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STRAMA PAPER - GROUP 4

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)

Acknowledgement

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to each and every one of us in Group 4, for the hard work and cooperation in completing this paper.

To our Professor, Mr. Sofronio “Toti” Dulay, for giving us the opportunity to experience this kind of activity that can help us enhance our skills and ability, for sharing his knowledge about strategic management, and for guiding us all throughout the semester.

To our families, for always motivating us and supporting us when we feel stressed and pressured. To our chosen company, PLDT Inc. and to all the author of the websites that we used, for giving us the information that we need in order for us to finish this paper.

Most of all, to our Almighty God, for guiding us and giving us strength. This paper would not be possible without the help of the people who were gratuitously sharing their time for us and who were always there for us.

1 Executive Summary

This strategic management paper shrouded the first largest and only integrated telecommunication company, The Philippine Long Distance Telephone, Inc. (PLDT) within the Philippines. PLDT, Inc. has been awarded Ph's first global MEF 3.0 certification for carrier ethernet services. The company is the leader in providing a wide extend of media transmission services, counting settled line, cellular, and broadband services in the country.

This paper provides PLDT’s corporate vision and mission. The vision statement is brief and comprehensive, it identifies the company’s goals and defines where and what PLDT Inc. wants to be in the future. The mission statement is realistic and clear, PLDT Inc. has recognized its target client bunches, and also distinguished their needs and requests, audibly it focuses on tending to issues of client fulfillment. It also implicated the corporate officers of the company. Provide some examples of the product and services they offered. In external assessment, the sector includes different kinds of forces, key external factors, and the Porter’s Model Analysis. It also evaluates the internal and external matrices that show the strong internal status and how successful PLDT Inc. in its field. After calculating the total weighted score of the matrices, they were translated into a formulation of business strategies.

The biggest competitor of the company in the telecommunication sector is Globe Telecom. In the fixed-line telephone market, PLDT with its subsidiary is Globe’s main rival. PLDT was consistently increasing in revenues against Globe Telecoms. In general market development in terms of subscriber’s base within the year is still at 7.3% and the market value is still at 8.1% making the company drop into quick advertise development. Based on the increment of subscriptions and the overpowering volume of information usage tied down with the rising modern technologies.

2 Internal Assessment

2.1. Corporate Profile

PLDT

Headquarters:

Ramon Cojuangco Building, Makati Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati, Philippines.

PLDT is the Philippines' largest and only integrated telco company. Founded on November 28, 1928, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is the leading telecommunications and internet service provider in the Philippines. Through its three principal business groups—fixed line, wireless and information and communication technology, PLDT offers the largest and most diverse range of telecommunications services across the Philippines’ most extensive fiber optic backbone and fixed line, cellular and satellite networks.

The company's core businesses are fixed-line telecommunications, mobile telephony services, broadband, and internet of things services under various brands. It also has investments in broadcasting, print media, utilities, and direct to home satellite services, among others. As of 2019, PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE:TEL) and its American Depositary Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:PHI). PLDT has one of the largest market capitalizations among Philippine-listed companies.

The first president of PLDT was Theodore Vail Halsey while Major J.E. Hamilton Stevenot, who represented the American firm General Telephone and Electronics Corp. (GTE), was elected executive vice president and general manager.

When PLDT was incorporated and given the franchise to establish and operate telephone services in the country on November 28, 1928, a typhoon had just ravaged Eastern Visayas, Bicol Peninsula, and Samar. The ability to communicate amongst loved ones and across the country became crucial. Sadly, phone networks then were like disconnected intercom systems and you could only call people within your own small city. Filipinos were disconnected from neighboring towns, disconnected from friends in the other island and, needless to say, disconnected from the rest of the world. It was under this scenario that the law was signed giving birth to PLDT.

What the new law hoped to achieve was to interconnect these "intercom" systems into a seamless nationwide network that would facilitate communication and delivery of services to the people, as well as spur economic development in the countryside.

Under the American owners of PLDT, many small phone companies in the provinces were acquired by the Company to help speed up the rollout and connection of these different phone systems all over the country. The management of PLDT was then set to lay the groundwork towards linking Filipinos to each other and, more importantly, to the world.

2.2. Company Vision and Mission

VISION

“Lead and inspire Filipinos to create a better tomorrow.”

MISSION

“Empower Filipinos everywhere with customer-focused digital innovations that unlock and share their infinite potential.”

2.3. Corporate Officers

Table 1

The table above is showing the positions of every officers in PLDT Corporation. We also provided a list of the name and positional official officers of the company that we choose.

Manuel V. Pangilinan

President and Chief Executive Officer

Anabelle L. Chua

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Management Officer

Alfredo S. Panlilio

Chief Revenue Officer

Victorico P. Vargas

Business Transformation Office Head

Ma. Lourdes C. Rausa-Chan

Corporate Secretary and Chief Governance Officer

Marilyn A. Victorio-Aquino

Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel

Gina Marina P. Ordoñez

Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer

Alejandro O. Caeg

Senior Vice President

Mary Rose L. Dela Paz

Senior Vice President

Juan Victor I. Hernandez

Senior Vice President

Menardo G. Jimenez Jr.

Senior Vice President

Mario G. Tamayo

Senior Vice President

Florentino D. Mabasa, Jr.

Assistant Corporate Secretary

Leo I. Posadas

First Vice President and Treasurer

Katrina L. Abelarde

First Vice President

Marco Alejandro T. Borlongan

First Vice President

Mary Julie C. Carceller

First Vice President

Bernard H. Castro

First Vice President

Joan A. De Venecia-Fabul

First Vice President

Gil Samson D. Garcia

First Vice President

Joseph Ian G. Gendrano

First Vice President

Victor Emmanuel S. Genuino II1

First Vice President

Ma Criselda B. Guhit

First Vice President

Leah Camilla R. Besa-Jimenez

First Vice President

Princesita P. Katigbak

First Vice President

Albert Mitchell L. Locsin

First Vice President

Dale M. Ramos

First Vice President

Angel T. Redoble

First Vice President

Aileen D. Regio

First Vice President

Luis S. Reñon

First Vice President

Bernadette C. Salinas

First Vice President

Victor Y. Tria

First Vice President

Jude Michael H. Turcuato

First Vice President

Melissa V. Vergel De Dios

First Vice President

Catherine Y. Yang

First Vice President

John Henri C. Yanez

First Vice President

Maria Cecilia H. Abad

Vice President

Minerva M. Agas

Vice President

Benedict Patrick V. Alcoseba

Vice President

Cecille M. Alzona

Vice President

Elizabeth S. Andojar

Vice President

Roy Victor E. Añonuevo

Vice President

Tito Rodolfo B. Aquino, Jr.

Vice President

Mitchie M. Arcaina

Vice President

2.4. Product Line

The PDLT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company) provided an internet service in the country of the Philippines. PLDT has many bundles that they offer to people who wanted to have an internet connection. We gathered some image that shows the bundles and promos they offer. These we presented below is from their official Facebook page.

Figure 1. Pldt, Inc. Fiber Enterprises

2.5. Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix

Table 2

Note:

*Weight- 0-1 (important)

*Rating 1 (Major Weakness), Rating 2 (Minor Weakness), Rating 3(Minor Strength), Rating 4(major strength)

*Weighted score- Weight x Rate = Average score

The total weighted score of 2.68 in the table above indicates that PLDT has a strong internal status, with its strengths outnumbering its weaknesses.

Strengths

PLDT’s three main business groups, Fixed Line, Wireless, and Information and Communication Technology, provide the country’s most comprehensive and diverse range of telecommunications services. To offer the best services to their customers, the company uses the most comprehensive fiber optic backbone as well as fixed line, cellular, and satellite networks.

Weaknesses

On the other hand, one of PLDT’s flaws is its sluggish link speed. When PLDT introduced its Vibe and DSL products, which enabled customers to connect to the internet faster via broadband, there were numerous complaints about the service. The slow internet was the one of the top complaints as it failed to meet the customer’s needs. And those issues were not addressed or published in a timely manner. Customers may decide to switch providers if they believe that they find a better offer for the service they need.

3 External Assessment

a. Economic Forces

i) Economic/Business Cycle Stage

High political stability provides a stable and friendly business environment with predictable market growth trends. However, when there is political chaos, it deters the investors and harms the stakeholders’ trust in economic and consequent organizational performance. Currently, PLDT Inc. is present in different countries, each having own political tensions.

ii) Inflation/Employment/Interest/Exchange Rates

The GDP growth rate will determine the PLDT Inc.’s ability to pursue its long-term growth strategies. High GDP also signals the consumers’ ability to spend more on offered products. High unemployment signals the availability of surplus labor at comparatively lower wages. Operating in such a market can lower the production cost of PLDT Inc. The organization should also carefully consider the interest rate and its influence on borrowing ability and attitude towards investment. The high interest rate will encourage the attitude towards investment and increase growth opportunities for PLDT Inc. Finally, the exchange rate fluctuation can also influence the profitability and international trade. The high fluctuation on local currency can be a cause of serious concern for PLDT Inc.

iii) Labor Market Conditions

PLDT Inc. must study and predict the labor market conditions to understand how it can attract talented workers and leverage their skills to improve business performance. When labor markets are flexible, PLDT Inc. can take advantage of higher labor productivity. Whereas, operating in rigid labor markets may cause labor wage and other issues raised by powerful labor unions. PLDT Inc. should also carefully analyze the availability of skilled human capital as a shortage of skilled labor can affect business efficiency and make talent attraction and retention more challenging.

iv) Financial Markets Efficiency

The global expansion strategies of the PLDT Inc. are influenced by the financial market efficiency as operating in highly efficient financial markets leads towards improved liquidity position and strengthened ability to enter new markets. The health and efficiency of financial markets will determine PLDT Inc.’s ability to raise the capital at fair prices.

v) Economic Structure

The business practices of the PLDT Inc. are influenced by the prevailing economic structure. The economic and regulatory environment in a monopolistic or oligopolistic structure will be different from the monopolistic competition and perfect competition.

b. Social, Cultural, Demographic, and Natural Environment Forces

i) Demographic Trends

Studying the demographic characteristics can help PLDT Inc. in choosing the right market segment/segments with high growth potential. The business and marketing strategies are also influenced by migration. It is important for PLDT Inc. to understand the people’s general attitude towards migration as it can influence firms’ ability to bring international managers to host country.

ii) Equality and Power Distance

PLDT Inc. must adjust its business management practices while entering in markets with high or low power distance. The growing inequality in many countries is altering the power structure, which has serious implications for international business organizations like PLDT Inc.

iii) Gender Roles

PLDT Inc. need to study the traditionally assigned gender roles to align its marketing and communication practices accordingly. Marketing and human resource strategies in a traditional, patriarchal society with clearly distinguished gender roles will be different from societies with low gender stereotypes.

iv) Societal Norms and Class Distribution

PLDT Inc. should develop local teams and develop local partnerships for understanding the societal attitudes and norms to tailor marketing strategies according to unique cultural context. The observation of social class stratification is also important for PLDT Inc. Offering luxury products at premium prices to a market where the high-end market is considerably small in number will require PLDT Inc. to adopt the niche marketing strategies.

v) Online Shopping

PLDT Inc. needs to understand the online shopping behavior by considering the generational differences as younger consumers are more inclined to shop online than older customers. The growing use of mobile phones and social networking sites must be considered when developing marketing and communication strategies.

vi) Spending Patterns and Behavior

PLDT Inc. should invest time on understanding the consumption motivations and social trends that define the consumption behavior. PLDT Inc. should also attempt to understand the degree of consumer ethnocentrism and consider the country of origin effect to determine local consumers’ evaluation of foreign products. Lastly, PLDT Inc. should study the consumers’ leisure interests and should focus more on enhancing the customer experience if customers prefer experiential products over traditional product offerings.

c. Political, Governmental, and Legal Forces

i) Political Stability

PLDT Inc. is present in different countries, each having own political tensions. Growing tensions and instabilities in the global political environment can affect the Gold industry growth and limit the growth opportunities available to PLDT Inc.

ii) Changing Policies

It is important for PLDT Inc. to study the current trends in the country’s political scenario as changes in government may alter the government’s priorities towards the development of different industries.

iii) Protests/Pressure Groups and Governance System

PLDT Inc. should carefully analyze the protests by pressure groups, social/environment activists and worker unions as such protests play an important role in the policy making process. Close collaboration with such groups may enhance the PLDT Inc.’s ability to collaborate with community and achieve long-term corporate goals.

iv) Bureaucracy and Corruption

Operating in countries with high corruption level and weak law enforcement makes the business environment increasingly unpredictable for PLDT Inc. due to jeopardized public trust on business organizations and overall political and economic structure. The corruption can influence various business operations, ranging from licensing, contracting, fraudulent deals to frequent lawsuits. It will also threaten the organization’s sustainable development by destabilizing the society, harming justice system and endangering the rule of law.

v) Taxation, Trade Restrictions, and Intellectual Property Protection

High taxation affects international trade and prevents exports. PLDT Inc. can enter in low taxation markets and benefit from high profits that can be invested in research and development activities. PLDT Inc. should know the specific taxation policies to understand the host government’s priorities and interest in developing industries and how intellectual property rights are protected in the host country and make the business strategies accordingly.

a. Technological Forces

i) Social Media Marketing

Use of social media has become common in a modern business environment. PLDT Inc. can leverage the opportunities offered by social media marketing to improve business performance. Technological trends can be used to start the creative social media campaigns for developing online brand communities.

ii) Technological Innovations and Development Level

PLDT Inc. should carefully consider the on-going technological innovations to stay ahead of the competition. Entering in markets where technological advancement has not reached the maturity means PLDT Inc. can increase the market share by focusing on emerging technological innovations.

iii) Research and Development on Technology and Impact on Cost Structure/Value Chain

PLDT Inc. needs to consider the investments made by competitors on a micro and macro level to understand how new technologies influence the firm’s value chain and prevailing cost structure. Research and development activities are highly important in an environment characterized by creative disruption.

iv) Shortened Product Life Cycles

The adoption of new technologies has shortened the lifecycle of new product development. Today, new products are developed quickly, and supply chain partners have also gained more power. It pressurizes PLDT Inc. to develop new products quickly, increase product range diversity, integrate flexibility into the value chain and develop healthy business relationships with value chain partners.

3.1. Porter’s Model Analysis

Figure 2. Porter’s Model Analysis

• Rivalry Among Competing Firms = Strong

There are only few competitors that PLDT have in the Philippines such as Globe Telecom, Sky Cable Corporation, and Converge ICT Solutions. Globe Telecom is one of the leading telecommunications companies in the Philippines. It operates mobile, fixed line, and broadband networks and provides communications services to individual customers, small and medium-sized businesses, and corporate and enterprise clients. Next is Sky Cable Corporation which is known as the first internet service provider and the leading cable and broadband technology provider in the Philippines. It offers broadband, cable and satellite television services. And lastly, Converge ICT Solutions which is the leading player in all-optical broadband access industry in the Philippines. It operates fixed networks, fiber optics, cable TV, enterprise private lines, fixed broadband, and wireless broadband services for home, businesses and in the corporate world. These are the top competitors of PLDT for having almost the same services in the market. In that case, PLDT should step up their game since they offer almost the same services with these competitors. They should try differentiating their services or add something unique by providing new services. In that way, PLDT can get new customers and gain more loyal customers.

• Potential Entry of New Competitors = Moderate

There are also new entries of competitors of PLDT such as Dito Telecommunity Corporation. Dito Telecommunity Corporation is formerly known as Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc., or Mislatel. It is considered as the newest major telecommunications company in the Philippines. It offers connectivity with secure, fast, and high value 4G and 5G technologies that enable the customers to be connected, anytime, anywhere, any way they prefer. PLDT should focus on innovating their services from this new competitor. In that way, it can build a strong brand identity in the market.

• Bargaining Power of Suppliers = Strong

These suppliers can influence in raising the prices as well as reducing the goods and services of PLDT. It includes foreign investors, international and local contractors, and stakeholders. Foreign investors such as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) where they issued with American Depositary Share (ADS) which represented one PLDT common share. This means that ADSs are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Pacific Exchange in the US where PLDT (as one of the largest market capitalizations) is in listed companies. International and local contractors such as Chinese telecom suppliers Huawei Technologies, FiberHome, Sunsea Telecom Ltd., and Tyco Electronics, Singapore-based Fujikura Asia Ltd., Sweden’s Ericsson Telecommunications, and Fibercom Telecom Philippines which helps in the first phase of its P1.8-billion fixed-line fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network rollout program. And lastly, stakeholders which have a say in nominating directors as well as independent directors. Having these suppliers can help PLDT develop a close relationship where all of them can benefit from each other.

• Bargaining Power of Consumers = Strong

These consumers help in determining the quality of the goods and services offered by PLDT. It includes businessmen who are in charge in generating revenue from business activities, changing network services who are in charge of satisfying the customers' expectations and concerns regarding quality of service, pricing, application process, service provisioning process, repair and restoration service and the billing process, government sectors wherein having a partnerships with them can help the society, and lastly, small entrepreneurs such as PLDT Load / Smart Load from over 1 Million retailers nationwide and sari-sari stores or any PLDT Sales and Service Centers. These consumers can reduce the prices and improve the quality of the goods and services offered by PLDT.

• Potential Development of Substitute Products = Strong

These substitute products offer the same benefits of PLDT but in a different way. It includes mobile data and portable or pocket WIFI. Mobile data is an ability to use your cellular data in online browsing. It can also replace your internet at home especially if you are a light data user by activating your hotspot. Light data users use internet at home just to check the email, shop occasionally, or browse the websites. This can also save you from paying too much for an internet. Another substitute is Portable or pocket WIFI. Portable or pocket WIFI is a small wireless modem that connects any Wi-Fi enabled device (smartphones, laptops, and tablets) to the internet using load. It is small and light which makes it very comfortable to carry. These substitute products are considered as a threat for PLDT.

3.2. External Factor Evaluation Matrix

Table 3

Note:

*Weight ranges from 0.0 (Low Interest) to 1.0 (High Interest)

*Rating ranges from 1 to 4, 1 (Poor Rating), 2 (Average), 3 (Above Average), 4 (Superior Rating)

The External Factor Evaluation (EFE) Matrix shows the evaluation of external factors according to its weight, rating, and weighted score. The Key External Factors are based on the opportunities and threats of PLDT. Based on the gathered data, the total weighted score of weight is 1.0, while the weighted score is 3. This means that PLDT’s strategies are effective in taking advantage of the opportunities and preventing threats in the company.

3.3. Competitive Profile Matrix

Table 4

Note:

*Weight ranges from 0.0 (Low Interest) to 1.0 (High Interest)

*Rating ranges from 1 to 4, 1 (Poor Rating), 2 (Average), 3 (Above Average), 4 (Superior Rating)

The three companies had met the average standard of how performance of the industry should be in terms of what kind of service that this company is giving to their customers. As you can see from the table in terms of the scoring and with the comparison of various strengths and weakness that has been computed and being scored, we can tell that in terms of the final result, the PLDT has more advantage on attaining and being successful at their field because of how they cater the demands of their customers which is their strong point. It is mostly in terms of the PLDT’s breath of service offered and its availability and accessibility to the whole various people and to their customers which makes them attain and preserve the excellency they are known of in their line work as it is. The reason why the other major strengths of the other two companies of its competition had been seemed as not sufficient or effective is because of the availability and quality of the products that is being produced is mostly not covered by most demand of the customers all across the country.

3.4. Key External Factor

Political Forces

Since PLDT is a major telecommunications firms the exert a specified services to masses as its own advantages and disadvantages that could lead as its weakness in the long run. Such major companies such as PLDT must have or initiate a long term plan on how they will organize and solve such incoming or futuristic issues that will provided on them in terms on their connection in the political environment

According to Fern Fort University, this are some political factors that could affect the company and some investors or shareholders must be wary before they enter this type of huge company by determining PLDT’s:

· Political stability and importance of Telecom Services – Foreign sector in the country’s economy.

· Risk of military invasion

· Level of corruption – especially levels of regulation in Technology sector.

· Bureaucracy and interference in Telecom Services – Foreign industry by government.

· Legal framework for contract enforcement

· Intellectual property protection

· Trade regulations & tariffs related to Technology

· Favored trading partners

· Anti-trust laws related to Telecom Services – Foreign

· Pricing regulations – Are there any pricing regulatory mechanism for Technology

· Taxation – tax rates and incentives

· Wage legislation – minimum wage and overtime

· Work week regulations in Telecom Services – Foreign

· Mandatory employee benefits

· Industrial safety regulations in the Technology sector.

· Product labeling and other requirements in Telecom Services – Foreign

Economic Factors

PLDT is one of the huge companies in the Philippines where they hold a certain amount of power to keep the market going and to satisfy the needs of their customers through internet communications and digital services through their servers. And such economic factors of the Philippines could work in their favor in terms of growth rate of the industry, inflation & industry’s economic indicators as digital service provider will be determined on how they’re daily goals of assets and profits will be in the next several years. PESTEL analysis is also a great way to examine and to enlist such several major factors that could identify future advantages and disadvantage of a major company when dealing itself in the macro perspective of its environment. In terms of the economic factors, according to the Fern Fort University of Ferndale State of Michigan, such economic factors that could impact the economic environment of PLDT are:

· Type of economic system in countries of operation – what type of economic system there is and how stable it is.

· Government intervention in the free market and related Technology

· Exchange rates & stability of host country currency.

· Efficiency of financial markets – Does PLDT Inc. needs to raise capital in local market?

· Infrastructure quality in Telecom Services – Foreign industry

· Comparative advantages of host country and Technology sector in the particular country.

· Skill level of workforce in Telecom Services – Foreign industry.

· Education level in the economy

· Labor costs and productivity in the economy

· Business cycle stage (e.g. prosperity, recession, recovery)

· Economic growth rate

· Discretionary income

· Unemployment rate

· Inflation rate

· Interest rates

Social Factors

As major company that scope a wider variety of its audience and customers has its advantage and disadvantage that could compare to the various strength and weaknesses of the company which could depend from the social community’s way of life and its cultural outlook towards on doing things which could involve such particular company where in this case the PLDT is serving its customers as a digital and technological services which is a need to be catered to the needs of its customers as such daily activities are mostly involve in this company. PLDT should always need to understand the well-being and the needs of their clients as their generated profit and income surrounds from its users. Social customer leadership is a potent factor to lead and to know what factors that could impact the social status of the company in the eyes of its wider audience, According to the (Fern Fort University, n.d.), using such PESTEL analysis could determine the:

● Demographics and skill level of the population

● Class structure, hierarchy and power structure in the society.

● Education level as well as education standard in the PLDT Inc. ’s industry

● Culture (gender roles, social conventions etc.)

● Entrepreneurial spirit and broader nature of the society. Some societies encourage entrepreneurship while some don’t.

● Attitudes (health, environmental consciousness, etc.)

● Leisure interests

Technological Factors

In this time of digital age we need to remember in all the things that surrounds us may not seem as they used to be. It is far more competitive and we grab the innovative approach towards success and improving our ways of life This could set as an example of the technological services and devices that is being distributed into this globalized economy. We should always remember that every industry has its impacts to any other types of other industry or services that comes along the way and if we disrupt this process we may face such difficulties in coping up or slowing down to give opportunities to the key players of any specific industry into this globalized age. In the last recent years technological services has been improving and it is fast approaching and sometimes there are such instances that it is hard to cope with and with the best possible social is to determine whether on how we keep on track on the playing field which will not only make a greater impact to the company or in the PLDT company in this case but also to the competitive companies on it who struggle to make a difference and to improve the ways how economy is distributed in the globalization. According to the (Fern Fort University, n.d.), such technological factors that could impact and shall be determined and to determine its outlook in the future is in terms of the:

● Recent technological developments by PLDT Inc. competitors

● Technology’s impact on product offering

● Impact on cost structure in Telecom Services – Foreign industry

● Impact on value chain structure in Technology sector

● Rate of technological diffusion

Environmental Factors

Being technological service provider we must look into the various effects of the environmental situations that we deal every day because it should always remember that technology can have a various effects from which condition of the weather occurs in our day to day environment as it is the most vulnerable type of industry that is very much exposed and that could also depend on the environmental factors where it could impact the PLDT conditions of its services to the users as it is. And it is very crucial as every day we are losing money and generating profits on it from time to time. Using the PESTEL analysis, PLDT could determine its adverse impact to their operations in terms of:

● Weather

● Climate change

● Laws regulating environment pollution

● Air and water pollution regulations in Telecom Services – Foreign industry

● Recycling

● Waste management in Technology sector

● Attitudes toward “green” or ecological products

● Endangered species

● Attitudes toward and support for renewable energy

Legal Factors

Having a well establish legal framework is very important for the major business in the macro environment to thrive as this will be the bases on how they’re going to protect their organizations and the well-being of their company without its legal documents being a possible impact whether it could be a positive or a negative effects to its company. I case of the PLDT, they should always remember to determine and to not only protect the authenticity and quality of their services and as a whole company but also to the one who will be affected to the way they handle things in terms of the legal reasons, which in the best interest of their investors, shareholders, employees and most of all their customers. According to the Fern Fort University, PLDT should identify the legal factors that could impact their social status in the economy in terms of the:

● Anti-trust law in Telecom Services – Foreign industry and overall in the country.

● Discrimination law

● Copyright, patents / Intellectual property law

● Consumer protection and e-commerce

● Employment law

● Health and safety law

● Data Protection

4 Strategy Formulation

In order to provide the continuously of success and the progress development of the PLDT, they believe in creating the wider broad of services and distributing the positive effects in the industry of the company not only covers the communities but with the whole globalization that is in place in the country as it can also make a positively approach or an any outlook that set as a responsibility towards influencing to other countries as well. According to the press released of Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, “The PLDT Group is in a unique position in the industry – we have the scale and ability to continue investing significantly in infrastructure and services which can impact positively on our country’s development. We have been always mindful however that this strength begets much responsibility. We have therefore seen to it that our subscribers derive commensurate benefits in terms of value and innovation”. In order to formulate a strategy within the company, expectations is a valid statement that must’ be acknowledge within the company. It doesn’t mean that it can or cannot have an adverse effects in the company but just think the possible potential of the company in the long run where there will be on some point that they can improve their services not only to the people but also in the business as well. And its expectation is the representative of how valid and consistent their work as it is.

It was therefore concluded by Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan that “Over the medium term, our goals are to continue achieving growth in our core businesses while establishing new revenue streams from recent investments, principally Spi. Our strong cash flows provide us with this “triple play” ability – new investments, sustained capital expenditures and increasing dividend yields. In this way, we address shareholder needs both for the present and for the longer term,” And it is a valid point to which the reputation is continuously uphold by their excellent services which actually reveals better result from the expectation of the masses and had actually generated revenue and more profit coming from the customers, investments and its shareholders.

“Our core earnings for the first quarter this year have been more encouraging than anticipated. We envisage revenues to continue growing whilst we manage down our cash costs, including interest expense. Cash flows will be healthy; debts will continue to reduce across the board – including prepayment of most of Piltel’s debts. In that light, our dividend payment policy is currently being considered with the view of raising our payout ratio to shareholders to 60%. This reflects our improved assessment of prospects for 2006 as a whole,” - Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan

4.1. Boston Consulting Group Matrix

The major products of PLDT are Fixed Line telephony or communication, Mobile, broadband or wireless connection. The Market share that will show below is compared with the largest competitor of the company which is GLOBE.

Table 5

Figure 3. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix

The resulting figure indicates that the broadband and mobile are in the star quadrant with high market share and high market growth. It can be forecasted that with the maintenance of quality of product and service, it will remain and can keep its good position. Fixed line is in the cash cow quadrant which means it has high market share and lower market growth and could move into the dog’s territory if a decline of services will occur.

4.2. Strategic Position and Action Evaluation Matrix

Table 6

RATING SYSTEM

(CA) And **(SP) => **Rating Scale from -6 (worst) to -1 (best)

**(IS) **and **(FS) => **Rating Scale from 1 (worst) to 6 (best)

CONCLUSION

X – Axis (CA AVERAGE + IS AVERAGE) 3.8

Y – Axis (FS AVERAGE + SP AVERAGE) 0.5

Figure 4. Strategic Position and Action Evaluation (SPACE) Matrix

The results of the 4 strategic positions which are the Competitive, Industry, Stability and Financial Position was marked in the upper right side of the graph or in the Aggressive Quadrant which simply means that the strategies that should be given priority in the implementation process are as follows: Horizontal, Backward, and Forward Integration, Market Development, Product Development, Market Penetration, Technological Development and other Diversification.

4.3. Grand Strategy Matrix

Table 7

The overall market growth in terms of subscriber’s base in the year 2017 of PLDT remains the same until this present year. Market Growth is still at 7.3% and the market value is still at 8.1% making the company fall into a rapid market growth. As reported, the rapid market growth is based on the increase of subscriptions and the overwhelming volume of data usage anchored with the emerging new technologies.

Globe is the major competitor of PLDT, making the company be in a competitive position. It prioritizes the development of its network and customer service in order to dominate the postpaid segment.

The vector results emphasizes that PLDT is in the Strong Competitive Position and Rapid Market Growth which means they should craft strategies targeting the Horizontal, Backward, Forward Integration, Market Development, Product Development, Technological Development and Market Penetration.

4.4. Internal – External Matrix

Table 8

4.5. Strength – Weaknesses- Opportunities – Threats Analysis

SWOT analysis is an imperative strategic planning apparatus that can be used by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Inc. supervisors to do a situational examination of the whole company. It is a critical method to analyze the present Strengths (S), Weaknesses (W), Opportunities (O), & Threats (T) PLDT Inc. is confronting in its current commerce environment.

Table 9

The table above shows SWOT analysis/matrix of PLDT Inc. and it empowers the managers of the company to creates four types of strategies, the Strengths-Opportunities (SO), Weakness-Opportunities (WO), Strengths-Threats (ST), & Weakness-Threats (WT) strategies. PLDT Inc. is one of the driving firms in its industry. PLDT Inc. keeps up its prevailing position in the market by carefully analyzing and investigating the SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis immensely intuitively prepares and requires successful coordination among different divisions within the company such as – marketing, finance, management data systems, operations, and strategic planning.

Strengths of PLDT Inc. – Internal Strategic Factors

Diversified business operations.

Across the telecommunication domain PLDT Inc. has a well-built free cash flow that makes the company fast moving into expansion of new projects.

Advanced integrated network.

PLDT has a large social media presence, with millions of followers across the three most popular platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. On these channels, it has a high degree of customer engagement and a quick response time.

One of the top positions in the Philippines.

PLDT Inc. is the leading telecommunications and digital services provider in the Philippines.

One of the top providers of wireless phones.

PLDT Inc is a well-known company that has been in the industry for many years. As a result, the name is well-known.

Has creative marketing strategies.

PLDT Inc reached more than millions of followers in Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram which these three social media is one of the famous platforms and this makes them for having a strong presence on social media.

Has a wide range of products.

PLDT Inc has a large number of locations in almost every state, backed by a robust distribution network that ensures that its goods are easily accessible to a large number of customers in a timely manner.

Industry Specialists.

PLDT Inc has invested heavily in workforce preparation, resulting in a large number of highly trained and motivated workers. PLDT Inc has a diverse workforce, with people from various regional, ethnic, cultural, and educational backgrounds contributing to the company's success by bringing in new ideas and methodologies.

National coverage.

In the year 1928 PLDT Inc was founded and up to this year was still working and they have created up to 151 branches nationwide.

Foreign investment.

PLDT Inc forms strategic relationships with its manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other stakeholders. This enables it to use them in the future if necessary.

Strong sales team.

PLDT Inc. Aspire to be the service provider and be the strongest and advance connection for the family are at home.

Weaknesses of PLDT Inc. – Internal Strategic Factors

Slow internet connection.

The performance evaluation is not done in a systematic way. People are often unappreciated for their work. Employee morale suffers as a result, and promotion prospects are limited.

Half of the company’s total dept are coverage by US dollars.

The company's current assets are poor in comparison to its current liabilities, which could trigger liquidity issues in its operations. At PLDT Inc, there is a lack of proper cash flow planning, resulting in situations where there isn't enough cash flow as needed, resulting in needless unplanned borrowing.

Venture for new technologies.

Even though PLDT Inc spends more on research and development than the industry average, it spends much less than a few players who have gained a major competitive edge as a result of their creative products.

Intermittent assistants.

In comparison to rivals, PLDT Inc has a higher rate of employee turnover. As a result of the increased turnover, the company is investing more on training and growth.

Low signal strength.

Due to the area of their costumers, there is an interruption on the signal that the company did not consider when they are offering their services and product.

Intense competition.

In comparison to its rivals, it is not very good at predicting product demand, resulting in a higher rate of missed opportunities. One of the reasons why PLDT Inc.'s days inventory is so high in comparison to its rivals is that the company isn't very good at predicting demand, so it ends up having more inventory in-house and in the channel.

Corroded cable lines.

Multiple families are availing the item and did not consider the number of valuable costumers within the area.

Company’s liability and obligations.

In recent years, competition has increased, and skilled workers have left the organization, potentially resulting in a talent shortage in the coming years.

Increase number of competitors in the market.

Growing strengths of local distributors also presents a threat in some markets as the competition is paying higher margins to the local distributors.

Public perception.

The product's marketing left a lot to be desired. Even though the product is a sales success, its positioning and unique selling proposition are not clearly established, which could lead to competitor attacks in this market.

Opportunities of PLDT Inc. – External Strategic Factors

Online Market.

Opening up of new markets because of government agreement – the adoption of new technology standard and government free trade agreement has provided PLDT Inc. an opportunity to enter a new emerging market. Expansion of network that serves large number of customers.

Expansion of network that serves large number of customers.

New consumer behavior patterns may open up new market opportunities for PLDT Inc. It gives the company a great chance to diversify into new product segments while also generating new revenue streams.

Decreasing the prices of computers and laptops.

Reduced freight costs as a result of lower shipping costs will lower the cost of PLDT Inc.'s goods, giving the company the option of either increasing profitability or passing on the savings to consumers to gain market share.

Taking risk for new technologies.

Opening up new markets as a result of a government agreement – PLDT Inc. has been given the ability to reach a new emerging market as a result of the introduction of a new technology standard and a government free trade agreement.

Collaboration with other establishments.

As the market develops, competitor advantages will dwindle, allowing PLDT Inc. to improve its competitiveness in comparison to its rivals. In similar other product fields, an organization's core competencies may be a success. For example, GE healthcare research aided in the development of better oil drilling machines.

Threats of PLDT Inc. – External Strategic Factors

Extreme competition that causes margin pressure.

New technologies developed by the competitor or market disruptor could be a serious threat to the industry in medium to long term future.

Fixed line market drop.

An increasing trend toward isolationism in the American economy can prompt a similar response from other governments, reducing foreign sales.

Changes in currency that impacted foreign revenues.

Since the company operates in a variety of countries, it is subject to currency fluctuations, which are exacerbated by the uncertain political situation in a number of markets around the world.

New competitors.

Intense competition with other companies for having the same telecommunication business.  

Unpredictable cost.

Local distributors' the strength poses a challenge in some markets, as the rivalry pays local distributors higher margins.

S-O Strategies

Maintain the strong presence of PLDT Inc on social media and continue to increase the number of followers in Famous social media to keep the customer engagement. (S2, S5, O1)

The company with its dedicated followers in social media is those customers who had a satisfaction on the services that the PLDT provided with them. It indicates high good brand quality that made the customers to share and recommend PLDT to other people.

A strong financial perspective with successive profits along with concentrated profit reserves that can be used to support future capital expenditures and expansion. (S1, S9, S7, O2, O5,)

The increased number of internet users all over the world is an opportunity for PLDT to maintain the financial cash flow for the company to expand more of their presence not just only in the Philippines but in other country in the world. It also resulted a growth in sale meaning, there are a lot of people purchasing the services that can be led to an online stores connection to make the sales expand.

Keep the quality of product and services over the years and are still valued by households, who find it as excellent value and worth it for the finances they pay. (S3, S4, O2, O4)

There has been an increase of household in purchasing the product and services of PLDT as their internet provider. The income along with an increase in consumer spending following the financial condition that leads to the growth of target market and having new customers that can be attracted to purchase the item.

A dedicated customer relationship with the PLDT Inc. has able to attain an elevated level of customer contentment among valued and new customers and good brand equity among the potential clients. (S6, S10, O1, O2)

Valued customer who also recommend and market the services and product help the company to maintain the number of customer satisfaction population they had. The Company provide good services and achieve the needs of the households that made the PLDT company to be the number 1 internet provider in the Philippines.

W-O Strategies

Innovation of strategies and plan to meet the challenge that the new entrants given to the company to not gain any lost. (W1, W2, O2, O5)

The company needs to plan and design an idea that make the company overcome the challenges that encountered on the new entrants. Even though the product and services are a success in terms of sales, but it is needed to innovate strategies that strengthen and cannot be attack by the competitors.

Strengthen the online sale services, websites, and social media presence for better engagement through brand ambassadors, campaigns, advertisement, testimonies, branding, and better customer service experience. (W8, O1)

Nowadays, People are using online platforms in all their transactions. Most of them are addictive in online shopping, bills payments, and delivery mode since it is the most convenient to them. Strengthen the online sale services and website is one of the keys to maintain the record of high sales. As much as possible make the online services and website easier to understand and manipulate. Provide good customer entertainment and ethics for the customer maintain its impression and good feedbacks. Social media is the most powerful online platform since everybody has its social media life. Using famous celebrities or popular local celebrities added the connection and trust of people on purchasing the product and services because of the appeal given by those people. Make a new tagline and had a unique TV and media advertisement so that it will be added to the strength of gaining new customers.

Develop financial planning and come up on a plan that make the financial stable to sustain the good services and employment of the employees. (W2, W3, O2, O3, O4)

Even though the company offers discounts and voucher it must maintain the financial stability of the company. Using discount and vouchers can help to encourage new clients on availing the products and services. It added the clients so that the financial will continue to be stable. The competition is always there with the new entrants, but it needs to have a concrete plan to beat the challenge on the market by upgrading the product and services and honest feedback coming from the customers. Broaden partnership and encourage investors to invest to the company it also helps to maintain financial stability.

S-T Strategies

Focus on the development of data and upgrade websites by putting some features for easy transactions for the customer will not find it difficult to manipulate when purchasing an item or internet plans online. (S6, S8, T5)

With the advance technology offered in this present time, the company must go with the trends online. The website must up to date and well-monitored for online transactions. As much as possible, developed the website by putting features that make the manipulation of online purchases and fill ups will be easy to the customers.

Strengthen social media connections by putting some entertaining advertisement and improve engagement through customer service supports brand ambassadors, campaigns, and testimonies. (S5, S10, T1, T2)

Make a campaign that fits to the bracket age of the valued customers. Putting unique advertisement that catches the attention of future customer is an advantage to maintain the market finance of the company. Brand ambassador must be well-known by the society since it is effective as those personalities uses appeal to authority to encourage viewers to avail the product and services. In social medias, we can put short testimonies as one of the strategies to prove the effectiveness of the product and services. For customer service, a well-trained employee and providing the customer to give feedback to the services for better improvement and to answer all the queries without any delay.

Offering Promos and discounts to the customer, provide low-cost product and services and raffle draws. (S7, S8, T1)

Chances of winning, discounts and affordable but in excellent quality of product and services are one of the keys to maintain the balance within the competitors. Giving discount vouchers online, Bundle promos, and low-cost options of plan can encourage the customer to avail the items and services. Filipinos are into luck, so offering them a raffle draw wherein the price is catchy for the viewers will also add the cash flow of the company. It will make the customers to be excited and will purchase the offered product and services to them since it will be affordable to them.

Expand the connection, partnership and make the branches more productive and visible by giving training to the employees to maintain the good services, record breaking ranking and impression of the valued customers and investors. (S9, T3, T4)

The company need a skilled worker to provide quality services to the customers. To maintain the Top leading telecommunications and digital services provider in the Philippines, giving workshops and training to the employee should be given so that it will avoid poor services and lessen the complaints on now providing the right solution on the customer support. Expanding connection and partnership is advisable since it bring small and big connection and elaborate new strategy to beaten up the growing competitor.

W-T Strategies

Continue to create partnerships and invite investors to sustain the needs and maintain financial stability to maintain the profit and afford salary maintenance for the employees. (W2, T3)

Partnerships and investors help the company to survive. To maintain stability, the company needs stable impression and strong partnership to their partners and investors. It is an opportunity to open good relationship and employees will stay on the company.

Maintain offering low-cost product and services and giving promo discounts and voucher to encourage more customers and maintain valued customers. (W10, T2).

One of the strategies of new entrants is giving their clients extravagant promos and discounts. It is effective though there will be a possibility of monetary loss. Balance the opportunity of giving promos and discount and have a fix policy and guidelines on how to purchase such opportunities so that it will be balance to the company sake and customer's sake.

Proper planning and strategies to meet the demand and conquer challenges that the new entrants offer (W1, W3, T2, T3).

Meeting the leaders of the company and plan innovation and strategies to cope up with the high technology and competitors to sustain the strength of the company demands and needs. The company need to improve plans and strategy and come up on a concrete solution to deal with the new entrants deals and offer to the market most especially to the consumers. A wide connection and broad development needed to not lessen and maintain the valued customer of the company. Strengthen the goal and products and services to maintain the high quality of services of the company.

4.6. Quantitative Strategies Planning Matrix

Table 10

SUM WEIGHTS 100% 100%

The PLDT Company is the Philippines' largest telecommunications provider, offering fixed line, cellular, and internet services. The telecommunications industry has undergone a transformation in recent years, and PLDT's position in the industry has been challenged by new entrants. These strategies were developed, implemented, and evaluated in order to come up with a better decision that would allow them to continue achieving their goals. The PLDT company has rates to compile some of the methods that were developed and evaluated based on an analysis of external and internal variables as well as a SWOT Analysis.

Based on the SWOT analysis, PLDT holds the top spot in the telecoms industry. They began by providing fixed lines to the Philippines market and have since expanded their market to include wireless technology. They became the number one cell phone provider after acquiring SMART as a wireless partner. When technology progressed, the DSL became widely established. Then came PLDT, which served as the company's technology arm. PLDT provided solutions to internet issues and even rose to the top of the rankings.

Based on the Internal and external factors, Customer experience- When PLDT introduced a product that enabled customers to connect to the internet faster using Broadband and WIFI, there were many complaints about the quality of the service. Many of the grievances stemmed from the sluggish link, which failed to meet the customer's expectations, as well as the fact that complaints were not addressed in a timely manner. Customers may decide to switch providers because they believe they are much better at providing the service required in this situation.

In our overall analysis, to avoid financial loss and losing to the fierce competition offered by new entrants, PLDT must improve their marketing strategy. One of the keys is to increase the online presence on various social networking platforms and to take advantage of opportunities provided by emerging local brands and newcomers. As much as possible, the company should generate a long-term strategy to maintain the market sales and to avoid losing finances and employees.

5 Strategy Recommendation

It is suggested that the organization ought to harp on making concentrated procedures. This includes product development, market development, and related diversification. These techniques require concentrated endeavors for PLDT’s cutthroat situation with existing items to improve.

Related Diversification

Giving all the users different options and more enhancement makes a strategy improvement, because people or the users can see that there are new activities and improved varieties that can help them have an internet connection more flexible and compact.

Product Development

Improve operation and service

Liable for item improvement guide and dispatch dates. Plan financial plans and earn back the original investment examination for new activities. Also, Distinguish and suggest new item ideas. PLDT is one of the well-known internet service providers in the country Philippines, enhancing their operation and service can help them to broaden their internet service and executing this could improve to accomplish the procedure. It tends to include a plan that can make and put together plans.

Market Development

Keep up exceptional contender information with center around its innovative abilities. Furthermore, screen contenders, make and update cross-references, perform continuous exploration of contender item highlights, blend and item advancement procedure. Should have careful information and comprehension of contender items to the segment level and innovation arrangement sources.

6 Action Plan

Related Diversification

Setting up standards and providing different kinds and flexible options to the user of PLDT internet connection can make a customer’s loyalty and giving them the standards that they will need in future circumstances and can last their stay in the internet provider since they experience value.

Product Development

This can build deals by improving and developing present assistance, upgrading and preparing legitimate client relationships. Indeed, even items and administrations are practically the comparative contrasts with different contenders. This is one of the components one bank can keep up the dedication of its clients and make a decent client connection.

Market Development

This activity includes expanding in working hours and days and advancement. This can keep up and serve more clients in whenever of the day and would be effective in the event that it will be following on additional time the executives during the initial time.

7 Conclusion

Based on the statistical results of the diverse matrices, the following conclusions have been made:

In Internal Factor Evaluation matrix (IFE matrix), the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) garnered a total weighted score of 2.68% which means they are having above average responsiveness rating in telecommunication service provider industry. It also prompts that the firm has a solid position in terms of its internal issues, maintain its strengths, be mindful in balancing and improve its weaknesses.

With an overall score of 3% in External Factor Evaluation Matrix (EFE matrix), PLDT has a strong position in their field as telecommunication service provider industry. The company is responding above average by exploiting opportunities in overpowering threats in its external domain.

In accordance with the Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM), the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company has the first position in the comparative analysis with the total weighted score 3.08% and followed by the Globe Telecom with the total weighted score 2.87% and Smart Communication with 3.01%. Among its competitors, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company is on the lead in providing good service and the most advantaged in their field.

In the Boston Consulting Group Matrix (BCG matrix), the ensuing figure demonstrate that the broadband/wireless and mobile are in star quadrant which indicates that sector has high market share and high market growth. While the fixed line is in the cash cow quadrant with a high market share and lower market growth.

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone’s Strategic Position and Action Evaluation Matrix (SPACE matrix) shows Competitive Advantage (CA) with an average of -1.75, Financial Strength (FS) with an average of 3.5, Industry Strength (IS) with an average of 5.55 and Stability Position (SP) with an average of 3.0 which leads to a conclusion of 3.8 in the X-Axis and 0.5 in the Y-Axis. In overall, it was concluded that PLDT positioned in Quadrant 1 which Competitive, Financial, Industry, Stability Position pointed in Aggressive Strategy. This alludes that the Philippine Long Distance Telephone has a strong competitive position in the market growth. Therefore, the company must develop a market penetration and development strategy.

8 Financial Projection

9 References

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David, F., & David, F. (2016). Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach, Concepts and Cases, 16th Edition Chapter 7: External Audit, p. 218 – 219, 229, 235.

David, F, & David F. (2016). Strategic Management Concepts and Cases, 16th Edition Chapter 4: Levels of Strategist (pp. 124 – 133).

David, F., & David, F. (2016). Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach,

Concepts and Cases, 16th Edition Chapter 10: Strategy Execution, p.

David, F., & David, F. (2016). Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach, Concepts and Cases, 16th Edition Chapter 8: Strategy Generation and Selection, p. 251, 254, 258.

David, F., & David, F. (2016). Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach, Concepts and Cases, 16th Edition Chapter 5: Vision and Mission Analysis, p. 158 – 162

Department, S. M. (n.d.). PLDT Inc. Pestel analysis & Environment Analysis. Retrieved

from http://fernfortuniversity.com/term-papers/pestel/nyse4/3820-pldt-inc-.php

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Leigh, H. (2020). CBA FIN 1A Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/file/p9pmh9f/%09Strengths-22-PLDT-offers-the-largest-and-most-diversified-range-of/

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MBA Skool Team. (2020). PLDT SWOT ANALYSIS: Top pldt Competitors, STP & USP. Retrieved https://www.mbaskool.com/brandguide/telecom-service-providers/2525-pldt.html

MEFaward. (2020). PLDT secures PH'S first global MEF 3.0 certification. Retrieved from https://www.pldtenterprise.com/news-and-events/mefaward/pldt-secures-phs-first-global-mef-30-certification?fbclid=IwAR3gRITfg_J8sj09LuRnznN2trR6Kgngkqhkh4PJyWmeINjmJDTB2n7uH9A

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#stramapaper #totidulay #pldt

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allthecanadianpolitics · 5 years ago

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The Toronto Public Library is standing by its decision to rent out space to a third-party event featuring a writer and activist who argues against transgender rights, despite mounting opposition from authors, politicians and the city's mayor.

Meghan Murphy, who runs the website Feminist Current, has argued that "allowing men to identify as women" undermines women's rights, and that transgender women should not be allowed in women's spaces.

She has publicly opposed Bill C-16, which made it illegal to discriminate based on gender identity and expression, and was banned from Twitter in 2018 for violating its hate speech policy.

Authors Alicia Elliott, Catherine Hernandez and Carrianne Leung say they will no longer participate Toronto Public Library (TPL) events in light of its decision, and have launched a petition decrying the TPL for allowing "hate speech to be disseminated" at the Oct. 29 discussion.

Tagging: @ontarionewsnow @abpoli @politicsofcanada @torontopoli @onpoli

#transphobia #meghan murphy #LGBTQ #Toronto #cdnpoli #canada #canadian politics #canadian news #canadian #toronto public library #Trans #Transgender

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runawaysbigbang · 5 years ago

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New Chapters!

Title: It’s not all roses Author: @runaway-pens Chapters: 4/? Fandom: Runaways (TV 2017), Runaways (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Chase Stein/Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean/Nico Minoru Characters: Nico Minoru, Karolina Dean, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Molly Hayes | Molly Hernandez, Amy Minoru, Alex Wilder (Marvel), Tina Minoru, Robert Minoru, Geoffrey Wilder, Catherine Wilder, Dale Yorkes, Stacey Yorkes, Frank Dean, Leslie Dean, Victor Stein, Janet Stein Additional Tags: mentions of abuse, How Do I Tag, this is a hot mess, The ship is sailing, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, What Have I Done, Comedy, Fluff and Crack, I Don't Even Know, so much drama Summary:

“Two weeks. I bet I can change your view on love in two week.”

To say Nico’s love life is a disaster would be an understatement. The huge Alex disaster, the not-so-huge Victor disaster, hell, even a Chase disaster happened (and who can forget that bastard Topher). And let’s not even begin with the huge shitstorm that is her parents. Suffice to say, Nico’s not too keen on love. After one too many fails with lady love, Nico’s pretty much relented to being an emotionally unavailable 23 year old who will grow up to be that lonely cat lady everyone has on their block.

So when a pretty blonde thinks that she can change Nico’s view in two weeks? Well, it does raise some eyebrows.

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xxladylovexx · 5 years ago

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The crusade to cancel my talk at Toronto Public Library

Meghan Murphy

October 18, 2019

This week, three Canadian writers launched a petition demanding the Toronto Public Library cancel a room rental for a sold-out event, ‘Gender Identity: What Does It Mean for Society, the Law, and Women?’ Sounds frightening, I know.

The local women organizing the event, a group called Radical Feminists Unite, asked me in June if they could bring me to Toronto to speak about gender identity legislation and women’s rights, unhappy that the debate was not being given space in their city. This is not an uncommon sentiment. The events I have been asked to participate in generally have been organized by regular women who have serious concerns about how gender identity ideology and policy could affect, and already is affecting, women’s sex-based rights. Canada in particular has been resistant to this discussion. Due to media blackouts, harassment, bullying, threats of violence, smear campaigns, censorship, and ostracization, a few brave women have had to force the conversation, at great risk.

In January, a couple women took it upon themselves to organize an event in Vancouver, ‘Gender Identity Ideology and Women’s Rights.’ These women had no budget, no public or political power, no history in activism or organizing events, and no agenda, other than to open up a conversation they feel is desperately needed. The panel, held at the Vancouver Public Library, featured me and two other longtime feminist activists with impeccable records fighting male violence against women. The organizers and I received numerous death and rape threats, were protested, and were libeled by politicians and the media. The VPL forced us to move the event after hours (to 9:30 p.m. on a weeknight), claiming that protesters posed a risk to patrons and staff. They attempted to charge us thousands in security fees in an effort to pressure us to choose another venue, surely aware we didn’t have that kind of budget. The chief librarian, Christina de Castell, issued a statement saying the library did not agree with ‘the views of Feminist Current,’ my website. Castell did not say which views the library disagreed with (protecting women’s sex-based rights or the idea that sexist gender stereotypes are not innate?), but regardless, she should not have taken a position, as a representative of a public institution meant to be neutral, nor should she have spoken on behalf of the VPL, as not everyone at the library is in agreement with her apparent opposition to both biology and women’s rights. Vancouver’s mayor labeled me ‘despicable’. Canada’s national public broadcaster, the CBC, located across the street from the library, refused to cover the event or contact me for comment, despite hosting a panel prior to the event, speculating whether panelists might say anything constituting ‘hate speech’. Of course none did. Despite protests, the event went off without a hitch and was incredibly respectful, inspiring, and galvanizing. The impassioned talks are available on YouTube for anyone to watch and see for themselves.

But why bother? Listening to words and forming an educated opinion based on said words is no longer a popular pastime.

Things have played out similarly in Toronto. The primary difference is that it is now writers leading the charge. You know, people who should be invested in reading and using words correctly.

Not only that, but writers of all people should be defending freedom of expression and a public library’s decision to uphold its mandate, which, per the TPL’s response to the petition, is to ensure meeting rooms are available to the public ‘on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use’. The statement goes on to say: ‘As a public institution, our primary obligation is to uphold the fundamental freedoms of freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression as enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.’

This response was unacceptable to the writers and thousands of Torontonians (many of whom I’m certain would consider themselves ‘progressive,’ even ‘feminist’) wanting my talk canceled. Indeed, those who have signed the petition, ‘Stop Hate Speech from Being Spread at the Toronto Public Library,’ have publicly stated I am guilty of ‘hate speech’ and compared the organizers to a ‘hate group’. The petition, authored by Alicia Elliot, Catherine Hernandez, and Carrianne Leung, reads:

‘Those who want to disseminate hate speech today know that they can misrepresent, then weaponize the phrase ‘freedom of speech’ in order to get what they want: an audience, and space to speak to and then mobilize that audience against marginalized communities. While everyone has freedom of speech, we want to once again point to the limits of those freedoms when certain acts and speech infringe on the freedom of others, particularly those in marginalized communities. We also want to point out that hate groups do not have a right to use publicly funded facilities to meet and organize. This is precisely why TPL has a community and event space policy: to determine who and who does not have the right to use its facilities. There is a difference between denying free speech—and what is known as deplatforming, which is when you refuse to allow hate speech to be disseminated in your facility. This has been an effective tactic to stop those who capitalize on spreading hate speech, such as Meghan Murphy.’

The problem is I’ve never engaged in hate speech. I have made very basic statements about biology, such as ‘men aren’t women’ and ‘male bodies and female bodies are different.’ I have also argued that some spaces should be women-only, including changing rooms, transition houses, and prisons. I have said that individuals cannot change sex through self-declaration and that a boy is not a girl because he prefers dresses to pants. I have said that women have particular rights in this world due to the fact of being born female. I have said that women have not experienced discrimination in the workplace, in the home, in universities, and in politics because of anything they feel or because they somehow ‘identify’ with feminine stereotypes. In fact, it is the desire not to be limited to gender roles that inspired feminists’ ongoing fight.

Usually, I say this all warmly. I’m not generally an angry person but quite jovial, in fact. I don’t spend much of my energy hating anyone beyond slow walkers and morning people. I’m just telling the truth.

The writers who initiated the petition say they will no longer participate in events held at the TPL unless the library cancels my talk, which is fine, I suppose. It is their prerogative if they wish to hold readings for their friends in spaces untainted by free thought. Surely the condos their parents bought them have shared rec rooms available for such gatherings? Cozy bubbles seem better suited for those needing to protect themselves from triggers such as people with different opinions and experiences, anyway.

The whole scene strikes me as nauseatingly elitist, especially the entitlement with which these ‘progressive’ people approach members of the public — in this case, women with no particular social, political, or economic power — as though they should have the power to determine what we all think or say. As though they have the right to dictate what a library, of all places, should allow to be discussed within its walls.

These protesters are primarily middle- and upper-class people who have had access to opportunities most people in this world have not. Who live in relative safety, free from state persecution — who have the privilege of freedom in a world that continues to host dictatorships and incredibly repressive regimes that quite literally jail and murder those who fail to toe the party line. They have taken a postmodernist theory invented primarily within the walls of academia — that is, the notion that material reality is determined by inner feelings — and are attempting to impose it on the general public via force. These people have taken on the position of dictator, threatening to throw those who won’t adopt their nonsensical mantras in jail. Indeed, a former politician with the NDP, Canada’s leftist party, publicly claimed the event was ‘illegal’ while her supporters said I should be jailed.

On Thursday, Toronto mayor John Tory said he had contacted the library in an attempt to have the event canceled and is ‘disappointed’ the library declined to do so. What is in fact ‘disappointing’ (indeed, appalling) is that the mayor of Toronto does not understand the TPL’s mandate as a public institution and opposes freedom of expression.

These leftists seem unaware that opposition to free speech has not treated their presumed heroes kindly. They have so easily forgotten Emma Goldman, who was imprisoned for distributing information about birth control. And Rosa Luxemburg, arrested and killed by the GKSD, a German paramilitary unit instructed to suppress the communists. Surely the suffragettes deserved to be jailed and beaten for fighting to win women the right to vote, as their ideas were deemed too ‘radical’, not only by their opponents but other feminists and abolitionists. They have apparently not paid much attention to the female activists arrested and tortured in Saudi Arabia for advocating that women be allowed to drive. Journalists continue to be murdered in Mexico for reporting on police corruption and the drug war. But no matter. Protecting free expression is clearly a relic of the past, before we had multi-billion-dollar social media companies on hand to police dangerous speech. (‘On top of that, she has been banned from Twitter for violating their Hateful Conduct Policy’, the petition reads, as though In Big Tech We Trust is an appropriate mantra for supposed social justice advocates.)

At what point in history has suppressing subversive speech benefited the marginalized? Or anyone, really?

The CBC again failed to include the organizers or myself, the speaker, in its ‘coverage’ of the event. On a segment that aired Wednesday, Gill Deacon, host of Here and Now Toronto, spoke with Elliot, who stated that I was ‘trying to take away the rights of people’, ‘preach[ing] against human rights’, and did not believe ‘transwomen should have protections’ under the Human Rights Act or Criminal Code, claiming this constituted ‘spreading hate’. That none of this is accurate was of no concern to Deacon or Elliot. The CBC sees no need to allow me to speak for myself and explain my apprehensions because, I assume, my arguments are so reasonable people might agree with me. While Elliot claimed that I was ‘lying’ when arguing that gender identity legislation could override women’s rights, this has, unfortunately, already happened, as we’ve seen men transferred to women’s prisons, where they have assaulted female prisoners; women forced to leave shelters and transition houses on account of being made to share rooms with men; women and girls made to compete with and against males in sport; women’s organizations denied funding for having a women-only policy; and of course as we’ve seen a number of estheticians dragged to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal for declining to wax a man’s balls, because that man claimed to be female. What Elliot says there is no evidence for, there is ample evidence for. Which of course she would know, had she ever read my work, listened to my talks, or engaged in conversation with me, rather than using her platform to spout bigoted nonsense.

Ironically, if not for free speech, these individuals would not feel so safe to libel those they don’t like — which appears to be the go-to strategy of the Woke and Online. One wonders why they believe their speech should protected — even when hateful or slanderous — but not the speech of others. It is a modern hypocrisy I will never understand.

Unfortunately for these protesters and petitioners, the TPL will not be canceling the event, and I will continue to speak the truth in the face of threats, slander, harassment, ostracization, and actual hate speech. I will do this not because I have anything personally to gain from doing so but because I could not live with myself otherwise. I will not be silent while women’s rights are eroded, and I will not lie either under duress or to make friends. My integrity is worth more to me than my comfort or popularity, and yours should be too.

Meghan Murphy is a writer in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her website is Feminist Current.

#transgender lobby #library #free speech #writing #women's rights #identity politics #news #toronto #female erasure #feminism

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suchagiantnerd · 5 years ago

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48 Books, 1 Year

I was just two books shy of my annual goal of 50! You can blame the combination of my adorable newborn, who refused to nap anywhere except on me, and Hallmark Christmas movie season, during which I abandon books for chaste kisses between 30-somethings who behave like tweens at places called the Mistletoe Inn (which are really in Almonte, Ontario).

Without further ado, as Zuma from Paw Patrol says, “Let’s dive in!”

1. Human Errors: A Panorama of Our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes / Nathan H. Lents

We have too many bones! We have to rely too much on our diet for survival! We suffer from too many cognitive biases! Reading about our design flaws was kind of interesting, but the best part of this book were the few pages toward the end about the possibility of alien life. Specifically this quote: "...some current estimates predict that the universe harbours around seventy-five million civilizations." WHAT?! This possibility more than anything else I've ever heard or read gives me a better idea of how infinite the universe really is.

2. The Fiery Cross / Diana Gabaldon

Compared to the first four books in the Outlander series, this fifth book is a real snooze. The characters are becoming more and more unlikeable. They're so self-centered and unaware of their privilege in the time and place they're living. Gabaldon's depictions of the Mohawk tribe and other First Nations characters (which I'm reading through her character's opinions of things) are pretty racist. The enslaved people at one character's plantation are also described as being well taken care of and I just.... can't. I think this is the end of my affair with Outlander.

3. Educated / Tara Westover

This memoir was a wild ride. Tara Westover grew up in a survivalist, ultra-religious family in rural Idaho. She didn’t go to school and was often mislead about the outside world by her father. She and her siblings were also routinely put in physical danger working in their father’s junkyard as their lives were “in god’s hands”, and when they were inevitably injured, they weren’t taken to the hospital or a doctor, but left to be treated by their healer mother. Thanks to her sheer intelligence and determination (and some support from her older brother), Tara goes to university and shares with us the culture shock of straddling two very different worlds. My non-fiction book club LOVED this read, we talked about it for a long, long time.

4. Imbolc: Rituals, Recipes and Lore for St. Brigid’s Day / Carl F. Neal

Continuing with my witchy education, I learned all about the first sabbat of the new year, Imbolc.

5. Super Sad True Love Story / Gary Shteyngart

This in-the-very-near-future dystopian novel got my heart racing during a few exciting moments, but overall, I couldn’t immerse myself fully because of the MISOGYNY. I think the author might not like women and the things women like (or the things he thinks they like?) In this near future, all the dudes are into finance or are media celeb wannabes, while all the women work in high-end retail. And onion-skin jeans are the new trend for women - they are essentially see-through. Gary….we don’t…want that? We don’t even want low-rise jeans to come back.

6. The Wanderers / Meg Howrey

Helen, Yoshi and Sergei are the three astronauts selected by a for-profit space exploration company to man the world’s first mission to Mars. But before they get the green light, they have to endure a 17-month simulation. In addition to getting insight into the simulation from all three astronauts via rotating narrators, we also hear from the astronauts’ family members and other employees monitoring the sim. At times tense, at times thoughtful, this book is an incisive read about what makes explorers willing to leave behind everything they love the most in the world.

7. Zone One / Colson Whitehead

The zombie apocalypse has already happened, and Mark is one of the survivors working to secure and clean up Zone One, an area of Manhattan. During his hours and hours of boring shifts populated by a few harrowing minutes here and there, the reader is privy to Mark’s memories of the apocalypse itself and how he eventually wound up on this work crew. Mark is a pretty likeable, yet average guy rather than the standard zombie genre heroes, and as a result, his experiences also feel like a more plausible reality than those of the genre.

8. Homegoing / Yaa Gyasi

One of my favourite reads of the year, this novel is the definition of “sweeping epic”. The story starts off with two half-sisters (who don’t even know about each other’s existence) living in 18th-century Ghana. One sister marries a white man and stays in Ghana, living a life of privilege, while the other is sold into slavery and taken to America on a slave ship. This gigantic split in the family tree kicks off two parallel and vastly different narratives spanning EIGHT generations, ending with two 20-somethings in the present day. I remain in awe of Gyasi’s talent, and was enthralled throughout the entire book.

9. Sweetbitter / Stephanie Danler

Tess moves to New York City right out of school (and seemingly has no ties to her previous life - this bothered me, I wanted to know more about her past) and immediately lands a job at a beloved (though a little tired) fancy restaurant. Seemingly loosely based on Danler’s own experiences as a server, I got a real feel for the insular, incestuous, chaotic life in “the industry”. Tess navigates tensions between the kitchen and the front of house, falls for the resident bad-boy bartender, and positions herself as the mentee of the older and more glamorous head server, who may not be everything she seems. This is a juicy coming-of-age novel.

10. The Autobiography of Gucci Mane / Gucci Mane and Neil Martinez-Belkin

Gucci Mane is one of Atlanta’s hottest musicians, having helped bring trap music to the mainstream. I’d never heard of him until I read this book because I’m white and old! But not knowing him didn’t make this read any less interesting. In between wild facts (if you don’t get your music into the Atlanta strip clubs, your music isn’t making it out of Atlanta) and wilder escapades (Gucci holing himself up in his studio, armed to the teeth, in a fit of paranoia one night) Gucci Mane paints on honest picture of a determined, talented artist fighting to break free of a cycle of systemic racism and poverty.

11. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer / Michelle McNamara

McNamara was a journalist and true crime enthusiast who took it upon herself to try and solve the mystery of the Golden State Killer’s identity. Amazingly, her interest in this case also sparked other people’s interest in looking back at it, eventually leading to the arrest of the killer (though tragically, McNamara died a few months before the arrest and would never know how her obsession helped to capture him). This is a modern true crime classic and a riveting read.

12. A Great Reckoning / Louise Penny

The 12th novel in Penny’s Inspector Gamache mystery series sees our hero starting a new job teaching cadets at Quebec’s police academy. Of course, someone is murdered, and Gamache and his team work to dig the rot out of the institution, uncovering a killer in the process.

13. Any Man / Amber Tamblyn

Yes, this novel is by THAT Amber Tamblyn, star of “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants”! Anyway, this book is a tad bit darker, and follows five men who’ve been victimized by the female serial rapist, who calls herself Maude. Going into this read I though that it might be some sort of revenge fantasy, but dudes, not to worry - we really feel awful for the male victims and see them in all their complexity. Perhaps, if more men read this book, they might better understand the trauma female and non-binary victims go through? That would require men to read books by women though. Guys? GUYS???

14. Ostara: Rituals, Recipes and Lore for the Spring Equinox / Kerri Connor

Yet another witchy read providing more information about this Spring sabbat.

15. Scarborough / Catherine Hernandez

This novel takes place in OUR Scarborough! Following the lives of a number of residents (adults and children alike), the plot centres around the families attending an Ontario Early Years program as well as the program facilitator. Hernandez looks at the ways poverty, mental illness, addiction, race, and homophobia intersect within this very multicultural neighbourhood. It’s very sad, but there are also many sweet and caring moments between the children and within each of the families.

16. The Glitch / Elisabeth Cohen

Shelley Stone (kind of a fictional Sheryl Sandberg type) is the CEO of Conch, a successful Silicon Valley company. Like many of these over-the-top real-life tech execs, Shelley has a wild schedule full of business meetings, exercise, networking and parenting, leaving her almost no time to rest. While on an overseas business trip, she meets a younger woman also named Shelley Stone, who may or may not be her younger self. Is Shelley losing it? This is a dark comedy poking fun at tech start-up culture and the lie that we can have it all.

17. The Thirteenth Tale / Diane Setterfield

This is my kind of book! A young and inexperienced bookworm is handpicked to write the biography of an aging famous author, Vida Wynter. Summoned to her sprawling country home around Christmastime, the biographer is absolutely enthralled by Vida’s tales of a crumbling gothic estate and an eccentric family left too long to their own whims. Looking for a dark, twisty fairytale? This read’s for you.

18. Love & Misadventure / Lang Leav

Leav’s book of poems looked appealing, but for me, her collection fell short. I felt like I was reading a teenager’s poetry notebook (which I’m not criticizing, I love that teen girls write poetry, and surprise, surprise - so did I - but I’m too old for this kind of writing now).

19. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows / Balli Kaur Jaswal

Hooo boy, my book club loved this one! Hoping to get a job more aligned with her literary interests, Nikki, the 20-something daughter of Indian immigrants to Britain, takes a job teaching writing at the community centre in London’s biggest Punjabi neighbourhood. The students are all older Punjabi women who don’t have much to do and because of their “widow” status have been somewhat sidelined within their community. Without anyone around to censor or judge them, the widows start sharing their own erotic fantasies with each other, each tale wilder than the last. As Nikki gets to know them better, she gains some direction in life and starts a romance of her own. (It should be noted that in addition to this lovely plot, there is a sub plot revolving around a possible honour killing in the community. For me, the juxtaposition of these two plots was odd, but not odd enough that it ruined the book.)

20. Beltane: Rituals, Recipes and Lore for May Day / Melanie Marquis

Beltane marks the start of the summer season in the witches’ year, and I learned all about how to ring it in, WITCH STYLE.

21. Summer of Salt / Katrina Leno

This book is essentially Practical Magic for teens, with a queer protagonist. All that to say, it’s enjoyable and sweet and a win for #RepresentationMatters, but it wasn’t a surprising or fresh story.

22. Too Like the Lightning / Ada Palmer

This is the first in the Terra Ignota quartet of novels, which is (I think) speculative fiction with maybe a touch of fantasy and a touch of sci-fi and a touch of theology and certainly a lot of philosophical ruminating too. I both really enjoyed it and felt so stupid while reading it. As a lifelong bookworm who doesn’t shy away from difficult reads, I almost never feel stupid while reading, but this book got me. The world building is next level and as soon as you think you’ve found your footing, Palmer pulls the rug out from under you and you’re left both stunned and excited about her latest plot twist. Interested in finding out what a future society grouped into ‘nations’ by interests and passions (instead of geographical borders and ethnicity) might be like? Palmer takes a hearty stab at it here.

23. The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman’s Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay and Disaster / Sarah Krasnostein

When Sarah Krasnostein met Sandra Pankhurst, she knew she had to write her biography (or something like it - this book is part biography, part love letter, part reckoning). And rightly so, as Sandra has led quite a life. She grew up ostracized within her own home by her immediate family, married and had children very young, came out as a trans woman and begin living as her authentic self (but abandoning her own young family in the process), took to sex work and lived through a vicious assault, married again, and started up her own successful company cleaning uncleanable spaces - the apartments of hoarders, the houses of recluses, the condos in which people ended their own lives. Sandra is the definition of resilience, but all her traumas (both the things people have done to her and the things she’s done to others) have left their mark, as Krasnostein discovers as she delicately probes the recesses of Sandra’s brain.

24. Becoming / Michelle Obama

My favourite things about any memoir from an ultra-famous person are the random facts that surprise you along the way. In this book, it was learning that all American presidents travel with a supply of their blood type in the event of an assassination attempt. I mean OF COURSE they would, but that had never occurred to me. I also appreciated Michelle opening up about her fertility struggles, the difficult decision to put her career on hold to support Barack’s dreams, and the challenge of living in the spotlight with two young children that you hope to keep down to earth. Overall, I think Michelle was as candid as someone in her position can be at this point in her life.

25 and 26. Seven Surrenders, The Will to Battle / Ada Palmer

I decided to challenge myself and stick with Palmer’s challenging Terra Ignota series, also reading the second and third instalments (I think the fourth is due to be released this year). I don’t know what to say, other than the world-building continues to be incredible and this futuristic society is on the bring of something entirely new.

27. Even Vampires Get the Blues / Kate MacAlister

This novel wins for “cheesiest read of the year”. When a gorgeous half-elf detective (you read that right) meets a centuries-old sexy Scottish vampire, sparks fly! Oh yeah, and they’re looking for some ancient thing in between having sex.

28. A Case of Exploding Mangoes / Mohammed Hanif

A piece of historical fiction based on the real-life suspicious plane crash in 1988 that killed many of Pakistan’s top military brass, this novel lays out many possible culprits (including a crow that ate too many mangoes). It’s a dark comedy taking aim at the paranoia of dictators and the boredom and bureaucracy of the military (and Bin Laden makes a cameo at a party).

29. Salvage the Bones / Jesmyn Ward

This novel takes place in the steaming hot days before Hurricane Katrina hits the Mississippi coast. The air is still and stifling and Esch’s life in the small town of Bois Sauvage feels even more stifled. Esch is 14 and pregnant and hasn’t told anyone yet. Her father is a heavy drinker and her three brothers are busy with their own problems. But as the storm approaches, the family circles around each other in preparation for the storm. This is a jarring and moving read made more visceral by the fact that the author herself survived Katrina. It’s also an occasionally violent book, and there are particularly long passages about dog-fighting (a hobby of one of the brothers). The dog lovers in my book club found it hard to get through, consider this your warning!

30. Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay / Phoebe Robinson

A collection of essays in the new style aka writing multiple pages on a topic as though you were texting your best friend about it (#ImFineWithThisNewStyleByTheWay #Accessible), Robinson discusses love, friendship, being a Black woman in Hollywood, being plus-ish-size in Hollywood, and Julia Roberts teaching her how to swim (and guys, Julia IS as nice in real life as we’d all hoped she was!) Who is Robinson? Comedy fans will likely know her already, but I only knew her as one of the stars of the Netflix film Ibiza (which I enjoyed). This is a fun, easy read!

31. Midsummer: Rituals, Recipes and Lore for Litha / Deborah Blake

After reading this book, I charged my crystals under the midsummer sun!

32. Fingersmith / Sarah Waters

So many twists! So many turns! So many hidden motives and long-held secrets! Think Oliver Twist meets Parasite meets Lost! (Full disclosure, I haven’t seen Parasite yet, I’m just going off all the chatter about it). Sue is a con artist orphan in old-timey London. When the mysterious “Gentleman” arrives at her makeshift family’s flat with a proposal for the con of all cons, Sue is quickly thrust into a role as the servant for another young woman, Maud, living alone with her eccentric uncle in a country estate. As Sue settles into her act, the lines between what she’s pretending at and what she’s really feeling start to blur, and nothing is quite what it seems. This book is JUICY!

33. Rest Play Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One) / Deborah MacNamara, PhD

I read approximately one parenting book a year, and this was this year’s winner. As my eldest approached her third birthday, we started seeing bigger and bigger emotions and I wasn’t sure how to handle them respectfully and gently. This book gave me a general roadmap for acknowledging her feelings, sitting through them with her, and the concept of “collecting” your child to prevent tantrums from happening or to help calm them down afterward. I’ll be using this approach for the next few years!

34. Lughnasadh: Rituals, Recipes and Lore for Lammas / Melanie Marquis

And with this read, I’ve now read about the entire witch’s year. SO MOTE IT BE.

35. In Cold Blood / Truman Capote

How had I not read this until now? This true-crime account that kicked off the modern genre was rich in detail, compassionate to the victims, and dug deep into the psyche of the killers. The descriptions of the midwest countryside and the changing seasons also reminded me of Keith Morrison’s voiceovers on Dateline. Is Capote his inspiration?

36. I’m Afraid of Men / Vivek Shraya

A quick, short set of musings from trans musician and writer Shraya still packs an emotional punch. She writes about love and loss, toxic masculinity, breaking free of gender norms, and what it’s like to exist as a trans woman.

37. The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You / Elaine N. Aron, PhD

Having long thought I might be a highly sensitive person (lots of us are!), I decided to learn more about how to better cope with stressful situations when I don’t have enough alone time or when things are too loud or when I get rattled by having too much to do any of the other myriad things that shift me into panic mode. Though some of the advice is a bit too new-agey for me (talking to your inner child, etc), some of it was practical and useful.

38. Swamplandia! / Karen Russell

The family-run alligator wrestling theme park, Swamplandia, is swimming in debt and about to close. The widowed father leaves the everglades for the mainland in a last-ditch attempt to drum up some money, leaving the three children to fend for themselves. A dark coming-of-age tale that blends magic realism, a ghost story, the absurd and a dangerous boat trip to the centre of the swamplands, this novel examines a fractured family mourning its matriarch in different ways.

39. A Mind Spread Out on the Ground / Alicia Elliott

This is a beautiful collection of personal essays brimming with vulnerability, passion, and fury. Elliott, the daughter of a Haudenosaunee father and a white mother, shares her experiences growing up poor in a family struggling with mental illness, addiction and racism. Topics touch on food scarcity, a never-ending battle with lice, parenthood and the importance of hearing from traditionally marginalized voices in literature.

40. Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay / Elena Ferrante

The third novel in Ferrante’s Neapolitan quartet sees Elena and Lila move from their early twenties into their thirties and deal with a riot of issues - growing careers, changing political beliefs, the challenges of motherhood and romantic relationships, and existing as strong-willed, intelligent women in 1960s and 70s Italy. I’ll definitely finish the series soon.

41. Half-Blood Blues / Esi Edugyan

A small group of American and German jazz musicians working on a record find themselves holed up in Paris as the Germans begin their occupation in WW2. Hiero, the youngest and most talented member of the group, goes out one morning for milk and is arrested by the Germans, never to be heard from again. Fifty years later, the surviving members of the band go to Berlin for the opening night of a documentary about the jazz scene from that era, and soon find themselves on a road trip through the European countryside to find out what really became of Hiero all those years ago. Edugyan’s novel is a piercing examination of jealousy, ambition, friendship, race and guilt. And features a cameo by Louis Armstrong!

42. A Serial Killer’s Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love and Overcoming / Kerri Rawson

So Brad and I had just finished watching season 2 of Mindhunter, and as I browse through a neighbourhood little library, I spot this book and the serial killer in question is the BTK Killer! Naturally, I had to read it. What I didn’t realize is that this is actually a Christian book, so Rawson does write a lot about struggling with her belief in God and finding her way back to Him, etc. But there are also chapters more fitting with the true crime and memoir genres that I equally enjoyed and was creeped out by.

43. The Night Ocean / Paul La Farge

This is another book that made me feel somewhat stupid as a reader. I just know there are details or tidbits that completely went over my head that would likely enrich a better reader’s experience. In broad strokes, the novel is about a failed marriage between a psychiatrist and a writer who became dangerously obsessed with H.P. Lovecraft and the rumours that swirled around him and his social circle. The writer’s obsession takes him away from his marriage and everything else, and eventually it looks like he ends his own life. The psychiatrist is doubtful (no body was found) and she starts to follow him down the same rabbit hole. At times tense, at times funny, at times sad, I enjoyed the supposed world of Lovecraft and his fans and peers, but again, I’m sure there are deeper musings here that I couldn’t reach.

44. Glass Houses / Louise Penny

The 13th novel in Penny’s Inspector Gamache mystery series sees our hero taking big risks to fight the opioid crisis in Quebec. He and his team focus on catching the big crime boss smuggling drugs across the border from Vermont, endangering his beloved town of Three Pines in the process.

45. The Bone Houses / Emily Lloyd-Jones

My Halloween read for the year, this dark fairytale of a YA novel was perfect for the season. Since her parents died, Ryn has taken over the family business - grave digging - to support herself and her siblings. As the gravedigger, she knows better than most that due to an old curse, the dead in the forest surrounding her village don’t always stay dead. But as more of the forest dead start appearing (and acting more violently than usual), Ryn and an unexpected companion (yes, a charming young man cause there’s got to be a romance!) travel to the heart of the forest to put a stop to the curse once and for all.

46. The Witches Are Coming / Lindy West

Another blazing hot set of essays from my favourite funny feminist take on Trump, abortion rights, #MeToo, and more importantly Adam Sandler and Dateline. As always, Lindy, please be my best friend?

47. Know My Name / Chanel Miller

This memoir is HEAVY but so, so needed. Recently, Chanel Miller decided to come forward publicly and share that she was the victim of Brock Turner’s sexual assault. She got the courage to do so after she posted her blistering and beautiful victim impact statement on social media and it went viral. Miller’s memoir is a must-read, highlighting the incredible and awful lengths victims have to go to to see any modicum of justice brought against their attackers. Miller dealt with professional ineptitude from police and legal professionals, victim-blaming, victim-shaming, depression and anxiety, the inability to hold down a job, and still managed to come out the other side of this trial intact. And in the midst of all the horror, she writes beautifully about her support system - her family, boyfriend and friends - and about the millions of strangers around the world who saw themselves in her experience.

48. Christmas Ghost Stories: A Collection of Winter Tales / Mark Onspaugh

Ghosts AND Christmas? Yes please! This quirky collection features a wide array of festively spooky tales. You want the ghost of Anne Boleyn trapped in a Christmas ornament? You got it! What about the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future drinking together in a bar? Yup, that’s here too!

So, what were my top picks of the year, the books that stuck with me the most? In no particular order:

Educated

Homegoing

The Wanderers

Know My Name

Scarborough

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bookaddict24-7 · 2 years ago

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AUTHOR FEATURE:

﹒Catherine Hernandez﹒

Three Books Written By this Author:

Scarborough

Crosshairs

The Story of Us

___

Happy reading!

#books #bookish #booklr #bookworm #bookaholic #bibliophile #book blog #book blogger #Features #on books #on reading #read #reader #reading #book list #catherine hernandez #diversify your shelves #read diverse

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scarborough-literary-essay-blog · 6 years ago

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Want to know more?

You can learn a little more about the cast of characters here.

You can also learn more about Catherine Hernandez, the author, here.

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bookclub4m · 2 years ago

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Episode 167 (version 2) - 2023 Reading Goals & 2022 Reading Report

(Hello! This is a re-upload. The first version had a syncing error that snuck in at the very end of the editing process. We've re-exported it and this version sounds much better!)

This episode we’re talking about our 2023 Reading Goals! We discuss intentions, resolutions, anti-resolutions, and give a report on how well we fulfilled our reading goals last year.

You can download the podcast directly, find it on Libsyn, or get it through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast delivery system.

In this episode

Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray | RJ Edwards

2022: Year of Book Two

Episode 142 - Sequels and 2022: The Year of Book Two

2023 Resolutions

Matthew: