Connectbase Expands Connectivity Ecosystem in Southeast Asia Through Strategic Collaboration with Converge

Collaboration brings the Philippines’ fastest pure-fiber and subsea infrastructure into the global Connectbase ecosystem 

Connectbase, the Operating System for Connected Commerce, today announced a strategic collaboration with Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (Converge), the Philippines’ leading broadband and technology provider, further expanding the Connectbase ecosystem in Southeast Asia and strengthening global access to one of the region’s fastest-growing digital markets. Through the collaboration, Converge joins the Connectbase platform, making its fiber and subsea infrastructure digitally accessible to carriers and enterprises worldwide through automated, API-driven connectivity commerce.

The collaboration extends Connectbase’s global reach into the Philippines while opening Converge’s high-performance pure-fiber network to a broader international buyer community. Global carriers and enterprises can now instantly discover serviceability, pricing, and availability across millions of Philippine locations—replacing historically manual, email-driven sourcing processes with real-time automation.

“As AI workloads, cloud regionalization, and cross-border enterprise operations accelerate across Southeast Asia, access to automated, location-precise connectivity has become critical infrastructure, not a procurement convenience,” said Ben Edmond, CEO of Connectbase. “Converge has built a world-class fiber network, and Connectbase provides the digital transmission that makes it globally consumable, putting millions of Philippine locations instantly on the screens of the world’s largest network buyers.”

Converge operates one of the youngest and most advanced end-to-end pure-fiber networks in the Philippines, spanning more than 896,000 kilometers,covering nearly 60% of the Philippine households. The company has also invested in major trans-Pacific subsea cable systems, directly connecting the Philippines to the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong, strengthening regional and global connectivity resilience.

“This joint effort represents a major milestone in making the Philippines fully accessible to the global connectivity economy,” said Dennis Anthony H. Uy, CEO and Co-Founder of Converge. “By joining the Connectbase ecosystem, we are enabling carriers and enterprises worldwide to engage with our network in seconds rather than days, while supporting the continued growth of Southeast Asia’s digital economy.”

By onboarding to the Connectbase Seller Cloud, Converge transitions from manual quoting to automated responses, enabling rapid participation in global RFPs, greater visibility with international buyers, and reduced order fallout through precise, location-level serviceability data. Buyers gain access not only to high-quality fiber, but also to resilient, low-latency routes critical for cloud, enterprise, and BPO traffic.

“Buyers sourcing connectivity in the Philippines can now reduce sourcing cycles from weeks to minutes, while sellers gain immediate visibility into global demand without incremental sales overhead,” added Edmond. “This collaboration reinforces Connectbase’s role as the platform enabling global connectivity commerce, connecting buyers to trusted infrastructure in every major region.”

Beavers bring an unpredictable and unhinged comedy in new Disney and Pixar film "Hoppers"

The animated comedy that critics call “Pixar’s funniest movie ever” is now showing in cinemas nationwide 

(L-R): Ellen Bear, Dragonfly, Loaf, Mabel Beaver, Tom Lizard, King George, Lucy Deer, and Barbara Duck in Disney and Pixar’s HOPPERS. Photo courtesy of Pixar. © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

When the animal kingdom is faced with the threat of the destruction of their homes, it’s up to a passionate animal-loving teenager to save the day. In Disney and Pixar’s new comedy adventure “Hoppers,” its protagonist Mabel goes from fighting against the town’s mayor to hopping her consciousness into a robot beaver– all in the hopes of stopping the human threat. If that sounds like a loaded premise, it’s because it is; making “Hoppers” a wild and unexpected comedy that will leave audiences laughing out loud.

Now showing in Philippines cinemas nationwide, “Hoppers” delivers a unique comedic tone and fun characters as Mabel hops into beaver form to explore the many wonders of the animal kingdom. 

Mabel in Pixar's HOPPERS. Photo courtesy of Pixar. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

“The thing that always guided us was the comedy and the characters,” says director Daniel Chong (“We Bare Bears”). “That was what we chased the hardest. We knew it was our team’s strong suit, and we made sure early on to establish a unique comedic tone with fun characters to build everything on.”

“A story like this, with characters arguing constantly, has to be funny,” adds producer Nicole Paradis Grindle (“Incredibles 2”). “We wanted it to have emotion and feature a ton of action, too. It’s even a thriller when you get to the final scenes. But the humor was the initial key, since it brings people in. It’s an amazing story to tell in animation, this idea that we can see into that animal world and enjoy animals, as animals.” 

(L-R): Mabel Beaver (voice of Piper Curda), King George (voice of Bobby Moynihan), Tom Lizard (voice of Tom Law), and Loaf (voice of Eduardo Franco) in Disney and Pixar’s “Hoppers,” releasing in U.S. theaters March 6, 2026. Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar. © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

In “Hoppers,” two worlds hang in the balance. The animal world, threatened by Mayor Jerry Generazzo (voiced by Jon Hamm) and the human world, threatened by retaliation from the animals. Finding herself in a bit of a pickle is Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), a passionate animal lover that will use new technology to “hop” into a life-like robotic beaver, and will try to mend the situation between both worlds. What follows is a story filled with a lot of fun twists and turns, with loads of laughter and glade-saving action in between.

“Hoppers” also features the voices of Bobby Moynihan, Dave Franco, and Meryl Streep.

Hop to cinemas and see Disney and Pixar’s “Hoppers”! Book your tickets now through: www.disney.ph/movies/hoppers.

Lenovo and Asian Hospital Strengthen Healthcare Delivery Through Standardized, Reliable PC Infrastructure

Lenovo has partnered with Asian Hospital and Medical Center to enhance clinical efficiency and accelerate the hospital’s digital transformation by standardizing endpoint devices across the institution. As part of the Metro Pacific Hospital (MPH) Group—which operates nearly 30 hospitals nationwide—Asian Hospital has been at the forefront of MPH’s initiative to unify and modernize PC infrastructure across its network. 

Asian Hospital, a premier tertiary institution located in the southern part of Metro Manila, is recognized as one of the group’s largest and most advanced facilities. Leading this effort is Frank N. Vibar, Chief Information Officer (CIO), who oversees hospital information systems (HIS), electronic medical records (EMR), network and data center infrastructure, and all end-user computing devices. 

“Our mandate is not just to digitize,” says Frank N. Vibar, CIO, Asian Hospital and Medical Center. “Our mandate is to ensure that every piece of technology we deploy ultimately makes it easier for our clinicians to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care.” 

Addressing Device Instability Affecting Patient Care

Prior to standardizing with Lenovo, Asian Hospital was using a wide mix of devices from multiple brands, resulting in inconsistencies in performance and reliability. Slowdowns, crashes, and unexpected shutdowns frequently disrupted clinical workflows, including medical record access and documentation. Device-related concerns were averaging over 200 support calls per month, often requiring urgent interventions from IT staff to keep care activities running. 

“In a hospital context, a failing laptop is not just an inconvenience—it has a direct impact on patient care,” explains Vibar. “If a doctor is recording diagnoses or reviewing patient data and the device slows down or crashes, it disrupts the entire care process and creates frustration for both clinician and patient.” 

This environment prompted Asian Hospital to seek a partner capable of delivering predictable, stable, and reliable end-user devices designed to support life-critical healthcare operations.

A Strategic Partnership for Standardization and Performance

Asian Hospital selected Lenovo for its strong reputation for reliability, enterprise-grade support, and robust product development.

“We needed a partner that could provide stability, consistency, and reliability—both in the devices themselves and in the support behind them,” says Vibar. “Lenovo gave us confidence that we could standardize without sacrificing performance or availability.” 

Through close coordination, Lenovo and Asian Hospital aligned device categories to specific user workflows—for finance, HR, mobile users, nurse stations, ER units, and clinical areas requiring barcode-scanning for closed-loop medication workflows.

“We know our workflow and Lenovo knows its products,” Vibar shares. “By collaborating on user profiles and device types, we were able to match our requirements with the right endpoints and ensure that every device deployed delivers real value to the user.” 

Transformative Results: From 200 Monthly Issues to Almost Zero

The transition to Lenovo devices has produced measurable improvements across Asian Hospital. As legacy devices were replaced with Lenovo units, monthly incident reports dropped from over 200 tickets to almost zero in Lenovo-equipped areas. 

“As we gradually replaced legacy devices with Lenovo, complaints about performance and breakdowns from our doctors and nurses went from over 200 tickets a month to almost zero,” says Vibar. “That translates directly into smoother access to our hospital information system and electronic medical records, and ultimately, better continuity of patient care.” 

The hospital also observed dramatically improved system performance, as doctors and nurses reported faster workflows and more stable access to HIS and EMR systems.

With endpoint issues nearly eliminated and more efficient IT operations, IT staff are now able to focus on upskilling in cybersecurity, networking, data analytics and AI integration. Additionally, with expanded availability of devices in critical areas, workflow analyses led to the deployment of additional Lenovo units in high-demand areas such as the Emergency Room. Signifying strong clinician satisfaction, users in Lenovo-enabled areas are now proactively requesting replacement of older units, signaling clear preference and confidence in the new standardized devices. 

Asian Hospital’s Vision and Lenovo’s Role

As part of the MPH Group, Asian Hospital is pursuing its vision of becoming a flagship smart hospital—both within the organization and across the Philippine healthcare sector.

“Asian Hospital aims to be a flagship smart hospital for our group and for the Philippines,” Vibar affirms. “We want to keep Filipino patients from having to go abroad for care, and at the same time attract patients from other countries.” 

With Lenovo as a long-term strategic partner, the hospital is ready to pilot new healthcare use cases, technologies, and innovations proven in hospitals abroad.

“If Lenovo has hospital use cases that are already tried and tested elsewhere, bring them here and we will help test them,” says Vibar. “If we see that a technology can improve healthcare delivery and patient care, we are ready to adopt it.” 

Asian Hospital’s partnership with Lenovo underscores its commitment to advancing digital healthcare and delivering reliable, patient-centered services supported by smart, standardized technology. 

Hoppers: A Fun, Heartfelt Disney-Pixar Adventure That’ll Make You Think About Our Planet

Rating: 5/5 ⭐

My Two Cents on Nature & Us

As a nature lover always doing my bit for the planet, I’ll be the first to say—there’s only so much one person can do. Modern tech and infrastructure have made life easier, but we can’t forget we’re not the only ones here. Every creature keeps our ecosystem balanced, and it’s unfair when they get hurt with no way to fight back.

If we all aimed for a healthy, thriving environment, our world would be so much better. Take the recent floods here, for example: corrupt contractors and negligent officials left ordinary people suffering most, and nature took a big hit too. It’s a harsh reminder we need to do better—for each other and every living thing. That’s why stories about this hit so close to home, and Hoppers does it perfectly. 

Now, Let’s Talk About Hoppers (No Spoilers, Promise!)

Every Disney-Pixar film has its own vibe, and Hoppers is one of their most fun and unique ones—hands down. We were so lucky to attend an advanced screening last February 27! Seeing it early felt like a dream, and I’ve been dying to share my thoughts ever since.

This animated comedy-adventure is hilarious, with jokes that land for kids and adults alike—no forced humor here! What’s really cool is it flips the script on classics like Finding Nemo and A Bug’s Life. Instead of animals acting like humans, we get a human living like an animal—sort of.

The story follows Mabel Tanaka a passionate animal lover voiced by Piper Curda, who uses new tech to “hop” her consciousness into a super realistic robotic beaver. Her goal? Talk directly to wildlife and save an ecosystem—something I’d definitely try if I could! Directed by Daniel Chong (creator of We Bare Bears, which I used to binge-watch) and produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle (who worked on Incredibles 2, another family favorite), this mind-bending adventure hits Philippine cinemas nationwide on March 4!

Comedy and characters were the team’s main focus, and it shows. They wanted something funny first, but also packed with emotion, action—even thriller vibes in the final scenes! And they nailed it. The idea of seeing the animal world as it really is, and enjoying animals for who they are, is perfect for animation.

As Mabel explores the animal kingdom as a beaver, she meets wonderful new friends and faces a big challenge—no spoilers, but she has to bring everyone together to stand up to a smooth-talking local mayor named Jerry Generazzo, voiced by Jon Hamm. The cast is stacked too, with Dave Franco and Meryl Streep also lending their voices—what an amazing lineup! It’s full of unexpected twists, and my kids and I laughed through most of it. But even though it’s super fun and unique for Disney-Pixar, it still has that heartfelt, meaningful message we love—especially about nature, animals, and balance, which means the world to me.

What You’ll Love Most About Hoppers

• The humor: Clever, silly, and for every age—you’ll laugh out loud, guaranteed. I already know I’ll be cackling in the theater!
• The fresh premise: Flipping the usual anthropomorphic trope makes for a fun, original watch. I’ve never seen anything quite like it from them.
• The heart: Like all great Disney-Pixar films, it has moments that’ll make you feel all the feels, without being overly sappy. I’m already preparing my tissues—just in case!
• The message: A gentle but clear wake-up call about caring for our planet and keeping nature in balance, never preachy. It’s exactly the kind of story we need right now.
• The animation: The animal world is brought to life so vividly—you’ll feel like you’re right there with Mabel, splashing in ponds and exploring woods.
• The cast: With names like Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep, and Dave Franco, the voice acting is top-notch. They really bring these characters to life!

Quick Film Lowdown

In Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers, Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) jumps into a robotic beaver to chat with animals directly. As she uncovers amazing secrets in the animal world, she befriends the charming King George (Bobby Moynihan) and has to rally all the animals to face a big threat—smooth-talking mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm). The star-studded cast also includes Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, and Meryl Streep. It’s directed by Daniel Chong, produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle, and has an original score by Mark Mothersbaugh. Catch it exclusively in Philippine cinemas nationwide on March 4!

Final Thoughts

Let’s be real—when it’s a Disney film, you know it’s going to be good. But Hoppers? It’s next-level. I’m giving it a full 5/5 not just because it’s funny and well-made, but because it talks about something close to my heart: nature and the balance we need to keep our planet alive. It’s full of laugh-out-loud moments, but also hits you right in the heart. It makes you think, and honestly? It’s a bit of a wake-up call too. If you love fun, heart, and stories that make you care more about our world, this is an absolute must-watch. I’m so grateful we got to see it early—now I just want everyone else to experience it too! 🦫🪵🐸🚣🏻‍♂️🦫🦫🦫🦎 (Oops! 🤭 Iykyk! 😁) 

Discover a New Side to Bangkok with This Itinerary Perfect for the Summer

Bangkok is a city brimming with experiences made for the adventurous, the artsy, and the curious. It’s long been a favorite among Filipino travelers because of its dynamic mix of traditional and modern. With summer coming soon, holiday trips and getaway plans are already taking shape for many barkadas and families. 

If Bangkok is on your list this year, having an easy way to pay and keep track of spending in a fast-paced city like it just makes the whole trip feel lighter. Thankfully, now you can Scan-Swipe-Tap with GCash abroad, and payments quickly become one less thing to worry about. Because you get lower forex rates and real-time spend tracking, you can focus on enjoying your time in these stops: 

Dine above the city at Akara Sky Hanuman 

Bangkok is already a food lover's paradise, but dining at Akara Sky elevates the experience even further. It’s the country’s highest sky dining experience – a rooftop space where you can enjoy Thai street food favorites and other authentic dishes while taking in 360-degree views of the city. During dinner, guests are also treated to Thai cultural performances, including Muay Thai boxing and traditional dances, inviting everyone to appreciate the country’s heritage. The restaurant also has 10 zones of immersive exhibitions to visit for photos!

Sign up for a private cooking class 

Speaking of food, if your barkada bonds best over food, booking a Thai cooking class is a must-try activity. White Lotus offers hands-on sessions where you’ll learn how to make classics like Tom Yum and Pad Thai, with a local culinary expert walking you through ingredients and techniques. Classes run for about three hours, and if you’re a big group singing up, you can book the whole class. You can pre-book slots on their website and pay using the GCash Visa Card, so there's no stress over steep credit card forex fees.

Experience the world’s noisiest massage

At Bradbury, known as the noisiest massage in the world, you and your friends are in for a treat. Their four-hand massage, done by two therapists at the same time, happens in a space filled with LED visuals, music, projection mapping, and surprise performances throughout your session. 

Explore one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods at Songwat Road

Perhaps Thailand’s most popular neighborhood online right now is Songwat Road – in fact, it’s listed among the 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world. Song Wat is best explored while taking your time, ordering from matcha cafés, picking up pastries at bakeries, and browsing vintage stores, ceramic shops, record stores, and souvenir spots filled with handcrafted Thai items. There are also perfume and home scent stores, plus endless street food options. 

Even if you’re not planning to shop, you’ll probably head back home to your hotel with something. And with many merchants now accepting GCash via Alipay+, paying as you go is easy and effortless. To use GCash abroad, just look for the Alipay+ logo at the counter, select “pay abroad,” generate your QR code, and let the merchant scan it – and you’re done!

Shop a wide selection of local Thai brands at Emsphere 

Emsphere is the newest lifestyle hub in Bangkok's EM District, just a few minutes from the city center. Emsphere features six floors filled with a wide variety of shops, from local brands to high-end luxury favorites. It's the perfect place to find unique, quality goods, whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for pasalubong to take home. 

The main lifestyle hub on the first floor is the best place to find trendy lifestyle and streetwear brands, including homegrown brands such as FRANK and Daddy Muscle. For all your shopping moments, you can enjoy easy, convenient payments with GCash Tap to Pay abroad so there’s no need to worry about scrambling for cash. Available for all NFC-enabled Android smartphones, it lets you pay with just one tap on the payment terminal.

Scan-Swipe-Tap Your Way to an Unforgettable Bangkok Experience 

Bangkok is a no-fail destination. No matter what you do, or where you go, it will always feel better when payments are seamless and stress-free. Paying with GCash abroad means you can keep track of your spending in real time, enjoy lower forex rates updated in-app, and move through each stop without the stress of cash conversions or surprise charges when you get home. Some merchants even offer special promos and discounts – just tap “Travel” on the GCash app and check out the Travel Treats section!

Wherever your Bangkok adventure takes you this year, remember to Scan-Swipe-Tap, and download the GCash app so you're all set.

Autokid’s Digital Transformation Strategy: Accelerating SME Growth via PLDT Enterprise Partnership

Autokid Founders Marvin Tiu Lim, Kevin McHale Yao, and Eric Darryl Lim lead the company’s digital drive, steering Autokid to new heights through innovation and technology.

Autokid Mobility Solutions—formerly known as Autokid Truck Solutions—began the way many Filipino SMEs do, with grit, a small team, and a clear belief in delivering reliable transport solutions to a growing market. 

What began as a business focused on trucks has since grown into a provider of complete mobility solutions—spanning buses, heavy equipment, and more. From its early beginnings to becoming a leading mobility provider with 16 branches nationwide, its journey mirrors that of thousands of SMEs driving the Philippine economy forward: agile, ambitious, and constantly evolving to scale with the times

Today, Autokid is a testament to how PLDT Enterprise’s strengthened support for SMEs accelerates growth across the country.

SMEs Cannot Afford Downtime—PLDT Enterprise Knows This

Founded by Kevin McHale Yao, Marvin Tiu Lim, and Eric Darryl Lim, Autokid saw early the immense opportunity in the Philippines’ expanding infrastructure and logistics sectors. But like many SMEs, growth brought operational challenges that required them to modernize quickly—managing multiple branches, serving more customers, and improving after-sales support.

Connectivity became the backbone of Autokid’s expansion. Over the years, connectivity has powered the company’s industry-first centralized action center, enabling fast and coordinated customer service across branches. It also supports IoT fleet monitoring, which is essential for real-time tracking and safety, as well as digital onboarding and coaching sessions that help upskill branch employees. Day-to-day branch-to-branch operations—from inventory coordination to after-sales requests—are also made possible through dependable connectivity. 

For Eric Darryl Lim, Co-Founder and EVP of Autokid, technology is not just a tool but a commitment to people. “Efficiency has always been about making life better for our customers,” Lim shared. “We want their businesses to flow faster, give them better choices, and help them earn more. Digital solutions—and the right partner—allow us to do that.”

This is where PLDT Enterprise’s SME-focused programs play a pivotal role.

PLDT Enterprise: A Partner Built for SMEs That Are Scaling Fast

PLDT Enterprise continues to strengthen its SME portfolio in response to the evolving demands of Filipino entrepreneurs. Today, SMEs represent one of PLDT Enterprise’s fastest-growing business drivers, supported by simplified yet enterprise-grade broadband solutions, affordable branch connectivity bundles, and integrated cybersecurity and connectivity packages. These are complemented by dedicated SME account teams nationwide and a consultation-based approach to digital transformation. 

Autokid’s dedicated action center enables faster customer support and real-time coordination across all branches—an industry-first capability strengthened by the company’s digital transformation and partnership with PLDT Enterprise

Many SMEs struggle with inconsistent service, delayed support, and solutions that are not tailored to their size or pace of growth. PLDT Enterprise’s consultative, localized, and SME-centered approach ensures that businesses like Autokid get the reliability and responsiveness they need to grow with confidence.

Building Future-Ready SMEs Across the Country

Autokid’s dedicated action center enables faster customer support and real-time coordination—an industry-first capability strengthened by PLDT Enterprise’s digital backbone.

As Autokid prepares for even more expansion—including new branches, electric vehicles, and more advanced mobility solutions—its digital foundation will only grow more important. Lim credits PLDT Enterprise for enabling this forward momentum: “With PLDT Enterprise supporting our vision, we are finding new ways to innovate. A partner that understands digitalization and can scale with us is essential—we want to be more digital-savvy, more future-proof, and deliver even better service.”

For PLDT Enterprise, Autokid is an example of what Filipino SMEs can achieve when given the right tools and support. “Autokid represents the very segment driving PLDT Enterprise’s strongest growth today—SMEs,” said Dennis Magbatoc, AVP and Head of SME Acquisition & Account Management at PLDT Enterprise. “We are committed to helping businesses like theirs grow, evolve, and thrive through digital infrastructure that empowers their people, strengthens their operations, and elevates the way they serve customers nationwide.”

Driving the Future of SME Success in the Philippines

Autokid’s growing fleet reflects its mission to drive Filipino businesses forward—strengthened by digital tools and reliable connectivity enabled by PLDT Enterprise, the country’s leading digital transformation partner for small, medium enterprises (SME).

Autokid’s story is just one among thousands of Filipino SMEs reshaping industries through digital adoption. As PLDT Enterprise continues to expand its SME programs—from broadband and cybersecurity bundles to advanced tech solutions like IoT, cloud, and mobility—more entrepreneurs will gain access to the tools they need to scale sustainably. 

Autokid’s journey reflects what becomes possible when a Filipino SME partners with a provider who understands their ambitions, challenges, and pace of growth.

With PLDT Enterprise as a long-term ally, SMEs like Autokid are becoming more resilient, more innovative, and more future-ready—helping drive Philippine industries forward, one business at a time. 

To learn more about PLDT Enterprise’s SME solutions, visit https://bit.ly/pldtenterprise-autokid-ct-pr .

Special Voter Registration Set On March 3 At SM Center Sangandaan

In line with its commitment to civic engagement and nation-building, SM Center Sangandaan partners with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to bring the Special Register Anytime/Anywhere Program to the community on March 3, making voter registration more accessible to residents in Caloocan and nearby areas.

The registration activity aims to accommodate a wide range of voter concerns, including new registration for first-time voters, transfer of records within the same locality or from another locality, reactivation of registration, correction of entries or change of status, transfer from foreign service post to local, and updating of records for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Eligible registrants are advised to bring any valid government-issued ID. Accepted IDs include the National ID (PhilSys), passport, driver’s license or student permit, PRC license, postal ID, PWD ID, senior citizen ID, SSS/GSIS or UMID card, IBP ID, NBI clearance, student ID with school authority signature, NCIP certification, and other government-issued identification cards. First-time voters are encouraged to bring a copy of their birth certificate or any valid ID.

This initiative underscores shared commitment by COMELEC and SM in shaping the country’s future. Residents are encouraged to take this opportunity to register and be part of shaping the nation’s future.