Minsan, may mga pangarap na hindi natutupad. Pero may mga pangarap na hindi sinusukuan.” These words anchor the journey of Atty. Sheila Gomez, the spotlight of the latest #GCashStories installment that recently moved audiences online.

Her path—juggling the demands of being a working law student, falling short of passing her first Bar exam, and ultimately triumphing to become a lawyer—stands as a powerful reminder: sometimes, a second chance and the right financial support through tools like GLoan are all it takes to rewrite a life's trajectory.

But while Atty. Sheila’s milestone is an extraordinary feat, millions of Filipinos are winning their own victories on different stages. Progress, after all, looks different for everyone. Behind each of these milestones is the indomitable Filipino spirit—and the value of a trusted financial partner committed to helping each one see their dreams prevail.

The Dignity of the Daily Hustle

Neighborhood sari-sari stores serve as the lifeblood of local communities. Yet, for the millions of micro-retailers managing these stores, formal credit lines remain out of reach.

For Juvy Camante, a sari-sari store owner from Pateros, Metro Manila, this reality was a daily hurdle for nearly five years. But when cash flow tightens—especially when daily earnings are diverted to urgent school expenses—restocking those shelves becomes an agonizing challenge.

Juvy was initially deeply skeptical of digital credit alternatives when she first encountered them through app promos and a friend’s recommendation. "Ayoko ng mga ganyan. Parang nakakatakot," she admits, recalling her initial hesitation. But when a soft drink delivery arrived and her budget fell short, she decided to try GLoan. “Nagulat ako... saglit lang, pumasok agad yung pera sa wallet,” she recalls.

Beyond speed, loaning through GCash offered something she couldn’t get from borrowing through informal lenders: protecting her dignity. "Mas magaan po sa loob na parang hindi mo kailangan makiusap," she explains.

Today, Juvy has turned GLoan into a part of her financial routine. After manually navigating her very first payment, she activated the auto-deduction feature. Now, she simply ensures her GCash wallet is sufficiently funded before her due date every month.

By managing her credit responsibly, Juvy has transformed borrowing from a source of anxiety into a strategic business tool. Her advice to fellow cash-strapped entrepreneurs is simple and fearless: "Huwag matakot mangutang, lalo na kung gagamitin naman talaga sa negosyo."

Education without Compromises

For many Filipino parents, the ultimate measure of progress is securing their children's education. Often, micro-retailers face an agonizing compromise: using up funds to pay for tuition, or keeping their business running.

It is a balancing act that carinderia owner Fevelyn Bellen knows all too well. Running her small eatery, she managed to send her children to school. But when her youngest child moved to the province for a college education, the daily budget often fell short. Whenever emergency school expenses arose, she relied on GLoan to bridge the gap instantly from home: "Pag kailangan ng anak ko ng pera, ‘matic yan. Pag lumabas na sa wallet ko, ise-send ko naman kaagad sa kanya. Walang hassle."

The pressure peaked during her child's final year in college. To avoid disrupting her household cash flow during enrollment, Fevelyn used GLoan strategically as pandagdag-puhunan. She increased her daily sales volume, eventually funneling her business profits directly into school tuition.

Hand in Hand in Realizing the Filipino Dream

The stories of Juvy and Fevelyn prove that the Filipino spirit doesn't look for handouts—it looks for fair opportunities.

Marking its 10th year of service, Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash, is actively championing fair, transparent, and deeply respectful financial practices.

"When given the right tools, everyday heroes can help navigate systemic hurdles on their own terms," says Tony Isidro, Fuse President and CEO "By providing fast, collateral-free loans, we ensure a safe and secure credit experience that, most importantly, enables Filipinos to borrow with absolute dignity.”

Kasama mo Mangarap by GCash, continues to act as a reliable ally, empowering millions of Filipinos to look toward the future with confidence and write their own stories of perseverance and success.

Inspired by these stories of daily resilience? Get information on GLoan and watch Atty. Sheila’s full GCash Story: https://youtu.be/CHrVTlAhmRI. Access GLoan through the GCash dashboard or find it under “Borrow.” Download the GCash app on the App Store or Google Play now and jumpstart your dreams. Kaya Mo. I-GCash mo.

As artificial intelligence changes how organizations work—and how cyber threats move—business leaders are being asked to think beyond adopting the newest technology. The more urgent question is whether their people, systems, and operations can continue functioning when disruption happens.

PLDT Enterprise is helping move that conversation forward through a series of speaking engagements, workshops, and executive discussions focused on digital and cyber resilience, preemptive defense, data protection, and the emerging role of Agentic AI in business operations.

Through the participation of Alexis Bernardino, Principal CXO Advisor and Head of the CXO Advisory at PLDT Enterprise, the organization has brought its perspectives to major industry platforms, including the Gov Excellence Summit 2026, Cyber Resilience Summit 2026, Digital Next Philippines 2026, and the upcoming Philippines Agentic AI Forum.

These engagements build on PLDT Enterprise’s continuing work through its Preemptive Cyber Defense discussions, Data Exposure Defense Workshop and CXO Cyber and Digital Resilience Masterclass—bringing complex technology conversations closer to the real concerns of business leaders across the public sector, conglomerates, banking and financial services, key industries, and SMEs.

PLDT Enterprise is encouraging organizations to broaden the conversation—from simply transforming operations to building operations that can withstand, respond to, and recover from disruption.

“In a landscape being reshaped by AI, transformation alone is no longer enough. Organizations must also ask whether their business operations can remain secure, trusted, and available when disruption happens,” said Bernardino. “Digital and cyber resilience means building that readiness across the whole enterprise anticipating the worst case scenario—from connectivity infrastructure, network, cloud, cybersecurity, data, and ultimately to AI.”

GovXcellence 2026 Summit showcased a powerful shift toward a unified, data-driven ecosystem, highlighting breakthrough innovations in cybersecurity and enterprise mobility. From high-level plenary sessions to cutting-edge tech exhibits, GovXcellence 2026 has officially set a new benchmark for digital governance, proving that the roadmap to a modernized Philippines is not just a vision but an active, accelerating reality.

At the Cyber Resilience Summit 2026, industry leaders examined how organizations can remain operational and trusted even during an attack. The gathering placed resilience at the center of business strategy, highlighting the need for stronger governance, practical response frameworks, and readiness for AI-driven threats.

Digital Next Philippines 2026 widened the discussion to the country’s evolving digital economy, bringing together leaders from government, banking, public services, retail, telecommunications, and other industries. The summit explored how organizations can pursue innovation while protecting data, customers, and institutional trust.

PLDT Enterprise’s participation across these platforms reflects a consistent message: cybersecurity cannot be treated as an isolated technical function. It must be connected to business continuity, customer experience, leadership decisions, and long-term growth.

This approach is supported by what the CXO Advisory Group describes as data exposure defense and an end-to-end view of enterprise architecture. Rather than looking at connectivity, networks, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI as separate layers, organizations are encouraged to see how these components work together throughout the transformation journey.

The goal is straightforward: help businesses neutralize risks before compromise.

For decision-makers, this means asking practical questions. Where are the organization’s most critical exposures? Which services must remain available during an attack? How quickly can teams detect, respond, and recover? And as AI becomes embedded in more workflows, how can it be used not only by attackers, but also by defenders?

At the upcoming Philippines Agentic AI Forum, the focus turns to how enterprises can move from AI experimentation toward production-ready applications that create measurable business outcomes. For PLDT Enterprise, this creates an opportunity to advance an Agentic AI Operations practice that brings together infrastructure modernization, networks, cloud, cybersecurity, data, and AI.

“AI is turbo charging the speed and scale of change on both sides of cybersecurity,” Bernardino added. “The same technology that introduces new risks can also help organizations detect unusual activity earlier, respond faster, and operate more intelligently. The challenge is to adopt it with the right architecture, controls, and governance from the beginning.”

This integrated approach allows PLDT Enterprise to support organizations at different stages of their journey—from enterprises strengthening foundational connectivity and cloud environments to leaders preparing for more advanced AI-enabled operations.

The value of thought leadership lies not only in discussing future technologies, but in helping organizations make better decisions today: protecting essential services, safeguarding customer trust, preparing people for disruption, and ensuring that innovation does not come at the expense of security.

By bringing together its fixed, wireless, and ICT capabilities with advisory perspectives on digital and cyber resilience to Agentic AIOps Practice, PLDT Enterprise is helping organizations see a more complete path forward—one where transformation, protection, and continuity move together.

As AI adoption accelerates and cyber risks continue to evolve, resilience will increasingly define which organizations can adapt with confidence. Through its growing presence in major industry conversations, PLDT Enterprise is helping Philippine businesses prepare not only for the technology ahead, but for the people, operations, and trust that must remain protected along the way.

As Southeast Asia accelerates toward an AI-driven and digitally connected economy, leading fiber broadband and technology solutions provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. will showcase its next-generation digital infrastructure - from future ready fiber networks and robust international cable systems to AI-ready data centers - that will enable businesses and government entities to thrive in the next wave of digital transformation at the ASEAN Tech Summit Manila 2026.

Converge showcases its enterprise solutions at the ASEAN Tech Summit Manila 2026, highlighting connectivity, cloud, and AI-ready technologies for businesses and government

Representing Converge at the premier regional summit are two executives helping drive the company’s evolution from telecommunications provider to full-fledged technology company.

“Our digital economy is entering a new era where connectivity alone is no longer enough. Businesses now require an integrated technology ecosystem that combines resilient networks, cloud, cybersecurity, data centers, and managed services. As Converge evolves into a techco, we’re building the digital backbone that will enable ASEAN’s next generation of innovation,” Castillo said.

Meanwhile, Dindo Marzan, Head of the SME Group, will discuss how micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can become stronger participants in the digital economy through the panel, “The Digital Supply Chain: Powering SMEs and the Economy Behind the Digital Economy.”

Marzan will outline how affordable, enterprise-grade connectivity and digital business solutions are lowering barriers to technology adoption, allowing Filipino entrepreneurs to compete more effectively in increasingly digital supply chains.

“MSMEs account for the overwhelming majority of businesses in the Philippines, yet many are still taking their first steps toward digitalization. Our role goes beyond providing internet access—we’re helping businesses embrace digital tools that improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and unlock new growth opportunities,” Marzan said.

Together, the two Converge leaders will reinforce the company’s vision of becoming the technology partner of choice for organizations of every size—from neighborhood enterprises to multinational corporations—by delivering solutions built on one of the country’s most extensive digital infrastructures.

At present, the integrated Converge ecosystem spans one of the Philippines’ largest domestic fiber networks, strategically located international subsea cable systems connecting the country to major global digital hubs, and a growing portfolio of data center and enterprise technology solutions. This infrastructure positions the company to support the increasing demand for cloud services, AI workloads, digital finance, and mission-critical enterprise applications.

Co-presented by Converge and organized by FinTech Alliance.PH together with Southeast Asian fintech and innovation organizations in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Advisory Council Philippines, ASEAN Tech Summit 2026 gathers policymakers, regulators, technology leaders, investors, and enterprises to define the future of the region’s digital economy from July 28 - 29, 2026 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the future of work, Globe is investing in its people by equipping employees with the tools, skills, and support they need to succeed in an AI-enabled workplace. Through a people-first approach to AI adoption, the company is strengthening workforce capabilities to help employees work smarter, innovate faster, and create greater value for customers and the business.

"At Globe, we see AI as an enabler of human potential," said Renato "Ato" Jiao, Chief Human Resource Officer. "Our goal is not simply to adopt new technologies, but to equip our people with the tools, skills, and confidence to thrive in an AI-enabled workplace. When our employees succeed, they create better experiences for our customers and stronger outcomes for the business."

Human Resources plays a key role in advancing this people-first approach by integrating AI into learning, development, and employee experience initiatives. Employees have access to an intelligent virtual assistant that streamlines HR services and support, making information easier to access and assistance more responsive. Structured AI learning journeys and hands-on training help employees build AI literacy and practical skills across different proficiency levels.

To support employees in their day-to-day work, Globe provides an AI-enabled knowledge platform that makes policies, benefits, and workplace resources easier to access. Data-driven mentoring and skills development programs connect employees with relevant learning opportunities, while secure AI productivity tools enable teams to automate routine tasks, improve efficiency, and focus on higher-value work that requires creativity, critical thinking, and human judgment.

Today, more than 80% of Globe employees have access to AI productivity tools, while over 2,500 employees have completed AI learning programs. These investments have enabled employees to develop more than 30 AI-powered tools and bots that support procurement, quality assurance, customer engagement, data analytics, and network operations. As a result, 84% of employees reported increased productivity, saving an average of three to four hours per week through AI-powered workflows.

Beyond improving workplace productivity, these employee-developed AI solutions are also delivering measurable business value. AI-powered quality audits have significantly reduced costs and manual effort, while a procurement chatbot now handles around 1,500 inquiries each month. AI-driven personalization has enhanced customer engagement and revenue, while intelligent network monitoring has achieved 90% fault detection accuracy, reducing service restoration time by 70%. These initiatives demonstrate how equipping employees with AI capabilities helps improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive business performance.

Globe believes technology creates the greatest value when combined with human expertise. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and responsible innovation, the company empowers employees to apply AI in ways that strengthen collaboration, improve decision-making, and create meaningful impact for customers, communities, partners, and shareholders.

According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, 86% of employers expect AI and information processing technologies to transform their businesses by 2030, while 77% plan to upskill and reskill their workforce to work alongside AI. In step with this global shift, Globe continues to strengthen workforce capabilities by equipping employees with the skills and tools they need to adapt, innovate, and create greater value for customers and the business.

Leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (PSE: CNVRG) has swept the top honors in Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® report for the first half of 2026, ranking as the Philippines’ best internet service provider (ISP) with fastest internet and unrivaled latency score.

Drawing from millions of consumer-initiated tests conducted nationwide across web and mobile platforms, Ookla® officially named Converge FiberX, the company’s flagship broadband product, as the “Best Internet”, “Fastest Internet”, and “Best Fixed Latency” for January to June 2026.

Converge dominated across all major fixed-broadband metrics, recording a Speed Score™ of 61.86 and a Speedtest Connectivity Score™ of 73.14. Furthermore, the network registered an industry-leading Latency Score of 14.44. Lower latency indicates faster network response times, a critical metric for gaming, video conferencing, and real-time enterprise applications.

This latest assessment extends a multi-year winning streak for Converge in the Ookla Speedtest Awards dating back to 2022.

“We take pride in providing the best broadband service to our over three million subscribers,” said Converge Chief Operations Officer Benjamin Azada. “Being awarded the fastest provider for four straight years, best ISP for three years, and now confirmed to have the best latency, is a testament to our consistent efforts to deliver superior performance.”

Sustaining network excellence

Under Ookla’s rigorous methodology, the Speed Score™ combines download speed, upload speed, and latency to reflect typical user experience, while the Connectivity Score™ evaluates the broader connected experience across high-bandwidth activities like video streaming.

“The real test is sustaining network performance as more people depend on the network every day,” noted John Paul Aguilar, Converge SVP and Consumer Business Group Head. “These results reflect the discipline behind our network investments and the standard we intend to keep raising as we expand nationwide.”

For consumers, these independent metrics translate directly to daily digital quality of life. Orange Ramirez, Converge VP and Head of Brand and Marketing, emphasized this real-world impact: “People may not think about network scores, but they experience the difference in every video call, stream, and online transaction. Independent testing makes that difference visible and gives customers a credible basis for understanding real-world performance.”

Under the leadership of CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony H. Uy and President and Co-Founder Maria Grace Y. Uy, Converge is actively expanding its digital infrastructure. The company continues to invest heavily in network capacity and technology services to deliver meaningful internet solutions to households, businesses, and public institutions across the country.

Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data, 1H 2026. All rights reserved.