IWG Expands Philippine Flexible Workspace Network in 2026

IWG Expands Philippine Flexible Workspace Network in 2026

Thursday, August 13, 2026

The Philippine flexible workspace market is expanding beyond traditional business districts as International Workplace Group (IWG) prepares to open five new locations across the country in 2026.

The expansion includes four HQ and Regus centers in Bohol, Lapu-Lapu City, and Taguig, plus the Philippine debut of Humanly, IWG's workspace concept designed specifically for healthcare, wellness, beauty, therapy, and fitness professionals.

The move signals a broader shift in the flexible workspace sector. Instead of serving only companies looking for offices, workspace operators are increasingly developing specialized facilities for professionals and businesses that need flexible access to purpose-built spaces.

Where are IWG's new Philippine locations?

IWG's five announced Philippine locations are:

1. HQ Plaza Helena (Panglao Island, Bohol) -  Flexible workspace
2. Regus Island Central Mactan (Lapu-Lapu City) -  Flexible workspace
3. Regus Savya Financial Center (Arca South, Taguig) -  Flexible workspace
4. Regus Alveo Park Triangle Tower (Taguig City) -  Flexible workspace
5. Humanly APECO Super Health Center (Casiguran, Aurora) - Healthcare and wellness workspace

The locations give IWG a presence across established business districts, tourism-oriented areas, and a smaller provincial community.

That geographic spread is important because flexible work is no longer limited to Metro Manila's central business districts.

Why is IWG expanding outside major business districts?

The economics of office space have changed as companies adopt hybrid and distributed working arrangements.

Rather than maintaining large permanent offices for employees who may only work onsite part of the week, businesses can use flexible workspaces when they need additional capacity, meeting facilities, or professional locations.

The same principle applies to individual professionals.

A consultant, freelancer, startup, or healthcare practitioner may need a professional environment without wanting to commit to a conventional long-term lease.

IWG Philippines says it plans to add 29 locations nationwide and reach 76 centers by the end of 2026.

The company's expansion also reflects the growing importance of regional business hubs. For workers who live outside major urban centers, having professional workspace closer to home can reduce commuting time while giving businesses access to local talent.

What is Humanly, and how is it different from a co-working space?

Humanly is IWG's flexible workspace concept for healthcare, wellness, beauty, therapy, and fitness professionals.

Its first Philippine location at the APECO Super Health Center in Casiguran, Aurora, is designed around the practical requirements of these practitioners.

Instead of providing conventional desks and meeting rooms alone, the facility includes spaces such as:

• Private consultation rooms
• Therapy suites
• Treatment rooms
• Reception areas
• Specialist facilities for healthcare and wellness services

The concept addresses a different business problem from traditional co-working.

A healthcare professional, for example, needs more than a desk and Wi-Fi. They need a suitable environment for consultations and treatments, along with the professional setting expected by their clients.

Humanly allows practitioners to access these facilities without having to shoulder the full upfront cost of establishing a conventional clinic or studio.

Why could this model matter to healthcare and wellness businesses?

Traditional premises can require significant capital for rent deposits, fit-outs, equipment, utilities, reception areas, and ongoing maintenance.

A flexible model shifts some of those costs from capital expenditure toward more manageable operating expenses, depending on the practitioner's arrangement and usage.

For new practitioners and smaller businesses, that can lower one of the barriers to establishing a professional practice.

The model could also provide greater flexibility for practitioners who do not need a permanent facility every day.

However, specialized healthcare practices still need to comply with applicable professional, regulatory, licensing, privacy, and health-and-safety requirements. A flexible facility does not remove those obligations.

How is hybrid work changing Philippine real estate?

The expansion comes as companies reconsider how much permanent office space they actually need.

According to Colliers' 2026 Asia Pacific Workplace Insights Report, 82% of organizations in the Philippines are already operating under hybrid work models, while 32% plan to invest further in workplace upgrades over the following year.

That suggests the office is not disappearing. Instead, its purpose is changing.

Companies may need fewer traditional desks but greater access to meeting rooms, collaboration areas, client-facing spaces, and strategically located offices.

For commercial real estate, this creates an opportunity for flexible workspace operators to become part of a company's broader workplace strategy.

IWG also cites research showing that more than 83% of CEOs have policies allowing employees to work from more than one location.

What does the expansion mean for businesses?

For companies, flexible workspace can offer an alternative to committing capital to permanent office infrastructure.

This can be particularly relevant for businesses entering new cities or testing regional markets.

A company may establish a local presence through a flexible office before deciding whether a permanent facility makes commercial sense.

Flexible workspaces can also support:

• Market expansion — Businesses can establish a presence in new locations without immediately taking on a long-term lease.
• Hybrid work — Employees can work closer to home while retaining access to professional facilities.
• Business continuity — Companies can use alternative workspace when their primary office is unavailable.
• Cost management — Businesses can align workspace requirements more closely with actual usage.
• Regional hiring — Employers can potentially access talent outside traditional business centers.

For SMEs and startups, these considerations can be particularly important because office infrastructure can compete with investments in hiring, technology, product development, and customer acquisition.

What does IWG's global growth say about the flexible workspace market?

IWG's Philippine expansion forms part of a much larger global strategy.

The company says it signed 1,132 locations and opened 782 centers in 2025. Its global network now spans more than 120 countries and includes over one million rooms.

IWG also says 85% of Fortune 500 companies are among its customers.

These figures point to an important development in commercial real estate: flexible workspace is increasingly being treated as an established component of corporate real estate strategy rather than simply an option for freelancers and startups.

The company's expansion also reflects a shift toward decentralized work, where employees and businesses operate across multiple locations rather than relying exclusively on a single headquarters.

What comes next for flexible workspaces in the Philippines?

The next stage of Philippine workplace development is likely to be less about choosing between "office" and "remote work" and more about creating a mix of spaces suited to different needs.

For companies, that could mean maintaining a smaller headquarters while using flexible offices in other locations.

For professionals, it could mean having access to specialized work environments without making long-term property commitments.

And for regional economies, the expansion of professional workspace could help support business activity outside Metro Manila.

IWG's launch of Humanly adds another dimension to that trend. By extending flexible workspace into healthcare and wellness, the company is testing how the model can serve industries where the physical environment is part of the service itself.

As Philippine businesses continue adapting to hybrid work, the real opportunity may be in building a more distributed commercial ecosystem—one where offices, clinics, coworking facilities, and specialized workspaces are available closer to where people actually live and work.

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Skyro Hits 2 Million Product Loans in Philippine Market

Skyro Hits 2 Million Product Loans in Philippine Market

Skyro has reached two million product loan transactions in the Philippines, four years after entering the local market, as demand for consumer financing continues to reshape how Filipinos make major purchases.

The milestone comes as the SEC-registered lending company expands its network to more than 10,000 partner stores and over 3,000 online and offline merchant partners. The company says it is targeting further expansion across the country, with a goal of doubling its growth.

For businesses, the development points to the increasing role of financing at the point of purchase. For consumers, it reflects a broader shift toward payment options that allow them to acquire appliances, smartphones, and other products without paying the entire cost upfront.

Why is consumer financing becoming important to Philippine retailers?

Retail financing allows customers to purchase products through credit and pay according to an agreed repayment schedule. Instead of treating credit as a separate financial transaction, point-of-sale financing integrates it directly into the shopping experience.

That model can benefit retailers by giving customers another way to complete a purchase, particularly when they do not have enough cash available immediately.

Skyro says its financing solutions have helped partner stores increase sales by at least 30%. The company also reports that SMEs account for more than 60% of its sales volume, highlighting the role smaller retailers play in its expansion.

The company's merchant ecosystem includes major retailers such as Abenson, Robinsons Appliances, and EMCOR, alongside smartphone brands including HONOR, TECNO, and Infinix.

How does Skyro's model support financial inclusion?

One of the more significant implications of consumer lending is its potential to connect people with the formal financial system.

For consumers who have never borrowed from a formal financial institution, a product loan can represent an entry point into the credit system. Responsible repayment may help establish a credit history, although the impact depends on how the lender reports and manages credit information.

Skyro says many of its customers are first-time borrowers. Its use of credit-profile-based risk models is intended to allow the company to tailor financing to individual customers while encouraging responsible borrowing.

This is particularly relevant in a market where access to formal financial services remains an important policy and business issue.

Financial inclusion is not simply about making credit available. It also requires that credit is offered responsibly, clearly explained, and appropriate for the borrower's ability to repay.

What does Skyro's 2 million loan milestone mean for merchants?

The growth of embedded financing could give retailers another tool for converting customer interest into actual sales.

For SMEs, this can be particularly relevant. A customer may want to buy an appliance or smartphone but hesitate because of the upfront price. Offering financing at checkout gives the retailer an additional way to close that sale.

Skyro says its partner network includes thousands of SMEs and that these businesses contribute more than 60% of its sales volume.

The model also allows financing providers to become part of the broader retail ecosystem rather than operating separately from merchants.

As more purchases move between physical stores and online platforms, the ability to offer financing across both channels could become increasingly important.

What financing options does Skyro offer?

According to the company, its financing products can include offers such as:

• Zero-down-payment options
• Promotional 0% interest offers
• Flexible payment terms
• Financing available through physical and online merchants
• Credit decisions informed by customer profiles

Terms, eligibility, interest charges, fees, and repayment schedules can vary by product and promotion. Consumers should review the complete financing agreement before accepting a loan.

Why are SMEs important to the consumer lending market?

The participation of smaller businesses is significant because SMEs are a major part of the Philippine retail economy.

A financing platform that works with large national chains alone can reach consumers in major commercial centers. A wider SME network, however, can potentially bring financing closer to communities where consumers shop locally.

For lenders, this also creates a larger distribution network. For merchants, financing can become an additional sales tool without requiring them to develop their own lending infrastructure.

This is one reason the competition in consumer finance is increasingly about more than simply offering credit. Distribution, technology, risk assessment, merchant relationships, and customer experience are becoming equally important.

What comes next for Skyro?

Following the two-million-loan milestone, Skyro says it plans to expand its merchant ecosystem, invest further in technology and data capabilities, and reach more consumers outside major commercial areas.

Co-CEO Arsen Lyametov said the company's growth strategy will continue to focus on technology, security, operational efficiency, and responsible lending.

That direction reflects a broader evolution in consumer finance. As credit becomes embedded into retail transactions, lenders have to balance accessibility with risk management.

For consumers, convenience should not be the only measure of a good financing product. The more important considerations remain affordability, transparency, repayment capacity, and the total cost of borrowing.

What does the growth of digital consumer financing mean for Filipinos?

Skyro's two-million-loan milestone illustrates how financing is becoming increasingly integrated into everyday retail in the Philippines.

The opportunity is significant for both merchants and consumers. Retailers can potentially reach customers who need payment flexibility, while borrowers can gain access to formal credit and, when managed responsibly, develop a financial track record.

But continued growth also raises the importance of responsible lending. As more Filipinos encounter credit directly at checkout, consumers need clear information about interest, fees, repayment obligations, and the consequences of missed payments.

The next phase of Philippine consumer financing will therefore not be measured by loan volume alone. Trust, transparency, responsible credit access, and the ability to serve underserved consumers will be just as important to sustainable growth.

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Why Indigenous Knowledge Can Shape Sustainable Food Systems

Why Indigenous Knowledge Can Shape Sustainable Food Systems

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Food sustainability is often discussed through the language of technology, innovation, and new agricultural systems. But some of the most useful ideas may already exist in communities that have managed forests and food resources for generations.

Indigenous knowledge can help build more sustainable food systems by connecting food production with cultural traditions, environmental stewardship, and local livelihoods. Sago offers a compelling example. In the Philippines and Indonesia, communities are finding ways to turn a traditional forest crop into commercially viable food products without separating economic development from the protection of ancestral lands.

The approach is particularly relevant as food producers look for ways to make agriculture more resilient while creating opportunities for rural and Indigenous communities.

What makes sago important to sustainable food systems?

Sago is a starch extracted from the trunk of several species of palm. It has long been an important food source in parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, where communities have developed extensive knowledge about growing, harvesting, processing, and using the crop.

Its significance goes beyond nutrition.

In communities where sago forests form part of the traditional landscape, the crop can support food security while providing a reason to protect forest ecosystems. Processing sago locally can also create additional economic value instead of selling raw resources with limited processing.

That connection between food, livelihood, culture, and conservation is central to the experiences of Indigenous communities in South Sorong, Indonesia, and Caraga in the Philippines.

How are Indigenous communities turning traditional knowledge into economic opportunities?

In South Sorong, members of the Knasaimos Indigenous community have been working to protect sago forests while developing products that can generate additional household income.

The community's relationship with the forest is reflected in the Tehit Knasaimos philosophy, "Tabraw'o mamfe teme," or "The forest is our Mother."

That philosophy has practical implications. Rather than viewing the forest simply as a source of raw materials, the community treats its resources as something that needs to be maintained for future generations.

The community began replanting sago forests in 2018 and 2019 after years of environmental pressure linked to illegal logging and timber development.

The restoration effort demonstrates an important principle in sustainable food production: conservation and economic activity do not necessarily have to compete when communities have control over how natural resources are used.

What role do women and young people play?

Women and young people have become important participants in the community's sago economy.

Women are involved in seed selection and household food security, while younger community members are being trained in resource management, processing, and entrepreneurship.

The Merdesa Village School, or SEKAM, supports youth involvement in natural resource management. The program is associated with the Bentara Papua Association, which also established the Sira Bentara Papua Station as a hub for agricultural learning, food processing, and organizational development.

This matters because Indigenous knowledge can disappear when younger generations no longer see a viable future in their communities.

Creating economic opportunities around traditional resources gives younger people another reason to remain connected to their land and cultural practices.

How can sago become more than a traditional staple?

One of the biggest changes has been moving sago beyond household consumption.

Through training and product development, the community has created products including:

• Sago flour
• Noodles
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Cendol
• Meatballs
• Functional snacks

These products are marketed under the Tepung Sagu Mangsir brand.

Adding value through processing can potentially create more income than selling or consuming the raw agricultural resource alone. It can also create opportunities for small businesses involved in packaging, distribution, retail, tourism, and food services.

The community's experience illustrates why local food systems should not be evaluated only by how much they produce. How communities process, market, and retain value from their resources is equally important.

Can sustainable food production also restore forests?

The South Sorong initiative suggests that food production and forest restoration can work together when the economic model rewards conservation.

The community has replanted approximately five hectares of sago forest, according to the initiative. The restoration has also helped revive at least 11 companion tree species and protect four local sago varieties: Falya dla, Fa Sampe, Fablen, and Fanomik.

The economic incentive is straightforward. If healthy forests provide food and income, maintaining those forests becomes part of protecting the community's livelihood.

This is an example of what is sometimes described as a restorative economy: an economic approach designed not only to generate income but also to help restore the environmental and social systems on which that income depends.

What does this mean for the Philippines?

The Indonesian experience offers a useful reference for Philippine communities with traditional knowledge of local crops and natural resources.

In Caraga, a Manobo community has established what is described as the Philippines' first sago palm flour enterprise. The initiative demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge can be paired with processing and entrepreneurship to create greater economic value from a traditional crop.

Sago is also familiar to Filipino consumers. Its starch is used in products and dishes such as taho and halo-halo, but its potential extends well beyond these familiar applications.

As interest in plant-based ingredients and alternative food sources grows, traditional crops such as sago could receive renewed attention.

The opportunity, however, should not be viewed simply as turning Indigenous resources into commercial products. The more important question is whether commercialization can happen with Indigenous communities, rather than merely around them.

That means respecting community ownership, traditional knowledge, cultural identity, and decisions about how ancestral resources should be managed.

Why does Indigenous knowledge matter to the future of food?

Modern food systems face several interconnected challenges, including environmental degradation, pressure on natural resources, changing consumer expectations, and the need to create sustainable livelihoods.

Indigenous communities offer knowledge developed through long-term interaction with specific ecosystems.

That knowledge can include which plants thrive in particular environments, how resources should be harvested, how ecosystems respond to changes, and which practices help maintain food sources over generations.

It should not be romanticized as automatically sustainable. Indigenous communities, like all communities, face changing economic and environmental conditions. But their accumulated knowledge can provide valuable insights when combined with appropriate science, market access, technology, and community-led decision-making.

The lesson from sago is therefore broader than one crop.

Building food systems that benefit both people and nature

The future of sustainable food production will require more than producing alternative ingredients or developing new agricultural technologies.

It will also require recognizing the people who already understand local ecosystems and giving them meaningful opportunities to shape the economic systems built around those resources.

The sago initiatives in South Sorong and Caraga show what that can look like: traditional knowledge supporting food production, women and young people gaining new roles, local enterprises creating added value, and forest restoration becoming part of the economic equation.

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RPO APAC Certifies More Than 110 Pickleball Coaches Across the Philippines

RPO APAC Certifies More Than 110 Pickleball Coaches Across the Philippines

The rapid growth of pickleball in the Philippines is creating a new challenge for the sport: developing enough qualified coaches to support players as participation expands.

The Racket Professional Organization (RPO) APAC has responded by certifying more than 110 Filipino coaches through its Level 1 Coach Training Tour in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The initiative is part of a wider effort to establish professional coaching standards and create longer-term development opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.

Rather than treating certification as the end of a training program, RPO APAC is building a pathway that connects education with coaching experience, professional networks, and opportunities to work within the growing pickleball industry.

Why does pickleball need more professional coaches?

Pickleball's relatively low barrier to entry is one reason for its rapid growth. Players can learn the basics quickly, and the sport can be played across a wide range of ages and skill levels.

But a growing player base also creates demand for people who can teach the sport properly.

A qualified coach does more than demonstrate how to hit a ball. Coaching involves understanding technique, player assessment, lesson planning, communication, progression, and how to adapt instruction to different abilities.

As more clubs, academies, schools, and community groups introduce pickleball programs, structured coach education becomes increasingly important.

RPO APAC's Philippine tour was designed to address that need.

How does the RPO Level 1 certification work?

The RPO Level 1 Coach Certification Program uses a blended training format combining online education with practical instruction.

The program includes:

• 10 hours of virtual learning
• A two-hour online assessment
• A six-hour practical workshop
• Coaching methodology
• Player assessment techniques
• Lesson planning
• Communication skills
• Practical on-court instruction

The combination of theory and hands-on training is intended to give participants tools they can apply when working with players.

More than 110 coaches completed the program during the Philippine tour, with participants coming from different clubs, academies, schools, and emerging pickleball communities.

Where did RPO conduct its Philippine coach training?

RPO APAC's Level 1 Coach Training Tour covered three major Philippine locations:

Manila

The capital hosted the Level 1 workshop led by Collin Johns, RPO's Global Technical Director and a professional pickleball player.

Cebu

The regional leg extended the certification opportunity to coaches and players outside Metro Manila.

Davao

The tour also reached Mindanao, allowing participants from the southern Philippines to take part in the program.

The three-city approach is significant because the country's pickleball development is not limited to Metro Manila. Building coaching capacity across different regions can help support the sport's expansion beyond the country's largest urban centers.

What happens after a coach gets certified?

For RPO APAC, certification is intended to be a starting point rather than an endpoint.

The organization says certified coaches will have opportunities to participate in a broader regional education ecosystem that includes networking, additional learning, clinics, and practical coaching experiences.

Selected coaches from the Manila workshop will also be invited to participate in Helios' coach selection process, where further training and evaluation may lead to coaching placements.

This creates a potential bridge between education and employment.

A certificate demonstrates that a coach has completed a defined training program. Real coaching opportunities, however, allow that knowledge to be tested and developed in actual player environments.

How can Filipino coaches gain more practical experience?

One of RPO APAC's approaches is to connect coaches with live sporting events.

As a strategic partner of PPA Tour Asia, RPO APAC provides assistance at RPO Clinics held during PPA Tour Asia events. Certified coaches can gain exposure to live coaching environments and work alongside experienced clinicians.

The organization also plans to hold regional RPO Coach Gatherings, giving certified coaches opportunities to exchange experiences, learn from industry professionals, and stay informed about coaching and player-development practices.

A partnership with JOOLA, a global sporting-goods brand with a significant presence in pickleball, further connects the coaching program to the broader industry.

These relationships matter because professional development is difficult to build through classroom education alone.

Why are coaching pathways important as pickleball grows?

A sport's long-term development depends on more than participation numbers.

New players need instructors who can teach fundamentals correctly. Competitive players need coaches who can identify weaknesses and build structured training programs. Clubs need qualified professionals who can run lessons and clinics.

Without a sufficient coaching workforce, rapid participation growth can outpace the infrastructure needed to support it.

That is why coach education can become an important part of a sport's development as it moves from recreational activity toward a more established competitive ecosystem.

For the Philippines, the challenge is particularly relevant as pickleball communities continue emerging in different cities and regions.

What does RPO's three-city tour mean for Philippine pickleball?

The certification of more than 110 coaches provides the sport with a larger pool of formally trained instructors.

More importantly, the initiative points toward a broader shift: pickleball coaching is beginning to develop as a professional pathway rather than simply an informal role taken on by experienced players.

That distinction could influence the quality and consistency of instruction available to new players.

RPO APAC's model also emphasizes regional connectivity. Coaches trained in the Philippines can potentially continue learning through programs and events elsewhere in Asia-Pacific, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange across different pickleball communities.

Connor Nguyen, Managing Director of RPO APAC, described certification as a starting point for continued learning and professional development rather than a final destination.

That approach reflects a basic principle of sports coaching: expertise develops through continued education and practice, not through a single qualification.

The next phase of pickleball development

The Philippines already has a growing community of pickleball players. The next stage of development will require the people and systems capable of supporting them.

Training more coaches is one part of that process.

RPO APAC's Philippine tour provides a larger pool of certified coaches while establishing potential pathways toward mentorship, practical experience, networking, and future coaching opportunities.

As pickleball continues to attract recreational players and competitive athletes, the quality of the people teaching the sport could become just as important as the number of people picking up a paddle.

For a sport still building its professional infrastructure in the Philippines, developing coaches may ultimately be one of the most important investments in its long-term growth.

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Mayet Live House Brings Live Commerce to Luxury Jewelry

Mayet Live House Brings Live Commerce to Luxury Jewelry

Live selling is moving beyond everyday retail and into higher-value categories, and Mayet Dela Rosa Fine Jewelry is testing that model in the Philippine luxury market with the launch of Mayet Live House.

The new live commerce hub gives aspiring entrepreneurs, content creators, resellers, affiliates, and livestream sellers access to a professional studio, curated fine jewelry collections, selling equipment, and operational support. The model is designed to reduce some of the usual costs associated with starting a retail business.

Instead of purchasing inventory or opening a physical store, participants can reserve livestream schedules and focus on presenting products and interacting with customers while Mayet Live House handles much of the infrastructure behind the sale.

What is Mayet Live House?

Mayet Live House is a livestream selling facility built around fine jewelry.

Qualified participants can book a selling session and use a professionally designed studio equipped with lighting, livestream equipment, high-speed internet, product displays, and operational assistance.

The concept effectively separates selling from traditional retail infrastructure.

A conventional jewelry business can require capital for inventory, a physical location, displays, staffing, logistics, and other operating costs. Mayet Live House instead provides these elements as part of its live-selling environment, allowing sellers to concentrate primarily on the customer-facing side of the business.

That makes the model particularly relevant to the growing creator economy, where individuals can turn an existing audience or content skill into a potential sales channel.

How does the Mayet Live House business model work?

Participants first go through registration and pre-qualification before reserving a livestream schedule.

During their session, sellers receive access to:

• A professional livestream studio
• Curated Mayet fine jewelry collections
• Product displays designed for jewelry presentation
• Professional lighting
• Livestream equipment
• High-speed internet
• Product support
• Operational assistance

The arrangement allows sellers to focus on demonstrating products, answering questions, and building relationships with potential buyers.

Mayet Dela Rosa Fine Jewelry, meanwhile, provides much of the infrastructure required to support the transaction.

Going live may appear simple from the customer's perspective, but successful social commerce also requires systems for processing orders, tracking inventory, communicating with customers, and getting purchases delivered.

By handling those functions, Mayet Live House aims to allow sellers to spend more time on selling and audience engagement.

Who can use Mayet Live House?

The platform is positioned for a broad range of potential sellers, including:

• First-time livestream sellers
• Content creators
• Affiliate marketers
• Resellers
• Students seeking additional income opportunities
• Existing entrepreneurs
• Sellers looking to enter the luxury jewelry category

The common requirement is not necessarily an established retail operation but the willingness and ability to participate in live selling.

This is an important distinction because creator commerce has lowered the barrier between having an audience and becoming a seller.

However, lower barriers do not eliminate the need for selling skills. Building a sustainable live-commerce business still depends on factors such as audience trust, product knowledge, consistency, customer service, and the ability to convert engagement into sales.

What does Mayet Live House mean for Filipino entrepreneurs?

The launch reflects a broader shift in how small businesses and individual entrepreneurs can enter retail.

Starting a traditional jewelry business typically means taking on significant upfront costs before the first customer arrives. A live-commerce model changes that equation by allowing the seller to access existing products, equipment, and operational infrastructure.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, the potential advantage is flexibility.

For brands, the opportunity lies in expanding distribution through a larger network of independent sellers without requiring every seller to build a traditional storefront.

That creates a model closer to creator-led retail, where the brand, seller, and digital audience become part of the same commercial ecosystem.

What role does Mayet Live House play in Mayet Dela Rosa Fine Jewelry's strategy?

Mayet Live House represents a move beyond simply selling fine jewelry as a finished product.

The company is positioning itself as an enabler of a new selling model, using its jewelry portfolio as the foundation for an entrepreneurship platform.

That strategy could allow the brand to reach customers through personalities and communities that it might not otherwise access through conventional retail channels.

It also reflects how luxury businesses are adapting to a retail environment in which consumers increasingly discover products through social media rather than through physical stores alone.

The success of the model, however, will ultimately depend on whether sellers can build genuine customer relationships and generate sustainable demand—not simply on the availability of livestream facilities.

The next phase of Philippine social commerce

Mayet Live House arrives as the boundaries between content creation, entrepreneurship, and retail continue to blur.

For creators, live commerce offers another way to monetize an audience. For brands, it creates a distribution channel built around people rather than storefronts. For consumers, it provides a more interactive way to discover products.

Bringing that model into fine jewelry is a notable experiment because the category depends heavily on trust and presentation.

If Mayet Live House succeeds, its significance could extend beyond jewelry. It could demonstrate how established Philippine brands can provide the infrastructure that allows more individuals to participate in digital commerce without having to build an entire retail operation from scratch.

The company has opened the platform to qualified sellers through Mayet Live House official website.

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Taytay Brings Kidney Screening Closer to Residents

Taytay Brings Kidney Screening Closer to Residents

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

For people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), finding out about the condition early can make a significant difference. The challenge is that CKD often develops without obvious symptoms, allowing kidney function to decline before a person realizes there is a problem.

Taytay, Rizal is addressing that challenge by bringing kidney health screening directly into communities. The municipal government, in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines and with support from Angat Taytay, has expanded the “Iwas Dialysis, Ligtas Kidneys: Get CheCKD Habang Maaga Pa!” program across barangays and other community locations.

The initiative has screened nearly 4,000 Taytay residents in two months, according to the organizers. Rather than requiring residents to seek screening only at conventional healthcare facilities, the program has brought services to municipal offices, barangay health centers, schools, police stations, fishports, commercial areas, and residential communities.

The approach illustrates an important shift in preventive healthcare: making services available where people already live, work, study, and spend time.

Why is early kidney screening important?

Chronic kidney disease is a long-term condition in which the kidneys become damaged or lose function over time. Because early CKD may have few or no noticeable symptoms, screening can help identify people at risk before the disease becomes advanced.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Medical Economics estimated that CKD affects about 11.2% of the Philippine population, a figure equivalent to roughly 13 million people. The researchers also found that the cost of managing CKD increases as the disease progresses.

The study estimated the annual total cost of CKD in the Philippines at PHP 592.15 billion, including direct medical expenses, transportation costs, productivity losses, and other economic costs. It also found that annual medical costs increased substantially across disease stages.

These findings give community screening a significance that goes beyond a single health check.

Detecting CKD earlier can create an opportunity for patients and healthcare professionals to identify risk factors, manage underlying conditions, and determine appropriate follow-up care before kidney disease becomes more advanced.

Screening, however, is not the same as diagnosis. People with abnormal screening results need appropriate clinical assessment and follow-up from healthcare professionals.

How is Taytay making kidney screening more accessible?

The Iwas Dialysis, Ligtas Kidneys program takes screening outside a single healthcare facility.

During its initial implementation, activities reached residents in Sta. Ana, San Juan, San Isidro, and Dolores, as well as communities including Sitio Batasin, Montevista Subdivision, and Cielito Homes II.

Screening activities were also conducted at Taytay Municipal Hall, SM Taytay, schools, police stations, and fishports.

This community-based model addresses one of the practical barriers to preventive healthcare: people may not seek screening if doing so requires additional travel, time away from work, or navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system.

By taking services closer to residents, local governments can potentially make preventive care easier to access.

That matters particularly for conditions such as CKD, where a person may feel healthy despite having risk factors or early disease.

What does the program mean for local healthcare?

The Taytay initiative demonstrates how local governments can use partnerships to extend preventive healthcare beyond traditional facilities.

Municipal health offices and barangay health centers already have relationships with local communities. Adding targeted screening activities can help connect residents with information and identify people who may need further medical evaluation.

Taytay Mayor Allan De Leon said the program reflects the municipality's focus on preventing illness rather than waiting until residents require treatment.

Municipal Health Officer Dr. Aldwin Aguinaldo likewise described prevention as an investment that can give residents more time and an opportunity to act before disease progresses.

The partnership also includes local barangay officials, community groups, healthcare providers, and the private sector.

For local governments, this type of collaboration can expand the reach of existing primary-care infrastructure without placing responsibility for prevention on a single organization.

Why is CKD also an economic issue?

Kidney disease affects more than a patient's health.

As CKD progresses, patients may require increasingly complex treatment, including renal replacement therapy such as dialysis or kidney transplantation. These interventions can involve substantial medical expenses as well as transportation costs and lost productivity.

The 2025 Philippine cost-of-illness study found that the economic burden rises with disease progression. Its analysis estimated annual direct medical costs for CKD health states at between PHP 44,610 and PHP 116,590 for non-diabetic patients, and between PHP 46,452 and PHP 120,948 for diabetic patients, excluding costs associated with complications.

The researchers also calculated significant costs associated with renal replacement therapy. Annual direct medical costs across dialysis modalities were estimated at roughly PHP 401,000 to PHP 560,000, depending on the treatment and assumptions used in the analysis.

The study was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines and involved researchers from healthcare institutions and a health economics research firm. That funding relationship is important context when considering the findings, although the study underwent journal publication and provides a detailed economic analysis of CKD management in the Philippines.

The economic argument for early detection is therefore straightforward: identifying kidney disease earlier may create opportunities to manage it before it reaches more costly stages.

Who is behind the Taytay kidney screening program?

The initiative is being implemented by the Municipal Government of Taytay, in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines and with support from Angat Taytay.

Boehringer Ingelheim's role forms part of its broader effort to support kidney-health awareness and early screening in collaboration with local governments and community organizations.

Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, said improving access to community screening is an important part of encouraging earlier action on CKD.

The program also supports the broader direction of the Philippines' Universal Health Care framework, which emphasizes accessible health services and stronger primary care.

What happens after a kidney screening?

A screening result should not be treated as a final diagnosis.

People who receive an abnormal or concerning result may need additional tests or evaluation by a healthcare professional. The appropriate next step depends on the individual's medical history, risk factors, symptoms, and screening findings.

This makes the connection between screening and primary care especially important.

A community screening program is most useful when residents who may be at risk can also access appropriate follow-up, treatment, monitoring, and health education.

For local governments, that means the long-term value of screening depends not only on how many people are tested, but also on how effectively those identified as at risk are connected to continuing care.

Where can Taytay residents access upcoming screenings?

The program is continuing its community activities in August.

Based on the schedule provided by the organizers, activities include screening opportunities in Barangay San Isidro through August 30 and Barangay Dolores through August 29, along with activities at Sitio Tagumpay on August 23, Sitio Bayabas Purok 1 on August 29, and Sitio Bayabas Purok 5 on August 30.

Residents should confirm schedules and availability with the Taytay Municipal Government or their local health center before visiting, as community schedules can change.

People who are concerned about their kidney health should also consult a healthcare professional rather than relying solely on a community screening event.

Can community screening reduce the burden of kidney disease?

Screening alone cannot eliminate CKD, but it can address one of the major challenges surrounding the disease: people may not know they have it.

That makes community-based programs particularly relevant to preventive healthcare. By moving screening closer to residents, local governments can lower some of the practical barriers that discourage people from seeking health checks.

The Taytay experience also highlights the role of partnerships in public health. Local governments bring community access and health infrastructure. Healthcare professionals provide clinical expertise. Community organizations can help mobilize residents, while private-sector partners can contribute resources and technical support.

The measure of success, however, should extend beyond the number of people screened.

The more meaningful outcomes are whether residents understand their risk, whether people with concerning results receive appropriate follow-up, and whether early intervention helps slow disease progression.

A community approach to protecting kidney health

The Iwas Dialysis, Ligtas Kidneys initiative puts an important principle of preventive healthcare into practice: sometimes the most effective way to encourage people to take care of their health is to bring the service closer to them.

With nearly 4,000 Taytay residents reached in two months, the program demonstrates the potential reach of community-based screening when local government, healthcare providers, community groups, and private organizations work together.

For a condition that can remain hidden until it becomes advanced, earlier awareness can give patients something valuable: time to seek medical advice and make informed decisions about their health.

As Taytay continues its screening activities, its experience may also offer a useful model for other municipalities looking for practical ways to strengthen preventive healthcare at the community level.

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Monde Nissin Launches Better Food Forward

Monde Nissin Launches Better Food Forward

For Filipino families, eating better is not simply a matter of knowing which foods are nutritious. Price, availability, convenience, and understanding how food fits into everyday meals can all influence what ends up on the table.

That is the issue Monde Nissin Corporation is seeking to address with Better Food Forward (BFF), a new nutrition advocacy that brings together product development, nutrition education, and partnerships with government, academe, communities, and industry stakeholders.

The company introduced the initiative during “The Better Food Conversation: Nourishment on Every Filipino Plate” in Manila, where nutrition professionals, community advocates, government representatives, and industry stakeholders discussed the practical barriers that shape Filipino food choices.

The launch comes against a backdrop of persistent nutrition challenges in the Philippines. The Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) reported that 31.4% of Filipino households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in the 2023 National Nutrition Survey. The same survey found that 23.6% of children under five were stunted, while 5.6% experienced wasting.

Why is Better Food Forward focusing on access, not just awareness?

Nutrition education is important, but information alone does not guarantee that families can act on it.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) describes a healthy diet in terms that go beyond the availability of food. Affordability and access are also critical considerations, while nutrition education works best when paired with efforts that improve the food environment.

This distinction is important for businesses in the food sector. A consumer may understand the value of a balanced meal but still have to make decisions based on a household budget, what is available in the neighborhood, preparation time, and the eating habits of the family.

That makes food companies part of a much larger conversation about nutrition.

At Monde Nissin’s forum, Kevin Carpio, the company’s Nutrition Advocacy Manager, highlighted affordability, availability, and practical understanding as factors affecting food choices.

Registered nutritionist-dietitian Jo Sebastian similarly emphasized an approach centered on adding nutritious ingredients rather than relying solely on restrictions. One example discussed was adding vegetables and an egg to instant noodles to increase the nutritional value of a familiar meal.

The underlying idea is straightforward: healthier eating has a better chance of becoming a lasting habit when recommendations can be applied to real household routines.

What is Better Food Forward?

Better Food Forward is Monde Nissin’s nutrition advocacy built around three areas: Products, Programs, and Partnerships.

The company says the initiative is intended to guide improvements in its food portfolio, provide practical nutrition education, and build collaborations that can contribute to healthier food environments.

Rather than treating nutrition as a single product-development issue, the framework places product innovation alongside consumer education and stakeholder collaboration.

That approach mirrors a broader understanding of food systems. FAO recommendations on healthy diets call for cooperation among governments, the private sector, communities, and other stakeholders to improve the availability, accessibility, affordability, and convenience of nutritious food.

What is Monde Nissin changing in its products?

Product reformulation is one of the most tangible components of Better Food Forward.

According to Monde Nissin, 73% of its revenue currently comes from fortified products, 32% of its products have reduced sodium, and its portfolio is free from trans fats.

The company also reported that its products delivered approximately 2 billion servings of Vitamin A, 3 billion servings of iron, and 542 million servings of Vitamin C to Filipino consumers in 2025.

These figures are company-reported measures and are best understood as indicators of the scale of its existing portfolio rather than measurements of the overall nutritional status of Filipino consumers.

Monde Nissin also introduced its Monde Nissin Nutrition Criteria, an internal science-based framework intended to guide product innovation and renovation. The company says the framework will support its goal of expanding its healthier-product portfolio through 2030.

Among the initiatives cited by the company are sodium reduction in selected products, food fortification, and proprietary air-fried noodle technology designed to reduce fat and calories.

For a large food manufacturer, these changes matter because product reformulation can affect nutrition at scale. Unlike nutrition advice that depends on individual behavior, changes made during product development can potentially reach consumers through products they already purchase.

How does the initiative fit into the wider nutrition landscape?

The Philippines already has established national nutrition guidance.

The country’s food-based dietary guidelines, developed through an interagency and multidisciplinary process led by DOST-FNRI and approved by the National Nutrition Council, encourage people to eat a variety of foods, consume more fruits and vegetables, choose sources of protein and calcium, and limit excessive intake of salty, fried, fatty, and sugar-rich foods.

The challenge is turning those recommendations into everyday behavior.

DOST-FNRI has also identified inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption as a concern among Filipinos. Its reporting on the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey noted that Filipino adults consumed relatively small amounts of vegetables and fruit compared with international recommendations.

This is where initiatives involving food manufacturers can become relevant. Companies have access to product development capabilities, distribution networks, consumer research, and communication channels that government and health organizations may not possess in the same way.

At the same time, partnerships need credible nutrition standards and measurable outcomes to ensure that advocacy translates into meaningful improvements rather than simply becoming another marketing platform.

Who is involved in Better Food Forward?

Monde Nissin’s launch brought together representatives from several parts of the Philippine nutrition and food ecosystem.

The panel included Dr. Clarissa Juanico, President of the Philippine Stakeholders for Nutrition and Dietetics; Cloyd Masaudling, Executive Director of Aguhon Movement for Governance; Jo Sebastian, registered nutritionist-dietitian and content creator; and Atty. Olive Misa, Head of Corporate and Government Affairs at Monde Nissin.

Representatives from government, nutrition organizations, academia, and other stakeholder groups also attended, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, DOST-FNRI, Philippine Association of Nutrition, Nutritionist Dietitians' Association of the Philippines Foundation, Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network, and University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The breadth of participation reflects an important reality: nutrition is not controlled by one sector.

Agriculture affects food supply. Government policies influence affordability and access. Food manufacturers influence what products are available. Nutrition professionals provide evidence-based guidance, while communities determine how food recommendations are actually adopted at home.

What could Better Food Forward mean for the food industry?

For Monde Nissin, the initiative creates a framework for connecting business decisions with nutrition objectives.

For the wider food industry, it also highlights a shift in how companies can approach nutrition. Instead of focusing exclusively on launching products marketed as healthier, businesses can examine the entire consumer journey: what people can afford, what they can find, what they understand, and how easily a product fits into their existing meals.

That distinction could become increasingly important as consumers face competing demands for convenience, affordability, taste, and nutrition.

Better Food Forward is therefore worth watching not simply as a new corporate advocacy, but as a test of how a major food manufacturer can turn nutrition commitments into measurable changes across products, programs, and partnerships.

Monde Nissin describes the initiative as a long-term effort rather than a one-time campaign. Its eventual impact will depend on how consistently the company applies its nutrition criteria, measures progress, communicates evidence, and works with independent stakeholders.

The bigger question is not whether Filipino consumers need better nutrition information. It is whether the food system can make better choices practical and accessible in everyday life. Better Food Forward puts Monde Nissin’s answer to that question into motion, with its progress likely to be measured not by the launch itself, but by what changes follow.

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