The 2024 U.S. presidential election is capturing attention worldwide as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump face off in a closely contested race to the White House. With the U.S. wielding the world’s largest economy and military, this election’s outcome will undoubtedly have far-reaching global implications. But what’s at stake specifically for the Philippines and the broader Asia and Indo-Pacific region?

In this B-Side episode, we spoke to Josue Raphael Cortez, a diplomacy instructor at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s School of Diplomacy and Governance.

Interview by Edg Adrian Eva

Editing by Jayson Mariñas

Interview by Patricia Mirasol

Audio editing by Jayson Mariñas

With the rise of influencers online and constant change in trends, it is hard to always stay relevant in the viewers' eyes.

In this B-Side episode, Patty of ‘Masarap Ba?’ reveals her secret to mastering algorithm changes and other techniques to succeed in content creation.

♬ MUSIC ♬

Artist: tubebackr & Popsicles

Track: Time to Shine (instrumental version)

@tubebackr

https://www.tubebackrmusic.com

Creative Commons License. Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-ND 3.0)

Flooding seems to have become a part of life for many of our fellow citizens in various areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Despite the country having spent trillions on numerous flood management projects, Filipinos still suffer the seemingly endless flooding problem, as pointed out by several senators during a hearing after the devastation caused by Typhoon Carina. With this pressing issue, I will be speaking with Mr. Felino “Jun” A. Palafox, Jr., a renowned Filipino urban planner and architect.

In this B-Side episode, Mr. Palafox explains the primary factors behind Metro Manila’s flooding problem and his recommendations to resolve it.

Interview by Edg Adrian A. Eva

Audio editing by Jayson John D. Mariñas

How is the Philippines solving its healthcare issues through innovation? How are healthcare workers being upskilled to keep up with these technological advancements? Are we putting too much premium on technology?

In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld discusses robotics, artificial intelligence, and electronic medical records with Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi, the medical director of the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital.

Interview by Patricia Mirasol

Editing by Jayson Mariñas

A La Niña watch alert was issued by the state weather bureau in March, indicating that the phenomenon is likely to occur this year.

Recently, there has been growing concern about whether La Niña has arrived in the Philippines due to the continuous heavy rains caused by several tropical cyclones, such as Enteng and Carina, along with the enhanced effects of the Southwest Monsoon.

In this B-side episode, we spoke with Ana Liza Solis the assistant weather services chief and the chief of the climate monitoring and prediction section of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), as she discusses how the La Niña phenomenon occurs and its effects, and how to prepare for La Niña.

What is it like being a doctor to the barrio? What innovations are making the greatest impact in rural communities? What role does the local government play in all of this?

In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld talks about these topics with Francine Nicole M. Araneta, who works as a rural doctor under the Department of Health's Doctor to the Barrios program.

Recorded remotely on August 22, 2024.

Interview by Patricia Mirasol

Audio editing by Jayson Mariñas

Obesity is now a rising health problem in the Philippines, with a staggering 27 million Filipinos considered overweight or obese, according to a 2019 survey by the DOST-FNRI.

To combat obesity, the government imposed an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages under the TRAIN Law, which was signed in December 2017.

Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III, a coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms and a columnist for BusinessWorld discusses the importance of protecting the value of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax amid sustained inflation.

How does the Filipino-Chinese community drive growth in the Philippine economy? What policies do they advocate the government to practice? What do they think of the West Philippine Sea issue?

In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld converses with Cecilio K. Pedro, the president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., about government policies, investment generation, and social responsibility.

Interview by Patricia Mirasol

Editing by Jayson Mariñas

Alcohol drinking has been a vital part of various Filipino celebrations and festivals, creating camaraderie and a celebratory spirit.

Some Filipinos turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress, as it slows down brain function and can induce feelings of relaxation and calmness.

During the pandemic in 2021, more Filipinos became alcohol drinkers, with the Department of Health (DOH) reporting that 40%, or 4 out of 10 Filipinos, were alcohol drinkers.

The DOH warns the public that any amount of alcohol, whether in small or large quantities, is not considered safe for health.

Addressing this concern, Paul Filomeno, a medical doctor and representative of the Philippine Addiction Specialists Society, has discussed the risks of alcohol drinking.

He will also discuss the Sin Tax Coalition's initiatives to make alcohol products less accessible and marketable among Filipinos.