I stood in a wet market recently, staring at a small bundle of chili and a few sprigs of spring onions priced as if they were luxury items. That moment made the message painfully clear: relying entirely on the market for everyday food has become a quiet but costly mistake. Growing vegetables and spices at home is no longer a hobby; it is a practical response to a stubborn reality.

The prices of basic kitchen staples have been climbing with little mercy. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, chili—items that once felt ordinary now demand careful budgeting and second thoughts. Each visit to the market feels like a test of patience and restraint, where one must choose what to leave behind. This is not about indulgence or lifestyle trends; it is about survival at the household level, where every peso now carries more weight than before.

Planting at home changes the relationship between food and money. A pot of chili by the window or a cluster of pechay in recycled containers quietly cuts daily expenses without fanfare. No plastic bags, no sudden price hikes, no panic buying. When something is needed, it is simply picked, washed, and used. The savings may seem small at first, but they accumulate steadily, the way quiet habits often do.

There is also a certain satisfaction in knowing exactly where food comes from. Home-grown vegetables are not rushed by profit or soaked in chemicals for transport and shelf life. They grow at their own pace, responding to sunlight, water, and care. Even modest harvests feel honest. In a time when trust in food sources is often shaky, honesty matters.

Space is no longer a convincing excuse. Buckets, old basins, empty bottles, broken pails—these have all proven capable of holding soil and life. Balconies, doorsteps, rooftops, and window ledges can host kangkong, basil, mint, tomatoes, and spring onions. Gardening has quietly adapted to urban limits, proving that abundance does not always need land; sometimes it only needs intention.

Planting also restores a sense of control often lost to inflation and supply problems. Watching leaves grow where there was once bare soil counters the helplessness that rising prices bring. It teaches patience, attentiveness, and respect for effort. Failures happen, of course, but even they sharpen awareness and discipline—qualities useful far beyond the garden.

There is humor, too, in discovering that a once-forgotten pot has suddenly produced something edible. It feels like finding spare coins in an old pocket, except better, because it feeds the body and calms the mind. Neighbors notice, conversations start, cuttings are shared, and what began as a private effort slowly becomes communal. Food, after all, has always been social.

The answer does not lie in grand programs or complicated solutions. It begins quietly, with soil under the nails and seeds pressed into waiting pots. When households grow even a fraction of what they consume, dependence eases, and resilience grows. In a time of rising prices and shrinking patience, planting at home is a small, steady act of wisdom.

Entrepreneurship in 2026 is expected to be shaped by several key trends, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and evolving economic landscapes. Here are some of the most significant emerging trends:

AI-Powered Business Solutions

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to become increasingly integrated into various aspects of small business operations. AI-driven analytics for specific industries, cloud-based collaboration suites, and compliance-focused SaaS products are anticipated to gain traction. Small businesses may leverage AI for automating tasks, enhancing customer experiences, and making data-driven decisions.

Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword but a core business value. Entrepreneurs are increasingly focusing on sustainable practices, including adopting circular economy models, minimizing waste, and creating environmentally friendly products. Consumer demand for sustainable and ethically sourced products is driving this trend, creating opportunities for businesses that prioritize environmental and social responsibility.

E-commerce and Social Commerce

E-commerce continues to grow, and small businesses are leveraging online channels to reach customers. Social commerce, particularly through platforms like TikTok, is becoming increasingly popular, allowing brands to connect with younger audiences and drive sales directly through social media. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) models are also gaining traction, enabling businesses to build direct relationships with customers and control their brand experience.

Niche Markets and Hyper-Personalization

Entrepreneurs are finding success by targeting niche markets with specialized products and services. Hyper-personalization, tailoring products and services to individual customer needs and preferences, is also on the rise. This trend is driven by consumers’ desire for unique and customized experiences.

Remote Work and Distributed Teams

The shift towards remote work is creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to build distributed teams and access talent globally. Businesses are leveraging technology to facilitate remote collaboration and communication, reducing overhead costs and increasing flexibility.

The Longevity Economy

With an aging global population, the “longevity economy” is emerging as a significant area of opportunity. This includes developing products and services that cater to the needs of older adults, such as smart technology to improve their quality of life and wellness programs tailored to their specific needs.

Creative Financing Models

Entrepreneurs are exploring alternative financing models beyond traditional bank loans. Crowdfunding, angel investors, and venture capital are becoming increasingly popular options for startups seeking funding. Bootstrapping, where entrepreneurs self-fund their ventures, also remains a viable strategy.

Small Businesses on Large Platforms

Large online platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and Shopify continue to provide avenues for individuals to launch and scale their businesses. These platforms offer access to a vast customer base and a range of tools and services to support entrepreneurs.

Cybersecurity

With the increasing reliance on technology, cybersecurity is becoming a top priority for small businesses. Entrepreneurs are investing in cybersecurity solutions to protect their data and systems from cyber threats.
By understanding and adapting to these emerging trends, entrepreneurs can position themselves for success in the evolving business landscape of 2026.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

WE have to be wary of this tendency that, obviously, is a universal one, given our wounded nature here on earth. While it’s true that we are meant to judge and to judge with dispatch as much as possible, we should see to it that we know how to judge fairly.

We are reminded of this danger in that gospel episode where Christ and his disciples were crossing a corn field on a Sabbath, and when the disciples started plucking some corn, the ever-present fault-finder Pharisees quickly complained. That was when Christ clarified the issue and put them in their place, knocking them off their high horse. (cfr. Mk 2,23-28)
We need to train ourselves on how to judge properly, avoiding quick and shallow judgments that often are rash since they are more a product of some impulsive decisions or opinions without taking the time to consider all the relevant facts or to think critically.

For this, we have to realize that we can only judge properly when we do it with God always. We should be wary of our tendency to judge simply on our own, relying only on our own powers, especially when we are aware that we are quite gifted intellectually.

We should have no doubt about our capacity to judge with God always. Our spiritual powers of intelligence and will, plus the grace of God, would enable us to go beyond what we can only sense and understand with our reason alone. With our spiritual powers and God’s grace, we can judge according to the faith, hope and charity that God shares with us.
We should just be more aware that everything we do, starting with our thoughts, judgments and reasonings, should be done with God. Only then would we know and judge things properly. We have to develop the appropriate discipline because we cannot deny that we have a strong tendency to simply judge and do things on our own.

With God, we can aim to become persons of sound judgment. It’s an ideal whose importance, relevance and urgency are increasing these days, given the complicating conditions we are getting into.

In this regard, we have to help one another develop the proper attitude and skills to be persons of sound judgment. Obviously, the older and the more educated ones, the more mature and experienced persons and those with clear natural and supernatural gifts pertinent to this concern should lead the way.

There is obviously a theoretical and practical side to this affair. For one, we need to study the moral principles and the doctrine of our faith as thoroughly as possible. We should aim at nothing less than becoming masters and experts in this field, since these principles and doctrine are indispensable. We should not have second thoughts on this.

We have to realize that this study should be an ongoing and continuing concern, ever deepening and refining our understanding of these principles and doctrine, such that we can distinguish the nuances and fine points, and that they become part of our mentality.
Together with study and meditation, we need to grow in the virtues and to avail of the sacraments that keep us in the state of grace. We should not be theoretical and intentional only. We have to incarnate and express outwardly the things that we have learned in our ongoing formation.