Cebuana Lhuillier Wins Best Employee Engagement Program at 2026 People Insight Awards

A growing workforce brings new opportunities, but it also creates a challenge: how can an organization ensure that employees across different roles and locations remain connected to one another and to the company? For Cebuana Lhuillier, the answer has been to make connection, participation, recognition, and well-being part of everyday work—not simply activities that happen from time to time.

As a cornerstone culture-building initiative, Amazing KaCebuana stands out by recognizing the value of inclusivity, honoring how diverse perspectives and individual differences ultimately make the company stronger.

“Our people are at the heart of Cebuana Lhuillier’s success. We believe that when employees feel valued, connected, and empowered, they are better positioned to create meaningful impact. This recognition affirms our commitment to building a culture where our people can grow, thrive, and take pride in being part of something bigger than themselves,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

This approach earned Cebuana Lhuillier the Best Employee Engagement Program award at the 2026 People Insight Awards, organized by TalentView to recognize organizations advancing the future of work through impactful people and workplace initiatives.

The award recognizes Amazing KaCebuana, Cebuana Lhuillier’s continuous initiative designed to strengthen relationships among employees, leaders, and teams across the organization. Rather than relying on one-time activities, it integrates opportunities for employees to connect, participate, share their voices, recognize one another, and experience the company’s culture regardless of their role or location.

Making Connection Part of Everyday Work

Amazing KaCebuana brings together initiatives that strengthen recognition, communication, leadership, and employee well-being. Workvivo, the company’s digital employee community, is one of these touchpoints, giving employees across branches, field operations, and headquarters a space to share stories, celebrate milestones, recognize colleagues, and connect with leaders.

Other initiatives include the Brillo Awards, which recognize employees who exemplify loyalty and business excellence, and Cebuana News Ngayon (CNN), which keeps more than 12,000 employees informed about company developments, people stories, and milestones. Leadership programs such as Coaching and Mentoring sessions, and Leading at the Speed of Trust program foster open communication, transparency, and active listening, while REBEL, the company’s wellness app, supports employees’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

“Creating a meaningful workplace experience requires more than programs. It calls for consistency in how people are heard, supported, and recognized across the organization. Amazing KaCebuana brings this commitment to life through initiatives that meet employees where they are and reflect the different ways they contribute to Cebuana Lhuillier,” said Jo-Ann Tacorda, First Vice President and Group Head for Corporate Services of Cebuana Lhuillier.

Building a Culture Through Everyday Experiences

The strength of Amazing KaCebuana lies in how its initiatives work together—giving employees opportunities to share experiences, recognize colleagues, connect with leaders, stay informed, and access support.

The approach has delivered measurable results, with strong employee participation, readership, retention, PR value, and social media engagement. More importantly, it has made participation a consistent part of the workplace, giving employees more avenues to contribute while encouraging leaders to foster open communication and collaboration.

For Cebuana Lhuillier, the recognition affirms that culture is built through everyday interactions. Amazing KaCebuana gives employees not only the opportunity to experience the company’s culture but also to help shape it.

Bescost Printing Expands Multi-Branch Signage Services for Retail and Franchise Businesses

  

The expanded service allows businesses to manage storefront signage, lightboxes, window graphics, large-format printing, and interior branding through a single production partner, helping maintain consistent brand execution across branches.

Bescost Printing & Signage, a Metro Manila-based large-format printing and signage company, has expanded its multi-branch signage solutions for retail chains, franchise businesses, restaurant groups, mall tenants, and companies growing their physical presence across the Philippines.

The expanded capability is designed for businesses that require consistent signage and visual branding across multiple locations while coordinating production, fabrication, and installation at scale.

With more than 8,000 printing and signage projects completed over 11 years in the industry, Bescost provides an end-to-end production model covering design coordination, large-format printing, signage fabrication, and on-site installation.

“Franchise owners and retail chains face a common challenge: keeping their brand identity consistent from one branch to the next,” said Jim Besinio, CEO and Founder of Bescost Printing. “When production is divided among different suppliers for each location, differences in color, materials, and finishing can affect how the brand is presented. Our approach is to manage the process from design and fabrication through installation.”

Supporting Consistent Signage Across Multiple Locations

For retail and franchise businesses, physical signage is one of the most visible expressions of brand identity. Storefront specifications, colors, materials, dimensions, and finishes often need to be reproduced consistently as businesses open new locations.

Bescost’s commercial signage capabilities include exterior storefront signage, illuminated and non-illuminated signs, acrylic and stainless-steel build-up letters, lightboxes, pylon signs, window graphics, wall murals, wayfinding systems, and interior corporate branding.

Its large-format printing division also produces storefront decals, wall graphics, construction hoardings, and other printed materials commonly required during store openings, renovations, and commercial fit-outs.

By bringing these services together, Bescost can coordinate multiple components of a branch rollout through one production workflow rather than requiring businesses to work with separate suppliers for printing, fabrication, and installation.

Built for Retail, Franchise, and Commercial Expansion

Multi-location projects introduce additional production requirements beyond creating individual signs. Businesses must ensure approved brand specifications are followed while coordinating fabrication schedules, installation requirements, and opening timelines across different sites.

Bescost is strengthening its focus on these larger commercial projects as part of its continued expansion in the Philippine signage and large-format printing industry.

The company works with marketing teams, brand managers, procurement officers, contractors, and project managers to translate approved brand standards into physical signage and printed applications for individual branches.

The expanded multi-branch signage service supports Bescost’s broader strategy of serving businesses that require scalable production as they establish and expand physical locations.

By consolidating commercial signage, large-format printing, fabrication, and installation, Bescost aims to provide Philippine businesses with a more coordinated approach to maintaining their visual identity across multiple locations.

About Bescost Printing

Bescost Printing is the Philippines' premier large-format printing and signage company, known for its world-class output and people-first work culture. Based in Quezon City, Bescost serves businesses nationwide with store dress-up solutions, exterior signage, large-format printing, and full installation services. Bescost Printing does not just print — they transform businesses and build stories worth telling.

Philippine Medical Expo 2026 Explores What Makes a Health System Future-Ready

  

At the Philippine Medical Expo 2026, healthcare innovation was examined as part of a wider system of people, institutions, data, financing, and trust.

The Philippine Medical Expo 2026 brought together healthcare professionals, hospital leaders, technology providers, pharmaceutical companies, distributors, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and students at the SMX Convention Center Manila from August 19 to 21.

The event showcased medical technology, hospital and laboratory equipment, pharmaceutical solutions, digital health platforms, healthcare artificial intelligence, and software. Beyond the technologies on display, however, was a larger question: How can innovation create meaningful and equitable value within the health system?

This question shaped the lecture “Healthcare 360: Connecting Care, Talent, and Learning for a Smarter, Future-Ready Health System,” delivered by Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales, Founder and Managing Director of 101 Health Research, through the invitation of the University of the Philippines Manila Technology Transfer and Business Development Office.

Healthcare is a system

Drawing from systems thinker Donella Meadows, the lecture described a system as a set of elements, interconnections, and a purpose. Its outcomes are shaped not only by its individual components, but also by the relationships, information flows, rules, incentives, and feedback connecting them.

This perspective is essential in healthcare. A new medical device, digital platform, diagnostic tool, or artificial intelligence model does not operate independently. It enters an environment of patients, health workers, facilities, workflows, financing arrangements, regulations, data systems, and institutional cultures.

“A technically excellent AI tool will not improve health if clinicians do not trust it, data are unreliable, workflows cannot support it, patients cannot access the next stage of care, or no one can finance what follows,” Cloma-Rosales said.

The World Health Organization identifies six interconnected health-system building blocks: leadership and governance, service delivery, health financing, the health workforce, medical products and technologies, and health information systems.

Systems thinking emphasizes that these components cannot be strengthened in isolation. Introducing a technology may alter workforce roles, service workflows, data requirements, financing needs, and governance responsibilities.

Situating innovation within the system

The lecture used the micro–meso–macro lens of Health Policy and Systems Research.

At the micro level are patients, families, communities, and frontline health workers - the people who experience care, make clinical decisions, and build or lose trust.

At the meso level are hospitals, primary-care facilities, universities, research institutions, professional networks, and healthcare businesses. These organizations translate policies, resources, and technologies into actual services.

At the macro level are health policies, financing systems, regulation, markets, digital infrastructure, political conditions, and the wider social and environmental context.

An innovation may be safe and effective in a controlled setting, yet fail in practice if patients and health workers do not accept it, organizations cannot integrate it, or financing and regulation do not support it.

Situating innovation within the system therefore requires asking: What problem does it address? Who will use it, and who may be excluded? Does it fit existing workflows and institutional capacities? Are the necessary data, infrastructure, financing, and governance mechanisms available? Can it be maintained, evaluated, improved, and scaled responsibly?

Three drivers reshaping healthcare

The lecture identified three major forces influencing health systems and healthcare innovation: artificial intelligence, climate change, and the policies and politics of Universal Health Care.

AI and digital transformation can expand diagnostic, administrative, and clinical capabilities. However, they may also amplify bias, fragment information systems, and widen inequities when access, infrastructure, or digital literacy are uneven.

Climate change affects disease patterns as well as the resilience of healthcare facilities, supply chains, health workers, transportation networks, and digital infrastructure. A facility may remain physically intact during a disaster but lose functional capacity if workers cannot safely reach it or essential supplies cannot be delivered.

Universal Health Care policies and politics shape who receives care, how services are financed, which technologies are adopted, and whether reforms can be sustained. Expanding access requires not only policy commitments, but also financing, institutional capacity, governance, public trust, and political support.

These forces interact. AI may support climate surveillance and UHC planning, but it may also create new costs or inequalities. Climate disruption can undermine service delivery and health financing. UHC reforms may create demand for new technologies while requiring stronger regulation and accountability.

Building a Learning Health System

The lecture introduced the Learning Health System, one that continuously converts care and experience into trusted data, data into knowledge, and knowledge into better care.

Digital tools and AI can accelerate this cycle, but technology cannot independently determine what matters, what is equitable, or what action should follow. Human judgment remains essential for contextual interpretation, accountability, ethical decision-making, and trust.

Examples from 101 Health Research’s nursing workforce study and the mid-term evaluation of the National Unified Health Research Agenda 2023-2028 illustrated this point.

Follow 101 Health Research on Instagram and Facebook (@101healthresearch) for more updates, research findings, and insights on health systems and evidence-based healthcare.

The nursing study showed that digitalization may improve nursing work and create new career pathways, but may also increase workload when training, infrastructure, workflow design, and institutional support are inadequate. It also demonstrated that climate resilience is closely linked to workforce resilience.

The NUHRA evaluation showed that setting research priorities is only the beginning. A future-ready research system also requires skilled people, capable institutions, connected data, appropriate financing, efficient processes, and pathways that translate research into policy, practice, innovation, and community benefit.

A future-ready health system is not necessarily the one with the most advanced technology. It is the one that learns, adapts responsibly, protects its people, and ensures that innovation creates equitable public value.

About 101 Health Research

Founded in 2014, 101 Health Research® is an independent health research consulting and analytics firm dedicated to producing trustworthy, ethical, and decision-relevant evidence for clinical care, public health, and health systems.

We serve hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, government agencies, and international partners across the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and global markets.

Our work spans clinical research, epidemiology, biostatistics, medical data science, and research governance. Through rigorous methodology, collaborative engagement, and strong ethical standards, we design, conduct, and support research that strengthens decision-making at institutional, national, and regional levels.

Idesia by P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin wins three major titles at the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards

 P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin (P.A. Hankyu), the joint venture between P.A. Properties and Japan’s Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp., celebrates a historic three-award victory at the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, with its flagship development, Idesia, named winner in three major categories.

Under the theme “Defined by Excellence,” the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards recognised outstanding achievements across residential, commercial, hospitality, industrial, and mixed-use property, as well as architecture, interior design, sustainability, and social impact.

The winners were announced during a black-tie gala held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, where 16 organisations were named winners across 46 categories.

Among the night’s distinguished awardees was Idesia by P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin Inc., which secured the following prestigious recognitions:

●      Best Housing Development (Philippines) — WINNER

●      Best Housing Development (Luzon) — WINNER

●      Best Premium First Home Development — WINNER

Idesia is P.A. Hankyu’s growing residential community brand, with developments strategically located across key areas in Luzon, including Dasmariñas, Cavite; Lipa, Batangas; Cabuyao, Laguna; and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Designed to bring quality homeownership closer to Filipino families, each Idesia community reflects the partnership’s commitment to thoughtful planning, quality living, and creating spaces where families can build their future.

The triple victory marks a significant milestone for P.A. Hankyu, with Idesia emerging as one of the country’s most recognized housing developments at this year’s awards. Standing out as the highest distinction among its accolades, the Best Housing Development (Philippines) award highlights Idesia’s premier standing on a national stage. The recognition comes following a unanimous decision by the esteemed judging panel, outshining competing developments across the nation.

The awards affirm Idesia’s commitment to creating thoughtfully planned communities that combine quality, functionality, and design. Its recognition as Best Premium First Home Development further underscores its success in elevating the first-home experience and setting a new standard for accessible, premium living for Filipino families.

The achievement also reflects the strength of the partnership between P.A. Properties and Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp., bringing together local expertise and Japanese development experience to create communities designed with Filipino families in mind.

“This recognition is a meaningful milestone for P.A. Hankyu and a testament to what can be achieved when strong partnerships, shared values, and a commitment to excellence come together. We are deeply grateful to PropertyGuru for recognizing Idesia, and to our homeowners, partners, and employees whose trust, dedication, and hard work made this achievement possible.”

“Winning three awards, including Best Housing Development in the Philippines, inspires us to continue raising the standard of what we can deliver. More than an award, this is a recognition of the dreams and stories behind every home we build. We remain committed to creating communities where Filipino families can thrive, grow, and build meaningful lives together.”

— Atty. Marianne Reyna Lina Cruz CEO and President, P.A. Properties and P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin

For P.A. Hankyu, Idesia’s three wins are more than industry accolades. They represent the collective efforts of its employees, partners, homeowners, and stakeholders who share the vision of creating communities that go beyond providing shelter.

The recognition is also a testament to the company’s belief that “Behind every home is a story.” Every Idesia home represents a beginning—a place where families can create memories, pursue their dreams, and build their future.

As P.A. Hankyu celebrates this milestone, it remains committed to developing communities that deliver lasting value and meaningful experiences for Filipino families.

####

About P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation

Nestled in San Pedro, Laguna, P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (P.A. Properties) is a leading developer of low to medium-cost housing communities in Southern Luzon. Since its establishment in 1994, the company has crafted over 30,000 homes across key Philippine provinces, with plans to build an additional 20 communities in the next 5 years. P.A. Properties, guided by the tagline "Behind Every Home is a Story," not only addresses the nation's housing backlog but also actively contributes to economic growth. Through philanthropic initiatives, such as hospital donations in Cabuyao, providing right of way in Pampanga for civic centers, and establishing SanJo's markets in provinces like Laguna and Bulacan, the company weaves a narrative of community development and nationwide impact.

Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 Brings Together 7 Runway Shows and Artists to Shape an Immersive Runway Experience

 

Ho Chi Minh City, August 2026 – Taking place on 22–23 August 2026 at White Palace Hoang Van Thu, Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 brings together seven runway shows, each defined by a distinct creative language, alongside artists contributing in diverse roles, from music production to live performances on the runway.

The 2026 Bridal Fashion Show lineup features DO LONG BRIDAL, LAM BRIDAL, MINH TUAN COUTURE, LE HOA BRIDAL, FALVAON by Luu Viet Anh, ADAM STORE and LOVINE BRIDAL by Thanh Ho. Alongside the fashion presentations, 2PILLZ, NAOMI and THƠM will further expand the runway experience through music and special performances.

Under the theme The Love City, Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 is envisioned as an accessible and comprehensive wedding platform led by bridal fashion. Here, runways, brands, experts, vendors and couples preparing for their big day come together within a shared journey of discovery and experience.

Each runway, experiential space, workshop and brand becomes a “destination” within the city of love. Fashion therefore goes beyond designs to be admired, becoming a source of inspiration for brides and grooms to discover their style, meet the right names and gradually transform inspiration into real choices for their wedding day.

7 RUNWAYS – 7 CREATIVE LANGUAGES

The gathering of seven designers and brands presents a diverse portrait of contemporary bridal fashion and the modern bride and groom.

DO LONG BRIDAL brings a sensual, sharp and highly theatrical spirit to the runway. Figure-enhancing silhouettes, corsetry and intricate embellishment create the image of a confident and striking bride, while preserving the elegance of the wedding day.

LAM BRIDAL, under the creative direction of Designer Lâm Lâm, approaches bridal beauty through emotion, refined lines and personalized details. The designs aim to help every bride discover the most fitting and beautiful version of herself.

MINH TUAN COUTURE brings the spirit of couture and a distinctly theatrical beauty into the wedding setting. Its glamorous and sharp design language envisions the bride entering her wedding day as the leading character in the most radiant moment of her life.

LE HOA BRIDAL embraces the spirit of “Not every presence needs a voice” – a design that is striking enough to tell its own story. Flowing silhouettes, light-catching fabrics, intricate embellishment, corsetry and personalized tailoring come together to create a bride who is glamorous and poised, while retaining her own distinctive identity.

FALVAON by Luu Viet Anh introduces an emotionally driven fashion language. Conceived as a fashion diary by Designer Luu Viet Anh, FALVAON explores materials, silhouettes and narratives to evoke emotions, memories and different facets of womanhood.

LOVINE BRIDAL by Thanh Ho continues to broaden the aesthetic spectrum of the Bridal Fashion Show with its own perspective on bridal beauty, offering another choice for women seeking a language that reflects their personality and story.

Alongside bridal designs, ADAM STORE brings groom fashion into the broader picture of the Bridal Fashion Show, expanding the runway from “bridal fashion” into a more complete dialogue around the style of both protagonists on their wedding day.

Seven runways, seven distinct identities, yet all converge at one point: bringing fashion from the runway closer to real weddings.

WHEN MUSIC BECOMES PART OF THE RUNWAY

Bridal Fashion Show 2026 is shaped not only by design and the movement of models. Music and live performance also become creative layers within the runway experience.

2PILLZ joins the Bridal Fashion Show as Music Producer for the runway, directly contributing to the musical atmosphere, rhythm and emotion of the shows, while also delivering a special performance at the event.

Meanwhile, NAOMI and THƠM will appear with special performances on the runway, bringing music beyond its supporting role to become an integral part of the performance narrative.

The combination of designers, models, music and artists reflects the approach of Bridal Fashion Show 2026: each show is not simply a sequence of looks, but an experience built around its own rhythm, emotion and identity.

FROM RUNWAY TO REAL CHOICES FOR THE WEDDING DAY

Bridal Fashion Show is one of the pillars of Vietnam Wedding Week 2026, but the guest journey does not end when the runway lights go down.

At The Love City, couples can continue exploring wedding gowns, suits, jewelry, beauty, photography, wedding planning and a wide range of other services; meeting brands directly, trying products, receiving consultations and accessing exclusive offers available throughout the event.

This approach reflects the “accessible” spirit of Vietnam Wedding Week: turning inspiration into experience, and experience into a step closer to a real decision for the big day.

With seven runway shows, multiple fashion languages and the intersection of design, music and live performance, Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 aims to create a new meeting point for the wedding industry – where fashion does not stand apart from the market, but becomes a gateway for couples to enter the wider ecosystem of wedding preparation.

Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 warmly welcomes couples, industry professionals, media and fashion enthusiasts to step into The Love City – where everyone can discover a style that is uniquely their own, and every wedding inspiration can move one step closer to becoming a real choice.

EVENT INFORMATION

Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 – The Love City

Date: 22–23 August 2026

Venue: White Palace Hoang Van Thu, Ho Chi Minh City

Positioning: An accessible and comprehensive wedding week led by bridal fashion

Vietnam Wedding Week: Free admission upon registration

Bridal Fashion Show: Separate ticket/QR access applies to each show

Registration and updates: vietnamweddingweek.vn

ABOUT THE PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS

Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 is supported in its promotional activities by Italian Atelier Asia-Pacific and CjC Marketing Agency. Italian Atelier Asia-Pacific is a creative and strategic platform focused on luxury lifestyle and hospitality, while CjC Marketing Agency is a Vietnam-based marketing agency specializing in communications, content and experience development. Through this collaboration, the two partners contribute to extending the event's communications reach and connecting Vietnam Wedding Week 2026 with creative and industry networks across the region.

 

 

OKINAWA HARBORVIEW HOTEL completes full-scale renovation to deliver a modern Okinawan experience

The Okinawa Harborview Hotel has announced the completion of full-scale renovations for their 50th anniversary and will hold a grand opening in the summer 2026. (Details: https://oka-hvh.com.e.asa.hp.transer.com/anniversary/)

Guest rooms have been upgraded to enhance comfort and more effectively accommodate the needs of long-term guests. The Club Lounge, for exclusive use by guests staying in club rooms, has been expanded as is now the largest in the city of Naha, and a menu has been developed for guests to experience Okinawan food culture. In addition, the “Teppanyaki Izumizaki” restaurant is the first in Okinawa to be certified to serve Kobe Beef, and also offers local beef all presented on traditionally crafted pottery, creating a blend of authentic Okinawan culture and high-class dining. Furthermore, the Garden Pool reopened on June 1, 2026 and has been renovated to deliver the feeling of a resort within the city of Naha.

Okinawa Harborview Hotel will carry on a half-century of history and hospitality while delivering the image of the “modern Okinawa” for the next 50 years.

■Guest Rooms

Guest rooms have been renovated based on Ryukyu indigo, the traditional color of Okinawa, and designed to deliver feelings of relaxation and warmth. Among these rooms is the “Club Executive Twin,” designed for longer stays. It features an all-in-one washer/dryer, microwave, and other appliances. It is designed for efficiency and comfort, making it suitable for a wide range of stays, including travel and business.

■The Largest Club Lounge in Naha

The rooftop lounge has been expanded to become the largest one in Naha. It offers an expansive view of the city and different food and drink options depending on the time of day. Menus for breakfast, tea time, dinner, and late-night dining have been developed to help guests experience the local culture and the slow passing of Okinawan time. The lounge is open until midnight, allowing the aura of Okinawa to linger even after a day of sightseeing.

Renovation special: Stay package with Club Lounge access (https://bit.ly/4579JeX) 

■Garden Pool

The pool has been transformed into a space that evokes a true resort atmosphere. During the day, guests can unwind on in-water loungers or beach chairs under the blue sky, while at night, mystical lighting illuminates the water’s surface.

Additionally, the newly opened poolside bar offers food and drinks created by hotel chefs and bartenders using local ingredients, allowing guests to casually enjoy Okinawa’s unique culinary culture in an open setting.

■Teppanyaki Izumizaki

Based on the concept of “a blend of Ryukyu’s past and present,” this restaurant provides not only local beef, but is also the first in-hotel restaurant in Okinawa to be certified to serve Kobe Beef. Guests can enjoy a teppanyaki experience that engages all five senses, from the immersive atmosphere of watching the chef grill right before your eyes to the sounds and aromas.

Renovation special: Accommodation plan with a dinner featuring a tasting comparison of local Kuroge Wagyu and Kobe Beef (bit.ly/4xeGTFg) 

■Okinawa Harborview Hotel

The hotel was opened in 1975 due to the holding of the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition and has since hosted a large number of guests, including dignitaries from both Japan and abroad, as a premier urban Okinawa hotel. In celebration of the 50th anniversary in 2025, the hotel underwent full-scale renovations in order to prepare for the next generation. After overhauling the guest rooms, restaurant, Club Lounge, lobby, Garden Pool, and other areas of the hotel, it was ready for the grand opening. Combining distinctive Okinawan hospitality with a refined, evolved setting, the hotel offers guests a truly blissful stay.

Address: 900-0021 Okinawa, Naha, Izumizaki, 2-4-6, 2-46

■Company Profile for Hotel Management Japan Co., Ltd.

Hotel Management Japan Co., Ltd. operates 27 hotels across Japan with a total of 9,051 guest rooms and 4,018 employees. The company manages its own brands Oriental Hotels and Hotel Oriental Express, as well as other well-known brands such as Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, and Hotel Nikko.

Website: https://www.oriental-hotels.com/en/
 

Zeinab Harake Parks Brings Fun to Kadayawan 2026 as Casino Plus Draws Nearly 2,000 Revelers to Davao Whisky Park

 

DAVAO CITY, Philippines, 15 AUGUST 2026 — Casino Plus, one of the country’s leading responsible digital entertainment platforms licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), turned Davao Whisky Park into one of the liveliest hubs of Kadayawan 2026 on Friday night, as social media star and digital content creator Zeinab Harake Parks brought her signature energy to an electric crowd of nearly 2,000 attendees for an evening of games, prizes, and entertainment.

Welcomed by the deafening cheers of hundreds of "Zebbies," her devoted fanbase, Zeinab Harake Parks took the stage and greeted the crowd with an enthusiastic "Maayong gabi sa inyong tanan!" Marking her first time experiencing the Kadayawan Festival and her second visit to Davao since filming a vlog in the city in 2020. Zeinab celebrated alongside the community until midnight.

True to her word and aligned with Casino Plus’ core mission to "bring fun to people," she delivered non-stop entertainment as fans repeatedly chanted "Arat na, Zeinab!" throughout the park.Embracing her moniker as social media’s "Reyna ng Good Vibes," she enthusiastically engaged the crowd posing for group selfies from the stage, on-ground, filming on-the-spot TikTok videos with five lucky meet-and-greet winners, and praising the overwhelming warmth of the Davaoeño community, noting that true beauty radiates from having a good, generous heart.

Zeinab also highlighted what she values most about partnering with Casino Plus, emphasizing how the platform has allowed her to connect with communities nationwide:

“I get to explore every city sa Philippines. Ngayon, andito ako sa Davao. Looking forward pa ako sa ibang cities and provinces para sa Casino Plus event. Excited pa ako sa maraming-marami pang provinces,” she shared.

The high-energy activation gave festivalgoers the chance to try Hantak-themed games, alongside complimentary refreshments, creator appearances, and hourly raffle draws that sent attendees home with premium tech, including AirPods 4, JBL speakers, and an iPad.

The social media star also invited audience members on stage for a viral TikTok dance-off, where winners took home ₱10,000 cash prizes courtesy of Casino Plus. Zeinab, meanwhile, personally handed out ₱5,000 in cash consolation prizes to the remaining participants. Despite the friendly competition, the contestants helped one another remember viral TikTok dances—a heartwarming display of camaraderie that she noted proves Davao City is truly one of the friendliest cities in the Philippines.

“Ang galing nila, hindi sila nate-threaten! Kahit magkalaban sila, nag-agree,” Harake-Parks quipped, after one contestant happily confirmed to the crowd that her rivals had nailed the dance routine.

For many attendees, the event served as a major highlight of their Kadayawan celebration. Anthony and Zara, a couple who traveled from Manila specifically to join the festivities and see Zeinab in person, expressed their excitement:

“Masaya! Sobrang saya. Pati ‘yung mga booths, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga games, ang ganda. Siya rin ‘yung reason bakit kami nandito,” Anthony said. “Enjoy dito kasi napakaraming prizes!” Zara added.

International residents also joined in the festivities. Yuri, a Russian expatriate living in Davao City, took part in the games and walked away with consolation prizes. “I really enjoyed it!” he said.

The Casino Plus Kadayawan activation highlights how bringing Filipino cultural gaming traditions and modern entertainment together on one stage creates meaningful, shared experiences for fans, festivalgoers, and communities across the Philippines.

RESPONSIBLE GAMING ADVISORY

In accordance with PAGCOR’s Responsible Gaming Code of Practice, Casino Plus wishes to remind all players of the following:

Gaming is for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered a source of income or a means of financial relief. Players are encouraged to play responsibly and within their means. 

Winning is never guaranteed. All gaming outcomes are determined by chance. Past results, including jackpot wins, do not influence or predict future outcomes.

About IGO Digital High Technology, Inc.

Casino Plus is a PAGCOR-licensed online casino platform in the Philippines, providing secure, regulated, and responsible online gaming experiences for Filipino players. The company is committed to providing a secure, fair, and engaging digital entertainment experience, guided by the principles of responsible gaming and player protection. With its continuous expansion, Casino Plus is now regarded as one of the country’s leading online casino platforms, combining entertainment excellence with meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Gratitude Inc Opens MyGlit Recruitment Operating System to External Hiring Teams Across the Philippines, India and Malaysia

 

 MANILA, Philippines — Gratitude Inc has announced that it is opening access to MyGlit, its recruitment operating system and applicant tracking technology, to companies, recruitment consultancies and hiring teams across the Philippines, India, Malaysia and other global markets.

The move marks a new phase for MyGlit, which was originally developed to support Gratitude Inc' own recruitment operations. Until now, the technology was used primarily within Gratitude's recruitment ecosystem to manage live vacancies, applicants, recruiter activity, candidate movement and hiring workflows.

According to the company, MyGlit has become one of the operating systems behind Gratitude Inc high-volume recruitment work. The decision to open the platform to outside users follows interest from clients and recruitment partners who wanted access to the same workflow for their own hiring operations.

Built from practical recruitment pressure

Recruitment teams often face a common challenge: they are expected to manage more vacancies, more applicants and more recruiters, while still depending on spreadsheets, scattered communication, manual status updates and individual recruiter memory.

MyGlit was developed to address this operational gap by combining applicant tracking, job posting, company boards, hiring cards, questionnaire-based screening, candidate tracking, recruiter collaboration and AI-assisted rerouting in one workflow.

"MyGlit was built from real recruitment pressure, not as a theoretical software product," said a spokesperson for Gratitude Inc. "Our own teams needed a cleaner way to manage high-volume hiring. As clients and recruitment partners saw the workflow, the demand to open the technology outside Gratitude became stronger."

Opening the platform beyond Gratitude Inc

With MyGlit now being made available to external users, employers and recruitment firms can create separate Company Boards for different clients, employers, departments or business units. Each live vacancy becomes a Hiring Card, where job details, required skills, applications, candidate activity and status updates are kept together.

This structure is designed to reduce tracker confusion, avoid mixing candidates across mandates, and help recruitment teams work on more vacancies with greater visibility.

MyGlit's recruitment ecosystem already supports hiring workflows and job campaigns connected to several large BPO, IT and shared services employers, including Teleperformance, iQor, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, WNS, Accenture, EXL, TDCX, Movate, JP Morgan Chase and other major employers across the Philippines, India and Malaysia.

These company-specific workflows allow recruiters to manage live vacancies, applicant movement and status tracking across major hiring campaigns, while keeping candidates, roles and client requirements organized within separate boards and hiring cards.

Job posting, applicant traffic and candidate rerouting

A key part of the MyGlit model is that it is not only an internal ATS. Companies can publish live vacancies on MyGlit, share MyGlit job links across job portals, social media, email campaigns, recruiter posts, referrals and their own websites, and receive applicants from both their own sourcing efforts and MyGlit's growing candidate traffic.

The platform is also designed to reduce candidate waste. In recruitment, a good candidate may apply to the wrong job or may not fit one specific opening but could still be suitable for another active vacancy. MyGlit's AI-assisted rerouting can help identify another role where the candidate may be a better fit, giving companies more value from the same applicant traffic.

Questionnaire-based screening further helps teams decide which candidates should enter a specific hiring card, while still allowing recruiters to manually review candidates who may not have cleared the first screening layer but could still be relevant.

Relevance for the Philippines, India and Malaysia

Gratitude Inc is initially positioning MyGlit for hiring teams in markets where recruitment remains high-volume, competitive and operationally complex.

In the Philippines, the platform is relevant for BPO and shared services hiring across Metro Manila, Cebu and other hiring hubs, where employers often manage large applicant volumes and fast-moving campaigns.

In India, MyGlit can support recruitment companies and corporate teams working across multiple clients, cities, recruiters and roles.

In Malaysia, the platform can help employers and recruitment teams manage multilingual, shared services, customer support and regional hiring requirements with clearer applicant tracking and candidate movement.

The company also plans to make MyGlit available to teams outside these markets that need a practical recruitment operating system for managing vacancies, applicants and recruiter activity.

Designed for adoption and network growth

MyGlit's commercial model is designed to support adoption by growing recruitment teams. The platform offers unlimited users across plans, job posting access, hiring cards, questionnaire workflows, Kanban-style movement, AI-assisted features and fair-use terms.

According to Gratitude Inc, the goal is to make recruitment technology easier for teams to adopt without creating unnecessary per-user billing pressure or forcing companies to operate across disconnected tools.

As more companies and consultancies join the platform, MyGlit expects the network effect to become stronger: more companies can add genuine jobs, more applicants can discover opportunities, and recruitment teams can create more joining opportunities from the same candidate ecosystem.

Moving from manual tracking to recruitment operating systems

The opening of MyGlit reflects a wider shift in recruitment operations. Companies no longer need only job posting pages or candidate databases. They increasingly need systems that help recruiters manage workflow, track applicant movement, reduce repetitive manual work and make better use of every candidate profile.

By opening MyGlit to outside companies, Gratitude Inc aims to make a recruitment system built from practical hiring experience available to a wider market.

About Gratitude Jobs Ahead Hr inc
MyGlit is a recruitment operating system and applicant tracking platform developed by Gratitude Inc. The platform combines Company Boards, Hiring Cards, questionnaire-based screening, candidate tracking, job posting, recruiter collaboration and AI-assisted rerouting in one workflow. It is built for companies, recruitment consultancies and hiring teams that want to manage more vacancies, applicants and joining opportunities with less manual work.
Website: https://www.myglit.com
Book a demo: support@myglit.com

Cebuana Lhuillier Triumphs at the Stevie® International Business Awards with Global Recognition for Leadership, Innovation, and Social Impact

 

Cebuana Lhuillier secured multiple awards at the prestigious Stevie® International Business Awards, highlighting its leadership in financial inclusion, innovative communications, and initiatives that create meaningful value for customers and communities.

President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier received three individual distinctions: Most Innovative Content Creator of the Year (Gold) for Money Guro, which uses accessible and engaging social media content to make financial education more relevant to Filipinos; Social Impact Leader of the Year (Silver) for initiatives advancing financial education, community engagement, and social responsibility; and Maverick of the Year (Bronze) for driving meaningful transformation within the organization and the financial services industry.

“These awards are a strong affirmation of our mission to innovate with purpose and to help Filipinos build greater confidence at every stage of their financial journey. I am proud of our team’s dedication and creativity, which have allowed Cebuana Lhuillier to be recognized globally,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier. “We are deeply grateful for these honors, which inspire us to continue breaking barriers and building a stronger, more inclusive financial future for all.”

Cebuana Lhuillier’s First Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Emirosco Michael Sena was named Marketing Executive of the Year (Silver) for his role in advancing Cebuana Lhuillier’s marketing and communications efforts and strengthening how the brand connects its financial inclusion advocacy with the communities it serves.

“These awards reflect the power of purpose-driven storytelling and, more importantly, the collective effort behind it. Our marketing and communications team works closely with our different business units to bring ideas, expertise, and advocacies to life through stories and initiatives that resonate with Filipinos and create real value. For us, marketing is not just about building a brand; it is about working across the organization to make financial inclusion relevant, engaging, and meaningful to the communities we serve,” said Mike Sena.

Cebuana Lhuillier also won Achievement in Financial Services (Gold), underscoring its evolution into an integrated financial ecosystem that brings together solutions for Filipinos’ diverse financial needs. The category covers significant achievements in the financial services sector, including contributions that demonstrate innovation, growth, and results.

Additionally, its campaigns also earned awards across event, partnership, marketing, and corporate social responsibility categories. Kumustahan won Gold in the Corporate & Community Customer Engagement Event category for turning post-claims support into a more personal customer experience, extending the relationship beyond the transaction through meaningful follow-through and care. KaNegosyo Center received Gold for Achievement in Collaboration and Partnership: Best Public-Private Partnership for bringing together Cebuana Lhuillier, public-sector partners, and other stakeholders to provide MSMEs with more accessible business support, resources, and growth opportunities. The program has combined coaching, financial solutions, digital resources, and on-ground partnerships, providing support to entrepreneurs across the country.

Pasasalamat earned Silver for Brand Engagement Event by transforming a customer appreciation initiative into an expression of gratitude and financial inclusion, strengthening the connection between the brand and the people it serves. Ipon Moves received Bronze for Purpose-Led Marketing Campaign of the Year for turning the simple act of saving into a broader advocacy, using an engaging campaign to encourage Filipinos to develop a consistent savings habit and take concrete steps toward greater financial security. Happiest Pinoy won Bronze for Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility for using storytelling and a nationwide search to celebrate Filipino resilience, optimism, and hope while giving individuals and communities a platform to share inspiring stories.

The Stevie® International Business Awards recognize achievements across virtually every aspect of the workplace, including leadership, marketing, communications, innovation, and customer engagement. Professionals worldwide select winners, assessing entries within their respective categories.

The latest awards reinforce Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment to expanding financial access, innovating with purpose, and building an ecosystem of financial solutions that meets Filipinos’ evolving needs.

APAME 2026 Examines AI, Research Integrity, and the Future of Peer Review

Top medical editors and researchers gathered in Manila to discuss how scholarly publishing can preserve trust in an increasingly AI-enabled research environment.

The Asia Pacific Association of Medical Editors (APAME) 2026 Conference and the 7th Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) Conference brought together medical editors, researchers, reviewers, publishers, librarians, and health professionals at the Henry Sy Sr. Building of the University of the Philippines Manila on August 20–21, 2026.

The well-attended conference featured prominent leaders in medicine, health research, medical publishing, and public policy from the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region. Distinguished speakers included Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, Regional Director for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization; Usec. Leah Buendia of the Department of Science and Technology; Prof. Michael Tee, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Manila; PAMJE president Prof. Cecilia Maramba-Lazarte; UP Medicine Dean Prof. Charlotte Chiong; and Prof. Nicholas Talley of the Medical Journal of Australia.

The program also brought together experts from the World Association of Medical Editors, APAME, PAMJE, universities, medical journals, research institutions, libraries, and government agencies.

The conference marked the presentation of the first-ever APAME Presidential Awards, recognizing Dr. Jose Florencio Lapeña Jr., concurrently President of WAME, and Dr. Wilfred C. G. Peh for their contributions to editorial excellence, publication ethics, peer-review education, and the advancement of medical publishing in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Discussions focused on research integrity, responsible artificial intelligence use, the declining pool of peer reviewers, and concerns about citation quality in published research.

AI brings promise and new risks

Artificial intelligence can support literature searching, language editing, translation, data analysis, coding, knowledge synthesis, and dissemination.

However, it may also amplify plagiarism, fabricated references, undisclosed generated content, inappropriate authorship, manipulated data or images, paper-mill activity, and other forms of misconduct.

The key issue is not simply whether AI should be used, but whether its use is appropriate, transparent, verifiable, and accompanied by clear human accountability.

AI tools cannot be authors because they cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, originality, confidentiality, or integrity of a publication. Human authors remain responsible for all content, including AI-assisted text, references, analyses, tables, code, images, and interpretations.

The future of peer review

Participants also discussed the declining and uneven availability of qualified peer reviewers worldwide.

Peer review provides independent scrutiny of a manuscript’s research question, methods, analysis, interpretation, originality, relevance, and ethical conduct. However, journals increasingly struggle to find reviewers with the appropriate expertise, no conflicts of interest, and sufficient time to complete careful assessments.

The growing complexity of manuscripts, and the need to evaluate AI-assisted content, data, images, and references, has added to this pressure.

The conference also raised concerns about citation quality. References may be incomplete, irrelevant, inaccurately described, or difficult to verify. AI tools have introduced an additional risk by generating citations that appear plausible but do not exist or do not support the claims for which they are cited.

101 Health Research facilitates two workshops

As part of the program, 101 Health Research contributed two workshops facilitated by its Founder and Managing Director, Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales:

• Publication Quality and Ethics in the AI Age: How to Comply with the Latest Publication Guidelines

• Medical Statistics for Non-Statisticians

The first workshop presented publication compliance as a continuous process beginning with study planning and extending through data management, analysis, reporting, peer review, publication, and post-publication correction.

It examined the traditional dimensions of publication quality of substance, form, and style, and the growing importance of a fourth dimension: integrity.

Integrity encompasses authorship, accountability, transparency, data governance, confidentiality, responsible AI use, conflict-of-interest disclosure, accurate citation, reproducibility, and correction of errors.

Participants reviewed guidance from ICMJE, WAME, COPE, the EQUATOR Network, professional organizations, institutions, funders, and target journals. The session emphasized that responsible AI use requires human verification, protection of confidential information, careful checking of references, and documentation of significant decisions.

The second workshop focused on the SAMPL Guidelines, or the Statistical Analyses and Methods in the Published Literature guidelines. These support clear reporting of statistical methods and results, including the software used, estimates, measures of uncertainty, p-values, and the relationship between statistical findings and the research question.

The workshop reinforced that statistical reporting is not merely a technical requirement. Clear reporting allows readers, reviewers, and editors to understand how conclusions were reached and assess whether they are supported by the data.

Preserving trust in medical publishing

The APAME 2026 discussions reinforced that research integrity is a shared responsibility. Authors must report their work transparently, reviewers must provide independent and fair assessments, and editors must apply consistent standards and respond appropriately to ethical concerns.

Artificial intelligence may make research and publishing more efficient, but efficiency cannot replace judgment. The future of medical publishing will depend on stronger human systems for verification, peer review, accountability, and learning.

For 101 Health Research, preserving trust begins with sound methods, responsible statistics, transparent reporting, and integrity at every stage of the research and publication process.

Learn more about 101 Health Research’s work in research methods, biostatistics, publication support, and research integrity at 101healthresearch.com.

About 101 Health Research

Founded in 2014, 101 Health Research® is an independent health research consulting and analytics firm dedicated to producing trustworthy, ethical, and decision-relevant evidence for clinical care, public health, and health systems.

We serve hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, government agencies, and international partners across the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and global markets.

Our work spans clinical research, epidemiology, biostatistics, medical data science, and research governance. Through rigorous methodology, collaborative engagement, and strong ethical standards, we design, conduct, and support research that strengthens decision-making at institutional, national, and regional levels.