Monday, January 5, 2026

Security Bank Foundation Delivers Strong Education Gains in 2025

Makati City, Philippines – In 2025, Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) strengthened its commitment to education as a powerful equalizer, delivering measurable, nationwide impact amid persistent classroom shortages, disaster-damaged school facilities, and nearly 11 million out-of-school Filipino children.
Through a holistic approach—building and repairing classrooms, supporting scholars, empowering educators, and partnering with communities—the Foundation helped improve access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning environments across the country.

Under the Build a School, Build a Nation program, the Foundation has delivered 901 classrooms in 153 schools across 92 cities and municipalities nationwide and rehabilitated earlier donations to ensure long-term use. Beyond infrastructure, the Foundation invested in people—training nearly 170 principals and teachers, supporting over 300 scholars, and providing eyeglasses to more than 1,000 learners. This impact was strengthened through multi-sector partnerships with government, universities, corporations, and employees, including a 2025 Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education granting nationwide recognition to SBFI’s training program, and contributions to Senate discussions on improving public classrooms delivery.

Expanding learning spaces nationwide

In 2025, SBFI turned over 62 new classrooms, equivalent to nine school buildings, including:
Sta. Cruz Central Elementary School, Laguna, a pilot site for the Department of Education’s Inclusive Learning Resource Center serving learners with special needs
Tarlac National High School, supporting its Special Program in Sports
Zamboanga City High School Main, equipped with technical-vocational laboratories for Caregiving, Cookery, Drafting, and Dressmaking.
The Foundation also repaired 80 classrooms and rehabilitated 48 disaster- or termite-damaged facilities, ensuring safer and more resilient learning spaces for students and teachers. 
To date, SBFI has donated 901 classrooms to 153 schools nationwide, reinforcing its long-term commitment to education infrastructure.

Investing in educators and scholars
Through its Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program, SBFI strengthened school leadership and teaching systems by training 79 principals and 88 teachers in leadership and mentoring, and school governance. 
Program participants include Carlo Medrano, who went on to develop a science mentoring initiative now adopted in multiple communities—demonstrating how teacher empowerment creates ripple effects across the education system.


SBFI also supported 302 scholars for Academic Year 2025–2026 and celebrated 103 graduates, including 31 college degree holders. 
Addressing barriers beyond academics, SBFI distributed 1,170 eyeglasses in partnership with Ideal Vision Center and the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of San Francisco del Monte, helping students—like Jake Prades—improve classroom performance through better vision.

Partnerships that multiply impact

SBFI’s education programs were strengthened through collaboration with corporate partners, government agencies, and Security Bank employees, enabling sustained support for classrooms, scholarships, and teacher development. Key partners include FWD Life Insurance, Jesus V. Del Rosario Foundation, Signify Philippines, and the Department of Education.


Recognition and the road ahead

SBFI’s education initiatives and efforts earned national recognition at the 21st Philippine Quill and 60th Anvil Awards. Among the accolades are:
IABC Philippines’ 21st Quill Award of Excellence for Employee Engagement – “Paint a Classroom, Paint a Brighter Future – Security Bank Foundation's School Painting Activity”
IABC Philippines’ 21st Quill Award of Merit for Corporate Social Responsibility – “Hand in Hand: Partnerships for Transforming the Country's Future, One Classroom at a Time”
IABC Philippines’ 21st Quill Award of Merit for Communication Management – “Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building – Principals Training Track”
PRSP’s 60th Anvil Silver Award for Employee Engagement – “Paint a Classroom, Paint a Brighter Future – Security Bank Foundation’s School Painting Activity”
PRSP’s 60th Anvil Silver Award for Change Communication – “School Building Ko, Aalagaan Ko” Campaign.


Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to build 60 new classrooms, repair 100 additional classrooms, expand educator training and scholar programs, and continue nationwide vision screening initiatives.
“Every classroom we build, every teacher we empower, and every scholar we support brings us closer to a Philippines where progress is inclusive and sustainable,” Simpao added.
Learn more about Security Bank Foundation’s education initiatives at https://www.securitybank.com/foundation/.

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Can It Survive? Gadget Pilipinas’ Gian Viterbo Takes on the HONOR X9d 5G Ultimate Plane Drop Challenge

Manila, Philippines, January 3, 2026 – Starting the year with a total bang! Leading global AI smart devices provider HONOR Philippines unveils its most explosive release yet—the HONOR X9d 5G. Positioned as the toughest mid-range smartphone of the year, the latest addition to the X Series is built to withstand extreme challenges while delivering powerful everyday performance.  
 
Since the launch of the X9 Series in the Philippines in 2023, HONOR has built a reputation as an innovative technology brand known for putting smartphone durability to the ultimate test. From the debut of the HONOR X9a 5G—famously dropped under five feet and featured in viral smash tests—the ultra-tough HONOR X9b 5G, which endured an intense 50-foot drop, each generation has pushed the boundaries of what mid-range smartphones can withstand.  
 
This legacy continued with the launch of the HONOR X9c 5G in January 2025, which quickly became the most anticipated device in the X Series, thanks to its Triple-Defense mechanism and headline-making helicopter drop test and Guinness World Records for “The Most People Performing a Mobile Phone Drop Test Simultaneously.  
 
Now, HONOR raises the bar even higher. To prove the next evolution of toughness, the all-new HONOR X9d 5G was subjected to its most extreme challenge yet—an ultra-intense high-altitude drop test.  
 
“Year after year, HONOR fans and consumers push us to go beyond expectations, and that inspires everything we do,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines. “The HONOR X9d 5G was designed with Filipino users in mind—combining toughness, innovation, especially value. Our extreme durability tests reflect our confidence in delivering a device that can keep up with real life challenges.”  
 
And now the ultimate question remains—can the HONOR X9d 5G survive an extreme high-altitude drop from the plane? Let’s find out!  
 
The Ultimate Phone Drop Challenge: Gian Viterbo VS HONOR X9d 5G 
 
To ensure credibility and transparency, HONOR Philippines invited one of its trusted media partners, Gadget Pilipinas’ Editor-in-Chief Gian Viterbo, to take part in the ultimate phone drop challenge, releasing the device from an ultralight plane at a speed of 60 km/hr.  
 
“I said YES to the ultimate phone drop test challenge as a consumer, because I was genuinely curious about the result. I knew the risks and factors at hand, and I really wanted to know if the HONOR X9d would really survive,” expressed by Gian Viterbo, EIC of Gadget Pilipinas.  
 
Viterbo even said that experience was ultra exhilarating. It was not just a history for him but also for the tech industry to have a phone dropped from a plane to test its durability. And when asked about the result of the durability test, “I expected its screen and body to be rendered useless, I was honestly more interested in whether I would still be able to recover my files. With this expectation, I was surprised that durability meant two things for HONOR X9d – it is durable enough to withstand the hardest conditions, and if it ever gets scratched or damaged, it is durable enough to keep my files intact. And that is the true durability,” added by Gian Viterbo.  
 
Here is the full video to witness and see the ultimate durability phone drop test: https://bit.ly/HONORX9d5G_PlaneChallenge   
 
Watch the Launch and Win HONOR X9d 5G 
 
Interested to know more about the toughest phone, HONOR X9d 5G? Don’t dare to miss the big news, revelations, and updates. Catch its grand launch, live on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/share/17fq2PZZUZ/ on January 9, Friday, 6 PM, and have the chance to win the latest HONOR X9d 5G.   
 
And is really HONOR giving away a Tesla Cybertruck? The answer will be coming your way very soon.  
 
Join the conversation and find out. Visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com, and follow HONOR Philippines on Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines) for exclusive teasers, launch updates, and big reveal. 
 
Check out HONOR’s wide array of mobile phones, tablets, and laptops at any HONOR Experience and Partner Stores nationwide (https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/) or online via Shopee (https://bit.ly/HONORPHShopee), Lazada (https://bit.ly/HONORPHLaz) and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/HONORTikTokShop). 

Friday, January 2, 2026

Bulacan, This Is Our First: Jiang Nan Hotpot at SM City Marilao

Foodies in Bulacan have another reason to visit SM City Marilao as Jiang Nan Hotpot finally opens its door to bring in authentic Chinese dishes that blend tradition, comfort, and bold flavors.


Conveniently located at the 2nd level, West Wing Expansion, Jiang Nan Hotpot features a menu that highlights rich sauces and carefully prepared soup bases, ranging from light and savory to rich and aromatic. Diners can customize their meals by selecting from a variety of fresh ingredients, including premium meats, vegetables, seafood, and noodles, which are cooked directly at the table. 

As SM City Marilao is now full steam ahead as a lifestyle destination, Jiang Nan Hotpot certainly tops the list of comfort food restaurants with its flavorful offerings and inviting atmosphere, making it a favorite choice for those seeking quality food and a satisfying dining experience close to home.