Kenneth Cobonpue On How Connectivity Opens Global Doors

From dreams to global opportunities, discover how Converge helps Filipino creators stay connected, inspired, and ready to take their ambitions further.

Reliable internet has become a vital tool for finding opportunities and putting talent on a bigger stage. This is the spirit behind the new campaign from Converge featuring “XPonential individuals”: people who embrace growth, push boundaries, and seek opportunities to level up personally and professionally. One of these individuals is world-renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue, connection being an integral part of how he creates, collaborates, and shares his work with the world.

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Kenneth Cobonpue Is A Converge Xponential Individual

When Cobonpue first began bringing his work to the global stage, it meant constant travel, international trade fairs, and years of building relationships across borders. One of his biggest challenges was changing perceptions of the Philippines from a country known primarily for skilled craftsmanship and manufacturing into one that could also be recognized for original design.

Technology has since changed how that journey looks. “Technology has fundamentally changed the way creative ideas move,” Cobonpue says. Today, concepts, drawings, prototypes, and feedback can move instantly between clients, artisans, manufacturers, and partners across continents, shortening the distance between an idea and its execution. For a global business, he adds, that connectivity allows his team to maintain relationships with international partners while staying closely connected to the craftspeople and teams in the Philippines.

It has also opened doors for the generation of Filipino creatives coming after him. Where international design once meant relying on books, magazines, or travel, designers today can share their work globally, learn from people around the world, and collaborate across borders from Cebu, Manila, Davao, or wherever they happen to be.

For Cobonpue, that wider access comes with an equally important reminder: “think globally, but stay rooted in who you are.” His own work draws from Filipino landscapes, traditions, craftsmanship, and childhood memories, translating these local references into stories and experiences that audiences anywhere can connect with.

This idea of reaching further while staying connected to where you came from extends past design. Cobonpue sees the greatest impact in helping others discover their own creative voices, whether through mentoring, collaborating with artisans, or sharing what he knows. “When we help others grow, creativity has a way of multiplying far beyond anything we could achieve on our own,” he shares.

His journey is a reminder of what connectivity can make possible: a designer can build from Cebu, collaborate across continents, and bring a distinctly Filipino perspective into the global conversation. For Converge, powering that kind of connection means helping more Filipino talent turn local ideas into work that can travel much further than where it began.

How Converge Expands The Horizons Of Creativity

For big dreams to move beyond the places where they begin, having the right connection matters. Converge has spent the past four years earning the title of the Fastest Internet in the Philippines,  as awarded by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and network intelligence. This was based on analysis of Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q3–Q4 2023, Q1–Q4 2024, Q1–Q4 2025, and Q1–Q2 2026.

For Q1 to Q2 of 2026, it earned its third consecutive recognition as the Best Internet in the Philippines based on analysis of Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q1–Q2 2026.

Converge also received Ookla® recognition for Best Internet Latency Performance in the Philippines, based on analysis of Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q1–Q2 2026.

The distinction between these recognitions comes down to how we experience the internet every day. Speed is one part of the equation, but the Best Internet recognition takes into account broader aspects of network performance, including reliability and consistency. Latency, meanwhile, measures how quickly a network responds to a request, making it another important part of the overall internet experience.

For subscribers, that means a connection that can keep up whether you’re uploading your latest creative project, attending a virtual meeting, running an online business, streaming after a long day, or staying connected with people halfway around the world.

Behind these recognitions is Ookla®, the company behind Speedtest®, whose data-driven analysis has become a trusted benchmark for measuring internet performance globally. Its Speedtest Intelligence® platform draws from real-world network data to assess how internet services perform, giving users a clearer picture of the connections they rely on every day.

For Converge, these milestones reflect its continued focus on building a network that gives Filipinos more room to pursue what’s next. Because the dream might start small, but with a strong connection, there’s a whole world ready to see where it goes.

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Photos courtesy of Converge