Home Credit announces Moira dela Torre as the official ambassador for Para sa Life campaign

July 13, 2022

Home Credit ambassador Moira dela Torre believes Home Credit can help elevate Filipinos’ lives

Moira Dela Torre 

Home Credit Philippines (HCPH), the country’s leading consumer finance company, introduced singer-songwriter Moira dela Torre as the brand’s ambassador for its “Para sa Life” campaign that aims to share a message of hope for a better life for Filipinos.

Moira, the most-streamed Filipina artist for bigness, performed the theme song “Para Sa Life” of Home Credit campaign video. 

“I loved it. It was so special to me,” Moira said, pertaining to the song.  “I’m glad that Home Credit gives me the opportunity to be their ambassador so I can give voice to that wonderful song to inspire more Filipinos,” she added. 
 
The singer-songwriter behind the hit songs “Malaya,” “Tagpuan,” and many more believes that Home Credit’s new campaign can touch the hearts of millions of Filipinos.

“I really love that Home Credit allows us to have somebody to rely on. Back in college, I really wanted to buy a microwave for myself since I was living alone. But I knew that it was impossible for me to get one since I couldn’t afford it in cash,” Moira said laughing.  



 
“Now, I love that Home Credit provides us the accessibility to purchase the things we need in life while giving us the flexibility in our payment terms. And I’m happy that someone out there, who I once was like, can now buy their microwave because of Home Credit,” Moira added.

This campaign of Home Credit aims to inspire more Filipinos, be it the young professionals, couples starting a family, and those who have already established their lives — to pursue their life’s dreams, Para sa Life.

Bringing Home Credit Closer, Relatable to Filipinos 
Sheila Paul, HCPH’s Chief Marketing Officer, expressed her delight in the song being an inspiration to individuals who aspire financial stability. 

“This new song of Home Credit encapsulates the brand’s promise of companionship through the use of our easily accessible and affordable financial products for our Filipino consumers. Also, the song relays that Home Credit is ideal for young families and starting individuals who aspire to establish their lifelong plans and helping them turn small dreams into reality,” she shared.
 
Homonym, an agency specializing in sonic branding and end-to-end music and audio marketing solutions, helped Home Credit’s “Para sa Life” campaign with an effective combination of sight and sounds.   
 
“Marketing strategies have turned to visual messaging these past two years and now, marketers are on the lookout to explore other senses that can work. This is where Sonic Branding comes in. It is a strategic, purposeful and consistent use of sound and music in branding and marketing to shape perception and behavior,” said Homonym founder and chief executive Mike Constantino.

By using studies that provide insight into the music habits of Filipino consumers, Homonym was able to determine Home Credit’s brand essence and fine-tuned it with the preferences of the target market to produce a melody that portrays a positive vibe and the feeling of trust and respect.

“Sight targets the brain while sound targets emotions thus eliciting feelings. By creating that emotional connection with the brand’s own signature sound, it will create a long-lasting effect on the target audience and increase familiarity with the brand,” he added.

Paul believed that tapping Homonym in the campaign made Filipinos relate to the message Home Credit wanted to convey. 

“As a reliable financial partner of Filipinos, Home Credit has a greater mission of helping its consumers better manage their finances and promote financial inclusion. With music as a huge part of our lives, we at Home Credit saw the value of building our sonic identity and communicating our messages through music to make more people relate to the message of hope and trust that we are trying to convey,” said Paul.

Check out the official music video of Moira dela Torre for Home Credit's "Para sa Life" campaign by visiting the brand's official Facebook and YouTube accounts.





About Home Credit Philippines
Home Credit Philippines (“HCPH”) is a consumer finance provider that promotes the principles of financial inclusion and safe lending, providing world-class financing services to qualified customers, often first-time borrowers. Home Credit arrived in the Philippines back in 2013 and within 8 years, has helped more than 8 million customers buy the things they need through fast, convenient, and affordable financing in thousands of stores around the country. In 2019, HCPH was also granted the license to operate as a credit card issuer by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), making it the first and only non-bank institution in the country to issue credit cards. HCPH continues to expand its digital and online presence, and now has over 8 million users of its My Home Credit App. HCPH is part of the Home Credit Group, an international consumer finance provider. More information on HCPH is available at www.homecredit.ph.  




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Shopee sellers share two major tips on how they were able to build a successful business online

July 13, 2022



With inflation rising and economic recession looming, it may seem difficult for aspiring entrepreneurs to invest in an online business. Despite the economic situation and the challenges it poses, Davao-based Shopee sellers Shiela Reyes-Lao and Lou Putian prove that one can still manage to start an online business and become successful.


In a recent face-to-face event held by Shopee for Davao-based entrepreneurs, both sellers shared how easy it was to join and grow their businesses on Shopee, even in the face of economic uncertainty. 



Tip #1: Just go online, digitize your business

SY Glow Cosmetics owner Lou Putian’s e-commerce journey started when her husband, an Overseas Filipino Worker, was sent home in 2020. “We had little to no income at the time. To continue paying our bills, I started selling bath and body care essentials haphazardly online until some of my loyal customers urged me to set up a Shopee store,” she shared.


In just 2 months after creating an account and learning how to market her products through the platform, her sales greatly

increased. “From barely making ends meet then, I’ve now been able to fulfill my dream of purchasing houses for family members and even establishing my own warehouse,” she added.



Meanwhile, Shiela of Cacao Culture, already joined Shopee in 2017. However, she and her team only focused their efforts on the platform after the pandemic affected their operations. “Initially, our Shopee account was only meant to supplement our retail store sales. But when the pandemic hit, we were forced to close down our physical stores and outlets—prompting us to refocus our efforts on e-commerce,” she shared.


Since making the leap to e-commerce, Shiela grew her sales volume 7x. Cacao Culture’s growth and visibility on the platform also encouraged Shiela and her team to carry more Davao-based cacao brands and sell them nationwide.



Tip #2: Maximize Shopee’s convenience, seller tools, and nationwide logistics network

Besides the need to shift to a new income stream, what drew both sellers to Shopee was how easy it was to onboard into and sell on the platform. “With Shopee, all you need is a mobile phone and internet connection,” shared Lou. “The convenience that Shopee offers allows entrepreneurs like me to manage my own business and care for my family, all from the comfort of my own home.”


Having benefited from the seamless Shopee experience to easily bring sellers online, Shiela also highlighted that growing and sustaining one’s business is another story and different kind of challenge. Fortunately, Shopee offers tools like insights and marketing solutions to help sellers further their business growth and visibility. Moreover, Shopee’s continuous logistics expansion nationwide also allows sellers like Shiela to reach more customers.


“As a Davao-based seller, I found it challenging to sell my products online and attract more buyers at the beginning. Through Shopee’s establishment of more hubs in Mindanao and the tools on the platform’s Marketing Center, I was able to attract more customers nationwide by setting up promotions, discounts, and vouchers,” she said.


Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines said, “It is heartwarming to hear Lou and Shiela’s success stories as it is a testament to what sellers are capable of achieving on Shopee’s platform. Through seller education activities, continuous advancement of platform features, nationwide hub expansion, and other initiatives, we strengthen our commitment to deliver a safe and convenient online shopping experience for both our customers and sellers, no matter where they are in the Philippines.” 


If you want to grow your business online and enjoy the numerous benefits of e-commerce, start your online selling journey with Shopee today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.


About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalize and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.

 











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Xiaomi × Leica Strategic Partnership in Imaging Technology

July 13, 2022

Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” Launched in Mainland China


Beijing, CHINA, July 4th 2022 – Today, Xiaomi officially unveiled the new Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica”. This outstanding imaging product series is the first culmination of the Strategic Partnership in Imaging Technology between Xiaomi and Leica. The entire series features different imaging systems jointly developed by Xiaomi and Leica, containing Leica Summicron lenses, and supports Leica imaging profiles, all of which aim to empower individual creators to express their creativity, while retaining the authentic style of Leica imagery.
 
Authentic Leica imagery, Leica imaging profiles
In this new era of mobile photography, Xiaomi and Leica have jointly created a new standard for smartphone photography. Combining Leica's in-depth understanding of optics, image processing, image quality, and Xiaomi's rich experience in smartphone computing photography, Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” offers unprecedented smartphone image quality, colors that closely adhere to Leica's signature look and feel. 
 
In order to help push imaging technology to new limits, Xiaomi and Leica have co-developed sophisticated optical lenses. As the top model, Xiaomi 12S Ultra utilizes Leica's world-class optical design capabilities in its lens system while adhering to their stringent optical quality testing standards and implementing Xiaomi's expertise in miniaturizing components to ensure ultra-high resolution, ultra-high light sensitivity, reduced dispersion, and lower flare.
 
Xiaomi 12S Ultra primary camera adopts an 8P aspheric lens, in order to address common photography issues such as flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberration, the camera module of Xiaomi 12S Ultra also adds anti-glare lens coating, lens edge ink coating, cyclic olefin copolymer material, and infrared light filter with spin coating technology. Together, these features offer a clearer overall picture that is consistent across the lens.

In addition to the advanced optical design, Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” also utilizes Leica imaging profiles, inheriting Leica's century-old image aesthetic and reproducing Leica's tone and aesthetics with the aid of cutting-edge algorithms. For the end user, this means access to two photographic styles: The "Leica Authentic Look" and "Leica Vibrant Look", both offering enhanced creative freedom to the photographer.

● The "Leica Authentic Look" pursues a natural imagery for which Leica is known. By retaining light and shadow contrast, it adds a sense of three-dimensional depth to photos, with the characteristic excellence of Leica's time-proven light and shadow aesthetics. 
● The "Leica Vibrant Look" features input by both Xiaomi and Leica. Combining Xiaomi's experience in smartphone photography with Leica's leading aesthetic, photographers can strive to capture the emotion of the moment, symbolizing Leica's exploration in the smartphone photography space.
 
Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” brings authentic “Leica Image Look” to a smartphone. 
 
Professional wide-angle camera with a super-large 1“ sensor 
Xiaomi 12S Ultra is equipped with Sony’s IMX989 1" sensor, implementing a Quad-Bayer pixel array with individual pixel sizes reaching 1.6μm. After pixel binning, this reaches 3.2μm, reducing noise, extending dynamic range, increasing light captured, and achieving overall better imagery in low-light conditions. This sets a new precedent in smartphone cameras, approaching traditional cameras in terms of hardware specifications. 

Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the first Android device to support Dolby Vision HDR video recording and playback. Dolby Vision enhances your videos with vivid colors, sharper contrast ratio, and richer details, providing you with vibrant and refined image quality. Xiaomi 12S Ultra uses HyperOIS for ultra-stable performance, offering continuous compensation for movement during video recording. HyperOIS utilizes the gap between two frames to drive the OIS motor to its original position, giving each frame a full effective range of stabilization.

Xiaomi 12S and Xiaomi 12S Pro feature Sony’s IMX707 as their primary sensor, which incorporates both a large sensor size and large pixels, at 1/1.28” and 2 and 2.44μm after pixel binning. With the support of Xiaomi AI Image Solution and Xiaomi ProFocus, these sensors achieve fast startup, capture, and continuous capturing. These devices support an industry-leading 30fps ultra-fast burst mode, and exceptional low-light photography capabilities. Further, they also implement All-scene snapshot in their cameras, making it easier to capture the decisive moment.

Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” has also been designed to be more photographer-friendly in post-production. The entire series supports 10-bit RAW format calibrated by Adobe Labs, with color correction metadata embedded in the files. When using Adobe Lightroom to open photos shot on Xiaomi 12S Series, Adobe Camera RAW software will automatically optimize photos based on metadata, providing professional photographers with a good starting point for post-production.

One smartphone, two Xiaomi Surge chips
Xiaomi 12S Ultra “co-engineered with Leica” is the first flagship model to be equipped with two proprietary Xiaomi Surge chips, Xiaomi Surge P1 fast-charging chipset and Xiaomi Surge G1 battery management chipset, offering great improvements in battery management and overall user experience.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra supports 67W wired fast charging, 50W wireless fast charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. At the core of the Xiaomi Surge Battery Management System, is a 4,860mAh single-cell silicon-oxygen anode battery and Xiaomi Surge P1 fast-charging chipset, which also supports up to a 16A output current with 96.8% conversion efficiency. Furthermore, Xiaomi Surge G1 battery management chipset offers a slew of battery management algorithms, embedding self-developed battery management algorithms to protect the working safety of the battery and monitor the discharge load to accurately predict the available battery life of the device. Xiaomi 12S Ultra also supports adaptive charging to prevent the battery from overcharging thereby increasing the number of charge cycles by 25%.

Xiaomi 12S Pro features Xiaomi Surge P1 fast-charging chipset, 120W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and a 4,600mAh single-cell battery, while the Xiaomi 12S offers 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and a 4,500mAh battery.

Flagship Performance, Flagship Display
As Xiaomi's latest flagship, Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” is powered by the all-new Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform, built on the TSMC 4nm process. Compared to Snapdragon® 8 Gen 1, the core area of Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is 21% smaller, with both the CPU and GPU receiving a 10% improvement in performance and a 30% improvement in energy efficiency. This not only significantly reduces the standby power consumption of Xiaomi 12S Series, but also allows for lower heat emission and power consumption under high-load computing scenarios.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra is equipped with a whole new heat dissipation system, similar to the biological mechanism leaves on a plant may use to absorb water. This three-dimensional cooling pump is ingeniously designed with a series of channels, which use a capillary network to actively pump cooling liquid condensed at the side opposite of warm areas, greatly improving efficiency and increasing the thermal conductivity of a single unit by 100%, compared with traditional VC heat dissipation systems.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra and Xiaomi 12S Pro feature a 6.73" AMOLED color display with E5 luminescent material that deliver a professional level of detail, brightness and color performance, in addition to a peak brightness of 1500 nits, 2K resolution, P3 color gamut, and 1-120Hz AdaptiveSync Pro. Xiaomi 12S is slightly more compact at just 6.28”, and also supports P3 color gamut display, HDR10+, and 120Hz AdaptiveSync.

Also announced were Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition, Xiaomi Book Pro 16, Xiaomi Book Pro 14, Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro, and Xiaomi Home WiFi.



Xiaomi 12S Ultra Quick Specs
Design 163.17 x 74.92 x 9.06mm 
225g 
IP68 dust and water resistance 
Leather-like rear 
Classic Black, Verdant Green 
Imaging System Leica Summicron 1:1.9-4.1 / 13-120 ASPH. camera system 
Ultra-wide angle: 13mm f/2.2 
1/2" sensor (SONY's IMX586) 
48MP Quad-Bayer pixel array 
Pixel Binning: 12MP, 1.6µm 4-in-1 Super Pixel 
Dual-PD Auto-focus 
Supports macro mode 

Wide angle: 23mm f/1.9 8P Aspheric Lens 
1" sensor (SONY's IMX989) 
50.3MP Quad-Bayer pixel array 
Pixel Binning: 12.5MP, 3.2µm 4-in-1 Super Pixel 
Octa-PD Auto-focus 
Lens edge ink coating 
Multi-layer ALD ultra-low reflectance coating 

Telephoto: 120mm f/4.1 Periscope 
1/2" sensor (SONY's IMX586) 
48MP Quad-Bayer pixel array 
Pixel Binning: 12MP, 1.6µm 4-in-1 Super Pixel 
Dual-PD Auto-focus 
Two photographic styles: Leica Authentic Look, Leica Vibrant Look 
Leica filters: Leica Vivid, Leica Natural, Leica BW Natural, Leica BW High Contrast 
Master-lens System 
HyperOIS 

Front camera: 32MP RGBW Image Sensor 
Image Format JPEG / HEIF 
4096 x 3072 (default) 
8192 x 6144 (50MP mode) 
8-bit sRGB 

DNG 
4096 x 3072 
10-bit Adobe RGB 
Adobe Camera RAW 
Video Format Default (H.264 / H.265) 
7680 x 4320 24FPS 
3840 x 2160 60FPS 
3840 x 2160 30FPS 
1920 x 1080 60FPS 
1920 x 1080 30FPS 
1280 x 720p 30FPS 

Dolby Vision (10-bit Rec.2020 HLG H.265) 
3840 x 2160 60FPS 80Mbps VBR 
3840 x 2160 30FPS 80Mbps VBR 
1920 x 1080 60FPS 55Mbps VBR 
1920 x 1080 30FPS 35Mbps VBR 

Slow Motion (H.264 / H.265) 
1920 x 1080 480FPS 
1920 x 1080 240FPS 
1920 x 1080 120FPS 
1280 x 720 3840FPS (95ms capture speed, supports motion detection, upscale to output 12s slow-mo video) 
1280 x 720 960FPS (max. 30s capture) 
1280 x 720 480FPS 
1280 x 720 240FPS 
1280 x 720 120FPS 
Performance Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform 
All-new 3D cooling system 
8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 (6400Mbps) 
256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1 
FBO storage refresh 
Charging System Xiaomi Surge Battery Management System 
Xiaomi Surge G1 Battery Management Chip 
Xiaomi Surge P1 Charging Chip 
4,860mAh (typical) 
67W wired turbo charging 
50W wireless turbo charging 
10W reverse wireless charging 
Display 6.73" Dolby Vision® TrueColor Display 
Samsung AMOLED LTPO, E5 material 
3,200 x 1,440, 522ppi 
1,500nits peak brightness, HBM 1,000nits (typ) 
360° ambient light sensor 
1-120Hz AdaptiveSync Pro 
Native 10-bit color depth, P3 color gamut 
Supports Dolby Vision®, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG 
Audio Symmetrical Stereo Speakers 
SOUND BY Harman Kardon 
Support Dolby Atmos® 
X-axis linear motor 
Connectivity Dual 5G 
Release 16 
4x4 MIMO 
Wi-Fi 6 
4K QAM 
160MHz Channel 
2x2 MIMO 
Supports 8x8 Sounding MU-MIMO 
Bluetooth 5.2 
Supports AAC / LDAC / LHDC / aptX Adaptive 
Supports BLE Audio 
Supports Snapdragon Sound™ 
Multi-functional NFC 
Operating System MIUI 13 based on Android 12 
Variants 8GB+256GB 
12GB+256GB 
12GB+512GB

Product images available here.


About Xiaomi Corporation
Xiaomi Corporation (“Xiaomi”) was founded in April 2010 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 9, 2018 (1810.HK). Xiaomi is a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an IoT platform at its core.

Embracing our vision of “Make friends with users and be the coolest company in the users’ hearts”, Xiaomi continuously pursues technological innovations, compelling user experience and operational efficiency. The company relentlessly builds amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology.

Xiaomi is one of the world's leading smartphone companies. The company’s market share in terms of smartphone shipments ranked no. 3 globally in the first quarter of 2022. The company has also established the world’s leading consumer AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, more than 478 million smart devices connected to its platform (excluding smartphones, tablets and laptops) as of March 31, 2022. Xiaomi products are available in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In August 2021, the company made the Fortune Global 500 list for the third time, ranking 338th, up 84 places compared to 2020.

Xiaomi is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, Hang Seng TECH Index and Hang Seng China 50 Index.

For more information about Xiaomi as a company, please visit https://www.mi.com/global/discover/newsroom.


Leica Camera – A Partner for Photography
Leica Camera AG is an international, premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics. The legendary reputation of the Leica brand is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship and German industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. An integral part of the brand's culture is the diversity of activities the company undertakes for the advancement of photography. In addition to the Leica Galleries and Leica Akademies spread around the world, there are the Leica Hall of Fame Award and, in particular, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA), which is considered one of the most innovative sponsorship awards existing today. Furthermore, Leica Camera AG, with its headquarters in Wetzlar, Hessen, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, has a worldwide network of its own national organizations and Leica Retail Stores.



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Christopher Pastrana is being questioned about his appointment as the new Gen. Manager of PPA

July 8, 2022


Christipher Pastrana is the new General Manager of Philippine Ports Authority 


The appointment of Christopher Pastrana as the new General Manager of PPA (Philippine Ports Authority) had turned heads and caught the attentions of some solons and netizens and some claimed that they should've investigated more about him and to check for further coflicts. In relation to all these questionings, even tv news and broadcast media are also featuring about this... 





It is customary to give incoming administrations a honeymoon period as a show of support and good faith, but even traditions must give way when very dangerous tendencies start rearing their ugly heads. And that is exactly what happened when incoming ES Vic Rodriguez announced the appointment of Christopher Pastrana as General Manager of the Philippine Ports Authority.

 The appointment reportedly caught the 2 other members of the screening committee, Naida Angping and Anton Lagdameo by surprise. More importantly, the appointment was announced at the same time as that of incoming DOTR Secretary Jimmy Bautista, even before the latter has even accepted. And that was critical, because since PPA is an agency attached to the DOTR, such should
have been vetted with him. 

That courtesy was extended to incoming Finance Secretary Ben Diokno, who had a say in the appointments of the respective heads of BSP,BIR and BOC. But not in the case of PPA. And the plot thickens, once one starts going deeper to find out who Pastrana is, and who his business partner is. Pastrana is the President of two companies- Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corporation and Philippine Archipelago Ports and Terminal Services and Philharbor Ferries and Port Services. 

 Archipelago owns FastCat ferries, while Philippine Archipelago operates port terminals. These consideration should have legally disqualified Pastrana from being appointed to PPA, or to any other government agency that regulates his businesses. But it seems that ES Rodriguez failed to see this, even if Pastrana’s business partner is Dennis Trajano, Rodriguez’s bilas (their wives being sisters). Trajano, in fact, sits as Chairman of the board of both companies. But wait, there’s more,  Pastrana’s brother-in-law is also a port operator himself, a certain Rommel Ibuna. As a result, Pastrana will end up regulating not only his businesses and that owned by his brother-in-law, but also lord it over the businesses of their competitors. 


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Ready for Adulting? ShopeePay shares Financial Tips for Fresh Graduates

July 7, 2022

Get instant savings when you send money, buy load, pay bills, and more with ShopeePay.


Social media feeds are flooded with graduation photos, videos, and congratulatory greetings. With one chapter closing, comes another one. If you’re a fresh college graduate, it’s time to welcome the “adulting life” and the grown-up responsibilities that come with it.  As you build your career and earn your own money, you’ll have greater purchasing power. Hence, it’s important to take control of your finances early on. ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, can help you in this aspect.

With ShopeePay’s cost-saving features and rewarding perks, you can become a financially-savvy young adult. Here are tips to help you get ready for adulting:

Set aside a budget for savings and expenses
Allocate a portion of your monthly income for expenses and a percentage for savings. To avoid accidentally using your savings, you can transfer your allotted expenses to your ShopeePay wallet and use it for your transactions. Skip admin fees and cash in for free when you link your BPI or UnionBank account. For other banks, simply use your bank’s online app and cash in via InstaPay to get up to P25 cashback on your first two InstaPay transactions per month. 

Send money for free when you make your transactions
Online money transfers are very convenient. However, you have to pay additional interbank or e-wallet fees if your recipients have different bank accounts. The fees seem like a small amount at first, but they add up over time. If you’re using ShopeePay, you don’t need to settle any fees because you can send money for free to any bank, e-wallet, or Shopee user. 

Aside from the instant savings, you’ll also stand a chance to win coins and money when you join ShopeePay promos like ShopeePay Mission and Happy Hour. If you’re lucky, you can add your winnings to your budget.

Be more cost-effective when giving gifts
When it comes to gift-giving, you don’t necessarily have to purchase actual presents and pay additional delivery fees. Sending money is an economical and practical alternative to convey your good wishes. Now that you’re an adult, you’ll come to realize that a lot of people appreciate monetary gifts. ShopeePay has a feature called Ang Pao that allows you to instantly send money to multiple people in one go, all for free, which is a perfect way to gift your friends during special occasions. You can also use Ang Pao to surprise your parents—a thoughtful way of giving back to them after putting you through school.

Take advantage of discounts when paying bills and personal necessities
As you take on more responsibilities in your household, bills tend to pile up. Every month, you’ll have to pay for utilities like electricity, water, cable, landline, and internet. With ShopeePay, you can conveniently pay your monthly bills online and even get up to 100% cashback for your transactions for new users (minimum spend P180, capped at 180 coins). 

Connection is important as you grow your professional network, both online and face-to-face.  When reloading your prepaid SIM, buy mobile data and load with ShopeePay to get up to a 10% discount. 

Be a smart spender and bargain hunter
Adulting is also about having fun and rewarding yourself as long as it’s within your budget. Before making a purchase, think hard first if it’s something you’ll be using for a long time. The next thing you should consider is where to buy it and how to pay for it so you can get your money’s worth. If it’s on Shopee, pay for it with ShopeePay to access shipping discounts and cashback vouchers. For more bargains, make it a habit to check “ShopeePay Near Me”  on the Shopee app to enjoy exclusive deals for as low as P1 from groceries, gas stations, food & beverage outlets, and more. 

Navigating the real world and taking on financial responsibilities can be challenging for new graduates. Follow these tips from ShopeePay and start developing good financial habits. 

To learn more about ShopeePay, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay. Follow ShopeePay’s Instagram and Facebook pages to be updated with the latest promos. 


About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.



About ShopeePay
ShopeePay is an integrated mobile wallet that offers users easy access to digital payment services. Launched in the Philippines in 2019, ShopeePay enables a seamless shopping experience by allowing users to make online payments on Shopee, top-up their wallets, and transfer and withdraw funds.
ShopeePay makes it easier to shop and do business. It provides users with a convenient, secure, and rewarding payment option; it empowers businesses and helps them capture new opportunities. 

ShopeePay is part of SeaMoney, the digital financial services arm of Sea Group. A leading digital payments and financial services provider in Southeast Asia, SeaMoney’s mission is to better the lives of individuals and businesses in the region with financial services through technology.



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PLDT Home, Google launch Be Internet Awesome online series

July 7, 2022


New kid-oriented show aims to teach kids
how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online



Be Internet Awesome’s lead characters - Sam Elora (L) and Robo-berto

Following its partnership announcement to further strengthen efforts in educating Filipino kids and families about internet safety and digital responsibility, the Philippines’ leading home broadband and digital service provider PLDT Home and Google joined forces in creating a kid-oriented video series online. 

PLDT Home, the Philippines’ leading home broadband and digital service provider, and Google joined forces in creating Be Internet Awesome, an online series that aims to teach kids how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online. Photo shows (L-R): PLDT Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business Home Group, Jeremiah de la Cruz; Google Philippines Marketing Head, Gabby Roxas; and First Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Product Management and Marketing, John Henri Yanez at the series’ media launch.

Be Internet Awesome aims to teach children the fundamentals of leading a digital life which includes what kind of information to post on social media and how to deal with cyberbullying. The series features the character Robo-berto, pictured here with children at the Be Internet Awesome launch.


The Be Internet Awesome online series combines animation and live action — featuring Gen Alpha whiz Sam and his trusty friend Robo-berto in fun-filled yet enlightening adventures on how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online. The series is based on the values of Google’s Be Internet Awesome global program and is directed by Manny Angeles, an award-winning director and producer of kid-oriented and animated shows. 

Raising kids to be internet awesome. Actor and host KC Montero (1st from left), newscaster Migs Bustos (3rd from right), and radio personality Riki Flo (in blue, front row), and their families at the Be Internet Awesome launch.


Patty Laurel-Filart, her husband Patrick, and their kids Astrid and Theo are committed to be internet awesome.



Available in both English and Filipino in the Philippines, Be Internet Awesome aims to teach children the fundamentals of leading a digital life which includes what kind of information to post on social media and how to deal with cyberbullying among others. This is part of the many efforts of Google to help keep people safe online. 

“Our children are true digital natives. They grew up with the internet and everything the digital world has to offer. But as they broaden their horizons for discovery and learning, it also exposes them to risks and dangers,” said Jeremiah de la Cruz, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Home Group, PLDT Inc. “Through this original series, we at PLDT Home want to translate the teachings from Google’s Be Internet Awesome program into an entertaining and practical show that children can enjoy watching while learning about online safety early on.”

Kids like Sam pledged to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online at the Be Internet Awesome launch.


“PLDT Home’s partnership with Google for Be Internet Awesome aligns with our larger group-wide commitment: to strengthen customer-centricity. At PLDT, we not only find ways to simplify technology and experience for our customers, but we also strive to do business responsibly by putting their safety and well-being at the forefront of all our products and services,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT Inc. And Smart Communications, Inc.


Edupreneurs Edric and Joy Mendoza and their children are all out in support of the Be Internet Awesome campaign.

 

In 2021, PLDT also invested over P2 billion in cybersecurity and protection filtering. The country’s largest integrated telco has since been very active in detecting, responding, and preventing both domain and content-level access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) within the network. PLDT’s Child Protection Platform has blocked almost 300,000 URLs linked CSAM by the end of May and prevented more than a billion attempts to access these illegal sites from November last year to May this year.

“After launching Be Internet Awesome in 2021 in the Philippines, we are glad to have found a like-minded partner in PLDT who champions the same values when it comes to protecting kids online. Through PLDT and more potential partners in the future, we hope to scale Be Internet Awesome and provide more families with a practical way of teaching digital safety and wellness to their children so they can become responsible, confident explorers of the online world,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines.

(L-R) Actor, singer and writer Franco Laurel with his daughter, and  PLDT Home Assistant Vice President and Marketing PR Head Cheryl Maxine Loyola.

 

The Be Internet Awesome online series will premiere on the PLDT Home YouTube channel on July 8, 2022. 



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Join Sing Galing Kids’ Fun and Interactive ‘Kiddiecon’ at Vista Mall Taguig this July 9

July 7, 2022




TV5’s Sing Galing, the country’s original videoke game show, is launching its first-ever kiddie family edition through a fun and interactive Sing Galing Kids Kiddiecon happening this Saturday, July 9, at Vista Mall Taguig.

Kids and their families are invited to join this all-free Kiddiecon full of games, treats, exciting prizes, and musical entertainment that will complete their weekend bonding experience. They will surely enjoy the activity booths and the ensuing kiddie convention, which will culminate in an entertaining show and a meet-and-greet with the Sing Galing Kids cast led by Randy Santiago, K Brosas, Donita Nose, Ethel Booba, Jona, Morissette, Gloc-9, Zendee, Mari Mar Tua, Queenay, Zendee, Yoyo and Tyronia, and more.

Kids will be “issued” an Arkidia Passport, which will be stamped as they finish the interactive booth activities. With at least 3 stamps, each kid can be given stubs to claim exciting gifts and prizes.

The five interactive booths include the SG Bida-Star Videoke Booth where the kids and their companions can experience being a Singkulit, the SG Singtoker Booth where they earn a stamp by recording and uploading a fun TikTok dance, the Arkidia Basketball Shoot Out where they need to shoot 3 hoops, the Art Booth/Coloring Station where they get to create their own genie artwork, and the Sing Galing Kids Photo Booth with Genie where they earn a stamp by taking a cool and fun photo in costume with Genie.

The fun doesn’t stop there because they also get to satisfy their cravings for free at the various food booths of Eggspert and Waffle Time. And since it’s a Kiddiecon, mommies and daddies can also have their own fun time at the Sulit TV booth where they can learn more about Sulit TV’s exciting offerings.

Come and join this fun-filled Sing Galing Kids Kiddiecon at Vista Mall Taguig this Saturday, July 9, starting at 1:00 PM. For further details, visit TV5 and Sing Galing on Facebook and Twitter.




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Simple me-time activities you’ll want to do after an exhausting work week

July 6, 2022


Enjoy your me-time picnic moment at the park with Jack ‘n Jill Piattos.

There are days when you just want to shut off your brain — here’s how.

As much as we’re grateful to have a job, there are times a week-long grind can leave us feeling like a cranky hermit who wants to hide from the world for a day or two. If you can relate, it could mean you’re due for some alone time. 

To enhance your me-time experience, make sure you have your go-to treat on hand: Jack n’ Jill Piattos! 

This iconic hexagonal potato snack is a delicious and enjoyable reward to have during your me-time moments—whatever activity you want to do. Jack n’ Jill Piattos comes in solo, buddy and (the new) Supersized packs. It also comes in a variety of flavors: Cheese, Sour Cream and Onion, Roadhouse Barbecue, Roast Beef, Nacho Pizza, and Salted Potato. 

Excited to schedule that much-need me-time? Here are five activities you can enjoy as a reward after an exhausting work week:

Visit a museum or check out an exhibit

Go on a solo date at a museum and immerse yourself in art! There’s always something soothing about discovering paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other visual art that mirror your inner world and make you feel understood.

Go on a picnic lunch

Who said you need a companion to have a picnic? Go to a park (or your garden if you have one), spread out a picnic blanket, and have your lunch outdoors. With the grass under your feet and the sky above your head, you’ll definitely have a great time! Might as well catch up on your current read or listen to that audiobook while you’re at it.

Do a coloring/paint-by-numbers activity

You’re missing out if you haven’t tried this adult coloring trend! Color-by-numbers kits let you tune everything out and just zone in on what you’re doing. It’s both relaxing and creative.

Watch a movie or play games

You can stay at home and binge-watch the films you saved on your movie streaming list, or you can head out to the movie theaters. If you’re into gaming, catch up on those mobile or console games that you’ve been itching to play. Do not mind the hours you spend playing because you’re doing you!


Relax with a good book and a bubble bath

A soothing bath with a good book – or the latest copy of your favorite magazine? Yes, please! You can even light some aromatic candles, and play relaxing, semi-melancholic music. A good way to cap off a productive week.  

A little pause from your hectic life isn’t just a good thing; it’s a gift. Make it a point to set aside a day or two to reward yourself with a sacred me-time—while (of course) munching on your favorite Jack n’ Jill Piattos.

To learn more about Jack n’ Jill Piattos, visit its Facebook page. Shop Jack n’ Jill Piattos online or in supermarkets nationwide. 


Have a blast playing your favorite console games while enjoying Jack ‘n Jill Piattos.






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GCash enables young professionals, MSMEs to unlock financial goals

July 4, 2022



GCash, the Philippines’ number one financial super app, is enabling young professionals and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to unlock their financial goals through the many accessible digital financial services it offers like savings, loans, insurance, and even investments.

GCash recently shared that young professionals are becoming more independent, budget conscious, and open to trying simple ways to earn more while owners of MSMEs struggle to find accessible financing to expand their business and reach more customers.

That’s why GCash has been ramping up its line-up of financial services to help individuals achieve financial freedom while giving micro to small entrepreneurs the lifeline they need to keep their business afloat or the additional funds to support their expansion.

GCash has a slew of services which help users manage their wealth and gain financial security. For one, GSave, a digital savings account, offers a higher savings rate of up to 2.6% per annum than traditional banks, and that lets users access their money 24/7 anytime, anywhere. 




GInsure is a one-stop shop for insurance products that’s easy to understand, has a low premium but comprehensive coverage like personal accidents, medical services, car insurance, income loss, and even online shopping, bills, cars, and pets.

The super app also enables individuals and MSMEs to have access to credit. GGives is an easy pay-later option that allows users to purchase gadgets, appliances, furniture and even plane tickets, among others worth up to P50,000 from 85,000 partner stores nationwide and pay for them later up to 24 gives over 12 months; and GLoan, which offers easy and fast cash loans up to P50,000 repayable up to 12 months with low interest rates and are suitable for digital entrepreneurs with growing online businesses. 

The mobile app can also help users manage their finances as it provides a real-time record of their digital transactions which can be accessed 24/7 on their smartphone.

Financial literacy and customer engagement through social media
Aside from introducing various digital financial solutions, GCash is also maximizing the use of social media in its drive to educate and engage the youth on the benefits of using the app and learning more about its financial services. 

Users can find GCash’s educational content on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram where they can learn from financial and medical experts, inspirational celebrities and other social media influencers. These include tutorials, life-goal hacks, and personal stories. They also answer frequently asked questions on finances and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of certain financial products, offer tips to develop the right mindset and behaviors toward money to avoid financial mistakes.
With GCash services and its financial literacy projects, Filipinos can start early on growing their wealth, upgrading their lifestyle and future-proofing their finances.

GCash has been a trusted digital financial platform by millions of FIlipinos especially as its operations is approved and regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Since its launch in 2004, GCash users have increased to over 60 million, covering 83% of the Philippine population. Among them are at least five million merchants using the mobile app to accept digital payments from customers. In 2021, there were five times more active monthly users of GCash than the second largest competitor’s.

To know more about GCash and its financial services, visit https://www.gcash.com.



About GCash
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1.3k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 4.5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at over 170k partner agents; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 60 million Filipinos in the country today.


Neil Trinidad is VP & Head of New Business in GCash. In this role, he’s tasked to lead efforts in growing new GCash services like InsureTech, Data Monetization, and Crypto, as well as driving Masterbrand marketing for the GCash Brand.
 
Neil was most recently the Chief Marketing Officer of Lazada Philippines, where he helped accelerate the growth of e-commerce in the country. In 2021, Neil was recognized as the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards Chief Marketing Communications Officer of the Year. 
 
Before that, Neil was with Google Philippines, where he was an Industry Manager for Telco, Travel, and QSR verticals. For 15 years of his career, Neil worked in Unilever across local, regional and global marketing roles, where he handled over 15 brands, including Dove, Rexona, and Pond’s.
 
He is also the Co-Founder of The Feel Good Food Group, an e-commerce health food delivery business that was founded in 2017 and today has four brands - Ketos of Manila, The Sugar-Free Bakery, Eat’s Life Manila, and Get Well Soup. 
 
Neil graduated from The University of Asia & the Pacific in 2004 with a Master’s Degree in Communications, Major in Integrated Marketing Communications.


Tony Isidro is CEO of FUSE Lending Inc, the lending business of GCash. He oversees product development and operations, and helps enable GCash to provide unbanked and underserved Filipinos credit that is both fair and accessible.

Tony started his career in the fast-moving consumer goods industry steering brands into a strong leadership position. He subsequently transitioned to the financial services industry, where he had notable stints marked by successful business turnarounds and new product launches. His rich experience across a diverse set of markets, keen sense for consumer insights and practical business sense is now helping bring GCash closer to its vision of finance for all Filipinos.

He holds a Management Engineering degree from Ateneo de Manila University, where he was also a part-time faculty member of its Marketing and Law Department.




Jong Layug is the Head of Wealth Management at GCash. He leads the team that manages products such as GSave, GInsure, GInvest, and Cards proposition.  
 
Jong has a total of 15 years of experience in the Financial Services industry having spent 10 years in a multinational bank and 5 years in GCash. 
 
He graduated from University of the Philippines with a Master's degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.










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