Category: Business Mirror

For motorcycle enthusiasts balancing the thrill of aggressive backroad carving with the reality of daily urban traffic, clutch control has always been a double-edged sword. Pulling the lever hundreds of times in stop-and-go congestion quickly turns passion into left-hand fatigue.

Enter Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI), which recently unveiled its updated lineup of middleweight Big Bikes featuring one of the most significant transmission innovations in recent motorcycling history: Honda E-Clutch technology.

What is the Honda E-Clutch Technology?

The Honda E-Clutch bridges the gap between a traditional manual gearbox, a full-fledged quickshifter, and Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

Equipped with an electronic actuator unit featuring dual internal motors, the system automatically controls clutch engagement and disengagement based on parameters like vehicle speed, engine RPM, gear position, throttle angle, and gear pedal pressure.

Key Benefits of the E-Clutch System:

Stall-Free Operation: Riders can start, gear up, shift down, and bring the bike to a complete stop without ever pulling the clutch lever.

Seamless Quickshifting: Under hard acceleration, it functions as an ultra-smooth quickshifter for upshifts and downshifts.

Instant Manual Override: The traditional clutch lever remains on the left handlebar. If you want to manually feather the clutch, launch hard, or maintain total mechanical control during spirited rides, simply pull the lever-the system instantly yields to manual input.

The Big Bike E-Clutch Lineup

Honda has rolled out the E-Clutch option across several of its flagship middleweight and adventure Big Bike models:

1. Honda CB650R and CBR650R E-Clutch

Powered by Honda’s smooth, high-revving 649cc DOHC 16-valve inline-four engine producing 93.4 hp, both the naked streetfighter CB650R and full-faired CBR650R gain massive daily usability with the E-Clutch. Paired with 41mm Showa® SFF-BP inverted forks, dual 310mm front disc brakes with radial-mount calipers, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), and a 5-inch TFT display with Honda RoadSync connectivity, these 650cc machines offer high performance with zero traffic stress.

2. Honda NX500 E-Clutch

For adventure tourers, the versatile NX500 paired with the E-Clutch system offers effortless gear transitions whether navigating city roads or tackling light off-road trails. Its punchy 471cc parallel-twin engine, combined with seamless shift management, keeps momentum smooth across long distances.

3. Honda CBR500R and CB500 Hornet E-Clutch

Bringing E-Clutch technology down to the highly accessible 500cc class, the CBR500R and CB500 Hornet make middleweight entry easier than ever. Offering Fireblade-inspired aerodynamic styling, a 471cc DOHC engine (47 hp / 43 Nm torque), and lightweight handling, these models prove that advanced riding tech isn’t strictly reserved for liter-class superbikes.

Connected Ecosystem: MyHonda+ App

Alongside the launch of its E-Clutch lineup, Honda unveiled its updated digital ecosystem anchored by the MyHonda+ Philippines app. Riders can manage their ‘digital garage,’ schedule dealer service appointments, check model specs, and track community events-ensuring that modern motorcycle innovation is backed by digital convenience.

IN a continued effort to make games a platform for fun and safety online, leading gaming company Riot Games has introduced new parental controls in the US for its titles to combat toxicity.

Riot Games has been on the front lines in fighting toxicity in games, especially with the gaming world known for its unforgiving trash-talking culture that led to several altercations, both online and offline, even more so in online games such as League of Legends, Valorant, and TFT.

In fact, back in 2022, Riot forged a partnership with another gaming company, Ubisoft, to launch the ‘Zero Harms in Comms’ project, having a database partnership training artificial intelligence (AI) to gather data detecting toxic behavior.

Today, their latest initiative is parental control, allowing the parents of players aged 18 below to have control over what the underage player plays, and who they engage with within the Riot Games’ circle of titles.

Enabling parental control settings allows them to turn text and voice

chat off; limit text and voice chat to friends only; prevent sending or accepting friend requests; view the friends connected to their child’s account; restrict access to specific Riot games; and disable account access entirely.

To enable parental control, the parents must enter Parent Portal by logging in using their child’s account and providing an email address designated under the account management tab. They will then receive an email that will enable them to access Parent Portal.

In their FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), Riot Games reassured parents that their child would be unable to remove or bypass the parental control once enabled. They may only do so once they turn 18.

Currently, this feature is available only on League of Legends, Valorant, and TFT on PC, with TFT on mobile planned to have the same feature by early 2027.

Riot Games plans to bring this feature to more countries.

However, they acknowledge that ‘different countries have different restrictions, guidelines, and requirements of parental control settings.’

Where volcanoes, white sandy shores, hot springs, wellness, and solar power shape the island.

I remember my first time in Camiguin in 2010. It was a joint birthday trip with Kristina when our friend Lot invited us to celebrate in her hometown of Cagayan de Oro. From there, we ferried to Camiguin and spent the day circling the island aboard a rented jeepney.

Sixteen years later, I returned a little older, wiser, a few pounds heavier, but with the same wide-eyed curiosity. This visit comes with an advocacy. Traveling with the Mindanao Goes Solar movement, I became more aware of how global events can ripple through islands that depend on tourism. Yet Camiguin remains a place for reflection, where white-sand beaches, scenic roads, and the presence of Mount Hibok-Hibok remind me why I keep coming back.

Going Around the Island

The best way to experience Camiguin is on two wheels. I rented a scooter for just 400 pesos a day and spent my first morning café hopping, eventually settling in at the roadside Saga Café for a couple of hours of remote work. That afternoon, I rode through mountain roads to Utopia Café, located high above the coast with sweeping views of the sea.

The next day, I traced another loop around the island’s slopes, passing picturesque roads, cooling off at the refreshing Sa-ay Cold Spring, and stopping at more mountainside cafés. Before heading back, I followed a trail into a forest of towering pine trees, then carefully descended the steep mountain road, putting plenty of faith in my scooter’s brakes.

Another morning, we rented a boat for 500 pesos (good for five to six people) near Paras Beach Resort to catch the sunrise at White Island Sandbar, perhaps Camiguin’s most photographed place. I also revisited Katibawasan Falls and the ruins of the Old Spanish Church of Bonbon.

Eerie Wonders and Marine Sanctuaries

No trip to Camiguin is complete without tracing its volcanic past, preserved in the most peculiar marine sites. The Sunken Cemetery is a haunting reminder of the island’s geology, submerged during the 1871 eruption of Mount Vulcan Daan. What once was a burial ground is now marked by a giant white cross erected in 1982, standing above a thriving underwater ecosystem.

Nearby, Mantigue Island, a four-hectare marine sanctuary just offshore, reflects Camiguin’s commitment to conservation. Managed by local families serving as guides, it protects both forest and reef from overdevelopment. Snorkeling here reveals clear waters, vibrant coral gardens, and occasional sightings of endangered hawksbill sea turtles.

Staying in an Eco-Friendly Accommodation

My home for several days on the island is Haruhay Eco-Beach Tavern. ‘Haruhay,’ a Cebuano word for peace and ease, perfectly captures the atmosphere here-relaxed.

Unlike many places that use ‘eco’ as a marketing label, Haruhay practices low-impact living. Instead of plastic coffee sachets, fresh coffee beans are provided in the room. Toiletries are stored in reusable glass bottles, sourced from eco-stores. There is no air-conditioning; only low-energy fans and the natural ocean breeze, making sleep feel natural in a beachfront setting. Sunlight fills the lofts by day, while a garden of herbs and vegetables flows toward the shore.

Meals are entirely plant-based, prepared from scratch just steps away at Daos Plant-Based Kitchen, whose vegan menu quickly became a highlight of my stay.

I’ve always preferred small-scale accommodation, and Haruhay, with just three loft villas, is the perfect choice. It is also a labor of love of its owner, Potpot Pinili, a fellow travel writer who finally settled on the island, building an eco-community and one of Camiguin’s most unique stays.

The Island’s Capitol Taps Into the Sun

While experiencing island living at Haruhay, we discovered positive shifts happening across the province. Our visit was in connection with the Mindanao Goes Solar initiative, an energy movement actively promoting rooftop solar power across Mindanao to combat erratic grid supplies and skyrocketing fuel costs.

For many residents, solar is no longer optional but practical. Graham, a local IT professional working from home, invested 350,000 pesos in a 6-kW solar PV system to offset frequent brownouts and high electricity rates. His monthly bill dropped from 30,000 to 20,000. For him, solar is not an expense but a long-term savings tool that stabilizes daily living and work.

This transition is also visible at the provincial level. The Camiguin Provincial Capitol has installed solar systems and battery storage across key facilities, addressing electricity bills that once reached nearly 900,000 pesos a month. Governor Romualdo described the shift as a necessity. The solar rollout has significantly reduced expenses, with plans to expand to hospitals and remote schools, easing dependence on Camiguin Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CAMELCO) and diesel-based generators.

As sustainability awareness grows, Camiguin’s direction is becoming clearer: align tourism and governance with renewable energy. The next step, advocates say, is wider adoption among SMEs, supported by net metering. According to Philline Donggay of Mindanao Goes Solar, net metering allows households and businesses to sell excess solar power back to the grid, reducing costs and strengthening resilience while accelerating the clean energy transition.

As my experience has shown, Camiguin offers both first-time and returning visitors remarkable experiences at every turn; at its hot and cold springs, along its beaches, and even across its seven volcanoes. At the same time, the island is beginning to move in a more intentional direction, embracing eco-friendly practices and expanding its use of solar energy at both household and government levels. In this balance, Camiguin remains a place worth coming back to, again and again.

NEW ZEALAND has welcomed the signing of the first memorandum of cooperation (MOC) in education with the Philippines, marking a significant milestone in the relationship between both countries and creating a framework for collaboration across all levels of education.

The MOC was announced during the official visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt. Hon. Winston Peters of New Zealand, coinciding with the two countries’ 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The memorandum formalizes and reaffirms the commitment of the New Zealand Ministry of Education, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to work in partnership with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This includes partnership in the full education spectrum: from early childhood to tertiary, technical and vocational education, and training.

ENZ Group General Manager for International and Sector Engagement Sahinde Pala said the MOC reflects the strength of an education partnership that has been steadily growing between the two countries.

‘This [MOC] is an important step forward in our education partnership,’ Pala said. ‘It builds on years of collaboration between our governments, education agencies and institutions, [while providing] a framework to deepen that cooperation for years to come.’

Improved understanding, recognition

THE embassy said the arrangement will promote: (1) greater student, educator and academic mobility; (2) stronger institutional and research partnerships; and (3) knowledge sharing in areas such as education policy, qualifications recognition, workforce development, lifelong learning and capacity building.

A key example is the partnership between the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and CHED, including qualifications referencing work that has improved understanding and recognition of bachelor’s degrees between the countries, as well as supported learner and labor mobility.

The relationship is also supported by regular ministerial engagement and education policy dialogue. In 2025, delegations from CHED and TESDA met with ministers, senior officials and government agencies.

The education relationship between the countries is built on genuine two-way exchange. While increasing numbers of Filipino students are choosing the Oceanic country for their studies, the two benefit from the flow of knowledge, skills, research and professional connections that education partnerships create. Education has become one of the strongest foundations of the broader New Zealand-Philippines relationship.

Growing education linkages

SINCE 2014, 335 Filipinos have received Manaaki Scholarships across tertiary study, short-term training and English language programs that help scholars build skills, gain global experience and create lasting links binding New Zealand and the Philippines.

Both countries also work together to strengthen education systems through regional and multilateral fora, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC forum and Asean-related education initiatives, where both countries advance shared priorities in quality education, skills development and workforce readiness.

The Philippines is one of New Zealand’s most important education partners in Southeast Asia. Filipino student enrolments have grown by 36 percent since 2023, as it reached 2,635 students in 2025, making the Philippines New Zealand’s ninth-largest international student market.

Building on this momentum, a delegation of 16 New Zealand education providers will return for the ‘Study with New Zealand Study Expos’ in Cebu on September 19, 2026 and Iloilo on September 22, 2026. They are expected to give Filipino students and families the opportunity to meet education providers directly and explore the range of study opportunities available in the Oceanic country.

With a strong dealer confidence in Suzuki Philippines’ long-term growth, trusted dealer groups are actively investing in modernized facilities to enhance accessibility and elevate the customer ownership experience nationwide. This significantly expands Suzuki’s nationwide footprint through a series of dealership groundbreakings, relocations, relaunches, and facility upgrades across Northern Luzon, Visayas, and Metro Manila from July to September 2026.

Key network expansion highlights

Northern Luzon

(Elite North Autocars, Inc.)

Suzuki Auto Iguig (Cagayan): Groundbreaking of a brand-new 3S (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) facility along the National Highway in Sta. Teresa, Iguig.

Suzuki Auto Tuguegarao: Relocation of its 3S Satellite (3SS) facility to a larger, more prominent site along Cagayan Valley Road.

Visayas Region

(Sakura Autoworld, Inc. and Cebu Autocentrale Corp.)

Suzuki Auto Tacloban: Official relaunch at a new standalone 3S facility in Abucay, featuring expanded service workshops.

Suzuki Auto Iloilo: Complete facility renovation and expansion, equipped with a dedicated e VITARA charging station in preparation for Suzuki’s electrified vehicle lineup.

Suzuki Auto SM Consolacion (Cebu): Relaunch and showroom modernization.

Metro Manila

(Wheels, Inc.)

n Suzuki Auto Manila Bay: Relocation to a new, accessible facility in Pasay City featuring enhanced customer safety measures and expanded parking space.

Partnering for Future Mobility

Norihide Takei, Director and General Manager for SPH’s Automobile Division, emphasized the importance of these collaborative investments:

‘The continued investments of our dealer partners reflect the strong trust and confidence they have placed in Suzuki Philippines and in the future of our brand. Each new dealership, relocation, renovation, and facility enhancement represents a shared commitment to providing a better ownership experience and bringing Suzuki closer to more Filipino communities.’

Through these nationwide developments, Suzuki Philippines and its dealer network reinforce their shared commitment to expanding accessibility, enhancing service standards, and driving sustainable mobility forward for drivers across the country.

CAMPI-TMA January-June 2026 sales data ranks OMODA and JAECOO among the country’s top three Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) brands as the company expands to 40 dealerships nationwide and showcases AIMOGA AI innovation.

Makati City, Philippines – July 22, 2026 – OMODA and JAECOO Philippines continues its rapid growth in the country’s automotive industry after securing the No. 3 position in the Philippine Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market, according to the latest January-June 2026 sales report released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

The milestone coincides with the official Philippine launch of the all-new JAECOO J5 EV, further reinforcing the brand’s commitment to accelerating the country’s transition toward intelligent, sustainable, and technology-driven mobility.

According to the latest CAMPI-TMA report, OMODA and JAECOO recorded 1,484 BEV units sold during the first half of 2026, ranking behind only VinFast (3,342 units) and Tesla (2,374 units). The achievement reflects the growing confidence of Filipino customers in the brand’s expanding portfolio of intelligent new energy vehicles and reinforces OMODA and JAECOO’s position as one of the country’s fastest-growing electric vehicle brands.

In July, the global football world crowned its new champion on the pitch. At OMODA and JAECOO, that same spirit resonates: the relentless pursuit of excellence, the discipline to go the distance, and the nerve to perform when it matters most. The JAECOO J5 EV proves that same champion spirit on the road. Ranked No.1 for the pure EV sales in Thailand and Indonesia’s for the first half of 2026, J5 EV officially made its Philippine debut. Combining intelligent technology, premium comfort, and practical electric mobility, the J5 EV expands OMODA and JAECOO’s growing electrified vehicle lineup designed for Filipino motorists.

Further reinforcing its confidence in the JAECOO J5 EV’s battery durability and long-term reliability, OMODA and JAECOO Philippines announced an industry-leading Battery State of Health (SOH) Warranty. Should the battery’s State of Health fall below 70% within the applicable warranty period, the company will replace the battery free of charge, subject to the terms and conditions of the warranty. This customer-first commitment is believed to be among the first of its kind in the Philippine automotive market, providing owners with greater peace of mind and confidence in their transition to electric mobility.

AIMOGA, OMODA and JAECOO’s AI humanoid robot demonstrated the brand’s vision of AI-driven mobility and customer engagement, showing how next-gen AI enhances customer experience and underscores its commitment to innovation beyond electrification.

Supporting its strong market momentum, OMODA and JAECOO Philippines has expanded its nationwide dealership network to 26 locations, with more openings planned to enhance customer access to intelligent vehicles, after-sales services, and customer support across the country. The achievement reflects the confidence dealer partners have placed in OMODA and JAECOO and positions the company to serve a growing customer base more effectively.

The combination of its top-three BEV market ranking, rapid dealership expansion, and the successful launch of the all-new JAECOO J5 EV underscores OMODA and JAECOO Philippines’ commitment to shaping the future of intelligent and sustainable mobility. As the company continues to introduce innovative products and advanced technologies to the Philippine market, it remains focused on making electrified mobility more accessible and delivering greater value to Filipino consumers.

What? HONOR Philippines is giving away 101 HONOR gadgets to its growing community with its biggest giveaway yet! Known for continuously surprising consumers with blockbuster promotions – from giving away luxury vehicles to exclusive rewards – HONOR is once again raising the bar by putting 101 HONOR devices up for grabs in a nationwide giveaway, including the latest HONOR 600 Series.

This celebrates the overwhelming support of HONOR fans while making the brand’s innovative technology more accessible to everyone. Joining is as easy as it gets. Participants simply need to comment on the official giveaway post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18wfpQRyTc/ – no follow required!

‘Our fans have always been at the heart of everything we do. This giveaway is our way of thanking them for their continued trust and support while giving more Filipinos the opportunity to experience HONOR technology,’ said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said investment approvals continued to accelerate in January to July, driven largely by manufacturing projects and export-oriented investments despite lingering global trade and geopolitical uncertainties.

The total approved investments reached P151.901 billion during the period, a 66.99-percent increase from P90.961 billion in 2025.

The Peza Board approved 174 new and expansion projects, up 16 percent from 150 projects approved in the same period last year.

‘The first seven months of 2026 demonstrate that investor confidence in the Philippines remains strong. More importantly, we are seeing investments that are increasingly export-oriented, technology-driven, and aligned with the country’s long-term industrial development goals,’ Peza Director General Tereso Panga said.

The approved projects are projected to generate $5.905 billion in exports, almost three times the $2.003 billion recorded in the same period last year, or a 194.82-percent increase. They are also expected to create 26,047 direct jobs.

Manufacturing remained the largest investment segment, accounting for 76 approved projects. It was followed by 28 information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), 26 ecozone development, 15 facilities, 13 logistics, 10 domestic market, four tourism and two utilities projects.

By location, 141 projects will be established in Luzon, 22 in the Visayas and 11 in Mindanao.

The Netherlands emerged as the biggest investment source during the period, followed by South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Germany.

Peza said its overall performance was supported by 25 big-ticket projects worth a combined P131.661 billion, accounting for nearly 87 percent of total approved investments from January to July.

For July alone, the Peza Board approved 17 new and expansion projects worth P11.212 billion, lower than the P18.599 billion approved in the same month last year.

Despite the lower investment value, the agency said that the July-approved projects are expected to generate $2.538 billion in exports, up 241.12 percent from $744 million a year earlier, while projected direct employment edged up to 2,907 jobs from 2,891.

The July approvals consisted of six export manufacturing projects, four IT-BPM enterprises, three domestic market enterprises, two ecozone development projects, and two facilities projects.

Four big-ticket projects worth P8.818 billion accounted for nearly 79 percent of the month’s approved investments.

‘While monthly investment values naturally vary depending on the mix of projects approved by the Board, what matters is that the investments entering our ecozones continue to strengthen the country’s export base, create quality employment, and position the Philippines deeper within global value chains,’ Panga said.

PEZA expects the latter half of 2026 to see more investment leads turning into actual projects, boosting production capacity, exports and jobs.

Wall panels inspired by Filipino grilled street food. A town hall of peace in healing Maguindanao. A safe space for queer people in the form of a zine.

These winning works at the recently concluded Good Design Awards by the Design Center of the Philippines embody ‘malasakit,’ the Filipino value of compassionate care. ‘Malasakit’ is also the added criterion for judging good design that turns everyday spaces and objects into meaningful ones.

From 311 entries from across the regions, 246 passed validation, and 84 were shortlisted.

A final jury from the Design Advisory Council, the Good Design Award Japan (G Mark), and the United Nations Development Programme made the final selections last May.

At the awarding ceremony, Design Center of the Philippines executive director Maria Rita O. Matute said, ‘Filipino designers have a higher obligation beyond making things beautiful. Malasakit is not a sentiment; it is a design standard. It asks: who is this for, what problem does it solve, and what does the world look like after this design exists? The works we honor tonight answered that question with conviction.’

The 2026 Awardees

Bagging the Malasakit Award-the grand prize of the Good Design Award Philippines-is Banwag, designed by Studio Impossible Project, co-founded by Enrico Atienza and Jasper Niens. The bamboo structure also won the Gold Award, under the Place Making category.

Banwag, a 15-meter bamboo fabric dome-shaped structure in Parang, Maguindanao, means ‘beacon’ in Visaya. It was conceived as a shared space for peace where three communities with a long history of conflict-Muslim, Christian, and Lumad-can have a meeting of minds and hearts.

According to Atienza, co-founder of Studio Impossible Project, Banwag is likewise an homage to native materials and the ingenuity of the Filipino artisan.

‘To earn recognition, especially for a passion project, is really special to us. It is also honoring the bamboo technology in the Philippines that we aim to elevate. The award also honors Philippine indigenous materials. Our technical disobedience as Filipinos-that’s where we stand out, and that’s how we can build structures like the Banwag,’ said Atienza.

Meanwhile, under the Image Making Category, the Gold Award was presented to ‘Ding! Zine para sa Bading,’ designed by the students of CIIT College of Arts and Technology as part of their school research project. The zine traces the evolution of Filipino drag, safe spaces, and queer power.

According to Jouzen Peramo, layout and editor-in-chief of the zine: ‘The recognition is not just for us but for the queer community. It’s a super big thing that we won this award because we can further amplify more queer voices that need to be heard, more queer stories that need to be known.’

A total of 22 Red Awards were given across the different categories.

The awardees under Image Making were: ‘QC Stories: The City We Call Home’ by Do Good Studio; ‘Forgotten by The Tribe,’ by GGC Group Asia; ‘Nexus: A Filipino Architecture as a Network in Constant Remaking’ by Bien Alvarez; ‘Haring Ibon’ Playing Cards by Birds in Focus, Inc.; ‘Pista ng Kapuluan: Archipelago Festival and Biennale’ by Tukod Foundation; ‘Salumpuwit: Chairs in Filipino Life’ by Arc Lico International Services Corp. and Facade Books; and ‘Request sa Radyo’ set design by Theatre Group Asia and Ayala Land.

Under Object Making, Ihawi by Selena Placino are wall panels or dividers made from pineapple leaf waste turned into hibla felt. Inspired by ‘ihawan,’ the act of turning skewered food over the grill, the felt fabric appears to be pierced in wood and can be adjusted to how open or enclosed the space could be.

‘To win the Red Award early in my career means a lot. It’s an honor to be surrounded by the best. It affirms my goal as a designer to create meaningful objects that celebrate being a Filipino and my purpose in life as well.’

Other winners in the Object Making category are Hiblatech Ventures, Inc.; Make-a: Pusô DIY Kit by White Brick Creative Studio Corp.; Kai’a Outdoor Hanging Lamp by Chini Lichangco; Champion Detergent Table Clothes by TBWA Santiago Mangada Puno; Celestina Rugs by Hacienda Crafts; and Curio by Kenneth Cobonpue.

Under Place Making: andMatcha Three Yards by MLA-at-Home; Pasig River Urban Development by WTA Architecture and Design Studio; Mamanwa Community Center by Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, Mamanwa Community, Kawayan Collective and Project Partners; Alhibe: A Regenerative Placemaking anchored by Bamboo Architecture by M+S Studio Co. Ltd.; Comuna by Jumnie Ramana Developers, Inc.; Urban Forestry Institute Diliman by Karl Castro and Mede Studio / KaLIKHAsan: Outdoor Projects on Campus Ecology; and Atok Barnhouse by Ninety Design Studio.

Under Systems and Service Design: Zero Waste Textile Circular Solution by ANTHILL Fabric Gallery, Inc.; and Oyloop by Klimatech Innovative Solutions, Inc.

Three special recognitions were also conferred:

The Green Award was received by the Mamanwa Community Center, a climate-adapted design, renewable materials, and in collaboration with the Mamanwa community.

The White Citation was awarded to KADLIT (Kindling Aid for Disaster-Linked Ignition Tool), designed by Bohol Island State University, for transforming rice bran into a disaster-ready firestarter for emergency preparedness.

The Blue Citation, a new addition introduced this year under the Governance and Civic Design category, was conferred on the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for iRISE UP, a system geared for disaster preparedness to support more resilient communities.

As part of the partnership between the Design Center of the Philippines and the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, winning designs from GDA Philippines automatically advance past the first screening for Japan’s Good Design Award or G Mark, one of the world’s most respected design recognition programs.

The GDA Philippines awardees advance to the final deliberation for G Mark in August 2026. So far, 21 designs from the Philippines have been conferred the G Mark since the Good Design Awards of the Philippines were launched in 2019, Proof that Philippine design can stand out in the global design sector.

Art has always had the power to inspire, connect and transform lives. This July, it is doing even more by giving back to the community as the 9th Coloring Lives Exhibit officially opens at SM Podium, uniting artists of all ages and skill levels in support of Nazareth Bahay ng Pag-ibig, a home for abandoned elderly women.

Organized by Sunshine Place Senior Recreation Center, the annual exhibit showcases an inspiring collection of works across various artistic disciplines, including watercolor, porcelain painting, ikebana, decoupage, and artworks from kids, beginners, intermediate, and advanced art classes. Each piece reflects the belief that creativity has no limits in its ability to make a meaningful difference. Proceeds from every artwork sold will benefit Nazareth Bahay ng Pag-ibig, helping provide shelter, care, and dignity to its residents.

The exhibit is one of the highlights of SM Supermalls’ Art For Everyone, one of the country’s largest and most far-reaching mall-based art initiatives, bringing Filipino creativity to more communities than ever before. This year, the nationwide campaign spans 26 SM malls, transforming spaces into vibrant art destinations and giving thousands of established and emerging Filipino artists an opportunity to reach wider audiences across the country. By making art more accessible for millions of mallgoers, Art For Everyone continues to champion inclusivity, creativity, and meaningful community engagement on an unprecedented scale.

‘Collaborations like the 9th Coloring Lives Exhibit demonstrate how art can become a force for positive change,’ said Joaquin San Agustin, Executive Vice President for Marketing, SM Supermalls. ‘Through our nationwide Art For Everyone campaign, SM Supermalls continues to make art more accessible while creating spaces where creativity, compassion, and community come together. Together with Sunshine Place, we hope this exhibit leaves a meaningful and lasting impact on the women of Nazareth Bahay ng Pag-ibig and inspires more people to discover how every artwork can help transform lives.’

Now in its 9th edition, Coloring Lives continues to demonstrate how art can bring communities together for a greater purpose. Beyond showcasing remarkable talent, the exhibit reminds visitors that every brushstroke, every masterpiece, and every purchase contributes to changing lives.

Experience the 9th Coloring Lives Exhibit at Atrium, Level 2, SM Podium from July 21 to 26, 2026. Visitors can explore an inspiring collection of artwork while supporting a meaningful cause. Whether purchasing a statement piece or a small artwork, every contribution helps color a life with hope.

For more information about the exhibit or other immersive experiences at your most loved mall, SM, check out @thepodiummall on social media.