I still remember sitting in front of the television, my coffee turning cold, as I watched the Senate hearings on the Pharmally scandal in 2021. Senators were grilling young executives of a small company that—almost overnight—secured billions of pesos worth of contracts for pandemic supplies. […]
Reexamining Corruption Under Duterte: What We Forgot Read More »
The fastest way to change culture isn’t with new posters, polished slogans, or another all-hands announcement. It’s by rewriting the invisible rules people already follow. Because here’s the truth: every workplace runs on two rulebooks. The official one—full of policies, guidelines, and handbooks. And the
How to Spot and Shift Unwritten Rules in Your Workplace Read More »
Leaders don’t just set policies. They write culture. And here’s the catch: most of the rules they write are never spoken, never documented, and never announced in a handbook. They’re modeled in silence. They’re absorbed in glances, decisions, and habits. “Don’t question authority.”“Don’t show weakness.”“Work
The Unwritten Rules Leaders Teach Without Saying a Word Read More »
Every company has policies. Thick handbooks. Posters on the wall about values. But ask employees what really drives behavior at work, and you’ll often hear something different. “Don’t give your boss bad news.”“Keep your head down if you want to get promoted.”“Feedback? That only happens
What Are Unwritten Rules (and Why They’re Dangerous) Read More »
The toughest HR problems don’t live in your company handbook. They live in the hallways. They show up in whispered conversations, in quiet nods during meetings, and in the habits nobody dares to question. These are the unwritten rules. Nobody wrote them down. Yet everybody
Every rainy season, the Philippines drowns. Students wade through flooded streets. Roofs become communal sleeping platforms. Boats replace jeepneys. Year after year, the same tragedy. And still—we spend. Billions. On dikes. On drainage. On pumping stations. In 2025 alone, billions was poured into flood control.
Duterte, Project NOAH, and the Politics of Priorities Read More »
Every morning feels the same for many people. Wake up, rush through traffic, answer emails, tick boxes on a to-do list, and collapse at night. Days blur into weeks, weeks into months, until you wonder if you’ve really lived—or just maintained. I’ve been there too.
On a Monday morning, a project lead walked into the meeting with a clean slide deck and a tired smile. He had work. He had effort. But when the boss asked, “So… ano na?”, the room went quiet. Not because they had nothing. Because nothing
Let’s be fair from the start: nobody chooses their parents. If you’re born into a powerful family, that’s not a crime. You didn’t file an application form saying, “Please make me the son or daughter of a senator.” You just showed up in the world
Nepo Babies Gone Wild: When Privilege Turns into Impunity Read More »
Justice is supposed to mean fairness, balance, and order. Yet in the Philippines—as in many parts of the world—justice often favors the powerful and punishes the powerless. Recently, ABS-CBN reported the story of a woman who spent 23 years in prison for a crime that
When Justice Becomes Injustice: A Woman Jailed 23 Years for a 30-Day Sentence Read More »
The teacher crouches down, eye level with a five-year-old. “Can you put your crayons back in the box?” The child nods but hesitates. The teacher hovers, pointing. “No, not that way—here, let me do it for you.” She guides the small hands, corrects the angle,
Delegation Without Babysitting: How to Lead Adults, Not Kids Read More »
Let’s be honest. How many times have you thought: “If I want this done right, I’ll just do it myself.” We’ve all said it. Sometimes out loud, sometimes under our breath. And in the moment, it feels true. You can probably do it faster. You
When the Discaya couple appeared in that interview, it was supposed to be inspiring. A “rags-to-riches” story. A glimpse into their glamorous lifestyle. The kind of feature you’d expect to see on a weekend magazine show. But the reaction from Filipinos? “Hindi inspiring. Walang dating.”
When Journalists Forget the Truth, Citizens Must Remind Them Read More »
People love to ask me: “Jef, you’ve written more than 10 books. Why keep writing?” My answer? Writing books helped me think better. As a consultant and trainer, I’m full of stories, lessons, and frameworks. I don’t want to wait for the stage to share
The Secret to a “Grand Slam Offer” Book: Why Solving One Problem Completely is Key Read More »
There’s a province where the governor is the father. The congressman is the son. The mayor of the capital town is the daughter. The uncle is a barangay captain. And when elections come around, they switch chairs like it’s a family game of musical chairs.
Breaking the Chains: Why the Philippines Needs an Anti-Political Dynasty Law Read More »
It was one of those sticky afternoons in Makati, the kind where traffic lights feel longer than they should. I was inching forward when the car in front of me hesitated — unsure if it should turn left or right. I stopped just behind it.
There’s a habit that separates those who grow steadily from those who stay stuck. It’s not raw talent. It’s not waiting for opportunities. It’s not even practice—at least, not the way most people understand practice. The secret is this: rehearse before you speak. Not once.
Rehearse Before You Speak: Why Daily Rehearsal Builds Mastery That Lasts Read More »
Do not craft a speech — or hold an event — if you do not know how it can change the lives of those people who are attending.
You do not have to serve the need of everyone, but there is always a starving crowd which you can feed. Feed your crowd, not your ego.
Define the Needs of Your Audience and You Will Not Waste a Single Minute of Their Time Read More »
It doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO in a boardroom, a teacher in front of restless students, or a parent trying to guide your child: leadership always requires storytelling. Because when you lead, you are not just giving instructions. You are shaping vision. You are
It will be easier for you to lead when you know how to tell a story Read More »
A few years ago, I was invited to speak at a regional conference for educators. The organizers told me, “Just talk about motivation—our teachers need inspiration.” So I prepared a rousing talk on goal-setting, vision boards, and the science of motivation. My slides looked sharp.
Listen Before You Speak: Preparing the Way for Resonance Read More »
Good leaders desire a better world for all. But we cannot wait for good leaders to appear. We must strive to become good leaders - and help those around us become good leaders.
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