Destination PH

06/11/2025

ALEX EALA IS NOW WORLD NO. 50 IN WTA RANKINGS 🎾🇵🇭

Alex Eala has officially entered the WTA Top 50.

The Filipina tennis ace is ending her 2025 season with a bang as she just rose to World No. 50 in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings on Monday, Nov. 3.

Eala made history in her stellar WTA 1000 Miami campaign, lifting her to the Top 100 at 75th, which later rose to 51st.

She won her first-round battle at the US Open, followed by a breakthrough championship at the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open.

Her possible next match is in next month’s SEA Games in Thailand, having previously competed in the 2021 SEA Games and 2022 Asian Games.

You can check the full tennis world rankings on WTA's website. (See link in the comments.)

This story originally appeared on the PhilSTAR Life. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

05/11/2025

LOOK: AHTISA MANALO STUNS IN RED AT MISS UNIVERSE SASHING CEREMONY 👸🇵🇭

Philippines’ bet Ahtisa Manalo looked radiant in her stunning red dress as she posed with reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig during the official 74th Miss Universe sashing ceremony on Tuesday.

The event took a dramatic turn when Miss Universe Thailand National Director Nawat Itsaragrisil and Mexico’s candidate Fatima Bosch reportedly had a heated exchange that ended in a walkout on November 4.

Despite the tension, Ahtisa stood out with poise and elegance, representing the Philippines with undeniable confidence and grace. 🇵🇭✨

This story originally appeared on the official Miss Universe Thailand page. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

05/11/2025

TWO PINAYS LAND ON FORBES ASIA'S POWER BUSINESSWOMEN 2025 LIST

Two Filipina executives, Mariana Zobel de Ayala and Mybelle Aragon-GoBio, have been named among Forbes Asia's Power Businesswomen in 2025.

In its annual list released on Nov. 3, Forbes listed 20 women leaders from across Asia who are making a significant impact on the region’s fast-evolving business and economic landscape.

"More than half of the women are high-performing professional managers with proven track records in fields such as banking, consumer goods and transportation. Three are first-generation entrepreneurs, including one who has launched two profitable unicorns," it said.

It also noted the trailblazers, including those involved in sectors powered by artificial intelligence and advanced tech, such as data centers, semiconductors, and rare earths, as well as those continuing family legacies.

Aragon-GoBio is the president and CEO of Robinsons Land under JG Summit, one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates. She is the first woman and non-family member to lead the developer founded in 1980 by the late John Gokongwei. He was succeeded by his son and executive chairman, Lance Gokongwei, who called Aragon-GoBio “the best (hu)man for the job.”

According to Forbes Asia, the 52-year-old businesswoman joined the company in 1993 as an administrative assistant and was able to rise to the ranks by leading its logistics, residential, and office projects. She also created a five-year, ₱125 billion expansion plan ($2.2 billion) for the company in May.

By 2030, she plans to double net income to ₱25 billion, expand malls to 69, grow office space by 50% to 1.2 million square meters, increase hotel rooms by 25% to 5,300, double logistics capacity, and develop new mixed-use estates.

Aragon-GoBio holds degrees in management engineering and international business from the University of Antwerp.

Meanwhile, Zobel de Ayala is an eighth-generation heiress of the country's oldest conglomerate, Ayala Corp. She handles the leasing and hospitality business of its property arm, Ayala Land.

Under her leadership, the company’s redevelopment of eight existing malls and construction of new ones is projected to expand gross leasable area by a third, reaching 2.9 million square meters by 2028.
At the same time, she is overseeing a $500 million (₱29 billion) hospitality investment, which will nearly double Ayala Land’s hotel rooms to 8,000 by 2030.

This plan includes the 578-room New World Makati, acquired in June from Hong Kong’s New World Development, alongside upcoming openings of Mandarin Oriental, Marriott’s Moxy, and Hilton’s Canopy hotels in the Makati financial district next year, per Forbes.

"In March, Mariana was appointed Ayala Corp.’s managing director, 12 years after she left her job as an investment analyst at JPMorgan in New York to join her family’s 191-year-old, banking-to-property group," Forbes Asia noted.

The 36-year-old executive holds a bachelor's degree in Social Studies (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) from Harvard University. She also earned an MBA from INSEAD in 2020. Three years later, she was named senior vice president at Ayala Land.

"The leasing and hospitality unit delivered a record ₱23.2 billion ($397 million) in sales in the first half of 2025, accounting for over a quarter of the Manila-based developer’s revenue," Forbes said.

In 2024, Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, president of tycoon Andrew Tan’s property conglomerate Megaworld, was the only Filipino included in the list.

This story originally appeared on PhilSTAR Life. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.
Read full story in the comments.

04/11/2025

03/11/2025

LOOK: PACQUIAO TO OPEN SPORTS ACADEMY IN DUBAI

Former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao is turning his passion for sports and grassroots development into action by establishing the Manny Pacquiao Sports Academy, with its first branch set to open in Dubai.

Pacquiao, recently appointed Vice President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), said the academy will primarily focus on boxing but will also cater to other sports to nurture young athletes worldwide.

“It’s really important to support young kids, especially at the grassroots level,” Pacquiao told reporters. “To develop good fighters — that’s what the IBA, together with President Umar Kremlev, plans to do. We’ll start in Dubai, either later this year or early next year.”

The Filipino boxing icon said the initiative aims to produce not only elite boxers but also well-rounded athletes across disciplines.

“Our goal is to put up a Manny Pacquiao Sports Academy – not just for boxing, but for any sport that can help young athletes make history in their lives,” he said.

Pacquiao added that his new role in the IBA will help expand the program globally, with future academies planned in countries such as the UAE, the Philippines, the United States, Russia, and China.

He described the project as a collaboration of ideas with IBA President Kremlev, noting that it combines shared visions for sports development and youth empowerment.

“We’ll focus on developing young boxers. I love the IBA platform because it supports athletes from the grassroots level until they turn professional,” Pacquiao said.

The IBA confirmed that Pacquiao’s appointment as Vice President is part of its effort to create athlete-first programs and expand global opportunities for boxers.

“Bringing Manny Pacquiao into the IBA as Vice President will only strengthen our work,” said IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE. “Manny’s story doesn’t end here — his legacy continues through this role.”

IBA President Umar Kremlev also welcomed Pacquiao’s appointment, expressing confidence that it would help attract more major boxing events to the Philippines.

The IBA is set to host the 2026 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships in Dubai from December 2 to 13 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Pacquiao said the Philippines may field four to six boxers in the tournament, which will offer a total prize pool of $8.32 million, including $300,000 for gold medalists, $150,000 for silver, $75,000 for bronze, and $10,000 for quarterfinalists.

IBA officials said the goal is to support athletes from their early amateur careers up to the professional level.

“We want to ensure boxers are supported throughout their journey,” said IBA Pro Director Al Siesta. “From grassroots to professional boxing, that’s the IBA ecosystem.”

The IBA aims to make the World Championships the flagship tournament for amateur boxing worldwide.

This story originally appeared on The Filipino Times. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

03/11/2025

SINGAPORE INVESTORS EYE PHILIPPINE RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKET

Singaporean businesses are strengthening ties with Philippine counterparts, drawn by the country’s renewable energy sector, according to an official from the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS).

SEAS executive director Kavita Gandhi, speaking on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW), said some investors are “looking at (the) Philippines actively.”

“(The) Philippines is a very attractive market. Your tariffs are very high, you know, one of the highest in Asia. I guess, almost similar to Singapore. So that gives room for renewables to play,” Gandhi said, highlighting the potential returns for green energy projects.

Regulatory concerns remain, but “despite that, the interest is very strong,” she added. Gandhi noted that SEAS does not lobby government officials but seeks to “encourage interaction between Singapore companies and Philippine companies.”

Asked about investment amounts, Gandhi said the group does not track figures but stressed investors are “looking for the best projects.”

“That is green capital, sustainable capital, looking for bankable projects. So, it’s definitely a business-to-business commercial arrangement. Whenever they find that the opportunity is good, they go ahead and do the investments,” she said.

During Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s visit to Manila in June, he and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced plans to expand bilateral cooperation under the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and support Philippine renewable energy, particularly solar and wind.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, speaking at SIEW, said the APG aims to link ASEAN member states’ energy systems to ensure supply stability.

“ASEAN envisions a fully interconnected regional power system capable of meeting the region’s growing energy demand, while also preserving reliability and affordability. This interconnected system will drive the transition toward a cleaner, resilient, and sustainable energy future, where progress and prosperity are shared equitably across the member states,” she said.

“To unlock the full potential of regional interconnection, cooperation must go beyond building physical links. We must align our national policies to ensure systems can operate seamlessly across borders.
Harmonized technical standards, compatible market mechanisms, clear investment frameworks, and stable cross-border governance form the foundation of our collective progress,” Garin added.

This story originally appeared on Bilyonaryo News Channel. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

03/11/2025

92 days.

₱1.2 trillion stolen.
0 politicians jailed.

02/11/2025

LOOK: DUMAGUETE CITY, QUEZON CITY ARE 2025 UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES

Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental and Quezon City in the National Capital Region have made it to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

The two are the only cities from the Philippines in the list of 58 for 2025.

Dumaguete CIty is creative city for literature while Quezon City is creative city for film.

Dumaguete is deemed “City of Gentle People” due to the kind nature of its residents. The city is also recognized as a center of learning in Central Philippines and is considered a major academic hub with several universities, including the prominent Silliman University, the first American institution of higher learning in the Philippines and Asia. Being a center of intellectual and artistic creativity, Dumaguete City attracts writing professionals and enthusiasts, and is often regarded as a major literary hub in the Visayas region.

Meanwhile, Quezon City is the heart and central hub of the Philippine film and entertainment industry. Quezon City is deemed “City of Stars." During the Golden Age of Philippine Cinema in the 1950s and 1960s, major film studios based in Quezon City produced hundreds of films annually that launched many personalities into stardom.

“On World Cities Day 2025, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay designated 58 cities as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Recognized for their commitment to championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development, these cities bring their proven expertise in building resilient and vibrant communities to the Network,” UNESCO said on its website.

The 2025 list includes the following:

• Aberystwyth, Literature
• Abuja, Literature
• Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Gastronomy
• Andenne, Crafts and Folk Art
• Bistrita, Architecture
• Bobo-Dioulasso, Crafts and Folk Art
• Celje, Literature
• Cheongju City, Crafts and Folk Art
• Conakry, Literature
• Cuenca, Gastronomy
• Daugavpils, Design
• Dumaguete City, Literature
• Echizen City, Crafts and Folk Art
• Evian, Music
• Faenza, Crafts and Folk Art
• Gdańsk, Literature
• Giza, Film
• Hebron, Crafts and Folk Art
• Ho Chi Minh City, Film
• Höhr-Grenzhausen, Crafts and Folk Art
• Kahramanmaraş, Literature
• Kashan, Architecture
• Kelowna, Gastronomy
• Kisumu, Music
• Korhogo, Music
• Kuala Lumpur, Design
• Kyiv, Music
• La Spezia, Design
• Lalitpur, Music
• Liège, Music
• Lubango, Crafts and Folk Art
• Lucknow, Gastronomy
• Lund, Literature
• Lusail, Architecture
• Malang, Media Arts
• Manizales, Gastronomy
• Masaya, Crafts and Folk Art
• Matosinhos, Gastronomy
• Nan, Crafts and Folk Art
• New Orleans, Music
• Nikšić, Music
• Ponorogo, Crafts and Folk Art
• Quanzhou, Gastronomy
• Quezon City, Film
• Quito, Architecture
• Riyadh, Design
• Rovaniemi, Architecture
• Safi, Crafts and Folk Art
• San Javier de Loncomilla, Gastronomy
• San Luis Potosí, Literature
• São Paulo, Film
• Sarchí, Crafts and Folk Art
• Sifnos, Crafts and Folk Art
• Songkhla, Gastronomy
• Tangier, Literature
• Varna, Media Arts
• Wuxi, Music
• Zaragoza, Gastronomy

These cities, UNESCO said, “stand out for their active commitment to culture and creativity, as well as their innovative approaches to urban planning.”

For 2025, architecture has been added to existing themes that include Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, and Music.

The UNESCO Creative Cities will be invited to participate in the Network's 2026 Annual Conference in Essaouira (Morocco), a Creative City for Music since 2019, UNESCO said.

Launched in 2004, the Creative Cities Network is meant "to support cities that leverage culture and creativity as drivers of development. It is at the local level that this dynamic comes to life: by promoting skills, supporting creative professionals and involving residents, cities can create jobs, boost their economies and strengthen social cohesion," UNESCO said.

In April 2025, in line with its bid to become a UNESCO Creative City of Literature, Dumaguete gathered luminaries in the field of literature, writers, poets, and creatives, among others, for the second Dumaguete Literary Festival.

This story originally appeared on GMA Regional TV News. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

01/11/2025

CEBU PACIFIC WINS AWARD FROM AVIATION MARKET INTELLIGENCE FIRM

MANILA — Cebu Pacific has been named the Asia Low-Cost Carrier of the Year by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), recognizing the airline’s record-breaking passenger growth and strong financial performance.

According to the airline, it flew almost 20 million passengers from January to September 2025 — a 13.9 percent increase from 17.5 million during the same period last year. Domestic passengers rose 12.7 percent to 14.9 million, while international passengers surged 17.7 percent to 5.1 million.

The CAPA Awards for Excellence honors airlines that demonstrate outstanding strategic leadership, innovation, and lasting industry impact. Winners are selected by an international panel of judges and analysts.

Cebu Pacific CEO Mike Szucs expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying:

“As we expand our reach, our purpose remains clear — to connect people and communities, and to help fuel tourism and economic growth across the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific.”

Cebu Pacific currently operates 37 domestic and 26 international routes across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. In August, the carrier added more flights to Japan, Vietnam, and Australia as its fleet reached 100 aircraft.

The airline also reported that its net income more than doubled in the first half of 2025, soaring to ₱9 billion.

This story originally appeared on ABS-CBN News. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

31/10/2025

LOOK: WHALE SHARK FOUND DEAD IN FISH PEN IN E.B. MAGALONA

BACOLOD CITY — A whale shark trapped in a fish pen was found dead in Barangay Pasil, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental on October 26.

Barangay Captain Sharen Patoc Belen said she was informed by one of the caretakers about the discovery around 2 p.m., prompting them to coordinate with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, police, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Belen said the whale shark weighed close to 1,700 kilograms and measured 22 feet long and seven feet wide.

Due to the massive size of the animal, pump boats were used to transport it from the sea to the riverbank.

“Dako gid siya kaayo,” Belen said, adding that it could not be hauled manually.

No visible injuries were found on the whale shark.

This story originally appeared on the Daily Guardian. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

31/10/2025

PACQUIAO SON EMAN BACOSA OUTHUSTLES COMPATRIOT

Following in his father’s legendary footsteps, Eman Bacosa, the son of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, scored a unanimous decision win over fellow Filipino Nico Salado during the Thrilla in Manila II 50th Anniversary event held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, October 29.

The 21-year-old Bacosa outboxed Salado in their six-round lightweight match, with the judges scoring it 58-55, 60-53 in his favor. The victory improved Bacosa’s record to 7-0-1 (win-loss-draw), while Salado dropped to 2-2-1.

“Okay lang po. Saka gusto kong magpasalamat sa Panginoong Diyos natin dahil sa pagbigay Niya sa akin ng proteksyon at paggabay Niya sa akin ng tagumpay,” Bacosa told reporters after the fight. “Maraming salamat din po sa mga sumusuporta… Thankful ako kay God saka masayang-masaya.”

He also shared the advice from his coach that helped him stay composed inside the ring:
“Confident ako na mananalo pero sabi kasi ng coach ko, wag masyadong gigil, wag masyadong habol kasi darating din po 'yon eh.”

It was a slow start for both boxers, but Bacosa found his rhythm midway, landing a powerful left hook in the fourth round that sent Salado to the canvas. Although the Boholano fighter fought back in the later rounds, Bacosa’s earlier dominance secured the win on the judges’ cards.

This story originally appeared on the Manila Bulletin Sports page. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.

31/10/2025

MARIGOLD FLOWER FARM BLOOMS AS NEW TOURIST SPOT IN GENSAN

A one-hectare Marigold Flower Farm in Barangay Conel, General Santos City is fast becoming a new tourist attraction, drawing visitors eager to capture photos amid rows of golden-yellow blooms.

Dubbed the “Flower of the Sun,” marigold thrives in GenSan’s warm climate. The farm began attracting tourists in September and continues to welcome guests daily.

Located along the Diversion Road heading to Barangay Conel—just before the Welcome Arch—the site offers a vibrant and picture-perfect experience for locals and visitors alike.

Although marigolds are seasonal, caretakers assure the public that they will continue planting year-round to keep the farm in full bloom for everyone to enjoy.

📍 Barangay Conel, General Santos City

This story originally appeared on ABS-CBN News. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.