Original article: Tech Week PH Cebu showcases future-ready IT strategies for businesses
CEBU—As businesses across the Philippines accelerate digital transformation, the ability to adapt, connect, and scale securely has become a defining factor of enterprise success. This was one of the central messages at Tech Week PH Cebu, where PLDT Enterprise brought together leading voices in cloud infrastructure and IT strategy to explore the evolving landscape of Hybrid IT.
With the theme “Optimizing Hybrid: Enabling Express Connections to the Cloud,” the Tech Stage session featured perspectives from VITRO Inc., Alibaba Cloud, and Edge Cloud—underscoring the importance of cloud integration, infrastructure readiness, and collaboration between public and private sectors.
“Hybrid infrastructure enables the best of both worlds—data center deployments and cloud services—helping enterprises manage workloads efficiently while reducing risk exposure,” said Gary Ignacio, Chief Commercial Officer at VITRO Inc. “By laying the right digital foundation, we empower organizations to future-proof their IT environments while preparing for high-performance computing and AI.”
Solving the speed, security, and scalability equation
In her talk, Kervi Laborte, Solutions Architect at Alibaba Cloud Philippines, pointed out the growing challenges businesses face during cloud migration. She emphasized that poor connectivity, inconsistent performance, and security concerns are creating significant friction for organizations transitioning to the cloud.
“It’s not uncommon that hotel chains experience significant booking losses due to slow system synchronization, healthcare providers waste valuable consultation time because of unsynced medical information, and financial institutions invest substantial resources annually to resolve connectivity disruptions," Laborte explained. “Connectivity isn't just a technical concern—it directly impacts revenue, efficiency, and customer experience.”
Gary Ignacio, Chief Commercial Officer of VITRO Inc., takes the stage at Tech Week PH Cebu to spotlight how Hybrid IT is transforming the way enterprises scale, adapt, and lead in the digital age.
To address these challenges, she introduced Express Connect, Alibaba Cloud’s dedicated private connectivity solution designed for seamless multi-region access. With Virtual Border Router (VBR) technology, businesses can avoid public internet vulnerabilities, scale bandwidth on demand, and ensure low-latency performance across cloud and on-prem environments.
Enabling resilience through customer-centric hybrid strategy
Darwin Cabiluna, Founder and Technical Director of Edge Cloud Technology and Solutions, emphasized that Hybrid IT is no longer a trend—it is a strategic response to customer expectations for always-on, fast, and secure digital experiences.
Edge Cloud, a Filipino-owned provider of multi-cloud services, focuses on giving businesses of all sizes access to cost-effective and scalable cloud platforms that are aligned with local industry needs.
“Our mission is to provide flexible solutions that support government, education, and commercial sectors,” Cabiluna shared. “By unlocking the potential of hybrid environments, we help organizations manage sensitive data more intelligently and navigate complexity with confidence.”
Cebu at the center of digital evolution
The session concluded with a panel sharing its digital governance goals and the role of data centers in enabling smarter, more citizen-focused services.
Forging resilience through innovation. Industry leaders and innovation champions gather at the Tech Stage during Tech Week PH Cebu to exchange insights on emerging global strategies for business resilience. The panel explored the critical role of hybrid infrastructure, cloud adoption, and regional collaboration in enabling enterprises to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
With its strategic location and growing innovation ecosystem, Cebu continues to emerge as a regional hub for digital infrastructure. PLDT Enterprise and VITRO Inc., through VITRO Cebu 2 and its disaster-ready infrastructure, are actively supporting this transformation—offering a resilient platform for businesses and government alike.
Future-ready by design
From overcoming legacy IT limitations to preparing for the demands of AI and high-performance workloads, Hybrid IT is proving to be the blueprint for resilient, agile enterprises.
“We are very proud to bring together partners who share our vision of enabling business success through infrastructure that’s secure, scalable, and ready for what’s next,” shared Mitch Locsin, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise Core Business at PLDT and Smart. “Tech Week Cebu is not just about technology—it’s about empowering regional growth through meaningful collaboration and innovation.”
Tech Week PH 2025 is powered by Cisco, Alibaba Cloud, CSG, Ericsson, Fortinet, Huawei, Avolution, Fibercom Telecom, Canon, Delinea, Dream, Hikvision, Kital Connect, Pronet, Quanta Dance, Soprano, and Trend Micro.
