PHILSME 2025 Opens with a Powerful Kickoff, Igniting Momentum for Philippine SMEs

Pasay City, Philippines — The 16th Philippine SME Business Expo (PHILSME 2025) officially opened its doors on May 9 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, setting the stage for two days of innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial inspiration. With over 180 participating local and international brands and an expected 20,000 attendees, the event promises to be a game-changer for the Philippine SME sector.

Headlining the Opening Ceremony and Media Press Conference was PHILSME CEO and Managing Director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla, who introduced this year’s theme: “Driving Momentum: Pursuing Ingenuity, Resiliency, and Customer-Centricity.” In her keynote, Esguerra-Abrenilla emphasized the expo’s commitment to building platforms that accelerate SME growth through innovation and meaningful business connections.

Attendees were welcomed to an expansive exhibit area showcasing solutions across digital services, e-commerce, logistics, franchising, finance, and more. Major brands like JRS Dynamics Info Solutions, GCash for Business, and Cignal TV Inc. brought forward tools designed to empower and scale SMEs.

Inspiration Meets Strategy at the PHILSME Business Conference

Day 1 also launched the PHILSME Business Conference—an electrifying series of talks and panels featuring renowned industry leaders. RJ Ledesma, co-founder of Mercato Centrale, led with a session on entrepreneurship and business innovation, encouraging startups to lean into creativity and agility.

A standout panel, “The Blueprint for E-Commerce Success,” featured Kim Lato (Kimstore), Dar Ty-Nilo (Belle de Jour Planner), and Miko David (David & Golyat), who shared insider strategies from the frontlines of online business. Other highlights included Ric Gindap’s insights on brand authenticity and Cristalle Belo-Pitt’s candid talk on lessons learned from building multiple businesses.

Adding a global dimension to the event, Malaysian Ambassador H.E. Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino inaugurated the Special Malaysian Pavilion presented by MATRADE, showcasing Malaysian innovation and fostering cross-border partnerships.

A Growing Network and a Look Ahead

The PHILSME Business Network Ceremony welcomed new and returning members, solidifying the event’s role as a community hub for entrepreneurs. Motivational speaker Jayson Lo wrapped up Day 1 with “Discover the Younique,” inspiring attendees with a blend of personal development and business transformation.

With Day 2 featuring wealth coach Chinkee Tan and more business trailblazers, PHILSME 2025 continues to fuel SME momentum. Walk-in guests can still attend for PHP 200, while free tickets remain available at ticket.philsme.com.

PLDT, Smart Power PPCRV Command Center for Transparent 2025 Elections

PLDT and Smart, together with the group’s corporate arm, PLDT Enterprise, host the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Command Center at their facility in Sampaloc, Manila, for the 2025 National and Local Elections.

“PLDT and Smart’s alliance with the PPCRV is built on a shared and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Philippine elections. Equipped with servers, network infrastructure, internet connectivity, mobile devices, and other communication tools, the Command Center enables PPCRV to coordinate the work of over 450,000 volunteers across the country,” said Blums Pineda, SVP and Head of Enterprise Business Group at PLDT and Smart.

The site serves as the nerve center of PPCRV’s election operations, enabling the civic society organization to gather data in real-time and process transmission audits as part of its advocacy for a Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, Peaceful (CHAMP) polls. The facility also boosts the poll watchdog’s unofficial parallel count.

Accredited by the COMELEC, PPCRV volunteers will collect the physical copies of pre-transmission election returns (ERs) from automated counting machines across the country. These documents are then forwarded to the Command Center and compared with the digital ERs transmitted through the Automated Election System to ensure consistency. And with advances in digital technology, PPCRV’s parallel count will now include local races, enhancing transparency across all levels.

PLDT and Smart’s partnership with the PPCRV started in 1992, just a year after the organization was founded. In the past 33 years, the collaboration witnessed important milestones in the country’s electoral process, such as the 2010 polls when Filipinos cast their votes using automated counting machines for the first time. Since then, the PLDT Group has supported the election watchdog’s efforts to monitor and audit the elections and has expanded to include broader logistical and technical support, and initiatives to engage youth volunteers.

The PLDT Group, through its corporate arm PLDT Enterprise and data center arm VITRO, Inc., has signed a partnership with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in support of more transparent and secure midterm elections. VITRO data centers house two of the three critical server clusters that will receive data directly transmitted by automated counting machines in the upcoming polls.

As the country’s leading integrated telco network, PLDT and Smart’s resilient infrastructure provides the backbone for the secure transmission of election data from voting precincts across the Philippine archipelago to data centers in the nation’s capital. COMELEC has secured SIMs from the three major Philippine telcos that will be used as primary and backup for the transmission of election results. The majority of these are Smart SIMs. The election body has tapped the iOne-Ardent joint venture to provide the secure electronic transmission services for the 2025 polls.

PLDT and Smart’s efforts to collaborate with the government by providing technology that strengthens democracy highlight their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16 on strong institutions.

Supercharge Your Home Connection with Globe’s All-New GFiber Plan

If you’ve been putting up with slow internet, now is the best time to make the switch. The all-new Globe At Home GFiber Plan delivers blazing-fast speeds of up to 1.5Gbps, letting you say goodbye to lag and hello to seamless digital living. With no lock-up, zero installation fees, and a piso cashout, this offer is built for convenience, value, and performance.

Whether you're working from home, streaming non-stop, gaming with friends, or staying connected with loved ones, there's a GFiber Postpaid Plan designed to match your lifestyle. Starting at GFiber Plan 1499, customers can enjoy reliable speeds and stable connections for everyday use. For entertainment lovers, GFiber Plan 1999 adds value with bundled subscriptions to Disney+ and Blast TV, turning your living room into a streaming haven.

“Our latest GFiber plans go beyond connectivity, providing a lifestyle solution tailored to every household,” shared Abby Cardino, VP for Broadband Business at Globe. “From installation to after-sales care, we prioritize our customers’ needs at every stage.”

What makes this new offer even more exciting? New customers will only pay one peso as an advance on their monthly service fee—down from the original Php2,998. There’s also no installation fee (previously Php2,400), and no lock-up period, giving users a no-commitment trial experience.

All GFiber plans are powered by WiFi 6 technology, capable of supporting up to 30 devices simultaneously without compromising speed or performance. On top of that, customers can enjoy exclusive content bundles, perks, and premium tech add-ons with higher-tier plans.

Here’s a quick look at the options:

• GFiber Plan 1999: 500 Mbps, WiFi 6 modem, Disney+ and Blast TV

• GFiber Plan 2799: 700 Mbps + Php5,000 TP-Link voucher + Globe Home Squad visit

• GFiber Plan 4999: 1 Gbps with VIP Hotline access

• GFiber Plan 7499: 1.5 Gbps with all premium perks

Now is the perfect time to upgrade your home connection. Experience faster speeds, better content, and more convenience—without the usual costs or contracts.

Learn more or apply today at: https://glbeshop.co/BB-Postpaid-PR

Anko Opens Second Store at Alabang Town Center

Manila, Philippines - Australian brand Anko has officially opened its second store at the ground floor of Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City. This expansion brings Anko’s signature in-store experience to one of Metro Manila’s most dynamic retail hubs.

Known for its quality and affordable home and lifestyle products, Anko offers everything from everyday essentials like kitchen and dinnerware to storage solutions and trendy décor; stationery items like notebooks and pens for those who enjoy journaling; and even arts and crafts for kids, beauty and wellness products, all offered at everyday low prices.

Anko Philippines country manager Rachel Turner expressed her excitement for the new store and her appreciation for the warm welcome from the South community. “Not only do we bring Anko closer to more families, but the opening of this store will bring in new jobs to the area,” she added.

“Our focus on making everyday living brighter means we're committed to helping our shoppers make their hard-earned money go further. For every peso we save our customers, it's an extra peso they can use toward bills and other payments,” Turner added.

Ayala Corporation’s managing director, Mark Robert Uy, who was present during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, shared, “We're happy to see Anko as more than just another retail store; it's a shopping experience that focuses on creating the best in-store experience while offering products at affordable everyday prices. We are thrilled to be part of the journey of setting up the Anko Alabang Town Center store, and subsequently future stores.”

The opening day was a lively celebration filled with activities for everyone. Esteemed guests and shoppers enjoyed face painting, hands-on fun at the play-and-create area, pampering at the nail and massage station, fresh brews from the coffee bar, and upbeat live music, making Anko’s newest store a true community event.

Just in time for Mother’s Day and the summer season, the new store comes to life with seasonal finds such as the microwave toastie maker for ₱660, a quick-snack favorite of Anko ambassador and celebrity mom Anne Curtis, fragrant candles affordably priced at ₱220, Eden bath towel ₱220 to complete that home spa vibe, and chic set of glassware for ₱620 ideal for serving refreshing slushies.

Unlock exclusive perks with the Anko Club app

To make the event more special, Anko has unveiled its first-ever loyalty program called the Anko Club.

The app offers members access to exclusive events such as VIP experiences, product launches, and both online and in-store activations. Users can easily register, earn participation rewards, and engage with brand ambassadors and influencers. Member information on the app also serves as a digital pass for event check-ins.

Anko Club features include interactive challenges, push notifications, and both custom and group in-app messaging to keep members connected and engaged.

As a special treat during the opening day, customers who registered on the app and followed @anko_philippines on Instagram received exclusive welcome gifts.

“We’ve learned so much from our first store in Glorietta 2, and we promise to keep listening to our customers and understanding what they truly value. The Anko Club app will help us better connect with our customers and meet their needs. We’re creating a space–online and in-store– where people can explore, be inspired, and find their perfect match,” Turner said.

Anko currently has branches in Glorietta 2 and Alabang Town Center and has announced its upcoming third location in TriNoma, Quezon City – all part of Ayala Malls.

Vivo’s 3x3 Basketball Challenge Heats Up at SM Fairview, Sets the Stage for Epic Grand Finals at SM MOA

The energy was off the charts last May 3 at SM Fairview as the final leg of Vivo’s 3x3 Basketball Challenge Year 3 brought fierce competition, stunning plays, and an electrified crowd. The highlight of the event? A historic double sweep by Uncle Drew Pilipinas, dominating both the men’s and women’s divisions—an achievement that sent fans into a frenzy and added fuel to the anticipation for the tournament’s grand finale.

Now in its third year, Vivo’s 3x3 Basketball Challenge has become a major grassroots event in the Philippine sports scene. As the tournament builds momentum, all eyes turn to the Grand Finals happening on May 9 and 10 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, where the top teams will face off in the ultimate battle for 3x3 supremacy.

Bringing even more star power to the court, San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan is set to appear live at the Grand Finals. Known for his explosive style of play and MVP performance at the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship, Sochan’s presence adds excitement and inspiration to a tournament already packed with rising basketball talent.

The SM Fairview leg also featured the return of the popular Last Man Standing challenge, a high-octane shootout that had fans roaring as participants fought for bragging rights. Throughout the event, the crowd enjoyed raffle draws, interactive booths, and exclusive Vivo merchandise giveaways, making the experience fun both on and off the court.

With all semifinalists from previous legs ready for a high-stakes clash at SM MOA, the Grand Finals promise intense matchups filled with grit, speed, and classic streetball swagger. Fans can expect nothing less than a full-on celebration of basketball culture.

Whether you're watching courtside or catching the action online, be part of this unforgettable finale. The Vivo 3x3 Grand Finals is more than just a tournament—it’s a celebration of passion, performance, and community.

Stay tuned for tournament updates on the Vivo website, and catch all the real-time highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, and winning plays by following Vivo Philippines on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.