A Grand Feast Unfolds: MAFBEX 2025 Ignites a Bold New Chapter in Food, Innovation, and Global Opportunity

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The air is thick with the scent of culinary creativity and the electric buzz of enterprise as MAFBEX 2025—the 19th installment of the Manila Foods and Beverages Expo—throws open its doors at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. Heralded as the Philippines’ premier food and beverage expo, this year's MAFBEX isn’t just an event—it’s a revolution in flavor, innovation, and opportunity.

Now on its 19th landmark year, MAFBEX has once again cemented itself as the unrivaled stage for F&B evolution, where gastronomy meets ground-breaking enterprise and local passion meets global excellence.

A Star-Studded Opening: Taste Meets Tenacity

Setting the tone for this spectacular five-day celebration was Honorable Senator Mark Villar, who graced the occasion as the keynote speaker. His presence signaled a national recognition of the vital role the food and beverage industry plays in economic resilience and cultural diplomacy.

Joining him were key figures from government and foreign missions, including:

Hon. Assistant Secretary Philip C. Young of the Department of Agriculture, representing Secretary Francisco Laurel, Jr.

Ms. Angelica Roa-Yu, Executive Assistant for Social Services, standing in for Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

Dignitaries from the Diplomatic Corps, reflecting the expo’s growing international gravitas.

The symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony was further elevated by the presence of Ms. Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., who reaffirmed the foundation's enduring partnership with Worldbex Services International, the powerhouse behind MAFBEX and numerous globally recognized expositions.

A Global Banquet of Innovation

Sprawling across the venue are hundreds of exhibitors, representing both the Philippines’ top-tier F&B brands and renowned international contingents from South Korea, Japan, Poland, Belarus, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This rich tapestry of global gastronomy and advanced culinary technology transforms MAFBEX into a marketplace of the future—where tradition meets trailblazing trends.

Attendees can feast their eyes and appetites on:

Live cooking demonstrations

Exciting product launches

Insightful industry talks

Show-stopping competitions, including:

The Culinary Cup: Home Chef

Latte Art Throwdowns

The YHE Competitions

The newly integrated Philippine National Coffee Competitions (PNCC) at the Brew District, spotlighting the National Barista Championship and the National Brewers Cup

A Taste of Tomorrow: Where Business Brews

MAFBEX isn’t just for foodies—it’s a fertile ground for entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, investors, and innovators. With every booth and showcase, MAFBEX 2025 is shaping the future of the F&B industry—one collaboration, one flavor, one innovation at a time.

For just ₱150, visitors can unlock a day-long journey through culinary frontiers. Tickets are available now at mafbex.com. Keep your feeds sizzling by following the event on social media and using the official hashtags:

#MAFBEX, #MAFBEX2025, and #EatsHere

Taking the Feast on the Road

The MAFBEX momentum doesn't stop in Manila. This gastronomic juggernaut is set to roll out across the nation with:

MAFBEX Iloilo: July 17–20 at the Iloilo Convention Center

MAFBEX Cebu: September 11–14 at the IEC Convention Center Cebu

These regional legs promise to elevate regional flavors, support local entrepreneurs, and bring MAFBEX’s global vision to every corner of the Philippines.

In Partnership with Passion

WazzupPilipinas.com, the multi-awarded digital community blog led by its founder Ross Flores Del Rosario, proudly stands as a media partner for all Worldbex Services International events, championing Filipino excellence, culture, and creativity on a global stage.

MAFBEX 2025 is more than just a food expo—it’s the beating heart of a culinary and entrepreneurial renaissance. Whether you're a chef, an investor, or an enthusiastic foodie, this is where bold flavors, business dreams, and cultural pride all come together on one grand, delicious stage.

Welcome to MAFBEX 2025—where the future of food begins.

PARE calls for responsible reform of electric cooperatives, not blanket privatization

 

Photo from APEC FB Page

June 12, 2025 – Consumer advocacy group Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) urges lawmakers and regulators to take a measured and performance-based approach to the debate on privatizing electric cooperatives (ECs), emphasizing the need to protect well-performing co-ops while addressing long-standing issues in underperforming ones.

“Electric cooperatives were created not for profit—but for people,” said Nic Satur Jr., Chief Advocate Officer of PARE. “They brought power to communities long ignored by private utilities, and many of them continue to do so with integrity, efficiency, and heart.”

PARE supports the recent privilege speech of APEC Party-list Representative and Assistant Minority Leader Sergio Dagooc, who strongly opposed blanket calls for privatization. Rep. Dagooc emphasized the vital role of ECs in serving underserved, rural, and economically nonviable areas.

“There are electric cooperatives that perform exceptionally well and continue to uplift the lives of millions. These are the ones we must protect, support, and strengthen,” Satur said. “But there are also problematic electric cooperatives that have failed consumers for decades — those plagued by mismanagement, inefficiency, constant brownouts, and unreasonably expensive  electricity rates.”

PARE clarified that privatization must never be a default solution to these challenges. Instead, it should be treated as a last resort, applicable only when a cooperative has demonstrated a clear, consistent pattern of failure over at least 20 years—and only after all reform options have been exhausted.

“NEA must take responsibility to improve these cooperatives — not simply hand them over to private firms,” Satur added. “Privatization might bring in investment, but it can also bring the wrong priorities. We cannot allow a profit-first mindset to dominate a sector built on public service.”

The consumer group also warned against what it called the “dangerous oversimplification” of the privatization narrative.

“Let us not punish the good cooperatives for the failures of a few,” Satur said. “Let’s protect performing coops, support ailing coops, and always put the Filipino consumer first—not profits.”

PARE emphasized that while reforms are urgently needed in certain electric cooperatives, many have proven themselves capable of operating with transparency, fiscal responsibility, and effective service delivery even in remote locations. These cooperatives, PARE says, represent the original spirit of rural electrification and are key partners in achieving the country’s energy security and sustainability goals.

The group also called on the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct transparent performance audits and implement proactive capacity-building programs, especially for struggling ECs in vulnerable regions.

“Let’s be clear: we’re not against change — we’re for intelligent, just, and strategic reform,” Satur said. “We need to give failing co-ops the tools to improve. But where they consistently refuse to reform and cause consumer suffering, that’s when tougher action should follow.”

PARE reiterated that in a time when electricity prices continue to rise and power instability remains a threat in many areas, it is critical to strengthen institutions that truly serve the public good, not dismantle them without due process.

“The goal is not just to supply electricity — it’s to empower communities,” Satur concluded. “And if a co-op is doing that well, it deserves our applause, not our abandonment.”

As the energy landscape evolves, PARE calls on Congress, NEA, and all stakeholders to pursue a roadmap that prioritizes accountability, balances public and private interests, and above all, protects the rights of every Filipino consumer.

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The Blockchain Awakening: Philippine Blockchain Report 2025 Signals a Nation on the Verge of Digital Reinvention

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A quiet revolution is sweeping across the Philippine digital frontier. Long eclipsed by the glitter of speculative cryptocurrencies and the meteoric rise of play-to-earn games, blockchain technology in the country is undergoing a powerful transformation—one that now promises real-world impact over digital hype.

The Philippine Blockchain Report 2025, launched by legal powerhouse Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, venture capital giant Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, and the pioneering Blockchain Council of the Philippines, is more than just a chronicle of innovation. It is a comprehensive blueprint, a rallying cry, and a roadmap for the nation’s journey from digital experimentation to structural transformation.

A New Chapter: From Play-to-Earn to Public Infrastructure

For years, blockchain in the Philippines was a playground—a speculative bubble inflated by cryptocurrencies and gamified economies. But the 2025 Report unveils a seismic shift in this narrative. Today, blockchain is no longer confined to wallets and gaming guilds. It’s being architected into the bedrock of governance, finance, and identity:

Tokenized financial instruments are streamlining how we manage debt and investments.

Digital identity systems are enabling secure, verifiable, and portable identification.

Supply chain solutions are reinforcing integrity and traceability across agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing.

Government registries are exploring decentralization for transparency and efficiency.

Compliance and regulatory tech (RegTech) are being built atop decentralized frameworks.

This is not the blockchain of yesterday. This is blockchain reimagined for the public good.

Unmasking the Obstacles: Regulation, Education, and Infrastructure

Yet, behind this momentum lies a sobering truth: the path to adoption is still riddled with systemic gaps. As the report meticulously outlines, over 70% of Filipinos remain unfamiliar with blockchain. Outside the corridors of Metro Manila’s venture capital circles, startups face chronic underfunding and infrastructure constraints.

Meanwhile, the country’s regulatory landscape—though evolving—remains fragmented. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have both launched regulatory sandboxes, but overlapping mandates often breed confusion rather than clarity. The Report calls out this ambiguity, offering critical insight into how policy evolution must prioritize cohesion and foresight.

Mapping the Ecosystem: A Nation’s Blockchain Genome

In one of its most invaluable contributions, the Report offers a comprehensive ecosystem map, plotting out the key players in this burgeoning digital space:

Startups and fintech disruptors like Coins.ph, the Philippines’ most trusted crypto brand with over 16 million users, and the first crypto firm in Asia to secure both Virtual Currency and Electronic Money Issuer licenses from the BSP.

Legal architects like Gorriceta, whose mastery in TMT law has made them the go-to authority for blockchain regulations and crypto compliance.

Community enablers and regulators, led by the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, a collective of visionary leaders from across industries committed to building safe, inclusive, and transformative blockchain ecosystems.

Global players like Tether, which is bringing its next-generation tokenization platform Hadron to institutional and governmental partners across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

Together, they form the DNA of a digital economy in evolution.

The Power of Partnership: Legal, Financial, and Civic Synergy

Behind the Philippine Blockchain Report 2025 lies a triumvirate of deep expertise and forward-looking leadership.

Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra stands at the legal vanguard—acclaimed for navigating complex regulatory terrain and securing pioneering licenses for fintechs and crypto startups. Their dominance in TMT law is not just a badge of honor; it is a functional pillar in the country’s digital transformation.

The Blockchain Council of the Philippines, composed of technologists, legal experts, public servants, and private sector leaders, is on a mission to integrate blockchain into the nation's very governance fabric. Their advocacy for regulatory clarity, public education, and community-driven adoption is laying the groundwork for long-term success.

Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, through its partnership between Gobi Partners and Core Capital, fuels the ecosystem’s lifeblood—capital. By backing high-potential startups beyond Metro Manila and weaving Filipino innovation into ASEAN markets, it is helping local ventures go global.

Tether’s Hadron and the Rise of Asset Tokenization

Another game-changer spotlighted in the Report is Hadron by Tether, a powerful new institutional-grade platform for asset tokenization. Built for enterprises, governments, and financial institutions, Hadron allows for secure digitization, distribution, and lifecycle management of real-world assets. As the Philippines explores tokenized government debt and real estate assets, platforms like Hadron promise to accelerate that transformation while embedding compliance, liquidity, and stability.

The Road Ahead: Leadership, Literacy, and Legislation

If there is one truth this report illuminates, it is this: blockchain’s future in the Philippines hinges on shared leadership. It is not enough for developers and investors to move fast; regulators must move smart. The public must be brought along. Innovation must serve, not exclude.

The Philippine Blockchain Report 2025 is not just a document—it is a call to action. A challenge to every founder, policymaker, enterprise, and educator to build better, go deeper, and lead boldly.

Because the future isn’t just digital—it’s decentralized, transparent, and uniquely Filipino.

For anyone ready to shape this future—whether building the tech, backing the capital, or writing the rules—this Report is your compass. And the time to act is now.

Download the full Philippine Blockchain Report 2025 via https://gorricetalaw.com or follow updates through the Blockchain Council of the Philippines.

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