Author: The Metropolista

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SM Group receives 12 Stevie® Awards for reporting and community programs

The SM Group received 12 Stevie Awards at the 2026 International Business Awards, recognizing both parent-company reporting and programs delivered through its malls and communities.

The SM Group’s parent company, SM Investments Corporation, received four awards. It received Gold Stevie Awards in the Conglomerates (Large) and Best Annual Report (Publicly Held Corporations) categories for its 2025 Integrated Report.

Its 2025 Sustainability Report was awarded Bronze for Best Sustainability Report. The SM Sustainability School was also awarded Bronze in the Asia, Australia, and New Zealand Sustainability Initiative of the Year category.

“Clear reporting provides investors and other stakeholders with a better understanding of how we make decisions, manage the business, and plan for the long term,” stated Frederic C. DyBuncio, President and CEO of SM Investments. “The other awards demonstrate how our businesses carry that same sense of responsibility into the communities they serve.”

That work can be seen in the eight awards received by SM Supermalls.

“People experience a mall based on what they do there, not what we say about it,” SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan explained. “A place to read, an event that promotes local art, or a program that makes the mall more user-friendly can all make a tangible difference in a community.”

The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition won Gold for Brand Experience of the Year (Consumer), while the Find Your SM campaign took Silver in the same category.

The SM Green Movement received Silver for Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility. The SM Cares Coastal Cleanup initiative received Silver for Environmental Achievement, and SM Cares: A Mall for All received Silver for Diversity and Inclusion.

The SM Cares Book Nook won Bronze for Most Innovative Creative Project. The program creates spaces in malls for people to read and share books. The Empowering Communities campaign was also named the Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

SM Mindanao Art received Bronze in the Corporate and Community (Community Engagement Event) category, bringing Mindanaoan artists and their work to a wider audience.

Over 300 business professionals participated in two months of judging. Winners were determined based on their average scores.

The International Business Awards, now in their 23rd year, honor organizations, executives, entrepreneurs, and teams worldwide.

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Tag-Ulan Na, Pero Kamusta ang Tiyan: Why Rainy Days Change Your Body’s Signals

A warm bowl of lugaw, a steaming cup of coffee, crispy merienda, and the perfect excuse to stay indoors—it’s weather that invites us to slow down and indulge. But while we’re embracing these comforts, our gut may face a different reality. Heavy rains, flooding, and increased humidity can raise the risk of food and water contamination, creating conditions that make digestive illnesses more common.

Studies link heavy rainfall and flooding with increased cases of diarrheal diseases and foodborne infections, making gut health an often-overlooked part of staying well during the season. The Philippine National Nutrition Council reminds Filipinos that rainy months are associated with a higher risk of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid fever, underscoring the importance of food safety and proper hygiene.

The rainy season also influences our eating habits. Comfort foods, fried snacks, irregular meals, and street food indulgences can put added stress on the digestive system, especially when food safety risks are heightened. Since a large portion of the body’s immune system resides in the gut, maintaining a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria is essential for supporting overall immunity.

When this balance is disrupted by poor diet or exposure to contaminated food and water, the risk of digestive issues increases, making gut health an important priority throughout the rainy season.

Listen to your gut. It often gives warning signs. Frequent stomach discomfort, loose stools, bloating, changes in bowel movements, and mild abdominal cramps may indicate an underlying digestive issue or an imbalance in the gut that should not be ignored.

Our bodies often give early warning signs when something’s wrong, especially during the rainy season. Persistent stomach discomfort, bloating, loose stools, or changes in bowel habits may indicate a need for gut attention. Addressing these symptoms early through proper hydration, good food hygiene, and care can prevent more serious digestive issues.

Give your gut an extra layer of support during the rainy season with probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that restore and maintain the natural balance of good bacteria in the gut, supporting healthy digestion and the body’s defenses. They can help enhance natural resistance to intestinal infections, improve intestinal ecology, aid digestion, and improve lactose malabsorption with proper diet and exercise.

Probiotics like Erceflora Probiotics contain billions of INTELLI-SPORES® and are for all ages above 6 months old. They enhance natural resistance to intestinal infections, improve intestinal ecology, aid digestion, and improve lactose malabsorption. They’re a helpful addition to everyday gut care, especially during the rainy season.

Enjoy the rainy season by listening to your body, practicing good hygiene, making mindful food choices, and giving your gut the support it needs. This will help protect your digestive health and make the most of everything the tag-ulan has to offer.

Rainy weather shouldn’t stop Filipinos from enjoying the season. Instead, it should remind us to care for our health. Small, proactive habits, like choosing safe food and water and supporting gut health with probiotics like Erceflora, can help keep our digestive system resilient. A healthy gut is the foundation for enjoying life’s moments, rain or shine.

ERCEFLORA GUT DEFENSE AT ERCEFLORA GUT RESTORE AY HINDI GAMOT AT HINDI DAPAT GAMITING PANGGAMOT SA ANUMANG URI NG SAKIT.

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2GO Travel Introduces TraveLink to Connect Sea and Land Journeys Across the Philippines

2GO Travel has launched TraveLink, a multi-modal travel service that seamlessly integrates sea and land journeys into a single itinerary. This innovative service aims to enhance the convenience and ease of traveling across the Philippines. TraveLink combines 2GO Travel’s sea fares with connecting bus and van transportation, allowing passengers to book their entire journey as one unified itinerary.

Whether passengers are traveling from the city to an island destination or connecting across different provinces, TraveLink simplifies the planning process from start to finish. Instead of booking separate bus, van, and ferry tickets, passengers can now arrange their entire journey in one booking, saving time and eliminating the hassle of coordinating multiple transport providers. TraveLink offers a range of routes, including Manila-El Nido, Manila-Caticlan (Boracay), Baguio-Cebu, Baguio-Bacolod, and Baguio-Siargao.

Francis John Chua, Head of 2GO Travel, emphasized the significance of TraveLink, stating, “Travel doesn’t begin at the port—it begins the moment you leave home. For years, travelers had to make separate bookings for each leg of their journey. With TraveLink, we’re bringing these connections together, making it easier for our passengers to travel across the Philippines with greater convenience and confidence.”

TraveLink is powered by 2GO’s partnership with 12Go Asia, a leading travel technology company in Asia specializing in multimodal transportation. By integrating 12Go Asia’s booking technology with 2GO Travel’s extensive domestic shipping network, passengers can now enjoy smoother connections between buses, vans, and sea travel through a single itinerary.

This new service is particularly designed for travelers heading to destinations beyond 2GO Travel’s ports, eliminating the stress of planning each transfer separately.

The introduction of TraveLink is part of 2GO Travel’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the Philippine travel experience. By creating a more connected, accessible, and hassle-free travel network across the archipelago, 2GO Travel aims to make journeys across the Philippines more enjoyable for its passengers.

 

For booking, visit www.12go.asia or www.travel.2go.com.ph.

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Plan B: The Safety Net Every ‘Sandwich Generation’ Filipino Family Needs

An essential challenge facing modern working adults is managing financial responsibilities across generations. Raising growing children, caring for aging parents, and securing one’s own retirement are colliding demands for millions of families.
This multi-generational balancing act defines the Sandwich Generation—working adults stretched financially and emotionally between the immediate needs of their children and the care of their elderly parents.

The Reality of Balancing Two Generations

Being a primary breadwinner carries significant pressure. However, when two distinct generations rely on a single income, the risk compounds dramatically:
    • Compounded Vulnerability: A single medical crisis, sudden disability, or job loss doesn’t just disrupt individual plans—it threatens the day-to-day survival and future goals of three generations.
    • The Dual Obligation: Breadwinners must simultaneously fund immediate living expenses, education costs, healthcare for aging parents, and their own long-term retirement savings.

What the Data Shows: Family-Centered Financial Decisions

Recent findings from a Synergy-YouGov study highlight how deeply family dynamics shape financial decisions today. Securing life insurance is no longer viewed merely as a personal investment, but as a fundamental family obligation.
Key Motivation for Insurance Percentage / Priority Financial Impact
Health Protection Top Leading Concern Shields multi-generational savings from sudden medical debt.
Children’s Education 35% of respondents Ensures long-term educational continuity for the next generation.
Parental / Relative Support 34% of respondents Guarantees ongoing care and dignified support for aging relatives.
Retirement Planning High Priority Prevents breadwinners from becoming financial burdens to their own children later in life.

Building Your Safety Net: “Plan B”

Beyond daily budgeting, members of the sandwich generation require a structural safety net to ensure long-term stability.
“Many Filipinos today carry the responsibility of supporting both the next and previous generation. Life insurance helps ensure that no matter what happens, their families can continue pursuing their goals and meeting their needs. Ang pamilya mo ang nangangailangan ng Plan B.“
— Renato Vergel De Dios, President and CEO of BDO Life

Key Takeaways for Financial Readiness

    • Establish Health Coverage First: Medical emergencies are the quickest route to financial depletion for sandwich breadwinners.
    • Protect Educational Goals: Locking in education coverage early guarantees your children’s future regardless of income disruptions.
    • Plan for Independent Retirement: Securing your retirement fund ensures you break the cycle of generational financial dependency.

To explore tailored protection strategies for your family, reach out to a certified financial advisor to build your customized safety net.

Talk to a BDO Life Financial Advisor at the branch nearest you, or visit the BDO Life Get a Quote page on the BDO website to explore life insurance solutions that align with your financial goals and budget.

 

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Savings don’t stop accumulating when you retire. Your best years can still be ahead.

Retirement doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down.

Many seniors find joy in life after 60. They can travel, pursue hobbies, stay active in their communities, start small businesses, or spend more time with family and grandchildren. Some continue working, while others use their savings to support their loved ones and pursue their passions.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Filipinos aged 60 and above now make up nearly 10 percent of the country’s population. Many seniors also continue working beyond retirement age, with 3.4 million seniors still part of the labor force in 2025.

Regardless of their plans, one thing is crucial: ensuring that the savings they worked hard to build remain secure and accessible as they enjoy their golden years.

Celebrating a legacy of hard work

On Grandparents’ Month, BDO honors seniors who continue to make the most of every chapter of life by helping them protect and grow their wealth.

With a dependable savings account, seniors can keep their funds secure while enjoying convenient access to their hard-earned money. BDO Prime Savers, a savings account designed for clients aged 60 and above, offers benefits that enhance everyday banking, including:

    • Priority service in branches for reduced waiting times
    • Preferential foreign exchange rates for easier travel or support for family abroad
    • Convenient online account opening without the need for branch visits

These features are tailored to make banking easier for seniors, whether they’re managing their finances, supporting loved ones, or simply enjoying more freedom with their money.

Making every retirement year rewarding

Saving can be incredibly rewarding in various ways. From September 1 to 30, 2026, eligible clients who open a Prime Savers* account with an initial deposit of at least ₱100,000, or a Prime Savers Dollar account with at least US$2,000, can receive a ₱500 SM Gift Pass.

Additionally, opening a peso account offers new and existing clients a chance to win brand-new hybrid cars and SM Gift Passes until December 2026 as part of BDO’s 50th Anniversary raffle. To participate, clients can open a qualified account, register online once, and maintain the required balance to earn raffle entries.

For those who have dedicated their lives to caring for others, grandparents deserve the freedom to enjoy their hard-earned wealth and a financial partner who can assist them in doing so with greater ease and peace of mind.

Through BDO Prime Savers, seniors can continue safeguarding their assets while enjoying benefits designed to simplify, secure, and enhance their banking experience.

For more information about BDO’s Prime Savers and the 50th Anniversary promotion, visit the official BDO website or visit your nearest branch.

* Prime Savers Promo: This promotion runs from September 1 to 30, 2026. It is subject to DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-263939 Series of 2026.

BDO 50th Anniversary Raffle: This promotion runs until December 2026. Terms and conditions apply. DTI262324. Series of 2026.

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Enchanted Kingdom unveils 31st anniversary events and offerings, announces new developments at AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY

Enchanted Kingdom, the Philippines’ premier theme park, is gearing up for its 31st Anniversary with Fiesta ng Saribuhay, a month-long celebration that showcases the country’s rich biodiversity. This October, guests can expect an enchanting lineup of exciting shows, world-class entertainment, and other anniversary experiences.

EK’s theme for this year’s anniversary aims to enrich every guest’s visit by highlighting the Philippines’ unique beauty. The park will present a grand showcase of its people, culture, and biodiversity, making the country truly enchanting.

The festivities officially commence on October 2 with an enchanting World Teachers’ Day Celebration. This event will feature insightful sessions, captivating performances, and special treats and giveaways dedicated to the inspiring educators who nurture the next generation of Filipinos.

Guests can also take a symbolic step towards sustainability, wellness, and togetherness by participating in Run to 31: Takbo ng Saribuhay Fun Run on October 11. EK will share more details about the event, including registration information, on its social media pages soon.

Every weekend in October, the Fiesta ng Saribuhay street dance performances will bring the country’s vibrant culture and festive spirit to life across the park. EK’s Storyverse characters will also add their magical touch to the festivities with their spectacular nighttime parade.

On October 17, the Fiesta ng Saribuhay Concert will spotlight Filipino music, talent, and pride. R&B hitmaker Dionela will headline the star-studded lineup of OPM acts, ensuring that the anniversary festivities are truly unforgettable.

The celebration continues on October 18 with another exciting set of Fiesta ng Saribuhay performances featuring more OPM artists. Details about these performances will be revealed soon.

Embark on a culinary journey through the archipelago with EK’s newest Saribuhay Menu, a delightful offering of healthy and hearty local dishes from the featured destinations in the upcoming AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY film. This exciting menu will soon be available at LaunchTime and Amazon Grill restaurants.

EK continues to expand its diverse selection of in-park food and dining options. In the coming months, new tenant partners will join the EK family, including Pepper Lunch at the EK Portico, Minimelts, Stroop & Zo, and Mango Royal.

AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY 2.5

As EK celebrates its 31st anniversary, the launch of AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY 2.5 this October marks a significant milestone. This new installment introduces captivating immersive pre- and post-show experiences that bring the enchanting stories of biodiversity to life. Upon entering, guests will embark on a multi-sensory walkthrough that unveils the inspiration, symbolism, and creation of the attraction.

Delve deeper into the walkthrough and immerse yourself in the natural habitat of the Philippine eagle. Gain insights into its lifecycle and witness the poignant plight of one of the country’s most iconic and critically endangered birds.

EK is also elevating the retail experience at Pugad, AGILA’s in-house concept store. The store will feature displays and experiences that seamlessly blend retail, education, innovation, and sustainability. Guests can leave Pugad not only with souvenirs but also with a deeper appreciation and understanding of their overall AGILA experience.

AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY, a renewed attraction launched in October 2025, has a mission that extends beyond tourism to champion sustainability. Last January, it was notably named the Best ASEAN New Tourism Attraction by the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA).

EK has expanded its advocacy beyond the park by partnering with its homegrown P-pop girl group, SMS, to become the Saribuhay Explorers. These ambassadors will use short-form digital content to raise awareness about AGILA and the local biodiversity among audiences both inside and outside the park.

*Schedules are subject to change with prior notice.

For more information and updates on EK’s 31st Anniversary Celebration and other events and offerings, visit https://www.enchantedkingdom.ph. Follow EK on Facebook and TikTok at @enchantedkingdom.ph and Instagram at @ek_philippines.