Daily Tribune
Hometown hero wins the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus.
Top executives raising a toast at the International Series Philippines (ISP) presented by BingoPlus Welcome Gala.
The winner, Miguel Tabuena with his family.
The winner, Miguel Tabuena with his family.
Huge crowd of festival goers at the ISP presented by BingoPlus Music Festival.
Future Ace Program candidates.
(From left) Mr. Rahul Singh – Head of The International Series, Mr. Cho Minn Thant – Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, Mr. Rico Tentonco – Founder, Sta. Elena Golf Club, Mr. Alejandro Tengco – Chairman, PAGCOR, Our champion, Miguel Tabuena, Mr. Tommy Hu – CEO, DigiPlus, Mr. Jasper Vicencio – President, AB Leisure Exponent Inc., and Mr. Ferdinand C. Jumapao – Undersecretary for Special Projects.
The country’s leading digital entertainment platform, BingoPlus, made a historic impact on the Philippine sports and golf scene with its all-out support for the recently concluded International Series Philippines.
Marking a milestone debut in the country, the International Series made its Philippine stop with a month-long celebration led by BingoPlus — delivering world-class golf and premier sports entertainment that brought global and local fans together in one unforgettable experience.
Forging golf excellence
The prestigious golf tournament was formalized in late 2024 through a partnership between International Series head Rahul Singh and AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE) president Rafael Jasper Vicencio.
After a year of preparation, the much-anticipated International Series Philippines (ISP) unfolded in a four-day tournament from 23 to 26 October at the Sta. Elena Golf & Country Estate in Laguna.
The celebration officially kicked off with a press conference on 21 October, attended by company executives and professional golf players. Joining Vicencio and Singh were Asian Tour commissioner and chief executive officer (CEO) Cho Minn Thant as well as golfers John Catlin, Marc Leishman, Taichi Kho and Peter Uihlein.
Following the press event was a Filipino-themed gala night, featuring a welcome toast led by key executives — Singh, Thant, DigiPlus chairman Eusebio H. Tanco, DigiPlus CEO Tommy Hu, Department of Tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick C. Gregorio and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairman Alejandro H. Tengco.
Win for Filipino
There’s no better way to start this historic sports event than to bring golf closer and relatable to the Filipinos. This is what’s behind the announcement of the Filipino golf ambassador of the No. 1 sportsbook in the country, ArenaPlus, the three-time Asian Tour winner Miguel Tabuena, launched on 21 October.
Tabuena is among the pool of Filipinos competing in the Philippine leg of IS. Playing on his home course at Sta. Elena Golf Club, the 31-year-old golfer delivered a stellar performance with rounds of 69, 65, 65 and 65 — highlighted by five eagles and a hole-in-one — to claim his 22nd professional title.
Meanwhile, as talented Filipino golfers grew, the brand created the Future Ace program. This aimed to further strengthen the path of aspiring Filipino golfers closer to their dream.
BingoPlus selected 20 people who registered for the program, of whom the final three were given a P200,000 training fund, P100,000 worth of golf equipment, and an opportunity to play with international players during the professional-amatuer (Pro-Am) tournament on 22 October.
A celebration beyond the fairway
The Filipino sports celebration broke new ground by blending golf with top-tier entertainment, creating a one-of-a-kind sporting experience.
In the lead-up to the International Series Philippines (ISP) week, ISP and BingoPlus brought the golf experience closer to communities through a four-leg caravan held from 12 to 22 October, filled with fun activities, excitement, and live performances by top Filipino artists. Among the featured performers were actors Tony Labrusca, Teejay Marquez, Derek Monasterio, Klea Pineda, Lance Carr, and the boyband YML, along with Jelai Andres, Dustine Mayores, Bont Bryan, Baninay and Elyson de Dios.
Tony Labrusca performing at ISP BingoPlus Caravan stage in Laguna.
The excitement continued with a three-day mall show from 21 to 23 October, which showcased dynamic performances from boy groups 1621 and VXON, along with Claire Ruiz, Fana, and OPM bands Lily, Soapdish and Hale.
Pinoy boy group VXON grooved with their hit songs at the ISP BingoPlus Mall Show in MOA Music Hall.
The celebration culminated on 25 October at the Aseana City Concert Grounds, where ISP and BingoPlus successfully staged the International Series Music Festival presented by BingoPlus, a grand spectacle that fused music, sports, and charity in one unforgettable night.
Held under the theme “Swing for Filipino Sports Dream,” the festival gathered global and local icons, including EDM superstar Alan Walker, Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas and OPM favorites Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Urbandub, Sandwich and Lily. The event also featured electrifying sets from DJs Arthur Tan, Hoest and DJ Kiara, alongside high-energy performances by world champion dance crews A-Team and UPeepz.
Swinging through communities
To mark the festivities, the International Series Philippines (ISP) and BingoPlus brought the spirit of celebration to various communities, ensuring an engaging and entertaining golf experience for fans across the country.
A four-leg caravan toured around Luzon, with stops in San Ildefonso, Bulacan (12 October), Porac, Pampanga (19 October), Caloocan City (21 October), and Calamba, Laguna (22 October). Alongside exciting activities and live performances, attendees enjoyed interactive games and raffle draws, winning prizes such as mobile phones, tablets, smart TVs, and home appliances.
Adding to the excitement, fun-filled mall shows were held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall (21 to 23 October) and SM City Sta. Rosa (21 to 26 October). Mallgoers participated in golf-inspired games and daily raffles for a chance to win premium prizes, including a 55-inch TV, gift certificates, an iPad 11th Gen, and a Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro.
Empowering Sports Dreams
Beyond the tournament’s excitement, the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus underscored its commitment to advancing local sports development through meaningful donations.
On 21 October, a ceremonial check turnover was held, led by the International Series Philippines, BingoPlus, and the BingoPlus Foundation, to support aspiring Filipino golfers. BingoPlus Foundation executive director Angela Camins-Wieneke turned over $100,000 to Anthony Kang, board member of the Asian Development Tour and $50,000 to Myka Romulo, executive director of the National Golf Association of the Philippines.
Continuing the momentum, another highlight on 25 October during the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus Music Festival was the turnover of P8 million to the PSC.
International Series Philippines 2026 with BingoPlus
ABLE president Vicencio also announced the continuation of BingoPlus’ commitment for next year’s tournament, solidifying its role as a key driver in promoting world-class golf in the country.
“We are thrilled to announce that we will continue our partnership with the International Series Philippines in 2026! Truly, we’ve set the standard this year, and we aim to elevate the experience even further next year,” Vicencio said.
The partnership between the International Series and BingoPlus marks another milestone, strengthening the brand’s position as a proudly Filipino company with a growing global presence.
More than just making the International Series Philippines fun and exciting, BingoPlus successfully brought an entertaining golf experience closer to Filipinos, supporting the local sports community and proving once again that in every success, “Winning is a Plus.”
