Global generosity wanes, but Filipinos remain among most dedicated volunteers

 

Dominique Nicole Flores - Philstar.com

February 27, 2025 | 4:23pm

MANILA, Philippines — Despite a global decline in generosity in 2024, a recent study found that the Philippines remains among the top countries where people dedicate their time to helping others.

Global analytics and advisory firm Gallup released their study’s initial findings on Wednesday, February 26, revealing fewer adults worldwide who reported helping a stranger, donating to charity or volunteering with an organization.

The survey, conducted in 144 countries with at least 1,000 respondents per country, found that volunteering was the least common of the three activities. 

Only one in four adults reported volunteering in the past month they were surveyed, though participation varied widely — ranging from as low as 4% in some countries to as high as 65% in others, primarily in Africa and Southeast Asia.

However, the Philippines ranked fourth, with 44% of respondents saying they had volunteered in 2024. Indonesia led with 65%, followed by Liberia and Kenya.

Meanwhile, countries with the lowest volunteerism rates included Egypt (4%), Bulgaria (5%), Albania (5%) and Cambodia (6%) — all with fewer than one in 10 adults engaging in such activities.

Compared to the World Giving Index 2024, which draws on Gallup’s data from 2023 and previous years, the Philippines' volunteerism decreased by four percentage points from 48%. 

It placed 30th out of 142 countries in terms of overall generosity, with nearly seven in 10 Filipino adults reporting they helped a stranger in 2023 and 24% saying they donated. 

Yet, the Philippines saw one of the biggest rebounds in generosity in 2023, bouncing back after a dip in 2022, the report found.

Gallup’s latest study also emphasized the stark global disparity in volunteerism. 

Some countries in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East saw their rates drop by at least 10 points, while nations like Myanmar, Senegal and Uganda saw the complete reverse or an increase of at least 10 points.

Are people tired of giving? 

Even though volunteerism dropped by four percentage points, from 30% to 26%, Gallup noted that the rate remains higher than global levels recorded from 2006 to 2020.

It suggested that “philanthropic fatigue” likely caused the decline, especially after the world reeled from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

People may have also “shifted priorities” due to economic concerns, the study cited how fewer people felt financially secure in 2024 than in 2023. 

Another recent study found that 80% of Filipinos are embracing the "you only live once" (YOLO) mindset, prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term, meaningful pursuits due to fears of the uncertain future.

“However, the trend raises concerns about the future of philanthropy and community involvement, especially as a number of donor countries cut back on development aid,” the report read.  

Gallup’s full study will be released in March, in line with its 2025 World Happiness Report. 

MUSIC AND RELIGION

For centuries,  music has been associated and has been an important part of religious culture to promote and influence religion among the people. Music helps to enhance human consciousness in a pleasant way that makes humans praise through a medium of worship, which is more enjoyable.

There is a significant emotional dimension to churchgoing music as it often facilitates an outpouring of emotions by worshipers. Religious music can also be seen as a form of proselytization where potential worshippers are attracted via music to join existing wor shippers.

Music and religion belong together like fish and the ocean, light and life, the voice and the ear. In the entire universe, we humans are probably the only beings capable of creating and hearing music. 

Religion and music also provide people to express their innermost thoughts and feelings which also exercise the imagination, inspiration, impression and propagating moral spiritual and cultural development. The common ground of music and religion is most characteristic of stray between rituals of death and rebirth.

The ability to hear is one of the specific gifts that our Creator gave us. Our more and more fragile blue planet is surrounded by a thin layer of gases only a few kilometers high. Only this atmosphere is the reason why sound waves can spread through the air. Everything behind this atmosphere is ruled by the sheer endless vacuum of outer space, where galaxies and stars explode and implode in impenetrable silence. 

I always thought about it while being on air with several radio music programs in the Philippines during the last 20 years.

According to the biblical narrative, the world began when God broke through this deadly quiet: "And God said: Let there be light!" (Genesis 1:1). God spoke - and light and life resulted from His audible voice. Because life was created by the word, it depends on the word. That is why it is in the nature of every person to listen. Like a parabolic mirror, our souls are created to listen to the eternal space of the hereafter, to try and sense whether a word, a sound or a voice is trying to reach us from there, in order to fill us with meaning.

Whether it's background music for prayer or a full-on worship song, Christian music can create an ambiance that fosters spiritual connection. It can help clear our minds of distractions, allowing us to focus solely on communicating with God.

I love music. I can't live without them. Hold on, this is not one of my earlier columns in this paper. But from time to time, I need to express myself if it comes to this topic. And, I know that Filipinos love big tunes with great words and beautiful melodies, especially when it comes to classical music. Classical music as in Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frederic Chopin, or especially now, during the season Johann Sebastian Bach or Georg Friedrich Händel. And we should never forget such great Filipino composers such as delos Reyes or Buencamino (especially his Mayon Concert Fantasy).

No one is safe from deepfake; gov’t must act with dispatch

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Feb 28, 2025 08:31 AM 

 

The digital age has brought about convenience, innovation, and connectivity. Yet, it has also introduced a new era of deception, with cybercriminals finding increasingly sophisticated ways to exploit technology for their own malicious gain. The recent reports of Filipino billionaires like Manny Villar, Ramon Ang, Enrique Razon, and Lance Gokongwei being targeted through deepfake — manipulated videos designed to impersonate them — is troublesome. If even the wealthiest, most powerful individuals are vulnerable to this kind of fraud, what hope do ordinary citizens have? 

Deepfakes, artificial intelligence-driven tools that manipulate audio and visual data to create hyper-realistic but entirely fabricated content, have rapidly advanced. In the wrong hands, they can be weaponized to tarnish reputations, commit financial fraud, or even incite violence. In this case, the billionaires were made to appear as though they were endorsing products or services they had no involvement with. For someone of their stature, the consequences are obvious — either to damage their image, loss of business opportunities, and potential legal repercussions. But for the common Filipino, the consequences could be far more devastating.

For the average person, the implications of deepfake technology are terrifying. Scammers could easily impersonate loved ones, convincing victims to part with personal information or money. With a device and access to social media, anyone can fall prey to this digital fraud. What makes it even more alarming is the rise of these types of crimes, which often operate below the radar of traditional security measures, making it difficult for law enforcement to respond swiftly or effectively.

While some may argue that billionaires have the resources to fight back, it is crucial to realize that the very existence of such scams shows a systemic vulnerability in our digital infrastructure. Ordinary Filipinos, who lack the wealth and power to shield themselves, are far more exposed to cyber fraud. This is where government intervention and effective regulatory action is necessary.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) are two key agencies that must step up in the fight against this growing digital threat. The NPC, tasked with protecting individuals’ data privacy, has a responsibility to regulate the use of AI and other digital tools that could be exploited to harm citizens. The DICT, as the lead agency on ICT-related matters, must develop more robust cybersecurity strategies and educate the public on how to recognize and respond to digital threats like deepfake. 

Unfortunately, the government’s response has been slow and often reactive. While both the NPC and DICT have made efforts to address cybersecurity issues, these lacked the urgency and comprehensive solutions needed to tackle the rising tide of digital fraud. The recent attacks on billionaires underscore a glaring need for stricter regulations on deepfake technology, improved cybersecurity laws, and a more proactive stance on digital fraud.

The government should start realizing cybercrimes are a systemic threat to the nation’s security. From the richest to the poorest, no one is truly safe from these types of attacks, and as technology advances, the threats will only become more sophisticated.

Our leaders must ensure that cyberspace remains a safe space for all. Until then, we must remain vigilant, informed, and prepared for the inevitable challenges as we navigate cyberspace. The stakes are too high for complacency — our privacy, our money, and our trust are all on the line.

The only way to defend against this growing menace is through collective action. The DICT and the NPC should take the lead and act now.

The STANDS - An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter

 

February 28, 2025 The men's curling team provided one of the shockers of the Asian Winter Games. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Hey there sports fan, The past couple of weeks have been filled with historic achievements, some reality-delivering losses, the continued dominance of a noted volleyball program, and the rise of a new star in the sport. Indeed, there's so much to unpack here, so let's begin! A historic moment for Philippine sports took place when the country clinched its first-ever gold medal in the Asian Winter Games, with the national curling team shocking the field's world-rated teams in the men's event. This unprecedented feat has sparked renewed optimism, as the Philippines now sets its sights on a potential Winter Olympics medal in the near future. Tim Cone took accountability for the fatigue some of his Gilas Pilipinas players have been experiencing as they juggle national team duties with the intense PBA semifinals. Cone still commended his squad’s resilience and heart amid the tough grind. If it's any consolation, Troy Rosario had a triumphant return to Cone's Barangay Ginebra, delivering a stellar performance that propelled his team to victory. In the volleyball scene was another shocker, almost to curling levels, as Galeries Tower pulled off a stunning upset, knocking out Cignal and securing a quarterfinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.  Over in the UAAP, rookie Shaina Nitura of the Adamson Lady Falcons continues to shine, impressing fans and analysts alike with her talent and fearless mindset. Her performance is a breath of fresh air for the program, proving that the future is bright for Adamson. Speaking of Shaina, here's a trivia question: Nitura used goggles while playing in what grade level before switching to contact lenses in high school? The answer can be found near the end of this email. Elsewhere in UAAP volleyball, National University has stormed off to a dominant start, showing no signs of slowing down. The powerhouse squad’s consistency and discipline have made them a formidable force in the league, with their championship aspirations looking stronger than ever. Like this email? Forward it to your friends and let them know that they can sign up here. Rachel Daquis is giving Farm Fresh a big boost. (PVL IMAGES) Meanwhile on Plus... Farm Fresh pulled off quite the shocker when it inked Rachel Daquis to a contract. Daquis had been in a hiatus, taking care of some personal business abroad when the long-time Cignal star was reeled in by the Foxies for there PVL campaign in the ongoing All-Filipino.  And in looks like she isn't regretting that decision.  What we're up to next: We will keep tabs on the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals and also keep you posted on the PVL All-Filipino Conference, which has now moved into its knockout phase. Expect a lot of features and stories on our platforms. We will begin having more extensive features on the UAAP women's volleyball tournament as we begin reformatting the way we deliver content through our digital platform. And don't forget, Inquirer Sports' Trivia Throwdown is fast approaching. Number of the Week: 30 Age of Nikola Jokic. He celebrated his birthday averaging a triple-double for the Denver Nuggets. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “If we don’t get to know loss, how will we get to know win, right?” —Shaina Nitura, Adamson Lady Falcons rookie, after her team bounced back from a loss to La Salle in the UAAP.  Hi Klaus, Have feedback? We're happy to hear it. Give Suggestions Grade 9. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of our weekly sports quiz? Head over to our Viber community and try the test out! Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. See you next Friday! Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ). Try Inquirer Plus. Inquirer Plus is the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s premium subscription service. Register for a free 30-day trial to get access to Inquirer’s fearless reporting, exclusive stories and more. REGISTER NOW

Capital1, Chery Tiggo seek to defy odds vs fancied rivals

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Feb 28, 2025 09:15 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Capital1 and Chery Tiggo try to draw inspiration from the stunning performance of Galeries Tower when they gun for quarterfinal berths on Saturday, March 1, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

Capital1 and Chery Tiggo try to draw inspiration from the stunning performance of Galeries Tower when they gun for quarterfinal berths on Saturday, March 1, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The 11th seeded Solar Spikers shoot for the stars in their 4 p.m. confrontation with the second-ranked Angels, even as the No. 8 Crossovers collide with the No. 5 Flying Titans at 6:30 p.m. 

The race for the quarters seats have been unpredictable following the stunning four-set victory of 10th seed Galeries Tower against No. 3 Cignal last Thursday, Feb. 27. The Highrisers, who placed near the bottom standings in all their appearances since their inception to the league in 2023, automatically booked a Final 8 seat along with the defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers, who routed the Nxled Chameleons to advance.

Capital1’s preliminary meeting against Petro Gazz was forgettable, though, as it got beaten black and blue, 25-19, 25-18, 25-9, last Feb. 11. But Solar Spikers coach Roger Gorayeb firmly believes in his stalwarts’ capabilities to write a different narrative this time.

Out to spearhead the Milka and Mandy Romero-owned crew are Heather Guino-o, Des Clemente, Trisha Genesis and rising rookie Leila Cruz, with setter Iris Tolenada also expected to fuel the squad.

But hurdling a talent-laden Petro Gazz would be like facing Goliath as the Angels boast of a formidable hard-hitting trio in Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips and Myla Pablo. 

Like Capital1, Chery Tiggo seeks to defy odds as it also plans to avenge its 25-18, 25-23, 26-24 prelims loss to Choco Mucho just last Feb. 22.

The Crossovers boast of an arsenal anchored on veteran Ara Galang, with Cess Robles and Shaya Adorador expected to provide reinforcements.

Choco Mucho, however, hopes it would not suffer the same fate as Cignal as a loss would relegate them to the round-robin losers’ bracket for the two quarters tickets.

Sisi Rondina remains a big threat from the 2024 All-Filipino bridesmaids, with Isa Molde, Dindin Manabat and Cherry Nunag also at the core of their attack.

Ticket prices, seat plan for Jisoo’s Asia Tour in Manila released

 BY JONATHAN HICAP

Feb 28, 2025 09:06 AM  

The ticket prices and seat plan for BLACKPINK member Jisoo’s Asia Tour “Lights, Love, Action” in Manila have been released. 

Jisoo will hold her first solo fan concert tour in Manila on March 14, Friday, at the Araneta Coliseum. 

Promoter Collective Touring Philippines released the details about the event. 

Jisoo (Instagram)

The ticket prices and seat plan for Jisoo's solo fan concert tour in Manila (Collective Touring Philippines)

The ticket prices (inclusive of ticketing charges) are: 

VIP 1 - P13,000 

VIP 2 - P12,000 

Lower Box A - P10,500

Lower Box B - P9,000  

Upper Box A - P7,000 

Upper Box B - P5,500 

Gen Ad - P3,500

Presale for UnionBank credit and debit cardholders will be held on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. 

The general sale will start at 10 a.m. on March 4. 

Tickets will be available via TicketNet outlets and http://ticketnet.com.ph, and Araneta Box Office.

Collective Touring has expanded to the country with the establishment of Collective Touring Philippines. 

For Jisoo’s solo fan concert, Collective Touring is the local co-promoter and co-producer and is working with Askara Nation. 

“The launch of Collective Touring Philippines is an important step in our vision to expand globally and bring world-class live music experiences to fans in new markets. We are excited to be part of JISOO’s tour and look forward to producing more incredible shows across different countries,” said PJ Panji, CEO of Collective Touring.