New Pet Care Brands Amico & Veravit Enter the Local Market, Name Maxene Magalona as Brand Ambassador

 

 Amico Innovations Inc. celebrated the growth of its pet care brands, Amico and Veravit, at the Amico & Veravit Pet Carenival, held on October 16, 2026, at Avire Tower in Quezon City. The event officially introduced actress and cat mom Maxene Magalona as the brands’ newest celebrity ambassador, bringing together influencers, business partners, media, and pets for interactive activities and educational discussions on responsible pet care. Through the event, the company highlighted its commitment to making science-backed, functional pet nutrition more accessible to Filipino households. With upcoming product innovations and expansion into major retailers such as Robinsons, Puregold and 7-Eleven, Amico Innovations Inc. aims to raise the standard of pet care in the Philippines.

Pet care is so much more than choosing a cute animal. It’s knowing how to look after them, knowing their limits, picking up after them, and feeding them right. Amico Innovations Inc. wants to add one more thing to the list: pet care is fun.

This is the thesis for their brand launch event, The Amico & Veravit Pet Carenival: Where Pet Care Takes Centerstage. Walking through the event alongside influencers, photographers, furry friends, and even people on stilts, reveals Amicotown and Veraville, named after the two brands under the Amico Innovations Inc. Pet Care umbrella: Amico and Veravit.

Following the successful launch of Veravit Savory Beef Dry Dog Food and Veravit Tuna Steak Cat Food in 2025, Amico Innovations Inc. has continued to expand its presence in the local pet care market with a growing portfolio of products for dogs and cats nationwide, as highlighted by the company’s CEO, Francis Simisim, in his welcoming remarks.

Veravit is built around science-backed nutrition formulated for all breeds and life stages with extensive benefits that support everyday health. Complementing this, Amico launched in April 2026 and offers more tailored nutrition developed around specific needs, including their Amico Dry Cat Food with Urinary Care, Amico Medium-Large Breed Adult Dog Food with Joint Support, Amico Wet Food with Blood Support, and other life-stage-specific dry food for Puppies, Small Breed Dogs, Kittens & Mother Cats. Together, the two brands provide Filipino fur parents with a broader range of accessible and purposeful pet care options.

At the Pet Carenival, their products are proudly on display, with attendees going from booth to booth, exploring the attractions that the brands have to offer.

At around 4pm, Kharl Yeung, COO of Amico Innovations Inc. and recognized this year as one of Forbes’ Asia 2026 30 Under 30, took the Carenival Grand Stage in front of the gathered crowd to discuss the journey of the company, and just how far they’ve come.

“Amico is built for our friends, our companions,” Yeung shared, explaining that Amico is an Italian word meaning “friend,” reflecting the brand’s commitment to caring for pets as cherished companions. He also highlighted the company’s partnership with Monde Nissin Corporation, stating, “Monde Nissin is the partner who believes in the vision that we have.” Yeung further shared how Monde Nissin’s Better Food Forward campaign aligns with Amico’s own vision of providing better, more purposeful nutrition. “What we’re putting out here is not just pet food, it’s functional pet food,” he emphasized, reinforcing the company’s commitment to raising the standard of pet care in the Philippines.

Following that, he welcomed onto the stage Amico & Veravit’s new celebrity brand ambassador: actress, yoga and meditation teacher, and proud cat mom Maxene Magalona.

Magalona shared how her two cats, Yoyo and Snow, unexpectedly came into her life. “These two cats, hindi ko sila hinanap. They were given to me, I believe, as gifts, as blessings.” She recalled how Yoyo originally belonged to her brother, Frank Magalona, and was only supposed to stay with her temporarily before she eventually adopted him as her own. “Yoyo came into my life during one of the hardest challenges in my life,” she revealed. “I’m 39 years old and I don’t have any children, kaya my cats, they really give me so much joy.” Snow, on the other hand, was a gift from the brother of her partner, Geoff Gonzalez, to Geoff's son, Liam.

Speaking about her decision to partner with Amico and Veravit, Magalona shared how deeply she connected with the brands’ vision of treating pets as family. “I’m a firm believer that what you give out to the universe, you get back in return. So I treat my pets as my family, and I know Veravit and Amico, that’s how they think of pets when they’re making the food. You make sure that you give them the best nutrition and everything that can help them become healthy and happy.”

When asked what better pet care means to her, Magalona concluded, “Better pet care means to be present with our pets, to connect with them, and not just to treat them like objects.” Her message echoed the heart of Amico and Veravit’s mission: to build a future where better pet care goes beyond nutrition and fosters deeper, more meaningful connections between pets and the people who love them.

However, that wasn’t all that they had in store for attendees. Their resident vets Doc Arah Virtucio and Doc Julia Capistrano were welcomed to centerstage to help demonstrate proper pet care to the attending furparents. They made clear that Amico’s goal is not simply to get attention: it is to bring informed pet care into the spotlight.

The event ended with happy guests holding their personalized tote bags full of Amico & Veravit goodies.

What’s next for Amico Innovations Inc.? Keep an eye out for more flavors of their pet treats and cat litter to round out the kind of care every furparent needs. The company is also set to expand its retail presence, with products soon to be available in more stores, including Robinsons, Puregold, 7-Eleven, and other retail partners, making quality pet care even more accessible to Filipino households. One thing is for certain: Amico Innovations Inc. will continue to build products around the evolving needs of Filipino pets and pet parents.

Amico & Veravit products are available online on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop and offline through key retail partners like Landers, Shopwise, South Supermarket, Ever, Heyday, Gaisano Malls, and pet specialty stores. Follow @lifewithamico and @veravitpets for any updates on their brand and product line-up.

The Future of HR Is Here: 4th HR e-Knowledge Summit 2026 Challenges Philippine Organizations to Lead the AI Revolution

The future of work is moving faster than traditional HR processes can keep up. As organizations face growing pressure to attract exceptional talent, retain high-performing employees, and improve operational efficiency, one question becomes increasingly important: Is your HR strategy ready for the AI era?

On October 23, 2026, HR Game Changers, powered by HR Calabarzon Group, Inc., will bring together HR professionals, business leaders, and people managers for the 4th HR e-Knowledge Summit 2026, a full-day learning experience designed to help organizations rethink how they attract, develop, engage, reward, and retain their people.

Taking place at the Garden Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-La Manila, Ortigas, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the summit will also offer an online participation option, making its insights accessible to professionals and organizations beyond Metro Manila.

Guided by its theme, “Lead with Clarity. Drive with Strategy. Empower Every Stage of the Employee Journey with AI,” the summit will explore how organizations can embrace emerging technologies while preserving the human judgment, leadership, and employee-centered values that effective HR demands.

The Cost of Standing Still: Why HR Must Evolve Now

For today's HR leaders, the challenge extends far beyond filling vacancies and processing employee records. Organizations increasingly expect HR to deliver measurable business value, anticipate workforce needs, strengthen employee experience, and help leaders make better decisions.

Yet repetitive administrative tasks, inefficient recruitment workflows, talent shortages, and employee retention challenges can prevent HR teams from focusing on the strategic work that matters most.

Artificial intelligence offers new possibilities—but meaningful transformation requires more than adopting another tool. It requires understanding where AI can make a difference, how to integrate it into existing processes, and how to ensure technology serves both business objectives and people.

The 4th HR e-Knowledge Summit 2026 is designed to help participants explore these questions through expert perspectives, practical discussions, and insights into the changing role of HR.

One Day. A Broader Perspective on the Entire Employee Journey.

Rather than treating AI as a standalone HR application, the summit examines opportunities across the employee lifecycle—from attracting candidates and onboarding new hires to developing talent, improving engagement, designing rewards, and retaining high performers.

Participants will explore strategies and emerging practices in:

AI and Human-Centric Transformation: Understanding how to integrate AI while keeping people at the center of organizational decisions.

Talent Acquisition and Talent Intelligence: Exploring smarter approaches to candidate sourcing, recruitment, onboarding, and future talent development.

Leadership, Engagement, and Employee Well-Being: Strengthening the people practices that support healthier, more productive workplaces.

Total Rewards and Employee Value Proposition: Rethinking how organizations attract, motivate, and retain talent.

Organizational Design, Culture, and the Future of Work: Preparing organizations to adapt to changing business demands and evolving workforce expectations.

HR as a Strategic Business Partner: Connecting people strategy with organizational performance, workforce transformation, and long-term business goals.

The program will feature industry voices including Francis Kong and other experienced HR and business leaders who will share perspectives on leadership, human-centric AI, talent management, and organizational transformation.

For attendees, the objective is clear: gain a broader understanding of the challenges shaping modern HR and identify ideas that can inform decisions back in their own workplaces.

Turn Learning Into a Competitive Advantage for Your Organization

Panelists From Left to Right: Vanessa  Michelle Cordero-Garcia, Pinky Diokno, Dr. Ronald Malicdem, Mikel Leroi Balansag

The summit is intended for professionals who want to strengthen their capabilities, challenge outdated practices, and prepare their organizations for the next phase of work.

Whether you lead an HR department, manage a growing business, oversee talent acquisition, or influence organizational strategy, the summit offers an opportunity to:

Identify HR processes that may benefit from AI-enabled solutions.

Explore ways to improve recruitment efficiency and talent decision-making.

Strengthen employee engagement and retention strategies.

Reduce repetitive administrative work and create more room for strategic initiatives.

Build a stronger understanding of the relationship between people, technology, leadership, and business performance.

Connect with fellow HR practitioners and business leaders facing similar workforce challenges.

AI is not a substitute for effective leadership. When implemented thoughtfully, however, it can help HR professionals make better use of their time, information, and capabilities.

That is the opportunity the summit seeks to bring into focus: not simply doing HR differently, but enabling HR to contribute more meaningfully to organizational success.

Bring Your Team. Multiply the Learning. Save on Registration.

Organizational transformation rarely happens through one person alone. Equipping HR colleagues, people managers, and business decision-makers with a shared understanding of emerging practices can help organizations move from individual learning to collective action.

To support team participation, the summit offers the following registration packages:

INDIVIDUAL PASS — ₱7,000

For HR professionals, practitioners, and business leaders investing in their professional development.

ONSITE TEAM PASS — ₱35,000 | 5 + 1 FREE

Bring six participants while paying for only five. Compared with six individual passes at ₱7,000 each, the package saves your organization ₱7,000.

ONLINE TEAM PASS — ₱20,000 | 5 + 1 FREE

Bring six participants online for ₱20,000, giving organizations a convenient option to learn together regardless of location.

Onsite participation will be subject to venue capacity. Organizations interested in face-to-face learning are encouraged to complete registration promptly and confirm availability.

The Countdown to a More Future-Ready HR Function Starts Now

With the summit taking place on Friday, October 23, the opportunity to bring together your HR team and explore the next generation of people strategy is approaching.

For HR professionals, the question is no longer simply whether the workplace will change. It is how effectively they can help their organizations navigate that change.

The 4th HR e-Knowledge Summit 2026 invites the Philippine HR community to move beyond reactive people management, embrace informed innovation, and strengthen the strategic role of HR in building future-ready organizations.

Lead with clarity. Drive with strategy. Empower every stage of the employee journey with AI.

Register now at https://hrcgihrgamechangers.com/

Choose your individual, onsite team, or online team package and secure your participation in the 4th HR e-Knowledge Summit 2026.

About HR Game Changers powered by HR Calabarzon Group, Inc.

HR Game Changers is an SEC-registered non-profit organization powered by HR Calabarzon Group, Inc. Founded on March 4, 2020, the organization is dedicated to uplifting the HR profession and transforming workplaces across the Philippines through education, professional development, partnerships, and community engagement. With a growing community of more than 18,000 HR professionals, HR Game Changers works to equip practitioners with the knowledge, leadership capabilities, and professional networks needed to champion people-first workplaces and drive positive change. Guided by its mission of growing people and hearts, one at a time, the organization continues to create learning opportunities that strengthen HR effectiveness, encourage collaboration, and advance the future of work. Learn more at https://hrcgihrgamechangers.com/

Skyro Partners with LenderLink to Strengthen Credit Assessment and Responsible Lending in the Philippines

 

 Skyro, an SEC-registered fintech platform in the Philippines, has joined LenderLink’s Credit Intelligence Network, gaining access to real-time credit insights from a growing network of financial institutions, while contributing its own consented borrower data to the network.

The partnership gives Skyro a broader view of borrowers' credit histories to support more accurate and comprehensive credit assessments.

The partnership comes as Skyro expands its role in Filipinos’ everyday financial lives. Following its recent brand refresh, Skyro is moving beyond financing individual purchases to providing financial solutions to everyday needs.

Since launching in the country in 2022, Skyro has issued more than three million loans, with products and services designed to support customers across more moments in their financial lives.

Access to more comprehensive and timely credit information can help lenders better understand borrowers' financial behavior, including those whose credit histories may not be fully reflected in traditional records.

Under LenderLink's consent-based model, borrower information is shared only with the requesting lender, and only when the borrower provides consent. This gives lenders additional context about how customers manage credit across different financial products, beyond what may be visible through their own records.

With access to a broader range of credit information, lenders can make better-informed assessments as customers use different financial products and services. For borrowers, this can mean their financial behavior is assessed using a more complete picture of their credit history.

“Skyro is evolving from a financing provider into a broader financial partner for its customers. That evolution makes access to timely, reliable credit intelligence even more important,” said Christo Georgiev, Co-Founder and CEO of LenderLink.

“We’re excited to have Skyro join the network and contribute to a stronger collective view of Filipino borrowers. By bringing together credit insights from participating institutions, we can help lenders to make better informed decisions and strengthen responsible lending across the industry.”

For Skyro, the partnership builds on its existing approach to technology-driven credit assessment. The company’s proprietary AI-driven credit decisioning model already combines traditional and alternative data with advanced analytics to support fast, carefully assessed credit decisions.

LenderLink's network provides another source of credit information that can complement Skyro's existing capabilities while its expanding product portfolio is designed to meet customers across more everyday financial needs.

“Responsible lending starts with understanding the customer,” said Nasim Aliev, Skyro Co-Founder and Co-CEO. “As Skyro grows into a broader financial partner, we want to keep improving how we understand credit behavior and serve customers responsibly. Through LenderLink, we can draw on more timely and comprehensive credit information to support better-informed lending decisions. At the same time, we're helping build a stronger credit information network that benefits the wider financial ecosystem.”

Today, the network connects 40+ contributing institutions and more than 45 million credit records, with over 1.5 million unique borrower records exchanged monthly. Through LenderLink’s secure, consent-driven infrastructure, participating institutions can access real-time credit data across multiple contributors through a single API.

As lending continues to move faster and customers increasingly use multiple financial products, the ability to see the bigger picture becomes increasingly important.

Skyro joining LenderLink is another step toward a credit ecosystem where better data is not held in silos, but becomes more useful when shared responsibly.

About LenderLink Inc
LenderLink is the Philippines' first real-time, consent-based credit data exchange, connecting a growing number of financial institutions across a shared pool of more than 45 million borrower records. LenderLink enables faster, fairer credit decisions by giving lenders secure, real-time visibility into borrower history, helping bring millions of underserved Filipinos into the formal financial system.

The platform is ISO 27001-certified, recognized by the Credit Information Corporation (CIC) as a Certified Technical Service Provider, and aligned with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Open Finance Framework (BSP Circular No. 1122). Backed by Kaya Founders, Manila Angel Investors Network (MAIN), and Iterative, LenderLink is building the infrastructure for faster, more informed and more collaborative credit decisions in the Philippines.

About Skyro
Skyro is a high-growth, digital-first fintech group delivering scalable, responsible financial access across high-potential emerging markets. Powered by proprietary data science, AI-driven credit decisioning, and alternative-data scoring, the company combines a mobile-native experience with modular fintech architecture to serve underserved client segments at scale.

As of 2026, Skyro has a registered user base of more than 7 million and a credit portfolio exceeding $200 million. The company's ambition is to become a leading full-spectrum financial services group across high-potential markets by combining capability proven at scale with a commitment to building each business around the needs of the market it serves.

CDC Explores Partnership with i4C.PH: Setting a New Standard for National Resilience in Clark, Pampanga

 

 Clark Development Corporation Joins i4C.PH 2026 National Resilience Summit as Resilience Partner. A summit on security, disaster resilience, and cybersecurity runs November 3 to 5 at SMX Convention Center Clark.

CLARK FREEPORT, PAMPANGA, September 28, 2026. The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has joined the i4C.PH 2026 Summit as a Resilience Partner. CDC will encourage businesses operating in the Clark Freeport Zone to send delegates to the summit, which runs November 3 to 5 at SMX Convention Center Clark.

Clark hosts the summit as a region with a documented recovery record. The area rebuilt after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo and the departure of US forces from Clark Air Base later that year. It has since withstood the 2019 Central Luzon earthquake and repeated typhoon flooding, including Typhoon Carina in 2024.

i4C.PH integrates physical security and safety, disaster risk and crisis management, and cybersecurity into one scenario-based program. Each day covers one discipline:

November 3: Physical security and safety

November 4: Disaster risk and crisis management, including a specialized activity with CDC

November 5: Cybersecurity

"Crises spread across departments. An earthquake can cut power, the outage can open a door for an attacker, and the attack can slow down the response. i4C.PH trains the people who handle each part of that chain to work together before it happens," said Augustus Caesar Esmeralda, Founding Chief Convenor of i4C.PH.

The program includes simulations, training sessions, and hands-on exercises. Participants contribute to the National Resilience Protocol, a shared framework developed during the summit. Organizations can register delegates for single days or the full program, with group packages available for teams of three to ten.

Click here to register for the event. The full program is available at https://i4c.ph/.

About i4C.PH i4C.PH is a national platform for integrated security, crisis resilience, and digital trust in the Philippines. It operates as an event, a platform, a movement, and a protocol, built on the view that today's risks are systemic, cumulative, and interconnected. Learn more at https://i4c.ph/.

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. The company describes itself as the only all-Filipino, independent security risk management and consulting firm that is globally certified in the Philippines. 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.

Korea and ASEAN Deepen Cultural Partnership as 2026 Innovative Culture Forum Comes to Manila

 

The 2026 ASEAN-Korea Innovative Culture Forum (PIC), organized by Korea's MCST, KOFICE, and the ASEAN Foundation, will be held on November 7, 2026, at the Ayala Museum in Makati City. Themed "On Human Creative Sovereignty," the forum gathers policymakers and creative leaders from Korea and all 11 ASEAN states to discuss generative AI, copyright, and cultural IP. MapleStory's Chang-seop Kim will deliver the keynote, followed by four sessions with over 20 experts.

2026 ASEAN-Korea Innovative Culture Forum to Convene at Ayala Museum on November 7, Championing the Future of Human Creative Sovereignty and Cultural IP
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea (MCST), together with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) and the ASEAN Foundation, has officially announced that the “2026 ASEAN-Korea Innovative Culture Forum (Partnership for Innovative Culture - PIC)” will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the prestigious Ayala Museum in Makati City.

Holding this year’s landmark forum in the Philippines carries exceptional diplomatic significance, as the nation assumes the 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship. Organized around the overarching theme, “On Human Creative Sovereignty: Shaping the Future of Imagination and Cultural IP,” the international conference aims to establish a high-level multilateral dialogue addressing the profound impact of generative artificial intelligence and digital transformation on creative industries, copyright protection, and cross-border intellectual property economies across Asia.

The forum is distinguished by an authoritative lineup of creative leaders and policymakers from Korea and all 11 ASEAN member states. Notably, Mr. Chang-seop Kim, General Director of NEXON’s iconic gaming franchise MapleStory, will deliver the forum’s Keynote Address. Reflecting on MapleStory’s unprecedented two-decade success across Southeast Asia via MapleStory SEA, Mr. Kim will share invaluable industry insights on expanding gaming worldviews into transmedia cultural intellectual properties (IP), sustained community building, and cross-sectoral brand collaborations.

Following the keynote, four comprehensive thematic sessions spanning Policy Governance, Industrial Expansion, ASEAN-Korea Multilateral Cooperation, and Youth Leadership will bring together over 20 prominent regional experts. Key discussions will explore how local cultural resources, indigenous heritage, and everyday creativity can be systematically transformed into legally protected, high-value cultural assets in alignment with the long-term strategic objectives of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

Alongside the academic and policy sessions, the forum is intrinsically linked with the contemporary art exhibition, “Gathering Point,” curated at the Ayala Museum from November 7 to November 13, 2026. The special seven-day showcase brings together visionary contemporary artists from six Asian nations, including the Philippines’ internationally acclaimed Mark Justiniani, Latthapon Korkiatarkul (Thailand), Kim Joon (Republic of Korea), Ari Bayuaji (Indonesia), Adam Phong (Malaysia), and Imhathai Suwatthanasilp (Thailand). Through diverse mediums ranging from kinetic optical installations to acoustic archival work, the exhibition demonstrates how physical materials, everyday memories, and collective traditions are reinterpreted through creative sovereignty.

The Organizing Committee has officially initiated an exclusive Application-Based Pre-Registration process for local arts and cultural administrators, museum and gallery curators, hotel art collection managers and senior hoteliers, creative tech startup founders, and aspiring youth leaders. Shortlisted delegates will receive full complimentary access to the forum proceedings, supported by a professional simultaneous interpretation system (Korean-English). Attendees will also be hosted to an authentic premium Korean culinary luncheon buffet and enjoy a complimentary instant photo booth experience designed to commemorate regional friendship.

Furthermore, delegates who actively participate throughout the entire day’s agenda (10:00 AM to 4:30 PM) will be automatically eligible for the Grand Finale Raffle Draw during the closing ceremony, featuring state-of-the-art Samsung smart devices (including Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Fit3), official BTS and SEVENTEEN collectors' albums, and luxury Sulwhasoo K-Beauty cosmetic gift sets.

Prospective delegates, cultural professionals, and academic researchers may submit their attendance credential applications through the official Google Forms registration portal. Due to museum gallery capacities and curated seat assignments, early registration is highly encouraged.

Registration Information

Prospective attendees, arts and culture professionals, museum and gallery curators, creative technologists, and academic researchers may submit their applications via the official registration portal:

Registration Link:
Google Forms: https://forms.gle/Q4fUW5TLBXbK8oWSA
Website: https://joinenjoy.com.ph/
(Due to limited gallery capacity and curated seating assignments, early registration is highly encouraged.)

About Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc.

Established in the Philippines in 2002, Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc. (IRC) is a premier MICE and destination management specialist with a proven track record in orchestrating high-level, bilateral governmental and corporate events adhering to rigorous state-level protocol standards. Notably, IRC spearheaded local operational management for the Korea-Philippines Business Forum, held on the occasion of the South Korean President’s state visit to the Philippines to commemorate the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations. IRC is a fully accredited travel agency licensed in the Philippines, South Korea, and Cuba, and is officially designated by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea to process Korean electronic visas (e-visas). Through its flagship platform, "Join Enjoy," IRC continues to lead bilateral cultural exchange, tourism, and business connectivity between the Philippines and South Korea.

 

ASEAN-Korea Manila Forum to Tackle AI, Creativity, Cultural IP

 As artificial intelligence and hyper-digitalization fundamentally reshape global creative business models, how can Asian creators scale and safeguard their original intellectual properties? The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea (MCST), the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), and the ASEAN Foundation will address this pivotal question at the “2026 ASEAN-Korea Innovative Culture Forum,” taking place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Ayala Museum, Makati City.Framed around the urgent agenda, “On Human Creative Sovereignty: Shaping the Future of Imagination and Cultural IP,” this premier business and creative dialogue serves as a bridge connecting South Korea’s globally established IP monetization infrastructure with Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding creative ecosystem. Taking center stage as the keynote speaker is Mr. Chang-seop Kim, General Director of NEXON’s MapleStory a pioneering Korean digital IP that has maintained peak commercial vitality and player engagement across Southeast Asia for over 20 years. Mr. Kim will dissect the strategic mechanics behind sustainable IP longevity, demonstrating how interactive gaming lore can seamlessly expand into global consumer brands, musical productions, immersive urban theme parks, and cross-platform merchandise. 

Designed to foster tangible cross-border enterprise, the forum features intensive sessions dedicated to creative IP licensing, digital copyright governance, startup scaling, and youth-led tech innovations. Senior cultural policymakers, IP attorneys, creative technopreneurs, digital agency heads, and startup incubators from Korea and ASEAN will evaluate actionable frameworks for establishing an equitable, open IP marketplace across the Asia-Pacific region.

Complementing the commercial discussions, the forum will officially inaugurate the contemporary art exhibition “Gathering Point” in the Ayala Museum Lobby, running from November 7 through November 13, 2026. Featuring groundbreaking installations by Mark Justiniani (Philippines), Kim Joon (Korea), Latthapon Korkiatarkul (Thailand), Ari Bayuaji (Indonesia), Adam Phong (Malaysia), and Imhathai Suwatthanasilp (Thailand), the week-long exhibition highlights the essential nexus between human artistic origin and industrial IP scaling.

Admission to this high-level forum is strictly by advance curated registration, catering to visual art professionals, museum curators, boutique hotel art managers, digital media creators, and tech innovators.

Accredited delegates will enjoy complimentary access to all keynote and panel sessions, comprehensive bilingual translation, an executive Korean luncheon buffet, and an interactive instant photo booth installation. To honor the commitment of delegates attending the full symposium from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, the organizers will stage a high-profile Grand Finale Raffle Draw during the concluding reception. Elite prizes include cutting-edge tech gear (Samsung Galaxy Buds 4, Galaxy Fit3, and JBL Bluetooth speakers), authentic K-pop memorabilia (official BTS and SEVENTEEN tour and vinyl albums), and premium K-Beauty collections.Registration is now accessible via the official online application form. Candidates are urged to register promptly to guarantee credentials.

Registration Information

Prospective attendees, arts and culture professionals, museum and gallery curators, creative technologists, and academic researchers may submit their applications via the official registration portal:

Registration Link:
Google Forms: https://forms.gle/Q4fUW5TLBXbK8oWSA
Website: https://joinenjoy.com.ph/
(Due to limited gallery capacity and curated seating assignments, early registration is highly encouraged.)

About Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc.

Established in the Philippines in 2002, Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc. (IRC) is a premier MICE and destination management specialist with a proven track record in orchestrating high-level, bilateral governmental and corporate events adhering to rigorous state-level protocol standards. Notably, IRC spearheaded local operational management for the Korea-Philippines Business Forum, held on the occasion of the South Korean President’s state visit to the Philippines to commemorate the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations. IRC is a fully accredited travel agency licensed in the Philippines, South Korea, and Cuba, and is officially designated by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea to process Korean electronic visas (e-visas). Through its flagship platform, "Join Enjoy," IRC continues to lead bilateral cultural exchange, tourism, and business connectivity between the Philippines and South Korea.

This Filipino Startup Helps Local Businesses Bring Customers Back

GoBalik is making digital customer loyalty more accessible to Filipino small businesses, driven by the belief that these tools should not be reserved for big brands.

For many small businesses, attracting a customer is only the beginning. Giving that customer a reason to return can be just as important. Yet while established brands can invest in sophisticated loyalty programs, smaller merchants often have to find practical ways to build lasting customer relationships with more limited resources.

GoBalik, a Filipino-built digital loyalty platform, was founded around a simple belief: local businesses should have access to digital tools that help them encourage repeat visits, regardless of their size or budget.

“Local and small businesses should have access to digital tools like these, not just big brands,” said Ariel Josh Cariño, founder of GoBalik. “We want to make it easier for local businesses to give their customers a reason to come back.”

The platform helps merchants introduce digital loyalty programs through digital stamp cards and points-based rewards. Customers can access their loyalty cards through a mobile browser, without needing to download a separate application.

Accessibility is also reflected in GoBalik's free Starter plan, which allows eligible businesses to begin using digital loyalty tools without a recurring subscription fee. Merchants can start with the features included in the plan and explore additional capabilities as their needs evolve.

Bringing Digital Loyalty Into Local Businesses

For smaller businesses, digital loyalty is not just about replacing paper stamp cards. It can also make rewards easier to manage and give customers a straightforward way to track their progress toward a reward.

Let's Bean Coffee, a family-owned coffee business serving students at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, is one example of a local merchant using GoBalik to support its customer loyalty efforts.

In a video testimonial, the merchant shared that GoBalik helps with customer retention, makes loyalty progress easier to track, and makes it easier for customers to return and claim their rewards.

The experience illustrates how digital loyalty tools can support the everyday relationship between a local business and its customers. Rather than requiring merchants to build their own loyalty systems, GoBalik provides a platform they can use to manage rewards and customer engagement.

Growing Across the Philippines

Since beginning its beta rollout in April 2026, GoBalik has been building a network of registered merchants in different locations across the Philippines.

As of October 16, 2026, the platform's internal dashboard recorded 354 registered merchants, 8,298 customers, and 21,856 visits. These figures provide a snapshot of the platform's reach and activity as it continues developing tools for local businesses.

For Cariño, the goal extends beyond digitizing stamp cards. It is about making customer loyalty technology a practical option for Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that want to build stronger relationships with their customers.

By offering a free entry point and a shared platform for managing rewards, GoBalik aims to give smaller businesses an opportunity to explore digital customer engagement without the cost and complexity of developing their own systems.

The company's guiding motto captures that mission: “We Bring Customers Back.”

About GoBalik

GoBalik is a Filipino-built digital loyalty platform designed to help businesses encourage repeat visits through digital stamp cards, points-based rewards, and merchant management tools. With a mission to make customer loyalty technology more accessible to Filipino MSMEs, GoBalik offers a free Starter plan alongside additional subscription options.

For more information, visit https://gobalik.com/.

About GoBalik Technologies OPC

GoBalik Technologies OPC is a Filipino technology company behind GoBalik, a digital loyalty platform that helps local businesses encourage repeat visits and build lasting customer relationships. Guided by the belief that digital business tools should be accessible to small businesses, GoBalik aims to make customer loyalty technology more accessible to Filipino MSMEs. Its motto is “We Bring Customers Back.”

Company website: https://gobalik.com/

Brand page: https://gobalik.com/brand