A balancing of interests
Senator Christopher Lawrence "Kuya Bong" Go, President Duterte's long time assistant and considered the public official closest to the Palace, has been quoted as saying a new executive order will soon be issued imposing price control on a host of basic agricultural products particularly pork, chicken and, possibly, vegetables......»»
Jaishankar, Philippines counterpart discuss shared interests in ensuring maritime safety
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): India has briefed the Philippines on the Indian Navy's deployments in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to counter ongoing threats, external affairs minister Jaishankar said on Tuesday. Jaishankar, who is on a visit to the archipelagic country, said that he discussed with Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo discussed shared interests in ensuring maritime safety. Addr.....»»
'India, Russia have taken extra care to look after each other s interests': EAM Jaishankar
Singapore, March 25 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday stressed that Russia is a country with which India has always had a positive relationship. While addressing the members of the Indian Community in Singapore, Jaishankar said that both countries have taken extra care to look after each other's interests. "I will ask myself...Has Russia helped us or harmed us?...Are there gains to be made from Russ.....»»
Balancing Your 9-to-5 and Side Hustle with Grace
If you’ve stumbled upon this, chances are you’re acquainted with the challenge of managing a full-time job and a side hustle. It’s no small feat. This article is here to provide straightforward advice for finding equilibrium without adding unnecessary drama to the mix. Let’s recognize the daily balancing act. Juggling a 9-to-5 with a side […].....»»
Sarah sa pagiging ina: It’s really a balancing act everyday
AMINADO ang celebrity mom na si Sarah Lahbati na hindi naging madali ang kanyang journey bilang ina. Sa kanyang interview kay Dyan Castillejo sa “On Cue” ibinahagi niya ang mga naranasan nang maging mommy siya sa edad na 20. “I was a very young mom, obviously that comes with challenges and difficulties, but it also comes.....»»
The Public Health Rationale behind the CDCs New Covid Guidance – The Daily Guardian
The Daily Guardian- Public Health Guidance Should Consider Balancing Burdens and Benefits As public health officials continue to provide guidance to the public during the.....»»
Paddleboarding: Why you should try this water sport
CEBU CITY, Philippines— How’s your balancing skill? Are you ready to test it on a paddleboard? If you’re having second thoughts, maybe you’d want to check out this episode of CDN Sportstalk, which tackles this watersport. What makes paddleboarding exciting? Well for one, it can be enjoyed on the beach, which Cebu is known for......»»
Lawmaker proposes gradual 3-year wage hike for private workers
A lawmaker on Wednesday proposed gradually increasing the minimum daily wage for private sector workers by P100 over three years. Manila Rep. Joel Chua believes this approach would be manageable for businesses still recovering from the pandemic. He emphasized the importance of balancing the interests of workers and businesses while implementing the wage hike. A.....»»
Pursuing art, navigating challenges
Feeling overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated, 22-year-old creative Vince Joseph W. Lim opens up about the challenges he faces in the bustling creative scene of Davao City. A graduate of Ateneo de Davao University with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Lim highlights the struggle of balancing between earning a living and pursuing his passion for art out of his pocket......»»
The Harmony of 9-to-5 and Freelance Finesse
Balancing the demands of a regular job and freelancing is a juggling act that many of us are familiar with. Crafting a seamless harmony between the structured routine of the nine-to-five and the creative chaos of freelancing requires strategic finesse. Create a Schedule and Set Priorities Firstly, establishing a well-thought-out schedule is pivotal. It’s akin […].....»»
Francine Diaz on balancing student-work life, creating good social media content
Francine Diaz is thankful to the people who have been helping her balance her work and studies as she aims to finish her senior high school this year......»»
Yearender: A pivotal phase for Philippine agriculture
A year and a half into the Marcos administration, the Philippine agriculture sector is still on a tightrope in terms of balancing local food production and importation of key commodities......»»
Return of hard balancing in Philippine policy towards China s maritime expansion in South China Sea
During the second visit to Manila of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on February 2, Filipino and U.S. security officials announced that additional Philippine military facilities would host U.S. forces under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement......»»
Samante: Finding the right balance
Participating in club teams and school varsity sports can be enriching for student-athletes, but finding the right balance between these commitments is a delicate task. Balancing club and varsity commitments requires understanding expectations and demands. Club teams often have rigorous training schedules and year-round competition, while school varsity sports may have a more structured season. The primary purpose of attending school is academic development, so it is crucial to ensure that athletic commitments complement academic responsibilities. Student-athletes should work closely with academic advisors to create a schedule for success, utilizing time management and seeking support when needed. Avoiding burnout is essential for long-term success in both arenas. Fostering a positive team culture in both club and varsity settings enhances the overall experience and helps student-athletes navigate the demands of both sports......»»
Soriano: Sibling rivalry unveiled: Balancing power, ego or greed in family businesses
Soriano: Sibling rivalry unveiled: Balancing power, ego or greed in family businesses.....»»
How to Keep Your Motivation High and Your Mental Health Healthy During Stressful Times
In the fast-paced professional world, where deadlines and high expectations loom large, keeping your motivation and mental well-being in check can be a tricky balancing act. It’s a speedy world out there, and work pressures can push your limits. But it’s crucial to know that the ups and downs, from stress to feeling a bit […].....»»
AboitizPower cites complexities in Philippines energy transition
Aboitiz Power Corp. said managing the Philippines’ energy transition to greener technologies is faced with complexities, citing the need of balancing it with the aspiration for reliable and affordable electricity......»»
IT-BPM seen key economic driver
The head of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines or IBPAP, Jack Madrid maintained that the Informatiorn Technology-Business Process Management, or IT-BPM, sector will remain the Philippine economy’s essential pillar, given its large contribution to the government coffers for its nation-building. “This is an important message that we always communicate to our partners in the government and to our employees and to their families. What we do is more than what people think as we are not just call center or contact center work.” “The nature of what we do range from basic customer service to more complex industries such as healthcare, engineering, IT software development, and even creative industries such as animation and game development, “Madrid said in an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE’s online digital show ‘Straight Talk’. “We do not just do call center work and I think we need to respect the kind of work that we do even more than before, more than what people think it is,” continued Madrid., Export service revenues Madrid said in terms of export service revenues, the IT-BPM sector this year earned a growth rate of 8.8 percent, which translates to an estimated $35.4 billion in revenue, exceeding the global industry’s 7.7 percent average. “We started 2023 with 1.7 million direct jobs for Filipinos, while by revenue, in 2022 the industry generated $32.5 million, the second largest source of foreign exchange to the country, next to OFW remittances. But we are almost at par with them,” he said. “This year, we will grow over $35 million in revenues,” according to Madrid, coming from close to 2,000 IT-BPM firms that are operating in the country. US biggest client GHe said the United States remains the Philippines’ biggest client, in which over two-thirds of businesses come from US companies, serving US customers. “That is why as the flagship association, we oversee all the different industry verticals. But you will be amazed at the number of multinational companies that have been doing very successful shared services operations here in the Philippines. You name the multinational, they are here whether it is in banking, financial services, or healthcare. Even energy. They are all here,” he said. According to Madrid, healthcare companies doing business in the country are at 15 to 20 percent, while the creative side has the smallest workforce, but is considered a sector that has large potential. “The creative side will be quite a bit smaller than that in terms of number of employees but it’s still a sector that has large potential. I think another significant sector would be the global in-house centers. These are all the multinationals who have moved their back-office operations here. Hard to classify by industry because they belong to many different industries. And then, of course, the contact center sector is still the biggest one. About 60 percent of our employees are in the contact center sector and that includes many multinational and global BPO companies who have set up operations here,” Madrid explained. Caring for employees As contact center employees work at odd times, Madrid said the mental well-being of their employees is very important to the industry, which goes along with their aim to make the industry continue growing. “I’m happy that our membership and our industry players are paying a much stronger focus on the mental health and well-being of the employees. Our industry relies primarily on human capital. This is very much a people’s industry. It is the bedrock of how our industry has grown. So, this topic is very important. I think it’s all about balance. I think balancing the demands of work and personal life is very important and nowhere was this more evident than the challenging years of the pandemic, wherein we had to mobilize our employees from working in the office to a work-from-home setup. Something that was not done before,” he said. Madrid said working from home is not as easy for Filipinos as it is for the rest of the world, as Filipinos don’t typically have a home office, unlike Americans and Europeans. Challenging transition “So, the transition for us was quite challenging. Many of our employees don’t have very big homes with an extra room to be used as an office. So, I think I spent a lot of time describing this to investors and locators because it demonstrates the agility, resilience, and survival instinct of the Filipino people,” he said. “And I think we have shown to the world that we were able to perform the work in those challenging years of Covid without any impact on productivity or customer satisfaction. We were able to perform the work so much that there was even more demand from our customers for more jobs to be done here in the Philippines,” he continued. Madrid said that during the pandemic, the ITBPM industry grew as an industry to 255,000 new jobs and will continue to grow. The Philippines is a clear number in terms of ITBPM, next to India, but the Philippines is the number one nation when it comes to delivering customer experience, according to Madrid. The post IT-BPM seen key economic driver appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sovereign interest
The Philippines is earning plaudits for the Marcos administration’s tough balancing act of asserting its territorial claim on the West Philippine Sea while preventing the tense situation with China from escalating. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has made it his policy to improve relations with the United States that were strained under the last administration, while continuing to engage with China but recognizing the need to respect each country’s position. Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute cited recent moves by the country that showed it will not back down from China’s assertiveness, but neither will it take actions to provoke its anger. “While Beijing attempts to tighten its grip on the region with a new ten-dash line, a multi-billion dollar military modernization drive is underway in the Philippines,” a Lowy report said. It said many analysts believe that Manila’s pronouncements about confrontation are “gestures” rather than real attempts to challenge China. An open conflict would have tremendous geopolitical and economic costs for the Philippines. “Beijing remains Manila’s top trade partner and import supplier,” Lowy said. It cited instances in which the Philippines stepped back from adding fuel to the fire. “The Philippines’ decision to skip last month’s joint military exercise with the United States, Australia and Japan in the South China Sea is seen as a way of avoiding conflict with China,” it noted. It said that Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro had refused to cooperate with Taiwan on security issues, which has been viewed as the country’s continued adherence to the One-China policy. “Despite his harsh remarks on Beijing, some Chinese international relations experts are optimistic about the appointment of Teodoro Locsin as Manila’s Special Envoy to China as he has not only favored cooperation with Beijing but has been critical of the West,” it added. Lowy said Locsin’s appointment is read as Manila’s attempt to stabilize ties with Beijing, adding that “others are disappointed with the choice.” This recognition from independent observers indicates the Marcos administration is skillfully threading a thin line to show it is insisting on its sovereign stake while pushing back against Beijing. Manila’s resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre landing craft, for instance, which is considered the eye of the storm in the current friction, has been a pure play by Philippine forces. Manila’s supply and coast guard ships are constantly in a game of tag with huge Chinese Coast Guard vessels which try to frustrate the provision of supplies to the platoon of Marines guarding the outpost. Last month, China’s coast guard water-cannoned a Navy supply boat. Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified this as “safeguarding our sovereignty in accordance with law” and criticized Manila for “ignoring China’s goodwill and sincerity.” China then demanded the Philippines remove the beached Sierra Madre. Lowy reported that “Manila has further aggravated Beijing by describing the danger of conflict in the Taiwan Strait as a ‘major security concern,’ in its newly published National Security Policy.” It quoted various state mouthpieces in China as having criticized former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s condemnation of the ten-dash line and his claim that Manila “wouldn’t resist a fight” for its maritime rights. China has always referred to the Duterte period as when an ideal engagement had existed with the Philippines. Duterte initially exerted efforts to win the trust of the Chinese but had always indicated to President Xi Jinping that he would have to raise at some point the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that favored the Philippines. China continues to follow its playbook that the Philippines is being manipulated by the US to take bold actions in the West Philippine Sea conflict. Beijing glosses over the fact that when the late President Noynoy Aquino bungled the handling of the 2012 faceoff with China, it was the US that abandoned the Philippines as it did nothing to stop the reclamation of features in the disputed area. Similarly, China has advocated dialogue but, thus far, nothing has come of it, even after the Philippines gave way to its wishes over the past six and more years. The post Sovereign interest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jobs and wages present a tough balancing act
In a world that often seeks to pit business interests against the welfare of workers, finding common ground can be an uphill battle......»»
Senate titan Dianne Feinstein dead at 90
Veteran Senator Dianne Feinstein, a titan of US political history who notched a string of legislative achievements during a trailblazing three-decade career in the Senate, has died at 90 years old, US media said Friday. Feinstein, the Senate's oldest member, was celebrated as a pioneer for women in politics and a hugely effective legislator. During a career that began in local California government, she grew to be a tough check on administrations from both parties. She had already announced her retirement this February as her health worsened and following a number of missteps that threatened her legacy. The Californian, who was widowed last year, became San Francisco's first female mayor after the fatal shooting in 1978 of Harvey Milk, the country's only openly gay politician, and mayor George Moscone by a disgruntled former colleague. Other dramatic moments including surviving an attempted bombing of her home. She was also near the scene of an infamous double murder in San Francisco. Her death is not expected to shift the tight balance of power in the Senate, with the Democratic governor of California appointing her temporary replacement. Summing up her dedication to public service, Feinstein once said that "even with a divided Congress, we can still pass bills that will improve lives. Each of us was sent here to solve problems." "That's what I've done for the last 30 years, and that's what I plan to do for the next two years." Democrats in her home state led tributes as news of the senator's death cast a pall over proceedings in Congress, with staff placing flowers on Feinstein's desk in the Senate chamber, according to Fox News. "She was a trailblazer and dedicated her life to public service," said David Valadao, a member of California's delegation in the House of Representatives. An icon in Senate politics who took the lead on hundreds of bills, Feinstein rose to the chairmanship of the powerful intelligence committee -- another first for a woman. Her achievements include writing the 1994 assault rifle ban and producing a 6,700-page report on the CIA torture program during the US "war on terror." But it was in her home state of California where she first made her mark. As the first female Board of Supervisors president in San Francisco, Feinstein led the city through the tumult that followed the fatal shootings in 1978 of Milk. She replaced the mayor and served for 10 years as a no-nonsense pragmatist, willing to work across the aisle, balancing nine budgets in a row and being declared the nation's "Most Effective Mayor" by local government bible City and State Magazine. Latterly, the pandemic and her husband's declining health curtailed her public appearances outside of Congress and she faced growing misgivings about her declining cognitive abilities, raised by figures in her own party. The youngest member of Congress, 26-year-old Maxwell Frost, described Feinstein as a "champion for Gun Violence Prevention that broke barriers at all levels of government." "We wouldn't have had an assault weapons ban if it wasn't for Senator Feinstein and due to her tireless work, we will win it back," he posted on social media. The post Senate titan Dianne Feinstein dead at 90 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»