The collection drive, carried out across 21 barangays in Brooke’s Point and Narra, raised the program’s total nationwide bottle recovery to more than 240,000 bottles. Barangay Tubtub in Brooke’s Point posted the highest collection among participating communities, gathering 11,489 bottles.

Under the program, used bottles are turned over to GSMI and reintegrated into the company’s production system for reuse or recycling into new bottles. Residents and barangays are encouraged to retrieve empty bottles from homes, public spaces, and collection points to help reduce glass waste in landfills, waterways, and coastal areas.

GSMI said wider community participation remains crucial in ensuring that discarded bottles are properly recovered and recycled instead of ending up as waste.

The initiative forms part of the sustainability efforts of San Miguel Corporation and the San Miguel Foundation, which promote practical community-based programs focused on waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery.

BOTEful Philippines was first launched in Aparri in October 2017, where more than 6,000 bottles were collected. The initiative has since expanded to Batanes, Pangasinan, Negros Occidental, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, and Palawan.

The Palawan leg of the program, launched in September 2025, was implemented with the support of local government units, partner organizations, and participating barangays.

“The Palawan experience showed us how much more we can do when communities fully support the program,” said Ramon S. Ang, chairman and CEO of SMC, GSMI’s parent company.

“A bottle that is returned can still be reused or recycled. A bottle that is thrown away becomes waste. That is why we want to bring this initiative to more areas and encourage more people to take part,” he added.

Participating barangays and residents received incentives for the bottles they collected, including redeemable points for selected San Miguel Food and Beverage products.

GSMI said the BOTEful Philippines program also supports government solid waste management initiatives by encouraging recycling and greater community participation in waste reduction efforts.

The meeting, held last April 29, 2026, focused on expanding the Australia Subclass 407 Training Visa and the Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLead) Program, key initiatives designed to strengthen the professional and cultural ties of Filipinos living in Australia.

The discussions underscored the importance of proactive diaspora management in a host country with a rapidly growing Filipino population.

Recent data indicates that the number of Filipino migrants in Australia has reached approximately 412,530 as of 2025, a figure that has nearly doubled over the past decade. With the Philippines consistently ranking among the top five countries of birth for overseas-born residents in Australia, the CFO aims to leverage this demographic to foster bilateral development.

“Our goal is to position Melbourne as a ‘laboratory’ for diaspora engagement,” CFO chairperson Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II noted, citing the city’s robust network of Filipino organizations.

The CFO intends to align its existing platforms, such as BaLinkBayan, with local initiatives, including potential collaborations in engineering and the proposed “BuildWatch” monitoring initiative.

Central to the meeting was the Subclass 407 Training Visa, which serves as a vital platform for skills development and professional exposure.

Both parties acknowledged a previous incident involving a Filipino trainee but highlighted that monitoring mechanisms and safeguards have been significantly strengthened, bolstered by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of South Australia and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

For the YouLead Program, which provides leadership training for young Filipino-Australians, the Consulate reported positive engagement from participants and expressed interest in integrating specific program modules locally. The CFO presented plans to enhance the initiative through expanded age eligibility, hybrid delivery formats, and content tailored to young professionals.

Established under Batas Pambansa 79, the CFO is mandated to promote the welfare of Non-Resident Filipinos, serve as a forum for preserving cultural and economic ties with the Philippines, and provide advice to the President and Congress on migration policy.

As a premier government institution, the CFO works to optimize the benefits of migration by transforming non-resident Filipinos into active development partners, while simultaneously addressing the social costs of labor migration.

Food has never been solely about what is on the plate.

Those of us who have spent decades navigating the narrow alleys of regional markets and the technical alchemy of traditional kitchens understand that each grain of heirloom Adlai and drop of patis is a vessel of sovereignty.

These ingredients preserve our communities’ memories and identities.

Today, post-Filipino Food Month 2026, the conversation has shifted from simply celebrating flavor to institutionalizing memory.

The founding of a movement

Twelve years ago, in 2014, the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) began as a quiet but urgent conversation among chefs, food writers, historians, and farmers.

Registered as Kilusan ng Katutubong Kulinarya ng Pilipinas in the Securities Exchange Commission, we were united by a singular realization: our culinary heritage was being erased by the homogenization of the global palate.

Led by founder Chef Jam Melchor, we envisioned an organization that would mobilize not just kitchens, but also policymakers and rural producers.

I was then the editor-in-chief of Rustan’s Sans Rival and the vice president of the Culinary Historians of the Philippines when I was invited to the preliminary meeting at the Milky Way restaurant along Pasay Road and met fellow editors Marilen Fontanilla of F&B World; Nana Ozaeta of Food Magazine; Nina Daza-Puyal of Appetite Magazine; Chit Juan of Slow Food Philippines; Alu and Adolf Aran of Dine Philippines; Anton Diaz; RJ Ledesma; Gino Jose; and Jack Flaminiano.

This was the core group of PCHM, and we were still buzzing from Anthony Bourdain’s second visit.

We were all bright-eyed and optimistic. We all volunteered our time, talent, personal funds, and social capital so we could create something that is tangible so that the government can see us.

We launched festivals like Ang Sarap! at Mercato Centrale to disrupt the notion of “local” and began the arduous process of petitioning the government.

We argued that if the state can protect a historical building, it must also protect the knowledge of how a community ferments its fish or sours its broth.

We gathered at the National Museum in 2015 to declare gastronomy a national treasure. We wrote to the director general of the National Museum of the Philippines to see if we could hold the PCHM launch there; fortunately, they agreed.

The core group decided to honor the food advocates who came before us, such as Maria Y. Orosa, a food technologist and war hero; Engracia “Asiang” Cruz-Reyes and Teresita Reyes, the founders of Aristocrat and Mama Sita, respectively; literary giants and food writers Gilda Cordero Fernando and Doreen G. Fernandez; and Nora V. Daza, the first television food personality.

We also honored living cultural treasures, food historians, and food advocates for their contributions to the promotion of Filipino food and cuisine, including Felice Prudente-Sta. Maria, Micky Fenix, Dr. Fernando N. Zialcita, Nancy Reyes-Lumen, and Beth Romualdez, among others. I explained to the group how important this was. We stand on the shoulders of giants. They helped us see the horizon and future of Filipino cuisine.

From proclamation to practice

The turning point came in 2018 with Presidential Proclamation No. 469. By declaring April as Filipino Food Month, we moved culinary heritage from the fringes of “lifestyle” into the heart of national cultural policy. Today, every Local Government Unit (LGU) and school is mandated to celebrate and protect local food traditions.

In 2019, we held the inaugural Filipino Food Month at the Manila Hotel, with an unprecedented number of participants and purveyors.

Throughout the pandemic, we maintained the program with a variety of online educational seminars. We connected farmers, food activists, and community pantries via our networks and the networks of our friends. We worked together and shared information regardless of political affiliation, and the most important thing is that no one was left behind.

Since then, PCHM has hosted KAINCON at various universities and colleges across the country. The primary goal of KAINKON is to encourage graduate and undergraduate students to submit academic papers and research on Filipino gastronomy, ranging from studies on street food to complex rice rituals.

Dr. Harold Bernardo Bueno, dean of the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management at Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila; Leo Vergara of Le Cordon Bleu Ateneo de Manila University; and Dr. Kathleen G. Apilado, dean of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Jose Rizal University, actively participate in this event and took over the organization’s leadership.

For more than a decade of hard work demonstrated by the volunteers of PCHM, Filipino Food Month is no longer a symbolic gesture; it is now a national celebration. Any government institution and private sector can create their own Filipino Food Month celebration according to what their community needs.

In 2026, under the theme “Connected by Taste: Filipino Food in the Flavors of ASEAN,” we are witnessing a maturing of our culinary diplomacy. From the national launch in Iloilo City — our UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy — to the diplomatic tables of Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur, we are positioning the Filipino table as a site of soft power.

Our cuisine is now recognized as a vital node in Southeast Asian culture, highlighting shared traditions like Satti and Indonesian Sate and our common use of fermented pastes and coconut milk.

The 2026 agenda: Mapping and mandates

What does the PCHM look like now? KAINCON (Kain Conference) was held at the Bataan Peninsula State University last April 23, where students gathered to map out the future of food with mentors Ruston Banal, Chit Juan, Dr. Lailie Uy-Sicdawag, and Tracey Santiago.

The current agenda is twofold. The first is culinary mapping: systematically documenting “endangered” regional recipes, ranging from complex Moro traditions in Marawi to Balikutsa in Ilocos Sur.

And secondly, the Philippine Culinary Heritage Act: Senator Loren Legarda is championing Senate Bill No. 822, which we hope will be passed. This law seeks to establish a permanent committee on Philippine gastronomy within the NCCA. It would require all local governments to protect their local foodways, making funding a matter of law rather than luck.

The honest table

I have always argued that “everything you think you know about Filipino food is wrong.” We are not “exotic,” and our food isn’t just about history — it’s about the lived, breathing present. We don’t need “fusion” to earn a place on the world stage. As the 2026 Michelin Guide for Manila and Cebu has shown, the world is finally developing a palate for our authenticity.

However, our true legacy isn’t in stars or accolades. It is found in the resilience of the farmer in Sultan Kudarat and the fisherfolk in Pangasinan. It is in the advocacy for heirloom ingredients like Kalinga rice and local cacao from Bago, Negros Occidental, which supports rural livelihoods and preserves biodiversity.

Through the PCHM, we have inspired open minds and bridged the gap between rural producers and urban consumers.

Through global recognition, such as the UNESCO inscription of Bohol’s Asin Tibuok salt, we have proven that traditional methods can thrive in a modern context.

We are ensuring that when we sit down at the table, we aren’t just consuming calories. We are consuming our identity, protected by policy and seasoned by time.

The initiative consolidates a range of support measures designed to sustain partner livelihoods, including expanded incentives, spot bonuses, and commission rebates — a core feature of the program.

A key component is the rollout of rebates through Grab Turbo, a newly introduced driving mode that enables driver-partners to optimize earnings through a more responsive incentive structure. Collectively, these measures have helped bring Grab’s effective commission rate for four-wheel mobility services down to 15%.

To strengthen transparency, Grab has also launched the Digital Earnings Tracker, a portal that allows GrabCar driver-partners to view detailed earnings breakdowns, including total fare, incentives, gross and net income, and effective commission rates.

Beyond mobility, Grab has expanded support for delivery partners through spot bonuses for completed delivery trips. As of mid-April, total delivery rider bonuses have surpassed ₱50 million. The company has also introduced bicycle subsidies for riders transitioning to bike-based delivery, along with performance-based rewards such as grocery credits, fuel subsidies, and medical vouchers.

Grab said the Bayanihan Fuel Crisis Support Program will remain in place as it continues to monitor fuel price movements and adjust support measures based on evolving partner needs, with the aim of safeguarding livelihoods across its platform ecosystem.

“When fuel prices rise, livelihoods are the first to feel it, and platforms like ours carry a responsibility to respond with the scale and speed that the moment requires,” said Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda. “The ₱350 million we have mobilized is designed to keep our driver- and delivery-partners on the road and their families steady through the crisis. This is what a platform is for, and it is the role Grab intends to keep playing.”

Grab also highlighted private-sector partnerships that have expanded fuel relief access for partners. Through tie-ups with fuel companies, discounted fuel programs have been made available to both four-wheel and two-wheel partners, including MOVE IT riders. Under its partnership with Seaoil alone, partners have generated over ₱2 million in fuel savings. Additional support through Shell Fleet Cards via Grab Financial Group delivered approximately ₱1 million in rebates in March alone.

Looking ahead, Grab underscored its long-term push toward sustainable mobility through its newly launched Eco-Drive Initiative, described as Southeast Asia’s largest EV financing coalition for ride-hailing. Launched in April 2026, the program brings together BDO and BPI; global automakers such as Toyota, BYD, and GAC; and distributors including Autohub Group and QSJ Motors Phil.

The initiative aims to accelerate EV and hybrid adoption among TNVS drivers through preferential green auto loans, flexible daily repayments via the Grab Driver Wallet, and exclusive vehicle discounts.

Since its first launch in 2000, the ASP Angels Walk for Autism, a long-running initiative of ASP, has grown into a collective call to action, bringing together communities nationwide across Metro Manila, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Lipa, Lucena, Olongapo, Tuguegarao, and Virac. 

“This year’s walk is about moving beyond awareness,” said ASP Chair Emerita Dang Koe. “We are spotlighting talents on the spectrum who are reaching for the stars with ambition and purpose while pushing for an Autism-OK Philippines where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.”

At the walk’s Metro Manila leg at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte was conferred with the Hans T. Sy Leadership Award for Autism Inclusion and Welfare. Book Nook was awarded the ASP Autism Works Employer of the Year. The ASP Autism Angel Achievement Awards, nicknamed A5, were also awarded to Cid Tampo, Rhav Lomboy, and Peggy Geiser, who garnered medals at the ASEAN Autism Games.

“We reflect on years of walking side by side in keeping with the theme ‘Aumbitious. Aarangkada. Aangat.’ towards a shared goal: impactful inclusivity. This journey calls us to evolve—turning aspirations into meaningful, transformative action,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

Across the country, advocates renewed calls for the passage of the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Bill, which seeks to institutionalize access to services, strengthen coordinated support systems, and ensure lifelong inclusion. The proposed measure aims to address persistent gaps in education, healthcare, employment, and community support.

According to WHO data, some 1 in 100 are on the autism spectrum. Current legislation seeks to institutionalize access to services, strengthen support systems, and ensure lifelong inclusion for Filipinos on the autism spectrum to address gaps in education, healthcare, and employment. At least 26 counterpart measures to the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Act remain pending in the House of Representatives’ Committee on Health as of this writing. 

At a recent forum hosted by Manila Electric Company (Meralco), two Filipina trailblazers took center stage, not just for what they have achieved, but for how they continue to inspire others to rise.

The event, aptly titled “Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women Breaking Barriers,” was less about accolades and more about journeys: real, often difficult paths shaped by persistence, purpose, and the refusal to be boxed in by expectations.

Among those who shared their stories was Olympic boxing legend Nesthy Petecio, whose rise to global recognition began with a deeply personal challenge at home. She recalled how her father once discouraged her from stepping into the ring, believing boxing was “a man’s sport.” But Petecio chose a different narrative; one defined by grit and belief.

Her journey is not just about medals, but about breaking a mindset. In every punch thrown and every victory earned, she has carved space for women in arenas once closed to them.

In a different field but with the same sense of purpose, Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Mandy Romero spoke of leadership shaped by empathy. Her work with marginalized girls and youth continues to influence how she approaches governance, ensuring that those often unheard are brought into the conversation.

For Romero, leadership is not about position, but about service. It is about lifting others, especially those at the margins, and making sure progress is shared.

The forum also underscored how institutions can play a role in nurturing this kind of empowerment.

Meralco Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond Ravelo highlighted the company’s commitment through its diversity and inclusion initiative: “Through #Mbrace, we are wholeheartedly committed to building a workplace where diversity is celebrated and inclusion is lived every day.”

“At its core, #Mbrace is about our people — not simply all of us, but each of us. It is about ensuring that every employee, regardless of gender, background, or role, is seen, heard, respected, and valued,” Ravelo said.

Guided by Meralco Chief Audit Executive Melanie Oteyza, the conversation felt less like a formal panel and more like a shared space of reflection.

Another executive, Chief Information Security Officer Marilene Tayag, echoed a simple but powerful idea: that progress happens faster when women lift each other up.

Held as part of Women’s Month and Meralco’s 123rd Foundation Week, the forum was a celebration and a reminder: that empowerment is not a single moment or milestone; it is a continuous act of courage, lived daily in choices big and small.

And sometimes, it begins with a single decision: to step forward, even when the world says step back.

In partnership with Meralco, OMF replaced old, leaning private utility poles inside the compound with new and more stable installations to ensure the safety of staff and children under its care.

The turnover of the newly installed poles was led by Manila City officials, including Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, together with OMF President Jeffrey Tarayao and employee volunteers from the España, Malate Business Centers, and the Manila Sector.

Billed as Southeast Asia’s largest EV financing coalition for ride-hailing, the program addresses two key pressures on drivers: rising fuel costs and the need to replace aging vehicles.

Through partnerships with BDO and BPI, drivers gain access to preferential “green” auto loans, simplified applications, and flexible repayment options. Automotive partners—including Toyota, BYD, GAC, Dongfeng, and others—are offering exclusive discounts on EV and hybrid models.

Eco-Drive also introduces a data-driven approach to financing, allowing banks to consider driver earnings, tenure, and ratings—helping bridge long-standing credit access gaps in the gig economy.

To better match driver cash flow, Grab enables daily loan repayments via the Grab Driver Wallet, offering an alternative to traditional monthly amortization.

By integrating financing, vehicle access, and repayment into one platform, Eco-Drive creates a scalable pathway for fleet electrification in the Philippines.

Advocacy

Eco-Drive Aligns Private Sector with PH EV Push Under EVIDA

Eco-Drive supports the Philippines’ transport electrification goals under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), advancing efforts to reduce fuel dependence and transport emissions.

By targeting TNVS drivers, the initiative taps a high-impact segment for EV adoption while increasing public exposure to electric mobility through everyday rides.

The coalition model—linking financing, vehicle supply, and platform data—addresses key adoption barriers and enables scale. Its use of alternative data for credit assessment also expands financial inclusion for drivers traditionally underserved by banks.

Grab said it will continue working with agencies such as the LTFRB, DOTr, and DOE to align the program with national transport modernization efforts.

This is where mindfulness comes in as a quiet, deliberate way of moving through uncertain times.

Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) is leaning into this shift, embracing what it calls “mindful hospitality,” an approach that goes beyond comfort and convenience to focus on purpose, intention, and care.

At its core, the idea is simple: Every action, no matter how small, matters.

For MHR, mindfulness is not confined to a single program. It flows through every part of the guest experience — from streamlined service operations and thoughtfully designed menus, to intentional communication and responsible investments.

Even behind the scenes, teams are encouraged to make decisions guided by awareness and care.

“Mindful travel is a cause Megaworld Hotels & Resorts wants to rally for in the industry. It is not a campaign; we want to start a movement whereby everyone is conscious of what we do when we travel,” Cleofe Albiso, Managing Director of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, said.

It’s a philosophy that feels especially relevant today, when so much feels beyond control. Mindfulness, in this sense, offers something grounding: the ability to focus on what can still be shaped — our choices, our habits, our impact.

“Mindful travel can be as simple as reusing your linens and towels during your stay or turning off the lights and aircon when you step out the room knowing that these small yet deliberate actions can make a huge difference,” she said.

These small choices, repeated over time, become a form of quiet resistance against waste and excess. They also offer travelers a sense of participation, of being part of something larger than themselves.

The idea extends beyond the room. Guests are encouraged to bring reusable bottles, opt for plant-based meals, and support local communities. These are not grand gestures, but they carry weight precisely because they are doable.

Recently, this mindset took center stage at the MeGreen Mindful Travel Forum, where over 200 leaders from MHR’s properties gathered to align on a shared vision. The message was clear: Meaningful change does not always come from sweeping actions, but from consistent, intentional ones.

That philosophy resonates deeply in today’s climate. As headlines grow heavier and uncertainties linger, there is a quiet power in choosing to act with purpose — even in the smallest ways.

The forum’s keynote speaker, Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, known for pioneering Earth Hour in the Philippines, reinforced this urgency, reminding participants that mindfulness must translate into real environmental responsibility.

In practice, this has led to initiatives such as energy-efficient food preparation, sustainability-driven room packages, and partnerships with communities — from the Ati Komunidad in Boracay to coral reef restoration efforts in Cebu.

Through its “Mindful Stays” offering, guests are invited to rest while also contributing to these initiatives. A portion of each booking supports programs focused on heritage preservation, education, environmental protection, and sustainable livelihoods.

It is, in many ways, a redefinition of travel — not as consumption, but as connection.

And perhaps that is what mindfulness ultimately offers in uncertain times: not an escape from reality, but a way of engaging with it more consciously.

The collaboration forms part of Maya’s flagship sustainability initiative on women’s financing, aligned with its broader push to improve financial health among underserved sectors.

Under the partnership, Maya will expand access to digital financial services—including payments, savings, and credit—while SPARK! Philippines will provide training, mentorship, advocacy, and community-based support. The initiative recognizes that enabling women-led businesses to thrive requires more than access to capital alone.

“This is a segment that is heavily driving economic activity but still remains underserved,” said Toff Rada, Head of Corporate Affairs at Maya. “Our focus is to support women-led micro businesses in ways that reflect how they actually operate—through tools that help them manage, grow, and sustain their income over time.”

For its part, Maica Teves, Executive Director of SPARK! Philippines, emphasized the importance of holistic support. “Women micro-entrepreneurs are already driving economic activity in their communities, but many still face barriers beyond access to financing. By working with Maya, we aim to bring training, mentorship, and community-based support closer to them.”

Women play a vital role in the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, with studies showing that more than half of small businesses in the Philippines are owned or led by women. MSMEs account for 99.5% of all registered businesses, employ around 63% of the workforce, and contribute roughly 40% of the country’s economic output, based on data from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Despite their significant contribution, women-led enterprises remain underserved. A 2023 study by the Asian Development Bank found that only about 28% of women-led MSMEs adopt digital financial services, compared to 44% of male-led businesses—highlighting persistent gaps in access to tools that support growth and financial resilience.

Maya’s own ecosystem underscores the opportunity to close these gaps. More than 90% of its nationwide Maya Centers are operated by women, many of whom run sari-sari stores and other neighborhood enterprises.

Through the Maya Business app, MSMEs can accept digital payments, manage transactions, and access financial services in a single platform—streamlining operations and improving cash flow. Eligible businesses may also tap short-term credit through Maya Advance to support working capital needs such as inventory restocking and daily expenses.

The partnership reflects Maya’s broader approach to financial inclusion—expanding access to financial tools while ensuring these are used effectively to help women entrepreneurs grow sustainable businesses and build more resilient livelihoods.