NEWS & ARTICLES

Henry, the managing director of a facade maintenance company based in Manila, was having a great day – until he walked into his client’s office. Instead of collecting a promised ₱3 million check, he was met with a casual apology. “You’ll have it next week,”...

It will be Women’s Month again and I cannot help but look back at our journey while promoting the brand and its ethos: great women. The meaning was a mouthful to say: Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women. And that spelled an...

Not many people refer to it as part of South Asia because India to many is a mystery. Many women directors, CEOs and entrepreneurs have put India in the back burner because they do not have the contacts, have never been to the sub-continent or...

Farmers are the backbone of our country’s food security aspirations. Assisting them, therefore, is not just warranted but expected. The only issue left unresolved is how best to accomplish the goal. Undoubtedly, one of the farmers’ urgent needs is affordable and accessible credit. During President...

When you hear of the terms AOC, DOC, DOCG, what comes to mind? French and Italian wines, cheese, and other produce that are priced at a premium. When you use the word “champagne” for any sparkling wine, be careful. “Champagne” can only be used for...

Last year brought significant challenges and developments for Philippine small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Access to financing remains an issue: banks only lent 4.52% of their loan portfolio to SMEs as of June 2024. In August and October, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reduced...

The nation is teetering on the brink of chaos. A fragile political ecosystem is under intense strain, especially with the scrutiny surrounding the 2025 national budget, which is laden with accusations of corruption. If not addressed with urgency and precision, this may reach a point...

How to manage finances and where to access capital, which are critical for sustainability, are questions often asked by business owners and leaders. In an earlier article featured in a MAP column, entitled “The Journey of MSMEs: Are we there yet?,” I cited limited financing and...

Government documents often sparkle with noble ideas. For example, AmBisyon 2040, a government manifesto spearheaded by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), portrays a life for Filipinos in 2040 that is matatag (resilient), maginhawa (comfortable), and panatag (peaceful). The manifesto’s 2040 goal is “a prosperous middle-class society where no one...