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| (Image Source: SEA Wave/Jobstreet By SEEK) |
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remain the backbone of the economy, comprising 99.5% of all registered businesses in the Philippines and creating 6 out of every 10 jobs based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)'s 2023 List of Establishments data. While MSMEs offer vital contributions and express readiness to grow, many of them still face barriers with talent crisis emerging as one of their biggest growth challenges. In a survey conducted by Boston Consulting Group and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2024, 72% of MSME respondents said they want to expand their workforce; 82% want to upskill their current employees. However, the same survey revealed that 46% are experiencing a talent crisis — high demand, but hard to find quality candidates. In line with its commitment to equipping not just Filipino jobseekers but also business owners, Jobstreet by SEEK rolled out its MSME Summit, an initiative aimed at empowering them to grow, compete, and thrive in a dynamic business landscape.
In partnership with SM for MSMEs, the event at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall brought together MSME owners and industry leaders to discuss key challenges, opportunities, and strategies to growing your business, and make the hiring process easier and safer in finding the right candidates for their businesses. The MSME Summit was organized to equip MSME owners with the knowledge and tools to strengthen their business operations through workshops and learning sessions about marketing, logistics, digital platforms, and finance from different business and marketing thought leaders. “Jobstreet by SEEK believes that every thriving economy is built on the shoulders of its resilient and growing MSMEs. By empowering them through events like the MSME Summit, we’re not only helping their businesses grow and connecting them with the right talent but also fueling job creation and strengthening the local employment,” said Jobstreet by SEEK’s Managing Director in the Philippines Dannah Majaracon.
To help minimize talent crisis among MSMEs, Jobstreet by SEEK urged business owners to utilize legitimate job platforms as hiring scams continue to rise on social media platforms. Hiring platforms not only protect your business and reputation but also ensure that you reach the right and active jobseekers seeking opportunities. To start with, MSME owners may take the first step in looking for candidates through its “SMEasy Sa Jobstreet” initiative. This highlights its free and user-friendly job posting feature, making it easier for MSME owners to post a job ad on the job platform, with the potential of reaching thousands of talents from its nearly 14-million candidate user base nationwide. For more information about Jobstreet by SEEK’s efforts for MSMEs, visit jobstreet.com.ph or @JobstreetPH on Facebook.
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McDonald’s Grand Reunion Brings People Back Together For The Holidays
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| (Image Source: Mindanao Times/McDonald's Philippines) |
For many Filipinos, Christmas is the most anticipated time of the year. It is the season for long-awaited grand reunions, when families and friends finally come together after months or even years apart. It’s one of the most cherished traditions in the country. But not everyone is privileged to make these gatherings happen. Some spend the holidays away from their families, missing out on the joy of being together. This year, McDonald’s Philippines hopes to bridge that gap by giving select groups a chance to celebrate for free. Dubbed “Grand Reunion At McDo”, this nationwide holiday initiative will transform select McDonald’s Party Rooms into festive spaces for meaningful reunions happening simultaneously across the country, bringing the warmth of the season back to those who need it most.
“By creating spaces where groups can once again gather meaningfully, McDonald’s taps directly into the Filipino cultural values of pagsasama-sama, pagsasalo-salo, and gratitude. It offers a simple yet heartfelt reminder that those who help make Christmas special for others deserve their own celebration too,” said McDonald’s Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Ada Lazaro. Customers are invited to visit McDonald’s Philippines’ Facebook Page and share their story on the Grand Reunion post — why they want to come together, what kept them apart, and what makes their bond worth celebrating. On December 8, 2025 at 2:00-4:00 pm, McDonald’s will accommodate groups of up to 10 members with two groups per party Room for a total of 20 guests. Aside from a heartwarming and distinct story, participants will be selected based on how their stories embody the spirit of togetherness during the Christmas season. Participants may choose their preferred McDonald’s branch. Each group will receive boxes of Honey Butter Chicken McDo, made extra special with a “shake, tear, and sprinkle” moment using Garlic Parmesan and Snow Cheese Powder. It’s a simple ritual that turns the meal into something to savor together. A McDonald’s “Happiness Host” will also be there not just to lead light games or toasts, but to help make the gathering feel a little more shared, a little more memorable.
Lazaro added the initiative aims to reinforce Filipino values of bonding and connection during the Christmas season by offering a venue for meaningful reunions, quipping, “In a season that can often feel overwhelming with crowded schedules, growing expenses, and emotional demands, Grand Reunion At McDo offers a refreshing alternative, a warm, uncomplicated, and inclusive holiday gathering that doesn’t require grand preparations.”
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Make Your Home Holiday-Ready: Enjoy Up To ₱20K Off With Acer Aking Tahanan
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| (Image Source: SunStar/Acer Philippines) |
Home is the perfect place to spend the holidays because it’s where you feel most comfortable – a place where you can truly be yourself and where your story unfolds. This season, Acer invites you to celebrate your digital tahanan, where you can tell your story your way and be your most productive and creative with the “Acer Aking Tahanan” holiday promo. Enjoy up to Php20,000 in discounts and vouchers from SM Appliance Center when you purchase any participating Acer consumer or gaming notebook until January 18, 2026.
Acer consumer notebooks are built for a variety of everyday tasks, including productivity, entertainment, and communication. They provide a balance of performance, portability, and value for money. Acer and Predator gaming laptops take your performance to the next level. Whether you’re taking your Acer or Predator gaming laptop on the go or using it at your desk at home, both deliver high performance in a compact, portable design. “For Acer Aking Tahanan, we are giving back to our loyal customers who continue to trust us with their consumer and gaming laptop needs,” said Acer Philippines Managing Director Sue Ong-Lim. Every purchase of a qualifying Acer or Predator laptop entitles the customer to receive up to Php20,000 in discounts and/or up to Php20,000 in free SM Appliance Center eGift Vouchers. Customers must register their purchased product for warranty within one (1) week of purchase by visiting https://warranty.acer.com.ph/. After completing the registration, Acer will verify the customer’s information within five (5) business days. Once validated, a warranty registration certificate will be sent to the customer’s provided email address. If the registered product qualifies for the promotion, an eGift Voucher will be sent to the customer’s provided email address and mobile phone number within five (5) days of the warranty registration. To redeem the eGift Voucher, customers must present it at their selected SM Appliance Center.
Only purchases made from Acer Concept Stores, Acer Authorized Resellers, and/or the Acer Philippines Online Store qualify for the Acer Aking Tahanan promo. For more information about the Acer Aking Tahanan promo, follow Acer Philippines' official Facebook page (@AcerPH) or visit www.acer.com.
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MOONTON Games Joins eSports Nations Cup As New Official Publishing Partner
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| (Image Source: MOONTON Games/eSports World Cup Foundation) |
The eSports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) recently announced the addition of Chess.com, MOONTON Games and SNK for the inaugural eSports Nations Cup (ENC), a landmark tournament where the best eSports players in the world will compete for the honor of representing their countries. The ENC introduces national pride to the global eSports stage in a recurring format and is the first event of its kind at this scale. MOONTON Games, Chess.com, and SNK join as Official Publishers, alongside Founding Publishers and video game companies EA, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft - the core partners developing the foundational structure of the ENC - bringing with them their iconic titles, global reach, and player communities to enhance the first eSports Nations Cup. The three new publishers and all forthcoming Official Publishers will co-design qualification paths and competition formats for their respective titles — ensuring integrity, competitive relevance, and a consistent global structure.
The EWCF and its Founding Publishers continue to co-develop the ENC to establish the tournament's foundational framework, structure, and format from inception, representing a deeper level of strategic partnership and commitment than other publishers. “By partnering closely with publishers, we can make the eSports Nations Cup truly player-centric, and give players the opportunity to represent their country in the games that define their careers. With the seven partners announced so far as close collaborators, we can activate players worldwide and deliver a Nations Cup that feels earned for players and real for fans, and build a stage that national teams can aspire to for years to come,” said EWCF CEO Ralf Reichert. As the newest addition to the EWCF portfolio, the eSports Nations Cup builds on the momentum of the eSports World Cup — the world’s largest multi-title eSports event — and extends its mission to a new layer of global competition. While the eSports World Cup unites the best clubs, the ENC unlocks a new frontier powered by national identity and regional representation. The ENC will feature national teams from all major regions – including North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania – competing in both team-based and solo-player formats. A multi-layered qualification model will balance competitiveness and inclusivity: combining global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard entries, including solidarity placements, to ensure a broad and representative competitive stage in every game.
The eSports Nations Cup will debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 2026, before moving to a rotating host model, bringing national eSports teams to fans and cultures worldwide. Held every two years, the ENC will provide a dependable structure for players and eSports organizations, encouraging long-term investment in national team programmes. Additional information about the inaugural eSports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up to date, visit esportsnationscup.com and follow ENC on X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and the eSports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.
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MIKU EXPO 2025 Brings A Record-Breaking Virtual Idol Experience To SM Mall Of Asia Arena
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/SM Mall Of Asia Arena) |
MIKU EXPO 2025 drew thousands to the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena last November 16, 2025 for the first Philippine showcase of the world’s leading virtual idol Hatsune Miku. The event marked a significant moment for the country’s Vocaloid community, bringing together longtime fans and a new generation of digital music enthusiasts. Hatsune Miku has influenced global pop culture since 2007. Her rise helped build a movement centered on Vocaloid technology created by Yamaha. The technology enabled producers and artists to create digital performers, sparking a fast-growing creative scene. The fan base in the Philippines grew with it and shaped a strong community that remains active today.
Fans arrived at the arena in cosplay with coordinated lightsticks and happi coats featuring performer insignia. The atmosphere highlighted the deep connection of Filipino fans to Japanese idol culture. The event reinforced the idea that the Vocaloid community continues to evolve and expand across generations. Similar to idol culture in Japan, the SM MOA Arena venue echoed the rich culture of this community, with fans dressed in cosplay, synchronized lightsticks, and the traditional “happi”, a Japanese festival wear brandished by the performers and emblazoned with their insignia. MIKU EXPO 2025 featured leading Vocaloid performers in their first concert on Philippine ground. The production used advanced visual technology to create a seamless live experience. The setlist included “Rolling Girl”, “Loki”, “Vampire”, “Double Lariat”, and Midnight Surf”. The crowd responded to every song with loud participation. Virtual performers delivered a show that blended entertainment and digital innovation. The event emphasized how technology continues to shape modern concerts and fan engagement.
The SM Mall of Asia Arena provided the ideal setup for the concert. Its engineering, sightlines, and flexible stage system supported the high level of digital production. The venue demonstrated its ability to host complex multimedia concerts and reinforced its position as a preferred destination for global acts.
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DOST-TAPI Extends Gawad Alunig x Dalumat 2025 Call For Entries
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Department Of Science And Technology-Technology Application And Promotion Institute) |
Due to insistent popular demand, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) has extended the submission deadline for Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) entries to December 5, 2025. In response to strong public interest and numerous requests for additional time, the agency is extending the deadline. This gives participants more room to refine their submissions and to welcome even more storytellers into this year’s showcase of proudly Filipino tech innovations. The GAxD campaign is a platform for Filipinos to use their creative storytelling and leverage shareable and engaging content to propel Filipino technologies to the national stage. It also provides an opportunity for DOST-TAPI to extend support to innovations featured in selected GAxD entries.
Both categories are open to teams with a maximum of three members. Each team must also send a 30-second portrait video to introduce themselves which will be posted on official DOST-TAPI media platforms. The chosen technology or innovation featured for the GAxD campaign can be sourced from any entity within the Philippines, including local universities, research institutions, individual inventors, and startups. Having a patent, utility model, or any type of intellectual property protection is not a requirement, but is encouraged. As long as the innovation can be showcased through short-form advertisements or photo essays, Filipinos are welcome to share their stories. However, technologies featured must not be included in DOST-TAPI’s list (https://bit.ly/TAPI-AssistedTechs). This provides storytellers the opportunity to connect new or emerging innovators with DOST-TAPI and its programs. All participants must like and follow the @iINVENTPH, @TeKnowLohiya, and @DOST.TAPI Facebook pages. Proof must be submitted through the campaign’s submission links. Only entries submitted through the official submission links will be considered by DOST-TAPI.
For complete GAxD guidelines, participants may visit bit.ly/GAxD2025Guidelines. For more information about the GAxD campaign, please visit the DOST-TAPI website (TAPI.DOST.gov.ph) and follow the DOST-TAPI Facebook page. Inquiries can be directed to impakt.tipd@tapi.dost.gov.ph or DOST-TAPI’s mobile number 09082447842 (available on Viber or WhatsApp). With this deadline extension, DOST-TAPI aims to provide more opportunities to champion Filipino creations. Send your entries on or before December 5, 2025 through the official submissions links:
• Gawad Alunig: bit.ly/GawadAlunigSubmissionLink
• Gawad Dalumat: bit.ly/GawadDalumatSubmissionLink
