Month: January 2026

ASEAN Nations Map Out Tourism Future at Cebu Tourism Forum

ASEAN tourism leaders took center stage as member countries unveiled their strategies and future plans before international media delegates during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), held at the Mactan Expo in Mactan, Cebu, Philippines.


The opening briefing was led by the host country, the Philippines, which presented its 2025 tourism figures and outlined new initiatives aimed at attracting more international visitors. The presentation highlighted the country’s strong recovery and renewed push to position itself as a top destination in the region.


Vietnam followed, sharing the formula behind its impressive tourism rebound over the past three years. The country reported welcoming more than 11 million visitors and emphasized the success of its focused campaigns, particularly in promoting golf tourism as a key niche market.


Indonesia then took the stage, showcasing its adoption of artificial intelligence across its tourism platforms to improve convenience and enhance the travel experience for international visitors.


Around 70 official media delegates from different parts of the world attended the briefings on the first day of TRAVEX (Travel Exchange), which continues on its second day. Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Laos are also expected to present their respective tourism plans and strategies.


With strong participation from buyers and industry stakeholders, this year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum is already being described as a major success for the Philippines as host.


A clear trend emerged during the discussions: ASEAN countries are intensifying efforts to attract European markets as well as major Asian markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Another growing focus is multi-country promotion, enhancing regional connectivity to allow tourists to seamlessly visit multiple ASEAN destinations within a single trip

Daghang Salamat sa Napulo ka Tuig:’ UNIQLO Celebrates 10 Years of LifeWear and Community in Cebu

UNIQLO marks a decade of enriching everyday life in the Queen City of the South

The celebrations include cultural activations, exclusive offers, and sustainability programs for the local community and even Sinulog festival attendees

Cebu City has always ushered in the new year in a riot of color, rhythm, and devotion through the Sinulog Festival, held every third Sunday of January.

In 2026, the celebration takes on added meaning as UNIQLO marks a decade in Cebu—ten years in which LifeWear has woven itself into the everyday lives of Cebuanos, from festivities to daily routines.

Over the past ten years, UNIQLO has grown alongside Cebu, adapting to the city’s evolving pace and lifestyle while offering LifeWear clothing defined by function, quality, and timeless design.

From its first store in SM City Cebu, the brand has expanded its presence across the city, now serving a larger community through five branches in SM Seaside Cebu, SM City J Mall, Ayala Center Cebu, and Ayala Central Bloc—reflecting a shared journey of growth, movement, and modern living.

Each store joins the brand’s 10th-year celebrations in Cebu. The local community and Sinulog festival attendees can look forward to lots of cultural activations, exclusive offers, and sustainability programs.

Supporting the Needs of the Cebuano Community

As a committed member of the community, UNIQLO ensures that it celebrates with the greater good in mind. Last 2025 was tough for a lot Cebuanos, who dealt with various calamities, and UNIQLO stepped up to help the affected families with a series of donations. In September, UNIQLO handed out 4,000 AIRism items to communities affected in the areas of Bogo City, in partnership with SM Foundation. Hygiene kits were also donated to over 800 people. Meanwhile, 5,500 AIRism items were given to communities affected by Super Typhoon Uwan and Typhoon Tino in Cebu, Bacolod, and Aurora.

UNIQLO also looked after its 300 Cebu-based employees who were affected by the natural disasters, extending aid to their families as well. Then, in December, around 4,000 pieces of AIRism and pre-loved UNIQLO items from the RE.UNIQLO initiative were donated to over 500 beneficiaries in Talisay.

Exclusive UTme! Collection Launching on January 12

UNIQLO says “Daghang Salamat” to Cebu for the 10 years with the launch of an exclusive UTme! Collection celebrating the local community. Designed by Cebu-based painter and illustrator Meream Pacayra, the designs feature iconic everyday Cebuano slang and scenes from the vibrant Sinulog Festival. The exclusive UTme! Collection drops on January 12.

Plenty of 10th-Anniversary Promotions and Activities Limited Offers

As part of its 10th anniversary festivities, customers can enjoy limited offers from January 16 to 22, with select items available at a limited-offer price, exclusive to UNIQLO Cebu stores. There will be special novelty and partner promotions as well. For every P3,000 single-receipt purchase from any UNIQLO Cebu store from January 16 to 18, shoppers get a free UNIQLO luggage tag. They must scan their UNIQLO App upon checkout to avail of the promotion.

Cebu continues to develop as a regional hub with thriving industries and talented people. As UNIQLO marks 10 years in Central Visayas, there is also a great opportunity for the brand to grow alongside the community, and for LifeWear to become an even-more integral part of Cebuanos’ lives.

For more information and to get all the latest updates on UNIQLO, visit www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/ and follow @uniqlo on Facebook, @uniqlophofficial on Instagram, and @uniqlophofficial on TikTok.

Synergy in Action: United for Cebu’s Historic Heart

When the government, the private sector, and the Church move in the same direction, transformation becomes possible, not just in infrastructure, but in the soul of a city.

This was the essence of the statement shared by Joe Soberano, President and CEO of Cebu Landmasters Incorporated, during the opening of Patria de Cebu. His message was more than ceremonial; it was a clear commitment to the Cebu City Government and to the people of Cebu. that progress can be meaningful when it is anchored in cooperation and respect for heritage.

Present at the event was Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival , alongside the Roman Catholic Church, represented by Archbishop Emeritus Jose Palma. Their presence symbolized a rare but powerful convergence of leadership: public service, private enterprise, and faith working together toward a shared vision.

The initial focus of this collaboration is the beautification and revitalization of Cebu City’s downtown, beginning with the historic surroundings of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, a site that has stood witness to centuries of Cebuano faith, culture, and history.

Rather than development that erases the past, this initiative seeks to enhance what already exists, giving dignity to heritage spaces while making them more accessible, livable, and vibrant for today’s generation.

Cebu City is not just an urban center; it is the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines, the heart of early trade, and a living museum of colonial and pre-colonial history. Any effort to uplift the city must therefore balance modernization with preservation.

This tri-sector partnership recognizes that truth: progress does not mean forgetting where we came from, it means building forward with memory and meaning. When coordination and collaboration truly happen, the benefits ripple outward.

Heritage is protected, public spaces are improved, local communities gain renewed pride, and the city strengthens its identity—not only as a hub of commerce, but as a place where history, faith, and development coexist. In this shared effort, Cebu City is reminded of a powerful lesson: the most enduring developments are those built not by one sector alone, but by a united community, honoring its past while shaping its future.

Patria de Cebu is a living symbol of what collaboration can achieve. Redeveloped through a joint effort of the Roman Catholic Church and Cebu Landmasters Incorporated, it transforms a historic space into a place where the past and present meet.

Now open with a supermarket and a growing mix of food outlets, Patria de Cebu is once again bringing life back to downtown. Soon, it will also welcome the Mercure Hotel by Accor, the first international hotel brand in downtown Cebu City, a powerful sign that faith, heritage, and progress can move forward together, restoring pride in the heart of the city.