by Ferry Bayu | Oct 27, 2026 | Business
Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC invites all the resorts in the Philippines to explore partnerships offering guests an extraordinary Inner Space Eco-Tourism experience aboard patented, 26-room movable underwater hotels without requiring resorts to purchase them. Developed over 16 years, the zero-discharge concept combines underwater hospitality with a commitment of 16.5% of net profits to coral-reef restoration, while creating opportunities for international fabrication, Philippines maritime veteran co-ownership employment, local workforce training, marine-science education, and sustainable economic development.
KEY WEST, Fla. USA – October 21, 2026 – Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC, today invited resorts and relevant authorities in the Philippines to begin a technical evaluation of a partnership built around its patented movable underwater hotels.
The design, protected by U.S. Design Patent D-736,947, places 26 guestrooms about 30 feet below the surface at normal atmospheric pressure, accessible by four glass traction elevators inside two steel casings. The zero-discharge underwater hotel vessel stands on four retractable steel legs instead of permanent foundations or anchors, allowing it to be relocated for improved marine-life viewing or to avoid storms.
Participating Philippines resorts are not asked to purchase the movable underwater hotel vessel. Under the proposed host-resort arrangement, a resort would use a movable underwater hotel for an initial five-year term. Planet Ocean’s global funding structure, developed over 16 years, uses escrow accounts established by participating resorts under agreed terms.
Planet Ocean has committed 16.5 percent of its net profits to Philippines’s coral-reef restoration and marine conservation, with independent audits and public reporting. Philippines Scientists, universities, and conservation specialists would guide how those funds are used, including coral nurseries, reef monitoring, and, where scientifically appropriate, Biorock restoration.
The initiative traces back to December 2015, when a Maldivian diplomat approached founder Tony Webb after COP21 to ask how the design might help the island nation. Planet Ocean recently held discussions in Malé with the Maldives Minister of Tourism and Environment and an official from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources. The Minister said “yes” to the concept and, like the resorts that would offer guests a safe Inner Space Eco-Tourism experience, now wants to see the first movable underwater hotel built.
For 16 years, Tony Webb had never received a “yes.” Now, Planet Ocean is extending the same invitation to the Philippines’s 7,641 island nation.
Planet Ocean’s fabrication network spans five countries. Houma and Morgan City, Louisiana, serve as the U.S. fabrication base. The Philippines is envisioned as the new corporate world headquarters, fabrication and assembly, and the training center for Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Partners in China, South Korea, and Japan are expected to supply specialized steel and acrylic components and assist with the installation of triple-redundancy systems. Mass fabrication of 50 movable underwater hotels, in less than one year.
The program also aims to create pathways for qualified local Philippines maritime Coast Guard and Special Forces veterans co-ownerships. The young islanders, from school marine-science programs through technical training and university research now have new opportunities that never existed before.
“The Maldives asked in 2015. Today, we invite the Maldives and the Philippines,” said Tony Webb, Founder and Managing Director and a U.S. Navy veteran. “Restore the coral reefs. Train the people. Measure the results. We are ready for serious technical evaluation.”
Interested resorts and Philippines organizations can submit a licensing inquiry at:
www.planetoceanunderwaterhotel.com/global-licensing-opportunities.php
This is a true gift of new prosperities for the Philippines’s future.
About Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC
About Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC
Based in Florida, USA Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels is a self-funded company built on the principles of “Pay It Forward” and “People Helping People.” The company designed the world’s first movable underwater hotel, featuring one-atmosphere, zero-discharge underwater accommodations focused on Inner Space Eco-tourism, coral restoration, marine science, education, Philippine veteran co-ownerships, and employment.
More information is available at www.PlanetOceanUnderwaterHotel.com
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 27, 2026 | Business
3rd Space Studios today opened its doors, introducing a thoughtfully designed, multi-purpose studio where intimate groups can learn, create and connect. Located at Unit LG07, Pioneer Highlands, Tower 1 in the heart of the Pioneer–Greenfield–Ortigas corridor, the space offers private bookings for corporate offsites, workshops, masterclasses, media shoots and celebrations, alongside flexible hourly and daily co-creating access for professionals, students and remote workers.
Metro Manila’s workforce is changing how it meets. Hybrid teams no longer need a full-time office, but they still need somewhere private and professional to plan, pitch and celebrate together. At the same time, demand is rising for “third spaces”: places outside home and the office for focused work, continuous learning and community. 3rd Space Studios was built for both needs under one roof.
“Teams told us the same thing again and again: hotel function rooms feel too formal, cafés are too noisy, and production studios are too expensive for a half-day session,” said Pauline Yu of 3rd Space Studios. “We built a space that sits right in between. It’s warm enough for a creative workshop, private enough for a leadership offsite, and ready to go the moment you walk in. Come in as you are. Walk out with new skills and real work done.”
One studio, three ways to use it
Private and corporate bookings. Exclusive use of the studio for offsite strategy sessions, client meetings, product launches, roundtables, trainings and private celebrations. Bookings start at three hours and include presentation tools, with add-ons available for styling and media setups.
Co-Creating Space (coworking). Flexible hourly and day passes for focused work, study and small-team collaboration, with fast Wi-Fi, ergonomic seating and a calm atmosphere. Co-creating runs whenever no private booking is scheduled.
Co-Lab Network (collaboration). A partnership program for workshop facilitators, masterclass hosts and creators. 3rd Space Studios helps market, co-execute and ticket each session, so hosts can focus on teaching while the studio handles the setup.
Built for the corridor
The studio’s location lets it serve three very different neighbors. Residents of Pioneer’s high-rise towers get a quiet place to focus close to home and a venue for after-work classes. Weekend visitors to the Greenfield lifestyle district can join community talks, creator pop-ups and hands-on workshops. Corporate teams and agencies in Ortigas gain an offsite venue minutes from the office, without the formality or cost of a hotel ballroom.
The space is designed to suit the growing number of AI upskilling sessions, podcast recordings, content shoots and professional development workshops that companies and creators now run each month. Operations follow a low-waste approach, and the studio welcomes eco-conscious brand partners for pop-ups and activations.
“Most venues make you choose between a meeting room and a creative space,” added Pauline. “At 3rd Space, a sales team can hold its quarterly planning in the morning, and a podcast crew can record in the same room that afternoon. That flexibility is what modern teams and creators are looking for.”
Availability
3rd Space Studios is now accepting corporate event bookings, private reservations, co-creating walk-ins and facilitator partnership applications. To book a site visit or reserve a date, visit 3rdspacestudios.ph, email 3r*******************@***il.com or call 09175148899. Follow @3rd_space_studios on Instagram and Facebook for the latest workshop schedule.
About 3rd Space Studios
3rd Space Studios is a multi-purpose studio in Mandaluyong City, serving the Pioneer, Greenfield and Ortigas business and lifestyle corridor. Designed for intimate groups to learn, create and connect, it offers private and corporate event bookings, flexible coworking through its Co-Creating Space, and revenue-sharing partnerships with workshop facilitators and creators through its Co-Lab Network. Learn more at 3rdspacestudios.ph.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 27, 2026 | Business
Tourism feeds into the Philippine economy through employment, foreign visitor spending, and supply chains across transport, food service, and hospitality. Security across that ecosystem involves multiple overlapping risks, and addressing them requires coordination between sectors that have historically operated independently.
PROtecTOURS runs on November 5 at Hall 3 as part of i4C.PH 2026, a one-day professional platform for tourism and hospitality stakeholders covering guest safety, property crisis management, physical security, and payment and cyber threat resilience. The session is organized around five operational areas drawn from the Department of Tourism’s framework: Attractions, Accessibility, Accommodations, Amenities, and Activities. Heritage sites and theme parks face crowd management and access control issues. Transit routes, from airport corridors to local roads, require coordination across agencies that rarely share protocols. Hotels and resorts handle perimeter security, internal emergencies, and guest data simultaneously. The commercial infrastructure surrounding tourist zones carries food safety, sanitation, and power continuity risks. Guided activities and water sports require real-time incident tracking and safety standards that many operators have yet to formalize.
Failures in one area affect the others. A compromised booking system can disable access controls and strand guests during an evacuation. Damage to port or road infrastructure delays emergency response teams during a disaster. Hospitality professionals generally train for operations and service delivery, and crisis coordination and incident response are areas where many organizations carry gaps. Closing those gaps takes structured, scenario-based practice across departments and agencies.
i4C.PH 2026 is the Philippines’ national capability-building platform covering physical security and safety, disaster risk and crisis management, and cybersecurity. PROtecTOURS sits within that architecture as a focused session for the tourism sector. Participants engage with live simulations inside multi-hazard scenarios, testing how their organizations communicate and coordinate under pressure. Government regulators, destination managers, security professionals, and technology providers work through the same scenarios together. Protocol frameworks produced during these sessions are reviewed and endorsed by the participants.
For tourism operators, the sessions offer a way to pressure-test their own procedures, seeing where accommodation protocols hold and where they break down, where accessibility infrastructure fails first, and how a cyber incident translates into a physical safety problem. The Philippines has managed typhoons, a prolonged pandemic, and economic disruption that each tested the tourism sector in different ways. PROtecTOURS at i4C.PH gives practitioners a structured setting to take what those events revealed and convert it into standards they can apply going forward.
Building a more resilient tourism sector takes sustained effort across many kinds of institutions and conversations. i4C.PH 2026 is one of them. Click here to register now or scan the QR Code above. Or visit the i4C.PH Website to learn more. We hope to see you there.
About Ace And Assiociates Risk Management, Inc.
Ace and Associates Risk Management, Inc. (AAA) provides asset protection and risk management consultancy services, with an emphasis on the convergence of all aspects of security from conception to implementation. Its team combines globally accepted corporate best practices with knowledge of local conditions. AAA is one of the conceptualizers of i4C.PH, together with Resilient.PH and Security Matters. i4C.PH: Resilience Reimagined is a national, multi-sector platform that advances integrated security, crisis resilience and digital trust across the Philippines. It convenes leaders and practitioners from government, defense, public safety, critical infrastructure, industry, technology and academia around the convergence of physical security and safety, cybersecurity, and disaster and crisis management. The program follows the Resilience Programming Framework (RPF) from The Resilient.PH, a systems-based approach that treats resilience as a continuum from foresight and prevention through preparedness, response, recovery and long-term adaptation.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 27, 2026 | Business
Marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, social impact organization, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) is calling for practical, market-driven programs that help families achieve long-term financial independence.
MANILA, Philippines – Marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, social impact organization, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) is calling for a stronger focus on practical, market-driven programs that help families achieve long-term financial independence.
Moving beyond short-term relief, ASSIST is driving long-term economic transformation across Asia by empowering vulnerable communities with the tools needed for lasting self-reliance. Through comprehensive vocational training, accessible education, and targeted small business support, the organization equips individuals with marketable skills and entrepreneurial resources. By creating sustainable avenues for reliable income and strengthening local economies, ASSIST is helping families break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and build a resilient, self-sufficient future.
While emergency relief provides immediate help during crises, breaking the poverty cycle long-term requires systemic changes. Rapid shifts across local economies, alongside growing skills gaps—leave millions of first-time jobseekers as well as skilled workers struggling to secure stable work.
To address these challenges directly, ASSIST runs targeted programs across three key areas:
Workforce Upskilling & TVET Development: Aligning technical and vocational training with actual employers needs to help job seekers secure reliable incomes. Training and intervention programs include sustainABILITY, which addresses green skills shortages in vocational schools, and NextGen Workforce, which prepares young people for modern job markets.
Inclusive Education & Digital Access: Helping bridge generational poverty by bringing technology and fundamental learning resources directly into community centers. Through projects like Adopt-A-Madrasah, ASSIST integrates digital tools, basic literacy, and financial education into traditional madrasah communities.
Small Business Support & Ecosystem Research: While starting a small business can break the cycle of poverty, early-stage ventures often struggle against local market barriers. ASSIST is proud to support UNDP-led research initiatives, such as the Youth Co:Lab Ecosystem Diagnostics Study, which map the critical policy and market challenges confronting young Pinoy entrepreneurs. These actionable findings help guide mentorship and local support networks to help small business owners achieve lasting financial security.
At the heart of these initiatives is a conviction that long-term change comes from within the communities themselves. As Karthik Subburaman, Executive Director of ASSIST, emphasizes:
“A community’s future is built on its economic self-reliance. When we equip workers, youth, and small business owners with market-relevant skills and resources, we do more than just help them earn a living—we restore agency and open up generational pathways out of poverty.”
By focusing on this vision of sustainable empowerment, ASSIST continues to help families move beyond basic survival toward lasting independence, paving the way for resilient and self-sufficient local economies.
Over its 20-year history, ASSIST has impacted more than 6000 individuals employed, 46,252 workforce reached, and 1,469 muslim students upskilled. In commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the organization invites corporate partners, educators, and policymakers to invest in practical, skill-based economic programs.
Visit assistasia.org to learn more about our work or complete the Partnerships Form to collaborate on sustainable, community-driven development initiatives. Together, let’s transform economic vulnerability into long-term success.
About Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST)
ASSIST (Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation) is an Asian NGO with an established on-the-ground presence across the region. Operating as Partners for Progress, ASSIST collaborates with corporate and institutional funders to convert strategic investments into lasting local capacity—driven by programs it owns and partnerships it trusts.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 26, 2026 | Business
Joining the International Coastal Clean Up Day celebration, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) took action at the Dampalit Mega Dike in Malabon, through a coastal cleanup drive in partnership with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) and the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR).
Located along the coast of Barangay Dampalit, the 8.6-kilometer Dampalit Mega Dike serves as an important flood-control structure and habitat for coastal and marine biodiversity in the CAMANAVA area. This underscores the importance of keeping its coastal spaces clean and protected.
APC President Daizaburo Koga said, “Addressing plastic pollution in beaches, rivers and waterways is a huge challenge, but small actions can collectively create a wave of change. Every piece of waste we collect helps create a cleaner coast, protect marine life, and preserve our oceans for future generations.” With 40 volunteers on the ground, more than 500 kilograms of solid waste were collected during the activity.
ASSIST highlighted the importance of sustained partnerships in translating environmental goals into meaningful action. “We are happy to see the continued growth of Ajinomoto’s partnership with ASSIST for marine conservation and waste reduction. ASSIST is proud to work alongside partners like Ajinomoto who remain consistently committed to driving real, lasting environmental change—and we hope to see even more organizations follow suit,” said Francis Macatulad – ASSIST Director for Business Development.
The coastal cleanup is part of APC’s dedicated efforts to translate its sustainability commitments into concrete initiatives.The company always finds ways to contribute to Ajinomoto Group’s global goal of extending the healthy life expectancy of one billion people and reducing its environmental impact by 50% by 2030.
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 | Oct 26, 2026 | Business
New research from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), developed in collaboration with Gogolook, the developer of Whoscall, reveals the scale and impact of scams across Asia. Among adults surveyed in 13 Asian markets, 71% encountered a scam in the past year. The study estimates that consumers across those markets lost a combined US$136.5 billion to scams over the same period.
The State of Scams in Asia 2026 report, based on a survey of 17,460 adults, also identifies a gap between confidence and outcomes. While 66% of respondents said they were confident in their ability to recognize scams, 62% of those who encountered one interacted with it. Among respondents who interacted with a scam, 26% lost money.
The findings are being released ahead of the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026, taking place in Bangkok on 10–11 November. Following previous editions in Taiwan and Singapore, the summit will be held in Thailand for the first time, bringing together leaders from across sectors to strengthen the region’s response to evolving scams.
Phone calls and messages remain major points of exposure
Phone calls were the most common channel through which respondents encountered scams (56%), followed by text messages (50%) and instant messaging apps (40%). Shopping, investment and employment scams were the scam types respondents most commonly interacted with.
“Phone and text message scams remain a major challenge across Asia. In Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, more than six in ten respondents encountered scam calls. As scammers use AI-generated voices and increasingly convincing scripts, identifying suspicious numbers and warning users before they engage becomes even more important,” said Jeff Kuo, CEO of Gogolook. “Whoscall’s observations also suggest that scammers are adapting to tighter SIM registration and identity checks by using international and satellite numbers. That makes continued information sharing across markets essential.”
The harm extends beyond financial losses
The research estimates that consumers across the 13 markets lost US$136.5 billion to scams over the past 12 months. Among respondents who lost money, 51% said they had been scammed more than once.
The effects reached beyond the immediate financial loss. Among those who lost money, 72% reported an impact on their mental wellbeing, 77% experienced at least one emotional impact, and 58% experienced at least one financial impact affecting their everyday lives.
“One of the most striking findings is the gap between confidence and behavior. While 66% of respondents feel confident they can recognize scams, 62% of those who encountered one went on to interact with it. This shows why education is important but cannot be our only line of defense. We also need stronger safeguards that protect people throughout the scam journey.” said Brian D. Hanley, Director, Asia-Pacific Chapter, Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA).
Turning regional evidence into action
The findings will inform discussions at the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026, where representatives from government, law enforcement, financial services, technology, telecommunications, consumer protection and other sectors will explore ways to prevent and disrupt scams.
The research also points to public support for more proactive intervention. Across the markets surveyed, 71% supported allowing banks to block high-value transactions without a customer’s prior permission when they suspect a scam. Another 69% supported allowing telecom operators or messaging apps to block calls and messages they believe are malicious.
Reporting, however, does not always lead to recovery. While 85% of victims reported their scam experience, outcomes varied depending on where they reported it, and recovery and reimbursement remained limited.
Download the full State of Scams in Asia 2026 report here: https://gasa.org/knowledge-base/reports/state-of-scams-in-asia-2026
Registration for the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026 is open. For the programme and registration details, visit the summit website: https://gasa.org/global-anti-scam-summit-asia-2026
About the research
The State of Scams in Asia 2026 surveyed 17,460 adults across 13 Asian markets: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Fieldwork was conducted between March 16 and April 13, 2026. The research was conducted by Opinium for the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and developed in collaboration with Gogolook, the developer of Whoscall.
About Global Anti-Scam Alliance
The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) is a nonprofit organization bringing together policymakers, law enforcement, consumer authorities, NGOs, the financial sector, telecommunications operators, internet platforms, cybersecurity organizations and other stakeholders to share knowledge and develop solutions to protect consumers from scams. GASA Website: https://gasa.org/
About Gogolook
Gogolook is a leading TrustTech company established in 2012. With “Build for Trust” as its core value, Gogolook has expanded its business from Asia to Europe and the Americas. As a foundation member of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), Gogolook collaborates with law enforcement agencies and public-sector organizations, including the Taiwan National Police Agency, the Royal Thai Police, the Philippines Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and the Royal Malaysia Police. These partnerships support its commitment to building a scam-free environment. Gogolook Website: https://www.gogolook.com/
About Whoscall
Whoscall, developed by Gogolook, is a caller ID and digital anti-scam app designed to protect users from scams across various channels, including phone calls, text messages, social media, and links. With over 100 million downloads globally, it features the most comprehensive database in East and Southeast Asia, covering more than 2.6 billion phone numbers. Whoscall Website: https://web.whoscall.com/en
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