by Ferry Bayu | Oct 8, 2026 | Business
MAR CO TALENT MANAGEMENT (MCTM) has announced the opening of its newest branch in Pagsanjan, Laguna, scheduled for October 2026. The expansion aims to bring professional talent management and global opportunities directly to aspiring models and artists in the province.
MAR CO TALENT MANAGEMENT (MCTM), a rising name in the local talent management scene, has officially announced the opening of its newest branch in Pagsanjan, Laguna, this October 2026. Since its founding in June 2025, MCTM has committed itself to discovering promising Filipino models and artists, providing them with a gateway to international projects, fashion events, and global exposure.
Empowering Talents Across Laguna
The strategic decision to establish a physical branch in Pagsanjan, Laguna, stems from the agency’s recognition of the immense potential of aspiring models and artists in the province. Since a significant portion of MCTM’s current talents originate from Laguna, the new office will make professional management and training much more accessible to local artists.
By being closer to its core talents, MCTM aims to deliver specialized training and close guidance. This initiative is geared toward preparing local models and performers to confidently step onto national and global stages, connecting them with international fashion shows, brand campaigns, and multimedia productions.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Milestones
MAR CO TALENT MANAGEMENT has achieved remarkable growth in a relatively short period. When founder Dr. Mar Co established the agency in June 2025, operations began with managing just a single talent. Over the past year, the company has consistently scaled its capabilities, leading to the establishment of the Laguna branch as a key milestone in its journey of growth and development.
“This expansion represents an important milestone for MCTM,” said Dr. Mar Co, Owner & Founder of MAR CO TALENT MANAGEMENT. “Laguna is home to many talented individuals with the potential to succeed on national and international platforms. Our goal is to discover, develop, and professionally manage these talents while creating opportunities for international projects, fashion events, and global exposure.”
Auditions and Registration Details
While the new branch is set to open in October 2026, the official opening date and specific launch activities will be announced soon. Aspiring models and artists who wish to jumpstart their careers are encouraged to prepare for upcoming auditions, evaluations, and registrations.
Interested talents can reach out to the agency directly. Inquiries and updates regarding audition guidelines can be accessed through the official Facebook Page: MAR CO TALENT MANAGEMENT, via the owner’s personal Facebook account: Mar Co, or by emailing the management team at mc**********@***il.com.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 7, 2026 | Business
The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed RP Blu Girls kept their historic medal hopes alive at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, defeating Hong Kong, China, 9-3, on October 2 at the Anjo Softball Ground. The victory puts the Filipinas in position to battle Chinese Taipei for the bronze medal on October 3, giving the national team another opportunity to secure its first-ever Asian Games softball medal. The Philippines has finished fourth in each of the previous three editions of the Games.
Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President and Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the Blu Girls for keeping their medal dream alive and continuing to fight after the setback against China. “This is the opportunity we have been working and fighting for. The Blu Girls have shown tremendous resilience throughout this tournament, and now they have the chance to make history for Philippine softball. We know Chinese Taipei will be a tough opponent, but I believe in this team’s heart, preparation, and determination. We are behind them all the way as they give everything they have for that historic medal and for the country,” Lhuillier said.
The Blu Girls generated plenty of offense against Hong Kong, finishing with 10 hits. Ma. Angelu Gabriel led the way with three hits, an RBI, and two runs in four at-bats, while Roma Jane Cruz delivered a key performance with two hits and a team-high three RBIs. Reyae Mae Villamin drove in two runs, while Nicole Adra Hammoude and Skylynne Kopia Ellazar each drove in one run. Team captain Ma. Charlotte Sales scored twice, with Alyssa Marie Daniell, Mea Tubongbanua, Mylia Isabel Perez, and Villamin also crossing home plate.
Royevel Palma anchored the Philippines in the circle with six scoreless innings, limiting Hong Kong to four hits while striking out three without issuing a walk. Glory Alonzo entered in the seventh, with Hong Kong managing three runs, before Mary Joy Alpitche recorded the final out with a strikeout to secure the 9-3 victory.
The win also provided an immediate response to the Blu Girls’ 7-0 loss to the People’s Republic of China on October 1. The defeat snapped the Philippines’ three-game winning streak against Korea, Thailand, and Singapore and ended its bid for a place in the gold-medal game, but the team remained in contention for a spot in the bronze-medal playoff.
The Blu Girls now turn their attention to Chinese Taipei on October 3, with a bronze medal and a chance to make Philippine softball history on the line. The matchup offers a chance for redemption after the Filipinas fell to Chinese Taipei, 10-1, earlier in the preliminary round. More importantly, a victory would finally push the Philippines onto the Asian Games podium after three consecutive fourth-place finishes in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 6, 2026 | Business
The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed RP Blu Girls capped a hard-fought campaign at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, finishing fourth overall after falling to Chinese Taipei, 12-2, in the battle for bronze on October 3 at the Anjo Softball Ground. While the Filipinas narrowly missed a place on the podium, their run saw them battle through early setbacks, string together crucial victories and fight their way into medal contention.
Chinese Taipei established control early, scoring four runs in the opening inning before adding eight in the second. The Blu Girls refused to go quietly, responding with two runs in the third inning. Nicole Adra Hammoude delivered both RBIs, recording a hit and scoring once, while Mylia Isabel Perez also crossed home plate. Ma. Angelu Gabriel and Reyae Mae Villamin added a hit apiece as the Philippines finished with four hits against Chinese Taipei’s 13.
Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President and Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier commended the national team for the fight and determination it showed throughout the Games. “Of course, we wanted to see the Blu Girls come home with a medal, but this campaign gave us many reasons to be proud. They faced some of the strongest teams in Asia, fought their way back after a difficult start, and never stopped competing for the flag. That resilience is what defines this team. We will continue to support them, build on everything we learned here, and keep working toward the day Philippine softball finally reaches that Asian Games podium,” Lhuillier said.
The bronze medal game brought an end to a campaign marked by resilience from the Filipinas. After opening with difficult losses to Japan and Chinese Taipei, the Blu Girls responded with three straight victories, beating Korea, 7-3, blanking Thailand, 7-0, and dominating Singapore, 10-0. A 7-0 setback against eventual finalist China followed, but the Philippines stayed in the medal hunt and defeated Hong Kong, China, 9-3, to earn its shot at bronze.
Japan ultimately claimed the women’s softball gold medal after defeating the People’s Republic of China, 7-0, in the championship game later on October 3 at the Anjo Softball Ground. The result gave Japan the top spot on the podium, while China settled for the silver medal and Chinese Taipei secured bronze following its victory over the Philippines.
With another high-level international campaign behind them, the Blu Girls leave the Games with valuable experience to build on as they continue their pursuit of a breakthrough medal for Philippine softball.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 6, 2026 | Business
MOLD Manila officially announces the opening of its Surgical Wing following its first procedure in July 2026, expanding the clinic beyond minimally invasive treatments to include cosmetic surgery within its growing aesthetic practice.
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES — MOLD Manila has officially opened its Surgical Wing, expanding the clinic’s services to include cosmetic surgery alongside its established portfolio of minimally invasive aesthetic treatments and evidence-based skincare.
The expansion marks a significant development for MOLD Manila as it builds a more comprehensive approach to aesthetic care. Rather than treating surgery and non-surgical aesthetics as separate categories, the Surgical Wing allows the clinic to offer patients a broader spectrum of treatment options based on their anatomy, concerns, goals, and the level of intervention appropriate for them.
MOLD Manila completed its first surgical procedure in July 2026: a Gore-Tex structural rhinoplasty performed at the clinic’s new surgical facility. The procedure marked the beginning of the Surgical Wing’s operations and the clinic’s formal entry into surgical aesthetic care.
The Surgical Wing is headed by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Donna Borres Eramis, who works alongside MOLD Manila’s clinical team as the practice expands its surgical capabilities.
For MOLD Manila, the expansion is intended to give patients more considered options rather than positioning surgery as the automatic next step in aesthetic treatment.
The clinic has built its practice around treatments designed to enhance or preserve a patient’s existing features, with an emphasis on individualized treatment planning and natural-looking outcomes. Adding surgical services extends that philosophy to patients whose goals may require structural changes that cannot be achieved through minimally invasive treatments alone.
This distinction is increasingly relevant as aesthetic medicine continues to offer more ways to address similar concerns. Energy-based devices, injectables, skin treatments, and surgery may each have a role, but they are not interchangeable. The appropriate approach depends on what a patient wants to change, their anatomy, and what can realistically be achieved through each type of treatment.
With the Surgical Wing now operational, MOLD Manila can assess those options within a broader continuum of aesthetic care—from skincare and non-invasive treatments to injectables, minimally invasive procedures, and cosmetic surgery.
The expansion also reflects MOLD Manila’s continued development as an aesthetic practice in Quezon City. As the clinic grows, its focus remains on personalized patient care, appropriate treatment selection, and outcomes designed to complement rather than fundamentally change the individual.
Patients interested in surgical procedures will undergo consultation and assessment before treatment to determine suitability, discuss realistic outcomes, and understand the procedure, recovery process, and associated considerations.
The opening of the Surgical Wing represents the next stage of MOLD Manila’s growth: expanding what the clinic can offer while maintaining the same principle that has shaped its approach to aesthetics—choosing the level of intervention according to the patient, rather than the trend.
About MOLD Manila
MOLD Manila is a premium, clinician-led aesthetic clinic based in Quezon City, Philippines. Known for its technology-driven, non-surgical treatments and personalized care, the clinic specializes in skin rejuvenation, non-invasive contouring, laser treatments, and IV wellness therapies. MOLD Manila is committed to education-first, results-driven aesthetics designed for real Filipino skin.
This press release has also been published on VRITIMES.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 6, 2026 | Business
PHOTO CAPTION: Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier, along with Philippine Consular Officers and representatives of Attached Agencies, discussed strategic priorities and areas of cooperation for 2027.
Strengthening coordination among Philippine representatives, the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, led by Ambassador for Spain and Andorra H.E. Philippe J. Lhuillier, convened its Annual Consultations with Philippine Consular Officers, bringing together seven Honorary Consular Officers, Attached Agencies, and the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona.
The consultation focused on aligning priorities and strengthening cooperation ahead of the Philippines-Spain 80th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations in 2027. Discussions covered consular policies, best practices, Filipino community concerns, and strategic planning for the anniversary.
Ambassador Lhuillier encouraged the Consular Officers to “take an active role in deepening and expanding cooperation between the Philippines and Spain to establish sustainable partnerships, concrete programs, and enduring relationships that can continue beyond 2027.”
Potential areas for collaboration included the Maritime and Blue Economy, Renewable Energy, Innovation, Heritage and Culture, Digital Economy, Agriculture and Food Innovation, Eco-tourism, Marine Biodiversity, and Sustainable Tourism.
Representatives from Migrant Workers Office (MWO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché, Philippine Department of Tourism – London, and SSS also joined the consultation, highlighting a whole-of-government approach to strengthening Philippine interests and engagement with Spain.
Consular Officers from Bilbao, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Sevilla, and Valencia travelled to Madrid for the gathering, reinforcing coordination across the Philippine consular network.
The 2027 anniversary will provide an opportunity to celebrate longstanding ties and build new partnerships for the years ahead.
This press release has also been published on VRITIMES.
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