Event | PwC Philippines expands Financial Crime Unit presence with new Davao office

L–R: PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines Co. Ltd. Senior Managers Patricia Anne David and Ivan Aguila; PwC APAC Financial Crime Leader Ivan Zasarsky; PwC South East Asia Consulting CEO Martijn Peeters; PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines Co. Ltd. Managing Principal Veronica Bartolome; PwC Financial Crime Unit Consulting Partner Ryan Marte; Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines Assurance Partner Rikki Dalangin; PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines Co. Ltd. Director Monaliza Serrano; PricewaterhouseCoopers Business Services Philippines Co. Ltd. Human Capital Director Jing Saliendra.

Davao City, 22 September 2026 — PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines Co. Ltd., a member firm of the PwC network, has officially opened a new Financial Crime Unit (FCU) office in Davao City, strengthening its presence in Mindanao and supporting businesses and talent across the region.

The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the PwC Philippines office in Agdao, where the FCU's new facility will be housed. The expansion highlights the FCU’s purpose of empowering businesses to protect their financial integrity and mitigate the risks of financial crimes, including money laundering and terrorist financing. Through this growth initiative, the firm also aims to contribute to regional economic development by creating high-value employment opportunities and nurturing the next generation of talent in Davao and neighboring cities.

The ceremony was led by Martijn Peeters, CEO of PwC South East Asia Consulting, and Veronica Bartolome, Managing Principal of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines Co. Ltd.. 

Each leader highlighted Mindanao's growing economic importance and the need to help businesses navigate an increasingly complex risk environment.

In a message delivered in support of the occasion, Roderick Danao, Chairman and Senior Partner of Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines, underscored the significance of this milestone. "As businesses face increasingly sophisticated financial crime risks, access to specialized expertise has never been more critical,” he shared in a statement. “We believe organizations of all sizes should have the support they need to strengthen their operations, effectively manage risk, and pursue growth with confidence. With Davao emerging as a key driver of the country's economic progress, we are committed to supporting its growth by expanding our presence and investing in the region's exceptional and emerging talent."

The Davao office will serve as a hub for developing specialized talent and capabilities in financial crime prevention, equipping professionals with the skills needed to help businesses navigate complex financial crime risks.

Bartolome said, "We see immense potential in the talent across Mindanao and are excited to help unlock new career opportunities in this growing field. Through specialized training, collaborative learning, and access to our global network of professionals, we aim to develop the next generation of financial crime prevention specialists. Over time, we hope to build a strong and sustainable talent pipeline that will support the needs of businesses in the Philippines and around the world."

Also present at the ceremony were Ryan Marte, Consulting Partner at the Financial Crime Unit of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines Co. Ltd.; Ivan Zasarsky, PwC APAC Financial Crime Leader at PwC South East Asia Consulting; and Rikki Dalangin, Assurance Partner at Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines, who joined firm leaders in celebrating the milestone.

The opening of the Davao facility marks another step in PwC Philippines' efforts to support regional business growth. Through investments like these, the firm continues to support stronger businesses, create quality jobs, and contribute to regional development.

Event | 1 Million Trees for Cebu: Aboitiz, GCash Team Up

Five-year GForest partnership will help restore 1,200 hectares in Balamban as part of Aboitiz Foundation’s 40-year nature-based climate action commitment. From Left to Right: Aboitiz Foundation Impact Lead for Climate Action Fred Dalumpines, Aboitiz Foundation President Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Mynt Head of Corporate Sustainability and Communications Michelle Fernandez, and Mynt Impact Innovations Product Manager Luis Arboleda, come together to strengthen their shared commitment to climate action in Cebu.

Aboitiz Foundation and GCash are joining forces to restore 1,200 hectares of forest and coastal areas in Balamban, Cebu through the CarbonPH x GForest Project, a five-year initiative that aims to plant and grow one million trees while restoring ecosystems, supporting communities, and strengthening climate resilience.

The partnership brings together two long-term environmental commitments: CarbonPH and GCash GForest. CarbonPH is Aboitiz Foundation’s nature-based climate action program focused on reforestation, watershed management, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration. It represents a 40-year commitment to protect and restore forest landscapes in Cebu, with a long-term ambition covering over 40,000 to 71,000 hectares, primarily within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) and surrounding areas.

Building on the 4.9 million actual trees already planted through GForest, this partnership will add 1 million more actual trees, bringing GCash closer to its goal of 10 million actual trees by 2030. The five-year initiative will help restore biodiversity, support local communities, and strengthen climate resilience.

GCash GForest, meanwhile, uses technology to make it easier for millions of Filipinos to take part in caring for the environment. Through the GCash app, users can earn green energy points from everyday digital activities and use them to support tree-planting initiatives that also help local communities earn a living. With the support of its partners, GForest turns users’ digital actions into real and meaningful environmental impact.

By bringing CarbonPH and GForest together, the partnership goes beyond planting trees. It combines on-the-ground nature-based solutions with digital participation to support the long-term restoration and protection of ecosystems while addressing interconnected challenges such as forest degradation, biodiversity loss, water security, and climate resilience.

Members of the Singsing Tilapia Growers and Farmers Association are preparing to help kick off CarbonPH in Balamban, Cebu, following an orientation by Baltazar Tribunalo, head of the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, on nursery establishment and project convergence—equipping local farmers to take an active role in the program’s long-term forest restoration efforts.

“CarbonPH is about looking beyond the number of trees we plant. It is about restoring entire ecosystems and making sure they continue to provide value to people and communities for generations,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, President of Aboitiz Foundation. “Our partnership with GCash GForest brings together the strengths of the private sector, technology, and communities to turn this long-term commitment into action. One million trees in Balamban is an important step toward our larger ambition of restoring Cebu’s forests, watersheds, and biodiversity.”

Over five years, the CarbonPH x GForest Project will establish a mix of agroforestry, indigenous and native trees, and mangroves across identified areas in Balamban. The approach recognizes that restoring landscapes requires more than planting trees; it requires selecting interventions that respond to the needs of the environment and the communities that depend on it.

For Michelle Fernandez, Mynt Head of Corporate Sustainability and Communications, the partnership reflects a shared vision of turning everyday actions into meaningful, lasting impact for people and the planet.

“We believe sustainability becomes more meaningful when it is made part of the everyday actions people already take, rather than something that requires them to change their routines. GForest puts this principle into practice by transforming the green energy points earned by GCash users into tangible environmental outcomes through tree planting and ecosystem restoration with Aboitiz Foundation. In this way, technology becomes more than an enabler of convenience. It becomes a bridge between everyday behavior, collective action, and long-term environmental stewardship,” Fernandez said.

Beyond planting trees

The CarbonPH x GForest Project takes a broader approach to restoration by matching its interventions with the needs of the landscape and the communities that rely on it.

Agroforestry will combine tree-growing with opportunities to support sustainable livelihoods. Indigenous and native trees will help restore forest ecosystems and biodiversity, while mangrove rehabilitation will contribute to healthier coastal ecosystems and strengthen natural protection against climate-related risks.

Local communities will be key partners throughout the project, from planting and maintenance to the long-term protection of restored areas. This community-based approach aims to help ensure that restoration efforts are sustained and that the benefits of healthier ecosystems are shared by the people who depend on them.

These efforts contribute to CarbonPH’s broader goal of creating healthier and more resilient landscapes that can improve water security, protect biodiversity, capture carbon, strengthen climate resilience, and support sustainable livelihoods.

Through the partnership, Aboitiz Foundation and GCash aim to showcase how businesses, technology, communities, and nature can work together to turn long-term climate commitments into measurable and lasting action.

The one million trees across 1,200 hectares in Balamban represent an important part of CarbonPH’s larger journey, a 40-year commitment to restoring Cebu’s natural landscapes and helping build a more climate-resilient future for generations to come.

Event | Global AI Expert Tim Santos to Lead Strategic AI Masterclass for Philippine Business Leaders

MAKATI, PHILIPPINES — As businesses worldwide pivot toward artificial intelligence, a critical

gap remains between strategic interest and operational execution. To address this, Geeks On A

Beach (GOAB) and Symph.co are proud to announce the AI Implementation Masterclass:

Bridging the Gap from Strategy to Execution, taking place on May 22, 2026, in Makati.

Global Expertise, Local Impact

The masterclass will be led by Tim Santos, a veteran AI practitioner operating at the frontier of the

industry. Based in London, Santos serves as a Director of Product at Graphcore—a global pioneer

in AI hardware and a key innovator in the chip industry. As a UK-based Filipino and lead author of

the Philippine AI Report 2025, Tim is bringing his experience from the heart of the global AI market

to help the Philippines lead in AI adoption.

"A Silicon Valley playbook won’t just copy-paste to the Philippines," says Santos. "We’re taking the

ground truth from 175 Philippine organizations and translating global best practices into local

nuances. I’m here to help our local talent get maximum performance out of this technology and

build an ecosystem that actually works for the Philippines."

Moving Past the Hype

Unlike typical seminars that focus on the theoretical "what" of AI, this five-hour intensive workshop

focuses on the "how." Attendees will move through a structured three-phase sprint:

● The Local Landscape: Analyzing data-driven insights from the Philippine AI Report 2025.

● Live Strategy Sprint: Using Large Language Models (LLMs) and expert frameworks to

identify high-ROI use cases.

● The 30-60-90 Day Roadmap: Building a ready-to-use, executable action plan.

The event is open to all who are serious about implementing practical AI solutions. Santos strongly

encourages the attendance of "Strategic Duos"—pairs consisting of a Decision Maker

(CEO/Founder/Business Leader) and an Executor (CTO/Product/Tech Lead)—to ensure plans are

both business-aligned and technically sound. The venue partner for this event is Zero-Ten Park, a

Japanese-founded, premier co-working space in Makati.

Event Details

● Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

● Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM (Masterclass) | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Private Advisory, by

application only)

● Venue: Zero-Ten Park Manila Makati, 11F, Frabelle Business Center, 111 Rada, Legazpi

Village, Makati City

● Registration: https://luma.com/GOABS17 or email hello@geeksonabeach.com.

Exclusive Strategic Advisory

Following the workshop, Tim Santos will offer two 90-minute 1-on-1 private consultations for

leadership teams. These sessions allow companies to stress-test their AI roadmaps and get direct

answers from an international AI expert, ensuring strategies align with global best practices while

saving months of trial and error.

● Availability: Limited to two companies (up to two leaders per session).

● How to Apply: Application details are available on the main workshop registration page.

Event | Aria Hotel and Residences Unveils Its Distinctive Brand of Hospitality

 

A Gentle Harmony Unfolds

Nestled within an iconic structure that reflects the evolving skyline of Davao City, Aria Hotel and Residences presents a refined expression of contemporary elegance. Ideally positioned within this dynamic urban center, the property affords guests seamless access to the city’s business districts and cultural attractions, offering both convenience and distinction in equal measure.

 

Guests are welcomed into the expansive lobby spaces, which boast a seamless blend of sleek design. The ground flood is dedicated to receiving guests upon arrival. The lobby on the third floor is bathed in natural light streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, where guests are assisted with check-in and check-out.

 

The hotel will feature 174 meticulously designed guestrooms, each conceived as a sanctuary of comfort and style. Thoughtfully appointed with convenient amenities, intuitive design, and elegant furnishings, every space is crafted to deliver a restful and elevated guest experience. In its current soft opening phase, the hotel introduces a curated selection of approximately 72 rooms, featuring 68 Deluxe Rooms and 4 Aria Suites, offering guests an exclusive preview of its commitment to excellence.

 

Culinary experiences are presently anchored by two distinctive dining outlets: Rhapsody Asian Fusion, the hotel’s all-day dining venue, and Cadenza Bar, its lobby bar. Each delivers a refined yet approachable interpretation of global and local flavors, with additional venues to be unveiled in due course.

 

Rhapsody Asian Fusion – a dynamic culinary destination that invites guests to explore the rich emotional tapestry of Asian gastronomy. Each dish unfolds as part of a larger narrative, capturing the depth, heritage, and evolution of flavors across the region. Guided by a vision that honors and elevates Asian influences, the restaurant presents a thoughtfully curated selection of refined dishes, available throughout the day for a truly immersive dining experience.

 

Cadenza Bar – an exhilarating interplay of artistry and spontaneity, where each visit unfolds like a solo performance. Moments of excitement and drama are expressed in every sip and bite, creating an atmosphere that is both dynamic and refined. Cadenza Bar offers a curated selection of elevated bar fare alongside a distinctive repertoire of handcrafted beverages.

 

Aria Hotels and Residences is poised to emerge as a distinguished culinary destination, with plans for five exceptional dining concepts ranging from relaxed gourmet fare to elevated luxury dining, culminating in a signature sky bar experience set against panoramic city views.

 

For meetings and events, the property currently offers three elegantly appointed venues, designed to accommodate intimate gatherings and corporate functions with precision and style. For larger occasions, the Soprano Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 260 guests. These offerings will expand to six versatile function rooms, catering to a wide spectrum of events and occasions.

 

Wellness and recreation are thoughtfully integrated into the guest experience. A newly renovated fitness center, located on the sixth floor, provides a modern environment for health and vitality, complemented by a dedicated children’s playroom designed to engage younger guests. At the pinnacle of the property, the 33^rd level reveals an awe-inspiring swimming pool, where guests can unwind while taking in sweeping panoramic views of the city.

“As a locally rooted brand, we take great pride in showcasing the richness of our culture, the strength of our people, and the spirit of our community,” says Colin Tan, General Manager. “We are committed not only to delivering exceptional hospitality but also to creating opportunities, supporting local talent, and contributing meaningfully to the destination we call home.”

 

The essence of Aria is deeply rooted in its namesake. An aria is a musical term in opera, describing a moment when a solo vocalist performs accompanied by an orchestra, the music rising and falling in harmony with the singer’s emotion and expression. At Aria Hotel and Residences, the property embodies the orchestra, whiles guests represent both the performer and the audience. In this interplay of service, experience, and emotion, a seamless harmony is created, with each stay unfolding like a unique composition, where every moment contributes to a memorable journey.

 

Aria Hotel and Residences stands as a testament to deliberate elegance, where every detail is considered, every experience elevated, and every stay defined by quiet sophistication, embodying the promise of “Life in Harmony.”

Event | Globe Empowers Communities in Western Mindanao; promotes digital inclusion and environmental protection

Globe continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a #GlobeOfGood through a series of impactful initiatives across Western Mindanao, aimed at uplifting vulnerable communities, promoting digital inclusion, and protecting the environment.

In partnership with Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), Globe launched Digital Horizons for Out-of-School Youth (OSY), a strategic program designed to equip young Filipinos with essential digital literacy, athletic development, and leadership skills. By harnessing WMSU’s local expertise, the initiative delivers a sustainable and future-focused learning experience that empowers youth to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. A total of 40 OSY and 117 WMSU students, faculty, and staff joined the inaugural Digital Horizons program, marking a strong start to this impactful collaboration.

Globe also activated the GT Coop CAREavan at WMSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Education, engaging over 150 students, faculty, and staff in a day of learning and giving. The event featured the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP), which covered topics such as Digital Conduct, Cyberbullying, and Telco 101. A symbolic turn-over of shoes and whistles further emphasized Globe’s commitment to inclusive education and youth empowerment.

Reinforcing its sustainability mission, Globe volunteers partnered with local fisherfolk and leaders in Misamis Oriental to launch the Coastal Digital Roots initiative. A total of 917 mangrove seedlings were planted in Brgy. Baybay, Alubijid, helping protect the coastal ecosystem and strengthen community resilience against climate change.

“These initiatives reflect Globe’s deeper purpose to extend care, connectivity, and opportunity to every Filipino,” said Aldwin Mahusay, Assistant Director - HR Business Partner for VisMin, at Globe. “Whether it’s empowering youth or restoring our environment, we are committed to building a future where no one is left behind.”

Globe’s efforts in Western Mindanao exemplify how technology, partnerships, and purpose can come together to create lasting impact online and on-ground.

To learn more, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.