To Outsource or Not to Outsource
June 26, 2008
In 2006, when Filipino-Australian D. Roman opened F&W, an immigration firm in Sydney, one of his more immediate concerns was “paying for a staff of good quality considering that, as a start-up business, I didn’t have that big a capital to start with,” he says. The solution for Roman, as it is for many other overseas companies, big or small, came in the form of outsourcing. Even though F&W is based in Australia, he decided to hire Filipinos working in the Philippines, “with most of my interactions with them (made possible) by the (wide use of the) Internet.”

Connecting Businesses (Ethernet 101)
June 26, 2008
In 1973, Robert Metcalfe, working for Xerox Corporation’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), developed a procedure of linking Xerox’s Alto computer to a printer.

Investors Keen on Asia: Strong Optimism in the Philippines Noted
June 26, 2008
Over 50% (56%) of the investors in the Philippines are optimistic about improvement of the economic situation of the country in the next three months, reflecting the overall positive sentiment in Asia Pacific. Only the two “hottest” Asian economies of India and China are more bullish, with over 70% of the respondents in both markets believing that the economic situations in these countries improving in the next three months (See Figure 1). Japanese respondents, however, are the least optimistic, with only 26% believing their economy will improve, possibly a reflection of the country’s political changes.

Streamlining Business Growth
June 26, 2008
Unified Business Solutions as the Answer

Business with Conscience
June 26, 2008
Former actor/model Illac Angelo Diaz invested P2.5 million to build Pier One Seaman’s Dormitory, an alternative housing complex for seafarers who are waiting for their next schedule to set sail. Filipino seamen in between jobs usually resort to living in shanties near the docks of Metro Manila since the price of going home to far-flung provinces is missing out on employment opportunities. The seaman’s dormitory provides transient housing, while giving part-time jobs to those wanting to earn while waiting for job postings, as well as HIV, AIDS and STI awareness courses to its residents.

Going International: The Novellino Strategy
June 26, 2008
While it is only generally accepted that 10% of the estimated 86 million Filipinos are based outside of the Philippines, record show that, no matter the actual number of overseas Filipinos, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and balikbayans (returning Filipinos), the remittances from this group help keep the Philippine economy afloat.

Confronting Business Realities
June 26, 2008
Former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) trying their hands in business are discovering the cold truth of the market: rules are unforgiving to those unprepared. While social enterprise advocates say the shock is due to lack of skills and training in entrepreneurship, former OFWs with businesses believe “luck” has something to do with it.

Seeing Business in Arts
June 26, 2008
In 2006 and 2007, BNP Paribas, a European leader in banking and financial services, donated P2.5 million to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The move, according to CCP president Nestor O. Jardin, was heaven sent, since while the “arts can be a golden tool for social transformation, it remains unfortunate how businesses only support it if they get something in return from it quid pro quo.

Organizational Development with a Twist
March 26, 2008
As potentials for stress and conflict escalate in today’s faster-paced workplace, the dichotomy between the well-being of the individual and of the organization strikes a jarring note to some. And to address sticky human resource issues, some corporate decision-makers are looking for less formulaic alternatives.

Advocates of the Environment
July 25, 2007
In 1993, former President Fidel V. Ramos implemented the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) as part of his administration’s Clean and Green Program, which recognizes “the long-term implications of (the continuing degradation of the environment) on our economy and national life as a whole, (so) we set out to ensure that our economic agenda are not pursued at the expense of our environment and natural resources.