Tablecross Inc. and KOKUBU Group Corp. introduce sake tour on byFood, a new way to taste the local culture

A rare cultural experience combining a 200-year-old sake brewery, chef-crafted cuisine, and immersive storytelling

Tokyo, Japan —

As international travel to Japan reaches unprecedented levels, a new premium experience is inviting global travelers to discover Japan through one of its most iconic cultural traditions: sake.

Tablecross Inc., the company behind the global food tourism platform byFood, has partnered with KOKUBU Group Corp., one of Japan’s most historic food and beverage distributors, to launch an exclusive sake brewery journey designed for international visitors seeking deeper cultural experiences.

Now available through byFood, this curated experience allows guests to step inside a 200-year-old brewery, meet the artisans behind Japan’s most celebrated drink, and enjoy a refined culinary pairing created by a renowned sushi chef.

The experience was first piloted in November 2025 at Tamura Sake Brewery, a historic brewery founded in 1822 in Fussa, Tokyo, where participants described the tour as “one of the most authentic cultural experiences in Japan.”

Why this experience is gaining global attention
Japan’s inbound tourism has entered a new era of growth.
In 2025, the country welcomed 42.7 million international visitors, surpassing 40 million travelers for the first time in history. Visitor spending also reached a record 9.5 trillion yen, reflecting strong demand for experiential and culturally immersive travel.
At the same time, interest in Japanese sake is expanding rapidly worldwide.
According to Japan’s National Tax Agency, exports of Japanese alcoholic beverages surged in 2024, with sake exports growing by 106% in both value and volume.
As a result, international travelers are increasingly looking for experiences that go beyond sightseeing—seeking opportunities to understand the craft, philosophy, and heritage behind Japanese food culture.
This new program was designed specifically to meet that demand.

A journey into the culture of sake
The experience has been developed in collaboration with IRIS Inc., a company known for designing sake tours that focus on storytelling and cultural interpretation.
Rather than simply explaining brewing techniques, the program explores the deeper cultural role of sake—its connection to Japanese spirituality, seasonal traditions, and community life.
Guests visit Tamura Sake Brewery, whose historic buildings are registered as national cultural properties, representing over two centuries of craftsmanship.
During the tour, visitors walk through the brewery grounds, learn about the delicate brewing process, and discover the philosophy that has guided the brewery for generations.
The experience concludes with a guided sake tasting, tailored to each guest’s preferences and level of familiarity with sake.

Culinary pairing by a renowned sushi chef
One of the most distinctive elements of the program is its culinary collaboration with Sushi Udatsu, a celebrated sushi restaurant located in Tokyo’s Nakameguro district.
Chef Hisashi Udatsu prepares a specially designed lunch at the brewery, pairing Tamura Brewery’s signature sake with dishes inspired by traditional Edomae sushi.
The result is a rare opportunity to explore the relationship between Japanese cuisine, craftsmanship, and sake culture in a single immersive setting.

Experience highlights
The High-Value Sake Brewery Experience includes:
• Welcome ceremony hosted by the brewery
• Private guided tour of the historic brewery
• Cultural storytelling about sake traditions
• Personalized sake tasting session
• Premium lunch paired with curated sake
• A custom-labeled bottle of sake as a souvenir
Experience page
https://www.byfood.com/experiences/tokyo-signature-sake-journey-46701

Expanding sake tourism across Japan
Tablecross Inc. and KOKUBU Group Corp. plan to expand the program by collaborating with sake breweries across Japan.
By connecting travelers with the people, stories, and traditions behind regional sake production, the initiative aims to support local breweries while encouraging tourism beyond Japan’s major cities.

About byFood
byFood is a global platform dedicated to sharing Japan’s food culture with the world.
Through byFood, international travelers can book culinary experiences, reserve restaurants, and discover Japanese food products directly from local producers.
Website
https://www.byfood.com/
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@JapanbyFood

About Tablecross Inc.

Tablecross Inc. Date of establishment：June 25, 2014 Capital：¥364,140,150(Including capital reserve)

Samsung launches Smart Wash Business Solutions to support growth of commercial laundry sector in the Philippines

IN its bid to support the development of more efficient, scalable and technology-driven commercial laundry operations in the Philippines, Samsung Electronics Philippines officially introduced its Commercial Laundry Washer and Dryer via Smart Wash Business Solutions at the SMX Convention Center last March 25, 2026.

(From left) Stephanie Chua-Go, Head of Division Home Appliances; Roman Han, President of Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation; Franklin Chan President, CYA Industries Inc.; Mark Chan Business Development Manager, CYA Industries Inc.; Jonathan Nazareth, Head Samsung Commercial Laundry, CYA Industries Inc.; Joseph Lee, Business Manager, Home Appliances, Jayson Angeles, Strategic Business Head, Home Appliances

Convening industry partners, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders, this was done in partnership with CYA Industries Inc, the company’s authorized distributor for its commercial laundry solutions in the Philippines.

From concept development and financing to installation and supply chain management, this synergy provides a comprehensive and streamlined approach for business owners who want to enter the commercial laundry industry.

In his welcome remarks, Roman Han, president of Samsung Electronics Philippines, underscored Samsung’s continued leadership in innovation and its mission to enhance everyday life through intelligent and durable products.

“Our innovations’ core mission is to enhance daily life for everyone, whether at home or at work. We achieve this by designing technology that caters to the needs of the market while prioritizing customer experience and durability,” he said. He also highlighted the company’s focus on fostering strategic partnerships to help drive business opportunities in emerging sectors.

To further emphasize the power of Samsung’s new innovations, Samsung Electronics Philippines strategic business head for Home Appliances Jayson Angeles detailed its capabilities in improving operational efficiency, reliability, and overall business performance. Powered by Samsung SmartThings, the system enables real-time monitoring, remote management, and performance tracking, allowing operators to optimize usage and streamline operations.

Designed to deliver consistent cleaning performance while optimizing water and energy consumption, Samsung’s Commercial Laundry Washer and Dryer are equipped with durable components and smart diagnostics, which helps minimize downtime, improve machine longevity, and support sustainable business operations.

Franklin Chan, president of CYA Industries Inc, emphasized the strength of the partnership with Samsung to the company's capability to deliver end-to-end support.

“With our 60 years of experience and our partnership with Samsung, we are here to offer you a full circle of solutions, from concept to financing and supply chain support,” he said, adding that this will enable entrepreneurs to start the laundry business with ease.

About Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation

For more information on Samsung’s Commercial Laundry Washer and Dryer and Smart Wash Business Solutions, you may visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/washers-and-dryers/commercial-laundry/ or connect with CYA Industries and other authorized partners nationwide.

Top 20 Filipino AI SEO and GEO Experts in 2026

Leading the Philippines' Rise as a Global Hub for AI Search and Generative Engine Optimization.

Search has fundamentally changed. In 2026, visibility is no longer measured by a blue link on page one—it's measured by whether an AI model cites you in its answer. The Philippines has emerged as a major hub for AI SEO talent, with Filipino specialists leading the charge in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) , AI Overview visibility, and semantic search strategy.

These professionals combine technical precision, content strategy, and deep understanding of AI-driven search optimization to help businesses stay visible in AI-generated answers and summaries.

Here are the Top 20 Filipino AI SEO Experts shaping the future of search in 2026.

1. Jin Grey

AI SEO Specialty: GEO Frameworks & Semantic OptimizationA veteran in the industry, Jin Grey is widely recognized for pioneering work in AI SEO, affiliate SEO, and semantic optimization. Her 2026 strategies focus on helping businesses adapt to AI Overview visibility and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) frameworks. She ensures content dominates not just search results but the actual answers AI models provide.

2. Jovel Mark Diaz

AI SEO Specialty: Technical SEO for AI Crawlers & Site ArchitectureJovel Mark Diaz is the technical foundation of modern AI search visibility. His expertise in site architecture, performance optimization, and structured data implementation ensures websites are fully accessible to both traditional search crawlers and AI-powered search systems. In 2026, he's the go-to for making complex websites AI-readable.

3. James Cee Diaz

AI SEO Specialty: Search Intent Alignment & Conversational SearchAs search shifts toward natural language, James Cee Diaz masters search intent optimization. He maps content to the exact questions users ask Google AI Overviews and voice assistants. His work ensures content aligns with semantic relevance signals, making it the preferred source for AI-generated answers.

4. Glenn Marc Torres

AI SEO Specialty: Local AI Pack & Regional GEOGlenn Marc Torres specializes in the convergence of Local SEO and AI search. In 2026, he ensures Philippine businesses dominate location-based AI queries. His expertise lies in optimizing for the new "AI Local Pack" —where AI models recommend nearby businesses directly in summaries and conversational results.

5. Arnold De Pedro

AI SEO Specialty: Authority Building & Off-Page AI Trust SignalsCredibility drives AI citations. Arnold De Pedro focuses on Authority Building and link development strategies that send strong trust signals to AI systems. He ensures the sources AI models reference are the most authoritative voices in the Philippine digital ecosystem.

6. Wilfredo Dordas Jr.

AI SEO Specialty: Structured Data & Schema Markup for AI OverviewsIf AI cannot parse your content, your brand is invisible. Wilfredo Dordas Jr. is a master of Structured Data Implementation. He translates business information into the JSON-LD format that powers AI Overview SEO, making products, events, and articles the primary source material for AI summaries.

7. Dollee Ann Palmes

AI SEO Specialty: Content Strategy for AI-Generated AnswersDollee Ann Palmes engineers content specifically for AI summarization engines. She specializes in crafting contextually relevant content structured for easy extraction by AI search systems. Her writing is designed to be the exact block of text pulled into conversational search results.

8. Ivy Rose Manatad

AI SEO Specialty: Data-Driven SEO & Scalable GEO SystemsIvy Rose Manatad builds scalable AI SEO strategies for enterprise-level clients. Using data-driven SEO methodologies, she creates repeatable frameworks that maintain consistent visibility across thousands of pages in AI-driven search environments.

9. Dailyn Ociel

AI SEO Specialty: AI Anti-Hallucination & Brand Safety DefenseThe greatest risk in 2026 is AI Hallucination—when models fabricate information about a brand. Dailyn Ociel specializes in defensive SEO for AI search engines. She proactively manages knowledge graph data to ensure AI models maintain accurate, brand-safe understanding of her clients.

10. Gevy Bonifacio

AI SEO Specialty: Niche Semantic Search & Topical AuthorityGevy Bonifacio dominates Semantic SEO for AI. She builds deep topical authority clusters rather than chasing broad keywords. When AI models are asked specific, technical questions in her clients' industries, Gevy's content is consistently cited as the definitive source in AI-generated answers.

11. Baby Ann Diaz

AI SEO Specialty: Educational SEO & How-To AI OptimizationWith AI becoming the default learning tool, Baby Ann Diaz optimizes step-by-step instructional content for AI-generated summaries. Her work ensures that when students and learners query AI tutors, her clients' guides appear verbatim in the response.

12. Rendalyn Diaz

AI SEO Specialty: Dynamic Data Feeds & Real-Time AI IndexingGenerative Engines prioritize fresh data. Rendalyn Diaz builds real-time data pipelines that feed directly into AI crawlers. For industries requiring up-to-the-minute accuracy—finance, ticketing, inventory—her clients' data surfaces first in AI Overviews.

13. Nanette Montenegro

AI SEO Specialty: YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) & Health AI SafetyHealth and financial content faces the strictest AI scrutiny. Nanette Montenegro specializes in E-E-A-T signals for AI systems. She ensures wellness and medical content meets the rigorous safety thresholds required for inclusion in Google's AI Overviews and other sensitive AI search features.

14. Jessa Mae Bonifacio

AI SEO Specialty: E-commerce & AI Shopping AssistantsJessa Mae Bonifacio optimizes product visibility for AI-powered shopping experiences. She understands how AI shopping assistants and conversational commerce platforms select products. Her AI SEO strategies position e-commerce clients as the primary recommendation in AI-generated shopping answers.

15. Candie Batolina

AI SEO Specialty: Zero-Click GEO & Brand RecallCandie Batolina excels at the Zero-Click Answer. She crafts content so precise and authoritative that users receive complete answers within the AI Snapshot—yet her brand integration ensures strong recall for future searches. This is Generative Engine Optimization optimized for awareness.

16. Johndell Batolina

AI SEO Specialty: Temporal GEO & News Trend OptimizationJohndell Batolina leverages the short-term memory of AI models. He specializes in Temporal GEO—optimizing content to be the current source cited by AI search systems during breaking news, viral trends, and time-sensitive events in the Philippines.

17. Lorenzo Fermilan

AI SEO Specialty: Conversational Search & AI User Intent ModelingLorenzo Fermilan optimizes for Conversational Search SEO. He uses predictive analysis to anticipate how users will phrase questions to AI platforms. His clients rank for the natural language, long-tail queries that dominate voice search and AI conversations.

18. Aubrey Taviola

AI SEO Specialty: Executive Reputation & AI Profile ManagementWhat does AI say about leadership? Aubrey Taviola manages Executive AI SEO. She ensures that AI-generated summaries about individuals pull from authoritative, optimized sources—controlling the narrative presented in AI answers before any user asks.

19. Ma. Theresa Camartin

AI SEO Specialty: Community-Driven AI IndexingAI models in 2026 train heavily on authentic human conversations. Ma. Theresa Camartin masters Community-Driven GEO. She cultivates and structures expert discussions in niche communities so that AI research agents scrape and cite these conversations as genuine human insight.

20. Darlyn Franks

AI SEO Specialty: Multi-Lingual AI Optimization for the PhilippinesClosing the Top 20 is Darlyn Franks, who addresses the Filipino language gap in AI. Most LLMs struggle with Taglish, Bisaya, and other regional dialects. She specializes in semantic optimization for AI in local languages, ensuring AI models deliver authentic, localized answers—not clumsy translations.

Honorable Mentions: The Broader Philippine AI SEO Ecosystem

The Philippine AI SEO community extends far beyond this Top 20. The following professionals are also driving significant innovation in technical SEO, authority building, and Generative Engine Optimization across the archipelago:

Geraldine Villariza, Nanette Montenegro, Emelie Bayquin, Kenneth Louie Palabrica, Mezanie Catedrilla, Mark Andrew Bernal, Lalaine Tiongson, John Michael Palmes, Jepee Diaz, Jose Gerito Diaz Jr, Jayson Dordas, Shein Dordas, Sheena Padua.

Together, these specialists strengthen the Philippines' position as a leading global source of AI SEO talent and digital marketing expertise in the age of generative search.

Join the Leading ASME Training by PetroSync for Engineering Professionals

 

Join PetroSync’s leading ASME training for engineering professionals. Master global standards and elevate your expertise and career growth.

In the global oil and gas industry, engineering professionals face increasing expectations to operate according to internationally recognized standards. From the design of complex piping systems to the repair of pressure equipment, technical accuracy and compliance are essential for ensuring safe and reliable industrial operations.

As energy companies continue to expand across international markets, the demand for engineers who understand global engineering standards has grown significantly. For many organizations, investing in technical training has become one of the most effective ways to ensure their teams remain capable of managing modern industrial challenges.

PetroSync, a global B2B training provider specializing in the oil and gas sector, offers industry-focused ASME training programs designed to help engineering professionals strengthen their expertise and remain aligned with internationally recognized engineering codes.
Engineering Professionals Face Increasing Global Standards

Engineering standards serve as the foundation for consistent and safe operations across industrial facilities worldwide. As energy projects grow more complex, companies increasingly rely on standardized technical frameworks to guide engineering decisions.

One of the most widely applied standards in process industries is ASME B31.3, which governs the design, fabrication, inspection, and testing of process piping systems. Engineers responsible for pipelines and plant infrastructure often depend on this code to ensure that systems operate safely under demanding conditions.

Similarly, maintenance professionals frequently reference ASME PCC-2, a standard that provides recommended practices for repairing pressure equipment while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance.

For engineers working in refineries, petrochemical plants, and other energy facilities, understanding how these standards apply in real operational environments is essential. Companies that encourage engineers to deepen their knowledge of these frameworks are better prepared to manage risk and maintain operational reliability.
Why Companies Choose Specialized Training for Their Engineering Teams

Within many oil and gas organizations, technical training programs are closely linked to long-term operational strategies. Engineering managers and technical directors are often responsible for ensuring that their teams possess the competencies required to maintain critical assets and infrastructure.

Investing in structured training allows companies to strengthen the technical capabilities of their engineering workforce. Engineers who understand industry standards are more confident in making design evaluations, troubleshooting operational issues, and maintaining system integrity.

Programs such as ASME B31.3 Training provide professionals with practical insights into the engineering principles behind process piping systems. Participants gain a clearer understanding of how industry codes influence daily operational decisions and long-term asset management.

For organizations operating in high-risk environments, improving technical competency across engineering teams helps reduce operational uncertainty and strengthens overall safety performance.
The Corporate Journey Behind Enrolling Engineers in Technical Training

In the oil and gas sector, training initiatives are often implemented through structured corporate processes. Unlike individual professional courses, B2B technical training programs usually involve several stages before engineers are officially enrolled.

The process often begins with a consultation between the company and the training provider. Engineering leaders may discuss specific operational challenges or skill gaps within their teams to determine which training program is most relevant.

After identifying a suitable course, the proposal typically moves through internal review channels. Engineering departments, learning and development teams, and sometimes senior management evaluate whether the program aligns with operational priorities and budget considerations.

Corporate approval is an important step in ensuring that training investments support the organization’s broader objectives. Once approval is granted, companies proceed with participant registration and scheduling.

Training providers like PetroSync often assist organizations throughout this process, providing course outlines, learning objectives, and logistical details to help decision makers make informed decisions.
How PetroSync Supports Engineers Through Industry-Focused ASME Training

As the energy industry continues to evolve, engineering professionals must consistently update their technical knowledge to remain effective in their roles. Global engineering standards change over time, and staying informed is critical for maintaining safe industrial operations.

PetroSync’s ASME training programs are designed to help engineers strengthen their understanding of internationally recognized codes and apply them confidently in real-world scenarios. Through expert-led instruction and practical discussions, participants gain valuable insights into how engineering standards influence operational decisions.

For organizations, the benefits extend beyond individual professional development. Companies with well-trained engineering teams are better equipped to manage complex assets, maintain compliance with international standards, and support long-term operational stability.

In a highly regulated industry where technical precision matters, joining leading ASME training programs can provide both professionals and organizations with the knowledge needed to navigate the challenges of modern engineering environments.