ASEAN must lead the next era of digital finance, says Fintech Alliance PH Chair Villanueva

MANILA, Philippines — Southeast Asia has an opportunity to shape the next generation of global finance, but only if the region moves decisively on artificial intelligence, digital assets, and cybersecurity, according to FinTech Alliance PH Founding Chairman and RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva.

Opening the ASEAN Tech Summit 2026 in Manila, Villanueva said ASEAN is no longer merely participating in the global digital economy but is increasingly defining its direction.

"Southeast Asia is becoming the engine of the global digital economy. The blueprint for the next decade is being drawn today, and ASEAN must help write it," he said.

Villanueva identified three technologies that will fundamentally reshape financial services: agentic AI, digital assets, and cybersecurity.

He said AI agents will increasingly execute financial transactions autonomously, while tokenization and stablecoins are poised to transform cross-border payments and remittances. At the same time, he stressed that cybersecurity must evolve alongside these innovations as financial crime grows more sophisticated across the region.

He also called for ASEAN to play a more active role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, noting that much of today's AI infrastructure is being developed outside the region.

To strengthen regional resilience, Villanueva proposed greater collaboration through a private sector-led ASEAN Resiliency Wealth Fund to accelerate strategic investments, alongside a regional Network Anti-Scam Hub to enhance intelligence sharing and combat cross-border financial crime.

The summit also announced a long-term collaboration between the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) and the Philippines focused on advancing inclusive financial innovation, improving financial health, and developing AI-ready talent. Key initiatives include bringing GFTN's Select Series to Manila, launching the ASEAN Financial Health Challenge 2026 with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and pursuing a five-year AI Horizon Philippines Programme to develop the country's AI and digital finance workforce.

The 2026 Philippine FinTech Report was likewise launched during the summit, providing the latest assessment of the country's digital finance ecosystem.

Hosted during the Philippines' ASEAN Chairship, the ASEAN Tech Summit 2026 convenes policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, fintech companies, and technology leaders to discuss the future of AI, digital assets, cybersecurity, open finance, and cross-border payments across Southeast Asia.

About FinTech Alliance PH

Established in 2017, is the country’s premier and largest organization of fintech companies and digital financial service providers. With over 170 corporate members, it represents more than 95% of digital transaction volume and serves over 110 million digital accounts of Filipinos. It is also the first in Asia to institutionalize an industry-led Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics and continues to lead initiatives on cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and consumer education.

The Philippines Host the Film and TV Summit 2026

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in collaboration with the Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN), proudly announces that the Philippines will host the ASEAN Film and TV Summit 2026, from August 12 -14, 2026, at Seda Manila Bay. 

With this year’s theme ‘Navigating our Future, Together,’ this year’s summit will bring together industry leaders, producers, archivists, educators, policymakers, and cultural institutions from across the region to celebrate Asian cinema, foster cultural understanding, exchange insights on the evolving regional screen market, and strengthen international relations. 

The summit will feature a diverse lineup of activities for both international delegates and the public.

Cultural Visits

On August 12, 2026, international delegates will visit key heritage sites in Intramuros, including the Philippine Film Heritage Building, offering a glimpse into the country’s cinematic history and culture.

Talks and Discussions

On August 13, 2026, a keynote presentation by Prof. Patrick F. Campos, PhD and a two-session public forum will explore two vital pillars of the screen industry: film archiving and film education. Discussions will explore the current landscape of both fields, the challenges and opportunities they face, and their role in preserving the country’s cinematic heritage and shaping the future of the film Industry. Confirmed agencies attending the summit are Ministry of Culture Thailand, Badan Perfilman Indonesia (Indonesian Film Board), European Film Agency Directors Association (EFAD), French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC), Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Agency for Cultural Affairs  (Japan), Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (Vietnam), among others.

AFAN Closed-Door Session

On August 14, AFAN member organizations and invited stakeholders will convene for a closed-door meeting to discuss regional priorities, shared challenges, emerging opportunities, and collaborative initiatives that will help strengthen the Asian screen ecosystem.

AFAN Boot Camp for Young Filmmakers

Running from August 9 to 14, 2026, the AFAN Boot Camp for Young Filmmakers will bring together 16 emerging filmmakers across Asia for an intensive film lab focused on script development, co-production, and project pitching in partnership with Production and Storytelling (PaS).

As part of the program, the participants’ works will be screened at Ayala Malls Cinema and the FDCP Cinematheque Centres in Manila, Bacolod and Iloilo. A talkback session with the filmmakers will follow the screenings at Ayala Malls Cinema.

 

Participants will also join two organized industry mixers on August 13, creating opportunities to connect with Filipino producers, filmmakers, and other industry professionals. 

Check out the list of participating filmmakers.

Hosting the ASEAN Film and TV Summit 2026 marks another milestone in the Philippines’ growing engagement with the regional and global screen community. By building meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and cultural exchange, the summit reinforces the country’s commitment to strengthening industry partnerships and advancing the diverse voices and stories in Asia.

Grand Opening: Travel Madness Expo 2026 Opens at SMX Convention Center ManilaJuly 09, 2026

PASAY CITY, July 10, 2026 – The much-awaited Travel Madness Expo 2026 officially opened today at the SMX Convention Center Manila, welcoming thousands of travel enthusiasts, families, and industry professionals eager to take advantage of exclusive travel deals and destination promotions.
Running from July 10 to 12, 2026, the expo brings together leading airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise operators, travel agencies, and tourism organizations from the Philippines and around the world. Visitors can enjoy event-exclusive discounts, vacation packages, airfare promotions, and exciting raffle prizes available only during the three-day event.
The grand opening highlighted the resilience and continued growth of the Philippine tourism industry, encouraging Filipinos to rediscover local destinations while exploring international travel opportunities. Attendees can compare travel offers, book trips on the spot, and meet travel experts for personalized vacation planning.

Whether you're dreaming of a beach getaway, a cultural adventure, or an overseas holiday, the Travel Madness Expo 2026 offers something for every type of traveler.
Stay tuned to The Social SCENE PH for more event highlights, exhibitor features, travel tips, and exclusive updates from the expo floor. See you there.

#TravelMadnessExpo2026 
#todayph26

Philippines, Japan Co-Host Second ASEAN Workshop on Strategic Trade ManagementTOKYO, JAPAN

The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry – Strategic Trade Management Office (DTI-STMO), together with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), co-hosted the Second ASEAN Capacity Building Workshop on Strategic Trade Management (STM) from on 07-09 July 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. The workshop was supported by the United States Export Control and Border Security Program, European Union Partner-to-Partner Export Control Programme and the Center for Trade Excellence.

The workshop forms part of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship Priority Economic Deliverable and supports the proposed ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Strategic Trade Management for Secure Regional Trade. It also builds on the inaugural ASEAN STM Capacity Building Workshop held in Boracay, Philippines in December 2025.

The regional workshop brought together ASEAN Senior Economic Officials, STM Officials and international partners to strengthen regional cooperation on STM and promote a common understanding of measures that facilitate secure and responsible trade.

Discussions focused on how effective STM systems contribute to economic security, resilient supply chains, responsible investment, and trusted trade while preventing the diversion of strategic goods, advanced technologies, and software for unauthorized purposes.

Participants exchanged national experiences on developing legal and institutional frameworks, licensing systems, enforcement mechanisms, and industry engagement. A private sector panel highlighted the importance of transparent, predictable, and practical regulatory frameworks that support legitimate trade while ensuring effective compliance.

Interactive breakout sessions allowed delegates to examine practical case studies involving diversion risks, end-use and end-user controls, sanctions-related issues, and transshipment vulnerabilities. The exercises encouraged information sharing and identified opportunities for closer regional cooperation.

The workshop recognized that ASEAN Member States are at different stages of developing their strategic trade management systems but share a common interest in strengthening supply chain resilience, facilitating legitimate trade, and enhancing ASEAN’s competitiveness as a trusted destination for trade and investment.

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to continue regional dialogue and capacity building in support of the proposed ASEAN Leader’s Declaration on Strategic Trade Management for Secure Regional Trade, reinforcing ASEAN’s vision of a secure, resilient, and future-ready regional economy.

𝐊𝐖𝐅, 𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐢 𝐬𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚 𝐏𝐈𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐲𝐭𝐞

Matapos ang pormal na pulong at presentasyon ng Proyektong Bantayog-Wika 2026  sa pagitan ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at Leyte Normal University (LNU) ay agad na lumahok ang dalawang panig sa “Kapihan ha PIA Leyte” noong 1 Hulyo 2026 sa LNU Research Innovation and Extension Center sa Government Center sa Palo, Leyte.

Naging pangunahing panauhin sa panayam si Atty. Marites A. Barrios-Taran, Tagapangulo ng KWF at  Ikalawang Pangulo para sa Pangasiwaan at Pananalapi ng LNU, Dr. Solomon D. Faller, upang ikapanayam ang mga lokal na midya ng Rehiyon otso sa pangunguna ni Region VIII PIA Information and Communications Manager, Bb. Ahlette C. Reyes.

Naging pangunahing panauhin sa panayam si Atty. Marites A. Barrios-Taran, Tagapangulo ng KWF at  Ikalawang Pangulo para sa Pangasiwaan at Pananalapi ng LNU, Dr. Solomon D. Faller, upang makapanaya ng lokal na midya ng Rehiyon 8 sa pangunguna ni Region VIII PIA Information and Communications Manager, Bb. Ahlette C. Reyes.

Naging pangunahing paksa sa naging talakayan ang tungkol sa proyektong Bantayog-Wika na nilalayong maipatayo sa Palo, leyte bago matapos ang taóng 2026. 

Ang Bantayog-Wika 2026 ay nasa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Dr. Carmelita C. Abdurahman, KWF Komisyoner para sa Programa at Proyekto na kumakatawan sa mga wika ng Samar-Leyte.

PhilSA invites Filipinos to join Philippine Space Week 2026 celebration on Aug. 8-14

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) invites Filipinos to take part in programs and activities lined up for the celebration of Philippine Space Week 2026 from Aug. 8 to 14.
The celebration this year will carry the theme “Navigating Tomorrow” and will highlight the country’s progress in satellite development and the use of space data and services.

The week-long celebration will feature exhibits, lectures, webinars, astronomy nights, stargazing sessions, workshops, and other engaging community activities to promote awareness of, appreciation for, and understanding of the benefits of space for Filipinos.
Among these is the Philippine Space Week Interactive Exhibit to be held on Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Quantum Skyview, Gateway Mall 2 in Quezon City.

Another is a lecture on “Strengthening Interagency Collaboration for Use Case Applications: Lessons from CopPhil Toward PhilSA's Co-Development Framework” in partnership with the European Union, which will tackle the ongoing National Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme in the Philippines (CopPhil) project and promote the use of Earth observation data.

The public can also join the following competitions throughout the week:
GeoGuhit: Move, Map & Make your mark. – A physical wellness and creative mapping challenge wherein participants will create space-inspired art by walking, running, or cycling through the use of satellite data from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled technologies.
#YamangKalawakan Poster-Making Contest 2026 – An art-making contest for students aged 6–12 about cultivating life in space, visualizing the theme: “Space Garden: Growing Food in Space.”
Space Law Essay Writing Contest – A writing contest where law students can discuss emerging issues in space law, answering the question: “As the Philippines prepares for human spaceflight in the future, what domestic legal frameworks should be in place to ensure the welfare of Filipino astronauts?”

PhilSA invites other national government agencies, local government units, the academe, private organizations, student groups, and community organizations to take part in the celebration by hosting activities that will showcase the value and impact of space science and technology.

Philippine Space Week is an annual celebration commemorating the enactment of the Philippine Space Act on Aug. 8, 2019, established through Proclamation No. 302, s. 2023.
Space Week aims to promote public awareness of space science, technology, and applications (SSTA), highlight the contributions of Filipinos to the space sector, and demonstrate how space-enabled innovations contribute to national development and improve the lives of Filipinos.

More Choices, Not Just “Free,” Is What Really Protects Filipino Consumers

As big banks waive transfer fees, it's worth remembering that a healthy mix of financial companies, not a single free option, is what has kept costs down and services improving for ordinary Filipinos.

Not long ago, sending ₱500 to a relative in a remote barangay could cost you almost as much as the amount itself. A tricycle ride to the nearest bank branch ran ₱100 in far-flung areas. In the city, a taxi or a Grab ride just to make a bank transfer cost even more, plus the hours lost to travel and queuing. Then e-wallets and small digital finance companies came along, and that same errand cost ₱10, took thirty seconds, and needed nothing but a phone.

It's worth asking why that happened. It wasn't one company's generosity. It was competition. Banks, e-wallets, and remittance apps grew alongside each other, each one racing to make sending money easier and cheaper than the next. That race brought the cost down from ₱100 to ₱10 or ₱20, not any single institution's goodwill. The real lesson here: what protects consumers isn't one company's low price. It's how many real choices they have.

Earlier this year, the BSP issued a circular pushing electronic payment fees to be reasonable, transparent, and based on actual cost. That's a sound standard, and BSP deserves credit for it. It never required fees to drop to zero. It simply asked that fees reflect what it actually costs to move money safely.

A number of large banks then chose to go further and waive transfer fees entirely. That's their right, and good for their customers in the moment. But it had a side effect worth noticing. It quietly reset what the public now expects “reasonable” to mean, for every provider, everywhere. Electronic money issuers, the companies behind many of our e-wallets and remittance apps, are now being asked why they “still charge” for something the biggest banks give away free.

That comparison misses something important. A bank, at its core, is in the business of keeping your money. It takes deposits, lends that money out, and earns enough from interest to give some services away for free. An EMI is in the business of moving your money, not keeping it. By law, it can't lend out the funds passing through it. It has no deposit interest quietly paying its bills. Every transfer it processes comes out of its own pocket.

Think of a jeepney and a private car sharing the same road. Ask both to charge passengers the same fare, and only one survives. That's the risk here too. If every provider has to match the price only the biggest, most diversified players can afford, the smaller ones don't get better. They just stop competing, or close. A free transaction today can mean fewer companies competing for your business tomorrow, and fewer competitors usually means less pressure on anyone to keep improving.

This is why a healthy mix of banks, EMIs, and other players matters to ordinary Filipinos, not as an industry talking point, but as the actual mechanism that got us cheaper, better service in the first place. Protecting that mix isn't about protecting any one company. It's about protecting the range of options that got us here, and that keeps every provider working to earn your business rather than assume it.

It's also why BSP's own approach, careful, consultative, grounded in real data, is the right one. Industry has been engaging with it constructively and openly. Getting this right takes time, and that's exactly as it should be.

One more thing is worth adding gently, while that process is still underway. If the recent zero-fee move by a few major banks were ever held up, in a moment as big as the State of the Nation Address, as a national win to extend across the whole industry, it risks sending the wrong signal to a public that doesn't yet fully understand how differently these companies are built, or how much that difference has already worked in their favor. It would suggest, all at once, that only one kind of provider should remain. That's not a reason to hold back a real milestone worth celebrating. It's only a reason to let the conversation already underway between BSP and industry run a little further first.

The next time “zero fee” sounds like a win, ask a quieter second question: what happens to your choices next year, if only the biggest players can afford to offer it? Real value for Filipino consumers was never about one free transaction. It's always been about how many companies are still in the race to serve you. By Ann J. Cuisia

Semestreng Ulat ng KWF, Itinampok sa Kapihang Wika

Itinampok sa Kapihang Wika ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino ang Semestreng Ulat ng KWF sa Auditorium ng PIA, Lungsod Quezon.

Panauhing pandangal si Katherine Chloe S. De Castro, Direktor Heneral ng PIA at ibinahagi rito ang ulat ng mga naisagawang proyekto at programa ng KWF para sa unang semestre ng 2026. Nagbigay ng mensahe ang mga pinuno ng KWF na sina Tagapangulong Marites A. Barrios-Taran; Komisyoner Carmelita C. Abdurahman, EdD; at Komisyoner Benjamin M. Mendillo, Jr.,PhD.

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐆-𝐖𝐈𝐊𝐀 𝐒𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐑, 𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐎 𝐒𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊

Nagsagawa ng site inspection ang Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Samar sa Kapitolyo ng Samar noong 29 Hunyo 2026 na nilalayong pagtayuan ng kauna-unahang Bantayog-Wika ng lalawigan.

Pinangunahan nina Atty. Marites A. Barrios-Taran, Tagapangulo ng KWF, Dr. Carmelita C. Abdurahman, Komisyoner para sa Programa at Proyekto, at mga kinatawan mula sa Departamento ng Turismo ng Samar ang pagbisita upang tiyakin ang kahandaan ng lugar na planong paglagakan ng Bantayog-Wika ng Samar. Ang proyektong ito ay naglalayong kilalanin at pangalagaan ang yaman ng katutubong wika at kultura ng Samar. Target ng KWF at PGU Samar na matapos at maipatayo ang nasabing monumento bago magwakas ang taóng kasalukuyan.

Ang proyektong Bantayog-Wika 2026 ay nasa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Dr. Carmelita C. Abdurahman, Komisyoner para sa Programa at Proyekto ng KWF at opisyal na kumakatawan sa mga wika ng rehiyon.

Ang Bantayog-Wika ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino ay isang proyekto na naglalayong bigyan ng pisikal na anyo ang wika upang mas tangkilikin, pangalagaan, at ipagmalaki ng bawat mamamayan ang yamang-wika at kultura ng bawat rehiyon sa Pilipinas.

June Power Rates Rise by 9% Despite Relief Measures

QUEZON CITY, July 3, 2026 — Average household electricity rates increased by 9% in June, bringing prices closer to levels last seen during the 2023 global energy crisis. Retail rates increased even as transmission charges declined and temporary regulatory measures were put in place to ease consumer costs.

According to Power Rates and Energy Supply Overview - Philippines (PRESYO-PH), a power rate platform of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), electricity prices across much of the country continued to climb in June 2026, underscoring the continuing challenge of power affordability faced by Filipino households despite the adoption of measures intended to provide relief from high electricity costs.

Based on available data from 116 distribution utilities (DUs), the average residential electricity rate in the country increased from ₱11.47 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in May to ₱12.51 per kWh in June—an increase of ₱1.04 per kWh, or approximately 9% in just one month.

The increase occurred despite lower transmission charges for the June billing period, the suspension of the collection of the Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-ALL), and the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) approval of a staggered billing scheme for some distribution utilities due to elevated Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices.

The data indicates that these relief measures were outweighed by higher generation costs under utilities' power supply contracts, which typically account for 50% to 60% of residential electricity bills. Amounts corresponding to distribution charges, universal charges, and subsidies remained largely unchanged.

The increase was particularly pronounced in several areas. Between the May and June 2026 billing periods, some distribution utilities recorded month-on-month residential electricity rate increases of more than ₱4.00 per kWh, while several others posted increases exceeding ₱3.00 per kWh. According to the ERC, these sharp month-on-month increases prompted the implementation of staggered payment arrangements for affected distribution utilities to help ease the impact on consumers.

If the current trend continues, average electricity rates could approach the levels experienced during the height of the global energy crisis in 2022 and 2023, following the temporary Indonesia coal export ban and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which resulted in nationwide average residential rates peaking at around ₱13 per kWh in early 2023.

“Filipino families should not have to bear the burden of volatile global fuel prices every time they receive their monthly electricity bills. Much of today's increase is being driven by higher generation costs, which remain closely tied to imported fossil fuels—particularly coal and imported natural gas,” stressed ICSC Energy Transition Advisor Alberto Dalusung III.

“Investing in more renewable energy allows us to gradually reduce that dependence and build a power system that is affordable and less vulnerable to price shocks,” Dalusung added. 

The latest electricity rate increases underscore the limits of temporary relief measures in protecting consumers from recurring power price spikes. Accelerating the deployment of indigenous renewable energy—including rooftop solar, which enables households to generate their own electricity—offers a more durable path toward affordable, reliable, and secure power.

ABOUT PRESYO-PH

PRESYO-PH is a first-of-its-kind data platform designed to enhance transparency on the true drivers of electricity prices by integrating pricing data from more than 150 DUs and ECs nationwide, alongside detailed insights into their respective energy sources. By making electricity pricing data publicly accessible, the platform allows consumers, researchers, local governments, and policymakers to monitor trends and better understand the factors affecting monthly power bills. 

For more information about PRESYO-PH, visit https://presyo.icsc.ngo/home

ABOUT

The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities is a Philippine-based non-governmental organization that advances climate, energy, and low-carbon solutions to enable fair and climate-resilient development at the national and international levels.

#Pilipinast Kapehan Forum: NastPhl to Gather New Members and 2025 Awardees

BICUTAN, TAGUIG CITY – The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) will conduct the #PilipiNAST Kapehan on July 4, 2025, at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Quezon City. This episode will feature the newly elected NAST PHL Members, the 2025 Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS), and the winners of the 2025 NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists (NTSYS).

Joining the event are the three (3) newly elected Academicians:

• Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian (Plant Breeding)
• Dr. Wilfredo Roehl Y. Licuanan (Marine Ecology)
• Dr. Charles Y. Yu (Pulmonary/Infectious Disease)

The ten (10) Outstanding Young Scientists are also expected to participate in the event:

• Dr. Rowalt C. Alibudbud (Psychiatry and Health Social Sciences)
• Dr. Garry A. Benico (Aquatic Bioscience)
• Dr. Jake Rom D. Cadag (Geography and Spatial Planning)
• Dr. Mark S. Calabon (Biological Sciences)
• Dr. Rolando T. Candidato, Jr. (Ceramic Materials and Surface Treatment - Physics Discipline)
• Dr. Fresthel Monica M. Climacosa (Molecular Medicine)
• Dr. Andres Philip Mayol (Mechanical Engineering)
• Dr. May Anne E. Mata (Interdisciplinary Studies - Applied Mathematics)
• Dr. Excel Rio S. Maylem (Animal Science)
• Ms. Melissa P. Montecalvo (Plant Pathology)

Lastly, this year’s top two (2) winners of the NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists will also attend the event:

• Dr. Isaiah Paolo A. Lee (Molecular and Evolutionary Systems Biology)
• Dr. Victor Manuel R. Aricheta (Mathematics)

Academician Jaime C. Montoya, President of NAST PHL, will formally open the event with his welcome message. The program will also be participated in by NAST PHL Executive Director Luningning E. Samarita-Domingo.

The #PilipiNAST Kapehan is a series of dialogues that brings together the NAST PHL scientists and the press, media, and science communicators. It serves as a platform to introduce the programs, activities, awardees, and members of the Academy, as well as to discuss the pressing science and technology issues. It also aims to provide an opportunity to present the exemplary contributions made by Filipino scientists to the advancement of science and technology in the country.

The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) is an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) mandated to recognize outstanding achievements in scientific research and development, advise the President and the cabinet on matters related to S&T, and engage in projects and programs that promote scientific productivity. For more details, visit NAST Philippines’ social media accounts @nastphl

#PilipiNAST Kapehan Meet the Minds ShapingPhilippine STEM

QUEZON CITY--Inilunsad ng (NAST PHL  katuwang ang media, at komunidad ng agham sa #PilipiNAST Kapehan na ginanap noong Hulyo 1, 2026, sa Brentwood Suites. Quezon Avenue, lungsod Quezon, kung saan tampok sa programa ang mga bagong halal na miyembro ng NAST PHL, ang tatanggap ng 2025 Geminiano T. De Ocampo (GTO) Visionary Award for Medical Research, at ang mga pararangalan sa 48th Annual Scientific Meeting

na gaganapin sa July 8-9,  bilang mga natatanging awardee para sa taong 2026.

Ang #PilipiNAST Kapehan ay isang serye ng talakayan na pinagsama-sama ang mga siyentipiko ng NAST PHL, mga kinatawan ng mamamahayag, at science communicators. Layunin nitong ipakilala ang mga programa ng Akademya, kilalanin ang mga pinarangalang siyentipiko at miyembro nito, at talakayin ang mahalagang usapin sa agham, teknolohiya, at inobasyon. Higit sa lahat, binibigyang-pugay nito ang natatanging ambag ng mga Pilipinong siyentipiko sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng bansa.

Isa sa mga tampok ng programa ang paggawad ng 2025 GTO Visionary Award for Medical Research, kabilang ang plake at medalya.

Pagkatapos ng seremonya ng paggawad ng parangal, magsasagawa ang NAST PHL ng isang eksklusibong press conference kasama ang mga bagong halal na miyembro at mga awardee ng 2026, kung saan magkakaroon ng pagkakataon ang media na makapanayam ang ilan sa mga nangungunang siyentipiko ng bansa.

Paparangalan din ang tatlong (3) bagong halal na Akademisyan, kasama ang labindfalawang (12) Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) para sa 2026.

Pangungunahan ni MS. Luningning E. Samarita- Domingo, Director lV ng NAST PHL, ang paggawad ng parangal at magbibigay ng pangwakas na mensahe.

Ang National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) ay isang attached agency ng DOST na may tungkuling kilalanin ang mga natatanging tagumpay sa pananaliksik at pagpapaunlad ng agham, magsilbing tagapayo ng Pangulo at ng Gabinete sa mga usaping may kaugnayan sa agham at teknolohiya, at magsagawa ng mga proyekto at programang nagsusulong ng produktibidad sa larangan ng siyensya.                                     

HKIAC Announces New Appointments to its Committees and Council

2 July 2026 – Hong Kong

HKIAC is pleased to announce that six new members have been appointed to its Proceedings Committee, Appointments Committee and Council in the last quarter.

Proceedings Committee

HKIAC has appointed Audley Sheppard KC and Edwina Kwan to its Proceedings Committee. 

Audley Sheppard KC is the current President of International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) and an Arbitrator at Twenty Essex in London. He is a former Partner and Co-Head of International Arbitration and International Law at Clifford Chance. 

Edwina Kwan is General Counsel at the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) in Sydney where she advises on energy transition and related contentious disputes. Prior to her role at ACCR, she was a Partner at an International Law Firm with over 20 years of experience acting as counsel in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations. 

The HKIAC Proceedings Committee determines procedural matters arising under the HKIAC Rules, including applications for consolidation, joinder and expedited proceedings, challenges to arbitrators, and decisions on whether arbitrations should proceed on a prima facie basis. It also considers revisions to HKIAC's rules and practice notes, thereby supporting the effective administration of HKIAC arbitrations.

John Choong, Chair of HKIAC’s Proceedings Committee said: “I am pleased to welcome Audley and Edwina to the Proceedings Committee. Their appointments reflect the HKIAC’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that the Committee is composed of individuals who bring the rigour, independence and deep experience and professional judgment that effective procedural oversight demands. I am confident that their appointments will further strengthen the quality of the decisions made by the Committee.” 

Appointments Committee

HKIAC has appointed Jessica Fei and Matthew Hodgson to its Appointments Committee. 

Jessica Fei, International Partner at King & Wood in Beijing, has over 30 years of international dispute resolution experience working with international arbitration institutions and leading firms in New York and Asia.  

Matthew Hodgson, Partner in Linklaters’ International Arbitration Group in London, specialises in complex disputes arising from cross-border investments and has extensive experience in commercial and investment treaty disputes in Asia and globally. 

The HKIAC Appointments Committee is primarily responsible for the appointment and confirmation of arbitrators and emergency arbitrators. It also determines the number of arbitrators where required, fixes arbitration costs, and oversees admission to HKIAC’s Panel and List of Arbitrators, supporting the integrity and quality of HKIAC’s appointment process.

Thomas Walsh, Vice-Chair and Chair of HKIAC’s Appointments Committee, said: “We warmly welcome Jessica and Matthew to the Appointments Committee. Both are highly respected and renowned practitioners in the field of international arbitration. With their extensive experience, the Committee will continue to support the HKIAC Secretariat in the appointment and confirmation of arbitrators with the rigour that is required for such an important function and while also working to broaden and diversify the pool of arbitrators.”

Council 

HKIAC has appointed Adrian Lai JP and Andrey Gorlenko to its Council. 

Adrian Lai JP is a Barrister at Des Voeux Chambers. He regularly acts as counsel and sits as arbitrator in international commercial arbitrations conducted under various rules and has also participated in investor-State and State-to-State arbitrations.

Adrian commented on his appointment: “I am honoured to be appointed to HKIAC’s Council. I look forward to contributing to an institution that has long been central to Hong Kong’s role as a leading centre for international arbitration, and that plays a pivotal role in the development of arbitration globally.”

Andrey Gorlenko is Head of International Dispute Resolution at Ivanyan & Partners and Senior Resident Partner at Ivanyan & Co, the first registered foreign law firm practising Russian Law in Hong Kong. He has spent close to two decades handling complex commercial and investment disputes in Russia and elsewhere. 

Andrey said: “I am pleased to join the HKIAC’s Council. HKIAC has an established role in the global arbitration community, serving a diverse global user community, including parties from Russia and across the region. I look forward to contributing to the Council’s work and further enhancing HKIAC’s long-standing role in resolving Russia-related disputes neutrally and efficiently.”

HKIAC Secretary-General, Joanne Lau stated:

“We are delighted to welcome our new Council and Committee members. The expertise brought by the new members will continue to enhance our institutional strength within the global arbitration community, maintaining HKIAC’s approach in providing quality and efficient case management, and to support HKIAC’s ongoing growth and expansion as a globally recognised arbitral institution.”

About HKIAC, the Council and Committees 

HKIAC was established in 1985 to provide independent and efficient dispute resolution services, specialising in arbitration, mediation, adjudication, and domain name dispute resolution. In addition to its headquarters and hearing centre in Hong Kong, HKIAC has offices in Seoul, Shanghai, and Beijing. To date, HKIAC has managed over 13,000 cases involving 120 jurisdictions. According to the 2025 Queen Mary University and White & Case International Arbitration Survey, HKIAC Rules were the second most preferred set of arbitration rules worldwide.

HKIAC is governed by its Council, which is composed of leading businesspeople and professionals from around the world who possess a wide variety of skills and experience. An Executive Committee serves as the principal body directing the activities of HKIAC. Three standing committees operate under the auspices of the Executive Committee. These are the Proceedings, Appointments, and Finance and Administration Committees. These committees deal with matters concerning the business operations of HKIAC as well as the functions entrusted to HKIAC under its arbitration rules and in accordance with its role as appointing authority under the Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance (Cap 609).