Empowering Staff for Success: Key Takeaways from Araneta City’s Seminar on Retail Management

In today’s fast-paced retail environment, customer expectations are higher than ever—and frontline staff are at the heart of meeting them. 

This was the central theme of the latest free seminar hosted by Araneta City in partnership with the J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on August 8 at The Hub in Cyberpark Tower 1.

Leading the discussion was entrepreneur and sales coach Ruben Lanot, who shared practical insights on how retail teams can elevate the in-store experience and build lasting customer relationships.

He highlighted the important role that frontline retail staff play in a business, directly influencing customer experience, sales, and loyalty through service and product knowledge. “More than just employees, frontline retail staff are the living, breathing representation of a business, and its success greatly depends on their ability to connect with customers,” Lanot said.

The Manila Hotel Partners with TESDA to Strengthen Hospitality Training

The Manila Hotel has entered into a landmark partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The partnership designates the historic hotel as an official training ground for aspiring hoteliers and hospitality professionals, marking a significant step in advancing enterprise-based education in the country.

The agreement was formalized during Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on August 13, 2025, with TESDA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Benitez as guest of honor. During the forum, TESDA awarded The Manila Hotel Certificates of TVET Program Registration—its first in partnership with the hotel—recognizing its comprehensive training programs under the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) scheme.

Lo bueno, si breve: Spanish writer Lorena Escudero to conduct microfiction workshops at UP Diliman and Instituto Cervantes

Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, the University of the Philippines – Diliman, and several cultural partners, will present Lo bueno, si breve, a workshop on microfiction in Spanish led by Spanish author Lorena Escudero.

The sessions will take place on August 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, and on August 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Instituto Cervantes de Manila (Makati branch).

Aimed at students and young writers, the workshop is designed to help participants hone their skills in Spanish creative writing. Through practical exercises, Escudero will guide them in exploring the expressive power of brevity and the techniques for crafting compelling microrrelatos (very short stories).

Celebrate Filipino culture and heritage at Ortigas Malls' Buwan ng Wika festivities

This August, Ortigas Malls invites you to immerse yourself in the richness of Filipino language, arts, and culture with a vibrant lineup of events at GH Mall and Estancia Mall. Get ready to celebrate "Buwan ng Wika" with month-long activities that promise fun for the whole family while paying homage to our heritage.

GH Mall: The Language of Local Entrepreneurship

Over at GH Mall, the Buwan ng Wika celebrations give a nod to the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels our local economy. From August 15 to 17 at the South Wing Atrium, the Nakakalocal Bazaar returns for its fourth year, celebrating homegrown brands and vendors. It's the perfect opportunity to support local businesses and discover unique, proudly Filipino products. Right alongside it, the Kiddopreneur event from August 16 to 17 at the East Wing Atrium will empower the next generation of Filipino innovators, teaching them the language of business and commerce in a fun and engaging way.

Zarzuela > Sarswela, A Musical Bridge Between Spain and the Philippines

On August 26, Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Spain, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), and Teatro de la Zarzuela will present Zarzuela-Sarswela, a concert featuring a selection of pieces from classic Spanish zarzuelas alongside works from Philippine sarswelas. The recital, the culmination of the zarzuela workshop led by Spanish pianist Ramón Grau, will take place at the Education Auditorium (4F Albertus Magnus Building), UST, at 5pm. Admission is free, and early registration is encouraged at https://forms.office.com/e/gqQYWUHzSb.

This concert marks the grand finale of Zarzuela Viva, a month-long celebration of the shared cultural heritage between Spain and the Philippines, featuring weekly zarzuela screenings, an immersive workshop, and this closing recital.

The zarzuela, one of the most treasured art forms in the Spanish-speaking world, was also among the most popular cultural expressions in the Philippines for decades. As Alexandra Chua, Dean of the UST Conservatory of Music, observes: “In the Philippine context, the sarswela is not merely a borrowed tradition, but a powerful symbol of Filipino transcultural identity and creativity. Embedded within it are distinctly Filipino stories and narratives that reflect local experiences, struggles, and aspirations. Through the reimagining of inherited forms, the sarswela becomes a dynamic expression of Filipino agency and cultural voice.”

Travel & Lifestyle Expo 2025: Travel, Explore, Discover, and Roam at Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati

A Celebration of Travel, Culture, and Lifestyle from August 29 to 31, 2025 

Manila, Philippines – Get ready to Travel, Explore, Discover, and Roam! The much anticipated Travel & Lifestyle Expo 2025 is back, happening on August 29 to 31, 2025, at  the Activity Center, Upper Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati. 

Organized by JJ Events Management, in partnership with STEP UP Travel + Events, the 3-day event will once again bring together top travel destinations, lifestyle brands, tourism agencies, and media partners to offer exciting deals, immersive experiences, and fresh travel inspiration for all wanderlusts and adventurers. 

Kuris-kuris Exhibit by Gibraltar at Gateway Gallery from August 16 to 22

Filmmaker and visual artist Ray Defante Gibraltar is marking an important period in his life with a pair of milestone projects — his first solo art exhibit and first book. Both deal with themes of mental health and are direct expressions of his former struggles with addiction.

Titled “Kuris-kuris At Ang Pagpapaamo sa Aking mga Dragon,” the art exhibit features  striking abstract mixed media pieces that portray a tapestry of mental, psychological, and emotional turmoil. Kuris is a Bisayan (Cebuano) word for doodles or scribbles

The exhibit runs from August 16 to 22, 2025, at Gateway Gallery, 5th floor, Gateway Tower in Araneta City. It’s the same venue where Gibraltar held his previous exhibit, Under Construction, a two-man show with colleague Jom Vega in August 2024.

Folded into the “Kuris-kuris” opening event is the debut of Gibraltar as a published author. Titled “Nag Dyo-dyornal Din ang Adik (Mga Pinta at Kuwento Tungong Kahinahunan),” the book is a companion piece to the exhibit, containing a catalogue of all artworks in the exhibit and essays on select pieces that feature the autobiographical stories and inspirations behind them.