Malaya Business Insight

BY ALLYZANDRA “ALLY” GUMATAY “It carried the fingerprints of the culture that sent it, and the world that decided it belonged on the keyboard in the first place.” EVERY emoji, the digital age’s minimalist stand-in for a human face or feeling, that was added to the keyboard was a small record of a much larger conversation: about how the human brain processed emotion and ideas, how societies evolved, and how the world decided who or what was represented.

BY PAULA ANTOLIN MANY young Filipinos entering the workforce for the first time are confused about how to check their salary deductions every month. 🥺😥 Nowadays, for many in the workforce — whether as regular employees, part-time staff, or gig workers — understanding their payslip can feel like solving a puzzle. 🤓🧐 They see the amount labeled “basic pay,” then a long list of deductions, and often ask: Where does my money go? How much will I actually take home?

QUALITY of life is an increasing priority for today’s young professionals. Increasingly, success is no longer defined solely by career milestones or financial achievements. It is also about having the freedom to pursue personal goals, protect one’s health, and make the most of the hours outside work. For many professionals, this balance can be difficult to achieve.

BY MICHELLE “MICH” CAGUIOA AS Disneyland turned 71 on July 17, I was reading about the anniversary when I fell down a rabbit hole and, somehow, ended up on @disneylandcats, an Instagram account devoted to the theme park’s feline residents. I figured I’d spend a minute there. Twenty minutes later, I was still scrolling. Despite being a Malaya Business Insight (MBI) Weekender columnist for animal advocacy, I never imagined Disneyland would have community cats.

BY AGILE ZAMORA WEDDING bells were ringing again at the highly anticipated bridal showcase in Conrad Manila. “Inspired Beginnings 2026” defined another year of breathtaking wedding celebrations for every kind of bride. Two of the three-day showcases featured couture from 10 of the hottest bridal designers, and I got to see the designs up close.

BY ALYIANNA “YANA” DANTIS EVERY Filipino, arguably, had that one peculiar food cart memory.

BY SU JIN KIM IN Filipino families, workplaces, and relationships, memes can provide a less confrontational way to raise sensitive subjects. Age, rank, and family hierarchy often shape how disagreement is expressed. Concepts such as hiya, or shame; pakikisama, or camaraderie; and respect for seniority can make direct confrontation tense, especially when the other person is much older or holds more authority. POKING FUN The Alvin Pinag-resign meme pokes fun at current events.

“Used well, emojis added emotional depth to fast, compressed conversation.” I WAS horrified. “Mommy, why did you send a high five to your friend who lost her husband?” Zach, my 14-year-old son, was referring to the folded hands emoji 🙏, which I used to convey prayers and sympathy. I felt the blood drain out of my face as he explained that everyone knew it was a high five for celebrations. After a few seconds of dead silence, he burst out with uncontrollable laughter.

“On the internet, one could find anything and its exact opposite.” THE danger all started with the so-called list of the 100 most influential people in the art world. Many years ago, some specialized magazines began compiling lists — a practice that continued today — of the 100 most important figures in the contemporary art world: artists, gallery owners, curators, collectors, and in short, those who had the ability to influence and guide the art world and its market.

To curb outages: ERC tightens power plant reliability rules (July 13) | The Energy Regulatory Commission approves stricter reliability standards for power plants to reduce outages and improve supply security. New rules require power plants to meet stricter reliability standards to cut outages.