HUAWEI Philippines Launches Back-to-School Promotions with Productivity Bundles for Students

As students prepare for another academic year filled with online classes, research projects, and digital collaboration, having the right technology has become more important than ever. Recognizing the evolving needs of today's learners, HUAWEI Philippines has officially launched its Back-to-School Promotions, offering exclusive productivity bundles designed to help students study smarter, create efficiently, and stay connected throughout the school year.

At the center of this campaign is the HUAWEI MatePad Family, a lineup of tablets that transforms into a complete productivity workstation. More than just a tablet, the MatePad delivers an impressive 4-in-1 productivity experience, combining a tablet, keyboard, mouse, and HUAWEI M-Pencil into one portable ecosystem. This setup gives students the flexibility to take notes, create presentations, attend online classes, and collaborate on projects from virtually anywhere.

The productivity experience is further enhanced by PC-level WPS Office 3.0, allowing users to work seamlessly with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Combined with HUAWEI's intelligent AI-powered tools, students can enjoy smarter note-taking, faster content creation, and improved multitasking, making schoolwork more efficient than ever before.

Beyond hardware, HUAWEI is also investing in student engagement through its newly launched Campus Ambassadors Program and a series of university roadshows across Metro Manila. These initiatives will allow students to experience HUAWEI devices firsthand through interactive demonstrations, workshops, and campus activities. By bringing technology directly to universities, HUAWEI aims to empower students with practical digital solutions that support modern learning.

Expanding its growing device lineup, HUAWEI also introduced the new MatePad Mini and nova Y74 smartphone. The MatePad Mini features a lightweight 8.8-inch display, making it ideal for students who need portability without compromising productivity. Meanwhile, the nova Y74 is designed for users who require long-lasting performance, featuring a massive 6,620mAh battery paired with 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo, ensuring reliable power throughout busy school days.

To make these devices even more accessible, HUAWEI Philippines is offering special Back-to-School bundle promotions beginning July 7, 2026. Students who purchase eligible HUAWEI MatePad devices can receive a free 4-in-1 accessories package, a one-year WPS AI Membership, and premium school essentials to further enhance their learning experience.

With its combination of innovative hardware, AI-powered productivity features, and exclusive student-focused promotions, HUAWEI Philippines continues to demonstrate its commitment to helping students succeed in today's increasingly digital classroom. Whether attending lectures, completing assignments, or collaborating with classmates, the HUAWEI MatePad Family provides an all-in-one solution designed to keep students productive, creative, and ready for the challenges of the new school year.

Is Internal Audit a Bane to AI? MVP, Gokongwei Audit Forum Says No

As more organizations ramp up the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies at scale, it is critical for internal audit measures to help ensure that these systems continue to work as intended without doing harm.

“No team, no matter how good it is, can see the whole system and its unintended consequences while they are building it. That’s where internal audit comes in. It is not a barrier to innovation, but a way of helping organizations see what the system is actually doing,” said Dr Erika Legara, Director and Chief Data Officer of the Philippine Center for AI Research, speaking before executives from the MVP Group and Gokongwei Group of Companies in a recent forum organized to mark International Internal Audit Awareness Month.

Legara, however, also acknowledged that this is not how many executives perceive internal audit. “When they hear the word ‘audit’, the feeling is not enthusiasm, but something between inconvenience and dread. However, I have come to think that this reaction itself is a risk signal,” she warns. “When an organization treats scrutiny as something to avoid, it often means speed has somehow become more important than accuracy. That maybe we’re treating the cost of scrutiny as higher than the cost of being wrong.”

“At scale, the most valuable partner is one who tells you what you're missing,” she added.

Trust is the foundation of companies.

Spearheaded by the Internal Audit Group of PLDT Inc and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc (Smart), in collaboration with MVP Group and JG Summit Holdings Internal Audit teams, the event also featured a panel discussion with Legara, David Gulliver Go, Chief Human Resources Officer of JG Summit and Director of Cebu Air, and Francis Flores, Global Managing Director of Pickup Coffee.

"Today, businesses operate in a complex environment where rapid change is raising the demands on how we grow, innovate, serve customers, and act with speed. At the same time, we also face stricter regulations, heightened scrutiny, global issues affecting supply chains and costs, and rapid technological changes, including AI and data-driven transformation," said Gina B. Santos, FVP and PLDT Group Internal Audit Head, in her opening remarks for the program, which is now on its fourth year.

"The question before us is not simply, how do we act? The real question is: how do we act with speed, sound judgment, and a clear focus on measurable impact? This is the heart of our theme Today: Igniting Action, Advancing Impact, because action alone is not enough. It must lead to outcomes that matter: Stronger businesses, resilient operations, better decisions, and greater value for the people we serve," she added.

The session, which drew around 1,500 online attendees across MVP and Gokongwei groups and around 200 attendees onsite, was moderated by Gian Lao of PLDT and Smart’s Public Engagement and Corporate Communications Group.

PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, in a recorded message at the start of the program, underscored the importance of trust in business. “Our companies run on trust: The trust of our shareholders, boards, stakeholders, and customers, whose patronage and business we depend on. We must earn this trust every day through the quality of our products and services, integrity of our processes, and most importantly, the moral strength of the people who audit us,” he said.

Former Chief Justice and PLDT director Artemio Panganiban, on the other hand, highlighted the role of internal auditors in driving meaningful action in a rapidly evolving environment marked by technological disruption, cybersecurity challenges, and geopolitical shifts. "Success Today depends on our ability to turn insight into timely decisions and meaningful outcomes, not by reacting late but by acting early and with purpose. This is where internal audit delivers its greatest value, not only as a provider of independent assurance but as a catalyst for action."

In his closing remarks, PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr. reminded the audience that while artificial intelligence can do a lot of tasks, there are some things that are beyond its reach: Accountability, integrity and instinct.

“Only humans can be accountable,” said Jimenez, adding that AI is also incapable of integrity. “It will do what you ask it to do. It has no morality.”

Jimenez also pointed to the role that experience plays in decision-making. “For us who have been working in certain industries for a long time, sometimes we make decisions based on the wealth of knowledge that we have. That's called instinct. I don't think AI has instinct.”

Growth with speed and excellence

During the panel discussion, speakers shared practical perspectives on balancing speed, innovation, and risk management. Go discussed how large, diversified organizations take a measured and disciplined approach to AI adoption to ensure that AI enhances, rather than compromises, employee experience, data integrity, and cybersecurity: “We're approaching AI carefully. We don't just say, let's just put everything there. We go first to the actual employees using the system, and have an internal audit check the possible loopholes and leakages that may happen when we use AI in it.”

Flores, on the other hand, provided a start-up perspective, noting that for fast-growing organizations like Pickup Coffee, mastering business fundamentals and building strong internal systems must precede advanced AI adoption: “Internal systems act as your guardrails so you can continue to grow not just with speed but with excellence.”

Looking forward to the next decade, Legara said the main challenge will be for audit teams to be not just technically fluent, especially about emerging technologies, but self-aware as well. “The audit function that will matter in the next decade is one with enough technical fluency to ask the right questions about these technologies. They should have enough knowledge to ask the right questions and enough humility to bring in the right people to help them when they reach the limits of what they know. That is the future of audit.”

PLDT Group's support for International IA Awareness Month is aligned with the company's long-standing commitment to delivering an elevated customer experience, boosted by operational excellence.

Sip the Shift: Minute Maid Nutri+ Brings a Fresher Take for Young Filipinos’ Mornings

You wake up. You scroll. You commute. You eat lunch while answering messages. You scroll again. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. For many Filipinos—especially students, young professionals, and creatives navigating packed days—mornings don't always feel like a fresh start. Instead, they often feel like a slow drag.

Call it the "morning meh": that low-energy fog that settles in before the day even begins. It shows up during the commute, at the breakfast table, during the lunch break nobody actually took. It's neither burnout nor a crisis. It's just... blah, but it still quietly shapes how the rest of the day unfolds.

Small resets, big shifts

Here's the thing: you don't need a dramatic life overhaul to shake off the meh. Small intentional moments, whether it’s a song that actually slaps on the commute, a hearty meal eaten without a screen, or a sip of something cold and citrusy, can gently tip the mood in a better direction.

Think of it as zest as a mindset, not just a flavor. These micro-resets may not solve everything, but they help pull you out of autopilot, even for a minute. And sometimes, a minute is enough to turn the day around.

A fresh take on daily resets

Minute Maid Nutri+ is leaning into this moment with a refreshed look and a new Pineapple Orange flavor that hits just right. Bright, fruity, and made for the in-between moments of your day, it's packed with 200% Vitamin C and Fiber, so every sip does a little more than just taste good. No hype, no crash. Just a refreshing reset that helps you feel more refreshed and a little more alive in your day.

For Pia, a 24-year-old graphic designer in Mandaluyong, mornings used to be a blur of rushed coffee and unread notifications. "I started keeping a Minute Maid Nutri+ in my bag. It sounds small, but taking a sip of it during my commute actually makes me feel like the day is starting," she said.

A college student from Cebu named Marco puts it simply: "When ideas run dry, I take a break, step out, grab something cold. The Pineapple Orange flavor is the reset button I didn't know I needed."

Make the time for the zest moment.

Whether it's the first few minutes of your morning, a rushed lunch break, or a quiet pause between deadlines, there's always room for a small, bright reset. Minute Maid Nutri+ is there for all of it as a fruity, feel-good companion that turns the ordinary in-between into something worth savoring.

Feel the Zest with Minute Maid Nutri+!

Globe Delivers Seamless Connectivity at Baragatan sa Palawan 2026

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Globe ensured reliable connectivity throughout Baragatan sa Palawan 2026, enabling thousands of residents, visitors, and stakeholders to stay connected and share in the province's biggest annual celebration. Through enhanced network support and livestream services, Globe helped bring the festivities closer to communities across Palawan and beyond.

The support helped residents, tourists, vendors, guests, and local government units stay connected throughout the festivities. With more people gathering in major event venues, attendees were able to access event information more easily, share photos and videos in real time, communicate online, and complete digital transactions more conveniently. Communities outside Puerto Princesa City were likewise able to follow festival highlights throughout the celebration.

Backed by Globe's robust mobile network in Puerto Princesa City, which includes over 80 cell sites, more than 20 of which are 5G-enabled, the company helped accommodate increased data traffic throughout the festivities. These sites support residents, businesses, and visitors in the city while delivering seamless connectivity for real-time sharing, content creation, and digital engagement during major events such as Baragatan.

The network forms part of Globe's broader infrastructure footprint in Palawan, consisting of more than 200 cell sites serving communities across the province.

Globe also provided livestream connectivity at the Capitol Complex and Sports Complex, enabling more people across Palawan and beyond to follow festival activities in real time and participate in the celebration even from outside the main venues.

"Baragatan sa Palawan is an important celebration that highlights the culture, heritage, and achievements of communities across the province. Through our network and livestream support, Globe is helping make the festival more accessible while enabling people to participate, engage, and share meaningful moments wherever they may be," said Adonis Evangelista, Senior Director for Palawan at Globe.

Beyond enhancing festival connectivity, Globe supported the Baragatan Moments 2026 Reel-Making Contest, encouraging festival-goers to capture and share their favorite Baragatan experiences through creative short-form videos. Globe's contributions included lamppost banners, a Globe 5G Phone for the contest's grand prize winner, and dedicated internet connectivity at the Capitol Grounds and Balayong. These initiatives helped drive online engagement, foster digital storytelling, and enrich the overall festival experience.

The initiatives complemented Puerto Princesa's growing tourism sector, which continues to attract increasing numbers of domestic and international visitors. According to data from the Puerto Princesa City Tourism Office, the city welcomed almost 400,000 visitors during the first half of 2025, generating approximately P2.6 billion in tourism receipts. As the main gateway to Palawan, Puerto Princesa attracts travelers from around the world through destinations such as the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa Baywalk, and Iwahig Firefly Watching.

Globe’s participation in Baragatan sa Palawan 2026 reflects its continuing commitment to strengthening digital access in communities, enabling meaningful experiences, and providing reliable connectivity that helps bring people together during important cultural celebrations.

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

Vivo X300 FE Brings Flagship Photography to Everyday Creators

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Smartphone photography continues to evolve, and the Vivo X300 FE proves that capturing professional-quality images no longer requires carrying bulky camera equipment. Equipped with the 50MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera and the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, the latest smartphone delivers exceptional image quality, versatile zoom capabilities, and flagship-level performance for creators, travelers, and photography enthusiasts alike.

Recently, several content creators from the fields of lifestyle, travel, fashion, and photography showcased how the Vivo X300 FE performs in real-world situations. Their experiences highlighted the smartphone's ability to capture stunning images in various lighting conditions while preserving fine details, vibrant colors, and natural-looking results.

Lifestyle creator Patricia Chua demonstrated the phone's versatility by capturing everything from stylish fashion portraits to breathtaking nighttime cityscapes. She praised the device's Stage Mode and the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, noting how effortlessly they enhanced both daytime and nighttime photography. Even distant buildings retained crisp architectural details, while city lights remained balanced without sacrificing image quality.

For travel content creator June Sarahina, the Vivo X300 FE has become an essential companion for every adventure. Featuring focal lengths ranging from 14mm ultra-wide to 400mm telephoto, with zoom capabilities reaching up to 1200mm, the smartphone allows users to transition seamlessly between expansive landscapes and detailed close-up shots. June emphasized that the device has allowed him to leave heavy camera gear behind without compromising image quality.

Fashion and beauty creator Meg Perez also highlighted the smartphone's impressive imaging capabilities. She showcased how the Vivo X300 FE captures intricate details—from individual strands of hair to the reflective textures of clothing—while maintaining natural skin tones, balanced exposure, and accurate color reproduction. Even at longer focal lengths, portraits remained sharp, polished, and ready to share straight from the device.

Meanwhile, creator Niel explored the camera's creative potential through a concept-driven photoshoot inspired by scientific discovery. His images demonstrated how the Vivo X300 FE preserves fine textures, vivid colors, and exceptional clarity, encouraging creators to experiment with different visual styles and perspectives.

The Vivo X300 FE stands out as a powerful tool for storytelling through photography. Whether capturing portraits, travel experiences, cityscapes, or creative concepts, its advanced imaging system delivers remarkable clarity, impressive zoom performance, and reliable results in diverse shooting conditions.

The Vivo X300 FE and the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 are now available at Vivo stores nationwide, as well as through Shopee, Lazada, the Vivo E-Store, and the Vivo Official App. Customers purchasing the bundled package, priced at ₱68,998, will also receive a complimentary Vivo Photography Bag when ordering through the Vivo E-Store or Official App, making it an even more compelling option for aspiring photographers and content creators.