Alsons Dev Inaugurates Sarangani’s First Integrated Emergency Response Complex

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Alabel, Sarangani – Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) marked a significant milestone with the blessing and inauguration of the completed Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex on January 14, 2025. Located within Avia Estate, Alsons Dev’s master-planned township in Alabel, Sarangani, the Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex is the SOCCSKSARGEN region's first integrated emergency response center, combining three essential government services in one state-of-the-art facility.

The APSSC houses three critical facilities: a Fire Substation, Community Police Assistance Center, and MDRRMO Satellite Emergency Operations Center. This integrated setup mirrors a similar complex in Alsons Dev's Northtown township in Davao, further highlighting the company’s innovative approach to fostering public safety across its developments.

The inauguration marks the official turnover of the facilities from Alsons Dev and the municipal government of Alabel. The Alabel LGU will subsequently hand over the facilities to their respective agencies: the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

"The completion of the Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex represents Alsons Dev’s long-standing commitment to enhancing community development and well-being in Mindanao. By providing vital infrastructure and supporting local government initiatives, we can contribute to a safer and more prosperous future for Alabel and the broader Sarangani community,” said Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alsons Dev.

A one-stop hub for emergency services

The Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex, set to open to the public in the first quarter of 2025, is a pioneering one-stop hub designed to improve response times and coordination among emergency services, significantly enhancing the safety and security of Alabel and its neighboring areas.

“This complex stands as a powerful symbol of hope, security, and resilience. It is a testament of the foresight and unity of our local leaders. We wholeheartedly dedicate this facility to those tirelessly protect and serve our people - our courageous men and women in uniform.” shared Sarangani Governor Ruel Pacquiao.

The complex houses a Fire Substation equipped with modern firefighting resources to effectively respond to fire emergencies and a Community Police Assistance Center, providing a secure and accessible space for police operations. It also has an MDRRMO Satellite Emergency Operations Center that will serve as a hub for coordinating disaster response efforts, including monitoring, communication, and resource allocation.

L-R: Sarangani Governor Rogelio “Ruel” D. Pacquiao, Alabel Mayor Vic Paul M. Salarda, Alsons Dev President and CEO Miguel A. Dominguez, Provincial Fire Marshal-Sarangani FSupt. Reginald L. Legaste, PNP Alabel OIC Kathrina Alegarbes, and LDRRM Officer III Haweya Balangcas at the ceremonial turnover of the plaque for the Alabel Public Safety & Security Complex from Alsons Development & Investment Corporation.

"Since this will be officially turned over to the Municipality of Alabel, rest assured that it will be put to good use and will bring lasting benefits to our community. Our Public Safety and Security Complex, built with the invaluable support of our long-time partner Alsons Dev, the Alcantara Group, and its subsidiary, will serve as a vital asset for our residents. We are truly grateful for Alsons Dev's unwavering support to the Municipality of Alabel." said Mayor Vic Paul M. Salarda, MPA.

The Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex, is patterned after Alsons Dev’s first integrated emergency response complex in Davao City—the first of its kind in the country. These developments reinforce Alsons Dev’s commitment to addressing the evolving needs of communities and its role as a trailblazer in regional development and public safety infrastructure.

For more information about Avia Estate, visit https://aviaestate.ph/.

Steve Aoki and David Guetta Share New Single “My Life”

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Dance music powerhouses Steve Aoki and David Guetta reunite to deliver a new anthem, “My Life,” featuring Swae Lee and the late PnB Rock. This release builds on decades of friendship and collaboration between Aoki and Guetta, who have performed onstage together and remixed each other’s tracks throughout their careers. Their last joint effort, the 2018 hit “Motto” (featuring Lil Uzi Vert and G-Eazy), set the stage for this much-anticipated original single. Most recently, Aoki remixed Guetta’s 2024 track “When We Were Young” with Kim Petras.

Listen to “My Life” here: http://steveaoki.lnk.to/MyLife 

“My Life” sees Aoki start the new year off strong, following the release of his ninth studio album, 2024’s Paragon. The album expanded on the immersive HiROQUEST universe Aoki created across music, trading cards, and a newly launched graphic novel. Aoki also worked with PnB Rock on his HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix album, making “My Life” a heartfelt continuation of their collaboration.

Arriving alongside the single is a vibrant, visually stunning music video by OseanWorld, an Atlanta-based artist celebrated for his futuristic visuals and characters.

Watch “My Life” video here: https://youtu.be/zbKOYBVpnOQ

"'My Life' is a meaningful track for me, teaming up with my brother David Guetta, Swae Lee, and the legendary PnB Rock,” Steve Aoki shares. “It’s all about the connections we’ve built and the energy we’ve brought to music over the years.”

The release comes as David Guetta dominates dance music charts worldwide. Earlier this month, Guetta broke records by earning his 17th #1 on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart with “Forever Young” featuring Ava Max and Alphaville. The track is climbing the Adult Pop Airplay (Top 10) and Top 40 (Top 15) charts, cementing Guetta’s status as a global dance music icon.

“I love creating music that combines dance and hip hop and am so happy with how this track turned out,” David Guetta adds. “It's always a pleasure getting to work with my good friend Steve Aoki and Swae Lee is such an incredible artist. It’s extra special that we got to use vocals from the late PnB Rock which provided the finishing touch on the record.”

Swae Lee’s fans are buzzing about his latest futuristic single, “Doodleverse,” with Pharrell and Lil Yachty, as well as his teased collaborative project with Steve Aoki, dubbed Swaeoki. Lee’s connection with Aoki runs deep—over the years, they’ve shared stages worldwide, including a memorable performance during Dim Mak's 20th-anniversary tour in San Francisco, where they engaged the crowd in an audience-wide mannequin challenge. 

“‘My Life' is special 'cause it’s all about creativity and connection,” Swae Lee shares. “Working with Steve and David, plus honoring PnB Rock’s legacy, made it hit even harder. It’s all about bringing energy and heart to the music, and I can’t wait for the world to vibe with it.”

BINI Gears Up for 1st Leg of ‘BINIverse World Tour’; Shuttle Service to Philippine Arena Available

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All roads lead to the Philippine Arena on February 15 (Saturday) as the nation’s girl group BINI holds the maiden leg of the momentous “BINIverse World Tour 2025.” BLOOMs can avail of roundtrip shuttle service to join and celebrate BINI’s latest milestone.

Shuttle service to and from the concert venue is available via tridemtickets.com with main pick-up points at Solaire ASEAN Open Parking, One Ayala Terminal Makati, UPark Megamall, Baliwag Bus Terminal Cubao, and SM City North Edsa.

The eight-member Filipino act has started rehearsals for the “BINIverse World Tour: Philippines,” which is expected to deliver fresh and thrilling numbers, including a must-see performance of their new international single, “Blink Twice.”

The song will be available on digital streaming platforms beginning Feb. 13 (Thursday) or two days before the most awaited show.

VIP and lower box A premium tickets to the concert are sold out but other lower box, upper box, and gen ad tickets are still up for grabs via pulptickets.com and ticketnet.com.ph.

After the Philippine leg, “BINIverse World Tour” will go to Singapore, Dubai, London, and the United States.

Be part of the “BINIverse World Tour: Philippines” on February 15, 5pm at the Philippine Arena, and watch out for the music drop of “Blink Twice” on Feb. 13.

DOT, DSWD formalize partnership to aid disaster-affected tourism front liners

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Tourism workers affected by natural calamities, disasters, and emergencies can now avail of financial and training assistance from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

This, after Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian formally sealed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa sa Turismo (BBMT) program on Thursday (Jan. 23). Undersecretaries Shahlimar Hofer Tamano and Diana Rose Cajipe were also present and served as witnesses.

This means that qualified tourism frontliners may now avail of the DSWD’s existing cash assistance programs, including the Emergency Cash Transfers (ECT) and Cash for Work, while simultaneously receiving the DOT interventions on alternative livelihood training programs like basic hilot; candle making; beads and artwork training; basic bread and pastry making; detergent making; fun farm tour product development; tourism awareness and tourist reception seminar; community-based kulinarya; and the Filipino brand of Service Excellence (FBSE), if their usual sources of livelihood have been disrupted by calamities and emergencies, including those affected by the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental.

The partnership seeks potential program participants who can be disaster-qualified tourism workers listed under the Listahanan 3; other qualified household beneficiaries under a standardized/unified targeting system used by the DSWD; other criteria prescribed in other disaster risk reduction guidelines that will be promulgated in the future; resident workers in tourism destinations or attractions; members of a community-based tourism organization or beneficiaries jointly approved by the DSWD and DOT; or may be affected by calamities or emergencies that disrupted their livelihood as tourism service providers.

“I'm so grateful to Secretary Rex Gatchalian and to the entire team of the DSWD for the culmination of months of coordination that will benefit thousands of tourism workers across the country,” Secretary Frasco said in her speech during the signing ceremony held in Pasay City.

“Tourism is such a reliable source of livelihood and a reliable pillar of our economy that notwithstanding climate-related disasters, it can continue to provide a source of employment and income. And what the partnership with the DSWD will do is that it will capacitate the DOT as well to come in and to provide the assistance that's necessary for them to go on with their lives and continue to have sources of livelihood,” she emphasized, noting that the partnership is just the beginning of more collaborations with the DSWD.

“Through this partnership, we can also see where national government funding goes– that there is a concrete demonstration of the result of the government interventions given to our tourism workers. In the DOT, we are committed to continuing to uplift the lives of Filipino tourism workers all over the country and to capacitate them with skills that will ensure that tourism continues to be a positive force in their lives and the transformation of the quality of lives of their families,” she added.

For his part, Secretary Gatchalian said that this partnership ensures “that the marginalized, those affected by natural calamities, or those with a greater poverty issue,”, are directly impacted by the financial capacities of the DSWD: “I would like to express our gratitude to the Department of Tourism for this groundbreaking partnership that will help our dedicated workers in the tourism industry. The tourism sector is undeniably a cornerstone of our economy. The tireless efforts of our tourism workers have played a crucial role in showcasing the beauty of the Philippines. However, because of the recent disasters that hit the country due to national calamity and natural and manmade hazards that were further aggravated by the effects of climate change, it is unfortunate to witness the devastating impacts of calamities in our poor communities. Part of these communities that are directly affected whenever we have disasters are the workers in the tourism center since their families, homes, and properties are not the only ones that are affected, but also their way of life.”

“We are very excited that this partnership is a synergy of your vision with our mandate and making sure that we efficiently use government resources to reach as many communities to help as to many distinct communities there are in the country. In response, the DSWD is proud to partner with the DOT to implement the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa sa Turismo” or the BBMT,” he added.

Last May 27, 2024, both Secretaries attended the pilot run of the BBMT to give financial and training assistance to the victims of widespread flooding in several areas of the Davao Region and Agusan Del Sur in the Caraga region in early February 2024. The ceremony was held in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Global Alliance and WHO QualityRights Initiative collaborate to address mental health crisis in public relations

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The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (Global Alliance) today announced a new collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s QualityRights initiative, strengthening the Global Alliance’s 2025 commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing within the public relations and communications industry.

The announcement comes as January’s Health & Wellbeing Month draws to a close. To mark the occasion, Global Alliance will host a free global webinar on the 30^th of January, which is open to all public relations and communication professionals. The event will coincide with the release of the Global Alliance’s How We Are Working Mental Health and Wellbeing Snapshot Report (Snapshot Report). This report highlights the critical challenges faced by PR professionals and the need for systemic change.

“Public Relations professionals are now facing unprecedented challenges,” said Professor Justin Green, Global Alliance President and CEO. “Our Snapshot Report confirms this, and we must act now to ensure mental health is recognized and addressed across the industry. Our collaboration with WHO QualityRights is a major step forward. In 2025, the Global Alliance is committed to setting a global benchmark and supporting our members to advance this critical commitment.”

Ana Pista, founder and CEO of Ardent Communications (ArdentComm) and a newly appointed director at Global Alliance, agreed, saying, “The pressure on Filipino PR professionals is truly immense. In fact, a 2023 report by the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) noted that the ‘rising epidemic of mental health crisis' in the country is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address mental health within all sectors, including public relations.”

Key findings from the Snapshot Report

The Snapshot Report provides a concerning glimpse into the mental health struggles of public relations professionals, though it does not yet represent a comprehensive global picture.

Key findings include:

• 78% of Public Relations professionals report high stress.
• 46% of Public Relations professionals note worsening mental health in the past year.
• 64% say their organizations lack adequate mental health support.
• Only 32% feel comfortable discussing mental health at work.
• More than 50% cite unrealistic deadlines, client demands, and poor work-life balance as key stressors.

Jennifer Muir, Chair of Health & Wellbeing Month and a Global Alliance Board Member, reflected on this data and stressed the need for action, stating, “We can’t afford to treat mental health as an afterthought or a personal burden; it must be a collective priority. The limited data we have tells us a compelling story. Too many PR professionals are experiencing burnout, stress, and receiving inadequate workplace support.”

“We need more than just awareness — we need tangible action,” said Muir. “That means breaking down the stigma, integrating real support systems into the fabric of our industry, and ensuring that mental health resources are accessible to every professional, everywhere.”

Taking action: A global collaboration for mental wellbeing

The increasing demands of the public relations industry, coupled with workplace practices and cultural challenges, are placing a significant strain on mental health.

This collaboration aims to address these issues by:

• Establishing a Global Benchmark: The Global Alliance is committed to developing a standardized approach to measuring and reporting mental health in public relations.
• Accessible Resources: Through the WHO QualityRights initiative, Public Relations and Communication professionals will have access to:
• WHO QualityRights self-guided e-training in 11 languages, focusing on a human rights perspective.
• Global Alliance-led guidance on workplace mental health policies and leadership-driven cultural change.
• A framework for embedding mental health as an industry priority.

“Through this global collaboration, we are moving beyond conversation and taking the necessary steps to create lasting change,” Muir further emphasized.

Global webinar on mental health

The Health & Wellbeing Month global webinar on January 30th will:

• Launch the Global Alliance Snapshot Report.
• Introduce the WHO QualityRights collaboration and resources.
• Feature industry leaders discussing mental health best practices.
• Provide a forum for PR professionals to share challenges and solutions.

Register now: https://www.globalalliancepr.org/mental-health-perspectives-personal-local-global 

A global call to action

As the Global Alliance moves into 2025, it urges Public Relations professionals, agencies, and organizations worldwide to prioritize mental health and wellbeing. This collaboration with WHO QualityRights, along with global benchmarking and continued engagement, represents a significant step towards creating a healthier and more sustainable public relations profession.

For more details on the Snapshot Report, WHO QualityRights collaboration, and Health & Wellbeing Month, visit: https://www.globalalliancepr.org/health-wellbeing-month.

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