EastWest Ageas Wins 2026 Philippine Quill Award

EastWest Ageas Wins 2026 Philippine Quill Award

Monday, September 7, 2026

EastWest Ageas has received an Award of Excellence at the 22nd Philippine Quill Awards, highlighting the growing role of relatable storytelling in corporate and brand communications.

The recognition was given for the company's #FYP: For Your PURPLE campaign, a six-episode short-form video series built around the experiences of Filipinos pursuing personal goals and navigating everyday challenges.

The Philippine Quill Awards, organized by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines), recognize excellence in business communication. More than 700 entries from students and professionals were submitted for this year's awards.

For EastWest Ageas, the recognition also marks its third consecutive year of being recognized by IABC Philippines.

Why EastWest Ageas' campaign stood out

At its core, the #FYP campaign used storytelling rather than product-focused messaging to communicate the brand's broader positioning.

The six-part series follows four characters as they deal with different situations while working toward their dreams and goals. The stories touch on familiar themes such as finding support from loved ones, making time for self-care, and balancing personal passions with practical considerations.

That approach reflects an important shift in how brands communicate with consumers.

Rather than simply explaining what a company offers, effective brand communication increasingly seeks to create situations and stories that audiences can recognize from their own lives.

For a financial services company, that distinction can be particularly relevant. Financial decisions are often connected to larger personal priorities, from family and health to career ambitions and long-term goals.

From brand storytelling to measurable results

The campaign was not positioned solely as a creative exercise.

According to EastWest Ageas, its brand health score increased from 12% to 22% in 2025 following the campaign and its related activations.

While the award recognizes the campaign's communication execution, the reported movement in brand health provides another measure of its business impact.

For companies investing in content and brand campaigns, this is an important consideration. A campaign can generate attention, but its longer-term value depends on whether communication contributes to stronger awareness, relevance and connection with its intended audience.

What #FYP says about modern corporate communication

The #FYP campaign illustrates how financial brands can use human experiences as a bridge between corporate messaging and consumer concerns.

Its characters and storylines focus on situations that do not necessarily require viewers to have a deep understanding of insurance or financial products. Instead, the starting point is the aspirations and decisions that shape everyday life.

That gives the communication a wider entry point.

It also reflects the growing importance of short-form video as a storytelling format. Rather than relying on one long campaign film, a series allows a brand to explore several characters, situations and themes while maintaining a common identity.

For communications teams, the lesson is not simply to produce more video content. The more important question is whether the format, story and message fit the audience the brand is trying to reach.

Why recognition matters to the financial services sector

Financial services companies operate in a category where trust is an important part of the customer relationship.

Consumers are not only evaluating products and services. They are also deciding whether a company understands their priorities and can be part of important financial decisions over time.

This makes communication an important component of brand building.

Recognition from industry organizations such as IABC Philippines can therefore serve as an external assessment of how effectively a company approaches communication, although awards should be considered alongside business and audience metrics.

For EastWest Ageas, the Philippine Quill recognition gives its #FYP campaign another marker of performance as the company continues developing its brand communication strategy.

The bigger business lesson

The strongest corporate campaigns often have to accomplish two things at once: communicate what a company stands for and give audiences a reason to pay attention.

The #FYP campaign took the second route by starting with stories about people, their ambitions and the realities they face.

That approach can make corporate communication feel less like a company speaking at its audience and more like a brand participating in a conversation that already matters to them.

For businesses, that distinction can be valuable. Good brand storytelling is not simply about telling an appealing story. It is about choosing stories that reinforce the brand's purpose while remaining meaningful to the people the company wants to reach.

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Anker Philippines Unveils ONE ANKER and MindBase

Anker Philippines Unveils ONE ANKER and MindBase

Friday, September 4, 2026

Anker is putting its growing collection of consumer technology products under one name. In the Philippines, the company is preparing to introduce ONE ANKER, bringing charging, audio, smart home devices, robotics, energy and creative technology into a more unified ecosystem.

The shift goes beyond a logo change. Anker is also introducing new products built around artificial intelligence, local computing and connected devices, including Anker MindBase, a home hub designed to process AI tasks and store household data locally.

Anker Philippines will officially bring the ONE ANKER concept to the local market on September 22, 2026.

Why is Anker bringing its brands together?

For years, Anker Innovations used separate brands for different categories. Anker focused on charging, soundcore handled audio, eufy covered smart home products, SOLIX focused on energy, and eufyMake developed creative tools.

That structure made sense when these products largely operated independently.

Today, however, the lines between consumer electronics are becoming less obvious. A smartphone connects to headphones, chargers and computers. Security cameras can communicate with sensors. Robot vacuums can map homes. AI can analyze information collected by several devices.

Anker says its five brands will gradually transition under the Anker name as the company moves toward a more connected product ecosystem. Existing products will not disappear overnight, and the company says warranty coverage, customer support and service will remain unchanged.

The new structure divides products into two broad groups:Anker For You: charging, audio, personal health and creative tools

Anker for Home: home security, robotics and home energy

Anker's official IFA materials now describe the company as a unified consumer brand with five product categories: Anker Charging, Anker SOLIX, Anker eufy, Anker soundcore and Anker eufyMake.

What is Anker MindBase?

Anker MindBase is a local AI hub designed to connect smart-home devices, process AI tasks locally and keep household data stored within the home.

That local-processing approach is important because much of today's connected technology depends on sending information to cloud servers. Local AI, sometimes called edge AI, allows certain computing tasks to happen on the device itself rather than relying entirely on a remote server.

MindBase is built around three functions: connection, local intelligence and memory.

Its EasyOmni Link is designed to connect Anker devices with Matter-compatible products from other manufacturers. Matter is an industry standard intended to make smart-home devices from different brands work more easily together.

MindBase also uses TrueSmart Agent, which provides AI agents for different home functions, and EverSafe Memory, which offers up to 48TB of expandable local storage.

That combination makes MindBase more than a conventional smart-home hub. It is designed to act as a central system where connected devices, AI processing and household data come together.

Why does local AI matter at home?

Local AI can offer practical advantages for connected-home devices.

When processing happens locally, information does not necessarily have to leave the home for every task. That can be useful for privacy-sensitive applications such as security footage, household recordings and personal data.

It can also allow connected devices to respond without depending entirely on an internet connection or remote processing service.

Anker's approach reflects a broader shift in consumer technology toward devices that can interpret information and make decisions closer to where the data is generated.

Anker is also pushing AI into personal audio

The company's AI strategy extends beyond the home.

Anker is expanding its audio lineup with products powered by its proprietary THUS AI chip, which performs AI processing on the device. The company first introduced the chip earlier in 2026 and is now extending it across several audio products.

Among the new products is the AeroClip 2 Pro, an open-ear clip-style device with AI Voice Recording. It can capture conversations and then transcribe and summarize them.

That could make the technology useful beyond listening to music. Meetings, interviews, voice notes and everyday conversations are increasingly becoming potential sources of searchable information.

The new Space 2 Pro over-ear headphones and Liberty Buds 2 earbuds also use the THUS chip for audio and call-related processing. Independent coverage of the IFA announcement confirms that the new audio range places particular emphasis on AI-assisted call clarity and on-device processing.

Sleep technology is becoming part of the audio ecosystem

Anker is also expanding into devices designed specifically for sleep.

The new Sleep 4 and Sleep 4 Pro earbuds build on the company's existing sleep-focused audio products. The Pro model adds sensors that monitor physiological information and uses that data to adjust audio.

More notable is the company's move beyond earbuds.

The SleepLab and SleepLab Pro are bedside speakers designed to provide sleep sounds, music and alarms. The Pro model uses 60GHz radar to monitor sleep-related information without requiring the user to wear earbuds, a ring or another wearable device.

That points to a broader consumer technology trend: devices that are designed to fit quietly into everyday routines rather than demanding constant attention.

Charging gets smarter, too

Charging remains at the center of Anker's business, but the new products focus on managing power as much as delivering it.

The Anker MagGo Power Bank Pro 2 combines magnetic wireless charging with active cooling. According to Anker, it uses a built-in fan, dual air ducts and graphene heat spreading to manage temperature during charging.

The MagStand Charging Station is designed to combine several charging functions into one bedside device. It includes a magnetic charging pad, retractable cable and USB-C connectivity, while its Care Mode is intended to manage overnight charging.

For people working with multiple devices, the Anker Desktop USB-C Hub adds another practical feature: a built-in display that provides information about power, temperature and port status. The hub supports dual displays and refresh rates of up to 240Hz, according to Anker.

Meanwhile, the Anker Nano Universal Charger is aimed at frequent travelers, with built-in international plugs and the ability to charge four devices simultaneously.

What does ONE ANKER mean for Filipino consumers?

For consumers, the biggest change may simply be how Anker's products are presented.

Someone shopping for wireless earbuds may increasingly encounter the same Anker branding as someone looking for a robot vacuum, security camera or home battery system.

The longer-term goal appears to be interoperability: devices that can communicate with one another and share information rather than operating as isolated products.

That is particularly relevant as AI becomes embedded in more everyday electronics. The next generation of smart devices is not simply about adding an AI feature to an existing product. It is increasingly about allowing multiple devices to work together.

Anker's MindBase is a clear example. A security camera can generate information, a local AI system can interpret it, storage can retain relevant footage, and connected devices can potentially respond.

That is a very different proposition from simply having a collection of smart gadgets around the house.

More products are joining the Anker ecosystem

The company's home lineup is expanding alongside MindBase.

The upcoming MindBase Security Kit will work with new security products including the TrackLight Cam S1 and Video Doorbell S4. Anker has also announced additional security devices, including the Window Camera E10 and Fall Detection Sensor.

In robotics, the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E35 features the company's HydroJet 2.0 self-cleaning roller mop and 35,000Pa suction, according to the company.

The broader lineup demonstrates where Anker is heading: fewer isolated categories and more products designed to form part of a connected system.

What happens to eufy and soundcore?

The familiar names are not simply disappearing overnight.

Anker says the transition will happen gradually, with new products leading the move to the unified Anker brand while existing products transition over time. Warranty, customer support and service are expected to remain unchanged.

Anker's current global brand structure still identifies categories such as Anker soundcore and Anker eufy, but positions them within the broader Anker brand.

For Filipino consumers who already own products from these brands, that means the rebranding should be viewed primarily as a change in how the portfolio is organized rather than an immediate replacement of existing devices.

The bigger picture

The interesting part of ONE ANKER is not the name itself. It is what the consolidation says about where consumer technology is heading.

Phones, headphones, home security, appliances, energy systems and robots are increasingly connected through software and AI. As those devices become more capable of understanding their surroundings and communicating with one another, the traditional boundaries between product categories become less meaningful.

Anker is betting that consumers will eventually want fewer disconnected gadgets and more technology that works together.

For Filipino consumers, September 22 will mark the local introduction of that vision. The more important question will be whether Anker can turn its large collection of products into an ecosystem that is genuinely easier and more useful to live with.

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SM Group Wins 12 Stevie Awards for Reporting and Community Programs

SM Group Wins 12 Stevie Awards for Reporting and Community Programs

Thursday, September 3, 2026

The SM Group received 12 Stevie Awards at the 2026 International Business Awards, with the recognition covering corporate reporting, sustainability initiatives, community engagement and programs operated through its malls.

The awards span two areas that increasingly matter to large organizations: how companies communicate their performance to stakeholders and how they translate corporate commitments into programs that people can experience in their communities.

SM Investments Corporation, the parent company of the SM Group, received four awards, while SM Supermalls accounted for eight.

What did SM Investments Corporation win at the Stevie Awards?

SM Investments Corporation received Gold Stevie Awards in the Conglomerates (Large) and Best Annual Report (Publicly Held Corporations) categories for its 2025 Integrated Report.

The company's 2025 Sustainability Report received a Bronze Stevie for Best Sustainability Report. The SM Sustainability School also received Bronze in the Sustainability Initiative of the Year category for Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

For SM Investments President and CEO Frederic C. DyBuncio, the recognition for reporting reflects the importance of providing investors and other stakeholders with information about how the company makes decisions, manages its businesses and approaches long-term planning.

The distinction is particularly relevant as corporate reporting continues to move beyond financial results.

An integrated report typically brings together financial and non-financial information to give stakeholders a broader picture of an organization's strategy, performance, governance and outlook. Sustainability reporting similarly provides information on a company's environmental, social and governance-related activities and impacts.

For large groups with diverse businesses, these reports can serve as an important way of explaining how corporate strategy connects with broader stakeholder responsibilities.

How did SM Supermalls earn eight awards?

SM Supermalls received eight awards covering brand experiences, environmental programs, diversity and inclusion, creative projects and community engagement.

Among the recognized initiatives was the Philippine International Pyromusical Competition, which won Gold for Brand Experience of the Year in the Consumer category.

The Find Your SM campaign received Silver in the same category.

Several SM Cares programs were also recognized:

• SM Green Movement received Silver for Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility.
• SM Cares Coastal Cleanup received Silver for Achievement in Environment.
• SM Cares: A Mall for All received Silver for Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion.
• SM Cares Book Nook received Bronze for Most Innovative Creative Project.
• Empowering Communities was recognized under Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
• SM Mindanao Art received Bronze in the Corporate and Community category for Community Engagement Event.

The range of categories is notable because the initiatives go beyond conventional mall activities.

Why community programs matter to large businesses

For a large retail property network, community engagement can be experienced directly by customers and residents.

SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan emphasized this distinction, pointing to activities such as reading spaces, local art events and programs designed to make malls more accessible.

That perspective reflects a broader shift in how companies approach corporate social responsibility.

Instead of treating CSR as a separate charitable activity, businesses increasingly connect community programs with the places, services and experiences they already provide.

The SM Cares Book Nook, for example, integrates reading spaces into malls. SM Mindanao Art creates opportunities for artists from Mindanao to reach a wider public audience. Environmental and inclusion programs similarly bring corporate commitments into spaces used by communities.

For businesses, this approach can make social initiatives more visible and easier for stakeholders to experience firsthand.

What do the awards say about corporate reporting and accountability?

The recognition received by SM Investments and SM Supermalls points to two different but connected dimensions of corporate accountability.

Reporting creates visibility. Integrated and sustainability reports give stakeholders information they can use to understand a company's activities, priorities and performance.

Community programs create direct engagement. Customers and communities can see how corporate commitments are translated into activities, services and initiatives.

Together, these areas demonstrate why stakeholder communication is no longer limited to annual financial statements or corporate announcements.

Investors may look for information about long-term strategy and sustainability. Employees may pay attention to workplace and inclusion initiatives. Customers and communities may judge companies based on the programs and experiences they encounter.

For large organizations, addressing these different audiences requires both credible reporting and meaningful engagement.

Recognition covers more than corporate performance

The 2026 International Business Awards are now in their 23rd year and recognize organizations, executives, entrepreneurs and teams from around the world.

According to the award announcement, more than 300 business professionals participated in two months of judging, with winners determined based on average scores.

For the SM Group, the 12 awards cover a wide range of activities, from the preparation of corporate reports to environmental programs, creative projects and community initiatives.

The bigger business takeaway is that corporate reputation is shaped in multiple ways.

A company's annual report may explain what it is doing, but its programs determine how some of those commitments are experienced by the public. For organizations operating at scale, aligning the two can be an important part of maintaining stakeholder trust.

The Stevie recognition therefore represents more than a collection of awards. It highlights the growing expectation that large companies should be transparent about their performance while demonstrating their stated commitments through programs that have a visible presence in the communities they serve.

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Eastern Communications Takes Filipino Service Global at BATIC 2026

Eastern Communications Takes Filipino Service Global at BATIC 2026

Technology can connect businesses across countries in seconds, but building relationships across those connections still requires something distinctly human.

That idea was at the center of Eastern Communications' participation in the Bali Annual Telkom International Conference (BATIC) 2026, held from August 25 to 28 at the Bali International Convention Center in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.

The Philippine telecommunications company joined global telecom players, digital technology companies and enterprises at the industry gathering, where discussions focused on the future of connectivity and the technologies shaping an increasingly digital economy.

For Eastern, however, the event was also an opportunity to bring something beyond technology to the international conversation: its Filipino approach to customer service.

Why does human-centered service still matter in telecommunications?

As connectivity becomes increasingly embedded in business operations, technology providers are no longer competing solely on infrastructure.

Enterprises expect connectivity to be reliable, but they also need providers that understand their business requirements, respond to problems and build relationships over time.

This makes customer experience an increasingly important part of the enterprise technology equation.

Eastern Communications frames this approach through its Heart of Service, built around Filipino values such as hospitality, malasakit, or genuine care, and a willingness to go beyond basic service requirements.

Its participation at BATIC 2026 placed that philosophy alongside conversations about digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.

Eastern Communications brings its “Heart of Service” beyond the Philippines

Eastern's presence at BATIC reflects its ambition to participate in a broader regional and global business conversation.

The company has operated in the Philippines for nearly 150 years, giving it a long history in the country's communications industry. As Philippine businesses become more connected to international markets, telecommunications providers also have a role in helping organizations operate across borders.

Eastern says its approach is to combine connectivity expertise with a more personal understanding of the organizations it serves.

“Technology may connect the world, but it is people who make those connections meaningful,” said Atty. Aileen Regio, Co-Coordinator of Eastern Communications.

That distinction is increasingly relevant as businesses adopt more technologies.

Digital transformation can introduce sophisticated platforms, cloud services and automated processes, but successful adoption still depends on people being able to use those technologies effectively and organizations having the support they need.

What can Filipino businesses bring to the global technology conversation?

Eastern's BATIC participation also raises a broader question about how Philippine companies position themselves internationally.

Global competitiveness is often discussed in terms of technology, cost, infrastructure and scale. Service culture can be another differentiator, particularly in industries where businesses maintain long-term relationships with customers and partners.

For Philippine companies, this creates an opportunity to turn a familiar local value into a business strength.

The Filipino concept of malasakit is difficult to quantify, but its practical expression can be seen in how companies communicate with customers, solve problems and maintain partnerships.

The challenge is ensuring that these values are reflected consistently in actual customer experiences rather than remaining part of corporate messaging.

Where technology meets the human touch

At BATIC 2026, Eastern showcased its enterprise capabilities while exploring opportunities to collaborate with organizations and industry players from across the region.

The timing is significant.

Companies are navigating an environment in which connectivity is no longer simply a supporting function. Internet access, data networks, cloud platforms and digital systems increasingly underpin everyday business operations.

As organizations become more dependent on technology, the relationship between service providers and customers can become more important, not less.

Eastern describes this balance through its “High Tech, High Touch” philosophy.

“At BATIC, we hope to bring together the best of both worlds. The strength of our technological expertise and the warmth of human-centered service,” said Jaeson Evangelista, Co-Coordinator of Eastern Communications.

The approach recognizes that technology and customer experience do not have to be competing priorities.

The business value of Filipino hospitality

For companies expanding into regional or global markets, cultural identity can sometimes be treated as something separate from business strategy.

Eastern's approach suggests another possibility.

A company can compete through technology while allowing its service culture to remain part of its identity.

That can be particularly valuable in telecommunications and other business-to-business industries, where relationships often extend beyond individual transactions.

Enterprise customers may work with a provider for years. During that period, responsiveness, trust and an understanding of business needs can influence whether a relationship continues.

In this context, Filipino hospitality is not simply about being friendly. Its business value lies in translating care into consistent customer support, communication and partnership.

What Eastern's BATIC participation says about Philippine businesses

Eastern's appearance at an international telecommunications conference represents more than a Philippine company attending an overseas industry event.

It reflects a broader opportunity for local businesses to participate in global conversations while retaining characteristics that distinguish them at home.

For Philippine companies, competing internationally does not necessarily require abandoning local identity.

The stronger proposition may be to combine global standards with local strengths.

In Eastern's case, that means pairing enterprise connectivity and digital solutions with a service philosophy rooted in Filipino values.

Connectivity is becoming a relationship business

The telecommunications industry will continue to change as businesses adopt new digital technologies and become more dependent on connected systems.

But the fundamental business requirement remains familiar: organizations need partners they can rely on.

That is where Eastern Communications' message at BATIC 2026 becomes relevant beyond the event itself.

Technology may determine how quickly and efficiently businesses connect, but service determines much of what happens after that connection is established.

As Eastern brings its enterprise capabilities to a broader international audience, its Filipino approach to service becomes part of its story of differentiation.

The technology will continue to evolve.

The human side of business, however, remains much harder to replace.

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Delbros Group and UPS Expand the Philippines’ Global Reach

Delbros Group and UPS Expand the Philippines’ Global Reach

For Filipino businesses, reaching an international market involves more than finding customers abroad. It also requires the infrastructure to move products, documents, ideas and opportunities efficiently across borders.

That makes logistics an important part of the country's broader business ecosystem.

For Delbros Group, this role has been central to its operations for decades. Its long-running partnership with UPS, which began in 1988 and developed into a joint venture in 1997, is now entering another phase with the expansion of the UPS Clark Hub.

The development points to a larger business story: as the Philippine economy becomes increasingly connected to international markets, logistics infrastructure can play a strategic role in helping local enterprises participate in that growth.

Why does logistics infrastructure matter to Philippine businesses?

Logistics is often viewed simply as the movement of goods from one location to another. In practice, it is closely tied to a company's ability to serve customers, manage supply chains and enter new markets.

For businesses selling internationally, reliable logistics can influence delivery times, inventory planning, customer experience and the overall cost of doing business.

This is particularly relevant for Philippine companies looking beyond the domestic market.

The growth of e-commerce, digital businesses and globally distributed supply chains has made international connectivity increasingly important. A local company may be based in Manila, Cebu or another Philippine city while its customers, suppliers or business partners are located thousands of kilometers away.

Infrastructure that supports these connections therefore becomes part of the foundation for business expansion.

The Delbros-UPS partnership enters a new chapter

Delbros Group and UPS have maintained a relationship spanning more than three decades.

The partnership brings together Delbros' understanding of the Philippine market with UPS' international logistics network. According to the company, the expanded Clark Hub represents the next stage of that relationship.

For Delbros Group CEO Paolo Delgado, the partnership is about more than moving shipments.

“For decades, we have helped connect the Philippines to the rest of the world,” Delgado said. “As we enter this next chapter with UPS, we remain focused on strengthening those connections while creating more opportunities for Filipino talent and ideas to reach wider audiences.”

The statement reflects a broader view of connectivity, where logistics is not only about physical cargo but also about enabling businesses and people to participate in international markets.

What does the UPS Clark Hub mean for global connectivity?

The expanded UPS Clark Hub adds another piece to the infrastructure supporting international connections from the Philippines.

Clark's location also places the development within an important logistics and economic corridor in Central Luzon. For companies operating in and around the region, connectivity through Clark can be relevant to how goods move between local operations and international destinations.

However, the business value of logistics infrastructure goes beyond the physical facility itself.

The real measure is how effectively that infrastructure helps companies reach customers, manage international shipments and integrate into broader supply chains.

For Philippine businesses with ambitions beyond the domestic market, these capabilities can become increasingly important as competition becomes more global.

From moving goods to moving Filipino ideas

Perhaps the more interesting part of Delbros Group's story is its attempt to broaden the meaning of connection.

A recent example is the UPS Philippines Express Envelope Design Contest, organized by UPS Philippines with the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and supported by Delbros Group.

The competition invited Multimedia Arts students to create designs inspired by the Philippines and the new Clark Hub.

More than 400 entries were submitted, with Multimedia Arts student Lauren Kerby Obaldo selected as the Grand Prize winner.

Her winning design, Haraya sa Kalsada, is set to appear on UPS Express Envelopes that can travel through the company's international network.

The project illustrates another way global logistics can intersect with the Philippine economy: by giving local creative work an avenue to travel beyond its original setting.

Why the creative economy belongs in the global connectivity conversation

Creative industries are increasingly part of how countries participate in the global economy.

Designers, artists, content creators, developers, filmmakers and other creative professionals can work with clients and audiences outside their home markets. But like traditional businesses, they still depend on networks and platforms that allow their work to move, be seen and create value internationally.

The envelope design contest is a relatively small initiative compared with the scale of a logistics operation, but its symbolism is significant.

A design created by a young Filipino artist can become part of an international delivery network. In that sense, the physical movement of an envelope also becomes a vehicle for cultural expression.

That connects with Delbros Group's stated ambition of supporting Filipino innovators and creators alongside enterprises and communities.

What businesses can learn from Delbros Group's approach

The story also offers a useful lesson for companies thinking about international growth.

1. Global expansion requires infrastructure

Entering an overseas market is not only a sales and marketing decision. Businesses need systems for fulfillment, transportation, payments, compliance, customer support and supply chain management.

2. Local knowledge still matters

International networks provide reach, but businesses also need an understanding of the local market. Partnerships can combine global capabilities with knowledge of how business works on the ground.

3. Connectivity is broader than physical shipments

Business networks can create opportunities for people, ideas and creative work as well as products.

4. Young talent can become part of the global story

The design contest demonstrates how corporate initiatives can provide emerging Filipino creatives with platforms beyond traditional exhibitions or classrooms.

The bigger business story

The expansion of the UPS Clark Hub comes at a time when connectivity is becoming an increasingly important consideration for Philippine businesses.

Companies are no longer operating within neatly defined geographic boundaries. A small enterprise can sell to an overseas customer, source materials internationally or collaborate with partners in another country.

That creates both opportunity and complexity.

The companies and infrastructure that can make these connections more reliable will have an important role in supporting that transition.

For Delbros Group, its next chapter with UPS is therefore not simply about expanding a logistics facility. It is about continuing a decades-old role in connecting the Philippines with the wider world.

And increasingly, what travels through those connections is not just cargo.

It is Filipino business, talent, creativity and ideas.

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Filipino MSMEs Face a Hiring Challenge as Businesses Prepare to Grow

Filipino MSMEs Face a Hiring Challenge as Businesses Prepare to Grow

For many Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), growth depends on more than finding customers or securing capital. Having enough people with the right skills is becoming a critical business concern.

A recent survey by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) found that 46% of MSMEs are experiencing a talent crisis, while 72% plan to expand their workforce, according to Jobstreet by SEEK.

The mismatch highlights a problem that can easily be overlooked in discussions about business growth. An entrepreneur may have demand for a product or service, but expanding operations becomes difficult when the business cannot recruit the people needed to support that expansion.

Against this backdrop, Jobstreet by SEEK is expanding its engagement with Filipino MSMEs through recruitment education, digital hiring tools, business consultations and partnerships with local business organizations.

Why is hiring becoming a growth issue for MSMEs?

Hiring is often treated as an administrative function, particularly in smaller businesses where the owner or a small management team handles recruitment alongside day-to-day operations.

But workforce decisions can directly affect how quickly a business can expand.

A company that lacks employees with the right skills may have difficulty taking on additional customers, opening new locations, extending operating hours or adopting new technologies. At the same time, hiring the wrong person can create additional costs through turnover, retraining and lost productivity.

This makes talent acquisition more than simply filling vacancies. It involves identifying the skills a business needs, reaching appropriate candidates and building a workforce that can support its longer-term objectives.

For MSMEs, that process can be particularly challenging because they may not have dedicated human resources teams or large recruitment budgets.

What is talent acquisition?

Talent acquisition is the process of identifying, attracting, evaluating and hiring people whose skills and experience match an organization's workforce needs. Unlike simply filling an open position, talent acquisition considers the broader skills and people a company needs to support its business strategy.

That distinction becomes increasingly important as smaller companies grow.

How Jobstreet by SEEK is supporting smaller businesses

Jobstreet by SEEK has positioned its MSME initiatives around the theme "Building Better Teams. Growing Businesses."

Rather than focusing only on job postings, the company's recent activities have included education and networking opportunities designed to help business owners address different aspects of workforce management.

Its BizTalks in Pasig and Quezon City, conducted with local government offices, introduced MSME owners to recruitment practices, digital tools, entrepreneurship resources and government programs.

In Pasig, participants were introduced to free Jobstreet Lite Job Ads and AI-assisted job-ad creation.

For a small business owner who does not have a recruitment specialist, tools that simplify the process of writing and publishing job advertisements can potentially reduce one of the barriers to hiring online.

The Quezon City session similarly focused on digital recruitment, entrepreneurship and collaboration within the local business community.

Why digital recruitment matters to smaller companies

Recruitment has increasingly moved online, changing how employers reach potential candidates.

For large companies, digital hiring can be supported by dedicated recruitment teams and multiple HR systems. Smaller businesses may have fewer resources, making simple and accessible digital tools particularly relevant.

However, technology alone does not solve a hiring problem.

A well-written job advertisement still needs to accurately describe the role, responsibilities, qualifications and expectations. Businesses also need to assess candidates consistently and consider whether their compensation, workplace environment and growth opportunities are competitive enough to attract suitable applicants.

This is where recruitment education can complement hiring technology.

For MSMEs, learning how to use a recruitment platform effectively can be just as important as having access to the platform itself.

Jobstreet expands its MSME ecosystem beyond recruitment

Jobstreet by SEEK has also taken its MSME engagement beyond hiring tools.

At Negosyo Forward: READY, SET, GROW, organized with PH Business Network, entrepreneurs had access to a business clinic where they could consult business advisers and industry experts.

The consultations covered several areas that influence business growth, including:

• Finance
• Workforce management
• Labor compliance
• Banking
• Intellectual property
• Digital transformation
• Business registration

This broader approach reflects an important reality for small businesses: hiring does not happen in isolation from the rest of the business.

An entrepreneur may need to understand labor requirements before hiring, establish payroll and financial systems as the workforce grows, or adopt digital tools as operations become more complex.

Building a team, therefore, is closely connected to building the systems that support that team.

What does this mean for the future of Filipino MSMEs?

The reported gap between businesses planning to hire and those experiencing talent shortages points to a larger workforce challenge.

If 72% of MSMEs plan to expand their workforce while 46% are already experiencing a talent crisis, recruitment could become a significant constraint on growth unless businesses improve how they identify and attract talent.

For business leaders, the lesson is straightforward: workforce planning should happen before a company urgently needs people.

That means identifying future roles, determining the skills required and developing a repeatable hiring process rather than treating every vacancy as a one-off problem.

It also means considering how technology can support recruitment without replacing the judgment required to evaluate people.

Jobstreet by SEEK's involvement in MSME events, including Quezon City MSME Week 2026 and the Go Negosyo MSME Summit, places recruitment within a larger conversation about entrepreneurship and business development.

The company's approach also reflects a broader shift in how workforce platforms can engage with smaller businesses. Instead of simply serving as places where employers post vacancies, recruitment platforms can become part of the business-support ecosystem by providing education, tools and connections.

The strategic value of building the right team

For a growing MSME, every hire can have an outsized impact.

A new employee may become responsible for a major customer account, introduce a new capability or take over a function that previously depended entirely on the business owner.

That makes hiring a strategic decision, even when the business itself is small.

The challenge is making that decision deliberately.

As more Filipino MSMEs prepare to expand, access to recruitment tools is useful, but so is knowing what kind of team the business actually needs to build next.

That may ultimately be the more important question for entrepreneurs: not simply "Who can we hire?" but "What people and capabilities will help this business grow?"

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PLDT Enterprise Deploys Starlink in Mindanao Earthquake Response

PLDT Enterprise Deploys Starlink in Mindanao Earthquake Response

Monday, August 31, 2026

PLDT Enterprise, together with PLDT and Smart, deployed Starlink satellite connectivity in parts of Mindanao following a powerful earthquake, providing communications support to hospitals, command centers and emergency response operations.

The deployment was carried out in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and local government units as teams assessed telecommunications infrastructure in affected areas.

PLDT and Smart reported that most of their network facilities remained stable and operational. Some service disruptions were linked primarily to commercial power interruptions affecting certain sites.

The response highlights a growing consideration for organizations operating in disaster-prone areas: connectivity resilience is not only about keeping existing networks running, but also having alternative ways to reconnect when conventional infrastructure is disrupted.

How was Starlink used during the Mindanao earthquake response?

PLDT Enterprise deployed Starlink satellite connectivity solutions in locations where communications infrastructure had been affected by the earthquake and related disruptions.

The deployments supported facilities and response operations including:

• Malungon Sarangani Provincial Hospital
• Alabel Sarangani Provincial Hospital
• Command centers
• Rescue operation centers
• Emergency coordination activities in affected communities

Starlink uses a network of low-Earth-orbit satellites to provide internet connectivity without requiring a conventional terrestrial connection to reach the end user.

That makes satellite connectivity particularly useful in situations where fiber, cellular infrastructure, electricity, or other parts of the communications network are unavailable or damaged.

Why is connectivity critical during disaster response?

Communication becomes a basic operational requirement during a disaster.

Hospitals need to coordinate with other facilities. Emergency teams need to communicate with command centers. Local governments need to share information with responders, while residents may need to contact family members or access emergency information.

A disruption to communications can therefore affect more than internet access. It can slow coordination between organizations working on the same emergency.

PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo “Butch” G. Jimenez Jr. described connectivity during emergencies as a means for people to contact loved ones and for responders to coordinate their work.

The lesson for organizations is straightforward: communications infrastructure should be treated as part of disaster preparedness, not simply as an everyday utility.

What role can satellite internet play in disaster resilience?

Satellite internet provides an alternative connectivity path when terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or difficult to restore.

Traditional broadband networks can depend on physical infrastructure such as fiber-optic cables, transmission facilities, towers, power systems, and local network equipment. Damage to any critical component can affect service.

Satellite connectivity approaches the problem differently. A compatible terminal can establish a connection to satellites without requiring a physical broadband line to the location.

This does not make satellite connectivity immune to disruption. Equipment still needs power, a suitable installation location, and access to the satellite network. However, it can provide an additional option while conventional services are being restored.

For disaster-response organizations, that redundancy can be valuable.

Why network redundancy matters to businesses

The Mindanao deployment also carries a lesson for businesses outside disaster response.

Companies increasingly depend on internet connectivity for payments, cloud applications, communications, logistics, customer service, and remote work.

A prolonged outage can therefore become an operational problem.

Network redundancy means having alternative connectivity options available when a primary connection fails. Depending on the organization and location, this could involve multiple fixed connections, mobile networks, microwave links, or satellite connectivity.

The appropriate combination depends on the organization's risk profile, location, budget, and operational requirements.

For businesses operating in geographically isolated or disaster-prone areas, satellite connectivity can be considered as part of a broader business-continuity strategy.

What happened to PLDT and Smart's network?

PLDT and Smart dispatched field and operations teams to assess network facilities and assist with restoration activities in affected areas, including General Santos City and municipalities in South Cotabato.

According to the company, assessments found that most PLDT and Smart network facilities remained stable and operational.

Where disruptions occurred, the company attributed many of them to commercial power interruptions affecting certain sites.

That detail is important because telecommunications resilience depends on more than the condition of network equipment itself.

A functioning communications site still requires reliable electricity. During disasters, backup power systems and alternative connectivity can therefore become critical components of network continuity.

What can businesses learn from the response?

For companies, the Mindanao response illustrates several practical principles for resilience planning.

1. Identify communications dependencies

Businesses should know which operations depend on connectivity and which systems become unavailable when internet service is interrupted.

2. Prepare alternative connectivity

A backup connection can reduce the operational impact of a primary network failure. The appropriate technology depends on the organization's location and requirements.

3. Include power in continuity planning

Connectivity equipment is only useful if it can operate. Backup power should therefore be considered alongside network redundancy.

4. Coordinate before an emergency

Disaster response involves multiple organizations. Establishing relationships with local governments, service providers, emergency teams, and other stakeholders before an incident can make coordination easier during a crisis.

5. Test the recovery plan

A backup system that has never been tested may not perform as expected when an actual emergency occurs.

Satellite connectivity is becoming part of the resilience conversation

The use of satellite connectivity in disaster response reflects a broader shift in how organizations think about communications infrastructure.

Satellite services were once associated primarily with locations far from conventional telecommunications networks. Advances in satellite technology and the growth of low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations have expanded their potential applications.

For the Philippines, geography makes the issue particularly relevant. An archipelago made up of thousands of islands faces different infrastructure challenges across urban centers, rural communities, remote locations, and areas vulnerable to natural hazards.

Satellite connectivity does not replace terrestrial networks. Instead, it can complement them by providing another option where conventional infrastructure is limited or temporarily unavailable.

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