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In today’s digital and social media world where company’s actions, strategic decisions, press releases and statements, andeven the behavior of top executives could be talked about, applauded, criticized, or condemned, brand building and reputation management become more important than ever. Thus, both have become regular agenda in boardroom discussions and hot topics at business gatherings. Considering the importance of these topics, P&A Grant Thornton held its 4th Growth Series, featuring two experts: Sarah Croot, the head of business development at Grant Thornton International (GTIL) and Chiqui Escareal-Go, the founder and CEO of Mansmith and Fielders.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pegged at P2.4 billion the loss of potential income that the traffic jam in Metro Manila has caused every day in 2014 and P3 billion in 2015. The amount of the loss and the percentage of increase in a span of one year are staggering

In a 2016 report by WeAreSocial says 47.1 million Filipinos are active internet users and millennials represent 41 percent of these “wired” segment. And, some say that the last election was fought “in the streets of cyber.” Internet users are typically impatient and spirited in voicing out their opinion on almost anything; even telling stories which may be truthful but often spiteful and distorted. Stories became so personalized that family members and lifelong friends separated ways (How many did you ‘unfriend’ from Facebook?).The use of the internet is so open and so pervasive that somewhere in the World Wide Web, someone maybe talking about you and he may not be saying the most flattering things. Or worse, he may be plotting against you.

As a father of two iGens (also known as Gen Z, those born after 1994) and at the same time being exposed to the corporate world over the past 12 years, I noticed certain parenting principles that can be applied by leaders in their respective organizations, especially those dealing with millennials and, soon-to-be in the workforce, the iGens. These principles, which I abide by as a parent, stemmed from my desire to see my kids become the best version of them. If this is the same path we want our employees to follow, it could be worthwhile to consider the following principles:

One of the items in the ten-point socio-economic agenda of the Duterte administration speaks of the development of rural tourism, a variant of ecotourism that gives “the country experience.” As more and more tourists are lured to the beauty of our countryside related jobs and livelihood should also filter down to rural people.

School opening last week again highlighted the terrible traffic in Metro Manila, said to be among the worst in the world. It took me during the Wednesday rush hour, one hour and forty-five minutes for the three-kilometer distance to my business meeting. While I have emotionally accepted my fate of being stuck in Manila, let me share you some of my thoughts in a listicle, on how we can ease the traffic in our own little ways

I attended a seminar last week where one of the topics was about integrity. The speaker presented a slide showing a public survey that placed bankers among the bottom ranks in terms of perceived integrity, just above politicians and below lawyers. It is, indeed, a strange state of affairs when the people you trust with your money are perceived by many to be lacking in integrity. Perhaps, there is too much focus on profit and return-on-investment rather than on building trust.

In September 2015, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) issued a memorandum circular covering the Philippine Financial Reporting Framework for Cooperatives (Reporting Framework). This Reporting Framework, which will only be effective for financial statements ending on December 31, 2016, is based largely (except for certain accounting treatments incorporated or revised by CDA which it deemed distinct and unique for cooperatives) on the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (PFRS for SMES).