Huis Ten Bosch’s Winter Is Reimagined! ‘The Starlight Million’ & ‘European Holy Christmas’

by Ferry Bayu | Aug 27, 2026 | Business

APAME 2026 Examines AI, Research Integrity, and the Future of Peer Review

by Ferry Bayu | Aug 26, 2026 | Business

Top medical editors and researchers gathered in Manila to discuss how scholarly publishing can preserve trust in an increasingly AI-enabled research environment.

The Asia Pacific Association of Medical Editors (APAME) 2026 Conference and the 7th Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) Conference brought together medical editors, researchers, reviewers, publishers, librarians, and health professionals at the Henry Sy Sr. Building of the University of the Philippines Manila on August 20–21, 2026.

The well-attended conference featured prominent leaders in medicine, health research, medical publishing, and public policy from the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region. Distinguished speakers included Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, Regional Director for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization; Usec. Leah Buendia of the Department of Science and Technology; Prof. Michael Tee, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Manila; PAMJE president Prof. Cecilia Maramba-Lazarte; UP Medicine Dean Prof. Charlotte Chiong; and Prof. Nicholas Talley of the Medical Journal of Australia.

The program also brought together experts from the World Association of Medical Editors, APAME, PAMJE, universities, medical journals, research institutions, libraries, and government agencies.

The conference marked the presentation of the first-ever APAME Presidential Awards, recognizing Dr. Jose Florencio Lapeña Jr., concurrently President of WAME, and Dr. Wilfred C. G. Peh for their contributions to editorial excellence, publication ethics, peer-review education, and the advancement of medical publishing in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Discussions focused on research integrity, responsible artificial intelligence use, the declining pool of peer reviewers, and concerns about citation quality in published research.

AI brings promise and new risks

Artificial intelligence can support literature searching, language editing, translation, data analysis, coding, knowledge synthesis, and dissemination.

However, it may also amplify plagiarism, fabricated references, undisclosed generated content, inappropriate authorship, manipulated data or images, paper-mill activity, and other forms of misconduct.

The key issue is not simply whether AI should be used, but whether its use is appropriate, transparent, verifiable, and accompanied by clear human accountability.

AI tools cannot be authors because they cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, originality, confidentiality, or integrity of a publication. Human authors remain responsible for all content, including AI-assisted text, references, analyses, tables, code, images, and interpretations.

The future of peer review

Participants also discussed the declining and uneven availability of qualified peer reviewers worldwide.

Peer review provides independent scrutiny of a manuscript’s research question, methods, analysis, interpretation, originality, relevance, and ethical conduct. However, journals increasingly struggle to find reviewers with the appropriate expertise, no conflicts of interest, and sufficient time to complete careful assessments.

The growing complexity of manuscripts, and the need to evaluate AI-assisted content, data, images, and references, has added to this pressure.

The conference also raised concerns about citation quality. References may be incomplete, irrelevant, inaccurately described, or difficult to verify. AI tools have introduced an additional risk by generating citations that appear plausible but do not exist or do not support the claims for which they are cited.

101 Health Research facilitates two workshops

As part of the program, 101 Health Research contributed two workshops facilitated by its Founder and Managing Director, Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales:

• Publication Quality and Ethics in the AI Age: How to Comply with the Latest Publication Guidelines

• Medical Statistics for Non-Statisticians

The first workshop presented publication compliance as a continuous process beginning with study planning and extending through data management, analysis, reporting, peer review, publication, and post-publication correction.

It examined the traditional dimensions of publication quality of substance, form, and style, and the growing importance of a fourth dimension: integrity.

Integrity encompasses authorship, accountability, transparency, data governance, confidentiality, responsible AI use, conflict-of-interest disclosure, accurate citation, reproducibility, and correction of errors.

Participants reviewed guidance from ICMJE, WAME, COPE, the EQUATOR Network, professional organizations, institutions, funders, and target journals. The session emphasized that responsible AI use requires human verification, protection of confidential information, careful checking of references, and documentation of significant decisions.

The second workshop focused on the SAMPL Guidelines, or the Statistical Analyses and Methods in the Published Literature guidelines. These support clear reporting of statistical methods and results, including the software used, estimates, measures of uncertainty, p-values, and the relationship between statistical findings and the research question.

The workshop reinforced that statistical reporting is not merely a technical requirement. Clear reporting allows readers, reviewers, and editors to understand how conclusions were reached and assess whether they are supported by the data.

Preserving trust in medical publishing

The APAME 2026 discussions reinforced that research integrity is a shared responsibility. Authors must report their work transparently, reviewers must provide independent and fair assessments, and editors must apply consistent standards and respond appropriately to ethical concerns.

Artificial intelligence may make research and publishing more efficient, but efficiency cannot replace judgment. The future of medical publishing will depend on stronger human systems for verification, peer review, accountability, and learning.

For 101 Health Research, preserving trust begins with sound methods, responsible statistics, transparent reporting, and integrity at every stage of the research and publication process.

Learn more about 101 Health Research’s work in research methods, biostatistics, publication support, and research integrity at 101healthresearch.com.

About 101 Health Research

Founded in 2014, 101 Health Research® is an independent health research consulting and analytics firm dedicated to producing trustworthy, ethical, and decision-relevant evidence for clinical care, public health, and health systems.

We serve hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, government agencies, and international partners across the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and global markets.

Our work spans clinical research, epidemiology, biostatistics, medical data science, and research governance. Through rigorous methodology, collaborative engagement, and strong ethical standards, we design, conduct, and support research that strengthens decision-making at institutional, national, and regional levels.

Gratitude Inc Opens MyGlit Recruitment Operating System to External Hiring Teams Across the Philippines, India and Malaysia

by Ferry Bayu | Aug 26, 2026 | Business

MANILA, Philippines — Gratitude Inc has announced that it is opening access to MyGlit, its recruitment operating system and applicant tracking technology, to companies, recruitment consultancies and hiring teams across the Philippines, India, Malaysia and other global markets.

The move marks a new phase for MyGlit, which was originally developed to support Gratitude Inc’ own recruitment operations. Until now, the technology was used primarily within Gratitude’s recruitment ecosystem to manage live vacancies, applicants, recruiter activity, candidate movement and hiring workflows.

According to the company, MyGlit has become one of the operating systems behind Gratitude Inc high-volume recruitment work. The decision to open the platform to outside users follows interest from clients and recruitment partners who wanted access to the same workflow for their own hiring operations.

Built from practical recruitment pressure

Recruitment teams often face a common challenge: they are expected to manage more vacancies, more applicants and more recruiters, while still depending on spreadsheets, scattered communication, manual status updates and individual recruiter memory.

MyGlit was developed to address this operational gap by combining applicant tracking, job posting, company boards, hiring cards, questionnaire-based screening, candidate tracking, recruiter collaboration and AI-assisted rerouting in one workflow.

“MyGlit was built from real recruitment pressure, not as a theoretical software product,” said a spokesperson for Gratitude Inc. “Our own teams needed a cleaner way to manage high-volume hiring. As clients and recruitment partners saw the workflow, the demand to open the technology outside Gratitude became stronger.”

Opening the platform beyond Gratitude Inc

With MyGlit now being made available to external users, employers and recruitment firms can create separate Company Boards for different clients, employers, departments or business units. Each live vacancy becomes a Hiring Card, where job details, required skills, applications, candidate activity and status updates are kept together.

This structure is designed to reduce tracker confusion, avoid mixing candidates across mandates, and help recruitment teams work on more vacancies with greater visibility.

MyGlit’s recruitment ecosystem already supports hiring workflows and job campaigns connected to several large BPO, IT and shared services employers, including Teleperformance, iQor, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, WNS, Accenture, EXL, TDCX, Movate, JP Morgan Chase and other major employers across the Philippines, India and Malaysia.

These company-specific workflows allow recruiters to manage live vacancies, applicant movement and status tracking across major hiring campaigns, while keeping candidates, roles and client requirements organized within separate boards and hiring cards.

Job posting, applicant traffic and candidate rerouting

A key part of the MyGlit model is that it is not only an internal ATS. Companies can publish live vacancies on MyGlit, share MyGlit job links across job portals, social media, email campaigns, recruiter posts, referrals and their own websites, and receive applicants from both their own sourcing efforts and MyGlit’s growing candidate traffic.

The platform is also designed to reduce candidate waste. In recruitment, a good candidate may apply to the wrong job or may not fit one specific opening but could still be suitable for another active vacancy. MyGlit’s AI-assisted rerouting can help identify another role where the candidate may be a better fit, giving companies more value from the same applicant traffic.

Questionnaire-based screening further helps teams decide which candidates should enter a specific hiring card, while still allowing recruiters to manually review candidates who may not have cleared the first screening layer but could still be relevant.

Relevance for the Philippines, India and Malaysia

Gratitude Inc is initially positioning MyGlit for hiring teams in markets where recruitment remains high-volume, competitive and operationally complex.

In the Philippines, the platform is relevant for BPO and shared services hiring across Metro Manila, Cebu and other hiring hubs, where employers often manage large applicant volumes and fast-moving campaigns.

In India, MyGlit can support recruitment companies and corporate teams working across multiple clients, cities, recruiters and roles.

In Malaysia, the platform can help employers and recruitment teams manage multilingual, shared services, customer support and regional hiring requirements with clearer applicant tracking and candidate movement.

The company also plans to make MyGlit available to teams outside these markets that need a practical recruitment operating system for managing vacancies, applicants and recruiter activity.

Designed for adoption and network growth

MyGlit’s commercial model is designed to support adoption by growing recruitment teams. The platform offers unlimited users across plans, job posting access, hiring cards, questionnaire workflows, Kanban-style movement, AI-assisted features and fair-use terms.

According to Gratitude Inc, the goal is to make recruitment technology easier for teams to adopt without creating unnecessary per-user billing pressure or forcing companies to operate across disconnected tools.

As more companies and consultancies join the platform, MyGlit expects the network effect to become stronger: more companies can add genuine jobs, more applicants can discover opportunities, and recruitment teams can create more joining opportunities from the same candidate ecosystem.

Moving from manual tracking to recruitment operating systems

The opening of MyGlit reflects a wider shift in recruitment operations. Companies no longer need only job posting pages or candidate databases. They increasingly need systems that help recruiters manage workflow, track applicant movement, reduce repetitive manual work and make better use of every candidate profile.

By opening MyGlit to outside companies, Gratitude Inc aims to make a recruitment system built from practical hiring experience available to a wider market.

About Gratitude Jobs Ahead Hr inc
MyGlit is a recruitment operating system and applicant tracking platform developed by Gratitude Inc. The platform combines Company Boards, Hiring Cards, questionnaire-based screening, candidate tracking, job posting, recruiter collaboration and AI-assisted rerouting in one workflow. It is built for companies, recruitment consultancies and hiring teams that want to manage more vacancies, applicants and joining opportunities with less manual work.
Website: https://www.myglit.com
Book a demo: su*****@****it.com

Cebuana Lhuillier Triumphs at the Stevie® International Business Awards with Global Recognition for Leadership, Innovation, and Social Impact

by Ferry Bayu | Aug 26, 2026 | Business

Cebuana Lhuillier secured multiple awards at the prestigious Stevie® International Business Awards, highlighting its leadership in financial inclusion, innovative communications, and initiatives that create meaningful value for customers and communities.

President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier received three individual distinctions: Most Innovative Content Creator of the Year (Gold) for Money Guro, which uses accessible and engaging social media content to make financial education more relevant to Filipinos; Social Impact Leader of the Year (Silver) for initiatives advancing financial education, community engagement, and social responsibility; and Maverick of the Year (Bronze) for driving meaningful transformation within the organization and the financial services industry.

“These awards are a strong affirmation of our mission to innovate with purpose and to help Filipinos build greater confidence at every stage of their financial journey. I am proud of our team’s dedication and creativity, which have allowed Cebuana Lhuillier to be recognized globally,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier. “We are deeply grateful for these honors, which inspire us to continue breaking barriers and building a stronger, more inclusive financial future for all.”

Cebuana Lhuillier’s First Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Emirosco Michael Sena was named Marketing Executive of the Year (Silver) for his role in advancing Cebuana Lhuillier’s marketing and communications efforts and strengthening how the brand connects its financial inclusion advocacy with the communities it serves.

“These awards reflect the power of purpose-driven storytelling and, more importantly, the collective effort behind it. Our marketing and communications team works closely with our different business units to bring ideas, expertise, and advocacies to life through stories and initiatives that resonate with Filipinos and create real value. For us, marketing is not just about building a brand; it is about working across the organization to make financial inclusion relevant, engaging, and meaningful to the communities we serve,” said Mike Sena.

Cebuana Lhuillier also won Achievement in Financial Services (Gold), underscoring its evolution into an integrated financial ecosystem that brings together solutions for Filipinos’ diverse financial needs. The category covers significant achievements in the financial services sector, including contributions that demonstrate innovation, growth, and results.

Additionally, its campaigns also earned awards across event, partnership, marketing, and corporate social responsibility categories. Kumustahan won Gold in the Corporate & Community Customer Engagement Event category for turning post-claims support into a more personal customer experience, extending the relationship beyond the transaction through meaningful follow-through and care. KaNegosyo Center received Gold for Achievement in Collaboration and Partnership: Best Public-Private Partnership for bringing together Cebuana Lhuillier, public-sector partners, and other stakeholders to provide MSMEs with more accessible business support, resources, and growth opportunities. The program has combined coaching, financial solutions, digital resources, and on-ground partnerships, providing support to entrepreneurs across the country.

Pasasalamat earned Silver for Brand Engagement Event by transforming a customer appreciation initiative into an expression of gratitude and financial inclusion, strengthening the connection between the brand and the people it serves. Ipon Moves received Bronze for Purpose-Led Marketing Campaign of the Year for turning the simple act of saving into a broader advocacy, using an engaging campaign to encourage Filipinos to develop a consistent savings habit and take concrete steps toward greater financial security. Happiest Pinoy won Bronze for Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility for using storytelling and a nationwide search to celebrate Filipino resilience, optimism, and hope while giving individuals and communities a platform to share inspiring stories.

The Stevie® International Business Awards recognize achievements across virtually every aspect of the workplace, including leadership, marketing, communications, innovation, and customer engagement. Professionals worldwide select winners, assessing entries within their respective categories.

The latest awards reinforce Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment to expanding financial access, innovating with purpose, and building an ecosystem of financial solutions that meets Filipinos’ evolving needs.

KasKasan Buddies named founding partner of CIBI U in push for better credit education

by Ferry Bayu | Aug 26, 2026 | Business

KasKasan Buddies has been named a founding partner of CIBI U, a new credit education initiative launched on August 18, 2026 at CIBI iMPACT 2026 in Makati City, joining Digital Pinoys, FinTech Alliance PH, CCAP, and the Credit Information Corporation as founding partners. The initiative, tagged “Aware today. Smarter tomorrow,” aims to help Filipinos understand credit scores, credit reports, and responsible borrowing. This comes as CIBI data shows rising small-value lending between 2023 and 2025, while only 2% of Filipinos surveyed in BSP’s 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey answered all basic financial literacy questions correctly. CIBI U will focus on practical education around how credit standing works and how responsible borrowing can improve access to financial opportunities.

KasKasan Buddies is expanding its financial education role as a founding partner of CIBI U, a new initiative designed to help Filipinos better understand credit scores, credit reports, and responsible borrowing.

The partnership gives KKBuddies another source of credible, credit-focused information as more Filipinos use credit cards, loans, and other borrowing products but may not fully understand how these affect their financial standing.

CIBI U was launched on August 18 at CIBI iMPACT 2026 in The Fifth at Rockwell, Makati City, under the theme “Securing Trust in an Uncertain World.” The initiative carries the tagline “Aware today. Smarter tomorrow.”