Lifestyle

Books have the power to cross borders, carrying the voices, experiences, and cultures of those who create them. This capacity to bring people together takes center stage at the Asia Stage of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025. From October 15 to 19, illustrators, writers, publishers, and thought leaders from across Asia will gather to share their stories, celebrate their craft, and showcase the richness and diversity of Asian literature to the world.

The Asia Stage is the vision of Rex Education, brought to life in partnership with Frankfurt Buchmesse and supported by the National Book Development Board. Its journey began in 2018 as the ASEAN Forum, evolved into the ASEAN Stage in 2019, and in 2024, it embraced its current identity: the Asia Stage. What began as a noble idea to highlight regional publishing has grown into a recognized platform, a stage where the depth of Asia’s literary voices can shine on the global scene.

At the heart of this initiative is Atty. Dominador D. Buhain, Chairman and President of Rex Education. His lifelong passion for literature and publishing has guided this vision from the start. As a co-founder of the Asia Pacific Publishers Association and the ASEAN Book Publishers Association, he has long believed that the stories of Asia deserve a wider audience. Through this initiative, he has sought to open doors for publishers to share works that mirror their nations’ creativity, hopes, struggles, and resilience.

For REX, the Asia Stage has grown beyond a program. It has become a brand, a symbol of years of dedication to supporting Asian publishers and content creators at one of the world’s most important book fairs.

This year, with the Philippines as Guest of Honor, the Asia Stage brings a deeper dimension to the country’s participation. It reminds us that Filipino literature is part of a much larger story—one that connects with the voices and visions of Asia. For 5 days, the Asia Stage will host conversations, panels, and presentations that explore the education landscape, the evolving world of publishing, and the many ways culture continues to shape and inspire the region’s literature. Through this collaboration, REX and Frankfurt Buchmesse renew their shared commitment to uplifting Asian stories and ensuring that these voices continue to be heard, seen, championed, and remembered.

As the Frankfurt Book Fair opens its doors, the Asia Stage will stand with much gratitude and pride, inviting the world to witness and listen. It is a reminder that stories carry power. They connect us, inspire us, and transform us. For 5 days, Asia will speak, and the world will listen.

 

Through its inaugural River Clean-Up Drive at the Mexico Plaza Ferry Station in Intramuros, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and the Philippine Coast Guard Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command (PCG MARSLEC) celebrated a significant milestone in environmental sustainability, community resilience, and disaster preparedness.

In order to restore the Pasig River, the program brought together BPI officials, Coast Guard officers, auxiliary groups, and employee volunteers.

In accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement, BPI gave the rescue boats to PCG MARSLEC earlier this month, and the activity also marked the vessels’ first formal sea trial.

Through the combined efforts of BPI, PCG MARSLEC, the Coast Guard National Capital Region–Central Luzon (CG NCRCL), PCGA 109th Squadron, and volunteers, the cleanup collected 200 sacks—equivalent to more than 10,000 kilograms of waste and debris. The collective action underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing both disaster readiness and environmental stewardship.

“These boats symbolize more than just preparedness for emergencies; they represent BPI’s commitment to protecting our communities and the environment,” said Dominador Bernales, Jr., BPI Chief Security Officer.

“By working with the Philippine Coast Guard, we ensure that our resources are managed by experts and put to effective use for both disaster response and sustainability initiatives like this river clean-up.”

The two boats, equipped with outboard motors, will be used for rescue operations, disaster response training, and environmental activities such as river and coastal cleanups. PCG MARSLEC will manage their safekeeping and operational readiness for three years, after which BPI will formally donate the boats.

The cleanup highlighted strong collaboration across agencies and organizations. Volunteers from BPI’s Enterprise Operations and Human Resources Segments joined PCG units and auxiliaries in clearing river waste, while tugboats, safety marshals, Emergency Medical Team stations, and logistics support ensured smooth and safe execution.

Section 147 of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Manual of Regulations for Banks, which requires efficient security and emergency response procedures, is reflected in the cooperation between BPI and PCG, which was initially established through an MOU in April 2025. The program exemplifies BPI’s overarching goal of improving the Philippines, one neighborhood at a time, in addition to compliance.

 

 

 

 

At the Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards, the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) won the Silver Award in the Social Category-Talent Management for the sustainABILITY project, which aims to close the growing green skills gap in the Philippines.

To create and offer training programs that are relevant to the business, the initiative collaborates closely with instructors, students, and Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) in Metro Manila and Cebu. These programs emphasize the development of green skills—the information, aptitudes, and behaviors that allow people to effectively contribute to the shift to a sustainable economy—in addition to technical competencies.

These skills are essential to meeting the growing demand for green jobs, which promote healthier lifestyles, increase resource efficiency, and foster innovation across industries. Green jobs not only provide economic opportunities but also promote social equity, strengthen community resilience, and reduce carbon emissions coming from non-renewable energy sources. By equipping future workers with essential knowledge and competencies aligned with the green economy, sustainABILITY helps prepare a future-ready and skilled workforce capable of taking on new opportunities in sustainable industries.

The Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards honor organizations that go beyond business as usual—those that integrate sustainability, social responsibility, and innovation into their strategies and operations. This year’s awardees were recognized for their leadership in advancing environmental stewardship, upholding human rights, and fostering inclusive development.

The group will proudly represent the nation at the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards 2025 in Kuala Lumpur later this year, bringing with it the burden of promoting a common vision of a more sustainable future for everybody, in addition to the pride of its accomplishments.

The acknowledgement that ASSIST received through the sustainABILITY project demonstrates its steadfast dedication to closing the green skills gap and building a workforce that is prepared for the future. Through the incorporation of sustainability into technical-vocational training, ASSIST empowers Filipinos to take advantage of the expanding green economy and effect significant change throughout the nation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The integrated Ingenico smart terminal and BSP-regulated HitPay platform empower Filipino merchants to accept all major transaction types, including GCash and Maya, via one device, simplifying compliance and reconciliation.
• HitPay and Ingenico aim to onboard 10,000 Filipino SMEs over the next 2 years across high-growth sectors like Retail, F&B, and Tourism, signaling a major investment in the nation’s digital economy.

A new all-in-one payments system introduced by BSP-regulated HitPay and world payment acceptance leader Ingenico is expected to provide Filipino SMEs with easier operations and quicker access to cash flow. The partnership gives local businesses the ability to easily accept credit cards and well-known e-wallets, among other major payment methods.

In order to assist merchants in accepting a variety of payment methods, including major credit/debit cards, QR-based payments such as GCash and Maya, and international cross-border payments, HitPay’s software platform is coupled with Ingenico’s smart terminal. This solution provides speedier access to cash flow and frequently settles payments faster than traditional models, which is beneficial for SMEs with limited margins.

Beyond access, the smart terminal also provides an affordable and simple way for SMEs to manage end-to-end operations from a single platform. These include unifying online and offline payment methods, issuing invoices, automating recurring billings, and accessing business insights to help inform key decisions.

The partnership also combines Ingenico’s global payments network, and HitPay’s extensive network made up of 25 regional payment partners, enabling SMEs to serve both domestic customers and tourists seamlessly.

“As the Philippines accelerates its ‘cash-lite’ goal, SMEs need to provide choice, speed, and security at checkout without being overwhelmed by complex software, multiple reconciliation steps, and high integration costs.,” said Aditya Haripurkar, Co-Founder and CEO of Hitpay. “Our collaboration with Ingenico goes beyond terminals and transactions; it is about democratizing access to enterprise-grade tools, giving SMEs the confidence to play their full part in the Philippines’ digital future.” 

“Ingenico’s mission has always been to simplify payments for businesses of every size. By working with HitPay and leveraging a comprehensive network of payment and banking partners, we’re giving Filipino SMEs access to secure and innovative tools that allow them to grow and stay relevant in a fast-changing market.”said Xavier Michel, Head of Southeast Asia Channel Markets, Ingenico

Businesses in important sectors like retail, food & beverage, and travel, where the transition to digital payments has been noticeable, have already started to use the partnership. Within the next two years, the collaboration hopes to empower 10,000 SMEs in the Philippines.

Serving more than 20,000 small businesses in the Philippines, HitPay is a BSP-regulated payment network that guarantees adherence to regional financial law

Eastern Communications distinguishes itself in a time when price wars and automation rule the telecom market with a potent differentiator: human-touched, individualized service. Eastern’s distinctive strategy was recently acknowledged at the Asian Experience Awards 2025 in Singapore, where its Link VIP Club customer loyalty program and 2024 “Partners in Progress” brand campaign won awards for Customer Experience of the Year and Brand Experience of the Year, respectively.

Launched in 2018 to foster Eastern’s connections with its most valued B2B clients, the Link VIP Club has now expanded into a full-fledged experience delivering unique incentives, elevated service touchpoints, and access to premium lifestyle events targeted to the demands of modern organizations.

Elevated experiences through the Titanium Tier

Unveiled in April at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, the Titanium Tier launch was a celebration of partnership and progress. This newest Link VIP Club level offers premium benefits such as 24/7 priority care, managed connectivity solutions, exclusive event access, and curated learning sessions. Designed to deepen client relationships and elevate the customer experience, these perks align with Eastern Communications’ “High Tech, High Touch” philosophy.

“Customer-centric innovation is at the heart of everything we do,” said Jed Estanislao, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at Eastern Communications. “Through the expanded Link VIP Club perks, we’re elevating the way we serve with smarter solutions, faster resolution time, and exclusive access to experiences to empower our clients for the future. Our goal is not just to meet expectations but to stay ahead of them and anticipate challenges before they’re even felt. Because at Eastern, every client journey deserves excellence.”

Furthering its client-first approach, the telco provider hosted its first-ever golf tournament exclusively for Titanium members on July 17, 2025, in Laguna. This inaugural event brought together some of Eastern Communications’ most loyal clients for a day of friendly competition, networking, and shared celebration.

“Our company has been with Eastern Communications since 2015, and we really feel special. This event is more on engagement and relationship building, which I think is the key to being long-time partners,” said Yeng Molero, owner of APN Philippines Inc.

Recognized commitment to client engagement

Aside from the 2025 Asian Experience Awards, Eastern’s “high touch” service has garnered significant acknowledgment across various regional marketing platforms.

Eastern Communications earned recognition at the 2025 Carrier Community Global Awards in Berlin, winning the Best Sales and Marketing Team of the Year award, highlighting the strength and impact of its customer engagement initiatives. The telco also took home a bronze award for Excellence in B2B Marketing at the Marketing Excellence Awards Philippines.

Most importantly, Eastern Communications’ dedication to exceptional service is reflected in the feedback of its clients.

“As an Eastern client, I really enjoyed the after-sales and pre-sales services. Most businesses really need reliability and fast connection, and in case there are downtimes, the team has to be very approachable. It’s truly great that we are partnered with Eastern. I would really recommend Eastern based on our company’s overall experience, knowing that we can confidently stand by our recommendation,” said Shin Enriquez, Network Operation Section Head at Bank of Commerce.

Ross Garcia, Head of Public Relations at San Miguel Holdings, shared, “Eastern Communications is very proud of their service, [and] as they say, it is very personalized and exceeds every client’s expectations. They go the extra mile and they provide services that really can’t be matched by other competitors.”

This illustrates how Eastern sees its clients as long-term partners in success and reflects the company’s branding message of being Partners in Progress. Through custom events, priority support, milestone sharing, and fostering relationships beyond business, the telco keeps showcasing this value.

Visit www.eastern.com.ph or call 5300-7000 to find out more about Eastern Communications’ dedication to providing High Tech, High Touch service and the Link VIP Club Program.