Manila – The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) conducted its second webinar titled “Breaking Barriers: Skills and Tips to Navigate the Digitalized Workplace,” as part of its 10-part webinar series last September 2 via Zoom.

The webinar, which looked into the digital careers in the country and how employees are shifting from physical office work to become virtual professionals.

“Breaking Barriers” featured resource speaker Ms. Ann Kristine R. Peñaredondo, a Facebook Marketing Strategist, Published Author, Podcaster, and Virtual Professional. Ms. Peñaredondo spoke at length about her experience as she transitioned from being a 9-to-5 employee to becoming a virtual professional who enjoys working on home-based projects from a variety of available jobs online.

She shared her “Shields to Break the ‘Online’ Barriers,” “Three Machines to Break Barriers,” and “Ways to Protect Yourself as You Break Barriers in the Digitalized Workspace.”

Her presentation also highlighted the top 10 freelance skills and jobs that are available online: video creation, content editing, animation, logo design, article writing, illustration, graphic design, brochure, leaflet and flyer creation and layouting, HTML expertise and coding, and data entry. She said that anyone who has basic computer skills can successfully transition and specialize in these online jobs and secure certifications to improve their online marketability as virtual professionals. Ms. Peñaredondo, however, emphasized the importance of pushing for policies that would protect freelance artists and workers, especially during the pandemic.

In his Closing Remarks, Acting Deputy Executive Director Patrick P. Patriwirawan, Jr. thanked Ms. Peñaredondo for also surfacing the policy that the government should also be looking into, which is the Senate Bill No. 351 or the Freelancers Protection Act, for keen consideration in relation to freelancers’ right as well to decent work and other enabling and security mechanisms.