TinBo Brings Home to Hong Kong: A Celebration of Freedom and Filipino Pride at HK Fest 2025

For four vibrant days, Hong Kong felt like home for thousands of Filipinos living and working there. HK Fest 2025 was more than a celebration—it was a tribute to the strength, heart, and unity of the Filipino community abroad.

From June 12 to 15, PLDT Global Corporation (PLDT Global), through its one-stop online marketplace Tindahan ni Bossing (TinBo), together with partners MQuest Ventures and Philippine Airlines, led the celebration of Philippine Independence Day with a series of events that brought the best of Filipino culture, cinema, and entertainment to the city. It was a reminder that no matter how far Filipinos are from the Philippines, home is always within reach.

 

“HK Fest is our way of honoring every Filipino in Hong Kong,” said Albert Villa-Real, President and CEO at PLDT Global. “We’re grateful to our partners and the community for making this possible. TinBo is proud to be part of your journey. This celebration is also a tribute to the strength and resilience of overseas Filipinos—their ultimate sacrifice to care for their families and secure a better future is nothing short of heroic.

On June 12, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong hosted a National Day Reception for overseas Filipinos and guests. Consul-General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr., Mrs. Catherine Joy P. Israel, and the honorable Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong Paul Lam were in attendance. The crowd was serenaded by Filipino musicians based in Hong Kong, and Asia's Diamond Soul Siren Nina. 

 

Overseas Filipinos have fun at the TinBo booth during the Makabayan Film Fest in Hong Ko

Fans in Hong Kong got to meet stars like Enchong Dee, Sid Lucero, Sue Ramirez, and Cedrick Juan in intimate conversations hosted by Ana Ramsey.

 

On June 14, the spotlight turned to the Philippine Association in Hong Kong Charity Ball held at The Ritz-Carlton. The evening honored Filipino excellence, including a special tribute to business leader and PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan for his contributions to nation-building and support for overseas Filipinos. The night sparkled with performances from Randy Santiago, K Brosas, Donita Nose, Nina, and Richard Poon.

 

The celebration peaked on June 15 at Chater Road with Saludo 2025 -- a whole day event that featured the best of Philippine talents, from Filipino Communities in Hong Kong representing the different regions in the Philippines to the exciting performances by celebrities. Senator Raffy Tulfo joined the crowd, and the cast of Eat Bulaga—led by Bossing Vic Sotto—brought joy and laughter to the stage. The event also marked the official launch of TinBo’s newest campaign, Alagang Bossing, featuring Vic Sotto, which celebrates the everyday heroism of overseas Filipinos. TinBo also awarded a loyal ePadala user in Hong Kong with the Alagang ePadala certificate and P100,000. Winners from New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Australia were also announced during the event. Another lucky TinBo user in attendance won P100,000 on the spot during the raffle draw.    

TinBo is a one-stop digital platform that empowers overseas Filipinos abroad to support their families in the Philippines. From bills payment and mobile load to healthcare, insurance, and e-gift vouchers TinBo makes caring across borders simple and meaningful. Filipinos abroad can download the TinBo app via Google Play or the App Store, or visit www.tinbo.ph to start sharing the love with their families in the Philippines.

HK Fest 2025 was a celebration of freedom, family, and Filipino pride. And through it all, TinBo stood by every kababayan—proving that distance can never break the bond of home

Win a Trip for Two to Boracay, Cebu, or Hong Kong with AXA’s Auto-Pay Feature

Pay your insurance premium through AXA Philippines’ auto-pay for a chance to win a trip for two (2) to Boracay, Cebu, or even Hong Kong!

The auto-pay feature of one of the country’s leading insurers allows you to pay your premium automatically and conveniently through your preferred bank account or credit card.

Joining is easy. Simply visit the promo page www.axa.com.ph/autopayfaq and download the auto debit or credit card form. After you have filled it out, submit it to your AXA financial advisor or any AXA branch. You may also get the form from any AXA branch. Submit the filled-out form to that branch.

A successful application for auto-pay automatically entitles you to one (1) raffle entry per policy. If for example you enroll three (3) policies, then you get three raffle entries.

Three lucky policyholders will each win a three-day, two-night trip for two (2) to Boracay or Cebu with hotel accommodation, roundtrip tickets,and airport transfers. One grand winner gets a three-day, two-night trip for two (2) to Hong Kong with hotel accommodation, roundtrip tickets,and airport transfers.

The promo is open to AXA policyholders who are at least 18 years old with a policy issued before May 27, 2019. Promo period is until July 27, 2019. Automatic debit or credit card payment arrangement must be submitted within the promo period and approved by August 29, 2019.

Enroll your policy now with AXA Philippines’ premium auto-pay service.

To know more, visit www.axa.com.ph/autopayfaq.

Hong Kong Disneyland Trip for Shop and Fly Promo Winners

Philippines, one of the country‘s leading insurers, in partnership with The SM Store, awarded an all-expense paid trip for two to Hong Kong Disneyland to lucky e-raffle winners of the recent Shop and Fly Promo. The winners, including Jeremy Albert Na Diego (in photo), also received AXA Philippines Personal Accident Insurance coverage worth P50,000. Among the stores that participated in the Shop and Fly promo, which was exclusive to SM Advantage Card holders, were The SM Store Pampanga, Clark (Pampanga), Baguio, Megacenter Cabanatuan (Nueva Ecija), Cauayan (Isabela), Rosales and Urdaneta (Pangasinan), Tarlac, Olongapo (Zambales), Marilao and Baliwag (Bulacan), Telabastagan, San Fernando (Pampanga), and Valenzuela. With Diego and his companion in photo are (L-R) The SM Store Megacenter assistant branch manager Nelson D. Lutero, Jr., AXA Philippines financial partner Jessel Ladrillono, and AXA Philippines financial partner Michael Alamag.

Lopez on ASEAN: ‘there’s unity in diversity’

In the midst of calls for protectionism and global economic developments, ASEAN stands ready to respond to issues affecting trade and investment, drawing strength from its integrated economies.

Speaking at the Hong-Kong East Asia Summit on 11 July, ASEAN Economic Ministers chairman and Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez discussed current integration efforts in ASEAN and how these would eventually translate to regional complementation.

“Each economy will be differentiating its products to complement those of other economies. Economies may not necessarily compete, but they may complement each other through product specialization and market segmentation,” explained Sec. Lopez.

The trade chief emphasized that regional integration has resulted to a wider array and selection of products and services offered to ASEAN consumers.

“Regional integration will end up to regional complementation. ASEAN can lead the way and believes in the benefits of regional collaboration. It may work slowly but surely,” he said.  

‘Unity in diversity’

“ASEAN shows how integration becomes plausible despite differences in background, culture and stages of development. With all these, we believe there is unity in diversity,” Sec. Lopez added.

As one of the fastest growing regions, ASEAN is the 7^th largest economy in the world with a population of over 622 million people. It is also a marketplace with a relatively young, growing labor force and an emerging middle class.

On the benefits of economic integration, Sec. Lopez said that the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) affords ASEAN a bigger role and a more prominent voice in dealing with fellow global economic players.

According to him, with the AEC, the region’s connectedness combined with its diversity becomes strength as the variety in ASEAN pulls investors in, mindful of the region’s stake in open global markets.

Inclusive growth agenda

The ASEAN Community 2025 Blueprint guides ASEAN with measures to address emerging challenges and to attain region-wide inclusive growth. Sec. Lopez recognized the role played by the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region’s integration efforts.

According to him, to attain inclusive economic growth that leads to shared prosperity, MSMEs need to take on a stronger role in boosting the region’s economies as creators of wealth and providers of jobs and livelihoods for the people.

He added that by heightening innovation, technology research, and human resource development, ASEAN MSMEs can also move up the global value chains.

“The big challenge really is how big companies can integrate MSMEs in their value chains—to empower them and make them more competitive and part of the equation, because it is only then we can really talk about inclusive growth,” he said.

The trade chief also cited need for MSMEs to embrace the digital economy through e-commerce, which provides an innovative platform to market, sell and research. In this respect, technology becomes an equalizer.

Concluding RCEP; FTAs

Citing US’ withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Brexit, Sec. Lopez reiterated the benefits of substantially concluding the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement by end of 2017.

The move towards RCEP means looking at a mega-trade deal, wherein ASEAN ties up with its dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, unlocking a huge integrated market base of 3.2 billion people or “one half of the world’s population and one third of the world’s economy.”

“The ASEAN-Hong Kong FTA definitely will be a major FTA, too that will allow us to use Hong Kong as gateway to China. This will be a huge benefit for ASEAN,” he said.

The ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN-Hong Kong Investment Agreement are expected to be signed in November 2017 in Manila. 

*This is Press Release