Category: Feature

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The Season of Tribute: A New Way to Celebrate the People Who Matter

The “Ber” months are here—and in the Philippines, that means the holiday spirit is already beginning to unfold.

But before the Christmas parties, reunions, gift-giving, and festive gatherings take over our calendars, The Tribute Hotel is inviting everyone to pause and celebrate something even more meaningful: the people who make life worth celebrating.

This September, the hotel launches “The Season of Tribute,” a heartfelt campaign built around a simple question:

Who deserves your tribute?

It could be your parents or grandparents who have always been there. A partner who makes ordinary days special. Friends who have stayed through the years. A mentor who helped shape your journey. Colleagues and employees whose hard work often goes unnoticed. Or even an everyday hero who deserves to hear, “Thank you.”

A tribute doesn’t always have to come wrapped in a box.

Sometimes, it’s a meal shared around a table. A weekend spent together. A long-overdue catch-up with an old friend. A quiet celebration with someone special. Or simply creating a moment that tells someone, “You matter.”

And that is where The Tribute Hotel hopes to make the season even more memorable.

Turn Gratitude Into an Experience

Located in Quezon City, near the vibrant Tomas Morato district, The Tribute Hotel offers a welcoming setting for the moments that deserve to be remembered.

Gather the family for a meal at Don Tomas, enjoy a relaxing city staycation with someone special, or bring your favorite people together for an intimate celebration.

Because sometimes, the best way to show appreciation isn’t by finding the perfect gift—it’s by making time for the people who matter.

The Season of Tribute is designed to carry that spirit throughout the final months of the year, with each month shining a light on a different group of people deserving of recognition.

October: A Tribute to the People Behind the Work

As companies begin preparing for year-end celebrations, October turns the spotlight toward employees, teams, colleagues, and partners.

These are the people who help turn ideas into results, keep businesses moving, and make achievements possible. It’s a perfect time to step away from the daily routine and celebrate the people behind the work.

November: A Tribute to the Journey

November takes on especially meaningful significance for The Tribute Hotel as it celebrates its second anniversary.

The milestone becomes an opportunity to recognize the guests, employees, partners, and community members who have been part of the hotel’s journey.

Two years is more than a number—it’s a collection of stories, connections, celebrations, and memories.

December: A Tribute to Togetherness

And then comes December—the heart of the Filipino holiday season.

The Season of Tribute culminates in a celebration of togetherness, welcoming families, friends, balikbayans, colleagues, and loved ones for Christmas parties, reunions, holiday stays, and festive gatherings.

After all, the holidays have always been about coming home to the people who matter.

Give More Than a Gift

The holiday season often becomes a race to find the perfect present.

But perhaps this year, the more meaningful gift is something that cannot be bought: time, appreciation, and a moment together.

The Season of Tribute encourages everyone to start the giving season with gratitude—to look around and recognize the people whose presence, kindness, hard work, love, or friendship has made a difference.

So, before the gifts are wrapped and the Christmas lights go up, take a moment to ask yourself:

Who deserves your tribute?

Then make the moment count.

The Season of Tribute at The Tribute Hotel.
Give more than a gift. Give a tribute.

Managed with pride by Approche Hospitality Management Corporation, The Tribute Hotel continues to uphold warm Filipino hospitality, personalized service, and meaningful guest experiences—creating spaces where celebrations become memories and ordinary gatherings become moments worth remembering.

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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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Davao Diaries: Eagles, Escapes, and Every Cup of Matcha

Is the “Durian Capital of the Philippines” now also called the “Matcha Capital of the Philippines”? Welcome to Davao City, Philippines. Aside from being the home of the monkey-eating Philippine eagle, you can also find Mt. Apo on its land and harvest its pride fruit, durian. (Philippine Tourism USA, n.d.)

Going in and out of Davao, there are undeniably lots of tourist places you can visit that are also undeniably amazing to go to. One of the people’s favorites is the Malagos Garden Resort; any chocolate lover would love to go there. Other places to visit are Philippines Eagle Center, Eden Nature Park, and, with a short boat ride, Samal Island. 

But beyond the buzz and viral posts, what makes this place truly deserving of its newfound spotlight? Perhaps the answer lies not in a single landmark or attraction, but in the moments that linger long after the journey ends. From timeless destinations to emerging favorites, these are the places that reveal Davao at its finest.

Azuela Cove

    • Being the city that is widely considered one of the cleanest cities in the Philippines, with its disciplined culture and strict local ordinances (Department of Tourism, n.d.), imagine that, but with a blend of residential, commercial, and recreational vibes within one place. Thai, Mexican, and other cuisines, different cafes, and retail stores are all merged and can be found within Azuela High Street. The place also offers a rent-a-bike and rent-a-scooter for a breezy ride within the Azuela perimeters. It also provides a court for everyone’s favorite sport nowadays, pickleball. Pickleball is not the only athletic activity that this place offers; runners and joggers are also welcome to go around the area. And of course, the place also offers its famous Azuela Seaside Promenade, an open-air walkway along the Davao Gulf. Where post-runs and post-cafe dates turn into sunset watching. Azuela Cove offers the perfect Sunday morning vibes that can be enjoyed whether it’s exercising or pure relaxation.

Davao Global Township

    • Davao excels at creating green spaces where good food, great company, and scenic views come together. DGT is an open space where visitors can go for a run or a leisurely jog or spend a restful day by lying down a picnic mat and enjoying quality time with friends and family. It is also home to a personal favorite, SMASHD., where a local take on the famous In-N-Out Flying Dutchman can be found. Matcha cafés, AnniPie Bakery, food carts, and high-end restaurants all share this vibrant space, framed by the silhouette of residential mountains and some of the city’s most breathtaking sunsets.

The Philippines’ Newest Matcha Capital

    • Crowned by the internet, Davao is known as the Matcha Capital of the Philippines, offering countless Matcha cafes within the city. But does it really deserve the spotlight? Whether it be big or small cafes, the city seems to refuse to use instant and not-so-freshly made matcha for every order. Though matcha drinks are not the most affordable beverages out there, every cup should be worth the price. That is why it is always better to know where to go before taking that first sip. Here are some of the cafés that deserve a spot on every matcha lover’s list.
      1. &Matcha – The store not only sells matcha but also offers the best scenery to drink their drinks as well. From the exterior to the taste of their matcha, it’s an automatic 10/10. They offer a safe variety to choose from that fits within everyone’s taste buds.
      2. Mille Matcha – A minimalist and modern interior paired with their authentic tasty matcha drinks. Mille Matcha can also be found within the grounds of DGT, which makes it the perfect place to go for dessert.
      3. Kisom Matcha – Grab your current read, as this place not only offers good matcha but also a cozy yet productive setting. Without question, Kisom is said to offer good matcha, and guess what? They also let you pour the matcha and the sweetener yourself. 
      4. Manu Cafe – A Japandi-style cafe that is surely within reach. The cafe doesn’t only offer matcha as a dessert but also serves coffee. The vibe and atmosphere of the place is definitely perfect for WFC, work-from-cafe.
      5. The Matcha Tokyo – The safest place to satisfy your matcha cravings, offering a quality and tasty treat. The Matcha Tokyo can be found either at SM Davao or Azuela High Street, along with its other branches within the country. 

These are not the only places to enjoy matcha within Davao City, but they are undoubtedly among the most recommended. In the end, perhaps the best way to discover Davao is not only through the places it is known for, but also through the quiet moments shared over a cup of matcha, one cup at a time.

Davao City has been known for its traditional attractions, towering mountains, undeniable biodiversity, and the unique aroma of durian. But beyond these cultures, the city continues to reinvent itself without losing its identity. From serene green areas and energetic neighborhoods to cafés subtly perfecting each cup of matcha, Davao demonstrates that its top attractions are not just those seen in travel brochures but also the moments that entice tourists to stay a bit longer. It is up to each traveler to determine whether or not it really merits the moniker “Matcha Capital of the Philippines.” But one thing is certain: Davao is now a city to experience, one location, one sunset, and maybe even one cup of matcha at a time, rather than merely a place to travel.

Philippines Tourism USA. (n.d.). Davao. https://philippinetourismusa.com/destination/davao/  

Department of Tourism. (n.d.). Davao City. Love the Philippines. https://www.tourism.gov.ph/destination/davao-region/davao-city/  

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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.