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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.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to jointly address the persistent mismatch between graduates’ skills and labor market demands.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma and CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis formalized the, which seeks to ensure that higher education programs respond more closely to evolving industry needs.

The MOA outlines mechanisms for better labor market information, curriculum alignment with emerging skills, and bolstered youth employment initiatives, including the Government Internship Program (GIP) and the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

Under the agreement, DOLE regional offices will deliver labor market data and career guidance, while CHED will support in raising awareness of employment services and share monthly reports on its own job placement efforts.

The partnership comes as the country faces a sudden spike in joblessness.

In July 2025, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the national unemployment rate climbed to 5.3 percent, or 2.59 million Filipinos without work.

This was 1.6 percentage points higher than the 3.7 percent (or 2.38 million individuals) recorded in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, the number of unemployed Filipinos aged 15 to 24 rose to 1.08 million in July 2025 from 1.02 million a year earlier.

This pushed the youth unemployment rate to 18.1 percent, up from 14.8 percent in July 2024.

The proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) also rose to 15.9 percent from 13.9 percent, while labor force participation among young people dropped to 29.5 percent from 34.2 percent year-on-year.

DOLE Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres said the agreement with CHED is meant to directly confront the country’s employment challenges by aligning education with labor market needs.

‘This partnership turns the policy goals initiated by the President into concrete actions for stronger employment and workforce readiness with the adverse effects of climate change, rapid technological developments, and the persistent challenges posed by job skills mismatches,’ Torres said.

Okada Manila proudly celebrates its second consecutive win as the Best Meetings and Conventions Hotel – Philippines at the 2025 Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Travel Awards, organized annually by TTG Asia.

The award, decided by votes from readers across TTG Asia publications including TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTG MICE, TTG-BT MICE China, TTG Associations, and TTG Asia Luxury, underscores the resort’s standing as the country’s premier destination for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE).

Widely regarded as one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most prestigious distinctions in travel and hospitality, the TTG Travel Awards continues to honor organizations that consistently raise the bar of excellence. Okada Manila’s back-to-back recognition not only highlights its role as a leader in the industry but also showcases the Philippines’ growing prominence as a hub for world-class business events. The 2025 Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner was held on September 25, 2025, at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld in Bangkok, Thailand.

‘Winning this award for the second year in a row is a proud milestone for our entire team,’ said Cielo Reboredo, Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Okada Manila. ‘It shows the confidence our partners and guests have in us, and it drives us to keep delivering events that bring people, ideas, and possibilities together here in the Philippines.’

A benchmark for world-class events

Since 2016, Okada Manila has built a strong reputation for hosting seamless events of every scale and a diversified portfolio of event venues. Its venues combine flexibility, tailored solutions, and professional support for everything from international conventions to private celebrations.

The Grand Ballroom accommodates large gatherings of up to 1,200 pax, while the Golden and Glass Ballrooms are ideal for mid-sized occasions good for 100 to 300 pax. The Crystal Pavilion, with its striking glass architecture, is ideal for trade shows, exhibitions, and entertainment events. Cove Manila, Southeast Asia’s largest indoor beach club can be booked for major corporate events and conventions that can accommodate up 1,500 guests offers a dynamic setting, and the Chairman’s Lounge provides exclusivity with panoramic views of Manila Bay and The Fountain.

The resort also offers versatile meeting rooms and event venues, complete with multimedia technology, curated packages, and award-winning culinary experiences designed to elevate every gathering. All venues are complemented by customizable packages and dedicated services to ensure flawless execution.

A complete resort experience

Okada Manila’s 30-hectare property offers more than event spaces. Guests can choose from 1,001 well-appointed accommodations, relax at the Forbes 5-star recognized The Retreat Spa, or recharge through extensive wellness and recreation facilities.

Dining and shopping are equally diverse, with more than 40 restaurants serving global cuisines and The Promenade offering premium retail options. This balance of business and leisure makes Okada Manila not just a venue, but a destination where every aspect of the guest journey is thoughtfully curated.

Putting the country at the center of MICE excellence

Strategically located in Entertainment City, just minutes from international airports and Manila’s business districts, Okada Manila plays an essential role in strengthening the Philippines’ standing as a competitive MICE destination in Asia. Its continued recognition by TTG Asia’s readership reflects not only the resort’s pursuit of excellence but also the country’s growing appeal to global event organizers.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has its own forfeiture and seizure powers under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA, RA 10863), which can directly apply if the flood control anomaly perpetrators are found owning untaxed, smuggled, or misdeclared motor vehicles.

The BOC can forfeit vehicles, including cars, planes or yachts, owned by the flood control anomaly perpetrators if these were smuggled or misdeclared in importations, or if the owners cannot present official importation documents and BOC clearances. The BOC, upon finding probable cause (e.g., no valid import documents), can issue a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the vehicle. Subsequently, these seized properties can be forfeited in favor of the government after the application of several measures, including the auction of said vehicles. The BOC made a big show of seizing 10 of 12 imported luxury cars owned by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya in early September 2025.

Simultaneously, the BOC can assess the unpaid duty and taxes and impose up to 500 percent surcharge on these, plus 20 percent per annum of interest on unpaid duties and taxes for smuggled vehicles. The smuggling cases can also be filed as criminal cases that can result in imprisonment.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) designated its tax investigators to conduct a multi-year audit of the tax declarations of the flood control contractors, including the top 15 contractor companies cited by the President in his televised broadcast last August 2025. BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. has designated its various investigating offices, including the National Investigation Division, to audit the flood control perpetrators. The BIR investigators can conduct criminal tax fraud audits and utilize net worth investigations, resulting in both deficiency tax assessments with 50 percent fraud surcharge and 20 percent per annum interest and criminal prosecution for tax fraud that carries fines and imprisonment. Commissioner Lumagui has mandated the multi-year audit of the tax liabilities of these construction companies. The investigation should cover all the related or dummy companies, the owners, and their relatives. The tax cases of these persons and companies that have been closed by earlier tax investigations of BIR district offices should be reopened and investigated again with the authority of the Commissioner.

I suggest that the Presumptive Taxation or the best-evidence assessment approach be applied appropriately. Section 6(B) and 6(C) of the National Internal Revenue Code give the BIR the authority to assess taxes on the ‘best evidence obtainable’ if the taxpayer’s records are incomplete, falsified, or non-existent. This is a powerful authority that the BIR investigators can utilize to come up with immediate results even when the taxpayers being audited do not submit complete records and documents.

The BSP, AMLC, SEC, BOC, and BIR must now show that they can bite as well as bark. The flood control perpetrators have flaunted their ill-gotten wealth for too long, hiding behind dummies, offshore accounts, and smuggled toys. By freezing their assets, seizing their hot cars and planes, and hammering them with tax fraud assessments that lead to prison time, the financial watchdogs can prove that the rule of law still has teeth. But as I have stressed in many of my columns, laws and powers are meaningless without relentless follow-through. It is up to all of us-tax professionals, civil society, and ordinary taxpayers-to demand results and keep watch, lest this investigation be remembered as another showpiece probe that went nowhere.

THE Philippines has once again secured a Tier 1 ranking in the US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, recognized for ‘serious and sustained efforts’ to combat human trafficking. But the report also warns of persistent vulnerabilities, especially in online sexual exploitation, labor trafficking, and the treatment of victims in online scam operations.

‘The Government of the Philippines fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking,’ the report states, citing continued prosecutions, victim protection, and prevention campaigns. The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) was praised for expanding survivor-centered programs and strengthening coordination with civil society.

Tier 1 status-shared by only a few countries in Asia-offers strategic benefits. It boosts the Philippines’ international credibility, opens doors to US anti-trafficking aid, and strengthens leverage in trade and diplomatic negotiations. It also affirms the work of civil society groups and survivor advocates, often leading to increased funding and visibility.

However, the TIP Report emphasizes that Tier 1 is not a declaration of perfection. The government ‘did not identify the vast majority of potential trafficking victims among individuals exploited in online scam operations despite widespread reporting indicating these individuals faced conditions indicative of trafficking.’ Unlike in 2023, no foreign victims were reported in these operations.

Due to ‘inadequate and inconsistent screening,’ the government failed to prevent the ‘inappropriate penalization of potential victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.’ The report also notes that the government identified fewer victims overall, and ‘some officials did not use trauma-informed practices in victim identification.’

Corruption and official complicity ‘remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year.’ In one high-profile case, authorities initiated prosecution of a former mayor under the anti-trafficking law for alleged complicity in human trafficking linked to an online scam operation in Bamban, Tarlac. In Porac, Pampanga, a mayor, vice mayor, and seven municipal council members were subjected to administrative investigation for similar allegations. The mayor reportedly received an administrative sanction, but none of the officials faced criminal investigation, and no updates were reported on the other cases.

The government also failed to report updates on the 2023 dismissal of a municipal police chief and 26 officers in Pasay, where traffickers allegedly exploited more than 730 potential labor trafficking victims. Meanwhile, two police officers continued to face prosecution-one for alleged cyber-facilitated sex trafficking, and another for allegedly helping a suspected trafficker evade justice.

Authorities arrested and investigated two public school teachers for alleged production and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM). Six immigration personnel were investigated, and four prosecuted for trafficking-related offenses-down sharply from 103 immigration personnel investigated in 2023.

The Bureau of Immigration continued its ‘one-strike’ policy for disciplining implicated officials and rotating personnel at ports of entry. Iacat also maintained its SOPs for identifying and monitoring trafficking-related corruption, including reporting mechanisms and suspension guidelines.

The US State Department also identified other urgent challenges:

Online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) continues to plague communities, with traffickers exploiting digital platforms and family-based abuse remaining ‘a significant concern.’

Labor trafficking is underreported, particularly among Filipino migrant workers and domestic laborers abroad. The report urges authorities to ‘increase efforts to proactively identify and assist labor trafficking victims, including victims of online scam operations.’

EXTENDING the period of imposition of the ?16 tariff per 40-kilo bag of imported blended cement will only jack up prices of local cement, which could undermine competition and burden Filipino consumers, according to consumer group United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC).

‘The Department Order 25-01 was signed by the Secretary on February 20, 2025. It will take effect for 200 days, so if we count the 200 days, any moment now the 6-7 months or 200 days period will end. So now, we hear that the cartels have an appeal to continue this,’ UFCC President Rodolfo B. Javellana Jr. told reporters in Filipino during the consumer group’s protest in front of the building of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Makati City.

‘What will happen to these cartels? Of course, the price will increase. They will dictate the price more. This was the situation in 2016. The price was really high,’ added Javellana.

Asked how many workers would be affected by the tariffs imposed on imported cement, the head of the consumer group said: ‘We think there are around 5,000 mothers and fathers, the direct ones, who will be affected, who will lose their livelihood.’

However, he noted that this number excludes the cement contractors, delivery men, among others.

‘So please, Secretary Roque, we appeal to you, stop this. Let’s not extend it to 1,000 days or 2,000 days or 5,000 days. Let’s stop the P16 [tariff]. So that we can boost competition and consumers will have a chance to pick whatever cement brand they want,’ stressed Javellana, speaking in Filipino.

In a letter sent by the consumer group to Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque on September 29, 2025, Javellana said: ‘We write to express our concerns regarding the imposition of emergency tariffs on imported cement for the next three years, estimated to come to P400 per metric ton or P16 per 40-kilo bag of blended cement and Portland cement.’

‘We have noted that this is the second letter we have sent to your office, and we hope that the first letter has not fallen on deaf ears,’ the letter of the UFCC chief read.

The consumer group said it believes that DTI has a ‘johnny-come-lately’ attitude towards this issue, saying the agency is claiming the measure was intended to protect local cement producers, which UFCC notes are ‘bigtime producers themselves and are not likely to declare bankruptcy anytime soon.’

‘But clearly action to protect local production should have been made earlier, at the time when change in the tax regime is not likely to also create changes in the price of other basic commodities,’ Javellana pointed out.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the rental pool program of Damosa Land Inc., the first securities issuer to successfully register under the streamlined guidelines on Securing and Expanding Capital in Real Estate Non-Traditional Securities or SEC RENT.

In its en banc meeting, the agency approved company’s registration statement covering 100 certificates of participation in the condotel project of TRYP by Wyndham Samal.

Valid for 20 years starting from the date of the operation, the certificates cover 94 standard class condotel units with an offer price of P50,000; four deluxe class units worth P75,000 each; and two suite class units with an offer price of P100,000 each. All units in TRYP by Wyndham Samal will be enrolled under a mandatory condotel rental pool program. Each unit will automatically be included in the rental pool upon purchase, allowing it to be marketed, rented and managed as hotel accommodation for hotel guests without transferring ownership.

The rental pool arrangement is expected to gross up to P5.2 million, which will be used to fund the company’s pre-operating expenses and to provide a buffer for the first three months of operations.

The project, located in Barangay Limao, Samal, Davao del Norte, is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter this year, with construction set to begin in the first quarter of 2026. The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2028, with the opening scheduled in the fourth quarter of the same year, according to its latest timeline submitted to the SEC.

Implemented through SEC Memorandum Circular No. 12, Series of 2024, the SEC RENT streamlines the registration process for securities of real estate firms involved in selling or offering investment contracts through rental pool agreements.

Rental pool agreements involve deals where a property developer sells or offers units in real estate projects such as condominiums, hotels or resorts to the public. Under the deals, buyers contribute the units to a rental pool managed and operated by the company or a third-party operator. In turn, the buyers are entitled to receive a share in profits earned by renting out the units to third parties.

LOWERING the value-added tax (VAT) rate to 10 percent would trigger a chain of economic and fiscal consequences, according to a top official from the Department of Finance (DOF).

Speaking at the recent Philippine Tax Academy’s (PTA) convention, Finance Undersecretary Karlo Fermin S. Adriano said that reducing the VAT rate to 10 percent from the current 12 percent will reduce revenues to about P330 billion annually, equivalent to around 1 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

This would widen the fiscal deficit from the 2025 target of 5.5 percent to about 6.5 percent, reversing fiscal consolidation efforts.

‘So, definitely, we will not be able to do fiscal consolidation because our fiscal deficit last year was only 5.7 percent,’ Adriano said.

‘And, if we do not do fiscal consolidation, if we cannot show that we are not capable of fiscal consolidation, what will happen? Interest payments will also increase,’ the DOF official added.

Because of this, Adriano said the country’s credit rating could be downgraded, which would then push up borrowing costs and increase debt servicing.

‘All of our debts will increase and that’s a cycle of more debt,’ Adriano said.

If the government is really keen on lowering the VAT rate, the other option, Adriano said, is to decrease government expenditures of around P300 billion a year. However, this means government programs will also be lessened.

‘Definitely, there are some positives, but there are also some negatives,’ Adriano noted.

The House Committee on Ways and Means is currently studying the proposal to reduce the VAT rate from 12 percent to 10 percent to ease inflationary pressures and give Filipino households much-needed relief.

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste filed House Bill 4302, or the proposed VAT Reduction Act of 2025, to help households save an estimated P7,000 annually.

‘This bill is about giving ordinary Filipinos a break. The VAT is regressive, hitting the poor and middle class the hardest. Lowering it makes our tax system more progressive,’ Leviste said.

However, Adriano said the country’s VAT system is not regressive, based on a World Bank study.

Adriano said many VAT exemptions already exist, particularly for food, which accounts for around 50 percent of the poorest of poor households’ spending.

‘That’s why it’s not regressive because we have so many exemptions,’ Adriano noted.

If the government were to actually decrease the VAT rate, Adriano said higher-income households would mostly benefit since they consume more goods and services subject to VAT.

Data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs show VAT collections have increased nearly eightfold-from P156.67 billion in 2005, when the rate was raised to 12 percent under the Expanded VAT Law, to P1.20 trillion in 2024.

The Philippines currently imposes the highest VAT rate in Southeast Asia. In comparison, Vietnam and Cambodia charge 10 percent, Indonesia 11 percent, Singapore 9 percent (GST), and Thailand 7 percent. Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar impose between 5 and 7 percent.

For 150 years, American Standard has been part of homes around the world-helping families create spaces filled with comfort, life, and love through its trusted bathroom and kitchen products. From simple routines to cherished family moments, the brand has stood the test of time with quality, innovation, and design that enrich everyday living.

As American Standard celebrates its milestone 150th anniversary, the brand honors this remarkable journey with a grand gesture of gratitude to its loyal Filipino customers-the American Standard 150 Raffle Promotion at all Wilcon branches nationwide. Shoppers have a chance to win coveted prizes, including a Hybrid Car, a Honda EM1 Electric Vehicle, a Xiaomi Mi Smart Electronic Bike, and American Standard products.

‘American Standard 150 Raffle Promotion is our way of celebrating this milestone and thanking customers who have supported us across the years,’ says Hermie Fernando Limbo, Country Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Philippines.

Running until February 28, 2026, the promo entitles customers to one (1) raffle entry for every P10,000 single-receipt purchase of American Standard products at participating Wilcon branches. Exciting prizes include: 1 unit BYD Hybrid Electric Sedan, 1 unit Honda EM1 Electric Vehicle, 1 unit Xiaomi Mi e-bike, and 150 units of American Standard products (Duostix Hygiene Spray, Smart Washer Manual Bidet, and Neo Modern 3-Way Rain Shower).

Winners will be notified via their registered email and contact number and will also be announced on Wilcon’s official Facebook page. For complete details, visit Wilcon Depot PH.

To mark its 150th year anniversary, American Standard is also bringing together its valued trade partners, architects, designers, and media friends for a Special Partners’ Night themed ‘Inspired by Life.’ The event will feature tributes to the brand’s heritage, inspiring showcases, and a glimpse into the future as American Standard ushers in a new era under its refreshed brand claim: ‘Life. Love. Home.’

For generations, American Standard has been a trusted companion in homes, supporting personal moments of self-care, family routines, and connections that matter most. As it steps into its next chapter, the brand remains committed to designing products that make everyday living better-continuing a legacy that began 150 years ago.

THE country’s latest external debt service data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) sends a warning to policymakers regarding taking in more foreign debts, according to local economists.

The data showed the country’s external debt service already reached $148.87 billion in the January to June period this year. This showed that in the six-month period, external debt service already breached the total of $137.63 billion posted in the whole of 2024.

The external debt service data showed the government accounted for the bulk of the amount at $94.8 billion in the six-month period. This was 18.76 percent higher than the $79.825 billion posted in the same period last year.

‘This is a warning signal, though not necessarily a fatal one. It underscores the growing burden of foreign liabilities, higher amortization schedules, and interest cost pressures,’ Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Fellow John Paolo Rivera told BusinessMirror.

‘The concern is that this could strain forex reserves, tighten fiscal space, and heighten rollover risk especially if global rates stay elevated or the PHP [Philippine peso] weakens further,’ he added.

However, Union Bank Chief Economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion told this newspaper that the latest data ‘is not alarming’ given the country’s external debt to GDP ratio stands at 31.2 percent.

He added that the country’s dollar reserves or the Gross International Reserves (GIR) stood at $105.3 billion and could still ‘provide strong cover’ for the country’s debts and import receipts.

‘The increase reflects valuation effects and planned borrowings, not distress,’ Asuncion told this newspaper on Monday.

Meanwhile, private external debt service data showed a 7.38-percent growth to $54.07 billion in the January to June period this year, compared to the $50.36 billion posted in the same period last year.

Moving forward, Rivera said the national government must implement stronger debt management strategies which includes lengthening debt maturities and favoring concessional or low-cost borrowing.

Rivera said these strategies also include debt swaps and buybacks, as well as keeping a ‘prudent’ debt mix between domestic and external sources.

Asuncion added that the government should endeavor to maintain the 80-20 borrowing strategy that favors domestic over external sources.

‘Importantly, improving revenue mobilization and ensuring efficient public spending are key to sustaining the country’s ability to service external obligations without compromising development goals. The degree of corruption in the country also makes managing this more challenging,’ Rivera told BusinessMirror.

Earlier, the government’s retail treasury bond (RTB) drove the surge in borrowings in August, pushing total gross borrowings in eight months to P2.266 trillion.

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the government’s gross borrowings for August surged by 192.19 percent to P508.526 billion from last year’s P174.034 billion.