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Investors should look beyond Globe Telecom Inc.’s traditional mobile and broadband business and focus on its fast-growing digital assets and corporate technology solutions, which a market strategist said are now the company’s main growth engines.

Joel de la Peña, market strategist and chief trader of H.E. Bennett Securities Inc., said Globe’s future growth is ‘no longer tied to traditional voice and text, but to its rapidly scaling ecosystem of digital assets and corporate techno-solutions.’

‘The market is fundamentally mispricing Globe by focusing on its rearview mirror,’ he said. ‘Globe has effectively transformed into a diversified tech fund that pays investors a premium dividend to wait while its digital engines redefine the modern Philippine economy.’

De la Peña said the stock’s recent performance reflects broader market conditions more than the company’s own fundamentals.

‘Globe’s market performance continues to be weighed down by the ongoing weakness of the broader market and the overhang from the Konektadong Pinoy Law, so that its present market trend is less about its fundamentals but more about having been caught in the macro wave that has been hitting even other exchanges, the world over.’

He added that these headline risks have not touched Globe’s growth prospects, which he described as ‘continuing and increasingly robust.’

Globe’s core business remains strong. As of end-June 2026, it served about 67.7 million mobile subscribers, 39.6 million mobile data users, 2.4 million home broadband customers and more than 632,000 landline subscribers.

De la Peña said the pivot to digital assets is driven by the country’s fast-growing digital economy. He cited mobile data traffic growth at an 11 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and projections that about 85 percent of Philippine businesses will move to cloud-first policies.

Public-cloud revenues are projected to nearly triple to P359.6 billion by 2030 from P124.0 billion, he said.

Fintech, data center

De la Peña called Mynt, the parent company of GCash, the ‘first crown jewel’ among Globe’s digital assets. He described GCash as more than a digital wallet, calling it ‘the essential financial fabric for millions of citizens.’

As consumers move away from cash toward digital payments, lending, micro-insurance and wealth management, he said, GCash captures high-margin transactions at near-zero marginal cost.

Because Globe is Mynt’s largest shareholder, he said investors buying Globe shares effectively get ‘fractional ownership of the nation’s premier fintech ecosystem at a deep structural discount,’ on top of the telco’s stable cash flows.

De la Peña also pointed to Globe’s data center business, which operates through ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) Philippines. STT GDC’s new owners are KKR and Singtel.

He described the Philippine data center market as one of the most underpenetrated in Southeast Asia. The country has only 0.8 megawatts (MW) of capacity per million people, compared with 1.4 MW in Indonesia and 1.9 MW in Thailand.

Philippine colocation demand is projected to more than triple to 155 MW by 2030, a 28 percent CAGR, he said.

STT GDC Philippines’ flagship 124-MW STT Fairview campus in Metro Manila will be the largest carrier-neutral facility in the country. According to de la Peña, the first level of data halls at STT Fairview 1 is already fully sold. Hyperscalers and artificial intelligence (AI) tenants are in active discussions for the next levels, which are still being commissioned.

‘Demand is moving faster than physical development,’ he said.

To address high power costs and an unreliable grid, STT GDC Philippines signed a 10-year partnership with MPower that secures 40.5 MW of 100-percent renewable energy through 2035. De la Peña said the arrangement protects margins from volatile fuel prices and meets the green requirements of global technology firms.

He also cited Executive Order (EO) 119, which requires government data to be hosted locally within three years. He said this helps secure recurring institutional contracts for Globe’s data centers.

‘Globe Telecom is no longer just a telecommunications provider but an investment opportunity that presents a rare combination of defensive core income with exposure to growing digital assets,’ de la Peña said.

Performance

In another development, Globe said on Monday it recorded its highest overall score and fastest average download speed so far this year in August, according to the latest Telco Report Card of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The telco received an overall score of 81.5, up 4.4 points from January. Its average download speed climbed 26 percent to a 2026 high of 45.9 megabits per second (Mbps) from 36.5 Mbps at the start of the year, and was 5.1 percent faster than in July.

Network quality improved to 71.2 from 69.2, while latency held at 20 milliseconds.

General Counsel Froilan Castelo attributed the results to its continued network investments and its collaboration with the government, including the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), to improve the quality and reliability of telecommunications services

‘Customers need a network they can depend on every day, and that goes beyond speed. It means being able to stay connected consistently, including during periods of high demand, disruptions and emergencies.’

DAVAO CITY-A Filipino-owned company has successfully connected the remote islands of Surigao del Norte, including the top-surfing destination of Siargao, starting with four former internet dead spots and allowing live users to seamlessly livestream their tourist activities.

The Cagayan de Oro City-based Community Wireless and Power rolled out its first fiber-backed public network, similar to the ubiquitous Piso Wifi boxes, in four locations in the Municipality of General Luna on Siargao Island ‘targeting the town’s busiest gathering points, several of which sit in cellular dead zones.’

Called the SuperWiFi, it was launched in January this year as its first Philippine rollout in 2,140 remote locations across the country.

The four locations of the SuperWiFi covered the town’s four highest-traffic locations: the farmers and fish market, the boardwalk, the Town Center church and Bravo Resort, which the community said was ‘opening a rollout designed to reach communities throughout the Philippine archipelago.’

‘The launch is the first live service under eSari-Sari, World Mobile’s community distribution program in the Philippines, and the opening stage of a deployment planned across 2,140 locations nationwide,’ it added. ‘Anyone within range of a live AirNode can connect today. Users select the ‘eSariSari WiFi’ network on any phone, tablet or laptop and purchase access starting at P10 for a 7-day pass.

It said a 30-day 5-gigabyte data package starts at P48 but delivers a high-speed internet at rates up to 80 per cent below entry-level packages offered by traditional mobile network operators, and can be paid via GCash, Maya, Visa, Mastercard, Bancnet, load or cash at a host store.

It said access is sold in short-duration passes or daily and weekly bundles with no contract, no credit check and no minimum term.

The company said Surigao del Norte was chosen as the launch market ‘precisely because of what makes it hard to serve: its population is spread across Siargao, Dinagat and dozens of smaller islands, separated by water that makes conventional network economics fail; centralised operators have never had a commercial reason to build there.’

Several of those locations sit in cellular dead zones, it said, where the only connectivity option has been mobile data bought in increments, at a cost that adds up quickly for a household or a market vendor. It said the SuperWiFi gives those areas a fixed, fibre-backed alternative.

What makes it tenable, it said, was that each AirNode ‘is hosted and operated at community level.’

‘Cooperatives, sari-sari stores and local businesses host the hardware, maintain the site and earn a share of the revenue,’ it said.

The Community Wireless and Power said the operation took its inspiration from similar network operations in Pakistan, Zanzibar and the United States. ‘Because access is paid, the money spent on connectivity stays partly within the community that provides it, rather than leaving for a head office in Manila.’

‘For the communities now covered, the change is immediate: students can complete online coursework without travelling to find a signal, small businesses can accept digital payments and reach customers online, and households can access government services, banking and telehealth from home. In an island province, that access also carries a resilience dimension.’ It said.

‘Before SuperWiFi went live, our sari-sari store couldn’t process digital payments or offer steady internet,’ said Maria Santos, local sari-sari store owner and eSari-Sari host in General Luna. ‘Now, tourists stay longer, local families have affordable Wi-Fi, and we generate extra income right from our shop.’

Following initial live rollouts in General Luna and Dapa, deployment has expanded to the Caraga Region (Butuan City) and Region 10 (Cagayan de Oro City).

THE Philippines called for stronger maritime security and greater international cooperation to safeguard critical maritime infrastructure, arguing that threats to seafarers and commercial shipping have become direct threats to global trade, supply chains and human security.

Addressing the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro underscored the contribution of migrant workers and seafarers to the global economy while calling for stronger protection of their rights and welfare.

Lazaro noted that nearly 90 percent of world trade is transported by sea and supported by close to two million seafarers worldwide, more than 25 percent of whom are Filipinos.

‘They are essential workers, yet increasingly vulnerable to conflict and attacks at sea,’ Lazaro said, citing a recent incident in the Strait of Hormuz that claimed the lives of Filipino seafarers and injured others.

‘Their tragedy reminds us that maritime security is human security,’ she added.

The Philippines has become increasingly vocal on maritime security as Filipino seafarers continue to bear the human cost of conflicts in some of the world’s most critical shipping routes.

Across the Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz and Black Sea, at least nine Filipino seafarers have been killed in recent maritime security incidents linked to armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions, government reports indicate.

Lazaro said that for the Philippines, an archipelagic and maritime nation, the safety of ships and seafarers cannot be separated from supply chains and global commerce.

‘Open and secure seas, free from interference and coercion, are vital to our security, our economy and our people,’ she said.

Lazaro reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to international law, describing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) as the ‘constitution of the oceans.’

She noted that 2026 marks a decade since the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which remains final and legally binding and demonstrates how international law provides peaceful means for states to clarify rights and settle disputes.

‘The Philippines stands firm in its conviction that disputes must be resolved through diplomacy and law, not violence and might,’ Lazaro said.

She also called for efforts to protect maritime security to extend beyond shipping lanes to critical maritime infrastructure, including undersea cables, strategic sea lanes, ports and offshore facilities that underpin global trade and connectivity.

Rather than waiting for threats to emerge, states should work toward a framework anchored on Unclos that establishes clear rules, rights and obligations governing critical maritime infrastructure, she said.

The proposal comes amid growing concerns over attacks on commercial vessels and the vulnerability of maritime infrastructure crucial to global commerce, energy flows and digital communications.

WHEN Dolly Parton, American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist recently passed away at the age of 80, US President Donald J. Trump ordered flags at half-mast. the British Royal Family not only sent tributes, but her iconic Nine to Five Song was played at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. There is even a move to have the Nashville, Tennessee Airport named after her. Tributes poured from all over-world leaders, celebrities, and those who simply loved her music.

Why did someone who was born into a large, impoverished family in a one-room cabin in rural East Tennessee touch so many lives?

In an article in Inc.com, Mark Berman says that in over six decades, ‘Parton transformed her songwriting and performing talents into a global entertainment career. She became one of the best-selling artists in music history, wrote songs that became standards, starred in major films including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, and built a brand that is beloved and instantly recognizable.’

For someone who according to Agence France Presse, ‘sang her first songs to chickens outside the cabin,’ her work ethic was astonishing. She launched publishing and music production companies, a radio station and restaurants. She even wrote a best-selling novel with co-author James Patterson. She connected with the younger generation through her Instagram page which, with 8.6 million followers, became an online phenomenon. At age 75, she unveiled a new fragrance called ‘Dolly.’

In 1986, Parton partnered to transform the existing Silver Dollar Theme Park in Pigeon Forge Tennessee into Dollywood. It became, according to Berman, ‘an entertainment destination built around Dolly’s Appalachian roots, storytelling, and personality.’

As communicators, we can learn much from her if we want to build legacy companies and brands. This he shares with us in Berman’s article The Incredible Business Strategy that made Dolly Parton an American Icon.

Create a brand people believe in and let it grow over time

‘Parton’s songwriting was the foundation of her business empire,’ says Berman. ‘She didn’t’ simply perform songs. She understood the value of her creative work, and found ways to extend its life.’

But’ she never treated music as her finish line. She treated it as the beginning, and she used it as a springboard into multiple business endeavors, continually expanding her creative assets into movies, television, publishing, merchandise, live entertainment, and other ventures.’

That, he adds, is entrepreneurial thinking: ‘Create something valuable, retain ownership when possible, and understand that its value can grow over time.’

Know your audience

Another lesson from her career? Simply know your customer. Parton understood what people wanted from Dolly Parton.

‘They wanted the songs. They wanted the humor. They wanted the glamour,’ says Berman. ‘They wanted the smiles, the love, the warmth. They wanted to believe that the woman behind the enormous hair and rhinestones was still connected to the little girl from Tennessee.’

She remained relevant across generations because she was willing to evolve, abandoning her core identity that made her successful in the first place.

The lesson for communicators and building a legacy brand: ‘Be willing to evolve, but don’t lose sight of what you are.’

Be authentic

Before ‘personal branding’ became a business buzzword, authenticity was perhaps her greatest asset. ‘She turned her humble beginnings, distinctive appearance, humor music, and Appalachian heritage into her brand so naturally and effortlessly.’

Despite her amazing success, Dolly remained incredibly humble. She earned a Kennedy Center award, one of the highest art accolades in 2006, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022, after initially turning it down.

In 2021, she revealed she had declined the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying she did not want to travel to Washington during the Covid pandemic. Michael Mathes of Agence France Presse quotes her as saying to NBC, ‘It’s nice but I’m not sure that I even deserve it. But it’s a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it.’

This is so refreshing at a time when narcissism reigns.

Family always came first

As the fourth of 12 children, Dolly always remained close to her family. In 1971, she released the spare and gorgeous Coat of Many Colors, a Bible-themed track about her mother overcoming poverty.

Her nephew was in charge of her security, and her cousin Richie Owens collaborated with her, and helped her produce multiple albums. While she did not have children of her own, she remained close to her siblings, nieces and nephews, and grandkids, whom she encouraged to follow their dreams.

She was loyally married for almost 60 years to Carl Dean, who she nursed during his last days.

Her funeral was intimate, including family and close friends, because ‘she wanted it that way.’

Big hair, big music, big heart

Most remarkably, Dolly always gave back without much fanfare. In 1995, she launched her Imagination Library in her home country of Tennessee, inspired by her father’s inability to read or write. The program began by providing free books to young children and eventually expanded internationally, says Berman.

The Dollywood Foundation also launched educational initiatives in her hometown. One offered $500 to students who graduated high school, helping reduce dropout rates among participating classes.

‘Parton used the success she created to create opportunities for other people too. That is something one can learn about legacy building: Success can be measured by more than the size of a company’s bottom line, says Berman.

With her authenticity, Dolly Parton ‘turned her humble beginnings, distinctive appearance, humor, music, and Appalachian heritage into her brand’. It is about kindness, relatability, and personifying good.

Dolly Parton did that over six decades. And ‘her business legacy-and cultural legacy-will always be celebrated and never forgotten.’

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

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