Casio Philippines Brings Quiet Luxury to G-Shock With the New Luxe Black 2100

Manila, Philippines — CASIO Philippines has dropped the new G-SHOCK Luxe Black 2100, a four-piece collection that brings a quieter, more refined expression of style to one of G-SHOCK’s most recognizable silhouettes. The new series is now available at G-SHOCK stores and authorized dealers nationwide and online through the CASIO G-SHOCK website, Shopee, TikTok, Lazada, and Zalora pages.

The Luxe Black 2100 Series arrives at a time when fashion in the Philippines is moving away from overt displays of status in favor of pieces defined by restraint, versatility, and considered design. That shift is tied to a broader local move toward sustainability-minded design, with Filipino designers and brands placing greater emphasis on longevity, craftsmanship, and quality over disposability. For G-SHOCK, the shift opens up a new way of expressing toughness.

"More than just an aesthetic, quiet luxury is a mindset, and Luxe Black is G-SHOCK's answer to it,” said Sena Kuroda, Regional Sales Manager of the Timepieces Division at CASIO South East Asia. “We're keeping the durability the brand has always been built on, but expressing it through material and finish instead of visual volume. It's a sign of where G-SHOCK is headed: toughness that can flex with how people actually want to dress, not just one fixed look.”

A quieter take on the iconic 2100

At the center of the Luxe Black 2100 Series is the idea that toughness does not always have to be loud.

G-SHOCK has long been recognized for bold and unmistakably rugged designs. Luxe Black keeps that foundation intact, but pares back the visual volume. Matte black dials, minimized reflection, redesigned hands and indexes, and carefully placed metallic elements create a watch whose details are meant to reveal themselves gradually rather than command attention immediately.

It is a more restrained interpretation of the familiar 2100 silhouette, shaped by the same thinking that has driven the broader interest in understated luxury: confidence expressed through precision, material, and finish instead of excess.

For the modern tastemaker, that translates to a G-SHOCK that sits more naturally within a considered wardrobe. Its monochromatic treatment allows the watch to move between casual everyday dressing and more polished looks while retaining the durability and function that define the brand.

Four interpretations of Luxe Black

The collection includes four models across the GM-2100LXB and GA-2100LXB lines.

The GM-2100LXB-1A (₱17,010) and GM-2100LXB-1A9 (₱15,710) feature a hairline-finished metal bezel with black ion plating, paired with a newly designed matte black dial. Silver- or gold-toned accents provide understated contrast, while redesigned hands and indexes add a more refined finish to the familiar octagonal 2100 silhouette.

For a lighter everyday option, the GA-2100LXB-1A (₱9,430) and GA-2100LXB-1A9 (₱9,430) feature a matte-finished octagonal bezel and band with a redesigned matte black dial. Metallic vapor-deposited indexes introduce subtle depth, while the lightweight resin construction keeps the watches easy to incorporate into everyday wardrobes.

Both the GM-2100LXB and GA-2100LXB models retain the core performance features associated with G-SHOCK, including shock resistance, 20-bar water resistance, stopwatch and timer functions, world time across 48 cities, the Hand Shift feature, double LED Super Illuminator lighting, and up to five daily alarms.

That same shift toward sustainability-minded design carries into the materials: the collection incorporates bio-based resin in key bezel and band components, helping reduce environmental impact while preserving G-SHOCK’s signature toughness and reliability.

Quiet strength for the modern tastemaker

Luxe Black reflects a broader shift in how statement pieces are being worn. Rather than relying on obvious branding or visual excess, the collection leans into a more measured kind of presence, where proportion, finish, and versatility do more of the talking.

That approach gives G-SHOCK room to explore a different side of its identity. The toughness remains, but its expression becomes more refined: less about visual aggression and more about restraint, precision, and elevated detailing.

For a brand built on durability, the Luxe Black 2100 shows how G-SHOCK’s definition of strength can shift alongside changing tastes. Rather than departing from the 2100’s established identity, the collection reframes it for a more fashion-conscious moment, where function, restraint, and personal style increasingly overlap.

The G-SHOCK Luxe Black 2100 Series is now available at CASIO and G-SHOCK stores nationwide and through the CASIO Philippines online store.

90% of IT Leaders See Gaps in AI Threat Readiness, Lenovo Brings Single Point of Accountability to Cyber Resiliency

MANILA, Philippines – As organizations in the Philippines accelerate AI adoption and digital workplace transformation, many are finding that cyber resilience is undermined not by a lack of security tools, but by growing operational complexity and threat sophistication. According to recent research, 90% of IT leaders acknowledge gaps in their ability to defend against AI-driven threats.

The need for resilience is becoming more urgent as Philippine enterprises modernize across sectors such as banking, healthcare, retail, business process outsourcing, government, and the public sector. The Department of Information and Communications Technology’s National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 identifies cyber resilience as a national priority, while the National Privacy Commission requires personal information controllers and processors to maintain security incident management policies and submit annual security incident reports. For local organizations, this makes cybersecurity not only an IT priority, but a business continuity, data protection, and compliance imperative.

While security investments continue to grow, many organizations face a different challenge: fragmented accountability. Security operations remain highly distributed and siloed, making it increasingly difficult to coordinate response efforts, maintain end-to-end business continuity, and recover quickly from incidents.

To help organizations address this challenge, Lenovo is expanding its global Security Services portfolio with a revamped cyber resiliency framework and end-to-end security offerings designed to provide a single point of accountability, help organizations reduce security complexity, cut system downtime by up to 50%, and lower remediation costs by up to 40%.

"Security leaders don't need more tools. They need greater confidence that their people, devices, and data remain protected, and clear accountability when issues arise," said Rakshit Ghura, Vice President and General Manager, Digital Workplace Solutions, Lenovo. "When cyber incidents occur, organizations are often left coordinating across multiple vendors, platforms, and support teams. By bringing trusted devices, leading security technologies, expert managed services, and market-leading alliances together under a single operational model, Lenovo helps customers reduce complexity while strengthening resilience, so they can focus on their business and serving customers."

“As AI adoption accelerates across the Philippines, organizations are facing a new reality where cyber resilience is no longer just about having more security tools, but about ensuring that people, devices, data, and operations remain protected even when threats become more sophisticated,” said Michael Ngan, President and General Manager, Lenovo Philippines. “For local enterprises, especially those in sectors such as banking, healthcare, government, education, and business process outsourcing, the ability to respond quickly, maintain continuity, and recover with confidence is becoming critical. Lenovo’s end-to-end cyber resiliency framework helps organizations simplify security operations by bringing trusted devices, leading security technologies, expert services, and ecosystem partners together through a single accountable model.”

Lenovo's approach has been recognized by industry analysts and independent organizations, including recent recognition at the 2026 Fortress Cybersecurity Awards in the cyber resilience, application security, and AI security categories.

According to ISG Research, Lenovo Security Services combines hardware trust, multi-layered protection, and AI-enabled operations within a unified framework that helps organizations improve resilience, maintain business continuity, and reduce operational disruption.

Delivering Managed End-to-End Resilience at Scale

As part of the portfolio expansion, Lenovo is launching Security Services with Absolute, a fully managed end-to-end resilience offering designed to help organizations maintain critical security controls across distributed workforces without increasing demands on internal IT teams. The service enables essential security controls to automatically recover when disrupted, reducing manual intervention and helping organizations maintain consistent protection across complete environments.

The offering is supported by Lenovo's global 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC), where security specialists continuously monitor end-to-end activity and help organizations identify and respond to emerging threats. By combining firmware-level resilience, managed operations, and expert security oversight, Lenovo helps organizations strengthen end-to-end resiliency while reducing operational burden on internal teams.

Extending Visibility and Control Beyond Traditional Security Boundaries

Lenovo is also introducing Lenovo ThinkShield TraceLock, powered by Absolute Security, to help organizations maintain visibility and control of lost, stolen, or disconnected devices that may fall outside the reach of traditional endpoint management and security tools.

Conventional endpoint security depends on an active operating system or network connection. When devices are powered off or disconnected, they can become operational blind spots. ThinkShield TraceLock uses built-in cellular connectivity to let IT teams remotely locate, wake, and wipe devices, helping organizations protect sensitive data and reduce risk when hardware is lost or compromised.

The solution helps organizations strengthen compliance efforts, maintain control of sensitive corporate data, and support security policies even when endpoints are offline.

ThinkShield TraceLock is particularly valuable for organizations operating in highly regulated industries, including healthcare, financial services, government, business process outsourcing, and the public sector, where maintaining control over sensitive data and meeting compliance requirements are business-critical priorities.

ThinkShield TraceLock will be available beginning July 1 on select ThinkPad devices.

A Unified Approach to Cyber Resilience

As cyber threats evolve, resilience is increasingly defined not by the number of security tools an organization deploys, but by how effectively an organization’s security posture is when different capabilities work together to prevent disruption, maintain continuity, and, if needed, accelerate recovery.

Lenovo’s end-to-end cyber resiliency framework helps organizations maximize the value of existing security investments through Identity and Access Management, Data Protection, Extended Detection and Response, Visibility and Risk Management, and Security for AI. Lenovo’s cyber resiliency framework integrates with leading technology providers including Absolute, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, SentinelOne, and Veeam. Rather than requiring customers to coordinate across multiple providers for threat management and security incidents, Lenovo’s AI-enabled SOC delivers a coordinated operational model that combines end-to-end resilience, ongoing protection, and recovery through a single accountable relationship.

The result is a more integrated approach to cyber resilience that helps organizations reduce complexity, improve operational efficiency, and pursue digital transformation initiatives with greater confidence.

LG Electronics and NVIDIA Accelerate the Future of Robotics

LG Electronics is taking a major step toward advancing robotics by combining decades of manufacturing and logistics expertise with NVIDIA’s robotics technologies. The collaboration aims to accelerate how robots learn, adapt, and improve by exposing them to both real-world environments and sophisticated simulated training scenarios.

At the center of LG’s robotics strategy is its 10,000-square-meter Data Factory in Seoul. By the end of 2026, the facility is expected to house several hundred robots, creating a large-scale environment for collecting valuable robotics data. LG plans to generate approximately 100,000 hours of training data through a combination of directly collected information, synthetic data, and augmented datasets. The volume is equivalent to roughly 12 years of data, highlighting the scale of the company’s investment in developing more capable robotic systems.

Data is critical to modern robotics because robots need extensive training to understand their surroundings, perform tasks accurately, and respond to changing conditions. By combining physical-world data with simulated environments, LG and NVIDIA can help robots encounter a wider range of scenarios without relying exclusively on real-world testing. This approach could accelerate development while improving the reliability and adaptability of robotic systems.

LG has also identified 2026 as the starting point of its broader robotics business push. The company has established a dedicated Robotics Business Center to coordinate its growing activities in the sector. Its strategy extends beyond traditional industrial and commercial robotics, with the company increasingly exploring applications for robots in the home.

This expansion reflects a broader shift in the robotics industry. Robots are moving beyond factories and warehouses and are increasingly being developed to interact with people and support everyday activities. For a company with extensive experience in consumer electronics, appliances, manufacturing, and smart-home technologies, LG is positioned to explore how robotics can become part of connected living environments.

The partnership with NVIDIA provides an important technological foundation for this vision. As robotics increasingly depends on artificial intelligence, simulation, high-performance computing, and large-scale data, the ability to train machines efficiently will become a key competitive advantage.

With its manufacturing expertise, expanding robotics infrastructure, and growing focus on AI-driven training, LG Electronics is positioning itself to play a significant role in the next generation of robotics—from industrial automation to intelligent machines designed for everyday life.

Vivo X300 Ultra Captures the Thrill of Shanghai Disneyland at Full Speed

Capturing a great photo is one thing. Capturing a great photo while your subjects are racing through a rollercoaster at up to 97 kilometers per hour is an entirely different challenge.

Anne and BJ recently took on the TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland, one of the park’s fastest and most futuristic attractions. As the ride accelerated through its high-speed track, the Vivo X300 Ultra was ready to capture every expression, reaction, and moment of excitement.

At the center of the action is the Vivo X300 Ultra’s 200MP 85mm ZEISS Gimbal-Grade APO Telephoto Camera. Its dedicated telephoto lens brought Anne and BJ closer into the frame, allowing their expressions to become the focus even as the Lightcycle ride moved at tremendous speed.

The image was captured at 85mm, f/2.67, 1/200s, and ISO 50, demonstrating the capabilities of the Vivo X300 Ultra’s telephoto camera in a demanding, fast-moving environment. Its 3° Gimbal-Grade OIS and 60 fps AF Tracking are designed to help maintain stability and focus when subjects are constantly moving.

The result is more than a simple photograph of a rollercoaster ride. The image captures the story behind the experience—the laughter, adrenaline, excitement, and split-second reactions of Anne and BJ as they race through one of Shanghai Disneyland’s most thrilling attractions.

At 97 km/h, there is no opportunity to stop, pose, or take another shot. The moment happens only once, making fast autofocus, stabilization, and a capable telephoto camera essential for capturing it successfully.

With its 200MP telephoto camera, high-speed AF tracking, and gimbal-grade stabilization, the Vivo X300 Ultra is designed to bring distant and fast-moving subjects closer while keeping them sharp and centered in the frame.

Some of the best moments happen unexpectedly, from a distance, and at full speed. The Vivo X300 Ultra is built to help users zoom in, stay focused, and keep the excitement in frame—even when there is no second take.

The Vivo X300 Ultra is available for PHP 109,999 at Vivo Concept Stores nationwide and through the Vivo e-store.

Smart and Lynk Expand Satellite Connectivity Tests to Batangas to Strengthen Disaster Resilience

PLDT Inc’s (PLDT) wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), in collaboration with Lynk Global, has expanded its Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite service testing to Batangas, further advancing efforts to strengthen communications resiliency and support national disaster response capabilities.

“Reliable communication is essential in times of crisis. As disasters continue to pose challenges to communities across the country, PLDT and Smart remain committed to investing in technologies that help ensure critical information reaches people when they need it most,” said Menardo G. Jimenez Jr., PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Network Head, emphasizing the technology's potential to transform lives.

"For us, this goes beyond technology. Our mission at PLDT is to be there for all Filipinos, whether they are talking to family abroad or requesting assistance from a rooftop in the middle of a calamity," he added.

Building on the successful pilot activities conducted earlier this year in Catanduanes and Ilocos Norte, the latest tests in Batangas focused on demonstrating how satellite-enabled connectivity solutions can help deliver critical communications when terrestrial networks are unavailable during emergencies.

Led by Smart’s Network Strategy and Architecture Team together with Lynk, the activities simulated disaster scenarios in areas where network infrastructure may be temporarily disrupted following a calamity. The tests showed the feasibility of using satellite-enabled cell broadcast capability to disseminate emergency alerts and public safety messages directly to customers in affected communities, supporting government and emergency responders during critical situations.

No more 'dead zones'

By exploring satellite-enabled capabilities such as Direct-to-Device connectivity, which is a technology that works with the standard, existing mobile phones that customers already have in their pockets, PLDT is strengthening its network's resilience and supporting the country’s disaster preparedness and response efforts, as aligned with the PLDT Group’s broader thrust to help create safer, more connected, and more resilient communities across the Philippines.

Beyond public safety alerts, the technology is also actively testing two-way communication capabilities like sending vital SMS messages when terrestrial cell towers are unavailable in the event of typhoons or power outages, as well as providing ubiquitous coverage to rural, underserved, and hard-to-reach areas, supporting remote workers, those traveling at sea, and fishermen working in maritime zones.

Latest in series of tests

The results of the Batangas tests further build on Smart and Lynk’s earlier D2D satellite service trials conducted in Catanduanes and Ilocos Norte, which also explored how satellite technology can complement existing telco infrastructure, particularly in remote, underserved, and hard-to-reach areas.

The continued expansion of these trials reflects the PLDT Group’s commitment to explore next-generation technologies to help improve the delivery of public services and improve customer experience through reliable public safety communications as part of strengthened disaster response capabilities nationwide.

This also forms part of the Group’s overall thrust to leverage technology and innovation to support business continuity and national development, especially in a disaster-prone country like the Philippines.