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Pioneer Launches Biz e-Protect to Shield SMEs vs. Evolving Cyber Risks

Pioneer Insurance has introduced Biz e-Protect, a cyber insurance solution that helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) recover from cyber threats through coverage for financial losses, business interruption, and incident response costs. Pioneer Group Head Lorenzo Chan Jr. shared, “Biz e-Protect aims to support SMEs facing risks such as cyberattacks, data breaches, digital fraud, ransomware, and system failures that can interrupt operations and impact business reputation.” The new product was introduced during Pioneer Insurance’s “Protection in a World of Cyber Risks” forum held on July 7 at Makati Diamond Residences. During the event, Pioneer General Accident Head Jenny Tolentino shared that as cyber risks increasingly affect businesses of all sizes, SMEs may be especially vulnerable as many operate with limited financial reserves, lean manpower, and little or no dedicated cybersecurity capability. Recognizing this, Pioneer developed Biz e-Protect with complimentary cyber risk man

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Salesforce Agentic Enterprise Index: Agent Deployments More Than Double Year-Over-Year

Salesforce has released its 2026 Agentic Enterprise Index, which analyzes aggregated AI usage data from the Agentforce platform to uncover how businesses are deploying, using, and getting value out of AI agents. The results this year show a tale of two rollouts, a bifurcation in the global business landscape in which an industry’s operational DNA and business needs can dictate how its digital workforce is deployed. High-volume, task-specific deployments: Most common among consumer-facing sectors, this approach leans into high volume and speed to tackle immediate customer needs. Versatile, multi-step deployments: Seen in more operationally complex and heavily regulated fields like Manufacturing and Public Sector, this strategy prioritizes building agents capable of taking on a wide variety of tasks that require cross-functional business logic. Each type of rollout deepens trust and results in ROI, but the future of agentic AI rests on the coexistence of both deployment models—delive

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Palawan Group’s Tech-Driven Upgrade: Introducing the 'Palawan for All' Financial Platform

Life comes with different financial priorities. A young Filipino may be learning to manage a first paycheck, a parent may be sending money home, an entrepreneur may be looking for ways to grow a business, while a family may be preparing for the future. As these priorities take shape, access to financial services that are affordable, accessible, and easy to use becomes increasingly important. For more than four decades, the Palawan Group of Companies has been part of these everyday financial journeys. As it celebrates its 41st anniversary, the company is taking its next step with the launch of “Palawan for All,” a campaign that brings together its expanding range of financial solutions under one commitment: to serve Filipinos in the ways that matter most to them. Unveiled during a media gathering in Makati, Palawan for All reflects the Group’s expansion from its established pawning and remittance services into a broader range of financial solutions. Its portfolio now spans digital pay

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SONA Marks Turning Point in the Philippines' Energy Transition, Says Alpas Pinas

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s renewed commitment to nuclear energy during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) marks a significant milestone in the Philippines' energy transition, signaling the strongest national endorsement of nuclear power yet since the country adopted its nuclear energy roadmap, according to Alpas Pinas. In his address before Congress, President Marcos reaffirmed the government's commitment to pursuing nuclear energy as part of the country's long-term strategy to ensure energy security, stabilize electricity supply, curb the rising cost of electricity and address rising power demand. The statement places nuclear energy firmly within the administration's broader vision for the country's economic and infrastructure development. In a press briefing held recently at the Richmonde Hotel in Iloilo City, the group renewed its call to include nuclear energy to be part of the country’s development program. Similar media events have been held in Metro Manila, L

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Kaspersky GreAT Expert Details Risks When Blind Trust in AI Moves Faster Than Verification

With the current speed of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development known to speed up and improve enterprises’ productivity, Kaspersky researcher underscored the dangers of “blind trust” and lack of verification on AI, and how cyberattackers exploit these gaps with no vulnerability but with just trust. “AI has advanced at a tremendous pace over the past few years. In its early stages, AI took the form of tools that could generate, summarise, and draft content. The next phase brought copilots, embedding AI directly into workflows to assist, suggest and guide users as they worked. Fast forward to now, we have entered the era of AI agents, which can plan, use tools, call APIs, and act autonomously. While humans remain present to verify each stage of an AI-driven development, we see more and more incidents where verification is often overlooked to maximise productivity, and when speed outpaces verification, that speed can also amplify risks,” warns Sojun Ryu, security researcher at Kaspers

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Samsung Galaxy Z8 Series Drives Record-High Foldable Pre-Orders in Southeast Asia and Oceania

Samsung Electronics has achieved a record high volume of pre-order sales in Southeast Asia and Oceania with the launch of the Galaxy Z8 series. Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra devices have increased by almost 60% compared to the Galaxy Z Fold7. With the pre-order period ending on August 13 in the region, consumers here have a few days left to enjoy pre-order benefits. Since its unveiling, the Galaxy Z8 series has seen positive consumer response across the globe and similarly in Southeast Asia and Oceania, demand for the new devices has been robust. The Galaxy Z Fold8 has currently emerged as the most popular option in the region, accounting for almost six in every ten Galaxy Z8 devices ordered. This strong performance reflects clear consumer preference for the new form factor. In the Philippines, the Galaxy Z Fold8 has emerged as Samsung’s best-selling foldable ever within the pre-order period and accounts for almost 60% of Z8 orders since July 22. At its

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As Pet Wellness Takes Center Stage, Proactive Nutrition Is Emerging as a Key Priority

The questions pet parents are asking have changed. A few years ago, many focused primarily on flavor, convenience, or price. Today, they're looking more closely at ingredient quality, digestive health, and how nutrition supports their pets through every life stage. As more Filipinos treat pets as family, they're applying the same wellness mindset they use for themselves to their pets' nutrition—viewing food not just as daily sustenance, but as an investment in long-term health and wellbeing. "Pet parents today are asking more thoughtful questions. They're no longer just asking what's popular," said Romy Sia, Managing Director of Bow & Wow Philippines. "They want to understand where ingredients come from, how they're formulated, and how they support their pet's health throughout every stage of life. We're seeing a clear shift from simply feeding pets to nourishing them for lifelong wellness." This reflects a broader consumer shift toward preventive health. Euromonitor identifies 'Wel

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usmile Empowers Filipinos' Oral Care Routines with Proactive, Clinical-Grade, Smart Dental Tech

Global professional oral care brand usmile is transforming daily oral hygiene for Filipinos as it strengthens its presence in the Philippines with smart, science-backed devices designed to help stop dental problems before they start. By bringing preventive oral care to the forefront, the brand empowers consumers to make smarter choices for healthier smiles every day. A leader in the oral care industry across the region, usmile champions innovative dental healthcare methods that reduce the risk of diseases and improve the overall oral health of users around the world. Encouraging Proactive Dental Wellness in the Philippines In a country widely recognized as a cheerful nation, smiling is a cultural gesture in the Philippines, serving as a universal language communicating warmth, trust, and community. However, despite the value placed on smiles, oral health remains a significant challenge across the country. For many Filipino families, the dentist's chair is often a last resort, waiti

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Double the Win: Two-for-One Money Habits That Grow Your Wealth Without Feeling Like a Sacrifice

Forget strict self-denial. Being "good with money" no longer means resisting the urge to ‘add to cart’ and having to choose between spending, saving, or investing. Today’s smartest financial habits are about making one decision that accomplishes two goals at once. Two-fold financial habits create simple, intentional routines in which every financial move sparks another win – like treating yourself to a long-awaited purchase while automatically funding your future. In fact, saving and investing don't just pay off in the long run. They can also turn every deposit into an instant thrill today. Have PHP 1,000 to save? What if it could win you a brand-new motorcycle or laptop? If you want to make your money work twice as hard and score epic prizes while doing it, here are habits to help you spend smarter, grow your wealth, and even get rewarded along the way: 1. Buy One, Invest One Retail therapy doesn't have to come with buyer's remorse. Every time you indulge in a non-essential purcha

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Kaspersky Launches Partnerverse – An Interactive Digital Universe Celebrating its Global Partner Ecosystem

Kaspersky has announced the launch of Partnerverse, an interactive portal designed to showcase the company’s global partner network across diverse regions and categories as well as highlight the vital role of partners in building a secure digital future. Kaspersky is a global, partner-driven cybersecurity leader dedicated to protecting businesses and consumers from evolving digital threats. Throughout its nearly three-decade history, the company has built an extensive global network of over 18,000 partners delivering best-in-class cyber protection to millions of clients worldwide. Kaspersky’s new digital project highlights the immense value of its partner community and symbolizes the IT channel's evolution into a synergistic ecosystem centered on expertise and co-innovation. The Partnerverse platform visualizes the company's global network, acknowledging the crucial contributions of its partners while showcasing the immense scale and opportunities for future allies. This dynamic digi

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