Enabling local providers to deliver dependable connectivity and drive economic growth in the region

PLDT Enterprise reinforces its regional footprint through its partnership with Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp., supporting island-wide digital services and reliable connectivity for local communities. From left to right: Sarah Jane Hongayo, Relationship Manager, PLDT Enterprise; Ma. Hazel Amoyan, Customer Relationship Management Head – Visayas, PLDT Enterprise; Raul C. Villaver - CEO & President, Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp.; Elvie R. Villaver - Corporate Secretary, Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp.

Siquijor, Philippines — PLDT Enterprise continues to reinforce its regional presence across the Philippines through its long-standing partnership with Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp., supporting the cable operator’s growth and enabling reliable digital services for subscribers across Siquijor Island.

The collaboration highlights how enterprise-grade connectivity can help regional service providers overcome geographic limitations, expand operations, and deliver stable digital services in island communities.

A Commitment to Supporting Cable Operators Nationwide

PLDT Enterprise remains committed to supporting cable operators and regional connectivity providers across the country. By delivering dedicated internet and Ethernet transport solutions, PLDT Enterprise helps improve network performance, expand service coverage, support digital transformation initiatives, and enable enterprise-grade data transport.

“Through our continued, growing, and evolving partnership with Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp., we demonstrate how PLDT Enterprise supports regional providers with scalable connectivity solutions that enable growth and service reliability,” said Ma. Hazel Amoyan, Customer Relationship Management Head – Visayas, PLDT Enterprise. “We remain committed to helping businesses across the regions operate efficiently and deliver consistent digital services to their communities.”

Representatives from PLDT Enterprise and Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp. strengthen their long-standing partnership to enhance connectivity and digital access across Siquijor Island.

Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp. is a regional cable service provider delivering television and digital connectivity services to residents and businesses throughout Siquijor Island. The company has steadily expanded its subscriber base and infrastructure capabilities through continuous technology upgrades and strategic partnerships.

Addressing Geographic and Operational Challenges

Operating in an island province presents unique connectivity challenges. Limited infrastructure options, complex deployment environments, and increasing subscriber demand required scalable, high-capacity solutions to maintain service quality.

PLDT Enterprise began its partnership with Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp. in 2016 when the company subscribed to an iGate leased line. At the time, connectivity relied on Smart’s Base Transceiver Station (BTS) infrastructure to serve the island location.

As subscriber demand grew, the partnership evolved. With PLDT’s fiber rollout to Siquijor in 2022, the client gained access to higher-capacity connectivity and improved reliability. Today, Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp. subscribes to iGate Premium service and this year, it successfully deployed a Metro E-Line transport service connecting Siquijor to its mainland content source.

From Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp.’s Raul Villaver, President and CEO, shared that the collaboration has played a key role in the company’s expansion. “Our partnership with PLDT Enterprise has allowed us to upgrade our infrastructure as our subscriber base continues to grow. With improved capacity and stability, we are better equipped to deliver reliable digital television, broadband, and data services to customers across Siquijor Island.”

Enabling High-Capacity Content Delivery and Operational Continuity

The newly deployed Metro E-Line transport service enables high-capacity content delivery between Siquijor and mainland source infrastructure. This supports seamless transmission of high-bandwidth content such as HD channels, streaming services, and data-intensive applications.

Representatives from PLDT Enterprise and Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp. strengthen their long-standing partnership to enhance connectivity and digital access across Siquijor Island.

The upgraded infrastructure improves network stability and service reliability for subscribers across Siquijor Island while strengthening operational continuity through enterprise-grade infrastructure designed for carrier-level uptime.

With scalable infrastructure in place, Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp. has been able to continuously expand its subscriber base without network performance limitations.

As regional connectivity demands continue to increase, the partnership between PLDT Enterprise and Siquijor Island Cable TV Systems Corp. reflects a shared commitment to resilience, scalability, and long-term growth—strengthening digital access across island communities and reinforcing PLDT Enterprise’s presence across the Philippines.

To learn more about PLDT Enterprise’s solutions, visit [UTM]

Lately, more Filipinos are getting intentional about their money. Not by cutting everything out—but by making what they already do count for more.

That’s where moneymaxxing comes in. It’s about getting more out of your money, letting it grow, earn, and give something back while you go about your day.

And with everything in one place, Maya, the country’s #1 Digital Bank and leading all-in-one fintech platform, makes that shift feel easier to actually keep up with.

Start by putting your money to work

If your money isn’t growing, it’s slowly losing value, especially now.

That’s why one of the easiest shifts is simply moving your money somewhere it actually does something. With Maya Savings, you can earn up to 15% interest per annum, credited daily, which means growth isn’t something abstract. You see it happen in real time.

And that matters more than it sounds. Because once you start seeing your money grow, even in small amounts, you’re more likely to keep going. It stops feeling like effort and starts feeling like progress.

If you’re open to exploring something new, Maya Crypto lets you start with a small amount, with offers that can earn you up to P500 on your buy transactions, making it easier to try without overcommitting.

Make your spending work both ways

Spending is part of everyday life. The real shift is making sure it gives something back.

Using your Maya debit card for fuel, for example, can get you up to ₱300 cashback for a minimum spend of ₱500.

If you’re spending more regularly, the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card gives you returns across categories you’re already spending on like groceries, dining, even fuel, with up to ₱7 per liter savings at Landers-Caltex branches with a minimum single-receipt spend of ₱4,000.

And with the Maya Black Credit Card, your everyday purchases turn into Maya Miles, with up to 10x Miles at preferred merchants — which you can convert into things you’ll actually use, from travel to fuel vouchers.

And when you need extra, having a backup keeps you in control

There are moments when your budget just doesn’t stretch far enough. That doesn’t mean you did something wrong; It just means you need options that don’t make things harder later.

For shorter gaps, Maya Easy Credit offers a revolving credit line of up to ₱50,000, designed for quick use and repayable within 30 days, so it doesn’t linger longer than it should.

For bigger needs, Maya Personal Loan gives you up to ₱250,000, with structure that makes it easier to manage over time.

The goal isn’t to rely on credit. It’s to make sure that when you do use it, it doesn’t take control of your next month.

Moneymaxxing looks like letting your money grow daily without thinking about it, getting something back from the expenses you already have, and setting things up so you don’t have to keep starting over.

To know more, visit maya.ph or mayabank.ph, and follow @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to stay updated. Approval and offer are subject to credit evaluation. Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. www.bsp.gov.ph. For 24/7 assistance, visit the Help Center in the Maya app or call us from 8 AM to 7 PM daily at +632 8845-7788.

From fast-paced pickleball action to rising bowling stars, SM brings more ways to compete and connect

MANILA, Philippines, 20th April 2026 — Reinforcing its commitment to building active communities and developing the next generation of athletes, SM Supermalls is rolling out two exciting tournament experiences this season—the SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge and the first-ever PBF Youth Cup for aspiring bowlers.

Double the action at SM—rally on the court, roll on the lanes, and enjoy a maxed-out experience built for competition, connection, and fun.

SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge: Rallying communities through sport

SM Supermalls takes the spotlight with the fast-growing sport of pickleball through the SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge, a tournament series that brings together competition, teamwork, and community.

Canadian champion Mackonner Dy (left) connects with the growing pickleball community at SM City Marikina, sharing a paddle tap with fellow players during his recent visit. 

The series will feature five qualifying legs and one final across select SM malls: May 17 at SM City Bicutan, May 24 at SM City Sta. Mesa, June 7 at SM City Santa Rosa, June 28 at SM City Marikina, and July 5 at SM Center Muntinlupa. The finals will take place on July 12 at Four E-Com Center, SM Active Hub’s newest pickleball venue, featuring six courts.

Game on at the SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge—where every rally brings teams together for a fast-paced, maxed-out experience.

Open to the DUPR 9 and DUPR 11 categories, the Trio Challenge introduces a unique format in which teams of three must include at least one woman—encouraging inclusivity, strategy, and stronger team dynamics.

Registration is priced at P5,700 per team.

Mounted in partnership with SM Active Hub, Paloo, Sports Central, Milo, Nature’s Spring, and Picklecrew PH, the tournament offers players more ways to stay active, compete, and connect—creating spaces where communities come together and thrive.

PBF Youth Cup: A new stage for rising bowling stars

Young bowlers take their shot at the PBF Youth Cup at SM Bowling, where every frame is a chance to build skills, gain confidence, and discover where winning begins.

Alongside pickleball, SM Supermalls continues to champion youth development through the PBF Youth Cup, launched in partnership with the Philippine Bowling Federation (PBF). The nationwide tournament gives aspiring bowlers a platform to compete, grow, and shine.

SM Supermalls continues to create spaces where young athletes can showcase their skills, gain valuable experience, and pursue their passion—proving that where winning begins is within reach.

“Your most-loved SM Supermalls believes in nurturing the next generation of athletes. We are committed to providing them with a space to develop their abilities and give them opportunities to hone their talents—proving that winning begins at SM Bowling and SM Game Park,” said SM Supermalls Senior Assistant Vice President for Sports and Leisure Joseph Francis Silva.

The tournament features two age divisions: 16 and below, and 17 to 21, with male and female categories. It will follow a single-player format across participating SM Supermalls branches.

Qualifying rounds run from April 8 to May 13, 2026. From there, all center champions will advance to the Center Finals, with the top bowlers advancing to the National Finals at SM North EDSA on May 31, 2026.

Top finishers will receive medals, exclusive goodies, and up to six months of free bowling at SM Bowling, while those who achieve a perfect game throughout the tournament will earn one year of free bowling.

“By bringing together communities and future champions, SM Supermalls continues to deliver a maxed-out experience—creating opportunities where athletes can grow, compete, and win,” Silva added.

For more information about the SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge and the PBF Youth Cup, visit the official SM Bowling and SM Game Park Facebook pages.

Bubble Fun Run 2.0 at SM City Marikina gathered more than a thousand runners for a fun-filled Sunday run. 

EASTERN METRO MANILA, Philippines — SM Active Hub Anniversary celebrations went all out across the East Metro as SM malls transformed into vibrant spaces for sports, movement, and community play, reinforcing SM Active Hub’s commitment to keeping everyone active and engaged.

Hooked Pickleball club with their young pupils in SM City Marikina.

From dribbles on the court to powerful smashes in play, athletes of all ages keep the energy moving at SM Center Antipolo Downtown.

At SM City Marikina, the energy was maxed out from start to finish with the Pickleball Tour kick-off led by Mackonner Dy, followed by a fun and interactive pickleball clinic for kids in partnership with Hooked Pickleball Club, and a high-spirited Bubble Fun Run that brought families and runners together in a colorful burst of movement. Over at SM Center Antipolo Downtown, the action continued with a developmental basketball training program for kids, alongside open play sessions for pickleball and badminton that encouraged friendly competition and community participation.

Mackonner Dy at a Pickleball open play in SM City Marikina.

Meanwhile, SM City Masinag and SM City San Mateo kept the momentum going with the East Chess Summer Open and Taekwondo Training Camps that showcased both mental focus and physical discipline. SM City San Mateo also added a high-energy Zumba session that turned fitness into a shared celebration of rhythm and movement.

From focused chess moves to energetic Zumba beats and powerful taekwondo kicks, every activity brings the community together in motion at SM City San Mateo.

As April wraps up and summer activities continue in full swing, the SM Active Hub Anniversary also serves as a fitting celebration for the Let’s Play summer campaign, encouraging families, friends, and fitness enthusiasts to make the most of the season through movement, sports, and shared experiences. Happening in some of the East Metro’s most-loved malls, the event embodied the spirit of Here to Move, inspiring communities to stay active, discover new hobbies, and enjoy meaningful connections through sports and recreation. 

Strategic chess plays and disciplined taekwondo moves - young participants showcase focus and determination at SM City Masinag’s open plays for the SM Active Hub Anniversary

More than a celebration, SM Active Hub continues to champion spaces where everyone can be Here to Move—whether through fitness, play, competition, or wellness. Join the movement and be part of future SM Active Hub activities across SM Malls in the East Metro. Follow your nearest SM mall’s official pages for schedules, upcoming sports clinics, and community events—and stay ready to move, play, and go all out the SM way.

#SMActiveHub #HereToMove #GalaToTheMax

Watch the album trailer here

Download A*POP cover art here

Two-time GRAMMY® Award winner TYLA, the South-African star whose debut campaign disrupted the global music scene and cemented her as a bonafide global superstar, is ready to step back into the spotlight. TYLA has formally announced her hotly-coveted sophomore studio album, A*POP, supported by the Billboard chart-topper “Chanel,” and the already viral “She Did It Again,” featuring Zara Larsson. The announcement follows the unleashing of the official A*POP album trailer, starring TYLA outlining the “unapologetic,” “confident,” and “global” nature of her new era.

The album arrives July 24th. Pre-order it here via Epic Records.

A*POP follows TYLA and TYLA+, which were released in March and October of 2024. TYLA earned the singer the distinction of the highest-charting African female soloist in the history of the Billboard 200 Albums chart, and the achievements that followed reflected the ascent of one of music’s biggest and brightest new stars. Two years later, TYLA is prepared to stop the world again with A*POP. To accentuate the arrival of her new season, she graced the cover of i-D magazine’s inaugural Beauty Zine issue, another landmark first for a star who’s grown accustomed to setting the tone.

Details of TYLA’s upcoming album have been kept close-to-chest, but anticipation for the LP has been building since TYLA first teased the A*POP title in the glitzy video for her latest hit, “Chanel,” where the term “A*POP” was prominently built into the glamorous set, even featuring TYLA laying intentionally beside the prop in between dance numbers. “Chanel” first appeared on TYLA’s Summer 2025 mixtape WWP, which also introduced her long-awaited WizKid collaboration, “DYNAMITE,” to the world.

The teases continued on the red carpet at this year’s GRAMMY® Awards. In February, TYLA revealed to Rolling Stone that things had finally clicked with her sophomore effort. “I just knew that as I lived through the making of the album, it was going to fall into place, which it did,” TYLA dished. “I feel like I just did something really fresh and so… Tyla.” Earlier that evening, TYLA took home her second GRAMMY®: “Best African Mumsic Performance” for “Push 2 Start,” the second of her three Billboard Hot 100 hits and the standout record from the deluxe edition of her debut album, TYLA+. Even as the horizon of her new era neared, TYLA continued to reap the benefits of her explosive debut album campaign. 

Since then, the proof has been undeniable. “Chanel” earned TYLA her third Billboard Hot 100 hit, following in the footsteps of “Water” and “Push 2 Start,” her two GRAMMY®-winning smashes. “Chanel” has also become a chart-topper, ascending to the no. 1 spot on Billboard Afrobeats and Billboard Rhythmic Airplay charts during its 17 weeks on the Hot 100, surefire indicators that “Chanel” is set to have a significant impact on Summer 2026 and beyond. Its compelling and conversation-starting music video has been viewed over 120 million times and seen upwards of 50 billion views across global social media. 

TYLA’s latest release is exemplary of her groundbreaking artistry. The second single from A*POP, “She Did It Again” with GRAMMY®- nominated pop star Zara Larsson, has already made tidal waves across the globe. The official music video racked up over five million views in its opening weekend, earning Rolling Stone ‘Songs You Need This Week’ honors, and an assertion that “She Did It Again” ‘shook the culture’ by Vanity Fair. Later this summer, she’ll headline her own set at The TODAY Show’s famed Citi® Concert Series—live in NYC—and play a series of high-profile festival engagements, including headliningAfronation in Portugal, and marquee sets at Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival, Romania’s Beach Please! and Italy’s Hellwatt Festival.

TYLA is  nominated four times at next month’s American Music Awards, including two nominations for “Chanel” (“Social Song of the Year,” “Best Music Video”), to go along with “Best Female R&B Artist” and “Best Afrobeats Artist.” She’ll look to add to a hardware collection that already includes an AMA, two GRAMMYs, two Billboard Awards, two MTV VMAs, two MTV Europe Music Awards, an NAACP Image Award and many more.

TYLA is prepared to add to what’s already been a dominant and decorated young career with her newest chapter. A*POP, the singer’s sophomore album, arrives July 24th. Pre-order it here.

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The March 31 release of Lifetime (Reimagined) triggers a resurgence in streams for the band’s 2020 hit 

The band, alongside the haunting image of longing and what-ifs as articulated in “Lifetime (Reimagined),” the extended version of “Lifetime”

24 April 2026 — Multi-awarded folk-pop band Ben&Ben continues to set new career records as their 2020 hit Lifetime zoomed to the top of both the Official Philippines Chart of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart, less than a month after the release of the song’s extended version, Lifetime (Reimagined).

For the week of April 10 to 16, Lifetime moved up one spot to reach the No. 1 position on IFPI’s Official Philippines Chart. The rankings were launched in February 2025 as part of the Official Southeast Asia Charts, an IFPI initiative that recognizes music from five other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.  

Meanwhile, on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart for the week of April 25, the song climbed four spots from the previous week’s No. 5 finish, fueled by consistently strong streaming numbers across various platforms. This marks the band’s first ever No. 1 Billboard Philippines chart ranking, and their third time to break into the charts, following Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay in the 2025 Year-End Charts and Kathang Isip in the October 2025 Hot 100 list.

According to the band, they did not expect the song to have this kind of impact on listeners, both the casual ones and those from their Liwanag fan community. 

“Hindi po namin inasahang magkakaroon ng ganitong impact ‘yung Lifetime sa mga makikinig, sa Liwanag. Na-observe naming kahit papano, natutulungan ng kanta ‘yung mga taong bumalik panandalian sa nakaraan, para harapin ang mga ‘what-ifs’ nila, upang humilom para sa kasalukuyan. Sobrang grateful kaming maging bahagi ng prosesong ito sa pamamagitan ng kantang ito,” Ben&Ben said.

The song’s message resonates among listeners because of the realness of it – articulating deep feelings of longing, of yearning, of loving despite the risks. 

“Na-observe din naming may kakaiba talaga sa abilidad ng mga Pilipino na maramdaman ang emosyon na ‘longing,’ o pagkakaroon ng ‘di mamatay na pagkagusto para sa isang tao o bagay na maaaring ‘di maabot. Totoo kasing nae-experience ng marami ‘yung longing. At siguro, patunay ito ng abilidad nating magmahal at magtiis para sa mga mahal natin. Siguro, to love is to endure,” the band related.

Aside from these most recent chart-topping feats, Lifetime (Reimagined) also peaked at No. 1 on the YouTube Trending list last week, reached No. 9 on the Spotify Global Daily Viral Chart, hit No. 1 on the Spotify Philippines Daily Viral Chart, and snagged the No. 2 spot on the Spotify Weekly Top 200 and Spotify Daily Top 200 rankings.

Lifetime (Reimagined) is available to stream on all major digital platforms. Watch out for the song’s performance video, to be released soon. The lyric video is now available here.