ALL ABOARD EXPO 2025: The Philippines’ Biggest Board Gaming Event Returns for a 4-Day Epic Adventure!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Roll the dice, draw your cards, and prepare for an unforgettable tabletop experience—the biggest board gaming event in the Philippines is back! Welcome to All Aboard Expo 2025, the ultimate 4-day epic celebration of strategy, storytelling, and pure gaming excitement!

From May 29 to June 1, enthusiasts of all ages are invited to embark on a spectacular journey through the vibrant and ever-expanding world of board games. Whether you're a seasoned gamer, a curious beginner, or just someone looking for a fun and unique way to spend time with friends and family—this is the event you’ve been waiting for!

What to Expect: A Festival of Fun and Strategy

All Aboard Expo 2025 isn’t just an event—it’s a full-scale gaming phenomenon. For four electrifying days, gamers from across the country will gather for a whirlwind of entertainment, competition, and discovery. Here’s what’s in store:

Workshops – Learn from the best! Discover new strategies, explore the art of game design, and dive deeper into the mechanics of your favorite titles with expert-led sessions.

FREE Game Demos – Try before you buy! Sit down at open tables, meet local and international game creators, and enjoy unlimited hands-on access to the hottest and most innovative games on the market.

Tournaments – It’s time to prove your mastery! Compete in heart-pounding tournaments for a chance to win prizes, bragging rights, and the honor of being crowned one of the country’s top tabletop tacticians.

Limited-Time Offer: Build Your Board Game Collection

Looking to grow your personal game library? Here's your chance to score big! When you buy 3 board games at the expo, you’ll get 10% off your purchase! That’s right—this exclusive deal makes it the perfect time to grab your most-wanted titles or surprise a fellow gamer with the perfect gift.

Discover Exciting and Unique Board Game Finds

Each corner of the All Aboard Expo 2025 is packed with surprises. Expect to uncover rare, imported, indie, and newly launched board games that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you're into deck-builders, dungeon crawlers, party games, or narrative-driven epics—there’s something fresh and thrilling for every type of player.

Stay tuned for more announcements as the event draws near, because this year’s expo is shaping up to be the most exciting one yet!

WHEN: May 29 – June 1, 2025

WHERE: Quezon City MICE Center

WHAT: Workshops, Free Game Demos, Tournaments, Special Discounts & More!

WHY: Because board games bring people together—and this is your chance to be part of something legendary.

So, are you ready to play?

Gather your friends. Clear your calendar. And get ready for four unforgettable days at All Aboard Expo 2025—the biggest board gaming event in the Philippines!

Let the games begin!

#AllAboard2025 #BoardGameExpoPH #PlayMoreLiveMore

ARTA eyes improved global competitiveness ranking with PH EODB Reform Guidebook launch

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

To improve the business environment in the Philippines, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) officially launched the first-ever Philippine Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Reform Guidebook on 22 May 2025, at the Manila Hotel, Pasay City.

Developed in coordination with government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and the World Bank Group, the PH EODB Reform Guidebook outlines priority reforms, provides an implementation roadmap to ensure alignment with the ease of doing business agenda, and serves as a key reference document for policymakers, government agencies, and industry stakeholders in enhancing the country’s business climate.

The successful implementation of the PH EODB Reform Guidebook is projected to boost the Philippines' standing in key competitiveness indices, including the B-READY Report and others found in the Philippine Global Competitiveness Report Card.

ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, who led the launch with ARTA's Better Regulation Office (BRO) Doing Business Division (DBD), expressed his excitement about the new guidebook.

"We are pleased to launch it today as part of the first National Ease of Doing Business Month, under Proclamation No. 818. The theme—“From Red Tape to Red Carpet: Better Business Movement in a Bagong Pilipinas”—reflects our goal to transform the everyday experiences of citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors," Secretary Perez said. 

The ARTA Chief has also recognized the importance of reform in the regulatory process of government service. 

"This is necessary work of mature governance, and it must be done again and again, until the experience of government becomes predictable not for its slowness, but for its fairness," he added. 

During the same event, an Awarding Ceremony for EODB Partners was held, honoring government agencies and private sector organizations. This segment underscored the crucial contributions of these key stakeholders in advancing business-friendly reforms and cultivating a more competitive regulatory environment.

Speakers from the event were Department of Finance (DOF) Assistant Secretary Neil Adrian Cabiles, Office of the President (OP) Assistant Secretary Kristine Joy Diaz-Teston, Australian Embassy in the Philippines Economic Counsellor Luke Villiers, World Bank Group Senior Economist Jaime Frias, Buklod Bayani Coalition Secretary General Roberto “Bobby” A. Alvarez Jr., and Embassy of Israel in the Philippines Ambassador His Excellency Ilan Fluss.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac, DBM Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary for eGovernment David Almirol also graced the event.

Local Government Units (LGUs) heads were also present including Cabadbaran City, Agusan Del Norte City Mayor Hon. Judy Amante; Maramag, Bukidnon Municipal Mayor Hon. Jose Joel Doromal; Santa Rosa City, Laguna City Vice Mayor Hon. Arlene Arcillas; San Roque, Northen Samar Municipal Mayor Hon. Maria Ana Abalon; Naawan, Misamis Oriental Municipal Mayor Hon. Dennis Roa; Dingalan, Aurora Municipal Mayor Hon. Shierwin Taay; General Trias, Cavite City Mayor Hon. Luis Ferrer IV; General Trias, Cavite City Vice Mayor Hon. Jonas Labuguen; Ilagan, Isabela City Mayor Hon. Josemarie Diaz; Socorro, Surigao Del Norte Municipal Mayor Hon. Riza Rafonselle Timcang; Baliwag, Bulacan City Mayor Hon. Ferdinand Estrella; Ubay, Bohol Municipal Mayor Hon. Constantino Reyes; Surallah, South Cotabato Municipal Mayor Hon. Pedro Matinong, Jr.; Don Carlos, Bukidnon Municipal Mayor Hon. Ma. Victoria Pizarro; and Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte City Mayor Hon. Frederick Siao.

Private sector groups including Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Phil.) Inc. President Mahesh P. Mirpuri, Philippines-Norway Business Council Inc. President Carl Martin Faannessen, Asian Intitute Management - Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness (AIM-RSNPCC) Chairman Guillermo “Bill” M. Luz, Management Association of the Philippines Ease of Doing Business Committee Co-Vice Chair Ruy Y. Moreno, PLDT Vice President/Head - Public Sector Enterprise Revenue Group Public Sector PLDT Enterprise Ruby Montoya, National Real Estate Association, Inc Vice President - External Josephine Pen Cortez, Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc. President Patrick Ronas, Philippine Ship Agents Association President Ricardo Jamandre, Smart Vice President Pamela Felizarta, and Globe Telecom Inc. Vice President - Strategic Partnerships and Programs Michelle Ora also joined.

Fully supporting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to transform red tape into a red carpet of opportunities, ARTA will continue its efforts to streamline all government processes nationwide for the benefit of all Filipinos.

THE FINAL PUFF: Why the 20th Congress Must Pass the Plain Packaging Bill Now

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Just days before the world marks No Tobacco Day, a growing storm of advocacy is sweeping through the country—loud, urgent, and unmistakable in its call: pass the Plain Packaging Bill now.

Health champions from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines, environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition, and regional experts from Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) are sounding the alarm. The target? The 20th Congress and its newly elected lawmakers, who now hold the power to protect generations from the mounting threat of tobacco and electronic smoking device (ESD) addiction.

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

At the heart of this advocacy lies a chilling truth: the tobacco and vape industries are preying on the Filipino youth.

“The flashy, deceptive packaging of cigarettes and vapes are designed to catch the eyes of our children,” warned Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of ASH Philippines. “Current laws are weak, with graphic health warnings placed only at the lower half of packs, easily hidden or ignored in retail displays.”

Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo of SEATCA adds an even more damning comparison: the Philippines trails behind its ASEAN neighbors in implementing effective deterrents. While countries like Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, and Brunei have adopted plain packaging—placing large, unavoidable health warnings at the top of tobacco products—the Philippines remains the only ASEAN country with warnings on the bottom half of the pack.

“This positioning is not just a design flaw; it’s a public health failure,” Dr. Dorotheo emphasized.

THE YOUTH ARE THE TARGET — AND THE VICTIMS

The statistics speak volumes. Smoking and vaping rates among Filipino youth are rising, with aggressive marketing, sweet flavorings, and packaging made to mimic candy and tech gadgets luring in a new generation of nicotine addicts.

“Every bright color and shiny logo on those packs is a trap,” declared Dr. Limpin. “They’re engineered for addiction. It’s time for Congress to strip these products of their seductive masks.”

Plain packaging, according to ASH Philippines, eliminates this visual manipulation. It standardizes font, removes branding and logos, and leaves behind only the stark reality of smoking’s deadly consequences.

ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE: ANOTHER CASUALTY

This isn’t just a health crisis—it’s an environmental one too.

“Cigarette butts remain the most littered waste worldwide, and vapes have only made things worse,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition. “The shift to plain packaging won’t just curb consumption; it will reduce the amount of plastic, metal, and toxic e-waste polluting our landfills and oceans.”

Less addiction, they argue, means less pollution. It’s a win not just for lungs, but for landscapes, oceans, and future generations.

GOALS OF THE PLAIN PACKAGING BILL

This is not a shot in the dark. Globally tested and proven, plain packaging serves several goals:

Kills the allure of tobacco and vape products

Amplifies graphic health warnings

Prevents youth initiation into smoking or vaping

Reduces health care burdens from tobacco-related diseases

Cuts down on environmental waste

Supports law enforcement in identifying illicit or counterfeit products

Aligns with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)

A CONGRESS PUT TO THE TEST

ASH Philippines and its allies are throwing down the gauntlet. The call is simple but forceful: File and pass the Plain Packaging Bill—now. Not next year. Not next Congress. Not after another youth becomes addicted.

The inclusion of vapes, heated tobacco, and all ESDs must be non-negotiable.

Legislators are being reminded of their sworn duty to protect the Filipino people, especially the young. The youth are not just tomorrow’s leaders—they are today’s most vulnerable targets.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW

As the world prepares to mark World No Tobacco Day, the Philippines stands at a crossroads. The 20th Congress has a rare and powerful chance to turn the tide. To stop Big Tobacco and Vape industries from glamorizing death. To push back against corporate greed with legislative courage.

This is more than a bill. It’s a declaration.

That our children’s lungs are worth more than tobacco profits.

That the health of our people cannot be sacrificed at the altar of marketing.

That silence, delay, and inaction are no longer acceptable.

Let this be the legacy of the 20th Congress: a bold, decisive stand for health, truth, and a smoke-free future.

Ipasa ang Plain Packaging Bill. Ngayon na.

Ross Flores Del Rosario is the founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, an online media platform dedicated to empowering communities through information, transparency, and action.