Category: Business Mirror

Everyone talks about leadership qualities like ‘vision’ and ‘charisma.’ But those are vague, and frankly, not what you really need. You need to develop real, tangible, high-leverage skills.

Why does this matters more than ever: technology is moving fast. AI, as we all know by now (unless you’re living in a cave), is already taking over tasks once thought to be safe, from writing reports to analyzing data to summarizing meetings. If AI can handle large parts of ‘management,’ what’s left for human leaders?

The answer: the deeply human skills that no algorithm can replicate.

That’s why if you want to be future-proof, the kind of leader who’s not just valuable but irreplaceable, you need to focus on building on high-value skills.

I will walk will outline some high-value leadership skills that will make you irreplaceable.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

1. Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to zoom out, see patterns, and connect the dots others miss. It makes you valuable not just for execution, but for shaping the future.

2. Influence Without Authority

Influence without authority is the difference between compliance and commitment. It’s how you get things done in matrixed, global organizations.

3. Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

Weighing scenarios and rallying the team to move.

This is what makes decisive leaders irreplaceable: they create clarity when others are paralyzed.

4. Coaching and Talent Development

Coaching is an ultimate multiplier. Leaders who grow others extend their influence far beyond their own capacity.

5. Conflict Navigation and Resolution

Conflict in the workplace and in leadership is inevitable. The question is whether it breaks trust or builds it. The answer is: it helps the team to walk away stronger.

Leaders who can navigate it productively become invaluable.

6. Delegation and Leverage

Leaders who master delegation multiply output and free themselves for strategic work, while giving space to their team to grow and lead.

7. Time Prioritization and Focus

Focus is what separates leaders who make progress from those who stay stuck in motion. They schedule thinking time and consistently drive 2-3 priorities that make a difference.

8. Communication That Lands

Communication is about speaking so people understand, remember, and most importantly, act. It tells a clear, simple story with data and examples, ending with a decisive task.

9. Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness

We all have bad days, but what matters most is how we react to them.

Think of emotional intelligence as the skill that holds every other leadership skill together. Without it, everything else falls apart.

Final Thoughts

Technology will continue to advance, but no matter how advanced it becomes, it can’t replace the deeply human side of leadership – the skills that inspire trust, build resilience, and move people forward.

That’s why your edge as a leader isn’t in being the smartest person in the room, or the one who can crank out the most output. It’s in mastering the skills that no algorithm can do better: thinking strategically, coaching others, and creating clarity in chaos.

You don’t need to build all nine skills at once. Pick one or two, practice them deliberately, and watch how your influence grows.

Tudor Cycling Team rider Arvid de Kleijn won Stage 2 of the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25) from Padang Besar, Perlis, to Kepala Batas, Penang in a bunch sprint finish today.

After finishing third in Stage 1 in Langkawi yesterday, de Kleijn skillfully navigated the middle lane to pass Stage 1 winner, Matteo Malucelli of XDS-Astana while VF Group Bardiani CSF-Faizane rider, Enrico Zanoncello, took third place.

However, Malucelli still retains the PETRONAS Green Jersey for the overall General Classification (GC) leader with an accumulated time of 5 hours 30 minutes 50 seconds, just 2 seconds ahead of de Kleijn.

The gap for the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) Orange Jersey for the Sprint King is even tighter, at only 3 points.

The Best Local Rider for Stage 2 was Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan of Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) who finished in sixth place, improving on his 12th place finish in Stage1. His teammate, Muhammad Nur Aiman Rosli, successfully defended the Rakan Muda White Jersey for the Best Asian Rider.

With no climbing zones today, St George Continental Cycling Team rider, Ben Carman, still holds the BubblesO2 Polka Dot Jersey as the King of the Mountains.

Meanwhile, Cedric Bakke Christophersen of Unibet Tietema Rocket, who attempted a solo breakaway before the finish line, was awarded the Most Combative Rider.

The healthy rivalry between the two Sprint Kings of 2024 (Malucelli) and 2023 (De Kleijn) promises a more intense battle on the remaining flat stages, with both determined to add to their collection of PLTdL stage wins.

‘It’s a great feeling. My teammates, Changizi (Sebastian), did a great job – making sure we were in the middle of the front group, and I’m happy everything worked out for us. PLTdL is a special race in my heart, but personally, I hope the weather is better for the next stages,’ said De Kleijn.

This victory marks his personal fifth stage win, following victories in Stage 1 and 6 in 2023, and Stage 4 and 5 last year.

Regarding the expected tougher rivalry with Malucelli, he said that personally, they have no issues. They are professional and they challenge each other to increase their stage-win tally.

The Swiss rider explained that although the race started in heavy rain and with slick roads, which added an almost 3km neutral zone, his team remained calm and relaxed despite attempts by some riders to break away.

He noted that Tudor only began their work at the front of the peloton in the final few kilometers before entering Kepala Batas town under blazing heat, which then culminated in a bunch sprint.

‘It was actually a tough race and I hope the weather changes for the better after this,’ said De Kleijn.

Meanwhile, Malucelli was clearly disappointed with his tactical execution in the final sprint. ‘My teammates (Astana) worked hard to pull us to the front and find a comfortable space, but perhaps I made a small mistake by sprinting too early and ran out of energy at the last moment,’ said Malucelli who won 3 stages last year with the Japanese Continental team, JCL UKYO.

Regarding the leader’s and Sprint King’s jerseys, which he has worn for two consecutive stages, the Italian rider stated he will try to defend them, even though he is aware that Stage 3 from Gerik to Pasir Puteh involves some challenging climbs.

‘I know this route because I raced it in 2018 (with Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec). We will see how the situation is tomorrow. But we will try to control the race, although we know it will be difficult since we only have six riders,’said Malucelli who has collected four PLTdL stage victories so far. Stage 3 from Gerik,Perak to Pasir Puteh, Kelantan tomorrow with a distance of 198.2km, featuring three climbing zones – Gerik (Category 3), Sri Banding (Category 2) and Puncak Titiwangsa (Category 1).

Riders will then face a flat route with three sprint zones in Jeli (km117.3), Bukit Bunga (km134.1) and Machang (km179.1) before finishing in front of the Pasir Puteh Land and District Office.

AFTER quickly getting a Senate subcommittee to endorse her P902-million 2026 budget for the Office of the Vice President, Sara Duterte on Monday told a press conference her informants had told her a long time ago of the ‘luggage’ of money being delivered to former Speaker Martin Romualdez, her bitter political rival.

VP Duterte’s comments, made in a press conference after presenting the OVP’s proposed 2026 budget, quickly drew reactions from Romualdez and the Palace.

She said that recent revelations of billions in taxpayer money being wasted on ghost or substandard projects had ‘saddened’ her father, detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, and she expected him to say, ‘sinabi ko na si BBM ay hindi marunong [I told you that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. doesn’t know how to govern].he is a weak leader,’ blaming him for the mess that has engulfed both the Executive and Congress in recent weeks.

Speaking mostly in Filipino, she said her father was sad, ‘not because of how they smeared his name, but more because of what they did to the country,’ referring to those accused of corruption in the flood projects scandal, both in the Executive branch and the lawmakers who vet and approve the annual appropriations.

She said that soon after she took office in 2022, ‘we had already heard of the ‘deliveries of money.’

However, she added, it was not only kickbacks from infrastructure projects that Romualdez allegedly got, but also from ‘illegal gambling.’

‘Pure fiction’-Romualdez

Leyte Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday strongly rejected allegations made by Vice President Sara Duterte that he received ‘suitcases of cash’ from illegal gambling operations, calling the accusations baseless and politically motivated.

‘I hear the accusations. Let me say this directly: it is not true that I receive money from illegal gambling,’ Romualdez said in a statement. ‘These stories about ‘suitcases of cash’ are pure fiction-nothing but imagination. Until today, no evidence has ever been presented, only rumors repeated over and over.’

Romualdez dismissed the claims as recycled lies meant to discredit him. He also clarified that he has no involvement in the Okada/Delaware casino dispute that had resurfaced in public discussions, after VP Duterte also mentioned it.

‘On the Okada/Delaware issue, it is clear: I am not involved, I am not being investigated, and I am not accused. I have nothing to do with that case, which is simply a dispute between two businesses. It is only being revived now to malign me,’ he said.

Romualdez further questioned the credibility of the Vice President, who faces her own controversies.

‘It is sad that the Vice President herself-who was impeached by the House for misuse of funds-has resorted to spreading such lies. When the source itself has lost credibility, why should anyone believe these baseless claims?’ Romualdez said.

Palace on Sara: ‘Obstructionist’

Malacañang called Vice President Sara Duterte an ‘obstructionist’ who is trying to derail the government’s ongoing crackdown against anomalous flood control projects after she cast doubt on the ‘stability’ of the Marcos administration.

In her press conference at the Senate on Monday, Duterte claimed that the Marcos administration was no longer stable as the ongoing probe dragged several lawmakers in the said controversy, undermining public trust on government institutions.

She claimed the probe is being politicized and that it has yet to result in any conviction, which benefited the public.

‘Our institutions are clearly abused. They are used for personal gain.and we have already seen the testimony of witnesses about corruption and there is practically nothing happening in our country,’ Duterte said in Filipino.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, however, tagged the Vice President’s recent pronouncements as lies, which he said only aims to tarnish the reputation of President Ferdinand Marcos.

‘We know that our government is strong. The Marcos Jr. administration is only being destroyed by obstructionists like them,’ she told Palace reporters last Monday.

‘They probably don’t see what the President is doing because they are turning a blind eye,’ she added.

Marcos, she said, has already made significant gains in unearthing the said corrupt practices in public works through the Independent Commission for Infrastructure compared to previous administration.

‘So it cannot be said that our President is doing nothing. Let’s remember that he himself initiated this investigation,’ Castro said.

The Department of Migrant of Workers (DMW) expressed concern on the recent reported attack by Houthi rebels on a Dutch-flagged cargo ship, Minervagracht, after it was reported that a Filipino was among its 19 crew members.

The agency said it is currently coordinating with the ship operator, employer, manning agency, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to verify if a Filipino was among those affected from the incident.

‘Once it is verified, DMW is prepared to give immediate assistance [to the affected Filipino seafarer],’ DMW said in Filipino in a statement issued last Tuesday.

‘We will provide further updates as soon as details are confirmed,’ it added.

It said its package of support for the affected Filipino sailor and his or her family will include medical assistance, repatriation, counselling and psychological support, and legal aid.

According to international news reports, Minervagracht was set on fire after it was attacked with an explosive by Houthi rebels.

The European Union maritime mission Aspides rescued the crew of the Dutch-flagged ship, which supposedly included a Filipino sailor, before they were transported to Djibouti.

DMW has been closely monitoring the status of ships with Filipino crew members, which pass through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks.

Last July, two ships-Magic Seas and Eternity C-with Filipino sailors were attacked by Houthi rebels while sailing in the said dangerous waterways.

The said incidents prompted DMW to impose stricter measures for shipowners and manning agencies, which have ships with Filipino sailors passing through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

‘In accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DMW continues to strengthen the protection and care for seafarers-especially in high-risk areas such as the Gulf of Aden,’ DMW said.

TO boost transparency, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday has officially adopted blockchain technology in the government budgeting process.

According to DBM Undersecretary Goddes Hope Libiran, it marks a bold step toward redefining transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public financial management.

‘Blockchain is more than a buzzword-it’s a governance tool. By leveraging this technology, we can ensure that every peso is accounted for, every transaction is transparent, and every citizen can trust how public funds are managed,’ said Libiran.

Although blockchain is not the silver bullet, Libiran said it offers a game-changing response by making transactions visible and verifiable in near real time, protecting data integrity through cryptographic consensus, and streamlining workflows for faster reconciliation with fewer bureaucratic layers.

Blockchain initially gained prominence in the private sector for its applications in cryptocurrencies to supply chain tracking, Libiran said. He noted that DBM’s adoption of the technology signals one of the first large-scale government implementations in Asia. She pointed out it puts the Philippines at the forefront of technological governance innovation and may inspire neighboring countries to follow suit.

This quarter, the DBM launched a production portal that records Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) and Notices of Cash Allocation (NCAs) as verifiable, on-chain entries. In partnership with BayaniChain and ExakIT Services, the site is widely regarded as the country’s first blockchain-backed budget transparency platform, making records tamper-proof while allowing the public to inspect how funds are authorized and released.

‘Our mission is to equip government and businesses with the tools to keep their systems secure and reliable. By using blockchain technology combined with the capabilities of advanced AI, we not only help the DBM strengthen transparency and the security of public finance, but also show how technologies can help institutions safeguard critical processes and deliver lasting value to their stakeholders,’ said BayaniChain CEO Paul Soliman in a press statement.

The workflow starts with DBM’s Action Document Releasing System (ADRS), which issues the official budget papers. These are then secured using BayaniChain’s Lumen Blockchain-as-a-Service platform, co-developed with ExakIT.

Transparency and protecting the data will go a simultaneously as the Prismo Protocol governs what details are made public and what stays private. After approval, SAROs and NCAs are immutably written to the Polygon blockchain as NFTs, preventing any alteration or tampering-an effective defense against deepfakes and document fraud.

Documents from 2024 onward can be retrieved either by scanning the QR code on a valid SARO or NCA, or by searching manually using fields like document type, department, agency, and operating unit.

Beyond SARO and NCA

LIBIRAN said the DBM envisions a broader digital ecosystem in which the full budget lifecycle-planning, allocation, disbursement, and audit-is traceable on-chain, complemented by AI-assisted analytics to detect anomalies, forecast needs, and inform smarter fiscal policy, as well as citizen-facing dashboards that turn complex budget data into clear, understandable insights.

‘We’re not just digitizing SAROs and NCAs, we’re building a next-generation public finance system that combines blockchain transparency with Artificial Intelligence to allocate resources more effectively and uphold accountability at every level,’ said Libiran.

She added that the DBM plans to extend blockchain-powered platforms across budgeting, procurement, and monitoring, with pilot programs already underway. The ultimate vision is a trustless (decentralized), transparent, citizen-first financial ecosystem that strengthens democratic governance through technology.

With this milestone, the Philippines notwithstanding the current challenges it is facing in the national expenditure program, hopes to demonstrate that the government can evolve with the times and lead, positioning the country as a regional model for digital trust and innovation aligned with global best practices.

BayaniChain is a trusted blockchain infrastructure provider for government and enterprises. It delivers secure, transparent, and scalable systems that enable institutions to harness blockchain for real-world impact.