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Former senator now chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile was cleared of his remaining case at the Sandiganbayan in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam.

In a decision promulgated yesterday, the anti-graft court’s Third Division acquitted Enrile, his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila ‘Gigi’ Reyes and detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles of 15 counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, citing the prosecution’s ‘failure to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.’

Enrile attended the promulgation via online video conference as his lawyer, Erwin Matib, informed the court that the 101-year-old former lawmaker was confined in the hospital.

Napoles also attended the promulgation via online video conference from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City where she is currently detained.

Reyes, who personally attended the proceeding, turned emotional after the promulgation, briefly telling reporters she was ‘thankful’ of the court’s decision.

‘The court relied purely on the evidence presented and there was really no evidence against us. This is a vindication,’ said Reyes’ defense lawyer Anacleto Diaz.

Also acquitted of the cases were 30 other accused, including former Department of Budget and Management undersecretary Mario Relampagos, former DBM chief budget and management specialist Rosario Nunez and former administrative assistants Marilou Bare and Lalaine Paule as well as former officials of the defunct state firm Technology Resource Center (TRC): deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, group manager Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana and chief accountant Marivic Jover.

The court also acquitted Gondelina Amata, Emmanuel Sevidal, Ofelia Ordoñez, Filipina Rodriguez, Chita Jalandoni and Sofia Cruz – all former officers of the abolished state firm National Livelihood Dev. Corp. (NLDC) – as well as several private respondents that include Napoles’ children Jo Christine and James Christopher.

Last year, the Third Division acquitted Enrile, Reyes and Napoles of plunder still in connection with the pork barrel scam, citing the prosecution’s failure to establish a series of ‘overt criminal acts’ on the part of Enrile and his co-accused to amass ill-gotten wealth of at least P50 million, the threshold amount for the crime to be considered as plunder.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2014, the plunder and graft cases stemmed from Enrile’s alleged receipt, through Reyes, of P172.83 million in commissions or kickbacks from Napoles allegedly in exchange for the allocation of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF to Napoles’ bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) when he was senator from 2004 to 2010.

Enrile was granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2015 on ‘humanitarian consideration,’ citing his frail health condition and old age.

Reyes, meanwhile, was released from the Taguig City Jail Female Dormitory in January 2023 after nearly nine years in detention.

Napoles, on the other hand, remains detained following her conviction for plunder in December 2018 in connection with the misuse of P517 million in the PDAF of former senator Bong Revilla Jr.

In giving the acquittal, the Third Division said that, just like in the plunder case, the ombudsman’s prosecution panel failed to prove all the elements of the charged crime.

The Third Division said it was not established that Enrile gave unwarranted benefits, advantages or preference to the Napoles-linked NGOs or that he received any kickbacks from Napoles for the endorsement of the latter’s NGOs as implementers of his PDAF-funded projects.

‘Since the endorsement of the NGO was merely recommendatory and the mandate to accredit and award the project still rests with the implementing agencies, such supposed endorsement by Enrile does not constitute manifest partiality or evident bad faith,’ a portion of the 193-page decision read.

The decision was per curiam or has no named ponente. It was signed by Associate Justices Ronald Moreno, division chair, and Arthur Malabaguio and Juliet Manalo-San Gaspar, members.

P338 million civil liability

Despite the acquittal, Napoles and 15 other accused linked with her NGOs and the abolished state firms TRC, NLDC and National Agribusiness Corp. were ordered to jointly pay the government P338 million in civil liability, with an interest rate of six percent per year to be reckoned from the finality of the decision until full payment.

The court pointed out that while all the accused were acquitted for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt, it was still established that Enrile’s PDAF was released by the officials of the abolished state firms to Napoles’ NGOs.

‘A person acquitted of a criminal charge is not necessarily civilly free because the quantum of proof required in criminal prosecution (proof beyond reasonable doubt) is greater than that required for civil liability (mere preponderance of evidence),’ the Third Division’s decision read.

‘Here, the acquittal of the accused is due to the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. However, the prosecution was able to sufficiently establish by preponderance of evidence that the proceeds of the SAROs (special allotment release orders) were transferred to the six NGOs as recipients of public funds and that the PDAF-funded projects these NGOs supposedly implemented were fictitious or non-existent,’ it said.

The court said the prosecution was able to establish that Napoles exercised control over the NGOs, though she was not named as the owner.

Will this happen to flood control cases?

While Malacañang said the decision should be respected, House deputy minority leader Leila de Lima expressed frustration over the acquittal.

De Lima blamed the ‘slow wheels of justice,’ saying the accused relied on the public’s short memory to eventually be absolved because of less scrutiny over the years of trial.

‘This is always what is so frustrating for the ombudsman and the DOJ (Department of Justice). We started fresh and strong on the evidence when we filed the PDAF cases, strong enough to even deny Enrile and Reyes bail in the separate plunder cases,’ De Lima said in a statement.

She expressed fear that the same thing will happen to those involved in the flood control anomalies.

‘If this is what will happen to the flood control project cases, good luck to us. But then, some people are just really luckier than others. Faith in our justice system is difficult to achieve and/or sustain if the courts apply a different kind of justice to privileged offenders as compared to common accused,’ De Lima said.

For the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan, the acquittal highlighted the continuing corruption and impunity in the country.

‘This is a grim reminder of how the justice system shields the rich and powerful and why bigger and sustained protests are needed to pursue accountability and justice,’ Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino said.

The golden boy is back in form.

Filipino double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo has finished first in the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships vault event Saturday in Indonesia.

Participating third, Yulo set the bar high as he had a 15.200 score in his first vault, followed by a 14.533 in his second for a total score of 14.866.

But at the end of the eight athletes, the 25-year-old kept the top position, as the last gymnast of the final round, Artur Davtyan of Armenia, tallied a score of 14.833 to end up second.

Ukraine’s Nazar Chepurnyi snagged the bronze with a score of 14.483.

Yulo won a bronze medal in the floor exercise event on Friday.

He copped two Olympic gold medals in last year’s Paris Olympics, one each in vault and floor exercise.

This is now Yulo’s second vault gold in the World Championships.

Investors yesterday went on a selling spree on risks that the peso would continue to depreciate, in effect pulling the local stock market to below the 6,000 mark at the close of the week.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) yesterday fell by 1.09 percent, or 65.94 points, to close at 5,988.02, as investors sold off their shares factoring in currency weakness.

The broader All Shares index also declined by 0.81 percent or 29.47 points to close at 3,608.11.

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said investors chose to opt out of the PSEi with the peso hitting nine-month lows.

The peso closed at 58.625 to $1 yesterday, which was its lowest since Feb. 3, on pressures from Washington’s protectionist policies.

‘Sellers took control of the session today. The sustained depreciation of the peso against the dollar continues to weigh on the market’s sentiment,’ Limlingan said.

Moreover, Limlingan believes investors are pricing in the growing consensus that the Philippine economy would grow at a slower pace because of corruption scandals and trade tensions.

Recently, BMI Country Risk and Industry Research has cut its growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.2 percent from 6.2 percent on internal and external risks.

The PSEi saw P26.28 billion worth of shares change hands yesterday, with losers outnumbering the winners, 123 to 75, while 49 issues stayed the same.

In 2023, I met and spoke before Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, a research and knowledge-sharing network composed of 24 higher education institutions, during their first national symposium on small-scale fisheries held at UP Visayas.

TBTI Philippines serves as the National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development, bringing together higher education institutions (HEIs) that aim to make small-scale fisheries visible, viable and sustainable.

TBTI Philippines released a book entitled ‘Portrait of Small-Scale Fishers in the Philippines,’ putting together 78 stories that describe the everyday lives of fishers – their contributions, struggles and hopes.

The stories reveal the challenges facing small-scale fishers: low income, limited investment and lack of assistance during the closed fishing season. They also struggle against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that takes away their rightful catch and threatens their source of living.

The book clearly shows that small-scale fishers (SSF) may be small individually but are large collectively. The country’s 1.6 million small-scale fishers are the largest group in the fishing sector and account for one-fifth of the total fish catch. They employ millions of processors, traders and other workers in the fisheries value chain. Their catch remains the most affordable source of protein for 28.3 million Filipino households.

SSF work close to shore using simple passive gear. They help protect marine life and the coastal ecosystem. Compared to the country’s 4,800 registered commercial fishers, they have a smaller environmental footprint for nearly the same catch. Yet, despite their big contribution to food, livelihood and local economies, small-scale fishers remain among the poorest in the country.

This fact is clear: small-fishers are too big to ignore.

Supporting SSF

Small-scale fishers need our protection and support. Safeguarding the municipal waters, which serve as their main fishing ground, means protecting the fish, the fishers and the millions of Filipinos who rely on them for food and livelihood.

We need to support and protect them because to secure our food, we must first secure our small-scale fishers.

The academe, led by the University of the Philippines, SUCs with strong fisheries programs and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries, can make a big difference.

UP’s role in advancing small-scale fisheries

As the national university, UP must take the lead by establishing a Center for Small-Scale Fisheries, ideally hosted at UP Visayas, which already leads TBTI Philippines.

This center can focus on research and innovation to co-create solutions with fishers, propose better policies, develop low-cost technologies and test climate-resilient fishing models. UP Visayas can also integrate small-scale fisheries into its academic curriculum, helping students understand the human and ecological dimensions of the sector.

Unfortunately, while UP Visayas was established as the flagship campus of the UP system for fisheries, it has given more attention to other degree programs over the past decade. It is time to correct this anomaly.

UP Visayas must expand its public service programs to offer training on sustainable fishing, marine protected areas, fish handling and safety and cooperative management. As required in the UP Charter, it should provide policy advice to local and national governments, advocate for fishers’ rights and promote co-management of fishing grounds with fishers’ associations.

But UP Visayas cannot do it alone. It must provide leadership in bringing together state universities and colleges (SUCs) with strong marine and inland fisheries programs like MSU Tawi-Tawi, MSU Naawan, Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, CLSU, Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology, Palawan State University, Western Philippines State University and Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University.

Collectively, these SUCs can empower local communities by helping organize fisher cooperatives and strengthening local leadership in fisheries management. They can share expertise, resources and network locally and internationally to develop knowledge products and strategically focus their extension programs for small-scale fishers.

DA-BFAR’s role

The Department of Agriculture, through BFAR, should be the main protector and partner of small-scale fishers. It must ensure that policies and programs follow the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines), which promote the rights, livelihood and participation of small-scale fishers.

BFAR must defend the rights of small-scale fishers to municipal waters and act against illegal and commercial encroachment. The Fisheries Code already grants SSF preferential access to municipal waters and requires support in technology, research and livelihood.

BFAR should continue to implement social protection programs such as disaster assistance, alternative livelihood, insurance and access to credit and markets. The National Plan of Action for the SSF Guidelines (2024) must be fully implemented with support from national and local governments.

Ironically, DA Secretary Tiu Laurel’s background is in fisheries development, yet his department has not given SSF the proper support.

Feeding those who feed us

Fishers rise before dawn and face rough seas so that we have fish to eat. Yet, they are among the poorest, most food-insecure and least appreciated.

Every fish on our plate carries the story of a small-scale fisher’s labor, a family’s hope and a community’s resilience. Without the small-scale fishers, our coasts will be silent and our 967 coastal communities will lose their heart.

Investing in small-scale fishers means investing in the country’s food security. When fishers thrive, the whole nation benefits. There is no greater honor than ensuring the well-being of those who feed us.

Television presenter Kuya Kim Atienza and his wife Felicia confirmed that their daughter Emmanuelle has passed away. She was 19 years old.

Los Angeles authorities confirmed that Emmanuelle, more popularly known by her nickname Emman, died last October 22. Felicia announced Emman’s unexpected passing on social media the morning of Oct. 24 with a carousel of photos in a joint post.

‘She brought so much joy, laughter, and love into our lives and into the lives of everyone who knew her,’ said Felicia. ‘Emman had a way of making people feel seen and heard, and she wasn’t afraid to share her own journey with mental health. Her authenticity helped so many feel less alone.’

Felicia asked that people honor Emman’s memory by ‘carrying forward the qualities she lived by’ which were ‘compassion, courage, and a little extra kindness in your everyday life.’

Emman is survived by Kim, Felicia, and siblings Jose and Eliana. The family did not disclose a cause of death for the teenage content creator who addressed mental health topics and socio-political issues on her platforms.

TWICE is an anomaly in the K-pop world, having remained active for ten years with all of its original members intact. It’s a rare feat for a girl group, especially since their success has continued to grow globally, from headlining music festivals to expanding their fanbase.

I became a ONCE at the right time during the pandemic, when the group began moving away from their cute concepts toward mature ones that still maintained the wholesome, upbeat image that has largely defined their appeal.

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, the nine-member group – Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu – released their documentary ‘ONE IN A MILL10N’ in theaters on October 20, exactly ten years after their debut.

It revisits TWICE’s journey from their debut to the present, delving into the members’ individual stories and struggles as they continue to shape their artistry within and beyond the group.

For context, TWICE was formed through the reality survival series ‘SIXTEEN,’ where 16 trainees from JYP Entertainment competed to become the agency’s next girl group after Wonder Girls and Miss A. The lineup was initially set at seven members, but two more were added: Tzuyu through public vote, and Momo through the decision of JYP founder Park Jin-young, after she was previously eliminated.

While TWICE had a strong debut with ‘Like OOH-AHH,’ it was hits like ‘CHEER UP’ and ‘TT’ that made them household names. They continued their streak with bubblegum pop tracks such as ‘KNOCK KNOCK,’ ‘SIGNAL,’ ‘LIKEY,’ ‘What Is Love?’, ‘Dance the Night Away’ and ‘YES or YES’ – all met with similar success.

In 2019, the group began shifting to a grown-up image while retaining their trademark TWICE aesthetic with ‘FANCY’ and ‘Feel Special,’ showcasing their evolution and ability to adapt to new styles, evident in darker concepts like ‘CAN’T STOP ME’ and hip-hop-driven tracks like ‘This is For.’

Around this time, they signed with Universal Music Group’s Republic Records for global distribution, expanding their reach beyond Asia, where they had already established a stronghold, including in the Philippines, as shown by their three sold-out tour stops: one in SM Mall of Asia Arena and two at the Philippine Arena.

The documentary largely focuses on TWICE’s success in the West, including the release of their first English hit ‘The Feels,’ appearances on U.S. talk shows, headlining Lollapalooza Chicago 2025, selling out the 70,000-capacity SoFi Stadium in California, and collaborating with artists like Megan Thee Stallion for ‘Stragedy.’ It also highlights their feature in Netflix’s hit animated film ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters,’ in which Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung perform their own version of ‘Takedown.’

The docu also explores their enduring popularity in Japan, where Japanese members Momo, Sana, and Mina formed the subgroup MiSaMo. It further examines the members’ solo endeavors after years of being promoted exclusively as a nine-member unit.

As much as I love TWICE, I was initially apprehensive that the documentary might come off as a mere recap or a puff piece. After all, I’ve followed their career closely through countless YouTube videos and show appearances. Thankfully, ‘ONE IN A MILL10N’ offers enough depth and insight into the members’ perspectives to make the ticket price worth it.

One of the topics tackled is the so-called seven-year curse. Any K-pop fan knows this is often a make-or-break moment for idol groups, as it marks the expiration of their original contracts when members must decide whether to renew or part ways.

The members candidly discussed how their seventh year was a turbulent time, with leader Jihyo serving as the intermediary between the group and the agency to determine their future.

The docu also discusses the temporary hiatus of Mina and Jeongyeon, who stepped away at different times due to anxiety, with Jeongyeon also recovering from a neck injury. Despite these challenges, the reason the group stayed together lies in the sisterhood they’ve built over the years – one so strong that a decade doesn’t feel long to them at all.

What the documentary manages to pull off beautifully is giving each member fair screen time to tell her own story and showcase her endeavors beyond the group. This is impressive, as across its two-hour runtime, it intersperses concert footage, interviews with industry figures and international ONCEs, and heartfelt moments that highlight each member’s shine.

It’s hard to say whether ‘ONE IN A MILL10N’ will convert non-fans into ONCEs, but as a fan myself, I’d say it’s nearly impossible not to be impressed by TWICE’s hard work and undeniable charm. ONCEs, on the other hand, will leave the theater satisfied with a documentary that perfectly encapsulates the legacy of one of K-pop’s most successful girl groups – going strong at ten, and still growing. Four stars out of five.

Broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. is putting up a joint venture with Viva Records Corp. (VRC) that would engage in music production, marketing and distribution, slated to operate next year.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, GMA said it is establishing a joint venture with VRC for registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The company will be owned equally by GMA and VRC, and will mostly work on music production, recording, marketing, promotion and distribution.

Likewise, the joint venture will engage in artist management and music publishing. If things go as planned, the company will go on business in 2026.

GMA said the initial paid-in capital needed to create the joint venture is P2 million. The network decided to team up with VRC to consolidate their resources and tune up their capabilities in the music industry, both within and outside of the Philippines.

Given the 50:50 split, the company will elect a boardroom composed of three directors each from GMA and VRC.

The chairmanship will be shared by both GMA and VRC, while VRC chooses the president and the assistant corporate secretary and GMA appoints the treasurer and the corporate secretary.

‘The joint venture shall be subject to the board approvals of both GMA and VRC, and approval of the terms of incorporation papers to be filed with the SEC,’ GMA said.

GMA said the joint venture would bring a positive impact on the network because of the extent of the expertise, resources and talents of VRC. Further, GMA said the joint venture would contribute to its medium- to long-term performance.

In May, GMA president and CEO Gilberto Duavit Jr. said the network is on the lookout for fresh ways to raise revenue. He noted that last year’s revenue decline was partly due to weak reception for its former shows.

This time, Duavit promised to explore not just innovative takes on primetime content, but to look into other revenue sources outside of TV and online as well.

As of June, GMA has booked a profit of P2 billion, triple than a year ago’s P604.62 million, as it gained from the advertising influx during the election season.

At the 62nd People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Annual Conference and Awards held at NuSTAR Cebu on October 23, SM Supermalls proudly celebrated two landmark honors among 96 competing organizations across three award categories-solidifying its place as a leader in people management and sustainability.

Cheryll Ruth Lat-Agsaoay: 2025 People Manager of the Year – National Winner

HR Group Head and Senior Vice President Cheryll Ruth Lat-Agsaoay was conferred PMAP’s highest individual honor as the National Winner for People Manager of the Year 2025, a first in SM Group history.

The recognition underscores her transformative leadership in human resources, guided by empathy, agility and innovation. Her approach reflects the essence of the award: leading with trust, shaping the future of work through technology, and ensuring every SM employee feels seen, valued and empowered to thrive.

‘HR will continue to champion innovative solutions with deep human connections. We’ll influence safe and brave spaces where people can be intentional about innovation and collaboration,’ Lat-Agsaoay said.

This milestone is made even more meaningful as SM Supermalls celebrates its 40th anniversary. It is a testament to SM’s enduring commitment to nurture people, grow talent from within and cultivate a culture where purpose meets performance.

Sustainability Moves: People Program of the Year – NCR Exemplar

Equally inspiring is Sustainability Moves, awarded as NCR Exemplar for People Program of the Year.

More than a program, it is a movement powered by SM employees’ collective passion for sustainability. Rooted in volunteerism and driven by purpose, it exemplifies how SM Supermalls integrates environmental and social responsibility into its everyday operations.

‘Our people are at the heart of what we do as an organization. HR is a strategic partner to the business as we drive a high-performing culture and sustainability has always been at the core of how we work in operations,’ said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

These back-to-back recognitions from PMAP affirm SM Supermalls’ commitment to being not just a great place to shop but also a great place to work. Here, people are empowered to create meaningful impact, grow with purpose and contribute to a sustainable future for all.

‘I can’t take it anymore. I need to take a leave and rest or I’m close to having a mental breakdown,’ a Gen X manager told me recently.

A Stellar performer. Multiple ‘Manager of the Year’ trophies. Not a lightweight.

The job isn’t what’s breaking her but the messages.

One morning, in a hotel known for premium service, a staffer dropped this gem in the team chat:

‘Good morning. Why is my application for leave taking so long for approval? Please explain. Thank you.’

No context. No courtesy. And yes, they added the manager to the chat without even asking.

We often discuss psychological safety – which is beneficial. People should be free to raise issues, own mistakes and explore ideas without fear.

But here’s the part the hashtags often forget: senior leaders also need psychological safety – from weaponized entitlement, lazy phrasing and social media manners imported into a professional workplace.

Safety is not a license to be careless. It’s the courage to be candid – with care.

Most young workers are not rude by design; many are just underexposed to workplace etiquette. When algorithms curate your life’s curriculum, and your teachers are ‘Assert Yourself’ TikTok and YouTube gurus, you’re trained to prize volume over nuance, speed over substance and ‘my boundaries’ over ‘our mission.’

Meanwhile, many companies skip values orientation because ‘we’re busy.’ Translation: ‘We hired quickly and hoped culture would grow on its own.’

That’s like buying a grand piano and believing the furniture will teach everyone to play.

So what does harmony look like – without turning this column into another 10-step survival guide?

Imagine this instead:

A team that shares a house style for communication without calling it a policy. We don’t call it a ‘policy’; it’s just how the house runs.

Urgent? Call.

Important? Email.

Routine? Chat.

We dress our words the same way we dress for a client – professionally, crisply and kindly. No ‘please explain’ like a help desk.

When we need to push, we add context and offer options. No drama – just clarity.

New hires don’t get a sermon; they get a conversation.

Respect is how we speak.

Accountability is when we deliver.

Service is why we exist – so it will always be customer first, team second, ego dead last.

Then we practice the messy bits: filing leave during peak season, sending non-emergency emails on Saturdays and handling guest blowups that escalate a shift – real reps for real work.

Nobody graduates on PowerPoint alone; they rehearse the complex parts until confidence replaces guesswork – where boundaries and reliability become friends, not enemies.

Days off are honored, but everyone understands the business.

In rare crises, requests arrive with context, a time limit and a fair giveback:

‘We need 30 minutes between two and five; you’ll get a half-day this week.’

When someone truly can’t help, they don’t vanish – they redirect:

‘I’m offline. Please try Alex. If stuck, escalate to Jenny.’

People stop ghosting and start communicating.

Corrections occur like pit stops that are quick, targeted and without public shaming.

A message crosses the line? The leader replies privately:

‘Your note sounded demanding. Here’s a better way to ask. You’ll get faster approvals.’

No grandstanding. Just micro-coaching in the moment. The temperature drops. Performance rises. the week and you’ll find a small ritual of fifteen minutes of Wins and Whoops.

One win we’ll repeat.

One whoops we’ll fix.

One insight about our customers we can use on Monday.

Rituals are how ‘we should’ becomes ‘we do.’

Mentoring flows in both directions.

Seniors pass on standards, presence and the service mindset.

Juniors teach tools, brevity and micro-trends.

Respect grows because value flows. This is not ‘receive and resent’; it’s ‘give and gain.’

When tensions spike, people don’t throw labels; they ask better questions:

‘I’ll assume you meant well. What outcome were you hoping for with that message?’

That single sentence transforms a complaint into a coaching moment. The room exhales.

Learning begins.

And yes – we measure what we want to multiply.

Not the vanity metrics. Just two questions:

1. Are we making the customer’s life easier?

2. Are we reducing internal friction caused by miscommunication?

Celebrate improvements the way you celebrate revenue. People repeat what gets rewarded.

Let me end with a word to the young professional reading this:

The Gen Zer who masters mood and message – who shows care for the company’s success and practices right values and conduct – will have a competitive edge.

Full stop.

You will stand out in a sea of ‘I already booked my flights.’ You’ll be trusted with context, included in decisions and accelerated in your career.

That’s the golden opportunity hiding inside what appears to be ‘just etiquette.’

Do it this way, then you will experience work harmony.

Meanwhile, I need to check in on the senior manager who is about to have a mental breakdown – and give her some pointers as well.

This is how we are robbed of our future.

In one year, the BBM administration managed to build only 22 classrooms this year. The classroom backlog runs into the hundreds of thousands.

Vince Dizon made this frank admission. Only 22 classrooms. The target was to build 1,700 classrooms – a modest goal considering the previous administration was able to build tens of thousands every year.

In his State of the Nation Address, Marcos boasted of an incredible number of classrooms built. That is as empty as his previous boast about 5,500 flood control projects being completed.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara attributes the severe underperformance to the preoccupation of DPWH personnel for other projects. Which is not to say that building classrooms is not profitable for the looters. It is just not profitable enough during a time when ghost flood control projects and kickbacks are delivered in cartons.

Private foundations helping to build classrooms say the typical DPWH-built classroom was over three times more costly that what private sector groups build. A typical DPWH classroom costs about P8.8 million each. A better one built by private charities typically costs P2.7 million.

At the rate the DPWH is building classrooms, it will take forever to close the classroom gap. The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids at Giza at a much shorter time – and with no kickbacks.

By the time the DPWH closes the classroom gap, the demographics have changed. Our population growth rate will have dropped from the current high. There will be less pupils to enjoy the facilities the current generation of students direly need.

Pity the children. Many of them have to wade in floodwaters to make it to school. A good number of them go to school hungry as child malnutrition rates rocket in the face of food price inflation. Some of them sit in water-logged classrooms or hold classes in the open.

Even if they have an actual classroom, they listen to the lessons in congested conditions and in unbearable heat. Contact time in the classroom is reduced by the sheer number of holidays we observe, by frequent suspensions of classes due to rains and by other causes such as when our schools are used as evacuation centers.

All these compound the inferior content of our current education process, the lack of equipment and the shortage of teachers. The syndicates of corruption have not spared our education institutions. Among other things, Zaldy Co is accused of selling inferior laptops to the Department of Education.

Compare our basic education system with those of our neighbors and weep. All of our neighbors are investing heavily in their young. They are producing highly trained warriors ready to thrive in the new technological economy.

By contrast, our functional literacy rates are deteriorating. A typical high school graduate may be able to read but not comprehend – much less analyze. It is as if we hope that training on the job will somehow help our young survive in a competitive world.

Business associations are trying their best to help solve the severe classroom shortages. It is a heroic crusade. But there is only so much they can do.

Sen. Bam Aquino has introduced a bill titled Classroom-building Acceleration Program (CAP) that will, among others, encourage local governments to join in building education facilities. He is urging the President to certify this bill as urgent to ensure swift passage.

But the bill adds little to what is already there. Classroom construction has been swiftly decentralized in the wake of this administration’s utter failure to deliver. Local governments and non-government organizations may now enter the classroom construction game provided they follow design guidelines.

But government remains the single biggest entity with the resources to close the classroom gap – if the funds are not intercepted by legislators to other things where the kickback rates are higher. It is government that must throw its full force behind providing the facilities young Filipinos so desperately need.

But will this administration do it?

The President has been burned once more when he boasted about how many classrooms his administration built. He was burned previously when he boasted about the thousands of flood control projects completed. He tends to stop mentioning things that got him burned.

If our educational system is weakened, it is because of the rampant corruption that does not spare our young.

The signs of a worsening crisis brought about by unchecked corruption are flashing before our eyes. The peso is sinking rapidly. Investments are fleeing our stock market. According to businessmen, some 600 business projects were shelved in the aftermath of the flood control scandal.

In the recent opinion polls, the problem of corruption has shot up the rankings among the top-of-mind concerns of our citizens. It is second only to anxieties over rising food prices. Both are urgent concerns that do not seem to merit a more determined and strategic response from those who govern us.

Our business community has become even more outspoken over the past few weeks. The distress will not be relieved by mere public relations offensives. These are people with a better grasp pf what is happening on the ground.

Our people are rapidly losing trust in those who lead us. The erosion of trust will continue until our people feel that government is grabbing the situation by the horns.