AI-deas: Digest 

In this January edition of AI-deas, we explore moments of transition—where long-standing systems are being tested by mobility, decentralization, and a growing demand for real impact. As the Philippines enters 2026, we examine how leadership in business, education, and governance must adapt to a society no longer willing to settle for inertia.

We begin with the realities of a high-mobility labor market. As job hopping becomes the norm, we ask whether this signals a loyalty problem—or a leadership one. We connect this to the 2026 labor outlook, where services drive employment, industry remains constrained, and adaptability and skills matter more than tenure.

We then turn to education as the foundation of workforce quality. From the culture of “memocracy” in public schools to the emerging push for higher standards in business education, we reflect on why autonomy, accountability, and impact—not mere compliance—are essential to human capital development. We also spotlight UP Open University, which challenges traditional notions of access by bringing quality education to OFWs, farmers, and working Filipinos wherever they are.

Finally, we reflect on leadership under pressure. We examine the collapse of the Baguio Public Market PPP as a lesson in governance, trust, and social legitimacy, and ask what inclusive development truly requires.

This January, AI-deas invites you to see progress not as control or continuity, but as responsible change—where growth is measured by dignity, access, and the ability of institutions to serve people, not the other way around.

In this December edition of AI-deas, we navigate the complex intersection of economic sustainability and human dignity as the Philippines prepares for the challenges of 2026. We confront the critical choices facing our labor force and infrastructure, questioning whether progress is measured by impressive metrics or by the well-being and shared prosperity of every Filipino.

We begin by debating the future of the Philippine workforce, weighing the potential for early retirement to accelerate youth career progression against the risks of a productivity drain and strained pension systems. We explore how a more resilient labor environment requires looking beyond basic wages to comprehensive fringe benefits—such as housing and education—as seen in the Del Monte model, transforming benefits from simple perks into essential tools for human development.

Next, we examine the logistics backbone during the peak holiday season and the evolving landscape for MSMEs. We look at how businesses can shift from viewing labor as a mere cost input to a productivity-enhancing asset, while navigating slowing domestic consumption through digital transformation, export diversification, and agricultural innovation.

Finally, we reflect on courageous leadership in both policy and community. We analyze the delicate balance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)—honoring contractual commitments while safeguarding public welfare—and celebrate the triumph of the PADS Adaptive Dragon Boat Team. We invite you to consider a new paradigm for business education: one that anchors the curriculum in justice, sustainability, and impact rather than profit alone.

Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to reflect on how leadership rooted in accountability and inclusion can ensure that the Philippines’ growth is not just efficient, but regenerative and profoundly human

In this November edition of AI-deas, we navigate the tension between global efficiency and human value. We confront the countdown facing professions like marketing, where artificial intelligence is rapidly taking control, ushering in a marketplace where machines negotiate and transact with one another.

We begin by examining how Philippine business schools can become a global force for good by achieving international excellence, as demonstrated by RVRCOB's 4 Palmes of Excellence recognition. We explore how to ground this excellence in cultural wisdom, learning from models like IIM Indore, which treats its heritage as the foundation for success. We look at how integrating Filipino constructs labeled as "DKL"—diwa, kapwa, and loob—can cultivate genuine conviction and relational leadership.

From there, we dive into the complex landscape of labor economics and policy. We question whether salary standardization laws should be extended to the private sector to promote fairness, reduce wage disparities, and boost economic stability. We analyze the counterarguments that such rigid frameworks could overlook industry differences, disrupt labor market dynamics, and potentially deter foreign investment. We also revisit the Rice Tariffication Law, analyzing how the prioritization of efficiency through cheaper imports has destabilized the livelihoods of millions of workers and farmers by causing a sharp drop in palay prices.

We then analyze the challenges facing Philippine higher education. Drawing on the 2026 QS Asia Rankings and the findings of EDCOM 2, we look at the growing global recognition of local universities, juxtaposed with urgent concerns about the rise of low-quality "diploma mill" graduate programs. We discuss how poorly regulated programs fail to prepare educators, devalue advanced degrees, and necessitate systemic reform through tiered regulation and stronger school-to-work interventions.

Finally, we return to the technological challenge, asking what remains uniquely human when creativity itself is automated across professions. We reflect on how businesses, educators, and policymakers must design hybrid systems that merge machine precision with human empathy, imagination, and moral reasoning.

Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to reflect on how integrating our deepest values into business and policy can help the Philippines ensure that progress is defined not just by efficiency alone, but by conscience and purpose. 

In this October edition of AI-deas, we confront the paradoxes of progress in a world defined by “permanent impermanence.” We begin with government procurement—reimagined as a force for sustainability—where every peso spent could build not just infrastructure, but a greener, more accountable future. From there, we revisit the call to move beyond “pwede na”, challenging businesses to build homes—and communities—that restore dignity and equity to Filipino families.

In the workplace, we examine how companies can attract and retain talent in an era where loyalty is earned not through pay alone, but through purpose, empathy, and shared growth. For small and medium enterprises, we explore how resilience can mean survival amid the Philippines’ growing vulnerability to natural disasters—where preparedness becomes both an economic and moral imperative.

Meanwhile, the nation’s tourism story is being rewritten by Filipinos themselves, as domestic travel takes center stage in rebuilding a more inclusive and sustainable industry. Finally, we reflect on future shock—the overwhelming velocity of change that defines our time—and ask how faith, integrity, and collective action can anchor us through chaos and uncertainty.

Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to reflect on how sustainability, resilience, and ethical leadership can help the Philippines navigate change, rebuild trust, and shape a future rooted in both progress and purpose.

In this September edition of AI-deas, we confront corruption head-on, exploring how disruptive innovation could make it obsolete by building transparency systems that strengthen kapwa and restore genuine bayanihan. We examine the rise of the “Quiet Series” in workplaces—from quitting to cracking—and ask whether silence has become safer than speaking up. We turn to higher education, where leadership is in crisis, and consider how lessons from the private sector can help universities become agile, accountable, and responsive to national needs. On the digital front, we analyze the Konektadong Pinoy Law, a landmark reform that promises cheaper internet and stronger competition, while also raising cybersecurity and regulatory risks. In the retail space, we assess whether DALI’s hard discount model can truly succeed in the Philippines amid cultural expectations and financial strain. Finally, we explore alternative remedies for bankruptcy that go beyond liquidation, highlighting debt restructuring, voluntary settlements, and financial literacy as pathways to resilience. Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to reflect on how innovation, leadership, and collective action can help the Philippines confront systemic challenges and build a more just, sustainable, and connected future.

In this August edition of AI-deas, we spotlight the quiet revolution reshaping Philippine agriculture through the work of two young leaders who are proving that profit and purpose can thrive together. We examine the government’s push to empower MSMEs, highlighting how private sector collaboration can unlock their full potential. We analyze the newly signed Government Optimization Act, asking if rightsizing the bureaucracy can truly translate into more efficient, citizen-centered services. We revisit the Citizens Participatory Audit in the wake of fresh corruption scandals, exploring how businesses can play a pivotal role in safeguarding transparency and accountability. On the global stage, we dive into L’Oréal Brandstorm 2025, where Filipino ingenuity meets international collaboration, showing how innovation is forged in collective rooms rather than solo sparks. Finally, we assess the readiness of Filipino students for an AI-driven future, unpacking insights on how perception, accessibility, and purpose shape their adoption of new tools. Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to reflect on how public innovation and private partnership can transform systems, empower communities, and prepare the Philippines for a more equitable and resilient tomorrow.

In this July edition of AI-deas, we examine how public-private partnerships are transforming governance across the Philippines—from citizen-driven infrastructure audits and regional airport development to President Marcos Jr.'s tourism decentralization plans. We explore the profound connection between Danish hygge and Filipino ginhawa, challenging growth-obsessed metrics with shared sufficiency wisdom. We tackle functional illiteracy affecting 18.9 million Filipinos, analyze the controversial 12% VAT on digital services like Netflix, and investigate smart contracts' potential to revolutionize legal practice. Finally, we explore disaster-proofing strategies that go beyond relief to embrace pre-disaster resilience. Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to consider how collaboration between public purpose and private innovation can build a more equitable, connected, and resilient Philippines.

In this June edition of A-Ideas, we tackle the country’s most urgent conversations—from the role of the Philippine Nautical Highway in trade and connectivity, to “Kasangkapwa,” a Filipino framework for human-AI collaboration rooted in shared identity. We explore healthcare reform through public-private partnerships, the risks of AI-generated misinformation, and the promise of “proleptic narratives” for building trust. We also spotlight Filipino drag queens reshaping inclusive advertising and propose Singapore’s progressive wage model as an alternative to blanket wage hikes. Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to reflect on how connectivity, relational wisdom, and nuanced policy can empower communities and drive genuine societal change.

In this May edition of A-Ideas, we explore leadership, governance, and purpose-driven business. From rethinking leadership in local government and strengthening MSMEs post-election, to learning strategy from unexpected political victories and embedding sustainability into company culture—this episode captures the month’s most powerful ideas. We also examine what truly motivates private sector involvement in public-private partnerships. Generated with NotebookLM, this podcast invites you to reflect on how leadership, innovation, and integrity can drive real societal change. 

In this April edition of A-Ideas, we delve into the heart of Filipino business values and the evolving landscape of commerce in the Philippines. We explore how the concept of “loób” (inner self) shapes community and enterprise, fostering a unique sense of shared well-being or “kapwa.” From examining the deeper motivations behind Filipino entrepreneurship, rooted in the pursuit of “ginhawa” (holistic well-being), to navigating the complexities of discussing politics in the workplace and the challenges and opportunities presented by the new government procurement law and global trade dynamics for MSMEs, this episode offers a multifaceted view of business in a Filipino context. We also reflect on the shifting observance of Holy Week and the ongoing debate on wage rationalization, highlighting the importance of balancing economic progress with cultural values and worker welfare. Generated with NotebookLM, this AI-powered episode reflects on how we can foster business practices that are both culturally sensitive and contribute to a more just and equitable society. 

In this March edition of AI-deas, we explore leadership approaches that empower communities through thoughtful questioning and innovative solutions. From the power of curiosity in fostering adaptive leadership, to microcredentials bridging education and industry gaps, we examine how Filipino businesses and organizations are reshaping traditional models. We highlight transformative agricultural ventures like Agrabah and Island Harvest Farm that embody Filipino values of kapwa and kaloob, creating shared prosperity with farming communities. The episode also unpacks decision-making insights from election dynamics and practical approaches to rice self-sufficiency that balance food security with economic realities. Generated with NotebookLM, this AI-powered episode demonstrates how asking the right questions and building systems of mutual trust can create lasting positive change across business, agriculture, and governance.

In this February edition of AI-deas, we explore transformative approaches to business and society across the Philippines. From social enterprises fusing profit with purpose through IoT-enabled farming, to the delicate balance between truth and connection in our information landscape, this episode examines how conscious capitalism is reshaping Filipino business models. We highlight the "kapwa" philosophy driving Philippine specialty coffee's success, students' thoughtful navigation of AI in education, innovative agricultural technologies empowering rural communities, and urban planning challenges in Metro Manila's transport systems. Generated with NotebookLM, this AI-powered episode showcases how businesses are creating resonant narratives rooted in cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and human dignity to address our most pressing societal challenges.

In this January edition of A-Ideas, we spotlight timely insights on business, dignity, and resilience. From a systems thinking approach to the national budget’s social impact, to Gen Z’s “absurd resilience” in uncertain work environments, and the ethics of vigilance in addressing fake PWD IDs—this episode explores how business decisions and culture shape our society. Generated with NotebookLM, this AI-powered episode reflects on how we can lead with empathy, purpose, and inclusivity.