IGNITE Celebrates 10th Year

As IGNITE celebrates its 10th edition, this year’s conference will bring together influential voices from across Southeast Asia and beyond to explore emerging technologies, investment opportunities, cross-border partnerships, and the collaborations shaping the region’s innovation landscape.

Meet some of this year’s distinguished speakers and industry leaders:

 Keynote Speakers

• Karl Mak — Co-Founder & CEO, Hepmil Media Group

• Atsushi Koshio — Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Reitaku University

• Dato’ Steve Cheah — Executive Chairman, Asia Institute of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship & Diplomacy (AiSED), UNESCO EE-NET Southeast Asia Chapter

• Richard Armstrong — Partner, TA Ventures

• Franco Varona — Managing Partner, Foxmont Capital Partners

• Arnie Alvarez — Chief Technology Officer, Huawei

• Mega Prawita — Managing Director, KUMPUL.ID

• Chieko Tanabe — Program Manager, ERIA

• Loo Chuan Boon — COO, Sidec

• Cong-Thang Huynh, EMBA — InnoLab Asia

• Kotaro Adachi – TechShake

• Paolo Rentero — TechShake

• Fatima Yambao — TechShake

As a flagship event of Philippine Startup Week 2026, IGNITE X is especially timely as the Philippines chairs ASEAN this year. Beyond sharing insights, the conference offers an opportunity to connect with ecosystem builders, investors, technology leaders, and innovators working toward a more connected and competitive ASEAN.

We are thrilled to have you with us for this milestone 10th edition and look forward to the inspiring conversations, connections, and innovations we'll share together.

https://www.techshake.asia  https://www.ignite.ph

Hop on the grand Christmas Carou-SALE at the World Bazaar Festival!

The ultimate holiday shopping tradition is back to fill your season with endless cheer, unbeatable steals, and magical finds.  GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! The longest annual charity bazaar returns with "Christmas Carou-SALE," a vibrant theme that combines the nostalgic magic of a classic carnival carousel with the thrill of non-stop holiday shopping, bringing to life an endless cycle of festive deals and joyous celebrations at the World Trade Center Metro Manila from December 11 to 20, 2026, open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE! This year's theme, like a carousel spinning in an unbroken loop of glittering lights and music, welcomes families and shoppers to a dynamic shopping floor where every turn unveils thrilling gift finds, artisan treasures, and gourmet holiday snacks. The World Bazaar Festival is designed to be the ultimate event that benefits both merchants and buyers. It creates a vibrant commercial ecosystem where local entrepreneurs and international brands can grow their market reach, while consumers enjoy exceptional promotional deals, exclusive holiday finds, and a convenient festive shopping experience. Ready to reach thousands of holiday shoppers and take your business to the next level? Partner with the World Bazaar Festival and place your products directly in front of an eager, festive crowd! EXHIBIT WITH US NOW!

HKIAC launches Panel of Arbitrators for Digital Assets and Fintech Disputes4 November 2026

In view of HKIAC’s growing caseload involving digital assets, HKIAC is launching a dedicated Panel of Arbitrators for Digital Assets and Fintech Disputes (the “Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel”). 

The Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel will be composed of arbitrators who have substantial experience and expertise in handling disputes involving digital assets, blockchain and/or fintech, including but not limited to cryptocurrency cases. While parties, co-arbitrators and HKIAC may designate or appoint arbitrators from outside the panel, it is expected that the Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel will represent a useful pool of arbitrator candidates for such disputes. 

An arbitrator who wishes to be considered for inclusion in the Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel must also satisfy the criteria for admission to HKIAC’s List of Arbitrators, as summarised below, with further details available here.

The applicant should:

1. demonstrate substantial experience in arbitration (whether as arbitrator, counsel, expert witness, instructing solicitor or otherwise), with at least five years of full-time arbitration experience (or equivalent);

2. have drafted* two arbitral awards, with sanitised versions to be submitted to HKIAC upon application or, if unavailable, to be substituted by two other arbitration-related documents drafted by the applicant; and

3. provide two written references.

* Awards “drafted” by the applicant will also include those to which they have contributed as part of a three-member arbitral tribunal.

In addition, the applicant should provide:

4. a list of the disputes that the applicant has handled involving digital assets, blockchain and/or fintech. The description of the disputes should be appropriately anonymised, but should indicate the nature and size of the dispute, including the type of digital assets involved where relevant, the role of the applicant (as presiding/sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, counsel, expert witness, instructing solicitor or otherwise), and if applicable, whether it involved the drafting of awards; and

5. as an optional item, any other materials which the applicant wishes to submit to demonstrate his or her experience and expertise in digital assets, blockchain and/or fintech, including, for example, any specialist accreditation or certification received, membership in specialised technology committees or working groups within international arbitration.

For those arbitrators who are already on HKIAC’s Panel or List of Arbitrators and are interested in joining the Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel, they are not required to resubmit items 1 to 3 above.

Applications to join any of HKIAC’s Panel or List of Arbitrators, including the Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel, are considered by HKIAC’s Appointments Committee on a quarterly basis. To be considered as part of the initial list of arbitrators on the Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel, applications should be submitted by email to hkiac_arbitrators@hkiac.org, marking clearly that the application is for inclusion on the Digital Assets and Fintech Arbitrators Panel, on or before 31 December 2026.  

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Metropolitan Museum of Manila Presents a Major Exhibition of Works by Alfonso Ossorio

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila presents Alfonso Ossorio: In My End Is My Beginning as part of M 50 Now, its year-long celebration marking the Museum’s 50th Anniversary.

The exhibition presents the evolution of the work of Philippine-born American artist Alfonso Ossorio, tracing his artistic practice from the 1930s to the 1990s. A distinctive figure in modernism, Ossorio worked on the tension between abstraction and expression, bringing together dreamscape elements and the gritty substance of found objects. 

Featuring an extensive selection of works, from early drawings to the celebrated Congregations series, the exhibition offers a closer look at the artist’s changing approaches to medium, form, and artistic expression. It also highlights Ossorio’s connections to key figures of the Abstract Expressionist movement in New York, including Jackson Pollock, and his place within the broader history of modern art.

Drawn from the Lito and Kim Camacho Collection, the exhibition brings together one of the most significant and wide-ranging collections of Ossorio’s work, offering Philippine audiences an opportunity to encounter the many facets of his practice.

The exhibition takes its title from one of Ossorio’s works, reflecting his belief in the continuous transformation of life and form. As the artist once observed, “Either the bone disintegrates, or it’s fused into the picture. It’s a step in the continuity. It’s not dead, it’s continuing.”

Alfonso Ossorio: In My End Is My Beginning will be on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from 08 November 2026 to 30 May 2027. Tickets are available online at metmuseum.ph and on-site.

The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of BPI Private Wealth and San Miguel Corporation as Gold Sponsors; DENZA as Official Premium Mobility Partner; TBWA\SMP as Creative Partner; EPSON as Technology Partner; AWC Philippines as Wine Sponsor; and Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc. and ARC Gin as Cocktail Sponsors.

Additional support is provided by Focus Global, McDonald’s Philippines, Tatler Philippines, Pioneer Insurance, and Uniqlo.

ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MANILA

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (M Museum) is an art museum in the heart of the city showcasing modern and contemporary art by Filipino and international artists. Founded in 1976, the museum seeks to shape a deeper understanding and heightened awareness of Philippine artistic and cultural heritage, as well as the links that connect people from all walks of life. Its commitment to contemporary art in all its forms and community engagement is reflected in its robust and varied exhibition and education programming.

To celebrate its fiftieth year in 2026, the M Museum today actively pursues a broad mission of ART FOR ALL, a unifying theme amidst a rapidly changing world.

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MANILA MK TAN CENTRE

30TH STREET, BGC, TAGUIG

Hours: Tues-Fri, 11AM-6PM

Sat-Sun, 10AM-6PM

Tours and Visits: visits@metmuseummanila.org

GSMA Digital Nation Summit Manila 2026: Building the Philippines' Digital Future

 NTheme: Anchoring Trust to Accelerate Value

Manila takes center stage in the global digital conversation today, *November 4, 2026*, as the GSMA — the global mobile industry association — holds its *Digital Nation Summit Manila 2026* at the Sonata Ballroom, Level 2, The Westin Manila.

This is the second year GSMA brought the summit to the Philippines after its inaugural Manila run in November 2024, signaling the country's rising position as Asia Pacific's 6th ranked Digital Nation out of 18 countries.

*Why Manila, Why Now?*

According to GSMA's Asia Pacific Head Julian Gorman, the Philippines is entering a new phase of digital development. With smartphone adoption projected to reach 92% by 2030 and 5G expected to account for over 51% of mobile connections (from just 3% in 2023), the focus has shifted from just connectivity to *trust, resilience, and value creation.

*Key Agenda Today:*

The summit brings together policymakers, telcos, tech giants, and regulators to tackle:

1.  *Building a Trusted and Resilient Digital Economy* — strengthening digital trust, scam prevention, and network resilience. With scams surging in the Philippines, the panel includes:

    - Atty. Johann Carlos S. Barcena, Commissioner, National Privacy Commission

    - Usec. Renato Paraiso, Executive Director, CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center)

    - Norman Ng, Google APAC

    - Arthur Tanseco, Mastercard

2.  *Digital Leaders' Fireside Chat: Future-ready Philippines* — Drawing insights from the GSMA Digital Nations ASEAN report and Digital Nation Index, discussing the role of connectivity, cloud, networks, and AI in inclusive growth.

3.  *Keynote: The Trust Engine – Accelerating Value for a Digital Philippines*

Opening address by Julian Gorman, GSMA Asia Pacific, with Globe Telecom CEO Carl Cruz as event partner.

*The Bigger Picture:*

The summit comes just weeks before Mega Manila's historic *Analog TV Switch-Off on November 22, 2026* — another major digital milestone. From broadcasting to mobile, the Philippines is in full digital transition.

DSWD to host 2 high-level ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community meetings on Nov 4-6

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the 2026 chair of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) pillar, will host the 41st Senior Officials Meeting for ASCC (SOCA) and the 36th ASCC Council Meeting from November 4 to 6, at the Conrad Manila in Pasay City.

“The two high-level council meetings will provide a platform for ASCC Ministers and Senior Officials to address critical humanitarian and development issues in the ASEAN region. The sessions are expected to yield key outcome documents dedicated to improving the lives of ASEAN citizens in line with the ASCC’s four priorities reflected in the word ‘RISE’ which stands for: Resilient and empowered families; Inclusive development; Smart youth and innovation; and, Environmentally sustainable and food secure future,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said on November 3 (Tuesday).

The meetings will serve as platforms for ASEAN Member States to review the progress of the ASCC Blueprint 2025 implementation, discuss the ongoing development of the ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan, advance the realization of the ASEAN Community’s socio-cultural goals, formulate relevant policy agenda, declarations, and statements, strengthen collaboration among Member States, and address key issues and concerns under the ASCC’s purview.

On November 4, the 41st SOCA meeting will review the final monitoring report and the End-Term Review of the ASCC Blueprint 2025, along with updates on the ASCC Strategic Plan.

Additionally, SOCA leaders will discuss outcome documents slated for adoption and notation by ASEAN Leaders during the 49th ASEAN Summit on November 15 to 17.

Aside from the substantive discussions that will be facilitated in the meetings, the 36th ASCC Council meeting on November 6 will launch the ASCC Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning System.

“The new system enhances the ASCC Database for Monitoring and Evaluation (ADME) System which serves as a core digital platform that tracks the progress, baseline studies, data, and other important information used in policymaking under the ASCC,” the Asst. Secretary Dumlao explained.

In accordance with ASEAN’s established alphabetical rotation of chairship, the Philippine government, through the DSWD, will transfer the ASCC chairship to the government of Singapore, signifying the transition of leadership and the continuation of the ASCC’s regional cooperation agenda.

The DSWD’s leadership in the ASCC is part of the Philippines' ASEAN chairship for 2026 with the overall theme “Navigating our Future, Together.” (AKDL)