Manila, Philippines — Dermorepubliq, TikTok Philippines’ leading science-based skincare brand, has achieved a historic milestone by clinching a Gold Stevie at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards for its high-impact PR, influencer, and billboard campaign, “The breakup that went viral by Dermorepubliq.”
The campaign stood as the sole winner in the Innovation in the “Use of Viral Media or Word of Mouth” category, recognized for its masterful use of stealth marketing to cut through a saturated skincare market. This was amplified through a strategic communications program managed by its PR agency, Uniquecorn Strategies.
“Dermorepubliq was built on a simple but uncompromising belief: science-based skincare that works,” said Keith Sta. Barbara, CEO and Founder of Dermorepubliq. “This campaign brought that promise to life in a way that felt real to people before they even knew our name.”
Instead of traditional advertising, Dermorepubliq utilized stealth marketing to spark nationwide curiosity. The campaign launched with a cryptic, unbranded billboard: “‘Wag na tayo mag break please. Love, D.” By tapping into the cultural fascination with celebrity breakups, the message served as a clever double entendre for skin breakouts—the very concern Dermorepubliq’s science-based formulas are designed to address.
As Dermorepubliq's PR partner, Uniquecorn Strategies managed the narrative, translating organic intrigue into a massive earned media event. The PR effort was executed in two phases to ensure maximum media impact. First, the Tease leveraged viral speculation to secure 42 earned stories and over 60 million influencer video views. This was followed by the Reveal, which officially linked the “breakup” to “breakouts,” triggering a second wave of 43 earned media stories.
The campaign achieved a staggering 200 million in combined online reach and 100 million total video views. Through 93 earned media stories facilitated by Uniquecorn, the brand generated an estimated USD 4.5 million in PR value, successfully cementing its transition from a digital-first brand to a formidable mainstream retail contender.
“This recognition affirms that an effective PR strategy can transform a bold, creative idea into a cultural moment,” said Dean Bernales, CEO and Founder of Uniquecorn Strategies. “Our role was to ensure that the intrigue generated by the billboard was met with a clear, engaging narrative that resonated with the media and the public alike. We are proud to have partnered with Dermorepubliq to help them emerge as a homegrown brand that can rival the country’s largest conglomerates.”
The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards is one of the most prestigious business awards programs in the region, drawing entries from leading corporations, institutions, and agencies across Asia-Pacific. It recognizes business innovation and excellence across the region, with entries judged by an independent panel of industry professionals.
Dermorepubliq’s win is a notable feat for a homegrown brand, as it competed alongside the Philippines’ largest conglomerates in this year’s contingent, such as SM Supermalls, Ayala Corporation, and San Miguel Corporation.
With Dermorepubliq products available in Watsons’ online store and select physical branches across Metro Manila, this milestone marks the brand’s expansion from an e-commerce powerhouse into a formidable mainstream retail presence via one of the country's leading health and beauty retail chains.
“When the public chooses to carry your story, it is the strongest proof that what you stand for resonates,” Sta. Barbara said. “Now with our products available at Watsons, this Gold Stevie award is both a proud milestone and a powerful reminder of why we do what we do — to bring science-based skincare that truly performs to every Filipino.”
Beyond Watsons, Dermorepubliq products are available on TikTok Shop, Shopee, Lazada, and at its official website, www.dermorepubliq.com.
Manila, Philippines – As global oil prices climb amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, sari-sari stores recorded a 90% surge in sales this March, as micro-retailers and consumers aggressively stock up against looming price hikes and delivery disruptions.Latest insights from Filipino tech startup Packworks, derived from over 1 million transactions via its Sari.PH Pro app reveals that Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) across its network of 300,000 stores reached PHP 3.73 billion in March, up from PHP 1.97 billion in February.
The most notable surge occurred on March 21, when GMV skyrocketed by 265%. This followed the announcement of double-digit fuel price increases on March 17, signaling a preemptive move by store owners to secure inventory before logistical costs trickled down to retail prices.
The concerns at the grassroots level are noticeable. A sari-sari store owner from Uson, Masbate, shared, “Nag-stock up kami dahil natatakot kaming maubusan ng paninda at magkaroon ng delay sa delivery mula sa mga supplier.” (We stocked up because we were worried about running out of supplies and possible delays in deliveries). In some regions, delivery lead times have reportedly stretched to three weeks, forcing retailers to prioritize bulk purchasing of fast-moving goods.The study highlights a significant shift in grassroots consumer behavior. Traditionally driven by 'tingi,' or small-quantity, daily purchases, households are now consolidating trips to offset rising transportation costs. Average "basket sizes," or the amount spent per visit, grew from a range of PHP 337 to PHP 1,097 in February to between PHP 597 and PHP 1,560 in March. While spending increased, transaction volumes grew by a modest 17%, confirming that Filipinos are making fewer but significantly larger purchases.
“With growing uncertainty and rising oil and commodity prices, our data suggests that sari-sari store owners are proactively adjusting their purchasing strategies. Larger basket sizes and increased inventory levels indicate a shift toward preparedness for potential supply disruptions and rising costs,” said Packworks Chief Data Officer Andoy Montiel.
This trend was evident across regions, with the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) posting the highest increase in basket size at 101.7% (PHP 773 to PHP 1,560), followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) at 85% (PHP 396 to PHP 733) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at 80.2% (PHP 495 to PHP 892).
Products with the highest sales included cigarettes, detergent, gin, powdered coffee, and chips and dips. Cigarettes led with an increase of around PHP 234 million, followed by detergent (PHP 116 million), gin (PHP 66 million), powdered coffee (approximately PHP 55 million), and chips and dips (PHP 45 million). Other essential goods such as soda, biscuits, powdered milk, and canned items also posted notable gains, reflecting heightened household stocking activity.
“As the backbone of local communities, sari-sari stores continue to demonstrate resilience in times of disruption. However, they remain highly vulnerable to price fluctuations and logistical challenges, highlighting the need for continued support,” said Packworks Chief Platform Officer Hubert Yap.
To learn more about how Packworks is empowering sari-sari stores nationwide, visit http://packworks.io/.
Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) has completed the turnover of its first batch of residential units at Narra Park Residences Avia, the first residential development within Avia Estate in Alabel, Sarangani.
The milestone marks the transition of early homebuyers into homeowners and reflects the steady progress of Narra Park Residences Avia as part of the broader development of Avia Estate, Alsons Dev’s 121-hectare township in Sarangani.
The turnover was marked by the first Buyers Appreciation Day of the community, where homeowners and guests gathered for project updates and community activities within the estate.
For early homeowners, the experience reinforces confidence in their investment and the long-term value of the development.
“Based on what I have experienced today, I can already say this home will be good for us in the future. If there’s one place I can recommend for both investment and family, this is it,” said Catherine Cuico, one of the first homeowners of Narra Park Residences Avia.
Alsons Dev President and CEO Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, who led the ceremonial turnover, said the milestone reflects the company’s commitment to delivering communities that are thoughtfully planned and built for long-term living.
“These represent more than completed units—they are the beginning of a community,” Dominguez said. “Our focus has always been to deliver developments that are well-planned, responsive to how people want to live, and built for long-term value.”
Building a Growing Community in Avia Estate
Narra Park Residences Avia is part of Avia Estate, Alsons Dev’s first major township expansion outside its Davao stronghold. To date, 59 homes have been completed within the residential enclave.
The estate continues to develop key shared spaces that support everyday living and community life. Following the inauguration of the Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex in January 2025 and the opening of The Abba’s Orchard Montessori School in August 2025, recent additions include the Avia Estate megatent for events and a football field. Upcoming developments include an interim commercial area, a pickleball court, and the completion of the Narra Park Residences Avia community facilities, all designed to support the growing needs of residents and foster stronger community connections.
Together, these developments reflect Avia Estate’s ongoing evolution as a master-planned community designed to grow alongside its residents.
The turnover of Narra Park Residences Avia and development milestones at Avia Estate underscore Alsons Dev’s consistent approach to building communities anchored on thoughtful planning, livability, and long-term value. As the company expands its footprint beyond Mindanao’s urban centers, it continues to apply the same standards across its developments, reinforcing its commitment to creating communities where people can live, grow, and belong.
Discover your future home at Narra Park Residences Avia by visiting https://www.facebook.com/NarraParkResidencesAvia.
Leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc (PLDT) continues to strengthen AI adoption within the organization, with the launch of another homegrown AI-powered conversational assistant to support its PLDT Enterprise teams with timely network intelligence and product insights.Dubbed ‘KAI’, which stands for 'Knowledge, Automation, Intelligence', the solution is the first conversational agent from UiPath, a leader in agentic business orchestration, to be deployed in a live production environment by a Southeast Asian telco provider, marking an industry milestone. Developed to support Enterprise teams, KAI enhances how PLDT Enterprise engages with customers by enabling faster access to network, product, and solution information during customer interactions.
"Before KAI, our teams had to dig for answers in the middle of a customer conversation. Now the information comes to them. That improves how fast we respond, how well we design solutions, how much our customers trust us," said Eric Santiago, Head of Network Strategy and Architecture at PLDT and Smart.
Built on the UiPath platform, KAI reflects PLDT and Smart’s shift toward “tech-enabled selling” that is boosted by data-driven insights and powered by an Agentic AI assistant that, instead of being a substitute for human engagement, enhances it by simplifying processes, reducing response times, and improving the quality of customer conversations overall.
For enterprise customers, this translates into more efficient engagements—from quicker validation of network availability to clearer discussions on solution options tailored to specific business needs.
“PLDT's KAI sets a new benchmark for telco innovation in Southeast Asia," said Amit Khandelwal, Regional Vice President and Managing Director, Southeast Asia, UiPath. “At UiPath, we see the real power of AI in how it augments people to deliver better outcomes. By combining agentic automation with human-in-the-loop governance, PLDT is turning complex data into timely, actionable insights, enabling their teams to deliver measurable business impact.”
As KAI continues to evolve, PLDT eyes a more seamless experience for teams and customers alike, with essential information, such as network capacity features with real-time insights, being more accessible to accelerate decision-making.
Delivering better outcomes for customers
“Soon, we can even automate the creation of solutions specific to customer needs,” Santiago added. “When our teams are equipped with the right information at the right time, customers benefit through more reliable connectivity, stronger solutions, and partnerships built on trust and transparency.”
The launch of KAI is part of PLDT’s continuing investments in innovations to enhance its network. These initiatives are aligned with the Group's broader thrust to deliver leveled-up services to customers nationwide and reinforce PLDT's role as the go-to partner for Philippine enterprises navigating an increasingly digital and connected economy.
This also contributes to the PLDT Group’s endeavors to help the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
Globe is taking concrete steps to support local, diversified, and sustainable energy sources for its operations. The company has established a partnership agreement with the First Gen Group to supply electricity from geothermal and hydroelectric sources to power key facilities in Mindanao and Caloocan City. The company established this agreement in early April in anticipation of Earth Day on April 22.Under this agreement with First Gen, three of Globe’s facilities in Mindanao will be powered by geothermal energy, while its Caloocan site will draw from hydropower. These indigenous energy sources are not dependent on imported fuel, helping reduce exposure to global fuel price volatility.
Geothermal energy, in particular, provides a steady and continuous source of power that can support energy-intensive operations around the clock. Combined with hydroelectric power, this strengthens Globe’s ability to run critical network infrastructure while maintaining consistent service for customers.
The transition was enabled through the government’s Retail Competition and Open Access and Green Energy Option Program, which allows large electricity consumers to directly source renewable energy from qualified suppliers. These mechanisms support the country’s broader push to diversify energy sources and improve long-term energy resilience.
“As demand for connectivity grows, how we power our network matters just as much as how we build it,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe. “Shifting to local renewable energy allows us to operate more responsibly while ensuring we remain reliable for the people and communities we serve.”
By purchasing electricity from local sources of renewable energy, Globe contributes to the Philippines’ goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in the national mix while supporting a more stable and sustainable power system. The move also diversifies the company’s sources of energy to keep its network running reliably as demand for connectivity continues to grow.
Globe is also implementing fuel use efficiency initiatives for facilities that still need non-renewable fuel, such as Dynamic Load Management, for generator sets that provide power to sites located in remote areas and backup power.
As Globe continues to expand its digital infrastructure, it remains focused on powering connectivity in a way that balances performance, sustainability, and long-term value for the communities it serves.
Earlier in March, Globe Telecom, Inc. switched off non-essential lighting and appliances across its facilities on March 28, 2026, in observance of Earth Hour, reinforcing its commitment to climate action, while urging a stronger focus on energy conservation and efficiency as the country faces ongoing energy challenges.
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