EU Chamber elects first female, Filipina president

EU Chamber elects first female, Filipina president

Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas
GMA News
28 May 2026

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on Wednesday announced its new Board of Directors, electing Diana Edralin as president — the first woman and Filipina to lead the organization in its history.

Edralin, general manager of Roche Philippines, will head the board as the chamber prepares for the upcoming EU-ASEAN Business Summit in September.

Her appointment comes after the sixth round of negotiations on the EU-Philippines free trade agreement (FTA) concluded on May 22, 2026.

She succeeds Paulo Duarte, who served as ECCP president for three years and helped expand the organization’s membership to nearly 1,000.

Lars Wittig, Ruben Camba, and Roman Menz were elected vice presidents, while Albert Perez was named treasurer. Judge Cesar Cruz will continue serving as corporate secretary.

The ECCP also announced the addition of two new board members: Ruben Camba, managing director for Southeast Asia at ACCIONA, and Liher Urbizu, president and managing director of SAP Southeast Asia.

They will join continuing board members Bernd Schneider, area general manager of Raffles and Fairmont Philippines; Tarang Gupta, managing director of Alaska Milk Corp.; Juha-Pekka Hoikka, chief representative and managing director of Airbus Helicopters Philippines Inc.; Jaime Urquijo, group head at Ayala Land; and Sandeep Uppal, president of HSBC Philippines.

“The new Board will steer the Chamber’s strategic direction from 2026 to 2027 and further strengthen its commitment to advancing trade, investment, and economic ties between Europe and the Philippines,” the ECCP said.—MCG, GMA News

Filipino student won awards at International Science and Engineering Fair 2026 in Arizona.

Filipino students win 6 awards in global science fair in Arizona

Andrea Gregorio
Inquirer.net
20 May 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino student researchers won six awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Two Grand Awards and four Special Awards were earned by Filipino student researchers across various science and innovation categories at the global science fair held from May 9 to 15.

Students from Angeles City Science High School, Quezon City Science High School, and Alaminos City National High School received international recognition for their research in energy, software design, and physics and astronomy.

Nathan Andrew P. Canilao, Pierre Phoella G. Ilagan, and Asher John G. Garcia of Angeles City Science High School secured the 2nd Grand Award in the Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design category, along with a $2,400 cash prize, for their project WinDTurbinePower.

The group also bagged the Third Prize Special Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Stewardship, along with a $2,000 cash prize, under the guidance of coach Lolita G. Bautista.

Meanwhile, Jose Rafael Cayabyab, Cassandra Lipango, and Eirah Riduca of Quezon City Science High School won the 3rd Grand Award in the Software Design category for ViSMo, an AI-integrated vital status monitoring robot equipped with Internet of Things features.

The team also earned the Arizona State University Scholarship Award and the Society for Science Alumni Award under the guidance of coach Genevieve Vasquez.

Charly David T. Manuel of Alaminos City National High School was recognized in the Physics and Astronomy category after receiving the Patent and Trademark Office Society First Prize Award, which came with a $500 cash prize, under the mentorship of Kris Cristhopher Dela Cruz.

The global science fair gathered over 1,700 young researchers from more than 60 countries, regions, and territories. 

Chosen through local affiliate fairs, the finalists competed on the world’s largest pre-college science platform, which highlights top youth talent and promotes a culture of innovation and excellence.

The Philippine team consisted of 16 learner-researchers chosen from the top individual and group projects at the 2026 National Science and Technology Fair held in March before advancing to Regeneron ISEF 2026.

In a statement on Wednesday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the achievement shows Filipino learners excel when given proper support, mentorship, and opportunities in science and innovation.“It is heartwarming and a source of pride to see our students able to compete with the best young scientists in the world,” Angara said in Filipino.

“Behind every award are countless hours of study, the guidance of coaches and teachers, and the trust of schools and families in the children’s abilities,” he added.Angara said the awards highlight the value of sustained investment in science education, research, and innovation opportunities for Filipino learners.

“What matters now is that we continue to support this kind of learning—where science is not just a classroom subject, but a way to find solutions to real problems in the community,” Angara said.

Jollibee is on Time’s 2026 most influential companies

Jollibee lands spot on Time’s 2026 most influential companies list

Richmond Mercurio
Philstar Global
03 May 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee continues to assert its global dominance, with the homegrown fast-food giant earning a spot on Time’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2026.

The Time 100 Most Influential Companies list recognizes the world’s most influential businesses of the year.

Companies on the list are those whose impact, innovation, ambition and success are setting new standards for the world.

This year, Time introduced the Time100 Companies: Industry Leaders lists, an expansion of the Time100 Most Influential Companies issue that dives deeper into 20 sectors to highlight organizations shaping their industries.

Jollibee was named among the 10 most influential food and drink companies of 2026.

It is joined by the Ferrero Group, OpenTable, Mixue Group, Farmer’s Fridge, Wonder, Celsius Holdings, Pairwise, Fishwife and David Protein.

Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Foods Corp., one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant companies, which manages and operates a portfolio of 19 brands with over 10,000 stores and cafés across 33 countries.

Jollibee was recently ranked by Euromonitor International as the No. 1 Chicken Quick Service Restaurant in Southeast Asia, based on 2025 value sales.

The brand operates 1,658 stores across Southeast Asia as of end-2025, including 317 outside the Philippines, with potential for expansion in priority regional growth markets.

Its growth has been driven by localized product innovation, mainstream customer appeal and a consistently strong guest experience.

Signature products Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti remain among the brand’s top-selling items across markets and continue to drive repeat visits and strong customer affinity.

Jollibee crowned No. 1 chicken QSR in Southeast Asia

Jollibee crowned No. 1 chicken QSR in Southeast Asia

Richmond Mercurio
Philstar.com
01 May 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee, the flagship brand of Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp., has been ranked the No. 1 chicken quick-service restaurant (QSR) in Southeast Asia by Euromonitor International.

The Jollibee Group said the recognition underscores the brand’s sustained growth and strong consumer demand across multiple Southeast Asian markets.

Euromonitor International’s assessment draws on comprehensive research methods, including in-country research, store checks, trade interviews and company analysis to determine market size and competitive positioning across the region.

Jollibee has built broad market appeal across Southeast Asia by balancing menu localization with a consistent core brand experience.

Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group global president and CEO, said the recognition reinforces Jollibee’s role as a key driver of international growth and highlights the group’s capability to scale restaurant brands across diverse markets through strong fundamentals and execution discipline.

“This milestone underscores the strength of Jollibee as our flagship brand and our ability to build brands that connect across markets. It reflects years of disciplined execution — deep consumer understanding, strong operating systems and a growth strategy that balances relevance with consistency,” he said.

Tanmantiong said Jollibee is well-positioned to scale significantly over time, supported by disciplined expansion and strong market fundamentals.

He added that the group would focus on scalable brands that stay meaningful to customers as it expands across Southeast Asia and other regions.

“With 317 stores across Southeast Asia outside the Philippines, we have a solid platform for continued expansion in this high-growth region,” Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee was recently ranked No. 1 QSR in Vietnam by Euromonitor International, despite not having the largest store network.

In Singapore, Jollibee was previously recognized by The Straits Times as the No. 1 fast-food brand in customer service, based on a nationwide consumer survey.

Jollibee also stands as the No. 1 QSR by store network in Brunei.

“There’s a common perception that Jollibee primarily serves Filipino customers outside the Philippines, but what we’re seeing on the ground is very different,” Dennis Flores, president of Jollibee Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia, said.

“In markets like Vietnam and Brunei, nearly all our customers are locals, and in Singapore and Malaysia, locals make up most of our customer base. This tells us that great taste and a strong brand experience resonate beyond borders — it’s something consumers choose, regardless of culture,” he said.

Entalula Beach named world's No. 1 best beach for 2026

Palawan's Entalula Beach named world's No. 1 best beach for 2026

Melanie Uson
Philstar.com
29 April 2026

Entalula Beach in El Nido, Palawan, has been named this year’s No. 1 beach in the world.

The pristine destination topped this year’s World’s 50 Best Beaches list, as selected by the judges, beach ambassadors, and the World’s 50 Beaches team.

“Entalula Beach in Palawan is one of those places you have to see to believe. It is set apart by its towering limestone cliffs that rise sharply behind a stretch of soft white sand, creating one of the most visually striking settings in the region and the world,” the media company described in the caption.

It also underscored the beach’s distinctive surrounding landscape, crystal-clear waters, and relatively uncrowded atmosphere compared with nearby beaches.

“With access only by boat, it remains quieter and helps preserve its more natural feel. It’s the contrast of majestic cliffs, clear water, and amazing seclusion that gives Entalula its edge as a place that feels both dramatic and calm at the same time,” it added.

This year’s top ranking comes after the beach landed at No. 2 on last year’s list.

Leyte’s Kalanggaman Island also made it to the list at No. 25, known for its clear waters and narrow sandbar.

Following Entalula, Fteri Beach in Greece ranked second, followed by Australia’s Wharton Beach, Nosy Iranja in Madagascar, and East Beach on Vomo Island in Fiji.

The nominations were based on eight key criteria: unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched nature, natural soundtrack, ease of water entry, frequency of calm conditions, lack of overcrowding, and the idyllic scenes it offers.

Completing the top 10 beaches are Shoal Bay East in Anguilla, Dhigurah in the Maldives, Playa Balandra in Mexico, Koh Rong in Cambodia, and Donald Duck Bay in Thailand.

El Nido, Palawan, was also recently recognized by BBC as one of the eight best destinations in the world.

Pinoy chicken dishes named among world's best by Taste Atlas

Chicken inasal, adobo named among world's 50 best chicken dishes by TasteAtlas

GMA News
27 April 2026

Chicken inasal and chicken adobo were named among the 50 best chicken dishes in the world by TasteAtlas! 

According to the international publication's list, released this April, chicken inasal ranked third with a rating of 4.4 stars, while chicken adobo ranked 40th with a rating of 4.1 stars. 

It described chicken inasal as "a unique Filipino grilled chicken dish which originated in Western Visayas and became the signature dish of the entire region." 

TasteAtlas also recommended places to have some of the best chicken inasal, including Aida's Manokan and Nena's Beth at Manokan Country in Bacolod, Island Chicken Inasal in Bulabog, Barrio Inasal in Iloilo, and Balay Dako in Tagaytay.

Meanwhile, the publication described chicken adobo as a "traditional stew" made with chicken, garlic, onions, bay leaves, peppercorns, oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, and white vinegar. 

"The dish is simmered over high heat until the chicken is fully cooked, and adobong manok is then served with white rice on the side," it said. 

Previously, chicken inasal topped TasteAtlas' list of Top 100 Filipino food for October 2024. 

TasteAtlas also included chicken inasal in its list of best Filipino food for September of the same year, where it ranked second to sinigang. 

PH’s wins its 2nd Miss Tourism Worldwide crown in Malaysia

Anne De Mesa wins PH’s 2nd Miss Tourism Worldwide crown in Malaysia

Armin P. Adina
Inquirer.net
26 April 2026

With years of national pageant experience under her belt, accountant Anne De Mesa convincingly snagged the 2026 Miss Tourism Worldwide title in Malaysia.

De Mesa bested more than a dozen aspirants at the competition held at Forest City Golf Resort in Johor Bahru on Saturday evening, April 25, to become the second Filipino woman to win the title.

The Philippines’ first posted its victory through Zara Carbonell, who won the crown at the inaugural edition of the pageant held in Indonesia.

De Mesa inherited the Miss Tourism Worldwide from last year’s winner, Joyce Tuijaerts from the European region of Benelux.

At her recent national pageant, the 2026 Miss World Philippines competition in February, De Mesa was proclaimed as First Princess. The main title went to teen queen Asia Rose Simpson.

She was later appointed to compete at the Miss Tourism Worldwide pageant, a development that put her ahead of the other national winners whose respective global stints are scheduled later than hers.

At the competition in Malaysia, De Mesa received the “Miss Celebrity” subsidiary title and both the Best in National Costume and Best in Evening Gown awards.

“I’m thankful for ALV Pageant Circle and the Miss World Philippines Organization for seeing potential in me. And finally, this is it, we can scream ‘Philippines!’” she told Inquirer Entertainment before she left for the international pageant.

De Mesa had earlier joined the Miss World Philippines competition 2021, finishing in the Top 24. She then joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2022 and 2025, earning semifinal spots in both occasions. /edv