From Homegrown Roots to Asian Excellence: Robinsons Hotels and Resorts Named “Best Hospitality Developer (Asia)” at PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards

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December, 2025 – Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR), the hospitality arm of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), clinched the coveted title of Best Hospitality Developer in Asia at the 20th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand.

“We are profoundly honored to receive the Best Hospitality Developer (Asia) award from the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, Asia Pacific’s most respected real estate awards program,” said Barun Jolly, Senior Vice President & Business Unit General Manager of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts. “This recognition is more than an achievement for Robinsons Hotels and Resorts—it’s a proud moment for the Philippine hospitality and tourism industry. The Best Hospitality Developer award celebrates not only our commitment to quality and innovation but also the collective progress of the country’s tourism sector. It signals that the Philippines is emerging as a key player in the global hospitality landscape, with homegrown brands and industry leaders working together to raise standards and deliver world-class experiences.”

The win is a strategic milestone for RHR’s parent company, Robinsons Land Corporation, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

"As we celebrate 45 years of ‘Building Better Lives,’ being named Best Hospitality Developer (Asia) is a milestone of great significance for Robinsons Hotels and Resorts and the entire Robinsons Land Corporation,” said Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio, RLC President and CEO. “This regional recognition affirms the excellence of our hospitality team and showcases how our vision of nation-building through thoughtful, people-centered development resonates on the global stage. At its core, this honor reflects our commitment to champion and showcase Filipino excellence, grounded in a deep understanding of the needs of our guests and communities. This collective achievement inspires us as we continue delivering world-class Filipino hospitality.”

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts has established one of the widest geographical hotel presences in the Philippines, driven by a portfolio that combines distinctive homegrown concepts with strategic international partnerships.

Its home-grown brands include NUSTAR Hotel Cebu (ultra-luxury), Fili Hotels (5-star), Grand Summit Hotels (upscale), Summit Hotels and Resorts (mid-scale), and Go Hotels and Go Hotels Plus (Essential Value). Rounding out its distinguished portfolio are celebrated international brands Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, and The Westin Manila.

Driven by this success, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts is further expanding its local brands, focusing on the upscale segment. New additions, including Summit Villas Siargao, Fili Hotel Bridgetowne, and Grand Summit Pangasinan, are slated to open in the next two years. 

7-Eleven Activates Another Pokémon Adventure With New Wrapped Stores, Pokémon Trading Card Game Selling, and Pokémon-Themed Packaging!

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When it comes to fun and fan-favorite moments that are within reach, 7-Eleven is the place to go. As the Pokémon fan base continues to grow bigger, everybody’s paboritong kapitbahay evolves once again to be a part of it! Fans and everyday 7-Eleven goers alike get a chance to experience the Pokémon phenomenon firsthand with additional wrapped stores, new Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions, and Pokémon-themed product packaging.

The Pokémon adventure continues with the latest wrapped branches. Another 7-Eleven store has become a portal to the Pokémon fandom for the first time ever in Cebu! This Pokémon-wrapped store in Aboitiz Street, Cebu City is decked out in vibrant decorations and displays so everyone will feel like they are among their favorite Pokémon. Not only that but to bring the experience closer to more people, 7-Eleven will also be wrapping another branch soon in Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, Makati. While waiting for this newest themed store in Metro Manila, people can still drop by the first Pokémon-wrapped branch in Eton Centris, Quezon City.

Assemble the ultimate deck with the latest Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions!

Customers can now unleash more Pokémon power and trade their way to victory with new arrivals for Pokémon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution booster packs –worth ₱259 each at select 7-Eleven stores. Battle with fellow Trainers as all 7-Eleven branches still remain PokéStops on the famous mobile game, Pokémon GO. People can unleash their inner Pokémon and fuel up for the adventure at 7-Eleven with the special product packaging for their favorite convenience store food finds like Crunch Time, Big Bite, and 7-Fresh Siopao.

Whether you’re new to Pokémon or a master in the making, catch all this legendary fun at 7-Eleven! Everybody’s paboritong kapitbahay keeps its doors open 24/7 for people to come through and find exciting surprises. Join the Pokémon adventure until December 31, 2025. To find out which 7-Eleven branches have the newest Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions, visit the 7-Eleven webpage: https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/products/pokemon-tcg-store-list/.

Like us at 7-Eleven Philippines on Facebook, follow @711ph on Instagram, and @711philippines on Twitter and TikTok for more information.

The Large Mouth of Palawan: A New Predator Discovered on the Brink of Vanishing

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High up on the jagged limestone cliffs of Palawan, a "large mouth" lies in wait. It is a carnivorous vine, a silent hunter that has evolved to thrive in the most unforgiving terrain in the Philippines.

Scientists have officially confirmed the existence of Nepenthes megastoma, a brand-new species of pitcher plant found exclusively in the steep karst landscapes of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. However, the celebration of this botanical discovery is shadowed by a grim reality: this unique predator is already Critically Endangered, facing threats from severe weather and the illegal wildlife trade.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

For over a decade, N. megastoma hid in plain sight. Ecologists first spotted the plant in 2013 but initially misidentified it as N. campanulata, a known species from nearby Borneo.

Unlocking the truth required extraordinary measures. Because the plant grows in areas that are incredibly difficult to access, researchers could not rely on traditional fieldwork alone. Instead, they deployed drones and long-range cameras to document the specimens clinging to the precipices. Only after detailed drone surveys and rigorous study were researchers able to confirm that this was, in fact, a previously unknown species unique to the Philippines.

Engineering a Survivor

The name Nepenthes megastoma is derived from the Greek for "large mouth," a fitting moniker for a plant defined by its carnivorous, cup-shaped pitchers used to trap insects.

The plant is a marvel of evolutionary engineering, designed specifically for life on vertical cliff sides:

Vertical Pollination: It features upward-pointing female flowers, an adaptation that facilitates pollination in its vertical habitat.

Water Collection: A fuzzy coating on the plant helps it harvest rainwater.

Shape-Shifting: Perhaps most remarkably, the shape of the pitchers appears to change with the seasons. They transition between a wider, flared form and a slimmer, elongated form—an adaptation researchers believe assists with water retention.

A Population Hanging by a Thread

Despite its ability to master the cliffs, N. megastoma is losing the battle against human activity. The researchers estimate the total population to be perilously low: there are fewer than 50 individual mature specimens known to exist. Specifically, only about 19 mature clumps and 12 non-flowering plants have been located.

Researcher John Charles Altomonte highlights the tragedy of this situation: "It's amazing that these plants have evolved to survive in such difficult and inaccessible conditions. And yet, despite their hardiness, their existence is threatened by human activity—directly by way of encroachment and poaching, and indirectly through the effects of anthropogenic climate change".

The Threats: Climate and Crime

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines now classify the plant as Critically Endangered. The dangers are two-fold:

Environmental Collapse: The population is highly vulnerable to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, particularly typhoons and droughts.

The Black Market: Perhaps most disturbing is the immediate threat of poaching. Even as the species is scientifically described for the first time, illegally harvested specimens are already being sold in Metro Manila.

The imminent danger to this micro-endemic species serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of Philippine biodiversity. As published in the international journal Phytotaxa in November 2025, the discovery of N. megastoma is a testament to nature's resilience, but its survival depends entirely on whether humanity allows it to remain on those cliffs.

Study Details

Journal: Phytotaxa (November 2025).

Title: Nepenthes megastoma (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic pitcher plant from Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines.

Authors: John Charles A. Altomonte, John Paul R. Collantes, Vernaluz Mangussad, Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante, and Alastair S. Robinson.