Inaugural ceremony of Premios Tanglaw
The Embassy of the Philippines in Madrid, Spain hosted the inaugural ceremony of the Premios Tanglaw on October 10 led by Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier to commemorate the 77th Anniversary of Philippines-Spain diplomatic relations.
The Premios Tanglaw is a distinguished award presented by the Philippine Embassy in Spain to honor individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to fostering solidarity and cooperation between the Philippines and Spain.

This year Ìs inaugural Premio Tanglaw marks the beginning of the historic milestone leading up to the 80th anniversary of Philippine-Spain bilateral relations in 2027.
This year’s Tanglaw awardees are the late Senator Edgardo Angara; Jorge Manuel Domecq Fernández de Bobadilla; Isabel Preysler; Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga; Fernando Zóbel; Alexandra Eala; María Dolores Elizalde; Antonio Molina; Instituto Cervantes; National Historical Commission of thePhilippines; Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes; Aboitiz and Co,; CASA ASIA; Bodegas Fundador and Emperador Properties; ACCIONA; Jollibee Madrid and Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo.
The ceremony, which took place at the headquarters of the Instituto Cervantes in Madrid, was attended by several personalities and representatives from government, the private sector and international and cultural institutions based in Madrid.
Manulife, MCBL receive Golden Arrow Awards
Manulife Philippines and Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. (MCBL) recently won two Golden Arrow Awards for exemplary performance in corporate governance. The awards were given by the Institute of Corporate Directors at their Global Governance Summit held on September 19.

The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) recognizes publicly listed corporations that have exhibited observable conformance with the Philippine Code of Corporate Governance and internationally recommended corporate governance practices promoted by the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard and Corporate Governance Scorecard.
“Awards like these are a testament to the work we are doing to ensure good corporate governance and stakeholder engagement for Manulife Philippines and MCBL. We are honored to once again receive the Golden Arrow Awards from the Institute of Corporate Directors, and remain steadfast in our commitment to doing honest work for our stakeholders and communities,” said Rahul Hora, president and CEO, Manulife Philippines.
Through the Golden Arrow awards, the ICD aims to raise the standards of corporate governance toward local companies and make Philippine companies more attractive to investors.
‘PLDT Smart Communities’ join Hands On Manila’s Servathon 2024
PLDT and Smart recently supported pioneering humanitarian organization Hands On Manila’s ‘Servathon 2024’.
Held in celebration of Hands On Manila’s 19th anniversary, this year’s Servathon was joined by over 1,100 volunteers, and sought to help address malnutrition and stunting among Filipino children, by fostering the spirit of volunteerism among corporate employees.

The initiative plays into the #MakeItMeaningful campaign spearheaded by the People Group of PLDT and Smart, an internal and external employer branding movement that expresses the telco group’s sincere and inspirational call to action to its workforce.
During the Servathon, the selected activity for the ‘PLDT Smart Communities’ employee-volunteers was the creation of toys that stimulate brain development. The colorful educational toys produced by the team are set to be distributed to Hands On Manila’s partner recipients including BUSILAK (Buhayin ang Sigla ng Lawa at Karagatan) Communities of Barangay San Vicente, Angono, Rizal, and the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation (NVC Foundation).
PLDT and Smart’s participation in the Hands On Manila initiative underscores the telco group’s strong drive to encourage its workforce to contribute to shared advocacies as individuals, in this case donating their time and energy to make a positive impact on the lives of Filipino children and their families.
BanKo, Hapinoy empower Sari-Sari Store Owners
The collaboration, set to launch as the BanKommunity Program, aims not only to enhance the business capabilities of self-employed micro-entrepreneurs (SEMEs) through financial products and business opportunities, but also to foster emotional empowerment, helping entrepreneurs build confidence, security, and hope for their future.
BanKo will join Hapinoy’s sari-sari store caravans, where store owners gather for business training and support. BanKo will offer essential services such as account openings for PondoKo and Todo Savings and NegosyoKo loan applications.

“The partnership with Hapinoy aligns perfectly with BanKo’s mission of empowering the ‘Negosyanteng Pinoy’. By providing them with easy access to financial services and opportunities to grow their businesses, we aim to make a meaningful impact on the lives of sari-sari store owners across the country,” said Rod Mabiasen, Jr., BanKo President.
“Hapinoy has long championed sari-sari store owners, and this partnership with BanKo signifies the renewal of our collaboration,” said Mark Joaquin Ruiz, Hapinoy co-founder and president. “The BanKommunity Program will enable BanKo to expand their reach within the microfinance sector, further strengthening our shared mission of empowering micro-entrepreneurs.”
TikTok Shop empowers MSMEs
TikTok Shop Philippines recently participated in GoNegosyo’s Online Selling Summit, reaffirming its dedication to empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. Organized by GoNegosyo, the summit is themed “Digital Economy: Fueling Growth, Empowering E-Commerce.”

“Digital technology is key for our MSMEs to succeed in today’s evolving business landscape. Platforms like TikTok Shop, and the likes of it, create new opportunities for small entrepreneurs, allowing them to access markets that were previously out of reach,” said Joey Concepcion, founder of GoNegosyo. “Together with TikTok Shop and the rest of the digital alliance community, we aim to equip MSMEs with the skills, tools, and resources they need to grow their businesses and contribute to the development of a vibrant and inclusive digital economy in the Philippines.”
Franco Aligaen, marketing lead for TikTok Shop Philippines, joined industry experts in the panel titled “Level Up with Online Ecosystems and Platforms”, where he discussed how MSMEs can leverage TikTokShop’s dynamic platform to enhance their reach, optimize engagement, and achieve sustainable growth.
TikTok Shop empowers MSMEs by providing a dynamic, integrated platform for both marketing and selling, fostering business growth and community support. By utilizing features such as livestream selling and affiliate marketing, MSMEs can enhance their visibility and interact directly with a nationwide audience. These tools are crucial in helping small businesses overcome barriers, such as limited financial resources and access to markets.
Through its ACE Framework–Assortment, Content, and Empowerment–TikTok Shop helps businesses optimize their product offerings, create engaging content, and ultimately convert interactions into sales. This approach allows MSMEs to seamlessly combine marketing and sales, driving both customer engagement and revenue growth.
Prothin c public school outreach
Filipino fitness supplements brand Prothin has been promoting fitness education and active play as key to achieving better overall health among children through outreach programs at public elementary schools across the country. This is part of the brand’s advocacy to support young learners and athletes.

Its latest stop was Panuca Elementary School in Nasugbu, Batangas, where the brand created a day of active play through fun games and activities including an entertaining dance off with Prothin’s mascot. The program was designed to encourage positive association with physical activities and best engage the young students.
By incorporating fun and interactive activities, Prothin aims to instill the value of fitness early in the children’s lives. The brand further supported students by distributing learning supplies, hygiene kits, and personal items like slippers and umbrellas.
“Experts have said that active play helps develop movement skills like agility and balance while giving children the confidence to be active in different environments. Encouraging physical fitness among students can also benefit their academic performance, as it can help improve cognitive functions,” said Prothin Philippines CEO Marvin Vinluan. “Inspiring kids to play and get involved in physical activities is aligned with our values as a fitness-focused brand that has been promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among Filipinos.”
The local brand’s outreach programs are also meant to showcase and stand behind young athletes. At Panuca Elementary School, Prothinmet and cheered on grade school athletes who have been training in their respective sports–badminton, javelin, track and field, basketball, sepak takraw, and volleyball.