business

Businesses around UST remain affected by pandemic but expert sees chance of recovery

Businesses around UST remain affected by pandemic but expert sees chance of recovery

FIVE MONTHS after the start of the nationwide lockdown in 2020, John Lloyd Rolea, a political science junior, saw the impact of the pandemic on several businesses when he went to the University to return some books in the library. “Numerous stores were closed because UST students were no longer present around the area to patronize their food or products,” Rolea told The Flame. “It was completely different because UST [University of Santo Tomas] is not UST without its students,” he added. Just this year, Rolea went back to the University and witnessed the stark difference in the state of…
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Bello clashes with Pangilinan, Sotto over foreign investments, trade

Bello clashes with Pangilinan, Sotto over foreign investments, trade

THE LIBERALIZED ‘foreign-oriented’ policies led by the incumbent Senate President and vice presidential aspirant Vicente “Tito” Sotto III did not bode well with former Akbayan Partylist representative Walden Bello.  Bello wanted the amendments of Retail Trade Liberalization Act and Foreign Investment Act to be repealed, saying that Sotto’s business policies are detrimental especially to small businesses. He also hit Sen. Francis Pangilinan for signing these laws. “Paano ‘yan? Sinasabi niyo for Filipino kayo, and then you’re liberalizing all these laws?” he said. The amendments on these laws consist of decreasing the investments required for foreign enterprises, eliminating a certificate of…
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Artlet in business: A hometown cafe in Isabela

Artlet in business: A hometown cafe in Isabela

  NEARLY all businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing health crisis caused mass lay-offs and closures, putting nations in economic shock. However, this did not stop small business owners from finding ways to survive and thrive. Artlet alumna Clarice Bernardo, the founder and co-owner of Karruba Cafe, is an exemplar of this. Karruba Cafe is a booming home and coffee shop located in Isabela province. Bernardo bravely took the risk of starting her own business despite the odds stacked against her. Karruba is the Ilocano word for neighbor or neighborhood. It serves as the foundation of…
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