Category: Philippine Star

The city treasurer of Dagupan in Pangasinan has been dismissed from her post in connection with the non-delivery of two motorized boats procured by the city government.

Romelita Alcantara was found liable for grave misconduct for releasing P999,750 in public funds as payment for the undelivered boats, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Aside from dismissal, the ombudsman canceled the civil service eligibility of Alcantara, forfeited her retirement benefits, disqualified her from holding public office and barred her from taking civil service examinations

The Philippine National Police (PNP) recognized Unilab, Inc. (Unilab) anew for its contributions to the health and well-being of uniformed personnel during the PNP Health Service’s Araw ng Pasasalamat.

The award acknowledged the company’s steadfast support for the PNP’s health initiatives, including wellness activities, access to medical services, and discounted Unilab products. Robert Eugenio, Unilab’s External Affairs Head, received the award on behalf of the company.

This year, Unilab’s Bayanihan sa Kalusugan program has supported health and wellness activities for around 1,000 PNP personnel from its Southern, Northern and Central offices.

The company is also scheduled to support a health activity for PNP Region 4A this October, with around 700 employees expected to benefit. Planned services include free medical consultations, laboratory tests that include cholesterol, hemoglobin, and uric acid testing, and bone scans.

These initiatives support the PNP’s efforts to provide preventive health care and complementary assistance to personnel with existing medical conditions, including chronic illnesses that can affect their ability to perform their duties.

Access to Unilab products also forms part of the company’s support, enabling comprehensive health care to be more affordable for beneficiaries.

Bayanihan sa Kalusugan is a program under Alagang Unilab that aims to make health care more accessible and ensure its benefits are felt across various sectors.

Unilab, the country’s leading and most-trusted pharmaceutical company, has served Filipino families for more than eight decades.

The coordinates for a P23-million farm-to-market road in Nueva Ecija for funding in the 2027 budget pointed to a spot in the ocean near the Philippine Rise, according to a budget watchdog.

As tallied by the People’s Budget Coalition, 7,054 agricultural infrastructure projects including farm-to-market roads amounting to nearly P190 billion were inserted by members of the House of Representatives, a.k.a. HOR, into the P7.2-trillion outlay proposed for 2027 by Malacañang.

The watchdog warned that farm-to-market roads (and multipurpose buildings) appear to be the new flood control projects for HOR members.

Nueva Ecija happens to be the home turf of the current chair of the House committee on appropriations, Mikaela Suansing, who broke into tears after the HOR passed its insertion-packed 2027 budget bill.

Hearing all the horror stories emerging from the House budget deliberations, as narrated by budget watchdogs, you have to wonder if legislators are beyond shame and are incorrigibly evil.

The farm-to-market roads aren’t even entirely new. They are the latest incarnation of the farm-to-resort roads unknowingly bankrolled by taxpayers for the family businesses of thieving lawmakers in previous years.

We also had the fertilizer fund scam – remember that scandal? – wherein P728 million was distributed supposedly for fertilizers even in crowded cities where the only spaces for gardens were on porches and in small backyards.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was accused of using the fertilizer funds for her presidential bid in 2004. Most of the officials convicted and imprisoned for the scam are unknowns. GMA herself was cleared, along with her agriculture secretary at the time, Luis ‘Cito’ Lorenzo Jr. and undersecretary Jocelyn ‘Joc-joc’ Bolante.

GMA’s political durability should be heartening to President Marcos. Being the final approving authority for the annual national budget, BBM should share the blame for the systematic pillage of public funds through creative budgeting.

For 2027, Marcos’ son Sandro’s district in Ilocos Norte has been awarded an impressively high P4 billion for public works projects including multipurpose buildings. Will BBM go along with this?

The Supreme Court has just struck down as unconstitutional the General Appropriations Acts for 2024 and 2025, when BBM’s cousin Martin Romualdez was the speaker, along with portions of the current GAA.

This unprecedented slap on Congress and Malacañang by the Supreme Court is related to the latest incarnation of the pork barrel, the unprogrammed appropriations.

UAs have been increasing exponentially for several budget seasons now, reaching unconscionable proportions in 2024 and 2025. This, the SC noted in its ruling, bloated the GAAs for those years beyond the total spending program proposed by the executive, which is unconstitutional.

In 2025, we saw the budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways set higher than the budget for the entire education sector. The sector was itself artificially bloated by the inclusion of learning institutions that should be under other executive departments, such as the academies for the military and police.

The 2025 outlay has been described by budget watchdogs as the most corrupt GAA ever. The one in 2024 was a runner-up. This GAA had a rider that effectively amended the charters of all government corporations, allowing the impounding of supposed excess funds of the state firms and rechanneling to the UA.

But again, who signed those GAAs, with only token vetoes?

For 2027, the HOR cut P130 billion from the funds allotted for big-ticket foreign-assisted infrastructure projects including the subway, North-South Commuter Railway and Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. We pay billions in commitment fees and penalties when foreign-funded projects are suspended and delayed.

The thieves slashed funds proposed by the executive for education, health and agriculture and instead increased the budgets for the HOR, for a slew of politicized ayuda or dole-outs and for smaller infrastructure projects for their districts.

Will BBM go along with it?

Recent indictments before the Sandiganbayan and ongoing probes confirm our worst suspicions about the political class: they have mastered the exploitation of the system for personal gain.

Among lawmakers, a common MO is for a political clan to set up construction-related businesses. Many clans now have a member at every level of government, from the barangay to the national positions. So a family member endorses an infrastructure project to the executive, pushes congressional approval for funding, and maneuvers to ensure that the contract for implementation plus the provision of supplies and services are awarded to the family’s businesses.

National government approval is needed typically for big-ticket projects, and the endorser will need to be allied with the administration.

But local governments have wide discretion over smaller projects, which can be further split to avoid the P50-million threshold for a plunder indictment, just in case some nasty busybody plans to file a complaint.

The pork barrel, like those farm-to-market roads and flood control projects, keeps rising back up like a zombie. Our country is facing a zombie apocalypse.

Worse, there’s no certainty that anyone will be punished. Even those who might face punishment will still get to keep a large chunk of their loot, as we are seeing in the case of several looters-turned-state witnesses.

Zaldy Co, who should know where all the bodies are buried, will continue to enjoy life in Paris precisely because of what he knows.

There’s a strong buzz that like administration ally Bong Revilla, Martin Romualdez himself will be granted bail before Christmas, shortly after Vice President Sara Duterte is ousted from her post by the Senate impeachment court. Romualdez’s bail supposedly will be a prelude to his eventual acquittal.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who is said to be on legacy mode as he contemplates his mortality, seems to be sincerely trying to pin down the big fish. Seeing the extent of corruption, however, from the barangay all the way to the top levels of government, it will be understandable if his office is overwhelmed.

If the ombudsman can’t nail down thieves for plunder because of that bizarre main plunderer doctrine of the Supreme Court (which cleared GMA), can’t they be charged instead with qualified theft? Economic sabotage? Anything that will allow taxpayers to toss thieves in jail and throw away the key?

The shamelessness in creative budgeting is stupefying. People are also moved to tears – of rage.

Beyond getting mad, that rage must be channeled into action that will kick out the looters.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains in effect over Batanes and the northeastern portion of the Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi) maintained its strength while moving northwestward over the sea east-northeast of Batanes, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Friday, October 23, PAGASA said Rosal was packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph.

The typhoon was last spotted 275 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northwestward at 15 kph.

Strong to typhoon-force winds extend up to 900 kilometers from the center.

Warning signals

PAGASA raised the following tropical cyclone wind signals:

Signal No. 2

Luzon

Batanes

Northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan, Panuitan, Calayan and Camiguin islands)

Residents in these areas may experience gale-force winds ranging from 62 to 88 kph within the next 24 hours, posing minor to moderate threats to life and property.

Signal No. 1

Luzon

Rest of the Babuyan Islands

Mainland Cagayan

Northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo and Palanan)

Ilocos Norte

Apayao

Residents in these areas may experience strong winds ranging from 39 to 61 kph within the next 36 hours, posing minimal to minor threats to life and property.

The northeast monsoon and Rosal’s outer circulation will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

Friday, October 23: Most of Luzon and the Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental.

Saturday, October 24: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Polillo Islands, Bicol Region, Romblon, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Sunday, October 25: Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Sea conditions

A gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

Very rough to very high seas, with waves reaching up to 12 meters, are expected along the northern and eastern seaboards of Batanes.

Waves may reach up to 9 meters along the remaining seaboards of Batanes and up to 8 meters along the northern and eastern seaboards of the Babuyan Islands and the northeastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan.

Seas may reach up to 6 meters along the remaining seaboards of the Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, the seaboard of northern Isabela and the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte. Waves may reach up to 5.5 meters along the remaining seaboard of Isabela and up to 5 meters along the remaining seaboard of Ilocos Norte.

Waves may reach up to 4.5 meters along the seaboards of northern Ilocos Sur and northern Aurora, the northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, and the northern and eastern seaboards of the Polillo Islands and Catanduanes.

PAGASA warned that sea travel is risky for all types of vessels in areas where very rough to very high seas are expected. Mariners were advised to remain in port or seek shelter in a safe harbor until winds and waves subside.

Operators of small vessels, including motorbancas, were also advised against venturing out to sea under rough conditions, especially if their vessels are ill-equipped or they lack experience.

Track, intensity

Rosal is expected to continue moving generally northwestward until Saturday, October 24, before moving northward and then north-northeastward between Saturday and Sunday, October 25.

On its forecast track, the typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by early Saturday.

PAGASA said Rosal is forecast to weaken gradually within the next 24 hours before weakening rapidly. It may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm by Saturday morning and further weaken into a tropical storm by Saturday evening.

The Philippines needs roughly P5 trillion in investments to fully harness its vast hydropower potential, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

Ariel Fronda, chief of the DOE’s Hydropower and Ocean Management Division, told reporters yesterday that the country is sitting on around 25 gigawatts of untapped hydro resources.

Unlocking each megawatt (MW) of capacity is estimated to cost around P200 million, he noted.

‘The Philippines stands at an important point in its energy transition. Our renewable energy ambitions are clear. Our need for reliable and affordable electricity remains urgent,’ Fronda said.

He particularly highlighted pumped-storage hydro (PSH) facilities, which function like giant rechargeable batteries. They use electricity to pump water into storage during periods of low demand, then release it to generate power when demand rises.

The municipality of Kalayaan is home to a 734.36-MW facility, the country’s first and only PSH plant and the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The facility is a key component of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric complex, which is now owned by the Aboitiz-led Thunder Consortium.

‘As the country’s established operating pumped-storage facility, Kalayaan provides a practical example of how this technology can support the power system through peaking capacity, energy storage and ancillary services,’ Fronda said.

The Kalayaan plant can ramp up to deliver power within just 10 minutes, helping meet the grid’s needs when electricity demand surges.

Aside from the Kalayaan unit, CBK also includes the 39.3-MW Caliraya plant in Lumban and the 22.96-MW Botocan run-of-river facility.

The Caliraya plant consists of two generating units that draw water from the upstream Caliraya reservoir, while the Botocan facility is the country’s oldest hydro plant.

The Thunder Consortium, comprising Aboitiz Renewables Inc., Sumitomo Corp. and Electric Power Development Co. Ltd., bagged CBK for around P36.3 billion.

Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin Aboitiz has vowed to continue investing in CBK to improve its operations and maximize its potential.

Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup plans to invest $500 million in a flagship electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in the Philippines.

In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Vingroup is expanding its regional footprint into the Philippines with a $500-million investment in an EV manufacturing facility that will serve as a strategic springboard for the group’s broader multi-industry expansion across the country.

Vingroup is the conglomerate behind EV manufacturer VinFast.

The planned EV manufacturing plant was discussed during a meeting between DTI Secretary Cristina Roque and Vingroup officials yesterday.

Vingroup’s manufacturing plant is designed to initially produce 200,000 vehicles per year.

The DTI said the plant would serve both the domestic market and exports.

Aside from four-wheeled EVs, Vingroup also aims to introduce its line of e-scooters to the Philippine market, expanding sustainable transport options for consumers.

The target is to start construction of the plant in the first quarter of next year, with development expected to be completed within one and a half years.

During the discussion with Nguyen Quoc Tuan, vice chairman of Vingroup and chairman of GSM Global, the DTI outlined the support mechanisms and incentives available for the manufacturing project.

In particular, the government offers tax incentives under the CREATE MORE Act and expedited regulatory processing through Green Lanes under Executive Order 18.

The government also has the EV Incentive Strategy, which seeks to incentivize local EV manufacturing.

‘Vingroup’s $500 million investment underscores the Philippines’ rising status as Southeast Asia’s destination of choice for advanced manufacturing and green technology,’ Roque said.

She said the DTI would provide end-to-end facilitation and ensure a competitive ecosystem for global innovators to expand their manufacturing footprint in the Philippines.

Apart from EV manufacturing, Roque said Vingroup is also interested in investing in hospitals and entertainment or theme parks in the country.

Valorant’s newest agent is set to arrive on October 27, introducing a telekinetic Duelist that Riot Games hopes will give players new ways to approach fights just as anticipation builds around an exciting year ahead for the Philippine Valorant scene.

The Chinese operative Hush becomes the latest addition to Valorant’s growing roster, bringing a kit centered on manipulating utility after it has been deployed. Her release also marks the first agent launch since Riot introduced the game’s new Agent Mastery system.

For Riot, Hush represents an effort to push Duelist gameplay beyond traditional entry fragging by giving players greater control over how engagements unfold.

“With Hush, we wanted to explore what a Duelist could look like with precision and control at the center of her gameplay,” said Nicholas Smith, game designer for Agents and Weapons at Riot Games.

Rather than simply throwing utility, Hush can redirect several of her abilities while they are already in motion. Her signature ability, Displacement, pulls enemies toward its center before potentially concussing them, while Flashbulb allows players to alter the path of a flash mid-flight.

“We kept coming back to the idea that Hush shouldn’t just throw utility, she should be able to manipulate it. That led us to abilities like Displacement and Flashbulb, where you can redirect them in midair, as well as Flow, which turns that same telekinetic control inward and lets Hush manipulate her own movement,’ said Smith.

The design creates a different kind of Duelist experience, one where decisions continue even after an ability has been used.

“With Hush, throwing a piece of utility isn’t necessarily the end of the decision. You can redirect it and adjust based on what’s happening around you.” explained Smith.

That philosophy could make Hush one of the more expressive agents in Valorant’s roster, rewarding players who can adapt on the fly rather than rely solely on pre-planned utility usage.

“We’re really excited to see what players do once they get comfortable redirecting her utility. We have the uses we designed and tested for, but Valorant players are very good at finding angles and interactions we never expected,” said Smith.

The launch also comes as Riot looks toward a major year for Philippine Valorant. During Hush’s local unveiling, Riot Games Philippines Valorant Community Lead Jason Roberto hinted at bigger developments on the horizon as the country prepares for a landmark 2027 season.

“There’s no better time to be a Valorant fan than it is now. Hope you guys tune in with us with all the exciting things we have especially for next year.” said Roberto during the event.

Mika “Mikafabs” Fabella, a VCT Pacific broadcast host and analyst who has been part of the talent lineup for the franchise era as well as Valorant Masters and Champions events, echoed the sentiment.

“There is no better time to be a Valorant fan, especially here in the Philippines as things get very exciting heading into 2027,” said Fabella.

The Philippines is set to host its first major Valorant esports event next year through the inaugural VCT Pacific Cup, part of the overhauled Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). The tournament replaces the VCT Pacific Stages that were largely held in Seoul during the franchise era.

Also known as Agent 31, Hush is set to be released in-game on October 27 as part of Patch 13.09 and the launch of Season 2026 Act 6.

Asus Philippines introduced last October 7 the latest Asus Zenbook 14, an ultraportable laptop designed to complement users’ lifestyles and ambitions.

Available with Intel (UX3480AA), AMD (UX3480KA) and Snapdragon (UX3480QA) processors, the new lineup combines Zenbook-exclusive Ceraluminum craftsmanship in eye-catching new colors with AI-powered performance and a sleek, lightweight design.

‘The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is to help the laptop age better over time,’ said Rachelle Lozares, Consumer Notebook Product Marketing lead at ASUS Philippines. ‘At the heart of the new Zenbook 14 is a simple philosophy: great design is not about adding more-it’s about refining what matters.

The art of mobility without compromise

Designed for modern Filipinos who work, learn and connect from anywhere, Asus Zenbook 14 balances premium craftsmanship with effortless mobility.

Weighing as light as 1.1kg and housed in a durable all-metal chassis, the laptop is built to move seamlessly between classrooms, offices, cafés and travel destinations.

The lid is crafted from Asus-exclusive Ceraluminum, a high-tech material that delivers exceptional durability while creating a distinctive ceramic-like tactile experience.

The new generation of Zenbook 14 introduces three nature-inspired colorways-Arctic Blue, Komodo Coral and Zabriskie Beige-bringing personality and self-expression to premium computing.

Engineered to resist scratches, smudges and everyday wear, Ceraluminum transforms the laptop from a productivity tool into an object users will genuinely enjoy carrying and using every day.

Combined with up to 33 hours of battery life, fast charging capabilities, and a compact USB-C charger that can also power other everyday devices, Zenbook 14 is designed to keep pace with life on the move. Intelligence in every interaction

Asus offers the Zenbook 14 across three distinct processor platforms, each certified as a Copilot+ PC featuring dedicated NPUs delivering up to 50 TOPS AI performance:

Zenbook 14 UX3480AA: up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3 processors with up to a 50 TOPS NPU

Zenbook 14 UX3480KA: up to an AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 processor with a 50 TOPS NPU

Zenbook 14 UX3480QA: Snapdragon X processor with a 45 TOPS NPU

Each model is designed to support AI-enhanced experiences, helping users browse, create, collaborate and multitask more efficiently.

From AI-assisted productivity tools to intelligent search, content creation, and Copilot+ PC experiences, Zenbook 14 brings powerful AI capabilities into everyday workflows.

Designed for smooth, sustained performance, the improved thermal system uses a larger fan and refined airflow to move heat away more efficiently, maintaining quiet and comfortable operation throughout the day.

Added dust protection helps maintain consistent operation, and the system supports up to a 35W TDP, a 25% increase over the previous generation.

See more, connect all

ASUS Zenbook 14 is designed around the belief that the best technology should feel effortless.

It features a vibrant ASUS OLED display with a spacious 16:10 aspect ratio and up to 89% screen-to-body ratio, giving users more room to focus, create, and consume content. Local configurations offer stunning ASUS OLED display for exceptional visual clarity and smoothness.

Dual speakers enhanced with Dolby Atmos deliver immersive audio, while a larger smart-gesture touchpad and comfortable backlit keyboard create a more intuitive interaction experience.

For enhanced on-the-go connectivity, every Zenbook 14 includes a comprehensive set of I/O ports, including USB-C, USB Type-A, HDMI, and an audio combo jack. This effectively eliminates the need for dongles in everyday use, making it easy to connect to any peripheral.

Starting October 7, the latest AsusZenbook 14 (UX3480) series will be available in the Philippines in three CPU configurations: Intel and AMD in Arctic Blue and Snapdragon in Komodo Coral. The Snapdragon in Zabriskie Beige will follow later this Q4 2026.

The Intel configuration starts at an introductory price of P106,995, while the AMD configuration starts at P86,995. The Snapdragon configuration is introduced at P76,995.

The new lineup will be available nationwide at official Asus Exclusive Stores.

Every unit comes bundled with the Asus No. 1 Quality and Service Package, an ASUS laptop sleeve, a lifetime license of Office 2024 Home, a free 1-year Microsoft 365 Basic subscription with 100GB of cloud storage, up to 700GB of Asus Cloud Storage, and 3 months of Google AI Pro.

October is nearing its end but events and activities continue to ring around the country.

Pre-Halloween plans

Halloween is still a week away, but some locations in Metro Manila already have their spook on.

In Araneta City, the aRUNeta Run Club will host a Zombie Run the morning of October 25, encouraging everyone to run in costume.

Elsewhere in the area at MacArthur Activity Area of Ali Mall, fur babies have a chance to get over their fear of needles as th the Quezon City Veterinary Department offers free veterinary services.

Pet products will also be available to pets and their owners until October 25, a day that will also have a pet buffet and pet blessing. As those pre-Halloween activities take place, the Parolan continues to welcome customers at the Expo Centro Parking.

Down in Alabang Town Center on October 24, “Masters of the Elements” Halloween activities will be open for kids as they go trick-or-treating around the mall and other fun planned elemental activities.

Ihaw Fest

Actor Coco Martin celebrates a decade partnering with local fast food chain Mang Inasal with an Ihaw Fest this October 25 at Ayala Malls Feliz.

Joining him are fellow brand ambassadors Maris Racal, Shuvee Entrata, Fyang Smith and Dimples Romana, the latter serving as host.

Fans need only to present official receipts for Ihaw Fest meals purchased this October for a free pass to the event.

“As Coco continues to inspire audiences through his work, Mang Inasal remains committed to bringing – through Ihaw-Sarap food and Unli-Saya dining experience – meaningful moments of togetherness to Filipino families,” said the chain’s president Mike V. Castro in a statement.

Shows continue

Live performances are also filling stages across Metro Manila this weekend.

SB19, Maki and Angela Ken headline the two-day One Zone Fest happening at the Araneta Coliseum this weekend, with each SB19 member getting their dedicated set.

Old souls will have another chance to enjoy Per Sorensen of Fra Lippo Lippi as he brings his “Stitches and Burns” tour to the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on October 24.

Also making their return to the Philippines are Australian rock duo Air Supply for its “A Matter of Time” tour, hitting the New Frontier Theater stage on October 26 after the weekend ends.

K-Ballet Tokyo brings to Makati’s Samsung Performing Arts Theater this October 24 a one-of-a-kind performance of “The Flame of Paris.”

On the same day local band I Belong to the Zoo stages its first major concert at the New Frontier Theater while another band Silent Sanctuary kicks off its two-night “Gabi ng Lambing” shows at the Mall of Asia Arena to mark its 24th year.

A final “Sembreak” workshop will be held at the three G-Force Dance Center branches on October 24 before the showcase the following day at Makati’s Proscenium Theater.

“Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration” continues at The Space at Solaire while in the nearby Theatre at Solaire, “Cirque Alice: An Acrobatic Adventure in Wonderland” ends its limited run on October 25.

Gary Valenciano continues his “Back at the Museum” series at the Music Museum in Greenhills on October 24 while “Bongga Ka, ‘Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical” continues its run at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Also onstage are Repertory Philippines’ “Cinderella: The Tale of the Glass Slipper” at the REP Eastwood Theater in Quezon City on October 24 as Jun Robles Lana’s “About Us But Not About Us” ends its limited comeback run at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati.

After dropping by Ayala Malls Vermosa earlier this week, the Pokémon Truck heads to Ayala Malls Arca South where fans can try “Pokémon Pokopia” on the Nintendo Switch 2 and hopefully meet a Pikachu mascot.

As organizations accelerate investments in cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital technologies, many discover that adopting technology is only the beginning. When businesses expand across physical and digital channels, fragmented systems and disconnected technologies can increase complexity, slow expansion, and impact customer experience.

Increasingly, organizations are realizing that sustainable growth depends not on adding more technology, but on orchestrating technologies so they work together to create greater business value.

Globe Business convened nationwide business leaders from retail, financial services, healthcare and energy utilities at the recently held G Summit 2026, to discuss how unified digital foundations enable organizations to scale faster, strengthen customer trust and respond more effectively to changing business demands.

Building digital-ready foundations requires organizations to look beyond individual technology investments. It requires the discipline to orchestrate them into a connected ecosystem where every capability works toward a common business goal.

Dennis Wong, Globe Business senior advisor said organizations that adopt this mindset are better positioned to turn technology investments into real business outcomes instead of isolated projects.

“First, you need to have very reliable connectivity for access,’ Wong said. ‘Number two, you need to have a scalable cloud platform. Number three, once you have all this, you need to have a very secure infrastructure. Next, it’s all about the collaborative tool. You need to have the right API to link everything together. If the network folks, the cloud folks, and the security folks don’t talk to each other, your transformation is not going to happen.”

Across retail, financial services and healthcare, sector leaders reiterated that true enterprise resilience stems from embedding technology directly into business strategy. In the retail sector,

Walter Yu of AC Retail (ACx) and Anko stressed that cybersecurity must be designed into transformation efforts from Day 1 rather than added as an afterthought during system integration. Dustin Lacap of McDonald’s Philippines echoed this mindset, noting that future-ready cloud infrastructure is a business growth decision, not simply an IT initiative.

As organizations expand, integrating cloud capabilities into their broader technology ecosystem helps simplify operations and support long-term growth.

In financial services, Suzelyn Urbano shared how GCash is using AI to drive innovation across the enterprise-reimagining how teams work, accelerating ideas into impact and unlocking new possibilities for the business, while ensuring AI adoption remains secure, responsible, and guided by human judgment.

Healthcare organizations are undergoing the same transformation. Atty. Gideon Peña noted that customers no longer compare an HMO only with another HMO, but with the best experiences across industries. For iCare, this means using technology to simplify claims processing, reduce friction, and deliver faster, more responsive omnichannel experiences.

What powers physical and digital infrastructure is equally important as regional economies expand. As energy providers modernize to support expanding urban centers, Globe Business works alongside utility leaders to deliver the connectivity, cloud intelligence and security needed to maintain grid resilience.

Mark Anthony Kindica of Visayan Electric Company highlighted how bridging disparate platforms with modern network tools transforms energy distribution for over half a million Cebuanos. He explained that true enterprise value emerges when isolated digital systems work together, enabling utilities to shift from reactive troubleshooting to predictive maintenance.

Similarly, Arvin Padayhag of Davao Light and Power Company Inc. and Aboitiz Power Distribution Utilities emphasized that physical assets and enterprise IT must evolve together. He observed that orchestrating technology, data and teams builds a more resilient infrastructure, adding that robust cybersecurity is an indispensable component of power reliability.

For industry leaders, the real challenge was never choosing the right technologies. It was making them work together seamlessly to deliver meaningful business outcomes. With Globe Business as an end-to-end partner integrating connectivity, cloud and security capabilities, organizations across industries can focus on what matters most.

“You should be focusing on the business. You should be focusing on your customer,’ Wong said. ‘That’s where Globe Business wants to be. We want to be your trusted partner. We want you to be able to focus on the right thing, and we will be able to support you, design and orchestrate all these fundamental things with you.’