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What’s next for legendary entrepreneur Jose Magsaysay, Jr. of Potato Corner?

POTATO CORNER co-founder Jose “Jomag” Magsaysay, Jr. during The RJ Ledesma Podcast. — THE RJ LEDESMA PODCAST

Among entrepreneurs, there are few who are as famous, successful, and relevant to Filipinos as Jose “Jomag” Magsaysay, Jr. of Potato Corner. I’ve been lucky to have Jomag as my business partner and mentor in my business, Mercato Centrale, as well as in my podcast. To many Filipinos — myself included — he is a legend.

The story of how he co-founded Potato Corner and grew it into a business that is present in every corner of the Philippines is the gold standard of how to achieve greatness in entrepreneurship through franchising. Potato Corner was founded in 1992 and today has over 1,300 branches around the world. And since its founding, he hasn’t stood still. What is he busy with this year? What is the second act for this iconic Pinoy entrepreneur? And what can other entrepreneurs learn from his mentorship?

Aside from Potato Corner, Mr. Magsaysay is involved in numerous other businesses — as founder, investor, board member, or, at times, as mentor. In fact, in entrepreneurial circles, he has become known as something of a “partner ng bayan” (partner of the community or country) I recently spoke with him on the RJ Ledesma Podcast where he talked about many of the things he is busy with today — what he calls his “Jomag version 2.0” phase. One hour was too short for all the insights he shared. You can watch the interview in full or check out the highlights below.

‘DM ME’
I’ve had so many entrepreneurs approach me and say, “RJ, can you introduce me to Jomag? It’s so inspiring what he’s been writing about entrepreneurship.” Today, he has evolved from a singularly focused founder into a thought leader and enabler of promising young entrepreneurs. He is currently the entrepreneur in residence at the Asian Institute of Management where he works closely with many future business leaders.

So first, let’s get the question on everyone’s mind out of the way: How do you get in touch with Jose Magsaysay, Jr. if you have a winning business idea?

“Message me,” he says. “DM me, and then tell me who you are, what your business is, what challenges you’re going through. And then if your business looks interesting to me, I will reply back, then we’ll talk.”

Yes, entrepreneurs. Jose Magsaysay, Jr. is on Facebook writing about entrepreneurship in a series called “Business As It Really Is.” Getting in touch with him is literally as easy as sending a direct message.

Keep in mind though that he is, in his words, “biased towards food and platform building or ecosystem building.” Good luck on your pitches!

ON MENTORSHIP
In one Facebook post, he talks about the road less traveled. This has been the guiding principle of his entrepreneurial journey — and it continues to guide him as he forges new paths, including his foray into mentorship.

“Sometimes I take the road less traveled,” Mr. Magsaysay, who describes himself as an extreme introvert, says, “And then sometimes I’d rather walk alone because if there’s somewhere that is interesting to go, I go. And if I’m in a pack, I have to follow the pack sometimes. And that makes me uncomfortable.”

He shares that his typical day is now full of mentoring moments. Talking about his mentorship on Facebook, he says, “It continues my road to mentoring and sitting as an independent director for some corporations. I’m enjoying it. And who knows, this might be the new path that I will go to, but I still don’t know.”

For now though, he is enjoying his role as mentor ng bayan. “I think everybody needs a mentor,” he says. “Until now, I still have a mentor. And it really helps. It focuses me.

“From my point of view, I can see problems that others are doing. Sometimes you cannot see your own problem. It takes somebody else to see your problems. That’s what I do now and help founders in.”

BUSINESS AS IT REALLY IS
On his Facebook page, he gives priceless advice to business owners. In very broad strokes, he talks about three things in particular:

• Platform Thinking

• Structural Dominance

• Scar Tissue Leadership

Within each topic is a wealth of learning. For example, for Scar Tissue Leadership, he explains how leaving Potato Corner in the past was a challenging experience but also one that taught him how to start new businesses.

“Every time I left Potato Corner,” he said, “I did something different. One of those times I ended up running Mister Donut, and then one time I was able to put up a new company… ’Yun ang naging runway ko, ’yung mga (those became my runways, the) periods of resignations… That’s when I was able to start some businesses.”

For more on Scar Tissue Leadership, Structural Dominance, and Platform Thinking, head over to his Facebook page where he talks about these topics in detail.

I’d like to end this week’s column with a quote from Jomag that shows how you never know what you’ll learn from this master entrepreneur. This chaotic creator who has been called “the antithesis of order” will be teaching you about building platforms one moment, then dishing life wisdom the next.

“Humility is very important,” he says. “Whenever I enter a room, I never sit in front. But the thing is, they bring me in front and it’s a big difference you know. When I talk I’m usually the last to talk kasi (because) I’m able to think about what to say. Tapos (then) when I broke my neck, had five cranial surgeries, I had a lot of time to think. That alone time is very important for me. When you’re always thinking about who am I, what do I do. That’s helped me.”

 

RJ Ledesma (www.rjledesma.com) is a Hall of Fame Awardee for Best Male Host at the Aliw Awards, a multi-awarded serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and business mentor, podcaster, an Honorary Consul, and editor-in-chief of The Business Manual. Mr. Ledesma can be found on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. The RJ Ledesma Podcast is available on Facebook, Spotify, Google and Apple Podcasts. Are there entrepreneurs you want Mr. Ledesma to interview? Let him know at ledesma.rj@gmail.com.

New ice cream brand pushes Filipino flavors

IT’S NOT LIKE you can eat strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate forever: how about switching to bilo-bilo ice cream?

On March 18, Marcelo’s Microcreamery was formally launched in the country, although they have been found on supermarket shelves since last year. The flavors aren’t quite what you’ll find in any normal store shelf: the brand has the Heritage Line, building on traditional Filipino snacks. These are Inutak, Ube Macapuno Champorado, Latik-Latik, Mangga’t Suman, Bilo-Bilo, and Chocolate Champorado. During a tasting at Romulo Café in Makati, they also unveiled their latest flavor, Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate (as in the Instagram-viral Dubai chocolate, done in collaboration with the chef who made it, Nouel Catis).

Due to an aversion to certain ingredients (my fault, not theirs), we stuck to something familiar: the Chocolate Champorado, made with tablea (cocoa tablets used for hot chocolate) and rice pudding churned into ice cream. This tasted richly dark and indulgent. We also had a bite of the Dubai chocolate one, and it proved very richly creamy, with a slight coolness of flavor (akin to mint) brought by the pistachios.

The flavors we tasted were made with milk, but the Inutak (smoked ube or purple yam pudding), Ube Macapuno Champorado (ube and coconut sport in chocolate rice pudding), Latik-Latik (toasted coconut curds) Mangga’t Suman (mango and rice cake sorbet, and Bilo-Bilo (a treat made of macapuno mochi, sweetened bananas, and jackfruit), all have a non-dairy coconut milk base. “Our drive is really to partner with local coconut farmers, local tablea farmers, to really help,” said Epic Brands Corp. Chief Executive Officer John Marcelo in an interview. They buy the raw materials directly from the farmers, and try to use local as much as possible. “I think it’s about time to get our flavors out there.”

A former racecar driver, Mr. Marcelo and his family always celebrated ice cream. One night, during a grocery run, he saw that all the brands in the supermarket offered the same thing over and over. The family already makes ice cream for other brands, so, “I wanted to create my own brand.”

They weren’t easy to make: he recalls making the rice-based ones, and them coming out rock-hard from the freezer. The same thing happened to the chunks of fruit. That meant researching cooking methods, such as stewing the fruits more slowly, and cooking everything in a slightly different way. They’re called a “microcreamery” by the way, because they only make the ice creams in small batches.

These flavors are tied to his own memories, making each flavor personal. The champorado flavor, for example, is a schoolboy memory, while the mangga’t suman was a memory of a weekend drive.

It’s this same idea of memory that’s driving their push to export, despite being quite new to the game. He told BusinessWorld that they are already in the Middle East (hence the halal seal on the pint), Australia, Canada, and the US. Right now, they are still in talks to bring it to Southeast Asian neighbors Malaysia and Vietnam. The reason for the push to export is the large numbers of Filipino expatriates in those countries: “We thought that the Filipinos overseas, they definitely miss all our kakanins (rice-based desserts).”

“I wanted to tap that market. Most of them, they miss home; they miss their families. So at least (we can) bring them something that can remind them of their childhood and spending time with their families.”

Marcelo’s Microcreamery products are available in the Philippines for around P460 a pint in Landers, Shopwise, Marketplace, and some Robinsons Supermarket branches. — Joseph L. Garcia

BoJ debated need for more rate hikes —Jan. minutes

THE JAPANESE national flag is hoisted atop the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan Sept. 20, 2023. — REUTERS

TOKYO — Many Bank of Japan (BoJ) policymakers saw the need to keep raising interest rates, with some calling for timely ‌action on mounting inflationary pressures, minutes of their January meeting showed, highlighting their hawkish bias even before the Iran war boosted oil prices.

They also called for increased vigilance to the weak yen’s impact on inflation, which they saw as becoming bigger than in the past as companies more actively passed on higher ​import and labor costs, the minutes showed on Wednesday.

“Given that addressing rising prices was an urgent priority in Japan, the BoJ should not take too much time examining the impact of past rate hikes, and should proceed with the next rate increase without missing the appropriate timing,” one member was quoted as saying.

Another member said the BoJ should ​raise rates at intervals of a few months, adding that timely rate hikes were the only monetary policy prescription to curb unwelcome yen weakness that pushes up import costs, the minutes showed.

“Many members said a mechanism in which wages and prices rise moderately in tandem was becoming embedded in Japan, with this year’s wage negotiation likely to result in solid pay increases for a wide range of firms,” the minutes showed.

The remarks underscore the BoJ’s resolve to proceed with monetary tightening, with many in the board voicing confidence that higher US tariffs and past rate hikes have yet to become a major drag on the economy.

The Middle East conflict, triggered by US-Israeli attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, has muddled the ‌policy outlook with soaring oil prices adding inflationary pressures while also hampering an economy heavily reliant on fuel imports.

Having just raised rates in December, the BoJ kept its policy rate steady at 0.75% in January but retained its hawkish inflation forecasts.

Many members said underlying inflation, or price moves reflecting domestic demand that the BoJ considers key to its rate-hike timing, was approaching the central bank’s 2% target, the minutes showed.

At a subsequent meeting in March, the BoJ again kept rates unchanged while maintaining its bias for tighter monetary policy as surging oil prices risked exacerbating inflationary pressures.

Core consumer inflation stayed above the BoJ’s 2% target for nearly four years on rising raw material and labor costs ​before slowing to 1.6% in February due largely to generous government fuel subsidies.

With various one-off factors distorting the consumer price index, one member proposed paying more attention to gauges of underlying inflation such as the pace of wage growth and service prices, as well as inflation expectations, the minutes showed.

Several also proposed enhancing communication on how the BoJ perceives underlying inflation and Japan’s neutral rate of interest, the minutes showed.

The proposals likely led to the bank’s decision in March to disclose by summer a new indicator on inflation and an updated staff estimate on the neutral rate.

While the Middle East conflict has heightened uncertainty over the economic outlook, markets still see roughly a 60% chance of a rate hike in April. — Reuters

SM Prime to spend P300M on covered LRT-2 Antipolo link to SM Masinag

The LRT-2 Masinag Station in Antipolo City, Rizal. — PNA.GOV.PH

SM PRIME HOLDINGS, INC. said it is working with government agencies on transport-related projects in the Greater Manila Area, using its mall locations to improve connectivity with public transit.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said it is allocating more than P300 million for a direct, covered pedestrian link connecting Light Rail Transit Line 2’s (LRT-2) Antipolo Station to SM City Masinag in Antipolo, Rizal.

The project aims to reduce transfer times and remove the need for street-level crossings, the company said.

“Urban mobility is central to national development. By working with the government, we are able to improve access points that affect commuters every day,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said.

“This partnership started during the pandemic, when improving public transport access became a priority. The facilities are now largely in place,” he added.

The project will include ramps, elevators, improved lighting, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to enhance accessibility and security for commuters.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and is expected to be completed within six months, under a public-private partnership with the Light Rail Transit Authority.

SM Prime said it is also replicating the SM North EDSA Busway Concourse model at SM Megamall. The northbound section is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

The SM North EDSA Busway Concourse, which opened in March 2025, features covered walkways, elevators, escalators, and direct access to the busway.

Separately, SM Prime said it has partnered with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to integrate live traffic feeds from the agency’s AI Traffic Management System into select mall digital directories, allowing commuters to view road conditions in real time.

SM Prime shares rose 3.02% to close at P19.78 each on Wednesday. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno

Stockpiling oil

STOCK PHOTO | Image from Freepik

The case for a national oil buffer is already obvious. We import nearly 90% of our fuel, we have one active domestic refinery, and we have no strategic reserve. That is not an energy policy. That is a gamble. Japan holds around 200 days worth of strategic reserve. South Korea holds 90. The United States holds 90. We have about 30.

Senate President Tito Sotto has filed Senate Bill 1934, proposing the creation of a Philippine Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The bill mandates a reserve equivalent to at least 90 days of the country’s average consumption. Senator Chiz Escudero filed a companion measure proposing a 180-day tank farm.

But a reserve is created not just by law, but by having fuel physically stored somewhere, protected, financed, and ready for use. The harder, more urgent questions are these: where will the fuel come from, where do we put it, who pays for it, and how fast can we get it in place?

A tank farm in Bataan or Subic seems logical. Both have deep-water ports. Both have existing energy infrastructure. But a national stockpile requires the kind of facility that takes years to build, permit, secure, connect, and insure. A four-year answer is not much comfort in a four-week supply shock.

The Strait of Hormuz does not wait for our construction schedule. So, the more useful discussion now is not whether the Philippines should have a strategic reserve. It should. The more useful discussion is how to execute one quickly enough to matter.

We should stop thinking of the reserve as one giant construction project. We need to think in phases. First, lease what can be leased. Second, store what can be stored. Third, diversify where we buy from. Fourth, build the permanent infrastructure after the emergency buffer is already in place.

This is where the most significant recent move in energy security comes in. Enrique Razon, Jr., through Prime Infrastructure Capital, acquired SierraCol Energy, Colombia’s largest independent oil producer. SierraCol produces 77,000 barrels of crude oil per day. That single asset could, in theory, cover roughly one-fifth of our daily fuel needs.

The Razon acquisition does not solve our whole problem, but it creates something valuable: a Filipino-controlled upstream source outside the Middle East, in this case South America. Of course, SierraCol produces crude, not finished fuel.

Thus, Colombian crude will have to pass through refining complexes, possibly in Singapore, where it is processed into finished fuel for a fee before making the final leg to the Philippines. This is a long chain. But it is one in which a Filipino group controls the source, and in energy security that matters.

If the crude is loaded from Colombia’s Caribbean side, which is where most Colombian exports now move, it would likely sail either through the Panama Canal, if vessel size and slot availability allow, or else take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope or through Suez before reaching Singapore. This can take four to six weeks.

Once in Singapore, the crude itself need not sit long. Refineries run continuously, and tanker port turnaround times are typically measured in days, not weeks, so a practical assumption is that discharge, processing, blending, and reload could take a few days.

From Singapore, the final leg to the Philippines is much shorter. The cargo would pass through the Singapore Strait and then across the South China Sea to Philippine terminals, a run that is roughly another four to six days by tanker under normal conditions.

The logical domestic link in this chain is Bataan. The storage and distribution network there is controlled by Petron, which belongs to Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Corp. Razon controls oil at the source. Ang controls critical infrastructure at the destination. If the country wants a reserve strategy that can be executed faster than government alone can manage, these two men will have to be part of it.

The combination of Razon’s upstream supply and Ang’s downstream infrastructure provides energy security that is privately financed and Filipino-controlled. It also allows for an energy cushion that can be assembled faster than a purely public stockpiling initiative.

In the near term, we still need finished fuel. This means being practical about our suppliers. Despite everything happening in the West Philippine Sea, China remains one of the most practical energy suppliers available to us. It runs the largest refining network in the world. Its ports are near enough that tankers can reach ours in days rather than weeks.

But the political relationship is strained. The government and the private sector can work on this together and treat trade separately from any territorial dispute. Easier said than done, but we have to try. Quid pro quo may be necessary. This is not moral surrender. This is basic statecraft.

Regional diversification is also an option, and Brunei may be the quicker and quieter answer. Brunei already exports high-quality crude and refined petroleum to the Philippines. It is small, stable, close, and energy-rich. Deepening our supply relationship with Brunei gives us a reliable regional counterweight.

Petron can again play a role here. Ramon Ang can seek help from his fellow San Miguel stockholder Iñigo Zobel to raise the matter with Brunei’s Sultan Bolkiah, Zobel’s fellow polo aficionado. Long-standing relationships among Ang, Zobel, and Brunei royalty may sound informal, but informal channels often move faster than formal diplomacy. If the goal is to secure supply quickly, personal ties can become national assets.

The ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement already exists, and ASEAN ministers this month agreed to hasten work on its updated framework ahead of the May 2026 summit. Under the mechanism, a member state facing a critical shortage may trigger a formal distress process, but only after taking short-term steps of its own to manage demand.

The Philippines, as current ASEAN chair, should push to finalize the updated arrangements at once and be prepared to invoke the mechanism immediately if the legal threshold is met. In an oil shock, a regional backstop that buys even a little time is worth having.

But supply is only half the equation. The other half is storage. And this is where urgency should change the model. The obvious answer is a large land-based reserve in Bataan or Subic. But the obvious answer is not always the quickest one. It will take years to complete a tank farm that can hold a 180-day supply of oil.

Also, one lesson from the present US-Iran conflict is that a single giant tank farm is a fixed and visible target. In a serious conflict, one well-placed strike could hit both the reserve and the downstream supply chain at the same time. That is not a strategic buffer. That is a concentration of risk.

The faster and more flexible option is floating storage. Large vessels called Floating Storage Units, or FSUs, can be leased and deployed in months rather than years. They are expensive, but they are mobile. In an archipelago, mobility is protection.

We can anchor FSUs deep within our internal waters, disperse them across the Visayas, and place some along the eastern seaboard facing the Pacific. Our geography then becomes part of the defense plan. Instead of one visible fuel stockpile, we have multiple movable reserves spread across islands and sea lanes that are harder to neutralize in one blow.

FSUs are not perfect. This is precisely why we need a hybrid system. Privately funded land storage in Bataan or Subic for scale and stability. Then state-leased floating storage in internal waters for speed, flexibility, and dispersal. One backs up the other.

The reserve should be designed with the future in mind. This is not infrastructure meant to serve unchanged for 100 years. The country is slowly moving toward electric vehicles, electrified public transit, and a different transport energy mix.

Over the next two to three decades, daily demand for diesel and gasoline may change materially. This means we should be careful about locking too much capital into oversized permanent tank farms designed around today’s consumption forever. A hybrid system gives us a buffer now without overcommitting us to a fuel future that may not last.

So, while the Senate can quickly pass a law creating a national oil reserve, the real issue is execution. We need a reserve, but how fast can we lease it, fill it, disperse it, and defend it? Because in an energy crisis, the only reserve that really matters is the one already in place.

 

Marvin Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippine Press Council.

matort@yahoo.com

GCash’s Wais Tindera Caravan empower women entrepreneurs in QC

Women entrepreneurs gathered in Brgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City for the Wais Tindera Caravan, where GCash and Fuse Financing, Inc. brought financial literacy, responsible borrowing lessons, and digital tools closer to grassroots MSMEs this Women’s Month. #MagingWaisTindera #MagingWaisBorrower #GCashFuse

 

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3 dots = 3 burners

ON MARCH 18, at Bar Pintxos in Rockwell, we saw a countertop with three dots on top. That’s it. That was the cooking hub.

The three dots happen to be induction cookers, the whole countertop transformed into an induction cooktop with three burners, thanks to the technology of InvisaCook.

InvisaCook is brought here via Haig & Lee, a distribution company that has dealings in packaging, compostables, flooring, chemicals, countertops, and the like (it’s also owned by the family behind the Mama Sita’s brand, more on that later).

It was while working in countertops and tiles that they came upon the InvisaCook technology, said Alvin Lim, general manager for Haig & Lee. They were introduced to it while working with a US company for porcelain tiles.

InvisaCook works on porcelain tiles: Mr. Lim said the tiles and the porcelain countertop have to be 12mm thick to handle both heat and pressure. A machine is installed beneath the tile, and a control panel is installed nearby. After that, it basically works like any induction cooker: an electromagnetic coil excites the electrons in a cooking pan, heating up the vessel.

“Consumption will depend on the heat that you’re using. This makes it, if not as efficient, as more efficient than the regular induction cooker,” said Mr. Lim. “Induction itself is already an energy-saving way of cooking,” he said, in context of the looming energy crisis. “You don’t waste any heat. The heat is generated in the pan,” he said, as compared to gas cooking which heats the pan from the outside in.

You’ll just have to get the right pan of course — to test it, a magnet should stick to it, then you know it is compatible with the electromagnetic technology (as with any induction cooker; but as an induction user, the test isn’t 100% certain. Just look for a sticker on the pan that says so).

InvisaCook does cost more than the average induction cooker: Mr. Lim estimates that installing everything and the unit itself would cost about P100,000 for one burner, with increments of P50,000 for every additional burner. Provided your countertop can handle it; they can do up to five.

To be fair though, what InvisaCook changes is the look, not the method. “It gives your designer the freedom to design without considering where (they’ll) put that square, black thing [that is the regular induction cooktop]. Everything is seamless,” he said.

As for the ownership of Haig & Lee belonging to members of the Reyes-Lapus clan (the family behind the Mama Sita’s brand of sauces and mixes), Mr. Lim (a member of the family) says, “We got interested in it because we like food. That’s one aspect. But we do see the business side of it,” he said (after all, not all of the products distributed by the company are related to food).

Still, it goes back to the kitchen: they’re planning to create a business fabricating kitchens and countertops. “Eventually, we’d like to be able to get into that business.” — Joseph L. Garcia

Peso slides as Iran war drags on

PHILIPPINE STAR/KJ ROSALES

THE PESO dropped back to the P60 level versus the dollar on Wednesday as players awaited clarity on the supposed peace talks between the United States and Iran and after Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. placed the country under a state of national energy emergency amid the oil shock due to the war.

The local unit slid by 15 centavos to close at P60.10 against the greenback from its P59.95 finish on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso opened Wednesday’s trading session slightly weaker at P59.98 per dollar. Its intraday best was at P59.888, while its weakest showing was at P60.133 against the greenback.

Dollars traded went down to $1.71 billion from $2.69 billion on Tuesday.

“In the morning, the dollar-peso initially fell to P59.888 lows on news of [US President Donald J.] Trump’s push to end the war with Iran. However, lack of confirmation from Iran’s side pushed the pair back up. Trump also brought ground troops already, signaling further escalation in the war,” a trader said by phone.

The peso also weakened after Mr. Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency for one year as the Middle East war continues to threaten the country’s fuel supplies, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

For Thursday, the trader expects the peso to move between P59.80 and P60.30 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort sees it ranging from P59.95 to P60.20. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Fortinet rolls out local secure access service edge PoP in PHL

FORTINET PHILIPPINES

FORTINET has rolled out a local FortiSASE Point-of-Presence (PoP) in the Philippines to make its security services more accessible to enterprises.

“The new FortiSASE PoP enables organizations to access security services locally, improving user experience, strengthening compliance alignment, and supporting the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy,” Fortinet said in a statement. “The FortiSASE deployment leverages Fortinet’s global cloud-delivered security architecture to bring enforcement closer to users while maintaining consistent protection across distributed environments.”

“Our local FortiSASE PoP reflects Fortinet’s long-term dedication to the Philippines’ digital future. By bringing advanced security and networking capabilities closer to organizations, we are helping improve performance, strengthen local cybersecurity capabilities, and enable partners and customers to scale securely as hybrid work and cloud adoption continue to expand,” said Bambi Escalante, Fortinet country manager for the Philippines.

The company added that this aligns its SASE or secure access service edge capabilities with local cloud regions, workforce development, and ecosystem collaboration, ultimately helping boost the country’s cybersecurity landscape.

It said Philippine enterprises are accelerating adoption of SASE architectures. According to the Cybersecurity in the Philippines Report by the ASEAN Innovation Business Platform and Fortinet released last year, nearly 80% of surveyed organizations said they are either implementing or actively exploring SASE solutions, which shows growing demand for integrated, cloud-delivered security.

“By bringing FortiSASE closer to users and applications, Fortinet helps organizations improve operational efficiency, strengthen cyber resilience, and support modern workplace initiatives,” it said.

“The Philippines deployment is part of Fortinet’s broader expansion of secure access infrastructure across Southeast Asia, aimed at bringing security closer to users and applications worldwide.”

Though the PoP, Philippine enterprises will be able to securely connect their users to the web, cloud, and private applications and simplify operations across hybrid environments. It integrates cloud-delivered security services with SD-WAN under a single operating system, client, and management framework.

This will allow for lower-latency secure access and AI-powered threat protection, supporting their digital growth.

“This unified approach delivers consistent security policy enforcement, end-to-end visibility, and zero-trust access, helping organizations reduce complexity while maintaining strong protection across distributed environments,” it said.

“Investing in local infrastructure is about building confidence and resilience as organizations modernize their digital environments. The new FortiSASE PoP enables Philippine enterprises to innovate securely while accelerating adoption of next-generation networking and security practices, supporting the country’s continued growth as a dynamic digital economy,” said Peerapong Jongvibool, Fortinet regional director for Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. — BVR

Ayala Land Premier tops off Maya Building in Bataan

The Maya Building — AYALA LAND, INC.

AYALA LAND PREMIER said it has completed the topping-off of the Maya Building at Searidge Residences in Anvaya Cove, its seaside development in Morong, Bataan.

Searidge Residences is the second residential condominium project in the community, following Seabreeze Verandas, and is the first of three planned mid-rise buildings.

The seven-storey Maya Building has seven to nine units per floor and sits about 110 meters above sea level. It overlooks Ilingin and Buin Cove and is designed to complement the surrounding coastline and mountain landscape.

Units have private balconies ranging from 6 to 17 square meters (sq.m.) and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Around 60% to 70% of the site is allocated to open spaces with greenery.

The development is within walking distance of Anvaya Cove’s Golf & Sports Club, which features an 18-hole, par-72 golf course spanning 82 hectares. The course, backed by the Zambales Mountain Range, Mount Natib, and Subic Bay, was named Southeast Asia’s Best Golf Course in 2025 and is among Asia’s top 100.

Residents will also have access to the Beach & Nature Club in Ilingin Cove, which offers beachfront amenities for recreation and gatherings.

Searidge Residences will include amenities such as a barbecue pavilion, pool complex, and playground.

Ayala Land Premier said the Maya Building sold out within 48 hours in February 2025, prompting the launch of the adjacent Kilyawan Building, which will have a similar design, views, and amenities.

Shares in Ayala Land, Inc. rose 2.98% to close at P17.98 each on Wednesday. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno

AI washing is masking an insidious labor crisis

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Drazen Zigic from Freepik

By Catherine Thorbecke

SINGAPORE-BASED CRYPTO.COM said last week that it was cutting 12% of its workforce, the latest company among a growing cohort from Atlassian Corp. to Block, Inc. to cite artificial intelligence (AI) adoption for job losses.

But what’s lacking in these pronouncements is the evidence of how, exactly, AI is replacing workers. Comprehensive data on whether the technology is destroying jobs, lifting productivity, or reshuffling routine tasks remain patchy at best. And that vacuum is being filled with fearmongering and market-friendly spin. It is undoubtedly reshaping how people work, but for governments and business leaders to effectively react, far more data and transparency is needed.

In a world where engagement algorithms shape public speech, the loudest voices are rarely the most nuanced. Stories of white-collar bloodbaths have gone mega-viral in recent weeks — and even moved markets — despite offering little hard evidence. The narrative is potent. But the bigger danger may not be that AI is already causing a “jobpocalypse,” but that these headlines obscure how the technology is being used to quietly erode the entry level roles that train tomorrow’s workforce. Combined, so-called AI washing becomes a distraction from the harder policy work required during periods of rapid technological change.

Investors are rewarding AI washing, but they shouldn’t be fooled so easily. Recasting pandemic over-hiring and cyclical belt-tightening as innovation and efficiency may help send share prices higher in the near term, but they don’t vouch for sound fundamentals or wise management.

The layoffs narrative does not neatly fit in Asia. In Japan, one survey found that nearly 30% of 246 listed companies were increasing their workforce after adopting AI. An OECD report published last October argued AI-induced job losses may be less common in Japan than elsewhere due to chronic labor shortages driven by demographic decline and people’s tendency to stay at one company for extended periods. Japanese workers, it found, are more likely to see AI as a source of new jobs than a destroyer of them. A similar tension is emerging in South Korea. IMF researchers say that while about half of jobs are “exposed to AI,” the negative effects of an aging population could be mitigated through the technology’s adoption.

That is not an argument for complacency. Older workers, non-regular employees, and entry-level staff are less likely to benefit from the shift, which makes targeted training and workplace adoption programs all the more important. The real balancing act is how to use AI to ease labor shortages without allowing it to widen inequality or disrupt livelihoods. This is where Asia can show leadership.

The gap between what is known and what is being claimed is already too wide. Breathless predictions from industry leaders about how all white-collar work will be automated within 18 months aren’t analysis, they’re marketing. And they’re also bad for the technology itself. Public trust in AI is already fragile. Tech leaders who want it widely adopted should stop selling every restructuring as proof that humans are becoming obsolete and machines more powerful.

Even if the overall scale of layoffs is being overstated, early signals suggest the pain may fall hardest on entry-level workers. It may make short-term business sense to use a model for tasks once handed to an intern or junior employee. But it’s a shortsighted bargain.

One of AI’s biggest limitations is still hallucinations. Human oversight remains essential for its use in businesses, hospitals, and broader society. But people cannot check a machine’s output if they’ve never developed the expertise themselves. Companies risk hollowing out the apprenticeship layer where knowledge workers learn by doing, badly and repeatedly at first, and under supervision.

In my line of work, for example, an experienced editor can immediately spot the cliches, repetitive phrases, or dramatic but inconsistent metaphors that AI tools love to sprinkle into prose. An engineer who has reviewed hundreds of design drawings can spot when an overconfident computer system’s elegant solution will fail in the real world.

That should worry governments as much as employers — especially in China and across Southeast Asia where a Gen Z job crisis was already brewing. Failing to invest in the next generation of talent will backfire. Large numbers of unemployed, educated young people do not make for a stable society. Companies, universities, and policymakers need to do more to protect these training paths and junior roles.

Lawmakers trying to tackle AI’s impact on jobs should start by requiring companies that publicly cite AI as a reason for layoffs to disclose what that actually means: where the technology was utilized, what work changed, what productivity gains were measured, and how many jobs were truly eliminated as a result. Only then can governments build sensible responses, from stronger social safety nets to targeted training and reskilling programs.

AI is already reshaping the labor market. But the bigger danger may not be today’s headline-hogging layoffs, it’s the slow hollowing out of the career ladder itself.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Dining In/Out for Lent and Easter

EGGCITING KIT by Benilde Culinary Arts alumna and Pastry Chef Lovely Jiao

Paint sugar cookies, smash chocolate eggs

THIS EASTER, dessert chef Lovely Jiao of Sugarplum Pastries invites kids and adults to elevate the celebrations with interactive season-inspired confections. Veering away from the iconic Easter bunnies, her latest collection, titled “Chicks & Cheers,” introduces a blend of pastel colors and dainty elements such as bows, laces, and cheeky hatchlings to symbolize rebirth and encapsulate the essence of sweetness. Headlining the selection is Hatch Me, a big chocolate-shaped egg adorned with white fondant details to decorate. It comes in a “nest” bag with an edible sugar cookie palette, a paintbrush, and a wooden mallet. Her tip: Once painted, let the egg sit for a bit to dry. And then smash for more surprises. Inspired by pinball maze puzzles which come in party goodie bags, the bestselling sugar cookie makes a return this season. The edible and playable Speggtacular Maze takes an egg form adorned with flowers and bows. Also included in the set are Binge Oatmeal Cookie. Also available is the all-time favorite season-inspired cookie-do set, which this year is called the Eggciting Kit. It contains three Easter-themed sugar cookies with line guides and three piping bags of icing in yellow, pink, and blue, and three chocolate-coated eggs, which, when smashed, will reveal sprinkles and trinkets to adorn the cookies with. Ms. Jiao has a culinary degree from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management and is equipped with experiences from Makati Shangri-La and F1 Hotel Taguig. For more information, visit facebook.com/sugarplumpastriesph.

The Pen marks Easter with a giant egg and more

THIS EASTER, The Peninsula Manila marks a season of renewal during a year of celebration, as the hotel commemorates 50 years at the heart of the city. Throughout Holy Week and on Easter Sunday, thoughtful experiences unfold across the hotel. Young guests can hop into Egglandia’s “Bunny’s Playground” an Easter Egg Hunt at the Rigodon Ballroom on Easter Sunday, April 5, from 2-5 p.m. (P5,500 for one child and one adult; P3,000 for each additional guest). Children ages one to 10 can enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt alongside face painting, trace-and-color stations, balloon domes, magic shows, claw machine games, and a lively bunny play area. The Easter Bunny will also make a special appearance to help children fill their baskets with hidden eggs. A festive merienda buffet will be served in the Garcia Villa Room, with prizes awarded for the best bunny and egg costumes. Meanwhile, at The Peninsula Boutique, Head Pastry Chef Annalyn Solano presents a spectacular limited-edition Golden Anniversary Chocolate Easter Egg, weighing four kilograms and hiding prizes inside. Only five eggs are available at P8,888 each, with lucky winners discovering rewards such as an overnight stay in a Premier Suite, a Champagne dinner at Old Manila, and Peninsula Afternoon Tea vouchers. At The Lobby, the beloved Afternoon Tea receives a festive Easter twist with seasonal pastries and sweets. Each set includes a limited-edition Peninsula plush toy. The special afternoon tea is served daily until April 5, 2:30 to 5 p.m., for P3,800 with tea, or go extra special with Champagne for P5,800. For a truly memorable holiday escape, the Golden Easter Stay room package invites families to celebrate with festive surprises, breakfast at Escolta, and joyful Easter activities including access to the Egglandia Easter Egg Hunt and Merienda Buffet. Rates begin at P17,050 for a Deluxe Room and P22,450 for a Premier Suite. Gather the family for a lavish Easter Sunday Brunch at Escolta, from noon to 3 p.m., featuring seasonal specialties, classic favorites, and indulgent desserts (P5,500 for adults, and P2,750 for children).

Sheraton Manila Bay unveils Easter feast

SHERATON MANILA BAY presents “The Tale of Peter & Friends,” a magical Easter island adventure. Taking place on April 5 (Easter Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the hotel’s 7th floor will transform into a vibrant island world where pirates, fairies, and Lost Boys come together for an unforgettable Easter celebration. Inspired by the spirit of childhood adventure, the event invites children to dress as pirates, fairies, or lost girls and boys as they set off on a treasure-filled journey through a series of themed activity zones. Young guests can explore a variety of interactive experiences including pirate shipwreck games, fairy obstacle courses, and egg decorating, coloring activities, and face painting. The afternoon also includes a festive lunch buffet prepared by the culinary team of Manila Bay Kitchen, along with themed beverages such as Fairy Dust Punch and Treasure Chest Cooler, specially crafted for the celebration. Families can join the adventure through a Family Bundle at P5,888 net (two adults and two kids, 11 years old and below). Additional tickets from the bundle cost P1,000 net for kids and P1,500 for adults. Individual tickets cost P1,500 net for kids and P2,000 net for adults. Special prizes will be awarded for Best Costume and Pirate-Inspired Egg Treasure Hunt Champion. Reservations are required and full pre-payment is needed to secure slots. For bookings and inquiries, guests may contact Sheraton Manila Bay at 5318-0788.

Seafood at Newport World Resorts for Lent

NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS invites guests to mark the Lenten occasions with them. Six restaurants across the property — Happy 8, Ginzadon, Victoria Harbour Café, Silk Road, the Greatroom at Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts, and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines — present seafood offerings. Across the first five, Lenten selections are available until April 30, while Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines extends the experience through seafood dishes featured in its 48-Minute Lunch Express Menu. Located on the third floor of the Garden Wing at Newport World Resorts, Happy 8, known for its Cantonese cuisine, serves Black Truffle & Seafood Noodles, where glass noodles and assorted seafood are wok-fried in a rich black truffle sauce. The dish is available for P913 net. Nearby, Ginzadon presents Tendon, a bowl of shrimp and squid tempura, served over warm rice and finished with a glossy tare, all for P1,400 net. Victoria Harbour Café, located on the ground floor, introduces the XO Clam Udon, where thick udon noodles and fresh clams are tossed in an XO sauce. The bowl is priced at P480 net. Silk Road, the property’s Southeast Asian restaurant, presents Thai-Style Fried Pompano for P1,350 net. Rounding out the selection, Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts presents Pan-Fried Barramundi in Creamy Garlic Sauce, a seared fillet paired with garlic cream and fresh vegetables for P800 net. For guests looking to mark the season with something distinctly refined, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines presents its 48-Minute Lunch Express Menu, a selection of modern British cuisine available Mondays to Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. Among the highlights are the Seared Tasmanian Salmon, served with braised lentils, kale, ikura, and herb oil, and Mushroom Risotto, finished with truffles, mushroom, and crispy parsley. The broader menu also features light starters such as Crispy Crab Cake & Caviar and Watermelon Salad, alongside a selection of hearty mains and desserts. Guests may choose any two dishes for P1,488, or any three dishes with a complimentary drink for P2,488.

Newport hotels celebrate Easter

AS HOLY WEEK gives way to Easter Sunday on April 5, Newport World Resorts’ international hotel brands offer a range of festive celebrations. The Garden Wing Café’s Easter treats include signature cakes, festive pastries, and artisanal chocolates. Available until April 5, celebrate the season with Large Chocolate Easter Egg (P4,400), Easter Carrot Cake (P2,200), Portuguese Easter Bread (P700), and more. Hotel Okura Manila invites guests to an Easter celebration featuring an exclusive spread at Yawaragi Kisetsu Buffet, complete with hands-on activities such as cupcake-making, roving cake pops, magicians, and surprises to entertain the whole family. Celebrate a fun Easter for P4,000++ for adults (ages 13 and above) and P2,000++ for kids (ages six to 12). Sheraton Manila Hotel presents the Bunny’s Spring Garden Easter as S Kitchen transforms into a Spring Garden for the occasion. From noon to 3 p.m., guests can enjoy an Easter Lunch, an Easter Egg Hunt, family activities, a costume contest, and special treats, priced at P3,600 net per person. The BunnyVerse Wonder Race at the Manila Marriott Hotel brings a high-octane twist to Easter Sunday. A Special Easter Sunday Buffet Lunch celebration at Marriott Café from noon to 3 p.m. features premium seafood alongside The Big Chef Meat Overload station, a kids’ corner, an Easter egg hunt, a magic show, cocktails and family-friendly drinks. Young racers are encouraged to come dressed in their best racing costume for a chance to win a prize. The buffet is priced at P3,888 net. Hilton Manila invites families to a lively Easter celebration with Dinoland Easter Sunday: Hop, Hunt, Roar — a day of themed activities, entertainment, and dining where dinosaurs and Easter traditions meet. Young guests step will into a prehistoric setting with a dino-themed inflatable play area, booth games, face painting, balloon twisting, a magic show, line dancing, and an Easter egg hunt, alongside meet-and-greet moments with a baby triceratops and baby raptor from Dino Crew. Packages are designed to suit families of all sizes: the Family Package (two adults and two children aged two to 12) is priced at P6,500 net, inclusive of a buffet lunch or dinner at Kusina Sea Kitchens and full access to activities. Individual Adult Packages are available at P3,500 net, and Kid Packages at P1,800 net. An Easter Activity Package for one adult and one child is also offered at P2,200 net. Holiday Inn Express Manila rounds out the resort’s Easter lineup with the Eggspress Adventure, a family event on April 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. at The Greatroom on the ground floor of the hotel. There will be an egg hunt and other festive activities. The event is available via an Overnight Stay with free breakfast and access pass for P6,899 (one adult and one child), or an access pass for one adult and one child for P1,899. For more information on Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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