Wednesday, September 30, 2026
This World Rabies Day, education, vaccination, responsible animal population management, and local partnerships remain vital in building sustainable, rabies-free communities.
Manila, Philippines, 9/2026
Stop Rabies, a global initiative of Boehringer Ingelheim implemented in partnership with the GARC Rabies Alliance, expands to Siargao to strengthen rabies prevention through education, vaccination, animal population control, and responsible pet ownership across the island.
Previously rolled out in Puerto Galera, Marinduque, Laguna, and Negros Occidental, Stop Rabies works with local governments, schools, veterinarians, and community partners to help more Filipinos recognize rabies risks, respond immediately after animal bites, and seek timely vaccination.
Despite being entirely preventable, rabies continues to pose a public health challenge in the Philippines, where hundreds of deaths are recorded annually and millions of animal bite cases are reported each year. As communities observe World Rabies Day, efforts to strengthen awareness, encourage responsible pet ownership, and expand access to preventive measures continue across different parts of the country.
“Rabies prevention starts with informed communities, vaccinated dogs and cats, and shared responsibility,” said Dr. Michael Banawa, Head of Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. “Through Stop Rabies, Boehringer Ingelheim remains committed to advancing sustainable rabies prevention to protect animals, safeguard public health, and help build healthier communities.”
Stop Rabies reaches households through door-to-door community vaccination activities, making it easier for families to protect their dogs and cats against rabies while promoting routine immunization as one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease in communities.
Bringing rabies education to more communities
Since its launch in the Philippines, Stop Rabies has expanded its community-based education efforts across Luzon and the Visayas, reaching thousands of students and empowering local stakeholders to strengthen rabies prevention at the grassroots level.
In Puerto Galera, the initiative reached more than 2,300 elementary students while helping equip frontline responders with knowledge and skills on rabies prevention and response. Building on its initial work in Calauan, Laguna, the program also expanded to Los Baños where it reached over 8,000 students across 11 schools through school-based awareness activities.
In Negros Occidental, Stop Rabies partnered with the local government and the Department of Education to introduce rabies awareness videos in schools in Bacolod City, while conducting community and school-based education sessions in Victorias City.
Building on these experiences, Stop Rabies will expand to Siargao this October through a partnership with the local government, the GARC Rabies Alliance, and the Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation, Inc. (FETPAFI). The rollout will bring together community-based education, mass dog and cat vaccination, spay and neuter activities, and responsible pet ownership to support ongoing rabies prevention efforts across the island.
“Rabies education saves lives because it gives people the knowledge to act before it is too late,” said Dr. Niko Ylagan, Stop Rabies Lead and Companion Animal Health Technical Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. “Beyond classroom sessions, Stop Rabies helps communities build sustained rabies awareness and make prevention part of everyday life.”
Rabies education saves lives
Rabies remains one of the most fatal yet most preventable infectious diseases. In the Philippines, the disease is estimated to claim 300 to 400 lives annually, while around four million animal bite cases are recorded nationwide each year.
Recent rabies-related deaths involving children have once again drawn attention to the importance of seeking immediate medical care following an animal bite or scratch, highlighting how delays in treatment can lead to tragic consequences.,,
Children and low-income families remain among those most affected, making awareness at home, in schools, and in communities especially important. Immediate wound washing, prompt medical consultation, and timely post-exposure vaccination can prevent rabies before symptoms appear.
Rabies education helps children, families, schools, and communities recognize rabies risks, prevent dog bites, and respond immediately after an animal bite or scratch. It also corrects misconceptions that delay treatment, including the belief that only stray dogs carry rabies or that small bites or scratches are harmless. Health experts note that even healthy-looking but unvaccinated pets can transmit the virus, making immediate medical assessment essential after any potential rabies exposure.
Boehringer Ingelheim remains committed to supporting the global goal of eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 through its Stop Rabies program and partnerships with local communities and stakeholders.
Pet owners can help prevent rabies by ensuring their dogs are vaccinated and practicing responsible pet ownership.
From concert nights to late-night memories, capture it all with ease.
From concert nights and live shows to spontaneous moments with friends, there’s always something worth capturing. The Galaxy S26 FE makes it easy to keep those moments close, with camera features designed to help you capture the action, the atmosphere, and everything in between.
Your Fancam, Only Better
For fans who love documenting their favorite artists, My FanCam makes it easier to keep the spotlight where it belongs.
Whether you’re filming a solo performance, a dance break, or a memorable interaction on stage, My Fancam helps users focus on their chosen subject and keep track of the action. It’s made for those moments when there’s simply too much happening on stage to settle for just one frame.
The Galaxy S26 FE pairs this experience with Super Steady Video, helping users capture smoother footage even when the action gets intense. From following an artist moving across the stage to filming while caught up in the energy of the crowd, Super Steady Video helps reduce unwanted camera shake so footage stays focused on the moment.
Because a good fancam is more than just a video, it’s a way to relive the excitement of being there, from the performance and energy of the crowd to the moments that happened in between.
See the Night in a New Light
A concert can be a challenge to capture, especially when the lights go down and the stage shifts between bright spotlights and darker scenes. The Galaxy S26 FE’s Nightography helps capture clearer, more detailed shots in low-light settings, so fans can keep up with the performance even when the lighting changes.
Paired with the ProVisual Engine, the Galaxy S26 FE helps bring out more detail and clarity in concert shots, from the glow of the stage lights to those darker moments in between. Whether you’re capturing your favorite artist’s performance or a memorable moment from the crowd, you can keep the energy of the show in your camera roll.
Make Every Moment Count with the Galaxy S26 FE
The Galaxy S26 FE is now available in Pistachio, Blueberry, and Graphite, giving fans a choice of color to match their style. Until November 30, 2026, customers can enjoy a ₱7,000 discount on the 512GB variant, ₱5,000 off on 256GB, and ₱4,000 off on 128GB. Customers can also get up to ₱6,000 in guaranteed savings when trading in an old device. For those purchasing through Home Credit, an additional discount of up to ₱14,000 is available until October 31, 2026.
Whether it’s your favorite artist on stage, a night out with friends, or an everyday moment worth remembering, the Galaxy S26 FE is made to help you capture more of what matters. With the right features, style, and offers to get started, make every moment count with the Galaxy S26 FE.
For more information on Galaxy S26 FE, please visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s/galaxy-s26-fe-pistachio-128gb-sm-s741blgbphl/
Terms and conditions apply.
*Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-265742 Series of 2026
*Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-265761 Series of 2026
The Filipino four-piece will make its Vagabond debut with a collaborative B2B set alongside Taiwanese band SADOG
ONE CLICK STRAIGHT (OCS) will perform at Vagabond Festival 2026, one of Taiwan’s biggest music festivals.
The Filipino alternative-pop/rock band will be joining the festival’s Band Battle B2B stage for a special collaborative performance with Taiwanese indie blues-punk band SADOG.
The Band Battle B2B format will see the two bands perform in a face-to-face setup, trading musical ideas in an improvised set without a fixed setlist. According to ONE CLICK STRAIGHT, the format presents a new kind of performance challenge: one that puts spontaneity and musical interplay at the center of the show.
“First things first, we are beyond grateful and excited to be part of the artist lineup for Taiwan’s Vagabond Festival this 2026,” the four-piece band shares. “Preparing for this show will be exciting and strangely alien to us, as we are set to play the Parachute stage with Taiwanese band SADOG in a face-to-face, no-setlist setup—something that we’ve never done in our career before. Everything is a mix of excitement and gratitude.”
The upcoming Taiwan performance continues to strengthen the band’s foothold in the Asian music festival circuit, which previously started at AXEAN Festival in Bali, Indonesia, and Baybeats Festival in Singapore in 2025, then continued with stints at Music Lane Festival Okinawa in Japan, Bangkok Music City in Thailand, All Of The Noise and Sonik Philippines in Manila, and Playtime Festival in Mongolia in 2026.
At Vagabond Festival, OCS plans to embrace the format’s spontaneity, letting its live sound shine in real time alongside SADOG and the festival audience.
“We aim to ride our sound through the spur of the moment alongside all music lovers in Vagabond,” the band says. “Audiences can expect to see us in our purest form, jamming out our own sonic DNA live and improvised.”
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Manila, Philippines (September 25, 2026) – What does it take to turn creativity into a sustainable career? For Filipino content creators Baus Rufo, Carlo Ople, and Jaz Reyes, the answer goes beyond views and followers. It starts with taking the first step, showing up consistently, and making intentional decisions that support both creative growth and financial well-being.
During Sun Life Philippines’ first-ever creator camp, entitled “One Day to Day One,” the three creators shared lessons from their own journeys, offering emerging content creators practical advice on building meaningful content, overcoming self-doubt, and creating opportunities that last.
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Start Before You’re Ready
For comedian, content creator, and event producer Baus Rufo, pursuing a creative career did not happen overnight. During his talk, he reflected on a career journey that took him from advertising leadership roles to building a life centered on comedy, content creation, and performance.
Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, Rufo encouraged aspiring creators to take small, calculated steps toward their goals. He shared that meaningful change is often the result of constant learning, reinvention, and a willingness to “fail forward.” One of his most resonant reminders: “Done is better than good.”
Rufo also spoke candidly about the realities of freelancing and creative work, from embracing uncertainty to continuously investing in oneself and nurturing trusted relationships. These lessons, he said, helped him build a career that allows him to be creative while achieving financial freedom.
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Consistency Beats Confidence
For former sports broadcaster, host, and content creator Jaz Reyes, confidence is often misunderstood as a prerequisite to creating. In reality, she shared, most creators experience the same doubts before publishing their work.
“We doubt ourselves. We overthink. We wonder if anyone will care. We still hit 'Post' anyway,” Reyes explained in her presentation about the messy process behind every piece of content.
Drawing from her own experiences as a radio DJ, host, and creator, she encouraged aspiring influencers to focus less on perfection and more on progress. Among her key lessons were simple but powerful reminders: curiosity beats perfection, action creates momentum, and consistency beats confidence.
Reyes emphasized that confidence is built through action, not waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect idea. As she put it, “Confidence comes from doing, not waiting to feel ready.”
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Turning Passion into Opportunity
During a fireside chat, entrepreneur and content creator Carlo Ople joined Sun Life financial advisor and content creator Jacklord Esguerra to discuss how creators can build both influence and financial stability.
For Esguerra, content creation started with a simple mission: making financial concepts easier to understand. Despite being told that insurance content wouldn't gain traction, he chose to focus on educating rather than selling. “People don't like being sold to. They want to be informed, inspired, and educated,” Esguerra shared.
His early posts gained little attention, but he stayed consistent. Over time, audiences began discovering his content, sharing it with others, and reaching out for guidance. Today, content has become one of his most effective ways to educate and serve more Filipinos on their financial journey.
Ople echoed the value of thinking long term. What started as a gaming blog while he was working in corporate eventually grew into multiple businesses built around content.
Rather than immediately leaving his corporate career, Ople spent more than 17 years balancing work and content creation, proving that passion projects and financial security can grow side by side. “The more sources of revenue, the more sources of income, the better,” he said.
Together, their message was clear: start small, create value consistently, and trust that meaningful opportunities often begin long before anyone notices.
From "One Day" to Day One
Despite their different backgrounds and creative paths, the speakers shared a remarkably similar message: success rarely begins with certainty. It begins with action.
Whether it's publishing a first video, pursuing a long-held passion project, experimenting with a new format, or making smarter decisions for the future, creators don't need to wait until everything is perfect to begin.
Through the lessons shared by Baus Rufo, Jaz Reyes, and Carlo Ople, attendees were reminded that meaningful careers are built one step at a time. The journey from "One Day" to "Day One" starts not with confidence or perfection, but with a willingness to start anyway.
If you’re ready to start today, visit sunlife.co/LiveBrightNow to know more. #
Manila, Philippines (September 29, 2026) — University life extends far beyond the classroom. Today's students balance coursework and organizational activities to content creation and other responsibilities that require them to shift seamlessly between roles. HUAWEI partnered with the University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) official broadcasting arm, Tiger Media Network, during Onboarding Week to help power students’ evolving lifestyles.
The collaboration highlights how the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 can support students across different aspects of campus life, bringing together productivity, creativity, and collaboration in a versatile 4-in-1 setup.
Powering the Next Generation of Professionals with the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026
HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 fits into the heart of their student life, highlighting how its 4-in-1 setup can support students as they move between academic responsibilities and creative pursuits.
The partnership showcased the different ways Thomasians use the MatePad throughout their day, from taking notes and organizing coursework to creating content, collaborating on group projects, and preparing presentations. In doing so, the collaboration reflected the increasingly multifaceted role of today’s students, who balance learning with creative and extracurricular pursuits.
More than a technology showcase, the collaboration demonstrated how the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 fits into the realities of modern student life, bridging classwork and creative work in one versatile device.
Beat Screen Fatigue and Academic Overload with an AI-Powered 4-in-1 Mobile Workstation
Built for the many demands of student life, the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 gives students a versatile 4-in-1 setup that can be used from classwork to creative projects. With the Smart Magnetic Keyboard, Bluetooth mouse, and HUAWEI M-Pencil (3rd Gen), students can draft reports in PC-Level WPS Office, create graphics, sketch storyboards, and work on visual projects, all from one device.
This comfortable experience extends directly to study marathons and creative workflows. The innovative PaperMatte Display features advanced anti-glare technology that eliminates harsh reflections and reduces eye strain even during long reading hours or reviewing modules. Beyond protecting vision, it provides a tactile, paper-like surface for drawing and note-taking. Combined with the GoPaint app, students can effortlessly sketch character designs, paint vibrant illustrations, and render complex graphics for hours without straining their eyes, thanks to the paper-like display empowering their creative work.
For heavier academic workloads, the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 brings AI-powered productivity tools that help students work smarter, not harder. With WPS AI on PC-Level WPS Office, students can use AI-powered tools to condense lengthy PDF research papers into digestible insights, generate structured PowerPoint presentations, and create Excel charts to jumpstart their deliverables. Meanwhile, HUAWEI Notes’ Speech-to-Text feature captures lectures in real time, helping students keep track of key details. When reviewing for exams, the built-in AI Tutor helps clarify confusing topics directly from their study materials.
Back-to-School with More Power, More Value, and More Possibilities
During the ongoing Back-to-School promotional period, the HUAWEI MatePad Family starts at PHP 33,999 and includes up to PHP 33,886 worth of freebies depending on the model. Each purchase has a complimentary one-year WPS AI Membership, a Bluetooth Mouse, premium hardware accessories such as the HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard, HUAWEI M-Pencil, and more. Customers can also enjoy 0% interest installment plans for up to 24 months, subject to participating banks and terms.
With the versatile HUAWEI MatePad Family, students finally have the digital tools they need to study, create, and present with ease.
Make the smart switch today! The Back-to-School promo period is valid until September 30 only, and the freebie bundles are available strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the HUAWEI Online Store now to lock in your ultimate 4-in-1 PC-Like campus setup.
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Farmers from Magallanes, Cavite recently joined PCIC and GCash representatives, together with the local government unit led by Mayor Janessa Ann Maligaya-De Ramayo (first row, 5th from left), for the distribution of PCIC x GCash co-branded cards
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Digital disbursements and co-branded PCIC-GCash Visa Cards give farmers a more convenient way to receive and use indemnity payments
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), in partnership with GCash, is making it easier for farmers to access their insurance payouts by providing a faster and more convenient way to receive and use indemnity payments through digital financial services.
Through this partnership, PCIC leverages the GCash Funds Disbursement Service (FDS) to deliver instant digital payouts as an alternative to traditional cheques. Farmers no longer need to travel long distances to encash cheques or attend distribution events, gaining direct, secure access to their funds via GCash.
PCIC and GCash are also issuing free co-branded PCIC x GCash Visa cards, giving farmers an accessible way to withdraw their insurance payouts from ATMs or pay directly at Visa-accepting merchants. This provides essential financial flexibility, ensuring uninterrupted access to emergency funds even when they do not have their mobile devices.
For many farmers who live far from cities and banking facilities, accessing insurance payouts through traditional channels can be costly and time-consuming. By bringing digital disbursement and card-based access closer to them, the partnership aims to make the process more convenient while helping farmers access financial support when they need it most.
"Our partnership with GCash enables PCIC to strengthen our existing services through practical digital solutions that make insurance more accessible and convenient for farmers, especially those in communities far from traditional banking facilities," said PCIC business development and marketing manager Israel De La Cruz.
The initiative highlights how digital financial services can make government assistance more accessible to Filipinos, particularly those in communities that face barriers to traditional financial services. Through GCash, farmers can have more convenient options for receiving and accessing funds without the need to rely solely on manual cheque distribution and bank encashment.
“At GCash, we believe that digital financial services can help make essential financial support more accessible to more Filipinos. Through our partnership with PCIC, we are providing farmers with more convenient ways to receive and use their indemnity payments, while the co-branded GCash Visa Card gives them added flexibility in accessing their funds,” said GCash public sector head Chai Alano.
By combining digital fund disbursement with accessible card-based payment and cash-out options, GCash and PCIC are helping make financial assistance more convenient for farmers and supporting their recovery and participation in the digital economy.
For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com.
Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines – New career opportunities are coming closer to home as SM City Masinag brings jobseekers and employers together at the SM Job Fair on October 1, 2026, at the Mall Atrium, giving the community a convenient way to explore employment opportunities and connect with potential employers.
In partnership with the Antipolo City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the City Government of Antipolo, the Job Fair will bring together 19 companies offering a total of 1,094 job vacancies, giving jobseekers more opportunities to connect directly with potential employers and explore positions across different industries.
As a most-loved mall in the community, SM City Masinag continues to provide more than shopping, dining, and everyday conveniences. Through initiatives like the SM Job Fair, the mall creates an accessible space where people can connect with opportunities and services that matter to them.
Now is the time to get ready and max out the opportunity. Update your resume, prepare your application documents, and come ready to meet potential employers. Being prepared can help you make the most of every conversation and opportunity waiting at the Job Fair.
Get your resume and credentials ready, and make plans to join us this October 1. Come prepared to explore new possibilities, meet potential employers, and max out your next career opportunity at your most-loved mall, SM City Masinag.
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