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Showing posts from June, 2026

Laughter and Music Fill the Air with Tom Franek at Quezon Club

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Tom Franek takes the center stage at Quezon Club this June for a fun-filled night of comedy and music to remember June gets more fun as comedian-musician Tom Franek makes his way back to the Philippines for an exhilarating evening of laughter, performances, and more. Quezon City’s first and only five-star luxury intergrated resort lights up as the three-time Grammy-nominated entertainer brings his signature piano-comedy performance blending his unique musicianship with stand-up comedy all the way to Quezon Club at Solaire Resort North for two weeks of fun starting June 11.   Previously featured as headliner for Disney, Princess Cruises, and known for live appearances on primetime television internationally, Tom Franek shares a new act to look forward to at Solaire Resort North for a memorable experience. Welcome a night of melodical and comical antics as Quezon Club opens its doors for patrons and guests to catch the exclusive shows this June 11, 13, 18, and 19.   Laugh and ji...

Fintech platform Skyro more than doubles loan disbursements in the Philippines in 2025

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Skyro posted rapid growth with PHP 15.8B disbursed in 2025 Skyro, a digital-first consumer finance platform, disbursed PHP 15.8 billion (over $280 million) and doubled the number of loans issued in the Philippines in 2025. This represents a 2.6-fold increase in loan disbursements year-on-year and places the company among the fastest-growing consumer lenders in the country.   Over the two-year period from 2023 to 2025, cumulative growth reached approximately 5.9-fold in the number of loans issued and 8.7-fold in disbursement value. Skyro’s loan portfolio includes POS (point-of-sale) installment loans, cash loans, and credit lines.   “We are proud to deliver multiple-fold growth in our loan portfolio, significantly outpacing the overall expansion of consumer lending in the Philippines,” said Skyro co-founder Nasim Aliev. “Since launching in 2022, Skyro has focused on offering a simple, convenient, and mobile-first solution at the point of sale, building a business that is clea...

‘Ride the Vibe’: Iloilo Business Park Gears Up for 12th Iloilo Bike Festival

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  A month-long lineup of races, community rides, and eco-mobility activities reinforces Iloilo's reputation as the country's Bike Capital.   Iloilo Business Park once again takes center stage in the country’s growing movement toward sustainable urban living as it hosts the 12th Iloilo Bike Festival this June. This year’s theme, “Ride the Vibe,” sets the tone for a month-long celebration of cycling culture, active mobility, and community connection.   Now firmly established as one of the Philippines’ most anticipated active lifestyle events, the festival gathers everyday commuters, elite cyclists, families, and fitness enthusiasts in a shared celebration of movement—reinforcing Iloilo’s position as a leading bike-friendly city in the country.   A City In Motion The festival opens on June 5 with Bike to Work Day, activating the city’s workforce to embrace cycling as a practical and purposeful mode of transport. This is followed by the official opening ceremony at Park ...

Ready for the rain: Why every urban Filipino needs a portable power station in their homes

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Modern living spaces are becoming increasingly compact, making strategic layouts and clever storage solutions essential for comfort. But when storage is already a challenge, how do you make room for backup power, especially when the rainy season rolls in?   Traditional fuel-powered generators are a definite no-no for condo dwellers. So, this calls for a safer alternative: a sleek and portable power backup that fits effortlessly into their space and lifestyle. Enter Jackery , which offers portable power stations that are space-conscious and dependable, providing exactly what Filipinos need for any weather.   No Outlet? No Problem Urban living, particularly in condos, requires a specific skill: arranging furniture and appliances within limited space and outlets. We all know the frustration: that aesthetic reading nook would look perfect by the window to watch the rain, but the nearest outlet is meters away. And while extension cords are a functional fix, they are often a messy ...

Filipino Urban Professionals Are Now Choosing Motorcycles—Here’s Why

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  Urban mobility is shifting toward experiences that make every day rides feel more seamless   Long hours of commute, endless lines at train and bus stations, heavy traffic congestion, and the constant challenge of finding parking spaces—these are realities many Filipinos, especially those navigating Metro Manila, go through every single day. For the workforce, this routine already feel tiring before the workday even begins, only to be repeated on the way home.   Because of this, more Filipino professionals, including four-wheel vehicle users, are now turning to motorcycles as they seek a more seamless, flexible, and time-efficient way to move through the city. As working days become more demanding, riders are choosing mobility options that help them navigate traffic more easily, save time, and make everyday movement more convenient within the pace of modern urban life.   As this shift continues, premium scooters are steadily gaining appeal among Filipino riders who ...

Google Try On lets you see what you’ll look like in different clothes before you buy

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Whether you’re looking for a cozy cardigan, a fresh look for a summer getaway, or the perfect piece for a job interview, envisioning how you’d look in it when shopping online can be challenging. But today, Google has now made the clothes shopping process easier.   Today, Google is expanding access to its apparel try-on tool, which will start rolling out in the Philippines in the coming weeks. The feature makes the online shopping experience more personal, allowing you to virtually try apparel on yourself just by uploading a photo.   Try On is powered by a custom image generation model for fashion, which understands the human body and nuances of clothing — like how different materials fold, stretch, and drape on different bodies. It preserves these subtleties when applied to poses in your photos - so the result lets you see how a piece of clothing would look on you, instead of seeing just a still picture or on a model. Try On lets you shop from the billions of apparel items in ...

Nike Debuts “Rip the Script”: A Step Inside the Universe of Nike Football

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  Courage over convention. Instinct over instruction. Creativity over everything   Nike is introducing “Rip the Script”: a rallying cry for young players everywhere to ditch the playbook and embrace attacking, creative, instinctive and joyful football. More than a film, “Rip the Script “is a gateway to an unfolding universe of Nike Football that moves at the speed of culture: fast; layered; remixable; and alive across sport, entertainment, music and fashion.   “We know the magical moments in football happen when players trust their instincts,” says Helena Thornton, VP, Nike Brand Management. “That’s the kind of football we love: fresh, instinctive, unexpected and creative.”   That’s the tone “Rip the Script” sets, in its content and in the world around the film.   “We made this film to meet football communities exactly where they are, not just on a screen, but in their world and deeply engrained into their subcultures,” says Helena. “We didn’t want to follow...

GoGo Xpress Launches Same-Day Delivery as Metro Manila Sellers Move Beyond On-Demand Booking

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As more Filipino online sellers scale beyond casual social commerce, logistics requirements are becoming more structured and process-driven.   While many merchants still operate at relatively low daily volumes, typically between one to five orders per day, same-day delivery is emerging as a high-potential fulfillment channel for growing online businesses.   At the same time, the biggest challenges merchants face are not speed, but consistency, cost predictability, and operational reliability amid rising logistics volatility. Around 63 percent cite high delivery costs as their primary concern, followed by rider availability at 52 percent and unpredictable pricing at 43 percent. Fuel fluctuations, rider shortages, and surge pricing continue to create operational uncertainty for sellers. What begins as a manageable number of daily orders can quickly turn into a complex juggling act as businesses scale. Sellers find themselves booking riders one by one, coordinating through multip...

SM Supermalls builds future champions through the Philippines' largest bowling network

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  Learn to Bowl and PBF Youth Cup showcase every stage of the athlete journey   Every champion starts somewhere. For dozens of young bowlers, that journey took center stage at the Learn to Bowl Culminating Day and the first-ever PBF Youth Cup National Finals held on May 31 at SM North EDSA.   Bringing together aspiring athletes, parents, coaches, and bowling enthusiasts, the event celebrated every stage of the athlete journey: from learning the fundamentals of the sport to competing at the national level.   “SM Supermalls wants to be part of an athlete’s journey from day one to the day they become champions. We are committed to providing them with spaces and programs where they can polish their skills and enjoy the spirit of competition,” said Joseph Francis Silva, Senior Assistant Vice President for Sports and Leisure.   The day began with the culmination of the Learn to Bowl program, where young participants demonstrated the skills they acquired through weeks...

New Fantasy Romance K-Drama Dive Into You to Stream Exclusively on Viki Across Southeast Asia and Global Markets

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  Rising Stars Kim Ji Yeon (The Haunted Palace) and Park Seo Ham (Our Universe) to Lead the Cast   Rakuten Viki , the leading global destination for Asian entertainment, announced today its upcoming original K-drama Dive Into You , a fantasy romance series starring Kim Ji Yeon ( The Haunted Palace , Twenty-Five Twenty-One , WJSN/Cosmic Girls) and Park Seo Ham ( Semantic Error , Our Universe ). The series will stream exclusively on Viki later this year across Southeast Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and India.   A collaboration between Korean production company Dexter Pictures, Amuse Entertainment, and Viki, Dive Into You marks the first original IP drama from Dexter Pictures, with Viki participating as both investor and producer.   Following a near-fatal accident, celebrity actress Yoon Ha Na finds herself thrown back in time and body-swapped with her twin brother. Determined to change fate, she sets out to save her childhood friend, loyal bod...

BPI AIA expands medical and life protection for freelancers and gig workers

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As more Filipinos embrace freelancing and self-employment, BPI AIA is expanding access to medical and life protection offerings for freelancers and gig workers who may not always have employer-sponsored medical benefits to rely on.   For many independent workers—from virtual assistants and online sellers to ride-hailing drivers and creative professionals—access to consistent healthcare coverage remains a growing concern. While HMOs and PhilHealth provide a level of support, medical emergencies, hospitalization, and critical illnesses can still lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses.   Through our Medical Solutions available through BPI AIA Future Ready and BPI AIA Aspire, customers can access hospitalization and healthcare benefits alongside life insurance coverage, helping them prepare for both immediate medical needs and long-term financial goals.   “Today’s workforce looks very different from what it did years ago. More Filipinos are building careers outside tradit...

TCL: From Technology Leadership to Experience Breakthrough as the Global No. 1 TV

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  New names may capture attention. Real breakthroughs capture the eye   As the TV industry moves deeper into the premium era, the conversation is no longer only about better specs. What increasingly defines a leading brand is the ability to turn technological strength into a truly superior viewing experience.   This is where TCL stands apart. Backed by deep display expertise and long-term innovation, TCL is bringing together technology leadership and experience breakthrough through its latest SQD Mini LED platform. Rather than making innovation feel technical and distant, TCL is making it visible where it matters most — on the screen.   At the core of this upgrade are three leading SQD technologies.   Precise Dimming: greater brilliance, better balance TCL’s Precise Dimming technology enables more precise light control across the screen. Through upgrades such as highly concentrated light, a new-generation super-condensed micro lens, optimized backlight design an...
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Payment solutions provider VeritasPay Philippines Inc. is targeting a 30–40 percent increase in its merchant base this year, alongside a 45-percent rise in processed transaction volume, supported by continued investments in internal capabilities and strategic partnerships.   From an initial focus on Metro Manila and the broader Mega Manila area in 2021, the company has since expanded its reach to serve merchants across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, reflecting the growing demand for accessible and reliable digital payment infrastructure beyond urban centers.   Today, VeritasPay supports a growing base of merchants nationwide, offering businesses a unified platform to accept multiple payment methods, including credit and debit cards, QR code payments, and other digital channels.   VeritasPay enables merchants to accept payments across various touchpoints—from physical point-of-sale (POS) terminals and mobile devices to online checkout pages and banking channels—through a si...

HONOR 600 Fever Takes Over Mall of Asia as Thousands of Fans Flock to First Day Sale Event

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  Long Lines, Big Stars, Huge Excitement Mark HONOR 600 First Day Sale   Massive crowd excitement was seen as leading global AI device provider HONOR Philippines officially kicked off the first day sale of the highly anticipated HONOR 600 Series at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 30 – drawing thousands of fans, tech enthusiasts, and shoppers eager to get their hands on the newest AI smartphone sensation.   The celebration transformed the iconic venue into a full-scale fan fest, highlighted by a star-studded lineup of performers and celebrity guests such as the up-and-coming PPop sensations FINA and It All Started In May, newly-crowned The Miss Philippines queens Allyson Hetland, Jenrose Javier, Trexy Roxas, Marian Arellano, and Catherine Wardle, and reigning Miss Earth Philippines 2025 Joy Barcoma as the host.   The biggest young stars of Pinoy Big Brother were also in attendance – Sofia Pablo, Marco Masa, Ashley Sarmiento, and Rave Victoria with an electric pe...