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| L-R: Searce Director for Work Modernization Practice - Rest of the World Prashant Vaishnav, Searce Director for Solutions Consulting - APAC Yash Thakker, Searce Country Director - Philippines and Vietnam Ferdie Saputil, Globe Business Vice President - Product Management Angie Po, Globe Business Assistant Vice President for Solutions Consulting Marlon Cruz, Globe Business Head of Cloud Portfolio Jay Abada, Google Head of Customer Engineering Jan Michael Jaudian (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/Globe Telecom) |
Driven by a future-ready vision, Globe Business partners with Google and Searce to bring Google Agentspace to Philippine enterprises. This AI (Artificial Intelligence) platform is designed to transform workflows and boost productivity, keeping pace with the evolving needs of today’s businesses. For years, fragmented technology has hindered digital transformation. According to a recent survey focusing on Knowledge Worker Communication Needs, 89% of employees search across up to six different sources and spend over three hours daily to locate information for their tasks. This leads to frustration, and security risks due to unmanaged access. Google Agentspace directly addresses the issue by providing a secure platform that connects with over 100 widely used business applications and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. Its centralized search, AI, and intelligent agents allow employees to access information faster, automate routine tasks, and act on data with greater accuracy.
Now available in the Philippines through Globe Business, the platform enables enterprises to unlock AI-driven productivity, optimize operations, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation through cloud-based solutions. “As the first to market Google Agentspace in the country, we offer deep market knowledge and end-to-end support to ensure its effective adoption. Infused with the Globe Business brand of malasakit or deep customer care, we will help enterprises integrate AI in ways that align with their goals and are tailored to their unique operational requirements,” said Head of Globe Business KD Dizon. The local launch also signals a strategic alliance between Globe Business and Searce to deliver advanced cloud and AI solutions, combining Searce’s cloud expertise with Globe Business’s extensive network and enterprise reach. Searce Country Manager for the Philippines Ferdie Saputil said, “Our partnership with Globe Business highlights our shared commitment to driving enterprise transformation through responsible AI adoption. Together, we ensure that Filipino companies leverage cutting-edge generative AI technology like Google Agentspace and they are supported throughout the entire journey.”
As a dedicated digital transformation partner, Globe Business and Searce will provide enterprises full support across the adoption process — from onboarding to ongoing optimization — ensuring they gain lasting value from the platform. With enterprise-grade security from Google, end-to-end deployment assistance from Globe Business, and technical guidance from Searce, organizations are well-positioned to integrate Google Agentspace and enable more agile business operations. To learn more about Google Agentspace and how it can support your organization, visit https://biz.globe.com.ph/l/576043/2025-05-20/qvnqvn.
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GCash Provides Free Health Insurance To Millions Of Filipinos Through Buy Load Service
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/GCash) |
In line with the Philippines’ efforts to further boost the local insurance industry, GCash, the country’s leading finance super app, is introducing a new feature to unlock access to insurance for millions of Filipinos. The e-wallet is providing free health insurance, underwritten by FPG Insurance, every time eligible users buy prepaid credits for themselves using the Buy Load service. “This initiative, powered by GInsure in partnership with FPG Insurance, reflects the commitment of GCash to making financial protection accessible to every Filipino, ensuring that even the simplest transactions, like buying prepaid load, come with the added security of health coverage at no extra cost,” said GCash Vice President and Group Head of New Businesses Winsley Bangit. The country’s insurance penetration has been growing in recent years, but it remains below 2%. With millions of Buy Load users on the app primarily receiving mobile load, GCash sees an opportunity to protect more Filipinos, offering a valuable incentive beyond telecommunications.
Made possible by GInsure, every time eligible users make Buy Load transactions on the GCash app, they can also avail of the free health insurance coverage, empowering users to prepare for unexpected medical expenses due to accidents or hospitalization. “Beyond just financial assistance, this benefit ensures that users have funds to cover medical costs or compensate for lost income during recovery, helping prevent families from falling deeper into debt and alleviating financial struggles,” said Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of GCash mobile wallet operator G-Xchange, Inc. The free health and accident insurance gives eligible users up to Php30,000 coverage and additional valuable benefits. For every load purchase, a user can automatically get Php10,000 in accidental death coverage, which can be accumulated up to a maximum of Php30,000 when making up to three separate eligible load purchases. Users can also get income assistance when they’re hospitalized due to illnesses and accidents, allowing them to receive Php500 per day salary assistance for a maximum of 5 days. They can also get up to Php10,000 disablement benefit, providing the user or their beneficiaries a safety net.
GCash introduced this initiative in response to shifting user needs. With millions of Filipinos still hesitant to fully embrace digital transactions, they still rely on traditional offline methods. Now, with free health insurance seamlessly integrated into prepaid load transactions, users can enjoy more benefits when they go digital, making each purchase not just more convenient but also rewarding.
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Global Certifications Affirm Network Resilience For PLDT, Smart
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/PLDT Inc.) |
PLDT Inc. (PLDT), the Philippines’ leading integrated telecommunications company, and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), continue to strengthen alignment with internationally recognized standards as they announce the ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management Systems certification of a key Smart facility in Palawan. This brings to 25 the total number of PLDT and Smart sites nationwide with certifications on business continuity, as of end April 2025. “These certifications are globally recognized marks of excellence in business continuity, reaffirming our efforts to build, implement, and maintain a robust system of resilience. Operating in a country vulnerable to various disruptive incidents but where connectivity is essential, having the capability to deliver services despite disruptions is critical,” said PLDT and Smart Vice President and Head of Property, Facilities, and Asset Resiliency Management Leo A. Gonzales.
ISO 22301:2019 guides organizations in establishing a framework to consistently prevent, minimize, and recover from disruptive incidents, while mitigating financial and reputational impacts across critical facilities and operations. For PLDT and Smart, disruptive incidents include power and equipment outages, accidental damage from construction works, crime and cable theft, cybersecurity incidents, and climate change-related occurrences. Emphasizing the link between business continuity and sustainability, PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios welcomed the continuing expansion of ISO-certified facilities across the group and highlighted relevance to the business, saying, “With climate change bringing about more frequent and severe weather events in the country, our task is to mitigate its impacts on our business and our customers by ensuring that we can quickly restore our network and continue delivering our services amid disruptions. These ISO certifications affirm that we are prepared to do so and could serve as differentiators in the eyes of our existing and future customers.”
According to the Asian Disaster Reduction Center, an average of 20 typhoons visits the Philippines every year and five of which are destructive. PLDT and Smart thus consider climate change as one of their top enterprise risks and continue to integrate climate resilience into their operational design and facilities. In parallel, the group has been pursuing quality standardization measures over the past nine years to support thrusts for resiliency, operational excellence, and customer-centricity. These initiatives align with PLDT and Smart’s commitment to support the Philippine government’s overall digitalization thrust and contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly UNSDG #9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
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Globe Unveils ‘Globe Of Good’ As Unified Sustainability Platform
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| (Image Source: People Asia/Globe Telecom) |
Globe Telecom has formally launched Globe of Good as its new sustainability masterbrand that brings together all of the company’s environmental and social impact programs under a single, cohesive platform. Long woven into Globe’s DNA, sustainability has guided its initiatives across digital inclusion, climate-conscious operations, and community upliftment. With Globe of Good, the mobile network leader seeks to make its sustainability message more accessible and engaging to the general public — helping customers, employees, and partners recognize and participate in its efforts to create lasting, positive change. “This initiative is our commitment to embed sustainability in everything we do, in the way we operate, serve, and lead. We want to make sustainability more relatable and easier for every Filipino to take part in,” said Globe’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.
The launch also highlighted two business-led programs that exemplify this principle in action: Globe Prepaid’s GoGIVE and Globe Platinum’s Gastronome Giving Series. Globe Platinum’s Gastronome Giving Series, developed in partnership with Fine Dining Club Philippines, celebrates Filipino culinary excellence while helping raise funds for Globe’s Hapag Movement. “Gastronome Giving allows us to connect fine dining with purposeful action. It demonstrates how different sectors can work together to help address involuntary hunger affecting millions of Filipinos,” said Head of Globe Platinum Mark Pasaylo. Globe Platinum customers may book tables at participating Gastronome Giving Series restaurants, including Roots (Siargao), Anzani (Cebu), Mrs. Saldo’s (Silang, Cavite), Taupe Dining (BGC), Goxo (Salcedo – Makati), and Kasa Palma (Poblacion – Makati). For added convenience, reservations may also be made via THEA, Globe Platinum’s 24/7 digital assistant, accessible anytime and anywhere. Meanwhile, GoGIVE is a digital-first platform built into the GlobeOne app that turns everyday data use into real-world support. Customers earn and donate “hearts” to their chosen non-government organizations by simply using data. “Through GoGIVE, we are transforming data into a force for good. This platform offers a fresh and convenient way to give back to the community, especially for digital natives,” said Head of Globe Prepaid Givielle Florida.
Globe’s dedication to sustainability was affirmed by research firm Standard Insights which recently named the former Most Sustainable Mobile Network and Most Active Mobile Network for the Environment in the Philippines. The recognition proves Globe’s leadership in embedding responsible practices into its operations and underscores its position as a sustainability leader both locally and globally. “Globe has steadily built a track record of care-driven business practices. For those who value a network that operates responsibly and embraces advocacy and sustainability, the choice is clear — keep it Globe,” said Globe's Head of Consumer Mobile Business Eric Tanbauco. Globe Prepaid users may join the Globe of Good movement by opting in to GoGIVE and participating in the #GoGIVEYourHeart challenge on TikTok.
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Shape Tomorrow’s World At Benilde Open Design + Art 2025
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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Benilde Open) |
What if machines could breathe? What if materials could evolve? What if the future didn’t just borrow from nature — but extended it? This year, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) invites designers, artists, engineers, architects, technologists, storytellers, and radical dreamers from all over the Philippines to answer these questions for the second edition of Benilde Open Design and Art. The theme for 2025 is “Extension of Nature” and challenges creatives to imagine a world where art and technology work in harmony with the environment — not against it. This year’s theme draws inspiration from the evolving world of kinetic art — works that not only move, but also respond, interact, and adapt. From the early inventions of Leonardo da Vinci to the fantastical biokinetic machines of David Medalla, to today’s interactive sculptures powered by solar panels, sensors, or wind, there is a growing movement toward designs that reflect nature rather than conquer it.
Benilde Open Design and Art celebrates this spirit — one that welcomes experiments in robotics, poetic machines, hybrid ecosystems, reclaimed systems, and material storytelling that stretch the boundaries of both function and form. Benilde Open Design and Art is a call to unfinished ideas and ambitious projects — those that live somewhere between invention and imagination. Selected participants will each receive up to Php300,000 in production grants to bring their concepts to life. Up to 10 projects will be awarded with final proposals reviewed by a respected jury of creatives from both local and international communities. Running alongside this is Best of Benilde, a special category open exclusively to Benilde students. This juried exhibition highlights student-led projects that challenge boundaries and rethink the future. Five standout proposals will each receive a Php50,000 grant, offering a rare opportunity to push school projects toward real-world realization. The initiative is in synergy with De La Salle University led by a powerhouse team of convenors — Ayi Magpayo, Rita Nazareno, Gabby Lichauco, Joselina Cruz, and Dindin Araneta — with the support of Br. Dodo Fernandez FSC, Benilde president and a practicing visual artist. Together, they imagine a platform for collaboration, invention, and bold thinking that resists the status quo.
As Benilde celebrates its 35th founding year, the College continues to champion innovation and inclusion through programs that empower students to lead in creative, digital, and service industries. With state-of-the-art facilities, global connections, and industry leaders as educators, Benilde nurtures futures that are, truly, Like No Other. Submissions are open until July 30, 2025. Full guidelines, eligibility requirements, and proposal forms are available at https://benildeopen.com/. For updates, follow @benildeopen on Instagram and TikTok, and BenildeOpen on Facebook. Inquiries may be sent to benildeopen@benilde.edu.ph. For more information on the Benilde Design and Art Open 2025 and the call for proposals in two categories – Benilde Open and Best of Benilde, please visit the official website at open.benilde.edu.ph.
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PIXEL Academy Is Where Your Content Goes To Thrive
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Eplayment) |
PIXEL Academy, the anticipated workshop series for content creators headed by local fintech company Eplayment, recently launched its first class with Dani Rogacion, CEO of Overdrive Studios, at the forefront of the session. Her class titled Designing For Impact, highlighted the importance of content visuals in content creation and branding. The four-hour workshop provided a comprehensive experience for all participants, blending insightful learning sessions with valuable opportunities for connecting with other like-minded creators. PIXEL Academy aims to go beyond upskilling as it also opens up an avenue for creators to share ideas with fellow creatives and collaborate with equally passionate individuals.
Rogacion, with her expertise, helped PIXEL creators lay down the foundations of their content and branding through mood board creation. This hands-on activity enabled participants to visually organize their ideas, align creative concepts, and establish a cohesive direction for their projects. The exercise also encouraged creators to share and express their unique vision and identity, fostering a deeper connection between their personal style and the content they create. PIXEL Academy is set to hold its second session on June 7, 2025 at Thames International School Inc. in Quezon City titled ‘Co-Creating For Value’, with a focus on brand collaboration, headed by Mary Reyes, Director of Creator Relations and Brand Growth of Tier One, and Denis De Chavez, a geek culture and lifestyle creator with experience working with brands such as Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros. The session aims to equip both aspiring and established content creators with the knowledge needed to build impactful collaborations in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape. With brand partnerships playing a pivotal role in monetization and growth, the workshop is ideal for anyone aiming to level up their presence and influence in the content creation industry.
While all slots for this session have been filled, another class is coming soon – stay tuned for announcements on Eplayment’s Facebook and Instagram pages. PIXEL Creators can look forward to more exciting initiatives from Eplayment, designed to elevate their skills and expand their knowledge on content creation. Eplayment, through PIXEL, is committed to empowering creators with the tools and resources they need to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
