Product Showcase
Diageo shaping Filipino bartenders to become world class
Diageo Bar Academy provides a platform for bartenders to raise the bar and enhance their career through training and education since 2010. In the Philippines, Diageo Bar Academy has reached 3,000 Filipino bartenders. In January 2023, the Academy has trained an additional 830 Filipino bartenders across 240 outlets from Metro Manila, Greater Luzon and Visayas.
Diageo, the maker of some of the most iconic and popular liquor brands in the world such as Johnnie Walker, Singleton, and Tanqueray continues its mission to inspire people to drink better – not more – and create unforgettable experiences by elevating the skills of bartenders through the Diageo Bar Academy.
Diageo Bar Academy provides a platform for bartenders to raise the bar and enhance their career through training and education since 2010. In the Philippines, Diageo Bar Academy has reached 3,000 Filipino bartenders. In January 2023, the Academy has trained an additional 830 Filipino bartenders across 240 outlets from Metro Manila, Greater Luzon and Visayas.
“Diageo Bar Academy is one of the main initiatives of the Championing Inclusion & Diversity pillar in our Society 2030: Spirit of Progress program. We believe that the bartending profession is open for all genders, and we are happy to see 30% female bartenders taking part in the Diageo Bar Academy. We are looking forward to continue to inspire both male and female bartenders to upskill their profession into world class levels. This is why we are very excited to have one of our Diageo Bar Academy graduates, Alyssa Lorenzo or also known as Aly, represent the Philippines in the upcoming World Class Competition later in the year”, says Rian Asiddao, Reserve Brand Ambassador and Diageo Bar Academy Trainer.
It was a momentous occasion for the local bartending industry when 28-year-old Aly, a graduate of the Diageo Bar Academy, shattered its glass ceiling by becoming the first female overall champion of the recently concluded Philippine leg of the Diageo World Class Philippines Bartender of the Year 2023 competition. Aly will go on to represent the Philippines in the elite World Class Bartender of the Year competition which will take place in Sao Paolo, Brazil in September 2023.
We sat down with this exceptionally talented and creative mixologist to ask her about what she believes it takes to excel in her highly competitive chosen field, and she shared five unique insights into what goes on in the minds of champions.
Mixing mastery in action. Aly expertly blends flavors with finesse and precision.
1. Honor your passion. Aly likens her discovery of bartending to love at first sight. It was as if lighting struck her as a sophomore in college, seeing a flairtending exhibition and wanting more than anything to be able to learn the amazing skills the bartenders showed off with ease. This drove her to learn everything she could about the profession and, from that first moment on, she has never lost sight of that love and excitement for the craft. This passion carried her from college to her first job at 5ynco, to her current position as head mixologist at Xi by Café Guilt.
2. Embrace adversity. It will always be true that nothing good comes easy, and that is a fact that you will have to come to terms with if you want to perform well in any field. Learning to take critique, criticism, and even outright negativity and manage these in a healthy manner is what separates the legends from the “also-rans”. “I think it’s normal to receive negative comments,” Aly notes, “but the more I experienced discouragement, the more I wanted to prove myself and the fact that I can do better each day. I was patient, I persevered, and I became stronger.”
3. Work well with others and engender a supportive community. Aly found the value of companionship and knowledge early on. It was through involvement in a creative community of other bartenders that she found a connection that enabled all of them to build off of each other’s strengths and learn from each other’s experiences. After all, a rising tide raises all ships.
Aly emphasizes that workplace friendships play an important part in her professional life. “It’s not all about saying ‘Hi’ and ‘Hello’, it’s all about lifting each other and offering helping hands to meet each other’s needs. Healthy competition and community pushes everyone to win. Day by day we discovered a lot of things that helped us enhance and develop our drinks until it hits the best spot.”
Today’s industry, competitive as it is, has grown in leaps and bounds when it comes to fostering collaboration. This is especially notable when you realize that many of the gender biases that once plagued the industry are no longer the norm. In fact, when asked if bartending, and particularly bartending competitions, was a “boy’s club”, Aly staunchly denied this and said that “my ‘Kuyas’ offered a lot of help during competition!”
A triumphant moment: Aly proudly holds her well-deserved trophy, celebrating her victory as the first female overall champion. Her winning cocktail, Sugid, beautifully embodies her Filipino heritage, showcasing the values of sikap, sipag, at tiyaga.
4. Play to your strengths. Aly’s winning cocktail, Sugid, was subtlety in gastronomic form. Conceptualized through her pride in her heritage and her desire to highlight the Filipino values sikap, sipag, at tiyaga, the white sphere served atop a banana leaf isn’t what comes to mind when one thinks of cocktails. It is, however, a perfect representation of who Aly is – a Filipina who got where she is today through the said values, dedication and hard work.
5. Learn the differences between real and imagined limitations. While some limitations are very real, such as the need to sleep and eat, others are purely imaginary. Case in point, you can be a girl and be a bartender—a very good one. “Not everyone knows the capabilities of a female bartender, which is mainly underestimated by everybody,” shares Aly. Refusing to accept limitations of gender, race and orientation biases is what has put this lady on the map. She knew she could do everything and anything a male bartender could and has taken it upon herself to learn and grow to be able to bring the very best skills to the table. A proud proponent of Pinay Pride, Aly proudly exclaims, “Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipina!”
As Aly continues to train in preparation for her faceoff with the representatives of other countries, her colleagues cheer her on. Many of them came through the same training as she did at the Diageo Bar Academy, which serves as the fertile environment where many of them have nurtured the same passion for excellence that Aly exemplifies.
Aly is the first female World Class Champion showing the world that bartending knows no gender. Providing an equal playing field for ambitious mixologists and bartenders as well as recognizing and nurturing talent to those who wish to take up the craft is one of the driving goals of Diageo Bar Academy. With this win, Aly is undeniable proof of the potential that this organization can unlock, and the drinking public can look forward to reaping the benefits.
Product Showcase
Superbod Movement goes beyond the stage
Century Tuna held its first Superbod Life community run in partnership with Megaworld, demonstrating how a supportive community, both online and offline, can empower individuals at every stage of their Superbod path.
On its 20th anniversary, the Century Tuna Superbod legacy expands beyond the runway and into the real world. This milestone reinforces a fitness movement that continues to empower every Filipino to confidently unleash their “Superbod Era” in a supportive, no-judgment environment. Rather than shifting gears, this evolution brings to the forefront what Century Tuna has long championed: that being a Superbod is an accessible, daily lifestyle meant for everyone.
This vision recently ignited a massive advocacy with the launch of the first Superbod Era Strava Challenge, rallying over 58,000 Filipinos of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The overwhelming response to this digital challenge showed that Filipinos are more than ready to take part in the community Century Tuna has long been working to build—a welcoming online space where everyone, regardless of where they are on their fitness journey, can connect, support each other, and celebrate their progress together.
To kick off this initiative, Century Tuna held its first Superbod Life community run in partnership with Megaworld, demonstrating how a supportive community, both online and offline, can empower individuals at every stage of their Superbod path. Joining the run were Century Tuna Brand Ambassador Atasha Muhlach and Super Bowl Ambassador Emilio Daez, inviting Filipinos everywhere to be a part of this collective space and unleash their best fitness eras.
Welcome to Yousr Fitness Era: Join the Superbod Life Community
The Century Tuna Superbod Life Community is a dedicated safe space where members can get all-access to uncomplicated, top-tier advice on fitness and nutrition, real-life inspiration, and practical tips designed for everyone. Whether you are a starter taking Day 1 or a restarter ready to take your fitness journey one day at a time, this platform offers a 100% support, zero-pressure environment.
More than achieving a singular fitness goal, being a Superbod is a sustainable way of life. That is why the community is built around a holistic, easy-to-follow framework: Move Super, Fuel Super, and Live Super.
Through Move Super, members unlock real-life advice through Q&A sessions with fitness experts, practical workouts that make consistency achievable for any lifestyle, and exciting on-ground meet-ups where they can break a sweat and share encouragement with one another.
Fuel Super simplifies nutrition with easy-to-follow guidance like 5-minute meal ideas, clever snack swaps, and practical preparation tips that fit seamlessly into even the busiest schedules.
Meanwhile, Live Super focuses on sustainable wellness habits and overall well-being, proving that a healthy lifestyle is built in the small, everyday choices. More than anything, it is a space where you can experience true transformation simply by being surrounded by real people who are navigating the exact same journey right alongside you.
Built for Real People, Real Journeys
“We realized that many people, especially beginners, hesitate to start their fitness journeys because they often feel like getting into fitness is complicated—like it is something only a few can access and pull off,” shared Mr. Carlo Endaya, Vice President, General Manager, and Group Business Head of Century Pacific Food Inc. “The Superbod Life community was built to change that perspective. It is a safe space where members can learn and be inspired by peers going on the same journey and from experts who can guide them toward their health goals. At Century Tuna, we truly believe that everyone has the potential to reach their ‘Superbod Era’—they just need the right place to start.”
“This community is exactly what Filipinos need in their fitness journey, and I am blessed to be part of something this big,” shared Century Tuna Brand Ambassador Atasha Muhlach. “What makes Superbod Life so special is that inspiration doesn’t just come from brand ambassadors like us, but from the real-world stories, shared struggles, and genuine experiences of the everyday people you’ll meet in the community.”
Fueling the Long Run
As Century Tuna welcomes Filipinos into their “Superbod Era,” the brand highlights proper nutrition as a vital pillar of fitness. Achieving one’s goals requires the right balance of protein, vitamins, and minerals, which is exactly what Century Tuna delivers in its products.
Those sprinting into their fitness journey can also find premium convenience with the latest ready-to-eat tuna and rice meal in a can, the Century Tuna Super Bowl, packed with protein, Vitamin B3, and Omega-3 DHA to fuel the body on the go.
“I finally have a nutritious meal I can take anywhere to my runs or gym sessions,” said actor and host Emilio Daez. “With the Century Tuna Super Bowl, it’s a ready-to-eat meal option that perfectly fits an on-the-go professional schedule. Bonus treat for many Filipinos is that you get all of this for only P29 per can.”
Century Tuna also recently announced the official on-ground casting call for Superbods 2026. Aspiring participants can pre-register at https://bit.ly/2026-superbods-pre-registration, or head on to Space at One Ayala, Makati City, on June 27–28, 2026, from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Join the Superbod Life Community by visiting https://www.facebook.com/groups/superbod.life or by scanning the QR code below. Watch out for exciting giveaways and events happening this month for the Superbod Life community!
For more information on the upcoming Superbods competition, visit https://centurytuna.ph/ or watch out for updates on Century Tuna’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/centurytuna.
Product Showcase
Omega Healthcare recognized
Omega Healthcare is the only RCM service provider to earn both the Leader and Star Performer distinctions
Omega Healthcare, an AI-driven healthcare solutions company, has been recognized as a “Leader” and “Star Performer” in the Everest Group Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Operations PEAK Matrix Assessment, 2026, maintaining its position as a “Leader” in the evaluation since 2017.
Omega Healthcare is the only RCM service provider to earn both the Leader and Star Performer distinctions in the report, which assessed 34 RCM operations service providers. The Star Performer designation is given to companies that demonstrate the most improvement over time on the PEAK Matrix. Everest Group’s team of analysts led a comprehensive analysis of the RCM services market, including client reference checks and interactions with the service providers evaluated.
“Against a backdrop of persistent margin pressures, rising denial rates, and evolving reimbursement dynamics, healthcare providers are making revenue cycle performance a strategic priority, driving demand for more intelligent, technology-enabled operating models that enhance efficiency and financial resilience,” said Aastha Malik, Practice Director, Everest Group.
“Omega Healthcare is well-positioned in this evolving landscape, integrating its large coding talent pool with digital platforms and analytics-led solutions to deliver scalable and performance-driven RCM operations. Its investments in gen AI and agentic AI across RCM processes, supported by a strong partner ecosystem, reflect a shift toward more intelligent and automated workflows. These capabilities underpin its recognition as a Leader and Star Performer in Everest Group’s Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Intelligent Operations PEAK Matrix Assessment 2026.”
Omega Healthcare was honored as a Star Performer due to double-digit revenue growth, expansion into larger provider segments, with increased deal scale, and strong buyer feedback across cost savings, domain expertise, innovation, value addition, and AI/technology expertise.
According to Everest Group, leaders have demonstrated comprehensive support of healthcare providers by operationalizing gen AI, automation, and advanced analytics across key RCM workflows.
Everest Group cited Omega Healthcare for several key strengths, including:
- Integrated delivery model: Clients benefit from a fully integrated delivery model that combines Omega Healthcare’s global workforce with the Omega Digital Platform and WhiteSpace Health analytics to deliver scalable, technology-enabled RCM operations. This seamless integration helps healthcare organizations drive workflow automation and data-driven performance management across the entire revenue cycle.
- Advanced technology enablement: Omega Healthcare’s use of gen AI and agentic AI in workflows such as denials, appeals, coding, and A/R follow-up helps clients resolve claims faster, reduce manual errors, and enhance process consistency. Its strategic technology partnerships help clients scale AI beyond pilots, delivering more reliable and impactful outcomes across enterprise operations.
- Enterprise growth and domain expertise: Clients highlighted Omega Healthcare’s deep domain expertise, strong understanding of clinical workflows, and ability to flex resources to meet evolving operational needs. The company has continued to expand its presence among large health systems, strengthening its position to support end-to-end engagements and deliver sustained results for complex provider organizations.
“We are honored and proud to be the only RCM provider recognized in the report as both a Leader and Star Performer by Everest Group,” said Omega Healthcare CEO and Co-Founder Anurag Mehta. “This achievement is a direct reflection of the relationships and strategic partnerships we’ve built with our customers and the broader ecosystem. As healthcare organizations navigate persistent financial pressures, regulatory change and the proliferation of AI, we remain fully committed to leveraging the strength of our purpose-built AI-powered solutions to bring intelligence into action for our customers. We are constantly co-creating novel solutions with our customers across different parts of the RCM continuum. This relationship helps ensure Omega Healthcare owns outcomes and consistently delivers breakthrough results.”
Product Showcase
For every parent who wants to be present: AXA reinforces importance of early health preparedness
Even the most loving preparation can leave one crucial question unanswered: What happens when the parent who protects the family suddenly needs protection too?
Preparing for a child often begins long before birth. Parents plan for the crib, the diapers, the milk, the clothes, every necessity mapped out before the baby even arrives.
Yet even the most loving preparation can leave one crucial question unanswered: What happens when the parent who protects the family suddenly needs protection too?
For many Filipino families, that reality is closer than most realize. About one in five Filipinos may develop cancer before the age of 75. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that neoplasms, which include various types of cancer, ranked as the country’s second leading cause of death. The toll is made heavier by late diagnosis, with many cases discovered only when the window for early intervention has passed.
This June, as the country observes National Cancer Survivor Day, AXA Philippines unveils the third short film of its Everyday Protectors campaign, one that reflects what many Filipino families quietly carry – the weight of serious illness, and the love that refuses to let it win.
AXA’s health film portrays the story of Lina, a mother whose world shifts on the same day it expands. As her daughter takes her first breath, Lina also receives a cancer diagnosis, turning the happiest moment of her life into one filled with fear and uncertainty. Yet despite the difficult road ahead, Lina finds strength in the moments she hopes to witness like first steps, birthdays, and the everyday memories that make parenthood meaningful.
The film reveals how Lina shows up for every milestone despite her illness, a quiet testament to what Filipino parents do every day: protect the people they love, no matter the cost to themselves. But Lina’s story also carries another truth which is that everyday protectors should not have to face their hardest battles alone.
AXA Philippines, one of the largest and fastest-growing insurance companies in the country, understands that a serious illness is as much a financial challenge as it is a personal one. From preventive healthcare benefits to comprehensive critical illness coverage, AXA offers a wide range of health insurance plans so families get the care they need: Global Health Access (GHA) delivers access to worldwide premium medical services; Health Care Access provides comprehensive medical insurance with cashless access to doctors and hospitals nationwide; while AXA’s superior critical illness plan, Health Max Elite, provides the most extensive coverage that spans the full care journey, from pre-early to late stage protection, covering over 150 critical illnesses, including select mental health conditions and non-listed cases requiring ICU confinement and life-saving surgery.
By helping reduce the financial strain that too often forces families to choose between care and everything else, AXA gives everyday protectors the room they need to focus on healing and being present.
AXA’s Emma app, where you can easily access and manage your insurance policy anytime, anywhere, just got a refreshed look with enhanced features designed to take charge of your health with ease. From accessing mental wellness support through Mind You to filing reimbursements and tracking claims in real time, Emma by AXA helps you maximize your health benefits with greater convenience. Log in today and make the most of the tools designed to support your health and well-being every step of the way.
One name to cover all your insurance needs, discover how AXA can provide complete protection for health, car, travel, and SMEs here.
-
Destinations4 weeks agoUnderground discovery: From Heathrow, commute using the Underground to reach central London
-
Travel2 weeks agoEnjoying nature via trail hiking in Wales
-
Destinations2 weeks agoFinding beauty, and not just of faith, at the Bangor Cathedral
-
Destinations3 weeks agoChecking Llanfair PG, the town that’s long in name and not much else
-
NewsMakers2 weeks agoWhy taking a sick day depends on more than being sick
-
Product Showcase2 weeks agoFor every parent who wants to be present: AXA reinforces importance of early health preparedness
-
NewsMakers2 weeks ago‘Drunk riding’ behind almost half of fatal electric scooter crashes
-
NewsMakers2 weeks agoMove to quit: Exercise boosts smoking quit rates
