While life in lockdown isn’t ideal, it is made bearable by one key thing: the internet. For many businesses in the Philippines—big, small and everything in between—the internet has enabled them to stay productive sans the physical office, and bounce back amid the pandemic. However, just because you are connected does not mean you have…
Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, holds the inaugural Shopee University Summit with the theme, “Equipping MSMEs for E-Commerce,” to help budding entrepreneurs capture e-commerce opportunities. This May 27, industry leaders, successful online sellers and top brands will share their knowledge and expertise to help online business owners utilize evolving digital…
Amid expectations of slower growth this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has committed to sustain its short-term financing arrangement with the national government and assist in economic recovery, Governor Benjamin Diokno said on Friday. At the Washington-based Institute of International Finance’s (IIF) 2021 Asia-Pacific Summit, Diokno said the BSP had already released P2…
Nurture’s president Cathy Turvill had always admired Raintree head honcho Annabel Wisniewski for the group’s world-class level of hotel and restaurant operations. Turvill admitted that despite positive customer feedback, Nurture’s food service needed an overhaul. This could only be accomplished by a hospitality industry veteran such as Raintree. After the long lockdown that resulted in…
In Taguig City, Uptown Mall’s “new normal” dining option features outdoor areas redesigned to resemble pocket parks. Uptown Food Hall has indoor tables, but due to the ever-changing quarantine classifications, the mall has created an extended alfresco area on the fourth floor complete with plants, wooden picnic tables, benches, fairy lights and chimes! The welcoming…
The Philippine economy is well positioned for a sharp rebound after the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to structural reforms implemented after previous crises, especially in the banking system, according to the country’s chief financial regulator. In particular, Philippine banks are strong enough to weather the downturn brought about by the COVID-19 crisis due to their sufficient…
The COVID-19 pandemic still has the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia firmly in its grip. But even then, enterprises in the region have begun preparing themselves for postcrisis growth. According to SAP’s regional study “Digital, resilient, and experience-driven: How enterprises in Southeast Asia can prepare for the new economy”, Southeast Asian firms are…
With the country still under some form of lockdown a year into the pandemic, people have had to find ways to celebrate or, at the very least, mark birthdays and milestones at home. By now, many are familiar with takeout, delivery and meal kits, but one company has gone beyond the expected and came up…
Given the restrictions and consequences imposed by the pandemic, it’s so easy to feel defeated. But Marvin Agustin’s successful food venture proves that with hard work and an ounce of hope, there’s no reason to be. Bored from being locked down at home, the actor-restaurateur took to baking, something he admitted to being initially intimidated…
It may take not just a village but collective institutional action to help local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and microfinance institutions (MFIs) overcome unprecedented challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. One silver lining is the growing digital connectivity that is helping more of these small players adapt to the “next” normal.This is according…