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Resumés get you interviews. Diplomas make recruiters nod. Technical skills may even land you the job.

But if you want to keep the job, grow in it, and move higher, it’s not the technical side that sets you apart – it’s your soft skills.

A LinkedIn Global Talent Trends study revealed that 92 percent of hiring managers value soft skills as much as, or more than, technical skills. Why? Because when new hires fail, 89 percent of the time it’s not because they didn’t know how to do Excel formulas or run a presentation- it’s because they didn’t know how to work with people.

In other words:

Hard skills get you through the door. Soft skills decide whether you’ll be invited to stay for dinner.

Here are 10 in-demand soft skills that don’t just make you employable -they make you indispensable.

1. Adaptability

Your professional survival kit comprises adaptability. Modern work brings unexpected changes – new managers, sudden policy updates and unexpected corporate mergers.

Individuals who adapt to change tend to succeed in their careers. Those who resist change will become outdated in the company’s practices. Flexible individuals will maintain their shape regardless of what happens.

2. Emotional intelligence

High IQ might impress. But high EQ earns trust. People who possess genuine emotional intelligence develop better self-awareness and emotional control, which enables them to build strong relationships with others.

We’ve all met that brilliant colleague who can solve equations faster than a calculator – but somehow manages to create problems faster than they solve them. Smart? Yes. Effective? Not at all.

The workplace leaders who achieve the most success are those with high emotional intelligence (EQ). These leaders achieve more than obedience – they develop genuine followership from their team members. These leaders use connection instead of command to achieve their goals.

3. Effective communication

Communication is not about talking more – it’s about being understood. And in workplaces flooded with emails, Viber groups and endless Zoom meetings, clarity is gold.

A manager once told me, ‘If your email takes longer to read than it takes for me to finish my coffee, it’s too long.’ Point well taken.

Good communication is short, clear and human. Don’t overwhelm people with words when what they need is clear direction.

4. Negotiation

The ability to negotiate extends beyond sales professionals. All workers need this skill for their daily tasks. All professional environments require negotiation because it enables workers to find solutions that benefit everyone involved in their work.

The path to successful negotiation requires parties to reach agreements through mutual respect for dignity.

As the saying goes:

‘In every negotiation, leave the table with your relationship richer, not poorer.’

5. Teamwork

Organizations achieve their goals through the combined efforts of their team members, rather than relying on individual heroes.

‘Teamwork makes the dream work’ is a motivational poster often found in school hallways, yet it represents actual organizational success. Nobody shines alone; the team shines brighter together.

6. Positive attitude

Negativity is contagious. But so is optimism. A positive person sees possibilities where others only see problems.

A colleague of mine used to say, ‘If you walk into a meeting with thunderclouds over your head, don’t be surprised if everyone else leaves wet.’

Choose optimism. It not only uplifts your own performance – it lifts the whole team.

7. Time management

We all get 24 hours. Some people achieve wonders with it; others can’t even get through their to-do list. The difference? Time management.

Prioritize what matters. Learn to delegate. And remember: being busy is not the same as being productive.

Here’s a witty reminder: ‘If everything is urgent, then nothing really is.’

8. Conflict resolution

Conflict is inevitable. Drama is optional.

Workplaces filled with diverse personalities will clash. Emotionally mature people resolve disagreements early – with respect, honesty and empathy. They don’t sweep things under the rug, and they don’t fan the flames either.

9. Work ethic

A strong work ethic demonstrates their dedication to success through their daily commitment to their duties. A person with a work ethic demonstrates their commitment by arriving on time, taking initiative and accepting all responsibilities.

Leaders who demonstrate a strong work ethic refuse to avoid accountability because they actively seek out responsibility.

10. Collaboration over competition

Competition can be healthy, but collaboration creates something bigger than individual wins. Two brains are better than one, and when egos step aside, ideas multiply.

Andrew Carnegie said, ‘It is the long history of humankind that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.’

The hard truth about soft skills is this: they’re harder to measure, but impossible to ignore.

They don’t expire like software updates. They don’t get outdated like gadgets. They stay relevant, transferable and deeply human.

As somebody once said:

‘Technical skills make you employable. Soft skills make you unforgettable.’

Master them, and you won’t just move up the career ladder – you’ll be the kind of professional everyone wants on their team.

Several current and former trustees of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) have called for the immediate resignation of President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso, citing alleged poor investment decisions that they claim caused P8.8 billion in losses.

In a strongly worded letter dated October 14, six GSIS trustees and former board members urged Veloso to ‘immediately and irrevocably’ vacate his post, accusing him of approving high-risk transactions that ‘violated fiduciary duties’ and ‘threatened the stability and integrity’ of the fund entrusted to millions of government workers.

“Your (Velasco’s) actions and championed risky transactions have compelled us to act. We contend that these initiatives are not merely questionable, but they directly violate the fiduciary duties of the GSIS,” the trustees wrote.

“Marked by a disturbing lack of transparency and offering no clear benefit to the institution, these ventures threaten the very stability and integrity of the fund we are sworn to protect. Your insistence on pursuing them, despite clear and substantial risks, is a grave betrayal of the trust placed in you by the GSIS’s members,” they added.

The group alleged that under Veloso’s management, the GSIS pursued speculative placements that had already suffered substantial losses. These include multi-billion investments in Monde Nissin Corp., Nickel Asia Corp., Bloomberry Resorts Corp., Digiplus Interactive Corp. and Alternergy Holdings Corp.

They also raised red flags over the proposed P456-million Figaro Culinary Group investment, which they said violated GSIS investment guidelines and the planned acquisition of The Centrum, which they claimed was marred by overvaluation and irregular procurement practices.

The signatories, namely Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, Emmanuel de Leon Samson, Rita Riddle, Evelina Escudero, Joclyn de Guzman Cabreza and Alan Lucas, also cited findings from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Office of the Ombudsman flagging irregularities in the Alternergy investment, which led to Veloso’s earlier preventive suspension.

The group warned that his continued leadership places the welfare of 2.6 million members, who have entrusted their life savings and future security to the institution, in “imminent danger.”

They added that Veloso’s leadership ‘exposes the current administration to severe and justifiable criticism,’ saying that the GSIS ‘must remain a bastion of stability and trust, not a source of controversy and political liability.’

“To prevent further erosion of trust and to safeguard the future of our members, your resignation is the only honorable and viable course of action,” the trustees said.

“We urge you to step down immediately to allow for a transition to leadership that will restore faith in the GSIS and reaffirm its commitment to its true stakeholders,” they added.

GSIS backs Veloso

In a statement issued on October 17, the GSIS stood by Veloso and defended its investment strategies, calling the allegations a ‘difference in perspectives on investment strategy and governance philosophy.’

The agency said that all investment decisions ‘follow the strictest procedural and legal frameworks’ under Republic Act No. 8291, emphasizing that its fund management is ‘data-driven, prudent, and fully compliant.’

“We emphasize that the true measure of our stewardship lies not in anonymous allegations or personality-driven narratives, but in objective, verifiable performance,” the GSIS said.

“Our financial data provides clear, measurable evidence of the strength of our management and strategy,” it added.

As of August 2025, the GSIS said its total assets rose to P1.92 trillion, showing strong financial health.

Net income hit P100.02 billion, which is 51% higher than its target, while total income climbed to P231.06 billion, boosted by premium contributions and investment gains.

The fund life was also extended to 2058, ensuring long-term stability for civil servants.

“These results are the direct outcome of a stability-focused strategy and expert asset management-delivered under the very leadership that is now being questioned,” the agency said.

GSIS added that Veloso, who recently resumed his duties after preventive suspension, continues to lead the institution with a focus on continuity and transparency.

“We respect and defer to the legal process, but our focus remains unwavering: serving our members,” GSIS said.

‘Our mandate is to our members. Our guide is verifiable data. Our mission is to secure their future. We remain focused, undeterred, and fully committed to this singular goal,’ they added.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio took the floor during the 8th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Hanoi last Thursday and quickly made his presence felt.

Gregorio, only in his fourth month as PSC chairman, reiterated before his counterparts, including those from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Timor Leste, Laos and host Vietnam, the importance of boosting sports tourism in the region by hosting high-caliber, world-class events.

‘I personally and wholeheartedly support the inclusion of sports tourism as a key priority area – especially in the Southeast Asian region, which is now emerging as a sports hub globally,’ said Gregorio.

‘There is potential and power for all of us to tap,’ he added.

The former basketball, boxing and rowing official said sky’s the limit for Southeast Asian countries as far as sports tourism is concerned.

‘In fact, I imagine, to further showcase our collective strength in sports tourism, the time will come for us to join forces for a future bid to host world sporting events together: whether that’s the FIFA World Cup, the World Games, or one day, the Olympic Games,’ he said.

While Japan (1964 and 2020) South Korea (1988) and China (2008) have hosted the Summer Games, no Southeast Asian country has enjoyed the great privilege.

Gregorio said it can be done the way Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup; and the way the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia co-hosted the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

‘We must aspire to inspire. It’s about time. And why not? One Asean. One Olympic dream. One Olympic flame,’ said Gregorio, adding that his fellow delegates were ‘pleasantly surprised’ with his pitch.

‘You made us all realize,’ he quoted one sports minister as saying.

The Philippines, he stressed, is enjoying the gains and benefits of sports tourism by hosting international events, featuring world-class competition.

Last month, the Philippines hosted the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships, to be followed by the World Surf League Qualifying Series 6000 and 4000 in Siargao on October 24-31 and in Baler, Quezon on November 17-23; Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships on November 20-24 with 80 countries competing; and the maiden FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup on November 21 to December 7 drawing 16 federations.

‘I strongly agree with Brunei Minister on Culture, Youth and Sports Nazmi Mohamad that we as a region must establish Asean-branded sports events,’ said Gregorio.

‘Sports inspires solidarity and awakens collective purpose. We must continue to harness it as a transformative instrument for socio-cultural development and peace,’ he said.

Gregorio closed out his speech by calling for an Asean Summit on Tourism and Sports, which the Philippines would gladly host next year.

‘Let me end by encouraging continued dialogue and stronger cooperation among us. I would like to extend an invitation to everyone here. I would like to bring together the region’s Sports and Tourism Ministers to explore more areas of cooperation and develop joint hosting plans for world events,’ he said.

‘Please come visit us. Let’s plan exciting things together. Let sports unite, uplift, and transform the Southeast Asian region as a new sports tourism powerhouse in the years to come. I hope to see you all in the Philippines soon.’

Refereeing a basketball game is no joke. You’re constantly under pressure to make decisions, moving quickly and getting into position while everybody else is likewise moving and making contact. We’ve said that the only time you know you’ve done a good job is when only half of the people complain. But so far, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has had multiple incidents of referees losing command and control of the game.

It started with the pay gap between male and female referees. It would not have been so bad if it wasn’t reported that the salaries of female referees were decreased in favor of their male counterparts. This already cast the spotlight on the league, getting the wrong kind of attention.

Next came the Adamson-UP game three weeks ago, where confusion resulted in the Falcons only having four players on the floor for 10 seconds. It magnified the impression that the referees did not have full command of what was going on. No infractions, just an error that could’ve been avoided.

This week came the exclamation point. As University of the East was gunning for its first win in six games, a loose ball scramble resulted in what was whistled as an unsportsmanlike foul against Red Warrior Wello Lingolingo, causing injury to De La Salle’s Kean Baclaan. Lingolingo’s foul caused his disqualification after scoring 24 points, UE blows a 21-point lead, and DLSU wins in overtime. Lingolingo was later slapped a three-game suspension, all but dooming UE.

Refereeing is all about timing, positioning and judgment. The question of decision-making leaves the officiating in question. It leaves doubts as to the preparedness and even capability of the whistle-blowers. It is seriously hurting the UAAP’s image, but it can be fixed. UAAP basketball commissioner Jai Reyes has the experience and intelligence to rectify matters by improving the training of refs, even mid-season. It is also possible to expand the pool of officials, and most importantly, reprimand or suspend those in error.

Calling basketball games is decidedly human, and mistakes will never be completely avoided. But, judgment can be improved, gravitas can be earned, emotions controlled. At times, it is also a question of qualification. Referees earn their living by the volume of games they call in and outside the league. That may be worth monitoring, as well. If the referees are also working other leagues and games where they have more power, it may color their overall capability. The level of organization and competition will not be consistent, allowing for more latitude in committing errors.

We could say that officiating is – pardon the pun – a calling, a commitment. Therefore, as a whole, the UAAP basketball organization has to strengthen their commitment to doing a good job. Mistakes are regrettable, but faith in the technical officials can be restored if these errors can be avoided from this point on. Unfortunately, the heat of the spotlight is already on them.

Hans T. Sy is the ‘Management Person of the Year 2025’ of the Management Association of the Philippines, the largest organization of CEOs with over 1,000 members.

Hans, 69, is chair of the Executive Committee of SM Prime and chairman of the board of China Banking Corp. A member of the Sy family, which is the richest in the Philippines, Hans is cited for his superior management of both SM Prime and China Bank, with a sharp focus on sustainability and inclusion.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPH) is one of the most valuable Philippine public companies (P1.086 trillion or $118.7 billion, fourth highest) and one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia.

SM Prime offers innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities with the development of malls, residences, offices, hotels and convention centers. It is also the largest property company, in terms of assets, in the Philippines.

China Banking Corp. (Chinabank) was founded in 1920. It is the first bank to lend the legendary taipan Henry Sy his loan.

Under Hans, Chinabank has become one of the best managed, fastest growing and most profitable banks in the Philippines. At end-June 2025, Chinabank was ranked by the BSP the fifth largest, with assets of P1.49 trillion, outranking the likes of RCBC, Security Bank, PNB, DBP and Union Bank, in that order.

Has Sy was chosen by MAP as its most outstanding CEO of the year for the following reasons:

1. His lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, social inclusion, good governance and resilience (ESG-R), establishing SM Prime as a benchmark for sustainable and resilient urban development;

2. Championing people-centered leadership and diversity by fostering a corporate culture that promotes employee welfare, professional development and work-life balance, while building an organization that exemplifies the UN Global Compact Women’s Empowerment Principles;

3. Spearheading innovative and sustainable retail development which continuously provides growth opportunities for MSMEs, local government units and the communities where SM malls operate;

4. Helping shape global and local guidance on integrating disaster risk reduction into core business strategies by representing the Philippines in the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and by founding ARISE Philippines;

5. Raising the Philippine flag with pride in other countries like China, and proving that Filipino companies can compete successfully with global big brands;

6. Broadening access to quality education and athletic excellence by nurturing the National University (NU) and supporting other broad-based initiatives that shape future generations;

7. Personally supporting vulnerable children through Child Haus which provides critical health care and hope to indigent children with cancer; and

8. His personal contributions to shaping national values and inspiring others through his unwavering integrity, exceptional managerial competence and visionary leadership.

Hans is the fourth CEO of the Henry Sy group to win the MAP award for management excellence. Its previous winners were: Henry Sy (1999), daughter Teresita Sy (2016), and BDO CEO Nestor Tan (2019).

MAP confers the ‘MAP Management Person of the Year’ award on individuals in business or government, whether a member of the MAP or not, who have attained unquestioned distinction in the practice of management and have made valuable contributions to the progress of the country and in re-shaping national values.

It is bestowed on exceptional persons who have posted a record of achievement and distinction as leaders and managers of organizations, and who are exemplary models who deserve to be emulated by their peers and by the younger leaders and managers.

The conferment of the award follows a thorough, stringent selection process. The distinction of ‘MAP Management Person of the Year’ has only been conferred 49 times in the six-decade history of the award.

The criteria for the award include integrity, leadership and management qualities; contribution to nation-building and values formation; effective stewardship within the confines of the highest standard of business and management practice; among others.

Previous ‘MAP Management Person of the Year’ awardees: Washington Z. SyCip (1967), Geronimo Z. Velasco (1977), Henry A. Brimo (1978), Jose M. Soriano (1979), Cesar E.A. Virata (1981), Jaime V. Ongpin and Vicente T. Paterno (1982), Dante G. Santos (1983), Cesar A. Buenaventura and Roberto T. Villanueva (1985), Jaime Zobel de Ayala (1987), Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. (1988), Jose B. Fernandez Jr. (1989), Raul T. Concepcion (1990), Oscar J. Hilado (1991), Alfonso T. Yuchengco (1992), Juan B. Santos (1994), David M. Consunji and Rizalino S. Navarro (1996), Gabriel C. Singson (1998), Delfin L. Lazaro and Henry Sy Sr. (1999), Oscar M. Lopez (2000), Tony Tan Caktiong (2002), Jesus P. Tambunting (2003), Rafael B. Buenaventura (2004), Manuel V. Pangilinan (2005), George S. K. Ty and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II (2006), Jose L. Cuisia Jr. (2007), Antonino T. Aquino and Jesus P. Estanislao (2009), Lilia B. de Lima and Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. (2010), Erramon I. Aboitiz (2011), Aurelio R. Montinola III (2012), Edgar O. Chua (2013), Albert F. del Rosario (2014), Amando M. Tetangco Jr. (2015), Teresita Sy-Coson (2016), John L. Gokongwei Jr. (2017), Fernando Zobel de Ayala (2018), Nestor V. Tan (2019), Federico R. Lopez (2020), Carlos Chan (2021), Isidro A. Consunji (2022), Ernesto Tanmantiong (2023), Rogelio L. Singson (2024) and Hans T. Sy (2025).

Hans gets his award on Nov. 24, 2025.

On government mismanagement of its flood control program resulting in P1 trillion being stolen by the corrupt, there will be no more public hearings on this scam – none in the House, none in the Senate and none in the so-called Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

The Filipino people won’t be able to see the most corrupt species of human beings ever to walk this land – eye to eye – on national television. And I see why – this rhymes with Eye-See-Eye.

By conducting its hearings behind closed doors, ICI rescues the corrupt from the prying, angry eyes of the public.

Ayala Malls Cinemas continues to bring prestigious and highly acclaimed films to Philippine cinemas with their exclusive release of ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ a movie musical based on the acclaimed 1976 novel Kiss of the Spider Woman by Argentinian writer Manuel Puig and the Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical of the same name by the multiple Tony Award®-winning playwright Terrence McNally (Master Class, Ragtime) and composer/lyricist team John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago).

Starring Emmy® and Grammy Award® nominated superstar Jennifer Lopez, Emmy Award® nominee Diego Luna (Andor, Y tu mamá también), and Tonatiuh (Promised Land, Vida), ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ is now showing exclusively in Ayala Malls Cinemas.

The film is directed by Bill Condon, the Academy Award®-winning writer-director known for such films as Gods and Monsters, Chicago, Dreamgirls and Beauty and the Beast.

‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, is set in 1983 Argentina. With the country’s military dictatorship waging a brutal war against its political opponents, prisoners Valentín (Luna) and Molina (Tonatiuh) find themselves thrown together in a cramped cell. Initially at odds, they begin to bond as Molina narrates the story of his favorite movie, ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman.’

A colorful fantasia of song and dance starring screen siren Ingrid Luna (Lopez), the film follows a woman attempting to outrun a mythical predator who kills with her kiss. Jointly visualizing the dazzling Technicolor adventure, the men escape the indignities of confinement, and their shared experience leads them toward hope, grace and connection.

‘Musicals have been having a resurgence since they were first declared dead in 1931,’ said Condon about the cultural resurgence movie musicals are enjoying of late.

‘I think they’ve been resuscitated more often than Dracula. One of the reasons the genre always bounces back is that, as with suspense and horror, musicals are enhanced by the communal experience. In recent years we’ve been searching for reasons to go back to the theater, and musicals, when they work, give you that extra jolt of pleasure.’

The film’s vivid colors, larger-than-life musical numbers and suspenseful scenes from the political part of the story make ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ a cinematic experience best enjoyed on the big screen.

‘It’s easy to get caught in the web of ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,” said Movieweb in its review.

USA Today also gave the film a positive review, praising the talented cast. ‘Lopez struts and vamps like an A-list champ, Diego Luna oozes gravitas, but everybody – and hopefully some Oscar voters – will remember this Kiss as a star-making turn for the fabulous Tonatiuh.’

”Kiss of the Spider Woman’ is astounding,’ The Film Maven lauded the new adaptation in her review. ‘If you aren’t a musical fan, will you be in hell? Probably. But for those who enjoy a sweeping musical story, or for lovers of Old Hollywood, you’ll be in Heaven for the next two hours.

San Beda used a first-half cushion to survive Mapua 79-70 and snare the solo Group B lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Up by 13 at halftime, the Lions suddenly turned cold as the Cardinals rallied to within 64-58 going into the final canto.

But San Beda woke up by making the stops when needed and hitting the shots that mattered to preserve the victory, its fourth in five outings.

San Beda coach Yuri Escueta was quick to point out the loss of concentration of his wards in the third period.

‘I’m not really satisfied,’ said Escueta. ‘We allowed them 24 points in the third quarter. Good thing in the fourth quarter we were able to make stops and get baskets.’

He also pointed at their lack of rebounding.

‘This is the first game we got outrebounded,’ said Escueta referring to Mapua’s 36 boards to his squad’s 35.

So goes the famous saying: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. In our case, if life gives you Robusta, make Robusta coffee. What do I mean? We, the Philippines, are blessed to be able to grow four varieties of coffee: Robusta, Excelsa, Arabica and Liberica (REAL is the mnemonic, if you want to impress friends and remember these). Of the four about 90 percent of our production is the Robusta variety or Coffea canephora. So, does it not make sense to focus on our Robusta, make it better and increase its value? That crossed our minds as we planned to ensure the sustainability of our coffee industry.

A lot of data shows that we consume more coffee than what we produce – about 70 percent of our consumption is now imported mostly in instant variants, the famous ‘3 in 1,’ coffee mixes with herbs and other forms of ready to drink and soluble coffee. But what about the little coffee we produce? Why do not we make better value out of it? There is increasing demand for brewed coffee or what the industry calls ‘roast and ground,’ and for this type we need to improve the coffee harvest from start to finish. That means optimizing our production and making sure we get the highest value for our meager lot.

A colleague of ours suggested to reach out to the Robusta rockstar, Nishant Gurjer, a Bangalore, India farm estate owner. Nishant obliged and will grace our First Coffee Sustainability Congress scheduled for Oct. 23 in Makati. Nishant has managed to produce good quality Robusta and has the certifications for organic, fair trade and coffee grown in forests which has given his coffee better value in the Indian and world markets. India is one of the top ten producers of coffee in the world and Kaapi Royale, Nishant’s company, is a known producer of quality Robusta.

An Arabica farmer commented: Why Robusta? And I replied: Why not? Because if 90 percent of our production is Robusta, who will give it the impetus to be the answer to sustainability of our coffee industry? Well, this Coffee Congress hopes to inspire our government leaders, LGUs, coffee players and future coffee farmers to think about Robusta. You can plant more per hectare, it is more resilient and climate change- ready, and you can even intercrop it with coconut, banana, pineapple, papaya and vegetables. In fact, the Philippine Coffee Board has already started pilot demo farms for different models with Robusta and Liberica such as: with coconut, with papaya and soon with ginger and other root crops, too.

The Coffee Congress will also feature our government representatives like Dept. of Agriculture’s High Value Crops Undersecretary Ching Caballero, Dept of Trade and Industry’s Assistant Secretary Grace Baluyan and the keynote speaker is no less than Senator Kiko Pangilinan, who is chair of the Committee on Agriculture. I am sure they will meet Nishant Gurjer and probably we can benchmark practices by visiting India, the world’s top producer of quality Robusta.

We will not skip mentioning the other varieties. In fact, at the end of the congress, we have set up three cupping stations for Robusta, Liberica and Arabica so our coffee experts can guide consumers, coffee producers on what Indian Robusta tastes like compared to ours. We will also be able to compare our Liberica vs India’s and Arabicas will also be from Asian origins vs our own Benguet and Bukidnon.

Coffee producers must be around to take this rare opportunity to listen to coffee gurus-we have Dave Lim of Asean Coffee Institute who will explain the Flavor Sphere, a chart that is truly Asian and describes coffee tastes using tropical fruits known to our farmers. Have you ever used balimbing or durian to describe coffee taste? Well, this might be the opportunity to get to know other flavors, especially local or Asian flavors.

The Congress is designed to engage other coffee players and encourage networking to get to know people from across the country who are in the same mission of growing more coffee. Of planting more trees and of teaching more young farmers to get into the farming of their favorite beverage. It is a short or small window of opportunity for the younger set who so love coffee to get into planting. In a few years, they will start families and shift priorities. While they are young and into coffee, they can go the whole nine yards and plant coffee, too.

We will also recognize the people who have been helping reforest with coffee like GCash/GForest, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, The Philippine Coconut Authority the Isabela City of Basilan, and even our major sponsor Land Bank who will also be planting coffee trees soon.

We have been drinking a lot of Robusta, we just don’t know it. So it is high time we gave it more attention and really focus on making our little production higher in quality and value. Right now, some Robusta is being exported to the USA already because they have scored high in coffee quality competitions. We can definitely be the unique source of heirloom Robusta as we have found many in the hinterlands of Sulu and Cotabato. The taste is uniquely pleasant and the old trees need to just be rejuvenated once we give it proper attention and care. In North Cotabato, for example, we found good coffee but they have allowed the trees to grow tall, now making us want to cut and rejuvenate these heirloom trees. But not to worry, coffee, like people, can get new life with rejuvenation and soon will fruit prolifically again.

We have tasted Sulu Robusta and are now planting the seeds for higher production of this tasty brew. These rare varieties will get new attention soon after this Sustainability Coffee Congress.

So, again, why Robusta? Because when life gives you Robusta, you brew a lot of Robusta. Check our FB and IG accounts or email phcoffeecongress@gmail.com to join the event.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to deliver another rate cut in December as growth risks deepen and business confidence weakens amid corruption concerns in public spending, according to economists.

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. chief economist Nicholas Mapa and DBS Bank senior economist Radhika Rao said the BSP might extend its easing cycle into early 2026 after last week’s surprise 25-basis-point reduction brought the benchmark policy rate to 4.75 percent, the lowest in three years.

Mapa said the BSP appears inclined to support moderating gross domestic product (GDP) growth as the economy continues to underperform.

‘It looks like the BSP is intent on supporting moderating growth momentum, with GDP now projected to slip below the government’s official growth aspiration for a third consecutive year,’ Mapa said.

Mapa described the latest move as a ‘quick (baby) step’ toward what BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. now considers the ‘Goldilocks’ rate of around four percent, lower than the previous five percent estimate.

‘Four is the new five,’ Mapa said. ‘With inflation expected to stay close to target through 2027, the BSP is taking advantage of this manageable inflation environment to address growth challenges.’

Mapa expects further easing in December and the first quarter of 2026, noting that the central bank remains ‘quick and nimble’ and will adjust policy based on evolving economic data.

DBS’s Rao said the BSP’s fourth consecutive rate cut marks a clear dovish shift, as policymakers grow increasingly cautious of weaker domestic demand and the impact of corruption allegations on business sentiment.

‘Policymakers are wary of downside risks to growth from a slowdown in infrastructure projects, private sector spending and real estate investments, besides the hit to confidence from corruption allegations in flood-control projects,’ Rao said.

Rao noted that the allegations, which have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and involve several legislators and contractors, have likely dampened investor and business sentiment.

The peso weakened after the BSP’s surprise move, prompting speculation that foreign exchange intervention may be used to stabilize the currency.

Rao said a weaker peso could pose inflation risks, although inflation remains within the two to four percent target range.

‘The central bank’s dovish commentary, impending growth risks and a negative output gap suggest that the door remains open for another cut in December, which will take the rate to 4.50 percent,’ Rao said.

According to Rao, external conditions remain favorable, with the US Federal Reserve’s expected rate cuts likely preserving rate differentials and providing space for the BSP to ease further.

The local stock market capped off the week with another lackluster performance, ending slightly lower amid the lack of fresh leads.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 0.07 percent or 4.14 points, settling at 6,089.53.

The broader All Shares index also declined by 0.19 percent or 7.12 points to close the session at 3,665.08.

Luis Limlingan of Regina Capital said the market remained relatively flat for the second consecutive day despite the peso stabilizing against the dollar.

‘Mixed sentiments ahead of the upcoming earnings season likely kept the index moving sideways as investors await more earnings reports in the coming weeks,’ Limlingan said.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the PSEi was again marginally lower after US stock markets tumbled amid increased United States-China trade tensions and continued government shutdown in the US.

Trading was anemic as total value turnover thinned to P4.4 billion from the previous day’s P9.82 billion.

Those in the red dominated local counters, with property taking the biggest hit with a 1.09-percent drop.

Services and financials, meanwhile, eked out gains of 0.37 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

Market breadth was negative as decliners squashed advancers, 109 to 83, while 56 issues were unchanged.

Ayala Land was the session’s top traded stock, plunging by 2.59 percent to P22.55 per share, followed by ICTSI which increased by 0.46 percent to P542.50 and BDO Unibank which dipped by 0.21 percent to P139.70.