Category: Business Mirror

A new space to play, get active, and connect is coming to Iloilo and Clark

More and more Filipinos are embracing an active lifestyle. They are continuously seeking new hobbies to learn and communities to belong to. They want to turn their personal wellness journey into a meaningful social movement. As wellness becomes more communal, people are looking for a third space where they can be active and healthy while connecting with family and friends.

Game Park has dedicated spaces to stay active and connect

SM Supermalls is answering this call by opening SM Game Park in two new locations: SM City Clark and SM City Iloilo in the third quarter of 2026. Ilonggos and Kapampangans of all ages and skill levels can play bowling, archery, billiards, arcade games, e-darts, mini-basketball, and more.

Beyond a space for play and exercise, every #SMGamePark has designated areas for social gatherings, helping individuals forge stronger connections with the community and their loved ones.

‘SM Supermalls believes sports and recreation are meant to be shared with everyone. We want to provide flourishing communities in Clark and Iloilo with a venue where they can exercise, have fun, and create new memories. SM Game Park is not just a space for sports, but for communities to strengthen their bonds through meaningful activities,’ said Joseph Francis Silva, Senior Assistant Vice President for Sports and Leisure Centers.

Be active and create new memories with your friends and family at SM Game Park

At SM Game Park, more individuals and communities will soon have access to a welcoming social space where they can create new memories through meaningful active experiences. SM City Clark and SM City Iloilo will feature bowling lanes, billiard tables, dedicated archery zones, arcades, snack bars, and lounges. SM Game Park is the ultimate hangout spot, bringing people together through play and entertainment.

SM Supermalls is bringing these facilities closer to more families and barkadas. After a long day at work or school, or on weekends, they can head to SM Game Park for active social experiences. SM Game Park is the premier lifestyle and social entertainment destination, whether you’re a lifelong sports enthusiast or a casual player. Everyone has a place at SM Game Park because this is #WhereWinningBegins.

OMODA and JAECOO Philippines brings automotive design, innovation, and modern lifestyle together as it joins MNL Fashion Week (MNLFW) 2026 as Co-Presenter, happening from September 3 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier in Taguig.

MNL Fashion Week celebrates Filipino fashion, creativity, and individuality, bringing together designers, creatives, industry professionals, and fashion enthusiasts for a four-day showcase of contemporary style and culture.

Adding a distinctive automotive element to the fashion experience, the JAECOO J5 EV and JAECOO J5 HEV are featured as display vehicles at MNL Fashion Week 2026, allowing guests to experience the vehicles’ distinctive design and modern styling up close.

The presence of the two JAECOO models highlights the growing connection between automotive design and lifestyle. Like fashion, automotive design has evolved beyond functionality, becoming an expression of individuality, creativity, and personal style.

The JAECOO J5 EV represents the brand’s move toward all-electric mobility, combining a contemporary SUV design with advanced technology and an electric powertrain. Recently introduced to the Philippine market, the J5 EV offers Filipino consumers a modern electric mobility option.

Complementing the J5 EV is the JAECOO J5 HEV, which brings hybrid technology to the JAECOO lineup. Its electrified powertrain provides an alternative for customers looking for a balance between efficiency, performance, and everyday practicality.

Showcasing the J5 EV and J5 HEV at MNL Fashion Week reflects JAECOO’s approach to creating vehicles that fit seamlessly into the lifestyles of today’s consumers. Their presence at the event demonstrates how automotive design can become part of broader cultural and lifestyle experiences.

OMODA and JAECOO Philippines continues to expand its presence beyond traditional automotive platforms by participating in events that celebrate creativity, innovation, design, and modern lifestyle. Through its partnership with MNL Fashion Week, the brand supports the Philippine creative industry while introducing its vehicles to audiences who appreciate distinctive design and new experiences.

The collaboration between OMODA and JAECOO Philippines and MNL Fashion Week creates a unique intersection of fashion, automotive design, technology, and lifestyle, showcasing how creativity can move across industries and inspire new ways of experiencing mobility.

As MNL Fashion Week 2026 brings together Filipino creative talent and audiences, OMODA and JAECOO Philippines takes its place alongside the country’s fashion community, driving forward a shared appreciation for innovation, individuality, and contemporary design.

ASUS Philippines (ASUS) today announced a new offer with Google that gives customers who purchase eligible ASUS and ROG laptopsaccess to three months of either Google AI Pro or Google AI Plus at no extra costi. The offer is designed to help users do more than use AI on a single device. It opens the door to a broader Google AI ecosystem for creating, studying, working, researching, and building, together with expanded cloud storage.

A gateway to more of Google’s latest AI

With this offer, eligible ASUS customers can start exploring more Google AI experiences as soon as they set up a new laptop. As the top-level offering, Google AI Pro unlocks expanded access to Google’s most capable Gemini models and higher usage limits to Google’s AI tools that power advanced creative and professional workflows. This plan comes with a massive 5TB of cloud storage. Google AI Plus delivers an accessible entry point to Google’s AI tools, offering elevated model performance, creative generation and productivity features, and 400GB of cloud storage.

Together, these benefits make advanced cloud AI more practical from day one on an eligible ASUS laptop. Customers can access a broader ecosystem of Google AI experiences across dedicated tools and familiar Google apps, helping them create, research, organize, and work more efficiently

One AI ecosystem for creating, studying, working, and building

The offer supports a wide range of use cases across creativity, research, productivity, and development. Users can create images, video concepts, and music from ideas and references. They can turn complex questions into structured research and reports. They can also draft, organize, analyze, and refine work inside familiar Google apps.

Depending on the plan, users can access experiences across the Google Gemini app, Deep Research, Google Flow, Gemini Omni, Nano Banana 2, Lyria 3, Gemini in Google apps, and Gemini Notebook. Google AI Pro can also provide expanded access to developer and agentic experiences such as Google Antigravity, Jules, and AI Studio, subject to plan terms and availability.

AI plus meaningful cloud capacity

The offer also adds long-term value through expanded cloud storage. Google AI Pro includes 5TB of cloud storage while Google AI Plus includes 400GB. This gives users more room for documents, photos, videos, research, and creative projects across supported Google services.

The added storage makes the AI benefit more tangible in daily use. Users can keep more of what they create and manage projects more easily across supported services.

Planned across a broad ASUS laptop portfolio

The one-year program is planned to run from September 7 across selected eligible 2025, 2026, and upcoming 2027 ASUS laptops in supported markets. The planned portfolio includes selected models across the ROG, TUF Gaming, ProArt, Zenbook, and Vivobook families, with redemption exclusively through the MyASUS app. A full list of eligible models is available on the ASUS website, together with the detailed terms and conditions.

Check official ASUS and ROG social media pages or visit ASUS and ROG Stores or authorized retailers nationwide to learn more.

ASUS NO. 1 QUALITY AND SERVICE: QUALITY YOU TRUST, PROTECTION THAT LASTS

On top of the exclusive Google AI program, ASUS is still running the ASUS No. 1 Quality, School-Ready Deals promo until September 15, 2026, giving students, gamers, and professionals even more opportunities to upgrade with exclusive offers on ASUS and ROG devices. Visit the official website: https://ph.asus.click/qualityschoolreadydeals-2026

Find ASUS and ROG devices built for the long-haul. The ASUS No. 1 Quality and Service package provides reliable performance, long-lasting protection, and trusted after-sales support through up to 3 years of international and local warranty with service access across 90+ countries and 100+ ASUS Service Centers and Drop-Off Points in the Philippines, standard 1-year Local Accidental Damage Protection (LADP) for laptops, up to 6x free device cleaning claims, and an extended return policy of up to 14 days. Choose with confidence, knowing every ASUS or ROG devices are backed by dependable quality, comprehensive protection, and reliable after-sales support.

A LEAN team of six athletes-three of them Olympic medalists-will try to end a 16-year gold medal drought in Asian Games boxing later this month in Aichi and Nagoya.

‘We’re all aware of that,’ Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Marcus Manalo said. ‘Who would know, those silvers could have been gold medals, but these Asian Games in Nagoya will be tough.’

Flyweight Rey Saludar won the country’s last boxing gold medal in Guangzhou 2010 but in the succeeding games, the best Filipino boxers could bring home were silver medals-Charly Suarez (Incheon 2014), Rogen Ladon (Jakarta 2018) and Eumir Felix Marcial (Hangzhou 2023).

The best finish by any Philippine boxing team in the Asian Games were three gold medals in Hiroshima 1994 courtesy of light flyweight Mansueto ‘Onyok’ Velasco, flyweight Elias Recaido and light welterweight Reynaldo Galido.

Out to do battle in the 20th edition of the Asiad are Tokyo silver medalist and Paris bronze medalist Nesthy Petecio, Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam and Paris bronze medalist Aira Villegas.

Paalam, 32, won in Tokyo as a flyweight but will be fighting as a bantamweight.

‘I really wanted to win the Asiad title because I have none of that,’ said Paalam, who is also a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.

Joining them are Petecio’s younger brother Norlan (light middleweight), Junmilardo Ogayre (lightweight) and Risa Pasuit (bantamweight).

‘But our boxers are all hungry for the gold. I believe we can win the gold after 16 years,’ Manalo stressed.

The team, according to Manalo, underwent a two-week training camp in Bangkok and are headed for a pre-games camp in Nagoya before they check in to the Athletes Villages.

The boxing competitions are set September 21 to October 2 at the Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi.

They are coached by Ronald Chavez, Elmer Pamisa, Gerson Nietes and Mitchell Martinez and foreign consultant, Kevin Smith, from Great Britain.

‘Besides our three Olympians, Norlan, Risa and Ogayre are going all out to prove that they really belong to the international stage,’ Manalo said.

Middleweight Weljon Mindoro was dropped from the roster after the professional boxer suffered a terrible first-round knockout loss to Carlos Campo of Mexico in Galen, California, last Sunday.

Manalo said Marcial remains on the entry list but his competition depends on the outcome of his eighth professional fight in the US against American Omar Ulises Huerta which coincides with the Asian Games opening ceremony on September 19.

TROPICAL Hut Food Market Inc. (Tropical Hut) has tapped the First Gen Group (First Gen) to power a dozen Tropical Hut branches as well and its head office with 750 kilowatts (kW) of geothermal energy.

The power supply contract was signed by Tropical Hut and First Gen officials last September 4.

‘We’re pleased to partner with First Gen to help us manage our energy costs and help the environment as well by not using electricity from fossil fuels. This will help us keep serving our customers with the burgers and other classic favorites just as we have done for over 60 years,’ said Amelita D. Cauilan, Tropical Hut president and general manager.

Established in 1965, Tropical Hut started out as a coffee shop serving hamburgers. The company eventually expanded its store’s menu to include spaghetti, fried chicken and other fast-food items. The food chain is owned by the Mercury Group of Cos., which is also the parent company of the Mercury Drug Corp.

The geothermal power will be sourced from the Lopez-led firm’s Unified Leyte facilities.

‘We are privileged to partner with such an iconic Filipino brand and provide them with indigenous geothermal power to support their operations. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with Tropical Hut,’ said First Gen Corp. Chief Customer Engagement Officer Carlos Lorenzo L. Vega.

First Gen is a renewable energy producer in the Philippines with 1,700 megawatts of generating capacity from 31 hydro, geothermal, solar and wind facilities located around the country.

SPAS, gyms, healthy food, hospitals, medical tourism and wellness resorts are no longer niche businesses. Together, they form a $47.3-billion wellness economy in the Philippines, equivalent to 10.2 percent of the country’s GDP.

The industry has grown 30 percent since 2019, prompting government and business leaders to push for greater Asean cooperation in health, wellness, tourism and related industries.

The figures were cited during the recent Health and Wellness Conference and Expo (WONFEC) 2026 Asean Wellness Summit in Pasay City, which brought together government officials, business leaders and industry stakeholders from across Southeast Asia.

With the theme ‘One Wellness Journey: Collaboration, Convergence, and Action,’ the summit focused on strengthening cooperation in health and wellness, medical and wellness tourism, technology and other industries that make up the region’s expanding wellness economy.

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lin said the Philippines is strengthening its position in the global health and wellness sector, particularly as a destination for wellness and medical travel.

‘The Philippines, in particular, is rising as a global powerhouse for health and wellness travel,’ Herrera-Lin said.

He said regional initiatives such as the Asean 2045 Vision, along with the responsible adoption of emerging technologies, could help improve health-care delivery and strengthen health systems across Southeast Asia.

‘We embrace the transformative and ethical use of artificial intelligence in enhancing our health systems, from diagnostics and surgical care to patient monitoring and rehabilitation and therapeutics,’ Herrera-Lin said.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Perry Ferrer urged Asean’s 11 member states, home to more than 619 million people, to move beyond competition and develop a common regional wellness identity.

Rather than compete for the same patients, tourists and investments, Ferrer said Asean economies should work together to position the region as a unified wellness destination.

He called for deeper regional integration through measures such as mutual recognition of health-care credentials, common health-data standards and the creation of a cross-border wellness corridor.

‘History will not remember this summit for its eloquence, but for its outcomes,’ Ferrer said, underscoring the need to turn discussions into concrete commitments.

He said the boundaries between industries are increasingly disappearing, with health care, hospitality, nutrition, technology and public policy becoming more closely interconnected.

Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), meanwhile, emphasized the need to ensure that the growth of the wellness economy benefits a broader segment of society.

Citing projections that the global wellness market could reach $9.8 trillion by 2029, Gatchalian said Philippine medical tourism is projected to grow from $1.2 billion in 2024 to $5 billion by 2034.

He cautioned, however, against viewing wellness solely as a commercial opportunity, saying it encompasses a broader ecosystem involving health care, food systems, employment, communities and technology.

‘When we talk about wellness, we often think about the individual. But a person’s wellness is never created by the individual alone,’ Gatchalian said.

He also pointed to global demographic changes, including United Nations projections that one in six people worldwide will be 65 or older by 2050.

The demographic shift, he said, underscores the need to ensure that vulnerable sectors can participate in the expanding wellness and ‘silver economy,’ both as beneficiaries and economic participants.

‘The wellness economy cannot be sustained if its benefits are accessible only to those who can afford them,’ Gatchalian said. ‘People should also have the opportunity to participate as workers, entrepreneurs, and partners in the economy.’

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have partnered to help dairy farmers in Ragay, Camarines Sur, develop milk-based products, such as mazapan and toasted pastillas, to widen their market reach.

Mazapan is a dense, sweet confection made from milk and ground nuts or starch, traditionally shaped into small blocks and wrapped in cellophane. On the other hand, toasted pastillas is a modern, baked twist on the classic Filipino milk candy (pastillas de leche). Instead of leaving the milk mixture soft and doughy, the candies are lightly baked or torched, creating a caramelized, crunchy outer crust while keeping the inside soft, milky, and chewy.

Through capacity-building training, members of the Catabangan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Carco) recently learned how to turn their fresh milk into value-added treats such as mazapan and toasted pastillas during a training held late last month.

Carco is known for producing pasteurized carabao milk, which is naturally rich, thick, and highly nutritious.

The activity was conducted under the Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project of DAR Camarines Sur I, with assistance from DOST Camarines Sur. DOST’s Moisha Mishael Dacara guided the farmers through the production process and shared techniques they can apply to their dairy enterprise.

The training is part of the second phase of VLFED implementation for Carco, as DAR Camarines Sur I continues to work with partner agencies to strengthen the cooperative’s production, processing, and marketing capabilities.

VLFED is a flagship DAR program that helps agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and their organizations increase their income and strengthen their enterprises by moving beyond the sale of raw farm products. The program supports farmers in value addition, production technology, processing, packaging, regulatory compliance, and market linkages.

For dairy farmers, this means having more opportunities to earn from their milk by developing products that can reach consumers in different forms and markets.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III has emphasized the department’s continuing support for farmers by helping them not only secure land ownership but also develop sustainable livelihood opportunities that can improve their incomes and strengthen their organizations.

For Carco General Manager Nancy Jaen, continued assistance from DAR Camarines Sur I and its partner agencies has given the cooperative greater confidence to expand its dairy business.

‘There is a big chance that our cooperative will become the primary, or possibly the sole supplier of pasteurized milk in the entire province.’Jaen said.

Fresh carabao milk is naturally rich in essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B12, riboflavin, phosphorus, and potassium, making it both a nutritious product and a promising raw material for Carco’s growing dairy enterprise.

From bottled fresh pasteurized milk to locally made milk-based treats, Carco is taking another step toward expanding its market beyond Ragay and eventually serving consumers across Camarines Sur.

With continued support from DAR, DOST, and other partners, the cooperative hopes to make its dairy products a stronger, more sustainable source of income for its farmer-members.

THE campaign of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya highlights Tuesday’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the media room of the Philippine Sports Commission.

ABAP president Marcus Jarwin Manalo will update sportswriters on the preparations of the six-man boxing team in the quadrennial meet that formally gets going on Sept. 19.

The other part of the 10:30 a.m. session will feature the Nustar Dragon Boat Regatta 2026 to be held at Kawit Island in Cebu City on Sept. 19 and 20.

Presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo and sports app ArenaPlus, the Forum will be the last for the PSA before taking a three-week break to give way to Team Philippines’ campaign in the Nagoya Asiad.

The public sports program is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation, aired on a delayed basis over Sports Radio 918 AM and shared on the Facebook page Sports Radio 918 AM.

ARTIFICIAL intelligence has quickly become one of the most talked-about technologies of the decade. While much of public conversation centered on AI-generated images, viral social media content, and workplace automation, another application is quietly gaining traction: personal financial management.

For individuals and households, managing money has traditionally required discipline, spreadsheets, and hours of manual analysis. Today, AI-powered tools are making that process more accessible by helping users organize information, identify spending patterns, and evaluate financial decisions with greater confidence.

The technology does not replace financial expertise or guarantee better investment returns. Instead, its greatest value lies in simplifying complex information and enabling people to make more informed decisions.

Turning financial data into actionable insights

ONE of the biggest challenges in personal finance is not the lack of information. It is the inability to interpret it effectively.

Many people know how much they earn each month, yet struggle to explain where their money actually goes. Expenses accumulate gradually through subscriptions, food deliveries, online purchases, and digital payments until cash flow becomes difficult to manage.

AI excels at recognizing these patterns.

By analyzing transaction histories or expense lists, AI tools can categorize spending, identify recurring costs, and highlight areas where unnecessary expenses are quietly eroding savings. What previously required hours of reviewing bank statements can now be completed in minutes.

More importantly, these insights encourage objective decision-making. Rather than relying on assumptions, individuals can evaluate their financial behavior using actual data.

From financial goals to financial plans

SETTING financial goals is relatively easy. Executing them consistently is considerably harder.

Whether the objective is building an emergency fund, saving for a home, or preparing for retirement, success depends on creating realistic milestones and maintaining discipline over time.

AI can help bridge the gap between aspiration and execution by transforming broad objectives into measurable plans.

Instead of asking, ‘How can I save more?’ users can provide information about their income, expenses, and desired timeline. AI can then estimate monthly savings requirements, suggest possible spending adjustments, and model different scenarios based on changing assumptions.

While the recommendations still require human judgment, they provide a structured starting point that many people struggle to create on their own.

DEBT often becomes overwhelming because borrowers manage several obligations simultaneously, each with different interest rates, payment schedules, and balances.

AI can simplify this complexity by comparing repayment strategies and illustrating the financial impact of prioritizing certain debts over others.

Whether applying the avalanche method to minimize interest costs or the snowball approach to build momentum through early victories, borrowers gain a clearer understanding of the trade-offs involved.

The technology cannot eliminate debt, but it can reduce uncertainty, allowing borrowers to focus on execution instead of constantly recalculating payment strategies.

Demystifying investing

INVESTMENT products continue to expand in both number and complexity. Mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, dividend stocks, government securities, and retirement savings programs each serve different objectives and risk profiles.

For first-time investors, understanding these choices can be intimidating.

AI serves as an effective educational companion by translating technical concepts into straightforward language. Rather than replacing licensed financial advisers, it helps investors build foundational knowledge before making important decisions.

This capability is particularly valuable for those who may hesitate to ask what they consider ‘basic’ questions. AI offers immediate explanations without judgment, encouraging continuous learning and greater financial confidence.

Increasing income through better decision-making

FINANCIAL wellness is not solely about reducing expenses. Sustainable wealth creation also depends on expanding income opportunities.

Here, AI extends beyond budgeting.

Professionals are increasingly using AI to refine résumés, prepare for interviews, improve freelance proposals, conduct market research, and generate business ideas. Entrepreneurs can brainstorm marketing campaigns, evaluate pricing strategies, or draft business plans more efficiently.

Rather than replacing creativity, AI often accelerates it by reducing the time required for research and first drafts.

A tool, not a substitute for judgment

DESPITE its capabilities, AI has important limitations.

Its recommendations depend entirely on the information provided, and it cannot fully account for an individual’s personal circumstances, emotional preferences, or long-term objectives. Financial decisions involving taxation, estate planning, insurance, or significant investments still require professional advice and careful due diligence.

Privacy also deserves careful attention. Users should avoid uploading confidential financial records, passwords, or personally identifiable information into public AI platforms.

Perhaps the greatest misconception is believing that AI can predict markets or consistently identify winning investments. It cannot.

Successful investing continues to rely on sound financial principles, disciplined execution, diversification, and long-term thinking rather than technological shortcuts.

The bottom line

ARTIFICIAL intelligence is unlikely to revolutionize personal finance overnight. What it is doing, however, is lowering the barriers to better financial decision-making.

By helping individuals understand spending habits, develop realistic savings strategies, evaluate debt repayment options, and learn investment concepts more efficiently, AI functions as an accessible decision-support tool rather than an autonomous financial adviser.

In an environment where financial information is abundant but clarity is often scarce, that may prove to be its greatest contribution. The future of personal finance will not be determined by artificial intelligence alone. It will belong to people who combine technology with sound judgment, disciplined habits, and a clear understanding of their financial goals.

Fitz Villafuerte is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. The views and opinions he expressed herein do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror’s. To learn more about personal financial planning, attend the 118th RFP program this October. Email info@rfp.ph or visit rfp.ph to learn more about the program.

GLOBE Telecom Inc.’s enterprise unit grew its corporate data revenues by 15 percent to a record P11 billion in the first half of 2026, its fastest first-half expansion in the segment since 2023, as Philippine firms poured spending into connectivity and digital systems.

According to the company, second-quarter corporate data revenues, likewise, hit a record P5.9 billion, extending the momentum built through the semester.

The increase was driven by higher core data revenues, led by domestic internet services, alongside sustained demand for information and communication technology (ICT) offerings, particularly business application solutions.

‘Businesses are increasingly treating digital transformation as fundamental to how they operate, serve their customers, and prepare for future growth,’ Globe Chief Commercial Officer Darius Jose R. Delgado said last Sunday. ‘The sustained demand we are seeing reflects the importance enterprises place on reliable connectivity and technology that can help them become more efficient, resilient and competitive.’

The telecommunications company (telco) said enterprise requirements have grown more complex, prompting it to build out capabilities spanning connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, business applications and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions-a portfolio it said allows corporate clients to address a wider set of technology needs from a single provider.

The telco spent P26.3 billion in capital expenditures in the first six months of the year, with roughly 91 percent of the amount channeled to data-related initiatives meant to expand network capacity and improve service quality.

The company said the spending underpins the growing data demand from its enterprise base.

‘Our focus is to grow alongside our enterprise customers, helping them turn technology into meaningful business outcomes,’ Delgado said. ‘As their needs evolve, we will continue strengthening our capabilities to support their transformation and long-term growth.’

According to the company, it will continue adjusting its enterprise offerings as customer requirements and technologies shift.