Ninja Van Philippines marks seven years
Ninja Van Philippines, a leading tech-enabled logistics company providing hassle-free delivery solutions, marks its 7th anniversary, celebrating a journey of growth, innovation, and commitment to being a reliable logistics and growth partner for businesses of all sizes.
Over the past 7 years, Ninja Van Philippines has achieved 100% coverage across the country, reaching more than 18 million Filipinos with its hassle-free logistics services. From Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to the global e-commerce platforms and brands, Ninja Van Philippines’ more than 8,000 employees and workers help carry out its mission of providing reliable and efficient logistics solutions.
As part of its 7th anniversary, Ninja Van Philippines showcased its Cabuyao Hub – the Group’s largest automated sorting hub in the region.
Ninja Van Philippines also highlighted programs and services geared to help MSMEs thrive in an increasingly competitive business landscape. These value-added services aim to supercharge the growth of e-commerce businesses beyond logistics, and include: Ninja Rewards, Ninja Direct, and Ninja Fulfillment.
To give thanks to valued shippers through the years, the birthday celebration included a showcase of seven shippers who have hustled their way to success with Ninja Van Philippines including — Monarchy, Calliah Fashion, Sweet Night, Bona Vita, Arctic Hunter, The Diet Coach, Little Retail PH, and Chef Ayb’s Herbal Tea — shared their stories and products during the press conference, and highlighted how Ninja Van Philippines helped them grow through efficient, tech-enabled logistics.
Easytrip Tips for new subscribers: RFID Sticker 101
As the nation continues its transition to easier, tech-enabled travel, MPT Mobility encourages motorists to build good RFID habits to further ease their journeys and enjoy convenience on the road.
The easiest way to begin is to download the MPT DriveHub App, sign up, and then link your RFID. It’s your one-stop-shop for all things RFID-related.
Stay one step ahead by checking your balance, checking the toll fees, and reloading your RFID Account through the MPT DriveHub app. Reload the amount you’ll need (minimum P100 for the app, Bayad Online, GCash and Maya) to keep your travels smooth.
Enjoy lower service fees when you load with MPT DriveHub–checking your balance and reloading can be done in real time on the app. Alternative reloading partners include Maya, Bayad Online, GCash, BPI, BDO, RCBC. Otherwise, you may visit Easytrip RFID Stations, Easytrip Kiosks, 7-11, Bayad Center, Touchpay, Cebuana Lhuillier, EC Pay, or The SM Store for an in-person reload experience.
By obtaining an Easytrip RFID sticker, motorists open the doors to swift and efficient passage through MPTC expressways (NLEX, SCTEX, CALAX, and CAVITEX C5 Link).
Easytrip isn’t stationary, either–it’s hitting the road with RFID caravans offering installation, replacement, and Autosweep enrollment services.
Global reputation management platform set to launch in PH next year
In a bid to combat the credibility issues plaguing news and social media platforms in the Philippine media landscape, profile network Media.com is set to provide a secure environment where Filipino users can safeguard their reputations.
Developed over the last three years by the Australian private equity group Kismet Group with James Mawhinney as its CEO, Media.com is designed to become home to millions of verified individuals, business executives, celebrities, influencers, politicians, and brands for online reputation management. On Media.com, they and their PR representatives can tell their stories and respond, challenge, correct, and share their views about all forms of content without the risk of being degraded by fake profiles or trolls.
According to Mawhinney, Media.com addresses reputation problems caused by social networks that elevate or prioritize divisive content for engagement. Users can promptly react to stories, posts, or comments about them on third-party platforms and publications without fear of their messages being manipulated or overshadowed by algorithms with contrasting agendas. Media.com ensures users have a genuine ‘right of reply’, which is increasingly rare in today’s digital ecosystem.
Lopez-led FPIP donates more hand-washing stations to another 15 Batangas public schools
Lopez-led economic zone operator First Philippine Industrial Park Inc. (FPIP) has donated hand-washing stations to 15 more public schools in its two host cities in Batangas province as part of the company’s support to help control the spread of infectious diseases and promote proper hygiene among school children.
FPIP formally turned over the facilities during simple ceremonies held recently in the cities of Santo Tomas and Tanauan in Batangas. The facilities also received support from the Batangas Chapter of the Philippine Red Cross, which donated 30 soap dispensers and 15 cleaning sets, on top of hand soaps.
The turnover brought to 30 the number of public schools that received hand-washing stations from FPIP in the past year. In October 2022, FPIP also turned over hand-washing facilities to 15 other public schools in the cities of Santo Tomas and Tanauan. All the hand-washing stations were designed, constructed and installed in complete sets by FPIP.
The donation is also FPIP’s show of support for Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 10, series of 2016, which sets the policy and guidelines for DepEd’s “Comprehensive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program.”
Lopez-controlled First Philippine Holdings Corporation, together with partner Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, established FPIP as a world-class location for global manufacturers and traders, as well as a platform for creating jobs for ordinary Filipinos and tax revenues for the government.
Today, the 520-hectare economic zone provides employment for almost 80,000 Filipinos and generates hundreds of millions of pesos in tax revenues for the government from locators, aside from exporting annually over P200 billion in goods and services to the rest of the world.
Smart dials into Google Cloud AI to help personalize digital services for Filipinos

Smart Communications, Inc.(Smart), the mobile services arm of the PLDT Group, and Google Cloud today announced a collaboration to improve the accessibility of essential digital services for Filipinos, with Searce providing technical implementation support. Under this collaboration, Smart will become one of the first communication services providers (CSPs) in the Asia Pacific region to adopt Telecom Subscriber Insights, Google Cloud’s AI-powered solution that ingests data from various sources, provides contextual insights on subscribers’ propensity to consume services, and presents personalized recommendations to their devices for activation.
Smart will also use Telecom Subscriber Insights to design more inclusive mobile services for subscribers by identifying both patterns and gaps in connectivity. With real-time insights from customer data, Smart could, for instance, help subscribers optimize their data consumption while streaming content by alerting the user to adjust the resolution of their video. Subscribers could also be prompted to top up their prepaid plan on their device through integrations with local digital payments services, instead of having to locate a physical store to purchase a prepaid load.
Smart is looking to gain additional capabilities that enable subscribers to better interact with agents and chatbots, by integrating Google Cloud’s generative AI (gen AI) capabilities.
Kickstart Ventures leads $2.15m seed round Funding for RuralNet
Kickstart Ventures, a corporate venture capital (CVC) firm wholly owned by Globe Telecom, driven by its positive social impact mission, leads seed funding into RuralNet, the Philippines’ first fully digital & API-driven microinsurance distribution platform that helps cover most uninsured Filipinos. It operates as a cutting-edge digital middleware platform that helps partner financial institutions deliver in-person insurance better and faster, starting from enrollment all the way to processing claims.
The funding round also drew participation from a slew of investors such as Gentree, Foxmont, and Kaya Founders. Overall, RuralNet received a total of $2.15M between all investors.
With the backing of Kickstart Ventures, RuralNet is now poised for expansion. This year, Ruralnet is broadening CashKo, RuralNet’s brokerage that connects various financial and retail partner institutions nationwide, by extending insurance solutions to Filipinos catering to Small and Midsized Enterprises (SMEs). Justin Arcenas, founder of the Cebu-based insurtech-startup hopes to empower local business owners and provide them with the financial security they and their employees deserve.
In contrast to the prevailing notion that digital insurance streamlines processes due to its accessibility, efficiency, and convenience, RuralNet recognizes the significance of a human touch for added inclusivity.
To date, RuralNet has partnered with 25 financial institutions to help deliver microinsurance to about 2 million Filipinos. With their expansion of “CashKo” to provide insurance coverage for SMEs, RuralNet targets to cover 200,000 to 300,000 employees within five years.
Villarica dominates 2023 Marketing Excellence Awards

Pawnshop pioneer Villarica made history in this year’s Marketing Excellence Awards (MEA) when its campaign “Dapat SURE Ka. Dapat Villarica.” received seven trophies — besting the six-award record set for a single campaign by Doritos in 2021.
Villarica’s SURE campaign earned two Gold awards for Excellence in Consumer Insights and Media Strategy; three Silvers for Excellence in Brand Strategy, Customer Engagement, and Brand Awareness; and two Bronzes for Excellence in Advertising and Experiential Marketing. The company also won Silver for Marketing Leader of the Year for Hans Lerwyn Villarica.
These eight MEA wins extend the awards haul for the SURE campaign. It previously won the top prize for Brand Effectiveness through Business Growth (Large Enterprise) at the recent PANAta Awards.
Villarica placed second overall at the Philippines edition of the MEA alongside SM Supermalls and Honor Philippines. Colgate-Palmolive was hailed “Marketer of the Year” as it secured three gold, five silver and two bronze awards.
The SURE campaign is Villarica’s first foray into the prestigious Marketing-Interactive event. Leading to the October 13 ceremony at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City, it was a finalist in the 11 categories it joined with Silver Machine Digital Communications and Dentsu X.