Author: Thoney Pascual

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Corporate Governance Asia Recognizes SM with Seven Awards for Corporate Excellence

SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), the parent company of the SM group, was recently honored with seven major distinctions at the 15th Asian Excellence Awards organized by Corporate Governance Asia, a leading regional journal on corporate governance.

The accolades recognize the company’s consistent leadership in corporate governance, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Among this year’s honors, Corporate Governance Asia named SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio as Asia’s Best CEO, while Executive Vice Presidents Erwin G. Pato and Franklin C. Gomez were co-awarded Asia’s Best CFO, affirming the company’s strong financial stewardship and leadership excellence.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr DyBuncio said, “We are deeply honored by these awards, which reflect the collective effort of our people across the SM Group. Our commitment to long-term value creation, sustainability, and sound governance remains core to how we operate and grow.”

This year’s theme, “The Role of Asian Corporations in Climate Neutrality”, underscores the growing importance of sustainable and transparent practices in shaping the region’s future.

SM Investments also earned awards for its other corporate initiatives, namely, the Sustainable Asia Award, Asia’s Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Best Corporate Communications, and Best Investor Relations Company (Philippines). The following accolades marked the second consecutive year the company has received all seven awards.

Founded in 2011, the Asian Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in management, financial performance, corporate social responsibility, environmental practices, and investor relations.

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2GO Moves The Mind Museum’s Mind Rover to Puerto Princesa

2GO, the Philippines’ largest logistics and sea travel provider, has once again partnered with The Mind Museum to bring the wonders of science closer to the islands. This time, the collaboration takes the Mind Rover to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.As part of this initiative, and ahead of the Mind Rover’s arrival in Palawan, passengers aboard MV 2GO St Francis Xavier sailing from Manila to Puerto Princesa and Coron over the weekend enjoyed a series of exciting, science-themed activities onboard. Curated by The Mind Museum, these interactive sessions brought STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning to life. They turn sea travel into a fun, meaningful, and enriching experience for both kids and adults onboard.

This unique initiative brought logistics and learning together to move not just people and goods but also spark curiosity and imagination across the sea.

“We are thrilled to partner with 2GO. Through its shipping capabilities, the Mind Rover gets to visit provinces in the Philippines, where it would have taken weeks if traveled by land and would have been difficult to transport without 2GO’s direct link from Manila. Through this partnership, we can impact more communities and hopefully encourage more kids to have an inspired engagement and view of science or maybe even take up STEM in the future. We even get to reach more audiences, as we also do science shows on board 2GO!” said Maria Isabel Garcia, Managing Director and Curator of The Mind Museum.

Now on its third leg, the Mind Rover has successfully crossed the Philippine seas through 2GO, following activations in Bacolod and General Santos. It now reaches Puerto Princesa with the same mission: to reimagine science, make it more exciting, and spark inspiration among Filipino children to become the country’s next generation of scientists and innovators.

“We are delighted to be part of this meaningful partnership. It is an honor to bring science closer to Filipino families through a unique onboard experience. By mounting the Mind Rover exhibit aboard our ships, in partnership with The Mind Museum, we’re creating a space for families to explore themes of sea travel, sustainability, and basic science while in transit. We believe that part of appreciating sea travel is understanding how it works — and through this experience, we hope to spark curiosity, awareness, and a deeper connection with our oceans,” said Francis Chua, Business Unit Head of 2GO Travel.

The Mind Rover is a 12-meter museum-on-wheels packed with interactive and hands-on exhibits and live science shows, and demonstrations. It continues to fulfil its mission of bringing science beyond museum walls and into underserved island communities. The Puerto Princesa leg is the latest in a growing series of island activations made possible through collaborations like this.

With operations across 19 ports nationwide and a firm commitment to moving communities forward, 2GO’s partnership with The Mind Museum underscores its role not just as a logistics provider but as a bridge to learning, creativity, and nation-building.

This collaboration reflects the power of purposeful partnerships in delivering meaningful, mind-moving experiences both at sea and on land.

To learn more about 2GO’s travel and shipping solutions, visit travel.2go.com.ph or email 2go_freight@2go.com.ph.

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The Linden Suites Unveils “Living in Linden” – A Fresh Approach to Extended Stays in Ortigas Center

For more than two decades, The Linden Suites has been a reliable haven for countless business travellers, families, and professionals, right in the vibrant heart of Ortigas Center, Pasig City. This year, the hotel elevates its legacy by launching a new sub-brand, Living in Linden, tailored for guests in search of the ideal combination of comfort, convenience, and extended stays.

Crafted for the dynamic lifestyles of today, Living in Linden presents meticulously curated, fully furnished living spaces — from 40 sqm to 120 sqm in our one- to three-bedroom suites — that embody the essence of home while providing the luxurious benefits of a hotel. Guests who choose to stay longer benefit from weekly housekeeping, front desk secretarial support, and complete access to hotel amenities. Their stay allows them to concentrate on work, study, or simply lead an active lifestyle, with complimentary use of the gym and the all-weather indoor heated pool. At the same time, The Linden Suites manages everything else.

The Linden Suites boasts a prime location in the heart of Ortigas’ bustling business district, surrounded by shopping centres, hospitals, restaurants, and cafes. Living in Linden caters to professionals seeking a home, students chasing their academic aspirations, and young adults ready to embrace the vibrant city lifestyle.

The Linden Suites is evolving alongside its guests, and Living in Linden embodies this fresh perspective: a commitment to providing a warm, versatile environment that caters to the varied demands of today’s generation while prioritising space, comfort, and style. Crafted for ultimate flexibility and comfort, every space empowers guests to tailor their stay to perfectly align with their lifestyle.

Experience the ultimate comfort at The Linden Suites, where we invite you to make your life Linden with our exclusive rates designed specifically for extended stays. For any enquiries or to make reservations, connect with them on Facebook and Instagram @LivinginLinden, or reach out via phone at +632-56387878, +63917-1324108, or +63917-1356835.

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When The ‘Universe’ Aligns, Great Banking Happens

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach gives her stamp of approval for BDO’s Universal Teller Machine

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach fell in love with the BDO Universal Teller Machine immediately upon discovering it.

“Honestly, BDO continues to surprise me, even after all these years,” says the global personality hailed for her modeling career, lifestyle choices, and meaningful advocacies. Pia made public her pick of BDO as her bank soon after she won the Miss Universe title, the first Filipina to win in four decades. She recently showcased her loyalty to BDO in a Facebook post.

“You know what I love? When things just work,” opens Pia in a short video posted to her millions of followers. “BDO now has the Universal Teller Machine, a self-service machine that lets you skip the line and do more than just basic banking.”

Thanks to the Universal Teller Machine, clients who visit select BDO branches now have a choice between transacting with the tellers or doing it themselves. With this machine, one can update their passbook, deposit checks, make cardless transactions via QR or biometrics, and withdraw or deposit cash.

“It’s safe, quick, and perfect for people like me who love options,” explains Pia. “From check deposits to updating your passbook to withdrawing or depositing cash, you can do all that at the Universal Teller.”

Pia was clearly a user, as she also confidently gave instructions on how to use the Universal Teller Machine in the video.

“For check deposits, just tap ‘Cardless Transaction’, choose Check Deposit and follow the steps. You can even send someone to deposit on your behalf. Want to update your Smart Passbook? Just choose Update Passbook, then pop it in the machine. You can still do other transactions like cash withdrawals, deposits and sending money.”

BDO is the only bank to offer all these transactions in one teller machine. As Pia happily shares, “BDO is always giving me better ways to bank.” Currently, over 400 BDO branches in Metro Manila house Universal Teller Machines. The next time you plan a visit to a BDO branch, join Pia in discovering the many ways the banking universe aligns by using the Universal Teller Machine.

To look for your nearest BDO branch and Universal Teller Machine, click on the Find a Branch or ATM page on the bank’s website at www.bdo.com.ph.

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Taiwan Keeps Doors Open: Visa-Free Entry for Filipinos Extended & Travel Expo Push in PH!

Filipino tourists can now enter without a visa again! The Taiwan Tourism Administration is sending a group of people to the Philippine Travel Expo and Promotion Events. They are also inviting top influencers to promote Taiwan.

Taiwan just said that Filipino travellers can now enter the country without a visa for another year, until July 31, 2026. In response, the Taiwan Tourism Administration quickly put up a Taiwan tourist delegation made up of 50 people from 25 groups, such as the Taichung City Government, travel agencies, hotels, and airlines. From July 11 to 13, the delegation will travel to the Philippines to participate in the Travel Madness Expo (TME) 2025.

The Taiwan Tourism Administration’s most recent statistics show that the visa-free policy has greatly increased travel from the Philippines. In the first quarter of 2025, 146,581 people came from the Philippines. This is a huge 29% increase from before the pandemic, making the Philippines the fastest-growing source market in the world and the largest source market in Southeast Asia.


The Taiwan Tourism Administration will build up a “Taiwan Pavilion” at TME based on its “Taiwan – Waves of Wonder” campaign for its Tourism Brand 3.0. The pavilion will use bright colours and fun features to show off how beautiful Taiwan is across all four seasons. Taipei 101, Taichung’s Rainbow Village, the Taiwan International Balloon Festival in Taitung, and the Morning Hot Springs of Green Island are all popular Instagram spots that are highlighted in the pavilion. This encourages Filipino visitors to capture unforgettable photos as they immerse themselves in Taiwan’s rich and diverse travel appeal.

The Taiwan Pavilion has asked well-known Filipino influencers, such as Carl Chuidian (The Chui Show) and Mommy Haidee, a travel vlogger, to help make this year’s campaign even more effective. Both will talk about their trips to Taiwan and the food and sights that are a must-see. People are likely to discuss the delegation’s appearances, which may encourage more Filipinos to choose Taiwan as their favourite travel destination.

Travel from the Philippines to Taiwan has been on the rise recently. Filipino tourists are drawn to Taiwan because it is close by, has a short flight time, a wide range of food, and unique attractions, such as the high-speed rail system that the Philippines doesn’t have. In 2024, Taiwan had the most Filipino tourists of any Southeast Asian country, with 467,000. The boom keeps going in 2025, with 25.38% more people coming in from January to March than in the same time in 2024. The Philippines is currently Taiwan’s top source market in Southeast Asia and sixth in the world, showing amazing performance.

The Taiwan tourism delegation will also hold promotional events in Iloilo (the Philippines’ fourth largest city) and Cebu (the second largest city) on July 15 and 16. The visit is in addition to their participation in the TME. The events will help strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ tourism industries and bring in more Filipino tourists. More than 100 important travel professionals, airline officials, and mainstream media will be at these events. They will show off Taiwan’s newest tourist attractions and incentives, with the goal of keeping the high rise in Filipino visitors coming to Taiwan and opening up new chances for Taiwan’s tourism in the Southbound market.

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AISIN Advances in Mindanao: A More In-Depth Examination of Motivations

Multi-city roadshows and exclusive gatherings introduce a broader product experience to Filipino riders and auto professionals.

A recent series of interactive events in the Mindanao region brought the AISIN brand closer to the people. The tour was a well-planned effort that brought together product debuts, shop-level activations, and industry-focused evenings to attract motorcyclists and automotive companies.

This series marked the second phase of AISIN’s initiatives in Mindanao, carrying on the brand’s objective to engage in direct communication with partners and end-users, thereby introducing its growing product range to local audiences and sparking discussions about it.

The crux of it all: genuine connections that let individuals experience, investigate, and grasp AISIN’s full potential.

Alternative Routes for Bicycles

As a brand primarily associated with four-wheel products, AISIN made a bold move by launching its motorbike oil line during the daytime roadshows. At each stop, which was organised in collaboration with nearby bike shops, participants got an opportunity to try the product for themselves. There was levity in the air thanks to the promotions, games, and gifts, but the message got across.

On two wheels, as on four, reliability, safety, and performance are paramount. A lot of people didn’t know this before, but a well-known auto parts manufacturer now has a product tailored to motorbikes.

Here are the new AISIN Motorcycle Oils that are available:

Recognised Name, New Dialogues

For further in-depth discussions in the evenings, AISIN convened aftermarket experts, including shop heads, long-term clientele, and garage owners. The purpose of these VIP Nights was to reevaluate the overall vision, not merely to showcase individual products.

At AISIN, we offer comprehensive solutions, not just parts. Our displays showcase clutch kits, brake pads, filters, lubricants, and more, reminding participants of this fact. It came as a surprise to many people to learn that so much of what they currently use has a single point of origin, especially in an industry where dependability is paramount.

A nod, remark, or realisation characterises the response. “That was something I was unaware of as well.”

Putting the Name Behind It

This tour was distinguished not only by the introduction of a new product. It was like discovering a familiar brand for the first time but with a new perspective. Instead of relying on aggressive marketing or sensationalised claims, the focus is on everyday use in local areas by regular people.

Just turn up, provide value, and let the goods do the talking; that was AISIN’s strategy. Not only did AISIN unveil new products, but it also provided new information that many attendees found particularly intriguing, whether they were riders, mechanics, or owners of the shops involved.

You may find AISIN’s motorcycle oils and various automotive parts in partner shops throughout the country. It is likely already a component of your drive, whether you are on the go or in the garage.

Are you seeking additional information? Follow AISIN Philippines on Facebook at https://facebook.com/AISINPhilippines.