AI’s Jobmanship Crisis: The Wave That’s Redefining Work—And Who’s Drowning

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

This is no idle rumor—AI isn’t coming; it has landed, and it's reshaping lives and livelihoods with an unforgiving speed.

The Numbers Are Staggering

According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, in July alone, the surge in generative AI adoption by private employers cost over 10,000 jobs. Year-to-date, that number has already surpassed 27,000 layoffs directly linked to AI since 2023. The broader private sector is bleeding too—806,000 job cuts from January to July, the highest since 2020. And in tech? A staggering 89,000 roles slashed, a 36% year-over-year increase.

Jobs growth, meanwhile, is sputtering: July saw a paltry 73,000 new jobs added, well below expert expectations.

Warnings From the Top

Business leaders are increasingly blunt. Ford’s CEO warns that up to half of all white-collar jobs could vanish to AI. JPMorgan Chase expects a 10% workforce reduction in its consumer unit alone.

 Anthropic’s Dario Amodei paints an even grimmer picture: 50% of entry-level white-collar roles could disappear within five years, sending unemployment soaring toward 20%.

Young Talent at Greatest Risk

Goldman Sachs flags Gen Z tech workers—those in junior roles—as first in line for displacement. Tech employment among 20–30-year-olds already shows an alarming 3-percentage point jump in unemployment, more than four times the national rise.

Beyond Panic: What Industry and Academia See

Even traditional strongholds aren’t immune. Major players like Microsoft, Intel, and BT are shedding jobs tied to AI optimization, even as productivity remains strong.

 IBM and CrowdStrike are replacing HR roles with AI, even while reinvesting in programming and sales.

Yet a deeper dive reveals nuance. A recent economic analysis shows workers most exposed to AI—often the highly educated—fare slightly better in the labor market than less exposed peers.

Academic research underscores this complexity: while AI may supplant certain jobs, it amplifies demand for complementary skills like digital literacy, teamwork, and resilience—boosting wages for those who possess them.

What Lies Ahead?

Experts warn of an AI-fueled downturn, where companies accelerate automation to weather recessions—a trend poised to expand unemployment in non-routine cognitive jobs. U.S. Fed officials acknowledge AI’s potential to reshape foundational labor metrics.

Still, skepticism remains. White House AI adviser David Sacks calls the doomsday narrative overhyped, arguing the real threat isn’t AI replacing us, but those among us who wield it skillfully.

The Verdict: Reality Meets Opportunity

This isn’t a story of jobs vanishing without warning—it’s a story of disruption, adaptation, and those who can seize the shift.

Entry-level and junior roles are under siege.

Gen Z and tech newcomers are particularly vulnerable.

But AI isn’t the enemy—ill-preparedness is. As one expert puts it: “AI will not replace you… but someone using AI will.”

In this era, your diploma is no longer a shield—AI literacy is your survival gear.

So the real question is: will you let AI crush your career, or will you ride its wave to unprecedented success?

Why We Speak in Many Tongues — And Why It Matters

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Some may ask, almost skeptically: “Why bother?”

Why spend the time and effort to create content in Filipino, in Taglish, or in the many other languages of the Philippines when we can simply use English and call it a day?

The answer is both simple and profound: because we are Filipinos. Even in a nation where English flows easily in conversations, meetings, and social media posts, it is our native tongues that carry the heartbeat of who we are.

August — National Language Month — is a reminder that our words are more than just a tool for communication. They are vessels of identity, culture, and history. By producing content in Filipino and in other Philippine languages, we’re not merely translating words; we’re bridging worlds.

We want our messages — especially those that address vital issues — to reach more people, in the language that resonates with their everyday lives. This is not just about wider reach. It’s about empowering communities, making them more confident to speak up, advocate for their rights, and shape their own futures.

In doing this, we also contribute to the living, breathing evolution of the Filipino language. It is a language born of many tongues — at least eight major and over a hundred others — and continues to grow richer as it absorbs the colors, rhythms, and cadences of each.

And while Filipino may have begun with the grammatical structure of Tagalog, it has never been exclusive to it. Every time we speak it, we infuse it with pieces of our own mother tongues. It becomes a shared space where Bicolanos, Ilocanos, Kapampangans, Warays, Cebuanos, Tausugs, and countless others can meet and understand each other.

So why are we “bothering”?

Because language is not just how we talk — it’s how we connect, remember, and move forward together.

TAGALOG VERSION

Bakit Tayo Nagsasalita sa Maraming Wika — At Bakit Ito Mahalaga

May magtatanong, may halong pagtataka: “Bakit pa?”

Bakit pa gugugol ng oras at pagod para gumawa ng content sa Filipino, sa Taglish, o sa iba’t ibang wika sa Pilipinas kung puwede namang diretsong mag-English at tapos na?

Ang sagot ay parehong simple at malalim: dahil tayo ay mga Pilipino. Kahit sanay tayong gumamit ng Ingles sa usapan, sa opisina, at sa social media, ang mga sariling wika natin ang tunay na tumitibok bilang puso ng ating pagkatao.

Ang Agosto — Buwan ng Wika — ay paalala na ang ating mga salita ay higit pa sa paraan ng pakikipag-usap. Ang mga ito ay sisidlan ng ating pagkakakilanlan, kultura, at kasaysayan. Sa paggawa ng content sa Filipino at iba pang wika ng Pilipinas, hindi lang tayo basta nagsasalin ng salita — nag-uugnay tayo ng mga mundo.

Nais naming maabot ang mas maraming tao, lalo na pagdating sa mga isyung mahalaga, gamit ang wikang mas malapit sa kanilang araw-araw na buhay. Hindi lang ito tungkol sa lawak ng abot. Ito ay tungkol sa pagbibigay ng lakas sa mga komunidad, para mas maging matatag at handang ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan at kinabukasan.

Sa ganitong paraan, nakikibahagi rin tayo sa patuloy na pagyabong ng wikang Filipino — isang wikang isinilang mula sa samu’t saring wika sa bansa, may hindi bababa sa walong pangunahing wika at mahigit isang daang iba pa.

At kahit nagsimula ito sa estruktura ng Tagalog, hindi ito eksklusibo rito. Sa bawat gamit natin ng Filipino, dinadagdagan natin ito ng piraso ng ating sariling wikang kinagisnan. Nagiging isa itong bukas na espasyo kung saan maaaring magtagpo at magkaintindihan ang mga Bicolano, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Waray, Cebuano, Tausug, at marami pang iba.

Kaya bakit nga ba tayo “nababahala” na gawin ito?

Dahil ang wika ay hindi lang paraan ng pagsasalita — ito ay tulay ng pagkakaugnay, alaala, at sama-samang pag-usad.

Journalists Staying True to Their Calling: The Story of Wazzup Pilipinas Founder Ross Del Rosario

Wazzup Pilipinas 

In a media landscape often drowned out by noise, ego, and misinformation, the rare breed of personable yet hard-hitting journalists continues to shine — not just for their quick wit and courage to ask the uncomfortable questions, but for something increasingly scarce: integrity.

These are the storytellers who carry a grounded sharpness in their tone — forged from years of chasing truth — and a warmth in their conversations that is unfiltered, honest, and utterly disarming. Their craft is more than a profession; it is an instinct, a calling.

Among them is Ross Flores Del Rosario, founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, whose journey from sketching comic book characters as a schoolboy to covering the nation’s most volatile political and social developments is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

From Classroom Artist to Campus Journalist

“I’ve always been a journalist at heart,” Del Rosario says.

His love affair with storytelling began in high school at Pateros Catholic School, where he joined the school paper — not as a writer at first, but as its artist. This passion for illustration had been with him since elementary days, when he would draw his own comic books on the back pages of used reports, complete with original stories and dialogues.

Soon, his creative output found another home: the church paper of the Presbyterian Church of Pasig, where his aunt encouraged him to contribute. By the time he entered Mapua University (then Mapua Institute of Technology) to take up Electronics and Communications Engineering, Del Rosario’s curiosity and knack for communication were already deeply embedded — even if his course had little to do with journalism.

The Unexpected Shift to Storytelling

After graduation, Del Rosario navigated a series of jobs and business ventures, including running a gaming shop and internet café. He began contributing articles to a computer enthusiasts’ magazine by TipidPC, where his style began to sharpen. His work ethic was guided by personal standards for quality, ethics, and moral values — and when those standards weren’t met, he had no qualms about moving on.

Social media soon became his arena. While still running his business, he landed a junior writer role for an online portal. Within six months, he was promoted to senior writer. Event invitations flooded in, and organizers often asked him to bring other bloggers along. Seeing the potential, he founded Wazzup Pilipinas, his own online portal.

Awards, recognitions, and international blogging invitations followed. From that point on, he knew his path was set: “I am destined to have an online presence.”

From Lifestyle Coverage to Advocacy Journalism

At first, Wazzup Pilipinas focused on lifestyle, events, food, and travel. But over time, Del Rosario expanded into covering political issues, governance, environmental advocacy, and human rights. This evolution brought partnerships with government agencies, collaborations with mainstream media, and stints in radio, online shows, and even a newspaper editorial team.

“I always tell new bloggers today that they have to build their core,” he says. “Blogging is a state of mind. If you don’t have a deep understanding of its purpose, you won’t last. You’ll quit after a few years.”

The Pandemic Pause — and a Reinvention

Like many in the industry, Del Rosario faced a slowdown when the pandemic struck. “I was also infected by COVID, though asymptomatic,” he recalls. “We were even sent back from a resort we had checked into after they learned I was positive.”

Event coverage stalled. Opportunities dried up. But once restrictions lifted, the digital landscape had changed dramatically — short vertical videos, livestreams, and reels were now dominating.

Rather than resist, Del Rosario adapted. He embraced new platforms and formats, ensuring Wazzup Pilipinas remained relevant in an era where “everyone can be a content creator.”

Stepping into Environmental Leadership

In 2025, Del Rosario became External Vice President of the Green Party of the Philippines and a Trustee of the Bayanihan Para Sa Kalikasan Movement. His advocacy work now runs parallel to his journalism, reinforcing his belief that media has the power — and responsibility — to influence meaningful change.

The Road Ahead

From a cramped room in a Pasig BLISS unit to national recognition, Ross Del Rosario’s journey has been neither easy nor glamorous. But it is grounded in persistence, adaptability, and integrity — the same values that drew him to journalism in the first place.

The future of Wazzup Pilipinas is still being written. More collaborations, partnerships, and sponsorships are on the horizon. And as long as there are stories to tell, Ross Del Rosario — the journalist, the advocate, the relentless truth-seeker — will be there to tell them.

Because for him, this isn’t just a career. It’s a calling.