Energy Builds Up as 17th PHILSME Business Expo Holds Successful Media Launch in Makati

Excitement is building for this year’s 17th PHILSME Business Expo: Entrepreneur and Franchise Edition as PHILSME successfully hosted an inspiring Media Launch press conference at SPACES Century Diamond Tower in Makati City. Sponsors, media, and business leaders came together to celebrate stories of innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial success.

PHILSME CEO and Managing Director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla led the launch, highlighting how collaboration among brands, sponsors, and media continues to empower Filipino entrepreneurs in today’s competitive landscape. During the press conference, Esguerra-Abrenilla also shared meaningful insights about PHILSME’s growing impact in giving entrepreneurs opportunities for visibility, connection, and community support.

“PHILSME is more than an expo—it’s a movement,” Esguerra-Abrenilla said. “Each edition is fueled by shared passion: to help businesses grow, build connections, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

PHILSME CEO and Managing Director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla set the tone by reflecting on PHILSME’s expanding impact in empowering entrepreneurs through connection, collaboration, and continuous learning.

The panel showcased heartfelt insights from:

• Toyota Motor Philippines Manager Renz Patrick Diaz, who spoke about mobility solutions customized for business needs;
  
  

• GCash B2B Commercial Head Martin Kristopher Limgenco II, who explained how digital finance is helping entrepreneurs thrive;
  
  

• Taho Story Co-Founder Jude Paul Espinas, who captivated the audience with his personal story of reinventing a Filipino favorite.

During the press conference, panelists also discussed how Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can be supported in setting up businesses in the Philippines through their families, giving them the opportunity to return home with sustainable income streams. Organizers shared that the Expo’s Franchising Village will help OFW families explore the best-fit business options.

Media representatives learned firsthand about what to expect at this year’s expo, including a stronger focus on entrepreneurial innovation and franchising opportunities across 130+ exhibitors and 180 brands. The event wrapped up with a friendly networking merienda featuring, giving media guests time to connect with organizers and sponsors.

Top Filipino Mentors to Headline Business Talks

The Media Launch also announced the first batch of speakers for the PHILSME Business Talks:

• Myrna Natividad (Mommy Negosyo) – Founder of Mommy Negosyo, business mentor, and author inspiring thousands of Filipino entrepreneurs.
  
  

• Dr. Francisco “Dean Pax” Lapid – Chairman and CEO of IT-SPAC and AIOS.PH, recognized advocate of AI-driven business systems.
  
  

• Jonathan Yabut – The Apprentice Asia winner and From Grit to Great best-selling author.
  
  

• Boss RDR (Reymond Delos Reyes) – Entrepreneur and motivational speaker behind RDR Talks.
  
  

New PHILSME–NakakaLocal Collaboration Champions Filipino Entrepreneurs

The event also celebrated a meaningful collaboration between PHILSME and the NakakaLocal project of the PhilStar Media Group, launched during the media event as a new alliance to uplift Filipino entrepreneurs. The partnership unites PHILSME’s mission to empower SMEs with NakakaLocal’s passion for promoting Filipino MSMEs, which make up the country’s largest job-generating sector. Witnessing the partnership at the launch were PHILSME CEO and Managing Director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla, Media Director Angie Quadra-Balibay, Partner Success Manager Mailine Upano, Partner Success Officer Franchezca Romano, together with PhilStar Media Group’s Marketing Manager Jenalyn Sarte and Trade and Brand Specialists Kayla Rodriguez and Gerielle To.

10,000+ Attendees Expected at PHILSME 2025

The 17th PHILSME Business Expo will feature over 130 exhibitors, 180 brands and business solutions, and expects more than 10,000 attendees from across the Philippines and around the world.

The two-day event offers free business talks, networking sessions, and live product showcases — a rare chance for entrepreneurs to connect directly with suppliers, mentors, and franchise leaders under one roof.

Organizers also highlighted the PHILSME network community, which hosts monthly virtual meetings where entrepreneurs and professionals share insights, widen their networks, and discover new ways to grow their businesses.

Registration is free at www.philsme.com/ticket.
Walk-ins will be charged a nominal entrance fee. 

TECNO's POVA 7 Ultra 5G Becomes The 2025 Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC2025) Official Gaming Phone

TECNO’s POVA 7 Ultra 5G is taking centerstage this month at the Honor of Kings’ (HOK) main yearend global esports event as 2025 Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC2025) official gaming phone.

Running from November 14 to the 30th in the Philippines, the KIC2025 will gather the world’s top 16 top-tier teams that will battle it out for the top spot and US$1,000,000 prize pool. The world’s most-played multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, HOK has more than 100 million daily players. It is developed by Timi Studios and published by Level Infinite. 

As the official gaming phone, AI-driven innovative technology brand TECNO’s interstellar-inspired POVA 7 Ultra 5G brings flagship power with a durable 6000mAh battery, 70W Ultra Charge, and 30W Wireless Fast Charge, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate AI Processor for top-tier gaming performance and multi-tasking efficiency. 

Rise for Honor

KIC2025 will showcase the cultural diversity of participants as well as the Philippines’ local flavor as the host country, and will revolve around an esports-themed carnival. 

 “At Honor of Kings, players are at the heart of everything we do. Partnering with TECNO allows us to deliver smoother, more responsive gameplay and inspire the next generation of esports talent,” said Benj Dalmacio, Senior Business Development Manager, Level Infinite Philippines 

“We’re excited to be part of the KIC2025. TECNO will support Filipino gamers all the way to the top with POVA 7 Ultra 5G’s best-in-class, powerful features. Good luck to all the participants!” said Jason Wang, CEO of TECNO Mobile Philippines.

Competing teams include Blacklist International, BOOM Esports, Elevate, ACT Esports Club, Homebois BSE, Nova Esports, Alpha Gaming, Bigetron by Vitality, Kagendra, Vesakha Esports, Loops, Alpha7 Esports, Nongshim RedForce, OG Esports, Twisted Minds and Rex Regum Qeon.

Number 1 Official Gaming Phone in the Philippines

The POVA 7 Ultra 5G is the 2025 number 1 official gaming phone in the Philippines. It is the official gaming phone of PUBGM PMSL SEA 2025 Championship, PUBGM PMCL 2025 Championship, HOK Philippine Kings League, and Philippine National Esports Team SIBOL.

Designed for full immersion, POVA 7 Ultra 5G delivers a 4D Gaming Vibration, Dual Speakers with Dolby Atmos, and a suite of customized gaming features, creating an audio-visual experience built for the next generation of mobile gamers and explorers. The POVA 7 Ultra 5G is the most powerful smartphone for all 120fps popular games in its price range with its official price of PhP16,999. During its recent launch, Filipino gamers and users enjoyed exclusive generous promos and freebies. Buyers will receive three limited stock freebies worth PhP1,999 when they purchase the POVA 7 Ultra 5G – one POVA wireless powerbank (5000mAh), one customized DITO Prepaid Gaming SIM, and one special case card.

 

Filinvest Group’s Dream Getaway Promo Continues to Reward Lucky Winners

The Filinvest Group’s first-ever group-wide promo continues to gain momentum as more customers from across the country join in the excitement. Marking the Group’s 70th anniversary, the Dream Getaway Promo has already made dreams come true for several lucky winners, with more prizes still up for grabs.

Launched in July, the Filinvest Group Dream Getaway Promo brings together the Group’s diverse businesses to reach a wider audience and allow more Filipinos to experience its range of products and services. Filinvest’s real estate, banking, and hospitality companies have collaborated on a single campaign that underscores the Group’s shared mission of helping Filipinos achieve their dreams.

Since its launch, a growing number of customers have already won Dream Getaways at Filinvest hotels and resorts. 76 winners have won a mix of three-day, two-night and four-day, three-night stays at Crimson, Quest and Timberland hotels, with major prizes including luxury stays at Crimson Mactan Cebu and Crimson Boracay.  

One of the extraordinary getaways up for grabs: a stay at Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan

Ongoing activities continue to engage customers across the Filinvest network. EastWest offers clients applying for personal loans a chance to win hotel vouchers, while shoppers and diners at Filinvest malls can earn entries through their transactions.  

At Festival Mall, the Group’s flagship retail destination in Alabang, new brands such as Nitori, Muji, KKV, and Flying Tiger were recently added to the mall’s expanding retail mix, offering customers more ways to shop and take part in the raffle. The promo also extends to visitors who enjoy the mall’s leisure attractions, including its two indoor amusement parks—Pixie Forest and X-Site, which have grown alongside generations of loyal customers.
 

Take out a personal loan with EastWest, shop and dine at Festival Mall Alabang, and get the chance to win one of the extraordinary getaways up for grabs.

The promo underscores the synergy and breadth of the Filinvest Group’s portfolio, which spans real estate, banking, power and utilities, hospitality, and sugar.  

Founded in 1955 by Andrew and Mercedes Gotianun, Filinvest began as a small financing company serving the unserved and underserved. Seventy years later, the Group remains committed to its mission of enabling the Filipino dream and contributing to the country’s economic development. 

For more information on the Filinvest Group Promo, visit https://dreamgetawayspromo.filinvestgroup.com/mechanics. 

Plan International Pilipinas and Quezon City government unite to #StandWithGirls

Plan International Pilipinas and QC Government’s Girl Summit Gathers 400 young women leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Metro Manila, November 11, 2025 — Plan International Pilipinas and the Quezon City Government, through the Quezon City Gender and Development Council Office, launched a collaborative partnership to champion the rights of girls and young women amid some of today’s most pressing challenges: climate crisis and disasters, online harm, and barriers to inclusive quality education, entrepreneurship, and decent employment.

The initiative is part of Plan International Pilipinas’ national campaign for the 2025 International Day of the Girl (IDG), #StandWithGirls, which calls for collective action to advance policies, programs, and investments for girls’ future and enable their participation in spaces where decisions around their lives are made.

“Every day, young women across the country are forced to navigate challenges that threaten their safety, silence their voices, and limit their potential,” said Plan International Pilipinas Executive Director Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang.

Plan International Pilipinas Executive Director Ms. Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang’s Opening Remarks

“By working with the Quezon City Government under the leadership of Mayor Joy Belmonte, a long-time ally in advancing gender-responsive and child-centered governance, we are ensuring that their voices are heard where it matters most. We will keep pushing boundaries until every young Filipina can learn, lead, decide, be resilient and thrive,” she added.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte’s Keynote Address at the Girls Summit, 2025

Quezon City continues to lead with landmark programs that empower and protect girls and young women. Under its Gender and Development (GAD) framework, the city implements a holistic Cycle of Care for Adolescent Girls—including menstrual health education through Period Talk for Teens and the Batang Ina Summit for young mothers—while ensuring safe spaces through the Anti-OSAEC ordinance, the QC VAW Centralized Databank, and rescue operations under Task Forces Sampaguita and Magdalena.

The Youth Development Office also expands access to scholarships, skills training, and livelihood through Pangkabuhayang QC, Be Your Own Boss, and the Digital Beauty Academy, complemented by youth engagement programs such as GAD for Youth and M.O.V.E. (Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere).

“When girls are safe, educated, and empowered, an entire city rises with them,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte. “As long as I am Mayor, our girls will always have an ally, a protector, and a champion in me.”

The #StandWithGirls campaign reached a major milestone with the Girls Summit held today, October 30, bringing together more than 400 young women leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The summit served as a platform for girls to present their recommendations through a Girls’ Agenda—a list of priority issues they want government, civil society, and the private sector to address—and to launch the National Girls’ Network, a youth-led coalition that will continue advancing girls’ rights and advocacy beyond the event.

“The Girls’ Agenda gives us a voice to speak up about what really matters to us. And with the National Girls’ Network, we’re not just sharing our ideas, we’re working together to make change happen for all girls in the Philippines,” said Hannah, 18.

Mayor Belmonte delivered the welcome address, reaffirming Quezon City’s ongoing efforts to make policies and programs more responsive to the needs of girls and young women.

Panel discussions throughout the summit explored pressing themes such as online safety, resilience in crises, and economic empowerment. Among the notable speakers were Christian Halaas Lyster, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Philippines; Rachel Ann Herrera, Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission; and Nimisha Jain, Country Manager of Beiersdorf Philippines, along with other distinguished leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector.

The Girls’ Agenda was formally received by Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children, and Joseph Ortega, Chairperson of the National Youth Commission.

The Girls Summit builds on a series of nationwide activities for the International Day of the Girl, including youth-led symposiums and Girls Takeovers across the country. In Quezon City, girls took over the offices of 2nd District Councilor Aly Medalla and 6th District Councilor Ellie Juan. 

Innovate and Upgrade at the ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair 2025!

ASUS and Republic of Gamers (ROG) are powering up the holidays with the ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair 2025, the biggest gadget sale of the season! From November 14, 2025 to January 15, 2026, enjoy incredible year-end deals on Always Incredible laptops, desktops, and other premium devices. Get an ASUS Premium Care Warranty Extension, experience the exclusive 3-day flash sales and giveaways, and score rebates of up to PHP 5,000 – plus, a chance to win a Yamaha Mio Fazzio!

 

The ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair includes a wide range of participating products that are eligible for epic rewards. Whether choosing between the stylishly smart laptops of the Zenbook, Vivobook S, and Vivobook 16 Copilot+ PCs and everyday productivity devices from the Vivobook series, or shopping for the next gaming machine from the ever-powerful and durable ROG and TUF Gaming lines, ASUS promises not only a laptop for every kind of user but also epic perks just for the holidays. In addition, the sale also includes ASUS All-in-One PCs (AIO), ASUS Desktops, as well as ROG and TUF Gaming Tower PCs – perfect for those who require a more stationary performance.  

 

Buy a Laptop or Desktop, Win a Yamaha Mio Fazzio and More

Aside from a free 1-year ASUS Premium Care Warranty Extension worth up to PHP 7,995 across the country, five (5) lucky buyers of eligible ASUS and ROG laptops and desktops will take home incredible prizes to complement their Christmas tech upgrade. Two (2) unique winners will be drawn for the Insta360 X5 Action Cameras each worth PHP 32,990, another two (2) will be chosen for the Airwheel SE3SL Smart Electric Luggage worth PHP 40,000 each, and one (1) grand winner will be awarded a Yamaha Mio Fazzio worth PHP 93,900.

 

Winners will be drawn on January 29, 2026.

 

3 Exciting Days of Prizes, Freebies, and Up to PHP 5,000 Rebates

The festivities continue nationwide with the ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair Mall Caravan, a 3-day roadshow showcasing the best of ASUS innovation. Happening across six (6) SM Cyberzone locations, fans and tech enthusiasts can get hands-on with the brand’s incredible lineup of products and win exclusive rewards available only during the event dates.

 

With just a single receipt from any valid store, the first 30 buyers of each leg will get a chance to win an additional bundle through the scratch-and-win game at the booth. Shoppers from ASUS and ROG Exclusive Stores can also claim GCash rebates directly at the Grand Tech Fair Caravan:

·       PHP 5,000 GCash rebates on qualified ASUS Copilot+ PCs (Zenbook, Vivobook S, Vivobook 16)

·       PHP 3,000 GCash rebates on qualified Vivobook S, Gaming Laptops with RTX 5000 Series GPU (ROG, TUF Gaming, ASUS Gaming), ASUS AIO and Desktops, ROG and TUF Gaming Desktops

·       PHP 1,000 GCash rebates on qualified Vivobooks (Classic, Go, Flip, Slate, Gaming), ASUS Gaming Laptops, ASUS AIO and Desktops

·       Up to PHP 1,000 GCash rebates on qualified Gaming Keyboards

·       Up to PHP 500 GCash rebates on qualified Gaming Mice, WiFi Routers, Mini PCs

·       Up to PHP 100 GCash rebates on qualified Gaming Headsets and Earbuds

 

Adding to the fun, guests can complete event activities for a chance to spin the wheel and win exclusive ASUS merchandise or even an event-special Blind Box prize! Do not miss the chance to upgrade both gadgets and freebies! Catch the ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair Mall Caravan:

·       SM Cyberzone 2, SM Mall of Asia on November 14-16, 2025

·       SM Cyberzone, SM North EDSA on November 28-30, 2025

·       SM Cyberzone, SM Pampanga on December 12-14, 2025

·       SM Cyberzone, SM Iloilo on December 26-28, 2025

·       SM Cyberzone, SM Bacolod on January 2-4, 2026

·       SM Cyberzone, SM Megamall on January 9-11, 2026

 

Watch Out for the Flash Sales and Save up to PHP 5,000 on Laptops and Desktops

Tune in to the ASUS Philippines and ROG Philippines social media pages and mark your calendars! A 2-Hour Flash Sale from 4PM-6PM will be announced at select ASUS and ROG Exclusive Stores nationwide. This special promotion features exclusive rebates on fan-favorite devices:

·       PHP 5,000-off on qualified models of the Vivobook S16 Copilot+ PCs

·       PHP 2,000-off on qualified models of the ASUS Gaming V16s

·       PHP 2,000-off on qualified models of the ASUS V440 AIOs and ASUS V500 Desktops

·       PHP 1,000-off on qualified models of the Vivobook 14s

 

Enjoy big savings on top of the extended ASUS Premium Care package and entry to the ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair raffle!

 

Of course, ASUS and ROG products such as gaming mice and keyboards, monitors, and portable monitors are also joining Flash Sale fun with discounts with jaw-dropping discounts:

·       Up to PHP 8,000-off on qualified ROG and TUF gaming monitors

·       Up to PHP 6,000-off on qualified ASUS portable monitors

·       Up to PHP 2,600-off on qualified ROG gaming keyboards

·       Up to PHP 1,600-off on qualified ROG gaming mice

 

ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair Sale 2025

Celebrate the spirit of innovation and the joy of giving with ASUS and ROG this holiday season. Touted as the biggest tech sale yet, the ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair 2025 features a wide variety of devices. From the stylishly smart Zenbook and Vivobook Copilot+ PCs to the powerful ROG and TUF Gaming laptops, as well as the versatile ASUS AIOs and Desktops, and ROG and TUF Gaming Tower PCs, ASUS has an incredible device – with even more incredible deals – for everyone!

Get ready to upgrade and gear up for the new year starting November 14! For the complete list of qualified products, promo mechanics, participating stores, and event schedules, follow the official ASUS Philippines and ROG Philippines Facebook pages, or check out the ASUS ROG Grand Tech Fair 2025 microsite: https://ph.asus.click/grandtechfair2025