The protracted COVID-19 pandemic has radically shifted Filipinos’ preferences and priorities—perhaps even permanently—as they struggled to cope with the forced lockdowns and the realization that the COVID-19 disease is likely here to stay and cause sporadic outbreaks. This helps explain the marked increase in the demand since March of last year for real estate projects…
The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the resilience, flexibility and adaptability of the Philippines’ property sector, putting it in a good position to emerge stronger from the health crisis. Although the “landscape” might, or would, change, panelists at a recent Inquirer Project Rebound webinar all expressed optimism that the industry would recover and, to use US President…
Tycoon Andrew Tan-led property developer Megaworld Corp. delivered P2.6 billion in second quarter net profit, rising at a double-digit pace from the levels a year ago and a quarter ago, driven mostly by the office leasing business. Megaworld’s second quarter net profit rose by 39 percent versus a low base of P1.9 billion last year…
Electronic- or e-retail is the dominant trend in commerce, and a similar transformation is seen in education, with e-learning or remote or distance learning shaping the Philippine education landscape. The disruption caused by the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which leaves parts of the country under lockdown or quarantine or its many variations, is hastening the evolution…
PLDT and its subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), have a long-standing commitment to support education in the country. This commitment proves invaluable as the companies’ partner schools continue to struggle with the disruption caused, since over a year ago, by the Covid-19 pandemic. While before the pandemic people were hesitant to adopt new technology, the…
Education has been a major beneficiary of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. On July 24, 1990, TMP established the TMP Foundation (TMPF), a nonstock and nonprofit organization to implement its CSR initiatives under four pillars: health care, education, rnvironment and community service. TMP and TMPF strongly support the national government’s policy…
Meeting the love of your life at a party seems like a thing of the past with online dating experiencing a major boom—not in the least thanks to the pandemic. Tinder reached a record three billion swipes in a single day in March 2020, while OkCupid experienced a massive 700-percent increase in dates from March…
More consumers are shopping online, especially for safety and convenience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. For many businesses accelerating their digital transformation to ride this wave, embracing e-commerce is the way forward under the “new normal.” Helping these enterprises transform is PayMaya, the only fintech in the country providing digital payments solutions that can easily integrate…
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…
Open Finance and payments platform i2i has been providing financial services to micro-business owners like Mang Efren, a vegetable stall owner in Cebu. Mang Efren was able to pick up his approved loan proceeds conveniently from the nearest partner remittance center through i2i, currently the fastest-growing Open Finance and payments platform in the country. UBX…