Holy Week is starting to feel less like just a quiet, reflective break and more like one of the busiest travel seasons of the year for Filipinos.

More people are taking advantage of the long holiday to go on proper vacations—and not just within the country. According to Trip.com, international travel bookings for Holy Week this year jumped by about 50% compared to last year. That’s a pretty big leap, and it shows how much interest there is now in going overseas, especially to nearby Asian destinations.Still, local travel isn’t going anywhere. A lot of Filipinos are continuing to explore places within the Philippines, and that side of travel remains strong during the holiday.

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of a new unit, SEA Wave & Spice, as part of its year-long Decada de COMCO celebration.

The new agency and studio focuses on content, digital, events, and talent work, bringing these together into one setup for brands that need to manage multiple platforms at once. The idea is simple: keep the story consistent, whether it shows up on social media, at events, or through creators.

At the top level, toughness isn’t about noise. It’s about staying steady when things start to slip.

This Women’s Month, three Filipina athletes supported by Smart Sports competing in badminton, golf, and volleyball offer a clear picture of how that toughness is formed and sustained.

For golfer Sam Bruce, badminton player Mika De Guzman, and volleyball standout Shaina Nitura, that shows up in different ways. They compete in different sports, but the mindset is similar: stay disciplined, don’t rush, and deal with what’s in front of you.

 

 

MIKA DE GUZMAN: STAYING CONSISTENT

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In badminton, matches can turn quickly. For Mika, consistency is what keeps her in control.

“A lot of people think badminton is easy,” she says. “They don’t see how demanding it really is.”

After years of competition, she’s learned to rely less on force and more on stability. When the pressure builds, she keeps it simple—focus on the next point, not the score.

 

 

SAM BRUCE: MANAGING THE LONG GAME

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Golf is slower, but the pressure lasts longer. Sam Bruce knows that one bad shot can stay with you if you let it.

She’s known for her distance, but what matters more is how she responds. “If something doesn’t go my way, it’s okay. What’s next?” she says.

Balancing competitive golf with a degree in computer science taught her how to manage time and priorities. Now, it’s about routine. Stick to it, reset, move on.

 

 

SHAINA NITURA: RESPONDING FAST

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Volleyball doesn’t give you much time to think. For Shaina Nitura, growth came from being tested early.

“I used to get targeted a lot,” she says. “So I worked on it—and proved I could handle it.”

For her, the hardest part is internal. When things go wrong, she resets quickly—then plays the next ball. That approach helped her put up record numbers in her rookie season.

 

 

WHAT THEY SHARE

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Different sports, same pattern. Discipline over flash. Control over reaction. Do the work, trust it, repeat.

Support from programs like Smart Sports and Puso Pilipinas helps, but the day-to-day is still on them.

“Supporting athletes like Sam, Mika, and Shaina is about more than winning medals,” says Jude Turcuato, FVP at Smart Communications, Inc. and Head of Smart Sports. “It’s about building an environment where Filipina athletes can train, compete, and grow with confidence.”

 

 

WHAT THEY PASS ON

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Mika keeps it simple: “You don’t have to be loud to be strong.”

Sam pushes for bigger goals: “Don’t limit yourself.”

Shaina puts it plainly: “It’s easy to quit. So don’t.”

That’s really it—no shortcuts, just showing up and doing the work, even when it’s hard.

The Disney Adventure Cruise welcomed its first guests as it departed Singapore on its maiden voyage, becoming the first Disney Cruise Line ship to homeport in Asia. The ship brings together stories from Disney, Marvel, and Pixar, introducing them to guests in the region through new onboard experiences.

The ship features seven themed areas: Disney Imagination Garden, Toy Story Place, San Fransokyo Street, Town Square, Wayfinder Bay, Disney Discovery Reef, and Marvel Landing. Each space offers a mix of attractions, entertainment, dining, and shops designed for guests of all ages.

More than 40 entertainment offerings are available across the ship. Returning favorites include Disney’s Seas the Adventure and character meet-and-greets, alongside new experiences such as private karaoke rooms, interactive game shows, and a stage production called Remember at the Walt Disney Theatre.

Several attractions are located on the upper decks. At Marvel Landing, Groot Galaxy Spin lets guests pilot their own spacecraft. Over at Toy Story Place, Woody and Jessie’s Wild Slides adds water rides for families and younger guests.

Dining follows Disney Cruise Line’s rotational concept, with six main restaurants on board. Guests rotate between three assigned venues during their stay while being served by the same dining team throughout the voyage. The ship also offers quick-service counters, casual dining, specialty treats, cafés, and 24-hour room service.

Disney Adventure's retail areas cover nearly 17,000 square feet and include several concepts making their first appearance at sea, such as World of Disney, the National Geographic Store, and a dedicated Duffy and Friends Shop, along with other stores offering exclusive merchandise.

The Disney Adventure, the largest vessel in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, can accommodate up to 6,700 guests and is supported by a large onboard crew. With its first sailing now underway, the ship begins a new chapter for Disney Cruise Line in Asia.

Guests ready to be part of this historic season can follow Disney Cruise Line’s social media channels and visit the website for updates on booking details and itineraries:

• Disney Cruise Line’s website: http://www.disneycruise.com/adventure
• Facebook: Disney Cruise Line https://www.facebook.com/DisneyCruiseLineSG
• Instagram: @disneycruiselinesg https://www.instagram.com/disneycruiselinesg
• TikTok: @disneycruiselinesg https://www.tiktok.com/@disneycruiselinesg

Disney Cruise Line officially welcomed its newest ship, the Disney Adventure, with a christening ceremony in Singapore, marking the debut of the cruise line’s first vessel to sail from Southeast Asia.

Held inside the Walt Disney Theatre onboard, the event featured a live performance that brought together Disney music, visual effects, and appearances from familiar characters including Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse. A 23-piece orchestra led the program alongside Filipino singer Jed Madela and Eurovision performer Dami Im, performing songs from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel productions while large screens around the theatre displayed accompanying visuals.

Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences and incoming Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, and Joe Schott, President of Disney Signature Experiences, joined the performers on stage to mark the occasion.

“The Walt Disney Company has always been built on storytelling and innovation,” D’Amaro said. “With the Disney Adventure based in Asia, we’re bringing Disney Cruise Line to new audiences across the region and giving more families the chance to experience our stories at sea.”

Actor Robert Downey Jr., the ship’s godparent, delivered the ceremonial blessing for the vessel.

“I’ve had the chance to see what the Walt Disney Imagineering team has created, and Adventure is the right name for it,” he said. “It’s an honor to serve as the ship’s godparent.”

After cueing the orchestra, Downey gave the official christening: “I christen thee, Disney Adventure. May God bless this ship and all who sail upon her.”

The ceremony closed with a group performance of “Let’s Set Sail,” a Disney Cruise Line tradition that signals the start of a ship’s journeys.

Inspired by more than a century of stories from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel, the Disney Adventure features seven themed areas, including San Fransokyo Street from Big Hero 6. Guests can experience a new stage musical titled Remember, themed dining venues, fireworks at sea, dedicated clubs for children and teens, lounges for adults, and attractions such as Ironcycle Test Run, the cruise line’s first roller coaster at sea.

The Disney Adventure is Disney Cruise Line’s eighth ship and its largest so far. It begins sailing on March 10 with three- and four-night voyages from Singapore as part of the cruise line’s ongoing fleet expansion, which will bring the total number of ships to 13 by 2031.

More information is available at disneycruise.com or through travel agents.