Islands Souvenirs unveiled its newest flagship store at SM City Cebu today, reinforcing its growth strategy with the goal of reaching 20 locations next year. Known for redefining the pasalubong experience through personalized, culturally rooted merchandise, the brand continues to lead the way in destination retail innovation.

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

At the heart of the launch was Andrea Aldeguer, Chief Brand Officer, who led the ceremonial ribbon cutting alongside mall executives, key partners, and company stakeholders.

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

In her keynote message, Aldeguer emphasized the brand’s commitment to expanding thoughtfully and meaningfully—bringing regional identity and feel-good retail to the forefront of every store.

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

“This opening is not just about growth—it’s about deepening our connection with travelers and communities by making culture wearable, personal, and proudly local,” Aldeguer shared.

The new store’s design reflects this ethos, with an experiential layout that highlights Islands Souvenirs’ My Islands personalization corner and its iconic “I ♥️ Collection”—a beloved staple that lets customers wear their love for Cebu. From name-stamped prints to custom patches and statement tees, shoppers can create souvenirs that tell their own story.

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

This also marks the third location of the My Islands personalization concept, following its debut at Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Ayala Center Cebu.

As part of its broader vision, Islands Souvenirs is also working to secure larger retail spaces to support the expansion of new Islands Souvenirs concepts, designed to offer even more immersive and category-diverse experiences. Beyond apparel and merchandise, the brand is set to reimagine the pasalubong food category, with a new line of snack and delicacy items slated to roll out soon—bringing modern design, packaging, and gifting appeal to traditional favorites.

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

Festivities during the opening included community interactions, vibrant displays, and complimentary fruit-flavored ice cream, creating a lively and welcoming environment that embodies the brand’s upbeat energy.

Islands Souvenirs My Islands Personalization Concept Store at SM City Cebu

With strong brand equity, scalable store formats, and deep cultural resonance, Islands Souvenirs is on track to expand its presence across top tourist and commercial locations nationwide. The SM City Cebu branch is now officially open to the public—with many more destinations on the horizon.

Five flagship brands from food and beverage firm Universal Robina Corp. (URC) have landed in an exclusive list of products consistently chosen by millions of Filipino households. 

Great Taste, C2, Piattos, Nissin and Payless were all among the most chosen FMCG brands in the Philippines according to the 2025 Brand Footprint Report of global consulting firm Worldpanel by Numerator. 

URC Brands: Great Taste, C2, Piattos, Nissin and Payless

“The results of this study show that our brands continue to earn the trust and loyalty of Filipino consumers,” said URC Chief Marketing Officer Karen Ong. “We’re proud that our products remain staples in homes across the country,” she added. 

The Brand Footprint report is Worldpanel’s annual ranking of the most chosen FMCG brands worldwide. It uses a metric called “consumer reach points” (CRP) to measure a brand’s strength based on how many shoppers are buying the brand and how often. It essentially shows which brands are winning at the point of purchase. 

One CRP represents a single instance of a shopper choosing a brand – integrating data on population, penetration and frequency – to provide a holistic view of brand performance. 

“With more time spent out and about and an easing of inflation, Filipinos shop more often. This means more opportunities for each brand to be bought.” said Marie-Anne Lezoraine, Managing Director for Worldpanel by Numerator in the Philippines

Coffee brand Great Taste was in the top 10 most chosen FMCG brands in the Philippines, with 367 million CRP. It was also the fourth most chosen brand in the beverage sector. 

Ready-to-drink green tea beverage C2 also landed in the beverage sector list with 33 million CRP. 

Potato snack Piattos outpaced its rivals in the food sector, holding steady at seventh in the rankings, with 180 million CRP. 

Noodle brands Nissin, with 101 million CRP, and Payless, at 73 million CRP, likewise landed in the most chosen brands list for food sector. 

Worldpanel said an economic rebound in 2024 had led to a 6 per cent jump in consumer spending on FMCG brands. 

“Brands that remained visible and accessible during this recovery period saw stronger gains in consumer engagement,” said Karen Ong. “URC’s portfolio clearly benefited from that momentum.”

URC produces iconic brands such as Great Taste, C2 Cool & Clean, Piattos, Maxx candy and Cream-O cookies, which have been part of Filipinos’ lives for decades. One of the country’s largest food and beverage manufacturers, URC also has significant, and growing, presence in ASEAN. Its leading regional brands include Lexus, Tivoli and Fun-O.

Championing strength, safety, and smarter choices in every Filipino home

Uratex Monoblock, the trusted Filipino plastic furniture brand, returns stronger than ever this year with a bold new chapter of its “Bawal ang Marupok” campaign. Expanding beyond chairs, this year’s movement casts a wider spotlight on furniture that stands the test of time—championing resilience, safety, and the importance of making wiser decisions in everyday life.

The “Free Taste” video highlights everyday temptations and positions Uratex Monoblock as the smart and reliable choice. Link of

Kicking off the campaign is the witty and relatable video “Free Taste,” which tackles one of the most universally Filipino experiences—giving in to temptation. The ad follows a father and son inside a grocery store, where they come across stalls offering free taste samples. As they try one sample after another, they both give in to temptation and eventually buy the products they didn’t plan on purchasing. It’s a humorous and all-too-familiar scenario that ends with the now-iconic reminder: #BawalAngMarupok—a gentle nudge to be wise, practical, and intentional with our everyday choices.

The “Free Taste” video highlights everyday temptations and positions Uratex Monoblock as the smart and reliable choice.

The “Bawal ang Marupok” Standard: Smart, Strong, and Stylish

With over 30 years of experience in Filipino homes, Uratex Monoblock continues to set the gold standard for quality—this time ushering in a new generation of innovation and strength. The brand proudly stands as the first local manufacturer of blow-mold products for chairs and tables, marking a significant milestone in the Philippine furniture industry.

Uratex Monoblock also remains the only local plastic furniture line to receive the Level 5 certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)—the highest plastic furniture standard in the country—and is certified by both the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS). Each product is stress-tested to withstand up to 200 kilograms, ensuring long-lasting strength and safety.

This year, Uratex Monoblock introduces a new generation of products that reflect the brand’s evolution into more versatile, space-smart, and lifestyle-ready furniture:

The Mary Loveseat, a comfortable two-seater that brings lasting support to living rooms, patios, or shared corners at home.

The William Folding Table, designed for portability without compromising stability—perfect for home offices, events, and everyday dining.

“#BawalAngMarupok goes beyond physical durability—it’s a way of thinking. We want to encourage Filipinos to choose strong, reliable options in all aspects of life, especially when it comes to their home furniture,” said Mr. Dindo Medina, Business Unit Director of Uratex Monoblock. “Whether it’s a chair, a table, or an entire furniture set, strength and safety should never be compromised.”

“Free Taste” is the first of several new video releases in this year’s “Bawal ang Marupok” series, each reflecting a common “marupok” moment in a lighthearted and culturally resonant way. The campaign takes everyday scenarios—like impulse buying—and uses them to underscore the importance of strength in character, decision-making, and the products we choose to bring into our homes.

Catch the “Free Taste” video now on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. For more information on Uratex and its products, visit https://uratex.com.ph/collections/monoblocs.

About Uratex Monoblock 

Uratex Monoblock is a leading and proud Filipino brand and a trusted name when it comes to high-quality, durable, and reliable plastic furniture. Since 1993, it has been a top choice, offering an extensive range of chairs, tables, and storage solutions that meet the demands of Filipino families, businesses, and organizations. 

Committed to safety and strength, Uratex Monoblock products are manufactured following world-class standards and technology tested for safety, durability, and load-bearing capacity. Uratex Monoblock is also the only local plastic furniture manufacturer in the country that has the Level 5 certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and also certification from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS). 

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), a leader in digital financial innovation, has partnered with McDonald’s Philippines to introduce a unique in-store campaign that integrates mobile payments and customer rewards. Through this collaboration of two of the country’s most trusted brands, customers can access exclusive offers on the McDonald’s App, redeemable only when they pay using the BPI app.

In photo (L-R): Maria Cristina “Ginbee” Go, BPI Head of Consumer Banking, and Margot Torres, McDonald’s Philippines Managing Director

To mark the launch of this strategic partnership, BPI app users who pay via QR at any McDonald’s branch can enjoy a free upgrade to Medium Fries and Medium Coke McFloat when they order a Small Double Cheeseburger Meal or a Small 1-pc Chicken McDo Meal.

"At BPI, we continue to innovate to make daily life easier and better for our customers,” said Maria Cristina “Ginbee” Go, BPI Head of Consumer Banking. “This partnership with McDonald’s reflects our commitment to giving Filipinos more convenience and value with every payment. It’s all about enabling people to Do More and Be More with technology that works seamlessly in real life.”

“We’re excited for what’s ahead,” added Go. “So, to all BPI and McDo fans watch out for upcoming offers under this partnership.  We’ll be delivering more surprises that make everyday spending more rewarding.”

The BPI app’s Pay via QR feature is the most convenient way for BPI customers to go cashless. They simply scan a merchant’s official QR Ph code with their BPI app, select the BPI deposit account they want to pay from, and approve with Mobile Key. There is no need to cash-in to other e-wallet apps.

How-to-Redeem - BPI

How to Get the Exclusive McDo Deal

For McDonald’s, this partnership reinforces their commitment to creating meaningful and innovative experiences that go beyond the counter.

The free upsize promo is just the beginning. New BPI-exclusive deals will roll out every month on the McDonald’s App, making it even more exciting to use both the BPI app and the McDo App together.

 By integrating banking and retail apps in a seamless user journey, BPI and McDonald’s are setting a new standard for digital partnerships in the Philippines. This initiative is not just about tech—it’s about putting value, ease, and empowerment in the hands of every Filipino. Check out more details about the exclusive BPI deals on the McDonald’s App here.

PH’s largest hotel developer and operator is boosting its hospitality portfolio with the addition of more international-branded hotels in the next five years

Property giant Megaworld, through its hospitality arm Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, is increasing its hotel room key count in the next five years, targeting 9,000 hotel room keys as it expands its hotel properties across its various townships all over the Philippines.

The 326-room Courtyard by Marriott in Iloilo will be consolidated under Megaworld Hotels & Resorts portfolio this year.

To reach 9,000 room keys, Megaworld is set to open seven (7) new hotel properties across the country by 2030. These include the 554-room Chancellor Hotel in Boracay Newcoast; the 404-room Belmont Hotel Iloilo in Iloilo Business Park; the 300-room The Kingsford in The Upper East Bacolod; the 304-room Savoy Hotel Palawan and the 313-room Paragua Sands in Paragua Coastown, San Vicente, Palawan; the 373-room Savoy Capital Town in Capital Town, San Fernando, Pampanga; and the 339-room ArcoVia Hotel in ArcoVia City, Pasig City. 

Currently, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts has 13 operational hotel properties with around 6,000 hotel rooms in some of the country’s key tourism destinations in Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Cebu, and Boracay. These include properties under the Richmond Hotel brand (Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo), Belmont Hotel brand (Belmont Manila, Belmont Boracay, Belmont Mactan), Savoy Hotel brand (Savoy Manila, Savoy Mactan, Savoy Boracay), Hotel Lucky Chinatown, Twin Lakes Hotel, Kingsford Hotel Manila, and Grand Westside Hotel.

This year, the company is also consolidating the 15-story Courtyard by Marriott in Iloilo Business Park, an international hotel brand, under its hotel portfolio, increasing the current room keys by 326.

Within the year, Belmont Hotel Mactan inside the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown in Cebu will also transition into an Accor-branded international hotel, the Mercure Mactan Cebu.

In the next five years, at least five more existing homegrown properties of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts will transition into Accor-branded hotels. This move will allow Megaworld Hotels & Resorts to operate not just homegrown hotel brands but also many international hotel brands.

“It is Alliance Global Group’s thrust to strengthen and streamline our hospitality portfolio as we look to attract and welcome more tourists, more conventions, and more events in our hotel developments,” says Kevin L. Tan, president and CEO, Alliance Global Group (AGI), the parent company of Megaworld.

Megaworld logo

“The inclusion of international hotels in our portfolio will further cement our position as the largest hotel operator in the country for both local and international hotels. Through this expansion program, we aim to continue to further grow and strengthen our contribution to the Philippine tourism industry,” says Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, president and CEO, Megaworld.

Earlier this year, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts announced that it has tapped Accor, one of the largest hotel chains in the world, to be its partner in expanding and elevating its homegrown hotel portfolio.