Talisay seeks investments to turn city into tourism, business destination

The City of Talisay is looking to turn its strategic location, rich history, and reputation as Cebu’s lechon capital into new investment opportunities; to draw more businesses and persuade travelers to stay rather than pass through on their way to southern Cebu.

Mayor Gerald Anthony Samsam Gullas outlined this direction at the 2nd City of Talisay Business Summit and Trade Expo 2026, saying the city’s growth will depend on preparing residents for jobs, developing the Talisay side of the South Road Properties (SRP), and promoting its heritage and tourism attractions.

The summit is presented by the Talisay City local government unit, Talisay Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Inc. (TCCI), Department of Trade and Industry, and Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

Gullas acknowledged that Talisay still faces challenges but said the city government has identified areas where it can work with the private sector.

Preparing residents for jobs

Gullas said the city is investing in education and skills training to help residents qualify for jobs that new businesses could bring.

Talisay City College, which has nearly 8,200 enrollees this year, offers courses in education, hospitality management, industrial technology, entrepreneurship and other fields. The city also operates a TESDA school in Barangay Lagtang, where residents train for jobs in cookery, electrical installation, welding, bookkeeping and other technical fields.

Gullas said the city wants the Chamber of Commerce to help identify the skills local businesses will need so training programs can better prepare residents for employment.

He has also asked the City Council to pass an ordinance creating a separate department to oversee the city's technical-vocational programs.

Developing the Talisay side of the SRP

Gullas sees the Talisay side of the SRP as a place where businesses can grow, not simply a road connecting Cebu City to southern Cebu.

He said the area could complement developments on the Cebu City side, including SM Seaside City, NUSTAR and the SMX Convention Center.

Rather than compete with luxury hotels and major commercial establishments, Talisay could attract businesses that cater to visitors looking for more affordable options. These include budget and mid-range hotels, pension houses, restaurants and other establishments that could serve convention attendees and tourists.

The city has established a Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) to guide development along the SRP corridor. Gullas said affected businesses were given a 10-year transition period, with 2030 as the target for compliance with the intended land-use classifications.

The next step is to work with TCCI on an investment code to identify possible incentives and address concerns that could discourage investors.

Gullas called on business leaders to help determine what policies and incentives would make the area more attractive for commercial development.

Promoting Talisay's history and lechon

Gullas also wants more visitors to discover Talisay's historical sites and local food.

Among the stories the city can share is that of the Cuatro Aliños, four brothers who helped lead resistance against colonial rule in Cebu. Talisay Landing is another historical site, marking the landing of American forces during World War II to help liberate Cebu.

The city's lechon is also central to its identity as Cebu's Lechon Capital.

Gullas said the city must do more than preserve its heritage and promote its food. It must make these attractions accessible and interesting enough for visitors to spend time in Talisay.

Among the proposed projects are improvements to Talisay Landing and the Poblacion boardwalk, the renovation of Talisay City Lechon Park and the rehabilitation of the City Hall Plaza.

The projects are intended to give residents more public spaces and visitors more reasons to explore the city, learn about its history and try its lechon. Gullas said the City Hall Plaza rehabilitation would be carried out in phases, with the first phase including improvements to the grounds and an area for senior citizens.

He added that parks and public spaces are important because they give residents places to meet, hold community activities and spend time with their families.

Getting travelers to stop

Talisay has long served as a gateway to southern Cebu, with travelers passing through on their way to destinations such as Simala and Oslob.

Gullas wants more of them to stop in the city, visit its historical sites and enjoy a meal before continuing their journey.

The city government plans to improve public spaces and heritage sites, while private businesses could provide the restaurants, cafes, shops and tour services that visitors need.

Gullas invited the TCCI and travel agencies to work with the city in developing these opportunities.

TCCI president Carl Cabusas noted that the challenge is to make doing business easier, attract more investments, and ensure that growth also improves people’s lives.

He said meaningful progress requires government and the private sector to work together and turn discussions into action.

The summit’s theme, “Talisay City: Open for Business, Ready for the Future,” reflects that shared goal.

For Talisay, the next step is to translate its plans into opportunities that businesses can pursue and residents can benefit from.

Talisay seeks tourism revival by promoting heritage, food, and local attractions

Talisay City wants more visitors to stay and explore its food, history, and local attractions instead of simply passing through on their way to other destinations in Cebu.

During the opening of the 2nd Talisay City Business Summit & Trade Expo, Alice Queblatin, president of the Cebu Alliance of Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS), said Talisay should build its tourism identity around the people, culture, food, and heritage that distinguish it from other places in Cebu.

Queblatin cited Talisay lechon as a potential draw, noting that its preparation gives it a distinct taste and texture compared with lechon from Carcar City and other areas.

She urged city officials to identify Talisay's distinctive attractions and make them the focus of its tourism promotions.

Tourism is not simply about visiting places or admiring scenic views but also about creating experiences that leave lasting memories, Queblatin noted. Queblatin suggested that city officials work with the Department of Tourism to include Talisay in regional tour packages. Marben Bascon, a history researcher and instructor, recalled that the City of Talisay was once a popular summer destination among Cebuanos. Bascon said there were several swimming pools and resorts

“Talisay has a lot more to offer, but there is a need to encourage investors particularly in the tourism industry,” he said. Turning a pass-through city into a destination Getting visitors to stay longer remains one of the biggest challenges for Talisay, according to City of Talisay Tourism Officer Mikki Fernandez Aznar.

The city also plans to renovate the Lechon Food Park, which could convince people to stay overnight, Aznar said. The proposed improvements include expanding the facility and adding an air-conditioned upper floor that could accommodate meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), as well as visiting business delegations and tour operators. Talisay's wartime history is another part of its tourism potential. Other heritage projects include the rehabilitation of the boardwalk and public plazas. Public-private partnership The City of Talisay - Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry Inc. (TCCI) organized the three-day business summit and trade expo, held from Oct. 26 to 28 at Robinson’s Galleria and Summit Hotel. It brought together the city government and the business sector to promote local enterprises, encourage investments, and strengthen partnerships.

Macario Cabusas, president of the City of Talisay - Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry Inc. (TCCI), said the event aims to showcase the city's products, businesses, and people while encouraging cooperation between the public and private sectors. “The expo opens to highlight what Talisay can offer, from our products to our people. This is about government and the private sector working together for inclusive growth,” Cabusas said. The chamber is a key partner in the city's efforts to develop tourism and stimulate economic activity. By building on its food, heritage and water attractions, Talisay hopes to create more opportunities for restaurants, vendors, transport operators and other local businesses. For the city, the challenge is not simply to bring back the reputation it once enjoyed as a summer destination. It is to develop a tourism identity that reflects what Talisay is today — and gives visitors a reason to stay.

 Packed into a remarkably slim, durable design with sustained peak performance, long-lasting battery life and the latest Galaxy AI, the Galaxy Tab S12 series empowers users to push their boundaries without limitations

SEOUL, Korea – Sept. 30, 2026 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Galaxy Tab S12 series — Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+ — delivering Samsung’s most capable and versatile tablet experience yet. Packing breakthrough performance, long-lasting battery life, and the latest Galaxy AI into Galaxy Tab’s signature ultra-thin design, the new lineup turns complex workflows into effortless, everyday achievements whether it’s mastering skills, pursuing career goals or exploring creative passions. 

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+ feature immersive displays and come bundled with the ergonomically designed S Pen for effortless note-taking and precise editing. With easy access to professional-grade apps and versatile accessories, users can pursue their passions and progress toward their goals with ease. Combining portability with professional-grade power, the Galaxy Tab S12 series gives users instant access to powerful capabilities whenever inspiration strikes.

“The Galaxy Tab S12 series is designed for people who are constantly exploring new ideas, developing new skills and bringing their ambitions to life,” said Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “Built with industry-leading hardware, the Galaxy Tab S12 series pairs an expansive screen with the power of Galaxy AI — removing friction from complex tasks so users can stay focused on achieving impactful results.” 

Peak Performance in an Ultra-Thin Design

The Galaxy Tab S12 series combines powerful performance and long-lasting battery life into a thin and light design, making it easy for users to achieve more, wherever ambition takes them. At a remarkably slim 5.1mm, Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is Samsung’s thinnest Galaxy Tab, while delivering the most powerful performance of any Galaxy Tab to date, supporting productive use throughout the day. For example, users taking an online course alongside a full-time job can catch up on a lesson during the commute, then work through course exercises on the large screen at a café or library later in the day.

Both models are built to go the distance, allowing users to keep going without losing momentum. On a single charge, the all-day battery lasts up to 23 hours on Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and up to 21 hours on Galaxy Tab S12+, supporting long stretches of productivity anywhere. When it is time to recharge, the battery goes from 0% to 100% in about 95 minutes with the 45W adapter — minimizing downtime so users can get back to what they were doing.

Beyond long-lasting battery life, the Galaxy Tab S12 series delivers the most powerful performance of any Galaxy Tab to date, keeping pace with even intensive tasks. The cutting-edge 3nm processor delivers up to 61% faster NPU processing, 19% faster CPU performance and 17% improved GPU power compared to Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. In everyday use, that means users can take on more demanding tasks with increased speed and responsiveness. Whether rendering complex creative projects or watching a lecture while taking notes and asking AI for clarification — the experience stays responsive and fast with fewer interruptions to break their focus.

A newly designed 3D Vapor Chamber efficiently dissipates heat to support more reliable performance during demanding tasks, whether users are editing video or designing graphics for hours. Engineered for resilience and durability to withstand the elements and give users peace of mind, the Galaxy Tab S12 series also comes with IP68-rated water and dust resistance.

The Galaxy Tab S12 series comes with an expansive screen designed to help users think bigger and give ideas more room to unfold. Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra features a large 14.6-inch display, making it easy to explore complex topics and keep multiple perspectives in view. The Galaxy Tab S12+ features a larger 12.6-inch display and slimmer bezels than its predecessor, offering more screen space without sacrificing portability. Both models feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays reaching up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness — delivering clear, vivid visuals indoors or out. The upgraded seamless Vision Booster now adjusts brightness in real time based on lighting conditions for comfortable viewing.

Sound gets a major upgrade as well, with 4-channel spatial audio — twice as many channels as the previous generation — delivering a richer, more immersive experience whether users are streaming content, following a tutorial or editing. 

Making Everyday Tasks More Intuitive and Effortless 

Building on an industry-leading hardware foundation, the Galaxy Tab S12 series turns its large screen into a flexible workspace that makes it easy to keep up with different tasks without missing a beat. Running Android 17 with One UI 9 and the latest Galaxy AI, it brings research, note-taking, creation and AI assistance into one place, giving users more freedom to explore new ideas, capture what matters and put what they learn into practice.

Thanks to the Galaxy Tab S12 series’ immersive screen, users can split the screen into up to three sections in Multi Window layout. For example, users can take notes in Samsung Notes on one side while playing a lecture and opening an AI assistant on the other. As key takeaways or questions come up, users can capture them with the S Pen directly in Samsung Notes, while Note Assist summarizes their notes – all without pausing the lecture.

Both models come bundled with an ergonomic S Pen, offering precise, intuitive input for note-taking, annotating materials, and sketching concepts. For a more structured, professional workstation, the Pro Keyboard elevates productivity with a premium aluminum finish and a Galaxy AI Key that enables instant access to AI assistants, while the Book Cover Keyboard Slim delivers flexibility with comfortable viewing angles and an effortless typing experience. 

The Galaxy Tab S12 series helps users bring information together and get real-time support the moment curiosity strikes. The Galaxy Tab S12 series comes equipped with a six-month trial of Google AI Pro, providing expanded access to Google’s most capable AI models from day one. Users can ask Gemini about anything unclear or dive deeper into subjects they want to explore the moment a question comes up. With Gemini Notebook, users can bring together notes, images, recordings, and files in one workspace and create summaries, podcasts, and even quizzes to make key information easier to understand. 

A Complete Ecosystem Designed to Take Skills and Creativity Further

The Galaxy Tab S12 series gives users the ideal place to put knowledge into practice, bringing together professional-grade apps alongside benefits worth approximately $600 to help them take their skills further.

Adobe Photoshop comes pre-loaded on the Galaxy Tab S12 series — a first for Android tablets — bringing pro-grade image editing and design to the tablet. The interface is optimized for tablets, and S Pen support makes it more intuitive to move ideas from hand to screen. Photoshop includes AI-powered features including AI Assistant and generative AI features powered by Adobe Firefly like Generative Fill and Image to Video, helping creatives edit faster and effortlessly. Exclusively for the Galaxy Tab S12 series, users receive four months of free access to the Photoshop mobile plan.

Notability, newly pre-loaded on Galaxy Tab, helps users capture their ideas, organize notes and build knowledge more efficiently with S Pen optimization and AI-driven study tools with a six-month free trial, plus 20% off the first subscription.

Goodnotes delivers clean note-taking and organization with one year of free access and LumaFusion enables professional-grade video editing, offered at a 66% discount. And Notion supports flexible writing, planning and organization with one month of its Plus plan free. Clip Studio Paint brings precision drawing and painting tools for digital art with a six-month trial and 20% off the first subscription. 

In addition to these apps, users can explore a broader range of options that support different needs. MyScript Math instantly solves handwritten equations and shows the steps behind each one, while MyScript Notes summarizes handwritten notes into study materials with built-in AI tools to explain concepts or generate quizzes. Noteshelf 3 offers customizable layouts for capturing and organizing ideas, while ArcSite converts rough field sketches into precise CAD drawings.

Availability

The Galaxy Tab S12 series will be available for pre-order exclusively on Shopee from October 9 to 20, before officially launching online on Samsung.com, Lazada, TikTok Shop, Shopee, MemoX.com, and Abenson.com on October 21, and in Samsung Experience and Authorized stores starting October 28, 2026. 

As part of its exclusive launch offer, every purchase of the Galaxy Tab S12 series comes with a free productivity bundle—including a Book Cover Keyboard Slim, S Pen, and a 45W travel adapter valued up to ₱18,279—along with 3rd party app benefits like a 1-year Microsoft 365 subscription, 6 months of Google AI Pro, 4 months of Adobe Photoshop subscription, and more worth up to ₱24,161.

Customers can also trade in their old devices for instant savings of up to  ₱12,000, and enjoy 0% credit card installment plans for up to 36 months with an extra 15% off discount for select banks. Students also get additional savings with 10% off at Samsung Experience and Authorized stores or additional ₱5,000 off through the Samsung Education Store online.

Built for lasting and confident use, Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ support up to seven times of OS upgrades and security updates.

For added peace of mind, Samsung Care+ offers comprehensive coverage tailored to users’ device needs, including fast repairs for accidental damage, extended warranty, and certified expert support available both at home and abroad.  Additionally, Galaxy mobile phone users running One UI 9 can easily check the Samsung Care+ status of their Galaxy Tab and enroll through the Warranty and care menu in the Settings. It provides quick access to warranty information, self-diagnostics, repair requests, and remote support for connected devices—all directly from the mobile phone.

For more information on the Galaxy Tab S12 series, please visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/tablets/galaxy-tab-s/galaxy-tab-s12-ultra-5g-gray-512gb-sm-x946bzaextc. 

Specifications

*Specifications may vary by market.

*All specifications and descriptions provided herein may be different from the actual specifications and descriptions for the product. Samsung reserves the right to make changes to this document and the product described herein, at any time, without obligation on Samsung to provide notification of such change. All functionality, features, specifications, GUI and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation. The contents within the screen are simulated images and are for demonstration purposes only.