When the Philippines hastily transitioned into a work-from-home (WFH) setup as an unprecedented health crisis hit the world, workers had no choice but to cope and adapt. But as soon as Filipinos started to get the hang of WFH, eased restrictions and new protocols allowed more movement and again forced Filipino workers to adjust.

With this whiplash of situations going on, what setup is truly preferred by the Filipino workforce? To answer this, TheNerve deep-dived into Filipinos’ sentiments on Twitter and analyzed their raw and unfiltered thoughts about each setup.

Looking into the timeline of conversations about WFH and return-to-office (RTO) over the past year, both topics peaked in March 2022 when companies started to require RTO. Interestingly, positive sentiments about WFH had the highest peak during this period while tweets about problems with WFH dropped. If we only look at this alone, we would think that the answer is they prefer working from home. But we all know that there is more to the story, and the data can tell us that.

‘Buti na lang WFH’

24% of the tweets scanned were all positive sentiments about WFH, and 2.2% were expressing relief because they were working from home. Buti na lang WFH (I’m glad we’re working from home) because multitasking has become possible. Filipinos have been accomplishing all the work that typically couldn’t be finished in a day, all while enjoying being in the comfort of their own homes. 

Working from home undeniably has its perks and the following clusters of conversations revealed the most common ones Filipinos enjoyed.

One of the most obvious perks is that people gained more control over their time and schedules, which a significant cluster of tweets can validate. A pre-pandemic study in 2019 revealed that Metro Manila has the 2nd worst traffic in the world. The WFH setup has allowed Filipino workers to allocate the time that they would have spent in heavy traffic and grueling commutes doing  other things like sleeping, bonding with the family, or pursuing hobbies.  

A soon-to-be mom tweeted that she wishes she could work remotely after giving birth so she could spend more than just 90 days of maternity leave with her newborn.

WFH became work from anywhere

We’ve seen Filipinos starting to explore working from anywhere and not just from home throughout the last couple of years, fully embracing the remote work life. Aside from workers being able to go back to their home province, traveling is also one thing that they gained more time for. Some Filipinos have tried working from the sandy beaches of Boracay and Siargao, for example. These nomads say that remote work inspires them to be more productive, especially those who hold creative jobs.

Remote work also didn’t stop Filipinos from listening to music. In fact, they listened to more of it. Pre-pandemic, workers typically listened to music while in transit or while doing things outside of work like working out or running errands. But with remote work giving people more personal space and with it a license to not consider the musical tastes of those around them, they blasted music to their heart’s content. 

Filipinos also willingly shared what they listen to while working, accounting for 2.2% of the conversations. Fandoms of certain K-pop artists and Pinoy pop group SB19 have grown because of this. 

Aside from listening to more music, Filipinos also explored other interests while working from home like designing their desk spaces or learning about cryptocurrencies.

Time a double-edged sword

However, along with the positive sentiments were tweets expressing discomfort about the WFH setup. They make up 19% of the conversations – not that far from the percentage of positive sentiments. What some consider as a pro of WFH – more control over one’s time – was a con for some. 

The time they gained from the lack of outdoor activities broke the barrier between work and personal life. Meetings are being scheduled beyond work hours and more tasks are being added to their plate because they have “more time” on their hands. Suspension of work during natural calamities is now a thing of the past – maybe unless your internet connection is affected –  because “people are just at home anyway.”

But being at home doesn’t mean employees aren’t struggling. Working at home means Filipinos have to endure the hot weather, deal with internet connectivity issues, household responsibilities, and all sorts of noise daily. Those who experienced these reported stunted productivity instead of a boosted one.

These struggles are the main reasons why some employees want to go back to the office. At least in the office, you can turn on the air conditioner and not worry about this month’s electricity bills, you have high-speed internet, and you are in a place that is conducive for productive work.

Perfect setup doesn’t exist – yet  

Not every Filipino can say “buti na lang WFH” (I’m glad we’re working from home) because not everyone is glad about it. On the other hand, not everyone is also too happy about returning to the office. While some Filipino workers can’t wait to enjoy the privileges of being in the office, some are not looking forward to experiencing this side of the pre-pandemic life. Time spent in transit, greater expenses – gas, fare, food – and the risk of getting COVID-19 are among the issues that workers will face as they go back to working on site. 

Both sides have their pros and cons, and there was no strong preference for one over the other. It is then not a matter of this versus that but rather finding the perfect balance between both setups. To fully support Filipino workers, their companies, the government, and private sectors have to work together to implement regulations and better systems that could address the problems experienced in both.

If it took a pandemic to make them realize that it’s possible to work from home, it makes you wonder what it will take for them to make the best of both working worlds work. – Rappler.com

Frances Monsada is a Brand Strategist from TheNerve, a data consultancy company that turns data into actionable insights for content and communities. Bien Aculan is a Data Analyst from Rappler, and is currently finishing his MSc in Applied Mathematics, focusing on topology and data.

With the pandemic persisting for close to two years now, taking care of one’s health and immune system has become a major concern for most people. Getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands are still the most effective ways to avoid getting any kind of infection. You can also take an extra step by also boosting your immune system.

Our immune system is responsible for keeping tabs on foreign elements that may harm the body, and taking action when necessary. And there are a number of things you can do to keep it in top shape.

This includes having a healthy diet, getting good hours of sleep, avoiding stress, and exercising regularly. You can also supplement these activities with multivitamins and minerals like Conzace to give your body and immune system an extra boost.

But what exactly is in Conzace? We decided to take a closer look at the tablet to see what’s inside and why these components are important.

– Rappler.com

Get Conzace from Shopee.

References:

• The Nutrition Source
• NCBI
• Mayo Clinic
• WebMD
• Mayo Clinic
• WebMD
• The Nutrition Source
• The Nutrition Source
• WebMD
• Mayo Clinic
• Mayo Clinic
• WebMD
• The Nutrition Source
• UL Biological Sciences, 2014

With the global shift to a work-from-home or hybrid work set-up brought about by the pandemic, the lines between work and home are increasingly getting blurred. Being told to “leave work at work” just doesn’t apply anymore, more so with the digital transformation many companies are currently and continuously undergoing. Such changes within one’s personal space on top of the overwhelming reality of the pandemic have therefore put a spotlight on how companies are supporting their employees during this time.

In a survey conducted by the Department of Health in 2020, it was found that 3.6 million Filipinos have mental conditions, and it was expected for this number to have increased as the pandemic progressed. As employees are exposed to various internal and external stressors, it is important for a company to be mindful of where their employees are at both physically and mentally.

One way to show support is by providing employees with access to the necessary experts they can turn to when in need of guidance or medical assistance. For Optum employees, programs such as LiveWell and BeWell were created for their easy access to mindfulness tools, screening tests, and counseling services. These programs are readily available for them to use at any time, and access to these resources is provided from the very first day of their employment at Optum.

Additionally, a study conducted by Optum in 2019 found that providing a work environment that supports healthy decisions and participation in company-sponsored wellness programs is associated with employees reporting a positive work experience. This, in turn, helps the company in fostering a healthy and amicable company culture.

“At Optum, we make it a point to put employee welfare as our priority. Each and every employee at Optum plays a valuable part in our mission of providing quality healthcare solutions. We want to ensure that they can work comfortably and not just effectively, and therefore make all of our decisions with them in mind,” said Rain Tan, Optum’s vice president for human capital.

While Optum’s BeWell program provides screening tests, calculators for physical health, mindfulness tools, and self-management tools, the LiveWell program offers counseling beyond mental health concerns. Legal, management, debt, and financial counseling services are also available to the employees under the program.

“Given how our employees had to adjust due to the pandemic and the various stressors this has brought about, we want to be sure that all bases are covered for them to live happily with as little stress as possible. In line with our goal of helping our members live healthier lives, we must also exert the same effort in prioritizing our employees’ wellbeing,” Tan added.

LiveWell and BeWell are available through the Optum website, which also features sections on self-improvement, workplace issues, and career planning. Articles on various topics such as anxiety and stress management are also featured regularly for employee consumption.

When companies invest in the mental and physical well-being of their employees, employees are less at risk of burnout. At a time when we must be mindful of our health, programs and provisions for mental health support at work such as the LiveWell and BeWell programs can help alleviate the weight from the employees’ shoulders. As one’s mental well-being also affects their relationships with those around them, a healthy and positive mental state would allow for meaningful and positive contributions to their family and community.

In maintaining and encouraging a healthy and happy lifestyle among employees, providing quality healthcare solutions for members, therefore, comes without any difficulty for Optum. – Rappler.com

Whether you are an iPhone fan or a proud Samsung user, you can only expect the fastest performance from your devices when connected to the Smart network, according to Ookla®, the global leader in mobile and broadband intelligence.

Based on Ookla’s analysis of Speedtest Intelligence® data covering Q4 2021, iPhones connected to either Smart 5G or 4G/LTE networks perform up to 1.8 times faster than iPhones on other network providers.

For Samsung devices, those on Smart 5G also perform up to 1.8 times faster, while those on Smart 4G/LTE perform up to 1.9 times faster – compared to devices connected to other network providers.

Moreover, Android devices also work fastest on Smart: they are up to 1.8 times faster on Smart 5G and up to 1.4 times faster on Smart 4G/LTE than devices connected to other network providers.

Setting the 5G standard in the Philippines

“We all consider speed as a critical metric for network performance, and we’re glad that our aggressive network rollout has resulted in the fastest speeds, which translates to a significantly better experience for our customers – whether they are using iPhone, Samsung, or other Android devices,” said Jane J. Basas, Smart’s senior vice president and head of consumer wireless business.

“With our industry-leading speeds and expanding 5G network footprint, Smart continues to set the 5G standard in the Philippines with the goal of improving the lives of Filipinos as they pursue their passions,” she added.

To date, Smart has deployed 7,200 5G base stations around the country, paving the way for even more Filipinos to benefit from the ultrafast speeds of 5G for their hybrid work setup, virtual classes, online businesses, social media connections, or digital entertainment, among others.

Fastest across devices and network technologies

Based on Ookla’s report for Q4 2021, iPhones on Smart 5G posted a median download speed of 208.88 Mbps and median upload speed of 19.61 Mbps, while iPhones connected to Smart’s closest competitor posted 112.72 Mbps and 9.57 Mbps, respectively.

Meanwhile, Samsung devices on Smart 5G posted a median download speed of 239.12 Mbps and median upload speed of 25.58 Mbps, while devices connected to Smart’s closest competitor posted 127.67 Mbps and 11.52 Mbps, respectively.

On the other hand, iPhones on Smart 4G/LTE posted a median download speed of 49.35 Mbps and median upload speed of 7.47 Mbps, while iPhones connected to Smart’s closest competitor posted 26.64 Mbps and 4.90 Mbps, respectively.

Samsung devices on Smart 4G/LTE also posted a median download speed of 36.39 Mbps and median upload speed of 7.79 Mbps, while those connected to Smart’s closest competitor posted 18.75 Mbps and 4.39 Mbps, respectively.

Android devices on Smart 5G posted a median download speed of 227.50 Mbps and median upload speed of 24.78 Mbps, while those connected to Smart’s closest competitor posted 122.9 Mbps and 11.65 Mbps, respectively.

Lastly, Android devices on Smart 4G/LTE posted a median download speed of 22.2 Mbps and median upload speed of 6.63 Mbps, while devices connected to Smart’s closest competitor posted 16.28 Mbps and 6.25 Mbps, respectively.

PH’s undisputed fastest 5G mobile network

These results further strengthen Smart’s position as the country’s undisputed fastest mobile network, bagging the latest Speedtest Awards for Q3-Q4 2021 with a Speed Score of 201.95, while its closest competitor posted a Speed Score™ of 116.08.

For this feat, Smart posted a median download speed of 218.82 Mbps and a median upload speed of 22.46 Mbps, while its closest competitor posted a median download speed of 116.92 Mbps and a median upload speed of 10.81 Mbps.

To experience the fastest 5G speeds, non-Smart customers can now make the Smart move without having to change their mobile number through Mobile Number Portability (MNP) at x.smart/switch or via Smart’s GigaLife App. – Rappler.com

Disclaimer: Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data on median download speeds for 5G and all technology on iPhones, Samsung, Android devices in the Philippines for Q4 2021 & fastest 5G award base on Q3-Q4 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

ASC Ref No. S041P021422SS

Going to college is a pivotal point in the life of any student. In a survey conducted by TheNerve last December 2021 among 846 respondents, students shared that the main factors that influence their decision in choosing a college are the affordability of tuition fees, the selection of available courses, and a school’s reputation.

Socialization coupled with online learning

Findings from the survey also highlighted the desire to experience college life outside the realm of academics. For all respondents, the prospect of joining organizations, taking part in school events, and interacting with other students were also seen as potential swaying factors that influenced their college of choice. After all, humans are social beings, and a vibrant college experience provides opportunities to fulfill our need for community, collaboration, belonging, and self-actualization.

Seen in their responses on the prospect of remote learning, the need for prospective students to be part of a community is further validated in different points of the survey. When asked to share their thoughts on a fully-digital college, more than 300 respondents (37%) said that they enjoyed studying from home but would prefer having an option to study face-to-face with classmates.

These findings reveal that there is an opportunity for remote learning to be a viable educational system that meets the needs of today’s students. With the changes in today’s landscape, we as educators must learn to optimize the ways in which we provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully pursue their future careers.

There needs to be a concerted effort to provide a structure that goes beyond simply replicating the traditional classroom setting. For online learning to take the next step in the Philippines, it must become inclusive, accessible, and effective in readying students to meet the demands of the modern job market.

Game changer: Reimagined higher education, designed for the modern student

Guided by the vision to modernize the pursuit of education in today’s increasingly digital world, starting this 2022-2023 school year, Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) opens its virtual doors to students seeking a modernized learning experience built for current student needs. A college of Malayan Colleges Laguna, A Mapúa School, MMDC combines the legacy of Mapúa academic excellence with the future of higher learning: A digital-first school, with the added benefit of Learning Hubs at convenient locations.

Students learn by doing

While being fully online, Mapúa Malayan Digital College’s experiential learning system puts students as close as it gets to learning on the job. In lieu of traditional tests, MMDC employs a Projects, Problems, and Cases (PPC) model that emphasizes learning by accomplishing case studies and projects that reflect real-world workplace scenarios. In addition, the curriculum will include content from international education providers such as Coursera. This model offers flexibility for all kinds of students, even working adults who want to come back to college. Required class meeting times clock in at 7.5 hours a week, allowing students to find a good balance between academics, hobbies, and family life.

Focus on in-demand industries

With 35% of today’s workforce in the fields of Technology and Business, MMDC’s focus is on two key programs: BS Information Technology, and BS Business Administration. These programs are progressive, practical, and led by instructional design professionals who have experience in academe and industry. 

The Information Technology program includes specializations in Software Development, Network and Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics. The Business Administration degree, which is offered by MMDC through CHED’s memorandum on the implementation of flexible learning, offers specializations in Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, and Operations Management.

Collaboration at the mall

To address the need for students to socialize and collaborate, MMDC offers Learning Hubs in the pilot areas of Ayala Malls Cloverleaf in Quezon City, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod. These modern collaborative spaces allow students to focus on their work, meet for group projects, and provide venues where like-minded learners can meet and form clubs to add a community dynamic to their academic experience.

Affordability and tech needs, answered

To remove the roadblocks of the lack of tools needed to support e-learning, every MMDC student can be provided with a laptop, pocket Wi-Fi, and access to the digital library and Student Services to assist with their connectivity needs. In line with MMDC’s commitment to making academic excellence accessible, MMDC is offering a Pioneer Scholarship where the first 750 students for the 2022-2023 school year can enjoy up to P20,000 off the annual tuition fee. With a partial scholarship, the enrollment fee for a full year ranges from as low as P58,000. Slot reservation starts on March 1, 2022. – Rappler.com

Someone once said that having a Twitter account is like talking to yourself, hoping someone will join in.

Not everyone is lucky to have a following on Twitter. Even many brands have difficulty finding a corner of Twitter where they can convey their messages to the right audience.

Beverage giant Pepsi is one of the most talked-about brands on social media, specifically Twitter, and is the most hyped in the beverage/drink category. In 2020, Pepsi was the only non-tech brand in the Top 10 of the Most Tweeted Brands for the year, alongside brands such as Spotify, Apple, Netflix, Lazada, and Shopee. This was achieved with an advertising budget lower than that of other big beverage brands as seen in a study. This is called connecting with your audience. Forward to 2021, the buzz about Pepsi continues online with content that’s relevant and always timely.

“What makes content stand out is its cultural relevance; if the community shares the same sentiments and if it echoes the conversations prevailing at the moment. In Pepsi’s case, they were able to cut through the noise by incorporating the language of their target audience and tapping the right people to get it across,” said Tina Pang, Twitter’s head of client solutions for Southeast Asia.

Pepsi’s campaigns, which include the viral #PepsiHitSaSarap, are innovative yet traditional. For the Hit Sa Sarap campaign, the brand emphasized the importance of enjoying meals with family and friends. The campaign included giant screens on the streets of LA and New York featuring the faces of Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, SB19, Mimiyuuuh, and Ricci Rivero.

Pepsi Hit Sa Sarap reminded us of how nice it is to sit down for a meal with people we love and treasure. What better way to enjoy our favorite food than with Pepsi?

“At a time when consumers have the full power to determine what goes viral, it is not enough for people to enjoy our advertising material. Our communications need to stand out and be captivating for consumers to share, post, tweet, and pin. They need to love it,” said Gutzee Segura, PepsiCo PH’s CSD marketing lead.

As a brand, Pepsi is attuned to what is happening on Twitter. It listens to what its audience is saying and responds to what it sees as relevant content.

As Segura puts it, “It boils down to knowing what your target market wants, what they’re looking for, and serving that to them.”

“People are keeping it real on Twitter, so these conversations definitely give a brand its much-needed boost on awareness or engagement and in a way, in driving purchase intention, and sales,” said Pang.

Pepsi looked at Twitter insights on K-pop and P-pop, then used these to highlight content about Blackpink and SB19. From these insights, the brand knew what type of content their target market (young millennials and Gen Z 16-25 years old) was looking for.

This target market values its online identity, being digital natives.

“Being at the prime of their youth, they always want to enjoy and maximize life’s experiences. However, given the pandemic, these experiences have been limited to in-home activities so Pepsi provides them with the experiences that satisfy their need for variety, novelty, and excitement from their usual days,” said Segura.

According to Kantar, 91% of Pepsi’s target market drink carbonated drinks so the brand’s endorsers and brand ambassadors are selected based on who best personifies the brand’s personality, values, and purpose.

BLACKPINK was chosen because the group has a youthful attitude and zest for life that perfectly embodies the Pepsi brand.

Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, SB19, Ricci Rivero, Alyssa Valdez, Kiefer Ravena, and Mimiyuuuh were picked because their young fans are inspired by their success, hard work, and positive attitude.

“Our endorsers and brand ambassadors serve as a seamless extension of Pepsi and help amplify our story,” mentioned Segura.

A brand’s social media presence plays a critical role in establishing its identity and Pepsi has succeeded in establishing itself as a brand with a fun and youthful vibe that aims to push the next generation to reach their goals and dreams. – Rappler.com

While this is alarming, it does not come as much of a surprise when environmental awareness and calls for environmental protection have been around for some time now. The Philippines – much like other countries – has seen a rise in the number of people concerned who want to protect the environment.

In a survey conducted by TheNerve, four common types of individuals interested in caring for the environment emerged. These are the young and most unaware, the established, responsible consumer, the young advocate, and the responsible homemaker.

The young and most unaware, as the label suggests, are younger individuals that generally don’t know what to do in order to help take care of the environment. Because of this, they are currently not engaged in any environmental practices. On the other hand, the established, responsible consumers carry out various practices and are the most financially-equipped to help.

The young advocates, compared to the first two groups, are individuals who have adopted different environmental practices into their everyday routines. They are also interested in being part of environmental organizations and promoting the importance of various advocacies. 

Lastly, we have the responsible homemakers. These individuals, who are mostly married or have children, don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to environmental practices. They seek convenience, which makes them interested in efforts they can accomplish at home. 

Majority of these individuals participate in at least one of these three sustainable practices: water conservation, waste segregation, and tree-planting. 

Water conservation, the most-observed practice

Of the three, water conservation is the most observed practice. Because this practice can be done at home, we see that the convenience of a sustainable action becomes a factor in how often it is practiced. It’s not just the responsible homemakers – most individuals have identified turning off faucets when not in use as one of their environmental habits.

However, the survey also revealed that some respondents believe we have an unlimited water supply. Contrary to this belief, water is a finite resource. Fresh water that can be used by humans and animals only account for 2.5% of the total amount of water on earth.

Manila Water recognizes the need to take care of our water resources. One of its service obligations is to provide potable drinking water to its customers in the East Zone concession area. Because it obtains 97% of its raw water from rivers, streams, and lakes, protecting the watersheds – Angat Dam, Ipo Dam, La Mesa Dam – that feed into these rivers and reservoirs is essential to its operations. 

It is likewise important to ensure that every drop of water that goes back into the ocean is clean. One of Manila Water’s initiatives is the treatment of wastewater in several communities.

In September, the company announced its plan to construct a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Hinulugang Taktak, a protected area located in Rizal, Philippines. The sewerage system will help ensure that wastewater from the community is cleaned before it is discharged back to the waterfall. This is on top of the 38 STPs and 2 septage treatment plants managed by the company. 

Waste segregation, with high commitment from active participants

When it comes to waste segregation, the respondents expressed a high level of commitment. They identified multiple items as waste that they segregate. These include paper or boxes, plastics, and compostable wastes. You might even know someone who upcycles plastics or has a compost pit at home.

Aside from these, there are even more kinds of waste that can be segregated – why not consider your old mobile phones, tablets, or computer accessories? Instead of leaving these stacked in the corners of your home, you can drop these off at Globe’s designated E-waste Zero collection points at several locations nationwide.  

What do participants do with their waste? 42% of the group consciously maximize utility by reusing or recycling these wastes themselves. But considering our busy schedules, it might be difficult to recycle all the waste we produce. Did you know that there are eco hubs focused on doing just that? 

Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) opened its pilot Eco Hub facility in Arca South in partnership with environment-friendly construction products and solutions provider Green Antz Builders. The facility aims to collect and reuse plastic materials and transform these into eco bricks and other valuable construction resources that can be used in ALI’s development projects. 

If you agree with some of the survey respondents who said that they don’t practice waste segregation at home because it would all end up in the same place anyway, you might want to take part in this initiative. The eco hub is collecting plastics every Saturday at the Salcedo Saturday Market (7:00AM – 11:00AM), Vertis North Mall Entrance (10:00AM – 3:00PM), Sunshine Mall Parking Lot (1:30PM– 4:00PM), Bonifacio High Street B7 & B8 (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM), and Ayala Malls Feliz (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM).

Tree-planting, perceived to be inaccessible

Meanwhile, tree-planting was identified by respondents as the sustainable practice that is least accessible. Unlike water conservation and waste management, most participants look for organized tree-planting activities. Because this practice requires a larger space and more consideration, such as what and when to plant, it is perceived as something that cannot be habitually done at home.

Project Kasibulan takes these into account. This is Ayala Corporation’s initiative that aims to contribute to the protection of the natural environment through reforestation. As they encourage people to take care of the environment, the corporation has been organizing tree-planting activities at various locations since 2016.

We also have to consider that those who do not participate in this activity identified the lack of knowledge about online tree-planting activities as the reason. But even during these uncertain times, there are organized tree-planting activities we can take part in. The best part? These can be done online. 

By using the GCash application, customers can pay bills, buy load, and conduct bank transfers, among other green activities. After accumulating enough green energy points, GCash Forest makes it possible for users to adopt a real native tree in the Ipo Watershed. There are also options to adopt trees with other users. 

What’s stopping Filipinos from taking part in practices that help in taking care of the environment? The foremost challenge respondents identified is the lack of knowledge about sustainable practices they can do. 

So if you’re looking for a sustainable practice to begin with or you’re adding to the various sustainable habits you already have, why not try recycling plastics and electronic waste or participating in online tree-planting activities?

The activities we have mentioned are all practices that anybody – from beginner to experienced environmentalists – can engage in.

In some way or another, most Filipinos are interested in caring for the environment. Whether you lack the time or the knowledge about sustainable activities you can do, the Ayala Group of Companies can help you take the first step in your sustainability journey.

Beyond taking care of the environment, the Ayala group also carries out social initiatives like providing quality and affordable healthcare through AC Health and providing access to quality private education in partnership with iPeople. Aligning with the UN Sustainability Development Goals, the Ayala group created its Sustainability Blueprint, which commits each business unit to pivot with clarity and focus its business model, products, and services toward a more resilient and sustainable contribution to the daily lives of Filipinos. Visit this link to find out how. – Rappler.com

With data analysis from Basti Nodalo/Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – We all have dreams. 

As we transitioned into adults, childhood fantasies of becoming astronauts and international rock stars made way for perhaps more grounded dreams of getting a PhD, setting up a business, or traveling around the world. 

These dreams may be comparatively within reach, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult. Whether you’re holding down a steady job, planning on growing your own family, or just hesitant about taking the risk, the truth is that sometimes it’s just difficult to find the time, energy, money, and commitment to pursue a different path.

It’s fine, we tell ourselves. Isn’t it enough that I’m providing for myself and my loved ones? Life is still good. 

It’s a sentiment shared by a lot of Filipinos. In a survey commissioned by Globe, 56.3% of respondents say that they are fine with where they are in life, although they feel things could be better. 

They’re not exactly unhappy with their lives. Itching to try new things seems more like it. At least 53.7% say they love what they’re doing, but want to explore other options. 

According to the survey, this is particularly true for the younger set. They find fulfillment in trying new things and discovering more about themselves in the process. 

Does this sound like you? ‘Fine, but could be better’ shouldn’t be enough. You can’t spend the rest of your prime years frustratedly wondering what could’ve happened had you taken the leap. This can affect not just your performance in your current job, but your psychological health too. 

It’s perfectly fine if you feel stuck – that’s the go-getter in you saying you could be so much more, after all. Feeling stuck gives you that determination and push to be something more. But you can’t stay stuck forever.

The survey shows that 36.7% are already taking steps to pursue other options, while 44.9% are planning to.

Mika, who works for a publisher, says she’s contented with her current job, but also has bigger dreams in mind. “I follow companies that I feel are aligned to what I want to become in the future. I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities.”

Do you feel that life could be better? You owe it to no one but yourself to make it so. 

Orange, who switched from the academe to marketing a couple of years ago, says, “Before, I would stay within my comfort zone. But I knew I could be doing so much more elsewhere.”

If a feeling of dissatisfaction has been gnawing at you, take the time to figure out what you really want. Unplug from distractions and think about what you find not just interesting, but fulfilling. 

Next, do your homework on what you need to do to achieve those dreams. Define the stepping stones for it to become a goal. You can also ask for advice from people in that field. 

But take a reality check, too. Be brutally honest with yourself and contemplate how hard you’d be willing to work for it. Are you up for the challenges, setbacks, and even failures along the way? 

Remember: a goal without a deadline is just a dream, so set a realistic time limit. Set deadlines for your stepping stones so it feels like a more achievable goal, and not just an abstract idea.

Planning your future, rather than just winging it, gives you better odds of a more fulfilling life. Survey results show that those who are satisfied with where they are tend to be those who carefully plan their lives.

Admittedly, life always comes with a curveball or two, and plans can get derailed. But working towards a goal can steer your life back on track. 

Wanting more doesn’t mean you’re disregarding previous efforts and achievements. You’ve come a long way. But now it’s time to go even further and own life. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – 2018 has by far been proven to be the year for K-pop’s global breakthrough. Until then, K-pop was rarely seen grazing charts outside their own. But in one year alone, the contagious hallyu managed to break into billboard hits and music industries around the world.

To find out how K-pop fared in the Philippines, we looked at all of Spotify’s Weekly Top 200 charts from January 2017 to June 2019 (total of 130 weeks) in the country. We also included data from nearby countries Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Rising popularity in Southeast Asia

Two years ago, there were less than 10 K-pop songs in the Philippines’ weekly charts – 4 in January, 8 in February, and 3 in March. 

By this time, weekly charts in Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia already had 47, 68, and 26 K-pop songs, respectively.

But in June 2018, the Philippines started catching up, with a total of 52 K-pop songs making it to the weekly charts. We surpassed Singapore, which had 33 K-pop songs, and Malaysia, which had 29. Indonesia was still leading with 89 songs, but since then, our numbers continued to rise.

While we still have the lowest number of K-pop tracks in the regional charts per year, K-pop is growing fastest in the Philippines versus neighboring countries. In 2018, we had more than double the number of K-pop songs versus 2017, and Pinoy K-poppers are showing no signs of slowing down.

More and more songs in Philippine weekly charts

For 130 weeks since January 2017, well-loved K-pop groups regularly appeared in Filipinos’ weekly top charts.

The graph above shows the total number of times a K-pop group or artist appeared in Philippines’ Weekly Top 200 songs from January 2017 to June 2019.

While 2017 and 2018 opened with just two K-pop songs in each of the top charts, this year started with 12 songs. 

Of all groups, Blackpink joined the charts most often, appearing almost half the time since January 2017!

Most streamed songs

K-pop has been climbing the ladder of Filipinos’ most played songs – from top 31 in 2017 to top 2 in 2018.

In 2017, “DNA” by BTS was the most played K-pop song in the weekly charts with around half a million streams. But in 2018, “Bboom Bboom” by MOMOLAND rose to the top of the weekly charts with more than twice the streams of “DNA.”

Now, we are only halfway done with the year and “Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK has already topped the charts with nearly 3 million streams in a single week.

K-pop sound vs. OPM sound

In Spotify, each track has a list of values of audio features identified for each song. The radar graph below is a comparison of the average audio features of the top-performing K-pop and OPM songs of 2019 so far. 

One audio feature, valence, is described as the musical positiveness of a track (i.e. whether a song stimulates positive or negative emotions). Notice the difference in valence levels of the two genres.

K-pop has a higher average valence value, meaning it is more likely to make listeners feel cheerful. In contrast, OPM has a relatively low average valence value – which is not surprising, given our love for hugot songs. 

The difference doesn’t seem to deter Filipinos from loving both genres, in different ways.

The data shows that while OPM music leans towards a more acoustic sound, K-pop is faster, louder, and more intense. This makes K-pop perfect for dancing – which is why choreography can sometimes stick more than the lyrics!

Who’s your bias?

With Filipino K-pop fandoms growing larger than ever, we can expect more groups to come and capture more Filipino hearts. Do you have your own bias whom you wish could visit the country? Tell us in the comments who you want to see! – Rappler.com

[Editor’s note: Angelica Sinay and Bea Movido are Rappler interns]

Joseph Schooling didn’t get to where he is today by sheer luck.

He started swimming at just 4 years old and started competing at 5.

He comes from a family of sportsmen. Joseph’s granduncle was Lloyd Valberg, the first and only athlete to represent Singapore at the 1948 London Olympics. His parents May and Colin were athletes who represented Malaysia and Singapore, respectively, in international tournaments.

Joseph enjoyed playing golf, tennis, table tennis, and badminton—but it was swimming that he loved the most. Butterfly and freestyle are his favorite strokes.

“When I went to school, we had to choose only one sport. I chose swimming and I guess the rest is history,” he said.

Making waves

“Sports is in my blood.”

Photo by Hafiz Johari

Even as a boy, Joseph had already shown dedication in pursuing his chosen sport. For starters, he made it a point to not skip training even during breaks.

“One of the stories my parents enjoy recounting is one when we were on a family holiday and I woke them up at 4:00 am to get them to take me training which started at 5 am. I was very dedicated to my training and I would not skip it even while on holiday,” he shared.

In his teens, Joseph carved a shining amateur career as he snagged numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals from various competitions. He represented his alma mater, the University of Texas in Austin, at the National Collegiate Athletic Association; and Singapore in international competitions such as the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and of course, the Olympics.

He’s proudest when he represents Singapore. He may have traveled to other countries but Singapore will always be his home. At the 2015 SEA Games, which was hosted by Singapore, Joseph competed in a number of events. With this in mind, Joseph made sure to make his country proud by giving his best performance.

“I know Singapore takes the SEA Games very seriously. I was swimming [in] a lot of events and I knew that I had to swim well in front of the home crowd. I know that I had to do my best [so] I pushed myself to do just that. It was a great feeling, swimming with the crowd supporting me. I will always do my best for my country,” he said.

“I will always do my best for my country. “

Photo by Hafiz Johari

Joseph had his share of struggles, too. The first was in 2009 when he moved to the USA to study and train. “That was definitely the hardest part, leaving behind my parents, friends, and all the comforts of home,” he said.

The second was when he failed to make it to the semis at the 2012 London Olympics. 

“Going away from home is one thing. It was more of a child trying to grow up and learning to be independent. But rebounding after 2012 London Olympics when you’re 16 or 17—at that age, it’s hard to understand and rationalize how situations can affect you, why you did not achieve your goals when you built up the moment in your mind for so long,” he remembered.

“That was one of the hardest days I had to go through. I didn’t have my coaches, family and teammates around me when the unfortunate situation occurred. It almost made me give up on my goals but I pulled myself together with the help of coaches and family,” he said.

But the struggles proved to be worth going through.

His crowning achievement, no doubt, was becoming Singapore’s first Olympic champion. Joseph bagged a gold medal after winning the men’s 100-meter butterfly event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, besting others including his childhood idol, Michael Phelps.

“It has been my dream to be an Olympic champion and to be able to achieve that after years of hard work is very fulfilling, not just to me but also to my parents and my coaches. I was very pleased to be able to repay their faith in me,” said Joseph.

Not resting on his laurels

“My ultimate goal will be to always do well.”

Photo courtesy of Singaporean Tourism Board

In 2018, Joseph graduated from university and became a professional athlete. In May, he was signed by Speedo to Team Speedo “on a long-term deal.” And just a month after, he opened his own swim school called Swim Schooling in Singapore.

Swim Schooling encourages children’s dreams of becoming the next Joseph Schooling. This ties in with Singapore’s own Sports Education Programme (SEP) that advocates sports education by providing schools with S$10,000 dollar-to-dollar matching grant for them to take up sports programmes.

Numerous opportunities came knocking as well as he inked contracts with global brands such as Hugo Boss, Canon, Toyota, DBS, Milo, Yakulit, and TAG Heuer.

“It’s been a very exciting transition for me, going professional. It is a hectic and busy schedule as I still put in the same hours into training if not even more. At the same time, I have to ensure I fulfill the requirements and requests put forth by my sponsors.

Joseph usually trains at the OCBC Aquatic Centre at the Singapore Sports Hub. Apart from hosting international and local swim meets, the facility was built to be a place for every Singaporean whether they’re athletes or just ordinary citizens who want to hone their skills in sports. You can also find Joseph at the Chinese Swimming Club.

“Luckily, they are all very supportive and understanding and work closely with my team to ensure that my training is not being impacted. Training always comes first, as I have to train even harder for my next goal,” Joseph said.

After almost a decade of being away from home, the 23-year old has finally found his way back to Singapore where he’ll be preparing for the World Championships in July and the Southeast Asian Games towards the end of the year. Qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is also firmly in his sight.

“My ultimate goal is to always do well,” he said.

Now he’ll never miss the first thing he looks for whenever he’s back home after a long time of being away: his favorite Chai Tow Kway (a local delicacy).

Fueled by passion

“It’s all about the passion, how badly you want it. You can’t just crack under pressure.”

Photo by Hafiz Johari

Through hard work, determination, and passion, Joseph had already achieved so much at a young age.

He encourages those who share the same dream as his to do the same.

“It is important to love what you do, be passionate about it. Work hard, never give up. Everyone advocates what I’ve just said because it is true. If you have that mindset and that perseverance, nothing or anyone, can really stop you. I’d say just keep working at it,” he said.

In Singapore, everyone is encouraged to pursue their passions, especially in sports.

With Vision 2030, the country has been beefing up their efforts to get Singaporeans into sports. SportsCares has been empowering vulnerable communities who are at-risk and underserved by involving them in sports while ActiveSG provided the masses with a “super sports club” that lets them use facilities and enroll in different programmes.

Singapore also believes in nurturing not just their athletes but as well as their coaches. That’s why Vision 2030 also includes CoachSG that offers coaching development, and character and leadership development. The program also helps coaches become certified with accreditation from the National Registry of Coaches.

Joseph didn’t get to where he is today by sheer luck—at least, not by it alone. His luck comes in the form of his coaches, “who knew how to get the best out of me and how to help me achieve my goals,” and his loving and supportive parents.

“My parents [are my biggest influence], without a doubt. They laid a very strong foundation and have a great part to play in building me as a person—how you treat other people, your manners,” said Joseph.

“All that comes into play, and my parents have always given me the opportunity to discuss and make the decisions for myself. They’re not too constricting and guides me along the right path and so I definitely have my parents to thank for that.”

Joseph’s guide to Singapore

Photo by Andrew Tan