IN human life, two decades signify physical maturity and a sense of independence while forming connections and future-driven decisions. For BusinessMirror, 20 years represent establishing itself as the country’s premier business paper, honoring the fundamentals of ethical journalism and empowering readers to stay informed with accurate news.
This year, BusinessMirror takes one step back to review the past and a leap forward to the future with the theme, ‘From Headlines to Human Stories, the Journey Continues.’
In this issue, we present the major shifts and disruptions in various sectors of the country through the years and their impact on people’s lives.
The years 2005 to 2025 were indeed a true test of the courage of Filipinos and their will for survival: From the superstorms, political crisis, COVID-19, digital disruptions, and reckoning with Artificial Intelligence.
For this edition, the team of reporters-under the guidance of editors, led by Associate Editor Jennifer A. Ng- has gathered data and interviewed experts and leaders in their respective fields to provide readers with lessons from the past and what the future holds for the industries.
The world is warming up sooner than we can imagine, according to Bless Aubrey Ogerio in ‘Experiencing Extremes: Pag-asa maps a climate growing harder to read’; the green light is on for sustainable energy, but not without its own challenges, writes Lenie Lectura in ‘Reforms spur competition in PHL energy sector.’
Meanwhile, the country’s transport system is on a perpetual catch-up, reports Lorenz S. Marasigan in ‘Pinoys still wait for the ride that catches up with their neighbors.’ Zoning laws pose a problem for the poultry sector, reports Ada Pelonia in ‘PHL poultry raisers undaunted by bird flu scare.’
Improving human capital infrastructure is the deeper challenge in the outsourcing industry, as explained in Justine Xyrah Garcia’s ‘Night owls in a sunrise industry: The hidden costs of the business processing outsourcing boom’ and a new digital welfare system could help our migrant workers safe explains Samuel P. Medenilla in ‘New policy reforms will give Filipino domestic workers the professional edge and benefits.’
In the ambitious world of telecoms, Lorenz S. Marasigan reports, ‘Follow the money, or join the dead. PHL, tech companies evolve at a dizzying pace.’ More Filipinos are getting hooked on online gambling, writes Reine Juvierre Alberto in ‘Govt’s unfinished gamble: Ban or regulate? Give up revenue or lose your people?’ and e-governance is key, according to Alberto in ‘Breaking the paper trail: Digitalization boosts revenue, cuts graft, ensures transparency.’
Will economic reforms be the Change’s legacy? Inquires Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz in ‘Rewriting the rules of business: The push to amend the Philippines’ economic laws in the 20th Congress.’ And Philippine diplomacy has always been a balancing act, surmises Malou Talosig-Bartolome in ‘Two decades at sea, at the bargaining table, and in the courts.’