From Bicol to the Nation: Southstar Drug Marks 700 Stores in its 88th Year of Quietly Serving Filipino Communities

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Southstar Drug 700th Store

A heartfelt journey of accessible healthcare, one branch and one community at a time

Eighty-eight years ago, a small herbal pharmacy opened its doors in Naga, Bicol. With little fanfare and a deep sense of purpose, Southstar Drug began its journey not to dominate a market, but to make healthcare more accessible to its community.

Today, that same spirit lives on as Southstar Drug opens its 700th store, a new branch inside UP Diliman. The milestone is less a celebration of numbers and more a quiet reaffirmation of what the brand has always stood for: being where it matters, when it matters for every Filipino.

Now, since joining Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., Southstar Drug has continued to build on its long-standing legacy. Founded in 1937, it officially celebrates 88 years of service in 2025—making it the pioneer at the forefront of the entire industry, one of the earliest and most experienced players among Philippine drugstores.

“We’ve grown branch by branch, community by community,” said Thaddeus Sanchez, General Manager of Southstar Drug. “Each store tells a story, and every expansion reflects a promise to serve with compassion and consistency.”

From its roots in the Bicol region, Southstar Drug has steadily built a stronghold in South Luzon and Central Luzon, with key expansions in provinces like Pampanga, where its presence continues to grow. It has also made its mark in Metro Manila, adapting to the evolving needs of urban communities through innovations like drive-thru pharmacies currently available in Muntinlupa, Marikina, and even in Pampanga, as well.

Southstar Drug has stayed true to its mission: bringing quality healthcare closer to Filipino families. Its recent store openings in Masinloc, Zambales (2022), Lagonoy, Camarines Sur (2024), Cauayan, Masbate (2024), and now in UP Diliman, show a brand that goes where it’s needed—even when those areas are far from commercial centers.

Its e-commerce platform is also one of the most expansive in the country— and this ensures that access to medicine is just a few clicks away, even for those outside major cities.


The UP Diliman store symbolizes not just geographical expansion, but a natural and seamless integration into a vibrant academic community. Southstar Drug has supported the University Health Services through annual donations and currently sponsors the UP Track and Field Team, demonstrating how presence can be purposeful without being promotional.

“From the very start, every move we have made was with purpose and concern for our fellow Filipinos. In Lagonoy, residents used to travel nearly two hours just to buy basic medicine,” one Southstar team member shared. “Now, our pharmacy is just a part of their daily walk home. That’s the kind of difference we want to make with each store we open.”

As Southstar Drug continues its steady expansion into Metro Manila, more residents in the city will slowly experience the small-town warmth and care that has long defined its presence in the provinces. Whether it’s a neighborhood branch beside a Shopwise or tucked into a familiar corner near a Robinsons store, Southstar Drug remains a comforting presence bringing not just medicine, but a sense of community, wherever it opens.

With plans to reach 800 stores by 2026, Southstar Drug remains committed to its founding belief: that healthcare should not be a privilege, but a promise—delivered humbly, one Filipino at a time.
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EastWest Earns 2025 Great Place To Work® Certification™

Monday, July 7, 2025


East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) has officially been Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for 2025. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at EastWest. The result points to a workplace where people feel valued, heard, and respected.

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation.

“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that EastWest stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

“This recognition simply puts into words what we’ve always known, that our people set us apart,” said Atty. Juan Alfonso D. Suarez, Chief People, Corporate Services, and Sustainability Officer. “We made a conscious shift to listen better, care deeper, and make things simpler where it matters. That’s what creates real impact. We’re thankful to every EastWestbanker who shows up with purpose and heart.”

The People Advantage Gameplan: A Roadmap to Making People Experience Easy

Putting people first is built into how the Bank operates. The People Advantage Gameplan, a multi-year transformation roadmap, guides efforts to create a workplace where employees can grow, build meaningful connections, and thrive.

The gameplan integrates technology, employee feedback, and a culture of care to reshape how work gets done, by streamlining processes through automation while preserving the value of human connection. People Experience Made Easy reflects this approach. It’s the result of thoughtful design, where everyday tasks are simpler, support is easy to reach, and meaningful conversations are part of daily life.

The journey to certification speaks not only to the Bank’s systems but also to its culture. A culture that listens, adapts, and grows with its people.

Putting People First, in Every Way That Matters

EastWest continues to introduce programs that make the workplace more responsive, inclusive, and genuinely supportive of its people.

  • EastWest Academy builds future-ready capabilities through structured learning programs that support self-paced, interest-driven development.
  • Simplified HR tools such as Talent Starter, HMO Hub, Exit Management, Loans, and the Uniform App were developed in-house to make everyday transactions faster and more intuitive.
  • Recognition and feedback channels—including the new Recognition Framework, VIEW of the Workforce (VOW) survey, EWsapang BarkADS, and Kamustahan with Jerry—encourage appreciation, honest conversations, and shared solutions between employees and leaders.
  • The SHORE, EastWest’s one-stop digital hub, provides easy access to policies, benefits, and support.
  • Cascading the One Filinvest Values strengthens alignment with a purpose-led culture of collaboration and excellence.
  • Celebrating moments that matter through inclusive campaigns, community events, and automated greetings helps every EastWestbanker feel seen, valued, and connected.

Looking Ahead

As part of its future-ready people agenda, EastWest continues to elevate the employee experience through:

  • Predictive people analytics to guide talent and retention strategies
  • AI-powered self-service platforms for faster, more personalized support
  • Company-wide upskilling in automation, data, and agile ways of working to build a future-ready workforce

By becoming Great Place To Work® Certified™, EastWest joins a global community of organizations dedicated to building high-trust, high-performance workplaces. For every EastWestbanker, it’s a shared win, and a reminder that great culture is built from the inside out.

EastWest is Hiring

According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great mentor at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits and have a fair chance at promotion.

Looking to grow your career at a bank that puts people first? Visit the Bank’s careers page: https://www.eastwestbanker.com/About/Careers
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PLDT Enterprise rallies businesses to be their own first line of cyber defense

Sunday, July 6, 2025

PLDT Enterprise

In today’s digital-first landscape, where cyber threats evolve just as rapidly as the technologies designed to combat them, PLDT Enterprise, the corporate arm of PLDT, and ePLDT, PLDT’s ICT subsidiary, are reinforcing their commitment to cybersecurity. Championing efforts to educate, empower, and inspire proactive action toward a safer and more secure cyberspace, the group is urging its clients and customers to transform every employee and leader into a “Human Firewall.”

According to Alexis Bernardino, Field CISO and Cybersecurity Product Head of PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT, respectively, “Fraud schemes like phishing, smishing, vishing, and other similar scams, continue to increase in the Philippines. Given all these dangers, we continue to empower our clients’ workforce to become the first line of defense against cyber threats.”

A Snapshot of the Threat Landscape

The Philippines is one of the most active digital markets in the world and with it comes heightened exposure to cyber threats. Phishing, SMShing, and vishing attacks continue to proliferate, with scammers impersonating executives, hijacking QR codes (quishing), and sending fraudulent messages through messaging apps. These attacks continue to grow with cybercrime economy projected to hit $10.5 trillion globally by 2025, reflecting how valuable digital data has become.

Now, these threats have become local realities: fake CEO messages, spoofed HR announcements, and urgent payment requests are targeting Filipino businesses more frequently. But many times, a simple call to verify a suspicious message can help a company avert a major breach.

#CommittedToCybersecurity: From Awareness to Empowerment

PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT continue to promote a culture of cyber resilience through practical education. By simplifying technical topics and emphasizing everyday action, they provide essential cyber hygiene tips:

  • "Pause, Check, Protect" before clicking on links or responding to unusual requests.
  • Verify identities using trusted communication channels.
  • Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to secure logins.
  • Separate work and personal device usage to prevent crossover risks.
  • Avoid oversharing on social media, which scammers use for reconnaissance.

“At PLDT, we are committed to providing secure systems and building a digital community where vigilance is second nature,” Bernardino shared.

Securing Systems and Strengthening Trust Through Innovation

To support this, PLDT Enterprise, together with ePLDT, delivers comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that include protecting employee devices and data, providing professional services to improve organizations’ security postures, and offering AI-enabled managed solutions that identify, analyze, and prevent cyberthreats.

With a proactive cybersecurity strategy shaped by decades of experience, ePLDT’s certified experts lead threat intelligence, detection, and rapid response initiatives, equipping customers with tools, tailored insights, and 24/7 protection from real-world attacks.

From advanced threat detection to real-time incident handling, ePLDT works closely with customers to assess risks, close vulnerabilities, and stay one step ahead of evolving threats.

In addition, PLDT Enterprise, the first and only telco in the Philippines to receive the GSMA Open Gateway API certification, empowers businesses with Silent Authentication, an innovative solution that enhances customer protection by enabling secure, frictionless digital transactions. This eliminates the need for traditional passwords and OTPs by allowing merchants to verify identities directly with the telco network via the Application Programming Interface.

This kind of human-plus-technology approach ensures that cybersecurity involves both the systems in place and the people who use them.

A Shared Responsibility for a Safe Digital Philippines

Cybersecurity is not just the responsibility of IT departments. Everyone has a role to play. “You can't outsource vigilance,” Bernardino emphasized. “Every organization must embed a cybersecurity mindset into the very grassroots of their organizational culture.”

This vision aligns with the broader agenda of sustainable development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by enabling safe digital access, promoting inclusive education, and protecting economic activities.

“Cybersecurity has now evolved from a technical task to a shared responsibility. Our mission is to embed that cyber-first mindset into every Filipino business, and there is no better time to start than today,” Bernardino said.

To learn more about how your organization can become a Human Firewall, visit https://bit.ly/pldtenterprise-committed-to-cybersecurity-pr
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FedEx Expands Export Permit Services Network with 41 New Retail Outlets, Strengthening Support for Filipino SMEs


Federal Express Corporation, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, is enhancing its support for Filipino small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with significant expansion of its export permit services. Now available at 18 International Parcel Express (IPX) and 23 Airspeed outlets nationwide, this initiative underscores FedEx's dedication to making international shipping more accessible and empowering local businesses to thrive in the global market.

With this strategic development, FedEx export permit services are now accessible at 240 locations nationwide, including 199 2GO outlets, along with 23 newly added Airspeed sites and 18 IPX centers.

Each authorized retail store is fully equipped to assist business owners with crucial documentation and regulatory compliance for international export shipments. This expanded network significantly enhances the availability and convenience of FedEx export permit services for SMEs and e-commerce retailers across the country.

The service encompasses a wide range of items, from fishery products and magnetic media storage devices to consumer goods like medicines, supplements, medical devices, soaps, creams, and toothpaste, as well as repair and return items, and certificates of origin.

This latest initiative is part of FedEx's broader efforts to foster the growth of the Philippine export sector. By streamlining access to international trade, FedEx maintains its role as a trusted logistics provider for businesses of all sizes, ensuring that Filipino products can reach customers worldwide swiftly, reliably, and in full compliance with global standards.

Discover how FedEx is supporting Filipino SMEs here.

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Get Closer to Your Dream Ride

PSBank Auto Loan

Start the journey with PSBank Auto Loan

Whether it’s the daily commute, weekend errands, or family road trips, a reliable car gives you the freedom and confidence to go wherever life takes you. More than just a means of transportation, it’s an investment in convenience, safety, and peace of mind.

With PSBank Auto Loan, getting behind the wheel is simple, fast, and hassle-free.

Fast, Flexible, and Made for Everyday Life

Let’s face it: buying a new car is a big investment. That’s why having the right financing partner makes all the difference. With so much to manage in a day, car financing should be the least of your concerns.

Start your journey by planning ahead with the PSBank Auto Loan Calculator, which helps you estimate your potential monthly payments in just a few clicks. Once you're ready, you can apply for a PSBank Auto Loan online—and get a loan decision in as fast as 24 hours.

Managing your payments is just as simple.You can make payments through PSBank Mobile, PSBank Online, over-the-counter at any PSBank branch, or at 7-Eleven stores, among others.

And here’s a bonus: when you make advance or excess payments, you automatically earn rebates through the Prime Rebate feature. That means you can reduce your total loan amount, shorten your loan term—or even both.

Looking for more options? Check out PSBank’s Pre-Owned Cars at budget-friendly prices. You can either browse available units online, or drop by the PSBank Pre-Owned Auto Mart at 8003 Lands R Us Realty Compound, Manalac Ave., Bagong Tanyag, East Service Road, Taguig City. Units are available for viewing from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Your Maaasahan Partner on the Road

For those balancing work, family, and everything in between, a dependable ride starts with a dependable partner—with help from PSBank Auto Loan with Prime Rebate to make it all possible.

Apply for a PSBank Auto Loan through PSBank Online Loan Application, or visit your nearest PSBank branch. For more information, visit www.psbank.com.ph or follow PSBank on Facebook.
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Ant International Launches Alipay+ Voyager, a Built-in End-to-End AI Travel Companion for Digital Wallet and Super App Users

Friday, July 4, 2025

 

Alipay+ Voyager converts Alipay+'s agentic travel AI solutions into one multi-task interface for e-wallet and super app users

● OTA and travel merchant partners such as Agoda, Fliggy and Trip.com offer seamless, end-to-end traveller experience through Alipay+'s global partner apps, from trip planning, trip booking to product and service discovery

● Alipay+ plans to further deepen and expand its AI offerings for fintechs and super apps as a global wallet gateway for connectivity and growth.


With launch partners including Agoda, Fliggy and Trip.com, Ant International introduces Alipay+ Voyager, an AI travel companion integrated into digital wallets for the travel industry to simplify and enhance travel experiences for global consumers.

Alipay+ Voyager combines Ant International's agentic AI capabilities with the galaxy of cross-border travel services offered by OTA partners and 100 million global merchants in Alipay+'s partner ecosystem.

Through its one single AI interface embedded in e-wallets and super apps, Alipay+ Voyager assists travellers, via text or voice in their local language, to complete itinerary planning, booking, and purchasing in-destination merchant offerings with a seamless flow.

Alipay+ Voyager is first launched on three of Asia’s biggest mobile wallets, Alipay (Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China) and GCash (the Philippines) ahead of the summer travel peak. It will roll out to more Alipay+ payment partners throughout 2025.

Alipay+, started as a cross-border payment technology solution, now helping 36 leading e-wallets and payment apps with 1.7 billion consumer accounts connect to over 100 million merchants. The Alipay+ Wallet Tech team has been working with e-wallet partners in emerging markets to develop payment, security and growth capabilities and solutions since 2015. Today, the team plans to further build out other agentic AI suites for different industries on Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit, its main AI platform for fintechs.

Driving Global Connectivity and Growth in the Merchant-Wallet-Consumer Ecosystem

The online travel market is expected to grow 10% annually through 2032, with mobile already making up two-thirds of traffic. Travellers, especially Gen Zs, increasingly favour unique, hyperlocal experiences, using mobile-first, all-in-one solutions to uncover their best options.

Alipay+ Voyager has a number of distinct features:

● Intelligent end-to-end assistance from one single hub in familiar wallets: research, decision and action support before, during and after the trip

● Real-time global-to-local connections: seamless transitioning to local services like ride-hailing, public transport, shopping, dining and sightseeing;

● Purposeful, forward-looking curation: Voyager AI intuitively understands a user’s preferences, proactively solves problems when there are issues such as flight delays or bad weather, and surfaces hyper-relevant options in real-time before a traveller even asks, all within their home e-wallet;

● A new growth gateway for merchants and OTAs: captures multiple core markets through one easy deployment across the largest regional and global e-wallets.


“Travellers today are using more tech to enhance their trips, and there is a need for the industry to adapt and meet these new and emerging expectations,” said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International. “By integrating a proactive, always-on AI travel companion within digital wallets that consumers already use frequently, we’re empowering travel and wallet partners with new opportunities to engage travellers in a more relevant, personalised way, through every step of their journey.”

Gil Hazan, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Agoda, said: "At Agoda, we are committed to making travel more accessible and seamless for everyone. By integrating our extensive supply network as one of Asia's leading online travel platforms with Alipay+ Voyager's expansive wallet partnerships, we can offer travellers a more convenient and personalized booking experience. This collaboration enables us to reach a broader audience and provide tailored travel solutions that cater to the diverse needs of today's travellers."
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EastWest Trust and Asset Management Group Honored for Best Discretionary & Advisory Service Offering at Global Private Banking Innovation Awards 2025


East West Banking Corporation proudly announces that its Trust and Asset Management Group (TAMG) has received the prestigious Best Discretionary & Advisory Service Offering award at the 2025 Global Private Banking Innovation Awards, marking another significant milestone in the Bank’s growing legacy of excellence in wealth and investment management.

Despite operating with a lean team of just 33 officers, EastWest TAMG manages an impressive asset base having achieved significant year-on-year growth in 2024. Over the past five years, TAMG has averaged better than market AUM growth, reflecting both disciplined investment strategies and consistent fund performance. This global recognition reinforces TAMG’s vision of delivering strategic, client-centric investment solutions that drive meaningful outcomes for both institutional and retail clients.

“This award is a reflection of the trust our clients place in us, and the discipline and innovation our team brings to every portfolio,” said Raul Victor De Guzman, Head of Trust and Asset Management Group at EastWest. “We are proud to deliver institutional-grade investment solutions that remain accessible, cost-effective, and tailored for the Filipino investor.”

EastWest Head of Financial Markets and Wealth Management, Raffy S. Algarra Jr., shared his view on the recent recognition: “At EastWest, we believe that financial empowerment should be accessible to every Filipino. This award affirms that our approach, grounded in trust, deep expertise, and genuine accessibility, is resonating with clients. The success of our Trust and Asset Management Group speaks to the kind of value we strive to create, always in step with our customers and their goals.”

Driving Superior Investment Performance

Among its most notable accomplishments in 2024, four unit-linked insurance funds managed by TAMG for bancassurance partner EastWest Ageas outperformed their respective peer groups:

  • The Equity VUL Fund, which tracks the Philippine Stock Exchange Index, posted a remarkably low tracking error of 0.0079%, the best in its category.
  • The High Dividend Equity VUL Fund delivered a 19.23% return, outperforming its closest competitor by 711 basis points.
  • The Peso Active Equity VUL Fund beat its peer by 155 basis points with a return of 7.43%.
  • The Dollar Income Payout Fund generated a 7.05% return net of payouts, 349 basis points higher than its closest peer.

Innovation and Accessibility in Investment

TAMG’s comprehensive suite includes Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs), investment management accounts, fiduciary services, and escrow arrangements tailored for a wide spectrum of client needs, from institutional investors to individual clients planning their financial future.

In 2025 and beyond, EastWest TAMG plans to launch new investment products, including actively managed and PERA UITFs, gold investment options, and deeper integration with Komo, EastWest’s digital banking platform. This will make investment opportunities even more accessible, especially for a younger, digitally enabled market.

In parallel, the group is expanding its portfolio sales team and automating operational workflows to increase both client service levels and investment research capacity.

Market-Leading Efficiency and Value

Setting itself apart in a competitive market, TAMG also offers one of the lowest trust fees in the Philippine market at just 0.9%, compared to the average 1.7% charged by competitors. This efficient model allows clients to maximize returns, further strengthening TAMG’s value proposition.
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