Better Days

By Sonny Angara The problem with plastic materials is that many of them last forever. While some types are considered biodegradable, many require industrial-level processes to be recycled or broken down to harmless materials. Plastics are very useful for many industries. For example, up to a fourth of all packaging used globally are made of …

By Sonny Angara A hallmark of Filipino culture is how we treat our elderly with respect and utmost care. Indeed, it is normal for a family to have at least one grandparent living with them — and if not living with them, then frequently visiting to make sure the children and grandchildren are doing well. With …

By Sonny Angara Many younger Filipinos have their minds set on finding their futures outside the Philippines, according to the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) Asean Youth Survey. The data is disheartening: 52.9 percent of the Filipino youth aged 15 to 35 — the so-called Millennial and Z Generations — prefer to work overseas than …

By Sonny Angara A brand is a promise — an emotional and psychological connection that businesses and organizations make to assure a good experience with the products or services under their name and imagery. But while all forms of bells and whistles can be hoisted, what’s essential is that a brand should — no, must …

By Sonny Angara We are, indeed, living in interesting times. With tensions in the Middle East are escalating, our government aims to protect and extend services to our overseas foreign workers, to make ensure their safety and security. To that end, the Department of Budget and Management has set aside P1.8 billion in government funds, …

By Sonny Angara In our country, the main tools of financial stability have traditionally been savings, usually through a bank account and having a job. However, there is another avenue which many Filipinos don’t seem consider at all: investment. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2017 State of Financial Inclusion report revealed that 20.4 percent of Filipinos …

By Sonny Angara By now, more details about the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results for the Philippines have been bandied about in various media channels. The results, for example, showed that around 80 percent of our students had low scores in reading, such that they would have difficulty identifying the main idea of …

By Sonny Angara The strength of an organization arises not just from its leaders, but also its people. Their passion and motivation are important factors; if the rank and file believe in what their organization does, and that their organization compensates them decently, then that organization is operating well. At least, that is the ideal. This …

By Sonny Angara The pineapple has a unique place in Philippine tradition. Aside from being a delicious food source, we have the origin myth of how it used to be a girl who loved to procrastinate and not look for things — hence its thousand eyes. Its leaves are also the source for piña fabric, specifically the stiff …

By Sonny Angara A country’s economy can be likened to a big engine. And just like an actual engine, it has to be fine-tuned, tweaked or even upgraded to be as efficient a machine as it can be. Lately, there have been some actions to make sure that the Philippine economic engine will, potentially, become …