BusinessWorld B-Side

Divorce is quite a taboo topic in the predominantly Catholic Philippines. Lobbying for divorce has mapped its way into Filipinos’ understanding of the State, religion, family, abuse, principle, and love. In this B-side episode, Athena Charanne R. Presto, a sociologist and policy consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola t...

Loan sharks, or informal lenders, exploit small businesses with exorbitant interest rates. In this B-Side episode, Baasandorj Davaasuren, chief business development officer of fintech solution company AND Global, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Aaron Michael C. Sy some learnings from Mongolia’s experience with loan sharks, aiming to guide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the P...

Good design offers numerous benefits, including its potential to enhance daily life, boost business efficiency, empower marginalized groups, and improve public spaces, according to an expert. In this B-Side episode, Nina Santamaria, principal designer of interior design firm Grupo Santamaria, talks to BusinessWorld senior reporter Joseph L. Garcia about the benefits of good design for business, ho...

For the longest time, the Philippines has maintained a modest relationship with its Southeast Asian neighbors. Recurring tensions in the South China Sea have left the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) seeking clarity on how to navigate potential conflicts with China, even with the involvement of the United States. In this B-Side episode, Herman Joseph S. Kraft, a political...

Industrial engineering, or IE, is an often-overlooked field of engineering that deals with cutting costs, increasing savings, and making improvements to systems. In the Philippines, industrial engineers have been responsible for many such improvements, like streamlining product lines to make them more efficient and adjusting vaccination queues to accommodate more people. In this B-Side episode, Ph...

Ghost Month, a tradition deeply rooted in Chinese culture, has fascinated financial analysts for years. In this B-Side episode, Carlos A. Temporal, a senior equity research analyst at Unicapital Securities, Inc., discusses the impact of Ghost Month on the stock market with BusinessWorld reporter Justine Irish DP. Tabile.

Parallel, garden party, and kitchen table — these are just some of the many ways to practice ethical non-monogamy. In this B-Side episode, Drew O’Bannon, founder of sex education platform Now Open PH, talks to BusinessWorld reporter Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson about ENM in the Philippines.

A significant portion of what has traditionally been taught in tertiary education has lost its relevance in the present, according to Hyper Island Institute of Higher Education, a digital creative business school. In this episode of B-Side, Peachy Pacquing, managing director at Hyper Island Singapore, speaks with  BusinessWorld  reporter Ashley Erika O. Jose about the need for transformative educa...

China's increased aggression in the South China Sea has made it more challenging for the Philippines, now regarded as an Asian middle power, to ignore the situation, an analyst said. On Aug. 5, the Chinese Coast Guard, backed by its maritime militia and People’s Liberation Army ships, fired water cannons to block a resupply mission to a Philippine military outpost on Second Thomas Shoal. The s...

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) needs to be properly prepared to deploy central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), as these virtual currencies might pose risks to banks, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli, deputy division chief in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the IMF, said in an interview during the IMF Spring Meetings in April that i...

How are Philippine hospitals evolving after the pandemic? What important lessons have they learned from the crisis? In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld reporter Patricia B. Mirasol speaks with Eugenio F. Ramos, president and group chief executive officer of The Medical City (TMC), about the importance of public-private partnerships, embracing technology, and addressing staff-related difficulties...

The local demand for coffee outpaces its production in the Philippines, according to an industry expert. This unmet need bodes well for farmers seeking credit from typically risk-averse financial institutions. In this B-Side episode, TJ Ryan, chief of the party of Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCAFE), talks to BusinessWorld reporter Patricia B. Mirasol about post-harvest ha...

Given their higher yield and early bearing characteristics, coconut hybrids offer Filipino coconut farmers a means to improve production, according to an expert. In this B-Side episode, Leilani D. Pelegrina, director at the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DoST-PCAARRD), discusses the impact of coconut...

Japan is planning to release 1.3 million tons of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, which covers more than one-third of the planet. The power plant's regulators, and even the government of Japan, say that the release will not cause any harm to the world's oceans, but fisherfolk and activists from different countries surrounding the Pacific,...

The Philippines needs to work on ensuring the safety and freedom of journalists to report reliable developments on national issues, despite its improved world press freedom ranking in six years, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said. In this B-Side episode, NUJP Chairperson Jonathan de Santos discusses the current roadblocks to a free press in the Philippines and its pot...

In various cities and barangays (villages) without proper road infrastructure, sari-sari stores, or small neighbourhood shops, have emerged as a crucial lifeline, supporting both the local economy and the daily needs of residents, according to sari-sari store startup Packworks. In this B-Side episode, Andres Montiel, Packworks' chief data officer, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Revin Mi...

The Philippines' mobile network operators (MNOs) are now using shared towers to accelerate and lower the cost of digital transformation in the country as a result of the government's common tower policy. In this B-Side episode, Suresh Sidhu, chief executive officer and founder of EdgePoint Infrastructure Sdn. Bhd., speaks with reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola how telecommunications infrast...

The Philippine government needs to invest more in the local semiconductor industry to boost its competitiveness globally, according to RS Group PLC, an electronics and industrial products distributor.  In this B-Side episode, Sean Fredericks, the President of RS Asia-Pacific, discusses with reporter Sheldeen Joy Talavera the potential of the Philippines to become a key player in the industry. &quo...

Banks are now actively working to make their operations digital. They want to reduce the reliance on physical cash and move towards a cash-lite economy. This means finding ways to automate their processes and make them available online. By doing so, they hope to provide customers with convenient and secure digital banking experiences. In this B-Side episode, Kissflow's chief executive officer,...

Philippine institutions have expressed concerns and optimism regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI), seeing it as both a potential challenge and an opportunity, according to plagiarism checker Turnitin. In this B-Side episode, Jack Brazel, regional director and spokesperson at Turnitin Southeast Asia, speaks with reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola about the current state of AI in Philippi...

Advertising has come a long way from traditional paper and ink, and with today’s boom in social commerce and artificial intelligence, the space continues to witness rapid changes, associations, and niches that push the boundaries of product consumption. A battle for brand reach, attribution, performance, and transparency is rapidly evolving, according to Entravision. Finding, engaging, and retaini...

At a time when the US Congress is not keen on any kind of free trade agreement (FTA) with the country, the Philippine Embassy in the United States is working on alternative measures to expand the country's economic ties with the world's biggest economy. In this B-Side episode, Jose Manuel “Babes” D. Romualdez, Philippine ambassador to the United States, explains to BusinessWorld reporter K...

Shoppertainment is seen as a more authentic form of advertising, as it provides a personal touch and allows businesses to interact with consumers in real time, according to an expert. In this B-Side episode, Pierre Faucher, country manager of Intrepid Philippines, talks to reporter Patricia Mirasol about the opportunities in shoppertainment. Recorded remotely on April 18, 2023.

Nuclear power plants are “cancer factories,” and the Philippines is better off growing its renewable energy industry, according to Helen Mary Caldicott, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility and Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament.    In this B-Side episode, she talks to reporter Alyssa Nicole O. Tan about the health risks and financial costs of pursuin...

Filipinos love their pets, and demand for vet services did not wane all throughout the pandemic, said Richard P. Encomienda, a veterinarian from the Vets in Practice hospital.     In this B-Side episode, he talks to reporter Patricia Mirasol about his life as a vet, and imparts advice for people considering getting a pet.    It is important to consider both your lifestyle and financial situation w...