2GO Partners with CITEM to Power Manila FAME 2025

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2GO, the Philippines’ largest end-to-end logistics and transportation solutions provider, has partnered with the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) as a Business Solutions Partner for Manila FAME 2025, happening on October 16 to 18, 2025 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

L-R: Peter Joseph Tapang, [EGC1] Assistant Division Chief, CITEM; Marjo Evio, Department Manager, Service Business Department, CITEM; Atty Rowel Barba, Consultant, 2GO Group, Inc.; Leah Pulido Ocampo, Executive Director, CITEM; Faye Alonzo, Business Unit Head, 2GO Forwarding; Ethel Concepcion, Head of Corporate Marketing & Communications, 2GO Group, Inc.; Francis Chua, Business Unit Head, 2GO Travel.

Through this partnership, 2GO will have the opportunity to offer logistics support to exhibitors and buyers at the country’s premier design and lifestyle event. With services covering sea, land, and air freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and sea travel, 2GO is prepared to move prized and fragile cargo safely across the Philippines and beyond. Tailored solutions will also be made available to help participants bring their products to the event and distribute them back to markets nationwide or to local and international buyers.

“2GO is honored to partner with CITEM in supporting Manila FAME 2025,” said Faye Alonzo, Business Unit Head of 2GO Forwarding. “We recognize the importance of this event in showcasing Filipino creativity to both local and global markets. Through our logistics expertise, we aim to make it easier for exhibitors to participate, connect with buyers, and explore new opportunities.”

With exhibitors and visitors coming from all over the world, 2GO will support their journey by providing integrated logistics and sea travel services. This ensures both participants and their products reach Manila smoothly and securely.

As the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, CITEM continues to champion local small- and medium-scale enterprises and artisan communities.

“With Manila FAME, our goal has always been to provide a global platform for Filipino craftsmanship,” said Leah Pulido Ocampo, Executive Director of CITEM. “Our partnership with 2GO ensures that participants have reliable logistics support throughout their journey, so they can focus on sharing their designs, products, and stories with the world.”

The return of Manila FAME in 2024 featured 340 exhibitors and welcomed more than 5,700 visitors who sourced the best home, fashion, and lifestyle products in the country. This year, the show is expected to be bigger, with more than 10,000 buyers, exhibitors, media, and industry practitioners anticipated to attend, including leaders in architecture, interior design, and hospitality.

Manila FAME 2025 will once again position the Philippines as a sourcing destination for high-quality, design-driven home, fashion, holiday, and interior products, while strengthening collaboration between local industries and global markets.

For more information about 2GO Forwarding, email forwarding@2go.com.ph.

Filipino-Norwegian R&B star HILLARI headlines first solo show in Manila

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The homecoming show aims to create space for reconnection through music

Filipino-Norwegian singer-songwriter HILLARI is set to headline her first solo show in the Philippines this September 21, 2025, at Sari-Sari bar in Makati City.

The rising R&B phenom will be performing an intimate set on the strength of her recently released 7-track EP, New Beginnings, which is described as a “bold body of work that explores transformation, letting go, and stepping into one’s power.”

HILLARI considers the show her official homecoming, reconnecting with her roots in an intimate way. “For me, it feels extra special to share my music with my people. Words cannot express how excited I am to do my first official headline show in Manila. To connect with my audience and my famHilly in a personal way and hear their stories.”

Fans can expect a full-band performance of songs from New Beginnings, alongside the debut live performance of her upcoming single “I’m Still.” The laid-back, soul-infused track serves as a reminder for people to “take a breather, slow their pace, and find beauty in stillness.”

“It’s the New Beginnings Experience: a space to sing, dance, laugh, and even cry together,” HILLARI describes her upcoming solo show. “It’s all about connecting on a deeper level with my famHilly. Maybe a surprise choir will join us, maybe not. But most of all, I’m excited to hear my famHilly sing their hearts out, [because] as we all know, our people can really sing.”

Tickets to HILLARI: Live in Manila are priced at PHP 800 and available exclusively at https://hillariliveinmanila.helixpay.ph.

This event is presented by AIRTIME and GNN.

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About HILLARI

HILLARI is a rising global force in contemporary pop and R&B/Soul, known for her fearless artistry and deeply personal storytelling. She first captured attention with her breakout single “Desperate Soul” and her debut EP How Is Your Soul?, earning praise from outlets like Billboard US, CNN, and Complex Philippines. With a voice that resonates far beyond the studio, HILLARI has quickly established herself as a powerful live performer, playing shows across Norway, Sweden, France, Portugal, the U.S., Canada, and Southeast Asia.Her 2023 single “Loyal” climbed to #30 on the Philippines’ Top 200 Most Shazamed Songs and reached #10 on the Viral Top 50 chart. That same year, she was named NRK P3’s Urørt (Untouched artist of the year) artist and signed a global booking deal with United Talent Agency (UTA), further solidifying her place as one of the Nordics’ most exciting new exports.

Following her debut, HILLARI released her sophomore EP New Beginnings, a bold body of work that explores transformation, letting go, and stepping into one’s power. Described as a sonic journal, the seven-track EP showcased a more mature, self-assured artist and hinted at what’s to come.

Currently, HILLARI is working on her debut album, a carefully curated project featuring 8 to 10 tracks. She is collaborating closely with her main producer Morten Gillebo, alongside a trusted creative team that includes Yakob (6lack, Sza, Giveon), Etienne Edgar (Ella Mai, Janet Jackson), Reggie Becton, Terell Roper, and Ari PenSmith (Tyla, Beyonce, NAO). The album represents the next chapter in her evolution, more defined, more expansive, and unmistakably her. As she continues to build momentum, HILLARI has already earned nominations for Best New Artist and R&B/Soul at the Norwegian Grammys (Spellemann) and was nominated to 2024 Music Moves Europe Award. She has performed on major stages including a sold-out show at Oslo’s MUNCH Museum and has received airplay on BBC Radio (UK), NRK (NO), and Reprezent Radio (UK).

At just 20 years old, the Filipino-Norwegian singer-songwriter is redefining what it means to be an international artist from the Nordics. With each release, she invites listeners into a world that is vulnerable, bold, and undeniably her own. HILLARI’s music isn’t just something you hear, it's something you feel.

GCash highlights role of national ID in enabling inclusive, secure finance at BSP forum

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A trusted digital identity system lays the foundation for true financial inclusion, helping ensure that every Filipino, regardless of their background or circumstances, can access essential financial services with confidence.

GCash vice president and head of customer experience management Joanne Avendaño

This was the central message at the recent Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Forum on Digital Identity, where GCash, the country's leading finance finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, shared how its integration with the National ID eVerify Authentication Service (NIDAS) is making identity verification easier, more accessible, and more inclusive to help more Filipinos, especially those with limited access to traditional IDs, open an account.

Held at the BSP Assembly Hall, the forum brought together leaders from government, financial institutions, and the tech sector to examine how digital identity can support more secure and inclusive financial systems. Guided by the theme “Building Trust and Synergy in Digital Identity for an Inclusive and Secure Financial System,” the discussions emphasized the need for collaboration, innovation, and user-centric solutions that address real-world access challenges.

Representing GCash was Joanne Avendaño, vice president and head of customer experience management, who shared the company’s experience as the first and only Electronic Money Issuer integrated with NIDAS. This enables GCash users to validate their identity using their National ID in real-time, eliminating the need for multiple traditional IDs, which many Filipinos today still lack. This approach has helped reduce drop-offs during onboarding and has improved the success rate of account creation, especially among underserved groups. Most importantly, it has helped streamline onboarding for a broader range of users.

“Our partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has always been more than just ID acceptance. It’s a shared commitment to make sure that no Filipino is left behind in the digital economy,” said Avendaño. “By enabling real-time National ID validation and bringing services on-ground, we’re helping more Filipinos complete their verification journey with ease and confidence,” Avendaño added.

The forum also featured insights from the National Privacy Commission, World Bank, Korea Credit Information Services, and several units within the BSP. Topics ranged from data governance and consumer protection to practical implementation challenges and international benchmarks.

Avendaño joined fellow panelists from Asia United Bank, Seabank Philippines, Maya Philippines, and the Bankers Association of the Philippines in discussing the value of coordinated efforts, shared learnings, and responsible use of digital identity systems in strengthening public trust.

Beyond app integration, GCash has also worked with the PSA and local government units (LGUs) to support on-ground National ID registration and account onboarding events, which were held in schools, barangays, and underserved communities across the country. This approach brings both digital identity and financial access closer to Filipinos who need it most.

With digital ID adoption gaining momentum, GCash’s role as an early adopter highlights the importance of responsible integration, cross-sector collaboration, and community engagement in building a more accessible and inclusive financial ecosystem.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.

PNB Holdings Corp. signs lease agreement with BeFit

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Leading fitness, wellness brand to open new branch at PNB Makati Center

PNB Holdings Corp. (PHC) has signed a lease agreement with homegrown fitness brand BeFit to open a flagship branch at the PNB Makati Center. The new gym will bring a premium yet accessible wellness offering to the 13-storey commercial property in the heart of Makati’s Central Business District.

The ceremonial signing took place last June 24 at PHC’s head office in Makati City and marks BeFit as the newest addition to the property’s growing tenant mix.

BeFit was built with a clear mission: to reshape the health and wellness experience in the Philippines by making high-quality gyms more affordable and convenient. The upcoming 1,300 sqm facility supports this goal by placing fitness exactly where people need it most, close to home and work.

“BeFit is about making fitness something you can actually stick with,” said Brian Cu, co-founder of BeFit and former Grab Philippines President. “We’re building gyms that feel premium but never intimidating, spaces where you can show up just as you are, with no pressure, no contracts, and no gimmicks. That’s why PNB Makati Center felt like the perfect fit. It aligns with our goal to put movement back into people’s everyday environments.”

Inside, members will find over 100 machines across cardio, strength, and functional zones, including specialty areas like a Booty Builder section, recovery lounge, and indoor track. Group classes led by expert coaches will offer variety, accountability, and a sense of community. BeFit gyms will operate 24/7 and offer both lock-in and no lock-in memberships, so members can find a routine that fits into their real lives.

BeFit aims to create a space for movement, connection, and growth, believing that small steps toward an active lifestyle can drive long-term impact across work, relationships, and mental health.

"With BeFit, we are reinforcing our commitment to support lifestyle and wellness in the spaces we manage," said Joselito R. Consunji, PHC Chief Operating Officer. "Through this partnership, we are creating a more dynamic environment where individuals can thrive whether it’s for work or their overall health."

With the growing popularity of outdoor activities like run clubs and the steady stream of runners along Ayala Avenue during weekend closures, BeFit’s indoor gym adds a convenient, climate-controlled option for individuals pursuing active lifestyles all year round.

Over the years, PHC has steadily expanded its tenant profile at PNB Makati Center to include a mix of professional services, dining options, and now, health and wellness providers. The inclusion of BeFit signals a broader effort to build a lifestyle ecosystem within the building, offering tenants amenities that support both work and active living.

BeFit will be opening early access spots for founding members soon, with limited slots and exclusive launch rates. To learn more or join early, visit www.befit.ph or follow @befit.ph on Instagram.

PNB Makati Center has long been recognized as a prominent business address in Makati’s Central Business District. Under PHC’s management, the property is undergoing a purposeful evolution to meet the changing needs of modern tenants, emphasizing accessibility, comfort, and well-being.

To learn more about PHC, visit us on www.pnbholdings.com.ph.

LAB for ALL Caravan Brings Free Healthcare to 1,500 San Juan Residents

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The LAB for ALL caravan brought its health services to San Juan City on August 26, holding its mission at the FilOil Centre. Spearheaded by the First Lady Liza-Araneta Marcos, the initiative opened its doors to more than 1,500 San Juaneños, offering free medical consultations, medicines, vitamins, and laboratory procedures such as X-rays, ECGs, and other diagnostic screenings. 

To date, the nationwide caravan has reached over 1,200 registered patients, delivering 3,312 medical services and 77 dental treatments across its missions, underscoring the program’s advocacy of lifting the financial burden of healthcare and making essetial services accessible to every Filipino family.

Bell-Kenz Chief Executive Officer Dr. Luis Go hands over free prescription medicines and vitamins to an event attendee during the Lab for All outreach in San Juan on August 26, 2025; 

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos visits the Bell-Kenz booth during the Lab for All event with her is Bell-Kenz Corporate Branding and PR Head Patrick Larraga.

“I just want to say thank you very much to all the volunteers, thank you to our public agency partners and private partners, and thank you to all of you for giving us a chance to be of service to you,” the First Lady said, recognizing the collective effort that made the caravan possible.

“Like my husband says, ‘dapat nating mahalin ang Pilipinas, dapat natin mahalin ang Pilipino.’ So, on that happy note, marami pong salamat, sama-sama tayong babangon muli,” she added, underscoring the program’s call for unity and love of country.

The caravan was also attended by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and Representative Bel Zamora-Jornada, who joined the First Lady in reaching out to constituents and underscoring the city’s commitment to accessible community healthcare.

“Maraming maraming salamat po sapagkat ang San Juan po ang inyo pong nadalaw sa inyo pong LAB for All program,” Mayor Zamora said, underscoring the significance of San Juan being designated as a host city for the nationwide caravan.

The caravan also received strong support from private partners such as Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., which played a key role in extending the program’s impact by providing post-consultation support to patients. The company also distributed free prescription medicines and vitamins to hundreds of residents, with medical care complemented by the necessary treatments.

“Access to reliable treatment should not be a privilege. We are proud to support Lab for All in making quality healthcare more accessible to everyday Filipinos,” Bell-Kenz Chief Executive Officer Luis Raymond Go said.

The San Juan caravan forms part of the nationwide LAB for ALL program, which brings healthcare and social services closer to communities, particularly those in vulnerable sectors. Upcoming city missions will be announced soon, with Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc. reaffirming its commitment to support LAB for ALL in empowering access to essential healthcare.

Building on its ongoing efforts, the LAB for ALL program seeks to provide access to healthcare by bridging government and private sector resources to serve Filipinos in every province, city, and barangay. The San Juan mission highlighted the program’s impact, while the broader initiative seeks to equip communities with medical tools, medicines, and social support to overcome healthcare barriers. Through these efforts, LAB for ALL strives to make “mahal magkasakit” a reality no longer felt by underserved families.

LAB for ALL in San Juan was made possible through the collaboration among numerous government agencies including the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Agriculture (DA), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Housing Authority (NHA), PAG-IBIG Fund, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), PhilHealth, Senate Public Assistance Office (SPAO), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), alongside several private partners who lent their support to the initiative.