Muling sasabak ang PNP sa UAE SWAT Challenge 2026, dala ang dangal at lakas ng Pilipino

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 






Dubai, United Arab Emirates– 23 Enero 2026: Muling lalahok ang Philippine National Police (PNP) sa UAE SWAT Challenge 2026, isa sa mga pinakatanyag na pandaigdigang kompetisyon para sa mga Pangkat Taktikal ng Pulisya na ginaganap sa Dubai.



Makikipagtagisan ang koponan ng PNP laban sa mga piling tactical unit mula sa iba’t ibang bansa sa limang matitinding hamon na susubok sa lakas, katatagan, husay sa taktika, pagkakaisa at kakayahang rumesponde sa gitna ng matinding tensyon.



Gaganapin ang kompetisyon mula ika-7 hanggang ika-11 Pebrero sa Training City sa Al Ruwayyah, Dubai.



Paanyaya sa Filipino community sa Dubai



Inaanyayahan ang ating mga kababayan sa Dubai na manood ng personal at suportahan ang koponan ng PNP. Libre ang tiket at maaaring makuha sa Virgin Megastore. Sama-sama nating ipakita ang suporta at pagmamalaki upang maramdaman ng ating delegasyon ang lakas at pagkakaisa ng Filipino community.



Para sa mga Pilipino sa Pilipinas at sa iba pang bansa

Para sa mga hindi makakadalo nang personal, maaari pa ring makiisa sa pamamagitan ng panonood ng live coverage sa opisyal na Youtube channel ng UAE SWAT Challenge. Hinihikayat ang lahat na manood, mag share, at mag cheer online para sa ating mga kapulisan.

Bringing access to inclusive development through Islamic Financing

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Cagayan de Oro – The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and Escaping the Middle-Income Trap: Chains-for-Change (EMIT C4C) Program of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) presented the landscape, opportunities, and challenges of developing Islamic Financing in the Bangsamoro region on December 9, 2025, in this city.

Attended by representatives from the Bangsamoro parliament, civil society, advocates, microfinance institutions, and academia, the presentation highlighted the development of Islamic finance in the region, current efforts to advance its implementation, and best practices from organizations that have implemented the program.

“The Islamic practices of Sharia Financing, Halal, and other essential mechanisms are not just viable options, but pathways to dignity, inclusion, and opportunities in the region, PEF Executive Director Roberto Calingo remarked.

Crafting the Islamic Finance Landscape

Islamic finance, or Shari’ah-compliant financing, refers to instruments and services that comply with Islamic law. According to the action research, its development and promotion will advance financial inclusion and deliver solutions for Muslims residing in the Bangsamoro region.

“This mechanism is an appropriate and relevant tool for promoting financing because it addresses the pressing need to mobilize capital ethically, fairly, and inclusively,” EMIT-C4C Co-Convenor Annette Balaoing-Pelkmans said in her presentation of the study results.

In April 2024, PEF and EMIT C4C partnered with the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation to launch a collaborative action research project. The teams conducted extensive interviews and gathered data across Cotabato City, Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga City. Their findings were later compiled into a comprehensive monograph published in 2025.

After presenting the study results, Bangsamoro Parliament’s Policy Research and Legal Service Director Nassef Manabilang Adiong shared the government's efforts to develop a framework for implementing Islamic Finance.

CARD-MRI Program Manager Daissiel Gonzales also presented their Paglambo project, their Shari’a-inspired microfinancing program. At the same time, Islamic Social Finance expert Rini Supri Hartanti from Indonesia shared the model used by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dompet Dhuafa, along with other best practices in Islamic finance implementation from Indonesia, highlighting approaches to advancing inclusion and diversity in financing.

Making an Islamic Finance ecosystem a reality

According to Calingo, PEF will pursue additional efforts beyond action research to develop and scale up community-based models, while partnering with other institutions to expand the implementation of Islamic Finance in the region.

“This is not a one-time engagement for PEF but part of their long-term vision to empower families and strengthen local economies,” he said. 

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts Sets a New Landmark for Inclusivity as the Largest Muslim-Friendly Hotel Group in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 







January 2026, Manila – Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) has reached a historic milestone, becoming the largest hotel group in the Philippines to be certified as Muslim-friendly by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In a formal ceremony, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco personally awarded the certification to the RHR brand, recognizing its portfolio-wide commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. A total of 22 RHR properties have received this official certification, covering the group’s extensive portfolio including Grand Summit Hotel, Summit Hotels and Resorts, Go Hotels Plus, Go Hotels, and its international brands, The Westin Manila and Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.



The journey toward this landmark certification began with Grand Summit Hotel General Santos, the first RHR property to receive the distinction. Its prayer room has been lauded by the DOT as one of the best in the country, subsequently serving as the blueprint for other hospitality establishments nationwide. To ensure a seamless experience for Muslim guests, RHR has implemented specialized facilities and services, including dedicated prayer spaces and specialized staff training to ensure hospitality that honors Muslim traditions and preferences.



This initiative is the latest achievement for RHR, which continues to be recognized on the global stage. Recently named “Philippines' Leading Hotel Group” at the World Travel Awards Asia and “Best Hospitality Developer” at the Property Guru Asia Property Awards, the group views these accolades as a responsibility to innovate.



Barun Jolly, Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, emphasized that the group is not resting on its laurels: "This certification is a testament to our deep respect for the Muslim community, which is an increasingly vital and vibrant part of our national tourism landscape. As a multi-awarded group—honored by the World Travel Awards Asia and Property Guru Asia—we are constantly looking for ways to be truly deserving of these citations. By certifying 22 of our properties, we are ensuring our hospitality is world-class and inclusive. We are honored to support the Department of Tourism’s vision of a more diverse and globally accessible industry where every traveler, regardless of faith, feels truly at home."



The certification of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality arm of Robinsons Land Corporation, marks a significant step in supporting the DOT’s National Tourism Development Plan. By securing the most certifications for a single hotel group in the country, RHR cements its position as an industry leader, advocating for a more inclusive and culturally aware landscape for all visitors. Robinsons Hotels and Resorts is the largest hospitality group in the Philippines with the most diversified portfolio ranging from ultra-luxury to essential value. It has 30 properties in 20 cities and municipalities, with more than 5,000 room keys nationwide.