Jollibee Philippines Earns Dual Recognition at the 25th PR Awards Asia-Pacific

Jollibee Philippines continues to demonstrate its ability to connect with Filipino consumers through innovative and meaningful campaigns, earning two Bronze Awards at the prestigious 25th PR Awards Asia-Pacific. The recognition highlights the brand’s success in creating impactful initiatives that resonate with younger audiences while promoting positive social values.

The company received accolades in the Esports/Gaming and PR Event categories, showcasing its versatility in blending entertainment, technology, and community engagement. These awards reinforce Jollibee’s position as a brand that not only serves food but also creates memorable experiences that align with the interests and aspirations of modern Filipino families.

One of the award-winning campaigns was the Jollibee GameJoy Combos initiative, which successfully tapped into the growing gaming culture in the Philippines. Through a strategic partnership with UniPin, a leading digital entertainment enabler, Jollibee offered customers select meal bundles that included GameJoy Credits Mystery Cards. These cards could be redeemed for in-game credits across thousands of online games, providing added value and excitement for gaming enthusiasts.

The campaign effectively bridged the gap between dining and digital entertainment, allowing Jollibee to engage with a younger, tech-savvy audience. By integrating gaming rewards into its offerings, the brand demonstrated a strong understanding of emerging consumer trends and the increasing influence of esports and online gaming in the country.

In addition to its gaming-focused initiative, Jollibee was also recognized for its Kids Values Meals campaign in collaboration with Adarna House, one of the Philippines’ most respected publishers of children’s literature. The campaign aimed to promote literacy, learning, and Filipino values among young readers through educational storybooks, activity sheets, and specially curated meal bundles.

Beyond encouraging reading habits, the initiative carried a meaningful social impact. Proceeds and support generated through the program contributed to classroom construction efforts across the country, helping improve educational opportunities for Filipino children. The campaign successfully combined family engagement, education, and social responsibility, reflecting Jollibee’s commitment to making a positive difference in communities.

The dual recognition at the PR Awards Asia-Pacific underscores Jollibee’s ability to create campaigns that go beyond traditional marketing. By embracing gaming culture and supporting literacy and education, the company continues to strengthen its connection with Filipino consumers while delivering initiatives that inspire, educate, and entertain. These achievements serve as a testament to Jollibee’s innovative approach to brand engagement and its ongoing commitment to creating meaningful experiences for generations of Filipinos.

Globe Boosts 5G Connectivity in Dumaguete City

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — Globe has strengthened its 5G connectivity in Dumaguete City through network enhancements that improve performance, capacity, and customer experience.

The city is now served by more than 30 5G sites, bringing its total mobile sites in the area to over 40 cell sites. Globe has also expanded its fiber infrastructure, with more than 330,000 kilometers of Globe Fiber coverage helping meet the increasing demand for reliable connectivity and high-speed internet services for households and businesses.

The network enhancement benefits Dumaguete City's approximately 145,000 residents by strengthening the digital infrastructure that supports education, tourism, public services, and economic activity. With enhanced 5G performance, residents and visitors can enjoy faster downloads, video and content streaming, smoother online gaming, and more reliable connectivity. The upgraded network also improves access to online learning platforms, digital resources, essential services, and real-time travel information, helping build a more connected and digitally empowered community.

"Connectivity continues to play an important role in helping communities access opportunities, services, and information. Through our ongoing investments in 5G and network enhancements, we are providing customers in Dumaguete City with a better mobile experience that supports their everyday needs and enables them to participate more fully in the digital economy," said Jun Juada, Business Head for Western Visayas at Globe.

Known as the City of Gentle People, Dumaguete remains an important education and tourism hub in Central Visayas. Enhanced 5G connectivity supports students, educators, businesses, and travelers by enabling seamless access to digital tools, information, and services while exploring the city's cultural and tourism destinations.

Globe encourages customers to maximize the benefits of the upgraded network by using 5G-capable devices. Customers can also use the GlobeOne app to manage accounts, monitor usage, register promos, pay bills, and access support services, including broadband repair requests.

The enhanced 5G experience in Dumaguete City reflects Globe's continuing investments in provincial areas to improve the quality of life, strengthen digital access, and deliver better connectivity for customers and communities.

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

LG Electronics Philippines Unveils LG xboom Stage 501: A Smarter, More Powerful Party Speaker for Every Occasion

LG Electronics Philippines has officially introduced the new LG xboom Stage 501, a versatile party speaker designed to elevate entertainment experiences with powerful audio performance, intelligent features, and flexible usability. Whether for indoor celebrations, outdoor gatherings, or casual weekend hangouts, the latest addition to the LG xboom lineup aims to deliver premium sound and convenience in one portable package.

At the heart of the LG xboom Stage 501 is its xboom Signature Sound, refined by renowned artist and technology innovator will.i.am. The speaker also benefits from premium drivers developed in collaboration with Peerless, a respected name in audio engineering. This combination ensures rich bass, clear vocals, and an immersive listening experience that can energize any event.

The speaker goes beyond traditional audio performance by incorporating a suite of advanced AI-powered features. Among its standout capabilities is AI Karaoke, which enhances singing sessions by optimizing vocal performance and creating a more engaging karaoke experience. Additionally, AI Sound intelligently adjusts audio settings to improve music playback and voice clarity, ensuring users enjoy the best sound quality regardless of content.

To further enhance the atmosphere, the LG xboom Stage 501 features AI Lighting, which synchronizes dynamic lighting effects with music in real time. This creates a more immersive environment for parties and gatherings. Meanwhile, Space Calibration Pro automatically analyzes the surrounding environment and fine-tunes audio output for optimal performance based on room conditions.

Built with versatility in mind, the speaker is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. It offers an impressive up to 25 hours of battery life, allowing users to enjoy extended entertainment without frequent charging. The device also features IPX4 water resistance, providing protection against splashes and light rain, making it ideal for outdoor events. Its one-hand portability and four mounting modes add further convenience, allowing users to position the speaker according to their needs.

For larger gatherings, the LG xboom Stage 501 supports Auracast™ audio broadcasting, enabling seamless multi-speaker connectivity. This feature allows users to expand sound coverage by linking multiple compatible speakers together, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the same high-quality audio experience across larger spaces.

With its combination of premium sound, AI-driven enhancements, durability, and portability, the LG xboom Stage 501 represents LG’s commitment to delivering innovative entertainment solutions for modern consumers seeking smarter and more immersive audio experiences.

Vivo X300 FE and ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Redefine Mobile Photography

MANILA, Philippines — Capturing life's everyday moments often means noticing details that many people overlook. Whether it's a flower blooming by the roadside, a bird perched on a distant branch, or a unique piece of public art hidden within a busy cityscape, these scenes hold beauty that can easily go unnoticed from afar.

The new Vivo X300 FE, especially when paired with the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, is designed to bring those hidden details into focus. Together, they provide users with a powerful mobile photography experience capable of capturing both wide landscapes and distant subjects with remarkable clarity.

One of the most impressive features of the setup is its ability to achieve up to 1600mm zoom, allowing users to see and photograph subjects from extraordinary distances. A striking example is a violinist statue that appears relatively small in a standard 23mm wide-angle shot. While the statue remains visible within the scene, many of its intricate details are difficult to appreciate. Using the telephoto extender, however, the same subject becomes vivid and highly detailed, revealing craftsmanship and textures that would otherwise remain hidden.

The difference becomes even more noticeable when photographing natural subjects. A flower viewed through a standard smartphone lens may look beautiful within its surroundings, but subtle textures and fine details can be difficult to capture. With the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, users can zoom in significantly closer, revealing intricate patterns, delicate edges, and vibrant details that transform an ordinary image into something extraordinary.

Wildlife photography also benefits from the enhanced zoom capabilities. Birds and other distant subjects often appear small even when using traditional smartphone zoom. The telephoto extender helps bridge that gap by delivering sharper images with improved detail, making it easier to capture subjects that would otherwise be challenging to photograph.

The Vivo X300 FE already offers versatile imaging performance through its wide-angle and telephoto capabilities. However, the addition of the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 elevates the device into a more advanced imaging system that expands creative possibilities for photography enthusiasts.

Available at Vivo stores nationwide and through official online channels, the Vivo X300 FE is priced at Php 54,999, while a bundled package with the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 is available for Php 68,998. Customers who purchase through the Vivo e-store or official Vivo app will also receive a complimentary Vivo photography bag, making it an attractive package for mobile photography enthusiasts.

DOST-PTRI Urges Compliance With PTF Law for Government Uniforms, Citing ₱17.8-Billion Opportunity for Local Textile Industry

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) is stepping up efforts to strengthen compliance with the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Law across government agencies, potentially opening a ₱17.8-billion annual market for locally made “Telang Pinoy” uniforms.

The push is part of DOST-PTRI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the implementation of Republic Act No. 9242, which mandates that government agencies use Philippine Tropical Fabrics—locally sourced and processed natural fiber textiles made from abaca, pineapple, banana, bamboo, cotton, and silk—in official uniforms and government-issued attire. Despite the policy being in place, the institute noted that awareness and procurement gaps persist among some agencies and local government units.

Government data show that the annual Uniform or Clothing Allowance (UCA) for public employees amounts to approximately ₱17.8 billion. Around half of this is estimated to go directly to textile procurement, translating to a demand of roughly 30 million meters of fabric each year at an average cost of ₱300 per meter.

DOST-PTRI Director IV Dr. Julius L. Leaño Jr. said the scale of demand and full compliance with the law present a clear opportunity to activate the entire domestic textile supply chain.

“Government uniform requirements can drive production across the entire value chain—from fiber cultivation to yarn production, weaving, and garment manufacturing,” Dr. Leaño said. “Full compliance with the PTF Law can transform public procurement into a stable market for local producers.”

DOST-PTRI said local fiber supply is sufficient to support increased production when properly integrated into the value chain, citing that cotton farms covering 12,600 hectares can produce about 2,270 metric tons of cotton, while other natural fibers contribute around 1,000 metric tons, forming a domestic raw material base capable of meeting the estimated annual PTF demand.

The institute also underscored the sustainability benefits of shifting to locally produced natural fiber textiles, citing estimates that PTF-based fabrics can reduce carbon emissions compared with conventional polyester materials.

To support implementation, DOST-PTRI continues to provide technical standards, testing, and certification for compliant fabrics. The agency is working closely with partner agencies: the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for compliance enforcement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for expanding market opportunities for local manufacturers, and the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (DA-PhilFIDA) for support in fiber cultivation.

Through its Fostering the Revitalization of Nascent Textile Innovation Ecosystems in the Region (FRONTIER) program, DOST-PTRI is establishing textile innovation hubs nationwide. These hubs are designed to connect fiber producers, weavers, designers, and manufacturers to expand and strengthen local textile production capacity within a coordinated ecosystem.

DOST-PTRI is calling on government agencies and industry partners to accelerate full compliance with the PTF Law, framing it as both a legal obligation and a concrete economic opportunity for Filipino farmers, weavers, and manufacturers. The institute continues to advance its “Telang Pinoy” advocacy—its campaign label for government and public adoption of locally made Philippine tropical fabrics—as a platform for sustained demand across the domestic textile value chain.

For more information on Philippine Tropical Fabrics and DOST-PTRI programs, interested stakeholders may contact ptri@ptri.dost.gov.ph or visit ptri.dost.gov.ph.