Eastern Communications Champions Sustainability with Globe and InfiniVAN at PDSCN Mangrove Tree Planting Activity

BACOLOD CITY - Eastern Communications, alongside the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) consortium, participated in a mangrove tree-planting activity in Purok Calubay on May 22. Conducted as part of the consortium’s post-Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) commitments, this initiative marks a significant milestone in the organization’s continuous support towards sustainable development and climate action.

Organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in partnership with Bago City LGU, CENRO Bago, and other stakeholders, the initiative highlighted the importance of safeguarding coastal communities.

The activity opened with an orientation led by Bago City Environment and Management Office (CEMO) Representative Rex Magbanua, who emphasized the critical role mangroves play in protecting coastal communities from storm surges and coastal erosion. He cited the impact of Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, which heavily affected Bacolod and the rest of Negros Occidental, as a reminder of the importance of strengthening climate resilience initiatives.

Mangrove tree planting is a community-driven initiative that helps protect coastlines, support marine biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience. Through initiatives like these, organizations contribute to environmental protection efforts while supporting vulnerable coastal communities and advancing meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs.

For communities such as Purok Calubay, mangroves serve as nature-based solutions that help mitigate flooding and soil erosion while supporting local livelihoods, including fisheries and other coastal resources.

"This initiative reflects our belief that creating meaningful impact goes beyond providing reliable and responsive connectivity," said Jed Estanislao, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer of Eastern Communications. "By supporting sustainability-driven partnerships and community-centered programs, we aim to help strengthen environmental resilience, empower local communities, and contribute to long-term sustainable development."

Through initiatives like the mangrove tree-planting activity, Eastern Communications continues to support programs that create positive social and environmental impact. As the company expands its presence across the Philippines, it remains committed to combining future-ready connectivity solutions with efforts that create lasting value for both people and the planet.

To learn more about Eastern Communications and their upcoming partnerships, contact 5300-7000 or visit www.eastern.com.ph.

Globe Drives Youth-Led Advocacy for Online Safety in Western Visayas

Globe is empowering young Filipinos in Western Visayas to become champions of online safety and responsible digital behavior through its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP), strengthening efforts to create safer and more informed communities in an increasingly connected world.

Through recent learning sessions in Negros Occidental and Iloilo, Globe equipped more than 440 young Filipinos with practical knowledge on cybersecurity, digital responsibility, and safer online behavior, helping shape a generation that is more informed, vigilant, and accountable in the digital space.

At Carlos Hilado Memorial State University in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, 243 first-year Criminology students participated in an interactive DTP session held during the university’s University Week celebration. Conducted in partnership with the school’s Criminology Department under Globe’s Win the Youth Program, the activity focused on pressing digital concerns faced by today’s youth, including online threats, privacy protection, responsible social media use, and maintaining a secure digital footprint.

“As digital platforms become an essential part of everyday life, empowering the youth with the right knowledge and mindset is more important than ever. Through the Digital Thumbprint Program, Globe continues to help young Filipinos become more responsible digital citizens who can contribute to creating safer online communities,” said Jun Juada, Territory Business Head for Western Visayas.

Globe also brought DTP to the SK Federation Youth Summer Summit in Iloilo, where more than 200 youth participants joined discussions on digital citizenship and online safety led by DTP Territory Ambassador Iris Nonato Adorador. The session encouraged youth leaders to champion positive digital behavior and promote cybersecurity awareness within their respective communities.

These initiatives support Globe’s broader advocacy to strengthen digital safety education among Filipino learners and communities nationwide. During Safer Internet Month in February 2026, Globe’s DTP sessions reached over 16,560 students and educators through discussions centered on cybersecurity, privacy, child protection, and responsible technology use.

Since its launch in 2016, the Digital Thumbprint Program has reached more than two million students and educators across the country. The initiative has also been integrated into the Department of Education’s K to 12 curriculum in public schools, reinforcing its role in promoting responsible digital participation among Filipino youth.

Marking its 10th year in 2026, DTP continues to evolve to address emerging digital realities. Its expanded curriculum now includes 36 stackable modules tackling topics such as AI ethics, digital etiquette, Philippine cyber laws, and digital rights, ensuring learners are equipped to navigate the fast-changing digital landscape.

Through sustained collaboration with schools, local government units, youth organizations, and community partners, Globe continues to advance its vision of a safer, kinder, and more digitally empowered Philippines.

For more information about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Lenovo Powers FIFA World Cup 2026™ with AI-Driven Innovation

As the world prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, technology is set to play a bigger role than ever before in shaping the tournament experience. With 48 teams competing across three host countries and an estimated audience of six billion fans worldwide, the event will be the largest FIFA World Cup™ in history. To support this unprecedented scale, Lenovo is providing the technology backbone that will power critical operations, fan engagement, and real-time data delivery throughout the tournament.

Lenovo’s advanced infrastructure will enable near real-time AI-powered processing, ensuring that fans, media organizations, VIPs, and tournament officials can access live match feeds seamlessly from venues across the competition. The company’s cutting-edge solutions are designed to handle the enormous volume of data generated during the tournament while maintaining reliability, speed, and security.

Beyond supporting core operations, Lenovo is also introducing innovative AI-driven experiences that will bring fans closer to the action. One of the most exciting features is the use of 3D player avatars, which will help visualize offside decisions more clearly and transparently. This technology aims to improve understanding of key match moments while enhancing the viewing experience for audiences around the globe.

Artificial intelligence will also help optimize movement within venues through smart navigation systems designed to reduce congestion and improve crowd flow. Meanwhile, officials and broadcasters will benefit from enhanced Referee Views, featuring up to 50% less motion distortion. These stabilized visuals provide greater clarity during fast-paced moments, supporting both officiating and broadcast quality.

Lenovo’s innovations extend beyond the stadium experience. Immersive digital environments and holographic experiences will offer fans new ways to connect with the tournament, regardless of their location. These technologies are expected to create engaging interactions that bridge the gap between physical and virtual experiences.

For teams and coaching staff, the FIFA AI Pro platform represents a major advancement in performance analysis. The platform delivers tactical insights to coaches, players, and analysts from all 48 participating teams. By leveraging AI-generated data and analytics, teams can make more informed decisions and improve their competitive strategies. This technology helps level the playing field by providing access to advanced performance insights across the tournament.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ approaches, Lenovo’s AI-powered infrastructure and innovative solutions demonstrate how technology continues to transform global sporting events. By enhancing operations, improving fan engagement, and empowering teams with actionable insights, Lenovo is helping create a smarter, more connected, and more immersive World Cup experience for everyone involved.

LG Electronics Philippines Strengthens Heritage Preservation Efforts with Expanded National Museum Partnership

LG Electronics Philippines continues to demonstrate its commitment to cultural preservation and community support through an expanded partnership with the National Museum of the Philippines. As part of this ongoing collaboration, LG recently donated 41 LG PuriCare™ dehumidifiers to help maintain optimal indoor environmental conditions for the country’s valuable museum collections.

The donation marks a significant expansion of LG’s support for the National Museum. In 2025, the company provided 21 dehumidifiers to assist in preserving artworks housed at the National Museum of Fine Arts. Building on the success of that initiative, the latest donation aims to extend climate care support to more institutions and collections across the country.

The newly donated LG PuriCare™ dehumidifiers will be distributed to several National Museum facilities, including the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum of Natural History, and various regional museums nationwide. By helping regulate humidity levels, these devices play a crucial role in protecting sensitive materials such as artworks, historical artifacts, textiles, manuscripts, and natural history specimens from moisture-related damage.

The official turnover ceremony took place on May 18 at the National Museum of Natural History. The event coincided with International Museum Day 2026 and National Heritage Month in the Philippines, highlighting the importance of preserving the nation’s cultural and natural treasures for future generations.

Maintaining proper humidity levels is particularly important in the Philippines, where the tropical climate can accelerate the deterioration of museum collections. Excess moisture can contribute to mold growth, corrosion, warping, and other forms of damage that threaten the integrity of priceless artifacts and exhibits. The National Museum emphasized that dehumidifiers are essential tools in maintaining stable gallery conditions and ensuring long-term preservation.

For LG Electronics Philippines, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to corporate citizenship and the use of technology for social good. Beyond enhancing comfort in homes and businesses, LG’s climate care solutions are helping institutions safeguard the country’s heritage and educational resources.

The expanded partnership also brings valuable support to regional museums across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, ensuring that preservation efforts extend beyond Metro Manila. This nationwide approach helps protect significant cultural and natural collections that represent the diverse history and identity of the Filipino people.

Through this meaningful collaboration, LG Electronics Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines demonstrate how innovative technology can serve a greater public purpose by supporting the preservation of the nation’s cultural legacy and natural heritage.

VeritasPay Eyes 40% Merchant Growth Amid Nationwide Expansion

Payment solutions provider VeritasPay Philippines Inc. is targeting a 30–40 percent increase in its merchant base this year, alongside a 45-percent rise in processed transaction volume, supported by continued investments in internal capabilities and strategic partnerships.

From an initial focus on Metro Manila and the broader Mega Manila area in 2021, the company has since expanded its reach to serve merchants across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, reflecting the growing demand for accessible and reliable digital payment infrastructure beyond urban centers.

Today, VeritasPay supports a growing base of merchants nationwide, offering businesses a unified platform to accept multiple payment methods, including credit and debit cards, QR code payments, and other digital channels.

VeritasPay enables merchants to accept payments across various touchpoints—from physical point-of-sale (POS) terminals and mobile devices to online checkout pages and banking channels—through a single provider. This integrated approach simplifies operations for businesses managing multiple sales environments or branch locations, eliminating the need to work with separate payment providers and enabling more consistent transaction processing.

“At the point of sale, speed and reliability are critical to customer experience,” VeritasPay president and chief executive officer Christopher James Payne said.

Additionally, he stated that seamless transactions drive both customer satisfaction and business performance.

To support businesses at different stages of growth, VeritasPay structures its offerings into two core solution categories. Its In-Store suite, which comprises OnePOS, MobilePOS, and ExpressPOS, caters to day-to-day transactions at physical locations, offering merchants flexible options based on their setup and scale.

Complementing this is its Online suite, which includes EasyLink, Checkout, Online Banking, and Over-the-Counter, enabling businesses to accept payments remotely and expand into digital channels without overhauling their existing systems.

“At VeritasPay, we remain committed to empowering businesses by delivering accessible, reliable, and innovative payment solutions that drive growth and long-term success,” VeritasPay general manager and business development head Carl Henrison Tienzo said.

As SMEs expand, transaction visibility and operational oversight become increasingly important. VeritasPay provides centralized reporting tools that allow merchants to monitor sales, review payment activity, and track transactions by terminal, payment type, or location.

Such capabilities help business owners and managers identify trends, address discrepancies, and make data-driven decisions, particularly for enterprises operating across multiple branches.

The shift toward digital payments has also heightened expectations for consistency. VeritasPay’s platform supports uniform payment acceptance across locations and channels, helping businesses deliver a seamless checkout experience whether transactions occur in-store, online, or remotely. This consistency reduces friction for customers while standardizing processes for frontline staff.