VinFast Group firms give P50M aid to quake-hit Mindanao areas

VinFast, V-Green, VinEnergo and Green GSM have announced more than P50 million in emergency relief support for communities affected by the June 8 earthquake in Mindanao.

The aid package will support local government recovery work in some of the hardest-hit areas, including General Santos City, Sarangani Province and Davao Occidental Province.

Under the program, General Santos City and Sarangani Province will each receive P20 million, while Davao Occidental will receive P10 million. The companies said the assistance will be coordinated with local authorities and directed toward priority recovery programs identified by each locality.

The relief effort will also provide direct financial support to bereaved families. Families who lost loved ones in the disaster will receive P100,000 for each fatality as a gesture of solidarity.

The companies said the initiative aims to help restore essential services, stabilize daily life and support rebuilding efforts in affected communities.

According to the press release, the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck offshore Mindanao on June 8 caused major damage in parts of Southern Philippines, particularly in the Soccsksargen and Davao regions. It reported at least 45 deaths, hundreds injured, many missing and more than 25,000 residents forced to evacuate as of June 10.

The earthquake also damaged homes, schools, roads, bridges and public infrastructure, disrupting local communities and economic activity.

Dao Quy Phi, Director of Investment and External Relations of Vingroup in the Philippines, said the losses suffered by Mindanao communities were immense. He said the companies believe business and community support can provide additional resources and encouragement during the recovery period.

He also said the participating Vietnamese companies remain committed to supporting local authorities and communities in the Philippines, where they continue to expand their investments and operations.

The support program will be implemented throughout June 2026 in coordination with VinFast, V-Green, VinEnergo, Green GSM and local authorities in the affected areas.

Rockstar opens GTA VI pre-orders on June 25

WASHINGTON, United States. Rockstar Games will open pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25, setting up the next major step in the rollout of one of the most awaited entertainment releases in years. The game is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.

Rockstar announced the pre-order date together with the official cover art. The company has not released pricing details, although analysts expect a base price of around $80. Some industry speculation had pointed to a possible price near $100, but Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive have not confirmed that figure.

GTA VI arrives more than 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V, which remains one of the most successful games ever released. GTA V reached $1 billion in retail sales within three days and has sold about 230 million copies, behind only Minecraft among the best-selling games in history. The full Grand Theft Auto franchise has sold about 470 million units, according to Take-Two figures cited in the report.

The new title returns to Vice City, Rockstar’s Miami-inspired setting, within the fictional state of Leonida. It follows Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, a criminal couple at the center of the story. Lucia becomes the first female protagonist in the main GTA line.

The franchise started in 1997 with a top-down crime game format, but GTA III changed the series in 2001 with a three-dimensional open world that helped define modern action games. Later entries expanded that formula with bigger cities, sharper satire, celebrity voice casts and online play.

That success has always carried controversy. Critics have accused the series of glorifying violence, criminal behavior, misogyny and racial caricatures. Take-Two executives have rejected claims that the games encourage real-world crime and have argued that buyers should be free to choose the games they play.

GTA VI also comes after a troubled development cycle. Rockstar confirmed the game was in development in 2022, the same year unfinished footage leaked online in one of gaming’s biggest security breaches. The game was later delayed twice before landing on its current November 19 release date.

Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to release worldwide, including in the Philippines, on November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Volvo spotlights a father’s trust in safety

Volvo Cars Philippines is putting the focus on family safety this Father’s Day through the story of first-time Volvo owner Patricio R. Nardo Jr., a chief engineer and seafarer whose choice of vehicle was guided by trust, reliability and protection.

Nardo, who has spent decades working at sea and traveling across Europe, said Volvo stood out among the brands he encountered because of its long record in automotive safety. His work, built around precision and risk management, also shaped how he chose a vehicle for his family.

For him, the Europe trip that came with his ownership experience was a welcome bonus. The bigger reward was knowing his family rides in a vehicle designed with safety as a priority.

“Volvo represented something deeper than luxury or performance,” Nardo said in the company statement. “It represented trust. As a father and as someone responsible for the safety of others in my profession, that matters tremendously.”

Volvo’s safety history includes the invention of the three-point seatbelt, along with continuing work on driver-assistance and collision avoidance systems. Its current safety suite includes collision avoidance, intelligent braking, pedestrian detection and emergency steering support.

Nardo said those features give him peace of mind, especially when he is away for work.

“Every time my family gets into the car, I know Volvo has designed it with our safety in mind,” he said. “That gives me confidence and peace of mind, especially when I’m away at work.”

HARI vice chairman, president and chief executive officer Maria Fe Perez-Agudo said safety remains the foundation of the Volvo brand.

“For nearly a century, Volvo has challenged itself to create innovations that protect people both inside and outside the vehicle,” Perez-Agudo said.

Volvo Cars Philippines said Nardo’s story reflects fathers who make decisions rooted in care and responsibility. For Nardo, the trip may be the prize, but the real win is knowing his family is protected on the road.