(First of two parts) While he still can, Bert Cabornay continues to fish in the sea off Bacoor City, Cavite. He rows farther than usual, towards clearer waters and away from his mussel farm that is barely operating. Cabornay, 56, noticed in 2020 that the waters around his farm had become turbid. It was during...
Makò Micro-Press held a zine-making workshop for Masipag farmers and urban poor gardeners from Payatas in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, four Saturdays ago, and I remain in awe of how palay seeds and the idea of small, independent presses weave together so well. I must admit that I knew very little of rice farming prior...
GUINOBATAN, Albay—Crizel Joyz Amano, 22, is back in town after signing up at a review center in Manila in preparation for a chemical engineering exam. Here in Albay, she must still regularly log in at 6 p.m. for an online review, all while dealing with the constant power interruptions in the province. “We experience almost-daily...
SmarTrade, a training and consultancy company providing free financial education led by its president and CEO Joyce Mayo, recently welcomed key executives of global online trading broker ATFX to its headquarters in Makati City, Philippines. The visit of ATFX’s chief commercial officer Siju Daniel, Southeast Asia CEO Jeff Hsu, and business development manager Journey Zeng...
Rica Torres, 37, used to take a Grab car almost every day to take her six-year-old son to and from school. The app-based service was more convenient than riding a jeepney, a tricycle, and crossing an overpass. “I don’t want my son to go through all those because it saps his energy or sours his...
In February 2017, the Philippine government ratified the Paris Agreement, embedding its principles of reducing carbon emissions into national policy. To support the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions to the decarbonization initiative, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), along with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), introduced the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) in...
After third and final reading at the Senate, the “Eddie Garcia bill” was sent in April to the Office of the President for signing. No action has been taken so far. Meanwhile, certain quarters in the local entertainment industry have spoken about some questionable provisions in the final form of Senate Bill No. 2505, or...
A leading advocate for financial literacy in the Philippines has issued a warning for everyone to keep themselves informed and be vigilant against online scammers. SmarTrade, which continues to help individuals make informed financial decisions through free online learning sessions and personalized coaching, has demonstrated the value of digital platforms in businesses, offering tools that...
When Leonor Pantua, co-owner of a family business in Tupi, South Cotabato, gives cautionary advice to aspiring exporters, she is not trying to discourage them from pursuing their dream. “You must know who your buyers are. You can get caught as everything comes at a cost,” she says. Her company, Kablon Farms, has gained export success...
Veteran actor and comedian Leo Martinez is not happy with Senate Bill No. 2505, otherwise known as the Eddie Garcia Bill. “I do not support it,” Martinez said, adding that he is in favor of the House of Representatives’ version of the measure. Martinez is known for his alter ego, “Tongressman Manhik Manaog,” and was...
