Ambassador Lhuillier leads consultations ahead of Philippines-Spain 80th Anniversary

 

PHOTO CAPTION: Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier, along with Philippine Consular Officers and representatives of Attached Agencies, discussed strategic priorities and areas of cooperation for 2027.

Strengthening coordination among Philippine representatives, the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, led by Ambassador for Spain and Andorra H.E. Philippe J. Lhuillier, convened its Annual Consultations with Philippine Consular Officers, bringing together seven Honorary Consular Officers, Attached Agencies, and the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona.

The consultation focused on aligning priorities and strengthening cooperation ahead of the Philippines-Spain 80th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations in 2027. Discussions covered consular policies, best practices, Filipino community concerns, and strategic planning for the anniversary.

Ambassador Lhuillier encouraged the Consular Officers to “take an active role in deepening and expanding cooperation between the Philippines and Spain to establish sustainable partnerships, concrete programs, and enduring relationships that can continue beyond 2027.”

Potential areas for collaboration included the Maritime and Blue Economy, Renewable Energy, Innovation, Heritage and Culture, Digital Economy, Agriculture and Food Innovation, Eco-tourism, Marine Biodiversity, and Sustainable Tourism.

Representatives from Migrant Workers Office (MWO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché, Philippine Department of Tourism – London, and SSS also joined the consultation, highlighting a whole-of-government approach to strengthening Philippine interests and engagement with Spain.

Consular Officers from Bilbao, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Sevilla, and Valencia travelled to Madrid for the gathering, reinforcing coordination across the Philippine consular network.

The 2027 anniversary will provide an opportunity to celebrate longstanding ties and build new partnerships for the years ahead.

MOLD Manila Highlights Subtle Aesthetic and Wellness Options for Visitors to the Philippines

 The Quezon City clinic offers travel-conscious aesthetic and wellness options, from skin tightening and collagen stimulation to skin treatments and IV micronutrient infusions, with treatment plans based on each patient’s schedule, goals, and expected downtime.

For many OFWs and balikbayans, coming home to the Philippines means fitting months’ worth of plans into a few weeks. Family reunions, weddings, appointments, errands, and vacations can quickly fill an already limited stay. International tourists may face a similar challenge when balancing activities across a packed Philippine itinerary.

MOLD Manila is highlighting how non-surgical aesthetic and wellness treatments can be incorporated into these trips without requiring visitors to dedicate a significant portion of their stay to recovery.

Rather than encouraging patients to fit multiple procedures into a limited window, the Quezon City aesthetic clinic takes a travel-conscious approach to treatment planning. Length of stay, upcoming flights, planned events, sun exposure, expected downtime, aftercare, and potential follow-up are considered before recommending a procedure.

For visitors looking to include beauty and wellness care during their stay, options at MOLD Manila include:

1. XERF — A non-surgical skin-tightening treatment for patients seeking gradual improvement in skin firmness and facial definition.

2. HydraPeel Dermabrasion — A skin treatment focused on cleansing, hydration, and refreshing the appearance of the complexion.

3. Radiesse Hyperdilute — A collagen-stimulating injectable used to support improvements in skin quality and firmness over time.

4. Radiesse Structural — An injectable treatment used for patients seeking greater facial definition and structural enhancement.

5. Botox — Treatments for suitable patients who want to soften the appearance of expression lines.

The MOLD Infusion — MOLD Manila’s IV micronutrient infusion offering for visitors who want to incorporate a wellness component into a busy trip.

While these treatments are non-surgical or minimally invasive, MOLD Manila emphasizes that this does not automatically mean zero downtime. Injectable procedures, for example, may result in temporary swelling or bruising, while other treatments may come with specific aftercare recommendations.

Timing therefore remains an important part of the consultation, particularly for patients with upcoming flights, beach trips, weddings, reunions, or other events.

The inclusion of The MOLD Infusion also broadens the clinic’s approach beyond aesthetic enhancement. Long flights, changing schedules, family commitments, late nights, and full vacation itineraries can make trips home or holidays unexpectedly hectic. The wellness offering gives visitors another way to set aside time for self-care during their stay.

For MOLD Manila, incorporating aesthetic care into travel does not have to mean pursuing a dramatic transformation. The clinic advocates for treatments selected according to the individual patient, their goals, and the realities of their itinerary.

The approach allows beauty and wellness care to become one considered part of a Philippine trip—rather than the trip revolving around the procedure.

About MOLD Manila

MOLD Manila is a premium, clinician-led aesthetic clinic based in Quezon City, Philippines. Known for its technology-driven, non-surgical treatments and personalized care, the clinic specializes in skin rejuvenation, non-invasive contouring, laser treatments, and IV wellness therapies. MOLD Manila is committed to education-first, results-driven aesthetics designed for real Filipino skin.

Indian Yoga School PH Brings Traditional Yoga and Sustainable Living Together in Bohol

  

Set within a working permaculture farm, the Bohol programs invite participants to explore yoga beyond asana through traditional practice, yogic philosophy, intentional living, nourishing food, and a closer relationship with nature.

Indian Yoga School PH is bringing its Yoga Teacher Training Course (YTTC) and yoga retreat to Miranalla Farm in Guindulman, Bohol this November 2026, creating an environment where participants can experience yoga not only as a physical practice, but as a more holistic way of living.

Leading the yoga program is Teacher Kirti from Rishikesh, India, a city internationally associated with the study and practice of yoga. Her approach draws from traditional yoga practice and philosophy, with an emphasis on understanding yoga beyond asana and applying its principles to everyday life.

That philosophy is also behind the choice of setting.

Rather than holding the program in a conventional studio or resort, Indian Yoga School PH is bringing the experience to Miranalla Farm, a working permaculture farm where sustainable and intentional living are part of daily life.

The November program offers participants two ways to take part: through Yoga Teacher Training or a Yoga and Permaculture Retreat.

Yoga Teacher Training

For practitioners who want to deepen their study of yoga or develop the foundations for teaching, Indian Yoga School PH will offer:

1. 30-Hour YTTC — USD 500

2. 50-Hour YTTC — USD 800

3. 100-Hour YTTC — USD 1,200

The YTTC combines Hatha yoga, meditation, breathwork, yogic philosophy, teaching principles, and other foundations of traditional yoga practice.

Yoga and Permaculture Retreat

Those who want to experience the environment without completing the teacher-training curriculum can instead join the Yoga and Permaculture Retreat, held during the same period as the YTTC.

Retreat participants will share parts of the daily practice with YTTC students, including asana and meditation sessions led by Teacher Kirti, while following an experience centered more closely on permaculture, sustainable living, nature, and life on the farm.

This shared format allows both groups to become part of the same community while choosing the level and type of study that suits them.

For retreat participants, the experience offers an introduction to traditional yoga without the requirements of teacher training. For YTTC students, practicing within a working permaculture farm provides a setting where the philosophical aspects of yoga can extend beyond scheduled classes.

Throughout the program, Miranalla Farm becomes part of the learning environment. Participants can experience farm-based living, fresh meals, natural surroundings, and practical exposure to permaculture while becoming more conscious of how they move, eat, rest, consume, and interact with their surroundings.

The combination reflects a shared principle between traditional yoga and permaculture: living with greater awareness of the relationship between the individual, the community, and the environment.

farm, Indian Yoga School PH aims to create an experience where yoga can be practiced not simply as a series of postures, but as part of everyday life.

The Indian Yoga School PH Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga and Permaculture Retreat will be held at Miranalla Farm in Guindulman, Bohol in November 2026.

Reserve Your Spot

About Indian Yoga School PH

Indian Yoga School PH is a yoga education and wellness institution based in Taytay, Rizal, dedicated to making authentic Indian yoga accessible in the Philippines. Founded through the partnership of Filipina entrepreneur Anj Volante and Indian yoga teacher and therapist Yogi Kirtti Anand, the school offers traditional Hatha Yoga, Yoga Therapy, meditation, pranayama, and internationally inspired teacher training programs. Its mission is to provide a welcoming space where students of all experience levels can learn yoga through authentic lineage, proper alignment, and holistic well-being.

Casino Plus and Peter & Sons Unite to Bring World-Class Gaming to Filipino Players

 Cementing its position as the country's leading responsible digital entertainment platform, Casino Plus, licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), has announced a strategic content partnership with acclaimed international game studio Peter & Sons.

Through this collaboration, Casino Plus is bringing selected titles from the Yerevan and Barcelona-based studio directly to players across the Philippines, further enriching its robust, mobile-driven gaming ecosystem with distinctive global content.

As one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic regulated gaming markets, the Philippines demands platforms that understand local player sensibilities. Guided by its core value of being customer-centric, Casino Plus rigorously curates its library, selecting games that match the pace, preferences, and vibrant culture of the Filipino player.

"Everything we do starts with one purpose: Bring Fun to People — and at the center of that purpose is always the player," said Evan Spytma, CEO of Casino Plus. 

"We are deliberate about what we bring to our platform. Culture fit matters to us; a game has to feel right for our audience, not just perform well on paper. Peter & Sons understood that immediately. Their titles carry a creative identity that is rare in this industry, and bringing them to Casino Plus is a direct expression of our commitment to excellence,” added Spytma.

"We are very pleased to go live with Casino Plus and bring Peter & Sons games to players in the Philippines. This is an exciting market for us — a strong entertainment culture, players who respond to games with clear identity, rich visuals, and memorable mechanics. Casino Plus has built a powerful local presence, and we are proud to work with their team as we introduce our portfolio to a new audience in one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic regulated gaming markets," said Yann Bautista, Founder and Commercial Director of Peter & Sons.

The rollout will follow a progressive integration schedule. Casino Plus players will gain access to an expanding catalog of Peter & Sons titles over the coming months, deepening through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. Both companies also plan to introduce co-branded campaigns and exclusive titles tailored specifically for the Filipino market as the partnership evolves.

Casino Plus remains steadfast in its mission to deliver world-class digital entertainment to every Filipino player—responsibly, deliberately, and always placing the player first.

RESPONSIBLE GAMING ADVISORY

In accordance with PAGCOR’s Responsible Gaming Code of Practice, Casino Plus reminds all players of the following:

Casino Plus is for players aged 21 and above only. Persons restricted under PAGCOR regulations are not permitted to play.

Gaming is for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered a source of income or a means of financial relief. Players are encouraged to play responsibly and within their means.

Winning is never guaranteed. All gaming outcomes are determined by chance. Past results do not influence or predict future outcomes.

About IGO Digital High Technology, Inc.

ABOUT CASINO PLUS Casino Plus is an online casino platform in the Philippines licensed and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The company is committed to providing a secure, fair, and engaging digital entertainment experience, guided by the principles of responsible gaming and player protection. ABOUT PETER & SONS Peter & Sons is a game development studio based in Yerevan and Barcelona, creating video slots and casino games with a distinctive artistic direction and original gameplay mechanics. Founded in 2019, the studio supplies operators across multiple regulated markets worldwide.