Accounting for the majority of the total businesses in the country and generating more than half of the country’s total employment before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of last year, the health of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is as much a concern for the Philippines as the physical well-being of its population.…
Across Southeast Asia, the Philippines saw the largest increase in online shopping since the pandemic hit. The sector is expected to be worth by 2023. For e-commerce businesses in the Philippines, this means that there is a greater need to revamp retail strategies to accommodate the change in consumer buying habits as well as an…
The pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated digital transformations globally and across all sectors, prompting businesses and economies to make an abrupt pivot to ride this unprecedented wave of changes. Some businesses, however, are fortunately well-positioned to go digital even prior to the onset of the pandemic, enabling them to quickly adapt to the “new normal.” Union…
This iconic utility van remains as deeply embedded in the Filipino way of living as it was when it first launched in the country more than three decades ago. Touted as the workhorse of the modern era, the Mitsubishi L300 continues to be favored and trusted by many Filipinos for its versatility, durability and affordability—so…
The necessary but painful quarantine restrictions put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 have accelerated the pace of digital transformation of Filipino companies of all sizes, from microentrepreneurs to the large conglomerates. Entrepreneurs and corporate executives know only full well that if they do not embrace the digitalization trend, they run the risk…
Billy Belleza and Jazz Manzano are former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). When they ended their careers and went home to Bicol, they both found a lucrative business opportunity in the Balik Pinas Program of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the country. In July 2019, Belleza decided to end his…
In January, the small but extremely active Taal Volcano had another “tantrum,” sending residents of nearby towns in Batangas and Cavite scampering to escape its fury. Ash fall reached Alfonso, where Varias lives and where his main shop is based. Then in March an even bigger crisis had to be faced. The deadly COVID-19 pandemic…
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…
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and Nestlé Philippines announced their partnership to upskill workers and trainers in the agriculture sector through the Tesda registered Coffee Production Level II Program and Scholarship. This progressive Robusta coffee production training program provides enterprise-based competency training in coffee farming to aspiring agripreneurs, particularly smallholder farmers and indigenous…