That exact shift in mindset was front and center at the Cebu Exchange Open House along Salinas Drive. Rather than pitching a single off-the-shelf office product, the event brought together developer ARTHALAND, fit-out specialist COREBILT, and real estate consultancy CBRE Philippines to show what a modern, future-ready business address actually looks like.

Three Perspectives, One Commercial Reality

What made the Open House stand out was how it approached commercial real estate from every angle—design, practical execution, and market data.

• ARTHALAND laid out the long-term vision behind the tower, focusing on why green buildings deliver actual financial value rather than just good PR.

• COREBILT tackled the practical, day-to-day headaches of setting up an office, walking guests through cost-effective fit-out solutions.

• CBRE Philippines shared a realistic breakdown of the regional market, reinforcing Cebu’s position as the country's top provincial office hub while pointing out how tenant priorities are shifting toward quality, efficiency, and PEZA-accredited spaces.

Guests also toured the property firsthand, exploring the grand arrival lobby, available bare units, move-in-ready spaces, and the building's signature Sky Garden.

Cutting Down the Wait: The "Warm Shell" Advantage

One of the biggest takeaways from the showcase was how Cebu Exchange handles the transition from buying a space to actually turning on the lights.

For many growing companies, extended construction timelines are a major dealbreaker. To solve that, the development features Warm Shell Units—spaces delivered with smooth concrete flooring, functional drop ceilings, painted walls, and core electrical works already finished before turnover.

Instead of spending months on basic civil works, businesses can immediately drop in their custom furniture, brand elements, and specialized IT infrastructure. Paired with ARTHALAND’s Move-In Assistance, it drastically cuts down initial capital expenditure and gets teams up and running weeks faster.

For firms that prefer complete freedom to build out custom corporate headquarters from scratch, standard Grade A units remain available, ranging from 170 to 490 square meters.

Sustainability That Actually Helps the Bottom Line

It’s easy for developers to toss around buzzwords, but Cebu Exchange backs it up with serious engineering. It holds the distinction of being the world’s largest EDGE Zero Carbon-certified building.

In practical terms, the building’s design cuts energy and water consumption by at least 40%. For occupiers and owner-occupiers, that translates directly into significantly lower monthly operational costs over the life of the building—a crucial buffer against rising utility expenses.

Why the Shift Toward Ownership Matters

As rental rates across key business districts stabilize, more companies in Cebu are viewing office space as an asset rather than a recurring expense.

Owning a Grade A, PEZA-accredited office unit gives companies full control over their operational footprint while protecting them against unpredictable rent hikes. In a growing economic hub like Cebu IT Park, it turns a necessary workplace requirement into a long-term corporate asset.

The way we work and build businesses in Cebu is evolving fast. By combining green building tech, flexible occupancy setups, and a strategic location right at the gateway of Cebu IT Park, Cebu Exchange isn't just offering square footage—it's giving companies a solid foundation to scale.

For home-based entrepreneurs, these are more than natural events. They can damage supplies, delay deliveries, cut off communication with customers, and disrupt an important source of household income.

Building a disaster-resilient business does not require a complicated corporate plan. It starts with understanding the risks of operating from home and preparing simple ways to protect essential resources, continue essential operations, and recover more quickly when disruptions occur.

Here are some of the most common challenges mompreneurs may face during a crisis, along with practical steps they can take:

1. The inventory trap: Spoiled or damaged supplies

Power outages can spoil ingredients, while flooding can damage raw materials, packaging, and finished products.

What to do: Keep supplies on raised shelves or in waterproof containers, and have frozen ice packs ready to help protect perishables during short outages.

2. The logistics halt: Delayed deliveries and lost connectivity

Severe weather can suspend courier services and make it difficult to update customers when connectivity is unstable.

What to do: Inform customers about possible delays before conditions worsen and save ready-to-send advisory messages on your phone. Keep alternative courier contacts, but never arrange deliveries when conditions are unsafe.

3. The digital freeze: Lost records and delayed payments

A damaged device or an unavailable digital payment platform can prevent you from accessing orders, supplier contacts, and funds for urgent expenses.

What to do: Regularly back up essential business files to a secure cloud service and keep an offline list of urgent orders and supplier contacts. Set aside a small emergency business fund for times when digital payments are unavailable.

Connectivity as part of business readiness

For a home-based business, reliable connectivity helps mompreneurs receive weather updates, communicate with customers and suppliers, manage digital payments, and respond quickly to disruptions.

PLDT Home supports this readiness by strengthening its network, sending proactive service advisories, and deploying PLDT At Your Service teams to affected communities as needed. Through free Wi-Fi, calls, charging stations, and customer assistance, these efforts can help mompreneurs stay informed, reconnect with customers, and resume operations sooner after a calamity.

The value of community as a support network

Preparing for emergencies shouldn’t feel like a solo effort. For home-based creators, business resilience goes hand in hand with community support. Connecting with fellow mompreneurs offers practical insights, emotional support, and real-world lessons that you won’t find on a standard checklist. 

PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms, an online community tailored for mompreneurs, gives women a dedicated space to exchange ideas, share logistics updates during bad weather, and support one another through both everyday hurdles and sudden disasters. Hearing how another home-based mom managed a multi-day power outage or handled delivery complaints provides a practical blueprint for your own business. 

While natural disasters cannot be prevented, their impact on your hard-earned business can be significantly reduced. By combining realistic contingency plans, simple digital habits, and the backing of a like-minded community like MMPH, mompreneurs can build more resilient businesses that adapt, recover, and continue to thrive, no matter what challenges come their way. 

Join PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms PH group to meet and interact with a wide network of inspiring mompreneurs.

 When life gets fast, I’ve learned that the best investment you can make is in a proper reset.

I recently treated myself to an urban escape at the Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts—a property featured in the prestigious Michelin Guide. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like when hospitality is elevated to an art form, this is it. From premium balcony views overlooking the vibrant city skyline to seamless luxury at every turn, this property officially earned a top spot on my Manila staycation recommendations.

Here is how to do a Michelin-worthy staycation right.

☕️🍸 Executive Lounge: Where Productivity Meets Peace

As someone juggling a full schedule, finding a space that balances deep focus with relaxation is rare. The Executive Lounge at the Manila Marriott (located on the 2nd floor of the West Wing) quickly became my favorite sanctuary.

Whether I was fueling up with an early morning coffee, settling in for an afternoon study and work session, or winding down with evening cocktails and handcrafted hors d'oeuvres, the vibe here is unmatched. It offers a refined mix of exclusivity and calm that makes crushing your daily goals feel effortless.

Pro-Tip: Lounge access is complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elites, or you can easily unlock it by booking an Executive Room!

🍳 Morning Fuel: Breakfast at Marriott Cafe (M Cafe)

A luxury staycation is only as good as its breakfast spread, and Marriott Cafe (often fondly called M Cafe) delivers on every level.

Walking into M Cafe in the morning feels like entering a food lover's playground. The open-theater kitchens feature a massive international spread—from hot, savory Filipino breakfast staples (think classic tapsilog and fresh taho) to freshly baked pastries, live egg stations, noodles, and dim sum. Sitting down with a hot cappuccino and a customized plate while soaking in the bright, modern morning atmosphere was easily one of the highlights of my stay.

🏋️‍♂️🧖‍♂️🏊‍♂️ The Ultimate Reset: Sweat, Steam, and Soak

To wrap up a luxury stay, a proper wellness circuit is non-negotiable. Manila Marriott serves as the ultimate urban wellness escape, and I put their facilities to the test with my go-to three-step routine:

1. SWEAT IT OUT: Power through a full session at their state-of-the-art fitness center.

2. STEAM IT OUT: Unwind, release tension, and detox in the tranquil sauna.

3. SOAK IT ALL IN: Dive into pure bliss at the outdoor pool to cap it all off.

Leaving the hotel, I felt completely recharged in mind, body, and soul.

If you're looking for a refined staycation that offers top-tier dining, world-class lounge perks, and true relaxation right in Metro Manila, pop the Manila Marriott Hotel on your bucket list. Your well-deserved reset button is waiting!

LONDON – July 22, 2026 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd today announced the all-new Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9,^[1] delivering a new era of effortless health, where users can unlock in-depth, meaningful health insights simply by wearing these devices. To support 24/7 wearability, Samsung delivers powerful innovations that maximize comfort while advancing performance with Galaxy Watch’s largest battery and brightest display ever, as well as the Snapdragon Wear® Elite Platform.^[2] Serving as the ultimate gateway to AI-driven health intelligence, this groundbreaking premium lineup transforms complex biometric data into personalized, actionable guidance across the full spectrum of user health.

Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 feature the Snapdragon Wear® Elite Platform, alongside the lineup's largest battery and brightest display ever.

"Samsung is committed to helping people live better. We want to make the shift from reactive treatment to proactive care as seamless as possible. By integrating everyday devices with our global scale, we’re building a deeply connected health experience.” said TM Roh, Chief Executive Officer, President and Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. "The new Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 represent a massive leap forward in Samsung's health vision. By continuously tracking health data from the wrist, these new watches act as a vigilant health companion, turning daily vital signs into proactive, actionable insights and providing timely alerts."

Galaxy Watch Ultra2: Fueling Ambitions and Enabling Peak Performance Through Unrivaled Hardware and Specialized Sports Tracking

The new 47 mm Galaxy Watch Ultra2 in Titanium Gray.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is Samsung’s most powerful and advanced Galaxy Watch ever. It is built for extreme outdoor adventures and high-performance seekers who demand long-lasting performance, reliable durability, precision tracking and continuous health monitoring in extreme conditions.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2’s dedicated tracking modes for outdoor sports help users excel and safely push their limits. The Trail Run^[3] feature tracks detailed elevation, climbing progress and terrain impact so users can better pace themselves and reduce injury risk. It also provides real-time hydration guidance through Nutrition Alert,^[4] a new addition to the existing Sweat Loss feature. By estimating sweat loss relative to body weight, it provides guidance on when and how much to hydrate, helping users achieve their running goals.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 provides detailed trail running data on its 5,000-nit, crystal-clear display

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 also supports professional diving. Rated IP69K, 10 ATM and EN13319 certified,^[5] it's not just dust- and water-resistant — it's dive-ready. The moment the user enters the water, it can automatically track real-time diving data such as depth, time and water temperature right from their wrist.^[6] Moreover, users can access advanced diving features, including ascent/descent speed tracking and safe dive limits, by using the exclusive Ultra2 Diving app expected to be available later this year. Developed with Mares,^[7]the world’s leading diving equipment brand, these features significantly enhance the watch's diving capabilities.

Once a user enters the water, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 automatically tracks real-time diving data such as depth, time and water temperature.

To power these pro-level sports health features, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is built with unprecedented hardware performance. It is equipped with a massive 800 mAh battery — a 35% increase in capacity compared to the previous Ultra model. Powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, it establishes a new benchmark in power, speed and highly accurate GPS tracking for the Ultra line. The expanded display provides the world’s first smartwatch with 5,000 nits of brightness,^[8] making crystal-clear visibility possible even under intense sunlight.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 retains its shock-resistant titanium casing to help ensure rugged durability, while also introducing enhanced comfort and stability for a broader, more diverse range of users. Despite a significantly larger battery, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 achieves an innovative slimmer^[9] design that transitions seamlessly from rugged outdoor and sports activities to everyday lifestyle use. Advanced internal re-engineering significantly reduces the device’s thickness by 12% compared to the previous generation. Coupled with lighter and softer bands that reduce weight, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 delivers 24/7 wearability, highly precise biometric data tracking and exceptional comfort.

Galaxy Watch9: Everyday Wellness With All-Day Comfort and a Lasting Battery

Galaxy Watch9 is available with different band materials and colors, including soft silicone and lightweight fabric options.

Galaxy Watch9 is the ultimate everyday health companion, designed for wellness-conscious users who want to build healthier habits through effortless, continuous activity and sleep tracking. This versatile watch turns personal biomarkers into actionable health insights, empowering users to effortlessly manage their daily routines by simply wearing it.

To maximize its role as a health companion, Galaxy Watch9 is backed by powerful hardware and an incredibly comfortable design. It features a lightweight yet durable aluminum casing that preserves Galaxy Watch’s signature cushion silhouette, refined specifically for a closer, more natural fit on the wrist. Combined with a wide range of interchangeable, soft-touch bands, Galaxy Watch9 helps ensure unmatched all-day comfort — enabling the continuous, 24/7 wear required to help capture accurate and consistent health data.

This exceptional wearability is powered by next-generation internal innovations. The new Snapdragon Wear Elite platform gives Galaxy Watch9 a massive boost in speed and efficiency for lag-free, seamless health monitoring. Its efficient 390 mAh battery^[10] delivers dependable, around-the-clock tracking from day to night. Furthermore, a brilliant 3,000-nit display supports effortless readability and crystal-clear visibility under any lighting condition, making it easy for users to check their health status at a glance.

AI-Powered Health: Comprehensive and Actionable Health Insights

At the core of Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 are Samsung’s AI-powered health features. Galaxy Watch’s BioActive sensor captures continuous biometric data about a user’s lifestyle habits to develop a deep understanding of their health. Galaxy Watch then translates this complex biometric data into simple, proactive recommendations, helping users understand not just what is happening in their bodies, but what to do next.

The new capabilities — available on both Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 — advance Samsung’s preventive care vision by combining everyday data with years of rigorous clinical research conducted with world-renowned universities and medical institutions. Built on this foundation, Galaxy Watch is designed to deliver more accurate and meaningful health guidance across key pillars including sleep, activity, cardiovascular health and recovery.

●       Sleep Apnea feature^[11]: Backed by new FDA clearance and AI algorithms, delivers deeper insights into breathing disruptions during sleep.

●       Vitals^[12]: Proactively monitors a user’s personal health baseline during sleep and provides seamless alerts for significant deviations.

●       Heart Health Score^[13]: Provides an effortless understanding of cardiovascular wellness through a simple, actionable score and personalized lifestyle recommendations.

●       Daily Cardio Load^[14]: Optimizes training through tailored guidance on workout volume and estimated recovery needs.

●       Fitness Index^[15]: Delivers a holistic view of physical fitness with personalized goals to improve everyday performance.

●       Hearing^[16]: Protects long-term hearing health with alerts for unsafe noise levels and detailed reports.

With these features, users can gain access to intelligent, personalized insights that empower them to seamlessly manage their long-term wellness journey and reach their goals.

Galaxy Watch features include Vitals to alert users to significant health deviations.

Purpose-Built Band Collections: Designed for Every Lifestyle

A smartwatch should be as unique as the user, and both Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 offer a range of diverse band options to fit every lifestyle.

Because elite performance demands the right gear for the right moment, Samsung offers a specialized collection of Ultra bands. Whether users are tackling rugged terrain, diving deep or heading into a business meeting, they have the flexibility to choose the perfect band tailored to their specific purpose and environment, ensuring optimal functionality without compromising on style. Users have the following options to choose from:

●       Marine Band: an even lighter, breathable silicone band designed for all-day adventures and extreme conditions.

●       PeakForm Band: a hybrid material band delivering a premium finish optimized for both elegance and athletic performance.

●       Trail Band: a classic fabric band featuring enhanced breathability and a superior fit for lasting comfort, even during demanding outdoor activities like running.

Designed with ultimate self-expression in mind, the expansive new Watch9 band collection empowers users to showcase their personal style and customize their look. Featuring innovative new materials and a vibrant spectrum of colors, these bands maximize comfort across diverse activities — from intense workouts to your everyday routines:

●       Sports Band: a thinner, softer all-rounder for ultimate comfort and effortless transitions from workouts to daily life.

●       Misty Band: crafted from premium soft silicone that securely wraps around the wrist for a stable, bounce-free fit. Featuring subtle and soft two-tone colors, it delivers a sophisticated look that effortlessly complements a user’s everyday style.

●       Fabric Band: a lightweight, breathable daily band offering maximum comfort, even during sleep.

Samsung Care+: Quick Access to Diagnostics and More

To give users peace of mind after upgrading, Samsung Care+^[17] offers comprehensive protection with fast repairs for accidental damage, extended warranty coverage and certified expert support at home and abroad, making it easier to stay covered wherever life takes them.

Additionally, Galaxy Watch users can manage their Samsung Care+ plan from the Warranty and care menu available on Galaxy mobile phones running on One UI 9. This is a new settings hub that gives users quick access to warranty information, self-diagnostics, repair requests, remote support and Samsung Care+ services — all from their mobile phone.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 come with exclusive subscription trial benefits:

●        Strava 60-Day Free Trial^[18]: Users can start training with the world's most active community, where 195 million active people across 185 countries track every effort and cheer each other on. But Strava goes beyond training — users can connect with their community and discover new running routes by tracking workouts directly on their watch, then opening the Strava app on their mobile phone. To activate a free trial, users can open the Strava mobile app, go to Settings and tap the Samsung offer.

●        iFIT 2-Month Free Trial^[19]: Users can explore global destinations with elite iFIT trainers and track workouts directly on their watch. To activate a free trial, users can open the Samsung Health app on their mobile phone and tap promotion in the Settings menu.

Availability^[20]

Together with the new Galaxy Z series, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 expands Samsung's AI ecosystem, bringing life companion experiences across every form factor, from wrist to pocket to home.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 will be available in a 47 mm size, while Galaxy Watch9 will be available in two sizes: 40 mm and 44 mm. Galaxy Watch Ultra2 users will be able to choose from Titanium Silver or Titanium Gray. Meanwhile, the 40 mm Galaxy Watch9 will be available in Cream and Graphite, while the 44 mm Galaxy Watch9 will be available in Graphite and Silver.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 are available for pre-order in the Philippines starting July22, with general availability starting Aug 14. Pre-order offers include savings up to 15% with 0% installment up to 36 months using UnionBank or Metrobank Credit Card as well as savings up to 11% with 0% installment up to 24 months using Eastwest, BDO, BPI, Security Bank, PNB, HSBC, or Chinabank Credit Card. These offers are available at Samsung Authorized stores nationwide, Samsung.com, and participating online retailers. Customers may also enjoy P3,000 off via Home Credit at Samsung Authorized Stores nationwide, upgrade from their old Galaxy Watch with guaranteed savings of up to P7,000 through Trade-in and avail of Samsung Care+ at 25% off on a 2-year plan at Samsung Authorized Stores nationwide and partner online retailers, or enjoy 3 months free via Samsung.com. ^[21]

To learn more about Galaxy Watch Ultra2, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/ph/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch-ultra2-titanium-silver-lte-sm-l715fzsaxtc/buy/ 

To learn more about Galaxy Watch9, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/ph/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch9-40mm-cream-bluetooth-sm-l340nzeaasa/buy/