STEM, Business Students form newest batch of GrabScholars

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Grab Philippines officially welcomed its fourth batch of GrabScholars, awarding full four-year scholarships to a fresh cohort of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Business, and Sustainability students.

Harvey Blaize Ramirez, whose father is a GrabCar driver-partner, is now a proud GrabScholar taking up a Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering at Mapua University

Along with tuition coverage at renowned institutions like Mapua University and the Cebu Institute of Technology University, the scholars also receive a monthly stipend, a brand-new laptop, and other school essentials.

The new cohort — Harvey Blaize Ramirez, Reign Quiñones, Lloeby Xyra Semana, Dainty Jurzhail Balde, Wrench Maxenne Singcol, and Chrislyn Bacalso — brings the program’s total number of existing full college scholars to 23.

Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda emphasized that investing in these students is an investment in the country’s tech capabilities. “The world is moving at breakneck speed, particularly with innovations in tech and AI. To better prepare our country towards important advancements, we need young Filipinos who aspire to be the next shapers of the STEM space,” Roda said. “GrabScholar is about ensuring Filipinos are empowered to be the builders and leaders of tomorrow’s tech landscape.”

The GrabScholar program is a cornerstone of the GrabForGood agenda, the superapp’s social impact initiative aimed at promoting socioeconomic mobility of communities in Southeast Asia.

Children of Grab and MOVE IT partners find a path to college

Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Booey Bonifacio, and MOVE IT General Manager Wayne Jacinto personally welcomed the scholars in the awarding ceremony at the Grab HQ in the Philippines

For several of the newest scholars, the scholarship is tied closely to their parents’ daily grind on the road, linking gig and platform work to longer-term aspirations for families in the Grab and MOVE IT ecosystem.

At Mapúa University, 18-year-old Harvey Blaize Ramirez is tackling AI Engineering. His father’s journey — evolving from a GrabFood rider to a GrabCar driver — serves as his blueprint for success. Harvey dreams of one day joining Grab’s engineering team or launching his own tech venture.

Reign Quiñones, an Industrial Engineering freshman at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), is no stranger to the hustle. While her father delivers for GrabFood, Reign balances her studies with freelance layout and editing jobs. A former campus journalist, she aims to become a Process Designer creating apps focused on social impact, such as disaster risk mitigation.

The program also welcomed new scholars from cities in regions outside of Metro Manila. In Cebu, Dainty Jurzhail Balde is pursuing Civil Engineering at the Cebu Institute of Technology University. With her father, a MOVE IT rider, serving as the sole breadwinner for their family of five, Balde is determined to pay it forward. She plans to start a foundation to mentor aspiring engineers from underprivileged backgrounds. Hailing from Davao City is Wrench Maxenne Singcol, a Computer Science student at the University of Mindanao.

GrabScholar’s new batch includes students outside Grab’s partner ecosystem. Lloeby Xyra Semana, who aspires to be a CPA-lawyer, is a freshman Accountancy student at PUP. Before the scholarship, she was supported by her mother, who works as a public school teacher and is the family’s sole breadwinner.

Chrislyn Bacalso is taking Business Administration at Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan. Her father is a person with disability, while her mother — a vegetable vendor—provides for the family. Bacalso is aiming to become the first college graduate in their household.

Going beyond scholarships: one-time bursaries for K–12 learners

Apart from full college scholarships, Grab said GrabScholar also extends one-time bursaries to more than 300 underprivileged elementary and high school students to help cover school-related needs. The financial assistance reaches up to P2,500, typically released through GrabPay as reimbursement for eligible expenses such as books, uniforms, and school supplies.

2GO Forwarding: At the Heart of Customer Trust

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2GO Forwarding enables seamless logistics while creating opportunities for businesses and industries across the Philippines.

2GO, the country’s premier multimodal logistics solutions provider, continues to strengthen its reputation as a reliable local partner of leading international brands and organizations.

2GO Forwarding, the freight forwarding arm of the 2GO Group, operates through a nationwide network that spans 33,000 barangays and delivers scalable logistics for industries such as pharmaceuticals, FMCG, automotive, and events. With access to sea, land, and air transport, the unit provides customers with end-to-end logistics tailored to their operational needs.

Seamless Logistics and Mobility

For restaurant groups with extensive operations across the Visayas and Mindanao, efficient inter-island movement is essential to maintaining stock levels, product freshness, and store stability. Bigby’s Quality Food Corp., a homegrown restaurant group with 26 branches under brands such as Bigby’s Café & Restaurant, Boy Zugba, and The Tuna Bar, has seen significant improvements in its logistics efficiency with 2GO handling its island-to-island deliveries.

Henrik Kelly Yu, CEO of Bigby’s Quality Food Corp., said, “Before, I think the challenges of our shipments were the island-to-island deliveries. But now with 2GO, it’s very convenient. Deliveries to Dumaguete, Bohol, Tacloban, Cebu—it has been very life-changing for our business to have this kind of service.”

Delivering Healthcare with Precision

Pharmaceutical distribution requires efficiency, accuracy, and consistent reliability. For Zuellig Pharma Corporation, the Philippines’ leading distributor of medicines and healthcare products, 2GO Forwarding has become a trusted partner in ensuring life-saving medicines and medical products reach their destinations safely and on time. The partnership has proven vital during peak demand periods, where uninterrupted delivery means uninterrupted access to healthcare.

Paul Sanchez, Director of Zuellig Pharma, said, “When we experienced logistics challenges, 2GO immediately stepped in to ensure our operations remained unhampered and delivery commitments were met. Their professionalism, precision, and ability to manage critical pharmaceutical cargo with utmost care have been instrumental to our mission of safeguarding healthcare access across the country.”

Powering Philippine Sports

Beyond healthcare, 2GO Forwarding also supports the movement of people and equipment for some of the Philippines’ most anticipated international sporting events. As the official logistics partner of IRONMAN Philippines, 2GO provides transport and forwarding solutions that ensure sporting gear, race materials, and participants arrive on time and in full. This capability has made 2GO an integral part of the country’s growing sports tourism industry.

Princess Galura, President and General Manager of Sunrise Events Inc., said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with 2GO, whose end-to-end logistics and travel services help bring our MICE events to life—organized, on time, and seamless. Their reliable support ensures that our equipment arrives where it’s needed and that attendees can travel conveniently across islands. With 2GO, every event delivers a smooth and memorable experience for athletes and spectators alike.”

Operational Excellence

2GO Forwarding’s flexible service offerings have also supported businesses in the agriculture, food manufacturing, and MSME sectors. For the Strawberry-Guyabano Farm and Delibites Concepts Corporation in South Cotabato, 2GO’s transport solutions have helped streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve delivery performance.

Hannah Mamon, the owner, shared that faster transport cut delivery time from four days to two and that direct store deliveries helped eliminate pilferage. She said, “I was able to save on warehousing, shutting down Davao and Cagayan de Oro… dahil sa streamlining na na-address ni 2GO.” She added that 2GO’s Less than Container Load (LCL) service enabled her to ship small packages with clear and predictable rates. “The efficiency and reliability, na pwede mag twice a week o kahit once a week, kaya mabilis ang turnover ng inventory sa operations.”

Commitment to Partners

2GO Forwarding’s track record across industries highlights its ability to adapt to the unique requirements of every client, from healthcare to sports. The business unit remains focused on delivering solutions that enable organizations to make a meaningful impact on the communities they serve.

Faye Alonzo, Business Unit Head of 2GO Forwarding said, “We see our role as more than transporting goods—we help businesses expand, communities thrive, and vital services reach the people who need them most. From healthcare and food to sports and MSMEs, we move what matters, ensuring every shipment travels safely and seamlessly across cities and regions. This commitment to enabling growth and enriching lives is at the heart of what we deliver to every partner we serve.”

Know more about our forwarding services, email forwarding@2go.com.ph.

Manulife Philippines Continues to Advance Impact Agenda with Sustainability and Community Efforts

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   ●      In 2025, Manulife Philippines planted more than 10,000 native trees and reached nearly 2,000 new Peso Smart learners through community‑led partnerships.

● Sustained coastal and terrestrial restoration programs, in collaboration with Haribon Foundation, strengthened local ecosystems and supported livelihoods in Luzon island.

●    Manulife’s Season of Giving mobilized colleagues across the country to donate and volunteer for the causes that matter most to them, with the company matching individual colleague donations dollar‑for‑dollar up to CA$1,000.

Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading financial services provider Manulife, continues to advance its Impact Agenda, the company’s global commitment to drive better outcomes for its customers, communities, and the planet, with various volunteering and community efforts spread throughout the past year.

To cap 2025’s initiatives, Manulife executives, volunteers, and beneficiaries came together for sustained reforestation efforts, advancing environmental restoration and financial education across communities. Manulife’s annual Season of Giving campaign also empowered its colleagues to support causes meaningful to them through personal donations and volunteerism.

A Year of Environmental and Community Impact

In 2025, Manulife Philippines further advanced its contributions to a healthier planet and community development by planting more than 10,000 native trees covering four hectares of terrestrial and coastal areas. To date, it has planted 31,250 trees across terrestrial and coastal reforestation projects in partnership with Haribon Foundation, local communities, and through the efforts of colleague-volunteers.

 Manulife Philippines colleague volunteers participate in a seedling preparation activity in Rizal province.

Seedling Preparation: 

Through the Seedling Nursery Activity, Manulife Philippines colleague volunteers prepared 1,000 native tree seedlings at a nursery site in Sto. Niño, Rizal in February. The activity was conducted in partnership with Haribon Foundation alongside KAT-MAGAT Tourism and Farmers Association and Sto. Niño Integrated School, supporting reforestation efforts that benefit more than 200 households in the community. Planting these prepared seedlings will commence in 2026, covering eight hectares of forest in the Sierra Madre mountain range.

In 2025, Manulife Philippines expanded its partnership with Haribon Foundation to include planting mangroves in Quezon province.

Mangrove Planting: 

To support coastal restoration efforts that protect shorelines and local fishing communities, Manulife partnered with Haribon Foundation and the community of Alitas Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (AFFA). These mangrove planting efforts will benefit more than 200 households in Infanta, Quezon. The program has established a dedicated mangrove seedling nursery that aims to produce a total of 15,000 seedlings by the end of 2027.

Terrestrial Planting: 

Manulife’s flagship terrestrial restoration site in Real, Quezon, has planted 10 hectares in partnership with Haribon Foundation with the support of the communities in Brgy. Tanuan Farmer’s Association (BATAFA) and Samahan ng Katutubong Dumagat ng Real, Quezon Inc. The restoration efforts benefit nearly 10,000 households in Brgy. Maragondon in Real.

To date, more than 4,900 Filipino learners have completed the Peso Smart program.

Financial Literacy: 

In collaboration with the Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation, Manulife's Peso Smart program reached s new learners across 18 public elementary schools nationwide in 2025. The award-winning financial literacy program equips young Filipinos with essential financial skills such as saving, budgeting, and investing, while connecting financial literacy. To date, more than 4,900 Filipino learners have completed the Peso Smart program, which Manulife Philippines pioneered in 2017.

 Volunteers from Manulife Business Processing Service participate in a volunteering activity.

Bayanihan Festival: 

Manulife Business Processing Services (MBPS), the global shared services center of Manulife, held its inaugural Bayanihan Festival in November 2025. Inspired by the Filipino spirit of community and collaboration, MBPS partnered with Rise Against Hunger Philippines, Waves for Water Philippines, and Reach Out and Feed Philippines for initiatives such as Project Baon to address food insecurity and micronutrient deficiency among Filipino children and humanitarian efforts in disaster-hit Cebu province. There, MBPS mobilized colleague-volunteers and dispensed 2,000 relief kits, 5,000 hot meals, and engaged Manulife’s global colleagues to donate to relief efforts, matching donations dollar-for-dollar.

Volunteers from Manulife IT Delivery Center teach young learners about coding.

Code4Future: 

Manulife IT Delivery Center (MITDC), the fintech arm of Manulife, organized two Code4Future learning sessions in 2025. The sessions, which aim to empower children through coding and creativity, drew 73 young learners and more than 80 MITDC colleague-volunteers. The program aimed to spark curiosity and encourage problem-solving skills while showcasing how technology can fuel creativity.

 Manulife Philippines also unveiled in its newly opened agency office at the Ayala North Exchange the mural called “From Trash to Tree-sure.”

From Trash to Tree-sure:

Manulife Philippines also unveiled in its newly opened agency office at the Ayala North Exchange the mural called “From Trash to Tree-sure,” a unique centerpiece embodying the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices and innovation. The mural was crafted from 18.35 kilos of old Manulife t-shirts from past team events, 9.85 kilos of repurposed tarpaulins, and 56.6 kilos of used beverage cartons. It was built by Manulife financial advisors and colleague-volunteers in collaboration with sustainability-focused interior design firm JunkNot, through its Trash Innovation Exchange for Upcycling Project.

Manulife Global Chief Marketing Officer Karen Leggett joins Manulife Philippines colleague volunteers in a seedling preparation activity.

To close Impact Agenda efforts in 2025, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Karen Leggett, joined colleague-volunteers from Manulife Philippines, Manulife China Bank Life, and Manulife Investments Philippines along with Peso Smart Pinay graduates from Quezon City and Peso Smart teachers from the San Miguel Elementary School in Pasig to prepare 200 native tree seedlings for terrestrial planting in Tanay, Rizal in 2026.

"Taking part in volunteer opportunities like this seedling activity underscores our commitment to supporting communities and championing sustainability through hands-on action," said Leggett. "Each seedling we plant is a tangible promise to restore forests, protect vital ecosystems, and unlock new opportunities for Filipino communities to thrive. By coming together with partners and volunteers, we are not only cultivating a safer, more resilient future, but also inspiring lasting change for generations to come. We stand united in our mission to transform intent into impact—a testament to the power of collective action."

Colleague-Driven Impact

  Season of Giving campaign reflect Manulife Philippines' continued commitment to the communities it serves.

In 2025, Manulife colleagues in the Philippines registered more than 13,000 volunteering hours through their participation in different Impact Agenda initiatives. This was further amplified in Manulife’s global Season of Giving campaign, where colleagues are encouraged to donate to charities and volunteer with community organizations of their choice.

Manulife matches colleagues’ donations dollar-for-dollar up to CA$1,000 in Asia during the Season of Giving, which ran from November to December. This matching mechanism transforms individual generosity into a collective, deep impact across markets. The company also recognizes volunteer hours for any of the colleagues’ chosen initiatives, ensuring that colleagues can support causes of personal significance.

"Filipinos entrust us with their financial futures, and that trust comes with a clear responsibility to invest back in meaningful and lasting ways,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. "The Season of Giving puts this belief into action. We know meaningful change starts with personal commitment, so we take pride in empowering our people to champion the causes that matter most to them.”

Initiatives like Peso Smart, reforestation projects, and Season of Giving campaign reflect Manulife Philippines' continued commitment to the communities it serves. By combining hands-on local engagement and colleague-driven charitable giving, the company continues to demonstrate that lasting impact comes from consistent action and collective effort.

In November, Manulife Financial Asia Limited won the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2025 in the category of Top Sustainability Advocates in Asia for its outstanding commitment to sustainability through its Impact Agenda, environmental stewardship, and strategic integration of sustainable investing across its operations. The recently launched Manulife Longevity Institute underscores this commitment by creating a global platform to drive action that helps people live longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives by 2030—in Asia and around the world.

To learn more about Impact Agenda and Manulife’s commitment towards building a better business to better the world, visit manulife.com.ph 

Fulfill your 2026 bucket list with vivo V60 Lite

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This year calls for nonstop fun, and with the vivo V60 Lite as your companion, fulfilling your bucket list has never been easier.

From sunrise adventures to late-night hangouts, this phone keeps up with every plan effortlessly, combining long-lasting power, smooth performance, and a camera that captures every memory.

Here are five bucket list moments where the vivo V60 Lite makes all the difference.

1. Spend a full day exploring a new city from morning to night

From finding your way around and taking photos to messaging friends and playing music along the way, a full day in the city means your phone is always in use. With its 6500mAh BlueVolt battery, the vivo V60 Lite stays powered all day, while the 50MP Sony IMX882 Camera captures streets, cafés, and skyline views clearly, even as the light fades.

2. Make time for gaming even on busy days

Work, errands, and responsibilities often push gaming aside. This year, one bucket list goal is simple: play without rushing. Whether it’s a full match after work or a longer session on weekends, the MediaTek Dimensity 7360-Turbo delivers smooth gameplay, and long battery life lets you finish what you started.

3. Stay consistent with workouts and get summer-ready

Getting back in shape is always on the list, especially with summer around the corner. From workout playlists and fitness apps to tracking reps and snapping progress photos, the vivo V60 Lite supports your routine with reliable power that lasts from warm-up to cool-down.

4. Go out more often to recharge mentally

Whether it’s a quiet coffee alone, a casual dinner with family, or spontaneous plans with friends, stepping out helps keep your balance and peace of mind. Capture small, meaningful moments along the way with the 50MP Sony IMX882 Camera, and stay connected the whole time with a battery that lasts through long conversations and unplanned extensions.

5. Travel more and live the YOLO life

Didn’t travel much last year? This 2026 is your chance to change that. Say yes to flights, road trips, and spontaneous plans without overthinking the details. With the 6500mAh BlueVolt battery powering your day, 90W FlashCharge ready for quick top-ups, and a camera that captures every stop along the way, the vivo V60 Lite keeps up so you can focus on living in the moment.

Wrapped in a stylish design and eye-catching Pop Pink color, the vivo V60 Lite is made to be flaunted as you move from one bucket list moment to the next, adding a bold touch to every adventure.

This year is about doing more, moving freely, and enjoying every moment without interruptions. With the vivo V60 Lite, your bucket list becomes effortless, and every adventure, big or small, turns into nonstop fun.

Get the vivo V60 Lite at a starting price of Php 14,999 in vivo stores, e-store, Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

OPPO Find X9 Breaks the Barriers of Mobile Photography

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Redefining what a flagship smartphone camera can achieve, the OPPO Find X9 sets a new standard for mobile imaging with its innovative capability to capture full-resolution 50MP photos by default, delivering unprecedented clarity without relying on shooting modes or manual tweaks.

This breakthrough delivers unprecedented clarity and detail, with 8K-level resolution across all three rear lenses every time you press the shutter, marking the brand’s biggest leap in camera innovation yet. It is designed specifically for creators, visual storytellers, and photography enthusiasts in mind.

Delivering Professional - Grade Quality with the LUMO Image Engine

While most smartphones downscale images to 12MP due to processing limits, the OPPO Find X9 overcomes this barrier with an industry-first imaging pipeline powered by the LUMO Image Engine. All rear cameras now capture crisp, ultra-clear 50MP photos by default, preserving deep textures, sharp edges, and rich detail even after heavy cropping or zooming. To fully appreciate its exceptional quality, users can tap the 8K icon that appears when viewing their photos in the default Photos app for a level of clarity and resolution previously only associated with professional cameras.

Meanwhile, LUMO’s real-time parallel processing enables the CPU, GPU, ISP, and NPU to work simultaneously, enhancing clarity while cutting power consumption by up to 50 percent. This results in balanced highlights, clean shadows, and impressive detail retention even in complex lighting conditions.

Refining Creative Expression Through the Hasselblad Master Camera System

At the core of the OPPO Find X9’s imaging capabilities is the Hasselblad Master Camera System, which brings professional-grade engineering to smartphone photography. The system includes:

●     50MP Main Camera with an ultra-large sensor for enhanced light intake

●     50MP Ultra-Wide Camera capable of capturing sweeping landscapes with zero distortion

●     50MP Periscope Telephoto Camera featuring OPPO’s Triple Prism Lens and 120x Super Zoom for astounding long-range shot results

The collaboration with Hasselblad ensures natural color calibration, beautifully rendered portraits, and deeper tones that reflect the iconic look of Hasselblad cameras. Features like Hasselblad XPAN Mode, Master Mode, and enhanced bokeh simulation provide depth and artistic control for creators.

Revealing True-to-Life Color Through Advanced Spectral Sensing

OPPO Find X9’s True Color Camera supports the 50MP default mode. It is an innovative sensor equipped with two million spectral pixels that analyze color temperature across a refined grid. This ensures that skin tones, neon signs, sunsets, and indoor lighting appear as close as possible to how the eye sees them, providing accuracy that is difficult to achieve on typical mobile cameras.

Colors are rendered naturally, without overly saturated processing, creating images that stand out in their authenticity and tonal balance.

Empowering New Perspectives With 120x Super Zoom

The OPPO Find X9 delivers dependable detail even at extreme distances through its 120x Super Zoom. Using a combination of optical zoom, sensor-level processing, and OPPO’s Super Resolution algorithm, the phone allows users to capture subjects far across the city skyline or fine details across a concert venue. Images remain clear and stable, unlocking creative perspectives normally accessible only with professional telephoto lenses.

A Fusion of Artistry and Engineering

The OPPO Find X9 embodies a design philosophy that brings together art, precision, and intelligent engineering. Its camera innovations are paired with a powerful performance core, ideal for Filipinos who rely on their smartphones to capture their stories.

The OPPO Find X9 (16GB + 512GB) is available nationwide through OPPO’s physical stores, e-commerce platforms on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and the official OPPO online store.

 

OPPO Bundle Offers

●     PHP 1,000 off when purchased with the all-new OPPO Enco X3s

 

Online Exclusive Perks (Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok)

●     PHP 1,500 off OPPO voucher

 

OPPO Online Store Benefits

The OPPO online store is offering exciting benefits when you purchase the OPPO Find X9, with redeemable vouchers using OPPOints via the My OPPO App until February 28, 2026.

●     PHP 1,500 voucher – 500 OPPOints

●     PHP 2,000 voucher – 1,000 OPPOints

●     PHP 2,800 voucher – 2,000 OPPOints

●     Free Shipping

●     Comes with OPPO Enco Buds3 Pro + One Free Movie Ticket (to claim within three months, valid exclusively at Bonifacio High Street Central Square Mall Cinema – Standard Cinema)

Postpaid Plans

Experience the power of the OPPO Find X9 through Globe Postpaid, Smart Postpaid, and Smart Infinity plans.

 

●     Globe GPlan 2499

○     Initial cashout of PHP 26,000

○     Inclusive of 25 GB data, unlimited all-net calls and texts and unlimited landline calls

●     Globe GPlan PLUS 1799

○     PHP 2,038 per month or 24 months

○     No lock-in period

●     Smart Postpaid Plan+ 1999

●     Smart Infinity

○     Complimentary OPPO Find X9 for Device Plan 8000

○     With PHP 7,200 cashout for Device Plan 5000

 

A limited DJI Osmo Mobile SE Stabilizer freebie is also up for grabs for all postpaid plans.

To know more about the OPPO Find X9, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com/ph/ or OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.