Globe AT HOME Celebrates Pride by Powering Safe, Meaningful Connections for the LGBTQIA+ Community

Pride is more than a celebration. For many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, it is an act of courage, a declaration of belonging, and a reminder that everyone deserves spaces where they can be seen, accepted, and loved.

This Pride Month, Globe AT HOME brought this commitment to life by supporting Solidarity: The 15th Annual Pride Party, held at O Bar in Pasig City, long been considered by the LGBTQIA+ community as a second home and safe space.

Globe AT HOME provided reliable WiFi connectivity through its Fiber and 5G brands, allowing guests to stay connected to their friends, families, and digital communities. Globe AT HOME also added excitement to the celebration through raffle prizes and instant rewards, giving customers and partygoers more reasons to celebrate Pride with the people who matter most.

The initiative reflects Globe’s broader promise to uplift communities by creating both physical and virtual spaces for togetherness, where Filipinos can have the courage to form deep, meaningful connections with one another.

At the core of Globe’s culture is the belief that diversity fuels innovation, compassion, and progress. The company’s DEIB efforts are not one-off programs, but are integral to how Globe operates every day, from the open workplace it builds for its people to the products, platforms, and experiences it creates for its customers.

Globe has formalized its Code of Conduct and DEIB Policy Commitment, affirming zero tolerance for discrimination and reinforcing its pledge to uphold respect and dignity for all.

“Globe embraces diversity in all its forms because we believe that meaningful progress can only happen when everyone is seen, heard, respected, and given the space to thrive,” said Darius Delgado, Globe Chief Commercial Officer.

For Globe AT HOME, supporting Pride is also about recognizing the everyday role that connectivity plays in the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community. A reliable connection can help someone reach a trusted friend, stay close to their chosen family, access mental health support, join digital safe spaces, promote online businesses and creative ideas, or simply celebrate life freely and fully.

Through the strength of Globe’s consistent mobile and home connectivity, the company continues to empower relationships that move people forward together.

“Globe honors the everyday courage the LGBTQIA+ community takes to live proudly,” said Abigail Cardino, Vice President and Head of Globe’s Broadband Business. “Through safe and inclusive spaces, always-on access to support systems, and meaningful representation, we want to keep the community connected to the people, resources, and moments that give them strength. Whether at home, online, or in spaces where they feel most themselves, Globe AT HOME is proud to support connections that help people feel safe, seen, and celebrated.”

Through Globe AT HOME, GlobeOne app, its mobile and broadband services, and its broader culture of inclusion, Globe continues to create spaces—both physical and digital- where Filipinos can come together, support one another, and move forward with courage.

When people are free to connect with whoever and wherever they are, they are also free to live, love, and thrive.

Vivo Y31d Delivers Reliable Protection for the Philippine Rainy Season

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — As the Philippines enters the height of the rainy season and tropical cyclone activity, consumers are once again facing the challenges of heavy rainfall, flooding, and weather-related disruptions. With smartphones playing a central role in daily life, having a device that can withstand wet conditions has become increasingly important for staying connected, informed, and productive.

Whether it's checking weather updates, communicating with family, navigating flooded streets, or accessing emergency services, smartphones have become indispensable during severe weather. However, constant exposure to rain, splashes, and moisture can affect touchscreen responsiveness and increase the risk of water-related damage, making durability a key consideration for today's mobile users.

Designed with these real-world challenges in mind, the Vivo Y31d offers advanced protection through its IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance ratings, giving users greater confidence when using their device in unpredictable weather conditions. These certifications provide protection against dust, rain, water splashes, and even high-pressure water jets, making the smartphone well-suited for outdoor activities and daily commutes during the rainy season.

One of the standout features of the Vivo Y31d is its Wet-Hand Touch technology. This intelligent feature allows the display to accurately detect touch input even when the user's hands or the screen are wet due to rain, sweat, or accidental splashes. As a result, users can continue sending messages, booking rides, browsing maps, or accessing important information without experiencing significant interruptions.

The device is also engineered to withstand accidental exposure to water. With the ability to survive submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for as long as 30 minutes, the Vivo Y31d offers an added layer of protection against unexpected mishaps that are common during the rainy season.

Beyond water resistance, Vivo has also included a practical maintenance feature called One-Tap Water Ejection and Dust Removal. Using precisely calibrated vibrations, the smartphone helps remove residual water and dust from the speaker and charging port after exposure to moisture or debris. This feature helps preserve audio clarity and charging efficiency while reducing the inconvenience of manual cleaning.

Available in Glow White and Starlight Grey, the Vivo Y31d starts at Php 12,999 and comes in three storage configurations with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage. Consumers can purchase the device at authorized Vivo online and physical stores nationwide.

As unpredictable weather becomes part of everyday life, the Vivo Y31d delivers the durability, reliability, and practical features users need to stay connected—rain or shine.

Ragnarok: The New World Team Faces Hardcore Player Scrutiny Head-On

In an era where game marketing feels increasingly homogeneous, it's rare to see a team willingly hand the reins of judgment over to their community.

The upcoming Ragnarok: The New World, launching on July 16, recently extended a special invitation to four gamers to visit its Shanghai studio to act as “chief examiners” and conduct a rigorous, one-day surprise assessment of the development team.

Crowdsourced via Livestream: Player Comments Become the Ultimate Test

The four gamers, Junqko and Shipdont from Thailand, alongside Myrtle Sarrosa and Nikkinikki from the Philippines, are veterans with significant influence in the RO community.

Stepping into their roles as chief examiners, they invited viewers in the livestream to submit questions for the ROW team. Thousands of messages flooded the chat, spanning everything from class balance and the trading system to future update content roadmaps. Every single concern was captured, serving as raw ammunition to "grill" the Ragnarok: The New World development team.

Candid Exchange: A Journey Fuelled by Passion and Nostalgia

During the livestream, the examiners candidly admitted they had initially expected a routine, superficial studio visit. Instead, they discovered that the core development team is made up entirely of hardcore RO veterans themselves. This shared nostalgia instantly broke the ice, turning the meeting into a deeply engaging conversation.

When asked about the vision behind the project, the team's answer was pure and uncompromising: driven by a shared obsession to build a true next-generation, top-tier RO experience, they realized that instead of waiting around for someone else to make it, they had to take matters into their own hands.

Exclusive First Look: Hands-on with the New Class and Tournament Plans Revealed

The livestream also dropped major news about the official integration of large-scale tournaments into a long-term roadmap. Our examiners also actively joined the brainstorming session, injecting crucial feedback from a player’s perspective. In addition, the examiners snagged an exclusive, hands-on preview of Druid, a brand-new class set to debut with the SEA launch, leaving the audience absolutely craving more.

Embracing the Scrutiny: Giving the Microphone Back to the Players

In the gaming industry, "listening to the players' feedback" often devolves into an empty marketing slogan. However, Ragnarok: The New World chose a different path, handing the microphone directly to hardcore veterans who share a deep passion for RO. By inviting them into the studio to play, question, and debate face-to-face, the team transformed a routine visit into a transparent dialogue and a compelling industry experiment.

For a new installment bearing the weight of a classic franchise, this willingness to face players' critical scrutiny head-on is perhaps the ultimate reassurance a development team can offer players.

This showdown was well worth the anticipation, offering a masterclass in how to build a healthier, more symbiotic relationship between developers and players. If more teams follow suit and open their doors to real accountability, player trust will finally cease to be a luxury.

The journey is about to begin. Be part of the community and shape the future of Midgard!

Pre-register today: https://pse.is/99pdf4

Alcantara Foundation and Alsons Dev Gain National Recognition for Championing Davao’s Creative Community

The Conrado Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (Alcantara Foundation) was recognized as a Finalist in the Outstanding CSR Project for Arts and Culture category at the 2026 CSR Guild Awards, held on June 30, 2026, at The Westin Manila in Mandaluyong City, for its corporate social responsibility initiative with Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev).

Recognition was given to the Alcantara Foundation and Alsons Dev’s joint project aimed at strengthening Davao City’s creative industry. A key milestone is the 2025 Culture, Arts, and Heritage Summit, a multi-stakeholder platform that convened over 300 artists, cultural workers, and representatives from the government, academe, and private sector to identify sector needs, co-develop strategies, and help build an enabling environment for creative growth.

The CSR Guild Awards, a recognition program of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), honors corporate social responsibility initiatives and collaborations of its member organizations across the country that drive meaningful and sustainable social impact.

“This recognition affirms something we have long believed—that culture is not peripheral to development; it is central to it,” said Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, President and CEO of Alsons Dev. “We remain committed to creating opportunities for partnerships across sectors because lasting progress is built when we nurture communities that are both livable and culturally vibrant.”

The Alcantara Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Alcantara Group, of which Alsons Dev is a member. Through the foundation, Alsons Dev advances its CSR agenda grounded in the belief that meaningful community development extends beyond physical spaces to include efforts that celebrate and preserve culture, arts, and heritage—helping strengthen local identity, deepen cultural appreciation, and foster community pride.

AscentHR Bolsters Multi-Country Payroll, Compliance Capabilities for PH Businesses Through Acquisition of OS Hrs

Manila, Philippines – AscentHR, a leading provider of HR technology, payroll, compliance, and workforce solutions, has announced the strategic acquisition of OS HRS, a trusted APAC-focused payroll outsourcing provider with over two decades of multi-country payroll delivery experience.

The acquisition was completed through a single-stage transaction under which AscentHR acquired 100% of the equity share capital of OS-HRS Malaysia, OS-HRS Japan, and OS-HRS India from BREXA Inc. (formerly Outsourcing Inc.), Tokyo, Japan. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The merging of the two organizations strengthens the ability to serve customers operating in and from the Philippines. This latest movement will see the integration of a regional team of over 140 additional payroll and HR professionals into AscentHR's ecosystem, expanding its footprint across key markets including Japan, China, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, and India. This also enables the introduction of two major regional delivery capabilities through Malaysia and Japan to complement existing local operations, further cementing its regional presence.

This enhanced network addresses the unique needs of the Philippine market by allowing global organizations operating in the Philippines to seamlessly navigate the country’s intricate local tax and statutory regulations, while simultaneously empowering Philippine-headquartered companies to expand overseas using a single regional partner.

"This marks an important milestone in AscentHR's vision of building a leading regional payroll and workforce solutions platform. The Philippines continues to be an important market within our regional strategy. With OS HRS becoming part of AscentHR, we are combining trusted local expertise with broader regional capabilities, enabling us to deliver greater value to customers while creating new opportunities for our employees. We look forward to supporting organizations in the Philippines with a stronger regional delivery network," said Subramanyam Sreenivasaiah, Founder & CEO of AscentHR.

While AscentHR’s immediate priority remains ensuring business continuity for existing customers, the combined organization will progressively roll out a broader portfolio of payroll, advanced HR technology, compliance, and workforce solutions to the markets it’s servicing, including the Philippines. Backed by AscentHR’s continuous investments in product innovation, including AI-enabled capabilities, analytics, automation, and rigorous information security, local businesses will gain access to a highly scalable platform for future technology enhancements.

Through a unified regional delivery model, the combined organization will offer Philippine and multinational enterprises key services, including deep local compliance expertise backed by in-country specialists, advanced HR technology and enterprise platform integration, faster onboarding and implementation timelines for regional payroll programs, and localized support with its responsive customer service equipped with native-language support across jurisdictions.

The integration of operations will be carried out in phases to ensure seamless continuity for all current clients, employees, and partners across the region.

AscentHR says it expects to create additional opportunities across its delivery network as it continues to grow its regional foothold. Looking ahead, AscentHR will continue to provide Philippine-headquartered organizations the capability to expand across APAC and the Middle East through its established delivery capabilities, enabling them to work with a single regional partner while ensuring local compliance in every country of operation.

For more information, you may visit https://ascent-hr.com.