by Ferry Bayu | Sep 23, 2026 | Business
In celebration of the UN’s International Volunteer Year 2026, ASSIST has launched Ten Photos to Shake the World (TPSW) 2026. The regional photo contest invites visual storytellers across Asia to capture how local civic action drives global impact. Entries open September 2026.
Ready to shake the world? Submit your original photos to Ten Photos to Shake the World (TPSW) 2026 to win.
In celebration of the United Nations recognizing 2026 as International Volunteer Year (IVY), Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) invites photographers and visual storytellers to join TPSW 2026.
Open to participants across the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, this regional competition leverages visual storytelling to spotlight how localized civic engagement drives global progress and resilience. Under the theme “Volunteers in Frame: Capturing the Spirit of Volunteerism and Social Impact,” the initiative seeks to award compelling photos that capture the power of everyday service, community action, and sustainable development.
The competition features separate tracks for Amateur and Professional photographers, with prizes awarded to the Top 3 entries in each category alongside four consolation prizes and special awards. Submissions open September 2026.
Since its inception in 2011, TPSW has served as a regional platform for visual storytellers to address pressing development challenges through photography as an advocacy tool. This year’s edition focuses on documenting the scenes of volunteerism driving tangible social impact across Asian communities.
For complete contest mechanics and eligibility criteria, follow ASSIST and TPSW on official social media channels.
You may also view the full details and contest mechanics here: TPSW 2026 Contest Primer
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: assistasia.org
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 22, 2026 | Business
Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales, Founder of 101 Health Research, has been named the Philippine National Finalist in the Mid-Career category of the 2026 UL Research Institutes ASEAN–U.S. Science Prize for Women. Her work uses artificial intelligence and health data science to support inclusive, resilient healthcare and evidence-based decision-making in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
MANILA, Philippines — Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales, physician, public health scientist, and Founder and Managing Director of 101 Health Research, has been selected as the Philippine National Finalist in the Mid-Career category of the 2026 UL Research Institutes–ASEAN–U.S. Science Prize for Women.
This year’s theme, “AI for Advancing Inclusive and Resilient Healthcare in ASEAN,” recognizes women scientists harnessing artificial intelligence to address healthcare challenges across Southeast Asia.
For more than a decade, Cloma-Rosales has worked across clinical research, public health, health systems, and health data science. Her work includes AI applications for HERDIN, the Philippines’ national health research database; the midterm evaluation of the Philippine National Unified Health Research Agenda; and a global study on digital disruption and climate stress in the nursing workforce, including analysis of more than 14,000 online job postings.
“Health and research data are often fragmented across institutions, databases, and systems,” Cloma-Rosales said. “AI can help us connect and learn from these sources at scale, turning fragmented data into evidence for better decisions.”
She sees this as part of a broader goal of building learning health systems that continuously use research, data, and real-world experience to improve care.
“The goal is not simply to use more AI, but to build health systems that keep learning—combining technology with scientific rigor, local knowledge, and human judgment. This is especially important at a time of major health policy changes, digital transformations, and as we aim for climate resilience.”
Cloma-Rosales is a physician and public health scientist who trained in Pediatrics and holds a Master of Public Health from the National University of Singapore and a Master in Entrepreneurship from the Asian Institute of Management. She was selected as an Eisenhower Fellow in 2025.
The Philippines is also represented in the Senior Scientist category by Prof. Julie Ann A. Salido of Aklan State University, a computer scientist whose research includes deep learning applications for skin lesion analysis and melanoma detection.
National Finalists will undergo regional judging, with two Regional Finalists from each category advancing to the final pitch competition.
Watch Dr. Cloma-Rosales’ National Finalist video pitch:
About 101 Health Research
Founded in the Philippines in 2014, 101 Health Research supports healthcare institutions, government agencies, professional societies, and other partners in generating and translating evidence. Its work spans clinical research, biostatistics, health data science and real-world evidence, evidence synthesis, scientific communication, and research capacity development.
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 22, 2026 | Business
MANILA, Philippines — Ginto Privilege Club (GPC) has officially opened its one-off GPC Packs, starting at ₱49, giving eligible Philippine residents aged 18 and above access to listed GPC Partner Deals and the stated GPC Draw entries included with their selected Pack.
GPC users choose a Pack only when it suits them. There is no subscription, automatic renewal, referral requirement or downline.
Three GPC Packs are now available:
Try Pack — ₱49: 1 GPC Draw entry and 7 days’ access to listed GPC Partner Deals.
Sulit Pack — ₱149: 6 GPC Draw entries, 14 days’ access to listed GPC Partner Deals and eligibility for applicable bonus rewards.
Ginto Pack — ₱349: 20 GPC Draw entries, 30 days’ access to listed GPC Partner Deals and eligibility for applicable bonus rewards.
Before choosing a Pack, users can review the price, period of Partner Deal access, stated GPC Draw entries, current Partner Deals and their terms, draw cut-off and official mechanics on the GPC website.
The first GPC Draw under the new one-off Pack format will be the ₱10,000 Ginhawa Support Draw, to be held live on October 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM Philippine time.
The draw will select one provisional main winner for ₱10,000 in Ginhawa Support and five provisional bonus winners for ₱500 GCash eGift each.
After eligibility and verification requirements are completed, the main winner may choose from practical-support options including:
- Groceries through participating grocery merchants
- Everyday essentials through participating pharmacy merchants
- ₱10,000 GCash for bills support
Prize options, participating merchants and fulfilment are subject to the official draw mechanics and applicable terms.
“Gusto naming malinaw muna bago mag-decide ang isang tao,” said Kristine Henderson, CEO and Co-Founder of Ginto Privilege Club. “Makikita nila ang presyo ng Pack, Partner Deals, draw entries, cut-off at mechanics bago sila pumili. Walang subscription at walang kailangang i-refer. They can simply choose a Pack if it works for them.”
Winners selected during the live draw remain provisional until the applicable eligibility and verification requirements have been completed. GPC publicly confirms winners only after verification and does not charge winners any fee to claim a verified prize.
The company also maintains a public Winner Proof archive containing records of confirmed prize deliveries from previous GPC promotions. Confirmed winners and available prize fulfilment records from the new GPC Draws will also be published following verification and prize delivery.
Current GPC Pack information, the Ginhawa Support Draw, cut-off and official mechanics are available at:
https://gintoprivilegeclub.com/current-draw/
Previous winner records are available at:
https://gintoprivilegeclub.com/winners-proof/
Open to eligible Philippine residents aged 18 and above. Terms and official draw mechanics apply. Selected participants are subject to eligibility and verification.
About Ginto Privilege Club
Founded in September 2025, Ginto Privilege Club (GPC) is a Philippines-based consumer platform offering one-off GPC Packs, access to listed GPC Partner Deals and scheduled GPC Draws. GPC is designed around clear Pack information, published draw mechanics, winner verification and public Winner Proof for confirmed prize deliveries. GPC is not a membership, subscription, referral program, MLM or income opportunity.
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 20, 2026 | Business
Ginto Privilege Club founder Kristine Henderson, who grew up in Surigao del Norte and is now based on Australia’s Gold Coast, introduces GPC’s one-off Pack format for everyday Filipinos. From September 21, GPC users can choose a Pack when it suits them — without subscriptions, automatic renewals, referrals or downlines. Before deciding, they can view the Pack price, listed Partner Deals, draw entries, cut-off and official mechanics. The first Ginhawa Support Draw will take place live on October 1, with selected participants verified before winners are confirmed.
Ginto Privilege Club will open its one-off Pack format on September 21, with no subscriptions, automatic renewals, referral requirements or downlines.
MANILA, Philippines – September 14, 2026 – Filipino entrepreneur Kristine Henderson will introduce a simpler direction for Ginto Privilege Club (GPC), a Philippines-focused consumer platform built around practical deals, clear information and scheduled reward draws.
Henderson, who grew up in Surigao del Norte and is now based on Australia’s Gold Coast, said the idea behind GPC comes from a familiar Filipino reality: people work hard, compare prices carefully and want to know exactly what they are getting before they spend.
“Hindi dapat kailangan mong manghula,” Henderson said. “People deserve to see the details clearly, decide in their own time, and feel that there is something practical for them too.”
On September 21, GPC will open its one-off GPC Pack format. Rather than a membership or subscription, GPC users can choose a Pack only when they want to. There is no automatic renewal, no referral requirement and no downline.
Each Pack will show its price, access period for listed GPC Partner Deals, scheduled draw entries, cut-off date and official mechanics before a user decides to buy.
The first GPC Draw in the October schedule, the Ginhawa Support Draw, will be held live on October 1, 2026. Complete Pack options, eligibility requirements and official draw mechanics will be available on the GPC website from September 21 before a user chooses a Pack.
Henderson’s professional background includes building Sanctuary Care, an Australian home-care business she founded in 2018. She said her experience supporting families shaped GPC’s focus on practical everyday value rather than complicated promises.
“GPC is being built for the person who wants things explained simply,” she said. “No pressure to invite anyone. No need to maintain a subscription. Just clear choices, published mechanics and a process people can check for themselves.”
GPC maintains a public Winner Proof archive containing records of confirmed prize deliveries from previous GPC promotions. Selected participants in future GPC Draws will be subject to verification before winners are confirmed. GPC does not charge fees to claim verified prizes.
More information about Ginto Privilege Club is available at https://gintoprivilegeclub.com/.
About Ginto Privilege Club
Founded in September 2025, Ginto Privilege Club (GPC) is a Philippines-based consumer platform offering one-off GPC Packs, access to listed GPC Partner Deals and scheduled GPC draws. GPC is designed around clear Pack information, published draw mechanics, winner verification and public Winner Proof for confirmed prize deliveries. GPC is not a membership, subscription, referral, MLM or income opportunity.
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 17, 2026 | Business
Alsons Power Group continues to strengthen its presence in Cebu’s retail electricity market following the addition of Japanese-affiliated Makoto Metal Technology Inc. (MMTI) to its growing customer portfolio.
Alsons Power Group continues to strengthen its presence in Cebu’s retail electricity market following the addition of Japanese-affiliated Makoto Metal Technology Inc. (MMTI) to its growing customer portfolio.
Through Alsons Power Supply Corporation (APSC), the company has recently closed a retail electricity supply agreement with MMTI’s manufacturing operations for its two (2) plants at the Mactan Export Processing Zone II (MEPZ II) in Lapu-Lapu City.
The agreement marks another milestone in APSC’s expansion beyond Mindanao and strengthens its growing presence among commercial and industrial customers in the Visayas.
“For a manufacturing company like Makoto Metal Technology, Inc., having a reliable, competitively priced, and flexible electricity supply is essential to sustaining our operations and supporting our continued growth. We see Alsons Power as a trusted partner that understands the unique requirements of the manufacturing industry and can provide the reliability, flexibility, and support we need as we expand our operations,” said Jon Romulo A. Montances, Admin and Support Manager, Makoto Metal Technology, Inc.
Under the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) framework, qualified electricity consumers such as MMTI can choose their electricity supplier based on factors including pricing, service reliability and supply arrangements.
“The competitive offer was an important factor in our decision. What ultimately gave us confidence in APSC, however, was their ability to clearly explain why we were experiencing the challenges we have with our incumbent supplier and provide a solution that could significantly improve our electricity costs moving forward,” Montances added.
MMTI manufactures precision metal components, die-cast parts, and optical products, and provides assembly services for various industries.
The partnership strengthens APSC’s position in Cebu, one of the country’s major manufacturing and commercial centers, as the company continues to serve businesses seeking competitive and customized electricity supply options.
“Cebu is an important market for us, particularly with its strong base of manufacturing and commercial customers. Partnering with MMTI is an important step in expanding Alsons Power’s presence in the Visayas and bringing our energy solutions to more businesses across the country,” Alsons Power Chief Executive Officer Antonio Miguel B. Alcantara said.
The MMTI agreement comes amid continued growth in APSC’s contestable customer portfolio. Currently, APSC serves nine contestable customers and sources electricity from various power facilities across the country.
APSC’s growing customers reflects increasing demand from commercial and industrial consumers for electricity supply arrangements that offer competitive rates, reliable service, and solutions aligned with their operational requirements.
APSC is the retail electricity supply arm of Alsons Power Group, serving commercial and industrial customers in the contestable electricity market. Alsons Power is the power generation business of the Alcantara Group.
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 17, 2026 | Business
Discover how Italian Atelier’s flagship panel redefined branded residences, turning European craftsmanship into tangible commercial value for Indonesia’s top developers.
As Southeast Asia’s luxury real estate and hospitality sectors enter a period of rapid transformation, branded residences and high-end mixed-use developments are reshaping the region’s property landscape.
In Greater Jakarta and beyond, developers are increasingly looking for ways to differentiate their projects while responding to a more sophisticated market of luxury homeowners, hotel guests, and international investors.
Yet translating global luxury into a successful local development presents its own set of challenges. Developers must deliver distinctive, culturally resonant spaces while managing the demanding quality standards, delicate finishes, and extended lead times often associated with international luxury design.
The ability to connect European craftsmanship with the practical realities of Southeast Asian development is therefore becoming an increasingly important competitive advantage.
This intersection of design, procurement and real estate value will take center stage at IFFINA+ 2026, where Italian Atelier, in collaboration with CJC Marketing Agency, will curate the Day 1 grand finale on Thursday, September 24, from 5:00 PM to 5:45 PM WIB at the Main Stage in Hall 3 of the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition (NICE), PIK2, Jakarta.
Organized by Nine Koeln Indonesia, IFFINA+ 2026 brings together a high-profile audience of C-suite real estate developers, hotel owners, principal architects, interior designers, and VIP international buyers.
Against this backdrop, Italian Atelier’s flagship panel will examine how European luxury design and bespoke FF&E procurement can be integrated into contemporary hospitality and branded residential projects without losing sight of local context or commercial realities.
From European Craftsmanship to a Sense of Place
One of the central questions surrounding branded residences today is how international luxury can be adapted to local markets without becoming generic.
Successful branded developments increasingly move away from simply reproducing European aesthetics. Instead, they seek to combine established international design codes with the cultural identity of their location, creating spaces that feel both globally sophisticated and distinctly local.
For Indonesia, this creates an opportunity to bring together the country’s rich craft heritage with the precision and material sophistication associated with Italian luxury design. The resulting environments can establish a stronger sense of place while giving residential and hospitality developments a more distinctive identity in an increasingly competitive market.
This approach is particularly relevant as developers seek to appeal to consumers who are exposed to global luxury standards but continue to value authenticity and cultural relevance. A branded residence cannot rely on an international name alone. Its design needs to feel considered within its geographical and cultural setting.
For Jasmine Chau of Italian Atelier, this balance sits at the heart of contemporary luxury hospitality and real estate.
“True luxury in modern hospitality is born where world-class European craftsmanship meets deep respect for local context. Our goal is to provide developers with a seamless blueprint from design vision to execution.”
Her perspective points to a broader shift in the role of luxury design. Rather than functioning solely as a visual layer added toward the end of a development, design is increasingly becoming part of the strategic process through which an asset establishes its identity and market positioning.
Where Design Meets Commercial Reality
For developers, however, the value of an international design partnership is ultimately measured not only by its aesthetic impact but also by its ability to perform within the realities of a complex project.
Cross-border procurement introduces considerations around lead times, logistics, material specifications and installation. In tropical markets such as Indonesia, engineering materials for climate durability adds another layer of complexity, particularly when projects involve delicate finishes and highly specified European FF&E.
Managing these factors effectively can have a direct impact on project timelines and overall asset performance.
This is where the relationship between design and commercial value becomes increasingly important. Premium interior design partnerships can contribute to capital appreciation and long-term asset valuation by strengthening the positioning, quality and differentiation of a property.
For major property conglomerates, the objective is therefore not simply to source exceptional furniture or finishes. It is to establish a procurement and design strategy capable of protecting the integrity of the original design vision while remaining feasible within the project’s operational and commercial framework.
The conversation at IFFINA+ 2026 will explore precisely this intersection, establishing a strategic blueprint for integrating European luxury and bespoke FF&E procurement into modern hospitality and branded residential projects.
Building a Bridge Between Two Luxury Ecosystems
The discussion also reflects the growing need for stronger connections between European design suppliers and Southeast Asia’s expanding real estate market.
Italian Atelier has positioned itself within this ecosystem as a bridge between iconic European design heritage and Asia’s rapidly developing luxury hospitality and real estate landscape. Its role at IFFINA+ extends this positioning into the Indonesian market, bringing design curation and luxury furniture procurement into a conversation with the developers and professionals shaping the region’s next generation of properties.
As branded residences continue to gain momentum across Southeast Asia, these relationships are becoming increasingly significant. Developers require access to international design expertise, while European suppliers need a deeper understanding of the local development environment, project requirements and market expectations.
Creating a meaningful connection between the two sides can open the way for more sophisticated collaborations, from bespoke residential developments to luxury hospitality projects.
A Meeting Point for Indonesia’s Property Leaders
The IFFINA+ panel is expected to bring together senior representatives from Indonesia’s leading real estate and hospitality networks, with participation from major property conglomerates, architectural practices and five-star hotel ownership groups.
Beyond the stage discussion, the gathering creates an opportunity for high-value conversations between local developers and European design suppliers, potentially laying the groundwork for future luxury residential collaborations.
This executive-level exchange is particularly relevant as Indonesia continues to attract investment into high-end residential and hospitality developments.
For decision-makers, access to the right design partners can become an important component of a project’s wider strategy, from initial concept and brand positioning through to procurement and execution.
Italian Atelier’s role as the exclusive content and curation partner for the Day 1 grand finale reflects this broader ambition. By bringing the conversation around luxury furniture procurement, architectural branding and real estate development into the same space, the company aims to address luxury design as part of a wider commercial ecosystem rather than as an isolated creative discipline.
Looking Beyond IFFINA+
The conversation at IFFINA+ 2026 is expected to extend beyond the event itself, with Italian Atelier continuing to expand cross-border design dialogues and support upcoming luxury residential masterplans across Southeast Asia.
Post-event executive networking dinners and exclusive media features across regional publications will further extend these conversations, creating additional opportunities for developers, designers and international suppliers to connect around future projects.
As Southeast Asia’s luxury real estate market continues to evolve, the relationship between European craftsmanship and local development expertise will become increasingly important.
The most compelling projects are likely to be those capable of combining the precision and heritage of global luxury with a genuine understanding of place, climate, culture and commercial reality.
For Italian Atelier, the ambition is clear: to help create that connection, transforming exceptional European design into enduring value for the next generation of Southeast Asian hospitality and real estate.
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