he took the most painful thing for any human being (perhaps even for other sentient creatures) — the loss of a child — and made that the measure of his love for humanity.

when my son got sick, my deeply catholic upbringing automatically bargained with god. i asked him to take me instead.

i’ve had a well-lived life: (for the most part) i’ve been clear-eyed and honest about myself, about what i see and feel, about what i judge and act on. i’ve lived many lifetimes.

take me, i pleaded on my knees. my son is still finding his way. he is just at the starting line of his journey to his purpose and meaning.

if god were a mother, she would not give up her child. she would offer hers instead. she would fiercely and fearlessly find another way to show her love for the world.

**

for over two millennia, the propaganda of the bible is that woman is weak, or as the millennial priest in our parish said, in a particularly superior and condescending tone, during a lenten mass a couple of weeks ago, “kayo kasing mga babae” in reference to eve’s partaking of the forbidden fruit.

to disobey an unexplained rule is to be banished from paradise.

why are curiosity and independence of thought and action penalizable sins?

an internal debate that has recently found some form of conclusion: if woman were really superior to man, how come we live in a man’s construct? that god is male? that most religions, as a social control mechanism and as a cultural pool that everyone swims in, are patriarchal and hierarchical?  

because woman allowed it. because woman is “not strong enough” to make the man god’s sacrifice for power, for the power to exercise some control over other people.  

“SwissCham is creating a platform where leaders can exchange practical insights on how to build strong organizations and more resilient teams,” – H.E. Nicolas Brühl, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Philippines.

In an era of rapid automation and AI, leaders are being challenged to put people back at the center of transformation.

For Sara Odebunmi, chief diversity officer & senior member of management at Partners Group, AI should “support people to create better service and efficiencies,” not replace them. Trust, she said, must be intentionally built so teams are willing to reskill and embrace change.

This echoes the message of People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) President Gilbert T. Camasura, who highlighted the idea of “humanITy” — human-centric leadership that embraces innovation.

“Technology will continue to enable us, but people will continue to lead your organizations,” Camasura said.

Against this backdrop, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (SwissCham PH), in partnership with Partners Group, convened leaders for the first session of its “Leadership Conversations Series: Peak Performance in Practice” on March 11 in BGC.

“SwissCham is creating a platform where leaders can exchange practical insights on how to build strong organizations and more resilient teams,” said Ambassador of Switzerland to the Philippines Nicolas Brühl.

Held during International Women’s Month, the event also recognized leaders championing inclusive and effective leadership through people and culture development.

The gathering also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SwissCham PH and PMAP, formalizing collaboration to advance progressive people practices across organizations.

Camasura noted that effective leadership must continue to evolve, emphasizing that the true “currency” of business lies in people, not profit alone.

“Taking inclusive leadership will also mean greater innovation, allowing people to really cultivate what is there,” he said.

Speakers stressed that leaders today must guide a multi-generational workforce — from baby boomers to Gen Z — while adapting to automation and shifting talent demands.

Organizations can no longer rely solely on compensation, job descriptions, or rigid structures. Instead, employees increasingly seek purpose, psychological safety, and a sense of belonging to remain engaged.

“One of the highest factors that pushes employees to leave is not the company, it’s the leader,” Camasura added.

Values alignment also emerged as critical. Dr. Diana M. Edralin, general manager of Roche (Philippines) Inc., shared that when personal values no longer resonate with an organization’s culture, friction inevitably arises.

“Values are the things that I continue to hold on to as a person, and it continues to be my North Star in my working life,” said Edralin, emphasizing excellence and integrity with her purpose as a servant leader.

She also underscored the need to expand the blueprint for creative leadership, moving away from reactive, fear-based environments toward cultures where innovation can thrive.

In such environments, creativity, psychological safety, and shared values allow people to experiment, challenge ideas, and co-create solutions.

For leaders, the challenge is ensuring that purpose, integrity, and organizational mission are consistently embedded in everyday decision-making. When employees feel safe to speak openly, challenge ideas, and offer feedback, organizations unlock greater creativity, resilience, and ultimately, peak (happiness) performance.

These contrasts raise an uncomfortable but urgent question: When the future of work arrives faster than expected, who gets left behind?

That question matters now more than ever, as generative artificial intelligence (AI) begins to reshape work across the Philippines.

A new research brief by the International Labour Organization (ILO) shows that more than one in four jobs or around 12.7 million in total are exposed to generative AI in the Philippines, the highest rate among ASEAN countries with comparable data. Exposure does not mean jobs will disappear overnight. Most will not. But many will change, sometimes quickly, sometimes painfully — demanding new skills, better protection, and deliberate policy choices.

What concerns me most is this: The shift is not gender-neutral.

The same ILO research shows that women in the Philippines face twice the rate of AI exposure as men, particularly young and educated women concentrated in clerical, administrative, and service roles — occupations that AI can automate or fundamentally transform. In regions such as Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, where digital and business services dominate, women shoulder a disproportionate share of the risk.

Without targeted action, AI could widen existing inequalities, reinforcing barriers that women and young people already face due to poverty, informality, or conflict. Yet this outcome is not inevitable. The same technology can also be a powerful equalizer if we choose to govern it well.

I have seen this possibility firsthand. Through ILO programmes supported by development partners, women-led enterprises in Iloilo, Pampanga, and Siargao Island are using digital hubs, e-commerce platforms, and AI-enabled tools to grow their businesses, increase sales, and raise productivity.

Under our partnership with the Government of Japan, and now through the United Nations Joint Programme Digital PINAS. These women have shown something important: the real constraint is not talent, but access. Systems that fail to keep pace with change hold people back far more than technology ever could.

I am reminded of a young woman who once received an ILO-supported scholarship to study web development under a partnership with J.P. Morgan. With the right support, she built her skills, moved into robotic process automation, and today works as an automation developer in Europe. Her story is not exceptional — it is a clear example of what becomes possible when barriers are removed and pathways into STEM and digital careers are opened.

As a father to a daughter, these changes matter deeply to me. When a girl is given access to quality education, relevant skills, and decent work, she does not merely adapt to new technologies, she helps shape them. Yet for many girls in the Philippines, especially those growing up in poverty or conflict-affected areas, that future remains frustratingly out of reach.

This is why this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, with its focus on Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance, is so timely. The future of work shaped by AI will not be inclusive by default. Inclusion must be designed through policy, investment, and social dialogue.

The ILO’s research points to clear priorities: investing in AI and digital skills for women and youth; embedding STEM pathways early in education; supporting workers through transitions; and financing women-led innovation and enterprises. Women and young people should not be treated merely as workers adapting to AI, but as innovators shaping how it is used.

If we want AI to create decent work rather than deepen divides, we must act now. The message from the ILO’s new research is clear: AI can raise productivity and job quality, but only if no one is left behind.

The future of work is being built today. The real question is whether we build it with inclusion, dignity, and social justice at its core or allow old inequalities to be hard-wired into new technologies.

Dannah Celine Gutierrez and Marie Eirene Fabon will pursue their master’s studies in the UK later this year—Gutierrez in Renewable Energy and Clean Technology at the University of Manchester, and Fabon in Humanitarian Engineering at the University of Warwick.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, launched in 2024 under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme, seek to address gender disparities in STEM education and careers across ASEAN and Timor-Leste.

From hundreds of applicants, 11 scholars from eight ASEAN countries were chosen this year for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and vision to drive change in their home countries.

The full list of 2025 recipients includes:

1. Cambodia: Kimsrung Lov (Cyber Security Engineering, Warwick)
2. Indonesia: Aulia Nugroho and Bianca Prasetya (Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, Manchester), Rana Adwinda (Health Data Science, Manchester)
3. Malaysia: Najah Fareeha Binti Abd Rashid (Polymer Chemistry, Warwick)
4. Myanmar: Thiri Yamin Hsu (Applied Artificial Intelligence, Warwick)
5. Singapore: Lim Su Wei (Precision Medicine, Manchester)
6. Thailand: Tayida Phanich (Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester)
7. Vietnam: Trang Ngo (Behavioural and Data Science, Warwick)

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn said: “This highlights the UK and ASEAN’s shared ongoing commitment to gender equality and female empowerment in STEM. By supporting girls and marginalized communities in accessing education and improving foundational learning, we aim to bridge the gender gap and foster a more inclusive and innovative future.”

UK Development Director for Indonesia and ASEAN, Amanda McLoughlin, added: “As a dedicated ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the UK is proud to support these exceptional women in STEM through the ASEAN-UK SAGE scholarships. Investing in women’s education is not just about equality. It’s about unlocking economic potential and driving inclusive development across ASEAN.”

Summer Xia, Director Southeast Asia, British Council, said: “We are thrilled to announce the second cohort of ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholars and can’t wait to see the impact they will make as they embark on their master’s studies in the UK.”

Funded by the UK Government and implemented by the British Council, the scholarships not only advance women’s participation in STEM but also strengthen ASEAN-UK collaboration in education under the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022–2026.

For more information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.id/en/programmes/education/sage

For media inquiries, please contact: Naomi.nunn@britishcouncil.org

For further information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please contact: UniPrayuti.Prayuti@britishcouncil.org Panisara.Paireepinath@britishcouncil.org

Finland as new co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) says it will focus on women in journalism and media education.

At a dinner reception in Manila Wednesday, Finnish Ambassador Saija Nurminen said that Finland’s formally assumption of the MFC co-chairmanship alongside Germany reinforces its longstanding commitment to media freedom and human rights.

“It doesn’t come [as] a surprise to anyone who knows anything about Finland that we will focus particularly on women journalists,” Nurminen said.

“But also we would like to try to strengthen media literacy—that is another baby of ours—and we’ll try to do something with that as well,” she added.

The Media Freedom Coalition is a global alliance of 51 countries that supports journalists at risk, advocates for free and independent media, and works closely with legal experts and civil society groups to uphold press freedom around the world.

The event brought together diplomatic allies and media practitioners, including German Ambassador Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman, and Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia Fediv, as well as journalists from THEPHILBIZNEWS, Rappler, Inquirer.net, Philippine Star, and ABS-CBN News.

The intimate gathering also became a venue for dialogue on the Philippines’ current media environment, with participants exchanging ideas on how Finland can steer its MFC role effectively while upholding journalist safety and democratic values.

Ambassador Nurminen did not shy away from addressing the challenges journalists face in the Philippines, which continues to be considered one of the most dangerous places in the world for members of the press.

This assessment aligns with a recent statement from UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan, who described the Philippines as “one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.” According to UNESCO, 117 journalists have been killed in the country over the past 30 years, with 81 of those cases remain unsolved.

Finland’s new role in the MFC also coincides with its 2025 Chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a role it intends to use to further human rights advocacy, particularly in support of Ukraine.

As part of its OSCE chairmanship, Finland hosted a commemorative conference on July 31 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and reaffirm its relevance in today’s geopolitical and human rights challenges.

A milestone in this regard is the Helsinki Final Act, signed in 1975 by 35 countries, including the US, Canada, the Soviet Union, and all European states (except Albania). The agreement laid the foundation for post–Cold War diplomacy by committing signatories to respect human rights, sovereign borders, peaceful conflict resolution, and the right to self-determination. It remains a cornerstone of Finland’s foreign policy and multilateral engagement.

“And [it is important for] fundamental rights to have freedom of speech. For us, we also tie that to comprehensive security, [which is] a concept that is very dear to us in Finland,” Nurminen said.

This milestone highlights both nations’ commitment to deepen economic collaboration and unlock new opportunities for trade and investment, it said.

DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, signed the Joint Statement officially launching the negotiation during the latter’s official visit to Manila on December 6, 2024.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by key government officials from both sides, including Philippine Ambassador to Chile, Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, and Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines, Alvaro Domingo Jara Bucarey.

The CEPA aims to go beyond trade in goods and services by including key areas such as intellectual property rights, digital economy, MSMEs, environment, labor, and trade and gender, among others.

Emphasizing the potential of the agreement, Secretary Roque said, “Beyond trade, the CEPA should also be driven by a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and economic resilience. By addressing new-generation trade issues, the agreement aligns with the Philippines’ goals of inclusivity and resilience.”

The CEPA with Chile presents significant benefits for the Philippines, including enhanced market access for key exports, increased consumer welfare with lower prices of goods, and facilitative rules of trade.  Strengthened economic ties with the Latin American region is also expected.

This joint initiative reflects the shared vision of the Philippines and Chile to expand economic opportunities and deepen their partnership on the global stage. Through the CEPA, both nations look forward to fostering a more robust and mutually beneficial relationship.