Author: Business News Asia

BusinessNewsAsia.com's Editorial team is composed of experienced professional journalist and financial professionals who have an average of 10 years of experience in financial and breaking news reportage.

Vivant Foundation Inc. (VFI) celebrated its 10th anniversary by launching a solar-powered electrician curriculum designed to equip Filipino senior high school students with skills in sustainable energy. Approved by the Department of Education (DepEd), the curriculum adds solar photovoltaic (PV) training to the Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) course, aiming to address the skills gap in off-grid areas where a lack of technical expertise has left solar installations unmaintained. The curriculum, developed over four years with support from a 2.2-million-euro European Union grant, is being piloted in 10 schools across Cebu, Bohol, Bukidnon, La Union, and Pampanga. VFI has provided…

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The Department of Tourism (DOT) is partnering with international travel booking platform Klook to enhance tourism offerings in Caraga and other regions. Ivonnie B. Dumadag, Regional Director of DOT-Caraga, announced that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing with Klook is scheduled soon. “Klook’s presence at our Philippine Experience Program (PEP) launch in Caraga provided a platform for collaboration with our local tour operators, guides, accommodations, and restaurants,” Dumadag said. “Together, we aim to create packages that will showcase Butuan City, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Bayugan City, Prosperidad, and Agusan del Sur,” she added. Klook, founded in 2014 and headquartered…

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The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched the Philippine Experience Program (PEP): Culture, Heritage and Arts Caravan in the Caraga region on Monday, aiming to highlight the cultural heritage and natural landscapes of the area through a three-day event running from October 28-30. The event features the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, along with the cities of Butuan, Cabadbaran, and Bayugan. The program, a flagship initiative under the leadership of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, is designed to promote local culture and traditions to both domestic and international delegates. The department expects around 100 participants, including…

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SM Super Malls has inaugurated SM J Mall, its latest premier lifestyle hub in Metro Cebu. Officially opened to the public on Friday, SM J Mall in Mandaue City introduces a Japanese-inspired design and brings an elevated shopping and entertainment experience to Cebu’s cosmopolitan consumers. The exclusive launch event, held on Oct. 24, gathered key figures including SM Prime Holdings’ Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy, Super Shopping Market Inc. Chairman Herbert Sy, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, and Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede. Prominent business leaders and government officials attended, underscoring the significance of…

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Cebu’s newest premier lifestyle destination, SM J Mall, is set to open its doors on Friday, October 25. Located in A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City, this highly anticipated development marks the fourth SM Supermall in Cebu and the 87th in the Philippines. Boasting a seamless fusion of modern architecture with Japan-inspired elements, SM J Mall promises a unique experience that caters to various lifestyles. From food lovers to wellness enthusiasts and adventure seekers, this mall offers something for everyone. SM J Mall brings fresh, innovative concepts to the Cebu dining scene. One of its main attractions is Izakaya Terrace,…

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Filipino Homes, the largest real estate network in the Philippines, gathered 30 top developers in the country and more than 600 agents for a collaborative event aimed at creating new products that truly cater to customer needs. The event, organized as a “celebration of success,” brought together the key stakeholders in the industry with the goal of addressing a longstanding challenge – the disconnect between what developers produce and what the market actually demands. “The problem is that a lot of developers create products for themselves, not for the market,” said Anthony Gerard Leuterio, founder and CEO of Filipino Homes.…

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Filipino Homes, a leading real estate group, is set to launch Bayanihan.com, a global online portal dedicated to connecting Filipinos worldwide with cultural festivals and events. The platform will serve as a comprehensive directory, offering event organizers a space to promote their festivals and celebrations on both local and international stages. Scheduled for launch in October 2024, Bayanihan.com is designed to be a user-friendly, free-to-use site. It aims to unite the Filipino diaspora by providing a platform where cultural events can be promoted, helping Filipinos around the world stay in touch with their heritage. “Our goal is to bridge Filipinos…

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Banyan Tree, a global leader in luxury and sustainable development, is set to broaden its footprint in the Philippines with the introduction of Banyan Tree Manila Bay, marking a significant expansion into Cebu City. This move comes as part of Nest Seekers International’s strategic efforts to penetrate new high-end markets. On September 12, 2024, Banyan Tree Manila Bay and Nest Seekers International held an exclusive event at Seda Ayala Center Cebu, attracting top brokers and real estate professionals from across the region. The event highlighted the burgeoning luxury market in Cebu, underscoring the city’s potential as a prime location for…

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Filipino Homes, the largest real estate network in the Philippines, is set to host its highly anticipated National Real Estate Convention 2024, bringing together over 600 delegates, together with top 30 developers from across the country. The event, to be held on Oct. 20-21, 2024 at Nustar Resort & Casino, will celebrate the success of real estate professionals and partner property developers and at the same time highlight key developments in the real estate industry. The convention will feature a day of fellowship, networking and knowledge-sharing, aimed at strengthening the bonds within the Filipino Homes community. Top-performing real estate agents…

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Hotel101-Fort, the largest hotel in Taguig City with 606 HappyRooms, proudly serves as the Official Residence of Miss Asia Pacific International 2024. The pageant candidates will stay from September 28 to October 8, with the coronation taking place on October 7, 2024, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Through this partnership, Hotel101-Fort aims to provide world-class hospitality and accommodations to all Miss Asia Pacific contestants and staff. The hotel’s HappyRooms, equipped with Emma Sleep beds, and its modern facilities offer unparalleled comfort and convenience to all guests. “We are thrilled to partner once again with Miss Asia Pacific International,” says…

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SM Supermalls has officially launched its first Food Hall outside Luzon, bringing a curated culinary experience to the Visayas region with the opening of the SM City Cebu Food Hall on August 22, 2024. Situated on the third level of the mall, this new dining destination offers a diverse selection of cuisines in a stylish and comfortable setting. During the grand opening, Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls, shared insights into the evolution of the Food Hall concept, which first debuted at SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). “We tried it there. We experimented, and it was very successful.…

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SM Supermalls in Cebu and the University of Cebu have officially renewed their academic partnership, extending a collaboration aimed at supporting students through internship programs, job placements, and shared learning opportunities. The renewal ceremony, held on Monday, August 19, at SM City Cebu, underscores SM’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and educational enrichment. This extended partnership, set to last over the next three years, will see SM Supermalls actively participating in job fairs and offering scholarship grants, further strengthening its role in community development in Cebu. The collaboration is designed not only to provide practical experiences and employment opportunities for…

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Globe Business, the enterprise arm of Globe Telecom, held its annual flagship event, GSummit Cebu 2024, marking the first time the event has been hosted outside the National Capital Region (NCR). The summit, held at the Seda Ayala Hotel Sampaguita Ballroom, gathered key industry leaders to discuss the role of strategic connections in driving business growth under the theme “CONNECTED.” KD Dizon, Vice President and Head of Globe Business, led the lineup of speakers with a presentation on “Collaborative Ecosystems: Globe Business Partnerships for Digital Success.” Dizon highlighted how Globe’s collaborative ecosystem, bolstered by advanced digital tools, has enhanced workplace…

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CEBU CITY, Philippines — Hawker Chan, the internationally acclaimed Singaporean street-food chain, has officially opened its 20th branch in the Philippines at SM Seaside Cebu, marking its first-ever location in the Visayas region. Located on the Ground Level, Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City Cebu, this new branch brings the globally recognized flavors of Hawker Chan to the Queen City of the South. Responding to high demand from local consumers, the brand is thrilled to expand its presence in Cebu. The new branch features Hawker Chan’s contemporary design concept, showcasing organic forms, bright tones, and hanging plants, creating a refreshing…

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Fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. registered remarkable growth in the first half of the year, with net income surging 23.6% year-on-year to P5.3 billion and consolidated revenues growing 12.4% to P19.5 billion on the back of strong uptake of its residential broadband and sustained double-digit growth in its enterprise business. Net additional residential subscribers of Converge more than doubled to 223,751 during the six-month period, a whopping 142% jump from 92,302 during the same period last year. This resulted in an 11.8% yoy growth in residential revenues to P16.6 billion in the first half of the year. On…

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The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) has recently opened a new cafe at SM Seaside City Cebu, marking the latest development in a significant expansion plan with SM Store. This new location – at the women’s section of SM Store – is part of a broader initiative to introduce 53 additional CBTL cafes across SM Store branches by 2026, bringing the total number of in-store cafes to 78 nationwide. The collaboration between SM Store and CBTL, which began with the first cafe at SM Store North Edsa in December 2022, has rapidly grown, with 26 cafes already in operation…

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Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), announced it will welcome its third and fourth Embraer E190-E2 aircraft in September and October 2024. The new additions, named Jalan-Jalan and Travel Kaki, respectively, will enable Scoot to expand its flight services to new destinations in Southeast Asia, Business News Asia reported. The airline will commence twice-weekly flights to Kertajati, Indonesia, starting on September 28, 2024, and five-times weekly flights to Malacca, Malaysia, beginning on October 23, 2024. Kertajati, known for its lush forests, natural waterfalls, and captivating wildlife, offers an alternative destination for nature enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Malacca, a UNESCO World…

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Singapore’s fintech market demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability in the first half of 2024, despite a global decline in fintech investment, according to KPMG’s Pulse of Fintech report for H1 2024 seen by Business News Asia. Deal activity in Singapore surged by 19%, reaching 117 deals across venture capital (VC), private equity (PE), and mergers & acquisitions (M&A), up from the 98 deals recorded in the second half of 2023. However, the total amount raised by Singapore fintechs fell by 34% to USD 522.89 million, down from USD 790.10 million in H2 2023. Globally, fintech investment dropped from USD 62.3…

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CEBU CITY, Philippines – Toshiba has unveiled two new series of gas ranges at an exclusive event hosted by Robinsons Appliances in Robinsons Galleria Cebu. The launch featured the Toshiba Lava Series Gas Range, including the 60cm and the 90cm model, designed to offer a variety of flame settings to meet diverse cooking needs. The event marked the beginning of a partnership aimed at revolutionizing the kitchen experience for Filipino households. Yven Gerard R. Almalel, Brand Manager at Concepcion Midea Inc., highlighted the innovative features of the new series, emphasizing their enhanced efficiency and user-friendly design. “The new gas range…

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SM Prime Holdings, Inc. celebrated on July 23 its 30th anniversary as a publicly listed company at the Philippine Stock Exchange underscoring three decades of transformative growth in the Philippine real estate sector. Established in 1994 by visionary Henry Sy, SM Prime has steadfastly pursued its mission to develop world-class shopping, dining, entertainment, residential, and amusement destinations across the Philippines and beyond. Beginning with just four malls, SM Prime has grown into a powerhouse in Southeast Asia’s property sector. Today, its diversified portfolio in the Philippines includes 22 lifestyle cities encompassing 91 residential developments, 86 malls, 22 office towers, 10…

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