sA Internet, Ingat! 

During the 2026 Safer Internet Day event, Google PH Head of Communications and Public Affairs Mervin Wenke discusses the AI tools and tips to help PInoy netizens navigate the internet safety including the new capabilities of Circle to Search and Google Lens to fight scams.

As the internet becomes more indispensable as to how Filipinos learn, work, and connect, Google Philippines is celebrating Safer Internet Day by highlighting how AI can be a powerful ally for online safety. Under the theme “sA Internet, Ingat!”, Google is highlighting a suite of advanced tools designed to make online safety seamless and intuitive, ensuring that every Pinoy—from students to seniors—can navigate the AI era with confidence and peace of mind.

1. AI Tools to Outsmart Misinformation

Distinguishing human-led content from AI-generated media is now a critical life skill. Google recommends the “SIFT” method—Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims—to evaluate online information. To support this, Google offers:

• About this Image: A Search tool that provides context on where an image originated.
• SynthID: Technology that embeds digital watermarks into AI-generated content to help identify deepfakes and manipulated media.

2. Fighting Scams in Real-Time

Scammers are increasingly using SMS and social media to lure victims. Google has supercharged Google Lens and Circle to Search to spot scam messages. If you receive a suspicious link or message, simply take a screenshot of the SMS and use Google Lens to scan it or long-press the home button of your Android device and circle the text. Google AI analyzes the content in real-time to alert you if it is a likely scam.

3. Ironclad Protection for Lost or Stolen Devices

Digital safety is compromised if a device is physically stolen. Google has upgraded security features for Android users to ensure your data remains yours alone:

• Theft Detection Lock: Uses on-device AI to sense motion and context that may indicate a “snatch-and-run” theft. If a theft attempt is detected, it will quickly lock the device screen to help protect your data.
• Biometric Identity Check: Adds a layer of security for sensitive settings.
• Failed Authentication Lock: Automatically secures the device after multiple incorrect login attempts.

4. Building Healthy Digital Habits for Kids and Families

Safety begins at home. Google equips parents with the tools that can help their children navigate the web responsibly:

• Family Link: Set screen time limits, approve app downloads, and apply content filters.
• Be Internet Awesomeprogramme provides resources for educators and families to empower young people to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave in the online world.
• YouTube Shorts Timer: Allows parents to set specific time limits for short-form video consumption—even setting it to zero during homework time, an industry-first parental control.

5. Fostering Critical Thinking with Gemini

As AI becomes a staple in education, Google is shifting the focus from “quick answers” to “deep understanding.” Through Guided Learning in Gemini, students are encouraged to solve problems step-by-step. This approach prioritizes logic and critical thinking, ensuring AI serves as a tutor rather than a shortcut.

For more information and resources this #SaferInternetDay, explore our safety tools at https://safety.google/intl/en_in/settings/parental-controls

Wenke also discussed the 2025 search trends in the Philippines involving online safety and cybersecurity. A positive development was the rise in the search for media literacy among Filipinos.

Prep Palacios, Country Manager for Google Philippines, emphasized the importance of online safety tips and tools, especially in the age of AI.

Standing from left to right to mark Safer Internet Day are Putri Alam, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for Google Southeast Asia; Usec. Aboy Paraiso of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center; and Mervin Wenke, Head of Communications and Public Affairs for Google Philippines.

Wenke also discussed the 2025 search trends in the Philippines involving online safety and cybersecurity. A positive development was the rise in the search for media literacy among Filipinos.

 The IKEA Home Furnishing Bus is here! IKEA Philippines unveiled its immersive roving showroom to showcase its storage solutions. Present at the launch were (L-R) Frida Wallin, IKEA Country Business Navigation Manager; Manuela Seemann, IKEA Pasay Sales Manager; celebrity host Boy Abunda; actress Jolina Magdangal; Sarah Cox, IKEA Philippines Country Selling Manager; Jasmin Cruz, IKEA Philippines Inspiration & Communication Manager; and Ricardo Pinheiro, IKEA Philippines Country Retail Manager.

For many Filipino families, space at home is never just about square meters. Space holds memory and meaning: generations of family photos hanging on walls, hand-me-down furniture being used every day, toys saved long after childhood has passed, children’s drawings filling drawers.

It’s not kalat—it’s living, breathing memories, and for the family that likes to keep them close to their heart, decluttering is not about letting go, but about finding space to keep things that matter.

This February, IKEA Philippines takes that sentiment on the road with the launch of its Home Furnishing Bus, a roving, immersive experience designed to bring the brand’s smart, flexible storage solutions, and heartfelt home stories closer to Filipino households.

Launched on February 6, 2026 in Pasay City, IKEA’s Home Furnishing Bus will begin its journey across Metro Manila and select South Luzon destinations. Designed to bring home furnishing inspiration directly to more Filipinos, the bus is set to visit various locations in Cavite, Batangas, and Laguna.

Visitors can step inside, explore thoughtfully designed storage displays such as wardrobes, drawers, office and home storage, and engage with stories that celebrate everyday life at home.

The IKEA Home Furnishing Bus will drive around Metro Manila and South Luzon until April 2026.

Storage for every memory

At the heart of the campaign is a simple but heartfelt message: “Make Space for What Matters.”
IKEA is your partner in home organization, making it possible to not throw away things but to honor memories while creating calmer, more functional homes.

The Home Furnishing Bus feels like a traveling snapshot of real homes where functionality and sentiment coexist. As it makes its stop in several locations, people can come inside the bus to experience IKEA’s storage solutions up close. They can get inspiration from systems that adapt to growing families, smaller living spaces, and ever-changing routines. Each display is designed to feel lived-in, practical, and familiar, reflecting how Filipino families actually live and grow—just like their own.

Through this execution, IKEA Philippines aims to meet Filipinos where they are—right in their communities—to show that organization doesn’t have to mean letting go of cherished memories. This initiative is about creating an immersive, people-first experience where families can see, touch, and try IKEA solutions, while also hearing stories that reflect their own lives. By bringing smart storage ideas and heartfelt conversations together, the goal is to help Filipino households make life at home simpler, calmer, and better—without losing what makes it meaningful.

What makes the Home Furnishing Bus stand out is the stories it brings to life. Integrated into the experience are a series of Fast Talk interviews hosted by Boy Abunda, featuring actress Jolina Magdangal during the February 6 launch at IKEA Pasay; and YouTuber Benedict Cua on February 8 at Ayala Malls Nuvali. The campaign will also feature a collaboration with Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast hosted by directors Antoinette Jadaone and JP Habac, which will be filmed inside the bus.

 Beloved celebrity ambassadors Jolina Magdangal and Boy Abunda got to experience the IKEA Home Furnishing Bus.

Visitors are encouraged to open drawers, test solutions, ask questions, and reflect on the stories shared through the mini-podcasts.

As the bus continues its journey through Metro Manila and South Luzon, IKEA reinforces its role as a partner in Filipino home life — one that understands that homes are built as much on stories as they are on shelves and boxes.

The inside of the IKEA Home Furnishing Bus features storage and organization solutions that Filipinos can use for all their cherished items.

IKEA Home Furnishing Bus Tour will kick off on Feb. 6 at Mall of Asia, Pasay City. It will make stops in Metro Manila and South Luzon. Visit ikea.ph for more.

Casino Plus, the Best Online Casino in the Philippines, Staged the First-of-its-Kind Angpao Rain Gala, Awarding a Record-Setting ₱180 Million to Recognize 600 Top Filipino Video Content Creators

Manila, Philippines (3 February 2026) – In a groundbreaking first, Casino Plus, the best online casino in the Philippines, awarded a total of ₱180 million in cash prizes to honor 600 video content creators during the Angpao Rain Gala, a historic celebration recognizing creativity, engagement, and community in the online casino space.

The high-profile event brought together top creators and industry figures for a night of glitz, recognition, and record-breaking rewards. Through this milestone event, Casino Plus reinforced its commitment to building long-term trust among its users and creator community.

A Casino Plus spokesperson said, “The Angpao Rain Gala represents our commitment to recognizing participation of content creators in a meaningful and transparent way. Awarding ₱180 million in cash to 600 video content creators demonstrates that we deeply value and recognize their efforts in helping co-create immersive experiences, foster creativity and build stronger bonds within our community. We honor their impactful contributions that greatly deserve real rewards, giving them recognition and a cause for celebration and camaraderie among content creators.”

History-Making Recognition for Top Filipino Content Creators

The Angpao Rain Gala recognized content creators of Angpao-related content and campaign-period contributions, celebrating their achievements with a tiered cash prize system verified by Casino Plus officials using Brandwatch.

Top winners included 10 creators who received ₱2 million each. Completing the total of ₱180 million in prizes to honor the efforts of content creators publicly, ₱1 million, ₱200,000, and ₱100,000, were awarded to each of the 90, 200 and 300 winners, respectively.

A Night to Remember

Casino Plus Friend of the House Sachzna Laparan opened the Angpao Rain Gala ceremony, marking a celebratory milestone for Casino Plus and its creator community. To add more sparkle to an unforgettable Gala Night for top content creators, Boaz Mariano and award-winning actress Phoebe Walker hosted the festivities and FEMME Manila, Paul N Ballin, and AlJames rendered showstopping performances.

Commitment to Community & Fair Play

Casino Plus remains dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that reward creativity, fair play, and giving back to the players it serves. The platform announced that the Angpao Rain Gala is just the beginning, with more exciting events lined up through 2026. Future campaigns and creator contests will be published on the official Casino Plus PH Facebook page.

The Angpao Rain Gala list of awardees can be accessed through the platform’s official pages, including a livestream record of the event.

Learn More

The full list of awardees and a livestream of the Gala are available on Casino Plus’ official pages. Visit casinoplus.com.ph or follow Facebook/CasinoPlusPH for updates.

The endangered hog deer was once plentiful throughout South and in Southeast Asia, including India, Pakistan, Burma and Thailand. The species now faces serious decline and a loss in genetic diversity.

As the Philippines continues to battle biodiversity loss, Google has announced a major step forward in using AI to preserve endangered species. Through a partnership with the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP), Google is providing advanced AI tools and funding to sequence the genetic codes of threatened animals, a move that holds significant promise for conservation efforts in biodiversity hotspots like the Philippines.

Scientists predict that up to one million species globally face extinction. To combat this, Google is deploying AI technologies—including DeepPolisher, DeepVariant, and DeepConsensus—to make genomic sequencing faster, more accurate, and more affordable. This process allows researchers to create a “biological instruction manual” for species, vital for designing effective conservation strategies.

Regional Impact for Southeast Asia. The initiative has already successfully sequenced 13 endangered species, several of which are native to the broader Southeast Asian region, highlighting the technology’s relevance to local ecosystems:

• The Elongated Tortoise:A critically endangered reptile native to Southeast Asia, currently the focus of captive breeding and reintroduction efforts.
• The Hog Deer:Once plentiful across South and Southeast Asia, this species now faces serious decline and loss of genetic diversity.
• Eld’s Deer:An endangered deer species indigenous to the region that requires breeding and conservation plan to survive.

Expanding the Safety Net. In addition to the initial species, Google.org has awarded the AI for Science fund to The Rockefeller University to expand this work to 150 additional species. This expansion opens the door for more unique wildlife—potentially including species found in the Philippines—to benefit from genomic preservation.

“Understanding a species’ genome could be the key to their conservation,” wrote Lizzie Dorfman, Group Product Manager; and Andrew Carroll, Product Lead for Genomics at Google. “By sequencing these animals’ genomes — their complete set of genetic instructions (DNA) — scientists are able to support efforts to preserve the genetic diversity of these animals and prevent further loss of their species.”

The genomic data generated by this project is being made freely available to the scientific community. For a country like the Philippines, which is home to unique but threatened species like the Visayan Spotted Deer (Pilandok), open access to these advanced tools and data sets represents a crucial resource for local conservationists and researchers.

About the Technology. Sequencing the first human genome took 13 years and $3 billion. Today, thanks to AI tools developed by Google researchers, sequencing can be done in days for a fraction of the cost. These tools help correct errors in genetic data, ensuring that the “biological picture” of each animal is as accurate as possible.

For more information on Google’s AI conservation initiatives, visit the The Keyword blog.

Jollibee, the Philippines’ no. 1 fast food chain, was named Company of the Year at the 61^st  Anvil Awards after winning 1 Grand Anvil, 8 Golds, and 6 Silvers, the highest-valued awards given to a single organization this year.

Leading Jollibee’s wins was a Grand Anvil for “Bida Best, Bida Pinoy,” a multi-platform campaign that honored everyday Filipino wins, excellence, and values. The campaign also received three Golds and a Silver across marketing and brand communication, social media, influencer marketing, and experiential categories, showing its wide reach and strong connection with audiences.

“Receiving 16 Anvil Awards, including Company of the Year and the Grand Anvil Award, is a great honor for Jollibee,” said Dorothy Ching, vice president for marketing of Jollibee Philippines. “More than the awards, this recognition shows our commitment to creating work that truly matters. Work that brings joy, makes a positive difference in our customers’ lives, and helps the communities we serve. We share this achievement with our dedicated Jollibee team and our agency partners, whose hard work and teamwork made this possible.”

The brand also earned two Golds and one Silver for Kids Values Meal, highlighting Jollibee’s commitment to teaching positive values to children through advocacy, partnerships, and experiential marketing.

Additional Gold Anvil Awards were given to Project Abulug for corporate social responsibility, Project 1000: 1,000 Kilometers of Joy for partnerships, and Deliver Joy: The All-New Jollibee App for innovation in customer experience and digital engagement.

Several Silver Anvil Awards reflected Jollibee’s creativity and range. These included Bee Earth’s Best Friend, an environment-focused campaign promoting sustainability; The Dessert Museum x Peach Mango Pie collaboration, which won two Silver Anvils; and Serving Joy and Music, an in-store experience that brought together food, music, and community.

Widely regarded as the Oscars of Public Relations in the Philippines, the Anvil Awards are organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and recognize excellence in strategic public relations and communications.

Jollibee’s performance at this year’s Anvil Awards reflects a steady, purpose-driven approach to brand building. As the company continues to grow in the Philippines and beyond, the Company of the Year recognition demonstrates how a Filipino brand, guided by authenticity and purpose, can set high standards in communication and create meaningful impact.

Craving more Jollibee treats and exclusives? Head to www.jollibee.com.ph for the latest updates, order your favorites at https://order.jollibee.com, and follow us on social media for more JOYful surprises!

For years, digital planning has felt like a chore. Whether it’s organizing a family vacation or finding a specific memory, people have had to act as a “human router”—constantly switching between email tabs, photo galleries, and maps to get things done.

Google is now making that easier as it recently announced a major update to Gemini with the launch of Personal Intelligence, a new way for AI to help you manage your daily life by organizing and processing the various information across your favorite Google apps.

Unlike traditional AI that only knows what it finds on the internet, Personal Intelligence understands people’s own personal worlds by analyzing the apps they rely on most. By securely linking with apps like Gmail, Google Photos, and YouTube, Gemini becomes a specialized assistant tailored to your specific needs.

Many things are made easier with Personal Intelligence—take the stress of travel planning as an example. Instead of searching through dozens of emails for flight confirmations and scrolling through years of photos to remember a favorite restaurant, you can simply ask Gemini for help. It can see your travel dates in Gmail, learn your “vibe” by looking at your favorite nature photography or food snaps in Google Photos, and even creates a cohesive, one-of-a-kind itinerary that matches your specific style and schedule.

In addition to the ultimate AI convenience, Google has built Personal Intelligence with a privacy-first mindset. The feature is entirely optional and off by default. People have total control over which apps they choose to link and they can delete chat history anytime! Whether you want to connect just your Gmail or include your YouTube interests to find better workout videos, the choice remains in the user’s hands at all times.

This feature is still in beta and has started rolling out to eligible Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. Google plans to expand to more countries, languages and the free tier soon!