DAVAO CITY, Philippines — foodpanda Philippines, in partnership with the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region XI, launches Ka-pandaBIZ Booster, a digital onboarding and capability-building initiative to help local restaurants, cafés, and other food businesses strengthen their operations and expand their market reach.

The initiative features a capability-building session on November 20, 2026, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Dabaw, covering business registration, tax compliance, sustainable practices, and digitalization, alongside hands-on assistance for onboarding to foodpanda’s platform. 

Through the program, foodpanda aims to help local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) leverage digital tools to reach more customers and grow their businesses.

The partnership supports Davao City’s goals of promoting inclusive economic growth, entrepreneurship, and MSME development. Interested Davao City-based food businesses, including those with incomplete documentary requirements, may register at bit.ly/ka-pandabizboosterDavao.

Thank you for reading. Catch you in the next one!
-BENCH

MANILA, Philippines, October 31, 2026 — Starbucks Traditions, one of the country’s most anticipated holiday rituals, returns on November 3 for its 24th year in the Philippines. Under the theme “Wrapped in Joy,” Starbucks Philippines kicks off the holiday season with a new brand film and a five-piece 2027 Starbucks Traditions Collection.

Since its first collection in 2004, Starbucks Traditions has become a holiday tradition in its own right: friends and families comparing sticker counts and racing to complete their cards before the new year, and the planner that has carried countless Filipinos through the year ahead.

This year’s theme, “Wrapped in Joy,” celebrates the happiness found in the moments we share and the little surprises that often mean the most: a thoughtful gesture, an unexpected visit, a plan made just for you. This season is a chance to surprise the people who always make the holidays special for everyone else.

The Film: “Kami Naman”

#2027StarbucksTraditions (“Kami Naman” (“It’s our turn”))

The 2027 Starbucks Traditions film, “Kami Naman” (“It’s our turn”), brings “Wrapped in Joy” to life through the story of Mara, the friend who always brings her barkada (circle of friends) together by planning their get-togethers. This holiday season, her friends turn the tables: they surprise her at Starbucks with a planner already filled with gatherings they have planned for her throughout the year.

Set to “With a Smile” by iconic OPM band Eraserheads, the film is a reminder that the love and effort we give are remembered and returned. Customers can also hear the song in Starbucks stores nationwide from November 3 to January 4.

Watch the full video on Starbucks Philippines’ official social media channels.

The 2027 Starbucks Traditions Collection

If you’re already earning your own money and are anticipating your much-awaited 13^th month pay and holiday bonus, pause and think where you will allocate those hard-earned funds. Let’s be real, having an emergency fund might be the least of your worries as someone who is just starting out.

Rainy weekends have become the perfect excuse to stay in, gather around the TV, and enjoy quality time with family. Whether it's streaming the latest blockbuster, binge-watching a favorite K-drama, or playing online games together, creating a great entertainment experience at home has become more accessible than ever.

Manila, Philippines (October 2, 2026) — HUAWEI is bringing smarter sports performance and proactive health management to the wrist with the HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series and HUAWEI WATCH D3, now available for pre-order in the Philippines starting at PHP 14,999.

HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series: Smarter Training Meets Premium Design

EA SPORTS FC 27™ players of all levels across almost 80 countries will have the chance to compete in the Red Bull Wings Cup, with a route from online and university qualifiers to the World Finals in Miami. Registration is now open.

Manila, Philippines (September 28, 2026) – The road to Miami begins. Filipino EA SPORTS FC™ players can compete on the international stage as the Red Bull Wings Cup opens in the Philippines. A new EA SPORTS FC™ 27 competition gives everyday players the chance to compete for the opportunity to represent their country on a global stage like never before.

Jollibee and DreamWorks Animation are teaming up for a global partnership tied to the worldwide theatrical release of Forgotten Island, a new original animated feature that celebrates friendship, family, and Filipino-inspired storytelling.

The collaboration brings together DreamWorks, the studio behind globally recognized films including Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Wild Robot, and Jollibee, the beloved Filipino restaurant brand that makes your favorite Chickenjoy, Yumburger, Jolly Spaghetti, and Burger Steak.

The partnership also brings together shared themes of friendship and togetherness. Forgotten Island draws inspiration from Filipino mythology and stories passed down through Filipino families, while Jollibee has long brought people together through shared meals and everyday moments of joy. In the Philippines, the collaboration offers fans an opportunity to experience the film’s themes and Filipino cultural elements through Jollibee.

At the heart of Forgotten Island, from the filmmakers of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, are lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R. and Filipino actress Liza Soberano. The story follows the two friends as they discover a mysterious portal leading to Nakali, a magical island inhabited by mythical creatures inspired by stories from their Filipino families.

Their adventure takes a turn when they discover that returning home comes at the cost of losing their memories of each other. Joined by a group of allies, Jo and Raissa must navigate the challenges of Nakali while finding a way to preserve their friendship. 

The film features an international voice cast that includes Dave Franco, Lea Salonga, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng, bringing together global talent and Filipino voices in a story rooted in Filipino-inspired mythology. 

“At Jollibee, we've always believed that some of life's best memories are made around the dining table. Forgotten Island is a beautiful and moving story that reminds us of the power and importance of friendship, something that has always been at the heart of our brand,” said Dorothy Ching, vice president for marketing of Jollibee Philippines. “Through this partnership with DreamWorks, we're excited to give Filipinos another meaningful way to celebrate friendship, create lasting memories, and share the joy of eating together.” 

To bring the partnership closer to Filipino fans, Jollibee Philippines will introduce the limited-time Forgotten Island Adventure Bundle launching September 16 in Metro Manila and September 23 in all other regions, available until October 31 at participating stores nationwide.

The Adventure Bundle includes Jollibee's 1-pc. Chickenjoy with rice and Pineapple Quencher, the new Peach Mango Pie à la Mode with Vanilla Soft Serve, Jollibee's Peach Mango Pie with Chocolate Sauce, and an exclusive Forgotten Island Friendship Charm Bracelet. The bundle is priced at ₱389.

Inspired by the film, the exclusive Friendship Charm Bracelet serves as a collectible that fans can take home as a memento of the partnership and the friendships celebrated in Forgotten Island.

The Forgotten Island Adventure Bundle will be available through dine-in, takeout, and drive-thru, while supplies last.

Forgotten Island, distributed by Universal Pictures, opens in Philippine cinemas on September 23, 2026.

About Jollibee

Jollibee is a global restaurant brand best known for its world-famous Chickenjoy fried chicken. It was voted No. 1 Best Fast Food Fried Chicken in the U.S. in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for three consecutive years and garnered multiple accolades in various markets.  It is the #1 QSR in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei.  Guided by its purpose to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone, Jollibee continues to bring people together through joyful dining experiences across more than 1,800 stores in 16 countries. Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Group, one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world.

About DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island

Your best friendship is worth fighting for.

DreamWorks Animation, the studio that brought you unforgettable bonds between a boy and a dragon in How to Train Your Dragon, an ogre and a donkey in Shrek, and a robot and a gosling in The Wild Robot, now welcomes a dazzling and emotional story about two lifelong best friends who must come together before they drift apart in Forgotten Island.

The new original film is written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and is produced by Academy Award® nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Grammy- and Academy Award® winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to embark on separate life paths.

While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. 

Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony Award-winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.

The film’s all-star voice cast also includes Emmy nominee Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Dying for Sex), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Top Gun: Maverick), BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness, Ghostlight), global comedy superstar Jo Koy (Haunted Mansion, Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn) and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, M3GAN). 

DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island is distributed by Universal Pictures.

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation, a division of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, within NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, is a global family entertainment company with feature film and television brands. DreamWorks' feature heritage includes many of the world’s most acclaimed films and beloved franchises, including Shrek, Puss in Boots, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, The Boss Baby, Madagascar, The Bad Guys, Gabby’s Dollhouse and The Wild Robot. Collectively, these theatrical film properties have grossed more than $17 billion worldwide. DreamWorks Animation’s television studio is one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality, animated family programming, reaching consumers in more than 190 countries with a diverse array of original streaming series and films. The company’s deep portfolio of intellectual property is supported by a robust, worldwide licensing and consumer products practice, as well as award-winning brand experiences through Universal Destinations & Experiences theme parks, live entertainment and more.

About Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.  NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.