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, including the following:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cWe are happy he was able to soft launch PhilHealth\u2019s YAKAP program (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program),\u201d said Dr. Lydia Ann Labro, medical specialist III of PhilHealth-PRO NCR South.\u00a0
\n\u201cLeaps and bounds yung increases ng benefits sa PhilHealth,\u201d she said on the sidelines of a July 30 event.\u00a0
\nWe cannot celebrate coverage while ignoring the cost of silence, however, according to Dr. Anthony C. Leachon.\u00a0
\nA \u201cstaggering\u201d P60 billion was transferred from PhilHealth, which also has a zero-government subsidy in the proposed 2025 budget, the health reform advocate and past president of the Philippine College of Physicians said.\u00a0
\n\u201cThis decision severely compromises the very backbone of our universal health care strategy,\u201d he sent in a July 29 Viber message. \u201cThese decisions were made without public consultation, and in defiance of the Universal Health Care Act, which mandates that health funds serve only one purpose: healing.\u201d\u00a0
\nRepublic Act Number 11223, known as the Universal Health Care Act, aims to provide equitable access to quality and affordable health-care services, with financial risk protection for all.\u00a0
\nDr. Leachon filed a petition on February 25 challenging the constitutionality of some provisions of the 2025 General Appropriations Act due to its zero allocation for PhilHealth subsidies.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe promise of reducing out-of-pocket costs and healthcare premiums remains unmet, and families continue to shoulder the burden,\u201d he told 大象传媒.\u00a0
\n\u201cA resilient healthcare system isn\u2019t built on seasonal programs\u2014it demands strategic investment, long-term planning, and accountability,\u201d he added.\u00a0
\n\u201cIt\u2019s time we move beyond optics and commit to genuine reform,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\nThe Department of Health was sought for comment on this article. – Patricia B. Mirasol with contributions from Almira Louise S. Martinez\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "While advocates commended President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.\u2019s health-related initiatives in his fourth State of the Nation (SONA), others pointed out the \u201ccontradiction\u201d of these initiatives with the defunding of the national health insurer, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).\u00a0\nThe initiatives mentioned in the SONA are \u201cexpected to significantly enhance access to essential health services, spanning the full continuum of care from prevention and early diagnosis to treatment and recovery,\u201d said Teodoro B. Padilla, executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), which represents the biopharmaceutical research industry in the country.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cThese reforms represent a significant step forward in the country\u2019s journey toward universal health coverage,\u201d he said in an August 1 email.\n\u201cThe PHAP recognizes that the government\u2019s increasing investment in health is essential to ensuring that every Filipino receives timely and equitable care.\u201d\u00a0\nThe President outlined healthcare-related pronouncements on his July 28 address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, including the following:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\nfunding for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, and P1.7 billion for medicines for cancers not covered by PhilHealth\u00a0\n\n\nfree kidney dialysis sessions for the entire year, including the necessary medications, courtesy of PhilHealth; free coverage also for heart attacks, open-heart surgery, and heart valve repair or replacement\u00a0\n\n\nthe ongoing Walang Gutom Program that supports 600,000 nutritionally at-risk households this year\u00a0\n\n\nP1 billion allocation for barangay child development and bulilit centers\u00a0\n\n\nthe 53 Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) centers across 32 provinces that offer free check-ups, x-rays, and lab tests\u00a0\n\n\u201cWe are happy he was able to soft launch PhilHealth\u2019s YAKAP program (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program),\u201d said Dr. Lydia Ann Labro, medical specialist III of PhilHealth-PRO NCR South.\u00a0\n\u201cLeaps and bounds yung increases ng benefits sa PhilHealth,\u201d she said on the sidelines of a July 30 event.\u00a0\nWe cannot celebrate coverage while ignoring the cost of silence, however, according to Dr. Anthony C. Leachon.\u00a0\nA \u201cstaggering\u201d P60 billion was transferred from PhilHealth, which also has a zero-government subsidy in the proposed 2025 budget, the health reform advocate and past president of the Philippine College of Physicians said.\u00a0\n\u201cThis decision severely compromises the very backbone of our universal health care strategy,\u201d he sent in a July 29 Viber message. \u201cThese decisions were made without public consultation, and in defiance of the Universal Health Care Act, which mandates that health funds serve only one purpose: healing.\u201d\u00a0\nRepublic Act Number 11223, known as the Universal Health Care Act, aims to provide equitable access to quality and affordable health-care services, with financial risk protection for all.\u00a0\nDr. Leachon filed a petition on February 25 challenging the constitutionality of some provisions of the 2025 General Appropriations Act due to its zero allocation for PhilHealth subsidies.\u00a0\n\u201cThe promise of reducing out-of-pocket costs and healthcare premiums remains unmet, and families continue to shoulder the burden,\u201d he told 大象传媒.\u00a0\n\u201cA resilient healthcare system isn\u2019t built on seasonal programs\u2014it demands strategic investment, long-term planning, and accountability,\u201d he added.\u00a0\n\u201cIt\u2019s time we move beyond optics and commit to genuine reform,\u201d he said.\u00a0\nThe Department of Health was sought for comment on this article. – Patricia B. Mirasol with contributions from Almira Louise S. Martinez\u00a0", "date_published": "2025-08-08T22:04:54+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-10T22:10:50+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PhilHealth.jpg", "tags": [ "almira louise s. martinez", "benefits", "budget cuts", "Ferdinand \u201cBongbong\u201d R. Marcos Jr.", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "PhilHealth", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=676793", "url": "/health/2025/06/03/676793/mwell-launches-corporate-wellness-programs/", "title": "mWell launches corporate wellness programs", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/mWell-logo-300x169.jpg\"){kind=logo}
mWell, the digital healthcare arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), launched on May 23 Wellness@Work, a suite of customizable programs created to promote a healthier and more productive workforce.\u00a0
The suite provides human resources (HR) stakeholders with a dashboard to manage all aspects of employee wellness in one place.\u00a0
\n“A company is only as strong as the people behind it,” said mWell chairman and MPIC chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.\u00a0\u00a0
\n“That\u2019s why we\u2019re doubling down on employee wellness with mWell\u2014bringing together technology, data, and real expertise to help build a workforce that\u2019s not just productive, but healthy and thriving,\u201d he said in a May 23 statement.\u00a0
\nWellness@Work\u2019s Corporate Scoreboard is a monitoring system that gives HR teams real-time insight into employee participation, health trends, and wellness outcomes. It includes monitoring of the artificial intelligence-powered mWellness Score, which tracks physical activity, as well as the Mind Health Score, which helps measure emotional well-being and stress levels.\u00a0
\nEmployees, meanwhile, gain access to a personalized wellness experience, which includes 24/7 doctor consultations, curated fitness and nutrition programs, and interactive team challenges.\u00a0\u00a0
\nUnhealthy employees are twice as likely to disengage, leading to lower productivity and increased turnover. Hospitalized employees in the Philippines, on average, can incur medical costs of about \u20b115,000 per month, based on private hospital estimates. Productivity losses from absenteeism, presenteeism, and decreased engagement cost employers an average of $1,685 per employee per annum, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u00a0
\nHealth is the company\u2019s biggest investment, said mWell president and CEO and MPIC chief finance, risk, and sustainability officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla.\u00a0
\n\u201cFor companies, big or small, investing in employees\u2019 health is important to enable our people to live healthier, happier, and longer,\u201d she said in the same statement. \u201cWe are here to help companies increase overall employee happiness and morale, lessen absenteeism, improve productivity, and enhance talent management.\u201d\u00a0
\n“Having a healthy workforce will deliver savings on corporate wellness expenses,\u201d she added.\u00a0
\nIn the offing too are lifestyle programs, in collaboration with Lifestyle Medical Group Manila, with customized nutrition plans and chronic disease management.\u00a0
\n\u201cLifestyleMedMNL\u2019s vision is to provide prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases at both individual and community levels, and we have found the right partner for this,\u201d its president Dr. Nicole Anne \u201cAika\u201d Buenavista said. – Patricia B. Mirasol
\nmWell is the digital health arm of Metro Pacific Health, a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.\u00a0
\nHastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in 大象传媒 through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "mWell, the digital healthcare arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), launched on May 23 Wellness@Work, a suite of customizable programs created to promote a healthier and more productive workforce.\u00a0\nThe suite provides human resources (HR) stakeholders with a dashboard to manage all aspects of employee wellness in one place.\u00a0\n“A company is only as strong as the people behind it,” said mWell chairman and MPIC chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.\u00a0\u00a0\n“That\u2019s why we\u2019re doubling down on employee wellness with mWell\u2014bringing together technology, data, and real expertise to help build a workforce that\u2019s not just productive, but healthy and thriving,\u201d he said in a May 23 statement.\u00a0\nWellness@Work\u2019s Corporate Scoreboard is a monitoring system that gives HR teams real-time insight into employee participation, health trends, and wellness outcomes. It includes monitoring of the artificial intelligence-powered mWellness Score, which tracks physical activity, as well as the Mind Health Score, which helps measure emotional well-being and stress levels.\u00a0\nEmployees, meanwhile, gain access to a personalized wellness experience, which includes 24/7 doctor consultations, curated fitness and nutrition programs, and interactive team challenges.\u00a0\u00a0\nUnhealthy employees are twice as likely to disengage, leading to lower productivity and increased turnover. Hospitalized employees in the Philippines, on average, can incur medical costs of about \u20b115,000 per month, based on private hospital estimates. Productivity losses from absenteeism, presenteeism, and decreased engagement cost employers an average of $1,685 per employee per annum, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u00a0\nHealth is the company\u2019s biggest investment, said mWell president and CEO and MPIC chief finance, risk, and sustainability officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla.\u00a0\n\u201cFor companies, big or small, investing in employees\u2019 health is important to enable our people to live healthier, happier, and longer,\u201d she said in the same statement. \u201cWe are here to help companies increase overall employee happiness and morale, lessen absenteeism, improve productivity, and enhance talent management.\u201d\u00a0\n“Having a healthy workforce will deliver savings on corporate wellness expenses,\u201d she added.\u00a0\nIn the offing too are lifestyle programs, in collaboration with Lifestyle Medical Group Manila, with customized nutrition plans and chronic disease management.\u00a0\n\u201cLifestyleMedMNL\u2019s vision is to provide prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases at both individual and community levels, and we have found the right partner for this,\u201d its president Dr. Nicole Anne \u201cAika\u201d Buenavista said. – Patricia B. Mirasol\nmWell is the digital health arm of Metro Pacific Health, a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.\u00a0\nHastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in 大象传媒 through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.\u00a0", "date_published": "2025-06-03T15:30:57+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-06-03T15:30:57+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Wellness-@-Work-corporate-dashboard-2.jpg", "tags": [ "companies", "employees", "health and wellness", "mWell", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=667739", "url": "/video/2025/04/23/667739/the-best-way-to-detect-encephalitis/", "title": "The best way to detect encephalitis", "content_html": "\n“Encephalitis is a neurological condition that presents with symptoms similar to many other illnesses. It is often misdiagnosed as conditions like meningitis or depression because patients have symptoms such as fever and changes in mental status.
\nDr. Ferron F. Ocampo, a neurologist, talks about the most accurate test for its detection.
\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol
\nVideo editing by Jayson Mari\u00f1as\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "“Encephalitis is a neurological condition that presents with symptoms similar to many other illnesses. It is often misdiagnosed as conditions like meningitis or depression because patients have symptoms such as fever and changes in mental status.\nDr. Ferron F. Ocampo, a neurologist, talks about the most accurate test for its detection.\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol\nVideo editing by Jayson Mari\u00f1as\u00a0", "date_published": "2025-04-23T16:31:40+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-24T13:00:01+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/video-9.jpg", "tags": [ "brain health", "encephalitis", "health", "Jayson Mari\u00f1as", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Patricia Mirasol", "Video" ] }, { "id": "/?p=658556", "url": "/technology/2025/02/20/658556/report-misleading-and-deepfake-posts-dict-advises/", "title": "Report misleading and deepfake posts, DICT advises", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nThe Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) advises netizens to report misleading social media posts, even as posts manufactured by deep fake technology proliferate in such platforms.\u00a0
\nDeepfake technology is a type of artificial intelligence that creates fake images, videos, or audio recordings through algorithms that stitch together such multimedia materials.\u00a0
\n“Let\u2019s look out for one another and stay vigilant,” said Ramon S. Ang, chairman of San Miguel Corporation, in a February 17 post on his Facebook wall.\u00a0
\nAccording to Mr. Ang, a fraudulent sponsored post featuring his interview with broadcast journalist Anthony T. Taberna, Jr. has recently been making rounds.
\n\n\u201cScammers have used deepfake technology to alter our conversation, making it appear that I am endorsing an investment opportunity,\u201d the post read.\u00a0
\n\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating how easily these fake videos spread, deceiving people and taking their hard-earned money.\u201d\u00a0
\nFacebook has not responded to 大象传媒\u2019s emailed query about deepfake content on its platform as of press time.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nResponsibility of social media platforms\u00a0
\nEven government officials are not exempt from deepfake-generated posts, according to Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, DICT undersecretary for infostructure management, cybersecurity, and upskilling.\u00a0
\nThere\u2019s a deepfake post of him selling modems, Mr. Dy told 大象传媒 in a February 19 text.\u00a0
\nThe hearings at the Lower House by the tri-com, Mr. Dy said, \u201ctook in the task to hard questions about social media platforms\u2019 responsibility to police posts.\u201d \u00a0
\nDuring a February 18 investigation into online disinformation at the House of Representatives (HoR), Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace S. Barbers revealed that a committee is evaluating a proposal to mandate social media companies to obtain a franchise to operate, aiming to curb the spread of disinformation.
\n\u201cThere needs to be regulation,\u201d Mr. Barbers said in the vernacular. \u201cThere should be a policy for our social media platforms and actors because they shouldn\u2019t be allowed to use it to spread fake news or baseless statements.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe DICT, Mr. Dy said, has partnered with platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to promote verified accounts, or accounts that have been verified as authentic by the platforms.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe also have a working relationship with fact checkers to empower them,\u201d he said in the same February 19 text. \u201cYung nga lang, these solutions usually tend to act on sensational deepfake posts.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nRecognizing Deepfakes\u00a0
\nOn a February 4 House hearing, cybersecurity analyst Jan Marcelo \u201cMarco\u201d S. Reyes of the DICTs Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said the agency has a tool that can help law enforcement agencies detect deepfake videos.\u00a0
\nThe CICC has acquired a tool called Aletheia Deepfake Agent to detect deepfake videos, Mr. Reyes told 大象传媒 in a February 20 Viber message.\u00a0\u00a0
\nOnce activated on a Windows computer, it automatically analyzes any video played on the screen\u2014whether from Facebook, YouTube, or even Zoom. The software can flag potential deepfakes and notify the user within half a minute.\u00a0
\n\u201cRight now, CICC has secured several licenses and is focusing on empowering online communities with large followings to help verify suspicious content,\u201d Mr. Reyes said.\u00a0
\n\u201cIf someone comes across a possible deepfake, they can share it with these communities for quick validation,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\nThe CICC is looking into broader deployment, he added.\u00a0
\nThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology\u2019s media lab, via its Detect DeepFakes campaign, offers tips on how to better spot a deepfake:\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cWe can report [such posts] to Facebook and Facebook takes them down, but that can take weeks,\u201d Mr. Dy said. \u00a0
\n\u201cWe can also report these cases to our hotline 1326. We collate these reports and act on them,” he added.
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nThe Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) advises netizens to report misleading social media posts, even as posts manufactured by deep fake technology proliferate in such platforms.\u00a0\nDeepfake technology is a type of artificial intelligence that creates fake images, videos, or audio recordings through algorithms that stitch together such multimedia materials.\u00a0\n“Let\u2019s look out for one another and stay vigilant,” said Ramon S. Ang, chairman of San Miguel Corporation, in a February 17 post on his Facebook wall.\u00a0\nAccording to Mr. Ang, a fraudulent sponsored post featuring his interview with broadcast journalist Anthony T. Taberna, Jr. has recently been making rounds.\n\n\u201cScammers have used deepfake technology to alter our conversation, making it appear that I am endorsing an investment opportunity,\u201d the post read.\u00a0\n\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating how easily these fake videos spread, deceiving people and taking their hard-earned money.\u201d\u00a0\nFacebook has not responded to 大象传媒\u2019s emailed query about deepfake content on its platform as of press time.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nResponsibility of social media platforms\u00a0\nEven government officials are not exempt from deepfake-generated posts, according to Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, DICT undersecretary for infostructure management, cybersecurity, and upskilling.\u00a0\nThere\u2019s a deepfake post of him selling modems, Mr. Dy told 大象传媒 in a February 19 text.\u00a0\nThe hearings at the Lower House by the tri-com, Mr. Dy said, \u201ctook in the task to hard questions about social media platforms\u2019 responsibility to police posts.\u201d \u00a0\nDuring a February 18 investigation into online disinformation at the House of Representatives (HoR), Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace S. Barbers revealed that a committee is evaluating a proposal to mandate social media companies to obtain a franchise to operate, aiming to curb the spread of disinformation.\n\u201cThere needs to be regulation,\u201d Mr. Barbers said in the vernacular. \u201cThere should be a policy for our social media platforms and actors because they shouldn\u2019t be allowed to use it to spread fake news or baseless statements.\u201d\u00a0\nThe DICT, Mr. Dy said, has partnered with platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to promote verified accounts, or accounts that have been verified as authentic by the platforms.\u00a0\n\u201cWe also have a working relationship with fact checkers to empower them,\u201d he said in the same February 19 text. \u201cYung nga lang, these solutions usually tend to act on sensational deepfake posts.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\nRecognizing Deepfakes\u00a0\nOn a February 4 House hearing, cybersecurity analyst Jan Marcelo \u201cMarco\u201d S. Reyes of the DICTs Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said the agency has a tool that can help law enforcement agencies detect deepfake videos.\u00a0\nThe CICC has acquired a tool called Aletheia Deepfake Agent to detect deepfake videos, Mr. Reyes told 大象传媒 in a February 20 Viber message.\u00a0\u00a0\nOnce activated on a Windows computer, it automatically analyzes any video played on the screen\u2014whether from Facebook, YouTube, or even Zoom. The software can flag potential deepfakes and notify the user within half a minute.\u00a0\n\u201cRight now, CICC has secured several licenses and is focusing on empowering online communities with large followings to help verify suspicious content,\u201d Mr. Reyes said.\u00a0\n\u201cIf someone comes across a possible deepfake, they can share it with these communities for quick validation,\u201d he said.\u00a0\nThe CICC is looking into broader deployment, he added.\u00a0\nThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology\u2019s media lab, via its Detect DeepFakes campaign, offers tips on how to better spot a deepfake:\u00a0\u00a0\n\nPay attention to the face. High-end Deepfake manipulations are almost always facial transformations.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\nPay attention to the cheeks and forehead.\u00a0 Deepfakes may be incongruent on some dimensions.\u00a0\n\n\nPay attention to the eyes and eyebrows. Deepfakes may fail to fully represent the natural physics of a scene.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\nPay attention to the glasses. Deepfakes may fail to fully represent the natural physics of lighting.\u00a0\n\n\nPay attention to the facial hair or lack thereof. Deepfakes may fail to make facial hair transformations fully natural.\u00a0\n\n\nPay attention to facial moles.\u00a0 Does the mole look real?\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\nPay attention to blinking. Does the person blink enough or too much?\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\nPay attention to the lip movements. Some deepfakes are based on lip syncing.\n\n\u201cWe can report [such posts] to Facebook and Facebook takes them down, but that can take weeks,\u201d Mr. Dy said. \u00a0\n\u201cWe can also report these cases to our hotline 1326. We collate these reports and act on them,” he added.", "date_published": "2025-02-20T14:53:13+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-11T14:54:08+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/fakenews-misinformation.jpg", "tags": [ "deepfake", "DICT", "Facebook", "fake-news", "misinformation", "misleading", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Ramon S. Ang", "social media", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "/?p=654459", "url": "/the-nation/2025/02/20/654459/filipinos-advised-to-apply-for-visas-early-be-alert-against-visa-frauds/", "title": "Filipinos advised to apply for visas early, be alert against visa frauds", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nFilipinos are advised to apply for visas early to avoid delays even as they\u2019re cautioned against visa scams that include the issuance of fake appointment letters or the promise to influence visa decisions.\u00a0
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bernard-Vijaykumar-Head-\u2013-North-Asia-Philippines-VFS-Global-2-Large-300x200.jpeg\")
Selling appointments is one of the top visa fraud scams, according to Bernard Vijaykumar, head of North Asia & Philippines of VFS Global, a company that helps governments and diplomatic missions with visa, passport, and consular services.\u00a0
\nVisa appointments, he said, are free. VFS Global, moreover, is neither involved in job placement nor immigration services.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cDo not fall for VFS Global dupes promising [such services],\u201d he said in a February 12 media event. \u201cWe will not ask applicants to deposit money to any accounts.\u201d\u00a0
\nVisa applications in the Philippines in 2024 rose 3% as compared to 2023, Mr. Vijaykumar also said at the event.\u00a0\u00a0
\nThere was likewise a 38% growth in 2024 versus 2019.\u00a0
\nThe most popular travel destinations observed in the Philippines are \u2013 in alphabetical order – Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and the U.K.\u00a0
\nVFS Global offered tips to avoid visa-related frauds:\u00a0\u00a0
\nIn addition, travelers are reminded to review their visa applications to avoid these common mistakes:\u00a0
\nPeak travel seasons can cause delays, which is why it\u2019s advisable to apply early, Mr. Vijaykumar said.\u00a0
\n\u201cWaiting until the last moment not only increases the risk of delays but also exposes applicants to fraudulent entities seeking to exploit their urgency,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nFilipinos are advised to apply for visas early to avoid delays even as they\u2019re cautioned against visa scams that include the issuance of fake appointment letters or the promise to influence visa decisions.\u00a0\nBernard Vijaykumar, Head \u2013 North Asia & Philippines, VFS Global\nSelling appointments is one of the top visa fraud scams, according to Bernard Vijaykumar, head of North Asia & Philippines of VFS Global, a company that helps governments and diplomatic missions with visa, passport, and consular services.\u00a0\nVisa appointments, he said, are free. VFS Global, moreover, is neither involved in job placement nor immigration services.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cDo not fall for VFS Global dupes promising [such services],\u201d he said in a February 12 media event. \u201cWe will not ask applicants to deposit money to any accounts.\u201d\u00a0\nVisa applications in the Philippines in 2024 rose 3% as compared to 2023, Mr. Vijaykumar also said at the event.\u00a0\u00a0\nThere was likewise a 38% growth in 2024 versus 2019.\u00a0\nThe most popular travel destinations observed in the Philippines are \u2013 in alphabetical order – Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and the U.K.\u00a0\nVFS Global offered tips to avoid visa-related frauds:\u00a0\u00a0\n\n Know that you can apply early – Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days before the travel date. For a Schengen visa, one can apply up to 6 months prior to the date of travel.\n\n\n Know that visa appointments are free – There could be a nominal service fee to prepay for select countries.\n\n\n Know that VFS Global has no role or influence on the decision of the visa application – The decision on visa applications, the visa tenure, and the timelines to process them lie in the hands of the concerned embassies or consulates.\u00a0\n\n\nKnow that VFS Global does not work in association with any third-party entities – Beware of scammers who claim to be associated with, or pose, as VFS Global and guarantee appointments or positive visa decision\n\n\n Know that VFS Global is neither involved in job placement nor immigration-related services. – Be cautious of scammers offering spurious job or immigration opportunities in exchange for money.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nIn addition, travelers are reminded to review their visa applications to avoid these common mistakes:\u00a0\n\n Information mismatch – The details on the application forms, such as name, passport number, and date of birth, must match the official documents.\u00a0\n\n\n Incorrect photo format \u2013 Check the photo guidelines specific to one\u2019s target destination.\n\n\n Incomplete documentation – Refer to the checklist for one\u2019s target destination.\n\n\n Unauthenticated bank statements – For certain destinations, applicants should ensure their bank statements are updated and authenticated as required. While most travelers know they need to present bank statements, failing to have these statements authenticated remains a common mistake.\n\nPeak travel seasons can cause delays, which is why it\u2019s advisable to apply early, Mr. Vijaykumar said.\u00a0\n\u201cWaiting until the last moment not only increases the risk of delays but also exposes applicants to fraudulent entities seeking to exploit their urgency,\u201d he said.\u00a0", "date_published": "2025-02-20T11:30:23+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-19T22:11:20+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/immigration-8579109_1280.jpg", "tags": [ "filipinos", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "VFS global", "visas", "The Nation", "Travel & Tourism" ] }, { "id": "/?p=654463", "url": "/health/2025/02/19/654463/dengue-vaccines-safe-doctors-say/", "title": "Dengue vaccines safe, doctors say", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/E.N.D.-Dengue-Launch-300x226.jpg\")
Dengue vaccines are safe, and they are one way of combatting the viral infection spread by mosquitoes, according to doctors at the February 18 launch of Empowering Networks to Defeat (E.N.D.) Dengue coalition.\u00a0
\nE.N.D. Dengue, founded by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), is the largest coalition of doctors dedicated to combating dengue. It aims to strengthen public awareness, prevention, and response efforts across the country. \u00a0
\nThat the vaccine is \u201dnakakamatay (can kill) is the number one misinformation,\u201d said Dr. Mildred Manalac-Mariano, secretary general of the PMA, at the launch.\u00a0
\nIn a letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. dated February 12, PMA \u201curges the government to grant access to the new-generation dengue vaccines and allow Filipinos the right to protect themselves from this dreadful the disease.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cWith recent advances in vaccine technology,\u201d the letter read, \u201cthere are new generation dengue vaccines in the market or in Phase 3 clinical trial which showed promise in terms of vaccine effectiveness and safety.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
\n“Sa sampung taon na pag-aaral namin ng Qdenga, wala po kaming nakitang masama (In the ten years we\u2019ve studied Qdenga, we have yet to see any ill effects from it),\u201d said Dr. Lulu C. Bravo, head of the vaccine study group of the National Institutes of Health – University of the Philippines Manila.\u00a0
\nQdenga is the biopharamceutical company Takeda\u2019s dengue vaccine. It is undergoing approval with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.\u00a0
\n\u201cPuwede pong mas mahina ang efficacy doon sa mga hindi pa nagkakaroon ng dengue (The vaccine could have a lower efficacy for those who havent\u2019 had dengue yet),\u201d she said at the event.\u00a0
\n\u201cSa bakuna, ang importante hindi kayo ma-ospital at hindi kayo mamatay (When it comes to vaccines, what\u2019s important is that you don\u2019t get hospitalized and you don\u2019t die),\u201d she said, adding that no vaccine can give a 100% assurance that an individual will not fall ill from a disease.\u00a0
\nThe Department of Health (DoH), in a February 17 statement, says it sees a concerning rise in the number of dengue cases in nine local government units, including Quezon City.\u00a0
\nThe DoH uses the 5S strategy to prevent dengue:\u00a0\u00a0
\nIt reminds the public to practice proper hygiene and self-protection against W.I.L.D diseases (Water and food-borne diseases, Influenza-like illnesses, Leptospirosis, and Dengue) as the country experiences increased rainfall and thunderstorms due to the Shear Line, Intertropical Convergence Zone, and Easterlies increasing the risk of weather-induced diseases.\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nphoto by Patricia B. Mirasol\nDengue vaccines are safe, and they are one way of combatting the viral infection spread by mosquitoes, according to doctors at the February 18 launch of Empowering Networks to Defeat (E.N.D.) Dengue coalition.\u00a0\nE.N.D. Dengue, founded by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), is the largest coalition of doctors dedicated to combating dengue. It aims to strengthen public awareness, prevention, and response efforts across the country. \u00a0\nThat the vaccine is \u201dnakakamatay (can kill) is the number one misinformation,\u201d said Dr. Mildred Manalac-Mariano, secretary general of the PMA, at the launch.\u00a0\nIn a letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. dated February 12, PMA \u201curges the government to grant access to the new-generation dengue vaccines and allow Filipinos the right to protect themselves from this dreadful the disease.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cWith recent advances in vaccine technology,\u201d the letter read, \u201cthere are new generation dengue vaccines in the market or in Phase 3 clinical trial which showed promise in terms of vaccine effectiveness and safety.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n“Sa sampung taon na pag-aaral namin ng Qdenga, wala po kaming nakitang masama (In the ten years we\u2019ve studied Qdenga, we have yet to see any ill effects from it),\u201d said Dr. Lulu C. Bravo, head of the vaccine study group of the National Institutes of Health – University of the Philippines Manila.\u00a0\nQdenga is the biopharamceutical company Takeda\u2019s dengue vaccine. It is undergoing approval with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.\u00a0\n\u201cPuwede pong mas mahina ang efficacy doon sa mga hindi pa nagkakaroon ng dengue (The vaccine could have a lower efficacy for those who havent\u2019 had dengue yet),\u201d she said at the event.\u00a0\n\u201cSa bakuna, ang importante hindi kayo ma-ospital at hindi kayo mamatay (When it comes to vaccines, what\u2019s important is that you don\u2019t get hospitalized and you don\u2019t die),\u201d she said, adding that no vaccine can give a 100% assurance that an individual will not fall ill from a disease.\u00a0\nThe Department of Health (DoH), in a February 17 statement, says it sees a concerning rise in the number of dengue cases in nine local government units, including Quezon City.\u00a0\nThe DoH uses the 5S strategy to prevent dengue:\u00a0\u00a0\n\nsearch and destroy mosquito breeding sites;\u00a0\n\n\nSelf-protection measures (such as the use of insect repellents);\u00a0\n\n\nSeek early consultation\u00a0\n\n\nSupport fogging, and\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\nSustain hydration.\u00a0\n\nIt reminds the public to practice proper hygiene and self-protection against W.I.L.D diseases (Water and food-borne diseases, Influenza-like illnesses, Leptospirosis, and Dengue) as the country experiences increased rainfall and thunderstorms due to the Shear Line, Intertropical Convergence Zone, and Easterlies increasing the risk of weather-induced diseases.\u00a0", "date_published": "2025-02-19T22:18:46+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-19T22:18:46+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Dengue-mosquito.jpg", "tags": [ "Dengue", "doctors", "mpowering Networks to Defeat dengue coalition", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Philippines", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=656306", "url": "/health/2025/02/14/656306/takeda-otsuka-solar-sign-mou-to-raise-dengue-awareness-in-the-philippines/", "title": "Takeda, Otsuka-Solar sign MoU to raise dengue awareness in the Philippines", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nTakeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. and Otsuka-Solar Philippines, Inc., with the support of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, inked on February 6 a memorandum of understanding to raise community-based awareness on dengue.\u00a0
\nThe Japan-backed health alliance aims to empower communities in the Philippines with the knowledge and resources needed to improve health-promoting behaviors.\u00a0
\nDengue cases from Jan. 1 to Nov. 16, 2024 reached 340,860 nationwide, or 81% higher than the 188,574 cases logged for the same period in 2023, according to the health department.\u00a0
\nDengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Urbanization (especially unplanned), is associated with dengue transmission through multiple social and environmental factors, including population density, human mobility, access to reliable water sources, and water storage practice.\u00a0
\n\u201cWith the Japanese Embassy\u2019s support, Otsuka-Solar’s expertise in hydration and wellness, and Takeda’s leadership in pharmaceutical innovation, we can empower communities through open discussions about health, which is essential in shaping better healthcare practices and disease prevention strategies,\u201d said Loreann E. Villanueva, country manager of Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe campaign is initially targeting 10 communities, she said.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll make the effort to understand what some of the causes are that\u2019s driving the high incidence of dengue in their communities,\u201d she told 大象传媒 on the sidelines of the event. \u201cWe are going to really find a way to get insights on the communities on what the gaps are, and that\u2019s how were going to design the initiatives accordingly.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cThats how we can avoid deaths and achieve the W.H.O. [World Health Organization]\u2019s goal of zero dengue deaths by 2030,\u201d she added.\u00a0
\nThe highest case fatality rates of dengue in the country are observed among those 9 years old and below, as well as those 60 years old and above, said Dr. Enrique A. Tayag, a public health advocate and founding member of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination.\u00a0\u00a0
\nThe challenges are multifold – from the lack of granular data to the different protocols for dengue management, he said at the Feb. 6 event.\u00a0
\nThe integration of routine vector surveillance is likewise a challenge, he said.\u00a0
\n\u201cEveryone does their own thing. They do it now, then they forget it the next season…,\u201d he said. \u201cDengue will win if we do that. [Efforts] should be sustained. Hindi puwedeng ningas kugon lang (Our diligence shouldn\u2019t just be short-lived).\u201d\u00a0
\nThe Philippine health department cannot do this alone, Dr. Tayag told the event audience.\u00a0
\n\u201cThis partnership can be a model for future collaboration among many entities,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nTakeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. and Otsuka-Solar Philippines, Inc., with the support of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, inked on February 6 a memorandum of understanding to raise community-based awareness on dengue.\u00a0\nThe Japan-backed health alliance aims to empower communities in the Philippines with the knowledge and resources needed to improve health-promoting behaviors.\u00a0\nDengue cases from Jan. 1 to Nov. 16, 2024 reached 340,860 nationwide, or 81% higher than the 188,574 cases logged for the same period in 2023, according to the health department.\u00a0\nDengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Urbanization (especially unplanned), is associated with dengue transmission through multiple social and environmental factors, including population density, human mobility, access to reliable water sources, and water storage practice.\u00a0\n\u201cWith the Japanese Embassy\u2019s support, Otsuka-Solar’s expertise in hydration and wellness, and Takeda’s leadership in pharmaceutical innovation, we can empower communities through open discussions about health, which is essential in shaping better healthcare practices and disease prevention strategies,\u201d said Loreann E. Villanueva, country manager of Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc.\u00a0\n\u201cThe campaign is initially targeting 10 communities, she said.\u00a0\n\u201cWe\u2019ll make the effort to understand what some of the causes are that\u2019s driving the high incidence of dengue in their communities,\u201d she told 大象传媒 on the sidelines of the event. \u201cWe are going to really find a way to get insights on the communities on what the gaps are, and that\u2019s how were going to design the initiatives accordingly.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cThats how we can avoid deaths and achieve the W.H.O. [World Health Organization]\u2019s goal of zero dengue deaths by 2030,\u201d she added.\u00a0\nThe highest case fatality rates of dengue in the country are observed among those 9 years old and below, as well as those 60 years old and above, said Dr. Enrique A. Tayag, a public health advocate and founding member of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe challenges are multifold – from the lack of granular data to the different protocols for dengue management, he said at the Feb. 6 event.\u00a0\nThe integration of routine vector surveillance is likewise a challenge, he said.\u00a0\n\u201cEveryone does their own thing. They do it now, then they forget it the next season…,\u201d he said. \u201cDengue will win if we do that. [Efforts] should be sustained. Hindi puwedeng ningas kugon lang (Our diligence shouldn\u2019t just be short-lived).\u201d\u00a0\nThe Philippine health department cannot do this alone, Dr. Tayag told the event audience.\u00a0\n\u201cThis partnership can be a model for future collaboration among many entities,\u201d he said.\u00a0", "date_published": "2025-02-14T13:09:45+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-28T13:12:04+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Japanese-Alliance-Group-Photo-2.jpg", "tags": [ "Dengue", "mou", "otsuka=solar", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Takeda", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=653090", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2025/02/14/653090/corporate-wellness-programs-can-help-employees-hearts/", "title": "Corporate wellness programs can help employees\u2019 hearts", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nBy Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer
\nHEART DISEASE is a leading cause of death in the Philippines, with risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor diet, and stress contributing significantly to its prevalence. Since employees spend at least a third of their weekdays at work, corporate wellness programs \u2014 which typically include health screenings, stress management, and fitness challenges \u2014 have the potential to enhance the heart health of Filipino workers.
\nIt\u2019s part of the healthy settings approach, said Sean Paolo Ohrelle B. Aquino, medical officer III of the Department of Health\u2019s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.
\n\u201cFrom the school setting to the workplace setting to the community setting, what we want to target sana is, kung saan (is where) people spend most of their time like in schools, iyung mga bata dun (the children there) will be provided services.\u201d
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Infographic-Tips-for-a-Healthy-Heart-Manage-Your-Cholesterol-Today.png\")
Wellness initiatives like regular blood pressure readings can likewise be integrated in occupational health, he said during a Jan. 17 Zoom call.
\u201cThe Health department doesn\u2019t work in a silo,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need close collaborations with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment for this whole-of-society approach we\u2019re talking about,\u201d he said.
\nData from a United Nations joint mission in 2018 found that non-communicable diseases (medical conditions that are not caused by infections and are not contagious) cost the Philippines P756.5 billion per year. This figure represents 4.8% of the gross domestic product in 2017.
\n\u201cHeart diseases are captured under the broader umbrella of non-communicable diseases,\u201d Dr. Aquino added. \u201cThere is no separate data for heart diseases alone.\u201d
\n\u2018HEALTHIER U\u2019
\nAmong the businesses with regular employee health programs is Unilever Philippines, Inc.
\u201cWe have about 20 company policies and programs in a year that support employee wellness,\u201d its head of human resources, Geeta Royyuru, said in a Jan. 10 interview.
\nIncluded in the initiatives of the consumer goods multinational company is a 24/7 employee assistance program with counselors for both employees and their dependents, Ms. Royyuru said. Facilities like gyms, nap rooms, and daycare services are also available for all staff.
\nIt also has a voluntary program called \u201cHealthier U\u201d where employees take tests and use screening tools which the company\u2019s medical team analyzes for associated risks. Employees are tagged as Red (those with chronic diseases or high-risk factors), Amber (those at risk of chronic diseases with a few identified high-risk factors), or Green (those with zero to minimal high-risk factors), with the aim of moving more of those tagged Red and Amber to Green through follow-up check-ups and recommendations.
\nFrom 2023 to 2024 there was a 33% increase in Healthier U enrollees in the Philippines. The company told 大象传媒 that 8% of those with cardiovascular-related chronic diseases showed an improvement in their blood pressure.
\nLemuel B. Lucas, a customer operations business partner at the company, said \u201cHealthier U\u201d was an eye-opener.
\n\u201cBecause of my high cholesterol levels, I was advised to consider lifestyle changes and prompted to seek the help of a nutritionist…,\u201d he told 大象传媒 via e-mail on Jan. 28. \u201cApart from losing 45 lbs., I\u2019ve also brought down my cholesterol levels and will even be running my first marathon in February!\u201d
\nTo promote employee health, there are also changes being made in the cafeterias, Ms. Royyuru told 大象传媒.
\n\u201cWe continuously audit the food that\u2019s served in all our canteen spaces across our facilities,\u201d she said. \u201cThis has led to the introduction of simple things, like less oily food, and the introduction of more veggies and varieties of fish rather than just meat.
\n\u201cWe work with our union and employee representatives in food tasting and make sure there is a habit-building journey, and that it doesn\u2019t feel forced,\u201d she added.
\n\u2018GCLUBS\u2019
\nGlobe Telecom, Inc., meanwhile, has a holistic approach to wellness, according to its vice-president for people experience Nicolette S. Bambao.
\u201cWe make sure to fulfill the four pillars: physical, socio-emotional, financial, and purpose,\u201d she said.
\nApart from programs that support each of the pillars, the telecommunications provider also has a myChoice program, which allows employees to customize their benefits according to their needs. Among the options for 2025 are wearables, vouchers for medicines and vitamins, and spa packages.
\nIn 2024, the company also expanded its annual physical examination by adding screenings for cardiovascular, kidney, colon, and hypertension-related diseases, and diabetes.
\n\u201cGlobe promotes wellness through similar interests for ka-Globes to gather, experience, and share in non-work-related clubs,\u201d Ms. Bambao said in a Jan. 27 e-mail to 大象传媒.
\nThe majority of the \u201cGClubs,\u201d as they are called, are sports-related: \u201cWe have competitions in basketball, volleyball, football, badminton, golf, and dance within and outside Globe.\u201d
\nIMPACTFUL EDUCATION
\nThe Philippine Statistics Authority reports that the top three causes of death in the country from January to April 2024 were ischemic heart diseases, neoplasms, and cerebrovascular diseases. These were also the leading causes of death in the same period in 2023.
Ischemic heart diseases (which happen when the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked) accounted for 20.2% of the total deaths nationwide.
\nWhile age, gender, and family history are risk factors that are beyond people\u2019s control, sleep, diet, and physical activity are among the factors that are controllable.
\nRegular exercise, healthy eating, and routine health checks can reduce the risk of heart disease, said Rodney M. Jimenez, a cardiologist and president of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA).
\nBut according to him, the number one component in a workplace wellness program that needs to be present to keep employees\u2019 hearts healthy is \u201cimpactful education.\u201d
\n\u201cNumber one is education, number two is screening… how can you identify people who are at high risk if you do not screen them, interview them, and then check their cholesterol level?\u201d Dr. Jimenez asked in a Zoom interview on Jan. 9.
\nDespite its reputation, cholesterol isn\u2019t all bad. Cholesterol is a substance that the body needs to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL or the \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol, and HDL, called the \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol. Too much of the bad kind, or not enough of the good kind, can eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke.
\nCholesterol levels are one of the controllable factors.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a certain cholesterol level for each risk factor,\u201d Dr. Jimenez said. \u201cSo kung may risk factor na hypertension or diabetes, ganitong level iyung cholesterol mo, and kung wala naman, ganito iyung level (So, if there is a risk factor of hypertension or diabetes, this should be your cholesterol level, and if you don\u2019t have these risk factors, this should be the level).\u201d
\nIndividuals are encouraged to advocate for their own health by keeping in mind \u201cACTing NOW\u201d:
\nA – ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) is a top killer in the Philippines
\nC – Cholesterol is a key risk but can be managed
\nT – Take action to lower it fast
\nNOW – The next heart attack or stroke could be worse \u2014 act now to stay protected.
\nThe Philippines doesn\u2019t have any data on the prevalence rates of specific cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Jimenez told 大象传媒, so the PHA has started a study on the hospitalization rate of acute cardiovascular diseases, he said.
\nTaking a step towards heart health can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, he reminded 大象传媒.
\n\u201cKung one to three [flights of] stairs lang sa office niyo, and kung wala ka namang knee injury (If your office just has one to three flights of stairs, and if you have no knee injury), take the stairs,\u201d Dr. Jimenez said. \u201cMaglagay siguro sa elevator ng sign na (place a sign in the elevator saying), \u2018Climbing up the stairs will help prevent heart attack and stroke.\u2019\u201d
\n\u2018WELLNESS HEROES\u2019
\nTwo other companies in the Philippines that have corporate wellness programs are TaskUs Philippines, a business outsourcing provider, and Fluor Daniel, Inc., an engineering, procurement, and construction company.
Fluor won at the 2023 Asian Experience Awards for its SWITCH (Sustainable Wellness Initiatives Toward Corporate Health) Wellbeing Program that combines physical fitness with financial security, mental balance, and social connection. One of the initiatives under it is ProErgo, which optimizes workstation design to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. There are also programs for lifestyle-related diseases which include recreational facilities and a weight loss program to help lower cardiac risk factors among the workforce.
\nHealth awareness campaigns are likewise disseminated through e-mail blasts, bulletin board infographics, and lunch-and-learn activities.
\nTaskUs, on the other hand, has a Wellness Hero Certification Program which enlists volunteer employees and trains them to be \u201cwellness heroes,\u201d or individuals who advocate for their own wellness as well as that of others.
\nThese \u201cheroes\u201d are found across the 13 countries that TaskUs is located in. Each of their certifications is valid for 12 months to ensure people\u2019s safety and service quality and requires additional assessments for renewal.
\n\u201cIf we have more people actively practicing and promoting the use of our wellness resources, we\u2019re expanding the reach of our Wellness + Resiliency team and making the topic of mental health discussions ubiquitous in the workplace,\u201d said Rachel Lutz Guevara, TaskUs\u2019 vice-president for Global Wellness + Resiliency, in a May 2023 post on the company website.
\nA March 2024 study in Acta Medica Philippina found that employees who participate in corporate wellness programs have a higher physical wellness status than those who didn\u2019t. Employees who were aware of such programs also had a higher mean socio-emotional wellness score (36.2 \u00b1 6.0) than those who were not (34.2 \u00b1 6.0).
\nA HEALTHY MIND FOR A HEALTHY HEART
\nStress management is yet another component of heart health.
Heart health is being promoted through Globe\u2019s mental health webinars and modules, said Globe\u2019s Ms. Bambao.
\n\u201cThe medical coverage of employees includes reimbursements with prescribed psychiatric medicines and consultations with licensed psychiatrists,\u201d she said.
\nMs. Royyuru said Unilever\u2019s holistic approach to corporate wellness \u2014 which encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being \u2014 ties in with the company\u2019s purpose of \u201cbrightening lives every day.\u201d
\n\u201cWe cannot have unhappy, unhealthy people who cannot be their best self at work,\u201d she said. \u201cHow do you expect them to innovate with the best of solutions for our consumers and for themselves, right?
\n\u201cWe have to care for them as individuals with wants and needs… and [who] are at different life stages.\u201d
\nThis article is part of the Unblock Your Heart Health Reporting initiative, supported by the Philippine Press Institute and Novartis, to improve health literacy on cardiovascular diseases. Know your numbers, understand your risks, and consult your doctor \u2014 so no Filipino heart is lost too soon. Take control of your heart health today. Visit unblockedmovement.ph for more information.
\nFILIPINOS\u2019 PENCHANT for salty food and partaking of panghimagas (dessert) after meals pose a risk to one\u2019s heart, Donna L. Lorena, a registered nutritionist-dietitian, said.
\nHigh sodium intake negatively affects the heart, she said in a Jan. 10 interview with 大象传媒. Popular processed meat items like corned beef and hot dogs are not just salty, they are also high in artery-clogging fat.
\nShe suggested that when cooking traditional Filipino fare such as adobo (usually a dish of chicken and/or pork braised in vinegar and soy sauce), to opt for a low-sodium soy sauce variant. When using toyomansi (a mix of soy sauce and the local citrus calamansi) as a sauce, meanwhile, use more calamansi and less toyo.
\nPortion control is also important, Ms. Lorena said.
\nShe cautioned, however, against eating just one meal a day, as in the case of those who go on 20-hour fasts. When you eat 1,200 calories in one go, she explained, \u201cYour vital organs get stressed… thereby impacting your cardiovascular health. [That\u2019s because] masyadong maraming name-metabolize iyung katawan natin na salt and fat at that time (too much salt and fat is being metabolized by the body at that time).\u201d
\nThe following heart-healthy recipes were shared by Ms. Lorena. \u2014 PBM
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CROPPED-Recipe-1-Ginisang-Munggo-With-Bangus.png\")
GINISANG MUNGGO WITH BANGUS
\nServes 4
\nINGREDIENTS:
\n1 cup munggo (mung) beans, washed and soaked
\n1 medium-sized bangus (milkfish), cleaned and sliced into 4
\n1 tablespoon olive oil
\n1 medium onion, chopped
\n3 cloves garlic, minced
\n2 medium tomatoes, chopped
\n4 cups water
\n1 cup malunggay (moringa) leaves (or spinach as an alternative)
\n1 cup diced squash
\n1 tablespoon low-sodium patis (fish sauce)
\n1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
\nDIRECTIONS:
\n1. Wash and soak the munggo for at least 4 hours or overnight. Do not skip this step.
\n2. Pat-dry the bangus slices and season with salt and pepper. Spray with oil and air-fry or bake until brown.
\n3. Meanwhile, in a sauce pot, saut\u00e9 onions and garlic until fragrant. Add in squash and cook until slightly brown, then add chopped tomatoes. Let cook for at least 5 minutes.
\n4. Stir in the munggo and water then let it simmer until the beans are soft and cooked through. Mix in the malunggay leaves or spinach leaves. Cover and let simmer until the leaves wilt.
\n5. Season with low-sodium fish sauce or salt and pepper. Divide into four bowls. Top with the air-fried bangus. Serve with a cup of lightly packed brown rice.
\nNotes:
\n*Always soak beans or lentils of any kind before cooking. Aside from reducing cooking time, this improves digestibility and reduces bloating.
\n*In the absence of an air-fryer or oven, pan-fry the bangus in oil and dry on a paper towel to reduce excess oil.
\nPer serving (with 1 cup of brown rice): 621 calories; 85 g carbohydrates; 41 g proteins; 13 g fats
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CROPPED-Recipe-2-Tofu-with-Ensaladang-Talong.png\")
TOFU WITH ENSALADANG TALONG
\nServes 4
\nINGREDIENTS:
\n2 blocks tofu
\n1 tablespoon olive oil
\n1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
\n1/4 teaspoon paprika
\n1/4 teaspoon salt
\nFor the Ensaladang Talong:
\n2 large eggplants
\n1 tsp olive oil
\n2 medium tomatoes, diced
\n1 small red onion, chopped
\n1 cup pakpako (edible ferns), cleaned and parboiled
\n1 tablespoon vinegar
\n1/2 teaspoon low-sodium fish sauce
\n1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
\nDIRECTIONS:
\n1. Wrap tofu in a paper towel and press down with a heavy item like a chopping board or a heavy pan to squeeze out most of the water. Leave it under the weight for at least 30 minutes.
\n2. Once dried out, slice the tofu into cubes. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper and spray with oil then air-fry or bake until brown and crispy. Set it aside.
\n3. Wash and pat dry the eggplant and brush with oil. Air-fry or bake until the skin separates from the flesh. Let it cool.
\n4. Once cooled, peel off the eggplant\u2019s skin. Chop the eggplant and place it in a bowl. Mix in diced tomato, red onion, and parboiled pakpako. Season with vinegar or calamansi juice, low-sodium fish sauce or salt, then ground black pepper.
\n5. Serve on a plate with air-fried tofu and a cup of lightly packed brown rice.
\nNote:
\n*In the absence of an air-fryer or oven, pan-fry the tofu in oil and dry on a paper towel to reduce excess oil.
\nPer serving (with 1 cup of brown rice): 477 calories; 61 gm carbohydrates; 28 gm proteins; 16 gm fats
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nBy Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer\nHEART DISEASE is a leading cause of death in the Philippines, with risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor diet, and stress contributing significantly to its prevalence. Since employees spend at least a third of their weekdays at work, corporate wellness programs \u2014 which typically include health screenings, stress management, and fitness challenges \u2014 have the potential to enhance the heart health of Filipino workers.\nIt\u2019s part of the healthy settings approach, said Sean Paolo Ohrelle B. Aquino, medical officer III of the Department of Health\u2019s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.\n\u201cFrom the school setting to the workplace setting to the community setting, what we want to target sana is, kung saan (is where) people spend most of their time like in schools, iyung mga bata dun (the children there) will be provided services.\u201d\nWellness initiatives like regular blood pressure readings can likewise be integrated in occupational health, he said during a Jan. 17 Zoom call.\n\u201cThe Health department doesn\u2019t work in a silo,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need close collaborations with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment for this whole-of-society approach we\u2019re talking about,\u201d he said.\nData from a United Nations joint mission in 2018 found that non-communicable diseases (medical conditions that are not caused by infections and are not contagious) cost the Philippines P756.5 billion per year. This figure represents 4.8% of the gross domestic product in 2017.\n\u201cHeart diseases are captured under the broader umbrella of non-communicable diseases,\u201d Dr. Aquino added. \u201cThere is no separate data for heart diseases alone.\u201d\n\u2018HEALTHIER U\u2019\nAmong the businesses with regular employee health programs is Unilever Philippines, Inc.\n\u201cWe have about 20 company policies and programs in a year that support employee wellness,\u201d its head of human resources, Geeta Royyuru, said in a Jan. 10 interview.\nIncluded in the initiatives of the consumer goods multinational company is a 24/7 employee assistance program with counselors for both employees and their dependents, Ms. Royyuru said. Facilities like gyms, nap rooms, and daycare services are also available for all staff.\nIt also has a voluntary program called \u201cHealthier U\u201d where employees take tests and use screening tools which the company\u2019s medical team analyzes for associated risks. Employees are tagged as Red (those with chronic diseases or high-risk factors), Amber (those at risk of chronic diseases with a few identified high-risk factors), or Green (those with zero to minimal high-risk factors), with the aim of moving more of those tagged Red and Amber to Green through follow-up check-ups and recommendations.\nFrom 2023 to 2024 there was a 33% increase in Healthier U enrollees in the Philippines. The company told 大象传媒 that 8% of those with cardiovascular-related chronic diseases showed an improvement in their blood pressure.\nLemuel B. Lucas, a customer operations business partner at the company, said \u201cHealthier U\u201d was an eye-opener.\n\u201cBecause of my high cholesterol levels, I was advised to consider lifestyle changes and prompted to seek the help of a nutritionist…,\u201d he told 大象传媒 via e-mail on Jan. 28. \u201cApart from losing 45 lbs., I\u2019ve also brought down my cholesterol levels and will even be running my first marathon in February!\u201d\nTo promote employee health, there are also changes being made in the cafeterias, Ms. Royyuru told 大象传媒.\n\u201cWe continuously audit the food that\u2019s served in all our canteen spaces across our facilities,\u201d she said. \u201cThis has led to the introduction of simple things, like less oily food, and the introduction of more veggies and varieties of fish rather than just meat.\n\u201cWe work with our union and employee representatives in food tasting and make sure there is a habit-building journey, and that it doesn\u2019t feel forced,\u201d she added.\n\u2018GCLUBS\u2019\nGlobe Telecom, Inc., meanwhile, has a holistic approach to wellness, according to its vice-president for people experience Nicolette S. Bambao.\n\u201cWe make sure to fulfill the four pillars: physical, socio-emotional, financial, and purpose,\u201d she said.\nApart from programs that support each of the pillars, the telecommunications provider also has a myChoice program, which allows employees to customize their benefits according to their needs. Among the options for 2025 are wearables, vouchers for medicines and vitamins, and spa packages.\nIn 2024, the company also expanded its annual physical examination by adding screenings for cardiovascular, kidney, colon, and hypertension-related diseases, and diabetes.\n\u201cGlobe promotes wellness through similar interests for ka-Globes to gather, experience, and share in non-work-related clubs,\u201d Ms. Bambao said in a Jan. 27 e-mail to 大象传媒.\nThe majority of the \u201cGClubs,\u201d as they are called, are sports-related: \u201cWe have competitions in basketball, volleyball, football, badminton, golf, and dance within and outside Globe.\u201d\nIMPACTFUL EDUCATION\nThe Philippine Statistics Authority reports that the top three causes of death in the country from January to April 2024 were ischemic heart diseases, neoplasms, and cerebrovascular diseases. These were also the leading causes of death in the same period in 2023.\nIschemic heart diseases (which happen when the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked) accounted for 20.2% of the total deaths nationwide.\nWhile age, gender, and family history are risk factors that are beyond people\u2019s control, sleep, diet, and physical activity are among the factors that are controllable.\nRegular exercise, healthy eating, and routine health checks can reduce the risk of heart disease, said Rodney M. Jimenez, a cardiologist and president of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA).\nBut according to him, the number one component in a workplace wellness program that needs to be present to keep employees\u2019 hearts healthy is \u201cimpactful education.\u201d\n\u201cNumber one is education, number two is screening… how can you identify people who are at high risk if you do not screen them, interview them, and then check their cholesterol level?\u201d Dr. Jimenez asked in a Zoom interview on Jan. 9.\nDespite its reputation, cholesterol isn\u2019t all bad. Cholesterol is a substance that the body needs to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL or the \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol, and HDL, called the \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol. Too much of the bad kind, or not enough of the good kind, can eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke.\nCholesterol levels are one of the controllable factors.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a certain cholesterol level for each risk factor,\u201d Dr. Jimenez said. \u201cSo kung may risk factor na hypertension or diabetes, ganitong level iyung cholesterol mo, and kung wala naman, ganito iyung level (So, if there is a risk factor of hypertension or diabetes, this should be your cholesterol level, and if you don\u2019t have these risk factors, this should be the level).\u201d\nIndividuals are encouraged to advocate for their own health by keeping in mind \u201cACTing NOW\u201d:\nA – ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) is a top killer in the Philippines\nC – Cholesterol is a key risk but can be managed\nT – Take action to lower it fast\nNOW – The next heart attack or stroke could be worse \u2014 act now to stay protected.\nThe Philippines doesn\u2019t have any data on the prevalence rates of specific cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Jimenez told 大象传媒, so the PHA has started a study on the hospitalization rate of acute cardiovascular diseases, he said.\nTaking a step towards heart health can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, he reminded 大象传媒.\n\u201cKung one to three [flights of] stairs lang sa office niyo, and kung wala ka namang knee injury (If your office just has one to three flights of stairs, and if you have no knee injury), take the stairs,\u201d Dr. Jimenez said. \u201cMaglagay siguro sa elevator ng sign na (place a sign in the elevator saying), \u2018Climbing up the stairs will help prevent heart attack and stroke.\u2019\u201d\n\u2018WELLNESS HEROES\u2019\nTwo other companies in the Philippines that have corporate wellness programs are TaskUs Philippines, a business outsourcing provider, and Fluor Daniel, Inc., an engineering, procurement, and construction company.\nFluor won at the 2023 Asian Experience Awards for its SWITCH (Sustainable Wellness Initiatives Toward Corporate Health) Wellbeing Program that combines physical fitness with financial security, mental balance, and social connection. One of the initiatives under it is ProErgo, which optimizes workstation design to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. There are also programs for lifestyle-related diseases which include recreational facilities and a weight loss program to help lower cardiac risk factors among the workforce.\nHealth awareness campaigns are likewise disseminated through e-mail blasts, bulletin board infographics, and lunch-and-learn activities.\nTaskUs, on the other hand, has a Wellness Hero Certification Program which enlists volunteer employees and trains them to be \u201cwellness heroes,\u201d or individuals who advocate for their own wellness as well as that of others.\nThese \u201cheroes\u201d are found across the 13 countries that TaskUs is located in. Each of their certifications is valid for 12 months to ensure people\u2019s safety and service quality and requires additional assessments for renewal. \n\u201cIf we have more people actively practicing and promoting the use of our wellness resources, we\u2019re expanding the reach of our Wellness + Resiliency team and making the topic of mental health discussions ubiquitous in the workplace,\u201d said Rachel Lutz Guevara, TaskUs\u2019 vice-president for Global Wellness + Resiliency, in a May 2023 post on the company website.\nA March 2024 study in Acta Medica Philippina found that employees who participate in corporate wellness programs have a higher physical wellness status than those who didn\u2019t. Employees who were aware of such programs also had a higher mean socio-emotional wellness score (36.2 \u00b1 6.0) than those who were not (34.2 \u00b1 6.0).\nA HEALTHY MIND FOR A HEALTHY HEART\nStress management is yet another component of heart health.\nHeart health is being promoted through Globe\u2019s mental health webinars and modules, said Globe\u2019s Ms. Bambao.\n\u201cThe medical coverage of employees includes reimbursements with prescribed psychiatric medicines and consultations with licensed psychiatrists,\u201d she said.\nMs. Royyuru said Unilever\u2019s holistic approach to corporate wellness \u2014 which encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being \u2014 ties in with the company\u2019s purpose of \u201cbrightening lives every day.\u201d\n\u201cWe cannot have unhappy, unhealthy people who cannot be their best self at work,\u201d she said. \u201cHow do you expect them to innovate with the best of solutions for our consumers and for themselves, right?\n\u201cWe have to care for them as individuals with wants and needs… and [who] are at different life stages.\u201d\nThis article is part of the Unblock Your Heart Health Reporting initiative, supported by the Philippine Press Institute and Novartis, to improve health literacy on cardiovascular diseases. Know your numbers, understand your risks, and consult your doctor \u2014 so no Filipino heart is lost too soon. Take control of your heart health today. Visit unblockedmovement.ph for more information.\n\nEating heart healthy\nFILIPINOS\u2019 PENCHANT for salty food and partaking of panghimagas (dessert) after meals pose a risk to one\u2019s heart, Donna L. Lorena, a registered nutritionist-dietitian, said.\nHigh sodium intake negatively affects the heart, she said in a Jan. 10 interview with 大象传媒. Popular processed meat items like corned beef and hot dogs are not just salty, they are also high in artery-clogging fat.\nShe suggested that when cooking traditional Filipino fare such as adobo (usually a dish of chicken and/or pork braised in vinegar and soy sauce), to opt for a low-sodium soy sauce variant. When using toyomansi (a mix of soy sauce and the local citrus calamansi) as a sauce, meanwhile, use more calamansi and less toyo.\nPortion control is also important, Ms. Lorena said.\nShe cautioned, however, against eating just one meal a day, as in the case of those who go on 20-hour fasts. When you eat 1,200 calories in one go, she explained, \u201cYour vital organs get stressed… thereby impacting your cardiovascular health. [That\u2019s because] masyadong maraming name-metabolize iyung katawan natin na salt and fat at that time (too much salt and fat is being metabolized by the body at that time).\u201d\nThe following heart-healthy recipes were shared by Ms. Lorena. \u2014 PBM\n\nGINISANG MUNGGO WITH BANGUS\nServes 4\nINGREDIENTS:\n1 cup munggo (mung) beans, washed and soaked\n1 medium-sized bangus (milkfish), cleaned and sliced into 4\n1 tablespoon olive oil\n1 medium onion, chopped\n3 cloves garlic, minced\n2 medium tomatoes, chopped\n4 cups water\n1 cup malunggay (moringa) leaves (or spinach as an alternative)\n1 cup diced squash\n1 tablespoon low-sodium patis (fish sauce)\n1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper\nDIRECTIONS:\n1. Wash and soak the munggo for at least 4 hours or overnight. Do not skip this step.\n2. Pat-dry the bangus slices and season with salt and pepper. Spray with oil and air-fry or bake until brown.\n3. Meanwhile, in a sauce pot, saut\u00e9 onions and garlic until fragrant. Add in squash and cook until slightly brown, then add chopped tomatoes. Let cook for at least 5 minutes.\n4. Stir in the munggo and water then let it simmer until the beans are soft and cooked through. Mix in the malunggay leaves or spinach leaves. Cover and let simmer until the leaves wilt.\n5. Season with low-sodium fish sauce or salt and pepper. Divide into four bowls. Top with the air-fried bangus. Serve with a cup of lightly packed brown rice.\nNotes:\n*Always soak beans or lentils of any kind before cooking. Aside from reducing cooking time, this improves digestibility and reduces bloating.\n*In the absence of an air-fryer or oven, pan-fry the bangus in oil and dry on a paper towel to reduce excess oil.\nPer serving (with 1 cup of brown rice): 621 calories; 85 g carbohydrates; 41 g proteins; 13 g fats\n\nTOFU WITH ENSALADANG TALONG\nServes 4\nINGREDIENTS:\n2 blocks tofu\n1 tablespoon olive oil\n1/2 teaspoon garlic powder\n1/4 teaspoon paprika\n1/4 teaspoon salt\nFor the Ensaladang Talong:\n2 large eggplants\n1 tsp olive oil\n2 medium tomatoes, diced\n1 small red onion, chopped\n1 cup pakpako (edible ferns), cleaned and parboiled\n1 tablespoon vinegar\n1/2 teaspoon low-sodium fish sauce\n1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper\nDIRECTIONS:\n1. Wrap tofu in a paper towel and press down with a heavy item like a chopping board or a heavy pan to squeeze out most of the water. Leave it under the weight for at least 30 minutes.\n2. Once dried out, slice the tofu into cubes. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper and spray with oil then air-fry or bake until brown and crispy. Set it aside.\n3. Wash and pat dry the eggplant and brush with oil. Air-fry or bake until the skin separates from the flesh. Let it cool.\n4. Once cooled, peel off the eggplant\u2019s skin. Chop the eggplant and place it in a bowl. Mix in diced tomato, red onion, and parboiled pakpako. Season with vinegar or calamansi juice, low-sodium fish sauce or salt, then ground black pepper.\n5. Serve on a plate with air-fried tofu and a cup of lightly packed brown rice.\nNote:\n*In the absence of an air-fryer or oven, pan-fry the tofu in oil and dry on a paper towel to reduce excess oil.\nPer serving (with 1 cup of brown rice): 477 calories; 61 gm carbohydrates; 28 gm proteins; 16 gm fats", "date_published": "2025-02-14T00:08:49+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-11T18:04:59+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemuel-B.-Lucas-before-joining-Unilevers-Healthier-U-program-photo-courtesy-of-Lemuel-B.-Lucas-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "corporate wellness", "Department of Health", "Globe Telecom", "heart health", "occupational health", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Patricia Mirasol", "Philippine Heart Association", "preventive healthcare", "Unilever", "wellness programs", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "HEART DISEASE is a leading cause of death in the Philippines, with risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor diet, and stress contributing significantly to its prevalence. Since employees spend at least a third of their weekdays at work, corporate wellness programs \u2014 which typically include health screenings, stress management, and fitness challenges \u2014 have the potential to enhance the heart health of Filipino workers." }, { "id": "/?p=656304", "url": "/health/2025/02/12/656304/mwell-launches-onthego-medical-drone-delivery-service/", "title": "mWell launches OnTheGo medical drone delivery service", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nmWell, the digital healthcare arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), launched on February 5 its OnTheGo medical drone delivery in Barangay Niogan, Pilila, Rizal.
\nOnTheGo, the first in Southeast Asia, complements the company\u2019s telemedicine services to geographically isolated communities.
\nThe service is in partnership with not-for-profit organization Philippines Flying Labs (PFL), which \u2013 in 2022 – was the first in Southeast Asia to use cargo drones for medical deliveries across oceans.
\n“Distance should never be a barrier to healthcare,” mWell chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a Feb. 5 press statement. “Through drones, we\u2019re bridging the distance between patients and life-saving medicines. This isn’t simply a matter of convenience, but of getting help to every Filipino that needs it.”
\nThe health and wellness mega app has been providing mWell OnTheGo Clinic-In-A-Bag to enable teleconsultation in remote areas such Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi, Calayan Island, and Sacol Island. Each of these bags contains a tablet or mobile phone, health passes for online doctor consultation, a Smart pocket Wi-Fi, and an mWellness Kit with a digital thermometer, blood pressure monitor, and oximeter.
\nOne barrier to patient care has been the difficulty in acquiring prescribed medications due to limited pharmacy access and medication shortage.
\n\u201cWe have received feedback that after consultations, doctors prescribe medicines that are sometimes unavailable in health centers,\u201d Tisha C. Quinitio, mWell\u2019s business development head, said.
\n\u201cSince these patients are in remote areas, we thought about how to get the medicines to them. That\u2019s why we partnered with the [PFL], which offers drone delivery services,\u201d she said on Feb. 5.
\n\u201cAfter an mWell teleconsultation, with just a click on their tablet, medicines can be delivered directly to remote areas via drone,\u201d she added.
\nDICT secretary Ivan John Uy, who attended the launch together with mWell, PFL, and Department of Health representatives, said many Filipinos will benefit from the service.
\n“Maipagmamalaki natin sa ibang bansa na hindi tayo nahuhuli (We can proudly say that we are not being left behind by other countries),” he said in the same press release.
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nmWell, the digital healthcare arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), launched on February 5 its OnTheGo medical drone delivery in Barangay Niogan, Pilila, Rizal.\nOnTheGo, the first in Southeast Asia, complements the company\u2019s telemedicine services to geographically isolated communities.\nThe service is in partnership with not-for-profit organization Philippines Flying Labs (PFL), which \u2013 in 2022 – was the first in Southeast Asia to use cargo drones for medical deliveries across oceans.\n“Distance should never be a barrier to healthcare,” mWell chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a Feb. 5 press statement. “Through drones, we\u2019re bridging the distance between patients and life-saving medicines. This isn’t simply a matter of convenience, but of getting help to every Filipino that needs it.”\nThe health and wellness mega app has been providing mWell OnTheGo Clinic-In-A-Bag to enable teleconsultation in remote areas such Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi, Calayan Island, and Sacol Island. Each of these bags contains a tablet or mobile phone, health passes for online doctor consultation, a Smart pocket Wi-Fi, and an mWellness Kit with a digital thermometer, blood pressure monitor, and oximeter.\nOne barrier to patient care has been the difficulty in acquiring prescribed medications due to limited pharmacy access and medication shortage.\n\u201cWe have received feedback that after consultations, doctors prescribe medicines that are sometimes unavailable in health centers,\u201d Tisha C. Quinitio, mWell\u2019s business development head, said.\n\u201cSince these patients are in remote areas, we thought about how to get the medicines to them. That\u2019s why we partnered with the [PFL], which offers drone delivery services,\u201d she said on Feb. 5.\n\u201cAfter an mWell teleconsultation, with just a click on their tablet, medicines can be delivered directly to remote areas via drone,\u201d she added.\nDICT secretary Ivan John Uy, who attended the launch together with mWell, PFL, and Department of Health representatives, said many Filipinos will benefit from the service.\n“Maipagmamalaki natin sa ibang bansa na hindi tayo nahuhuli (We can proudly say that we are not being left behind by other countries),” he said in the same press release.", "date_published": "2025-02-12T13:06:01+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-28T13:08:39+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/mWell-logo.jpg", "tags": [ "drone", "mWell", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=658561", "url": "/the-nation/2025/02/10/658561/fake-pwd-ids-hurting-restaurants-bottom-lines/", "title": "Fake PWD IDs hurting restaurants\u2019 bottom lines", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nThe discounts given to fake PWD (people with disabilities) IDs do make a dent on the bottom lines of restaurants, according to business owners.\u00a0
\nOn February 3, the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines published a statement on how fake PWD IDs are crippling the industry.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe PWD discount was created to support those who genuinely need it, but widespread abuse of fake PWD cards is now putting a serious strain on restaurants and other businesses,\u201d it said.\u00a0
\n\u201cFor restaurants, especially small and family-run ones, this isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a financial hit that can mean the difference between survival and closure. When multiple fake PWD cards are used at a single table, the losses can be devastating. This isn’t just about lost revenue; it affects employees, food quality, and even menu prices for honest customers,\u201d the statement continued.\u00a0
\nMost restaurants’ profit margins fall between 3% and 6%, although the number can go up to 15%, noted the Unilever Food Solutions’ website.\u00a0
\n\u201cIt is very bad especially for bakeries all over the Philippines – a majority of which are mostly micro or small businesses, and with thin profit margins too on basic foods like breads and pastries,\u201d Wilson Lee Flores, owner of Kamuning Bakery Cafe, said.\u00a0
\nThe bakery\u2019s staff still has to find ways to distinguish fake PWD IDs from authentic ones, Mr. Flores texted on February 5.\u00a0
\n\u201cI hope our government can find ways to purge or clean up the misuse and shameless abuse of PWD IDs by dishonest people,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\nGreenery Kitchen doesn\u2019t mind giving out PWD and senior citizen (SC) discounts, said its co-owner Ivy A. Villamor.\u00a0
\nSome of the restaurant\u2019s PWD customers even hesitate to use their IDs when they order, she said in a Viber message.\u00a0
\n\u201cSana magkaron po ng (I hope there would be) specific parameters/guidelines on how to clearly compute for the SC/PWD discounts for food establishments. Maraming (There are a lot of) gray areas leading to different interpretations,\u201d she said in a separate message*.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cI hope the process of applying and registering as a PWD \u2013 from the barangay to national levels \u2013 would be made more effective, so late registrations and updates at government websites can be avoided,\u201d she added in the vernacular. \u201cThis way, legitimate PWDs can be protected, and their rights won\u2019t be abused by those posing to have disabilities.”
\n\n
PWD Rights\u00a0
\nA PWD advocate said that the fake IDs issue shouldn\u2019t be used to \u201coppress or embarrass\u201d legitimate PWDs.\u00a0
\n\u201cRestaurant owners and certain bus companies are now exploiting a flawed DoH [Department of Health] website to evade their obligation to provide discounts to PWDs,\u201d said Paolo A. Capino, himself a PWD.\u00a0
\n\u201cNo number of margins in their business can justify the intentional embarrassment restaurant owners are doing against an already marginalized sector,\u201d Mr. Capino\u2019s February 5 statement on Messenger read.
\nWhat do restaurant discounts have to do with the welfare of PWDs, asked Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III, coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms and a columnist at 大象传媒.\u00a0
\n\u201cOnly those who can afford going to restaurants, not the common folks, benefit from this,\u201d he said in a February 5 Viber message.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe government can provide direct subsidies to PWDs instead of having price and tax discounts, which can be abused resulting in significant revenue leakage,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cHave a strict and rigorous definition of who qualifies as PWDs,\u201d added Mr. Sta. Ana. \u201cThe interpretation is too relaxed.\u201d\u00a0
\nFor Ms. Villamor, it’s not just fake IDs but taxes plus overhead costs that also contribute to the vegan food business\u2019 already thin margins.\u00a0
\n\u201cAng hirap naman magtaas ng presyo basta basta, kasi pag nasaktan ang customers, di sila makakabibili, and then eventually masasaktan din yun business... (It\u2019s hard to raise prices, because if customers feel the pinch, then they won\u2019t buy, which eventually hurts the business),\u201d she said.
\nThere are 2,008,233 registered PWDs in the Philippines as of February 11, according to the National Council on Disability Affairs. – with contributions from Edg Adrian Eva and Almira Louise Martinez
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nThe discounts given to fake PWD (people with disabilities) IDs do make a dent on the bottom lines of restaurants, according to business owners.\u00a0\nOn February 3, the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines published a statement on how fake PWD IDs are crippling the industry.\u00a0\n\u201cThe PWD discount was created to support those who genuinely need it, but widespread abuse of fake PWD cards is now putting a serious strain on restaurants and other businesses,\u201d it said.\u00a0\n\u201cFor restaurants, especially small and family-run ones, this isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a financial hit that can mean the difference between survival and closure. When multiple fake PWD cards are used at a single table, the losses can be devastating. This isn’t just about lost revenue; it affects employees, food quality, and even menu prices for honest customers,\u201d the statement continued.\u00a0\nMost restaurants’ profit margins fall between 3% and 6%, although the number can go up to 15%, noted the Unilever Food Solutions’ website.\u00a0\n\u201cIt is very bad especially for bakeries all over the Philippines – a majority of which are mostly micro or small businesses, and with thin profit margins too on basic foods like breads and pastries,\u201d Wilson Lee Flores, owner of Kamuning Bakery Cafe, said.\u00a0\nThe bakery\u2019s staff still has to find ways to distinguish fake PWD IDs from authentic ones, Mr. Flores texted on February 5.\u00a0\n\u201cI hope our government can find ways to purge or clean up the misuse and shameless abuse of PWD IDs by dishonest people,\u201d he said.\u00a0\nGreenery Kitchen doesn\u2019t mind giving out PWD and senior citizen (SC) discounts, said its co-owner Ivy A. Villamor.\u00a0\nSome of the restaurant\u2019s PWD customers even hesitate to use their IDs when they order, she said in a Viber message.\u00a0\n\u201cSana magkaron po ng (I hope there would be) specific parameters/guidelines on how to clearly compute for the SC/PWD discounts for food establishments. Maraming (There are a lot of) gray areas leading to different interpretations,\u201d she said in a separate message*.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cI hope the process of applying and registering as a PWD \u2013 from the barangay to national levels \u2013 would be made more effective, so late registrations and updates at government websites can be avoided,\u201d she added in the vernacular. \u201cThis way, legitimate PWDs can be protected, and their rights won\u2019t be abused by those posing to have disabilities.”\n \nPWD Rights\u00a0\nA PWD advocate said that the fake IDs issue shouldn\u2019t be used to \u201coppress or embarrass\u201d legitimate PWDs.\u00a0\n\u201cRestaurant owners and certain bus companies are now exploiting a flawed DoH [Department of Health] website to evade their obligation to provide discounts to PWDs,\u201d said Paolo A. Capino, himself a PWD.\u00a0\n\u201cNo number of margins in their business can justify the intentional embarrassment restaurant owners are doing against an already marginalized sector,\u201d Mr. Capino\u2019s February 5 statement on Messenger read.\nWhat do restaurant discounts have to do with the welfare of PWDs, asked Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III, coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms and a columnist at 大象传媒.\u00a0\n\u201cOnly those who can afford going to restaurants, not the common folks, benefit from this,\u201d he said in a February 5 Viber message.\u00a0\n\u201cThe government can provide direct subsidies to PWDs instead of having price and tax discounts, which can be abused resulting in significant revenue leakage,\u201d he said.\n\u201cHave a strict and rigorous definition of who qualifies as PWDs,\u201d added Mr. Sta. Ana. \u201cThe interpretation is too relaxed.\u201d\u00a0\nFor Ms. Villamor, it’s not just fake IDs but taxes plus overhead costs that also contribute to the vegan food business\u2019 already thin margins.\u00a0\n\u201cAng hirap naman magtaas ng presyo basta basta, kasi pag nasaktan ang customers, di sila makakabibili, and then eventually masasaktan din yun business... (It\u2019s hard to raise prices, because if customers feel the pinch, then they won\u2019t buy, which eventually hurts the business),\u201d she said.\nThere are 2,008,233 registered PWDs in the Philippines as of February 11, according to the National Council on Disability Affairs. – with contributions from Edg Adrian Eva and Almira Louise Martinez", "date_published": "2025-02-10T14:54:13+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-11T18:08:42+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/no-to-fake-pwd.jpg", "tags": [ "Almira Louise Martinez", "Edg Adrian Eva", "fake", "fake IDs", "Greenery Kitchen", "Kamuning Bakery Cafe", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Patricia Mirasol", "persons with disabilities", "PWD", "PWD discount", "Restaurant Owners of the Philippines", "restaurants", "The Nation" ] }, { "id": "/?p=646629", "url": "/bw-launchpad/2025/01/15/646629/smes-told-to-balance-profit-with-sustainability/", "title": "SMEs told to balance profit with sustainability", "content_html": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer
\nSMALL Philippine companies can strive for stronger sales while ensuring sustainable corporate practices, according to small business owners.
\nNarrow profit margins and limited resources are some of the challenges these businesses face, but \u201cthere\u2019s always a strategy,\u201d Armando O. Bartolome, a business mentor and founder and president at GMB Franchise Developers, said in an interview. \u201cYou have to take the first step.\u201d
\nThe Southeast Asian nation has about 1.2 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), accounting for more than 99% of its total enterprises, according to the government.
\n![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Outlook-2025.jpg\")
Mr. Bartolome said cost-efficient measures such as the installation of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, solar panels and inverter air conditioners go a long way in the pursuit of sustainability.
LEDs use as much as 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Users of solar panels, meanwhile, can avail themselves of the Energy department\u2019s net-metering scheme to offset their electricity consumption.
\nFranchise business Tipid Sulit Laundromat gets its washing machines and dryers from Alliance Laundry Systems, a Wisconsin-based provider of commercial laundry systems.
\nThe washing machines, which are customized for the Philippine market, consume 80 liters of water per load, Tipid Sulit co-owner Roderick F. Dilag said.
\n\u201cIn terms of water consumption, [our machines] are very economical,\u201d he said in a virtual interview. \u201cIt uses 40% less water compared with other commercial brands.\u201d
\nThey use a combination of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electricity to reduce electricity use. \u201cBased on our computation, we save as much as P14 for every load.\u201d
\nProducts that made environmental, social, and governance claims grew 28% from 2017 to 2022, according to a 2023 study by McKinsey and NielsenIQ. Products that made no such claims, in comparison, grew 20%.
\nConsumers are also willing to spend an average of 9.7% more on sustainably produced or sourced goods, even as cost-of-living and inflationary concerns weigh, according to PricewaterhouseCooper\u2019s 2024 Voice of the Consumer survey.
\nMSMEs that align themselves with these global sustainability trends can gain a competitive edge in international markets and meet the demand for eco-conscious options.
\nIn its 2023-2028 MSME Development Plan, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) highlighted the circular economy, which creates a closed-loop system where materials are continuously repurposed, and green growth, which espouses economic growth that is good for the planet, as ways for MSMEs to scale sustainably.
\nThe initial investment and the raw materials needed, however, are among the reasons people perceive eco-friendly business practices as expensive. Implementing these often requires an investment in energy-efficient appliances. Sustainable products also use ethically sourced materials, which may be more costly.
\nA solar system that can generate 3,000 watts of electricity, for instance, costs about P145,000 to P200,000.
\nWhile Mr. Bartolome noted the importance of an entrepreneur\u2019s passion and persistence in championing sustainability, he said incentives are key to further promoting this concept.
\n\u201cI have yet to see the government give incentives to MSMEs to go solar,\u201d he pointed out. \u201cIn the US, when you have a solar panel installed, they give rebates.\u201d
\nThere also isn\u2019t enough collaboration between the private and public sectors, he said.
\n\u201cIf you\u2019re into agriculture, for example, can the government help [connect] you with farmers?\u201d
\nAmong the DTI\u2019s programs is Green Economic Development, which helps MSMEs adopt climate-smart, environment-friendly and inclusive measures.
\n\u201cEngaging MSMEs in sustainable business practices is a huge challenge and a huge opportunity,\u201d said Katreena V. Pillejera, Philippine country manager at Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) ASEAN, in an Aug. 26 post on their website.
\nThe 2024 pilot of its Sustainable Practices and Reporting Kickoff (SPARK) program, in collaboration with the DTI, \u201caims to use the power of sustainability reporting to reach more MSMEs and build their understanding of the value that comes from understanding their impacts.\u201d
\nSPARK is the first stage of the five-year GRI-DTI initiative, which addresses sustainability issues related to supply chain practices and responsible procurement.
\nFor Mr. Dilag, combining innovation and technology with green initiatives has translated to savings for the enterprise and made it more competitive.
\nTipid Sulit Laundromat charges its customers 20-25% less because of its use of LPG, he said.
\nIts machines\u2019 soft wash function uses earth-friendly chemicals that prevent skin allergies and clean fabrics such as silk.
\nThe business is also exempted from having water treatment facilities due to the small amount of waste it generates.
\n\u201cThe Environment department has given us a certificate of noncompliance for water treatment facilities,\u201d Mr. Dilag said. \u201cOf course, we still need to have disposal facilities, but they don\u2019t have to be as sophisticated as those of bigger companies.\u201d
\n", "content_text": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer\nSMALL Philippine companies can strive for stronger sales while ensuring sustainable corporate practices, according to small business owners.\nNarrow profit margins and limited resources are some of the challenges these businesses face, but \u201cthere\u2019s always a strategy,\u201d Armando O. Bartolome, a business mentor and founder and president at GMB Franchise Developers, said in an interview. \u201cYou have to take the first step.\u201d\nThe Southeast Asian nation has about 1.2 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), accounting for more than 99% of its total enterprises, according to the government.\nMr. Bartolome said cost-efficient measures such as the installation of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, solar panels and inverter air conditioners go a long way in the pursuit of sustainability.\nLEDs use as much as 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Users of solar panels, meanwhile, can avail themselves of the Energy department\u2019s net-metering scheme to offset their electricity consumption.\nFranchise business Tipid Sulit Laundromat gets its washing machines and dryers from Alliance Laundry Systems, a Wisconsin-based provider of commercial laundry systems.\nThe washing machines, which are customized for the Philippine market, consume 80 liters of water per load, Tipid Sulit co-owner Roderick F. Dilag said.\n\u201cIn terms of water consumption, [our machines] are very economical,\u201d he said in a virtual interview. \u201cIt uses 40% less water compared with other commercial brands.\u201d\nThey use a combination of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electricity to reduce electricity use. \u201cBased on our computation, we save as much as P14 for every load.\u201d\nProducts that made environmental, social, and governance claims grew 28% from 2017 to 2022, according to a 2023 study by McKinsey and NielsenIQ. Products that made no such claims, in comparison, grew 20%.\nConsumers are also willing to spend an average of 9.7% more on sustainably produced or sourced goods, even as cost-of-living and inflationary concerns weigh, according to PricewaterhouseCooper\u2019s 2024 Voice of the Consumer survey.\nMSMEs that align themselves with these global sustainability trends can gain a competitive edge in international markets and meet the demand for eco-conscious options.\nIn its 2023-2028 MSME Development Plan, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) highlighted the circular economy, which creates a closed-loop system where materials are continuously repurposed, and green growth, which espouses economic growth that is good for the planet, as ways for MSMEs to scale sustainably.\nThe initial investment and the raw materials needed, however, are among the reasons people perceive eco-friendly business practices as expensive. Implementing these often requires an investment in energy-efficient appliances. Sustainable products also use ethically sourced materials, which may be more costly.\nA solar system that can generate 3,000 watts of electricity, for instance, costs about P145,000 to P200,000.\nWhile Mr. Bartolome noted the importance of an entrepreneur\u2019s passion and persistence in championing sustainability, he said incentives are key to further promoting this concept.\n\u201cI have yet to see the government give incentives to MSMEs to go solar,\u201d he pointed out. \u201cIn the US, when you have a solar panel installed, they give rebates.\u201d\nThere also isn\u2019t enough collaboration between the private and public sectors, he said.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re into agriculture, for example, can the government help [connect] you with farmers?\u201d\nAmong the DTI\u2019s programs is Green Economic Development, which helps MSMEs adopt climate-smart, environment-friendly and inclusive measures.\n\u201cEngaging MSMEs in sustainable business practices is a huge challenge and a huge opportunity,\u201d said Katreena V. Pillejera, Philippine country manager at Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) ASEAN, in an Aug. 26 post on their website.\nThe 2024 pilot of its Sustainable Practices and Reporting Kickoff (SPARK) program, in collaboration with the DTI, \u201caims to use the power of sustainability reporting to reach more MSMEs and build their understanding of the value that comes from understanding their impacts.\u201d\nSPARK is the first stage of the five-year GRI-DTI initiative, which addresses sustainability issues related to supply chain practices and responsible procurement.\nFor Mr. Dilag, combining innovation and technology with green initiatives has translated to savings for the enterprise and made it more competitive.\nTipid Sulit Laundromat charges its customers 20-25% less because of its use of LPG, he said.\nIts machines\u2019 soft wash function uses earth-friendly chemicals that prevent skin allergies and clean fabrics such as silk.\nThe business is also exempted from having water treatment facilities due to the small amount of waste it generates.\n\u201cThe Environment department has given us a certificate of noncompliance for water treatment facilities,\u201d Mr. Dilag said. \u201cOf course, we still need to have disposal facilities, but they don\u2019t have to be as sophisticated as those of bigger companies.\u201d", "date_published": "2025-01-15T00:02:28+08:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-14T19:13:53+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Solar-panel-roof.jpg", "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "BW Launchpad", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "SMALL Philippine companies can strive for stronger sales while ensuring sustainable corporate practices, according to small business owners." }, { "id": "/?p=639116", "url": "/the-nation/2024/12/03/639116/filipino-pwds-struggle-more-in-disaster-recovery-and-preparedness-study/", "title": "Filipino PWDs struggle more in disaster recovery and preparedness \u2014 study", "content_html": "PERSONS with disabilities (PWDs) in the Philippines have more challenges in preparing for and recovering from disasters in comparison to those without disabilities, according to a 2024 nationwide survey by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI).
\nReleased this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the survey found that almost half (48%) of PWDs report not recovering at all from disasters, compared to 24% for the rest of the population.
\n\u201cThese findings underscore the critical importance of providing appropriate and adapted assistance, including medical support, in disaster recovery efforts to foster true resilience and recovery for this group,\u201d Patrick Vinck, HHI director of research and co-lead of the study, said in a December 3 press statement.
\nHHI collected data from 4,608 Filipinos between February\u2013March 2024 to understand the factors that contributed to disaster and climate resilience.
\nPWDs represented in the study include individuals who experience difficulties with vision, hearing, and communication, or physical activities such as walking, climbing steps, or self-care. It also included disabilities associated with lower levels of wealth and education.
\nThe most frequently reported impact of disasters by both PWD and non-PWD groups is financial and material (77% for the former and 76% for the latter). Less than a fifth (3%-17%) feel that past disasters impacted their physical and mental health and resulted in displacement, death of a relative, and social impact.
\nThe study\u2019s results further indicated that, on average, PWDs are less prepared for disasters (17.1 out of a total 50) than those without disabilities (19.3 out of 50).
\nPWDs likewise scored 14-57% lower than non-PWDs on the following dimensions: training and drill participation (2.3 vs. 3.6), material measures (3.9 vs. 4.5), access to information (4.3 vs. 4.9), and planning (3.6 vs. 4).
\nPWDs tend to have stronger social support networks (3.1) than non-PWDs (2.3), though.
\n\u201cThese results clearly show the importance of creating more inclusive training programs that are accessible and relevant to PWDs,\u201d said Vincenzo Bollettino, program director of the HHI Resilient Communities Program and co-lead of the study.
\n\u201cIt is important that future research focuses on illuminating the specific kinds of barriers PWDs face in preparing for disasters and identifies the kinds of interventions that contribute best to PWD disaster resilience,\u201d he said in the same press statement. \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "PERSONS with disabilities (PWDs) in the Philippines have more challenges in preparing for and recovering from disasters in comparison to those without disabilities, according to a 2024 nationwide survey by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI).\nReleased this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the survey found that almost half (48%) of PWDs report not recovering at all from disasters, compared to 24% for the rest of the population.\n\u201cThese findings underscore the critical importance of providing appropriate and adapted assistance, including medical support, in disaster recovery efforts to foster true resilience and recovery for this group,\u201d Patrick Vinck, HHI director of research and co-lead of the study, said in a December 3 press statement.\nHHI collected data from 4,608 Filipinos between February\u2013March 2024 to understand the factors that contributed to disaster and climate resilience.\nPWDs represented in the study include individuals who experience difficulties with vision, hearing, and communication, or physical activities such as walking, climbing steps, or self-care. It also included disabilities associated with lower levels of wealth and education.\nThe most frequently reported impact of disasters by both PWD and non-PWD groups is financial and material (77% for the former and 76% for the latter). Less than a fifth (3%-17%) feel that past disasters impacted their physical and mental health and resulted in displacement, death of a relative, and social impact.\nThe study\u2019s results further indicated that, on average, PWDs are less prepared for disasters (17.1 out of a total 50) than those without disabilities (19.3 out of 50).\nPWDs likewise scored 14-57% lower than non-PWDs on the following dimensions: training and drill participation (2.3 vs. 3.6), material measures (3.9 vs. 4.5), access to information (4.3 vs. 4.9), and planning (3.6 vs. 4).\nPWDs tend to have stronger social support networks (3.1) than non-PWDs (2.3), though.\n\u201cThese results clearly show the importance of creating more inclusive training programs that are accessible and relevant to PWDs,\u201d said Vincenzo Bollettino, program director of the HHI Resilient Communities Program and co-lead of the study.\n\u201cIt is important that future research focuses on illuminating the specific kinds of barriers PWDs face in preparing for disasters and identifies the kinds of interventions that contribute best to PWD disaster resilience,\u201d he said in the same press statement. \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2024-12-03T20:41:02+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-12-03T20:41:02+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pwd-philstar.jpg", "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "The Nation" ] }, { "id": "/?p=638957", "url": "/podcast/2024/12/03/638957/b-side-podcast-addressing-electoral-reforms-key-priorities-for-the-philippines/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Addressing electoral reforms: Key priorities for the Philippines", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side
\nWOMEN in their 40s and 50s should prioritize strengthening their overall health as they transition to their later years, according to a medical expert.
\nThe risk for heart and bone disease rises after menopause, or the stage when a woman\u2019s menstruation ceases, said Annebelle D. Aherrera, an obstetrician-gynecologist.
\n\u201cOsteoporosis [a disease that weakens one\u2019s bones] is the single most important health hazard for women past menopause,\u201d Ms. Aherrera said at a Nov. 20 event by Pro Age Beauty, a company that provides wellness products for perimenopausal and menopausal women.
\nThe female hormone estrogen, which helps prevent bones from getting weaker by slowing their natural breakdown, decreases during menopause.
\nEstrogen, Ms. Aherrera said, also has a protective effect on the heart, which is why the risk for a heart attack or stroke increases when its levels fall.
\nWomen would benefit from intensifying cardiovascular prevention efforts in the years leading up to menopause, also said JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital.
\n\u201cThat stage of life is a window of opportunity for making lifestyle changes,\u201d she said in a February 2023 post by the American Heart Association.
\nThe most effective ways to prevent heart disease include physical activity, a healthy diet, a healthy weight, good sleep, and smoking cessation. It also involves keeping one\u2019s cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels under control.
\nConversations surrounding menopause should be normalized, according to Pro Age Beauty founder Claudine F. Viquiera.
\nMs. Viquiera said that \u2014 despite growing up in a household with nine daughters \u2014 menopause wasn\u2019t discussed like menarche (the onset of menses) was.
\nThe company\u2019s social media communities and products were created specifically for women in this demographic, she said at the Nov. 20 event.
\nHave a better perspective about aging, Ms. Aherrera told the event audience.
\nThis, she said, includes accepting each and every life stage as normal.
\n\u201cRemain active, create positive life changes, and cultivate better relationships,\u201d she added. \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "WOMEN in their 40s and 50s should prioritize strengthening their overall health as they transition to their later years, according to a medical expert.\nThe risk for heart and bone disease rises after menopause, or the stage when a woman\u2019s menstruation ceases, said Annebelle D. Aherrera, an obstetrician-gynecologist.\n\u201cOsteoporosis [a disease that weakens one\u2019s bones] is the single most important health hazard for women past menopause,\u201d Ms. Aherrera said at a Nov. 20 event by Pro Age Beauty, a company that provides wellness products for perimenopausal and menopausal women.\nThe female hormone estrogen, which helps prevent bones from getting weaker by slowing their natural breakdown, decreases during menopause.\nEstrogen, Ms. Aherrera said, also has a protective effect on the heart, which is why the risk for a heart attack or stroke increases when its levels fall.\nWomen would benefit from intensifying cardiovascular prevention efforts in the years leading up to menopause, also said JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital.\n\u201cThat stage of life is a window of opportunity for making lifestyle changes,\u201d she said in a February 2023 post by the American Heart Association.\nThe most effective ways to prevent heart disease include physical activity, a healthy diet, a healthy weight, good sleep, and smoking cessation. It also involves keeping one\u2019s cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels under control.\nConversations surrounding menopause should be normalized, according to Pro Age Beauty founder Claudine F. Viquiera.\nMs. Viquiera said that \u2014 despite growing up in a household with nine daughters \u2014 menopause wasn\u2019t discussed like menarche (the onset of menses) was.\nThe company\u2019s social media communities and products were created specifically for women in this demographic, she said at the Nov. 20 event.\nHave a better perspective about aging, Ms. Aherrera told the event audience.\nThis, she said, includes accepting each and every life stage as normal.\n\u201cRemain active, create positive life changes, and cultivate better relationships,\u201d she added. \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2024-11-25T20:27:51+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-25T20:27:51+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Women-yoga-mental-health-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "The Nation" ] }, { "id": "/?p=635588", "url": "/special-features/2024/11/18/635588/companies-can-make-customers-ambassadors-of-sustainability-hospitality-expert-says/", "title": "Companies can make customers ambassadors of sustainability, hospitality expert says", "content_html": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer
\nCompanies that communicate their sustainability efforts enable their customers to become ambassadors of sustainability, according to a hospitality expert.
\nSmall changes in everyday operations can have a big impact in the environment, said Barun Jolly, senior vice-president of Robinsons Land Corp. and business unit general manager of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR).
\nA towel, as he pointed out in an interview on Oct. 18, takes eight liters of water to wash.
\n\u201cBe it in water, be it in linen, we are telling the guest what the impact is and how they can be part of it,\u201d he told 大象传媒 at the sidelines of the publication\u2019s forum with The Freeman. \u201cIn our linen reuse program, for example, we don\u2019t want to not change the linen and not let the guest be aware about it.\u201d
\nThe point of the linen reuse information cards in every room, he added, is to give the customer the choice of whether or not they need new towels or sheets, thus allowing them to take part in the advocacy.
\nRHR focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on good health and well-being (3), affordable and clean energy (7), sustainable cities and communities (11), responsible consumption and production (12), climate action (13), life below water (14), and life on land (15).
\nClimate change is an area where the Philippines is regressing, according to Edwine Carrie, deputy resident representative of United Nations Development Programme Philippines, in said forum.
\n\u201cAlthough the Philippines is in an upward trajectory, climate change is the main challenge,\u201d he said at the event. \u201cIt could impact its ambition to be upper income in the region.\u201d
\nThe impacts of climate change reduce a country\u2019s ability to advance SDGs, noted the 2024 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report.
\nRHR\u2019s sustainability efforts for 2024, Mr. Jolly also said, include an Earth Hour activity that resulted in a 0.39 reduction in greenhouse gas emission, as well as a water bottling plant in five of its hotels that decreased single-use plastic bottle use by 8.1 tons per year.
\nThe organization is also looking into variable frequency drives \u2014 a motor controller that drives an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage of its power supply \u2014 as an energy-saving tool.
\nAir-conditioning and heating carry the biggest impact in a hotel\u2019s energy consumption, Mr. Jolly said.
\n\u201cIf a ballroom only has 100 people, [the technology] will adjust the cooling temperature so you\u2019re not overcooling the area,\u201d he said. \u201cThat can reduce 20%-30% of consumption.\u201d
\nThe initiatives extend to its workforce through the company\u2019s internal sustainability awards, Mr. Jolly added.
\n\u201cWe hope our efforts inspire people… to be more attuned to green and sustainable energy,\u201d he said.
\n", "content_text": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Multimedia Producer\nCompanies that communicate their sustainability efforts enable their customers to become ambassadors of sustainability, according to a hospitality expert.\nSmall changes in everyday operations can have a big impact in the environment, said Barun Jolly, senior vice-president of Robinsons Land Corp. and business unit general manager of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR).\nA towel, as he pointed out in an interview on Oct. 18, takes eight liters of water to wash.\n\u201cBe it in water, be it in linen, we are telling the guest what the impact is and how they can be part of it,\u201d he told 大象传媒 at the sidelines of the publication\u2019s forum with The Freeman. \u201cIn our linen reuse program, for example, we don\u2019t want to not change the linen and not let the guest be aware about it.\u201d\nThe point of the linen reuse information cards in every room, he added, is to give the customer the choice of whether or not they need new towels or sheets, thus allowing them to take part in the advocacy.\nRHR focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on good health and well-being (3), affordable and clean energy (7), sustainable cities and communities (11), responsible consumption and production (12), climate action (13), life below water (14), and life on land (15).\nClimate change is an area where the Philippines is regressing, according to Edwine Carrie, deputy resident representative of United Nations Development Programme Philippines, in said forum.\n\u201cAlthough the Philippines is in an upward trajectory, climate change is the main challenge,\u201d he said at the event. \u201cIt could impact its ambition to be upper income in the region.\u201d\nThe impacts of climate change reduce a country\u2019s ability to advance SDGs, noted the 2024 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report.\nRHR\u2019s sustainability efforts for 2024, Mr. Jolly also said, include an Earth Hour activity that resulted in a 0.39 reduction in greenhouse gas emission, as well as a water bottling plant in five of its hotels that decreased single-use plastic bottle use by 8.1 tons per year.\nThe organization is also looking into variable frequency drives \u2014 a motor controller that drives an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage of its power supply \u2014 as an energy-saving tool.\nAir-conditioning and heating carry the biggest impact in a hotel\u2019s energy consumption, Mr. Jolly said.\n\u201cIf a ballroom only has 100 people, [the technology] will adjust the cooling temperature so you\u2019re not overcooling the area,\u201d he said. \u201cThat can reduce 20%-30% of consumption.\u201d\nThe initiatives extend to its workforce through the company\u2019s internal sustainability awards, Mr. Jolly added.\n\u201cWe hope our efforts inspire people… to be more attuned to green and sustainable energy,\u201d he said.", "date_published": "2024-11-18T00:25:00+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-12-04T16:19:46+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentrierikafurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7694c3bf97a39eb1cd7ccb0dae2a72fd7a4d806b2c002d13f8f2b64054d707d0?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/rgentrierikafurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7694c3bf97a39eb1cd7ccb0dae2a72fd7a4d806b2c002d13f8f2b64054d707d0?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Fireside-Barun-Jolly_2-OL.jpg", "tags": [ "Barun Jolly", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "ROBINSONS Hotels and Resorts", "Robinsons Land Corp.", "Sustainability", "Special Features" ] }, { "id": "/?p=635123", "url": "/the-nation/2024/11/14/635123/phl-among-asian-countries-with-highest-medical-trend-rates/", "title": "PHL among Asian countries with highest medical trend rates", "content_html": "THE PHILIPPINES, together with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, have reported the highest medical trend rates in Asia, according to the 2025 Health Trends report of Mercer Marsh Benefits, a global company that builds benefits strategies for workplaces.
\nPer the report, more than half of the markets see trend rates above 10% in 2024 and 2025. Asia leads at 13%, outpacing inflation by five times.
\nThe Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam have the highest medical trend rates at 21%, 19%, 15%, and 15%, respectively.
\nThe report defined medical trend as the year-on-year cost increase for claims under a medical plan on a per-person basis. The rate factored in medical inflation, altered treatment mix, utilization patterns, and regulatory changes.
\nThe insurers that were surveyed identified an increase in utilization due to a higher incidence of health conditions (81%), ongoing medical inflation (73%), and changes to more expensive or advanced treatments (73%) as the key contributing factors in the region.
\nPersistent medical inflation (80%), in comparison, remains the chief driving factor worldwide.
\nThe trends shaping employer-sponsored health plans in Asia, the report also said, are cancer as a major source of claims; a lag in deploying new techniques to maintain affordable plans; and gaps in what employees value against what insurers cover.
\nOnly 26% of insurers in Asia offer preventive screenings by default, compared to 43% globally.
\nMoreover, while over 40% of the workforce value more support for reproductive health, less than 5% of insurers provide it by default.\u00a0 \u00a0
\nFindings from a 2021 Small Business Trends survey by Guidant and the Small Business Trends Alliance suggested that \u2014 to make employees stay in the company \u2014 businesses should ensure that health benefits are competitive within the industry. This, the survey found, evokes a sense of security in the workplace over the larger competition.
\nThe disparities between insurers and employees in Asia, the Mercer Marsh Benefits report said, requires ongoing dialogues with advisors and insurers so offerings remain relevant and competitive. \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "THE PHILIPPINES, together with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, have reported the highest medical trend rates in Asia, according to the 2025 Health Trends report of Mercer Marsh Benefits, a global company that builds benefits strategies for workplaces.\nPer the report, more than half of the markets see trend rates above 10% in 2024 and 2025. Asia leads at 13%, outpacing inflation by five times.\nThe Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam have the highest medical trend rates at 21%, 19%, 15%, and 15%, respectively.\nThe report defined medical trend as the year-on-year cost increase for claims under a medical plan on a per-person basis. The rate factored in medical inflation, altered treatment mix, utilization patterns, and regulatory changes. \nThe insurers that were surveyed identified an increase in utilization due to a higher incidence of health conditions (81%), ongoing medical inflation (73%), and changes to more expensive or advanced treatments (73%) as the key contributing factors in the region.\nPersistent medical inflation (80%), in comparison, remains the chief driving factor worldwide.\nThe trends shaping employer-sponsored health plans in Asia, the report also said, are cancer as a major source of claims; a lag in deploying new techniques to maintain affordable plans; and gaps in what employees value against what insurers cover.\nOnly 26% of insurers in Asia offer preventive screenings by default, compared to 43% globally.\nMoreover, while over 40% of the workforce value more support for reproductive health, less than 5% of insurers provide it by default.\u00a0 \u00a0\nFindings from a 2021 Small Business Trends survey by Guidant and the Small Business Trends Alliance suggested that \u2014 to make employees stay in the company \u2014 businesses should ensure that health benefits are competitive within the industry. This, the survey found, evokes a sense of security in the workplace over the larger competition.\nThe disparities between insurers and employees in Asia, the Mercer Marsh Benefits report said, requires ongoing dialogues with advisors and insurers so offerings remain relevant and competitive. \u2014 Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2024-11-14T21:06:11+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-14T21:06:11+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Hospital-operating-room-health-worker.jpg", "tags": [ "Patricia B. Mirasol", "The Nation" ] }, { "id": "/?p=633722", "url": "/the-nation/2024/11/08/633722/disaster-preparedness-of-filipinos-increased-but-needs-more-improvement-2024-harvard-survey/", "title": "Disaster preparedness of Filipinos increased, but needs more improvement \u2013 2024 Harvard survey", "content_html": "Filipinos are more prepared for natural disasters than they were seven years ago, but material investments and social support still needs improvement, according to a nationwide survey conducted between February to March 2024 by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI).\u00a0
\nOn average, Filipinos\u2019 self-reported disaster preparedness level increased by 42%, as revealed by the HHI survey on disaster preparedness and climate change perceptions in the Philippines.\u00a0
\nThe average score – 19.2 out of 50 points \u2013 was an improvement over the 13.5 out of 50 gleaned in a 2017 study conducted by HHI using the same methodology and instrument.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cFor a country as vulnerable to disasters as the Philippines, [however,] this is not enough,\u201d Vincenzo Bollettino, director of the HHI Resilient Communities program and co-lead for this study, said.\u00a0
\n\u201cA score of 19.2 highlights both progress and areas needing urgent attention,\u201d he said in a November 7 press statement.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe score suggests that Filipinos are only doing 38.4% of the kinds of disaster preparedness activities needed to be prepared,\u201d he added.\u00a0
\nAmong the five objective measures of disaster preparedness, Filipinos scored highest in information (4.9 out of 10) and lowest in social support (2.3 out of 10).\u00a0\u00a0
\nIn terms of specific social support activities, less than a quarter of Filipinos are members of a group or association (23%) and are familiar with their local disaster risk reduction and management officers (16%).\u00a0\u00a0
\nSocial support also declined to 2.3 in 2024 from 2.7 out of 10 in 2017.\u00a0
\nWhile many Filipinos discuss emergency plans as a family (58%), less than a third prepare their respective disaster management plan (20%), Go bag (27%), adequate supplies of regularly taken medications (32%), and first aid kit (33%).\u00a0
\nRegions-wise, the Cordillera Administrative Region (24.0 out of 50), Central Visayas (21.5), and Western Visayas (21.4) reported the highest levels of preparedness. Davao Region (17.3), Negros Island (15.8), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM (15.1), on the other hand, reported the lowest levels of such preparedness.\u00a0\u00a0
\nThe Philippine capital of Metro Manila ranked 11th in level of disaster preparedness (19.1) and slightly below the national average (19.2). It is also one of the regions with the least progress in disaster preparedness over time, with an increase in preparedness score by 22%, or 3.4 points from 15.7 in 2017.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe [National Capital Region] is the heart of the Philippine economy and home for a significant part of the country\u2019s population, yet it is routinely hit by natural hazards,\u201d Mr. Bollettino said. \u201cIncreasing its disaster preparedness is crucial.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe Philippines has the highest disaster risk in the world, based on the 2024 WorldRiskReport.\u00a0
\nAs Patrick Vinck, HHI\u2019s director of research, said: \u201cenhancing the Philippines’ disaster preparedness requires investing in local leadership and leveraging technology to improve early warning systems and community engagement, among other critical measures.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cThis should be accompanied by investments in resilient infrastructures, local capacities, and anticipatory actions,\u201d he said in the same November 7 press statement. – Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "Filipinos are more prepared for natural disasters than they were seven years ago, but material investments and social support still needs improvement, according to a nationwide survey conducted between February to March 2024 by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI).\u00a0\nOn average, Filipinos\u2019 self-reported disaster preparedness level increased by 42%, as revealed by the HHI survey on disaster preparedness and climate change perceptions in the Philippines.\u00a0\nThe average score – 19.2 out of 50 points \u2013 was an improvement over the 13.5 out of 50 gleaned in a 2017 study conducted by HHI using the same methodology and instrument.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cFor a country as vulnerable to disasters as the Philippines, [however,] this is not enough,\u201d Vincenzo Bollettino, director of the HHI Resilient Communities program and co-lead for this study, said.\u00a0\n\u201cA score of 19.2 highlights both progress and areas needing urgent attention,\u201d he said in a November 7 press statement.\u00a0\n\u201cThe score suggests that Filipinos are only doing 38.4% of the kinds of disaster preparedness activities needed to be prepared,\u201d he added.\u00a0\nAmong the five objective measures of disaster preparedness, Filipinos scored highest in information (4.9 out of 10) and lowest in social support (2.3 out of 10).\u00a0\u00a0\nIn terms of specific social support activities, less than a quarter of Filipinos are members of a group or association (23%) and are familiar with their local disaster risk reduction and management officers (16%).\u00a0\u00a0\nSocial support also declined to 2.3 in 2024 from 2.7 out of 10 in 2017.\u00a0\nWhile many Filipinos discuss emergency plans as a family (58%), less than a third prepare their respective disaster management plan (20%), Go bag (27%), adequate supplies of regularly taken medications (32%), and first aid kit (33%).\u00a0\nRegions-wise, the Cordillera Administrative Region (24.0 out of 50), Central Visayas (21.5), and Western Visayas (21.4) reported the highest levels of preparedness. Davao Region (17.3), Negros Island (15.8), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM (15.1), on the other hand, reported the lowest levels of such preparedness.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe Philippine capital of Metro Manila ranked 11th in level of disaster preparedness (19.1) and slightly below the national average (19.2). It is also one of the regions with the least progress in disaster preparedness over time, with an increase in preparedness score by 22%, or 3.4 points from 15.7 in 2017.\u00a0\n\u201cThe [National Capital Region] is the heart of the Philippine economy and home for a significant part of the country\u2019s population, yet it is routinely hit by natural hazards,\u201d Mr. Bollettino said. \u201cIncreasing its disaster preparedness is crucial.\u201d\u00a0\nThe Philippines has the highest disaster risk in the world, based on the 2024 WorldRiskReport.\u00a0\nAs Patrick Vinck, HHI\u2019s director of research, said: \u201cenhancing the Philippines’ disaster preparedness requires investing in local leadership and leveraging technology to improve early warning systems and community engagement, among other critical measures.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThis should be accompanied by investments in resilient infrastructures, local capacities, and anticipatory actions,\u201d he said in the same November 7 press statement. – Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2024-11-08T16:04:39+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-08T21:37:16+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Flood-Stranded-commuters-wc.jpg", "tags": [ "climate change", "disaster risk reduction", "disasters", "Harvard Humanitarian Initiative", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Patricia Mirasol", "Philippines", "preparedness", "Science and Environment", "The Nation" ] }, { "id": "/?p=633719", "url": "/health/2024/11/08/633719/reformulated-filipino-lechon-and-banana-sauces-get-approval-for-us-market/", "title": "Reformulated Filipino lechon and banana sauces get approval for US market", "content_html": "Mang Tomas lechon sauce, UFC banana sauce, and Jufran specialty sauces have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to resume shipment into the United States, as announced by Nutri-Asia, Inc., the Philippine manufacturer of the products, on November 7.\u00a0
\nOn November 4, a social media post by vlogger Cabalen Foodie went viral, noting the temporary halt in shipments of such sauces to the US.
\n\nThe US FDA issued import alert No. 99-45 on October 25 on products that are or contain unsafe food additives.\u00a0
\nAmong the ingredients found in Philippine-made products were Benzoate, a preservative that has a negative impact on gut microbiome; BHA, another preservative with carcinogenic potential; and Potassium Iodate, a dough strengthener that interferes with thyroid functions in high doses.\u00a0
\nOther Philippine companies whose products had been flagged were Heinz UFC Philippines Inc. and HDR FOODS CORPORATION.\u00a0
\nManufacturers need to \u201cadequately demonstrate that the firm has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation\u201d to have their products removed from the Red List.\u00a0
\nNutriAsia ensures that its products are compliant with the regulatory requirements in the countries they are exported to, the company said.\u00a0
\n\u201cIn the Philippines, food products are legally required to use [the food additive] Potassium Iodate, while the US FDA just very recently announced new requirements around this ingredient,\u201d the statement read. \u201cAs such, the discussion around Potassium Iodate today is not a safety issue but rather a regulatory requirement which varies by country.\u201d\u00a0
\nThe company has since reformulated its products and has gained approval for release in the US market. – Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "Mang Tomas lechon sauce, UFC banana sauce, and Jufran specialty sauces have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to resume shipment into the United States, as announced by Nutri-Asia, Inc., the Philippine manufacturer of the products, on November 7.\u00a0\nOn November 4, a social media post by vlogger Cabalen Foodie went viral, noting the temporary halt in shipments of such sauces to the US.\n\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff\nThe US FDA issued import alert No. 99-45 on October 25 on products that are or contain unsafe food additives.\u00a0\nAmong the ingredients found in Philippine-made products were Benzoate, a preservative that has a negative impact on gut microbiome; BHA, another preservative with carcinogenic potential; and Potassium Iodate, a dough strengthener that interferes with thyroid functions in high doses.\u00a0\nOther Philippine companies whose products had been flagged were Heinz UFC Philippines Inc. and HDR FOODS CORPORATION.\u00a0\nManufacturers need to \u201cadequately demonstrate that the firm has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation\u201d to have their products removed from the Red List.\u00a0\nNutriAsia ensures that its products are compliant with the regulatory requirements in the countries they are exported to, the company said.\u00a0\n\u201cIn the Philippines, food products are legally required to use [the food additive] Potassium Iodate, while the US FDA just very recently announced new requirements around this ingredient,\u201d the statement read. \u201cAs such, the discussion around Potassium Iodate today is not a safety issue but rather a regulatory requirement which varies by country.\u201d\u00a0\nThe company has since reformulated its products and has gained approval for release in the US market. – Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2024-11-08T15:49:54+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-11T08:42:18+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/nutri-asia-logo.jpg", "tags": [ "FDA", "mang thomas", "nuitri-asia", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "ufc banana catsup", "United States", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=632460", "url": "/podcast/2024/11/04/632460/b-side-podcast-amplifying-brands-leveraging-podcasts-for-business-growth/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Amplifying brands: leveraging podcasts for business growth", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side
\nHow can podcasting help businesses in terms of brand management, community building, and thought leadership? In this episode, 大象传媒 speaks with Ron Baetiong, the founder and CEO of Podcast Network Asia, about the impact podcasting can have for businesses who get into this digital medium.
\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol
\nAudio editing by Jayson Mari\u00f1as
Follow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side\nHow can podcasting help businesses in terms of brand management, community building, and thought leadership? In this episode, 大象传媒 speaks with Ron Baetiong, the founder and CEO of Podcast Network Asia, about the impact podcasting can have for businesses who get into this digital medium.\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol\nAudio editing by Jayson Mari\u00f1as\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0大象传媒 B-Side", "date_published": "2024-11-04T10:52:01+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-12-03T17:03:35+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/B-Side-Art-Amplifying-Brands-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "brand management", "community building", "Jayson Mari\u00f1as", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Patricia Mirasol", "Podcast Network Asia", "podcasting", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "/?p=632445", "url": "/technology/2024/11/04/632445/empower-filipinos-of-all-ages-and-levels-to-maximize-ai-use/", "title": "Empower Filipinos of all ages and levels to maximize AI use \u2013 DOST", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nIn order to maximize artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool, Filipinos from every age and every level of society will need to be capacitated on its use, experts say.\u00a0
\nFranz A. de Leon, director of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST)’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute, said that it is best to start capacity building at an early age.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe interest in science, math, etc… if it\u2019s just at the university level, it might be too late,\u201d he said at the second day of the AI Horizons PH 2024 conference. \u201cWe want to engage the youth.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cThe more we diffuse this technology to the very least of our citizens, the more they can gain from it,\u201d also said Enrico C. Paringit, executive director of the DoST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe reason why ChatGPT [an AI model that’s designed to generate human-like text based on the input it receives] is so ubiquitous is because it\u2019s so accessible,\u201d he told the audience of the same October 25 event.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cIt must have that type of accessibility,\u201d he added, \u201cto achieve the type of impact that you want.\u201d\u00a0
\nWith 189 scientists per million people, the Philippines has lower than the UNESCO recommendation of 380 per million.\u00a0
\nThe DoST has been creating 21st century learning environment models (CLEM) since 2018 to help meet the demand for such professionals.\u00a0
\nThe 21st century CLEM is a school-based classroom setup equipped with technologies such as robotics, three-dimensional modelling and printing, and virtual and augmented reality. It aims to promote teaching and learning skills and is intended as a support system to the education department\u2019s K-12 curriculum.\u00a0
\nThe 16th and latest one was launched on October 14 in Cavite\u2019s Angelo L. Loyola Senior High School.\u00a0
\nThe bulk of the investment is from the local government unit, which situates the facility in schools that are managed by the Department of Education, explained Albert G. Mari\u00f1o, director III of DoST\u2019s Science Education Institute (SEI).\u00a0
\n\u201cParati namin inu-update yung mga resources dito (We update the resources in these classrooms),\u201d he said at the October 14 launch. \u201cKung anong ma-develop naming bago, nilalagay po namin dito (We always incorporate whatever new technology we develop).\u201d\u00a0
\nStudents who qualify for SEI\u2019s undergraduate scholarship program can join the roster of the country\u2019s scientists, researchers, and engineers, he said.\u00a0
\n\u201cYan kailangan ng ating bansa dahil sila yung nagiisip ng new knowledge at nagde-develop ng new technologies (This is what the country needs, because it\u2019s the scientists, researchers, and engineers that discover new knowledge and develop new technologies),\u201d he added.\u00a0\u00a0
\nChildren nowadays have an \u201ceasy grasp of technology,\u201d Mr. De Leon said at AI Horizons PH 2024. \u201cIf we can do some intervention and engage them from the start, that would be good.\u201d\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nIn order to maximize artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool, Filipinos from every age and every level of society will need to be capacitated on its use, experts say.\u00a0\nFranz A. de Leon, director of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST)’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute, said that it is best to start capacity building at an early age.\u00a0\n\u201cThe interest in science, math, etc… if it\u2019s just at the university level, it might be too late,\u201d he said at the second day of the AI Horizons PH 2024 conference. \u201cWe want to engage the youth.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThe more we diffuse this technology to the very least of our citizens, the more they can gain from it,\u201d also said Enrico C. Paringit, executive director of the DoST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.\u00a0\n\u201cThe reason why ChatGPT [an AI model that’s designed to generate human-like text based on the input it receives] is so ubiquitous is because it\u2019s so accessible,\u201d he told the audience of the same October 25 event.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cIt must have that type of accessibility,\u201d he added, \u201cto achieve the type of impact that you want.\u201d\u00a0\nWith 189 scientists per million people, the Philippines has lower than the UNESCO recommendation of 380 per million.\u00a0\nThe DoST has been creating 21st century learning environment models (CLEM) since 2018 to help meet the demand for such professionals.\u00a0\nThe 21st century CLEM is a school-based classroom setup equipped with technologies such as robotics, three-dimensional modelling and printing, and virtual and augmented reality. It aims to promote teaching and learning skills and is intended as a support system to the education department\u2019s K-12 curriculum.\u00a0\nThe 16th and latest one was launched on October 14 in Cavite\u2019s Angelo L. Loyola Senior High School.\u00a0\nThe bulk of the investment is from the local government unit, which situates the facility in schools that are managed by the Department of Education, explained Albert G. Mari\u00f1o, director III of DoST\u2019s Science Education Institute (SEI).\u00a0\n\u201cParati namin inu-update yung mga resources dito (We update the resources in these classrooms),\u201d he said at the October 14 launch. \u201cKung anong ma-develop naming bago, nilalagay po namin dito (We always incorporate whatever new technology we develop).\u201d\u00a0\nStudents who qualify for SEI\u2019s undergraduate scholarship program can join the roster of the country\u2019s scientists, researchers, and engineers, he said.\u00a0\n\u201cYan kailangan ng ating bansa dahil sila yung nagiisip ng new knowledge at nagde-develop ng new technologies (This is what the country needs, because it\u2019s the scientists, researchers, and engineers that discover new knowledge and develop new technologies),\u201d he added.\u00a0\u00a0\nChildren nowadays have an \u201ceasy grasp of technology,\u201d Mr. De Leon said at AI Horizons PH 2024. \u201cIf we can do some intervention and engage them from the start, that would be good.\u201d\u00a0", "date_published": "2024-11-04T10:26:28+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-04T10:30:31+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AI-artificial-intelligence-eye-iris.jpg", "tags": [ "Artificial intelligence", "clem", "DoST", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Youth", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "/?p=632442", "url": "/health/2024/11/04/632442/interoperability-a-key-component-in-digital-health/", "title": "Interoperability a key component in digital health", "content_html": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nData integration and systems interoperability are key components in the digital transformation of healthcare, according to experts speaking at an international symposium by The Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) and the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL).\u00a0
\nElectronic health records (EHRs) exist in the Philippines, but \u201cEHR data is not collected and curated in a way that is optimized for learning health systems (LHS),\u201d said Dr. Iris Isip-Tan, a professor at the University of the Philippines Manila\u2019s College of Medicine.\u00a0
\nAn LHS creates a feedback loop of ongoing improvement in healthcare by using data from healthcare encounters. A 2021 BMC Health Services Research publication notes that EHRs are important to an LHS because they provide the data needed to drive this improvement.\u00a0
\n\u201cThere’s acceptance among clinicians in digital systems,\u201d Dr. Tan said at the symposium on October 30. \u201cThe barrier is infrastructure in terms of data connectivity in our islands.\u201d\u00a0
\nGood outputs need good data, according to Carmencita D. Padilla, a national scientist and a member of the health sciences division of NAST PHL.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe issue of interoperability is very important if you want to fast-track the issue of integration of data,\u201d she said.\u00a0
\n\u201cYou have to strategically plan and include budget for it [the digitalization of the healthcare process] in your system,\u201d she added. \u201cThe primary source of funding should be the government, with the assistance of the private sector.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cThe cost of digital transformation should of course be done by the government,\u201d also said Dr. Ertugrul Kilic, a member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences.\u00a0
\nTurkey\u2019s entire healthcare process has been digitalized, Dr. Kilic shared in the same event.\u00a0
\nThe e-Nabiz Personal Health System, for one, has enabled the country\u2019s citizens to access their digital health records since 2015. It draws information from \u2013 among others – over 1500 hospitals and 9000 medical centers.\u00a0
\nTurkey’s digital transformation roadmap – which began in 2004 with its Health Information Systems Action Plan – includes the centralization of health data in 2008, as well as the launch of a communications center in 2016 that provides video translation for those with hearing impairment.\u00a0
\nYounger generations need to be aware of the world\u2019s pressing health problems, advised Narinder Mehra, a professor and the vice president of international affairs of India\u2019s National Academy of Sciences.\u00a0
\nAmong these global issues are air pollution and antimicrobial resistance, of which climate change can act as a catalyst.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cWe need to change the narrative: from the threat of climate change, [let\u2019s shift the focus] to a healthier future through climate action,\u201d Mr. Mehra said.\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nData integration and systems interoperability are key components in the digital transformation of healthcare, according to experts speaking at an international symposium by The Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) and the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL).\u00a0\nElectronic health records (EHRs) exist in the Philippines, but \u201cEHR data is not collected and curated in a way that is optimized for learning health systems (LHS),\u201d said Dr. Iris Isip-Tan, a professor at the University of the Philippines Manila\u2019s College of Medicine.\u00a0\nAn LHS creates a feedback loop of ongoing improvement in healthcare by using data from healthcare encounters. A 2021 BMC Health Services Research publication notes that EHRs are important to an LHS because they provide the data needed to drive this improvement.\u00a0\n\u201cThere’s acceptance among clinicians in digital systems,\u201d Dr. Tan said at the symposium on October 30. \u201cThe barrier is infrastructure in terms of data connectivity in our islands.\u201d\u00a0\nGood outputs need good data, according to Carmencita D. Padilla, a national scientist and a member of the health sciences division of NAST PHL.\u00a0\n\u201cThe issue of interoperability is very important if you want to fast-track the issue of integration of data,\u201d she said.\u00a0\n\u201cYou have to strategically plan and include budget for it [the digitalization of the healthcare process] in your system,\u201d she added. \u201cThe primary source of funding should be the government, with the assistance of the private sector.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThe cost of digital transformation should of course be done by the government,\u201d also said Dr. Ertugrul Kilic, a member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences.\u00a0\nTurkey\u2019s entire healthcare process has been digitalized, Dr. Kilic shared in the same event.\u00a0\nThe e-Nabiz Personal Health System, for one, has enabled the country\u2019s citizens to access their digital health records since 2015. It draws information from \u2013 among others – over 1500 hospitals and 9000 medical centers.\u00a0\nTurkey’s digital transformation roadmap – which began in 2004 with its Health Information Systems Action Plan – includes the centralization of health data in 2008, as well as the launch of a communications center in 2016 that provides video translation for those with hearing impairment.\u00a0\nYounger generations need to be aware of the world\u2019s pressing health problems, advised Narinder Mehra, a professor and the vice president of international affairs of India\u2019s National Academy of Sciences.\u00a0\nAmong these global issues are air pollution and antimicrobial resistance, of which climate change can act as a catalyst.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cWe need to change the narrative: from the threat of climate change, [let\u2019s shift the focus] to a healthier future through climate action,\u201d Mr. Mehra said.\u00a0", "date_published": "2024-11-04T10:17:41+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-04T10:17:41+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/medical-781422_1280.jpg", "tags": [ "digital health", "electronic medical records", "emr", "healthcare", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=631943", "url": "/health/2024/10/31/631943/ai-has-potential-to-reduce-inequity-in-philippine-healthcare/", "title": "AI has potential to reduce inequity in Philippine healthcare", "content_html": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer
\nDepending on how it\u2019s designed, artificial intelligence (AI) may be able to reduce inequities in Philippine healthcare, according to medical experts at the AI Horizons PH 2024 event.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe should…discover new ways to implement what we already know,\u201d said Dr. Antonio Miguel L. Dans, professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila\u2019s College of Medicine. \u00a0
\nAI isn\u2019t only for the rich, he said on day two of the conference by the University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe can increase the likelihood of reducing inequities…depending on how we design it,\u201d he said on October 25.\u00a0
\nIn its Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models, the World Health Organization highlighted the importance of developing AI technologies in a way that addresses biases, so health inequities are not perpetuated.\u00a0
\nThe guidelines, published in January 2024, also said AI technologies should be made accessible and affordable to all, particularly to the most vulnerable. \u00a0
\n\u201cLet\u2019s focus our research on narrowing the gap by discovering new ways of doing old things, like Efren, which is a new way of…checking on our patient,\u201d Dr. Dans said.\u00a0
\n\u201cIf that can be done for those with less, then it’s something that can actually help bridge the gap,\u201d he added.\u00a0
\nEfren is a chatbot that assesses diabetes distress (or the emotional response of living with diabetes) among Filipino patients.\u00a0
\nDiabetes distress can lead to adverse outcomes like reduced physical activity and less healthy eating, according to Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, professor 12 of UP Manila-College of Medicine\u2019s Medical Informatics Unit.\u00a0
\n\u201cI know firsthand that physicians may have limited time to assess diabetes distress,\u201d said Dr. Tan, whose team is designing the conversational agent.\u00a0
\n\u201cPatients may also not be expected to ask – nor wish to talk about – their emotional state,\u201d she said at the same event.\u00a0
\nFor the diabetes distress scale, moreover, \u201cthere are actual questions about the physician like \u2018Do you feel that your doctor does not take your concerns seriously enough?\u2019\u201d\u00a0
\nUnderpinning all AI endeavors such as Efren is data, a component of the Genomics Philippines Initiative, which will sequence the genomes of 25,000 Filipinos by 2030.\u00a0
\nFilipinos need their own database with their own genomes represented, according to Dr. Felicitas L. Lacbawan, executive director of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).\u00a0
\nThis, she said, will allow for a more precise and accurate interpretation of their test results.\u00a0
\n\u201cThe PGC is taking baby steps in transforming laboratory services towards accessible, affordable…genomics testing for Filipinos,\u201d she told the audience of the October 25 event.\u00a0
\n\u201cIf we can drive cost of sequencing down, we\u2019re happy with it,\u201d Dr. Lacbawan added.\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "By Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer\nDepending on how it\u2019s designed, artificial intelligence (AI) may be able to reduce inequities in Philippine healthcare, according to medical experts at the AI Horizons PH 2024 event.\u00a0\n\u201cWe should…discover new ways to implement what we already know,\u201d said Dr. Antonio Miguel L. Dans, professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila\u2019s College of Medicine. \u00a0\nAI isn\u2019t only for the rich, he said on day two of the conference by the University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City.\u00a0\n\u201cWe can increase the likelihood of reducing inequities…depending on how we design it,\u201d he said on October 25.\u00a0\nIn its Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models, the World Health Organization highlighted the importance of developing AI technologies in a way that addresses biases, so health inequities are not perpetuated.\u00a0\nThe guidelines, published in January 2024, also said AI technologies should be made accessible and affordable to all, particularly to the most vulnerable. \u00a0\n\u201cLet\u2019s focus our research on narrowing the gap by discovering new ways of doing old things, like Efren, which is a new way of…checking on our patient,\u201d Dr. Dans said.\u00a0\n\u201cIf that can be done for those with less, then it’s something that can actually help bridge the gap,\u201d he added.\u00a0\nEfren is a chatbot that assesses diabetes distress (or the emotional response of living with diabetes) among Filipino patients.\u00a0\nDiabetes distress can lead to adverse outcomes like reduced physical activity and less healthy eating, according to Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, professor 12 of UP Manila-College of Medicine\u2019s Medical Informatics Unit.\u00a0\n\u201cI know firsthand that physicians may have limited time to assess diabetes distress,\u201d said Dr. Tan, whose team is designing the conversational agent.\u00a0\n\u201cPatients may also not be expected to ask – nor wish to talk about – their emotional state,\u201d she said at the same event.\u00a0\nFor the diabetes distress scale, moreover, \u201cthere are actual questions about the physician like \u2018Do you feel that your doctor does not take your concerns seriously enough?\u2019\u201d\u00a0\nUnderpinning all AI endeavors such as Efren is data, a component of the Genomics Philippines Initiative, which will sequence the genomes of 25,000 Filipinos by 2030.\u00a0\nFilipinos need their own database with their own genomes represented, according to Dr. Felicitas L. Lacbawan, executive director of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).\u00a0\nThis, she said, will allow for a more precise and accurate interpretation of their test results.\u00a0\n\u201cThe PGC is taking baby steps in transforming laboratory services towards accessible, affordable…genomics testing for Filipinos,\u201d she told the audience of the October 25 event.\u00a0\n\u201cIf we can drive cost of sequencing down, we\u2019re happy with it,\u201d Dr. Lacbawan added.\u00a0", "date_published": "2024-10-31T12:40:38+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-10-31T12:40:38+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AI-artificial-intelligence-wc.jpg", "tags": [ "Artificial intelligence", "healthcare", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Philippines", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=630408", "url": "/health/2024/10/24/630408/philippines-achieves-immunization-milestone-no-longer-in-top-20-for-unvaccinated-children/", "title": "Philippines achieves immunization milestone, no longer in top 20 for unvaccinated children", "content_html": "The Philippines is no longer in the top five list of countries with unvaccinated children, according to an October 23 press statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines.\u00a0
\nIn 2020 to 2022, the Philippines ranked fifth in the world among countries with the most zero-dose children.\u00a0
\nThe 2023 WHO/UNICEF Immunization Coverage Estimates reported that the Philippines improved significantly and is no longer part of the top 20 countries, having reduced unvaccinated children to 163,000 from 1 million.\u00a0
\n\u201cThis milestone should fuel our resolve to vaccinate even more children, especially those who remain vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, diphtheria, and pertussis,\u201d said UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, in an October 23 press statement.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cUNICEF remains committed to support the government and its partners in sustaining this progress so that every child in the Philippines can live a healthy life,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\nAt risk still is polio, with 24 out of the country\u2019s 81 provinces still considered high-risk, the 2022-2023 WHO Polio Risk Assessment showed.\u00a0
\nThe country\u2019s weighted risk points nevertheless improved to 36 from the previous 39.\u00a0\u00a0
\nPolio, caused by a virus that affects the nervous system, can lead to paralysis in a matter of hours.\u00a0
\nThe Department of Health (DoH)\u2019s two-year immunization acceleration plan commits to achieving the status of fully immunized children to 90% by 2025.\u00a0
\n\u201cVaccination remains our strongest armor to protect children for life,\u201d said Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, a WHO representative, in the same press statement.\u00a0
\n\u201cTogether with the DoH and partners, our goal is a country and a world where no child is ever paralyzed by polio again, and the infrastructure and systems we\u2019ve built to fight it continue to benefit global health and ensure that children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,\u201d he added. – Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "The Philippines is no longer in the top five list of countries with unvaccinated children, according to an October 23 press statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines.\u00a0\nIn 2020 to 2022, the Philippines ranked fifth in the world among countries with the most zero-dose children.\u00a0\nThe 2023 WHO/UNICEF Immunization Coverage Estimates reported that the Philippines improved significantly and is no longer part of the top 20 countries, having reduced unvaccinated children to 163,000 from 1 million.\u00a0\n\u201cThis milestone should fuel our resolve to vaccinate even more children, especially those who remain vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, diphtheria, and pertussis,\u201d said UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, in an October 23 press statement.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cUNICEF remains committed to support the government and its partners in sustaining this progress so that every child in the Philippines can live a healthy life,\u201d he said.\u00a0\nAt risk still is polio, with 24 out of the country\u2019s 81 provinces still considered high-risk, the 2022-2023 WHO Polio Risk Assessment showed.\u00a0\nThe country\u2019s weighted risk points nevertheless improved to 36 from the previous 39.\u00a0\u00a0\nPolio, caused by a virus that affects the nervous system, can lead to paralysis in a matter of hours.\u00a0\nThe Department of Health (DoH)\u2019s two-year immunization acceleration plan commits to achieving the status of fully immunized children to 90% by 2025.\u00a0\n\u201cVaccination remains our strongest armor to protect children for life,\u201d said Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, a WHO representative, in the same press statement.\u00a0\n\u201cTogether with the DoH and partners, our goal is a country and a world where no child is ever paralyzed by polio again, and the infrastructure and systems we\u2019ve built to fight it continue to benefit global health and ensure that children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,\u201d he added. – Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2024-10-24T14:47:46+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-10-24T14:47:46+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/vaccine.jpg", "tags": [ "children", "doh", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "Philippines", "unicef", "vaccine", "WHO", "Health" ] }, { "id": "/?p=630406", "url": "/health/2024/10/24/630406/free-optometric-services-prescription-eyeglasses-to-be-included-in-philhealth-benefits/", "title": "Free optometric services, prescription eyeglasses to be included in PhilHealth benefits", "content_html": "The Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists (IPAO) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will finalize by November 2024 the coverage guidelines for the inclusion of free optometric services and prescription eyeglasses in PhilHealth\u2019s coverage.\u00a0
\nThis came on the heels of a commitment signed by health secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa and PhilHealth president and chief executive Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. in response to AGRI party list representative Wilbert T. Lee\u2019s interpellation at the Lower House\u2019s budget deliberations.\u00a0
\nFiled on March 5, House Resolution No. 1623 proposes the state health insurer include optometric services worth up to P4,000 in a benefit package.\u00a0
\n\u201cHR No. 1623 paved the way and advocated for Filipinos’ right to comprehensive optometric services and free prescription eyeglasses to improve productivity and reduce the financial burden of the Filipinos,\u201d said Dr. Charlie L. Ho, IPAO chairman, in an October 21 press statement.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cThe timelines are tight,\u201d he added, \u201cbut everyone is working to ensure that everything remains on track and that PhilHealth\u2019s coverage for preventive eye care and optometric services becomes successful and would benefit all its members.\u201d\u00a0
\nIPAO estimates that about 28 million Filipinos have presbyopia or farsightedness.\u00a0
\nThe 2018 Philippine Eye Disease Study showed that 9% of kindergartners are affected with visual impairment. The number rises to 16% by high school, with 90% of the cases being myopia or nearsightedness.\u00a0
\nThe April 2021 Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health report stated that 90% of vision loss can be prevented or treated if detected early.\u00a0
\nEye health is essential to achieving many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the commission said. It contributes to an individual\u2019s overall health and wellbeing, social inclusion, and quality of life.\u00a0
\n\u201cSeveral Filipinos visit their eye care professionals only when vision loss begins to manifest or when it\u2019s too late for any intervention,\u201d Dr. Ho said. “PhilHealth\u2019s expanded program to cover preventive optometric services and prescription eyeglasses comes very timely as it will benefit millions of Filipinos.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cIf we\u2019re talking about productivity, if we\u2019re talking about food security, we should also be addressing the eye problems of our countrymen, and consider this as a primary healthcare issue,\u201d Mr. Lee also said in his personal website. – Patricia B. Mirasol
\n", "content_text": "The Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists (IPAO) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will finalize by November 2024 the coverage guidelines for the inclusion of free optometric services and prescription eyeglasses in PhilHealth\u2019s coverage.\u00a0\nThis came on the heels of a commitment signed by health secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa and PhilHealth president and chief executive Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. in response to AGRI party list representative Wilbert T. Lee\u2019s interpellation at the Lower House\u2019s budget deliberations.\u00a0\nFiled on March 5, House Resolution No. 1623 proposes the state health insurer include optometric services worth up to P4,000 in a benefit package.\u00a0\n\u201cHR No. 1623 paved the way and advocated for Filipinos’ right to comprehensive optometric services and free prescription eyeglasses to improve productivity and reduce the financial burden of the Filipinos,\u201d said Dr. Charlie L. Ho, IPAO chairman, in an October 21 press statement.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cThe timelines are tight,\u201d he added, \u201cbut everyone is working to ensure that everything remains on track and that PhilHealth\u2019s coverage for preventive eye care and optometric services becomes successful and would benefit all its members.\u201d\u00a0\nIPAO estimates that about 28 million Filipinos have presbyopia or farsightedness.\u00a0\nThe 2018 Philippine Eye Disease Study showed that 9% of kindergartners are affected with visual impairment. The number rises to 16% by high school, with 90% of the cases being myopia or nearsightedness.\u00a0\nThe April 2021 Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health report stated that 90% of vision loss can be prevented or treated if detected early.\u00a0\nEye health is essential to achieving many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the commission said. It contributes to an individual\u2019s overall health and wellbeing, social inclusion, and quality of life.\u00a0\n\u201cSeveral Filipinos visit their eye care professionals only when vision loss begins to manifest or when it\u2019s too late for any intervention,\u201d Dr. Ho said. “PhilHealth\u2019s expanded program to cover preventive optometric services and prescription eyeglasses comes very timely as it will benefit millions of Filipinos.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cIf we\u2019re talking about productivity, if we\u2019re talking about food security, we should also be addressing the eye problems of our countrymen, and consider this as a primary healthcare issue,\u201d Mr. Lee also said in his personal website. – Patricia B. Mirasol", "date_published": "2024-10-24T14:30:47+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-10-24T14:30:47+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/eyeglasses.jpg", "tags": [ "eyeglasses", "ipao", "optometric", "Patricia B. Mirasol", "PhilHealth", "prescription", "Health" ] } ] }![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sonyas-Garden-1.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sonyas-Garden-2.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sonyas-Garden-3.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemuel-B.-Lucas-before-joining-Unilevers-Healthier-U-program-photo-courtesy-of-Lemuel-B.-Lucas.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemuel-B.-Lucas-after-joining-Unilevers-Healthier-U-program-photo-courtesy-of-Lemuel-B.-Lucas-1.jpg\")
\r\n