Tripartite partnership equips local entrepreneurs with digital commerce skills, connectivity, and market access

Acting Regional Director of DTI Region VII Esperanza Melgar (second from left); TikTok Shop Philippines Marketing Lead Franco Aligaen (center); and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of SME Business Group Dindo Marzan (second from right) formalize their tripartite partnership to expand digital commerce opportunities for MSMEs through TikTok Shop’s Unlad Lokal program in Cebu City.

TikTok Shop, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. are joining forces to expand access to digital commerce opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Visayas.

The partnership brings together the DTI’s expertise and network in MSME development, Converge’s connectivity capabilities, and TikTok Shop’s discovery-led commerce platform and seller education resources under its Unlad Lokal program. Launched in Cebu, which also serves as the first Visayas leg of Unlad Lokal, the program aims to help local entrepreneurs and creators build their digital capabilities, reach wider markets, and participate more actively in the digital economy. 

"Digitalization creates new opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs to build businesses beyond the limitations of geography, but access to the right knowledge, tools, and support remains critical. Through Unlad Lokal, we are bringing these capabilities closer to communities outside Luzon, starting with Cebu. As the digital commerce ecosystem continues to grow across Visayas and Mindanao, our partnership with the DTI and Converge allows us to invest further in seller and creator empowerment, allowing more Filipinos to benefit from TikTok Shop's discovery commerce ecosystem for business growth and livelihood," said Franco Aligaen, Marketing Lead for TikTok Shop Philippines.

Bringing digital commerce closer to regional entrepreneurs

From July 2025 to July 2026, TikTok Shop orders across Visayas and Mindanao grew by 140%, while the number of sellers and creators increased by 50% and 160%, respectively, driven by on-ground acquisition, education, and partnership. LIVE gross merchandise value (GMV) also increased by 130% during the same period, reflecting the significant role of content and creators in driving commerce across the region.

The growth points to a thriving digital commerce and content ecosystem in VisMin, creating more opportunities for local businesses to connect with consumers and for creators to participate in content-driven commerce.

The partnership also comes as the City of Cebu continues to thrive, with its economy growing by 7.0% in 2024, reaching an estimated ₱334.48 billion, while the Province of Cebu recorded 7.3% growth to ₱441.14 billion during the same period, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The Department of Trade and Industry, TikTok Shop, and Converge SME Solutions share insights on digitalization, connectivity, and opportunities for MSMEs during the Cebu launch of Unlad Lokal.

“This tripartite partnership reaffirms DTI commitment to capacitate our Filipino MSMEs with the tools and skills needed to participate effectively and efficiently in the digital economy,” said Acting Regional Director of DTI Region VII Esperanza Melgar. “We are not just getting entrepreneurs online, we are equipping them to thrive online.”

Through Unlad Lokal, participants received practical training on TikTok Shop's seller ecosystem, including short-form content creation, LIVE selling, affiliate marketing, campaigns, and other tools designed to strengthen product discovery and customer engagement. TikTok Shop's discovery e-commerce model enables consumers to discover products through engaging content, giving local entrepreneurs new ways to showcase their products, tell their brand stories, and reach customers beyond their immediate markets. The program also introduces ways local businesses can combine content and commerce to build visibility and grow their businesses online.

Since its launch, Unlad Lokal has trained over 35,000 MSMEs nationwide and expanded to more than 15 cities and regions, extending seller education and digital entrepreneurship initiatives to communities across the country.

Connecting businesses to the digital economy

For many entrepreneurs, access to digital platforms is closely linked to access to reliable connectivity. Through the tripartite partnership, Converge aims to complement digital commerce and MSME development efforts by supporting the infrastructure that enables entrepreneurs to create content, manage online businesses, engage customers, and participate in activities such as LIVE selling.

“If technology feels too complicated or too expensive, MSMEs will simply leave it on the shelf. Our job is to make technology simple, affordable, and useful enough to become part of their everyday business. That is how we earn their trust,” said Dindo Marzan, Senior Vice President and Head of SME Business Group of Converge SME Solutions Inc.

The partnership also reflects the growing role of cross-sector collaboration in helping MSMEs navigate digital transformation. By combining government support with private-sector technology, connectivity, and platform expertise, the initiative aims to lower practical barriers for entrepreneurs who want to establish or expand their presence online.

Cebuano entrepreneurs participate in TikTok Shop's Unlad Lokal training, gaining practical skills in digital commerce, content creation, and online selling.

Preparing Cebu sellers for the 9.9 Mega Campaign

The Cebu launch also gives participating sellers an opportunity to put digital commerce strategies into practice and connect their products with a broader pool of customers leading up to TikTok Shop's Mega Sale Season, across 9.9, 11.11, and 12.12. 

Ahead of major campaign moments, sellers can strengthen their storefronts and content, develop short-form videos that showcase their products, and use LIVE selling and affiliate marketing to drive discovery and engagement. Beyond content and promotions, sellers are encouraged to ramp up their operations, including product information, inventory, pricing, fulfillment, and customer service, to ensure they can respond effectively to increased customer interest and demand. TikTok Shop is also working with local warehouse and logistics partners to enable more seamless delivery across the Visayas and Mindanao. 

“Major sales moments give local sellers an opportunity to reach new customers and showcase their products to a wider audience. Through Unlad Lokal, we want Cebuano entrepreneurs to have the practical skills to make the most of these opportunities, from creating engaging content and going LIVE to preparing their businesses to meet customer demand,” added Aligaen.

As Unlad Lokal continues to expand, TikTok Shop aims to build on the program's learnings from communities across the country and provide entrepreneurs with continued access to education, mentorship, platform resources, and opportunities to connect with customers and creators.

About TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop is a one-stop e-commerce solution for driving brand growth and sales directly on TikTok. With TikTok Shop, merchants can tap into a full commerce experience with the capability to upload products and manage everything from shipping to fulfillment and point of purchase. Products are recommended to TikTok audiences through shoppable content formats such as in-feed short videos (embedded with product links), live shopping events, as well as a marketplace through the new Shop Tab.

Starbucks Philippines welcomes the Mid-Autumn Festival with the launch of its Starbucks® Mooncake Gift Set, a modern take on a tradition long associated with reunion, gratitude and shared moments! The Starbucks® Mooncake Gift Set is available starting August 15, 2026 in Starbucks stores nationwide for a limited time only.

A modern, molten-centered take on the traditional Mid-Autumn mooncake, the limited-edition Starbucks® Mooncake Gift Set invites you to savor festive laughter and enjoy time together with your loved ones this Mid-Autumn Festival. 

The set comes with 2 flavor assortments: 

• Lava Custard (4 pcs) – Filled with rich custard center wrapped in a soft delicate pastry for a luxurious festive treat
• Lava Cappuccino (2 pcs) – Filled with smooth molten cappuccino lava, combining creamy coffee notes with delicate handcrafted pastry

As a symbol of unity and gratitude, the Starbucks® Mooncake gift set is crafted for sharing and designed to pair with Starbucks whole bean coffee or Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew for a complete at-home festive ritual.

MSRP: PHP 2,295.00

Some athletes don't come to Mactan for races. Some of them already work here, too.

Guests at Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown may know Laurence Amistad from Housekeeping, Ian Keith Generalao as a Beach Lifeguard, and Michel Filoteo as a Duty Manager.

But beyond their hotel roles, the three share another identity: they are athletes who make time to stay active and challenge themselves.

That was put into action when they joined the Sunrise Sprint, stepping away from their usual roles supporting athletes and becoming participants themselves.

For Laurence, Ian, and Michel, being an athlete means finding time to train while balancing the demands of their jobs. Laurence brings his physical energy from Housekeeping into running, Ian’s work as a Beach Lifeguard requires physical readiness, and Michel balances responsibilities as Duty Manager with his own active lifestyle.

“Supporting our employees in initiatives like the Sunrise Sprint is one way we encourage them to challenge themselves and be part of the sporting community,” said Josef Victor Chiongbian, General Manager of Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown. “We are proud of Laurence, Michel, and Ian for taking on the challenge.”

Their participation reflects Savoy’s broader involvement in Mactan’s sports community.

For four consecutive years, the hotel has served as a partner accommodation for IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu Philippines presented by Megaworld, welcoming athletes and their teams as they prepare, compete, and recover during the event.

Savoy has also supported Philippine Airlines athletes Dalton Simon Castaneda, Sheila Co, and Matthew Geremy Tan, as well as long-time partner and Kevlo Spa owner Mark Geniston, reflecting Savoy’s belief that sports are also about the connections built around them. Events bring together athletes, businesses, organizations, and communities, creating opportunities to support one another beyond the race itself.

“Sports bring different people and organizations together,” Chiongbian added. “We value the partnerships we have built through these events, and we are happy to extend our support not only to our own employees, but also to the athletes and partners who are part of the wider community.”

Mactan is no stranger to sporting events. With marathons, triathlons, and other races regularly taking place across the island, sports have become an established part of the destination’s identity. Its waters, roads, and landscapes provide the natural setting, while hotels, businesses, organizers, and communities help create the environment that supports the athletes who come here.

For Savoy, that support begins close to home.

The athletes who bring energy to Mactan’s sporting events are not always visitors arriving from somewhere else. Sometimes, they are the people already here, working, living, and becoming part of the destination in their own way.

And for Savoy, supporting Mactan’s sports scene means making sure these athletes have a place in it, too.

2026 IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu presented by Megaworld

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) transformed World Gin Day, from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao, into a month-long celebration of gin through Ginuman X—a series of fun, fresh, immersive events that brought together music, cocktails, community, and Pinoy camaraderie.

Ginuman X, City of Talisay, Cebu

Held in June across four major locations—RSA Sports Complex in Balayan, Batangas; Talisay City, Cebu; Robinsons Antipolo; and Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro—Ginuman X marked the newest evolution of the company's iconic Ginumanfest, bringing World Gin Day celebration closer to more consumers nationwide.

More than a concert series, Ginuman X showcased how gin continues to evolve alongside today's generation of consumers while remaining deeply rooted in Filipino culture. For decades, Ginebra San Miguel has been part of countless celebrations, reunions, milestones, and simple moments shared among family and friends. Through Ginuman X, the brand demonstrated that gin remains as relevant as ever—bringing together Gen Z, Millennials, and long-time gin enthusiasts.

Festivalfoers at Ginuman X Festival

"Gin is the only liquor with botanicals highlighting the juniper berry. Brandy, rum and other liquors do not have botanicals, hence gin is unique in both ingredients and flavor.”, said Ron Molina, GSMI Marketing Manager. "Through Ginuman X, we created a more immersive experience that celebrates not only the versatility and quality of gin, but also the spirit of togetherness that has always defined the Ginebra brand. It is our way of showing that gin continues to bring people together across generations."

Building on more than a decade of World Gin Day celebrations, Ginuman X represents the latest chapter in GSMI's continuing efforts to elevate gin appreciation in the country. Since introducing the first World Gin Day celebration in the Asia-Pacific Region in 2014 during the 180th anniversary of flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel, GSMI has consistently expanded the celebration through innovative consumer experiences, including the One Ginebra Nation Tour, the "Gin Is In" campaign, and last year's "Your World of Gin Experience."

This year, the company raised the bar once again.

The "X" in Ginuman X stands for “eXperience, eXtraordinary, and eXciting”—three elements that defined every stop of the nationwide celebration.

Filipino hip-hop group ALLMO$T at Ginuman X

Chocolate Factory at Ginuman X festival

Ginuman X Festivalgoers enjoying the games

Oh! Caraga at Ginuman X

Festivalgoers also enjoyed interactive cocktail demonstrations, games, raffle prizes, exclusive merchandise, and engaging brand activities that encouraged participation while showcasing the versatility of Ginebra products in modern cocktail culture.

For Paolo Jose "Tooper" Tupaz, GSMI Group Product Manager, Ginuman X reflects how the company continues to innovate while staying true to its heritage.

"Ginuman X is our biggest and most immersive World Gin Month celebration yet. We created an experience where people don't simply attend an event—they become part of it. We introduced a new way of celebrating gin while keeping alive the Filipino spirit of tagayan, friendship, and community that has always made Ginebra special," Tupaz said.

Ginuman X Festival

Beyond entertainment, Ginuman X also carried a deeper purpose.

A portion of the proceeds from the nationwide events was donated to the San Miguel Foundation, allowing every celebration to contribute to meaningful community programs.

"Celebrations become even more meaningful when they create a positive impact beyond the event itself," Tupaz added. "Every ticket, every toast, and every shared experience helped support communities through the San Miguel Foundation. It's our way of reminding everyone that great celebrations can also give back."

With the successful holding of Ginuman X, GSMI has not only reimagined the country's largest World Gin Month celebration—it has also reaffirmed its leadership in shaping the future of gin appreciation for a new generation of Filipinos.

Ginuman X, City of Talisay, Cebu

GSMI is the producer of the world’s largest-selling gin, Ginebra San Miguel. Its other quality distilled spirits include GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Lychee Martini, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Blue Gin Pomelo, GSM Blue Light Gin, Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, Archangel Reserve Premium Dry Gin, Antonov Vodka, Freedom Island Light Rum, Primera Light Brandy, the Philippines’ no. 1 Chinese wine Vino Kulafu, and Vamos Tequila Gold.