CACAO AS A DIVERSE, HIGH-VALUE CROP Susan Corbita wakes before the heat settles over Paradise Embak in Paquibato District, Davao City. By the time sunlight filters through the cacao trees, she is already moving through the farm—gauging which branches will soon bear fruit.  When people think of cacao, they usually imagine chocolate—something sweet and familiar, perhaps a cup of chocolate (called sikwate),  locally produced tablea. Less visible is cacao’s role beyond food, from

In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles have become integral to sustainable investing and corporate responsibility. These ESG criteria enable investors to align financial goals with values-based objectives, emphasizing environmental stewardship and good governance. However, to deepen its impact, ESG must include a critical aspect: gender equality. Gender equality is a human right and a key pillar to sustainable development and economic growth.