Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

We live in a transformative era that demands a new kind of leadership. Market disruption, technological innovation, changing customer expectations, evolving regulations, talent shortages and the growing need for diversity and inclusion are reshaping the business landscape. As a result, transformation is now a fundamental business capability.

Research conducted by EY reveals that constant market disruption is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. As many as 82 percent of CEOs and board members believe that market disruptions are becoming more frequent and impactful, while 65 percent of Forbes 2000 companies plan to increase transformation spending over the next three years. For many organizations, transformation is an ongoing process of adaptation and reinvention.

Yet despite significant investment, transformation success remains elusive. Studies consistently show that only 10 percent to 30 percent of transformation initiatives achieve their intended outcomes. EY’s global research further found that 67 percent of senior leaders have experienced at least one underperforming transformation in the past five years. The findings suggest that organizations often focus heavily on processes, technology and strategy while underestimating the human and emotional dimensions of change.

The research identifies transformation fundamentally as a human challenge. Both leaders and employees experience emotional journeys during significant change, and these journeys can determine whether transformation succeeds or fails. Employees who have experienced unsuccessful change initiatives are more likely to associate transformation with job insecurity, layoffs and uncertainty, resulting in lower trust, reduced engagement and diminished productivity.

The human-centered approach

To address this challenge, the research proposes a human-centered approach to transformation. Rather than viewing people as a single component within a broader program, successful organizations place humans at the center of their transformation agenda.

This requires leaders to balance a business objective with a deep understanding of employee needs, emotions and experiences.

The study highlights critical leadership actions that drive transformation success. Leaders must first lead by demonstrating inclusive leadership and aligning diverse stakeholders around a common purpose. They must inspire through a clear and compelling narrative that helps employees understand why change is necessary and what role they play in the journey. They need to care by fostering trust, psychological safety and participation, ensuring that people feel heard and valued throughout the process.

Equally important, leaders must empower employees by encouraging creativity, experimentation and innovation. They must build by leveraging technology that enhances both organizational performance and employee experience. Finally, they have to collaborate, breaking down silos and enabling teams to cocreate new ways of working that support success.

Paradoxes and challenges

The research also highlights several paradoxes leaders must navigate. They must deliver results today while disrupting business for tomorrow. They need a clear vision while simultaneously remaining humble enough to embrace uncertainty. They have to foster broad engagement while managing the emotional isolation that often accompanies leadership decisions, and they need to balance disciplined execution with the freedom that fuels innovation.

The consequences of getting transformation wrong can be significant. Among employees who have experienced an underperforming transformation, 50 percent agree that transformation is simply another word for layoffs, while 49 percent say it creates concerns about job security. In addition, 42 percent believe their organization does not really need to transform and is already performing well.

In the near term, these perceptions can erode trust in the organization, reduce psychological safety and contribute to disengagement, attrition and lower productivity. Over the long term, the effects can carry into future transformation efforts, making it more difficult to improve employee satisfaction, secure stakeholder buy-in and achieve business objectives.

Creating the conditions to deliver long-term value

In an environment of constant disruption, transformation is no longer simply about changing processes or adopting new technologies. It is about building an organizational culture that can continuously evolve to deliver long-term value. The ability to transform repeatedly, effectively and at speed is becoming a core determinant of business resilience and growth.

Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo on Monday asked the Senate impeachment court to admonish its spokesperson, Reginald Tongol, over alleged repeated blunders and for preempting the tribunal.

Tulfo cited Tongol’s latest statement to the media, in which he was quoted as saying that the court might have its final verdict on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte by December 16.

‘I remember, nag issue kayo ng warning dati sa spokesman ng prosecution. In the same manner, nag issue din kayo ng warning sa spokesman ng defense. Now, it’s about time na mag issue tayo ng warning sa sarili nating spokesperson,’ the senator-judge initially said.

(I remember, you issued a warning before to the prosecution’s spokesperson. In the same manner, you also issued a warning to the defense’s spokesperson. Now, it’s about time that we issue a warning to our own spokesperson.)

‘Why? Kasi over the weekend, marami akong mga kakilala, kaibigan, tumawag sa akin. Sabi, na-pre-judge niyo na agad yung outcome ng impeachment. Kasi itong si Reynald Tongol…nagsalita sa media na sa December 16, magkakaroon daw tayo ng final verdict sa impeachment trial ni VP Sara,’ he went on.

(Why? Because over the weekend, many people I know-friends and acquaintances-called me and said that you had already prejudged the outcome of the impeachment case. [Reginald] Tongol spoke to the media and said that we would supposedly have a final verdict in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on December 16.)

Tulfo then asked Presiding Officer Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero if there was any truth to the spokesperson’s pronouncement.

In response, Escudero said the statement was ‘not entirely accurate.’

‘So that’s fake news?’ Tulfo asked.

‘Yes. But that statement is not entirely accurate,’ Escudero said, adding that any statements about the timetable that came out over the weekend could have been based only on the pretrial order.

In the pretrial order, the prosecution proposed 62 trial days, while the defense requested 30 days, for a total of 92 trial days, which was approved by the impeachment court.

‘So that is just simply based on the calendar contained in the pre-trial order. But the court, at this point in time, let it be placed on record and let it be known, is based on math, not based on the realities on the ground of the trial,’ Escudero said.

‘It may be a working mathematical equation, but certainly not based on reality, much less that the point of view of the court. The court will instruct the spokesperson accordingly,’ he added.

Tulfo then suggested: ‘Maybe it’s about time na para i-admonish niya, Mr presiding officer. Kasi this is not the first time. Maraming beses na siyang sumablay, pumalpak. Paulit-ulit na lang.’

(Maybe it’s about time to admonish him, Mr. Presiding Officer. This is not the first time. He has made mistakes and blundered many times. It just keeps happening over and over again.)

‘Buti pa siya, marami siyang alam. Itong mga senator- judges, mga kasamahan ko, there are things na hindi namin alam. Nabubulaga na lang kami, pag nagdakdak siya sa media, kumbaga inuunahan niya tayo, pini-prempt nya tayo,’ he said.

(Good for him, he knows a lot. But we, the senator-judges, my colleagues, there are things that we don’t know. We’re simply caught off guard when he goes on the media, so to speak. He gets ahead of us and preempts us.)

Presiding officer Francis Escudero on Monday denied Senator-Judge Imee Marcos’ objection to presenting foreign currency accounts in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

During the 33rd day of the trial, Marcos objected to foreign currency accounts being discussed as Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura read details of a transaction report that included a non-peso account.

‘I would like to make that objection, please. It’s very, very clear and well established in both the [former President Joseph Estrada] and [former Chief Justice Renato Corona] impeachment that foreign currency accounts are excluded,’ Marcos said.

But Escudero said that during the Corona impeachment, the court allowed testimony on foreign currency deposits covered by the AMLC.

Escudero also issued an extended ruling on the matter, citing Section 76(2) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Manual of Regulations on Foreign Exchange Transactions, which explicitly states that the ‘absolute confidential nature of foreign currency deposits under the [Foreign Currency Deposit Act] shall not apply to a covered institution that reports foreign currency deposits in covered transaction reports or suspicious transaction reports to AMLC], pursuant to Section 9(C) of Republic Act 9160.’

‘Thus the suspicious transaction reports or CRTs submitted to the AMLC do not acquire the status of absolute confidentiality merely because they contain information concerning foreign currency deposit accounts,’ he added.

He also noted that in the case of Republic vs. Sandiganbayan, the court ruled that the AMLC cannot invoke the confidentiality provisions under AMLA to prevent disclosure of information on covered and suspicious transaction reports.

‘The court did not distinguish between peso, foreign currency, and denominated transactions,’ Escudero said.

‘Therefore, the prohibition and confidentiality prohibitions of AMLA cannot apply to it. Otherwise, it will contravene its direct mandate under Section 7 and duly hamper criminal prosecution of money laundering activities,’ he added.

However, Escudero, in making the ruling, clarified that it is not at this point compelling the bank or covered institutions to disclose information concerning foreign currency deposits maintained by the respondent. Instead, the witness is merely being asked to testify on records and financial information ‘already in their lawful presentation.’

No ticket won the jackpots in the Grand Lotto 6/55 and Mega Lotto 6/45 draws on Monday, Oct. 5, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The Grand Lotto 6/55 winning combination was 28-34-18-32-53-20 for a jackpot of ?248.36 million. No ticket matched all six numbers.

The Mega Lotto 6/45 winning combination was 13-25-03-02-12-21 for a jackpot of ?92.17 million. No ticket matched all six numbers.

Minor games

4D Lotto: 2-6-2-5 – ?10,000; 87 winners

3D Lotto 2 p.m.: 1-5-3 – ?4,500; 199 winners

3D Lotto 5 p.m.: 7-5-0 – ?4,500; 116 winners

3D Lotto 9 p.m.: 3-4-0 – ?4,500; 255 winners

2D Lotto 2 p.m.: 15-15 – ?4,000; 661 winners

2D Lotto 5 p.m.: 23-25 – ?4,000; 60 winners

2D Lotto 9 p.m.: 27-15 – ?4,000; 211 winners

Draw schedule

Grand Lotto 6/55 draws are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, while Mega Lotto 6/45 draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

A little over a month after the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte began, what currently dominates online conversations is not facts from the case, but memes mocking a female prosecution lawyer. Her offense, according to her critics, was appearing too flirtatious. They called her style of questioning ‘malandi’ and said she intentionally made the word ‘baril’ sound like a double entendre. Some went so far as to say that her ‘bedroom voice’ was more fitting for a sex worker than a lawyer or political leader.

A lawyer’s courtroom conduct, especially in an important trial like this, is open to scrutiny. But that is not what many of these memes do. Legitimate criticism asks whether she was effective. Sexual shaming, by contrast, uses perceptions of her femininity or sexuality to question her character and credibility.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental democracy organization, identifies sexualization and objectification as recurring forms of gendered disinformation used to humiliate women and undermine perceptions of their professional capacity. The implicit argument behind sexual shaming as a tactic is that if a woman can be made to appear morally questionable, then her trustworthiness and professional legitimacy become questionable too-overshadowing the merits of her education, experience, and overall performance.

This is not just a Philippine problem, but a regional issue that cannot be ignored. A 2025 study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), conducted in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, found that 60 percent of women lawmakers surveyed across the Asia-Pacific had been targeted online by hate speech, disinformation, image-based abuse, or doxxing. That is the highest rate for this type of abuse in any of the IPU’s regional studies, and an important reminder that making political spaces safer for women needs to be an urgent priority.

Advances in deepfake technology have also compounded the problem and made this tactic easier to weaponize. Female leaders are targets for fabricated, nonconsensual sexual imagery designed to discredit them. The result is a hostile environment that makes it harder for women in leadership, and for those in the pipeline, to thrive.

Repetition alone can also do significant damage. Hear a sexual rumor or joke often enough and it can become attached to a woman’s name in the public mind, whether or not it is true. That is why I have deliberately withheld the lawyer’s name. I want to discuss the issue without contributing further to that association.

What makes the issue even more insidious is that no version of womanhood is safe. A woman can be attacked for appearing too sexual, labeled promiscuous and immoral. She can be attacked for being insufficiently feminine, deemed bossy, abrasive, and unsympathetic. And then she can also be attacked for being overly feminine, too soft and emotional, and therefore unfit to lead. Research shows that women leaders often feel pressured to shift between masculine and feminine styles to satisfy these conflicting expectations and maintain both credibility and likeability.

Ultimately, women are often judged not just on their performance as leaders, but on whether they conform to society’s expectations of how a woman should act. And whereas men are often afforded a wider margin for error-where scandals involving sexual misconduct or personal failings do not immediately compromise perceptions of their credibility-women leaders are easily judged as unfit to lead after a slight misstep or deviation from the ideal.

Sexual shaming and other forms of sexism against women in politics threaten both democratic participation and inclusive governance. Unfortunately, too often, our lawmakers are part of the problem. Last week, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said the prosecution should be careful not to bring in ‘pa-cute’ lawyers. He could have used his platform to condemn the vicious online comments and steer the discussion back to the merits of the prosecution’s case. Instead, his remarks inadvertently reinforced the sexist framing behind the attacks. I applaud House prosecution counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan for immediately calling him out and reminding him that it was the Senate that passed the safe spaces law and should model those standards in political discourse.

The rest of us have a role too. For every sexist meme or demeaning comment, we can push back by centering the substance of a woman’s argument and body of work. We can remind lawmakers that criticism should never cross the line into misogyny and hold to account those who do.

Because while the public argues about a lawyer’s tone, almost no one is discussing the merits of the case. The memes have effectively crowded out the very thing the public is supposed to be watching: an accountability process involving the second-highest official in the land.

Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman led an emergency coordination meeting with representatives from the military, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and local government units following Monday’s ambush that left 11 government troops wounded.

The security meeting was convened at the Taguime Conference Room inside the People’s Capitol at the Basilan Government Center in Barangay Sta. Clara, Lamitan City, as part of joint efforts to bolster coordination and safeguard peace, order, and community security across the province.

Key security officials and local chief executives attended the emergency talks, including provincial chief peace negotiator Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul, Basilan Police Provincial Office chief Col. Edison Dumangas, and military leaders headed by Brig. Gen. Frederick Sales of the 1101st Infantry Brigade.

Also joining the discussion were senior MILF field commanders, Al-Barka Vice Mayor Mar Tokong, and Tipo-Tipo Mayor Arcam Istarul, whose municipality was directly affected by the security incident.

During the executive session, stakeholders discussed critical steps and strategic measures to synchronize actions among concerned security groups and local government units to maintain stability and ensure peace in the affected areas.

The provincial government also reaffirmed its commitment to proactive coordination among all peace stakeholders to protect security gains and maintain law and order across Basilan’s communities.

Officials at the meeting also assured the public of an immediate pursuit operation to track down and hold accountable those responsible for the attack on government troops.

Andrea Brillantes’ upcoming psychological thriller ‘Laya’ is set to hit cinemas nationwide on Nov. 25, with a new poster released ahead of its theatrical run.

Rein Entertainment announced the release date alongside the film’s poster on Saturday, Oct. 4.

‘Hold your breath as the truth waits in the deepest waters,’ the production company said. ‘Rein Entertainment presents LAYA starring Andrea Brillantes, JC Santos, and Anthony Jennings. Showing in cinemas nationwide this November 25.’

Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, ‘Laya’ follows a woman who drifts from place to place before crossing paths with a lonely ex-criminal who is suspected of having something to do with her past.

The film’s first teaser, released in May, opened with Brillantes’ character swimming underwater before a gunshot is heard. She later crosses paths with Santos’ character, who reveals that he had been charged with murder.

The teaser also showed Brillantes’ character discussing her revenge plans with Jennings, as well as other intense scenes between Brillantes and Santos.

‘Laya’ was filmed in Oslob, Cebu and marks another major film project for Brillantes, who is known for her roles in ‘Kadenang Ginto,’ ‘Senior High,’ ‘High Street,’ and most recently, ‘A Secret in Prague.’

The film, meanwhile, reunites Santos with Bernardo, who previously directed him in the 2018 romance-drama ‘Mr. and Mrs. Cruz.’

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) has suspended four student activists who faced disciplinary complaints following a confrontation with military personnel at a Philippine Air Force (PAF) exhibit on campus last April 21.

The Varsitarian, UST’s official student publication, reported on Monday, Oct. 5, that the university’s Office of Student Affairs had issued separate resolutions addressing two complaints-one filed by the PAF and another by an alumnus who expressed concern over the incident.

The resolutions said the students-Sean Capalar, Dex Frogoso, Ralph Manuel, and Raven Racelis-violated UST’s Code of Conduct by failing to uphold the university’s principles and ideals.

According to The Varsitarian, the university will also withhold certificates of good moral character from the four students. This resulted in Capalar’s removal as public relations officer of the UST Central Student Council (CSC) due to her ‘effective lack of a certificate of good moral character.’

Capalar was suspended for five days, while Racelis received a 10-day suspension. Manuel and Frogoso were suspended for eight and four days, respectively.

The complaints stemmed from the confrontation at the PAF exhibit, which was held as part of UST’s 415th-anniversary celebration.

The student activists questioned Air Force personnel about military equipment and operations, as well as alleged human rights abuses, two days after an armed encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, that left 19 people dead.

CSC Secretary Clarence Mindo criticized the university’s decision, saying the suspensions amounted to the ‘weaponization of the student handbook’ and would prevent the practice of dissent and academic freedom among students.

‘This is unacceptable against genuine student representation,’ Mindo said. ‘I cannot, within my conscience and individuality, stay silent regarding this matter, especially knowing the context of these cases filed against our own.’

Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. on Saturday said former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV should submit evidence to law enforcement authorities to back his allegations that Chinese funds went to an organization linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her family.

‘The allegations of [former] Senator Trillanes, if substantiated, raise serious implications for national security,’ Teodoro said in a message forwarded to reporters by Palace press officer Claire Castro.

‘He should submit the evidence in his possession, if any, to our law enforcement authorities so the matter can be thoroughly investigated,’ he added.

Trillanes on Friday claimed that P319 million from the Chinese government and China-based corporations went to CALLE88 Foods Corp., a company linked to the Vice President’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

He also alleged that Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines Inc., a foundation where Duterte is an incorporator, received a P150 million donation from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.

Teodoro has been one of China’s staunchest critics in the Marcos administration, frequently denouncing Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Nat’l security implications

Malacañang said Trillanes’ allegations should not be ignored, provided that they were substantiated by sufficient evidence.

Castro warned that those who tolerate such acts, which could be considered an act of betrayal of the country, should be made accountable.

Trillanes made the disclosures a day after the prosecution panel in Duterte’s impeachment trial announced that he would no longer testify against Duterte.

The former senator said the country should be ‘horrified’ because China’s support for the Vice President has ‘national security implications’ and should be grounds for her impeachment.

The Dutertes are known for their close ties to China. Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father, pivoted the country’s foreign policy toward China in 2016 to secure economic investments and distance the country from traditional ties with the United States.

While he urged Filipinos to closely follow the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged those who may be too tired or sleepy to just stay and monitor the proceedings at home to avoid falling asleep inside the session hall.

‘If they’re sleepy, they shouldn’t come. They can sleep at home and watch the proceedings on TV. It doesn’t look good to attend the impeachment court proceedings and then sleep there. They can just watch from home if they’re feeling sleepy, and so they won’t be reminded or nudged inside the court,’ Gatchalian said in an interview with radio dzBB on Sunday.

‘Even in a normal court, you do not go there to sleep. You’re also not allowed to sleep there. And also, [not sleeping inside the court] is a sign of respect for the court,’ he added.

It can be recalled that Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who was seated at the VIP section of the Senate session hall, was caught sleeping last Monday while Rendell Sopeña, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System’s (PhilGEPS) division chief, was at the witness stand and answering questions from senator-judges.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero then asked former Surigao del Norte and prosecution spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and prosecutor Rep. Lorenz Defensor to ‘kindly nudge Cong Benny a bit.’

‘It seems he’s tired. He may want to rest somewhere, but at least not right behind the witness,’ Escudero said.

‘I think he’s praying for us,’ lead public prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said in jest.

‘I doubt that,’ Escudero replied, adding: ‘It’s been a long day, I guess.’

In an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the trial, Abante said, laughing: ‘I fell asleep at 2 a.m. this morning, so I fell asleep a little.’

‘You’ll really feel sleepy because of the questions from the defense lawyers…it’s nice to listen, but when [the questions] become boring, you’ll get sleepy,’ he said.