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Last night, I had a heated discussion with my friend, which turned in part on open-mindedness to my arguments. Even though I laid out my case, it fell on deaf ears. I believed that the altercation could have been settled if only my friend was willing to listen to my explanations.

Digital transformation has been a buzzword in the business community for years now, and its importance was emphasized when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As COVID-19 affects businesses globally, business entities must find ways to continue their operations despite the government restrictions that were enforced to ensure public health and safety. Accordingly, for some companies COVID-19 became the main driver behind their digital transformation journey.

New years are a good time to reflect, which is a useful exercise for evaluating how we responded to past situations, and which experiences will serve us well moving forward. This helps us gain a better understanding of ourselves and draw up more realistic life goals.

Last week, like millions of devout Catholic Filipinos, I was able to complete a nine-day series of Masses also known as “Simbang Gabi” albeit via live streaming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, it was said that the beloved Christmas tradition started when priests said dawn masses instead of traditional evening mass to accommodate churchgoers who had to go to work. It is thought that those who complete all dawn Masses will be granted a wish. I can still remember when I fervently wished to pass the qualifying examination for the accountancy program of my alma mater. Lo and behold, my wish was granted and I am now happily living my dream.

As a young professional working and living away from my family, I look forward to December. Booking a flight, buying gifts, and planning a vacation give me a rush. December is also usually when I re-evaluate the goals I have set for myself, look back on the decisions I made, and assess whether I still get fulfillment from the things I do. However, this year was different. I have to remind myself that surviving difficult times is a success in itself, that taking a break does not necessarily mean abandoning your dreams. That it is fine to rest, keep the faith, and just strike later.

For Filipinos, Christmas is the most anticipated event of the year. Preparation for the festivities starts as early as September with Christmas celebrations lasting until January of the following year. While this year’s festivities will inevitably be different due to restrictions on gatherings, Filipinos can undoubtedly make the most of the situation and make the Christmas spirit come alive.

International businesses are often faced with issues of being taxed twice on the same income. This occurs when the same income is taxed in two different countries. Under the tax rules, domestic corporations and individual resident citizens are subject to Philippine income tax on their worldwide income. For such taxpayers, being taxed twice can happen when their foreign-sourced income is taxed in the country where it is earned, and then taxed again in the Philippines.

With Christmas just a few weeks away, most of us are preparing decorations and buying presents despite the quarantine. This year’s holiday season will be much different from the past celebrations. Most businesses, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises, which used to get their fair share of consumer spending, were forced to temporarily close and retrench employees due to the pandemic.