In a heartwarming display of canine camaraderie, over 200 pugs and their delighted owners came together at SM Seaside City Cebu to participate in the Seaside Pack Walk on October 15. This special gathering was organized in celebration of National Pug Day, a day dedicated to these charming and affectionate dogs. The Seaside Pack Walk, which brought smiles and wagging tails to the mall’s corridors, was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Cebu Grumble and Island Rescue Organization. Pug lovers from all around Cebu joined forces to create an unforgettable event for these adorable four-legged friends. National Pug Day,…
Author: Business News Asia
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.
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dashcon 2023, the digital marketing roadshow that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) sophistication with human insight in digital marketing and business growth, is kicking off in Cebu City, according to DashoContent. dashcon 2023 is a community-driven roadshow that will journey through Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its theme, “I’M NOT A ROBOT”: Navigating Business and Marketing in the AI Era, emphasizes the powerful combination of human creativity and AI capabilities. This duo is revolutionizing digital marketing and business strategies not just in the Philippines but globally. Attendees can look forward to a series of events, starting in Cebu on October 26, 2023,…
Annual investment volume in multifamily residential in Asia Pacific is expected to more than double in size by 2030, with investments to potentially cross $20 billion by the end of the decade. Driven by factors including urbanisation, high renter population, and stretched housing affordability, multifamily residential will transition from a peripheral to major asset class by the beginning of the next decade, according to a report by global real estate consulting firm JLL. In the first three quarters of 2023, multifamily investment volumes in Asia Pacific have outperformed the broader market. During the first nine months of 2023, investments in…
D&L Industries was recognized alongside other top Philippine publicly listed companies by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) for its outstanding corporate governance practices based on the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS). It is the 4th consecutive year that D&L Industries received such recognition from the ICD. The ACGS measures the performance of the companies in the areas of facilitating the rights and the equitable treatment of shareholders, how they relate to their different stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability thru timely disclosure of material information, and how the board guides the company strategically, monitors the management, and ensures the board’s…
Blackstone (NYSE:BX) today announced that funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate have secured A$1.45 billion (US$930 million) for a sustainability-linked loan, representing the largest of its kind to date in Australia’s industrial sector and a continuation of its efforts to build high-quality, energy efficient logistics portfolios around the world. This marks Blackstone’s first sustainability-linked financing in Asia Pacific and broadens Blackstone Real Estate’s pool of addressable debt capital. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of the industrial sector in Australia, where we’ve built a high-quality portfolio of more than 140 logistics assets and executed some of the country’s largest…
The tourism industry is now on its feet as a cruise ship from Xiamen, China made its maiden voyage to the Subic Bay Freeport with a thousand passengers. The Blue Dream Star is the first luxury vessel of the eleven scheduled voyages to drop anchor at the Freeport from October 12 to November 21, 2023. The said cruise line is the first to offer outbound cruises from China since the onset of the pandemic. The arrival of this cruise ship was made possible through the determination and keen efforts of SBMA Chairman and Administrator Jonathan Tan, whose thrust is to…
Two Century Pacific Group-led companies, Century Pacific Food Inc., (PSE:CNPF) and Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (PSE:PIZZA) received recognition from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) at the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) Golden Arrow Awards Night. CNPF is one of the Philippines’ leading food and beverage companies, while PIZZA is the country’s leading casual dining chain of restaurants and food service groups. The two companies, which are part of the Century Pacific Group of companies, were honored for their continuous adherence to the best corporate governance standards and practices among Filipino publicly listed companies. The Golden Arrow Award is…
The Philippine National Police (PNP), in close coordination with GCash, has recently arrested a suspect who was using his online selling business to gain access to a victim’s private photos or videos for ‘sextortion’, an act of extorting money by threatening to expose sensitive materials. The PNP identified the suspect as Ronald Hipol, 54, an online seller from Victoria Homes, Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa. Hipol allegedly used a social media account under the name ‘Jerry Kantar’ to threaten the victim that he would circulate her sensitive videos unless she paid him P10,000. Hipol also managed to infiltrate the social media account…
DITO CME Holdings Corp, the information and communications technology (ICT) sector holding firm of the Udenna Group, announces the transfer of Ernesto (Eric) R. Alberto from DITO CME president to chief executive officer of its subsidiary, DITO Telecommunity (DITO Tel). Alberto replaces Dennis A. Uy who remains chairman of DITO Tel while DITO CME Chief Operating Officer Donald Patrick L. Lim is simultaneously appointed as DITO CME president in an acting capacity. “Eric’s wealth of experience in senior capacities in the banking and telecoms sectors spanning several decades, will be very valuable in his new role as DITO Tel CEO.…
Singapore-headquartered global technology company REPUBLIK has announced raising $6 million in its Seed funding round that valued the company at $75 million. The round saw participation from leading investors, including OKX Ventures, 6th Man Ventures, Arcane Ventures, CMS Holdings, Comma3 Ventures, Define Ventures, Enjin, FBG Capital, HTX Ventures, Mirana Ventures, Oracles Investment Group, Signum Capital, Sora Ventures, and UOB Venture Management. In a statement, REPUBLIK said the capital raised is instrumental in building its platform and developing cutting-edge, web3 creator tools on the blockchain. Currently in beta across web app, iOS, and Android platforms, REPUBLIK has garnered substantial traction, empowering…
When the Mall of Asia opened in 2006, Henry Sy, Sr. was walking around the SM Store alongside Ma. Cecilia Abreu, who was then Assistant Vice President for Store Operations. As is usually the case with Mr. Sy, he dropped by the Shoe section, checked the shoes and sandals, and then asked a few questions to the sales clerks. “Marami pa ba nito? Are these fast-moving?” The questions did not stop there. Holding one sandal, he asked Abreu a question that stayed with her: “Can our customers still afford to buy our sandals at this price?” “Ang iniisip niya talaga…
Leading digital solutions platform Globe recently scored a three-peat after being named by top regional human resource publisher HR Asia as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Asia (Philippines Chapter) from 2021 to 2023. The award was presented to Globe at the recent gala night held at the Manila Marriott Hotel. Aside from securing this honor for three consecutive years, Globe first won it in 2019. “It fills me with immense pride to share that the Globe Group has once again been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Asia by HR Asia! And…
Globe has announced it is offering free connectivity, including roaming call, text and data to Filipinos in Israel to help them keep in touch with loved ones amid reports of the worst militant attacks in the area. Globe postpaid and prepaid customers currently using roaming services in Israel may connect with their loved ones with free 15 minutes of incoming and outgoing calls, 15 texts to all networks, and 1GB data (whichever service is currently available) good for 7 days at no extra cost. To avail of the free roaming service, Globe customers only need to connect to Globe’s roaming…
Manulife Investment Management today announced the appointment of Kenny Lam to the position of Chief Investment Officer and Head of Transactions, Asia Pacific Real Estate, effective as of October 4, 2023. In his new role, Kenny will be responsible for expanding the team’s geographical footprint in Asia Pacific, managing Manulife Investment Management’s real estate portfolio, identifying and investing in new real estate investment opportunities. “We are pleased to welcome Kenny back to our team, and we look forward to his contributions in the continuous growth of our Asia Pacific real estate business. Kenny will play a key role in expanding…
Fintech startup CrossFund has successfully completed its fourth round of financing in just two years. The funding was sourced from prominent investors including family offices from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asia, along with significant players such as BlockBase Ventures, UI Investments, Australian Gulf Capital, BXB Capital, and various strategic angels. Launched in 2021 by entrepreneurs Ben Cardarelli and Davide Cali, CrossFund has rapidly ascended as the go-to equity financing platform for startups across Southeast Asia (SEA) and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, the platform has facilitated over $40 million across 80 diverse…
SUBIC BAY – Top executives and members of the Subic Bay Truck Importers Association Inc. (SBTIA) have expressed their unwavering support for the SBMA management and seaport department. In a letter dated October 2, 2023, the association vehemently refuted the allegations and accusations brought forth by certain brokers and processors during a meeting held at the SBMA board room on September 29, 2023. The letter reads, “We, the president, company owners, and association officers and members, would like to profoundly express our full support to SBMA management/seaport department and hereby refute all the malicious allegations and false accusations.” Emphasizing their…
PLDT Inc., the Philippines’ largest integrated telco, is pleased to announce a major milestone in connection with the sale and leaseback of 1,012 telecommunications towers and associated passive telecommunications infrastructure to Frontier Tower Associates Philippines Inc. (Frontier) that was announced on March 10, 2023. First closing of the transaction was achieved today with the completion of the sale of 230 telecommunications towers to Frontier. A corresponding cash consideration of PHP2.8 billion was received by the PLDT Group. The Master Services Agreement covering the leaseback arrangement for those towers also became effective as of today. PLDT expects to transfer additional towers…
GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app, doubles down on its presence in Singapore as it can now be used as a cashless payment option in both Alipay+ and Alipay China-enabled (AlipayCN) merchants. This further expands GCash’s availability in one of the most famous destinations in Southeast Asia. It has already been accepted by Alipay+ merchants in 2022, but now GCash can also be used to pay in select AlipayCN establishments. Some of these merchants include 7-Eleven, which has the largest convenience store network in the country at 450 branches; the largest orange juice vending machine operator, iJooz; the exclusive…
Startups in the Philippines have quietly won $1-billion in total funding deals for two straight years in a row in 2021 to 2022, and there are indications they could continue the winning trend. New funding deals may yet to be clinched at the Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) international conference on November 22 to 24 at Panglao Island in Bohol, which gathers startup founders, entrepreneurs, software engineers, technologists, venture capitalists, corporates, government, and other stakeholders. “In 2010, Filipino startups raised $40-million in funding. This has gone up 27 times to $1.03-billion in 2021 and $1.1-billion in 2022. This is a…
As it beefs up its product portfolio to serve customers from different income groups, leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has surpassed two million residential subscribers as of end-September 2023, with its prepaid segment seeing a significant upswing, alongside the stable growth in its postpaid customers. “We are proud to mark this milestone in our mission to leave no one behind as we empower Filipinos with world-class fiber connectivity. This is a result of our effort to expand growth opportunities through providing more affordable connectivity solutions,” said Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy. “Converge is…