by Ferry Bayu | Nov 5, 2026 | Business
Filipino entrepreneurs, commercial retail buyers, and K-culture enthusiasts will gain direct access to South Korea’s regional manufacturing core this November. The 2026 Gyeongbuk Excellent Products Philippine Exhibition opens its doors on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2026, operating from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Activity Center (Ground Floor), Ayala Malls Market! Market!, BGC, Taguig City.
Jointly hosted by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government, the Gyeongbuk Economic Promotion Agency (GEPA), and the World Federation of Overseas Korean Economic and Trade Associations in the Philippines (W-OKTA Philippines), the exhibition marks the 10th anniversary of Gyeongbuk’s institutional trade mission in Manila. Since launching in 2016, this annual bilateral bridge has facilitated direct trade consultations for more than 200 South Korean small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) entering the Philippine supply chain.
The Gyeongbuk Advantage: Sourcing Directly from Korea’s Production Core
Situated in southeastern Korea adjacent to Busan Port—the country’s primary maritime export hub—the province of Gyeongsangbuk-do represents the industrial backbone of South Korea. It encompasses Pohang’s world-scale steel production (POSCO), Gumi’s electronics manufacturing clusters, and the fertile agricultural heartlands of Andong and Gyeongju.
For the 2026 Manila exhibition, provincial trade authorities curated 20 export-certified manufacturers across three high-growth commercial categories:
K-Food, Meal Solutions & Specialty Snacks (10 Exhibitors)
Convenience & HMR: Wurione introduces shelf-stable, room-temperature TOKIKI Cup Rice Topokki (starting at $0.85 FOB); Bigbonefood Inc. showcases authentic Gamjatang (pork bone stew), Seolleongtang broths, and LA Galbi marinades; Meatalk (Daepung D&F) brings HACCP- and FSSC 22000-certified processed meats, including Korean-style Beef Bulgogi, Spicy Stir-Fried Pork, Braised Pork Ribs, and Jeju Pork Hamburg Steaks (from $2.12 FOB).
Smokeless Seafood Technology: The Keun Seafood presents its patented “Steam Pack” line—enabling consumers and food-service operators to microwave or grill seasoned mackerel and flounder in an odor-free paper pocket within 7 minutes (from $1.30 FOB).
Condiments & Broth Bases: Jinsungbio presents low-sugar Korean fried chicken glazes and BBQ marinades; Ones Farm debuts Halal-certified coin- and stick-style concentrated soup bases; Cheongatti presents cold-pressed Korean sesame and perilla oils.
Artisanal Confectionery: Siru Wa Bang Ah displays 50-year heritage snacks including handmade Mulberry Yakgwa and Walnut Gangjeong; KongKong Co., Ltd. presents café-grade flash-frozen French macarons, Portuguese egg tarts, financiers, and meringue cookies.
Wellness, Functional Nutrition & Inner Beauty (5 Exhibitors)
Low-Molecular Collagen: Wellinus showcases zero-water, 300-Dalton low-molecular marine collagen jelly sticks a formula with over 60 million units sold globally and 50,000+ monthly reorders on Amazon US.
Active Nutrition & Digestion: Simbak Co., Ltd. exhibits plant protein shakes, functional protein kombucha, and digestive farro/pomegranate enzyme powders; Global K Co., Ltd. features Andong Apple Arginine performance jelly sticks.
Cold-Pressed Beverages & Daily Boosters: Jusify offers 100% Not-From-Concentrate (NFC) cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices without added water, sugars, or preservatives (from $0.67 FOB); Hanguk Farm supplies portable stick jams and Jelditfit booster jellies.
Functional Derma-Cosmetics & Climate-Adaptive Skincare (5 Exhibitors)
Patented Skin-Cooling Science: Nature4 Co., Ltd. introduces its patented A.C.C. (Advanced Cooling Composition) formulation across its Brucke and IntegralB lines, clinically engineered to lower epidermal temperature and soothe inflammation in hot, humid climates.
Targeted Delivery & Sheet Masks: Mijin Cosmetics presents specialized derma sheet mask formulations and targeted pore patches (from $0.18 FOB); Barobon debuts its Celian dissolvable micro-needle patch kits for targeted blemish care and localized elasticity.
Botanical & Brightening Serums: Nature Botanics Co., Ltd. features its Re:early Botanic peptide-infused vitamin C powder essence and botanical mists; GLZ Company presents lightweight Aloe Vera gel serums enriched with Glutathione, Salmon PDRN, and Fish Collagen designed specifically for tropical skin barriers.
Transparent Commercial Terms for Philippine Trade Partners
Unlike conventional consumer retail fairs, this trade showcase functions as an open B2B sourcing floor. Philippine supermarket category managers, regional wholesalers, convenience store merchandisers, restaurant franchisees, and cross-border digital sellers (Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop) can review verified FOB factory price sheets on-site and negotiate direct supply agreements, private labeling, or OEM/ODM production.
To accelerate business matching, local operations partner Island Resort Club (IRC Tour Services, Inc.) and W-OKTA Philippines have established a dedicated B2B Fast-Track Desk at the central OKTA booth:
Dedicated 1:1 Interpreters: Verified buyers are paired free of charge with Korean-English trade liaisons to facilitate commercial negotiations and MOU drafting.
FOB Price E-Catalog: Registered trade visitors receive a digital 16-page catalog detailing wholesale minimum order quantities (MOQs), shelf-life specifications, and export pricing across all 20 manufacturers.
Executive Perks: The first 100 verified business registrants completing supplier consultations receive a limited-edition VIP stainless steel tumbler.
About Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc.
Established in the Philippines in 2002, Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc. (IRC) is a premier MICE and destination management specialist with a proven track record in orchestrating high-level, bilateral governmental and corporate events adhering to rigorous state-level protocol standards. Notably, IRC spearheaded local operational management for the Korea-Philippines Business Forum, held on the occasion of the South Korean President’s state visit to the Philippines to commemorate the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations. IRC is a fully accredited travel agency licensed in the Philippines, South Korea, and Cuba, and is officially designated by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea to process Korean electronic visas (e-visas). Through its flagship platform, “Join Enjoy,” IRC continues to lead bilateral cultural exchange, tourism, and business connectivity between the Philippines and South Korea.
by Ferry Bayu | Nov 5, 2026 | Business
In celebration of International Volunteer Year 2026, the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) invites photographers across Asia to submit entries for ‘Ten Photos to Shake the World’, spotlighting local volunteers driving community change.
In celebration of the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026, the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) is inviting amateur and professional photographers across Asia to submit their work for the Ten Photos to Shake the World (TPSW 2026) for a chance to win cash prizes and showcase their advocacies.
As a pan-Asian non-profit committed to sustainable development across the region, ASSIST centers TPSW 2026 on the theme “Volunteers in Frame: Capturing the Spirit of Volunteerism and Social Impact.” The competition spotlights the transformative role local volunteers play in driving civic action and social change – an effort ASSIST is proud to align with the spirit of IVY 2026.
The Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), Toily Kurbanov, says about TPSW 2026: “Too often, volunteers are the people behind the scenes. In the spirit of the International Volunteer Year, this competition puts them in the frame and highlights the role they play in building stronger communities.”
First launched in 2011, TPSW was created to elevate diverse themes of social responsibility through photography. Following a brief hiatus after 2022, the competition makes its high-profile return in 2026 with a renewed focus on local volunteerism. The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers across the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, inviting visual storytellers to capture the unsung efforts driving local progress.
“Volunteerism is love put to action,” says Francis Macatulad, representing ASSIST. Beyond being a noble ideal, volunteerism serves as a crucial driving force behind ASSIST’s social development and community transformation projects across Asia. “Volunteers are the hearts, hands and voices of an organization’s social development program—unpaid and often unsung heroes. With TPSW, ASSIST Asia hopes to celebrate their passion and recognize their invaluable contribution to nation-building,” he adds.
ASSIST Rep also encourages photographers to participate and amplify grassroots volunteer efforts through photography and storytelling.
Participants are invited to submit original photographs that illustrate local volunteer efforts, with top entries competing for cash prizes, international recognition, and features across organizational platforms.
Submit your entries now and have an opportunity to win awards and cash prizes!
Submission of entries is extended until November 20, 2026.
For mechanics and questions, visit the TPSW official Facebook page.
About Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST)
ASSIST (Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation) is a self-sustaining pan-Asian NGO working at the intersection of social impact and sustainable transformation. True to its role as a Partner for Progress, ASSIST collaborates with corporate and institutional funders to deliver co-created initiatives as well as award-winning flagship programs that convert social investments into lasting local capacity. Explore our work and partner with us: www.assistasia.org
by Ferry Bayu | Nov 5, 2026 | Business
P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (P.A. Properties) marked a milestone at the Pag-IBIG Fund’s 2nd National Housing Expo, held on October 19–20, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center, by showcasing an actual mock-up of its Solida house model for the first time.
Moving beyond traditional property displays, P.A. Properties gave prospective homeowners the opportunity to experience the design, layout, and features of the Solida model firsthand, helping them envision their future homes and take a step closer to homeownership.
The initiative reflected the company’s willingness to explore new approaches and push its capabilities to create a more engaging homebuying experience. The results demonstrated the initiative’s effectiveness, with P.A. Properties recorded 32 unit reservations during the two-day event.
P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin, the company’s joint venture behind the Idesia brand, also recorded 9 unit reservations during the two-day event, further strengthening the group’s overall sales performance and demonstrating continued market interest in its housing offerings.
Why SOLIDA?
For P.A. Properties, SOLIDA represents more than a house model. It embodies the company’s product philosophy: Matibay, Maganda, Mabilis, at Abot-kaya — durable, beautiful, efficiently delivered, and affordable.
The model reflects the company’s commitment to providing Filipino families with practical, well-designed, and attainable homes that deliver quality, design, and value.
A Milestone for the Team and the Brand
Bringing the Solida mock-up to the expo for the first time challenged P.A. Properties to go beyond its usual practices. The initiative required extensive coordination, adaptability, and teamwork, bringing out the best in the people behind the project.
Architect Marwin Laro, Vice President for Planning, Design and Engineering, highlighted the collaboration behind the achievement.
“This first-time initiative challenged us to go beyond our usual processes and work together to turn the concept into reality. Seeing the mock-up come to life made all the hard work worthwhile,” Laro said.
The successful showcase of the Solida mock-up reflects P.A. Properties’ commitment to continuously improve how it serves aspiring Filipino homeowners. Through innovative housing solutions, thoughtfully designed communities, and customer-focused initiatives, the company remains dedicated to making homeownership more accessible and attainable.
As P.A. Properties continues to grow and innovate, it invites Filipino families to explore its range of housing offerings and discover a home that suits their needs, lifestyle, and budget.
“This milestone reflects our commitment to continuously find better ways to serve Filipino families. We remain focused on providing quality, affordable housing options and making the journey toward homeownership more accessible to the communities we serve,” said Marianne Reyna Lina-Cruz, CEO & President of P.A. Properties.
P.A. Properties’ participation in the 2nd National Housing Expo reinforces its commitment to making homeownership more attainable through thoughtfully designed housing and customer-focused initiatives.
About P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation
Nestled in San Pedro, Laguna, P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (P.A. Properties) is a leading developer of low to medium-cost housing communities in Southern Luzon. Since its establishment in 1994, the company has crafted over 30,000 homes across key Philippine provinces, with plans to build an additional 20 communities in the next 5 years. P.A. Properties, guided by the tagline “Behind Every Home is a Story,” not only addresses the nation’s housing backlog but also actively contributes to economic growth. Through philanthropic initiatives, such as hospital donations in Cabuyao, providing right of way in Pampanga for civic centers, and establishing SanJo’s markets in provinces like Laguna and Bulacan, the company weaves a narrative of community development and nationwide impact.
by Ferry Bayu | Nov 4, 2026 | Business
Recognized for AI in Workforce & Future Skills, Jia has helped more than 15 recruitment agencies cut daily candidate admin from hours to minutes, and is set to expand to Singapore and neighboring markets in 2027.
ASOCIO Chairman Stan Singh-Jit (far left) and fellow officials with White Cloak Technologies’ Donn Gamboa, co-founder, president and CEO; Sandra Carlos, Founding Growth Lead; and Kyla Kiunisala, Founding Growth Marketer (third to fifth from left), at the ASOCIO Digital and AI Summit 2026 award night in Jakarta on Oct. 6, where Jia received the AI in Workforce and Future Skills Award.
MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 3, 2026 — Jia, an AI hiring platform developed by Pasig-based White Cloak Technologies Inc., has won the AI in Workforce & Future Skills Award at the ASOCIO Digital & AI Awards 2026. It was the only Philippine recipient among this year’s awardees. Nominated by the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), Jia was recognized on Oct. 6 at the ASOCIO Digital & AI Summit 2026 award night at Swissôtel Jakarta PIK Avenue in Indonesia. The summit drew technology organizations from 26 economies across Asia and Oceania.
Founded in 1984, the Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) is a federation of ICT industry associations from across the region. Its annual awards recognize technology that creates measurable impact for business, government and society. The AI in Workforce & Future Skills category honors initiatives that use AI to strengthen workforce development and prepare organizations for the changing world of work. White Cloak co-founder, president and CEO Donn Gamboa received the award alongside Founding Growth Lead Sandra Carlos and Founding Growth Marketer Kyla Kiunisala.
“Standing on that stage as the only Philippine awardee was a proud moment for our team and for the Filipino tech community,” said Gamboa. “It shows that AI built here can hold its own anywhere in the region. But the measure we care about most is on the ground. It’s recruiters getting hours of their week back, and every applicant getting a fair and consistent first look.”
One AI recruitment platform for the first stages of hiring
Jia replaces the manual early steps of high-volume hiring with one connected workflow:
• AI CV screening assesses every applicant against the requirements of the role, so recruiters start with a shortlist instead of a stack of résumés.
• Conversational AI interviews let candidates complete first-round interviews asynchronously, at any hour.
• Applicant tracking follows each candidate from application to final decision in one place.
• Job posting publishes openings to Jia’s Hello Jia career portal and to job boards such as LinkedIn and Indeed.
Proven with more than 25 Philippine clients
Jia’s client base has grown to more than 25 organizations in the Philippines. Among them, more than 15 recruitment agencies have cut daily candidate admin from hours to minutes.
One of them is EMEA AMSI, a licensed recruitment agency that places Filipino workers with employers abroad. Preparing a redacted, client-ready CV package there now takes about two minutes, down from about two hours.
“What used to take me four hours a day, I now finish in five minutes,” said Joshua Belmonte, global business development manager at EMEA AMSI.
Why AI governance in hiring matters for Philippine employers
Filipino workers are among the world’s most advanced users of AI at work. According to Microsoft’s 2026 Work Trend Index, 25% of Filipino workers qualify as “Frontier Professionals,” the most advanced category of AI users, compared with 16% globally. The same report found that 93% of Filipino AI users treat AI output as a starting point rather than a final answer. For BPOs, retailers and banks that screen thousands of applicants a month, the question is no longer whether to use AI in hiring, but how to choose it and govern it.
“AI can now take on much of the screening and first-round interviewing, but a polished demo proves very little, because demos run on hand-picked data,” Gamboa said. “Before any AI touches real candidates, test it on your own applicants for accuracy, consistency and bias. AI should do the legwork, but a person should always make the final call.”
A pivotal moment: taking Jia beyond the Philippines
Having proven itself with Philippine employers, Jia is set to expand to Singapore and neighboring Southeast Asian markets in 2027. The win in Jakarta also drew interest from investors and technology companies attending the summit.
“We built Jia for the realities of Philippine hiring: high volumes, tight timelines and applicants from every corner of the country,” Gamboa said. “Employers across the region face the same challenges. The interest we received from investors and technology firms in Jakarta makes this a pivotal moment for Jia as we bring it to more countries.”
About Jia
Jia is an AI hiring platform developed in the Philippines by White Cloak Technologies Inc. Used by more than 25 organizations, it combines AI CV screening, conversational AI interviews and applicant tracking in one platform. It helps recruitment teams hire faster while giving every candidate a clear, consistent experience. Jia received the ASOCIO AI in Workforce & Future Skills Award in 2026. Learn more at hirejia.ai.
About White Cloak Technologies
White Cloak Technologies Inc. is a Philippine software company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. It is the main developer behind the UnionBank Online app, the internationally acclaimed mobile banking app that became White Cloak’s flagship project. That work established the company as a technology partner to many of the country’s leading banks and conglomerates. With about 300 people, White Cloak builds digital products across banking, fintech and enterprise, including Jia, its AI hiring platform. Learn more at whitecloak.com
by Ferry Bayu | Nov 4, 2026 | Business
Two students share how yoga changed their sleep: Anna, 38, who was prescribed sleep medication as part of her mental health treatment, and Chi, 33, who worked the night shift for 15 years. The school stresses that yoga supports, but never replaces, medical care.
TAYTAY, RIZAL — Over the last holiday season, the Department of Health’s mental health hotline at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) took 961 calls between December 21 and January 2. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were among the main reasons people called. Psychologists describe the season as one that amplifies emotional load: financial pressure, family expectations, grief, and disrupted sleep and routine.
At Indian Yoga School PH, pranayama (yogic breathing) and meditation are not add-ons. They are part of every Hatha Vinyasa class, alongside the physical practice. Classes are open to all levels, including complete beginners, and no flexibility is required.
Better sleep on class nights
Anna (not her real name), 38, was prescribed medication for sleep as part of her mental health treatment. After a few yoga sessions at the school, she noticed she slept better on the nights she had class.
“I used to take my sleep medication every night,” Anna said. “After a few yoga sessions, I noticed I slept better after each class. Yoga is the only thing I added to my routine, and now I look forward to every class, whether it’s gentle yoga with Teacher Anj or a more challenging class with Teacher Kirti.”
The school stresses that any change to sleep or anxiety medication should be made with a doctor.
From 15 years of night shift to sleeping through the night
Chi, 33, completed the school’s 100-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in July. She has struggled with sleep since childhood and worked the night shift from 2011 until early 2026. She has never taken sleep medication.
“I’ve struggled with sleep since I was a child,” Chi said. “Night shift felt like the obvious choice, because sleeping when you’re dead tired sounds easier. But I’d wake up after two or three hours and couldn’t fall back asleep. Even after I switched to days, I couldn’t find my rhythm.”
Her sleep tracker shows the change. In July, she went without sleep on about half of her nights. One stretch of three sleepless nights left her with a fever from exhaustion. In August, she slept nearly every night, usually from around 1 AM to 8 AM.
She signed up for teacher training because she enjoys teaching and fitness, not to fix her sleep. “I didn’t realize the breathwork, the meditation and the calm were what my body needed,” she said.
Why breath comes first
Lead teacher Yogi Kirti Anand Ji taught for more than 10 years at yoga schools in Rishikesh, India, and is certified under India’s Ministry of AYUSH.
“When the mind is anxious, the breath is the first thing that changes, and the first thing we can learn to change back. In the tradition we teach, pranayama and meditation are not extras. They are the practice.”
A 2018 systematic review of randomized controlled trials found that yoga may help people experiencing elevated anxiety, though evidence for diagnosed anxiety disorders is still inconclusive.
“Yoga is not a replacement for a doctor, a therapist or medication,” said founder Anj Volante. “What it can give people is a daily practice that is theirs, a way to steady themselves during a season that asks a lot of them.”
About Indian Yoga School PH
Indian Yoga School PH is a yoga education and wellness institution based in Taytay, Rizal, dedicated to making authentic Indian yoga accessible in the Philippines. Founded through the partnership of Filipina entrepreneur Anj Volante and Indian yoga teacher and therapist Yogi Kirtti Anand, the school offers traditional Hatha Yoga, Yoga Therapy, meditation, pranayama, and internationally inspired teacher training programs. Its mission is to provide a welcoming space where students of all experience levels can learn yoga through authentic lineage, proper alignment, and holistic well-being.
This press release has also been published on VRITIMES.
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