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Addressing the Brain Drain: How the SM Group Is Bringing Higher Education Back to the Regions

For decades, many Filipinos have left their hometowns in search of quality education and better career opportunities—often concentrating talent in urban centers while leaving provincial communities underserved. Today, the SM Group, through National University (NU), is helping reverse that trend by bringing accessible, high-quality higher education closer to home.

With a growing presence outside Metro Manila, National University is not only educating students—it is creating jobs, nurturing local talent, and strengthening regional economies.

Expanding Access Beyond Metro Manila

National University now serves more than 84,000 students across its nationwide campuses, with seven campuses located outside Metro Manila. These include NU Bacolod, NU Laguna, NU Baliwag, NU Dasmariñas, NU Lipa, NU Clark, and the newest campus, NU Cebu, which opened this academic year.

What stands out is NU’s strong commitment to local employment. NU Cebu currently boasts 100% local hires, while NU Bacolod employs 96% local staff, NU Laguna 99%, NU Baliwag 98%, NU Dasmariñas 96%, NU Lipa 98%, and NU Clark 97%. These numbers highlight NU’s deliberate effort to provide professional opportunities within the regions they serve.

By offering quality education and employment in provincial areas, NU allows professors, administrators, and students to build meaningful careers without leaving their hometowns.

Standardized Compensation, Stronger Talent Retention

One of NU’s key strategies in addressing brain drain is its standardized compensation package across all campuses nationwide. This approach ensures competitive and equitable salaries regardless of location, making provincial postings more attractive to educators and professionals.

“We bring talent back to the provinces,” said NU President and CEO Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita. “NU offers a standardized salary matrix applicable to all our employees across the country. This approach has helped make our recruitment more appealing to applicants in provincial regions.”

NU President and CEO Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita

By aligning education, labor, and development goals, NU helps reduce inequality between urban and rural areas—strengthening local ecosystems for long-term growth.

Education as a Catalyst for Community Development

NU’s expansion also reflects the SM Group’s vision of responsible community development. Most NU campuses are situated within SM’s social ecosystem, offering students and employees accessibility, safety, and convenience.

“NU is part of SM’s corporate social responsibility,” Dr. Ermita shared. “By allowing campuses to be part of the SM community, accessibility is achieved and affordability is maintained. Transportation hubs are also located near most mall-based campuses, ensuring convenience and safety for students and employees.”

This integrated approach helps communities retain educational talent while reinforcing access to social and economic opportunities.

Coming Home: Stories from NU Cebu

At NU Cebu, the impact of this mission is deeply personal. One of the campus’ returning locals is Executive Director Johanna Minglana, who shared how the opening of NU Cebu allowed her to return home after decades in Manila.

“NU Cebu allowed me to come full circle in my birthplace while continuing my academic career,” Minglana said. She noted that many faculty and staff share similar sentiments—finding purpose in meaningful work without being separated from their families and communities.

According to Minglana, NU Cebu represents more than an academic institution. “It embodies SM’s vision of being a catalyst for community development. It creates jobs not only within the university but also for surrounding businesses—from food establishments and boarding houses to transportation and retail.”

Building the Future, Locally

As National University recently marked its 125th founding anniversary, thousands of alumni gathered to celebrate its legacy and continued commitment to providing world-class, life-ready education. Whether in urban centers or provincial communities, NU remains focused on preparing graduates to thrive wherever opportunity takes them.

By bringing higher education to the regions, NU and the SM Group are proving that talent doesn’t have to leave home to grow—and that meaningful development begins by investing in communities where people already belong.

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Payments Today, Rewards Tomorrow: Make Every Transaction Count with BDO Pay

Why stop at simply paying when every transaction can give you more? With BDO Pay, settling your everyday expenses goes beyond speed and convenience—it turns each payment into a rewarding experience. Every scan, bill payment, or mobile load top-up brings you closer to exciting rewards and exclusive deals that add extra value to your daily spending.

From shopping at your favorite stores to taking care of essentials, BDO Pay makes sure you earn while you spend.

Shop Smart, Earn Instantly

From February 1 to March 31, 2026, using BDO Pay’s Scan to Pay at SM Store and SM Retail affiliates gets even more rewarding. For every ₱5,000 accumulated spend, you’ll receive a ₱100 SM eVoucher, with up to ₱300 worth of eVouchers available per customer during the promo period.

Whether you’re stocking up on beauty essentials at Watsons, restocking your pantry at SM Supermarket, adding stylish touches to your home from Our Home, or browsing exciting finds at SM Store, BDO Pay helps you get more value from every purchase.

Load Up on Points

Rewards don’t stop at shopping. From January 16 to March 31, 2026, every time you Pay Bills or Buy Load through the BDO Pay app, you earn 1 Rewards Point for every ₱100 spent.

Getting started is easy—just log in to the BDO Pay app, activate your BDO Rewards Card, and start earning points instantly. You can also track your rewards anytime, all in one place.

Simple, Secure, and Designed for Your Lifestyle

BDO Pay is built to make everyday transactions effortless. With features like Pay Bills, Send Money, Scan to Pay, Split Bill, and Request Money, managing your finances is quick, safe, and seamless. Add exclusive rewards into the mix, and every transaction becomes even more worthwhile.

Make every payment count. Download BDO Pay from the App Store, Google Play, or AppGallery, sign in using your BDO Online username and password, and experience how convenience and rewards work better together.

For full promo details and the complete list of participating SM Retail merchants, visit bdo.com.ph/bdopay-evouchers.

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Gawad Alunig x Dalumat: Steady Champions of Homegrown Ingenuity

DOST-TAPI’s annual campaign elevates Filipino innovations and the voices that propel them

Since 2022, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) has been amplifying Filipino ingenuity through the Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD).

Developed at a time when the Philippines was reeling from the global pandemic, this national campaign leveraged the power of storytelling to highlight homegrown technologies. It also served as a response to the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation, particularly with various misconceptions and false claims on science and technology.

2022 – 2024: Empowering Science Stories through Citizen Journalism

The pilot GAxD campaign in 2022 focused on excellence in Citizen Science Journalism. Gawad Alunig spotlighted the Best KALIPUNAN Science Youth Correspondents who produced engaging newscasts. On the other hand,  Gawad Dalumat honored outstanding school-based science publications.

Tapping into the value of grassroots storytelling, the inaugural GAxD generated close to 500 invention leads and contributed to a 25% increase in DOST-TAPI’s approved funding proposals.

For the second edition, GAxD maintained the same citizen science journalism format but further evolved into a nationwide campaign to encourage innovators that could join the  Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (ClusteRICE).

 That year’s campaign focused on the critical contribution of science and technology in major sectors of society, from agriculture, education, livelihood, health, disaster management, and engineering. By contextualizing innovation within real-world issues, GAxD contextualized the relevance of science and technology in daily life.

In 2023, the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) honored the DOST-TAPI’s GAxD campaign with a Silver Anvil Award under the Specialized PR Program Category. Further, Marketing-Interactive Philippines also recognized the campaign with a Gold Award for Excellence in Relationship Marketing.

In addition to these triumphs, the campaign sparked a 200% surge in invention proposals and the nationwide production of dozens of science newscasts and publications—clear evidence of community-driven storytelling’s impact.

Building on the campaign’s award-winning momentum, GAxD was deliberately structured to generate proposals for its third edition in 2024. Cash awards were increased to strengthen participation.

The 2024 campaign spotlighted the technologies focused on Tech-Trans, small businesses, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). It further strengthened journalistic standards in science reporting among student publications while intensifying public engagement on issues vital to nation-building.

2025: Empowering Innovation Stories through Creative Advertising

 The latest GAxD edition marked a new chapter with a strong emphasis on science visual storytelling through creative advertising. Through this shift, DOST-TAPI aims to open opportunities for more Filipino storytellers to join the conversation and amplify community ingenuity.

Moreover, stakes are higher than ever with prizes of up to PHP 75,000 for the Gawad Alunig (Audio-Visual Category) grand winner and PHP 60,000 for the Gawad Dalumat (Photo Essay Feature Category) champion.

For more information about the GAxD campaign, please visit TAPI.DOST.gov.ph and follow DOST-TAPI on Facebook. To learn more about GAxD, you may email DOST-TAPI at impakt.tipd@tapi.dost.gov.ph or contact DOST-TAPI’s mobile number 09082447842 (available on Viber or WhatsApp).

The Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) is among the DOST’s service agencies tasked to promote technology commercialization and innovation support services, created under the Executive Order No.128 on 30 January 1987.

For more information about DOST-TAPI’s programs and services, you may email info@tapi.dost.gov.ph, call (02) 8582 1450 loc. 2167, or visit the official DOST-TAPI Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DOST.TAPI.

 

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2GO, DTI Seal Partnership to Boost MSME Supply Chain and Logistics Support

Strengthening the backbone of Filipino entrepreneurship, 2GO Group, Inc., the country’s largest integrated transportation and logistics provider, has officially partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to enhance supply chain and logistics support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.

The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which designates 2GO as a key member of DTI’s Supply Chain and Logistics Center (SCLC). This collaboration positions 2GO as part of DTI’s trusted logistics network, expanding its role beyond transportation to include logistics consultancy and advisory services for DTI-registered enterprises.

From left to right: Francis Chua, Business Unit Head, 2GO Travel; Ethel Concepcion, Corporate Marketing and Communications Head, 2GO Group; Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco; Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque; Frederick DyBuncio, President and Chief Executive Officer, 2GO Group, Inc.; Will Howell, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, 2GO Group, Inc.; and Faye Alonzo, Business Unit Head, 2GO Forwarding.

Through the initiative, MSMEs will gain access to customized logistics solutions designed to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and support sustainable business growth—critical components for enterprises looking to scale in an increasingly competitive market.

“This partnership with 2GO strengthens our ability to respond to the logistics needs of Filipino enterprises,” said DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque. “With partners like 2GO, MSMEs are provided with reliable logistics support that enables cost optimization and business expansion aligned with their operational requirements.”

As part of its commitment to the SCLC, 2GO will actively participate in business matching and market linkage activities, provide logistics consultancy services, and support the establishment of Logistics Support Desks in selected Negosyo Centers across the country.

“Our team is ready to support a wide range of logistics needs—from basic shipping services to more complex supply chain solutions,” shared Faye Alonzo, Business Unit Head for Forwarding of 2GO. “We are honored to work alongside the DTI and the SCLC in helping MSMEs connect to markets and grow with confidence.”

The partnership also reinforces 2GO’s broader mission of enabling commerce and mobility across the Philippines. “2GO is both a mover and an enabler,” said Will Howell, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of 2GO Group, Inc. “By improving how goods and people move nationwide, we create opportunities for Filipinos, support livelihoods, and contribute to inclusive economic growth.”

The DTI–2GO collaboration highlights a shared commitment to building a more resilient, accessible, and competitive supply chain ecosystem—empowering MSMEs to thrive and succeed nationwide.

To learn more about 2GO’s logistics solutions and initiatives, visit www.2go.com.ph

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MIAS 2026: Powering Mobility for the Future of the Automotive Industry

The drive towards mobility starts now! Following the successful celebration of its 20th anniversary, Worldbex Services International (WSI), the organizer of the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), proudly announces the return of MIAS this coming April 9 to 12, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, from 10 AM to 9 PM. Once again, the country’s premier automotive event will take center stage, bringing together leading automotive brands and placing innovation, performance, and mobility in the spotlight.

For over two decades, MIAS has continuously showcased the best of the automotive industry, underscoring its vital role in shaping modern society. Central to this progress is the industry’s unwavering commitment to mobility, constantly pushing boundaries through innovation, technology, and design. With the 2026 theme being “Powering Mobility”, MIAS honors this forward driven movement by celebrating the advancements that continue to propel the industry into the future.

Recognized as the leading automotive event in the Philippines, MIAS marked a milestone during its 20th anniversary in 2025, attracting over 170,900 visitors. The event featured more than 145 exhibitors across 33,000 sqm of exhibit space and showcased over 310 cars, trucks, and motorcycles throughout the weekend. Building on this momentum, WSI aims to elevate the MIAS experience in 2026 by delivering a larger platform, bolder showcases, and even more memorable moments for both industry stakeholders and automotive enthusiasts.

The main highlight of MIAS 2026 is the Mobility Marathon, a dynamic series of vehicle launches where participating brands will unveil their latest models and technological innovations to the public for the first time. Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience these vehicles firsthand at the Test Drive Avenue. Additional attractions include the Truck Zone, featuring trucks of all sizes; the Die-Cast Car Collection, showcasing rare and distinctive collectible die-cast models; and the Car Club Display, where passionate automotive communities from across the Philippines present their prized vehicles.

To further energize the event, MIAS will once again host signature competitions such as the MIAS Petron Custom and Classic Car Competition, in partnership with Petron, celebrating outstanding classic and customized vehicles across various categories. The event will also feature Ms. MIAS, a pageant highlighting representatives from participating automotive brands to showcase their beauty and grace.

With innovation, mobility, and passion at its core, the Manila International Auto Show is set to drive the automotive industry forward—bringing the future of mobility closer to the public than ever before. MIAS 2026 is happening from April 9 to 12, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. You can get your tickets now at https://manilaautoshow.com/

MIAS 2026 is an event organized by Worldbex Services International, and is for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.

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Our Market and Barangay San Antonio Celebrate Children’s Month Through Art and Community

Art took center stage this Children’s Month as Barangay San Antonio in Pasig City, together with Our Market, brought creativity, connection, and community spirit to life through the Sining Galing program.

Launched in 2022, Sining Galing was conceived as a response to post-pandemic stress, to promote mental wellness and creative expression among residents. Since then, the program has been hosting free monthly art workshops, highlighting Filipino artistry and encouraging people to see art not just as expression, but as a source of value, healing, and community pride.

STI students visit the Our Market booth at F. Ortigas Jr. Road

The initiative is spearheaded by the Committee Co-Chair on Tourism, Culture, and Arts, Councilor Venus La Putt, with the support of Barangay Chairman Thomas Raymond Lising. Through strong collaboration with civic organizations, stakeholders, and active community members, Sining Galing has grown into a meaningful platform for cultural engagement in Barangay San Antonio.

On November 15, 2025, Sining Galing marked International Children’s Month with the support of like-minded collaborators who share the same passion for uniting communities and fostering growth. Among them was Our Market, a rising digital magazine that helped amplify the celebration’s reach and impact.

In celebration of Children’s Month, Our Market engaged participants through interactive activities and generous giveaways. Attendees were invited to join the platform, which automatically granted them shopping discount vouchers and special items from partner sponsors such as Search Commercial, Inc. (SCI) and Barilla and Tulip of Federated Distributors, Inc. (FDI).

Our Market’s booth at Sining Galing featuring Barilla and Tulip

The event also served as a timely introduction of Our Market’s digital platform to the public, following its official launch at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde on October 17, 2025. Through this partnership, families and community members were introduced to a reliable online resource hub—one that offers exposure and growth opportunities for individuals, creatives, and businesses alike.

More than just a children’s activity, the event became a shared experience for parents, guardians, and adults, allowing them to connect, learn, and engage with a platform that inspires creativity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.

This marks Our Market’s second partnership with Sining Galing, following its participation during International Women’s Month in March 2025. That earlier celebration featured Our Market partner brand Unox Philippines, through the Healthy Baon Bites Cooking Demo for moms. With aligned missions and shared values, Our Market looks forward to more future collaborations with the program.

Our Market is a newly launched digital publishing platform that covers business, culture, food, and lifestyle. Its mission is to produce high-quality content that promotes Filipino culture and entrepreneurship through powerful storytelling—while serving as a bridge that connects businesses and communities.

Beyond publishing, Our Market also functions as an online resource hub, directly linking users to companies across various industries for special assistance, consultancy, and collaboration opportunities.

To stay updated on future partnerships, features, and community-driven stories, subscribe to Our Market and be part of the growing Filipino creative ecosystem.