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Sixty-six years after opening its first clinic in Binondo, George Optical is marking its anniversary with an offer that centers its long-standing commitment to Filipino customers.
As part of the George Optical 66th Anniversary Treat, customers who purchase any frame worth ₱6,990 and above can get a second selected designer frame for only ₱66. The offer runs until October 31, 2026, at George Optical branches nationwide.
As the Philippines grapples with severe flooding, water insecurity, and environmental degradation, a new generation of licensed sanitary engineers from Mapúa University is stepping up to deliver real-world, sustainable solutions for the nation.
Mapúa once again demonstrated its undisputed leadership in engineering education, securing 8 out of the top 10 spots in the August 2026 Sanitary Engineers Licensure Examination (SELE). Mapúa also emerged as the #1 Top Performing School, posting an outstanding 96% passing rate.
Leading the nation’s board passers is Engr. Laurence Jazzel U. Mendoza (1st Place), followed by Engr. Marc Zendrijk V. Pasumbal (2nd Place)—who achieved a back-to-back feat after placing 1st in the March 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination—and Engr. Alexis Marcus Miguel J. Luna (3rd Place). Completing Mapúa’s roster of topnotchers are Engr. Joshua Vergil V. Mandigma (5th Place), Engr. Justine Lar G. Onda (6th Place), Engr. Eduard Jong T. Cortes (7th Place), Engr. Marc Junifiel A. Malabar (8th Place), and Engr. Sarah Jessica O. Gonzales (10th Place).
“We congratulate our new sanitary engineers not just for their academic triumph, but for their commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, President and CEO of Mapúa University. “I believe they have a bright future in tackling public health and environmental issues that demonstrate the true Mapúan spirit of engineering for the public good.”
Engineering a greener, resilient future
Now offered in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU)—ranked #1 in Innovation in the U.S.—Mapúa’s B.S. Environmental and Sanitary Engineering program empowers future engineers to become excellent stewards of public health, planetary health, and sustainability.
Witnessing the country’s ongoing climate vulnerability, Mapúa's newest board topnotchers shared how they intend to create a lasting national impact through their profession.
Engr. Mendoza sees purpose in his chosen field: “The usual answer is ‘I want to change the world’ but right now, the goal is to not worsen things. If there is a way to improve the situation and contribute to sustainable development, especially to less developed areas like Palawan, as much as I can then I would do so.”
Engr. Pasumbal meanwhile highlights that he wants to uphold the profession with dignity and integrity: “Sa Civil [Engineering], we work on building structures so sometimes it impacts the environment. With Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, it balances things out because it’s about [protecting natural resources].”
Engr. Luna added that this milestone is aligned with his principles growing up: “If you are one of the best, people tend to listen to you more… Gusto kong maging highly capable, enough to solve real, pressing issues in the field of sanitary engineering.”
Emphasizing that he enjoyed his classes at Mapúa, Engr. Mandigma added, “I hope magampanan ko iyong purpose namin as Sanitary Engineers to protect public health and the environment especially with what’s happening now.” Engr. Onda, on the other hand, admits that he’d like to use this profession to raise awareness in the Philippines: “I’d like to be a part of our country’s movement towards sustainable development.”
Engr. Cortes highlights the interaction of both Civil and Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, noting that, “As a CE (civil engineer), we build the world but as a sanitary engineer, we are to make the world a livable place,” which also aligns with Engr. Malabar’s take that they took an oath “to serve the public and we are to make the world a better place than it already is.”
At the same time, Engr. Gonzales hopes to also become a researcher to “help our engineers in the field since sila iyong mga nakakapag-apply ng principles as practices… hopefully kami pong lahat na current board passers and topnotchers, magampanan po namin iyong magiging role namin sa society not just for the present generation but also for the future ones.”
Applications for A.Y. 2027-2028 Open This September
Widely recognized as the Philippines' #1 engineering and technological school, Mapúa University is expected to officially open its applications for Academic Year 2027-2028 by the end of September 2026.
Aspiring builders, innovators, and future board topnotchers are invited to begin their academic journey at the home of top engineers. To apply or learn more about Mapúa’s globalized engineering programs, visit mapua.edu.ph.
GAC stands out as one of only two automotive brands honored at Kantar BrandZ 2026
GAC Philippines has been officially recognized as the “2026 Breakthrough Brand – Automotive” in Kantar’s 2026 BrandZ Spotlight on Philippine Brands report.
GAC joins a prestigious roster of recognized industry leaders honored across key consumer categories, including Banking, Health Supplements, Communication Providers, General Retailers, and Beers. As this year’s Philippine accolades cover the retail and service sectors, GAC and Toyota were the automotive brands recognized at the event, with GAC receiving the “2026 Breakthrough Brand – Automotive” title.
As Filipino motorists increasingly consider making the switch to electric vehicles, the purchasing decision has moved well beyond car designs, infotainment screens, and all-around specs. For first-time EV buyers, questions around battery longevity, replacement costs, and the reliability of newer technologies can weigh just as heavily on the decision. A 2026 Deloitte study shows that 41% of Filipinos point to the eventual cost of battery replacement as a primary concern when considering an EV.
XPENG North EDSA brought its first group of VIP customers and invited guests to an exclusive test-drive experience at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Batangas, giving them an early opportunity to experience the XPENG X9 and L03 ahead of the opening of the North EDSA flagship store this October.
The activity was held as part of XPENG’s first major test-drive program in the Philippines. Guests were able to learn more about the X9 and L03 through a product walkthrough and firsthand driving experience, allowing them to explore the vehicles’ technology, comfort, design and driving capabilities on the road.
After years in the corporate world and now building Eelos, Gian Yap believes modern life no longer fits neatly into fixed routines, and the products people rely on should move with them.
A day rarely stays exactly as planned. A morning might begin with training before work, continue through meetings and errands, and end with dinner with friends. Somewhere in between, traffic changes the schedule, a meeting runs longer than expected, or the weather suddenly turns. What begins as one kind of day often becomes something else entirely.
For Eelos founder Gian Yap, this reflects what it means to live a life in motion. It is less about constantly being busy and more about how different parts of people’s lives increasingly exist within the same day. Work, fitness, travel, relationships, interests, and personal pursuits no longer sit neatly in separate schedules. They overlap.
A brand-new car starts losing value the moment it leaves the dealership. How quickly that happens is harder to predict, and it can weigh on a buyer's mind when the time comes to choose between a familiar name and a newer one. The big question then is simple: what will a vehicle be worth when it is time to let it go?
