BY ALEX ALAGON
BY ALEX ALAGON
“Beware of that coin she’s playing with!” I reacted quickly to the video my son sent in our family group chat. My toddler granddaughter was holding a coin, and worry instantly filled my heart. Though my son assured me he was closely watching her, I still whispered a prayer of protection. A grandmother’s heart always longs for assurance that her child knows what he is doing.
Much as I long to be physically present for my grandchildren, the reality of distance makes it impossible to fly across miles at a moment’s notice. Instead, I watch them grow through online calls, photos, and updates, trusting my son and his wife to parent their children with wisdom and love. I offer advice when needed, but I know the daily nurturing belongs to them.
As a hands‑on mother who homeschooled my children for most of their school years, I naturally desire to extend that same care to my grandchildren. The instinct to guide, teach, and shape is strong, yet I must accept that my role now is different. My presence is mediated by technology, my influence filtered through conversations and prayers. I am sure many grandparents can relate to this longing.
This longing connects with the Scaffolding Theory developed by Lev Vygotsky, which I first learned in college and was later reminded of by my daughter, a Psychology teacher. Scaffolding emphasizes how adults provide structured support to help children reach higher levels of learning and independence.
Just as a builder’s scaffold is temporary, parental or grandparental guidance is meant to be adjusted and eventually removed as the child gains confidence. In my case, I cannot scaffold through daily lessons or hands‑on activities as I once did for my children, but I can still offer encouragement, wisdom, and faith without overshadowing the parent’s role.
My time has passed, and I have done my part in modeling to my children how to be parents. As most parents hope, we desire that our children will be better than we are, so we must let them lead.
One of my favorite models of a grandparent is Lois, Timothy’s grandmother, whom Paul commended for passing on her faith (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14–15). Lois did not need to be constantly present to leave a legacy; her faith lived on in Timothy because she planted from infancy seeds of faith and nurtured them with prayer. My prayer is that, even from afar, I too may pass on faith, resilience, and love to my grandchildren. Distance may limit my hands, but it cannot silence my voice nor diminish the power of prayer.
Grandparenting from afar challenges the heart, yet it also opens new ways to nurture. Just as scaffolding theory teaches us to provide temporary support until learners stand on their own, grandparents can offer encouragement, wisdom, and faith that strengthen their grandchildren’s foundations even across distance. Lois’ legacy reminds us that sincere faith, passed on with love and prayer, transcends miles and generations.
In blending educational scaffolding with spiritual mentoring, we discover that our role is not diminished by absence; rather, it is transformed into a quiet, steady presence that equips the next generation to grow strong in both knowledge and faith.
Ruth Sitchon Morales is a full-time instructor at a state university in Mindanao, specializing in foreign language education. She is a resource speaker, freelance writer, and textbook author, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in applied linguistics. Along with her husband and their three children, Ruth served as an ESL teacher and a cross-cultural worker in China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Africa. Her formal studies in foreign languages, enriched by immersion in diverse foreign and local cultures, have given her a broad perspective on life and a wealth of stories to share with her readers.
ANGELES, Pampanga – At a time of rising costs and economic uncertainty, freelancing has emerged as a growing source of opportunity. As more Filipinos turn to freelancing as a viable long-term career, many are adopting digital tools like the GCash Virtual US Account to simplify cross-border payments.
Recognizing this, the GCash Freelancer Connect, a series of community events designed to bring freelancers based in different cities in the country, made its way to Pampanga for its first regional leg. Attendees gathered to learn from speakers KD Creatives and Dani Jacobe, who led practical sessions on how to diversify income streams, charge more competitive prices, and build greater financial confidence with the support of tools like GCash. Here are key insights shared during the event:
- Strong relationships create steady opportunities
With more Filipinos entering the freelancing industry, standing out has become a bigger challenge. For Dani Jacobe, building meaningful connections – and knowing how to communicate value clearly – makes all the difference.
“Your goal is not just to find one client. Your goal is to build a system that helps you keep finding and serving clients,” she shared.
What she has learned over the years is that outreach should go beyond simply introducing one’s services. Freelancers should learn to identify problems, offer clear solutions, and create opportunities for intentional conversations from the very beginning.
“Your skill becomes more valuable when you connect it to a specific business need,” she added.
- Be confident in your worth
For Kyla Dizon, the journey to becoming “KD Creatives” didn’t happen overnight. Before building her online community around content creation and offering digital guides and advice through her platform, she experienced self-doubt and pressure as a young freelancer. One area where that hit hard was in communicating her value to potential clients.
“The truth is, a lot of freelancers are incredibly talented, but still undercharge because they haven’t fully recognized the value of what they bring to the table,” she explained.
The turning point came when she stopped pricing from a place of fear or being scared that clients would walk away because she’d be too expensive and instead, began pricing from a place of confidence. But that confidence, Kyla noted, came only once she fully embraced her personal brand as a freelancer.
“Now, I approach pricing differently — not based on fear, but on the value and experience I know I can deliver,” she explained. During the Freelancer Connect, she urged attendees to use a pricing matrix, which she has made available online, to accurately determine how much they should charge clients for the services they offer.
- Receiving payments should not feel complicated
Another common challenge freelancers face is receiving payments, especially from overseas clients, where the process is often inefficient. To address this, GCash has introduced the Virtual US Account, a feature designed to make receiving USD payments easier.
Users can now receive USD transfers directly from US-based clients using their own routing and account numbers, similar to a traditional US bank, within the GCash app. This feature helps freelancers avoid unnecessary deductions, hidden fees, and lengthy transfer processes, while also ensuring competitive forex rates. Users can convert their USD to PHP when it is most favorable for them – they have full control of when they want to withdraw it into their GCash e-wallet.
“We want to ensure that freelancers in the Philippines can receive and manage their money in the most convenient way possible and in a manner that ensures they don’t lose so much of their hard-earned cash. Once in your Virtual US Account, you can access and manage your earnings instantly inside the GCash app – whether that’s converting to PHP, paying bills, buying load, or even growing your wealth through our financial services,” shared Sophia Sison, Product Manager under the International Business Group at GCash.
Create your Virtual US Account today
As freelancing continues to grow across the country, GCash hopes initiatives like the Freelancer Connect can help create more spaces where freelancers feel supported — not just financially, but as a community navigating a rapidly changing world of work together.
Freelancers learn how to create their GCash Virtual US Account.
Creating your Virtual US Account is easy:
- Open the GCash app – Tap US Accounts in the Explore the App section
- Tap Continue and verify your information
- Complete your account creation
MANILA, Philippines — The Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC), the country’s longest-running student art competition, returns for its 59th year with the theme “SULYAP.”
For 58 years, Shell NSAC has stood as a cornerstone of artistic development in the Philippines, empowering young Filipino artists to tell their stories through creative expression. More than a competition, it serves as a launchpad for emerging talent, bringing together communities, institutions, and industry to nurture the next generation of creatives shaping the country’s cultural landscape.
This year’s theme, SULYAP, encourages young artists to move beyond fleeting moments and take a closer, more meaningful look at the realities, emotions, and experiences that shape their understanding of the present.
Through the competition, participants tell stories that reflect both individual journeys and shared Filipino experiences, using creativity to express purpose and identity. Beyond artistic recognition, it continues to empower students to share their voice with a wider audience and create works rooted in authenticity and reflection.
The competition is open to all currently enrolled college students in the Philippines. Participants must be taking at least nine academic units in the academic year (AY) 2025–2026 or be graduates from AY 2025–2026 who were enrolled at the time of creating their artwork. Students may submit entries in any of the five categories: Oil/Acrylic Painting, Watercolor, Sculpture, Digital Fine Arts, and Photography. Each participant may enter a maximum of two works per category, with each submission registered individually.
All entries must be submitted via the official Shell NSAC platform from June 5 to October 5, 2026. The final judging period is scheduled for November 12-13, 2026, and winners will be announced on December 2, 2026, during the culminating awards and exhibit event.
Interested participants are encouraged to read the full competition mechanics and register via the official website at www.shell.com.ph/nsac. For further inquiries, they may contact the NSAC Secretariat at shellsecretariat@gmail.com.For updates on the 58th Shell National Students Art Competition, including exhibit schedules, finalist announcements, and key events, follow Shell Pilipinas Corporation’s official website and social media channels (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn).
MANILA – As the new school term begins, teachers are managing heavy workloads and tight preparation timelines. A 2026 survey by Canva found that presentation creation is the most time-consuming back-to-school task for educators at 35%, followed by classroom visual preparation at 30% and lesson planning at 21%.
While teachers are increasingly embracing digital learning, connectivity remains a major hurdle. The survey found that poor internet access was the biggest barrier to digital adoption, cited by 40% of respondents, followed by hesitation around using new technologies. Yet the momentum is clear: 97% of teachers surveyed already use Canva, with more than half (56%) using it daily, and 63% expressing enthusiasm about integrating digital tools more deeply into their classrooms.
To help bridge this gap, Canva launched Canva Eskwela 2026, an initiative designed to equip educators with the tools, training, and confidence to bring more creativity, efficiency, and AI-powered learning into everyday teaching.
“Filipino educators are among the most dedicated in the world, yet they face real barriers, from connectivity challenges to time constraints, that limit what’s possible in the classroom,” said Ysa Delfin-Malinao, education marketing lead at Canva Philippines. “Canva Eskwela 2026 is our commitment to removing those barriers and ensuring every teacher has the tools to inspire the next generation of Filipino innovators and leaders.”
Smarter classrooms, smarter learners
This campaign aims to address key barriers to digital integration and deepen Canva’s role in classroom workflows. Through hands-on teacher training, student workshops, and experiential activations, the campaign highlights Canva as a tool that enables more efficient, engaging, and transformative learning experiences.
Features like Learn Grid, Canva’s all-in-one learning hub with curriculum-mapped resources and AI-generated activities, simplify the education experience not just for teachers, but also for students and parents collaborating on schoolwork. Canva Offline, on the other hand, removes connectivity barriers, making it possible for users to seamlessly continue their work even without internet access.
By streamlining resources, the platform makes daily instruction and classroom activities easier to manage with ready-to-use materials designed for all grade levels. With this approach, integrating digital tools enables learners to build the essential skills needed to thrive beyond the classroom.
These initiatives support the Department of Education’s (DepEd) mission to strengthen 21st-century skills among Filipino students. By easing administrative and preparation burdens, teachers can focus more on fostering critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration in the classroom.
Building beyond the classroom
Canva continues to strengthen its commitment to education in the Philippines through community-driven initiatives that support local learning needs. Through the Canva Foundation, the company partnered with impact organization HOPE to rebuild classrooms for typhoon-affected schools across the Philippines. A handover ceremony at Jose Zabarte Elementary School in Tuy, Batangas, marks the latest milestone, with the initiative expected to benefit up to 17,500 Filipino students over time.
For the thousands of students who’ll learn in these classrooms, and the teachers who’ll show up for them every day, this is more than a building. It’s a place where the next generation can discover what they’re capable of, and the ripple effects of that will travel further than anyone can see. Canva has always believed that building a successful company and doing genuine good in the world go hand in hand. That belief is at the heart of their Two-Step Plan: build one of the world’s most valuable companies, then use that success to drive real, lasting change.
Additional initiatives under the Canva Eskwela 2026 include device donations through Devices for Good, school supply distribution for 860 students through Learning Essentials, and training programs such as Career Spark Days and Skills Webinars for students and educators.
By combining digital tools, training and community support, Canva Philippines aims to help Filipinos thrive in a digitally empowered future while creating more accessible, engaging and future-ready learning experiences nationwide.
About Canva
Launched in 2013, Canva is the world’s leading all-in-one platform for visual communication and collaboration. Built to empower everyone to design, Canva serves the creative and design needs of enterprises, small businesses, consumers, and students in more than 190 countries worldwide. Whether you’re a novice taking your first steps in design, or a creative professional seeking powerful tools, Canva ensures users have what they need to transform an idea into something beautiful. Underpinned by the world’s most comprehensive library of designer-made content, Canva is powered by a suite of products and proprietary AI tools that elevate how individuals and teams create, collaborate, and communicate with ease.
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Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay, together with NUSTAR Resort Cebu executives and a representative from the Department of Tourism, during their visit to the property.
Cebu City — Sec. Dita Angara-Mathay along with representatives from the department of tourism visited NUSTAR Resort Cebu, highlighting Cebu’s growing stature as one of the country’s leading tourism and MICE destinations.
The visit comes at a time when Cebu continues to gain international attention as the Philippines hosts major ASEAN-related engagements in the region. As one of Cebu’s premier integrated resorts, NUSTAR reflects the level of hospitality, infrastructure, and service excellence that continues to strengthen the island’s appeal for international conferences, corporate gatherings, and large-scale events.
During the visit, Sec. Dita toured the property’s amenities including NUSTAR Skydeck, the jetty port at NUSTAR Boardwalk, some guest rooms, and event spaces that have helped position NUSTAR as a key player in Cebu’s tourism and business events landscape.
Earlier this year, NUSTAR also played host to delegates and stakeholders connected to the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026, demonstrating the resort’s capability to support high-profile international gatherings and reinforcing Cebu’s readiness to welcome global events.
With ongoing developments across the tourism sector and Cebu’s increasing visibility on the regional stage, destinations such as NUSTAR continue to contribute to the city’s reputation as a dynamic hub for business, leisure, and cultural exchange in Southeast Asia.
The visit also underscored the importance of collaboration between the tourism industry and government stakeholders in further elevating Cebu and the Philippines as world-class destinations for travel and business events.
Makati City — Ayala Land Offices (ALO) reports continued demand, with AXON Group (AXON) securing a long-term lease in Makati. The company will occupy the building formerly known as Teleperformance Center Ayala, marking a new chapter for the asset as it transitions toward more diversified operations.
AXON is a vertically integrated workspace solutions group focused on transforming how companies design, build, and operate workspaces. By bringing together design, construction, technology, strategic sourcing, and capital under a single operating model, AXON helps organizations scale more efficiently while avoiding the heavy upfront fit-out costs, long delivery timelines, and fragmented coordination that traditionally slow workspace projects down.
AXON operates across multiple business units spanning design and build, managed workspaces, strategic sourcing, custom joinery, and workplace technology-enabled environments. Its partnership with Ayala Land Offices reflects a shared vision around the future of work, where thoughtfully designed, high-quality environments play a critical role in enabling productivity, collaboration, flexibility, and long-term business growth.
The transaction also reflects continued confidence in the Makati CBD market, particularly among companies seeking high-quality, well-managed developments that can support evolving operational and workplace requirements. As organizations adapt to changing workforce expectations and increasingly hybrid operating models, demand continues to shift toward premium office environments that offer long-term reliability, accessibility, and flexibility.
“We continue to see strong demand from firms that are evolving how they operate and invest in the workplace,” said Hamm Katipunan, President and CEO of Ayala Land Offices. “Companies today are looking beyond traditional office space. They are seeking environments that can support collaboration, flexibility, talent attraction, and long-term operational resilience. AXON’s decision to partner with Ayala Land Offices reflects a strong alignment in how both organizations view the future of workplaces and the role these environments play in supporting business success.”
“Companies today are rethinking what the workplace needs to deliver,” said Sherwin Dela Cruz, Managing Director of AXON Group. “Beyond location, organizations are looking for environments that support speed, flexibility, collaboration, and long-term operational efficiency. Our partnership with Ayala Land Offices allows us to bring together high-quality infrastructure and AXON’s integrated delivery model to support the evolving needs of modern businesses.”
AXON’s commitment reflects the growing demand for office environments that go beyond traditional workspace requirements. Companies today are increasingly seeking developments that can support collaboration, flexibility, talent attraction, and evolving operational needs within a rapidly changing business environment. Ayala Land Offices remains focused on developing high-quality workplace environments that support long-term business growth and evolving ways of working. As organizations continue to rethink the role of the office, premium developments in established business districts continue to play an important role in helping companies build culture, enhance employee experience, and operate more effectively over the long term.
Discovery Capital Finance Corp. and UnionBank executives formally sign a strategic credit facility agreement aimed at expanding SME financing and advancing financial inclusion nationwide. Shown in photo from left are Engr. Allan L. Yumul, CTO; Trizza Anne Marie D. Martino, CFO; Diosdado C. Salang Jr., President & CEO of Discovery Capital Finance Corp.; Raquel N. Sevidal, EVP and Center Head – Commercial Banking Center; and John Basil O. Sace, VP and Group Head – Commercial Banking 7 of UnionBank.
MANILA — Discovery Capital Finance Corp. (DCFC), one of the fastest-growing financing companies in the Philippines, has officially secured a strategic credit facility with Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), one of the country’s largest and most technologically advanced banking institutions.
This landmark agreement is set to significantly boost financial inclusion and fuel the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) nationwide, which serve as the vital backbone of the Philippine economy.
Amplifying Credit Support for Philippine SMEs
The credit facility provides Discovery Capital with substantial funding capacity to extend flexible, accessible, and non-collateralized working capital solutions to local businesses. Backed by the financial muscle of UnionBank, Discovery Capital is positioned to bridge the critical funding gaps that frequently hinder small businesses from expanding, purchasing equipment, and managing everyday cash flows.
With this new facility, Discovery Capital is actively accelerating its physical and operational footprint. The company plans to establish multiple new satellite offices across the entire country, specifically targeting underserved, unbanked, and underbanked clients in regions outside major metropolitan hubs.
Deepening Institutional Trust and Nationwide Visibility
Industry experts note that major financial institutions continue to place immense trust in Discovery Capital due to the financing company’s institutional maturity. The company’s foundation rests on a strict corporate structure and sophisticated risk management models that consistently keep credit exposure safe. This strong governance enables its disbursement operations, which utilize a diverse mix of traditional banking channels and agile digital networks to deploy capital rapidly into rural and provincial areas. Finally, this entire ecosystem is reinforced by an unparalleled, boots-on-the-ground physical presence. By operating as the only financing company with deep, localized visibility across various provinces, Discovery Capital effectively translates its institutional strength into real-time solutions that cater directly to grassroots client needs.
Vision of Becoming the Industry First-Choice
The partnership marks a massive milestone for Discovery Capital as it transitions from a high-growth lender into a dominant name for business financing.
“Our ultimate goal is to become the definitive top-of-mind choice for any entrepreneur or business owner seeking financial support in the Philippines,” said Diosdado C. Salang, Jr., President and CEO of Discovery Capital Finance Corp. “When clients look for a reliable partner to sustain and scale their dreams, we want Discovery to be the very first name they think of.”
The collaboration will help Discovery Capital to deliver a sustainable financial stimulus designed to empower provincial economies and local enterprises across the Philippines.”
THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) XI enjoined all private establishments in the Davao Region to submit their 2025 Annual Establishment Report on Wages (AERW) by Aug. 31, 2026.
The Annual Establishment Report on Wages is an annual report containing the verified itemized listing of establishments’ labor component, specifying the names of their rank-and-file employees and their corresponding salaries and wages.
Submission of the AERW is required under Article 124 of the Labor Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act.
All private establishments (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporations, cooperatives, including government-owned and controlled corporations without original charter or those organized under the Corporation Code of the Philippines) are required to submit this report. Branches are required to submit individual reports separately from their head office.
Establishments can submit their reports through this link: https://aerw.nwpc.dole.gov.ph/
For assistance, establishments may reach the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) from Mondays to Fridays at aerw@nwpc.dole.gov.ph or the Wage Report Hotlines at 8527-5519, 8527-8011 and 09178630855. Davao Region establishments can also contact the RTWPB-XI through their contact number 224-2027 and 222-4652. (Kenneth Paul J. Recaña)
