In these most uncertain times, how can companies grappling with an omnipresent pandemic and rapidly shifting market preferences survive and eve thrive beyond this global health crisis? Admittedly, there’s no single set of solutions that can address this as everything remains fluid and continues to change in so many unpredictable ways. However, there are certain…
Determination, perseverance and faith—in divine providence and in their own abilities to overcome obstacles—enabled 10 small entrepreneurs to preserve and grow their enterprises even during a protracted global health crisis. In virtual ceremonies, recipients of the 18th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) were honored for the resilience, courage and fortitude that enabled their enterprises to survive,…
The education sector is one of the many industries permanently altered by the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. Coursera responded to the sudden need to modify education systems by providing a flexible and inclusive online learning environment, which was widely accepted by people across the globe. In the Philippines, more than new learners were welcomed by Coursera…
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that wreaked havoc on the economy and the lives of millions, Filipino millennials and Gen Zs remain optimistic that the world will be able to conquer the crisis and emerge victorious, according to a recent study by Deloitte. According to Deloitte’s “2021 Global Millennial and Gen Z Survey,” 85 percent of…
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) is looking to establish king crab and oyster hatcheries in a town in Zamboanga Sibugay to develop the aquaculture industry in the region. MinDa chair Emmanuel Piñol said in a Facebook post on Thursday they were in talks with Iloilo-based Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (Seafdec) for the provision of…
In a recent online conference in Bangkok hosted by the World Spa & Wellness where I represented the Philippines, spa and wellness stakeholders from the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam shared one grim observation: the industry has been . In preparation for the country update that I had to do, I conducted a quick survey among…
We asked three CEOs from different industries what they expect from their marketers during (and eventually after) the COVID-19 crisis. These three CEOs — Aleli Arcilla, President and General Manager of Reckitt Benckiser Philippines (better known as the maker of Lysol, and Strepsils); Johnlu Koa, Founder and CEO of French Baker; and Jet Parma, President…
Carmen’s Best is riding the digitization wave and going into cyberspace. The premium Filipino ice cream has harnessed digital technology to turn its website, www.carmensbest.com, into a full-fledged electronic store (e-store). Founder and chief executive officer Francisco Magsaysay said, like most businesses, the 10-year-old artisanal ice cream business faced major challenges when the COVID-19 pandemic…
The pandemic has significantly changed people’s lives, especially in terms of shopping. As more consumers choose to stay indoors, they also increasingly turn to online platforms for their needs—a trend that will continue even as retail establishments restart operations. For a booming industry that is fast-growing in markets such as the Philippines and other nations…
Retail financial transactions executed through the central bank-backed national quick reaction (QR) code standard have increased dramatically in recent months as the pandemic pushed more people toward contactless payment schemes, according to the central bank. In an online briefing, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said person-to-person payments using the “QR Ph” system —…