Ballet Manila reawakens Florante at Laura with creative powerhouse

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The restaging of Francisco Balagtas’ masterpiece is a rare opportunity to experience once again the timeless epic reimagined through myth, music and classical ballet.

After a critically acclaimed world premiere marked by overwhelming audience response, Ballet Manila’s Florante at Laura returns to Aliw Theater, with performances scheduled on October 3 at 8:00 PM, and October 4 and 5 at 5:00 PM.

For Ballet Manila’s founder and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, the return of Florante at Laura is not a rerun but a reckoning with our collective appreciation of our Filipino heritage. It is a rare opportunity to experience once again Francisco Balagtas’ timeless epic reimagined through myth, music and dance. Lisa has long championed Filipino storytelling through classical ballet, and this re-staging affirms that vision with renewed clarity.

“Bringing Florante at Laura back to the stage feels like coming full circle. The first run was a dream realized; the second at Areté affirmed that Filipino stories, when told with care and conviction, truly resonate. Now, with this third staging, it feels less like a return and more like a reckoning. I’m proud, but more than that, I’m moved. This ballet continues to teach us how timeless our heritage can be,” said Lisa.

Audiences can expect the full force of Ballet Manila’s creative ensemble once again. The production features live music performed by the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth under the baton of Toma Cayabyab, interpreting the original score composed by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab.

"To be able to hear the score again, seeing it move—it’s like watching a memory evolve. I wrote this as a legacy piece, but its return reminds me that legacy isn’t static. Ballet Manila has given the music new breath, and I feel grateful. This re-staging proves that our classics still have something urgent to say." said Ryan.

Choreographers Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Martin Lawrance collaborate anew to shape the ballet’s emotional terrain, drawing out the tension and tenderness within Balagtas’ verse. The libretto, adapted by Dr. Michael Coroza, anchors the production in language that bridges tradition and movement.

Transporting the audiences back to the kingdom of Berbania, set designer Mio Infante and costume designer Therese Arroyo also return to define the ballet’s visual language. Drawing from Persian motifs and Filipino sensibilities, their work complements the choreography and narrative, shaping a world that moves in step with the story.

This October, Ballet Manila invites audiences to return—not just to the theater, but to the heart of a national epic. For those who missed it, this is your moment. For those who came, it’s time to feel it again. Live, urgent, and unmistakably Filipino.

All performances will be staged at Aliw Theater, Pasay City. For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.To learn more about Ballet Manila and its shows, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph

Gawad Madiskarte Celebrates Five Years of Heart, Hustle, and Community

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PLDT Home and Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) mark a milestone this year as they celebrate five years of empowering Filipina mompreneurs – women who lead with heart, hustle, and ingenuity. From humble beginnings during the pandemic, the movement has grown into a thriving community of over 215,000 members, with more than 25,000 mompreneurs trained, equipped, and inspired to build businesses that uplift families and transform communities.

This year, MMPH brings back Gawad Madiskarte, the  annual awards ceremony that honors exceptional Filipina mompreneurs who embody leadership, compassion, and innovation. More than just awards, Gawad Madiskarte has become a powerful platform for uplifting women whose creativity and determination transform not only their families, but also their communities—and the nation.

“You work wonders in three different worlds: the world of home, your own personal growth, and the world of business. At PLDT, we believe in the power of community, and our Madiskarte Moms exemplify this through their dedication and innovation,” said Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Technology Head.

 

Butch Jimenez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Technology Head

You Are Seen. You Are Heard. You Are Valued.

Every mompreneur in MMPH carries within her dreams, sacrifices, and an unshakable hope—not just for herself, but for those she holds dear. Gawad Madiskarte is more than a set of awards. It is a celebration of courage, purpose, and love. It is a way of honoring the mom who quietly keeps going at dawn, who figures out shipping logistics in her lunch break, who turns passion into profit—even when the odds seem against her.

What Gawad Madiskarte Honors

Beyond building businesses, mompreneurs are reshaping the meaning of success—proving it is not only about profit, but also about purpose and positive change. At the 4th Gawad Madiskarte, inspiring women from government, business, and entrepreneurship will once again come together to honor these trailblazers.

Winners will be selected under two divisions:

●      Start-Up Mompreneurs – for businesses running at least 6 months

●      Scale-Up Mompreneurs – for businesses operating 13 months or more and DTI/BIR-registered

Three major awards reflect MMPH’s core values:

●      Diskarteng Angat – for growth and innovation

●      Diskarteng May Puso – for social good and community impact

●      Diskarteng Eco-Friendly – for sustainability and environment stewardship

Special awards include Diskarteng Digital (for creative digital use), the Mompreneurs’ Choice Award (voted by the MMPH community), and the Madiskarte Icon (for an exemplary leader and inspiration).

Stories of Triumph

Last year’s winner of Diskarteng Angat - Scale-Up Division Award  Heidie Ricca del Rosario, founder of HTP Clothing, turned a humble preloved clothing business into a thriving local fashion brand that empowers community seamstresses.

From L-R (Ina Pineda, Vice President for PLDT Home Marketing Communications and Services, Butch Jimenez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Technology Head, Ricca Del Rosario, Owner of HTP Clothing, and Maxine Loyola, AVP & Head, PLDT Home Marketing PR, Influencer Management and Brand Advocacies)

“Gawad Madiskarte allows us mompreneurs to be seen, heard, and celebrated. It fills our hearts to know the awards recognize that behind every successful business is a mom who made it happen,” Del Rosario said. (proposed quote)

How to Apply

Mompreneurs with inspiring stories and impactful businesses are invited to apply. Winners will receive cash prizes, capital support, and national recognition to help propel their businesses forward.

Apply now through the Madiskarte Moms PH Facebook Group and the official MMPH website and learn more about the 4th Gawad Madiskarte, its categories, and past awardees.

Application deadline: November 15, 2025

HONOR and Alibaba Announce Strategic AI Collaboration

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Pioneering a new era of AI-driven mobile experiences through comprehensive cloud-device integration.

HONOR and Alibaba officially cemented a landmark strategic cooperation agreement in Hangzhou, China. James Li, CEO of HONOR Device Co., Ltd. and Eddie Wu, CEO of Alibaba Group, jointly witnessed the signing.

(Left: James Li, Right: Eddie Wu. Alibaba Group and HONOR deepen strategic cooperation to drive the next generation of intelligent interaction through AI.)

This pivotal strategic cooperation agreement is built upon a shared vision for growth and strategic imperatives. The two industry leaders are embarking on a comprehensive, multi-faceted, and systematic collaboration, focusing on critical strategic areas including AI ecosystems, AI models and capabilities, and intelligent services. Together, we aim to cultivate a thriving AI ecosystem, seizing the immense opportunities presented by AI-driven industrial transformation and the convergence of intelligent device ecosystems.

In the realm of AI agent ecosystems, HONOR and Alibaba will leverage their distinct technological and ecological strengths in AI agents, large AI models, intelligent services, and innovative application experiences. This will translate into comprehensive and deep cooperation across a multitude of core service scenarios, including travel navigation, tourism services, lifestyle, mobile office, e-commerce, and entertainment. The partnership will foster technical exchanges and resource sharing across different fields, jointly exploring new groundbreaking features and interaction paradigms for mobile devices.

For AI models and capabilities, the collaboration will center on joint development based on the Qwen open-source model. This includes vertical application models for on-device AI, AI agents, and multimodal understanding and generation. The ultimate goal is to co-create a globally leading "cloud-device integrated" intelligent device experience, seamlessly merging the power of the Qwen large model with HONOR's cutting-edge hardware, operating systems, and diverse scenarios. This joint effort will accelerate the evolution of large model technology which focuses on scenario-specific and on-device improvements, delivering more intelligent, personalized, secure, and fluid AI services and experiences to HONOR MagicOS users.

Furthermore, the two powerhouses will double down on their collaboration on MaaS (Model-as-a-Service) AI capabilities. This involves continuous optimization of performance and integration of capabilities across text, multimodal, image, video, and voice scenarios. We will jointly explore training, fine-tuning, and inference processes for both on-device and cloud AI models, whether based on the Qwen open-source model or developed collaboratively. The ambition is to forge advanced on-device models that achieve State-of-the-Art (SOTA) capabilities.

Looking ahead, this deep cooperation will continue to expand. Leveraging Alibaba's extensive commercial service ecosystem and through the MCP (Multi-Cloud Platform) protocol, a series of vertical intelligent agents, such as Ele.me (food delivery), Damai (ticketing), and Taopiaopiao (movie ticketing), will be progressively integrated. This will extend the Agent ecosystem to a wider array of vertical scenarios, including food delivery, entertainment, office collaboration, and e-commerce, providing users with even more convenient and efficient life services.

This initiative will embed AI technology more deeply into daily life. HONOR's upcoming HONOR Magic8 Series, poised to define the most powerful self-evolving AI native smartphone, will also bring users a wealth of AI usage scenarios and services jointly developed by HONOR and Alibaba in China.

For more information about the HONOR Philippiness, visit and follow HONOR Philippines’ social media pages on: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines).

vivo V60 sales soar past V50 over four days

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vivo Philippines proudly announces a 91% stronger nationwide sales performance and double-digit revenue growth for its newly launched vivo V60 during its first four days on the market from September 13 to 16, 2025, significantly outpacing the launch of its predecessor, the V50.

“This outstanding result proves that Filipinos are excited for next-level mobile innovation,” said Hazel Bascon, vivo Philippines Vice President for Sales. “We expect this momentum to continue, with strong demand forecast through the rest of the quarter as more users experience the V60’s pro-level telephoto camera.”

The vivo V60 is now available in vivo concept stores, kiosks, and online via the vivo e-store, Shopee, and TikTok Shop, starting at Php 28,999, with big discounts and exciting freebies for Shopee and TikTok shoppers.

Why upgrade to the vivo V60

Here are the top three reasons why the vivo V60 is the ultimate upgrade for anyone seeking power, style, and creativity in one device:

Pro-grade ZEISS photography

Capture every detail with the 50MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera, featuring 3x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom plus ZEISS Multifocal Portrait for studio-quality shots.

Powerful and durable performance

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, 6,500mAh BlueVolt Battery, and 90W FlashCharge keep you powered all day. IP68/69 dust and water resistance ensures reliability in any environment.

Smart AI Creativity

Bring seasons to your photos with AI Four-Season Portrait, add dynamic motion using AI Magic Move, and expand images seamlessly through AI Image Expander.

With its groundbreaking camera technology, flagship speed, and rugged yet sleek design, the vivo V60 delivers the ultimate upgrade for those who want power, style, and creativity in one device.

Gary Payton’s ultimate dream team steals the show at vivo concept store

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Filipino basketball fans experienced a once-in-a-lifetime moment as NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton, famously known as The Glove, returned to Manila exclusively for vivo Philippines' 10th anniversary!

Payton, a nine-time NBA All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and 2006 NBA Champion, brought the crowd to its feet as he shared personal reflections, relived career-defining highlights, and connected deeply with Filipino fans. The visit also underscored his fondness for the Philippines.

“I told the NBA I always wanted to come back here. They called me four weeks ago, asked if I wanted to go, and I said, I’m glad to be back,” Payton shared.

A champion on and off the court

Payton captivated the audience not only as a legendary point guard but also as a father and mentor. He emphasized that leadership, respect, and discipline are values that extend far beyond the basketball court.

“Basketball made me who I am, but now I’m a father first. Watching my son play and raising him to be a good man is my proudest achievement,” he said.

Reflecting on his career, Payton called every moment in the NBA a highlight, but singled out representing the United States in the Olympics as especially meaningful. Winning an NBA championship in 2006 and later celebrating his son’s own victory in 2022 also stood out as milestones that defined his journey both as an athlete and as a parent.

Missed the live event? You can still relive the excitement by watching it here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BhUPj5zJw/

Payton’s dream team

The afternoon reached its peak when Glen Antonio, one of Payton’s most enthusiastic fans in attendance, asked the NBA legend to name his all-time dream team. With the crowd hanging on every word, Payton revealed the players he holds in the highest regard:

● Gary Payton,

● Michael Jordan,

● Kobe Bryant,

● Shawn Kemp, and

● Wilt Chamberlain (whom he praised as the greatest center ever to play the game).

The announcement was met with thunderous applause, as fans witnessed a rare and personal glimpse into the mind of The Glove. It was a defining moment of the celebration, where admiration for the game’s legends resonated powerfully with every fan in the room.

Capturing greatness with vivo V60

The event also shone a spotlight on the vivo V60, vivo’s latest smartphone co-engineered with ZEISS.

Guests experienced firsthand its powerful imaging capabilities, including the 50MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera, ZEISS Multifocal Portraits, and the AI Four-Season Portrait feature for stunning creativity.

Backed by a 6500mAh BlueVolt battery with 90W FlashCharge, the vivo V60 ensures users are always ready to capture and share unforgettable moments even in court!

Payton joined fans for an iconic group selfie using the vivo V60, underscoring the device’s ability to turn legendary experiences into lasting memories.

The afternoon closed with gratitude from vivo Philippines, thanking its community of fans for a decade of trust and innovation, and Gary Payton for making the celebration truly historic.

The vivo V60 is now available in stores nationwide and online starting at Php 28,999. For updates and exclusive content, follow @vivo_philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.