EastWest Wins Gold for People-First HR Tech at 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards

EastWest Wins Gold for People-First HR Tech at 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards

Saturday, May 31, 2025

EastWest has been awarded a Gold Stevie® Award for Excellence in Innovative Use of Technology in Human Resources at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards, recognizing the bank’s people-led, tech-powered transformation in HR.

Presented annually, the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only regional business awards program that recognizes workplace innovation across 29 countries. EastWest received the honor during the gala ceremony held on May 13, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea.

People-Led Automation, Meaningful Results

This recognition highlights the success of EastWest’s People Advantage Gameplan, a two-year transformation strategy that combined grassroots automation across the employee lifecycle with authentic employee engagement and behavioral insights.

Using Microsoft Power Platform tools, EastWest’s HR team, without external vendors, designed and deployed digital solutions that streamlined onboarding, people dashboard and analytics, wellness, employee loans, recognition, and offboarding.

These achievements reflect a modern, scalable, and employee-centered approach to HR transformation.

The results were both human and measurable:

• +8-point increase in Employee Satisfaction: from 69% in 2022 to 77% in 2024, with 93% of employees expressing intent to stay in the next two years

• +4-point boost in Engagement: from 73% in 2022 to 77% in 2024.

• 18% net headcount growth, driven by the highest hiring levels in over a decade

• Attrition lowered by 10 percentage points, aligning with industry standards

Human Connection at the Core

Beyond tools and technology, EastWest placed high value on genuine employee connection. The initiative featured listening sessions and conversations with the CEO, and employee-led storytelling campaigns that amplified authenticity across the organization.

“We’ve always believed that technology is central in making people-centered experiences across the employee lifecycle happen,” said Atty. Juan Alfonso “Alfie” Suarez, Chief People, Corporate Services, and Sustainability Officer at EastWest. “This recognition inspires us to do better, be better, and take our employees, customers and stakeholders further”.

A Future-Ready HR Model

EastWest continues to lead with a passion for customer centricity, a drive for changing things for the better, and a focus on shared benefit with people at the center and technology as an enabler.

For more information on EastWest’s talent innovation and employee experience programs, visit www.eastwestbanker.com.

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Three Simple Ways to Boost Your Business Efficiency

Three Simple Ways to Boost Your Business Efficiency

Friday, May 30, 2025

From payroll to payments - streamline and simplify your business operations with PSBank

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, managing and growing a business is not easy.

From overseeing payroll to ensuring bills, suppliers, and client payments are settled on time, managing these responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming.

Without the right tools or support, it’s easy to fall into operational pitfalls that slow your business down. To help you stay on top of your game, here are three ways to optimize your business operations with help of the right banking partner like PSBank.

1. Simplify Payroll: Manage It Online, Not Manually

No matter the size of your workforce, manually processing payroll twice a month can be both time-consuming and prone to errors. It’s a critical responsibility that adds to the already demanding load business owners carry.

With PSBank, payroll doesn’t have to be a hassle. Opening a Corporate Account gives you free access to Business Online Buddy (BOB), a platform designed to simplify business transactions for business owners.

Through PSBank’s BOB, business owners can disburse salaries directly to PSBank Payroll Accounts in just a few clicks. It’s a faster, safer, and more accurate way to handle payroll to give you and your team one less thing to worry about.

2. Stay On Track: Automate Your Payments

Day-to-day operations often involve making sure utilities, rent, and supplier payments are settled on time. But with so much to manage, it’s easy for dues to slip through the cracks—resulting in late fees and operational hiccups.

Stay on top of payments with PSBank’s BOB. You can set up Auto-Credit Arrangements and access a wide network of accredited billers. Whether it’s utility bills, rent, or recurring supplier payments, everything can be handled online to make sure that payments are on time every time. You can even schedule recurring payments, disburse bulk payouts to vendors, or collect payments from clients, reducing manual errors and minimizing delays.

3. Stay on Top of Cash Flow: Track Your Finances Anytime, Anywhere

Staying on top of business finances requires clear visibility and secure management. Without consolidated tracking, it’s easy to lose sight of your cash flow or mismanage business funds.

You can avoid this by monitoring accounts in real time and have access to up to three months’ worth of transaction history with PSBank’s BOB. For added security, PSBank’s BOB offers multi-step authorization and user access management, allowing role-based permissions for team members. This means full control over who can view and manage specific financial tasks—ensuring transparency and accountability.

Your Maaasahang Buddy for Growth

Grow your business by streamlining financial processes with PSBank. You can open a PSBank Corporate Account at your nearest branch to get started. Access to PSBank’s Business Online Buddy (BOB) is free for all PSBank Corporate Accountholders. Learn more at www.psbank.com.ph.

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Emma by AXA PH Bags the 2025 Outstanding Digital Customer Experience Award – Bancassurance at the Digital CX Awards

Emma by AXA PH Bags the 2025 Outstanding Digital Customer Experience Award – Bancassurance at the Digital CX Awards

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Kathleen Villegas-Driz, Chief Operations Officer of AXA Philippines, receives the 2025 Outstanding Digital Customer Experience Award – Bancassurance for Emma by AXA PH app at the Digital CX Awards

AXA Philippines, one of the largest and fastest-growing insurance companies in the country, clinched the 2025 Outstanding Digital Customer Experience Award – Bancassurance for its Emma by AXA PH app at the Digital CX Awards. The innovative platform is designed to empower customers in managing their policies conveniently, and was recognized for its seamless self-service features, real-time claims tracking, and personalized wellness and financial tools. With a nearly 70% adoption rate and a customer satisfaction score of close to 90% in 2024, Emma continues to redefine digital innovation in insurance—helping customers believe in a future where they know they can take control of their protection and well-being.

The Digital CX Awards honors the world’s leading and groundbreaking financial service institutions for their exceptional contributions to digital-based customer experiences and innovation. It is organized by The Digital Banker, a globally renowned trusted news, business intelligence, and research provider for the worldwide financial services sector. This milestone for AXA Philippines celebrates not only the success of Emma but also the collaborative efforts of the cross-functional support teams and dedicated distributors to the customers who continuously inspire innovation.

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Boomi Recognized as a Leader for the 11th Time in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Integration Platform as a Service

Boomi Recognized as a Leader for the 11th Time in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Integration Platform as a Service

Boomi Believes Its Leadership in AI, API Management, and Data Management Advancements Will Drive Strong Customer and Partner Momentum

Boomi™, the leader in AI-driven automation, announced it has been recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), for the 11th consecutive time – the longest in the report’s history.

In our opinion, Boomi’s continued industry recognition reflects its unwavering commitment to innovation, customer success, and ecosystem growth. Over the past year, Boomi has accelerated its investments in AI agent management, API management, and data management to help enterprises connect everything with one platform and drive intelligent automation at scale.

Key advancements include:

Launch of Boomi Agentstudio for AI Agent Management: Boomi recently introduced the only full agent lifecycle management solution that allows organizations to simply design, govern, and orchestrate all AI agents at scale, helping unlock hyperproductivity responsibly.

Comprehensive API Management Capabilities: Boomi’s expanded API Management capabilities provide cloud-scale APIM and address the growing problem of API sprawl through federated governance of all APIs — adding security, visibility, and value across the enterprise.

Modern Data Integration: With the addition of Boomi Data Integration (formerly Rivery), customers can leverage a single platform for integrating apps, data, APIs, and AI agents. Boomi Data Integration complements existing Boomi DataHub capabilities that provide synchronization and governance as the foundation for trusted data.

Customer and Partner Momentum Accelerates

With more than 23,000 customers globally, Boomi continues to be the trusted integration and automation partner for enterprises across industries, including customers like Lego, Tropicana, and Moderna, who rely on Boomi to connect and automate their business-critical applications and data.

Boomi’s thriving partner network has also seen significant expansion, with leading global system integrators (GSIs), independent software vendors (ISVs), and cloud hyperscalers deepening their collaboration with Boomi to deliver cutting-edge integration and automation solutions. Boomi’s recent strategic agreements with AWS and ServiceNow enhance customer experiences through AI-powered self-service solutions.

A Proven Leader in Integration and Automation

“As organizations continue their journey to becoming AI-driven enterprises, integration and automation have never been more critical,” said Steve Lucas, Chairman and CEO at Boomi. “I believe Boomi’s continued recognition as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for iPaaS underscores our relentless focus on innovation and our commitment to enabling our customers and partners to achieve their digital transformation goals. We are honored to be a Leader in this category and remain dedicated to delivering the most advanced, AI-enabled automation platform on the market.”

View the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for iPaaS here.

Additional Resources

See why Boomi was recognized as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for iPaaS here

Follow Boomi on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

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Elevating Stroke Care: Angels Initiative, SSP Empower Nurses Nationwide Through Stroke Nurse Masterclass

Elevating Stroke Care: Angels Initiative, SSP Empower Nurses Nationwide Through Stroke Nurse Masterclass

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Angels Initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim’s global healthcare advocacy program, is expanding its Stroke Nurse Masterclass nationwide to empower more nurses and elevate stroke care standards. In partnership with the Stroke Society of the Philippines (SSP) as the certifying body, the Stroke Nurse Masterclass 2025 officially launches at New World Hotel, Makati, with a mission to strengthen stroke care capabilities and drive better health outcomes for stroke patients. The program has recently received official endorsement from the World Stroke Organization, recognizing its excellence in stroke education and its meaningful impact in advancing stroke care across the Philippines, in support of WSO’s global mission.

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability and death in the Philippines, with an average of 63,804 deaths annually. The gap in stroke awareness and insufficient training among health workers contribute to the challenges in providing timely and effective stroke care, underscoring the need for specialized training and increased awareness within the healthcare system.

Stroke nurses play a vital role in bridging this gap, ensuring that patients receive prompt, quality care to improve their outcomes. They monitor early warning signs, responding in emergencies, supporting treatment and rehabilitation, and guiding recovery. Their critical role demands comprehensive training to ensure they can deliver high-quality, life-saving care to stroke patients.

“We’ve seen how empowered stroke nurses can make a real difference in patient outcomes,” said Krissy Avestro, Stroke Care Program Manager and Angels Initiative Lead. “Their commitment and growing expertise are essential in elevating stroke care standards nationwide. Through the Angels `Initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim continues to support stroke care teams and drive meaningful change in healthcare.”

Since its launch in 2023, the program aimed to train 200 nurses over three years, beginning with the first batch in North Luzon and expanding to Visayas and Mindanao.

The Stroke Nurse Masterclass has certified 55 nurses from North and Central Luzon and 110 from Visayas and Mindanao. The program continues to build local capacity by training nurses and improving hospital’s ability to deliver quality stroke care across key regions in the Philippines.

“The Stroke Nurse Masterclass ensures that our nurses are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver timely, high-quality care at every stage of the patient journey, " said Dr. Maria Socorro Sarfati, Immediate Past President of Stroke Society of the Philippines and founder

The Stroke Nurse Masterclass is a six-month certification program with 8 modules, 32 lectures, and 8 skills workshops, designed to equip nurses with essential skills and knowledge across all stages of stroke care — from emergency response and acute management to rehabilitation and long-term prevention.

The program’s launch featured key lectures on Stroke Burden and Risk Factors by Dr. Maria Socorro Sarfati, and Stroke Pathogenesis and Subtypes by Dr. Maria Epifania Collantes. These were followed by discussions on Nursing Goals in the Stroke Continuum by Jhoanne Tumapang, RN, and an Overview of Stroke Critical Care Nursing by Maria Isabelita Rogado, RN.

Participants also engaged in hands-on training through a skills workshop covering the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Registry of Stroke Care Quality (RES-Q), Stroke Quality Monitoring, Neuroimaging in Stroke, and the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) Protocol.

The remaining modules and workshops will be conducted online through the Angels Initiative website, covering critical topics such as pre-hospital stroke management, the pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke, hyperacute stroke care, management of increased intracranial pressure, stroke complications, stroke quality data and rehabilitation, and reintegration of stroke patients into the community.

To complete the program, nurses must obtain NIHSS certification, finish the ANGELS Stroke Basics for Nurses course, and pass a final examination during the SSP annual convention in August 2025.

The continued partnership between Angels Initiative and SSP has been instrumental in empowering stroke nurses and building a more resilient and capable stroke care system, fostering a community of champions dedicated to elevating care standards in their institutions.

“Our ongoing collaboration with Angels Initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening healthcare systems and improving stroke care quality across the country, ”said Dr. Ma. Cristina Macrohon-Valdez, President of Stroke Society of the Philippines.

Through the Angels Initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim reinforces its commitment to building resilient healthcare systems by expanding training access, empowering healthcare providers, and driving sustainable improvements in stroke care through innovation, capacity building, and strategic partnerships.

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Coca-Cola Philippines Expands PET Bottle Collection Program to Help Strengthen Recycling Efforts

Coca-Cola Philippines Expands PET Bottle Collection Program to Help Strengthen Recycling Efforts

Monday, May 26, 2025

Coca-Cola Philippines builds on its ongoing sustainability efforts with the expanded rollout of its ‘Tapon to Ipon’ PET bottle collection program, marking an important step towards supporting local bottle collection infrastructure and helping accelerate PET bottle recovery efforts across communities.

The expanded Tapon to Ipon program consolidates Coca-Cola Philippines’ various bottle collection programs including the Tindahan Extra Mile (TEM) initiative into one program. With over 6,000 collection hubs now in operation nationwide, the initiative aims to make recycling drop off points more accessible to communities across the Philippines.

The initiative was officially relaunched with a community activation event on April 29, 2025, at Terra 28th in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), highlighting the importance of strong local engagement.

“Coca-Cola Philippines continues to innovate and improve our recycling systems to help address plastic waste,” said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines. “By expanding Tapon to Ipon, we are increasing collection and recycling access and reinforcing our commitment to partnerships that help deliver positive impact in local communities.”

Originally launched in 2021 by Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP), formerly Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), Tapon to Ipon has engaged sari-sari store owners, customers, government agencies, and local governments to recover post-consumer clear PET bottles.

“We are grateful to all our partners who continue to support collective environmental action,” said Gareth McGeown, CEO and President of CCEAP. “Strengthening collection and recycling infrastructure has always been a key goal of Tapon to Ipon, and its expansion underscores our shared mission to empower communities and create a more sustainable future for Filipinos.”

The program invites consumers to exchange used PET bottles—regardless of brand—for Coca-Cola product rewards at designated collection hubs, including sari-sari stores and special pop-up booths at major local events such as the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City and Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City.

The aim is to bring the collected bottles to PETValue Philippines, the country’s first food-grade bottle-to-bottle recycling facility located in General Trias, Cavite. PETValue Philippines, a joint venture between CCEAP and Indorama Ventures, plays a critical role in turning post-consumer PET bottles into new food-grade recycled PET (rPET) packaging.

To date, CCEAP has reached over 170 cities and municipalities nationwide. The program has also been recognized at the FMCG Asia Awards, Quill Awards, and Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, underscoring its significant contribution to promoting more sustainable practices and responsible waste management.

Incentivizing community recycling systems

As an expanded part of the program, which now incorporates the Tindahan Extra Mile program, sari-sari store and carinderia owners will also become empowered to be rewarded for their recycling efforts.

Implemented in partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST) and the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners (PASCO), participating micro-retailers collect PET plastic bottles and other recyclables from their communities and can earn points based on the volume of materials they gather. They can use these points to redeem cash or products through the bXTRA app.

Tapon to Ipon underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. By partnering with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), retailers, private organizations, and local government units, the company continues to build a strong network of collection hubs that make recycling more accessible and engaging for communities across the country.

Hundreds of collection points have been established across the Philippines to make recycling more accessible to communities. 

To find the nearest collection point, visit the interactive map at: https://www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/brands/coca-cola/sustainability

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Eastern Communications Honored for Innovation and Customer Excellence at 2025 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards

Eastern Communications Honored for Innovation and Customer Excellence at 2025 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards

Eastern Communications, the premier telecommunications and ICT solutions provider in the Philippines, earns global praise for its outstanding achievements at the 2025 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards, held at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul. The company proudly took home three prestigious awards, namely: Thought Leadership Campaign of the Year, Award for Innovation in Content Marketing/Branded Editorial, and Innovative Achievement in Customer Satisfaction.

The Stevie Awards are among the world’s most respected international business awards, recognizing achievements in various categories across the Asia Pacific region. This year's competition saw over 1,000 nominations from organizations across 23 markets, including Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more.

Driving Digital Literacy and Nation-Building

Eastern Communications' "Eastern Huddles" campaign, which won the Silver Stevie Award for Thought Leadership Campaign of the Year, addressed critical technological challenges faced by businesses in the Philippines between 2022 and 2024. These challenges included talent shortages in emerging technologies, cybersecurity threats, digital literacy gaps, and a lack of upskilling.

Through close collaboration with key industry associations and business chambers, Eastern launched the Eastern Huddle series, which has been a proven success since its first run. Through the thought leadership series, Eastern achieved a 30.1% penetration rate in 2024 (up from 25% in 2021) and garnered exceptional event satisfaction ratings (94% in 2024, compared to 83% in 2021).

Showcasing the Philippines' Hidden Gems Through Engaging Content

The "Eastern Explores" video campaign, which received the Bronze Stevie Award for Innovation in Content Marketing/Branded Editorial, was released in time for Eastern Communications' completion of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) project. This joint undersea network infrastructure project aims to deliver robust internet connectivity to previously unconnected or underserved areas.

Eastern Communications strategically launched "Eastern Explores" to amplify the PDSCN news while supporting local tourism in its service areas: Cebu, Baguio, Iloilo, Pampanga, Bohol, Metro Manila, and Boracay. The seven-episode series showcased Filipino culture, history, cuisine, and pride through local festivals such as the Sinulog, Dinagyang, and Panagbenga festivals, aligning with Eastern's "Partners in Progress" campaign. The initiative aimed to increase brand visibility, support government tourism, and promote local businesses.

Excellence in Customer Experience

Eastern’s customer-centric initiatives were also recognized with the Bronze Stevie Award for Innovative Achievement in Customer Satisfaction. Forwarding its "high tech and high touch" promise, Eastern emphasizes personalized experiences and genuine human connections through its "Heart of Service" philosophy.

Eastern Communications' customer experience strategies were focused on creating a customer-first culture, championing efficiency, redefining customer excellence, and amplifying brand love and loyalty.

These efforts have resulted in significant improvements, including a 5% increase in overall customer satisfaction and a 10% revenue increase among its loyalty program customers.

“These awards affirm Eastern’s continuous efforts in elevating its overall experience – not only through innovation, but also through meaningful partnerships and authentic customer engagement,” said Jed Estanislao, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer of Eastern Communications. “We owe this success to our Ka-Eastern people and, most importantly, to our loyal customers, who motivate us to exceed expectations this year and drive progress for Filipino communities and businesses through technology.”

Being recognized at the Asia Pacific Stevie Awards positions Eastern Communications among the leaders in the Philippine telecommunications industry, driven by its passion for innovation, nation-building, and exceptional customer service.

To learn more about Eastern Communications, please visit www.eastern.com.ph

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