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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Globe Telecom) |
Globe Telecom turned the excitement of the Star Wars universe into a meaningful opportunity for students in Cabanatuan, bringing senior high school and college learners together for an exclusive screening of Star Wars The Mandalorian & Grogu as part of its broader collaboration with Disney to inspire courage, connection, and community among Filipino youth.
Held at SM Cabanatuan, the event gave students a chance to immerse themselves in one of the world’s most iconic stories while connecting with fellow young leaders, educators, and Globe employees. More than a cinematic experience, the gathering highlighted the values at the heart of both the film and Globe’s youth initiatives: resilience, purpose, and the power of building communities that help people thrive. The screening also introduced attendees to the Globe Student Program which provides access to internships, scholarships, volunteer opportunities, AI hackathons, content creation initiatives, and other avenues that help students develop their talents and create positive impact within their schools and communities. “We wanted to make the Mandalorian screening in Cabanatuan a celebration of what the youth love, stories, shared interests, and experiences that bring them together. Through this special event, Globe is recognizing the passions of students and creating a memorable moment that reflects how much we value them,” said Globe Area Business Head for North Luzon Raymond Mancilla.
The Cabanatuan leg was one of several student-focused engagements rolled out by Globe and Disney across key cities including Quezon City, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, bringing thousands of young Filipinos closer to stories that champion courage, purpose, and belonging. Through these experiences, Globe continues to empower the next generation with opportunities that go beyond connectivity, equipping students with the support, platforms, and inspiration they need to pursue their ambitions, strengthen their communities, and become changemakers in their own right. As Globe expands programs that champion learning, leadership, and digital inclusion, it remains focused on creating spaces where young Filipinos can discover their potential, find their community, and take the next step toward becoming the heroes of their own stories. To learn more about opportunities available through the Globe Student Program, visit globe.com.ph/student-program.
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British Council Launches Connections Through Culture Grants 2026 To Deepen UK-PH Artistic Partnerships
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| (Image Source: The Climate Watch/British Council) |
The British Council has officially launched the 2026 cycle of its flagship Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants program. The initiative is designed to seed-fund bilateral creative collaborations, cross-cultural exchanges, and long-term institutional partnerships between creative practitioners in the United Kingdom and 35 participating countries worldwide, including the Philippines.
In a significant expansion for 2026, the program will expand to include two legacy British Council scheme: Biennials Connect (Visual Arts) grants and the Architecture, Design and Fashion Biennials and Festivals Grants. This consolidation forms a single, streamlined funding platform supporting artistic expressions ranging from visual arts and music to literature, performance, architecture, design, and film. “At the heart of the British Council’s mission is a belief that culture connects people in powerful and enduring ways. Connections Through Culture creates opportunities for artists and creative practitioners from the UK and the Philippines to come together, share perspectives, and create new work. In doing so, it fosters lasting partnerships that deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the ties between our creative communities,” said British Council Philippines Country Director Lotus Postrado. Applications for the 2026 cycle are open to creative practitioners, cultural professionals, artists, creative hubs, festivals, biennials, and organizations. To be eligible, projects must demonstrate a meaningful collaboration involving at least one UK-based collaborator and one partner legally established in a participating nation. To assist regional applicants in navigating the application criteria and developing highly competitive applications, the British Council recently hosted a series of information sessions last June 22 and 24 led by in-country Arts Managers.
Projects must involve at least one UK-based partner and one partner from an eligible country. Required funding for each project should be up to £15,000 for participants from Bangladesh and Pakistan; £10,000 for Mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam; £5,000 for Australia and New Zealand. Eligible activities include co-creation, residencies, research and development, collaborative exhibitions, and public programs. Deadline for CTC applications is on August 12, 2026 at 11:59 pm BST (August 13, 2026, 6:59 am PHT). Applicants are strongly advised to consult the official 2026 application toolkit and comprehensive FAQs prior to submission.
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Abi Marquez Becomes Hedley & Bennett’s First Filipino Collaborator
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| “Lumpia Queen” Abi Marquez (Image Source: Starmometer/NYMA Talent Management) |
Filipino food creator Abi Marquez is adding another global milestone to her journey as she teams up with Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.-based Hedley & Bennett for the brand’s first-ever collaboration with a Filipino. Known to millions online as the internet’s “Lumpia Queen” and managed by NYMA Talent Management, Abi has built a global community by turning Filipino food into joyful, accessible, and highly shareable content. Now, she is bringing that same love for Filipino cuisine into a kitchen essential made for home cooks, creators, and food lovers around the world. The Abi Marquez x Hedley & Bennett apron marks a meaningful first for both Abi and the brand, celebrating Filipino creativity, culture, and pride through a piece designed to be worn in the kitchen and beyond.
Abi shares, “This collaboration means so much to me because it brings together two things I love: cooking and sharing Filipino culture with the world. I’ve always believed that the kitchen is one of the best places to tell our stories, and I hope this apron inspires more people to cook with confidence, creativity, and pride.” Hedley & Bennett is known for creating high-quality aprons and kitchen workwear trusted by chefs, restaurants, and passionate home cooks. Through collaborations that span chefs, creators, artists, fashion names, sports leagues, and pop culture favorites, the Los Angeles-based brand has turned the apron into a canvas for personality, storytelling, and craft. Its past collaborations include collections with Disney, Superman, MLB, NFL, ONE PIECE, Bob’s Burgers, Rifle Paper Co., LoveShackFancy, Made With Liberty Fabric, Star Wars, and Friends alongside creator-led pieces with culinary names such as Kenji Lopez-Alt, Cassie Yeung, Nigel Kabvina, Chef Adam Libby, Food My Muse, and Chef Reactions. Now, Abi brings a distinctly Filipino story to that roster as Hedley & Bennett’s first Filipino collaborator. For Abi, the apron is more than just kitchen wear. It is a tribute to the community that has supported her from her early cooking videos to her growing presence on the global food stage. Through her content, Abi has introduced Filipino flavors to audiences around the world, using familiar dishes, playful formats, and heartfelt storytelling to make Filipino cuisine feel both proudly local and globally exciting.
The collaboration also comes at a time when Abi continues to gain international recognition for her work as a Filipino food creator. With millions of followers across platforms and features on global stages, Abi has become one of the leading voices bringing Filipino food culture to the digital spotlight. The Abi Marquez x Hedley & Bennett apron celebrates that journey: from the home kitchen to the world stage, from everyday cooking to cultural storytelling, and from one creator’s love for Filipino food to a global community ready to wear that pride.
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SM Cares Leads Push For Sustainable, Bike-Friendly Cities
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| (Image Source: Business Mirror/SM Supermalls) |
Every ride can move more than a person. It can move a community toward cleaner air, healthier habits, and a more connected future. In celebration of World Bicycle Day 2026, SM Cares mounted Pedal Power last June 6, 2026 across SM’s network of most-loved malls, bringing empowered communities of cyclists, families, advocates, partners, and mall communities in a nationwide celebration of sustainable mobility.
Anchored on SM Cares’ commitment to environmental sustainability under the SM Green Movement, Pedal Power championed cycling as a practical and meaningful response to transportation challenges such as accessibility, traffic, and fuel costs as well as climate change. More than a celebration of biking, the initiative served as a platform for dialogue, action, and community participation toward greener and more bike-friendly cities. Under the theme “Pedal Power: Building Bike-Friendly Communities Together”, the main celebration at SM City Marikina counted above 800 participants and featured a 15-kilometer community bike ride led by celebrity cycling enthusiast and World Bicycle Day Youth and Community Advocate Alden Richards. Additionally, the main celebration featured Mobility Talks where Richards also inspired guests to take on sustainability and active mobility along with raffles and giveaways. “We are united with cycling advocates and the local government in the pursuit of active mobility because we care about our health and the air we breathe. Through Pedal Power we see that the hope to make our cities more open, more connected, and more livable for everyone has only grown,” said SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin. Alongside the main activation in Marikina, SM malls nationwide joined the celebration through localized community rides, sustainability activities, and bike-friendly initiatives. Participating locations included SM City San Mateo, SM City Masinag, SM Center Antipolo Downtown, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Clark, SM City Olongapo Central, SM City Tanza, SM City Lucena, SM Seaside City Cebu, and The Podium which hosted a special Book Nook bike activity.
Across participating malls, World Bicycle Day activities included community bike ride-outs open to all ages and skill levels, bike safety clinics and push bike activities for children, helmet fitting and road safety sessions, storytelling and indoor bike activities at Book Nook, and other mall activations such as Ride For Pride and Padyak Para Sa Kalikasan. Pedal Power is part of SM Cares’ broader commitment to advancing sustainable mobility, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community building. Through continued investment in bike-friendly spaces and meaningful partnerships, SM is helping shape a future where cycling is not only accessible but becomes a more visible and valued part of everyday life in communities across the country.
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Tourism Promotions Board Philippines And Primer Group Of Companies Launch “The Philippines By Foot” Campaign In Manila
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| Back row, L-R: The Henry Hotels and Resorts CEO Hanky Lee and Primer Group of Companies associates Front row, L-R: Primer Group of Companies Chief Marketing Officer Roel Chan, Primer Group of Companies President and CEO Jimmy Thai, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines Acting Head of the Office of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Marketing and Promotions Teresita D.L. Landan (Image Source: Tourism Promotions Board Philippines) |
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines and the Primer Group of Companies have stepped into a new era of mindful travel with “The Philippines By Foot”, a campaign designed to position the country as a premier walk-worthy tourism destination. Made official through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing last June 8, 2026, at the TPB Office in Pasay City, the campaign kicked off with a two-day launch last June 10-11, 2026 in Manila. Capitalizing on a global shift toward mindful travel and the “walking club” phenomenon, the partnership strengthens public-private efforts to integrate community wellness into local tourism.
The campaign launched at The Henry Hotel with an interactive TPB booth showcasing the TravelPH App as a digital tool for local exploration. Highlighted during the launch was an advocacy walk that began at the Kilometer Zero Marker, through the historic streets of Manila, and ended at the Museum of Natural History. The walk featured lifestyle, beauty, and fashion key opinion leaders including Patrick Sugui, hairstylist Lourd Ramos, fashion stylist Daryl Chang, alongside grassroots walking communities like Just Walk PH. As part of the welcome dinner, Primer Group of Companies President and CEO Jimmy Thai and Birkenstock Southeast Asia Managing Director Evelyn Chua joined TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles for a ceremonial toast along with representatives from the Intramuros Administration and the German Embassy. Nograles shared her enthusiasm for the campaign, stating, “The Philippines By Foot campaign is a proud collaboration between the public and private sectors geared toward reshaping the future of travel. By inspiring our youth to swap scrolling screens for strolling the streets, we are empowering travelers to reclaim their health and authentic human connection. Through the simple act of walking, this initiative guides the travelers off the beaten path, connecting them with local communities and celebrating the Filipino heritage that anchors our country, one conscious footstep at a time.” TPB also enlivened the campaign opening with a live cultural performance by the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group (ROFG).
Moving forward, the program aims to establish regional walking loops across all provinces, anchored by curated pit stops designed to direct foot traffic to local shops and cafes. Upcoming activations will also feature provincial gems like South Cotabato, Dipolog, Ilocos Sur, and Bacolod. Travelers, fitness enthusiasts, and creators can participate by downloading partner apps, tracking these official routes, and sharing their journeys online.
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MLW And NJPW Team Up To Bring MLW Fusion To Japan On NJPW World
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| (Image Source: New Japan Pro-Wrestling/Major League Wrestling) |
Major League Wrestling (MLW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) recently announced a landmark content partnership that brings MLW Fusion to NJPW World, the global streaming home of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. New episodes of MLW Fusion will air free on NJPW World every Monday at 12:00 pm JST/11:00 am PHT/11:00 pm ET, giving NJPW World users around the world access to MLW’s flagship weekly series as part of their existing membership.
“The last three years of MLW’s alliance with New Japan Pro-Wrestling have been incredibly positive for our wrestlers, our fans, and both organizations. Bringing MLW Fusion to NJPW World builds on that momentum, giving fans more world-class wrestling on an exceptional platform. I want to thank Mr. Sugabayashi and the NJPW team for their collaboration, support, and continued friendship. This is a transformative period for professional wrestling, where alliances and friendships are uniting promotions, unlocking exceptional matches, and creating new opportunities for wrestlers, fans, and organizations around the world,” said MLW Founder and CEO Court Bauer.
MLW Fusion continues to air free every Saturday at 6:05 pm ET (Sunday at 6:05 am PHT/HKT/SGT) on MLW's YouTube channel and at 10:00 pm ET/9:00 pm CT/7:00 pm PT on beIN Sports in the US, and streams on VEEPS. The NJPW World window adds an additional global streaming footprint to a distribution portfolio that already spans VEEPS, YouTube, and beIN Sports.
