Sheraton Manila Bay Opens the Doors to Its Newest Sheraton Club & Twenty First Meeting Space

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

A Night of Stories, Community, and Meaningful Hospitality Manila, Philippines February 12 — Sheraton Manila Bay officially welcomed guests into the newly reopened Sheraton Club and Twenty First Meeting Space in an intimate launch that celebrated more than just a space—it celebrated the people and stories that give it life.

The evening gathered hotel leadership, media partners, stakeholders, and corporate guests for a heartfelt unveiling of spaces designed to be the modern gathering place in the heart of Manila. True to Sheraton’s brand promise of being The World’s Gathering Place, the launch was anchored on community, connection, and meaningful moments shared over conversations, champagne, and memories old and new.

In his warm opening remarks, General Manager Richard Masselin spoke about the spirit behind the reopening—how the Sheraton Club and Twenty First Meeting Space are envisioned not only as refined venues for business and leisure, but as places where relationships are built, milestones are celebrated, and stories unfold. The relaunch marks a renewed commitment to thoughtful hospitality, offering Marriott Bonvoy Elite members and guests a welcoming space to work, unwind, and connect.

 

One of the most touching moments of the evening came from Ms. Marbee Shing-Go, guest of honor and a longtime storyteller in the Philippine weddings, travel, and lifestyle scene. As the founder and creative force behind Let’s Celebrate!, Marbee shared a personal and heartfelt memory of the former Pacific Lounge—reminding everyone in the room that hospitality is not just about design or service, but about how a place makes you feel at home. Her story bridged the past and the present, honoring the legacy of the space while welcoming its new chapter.

The launch concluded with a champagne toast with hotel leadership, key partners, and stakeholders—an expression of gratitude to the community that continues to shape Sheraton Manila Bay’s journey.

As the Sheraton Club and Twenty First Meeting Space open their doors once more, Sheraton Manila Bay invites guests to rediscover these spaces not only as destinations, but as part of their own stories—where meetings become meaningful, celebrations feel personal, and every visit becomes a moment worth remembering.

DepEd welcomes launch of NAICRI, underscores responsible AI integration in basic education

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 





MANILA, 26 February 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Innovation (NAICRI), led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen the country’s long-term AI ecosystem and support the responsible integration of artificial intelligence in basic education.



A key milestone in the implementation of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS-PH), NAICRI serves as the country’s institutional platform for advancing AI research, shared computing infrastructure, and innovation translation across priority sectors.



For DepEd, the establishment of NAICRI complements ongoing reforms in workforce development, digital infrastructure, and responsible governance.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said DepEd wants Filipino students to be ready for a future where AI is common, while still making sure it is used in a safe, fair, and responsible way.



“Education must be both protected and future-ready,” Secretary Angara noted. “We will harness AI to close learning gaps, strengthen governance, and empower teachers—but always with safeguards, transparency, and human oversight.”



Even before the launch of NAICRI, DepEd has been institutionalizing AI integration across three key pillars: AI in Education, Education on AI, and AI for Education Systems, anchored on learner protection and human-centered innovation.



Among the Department’s major AI-driven initiatives are:

· Project TALINO – A digital mapping system providing real-time insights into school needs, strengthening data-informed planning and private sector engagement.

· Project DUNONG – Automating the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads to improve efficiency and accuracy in leadership selection.

· Project SALIKSEEK – A generative AI-powered quick-response tool that enables DepEd personnel to access structured education data within seconds.



To ensure guardrails are firmly in place, DepEd issued the Foundational Guidelines on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Basic Education, establishing a national framework that promotes ethical, inclusive, and risk-proportionate AI use in schools.



The policy adopts a risk-based classification system aligned with global standards, explicitly prohibiting high-risk uses such as social scoring, manipulative chatbots for minors, and biometric emotion recognition.



It mandates Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs), the establishment of a DepEd AI Registry, and strict compliance with data privacy and child protection laws prior to any AI deployment.



As NAICRI takes its place as the Philippines’ institutional AI hub, DepEd reaffirmed that basic education will help shape an AI-ready generation—critical thinkers, ethical users, and future innovators.

DepEd, EdTech Hub present Filipino-led AI innovation in education in global AI summit

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NEW DELHI, INDIA, 26 February 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd), through its Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), presented its national framework for scaling artificial intelligence in public education at the AI Impact Summit held at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre last February 16-21, 2026.



The session, titled “From Promising Pilots to System Shifts: What It Really Takes to Scale Responsible AI in Education,” was organized by EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory & Action Lab. The discussion focused on how artificial intelligence initiatives can move beyond small pilot projects toward responsible, system-wide adoption in large public education systems.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored that scaling AI in education must be guided by evidence and accountability.

“At DepEd, we are deliberate about building AI that strengthens public institutions, protects our learners, and delivers measurable results at scale. ECAIR reflects our commitment to move beyond experimentation and toward responsible transformation across our entire education system,” Angara said.


DepEd, represented in the summit by the ECAIR team, emphasized that even incremental efficiency gains can generate significant impact.


“In a system serving over 24 million learners, even a one percent gain in efficiency has a massive impact on our country’s education system. By integrating AI into DepEd’s operations, we are saving millions of hours of our teachers’ time so they can focus on teaching,” ECAIR Governance and Delivery Lead Elmo Domino Jose said.


ECAIR is part of DepEd’s broader AI ecosystem and leads the design, development, and implementation of selected AI systems supporting governance and education service delivery. Its mandate includes ensuring that AI tools are embedded within institutional workflows rather than operating as standalone initiatives.


Among the systems highlighted during the summit were:
SIGLA, which automates school health monitoring and reporting, reducing administrative workload and saving an estimated 60,000 hours annually for approximately 34,000 teachers.
SABAY, an AI-supported digital triage system designed to extend specialist academic support to around 48,000 public schools, particularly for early-grade learners.
DepEd outlined ECAIR’s four-part framework for expanding the reach of AI solutions in public education: technical readiness for nationwide deployment; institutional ownership within DepEd; governance mechanisms embedded in system design; and transparent implementation to sustain public trust.



EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory & Action Lab supports DepEd and ECAIR through research, global best practice, real-world implementation, and documentation of evidence and outcomes. It also facilitates knowledge exchange with global experts and institutions, enabling cross-country learning to inform policy and scaling strategies.

The Philippines is one of six countries selected for the AI Observatory’s Ministry of Education AI Challenge and the only one in Southeast Asia. This engagement is supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and builds on the strong education partnership between the United Kingdom and the Philippines.


ECAIR Managing Director Dr. Erika Fille Legara said the partnership strengthens institutional capacity and evidence-based deployment.


“Our partnership with EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory ensures we are not building in isolation. We co-design systems grounded in school realities while learning from global experience,” Legara said.