The Metrobank Travel Fair returns this February with travel deals you can’t miss

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If seeing more of the world is in your 2026 vision board, consider this your sign to book that trip. The Metrobank Travel Fair is back from February 20-22, 2026 at the Glorietta Activity Center, bringing together top airlines, hotels,  luxury cruises,  travel agencies, tourism boards, and other travel essentials under one roof.

Whether you’re planning a solo backpacking trip across Southeast Asia, a family cruise, or a long-awaited luxury getaway, the three-day event is designed to help travelers secure exciting deals for their 2026 adventures.

The fair officially opens on February 20 (Friday) with an exclusive early morning access (10:00 AM to 12:00 NN) for Metrobank World Mastercard and Metrobank Travel Signature Visa credit cardholders, offering them first pick of the deals. Then from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM of February 20 and 10:00AM to 8:00 PM of February 21 to 22, the event welcomes all Metrobank credit, debit, and prepaid cardholders.

This year’s travel partners features the industry’s heavy hitters, including:

• Airlines: Philippine Airlines, AirAsia | TravelOnline PH, All Nippon Airways, Cebu Pacific (bookings facilitated by select travel agencies at the fair) Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, Korean Air, SAUDIA, STARLUX Airlines, Sunlight Air, Thai Airways, Qantas Airlines, and United Airlines
• Hotels and Resorts: Accor Plus, Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts, Crimson Resort and Spa, Boracay, Discovery hotels and resorts, El Nido Resorts, Edsa Shangri-La, Manila, Makati Shangri-La, Manila, Quest Plus Conference Center, Manila, Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, and The Ascott Limited 
• Travel Agencies: Ark Travel Express, Inc., AMKOR Travel and Tours, Constellation Travels Inc., D’World Specialists Travel & Tours, Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc., Rakso Air Travel & Tours, Inc., Sharp Travel Service
• Cruises: Executive Resources, Inc., Disney Cruise Line, Amawaterways, Swan Hellenic Expedition Cruises, Riverside Luxury Cruises, and Star Dream Cruises
• Other Services: Enjoy discounts for your travel essentials from American Tourister, AXA, Big Sky Nation, Klook, Power Mac Center, and Samsonite.
• Tourism Boards: Featured booths from the tourism boards of Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and Thailand
• Online Merchants: You may book via the self-service online merchant counters at the fair or through the online platform of Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Agoda, Booking.com, AirAsia MOVE, and Trip.com

And beyond discounted fares, Metrobank is layering on rewards to make your spend even sweeter:

• Win a Dream Vacation to the Land of Hallyu: Spend at least PHP10,000 single-receipt at the fair for a chance to win a 5-day, 4-night trip to Seoul, South Korea for two (2 winners) or a get full cashback of your total spend, capped at PHP100,000 (five winners).
• Metrobank Mastercard Exclusive: Get PHP1,000 Giftaway eGC for a minimum single-receipt spend of PHP10,000 at any participating merchant.
• Metrobank Visa Cashback: Enjoy up to PHP10,000 cashback when you purchase from participating airlines:
• PHP2,500 cashback for a minimum single-receipt spend of PHP25,000
• PHP10,000 cashback for a minimum single-receipt spend of PHP100,000
• Online Booking Bonuses: Planning to book via Agoda or Booking.com? Get PHP5,000 OFF for a minimum single-receipt spend of PHP30,000 (registration required).
• On-the-Go Treats: Play the Travel Fair Game on-site! Choose the right suitcase and you could win 1 pc. Chicken McDo with Drink to keep you fueled while you shop.

Not a Metrobank credit cardholder yet? You can apply for a Metrobank credit card ahead of the Travel Fair at https://apply.metrobank.com.ph/ or apply on-site. 

Ready to book? Don’t let your travel goals stay on paper. Mark your calendars for February 20-22, 2026 and head to Glorietta Activity Center to turn your 2026 travel plans into reality, made even more rewarding when you pay with your Metrobank credit and debit card.

Find out more about The Metrobank Travel Fair at: https://www.metrobank.com.ph/promos/2026-the-metrobank-travel-fair.

Abi Marquez Shines at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, With Uncle Roger, Big Creator Moments, and Filipino Pride

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Dubai, UAE – Filipino creator and digital entrepreneur Abi Marquez, who is managed by NYMA Talent Management, represented the Philippines at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, participating in multiple sessions across the three-day global creator economy gathering.

Ahead of the summit, Abi shared her excitement online, especially about seeing her billboard in Dubai, calling it a surreal “pinch me” moment and a proud milestone for Filipino creators on a global stage.

Abi’s billboard in Dubai

Abi joined Nigel Ng (Uncle Roger) onstage during the summit kickoff roast session, where she became part of one of the event’s funniest moments after Uncle Roger playfully joked that the Philippines only has “three influential Filipinos”: Abi, Manny Pacquiao, and Jollibee. The line drew big laughs from the crowd and quickly became an early summit highlight.

Abi with Nigel Ng (Uncle Roger) onstage / roast moment

She later served as the fireside chat moderator for Nigel Ng in Behind the Scenes of Uncle Roger: How Fried Rice Built a Global Brand, a session focused on creator storytelling, content strategy, and brand-building.

Abi hosting Uncle Roger’s fireside chat

Abi also joined Mini Keynote: The Playbook for Seven-Figure Partnerships, sharing the stage with Apple Crider and Erika Kullberg, where they discussed how creators scale partnerships through audience-first, story-driven collaborations.

Abi during her mini keynote with Apple Crider + Erika Kullberg

Outside the stage, Abi also met and connected with global personalities during the summit, including comedian Max Amini, viral creator Logan “the Cucumber Guy,” and creator economy leader Samir Chaudry, among others.

Abi’s summit participation adds to her growing list of international achievements. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, Webby Award winner, James Beard Media Awards nominee, and recipient of WIBA’s Food Creator of the Year, with a global community of over 10 million followers.

“Dubai was unreal,” Abi shared. “It’s such a big moment to be in global spaces like this. I’m proud to represent Filipino creators, and even more grateful to show that our stories can travel anywhere.”

Abi’s presence at the 1 Billion Followers Summit wasn’t just another milestone. It was a statement: Filipino creators are not only showing up globally, they’re being celebrated on the world stage.

FOLLOW ABI MARQUEZ AND HER FOOD ADVENTURES ON:

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE |  X 

Vena Energy Turns Over 1,000 “Seats for Sustainability” to Talim Island Schools, Improving the Learning Environment for Students While Creating Livelihood for Locals

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Vena Energy, a leading green energy solutions company in the Asia-Pacific region, has successfully turned over 1,000 handcrafted armchairs to elementary schools in the municipalities of Binangonan and Cardona on Talim Island.

The initiative, titled, “Seats for Sustainability,” was led by Vena Energy’s subsidiary, Island Wind Energy Corp. (IWEC). It marks a significant milestone in the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, delivering a dual impact: improving the learning environment for thousands of students while providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for the island’s residents.

Empowering Education in Remote Communities

The turnover ceremonies were held on 22 January 2026 at Kasile Covered Court (Binangonan) and 23 January 2026 at Lambac Covered Court (Cardona). The donation benefits multiple schools, including Kasile Elementary School, Bombong Elementary School, Kinagatan Elementary School, and Lambac Elementary School.

For remote areas like Talim Island, logistical challenges often hinder the delivery of school facilities. This donation addresses a critical infrastructure gap, ensuring that students have access to comfortable, DepEd-standard furniture that fosters a better learning environment.

From Skills to Livelihood

What sets the “Seats for Sustainability” project apart is its commitment to the local circular economy. Rather than sourcing furniture from external suppliers, Vena Energy partnered with local communities to manufacture the chairs.

Residents were trained by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in carpentry and craftsmanship. Following their training, these local community members were hired by Vena Energy to build the 1,000 chairs. This not only ensured the furniture met quality standards but also injected income directly into local households, turning a charitable donation into a driver for economic empowerment.

A Commitment to Host Communities

“Seats for Sustainability” aligns with Vena Energy’s broader CSR strategy, which prioritizes Education, Infrastructure Development, and Community Well-being. By engaging the community in the solution, the company reinforces its core value of enabling sustainable social and economic development within its host communities.

“We believe that empowering a community means giving them the necessary tools to build their own future,” said Samrinder Nehria, Head of The Philippines at Vena Energy. “This project is special because the fathers and neighbors of these students built the very chairs their children will sit on. It is a story of pride, resilience, and sustainability.”

The event was attended by key stakeholders, including representatives from IWEC, local government officials from Binangonan and Cardona, school officials, and residents of Talim Island.

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About Vena Group

Vena Global Group Pte Ltd (“Vena Group”) is a leading green solutions provider driving the energy and digital infrastructure transition across the Asia-Pacific region. Through its renewable energy and digital infrastructure arms, Vena Group delivers integrated, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions that enable the region’s transition to a low-carbon, AI-driven future.

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

About Vena Energy

Vena Energy is a leading green energy solutions provider in the Asia-Pacific region, accelerating the transition to sustainable and affordable renewable energy that delivers lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits to host communities and stakeholders.

We deliver green energy solutions through a renewable power portfolio of 38GW across Onshore Wind, Solar, and Offshore Wind projects[1], and a green energy infrastructure pipeline including 25GWh of BESS[2] and 848 KTPA of Green Hydrogen and Ammonia.

Nutroplex Helps Turn Playtime into Proud Moments at MarketPlays, a Playground for Future CEOs

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The Greenhills Mall Activity Center transformed into a vibrant playground of pure potential as Nutroplex recently wrapped up its flagship "MarketPlays: Playground for Future CEOs," a two-day showcase of entrepreneurial talent for kids last January 24 and 25. The weekend was filled with moments of discovery, turning standard mall trips into a series of proud, confidence-boosting milestones for families. By giving children the floor to explore their business skills, Nutroplex turned the activity center into a launchpad for the leaders of tomorrow, proving that when young minds are empowered, the sky becomes the limit.

[FROM L-R] Greenhills Mall Representative Catherine Duenas, Unilab Assistant Vice President of Marketing Sunshine Aquino, Unilab Assistant Vice President General Manager Jennifer Bulao, Unilab Pediatrica Wellness Marketing Director Tania Soriano, and Unilab Pediatrica Multivitamins Segment Head Meiji See during the event’s ribbon-cutting segment.

At the heart of the festivities were the kiddie seller-run stalls, where young entrepreneurs traded their toys for ledgers and stepped into the shoes of real-world business owners. These future CEOs showcased remarkable creativity, beaming with pride as they closed their very first sales and pitched their unique ideas to an impressed crowd of adults and fellow young learners. Every booth told a story of independence, bringing the brand’s mission of “Todo-Focus” (concentration) and “Bilis Diskarte” (quick thinking and mental sharpness) to life as children navigated the exciting challenges of a marketplace with infectious enthusiasm.

The energy remained high as the kids dove headfirst into a flurry of hands-on activities designed to sharpen their problem-solving skills. From the intricate components of the Robothink PH workshop to the strategic thinking found in the business sessions, every corner of the event was a stimulating experience for their young brains.

Serial entrepreneur and motivational speaker RJ Ledesma shared his experience and valuable insights on starting a business.

The "Nutty Scientist" stole the show with a series of interactive experiments that made complex science seem like pure magic, while serial entrepreneur and motivational speaker RJ Ledesma shared a treasure trove of wisdom during the "Kiddie CEO Talk," inspiring participants to dream big and act with confidence.

"At Unilab, we believe in empowering families to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. It is important for us to make available high-quality products so that they are supported at every stage of growth,” said Jennifer Bulao, Unilab Assistant Vice President General Manager, “We developed Nutroplex to be part of kids' daily routines to help them feel ready to try, explore, and take on new challenges—turning simple playtime into meaningful, confidence-building moments.”

Sunshine Aquino, Unilab Assistant Vice President of Marketing, highlighted how Market Plays allowed families to experience Alagang Unilab beyond the product shelf. “This event was designed to be more than just an activity. It’s a space where children can practice todo-focus and bilis-diskarte through hands-on experience, while parents see how everyday moments of play can become meaningful opportunities for learning and growth,” she shared, “In the same way Nutroplex helps boost concentration and promote agile thinking, experiences like MarketPlays encourage kids to try, explore, and take on new challenges,” she said. “When children are properly nourished, they are more ready to turn simple play into confidence-building moments—reinforcing our commitment to support them as they grow, learn, and thrive.”

This journey toward independence was fueled by more than just imagination. Nutroplex provided the nutritional foundation necessary for these high-energy milestones. Formulated with essential nutrients like iron and Vitamin B-complex (B1, B6, and B12), the multivitamin-mineral supplement supports “Todo-Focus (concentration) and “Bilis Diskarte” (quick thinking and mental sharpness) that the young leaders displayed throughout the fair.

The experience was further enriched by support from Nutroplex’s partner organizations, whose activities reinforced learning beyond the marketplace. The event featured engaging workshops and hands-on learning stations from education partners Nullspace, S.A.M Singapore Math, and Robothink, while official trade partner Watsons Philippines supported the event by bringing Nutroplex and other Unilab brands closer to families. Through guided activities and mission cards, children and parents were encouraged to explore each station, making the experience more immersive, purposeful, and rewarding.

Nutroplex MarketPlays: Playground for Future CEOs proved that when children are provided with the right nutritional support and a supportive environment, every moment of play becomes a building block for a successful future. As families celebrated these early milestones, the event stood as a testament to the power of nurturing a child’s potential through focus, health, and a spirit of adventure.

 

For more information on Nutroplex and other Unilab products, visit www.unilab.com.ph/products

 

Protect your home, upgrade your space with PLDT Home Life’s Smart Home Starter Kit

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Ring in 2026 with this topnotch tech package, which has everything you need to start your smart home journey

With way more modern and technologically advanced threats these days, smart home devices are a must when building a safer, more secure, and more convenient household. These devices not only support a more connected home experience, but also provide added reassurance for you and your family’s well-being.

The new year offers an opportunity to reassess your home technology, especially if you’re considering to level up to a smart home setup. With the Internet of Things (IoT) at the forefront of smart living solutions, upgrading your space proves to be key in keeping your household more connected and protected than ever before.

Further reinforcing the importance of added protection among Filipino families as they embrace a smarter lifestyle, PLDT Home Life launches the Smart Home Starter Kit – security, safety, and automation devices in one powerful but affordable package.

Think of the Smart Home Starter Kit as the backbone of your home, covering all the essentials in one bundle: smart cameras for real-time check-ins, smart plugs to automate and manage home appliances, and sensors to keep tabs on any activity and movement.

PLDT Home Life has especially partnered with trusted electronics brand TP-Link, whose Tapo line of smart home devices offers the most reliable security and automation options. Here are the devices in the Smart Home Starter Kit:

●     Tapo H100 Smart Hub with Chime: The command center of the smart home setup, the hub keeps all your smart devices connected in one seamless and uninterrupted wireless network. It coordinates all functions – including your smart home app and door/window/climate sensors, sounding alarms and chimes, and more.

●     Tapo C110 Indoor Camera: This camera, which connects to your devices including your smartphone, is perfect for those starting a family. With it, you can keep an eye on your home with  2K footage and AI-enabled detection for human motion and sound.

●     Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor Camera: With crystal-clear 2K QHD video footage and crisp two-way audio, the outdoor camera works both indoors and outdoors with remarkable recording quality. It’s especially intended for those in bigger homes with AI-enabled detection for pets, vehicles, and human motion and sound.

●     Tapo P105 Mini Smart Plug: The wifi plug lets you create a schedule or establish timers to conveniently automate home appliances from anywhere through your phone.

●      Tapo T310 Temperature and Humidity Sensor: In addition to accurately monitoring your home's climate from anywhere, this sensor helps optimize comfort, prevent home damage from mold during high humid months, improve energy efficiency, and prevent fire risk during hot summer months.

●     Tapo T110 Smart Contact Sensor: Instantly check if someone’s there with this smart contact sensor, which can immediately alert you every time your door or window is opened or when left ajar for a specific time.

These devices work seamlessly together to enable customizable automation, monitoring, and security – delivering a true smart home experience for first-time users. Key features include integrated sound and camera alarms with voice alerts, automated appliance control based on schedules or environmental conditions, and real-time remote notifications even when homeowners are away.

The PLDT Home Life Smart Home Starter Kit is available for only P4,836. It’s exclusive to existing PLDT Home Fiber subscribers and can be purchased one time via your internet subscription.

Safer, more secure homes for all Filipinos

PLDT Home offers fiber-fast, reliable internet speeds to power even the most advanced and widest-reaching IoT devices. Over time, the telco brand has partnered with various international electronics brands such as TP-Link, Tapo, and Eufy – mixing connectivity and security to further build Filipino families a better, more holistic home.  All these brands and more are now officially available via PLDT Home Life.

PLDT Home Life features 100% authentic smart home devices, sourced directly from official partners. Such finds are picked from their user-friendly interfaces, making for an easy plug and play experience for all ages at home.

“Last year saw a decrease in both property crime and cybercrime in the Philippines, according to the latest data from the Philippine National Police. Yet, it’s more important ever to deter further incidents of theft and break-ins by empowering security in Filipino homes,” said PLDT Home Senior Vice President and Head for Consumer Business John Y. Palanca. “We at PLDT Home Life believe the most effective approach is to proceed with upgrading to a smart home ecosystem that incorporates the latest smart and automated home security solutions.”

Palanca added, “This is why we have introduced the PLDT Home Life Smart Home Starter Kit – to make smart home adoption more accessible for Filipino households through seamless wireless control and automation. The kit is organized to help increase safety and security especially for your children, pets, and property while improving energy efficiency for a smarter, more elevated quality of living.”

“We at PLDT Home Life remain committed to expanding our brand partnerships in pursuit of our shared objective to give Filipino families greater peace of mind.”

Learn more about the PLDT Home Life Smart Home Starter Kit by visiting pldthome.com/smarthome/starter-kit. Existing PLDT Home Fiber subscribers can avail the kit via the Next Upgrade Shop page, where they will need to log in or create a new account. To know more about other device add-ons and digital services that could add life to your fiber-powered lifestyle, visit pldthome.com/life.