Pandemic highlights need for fintech revolution

The national health crisis caused by the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has highlighted the need for a financial technology (fintech) revolution in the Philippines, one where digital transactions become the new normal to keep people in their homes and help flatten the curve.

Digital finance is now emerging as the core of services today in the Philippines. Now, people are using their e-wallets to pay for bills, transact with merchants, send and receive money to and from loved ones and friends, and even donate to the ongoing efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

Popular KOrean Dramas Goblin And Saimdang To Touch Filipino Hearts Once More

Pinoy K-drama fans rejoice! Starting 20 May 2020, satiate your Korean drama cravings by watching again two of the most popular Korean drama series that touched our hearts – Goblin, one of the highest rated Korean dramas on cable television1, and Saimdang, a love story set across time, on HBO GO. Also available on HBO GO are two episodes of Goblin Specials with cast interviews and behind-the-scene action from this popular series. 

Goblin, an epic story that spans centuries, boasts a star-studded cast including beloved actor Gong Yoo (Train To Busan), Lee Dong Wook (Hotel King), Yoo In Na and Kim Go Eun (The King: Eternal Monarch). Written by Kim Eun Sook (Mr Sunshine) and directed by Lee Eung Bok (Mr Sunshine), the masterminds behind the highly acclaimed Descendants of the Sun, relive the 16-episode Korean thrilling romantic drama that is set in a fantasy world of present day. The storyline follows the handsome Goblin (Gong Yoo) who is tired of his immortality. He needs a ‘goblin bride’ to end his life, leading him to cross paths with Euntak (Kim Go Eun), whom he falls in love with. Euntak is actually on the run from the Reaper (Lee Dong Wook), who is tasked with killing Euntak. The plot thickens when it is revealed that Goblin and Reaper are roommates, plunging them into a complicated pit as they wrestle with their emotions and duties. 

National Live Events Coalition PH (NLEC) - An Alliance of Various Sectors of The Live Events Industry Recently Formed

Live Events was the first to feel the impact of the crisis when events were cancelled as early as January 2020 when news of the pandemic broke out. Live Events is now deemed the last to recover.  

LIVE EVENTS is an “experience industry” with a chain linking various sectors – from Theatre, Weddings and Social events, AVL (audio-video and lights) and staging suppliers, Agencies and Activations, Concerts, Gigs and Festivals, Freelance Production Workers, Conventions and Venues.

Celebrities join forces for “Songs of Hope” online concert series to support World Vision’s COVID-19 Emergency Response

World Vision Ambassadors Ogie Alcasid, Christian Bautista, Quest, Joyce Pring, Iñigo Pascual, Tippy Dos Santos, and the Perkins Twins with supporters Sitti Navarro, Janina Vela, and Pastor Rommel and Susan Guevara shared their talents for “Songs of Hope” online concert series that aims to increase awareness and support for World Vision’s COVID-19 Emergency Response. 

As a Christian non-profit organization, World Vision encourages everyone to remain “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12) in the mist of these difficult times. Through “Songs of Hope”, the organization aims to contribute in keeping the hope alive through inspiring music and positive content from its celebrity ambassadors and friends.

LRMC ramps up safety measures for operations restart New guidelines for LRT-1 passengers

Preparations are in full swing as the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) anticipates the resumption of the LRT-1 operations. This is after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) released new safety guidelines for mass public transportation once the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) enforced in Metro Manila is lifted.

To ensure the welfare and protection of both passengers and employees, LRT-1 private operator LRMC will implement the following health and safety measures to fight the spread of COVID-19 once it re-opens its trains to the public.

Your neighborhood Smart Padala agent is the easiest way to add money to your PayMaya account

Looking for a more convenient way to add money to your PayMaya account? Your neighborhood Smart Padala agent can help you! With the largest network of over 30,000 Smart Padala agents all across the country, you can add money to your PayMaya account at the Smart Padala agent in your neighborhood -- making cashless payments more accessible as the country transitions to the "new normal." 

In these critical times, using PayMaya is the easiest and safest way to pay for your daily essentials – whether you need to send money to a loved one, pay for online deliveries, settle your bills, or buy discounted load. Doing all these is more convenient than ever, since adding money to your account is as simple as visiting the trusted Smart Padala agent in your community. With this, there's no more need to risk traveling to convenience stores or endure lines at payment centers.   

Earn Cashback when you pay your PLDT Home bill via PayMaya

PLDT Home continues to make it easier for its subscribers to pay and save up on their bills by giving 20% or up to P100 cashback rebate when they settle their bills using the PayMaya app until May 31, 2020.

Understanding the need of its customers to keep their families safe during the enhanced community quarantine, PLDT Home encourages subscribers to stay at home and conveniently transact online. PLDT Home subscribers who will settle on time and in full their PLDT Home bill worth at least P500 through their PayMaya app can enjoy the cashback rebate.

PLDT Home continues to step up its efforts to ease the burden of its customers during the quarantine period. At the start of the Community Quarantine in many parts of the country, PLDT Home has suspended disconnection of overdue accounts and rolled out FREE Speedboost for Fibr subscribers. This allowed subscribers to enjoy minimum speeds of 25 Mbps, which is ideal for multiple users at home.

No service fees on Globe/TM load and promo loans extended until May 28

As the country continues to face the challenges brought by COVID-19, Globe remains committed in meeting the demands for strong data connection and continuous connectivity for users who cannot leave their homes and are struggling financially due to the effects of the pandemic.

To help Mobile Prepaid and TM customers stay connected, informed and  #SafeAtHome, Globe is extending its waived service fees for its Globe load and promo loans until May 28, 2020. With this, customers can continue to conveniently borrow load and subscribe to promos from the security and safety of their homes, without worrying about additional costs. 

Globe loans is an emergency service that allows Globe Prepaid and TM customers to continue using Globe services even without sufficient load. Eligible customers can avail loan products from P5 to P50 in the form of load and promo. Prepaid customers can also loan 5MB of data for P5 or 3 texts to Globe/TM + 1 load for P4. On their next top up, only the borrowed amount will be automatically collected (i.e. the standard service fees are waived). 

Philippines ranks #1 for women advancement in the workforce in global index

The Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs finds that across different markets all over the globe, Filipino women make the greatest strides in the workforce.

Favorable entrepreneurial framework and conditions characterized by high levels of support for SMEs, ease of doing business, and access to financial services and academic programs are typically the key factors for women advancement in business. Such is reaffirmed in The Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs 2019 (MIWE) through the findings for high-income countries like the U.S., New Zealand, and Canada. The Philippines, however, stood out as a promising market showing that women in less wealthy and developed economies can still thrive in entrepreneurial businesses.

Online concert to raise funds for the fight against COVID-19 continues with even bigger stars this May

Smart Communications stages Season 2 of Bayanihan Musikahan to continue to rally support for those affected by COVID-19 while uplifting the spirits of Filipinos staying safe at home. In partnership with Smart Music Live (SML) Online Sessions, the online concert series increases its vigor as the most visible Filipino citizen action platform at this time