“Taga-saan ka? (Where are you from?)”

If you’re Pinoy, you have most likely asked or been asked this question upon meeting a kababayan (countryman). Pride in one’s hometown is a quintessential Filipino trait; in the new Original Production by AXN Asia in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT), My Hometown Is G.O.A.T., three sets of celebrity adventurers explore the regions they call home to show audiences what makes these destinations the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.).

The six-episode travel and lifestyle series will premiere regionally in Southeast Asia on November 4, with episodes coming out on AXN Asia every Thursday and Friday at 8.30PM, and on the AXN Asia YouTube channel every following Wednesday at 8.30PM. The show will also be broadcast on AXN Taiwan and AXN Korea starting November 8 and November 13 respectively.

From the pristine beaches of Zamboanga, to the gastronomical delights of Pampanga, and all the way up the long, inviting roads going to La Union, each 15-minute episode of My Hometown Is G.O.A.T. will show off different regions in the Philippines through the eyes of hosts who call these places home. By their own example, the hosts will also demonstrate how to travel safely in the new normal.

To celebrate their second wedding anniversary, celebrity couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez head to Megan’s hometown of Zambales, then visit neighboring Pampanga and Tarlac for a taste of their delicacies and history.

Meanwhile, Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados flies to Zamboanga for a grand homecoming. She embarks on an “Eat, Pray, Love” solo rendezvous, where she rediscovers the most breathtaking adventures that the region has to offer.

Finally, Marc Pingris, along with fellow basketball superstars JC Intal, Jayjay Helterbrand and Rico Maierhofer, takes the long road on his motorbike up to the most scenic spots of La Union, passing by his hometown of Pangasinan on the way. Revved up to ride, play and eat, the Philippine Bikers Amazing “PBA” Moto Club is set to have the adventure of a lifetime in the great North.

As they revisit their roots, the celebrity hosts will be telling stories about their childhoods and bringing out a more personal side for audiences to meet. In addition, they will also be showing viewers how to be safe and savvy when traveling in the new normal.

George Chien, Co-founder, President and CEO of KC Global Media Asia, the network that owns leading English general entertainment channel AXN Asia along with Asian content destinations Animax, ONE and GEM, said about the show:

“While we remain at home, our desire for travel continues to grow. In My Hometown Is G.O.A.T., viewers can discover beautiful destinations in the Philippines intimately as our celebrity hosts share the best of their hometowns. We hope that the show can help satiate the wanderlust of our audiences as we wait for the world to become ready for travel. On the flip side, we also hope to reach our many Filipino fans across Asia and help soothe their longing for home, while rekindling their nostalgia and pride in their own hometowns.”

DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat added, "Now, we will see a destination through the eyes of not just a tourist, but someone whose roots go deep, whose community ties hold strong, and whose love for their hometown makes it indeed the greatest."

For updates on My Hometown Is G.O.A.T., tune in to AXN Asia available on SKYcable, Cignal, G-Sat and various cable operators nationwide. You may also visit www.axn-asia.com/MyHometownIsGOAT, or follow @AXNAsia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

This year’s Impact Hackathon – Health vertical was completely virtual, with Team Tesla coming out on top as the grand winner, Team Hakushin Impact was the 1st runner-up, followed by Team Zenin Tech which was the 2nd runner-up.

With the global COVID-19 pandemic currently causing massive amounts of stress on the world’s public health system, Pfizer Philippines Foundation, Inc. (PPFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Pfizer Philippines, helped the country’s creative minds find a solution by partnering with Impact Hub Manila to host the Health vertical of the Impact Hackathon 2021, held virtually last August 26 to 28.

One of the hackathon’s main challenges was finding a way to provide crucial health information to communities who have limited to no access to the internet, especially during the pandemic.

Team Tesla won first place with CamMD, a desktop app that works as a first aid partner at home by identifying injuries or visible symptoms and uses object detection from different open-source libraries to determine the proper treatment. Team Hakushin Impact won first runner-up with Vacchain, an idea to use blockchain technology to digitize the country’s vaccination records and decentralize it in a comprehensive infrastructure, while Team Zenin Tech came in at second runner-up with Medic Marie, a personalized virtual health assistant that offers SMS-based healthcare services for rural communities.

The hackathon, currently in its third year, serves as a launching pad for bright and promising tech entrepreneurs and their impact-driven public health solutions, with a total of P75,000 in cash prizes up for grabs and incubation support from Impact Hub Manila.

“We wanted to focus on the industry that we wanted to disrupt and innovate. We really felt that we needed to deep-dive into the health industry to understand and assess and forge a community to come together to build solutions, collaborate, and sustain,” said Ces Rondario, founder and CEO of Impact Hub Manila.

“At PPFI, we really love to embrace the idea of innovation. With innovation comes these great ideas that we may not normally think of, especially when it comes to health—some of the interventions for health have been in effect for decades. We realized that these participants could solve our problems if we give them a lot of time to hack it,” said Geof Garcia, executive director of PPFI.

Impact Hub Manila is the Philippine branch of Impact Hub, the largest network of entrepreneurs in the world, headquartered in Vienna, Austria. It has set itself up as an incubation hub focused on purpose-driven entrepreneurs whose venture ideas have the potential to impact the lives of Filipinos on a large scale.

Pfizer Philippines Foundation, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit corporation organized to perform charitable and social welfare activities and programs geared towards improving health capacities, education, and awareness. Founded in 1997, PPFI seeks to serve Filipino communities to improve health outcomes for a stronger nation of healthier citizens.

Through collaborations with non-government organizations (NGOs) and civic welfare groups, the government and its relevant agencies, as well as through the engagement of Pfizer colleagues as volunteers, PPFI aims to innovate, implement, and sustain equity-based programs that will significantly improve Filipinos’ healthcare access.

Technology offers solutions that provide cleaner and fresher air for quality air for life

(Fr. Left to Right) Dr. Jonas del Rosario, PGH Spokesperson, Dr. Regina Berba, Hospital Infection Control Unit Head, Dr. Stella Manalo, PGH Deputy Director for Hospital Operations Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi, PGH Director, Mr. Masaru Toyota, Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines President and CEO, Yosuke Tanaka, Life Solutions Group Country Head Manager

Manila, Philippines – Panasonic, as part of its global campaign to spread advocacy for cleaner and fresher air for life, recently donated to the Philippine General Hospital - nanoeTM air purifiers, nanoeTM X generators, and air conditioners equipped with nanoeTM X that have been verified to have inhibitory effects on the novel coronavirus*0.

The turn-over was attended by Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines CEO Masaru Toyota, Life Solutions Group Country Head Yosuke Tanaka, PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi,  PGH Spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario, Deputy Director for Hospital Operations Dr. Stella Manalo, and the Hospital Infection Control Unit Head Dr. Regina Berba.

In his statement, the Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines CEO Masaru Toyota explained that it has always been the intention of Panasonic, with the introduction of the nanoeTM in 1997 and nanoeTM X in 2016, to provide cleaner and fresher air to improve the quality of life for everyone.

Mr. Toyota further explained, “In 2009, with the help of an independent testing organization, Panasonic verified the effect of hydroxyl radicals contained in water against bird flu and new strains of influenza, and in 2012, in collaboration with an independent testing organization in Germany, we conducted virus clearance testing that showed effectiveness of the technology against highly-resistant viruses and unknown viruses.” *1

Mr. Masaru Toyota, Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines President and CEO

“Just last year, again using an independent testing organization, Texcell*2 – France, we have further verified the inhibitory effect of Panasonic’s patented nanoeTM X technology on the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19,” he added.

The PGH activity is part of a bigger program of Panasonic in the Philippines to provide air purifying and anti-covid technology of nanoeTM X in selected sites in the National Capital Region to protect medical front liners and Filipinos in vaccination areas and to make them and the public feel safer with the theme “Bring Back the Filipino Smile” in partnership with selected local governments.

The Panasonic Philippines CEO said, “It is our aim for our medical front liners to feel they are in safer environment, and for patients to also have a sense of additional protection apart from current mandated hygiene practices like the wearing of masks, the use of face shields, and the use of hand sanitizers.”

The PGH Director Dr. Legaspi expressed his appreciation for the Panasonic efforts, “It’s turning out to be a very auspicious morning for the Philippine General Hospital, being granted this support, which improves our ability to give comfort to our healthcare workers as well as improve protection from aerosolized transmission of the virus.”

Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi, PGH Director

He added “As a research and training hospital, we in PGH welcome technologies such as these, that we will be able to test and validate as far as their effectiveness in helping us control the transmission of this virus and other infections as well.”

Masaru Toyota of Panasonic ended by lauding the efforts of everyone who have tirelessly worked hard and have been affected in the time of the pandemic, “We in Panasonic wish to begin to bring back the smiles of our heroes of the pandemic, those in the front lines against COVID-19 --- all of you here at the Philippine General Hospital have been at the forefront against the pandemic since 2019. We appreciate your gallant efforts! Again, it is not just you, our front liners who will benefit from this, but also your patients who are recovering from this disease. You all deserve to feel safer and more secure to smile again.”

For more information on Panasonic and its patented technologies, please visit https://www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe

Enjoy exclusive rewards when you pay for your Meralco, Maynilad, Globe, Smart, and SkyCable bills using ShopeePay

Make the most out of your suweldo this coming payday! ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one mobile wallet, lets you save more with amazing rewards and discounts this coming October 15 at the Shopee Payday Sale. With ShopeePay, not only can you look forward to great deals and promos, but you can also enjoy a safer and more convenient payment experience when you settle your bills through the Shopee app or when you pay via ShopeePay QR for in-store purchases. Here’s what to look forward to this October 15.

Big Discounts & Cashback on Bills

Tired of waiting in line to pay your dues? This payday, users can enjoy up to ₱100 off on their bills from the following ShopeePay partner billers: Meralco, Maynilad, and Primewater for utility bills; Globe, Smart, and Sun for postpaid mobile bills. This discount also applies to landline and internet bills from PLDT, Globe at Home, and Converge; and SkyCable, Cignal, Cablelink, and Streamtech for TV cable bills. ShopeePay discount vouchers can also be used to pay for loans and credit card billers like Home Credit, Cashalo, Dragonloans, SkyPay, and RCBC.

To sweeten the deal, you can enjoy up to 50% bills cashback if it's your first time paying bills, buying load, or e-vouchers using ShopeePay!

Up to 50% Off on Mobile Load

This coming payday, users can also enjoy up to 50% off on mobile load from all networks. To add to this, they can get up to 10% coins cashback when they purchase Smart and TNT load worth ₱200 and up, and 100 coins cashback for Globe load worth ₱350. All major Philippine networks are now available on ShopeePay which include Smart, Globe, DITO, Sun, TM, and TNT, so you can always stay connected to your friends and loved ones.

₱1 Deals from ShopeePay Merchants

Apart from saving on bills and load, you can also maximize your suweldo by purchasing ShopeePay ₱1 Deals this Payday Sale. Buy ₱1 Deals via Deals Near Me on the Shopee app, and redeem your discounts when you Scan To Pay in participating stores of ShopeePay partner merchants like Bonchon, Potato Corner, Moonleaf, Plains & Prints, Tapa King, Nature Republic, Aerophone, Home Along, and Buddy's, among many others. ShopeePay has over 2,500 partner merchants with over 15,000 total branches nationwide; enabling ShopeePay users to make safe and cashless transactions in a wide variety of stores while enjoying exclusive discounts and perks.

Make sure to activate and top up your ShopeePay wallet in time for Shopee’s Payday Sale! On October 14, get a chance to win ₱15,000 when you top up a minimum amount of ₱500 in your ShopeePay Wallet and play the Scratch & Win Top Up Promo. Top up your ShopeePay wallet through online banking, debit card, and over-the-counter partners to enjoy a safe and rewarding cashless experience this Payday!

For more information about ShopeePay, and its perks and benefits, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay.

Josel Sisor finds fulfillment in learning how to become financially independent as a Shopee Xpress rider

Twenty-two-year-old Josel Sisor carries a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He works hard as a Shopee Xpress rider, while also striving to achieve his dreams as a student-athlete.

Josel, who is currently a fourth-year scholar, sports science major, and table tennis athlete at San Beda University, began working as a rider right after the pandemic set in a year and a half ago. After hearing about a friend who took up a side gig as a rider, he took the opportunity to earn some extra cash as well.

Though his father, a factory worker, and mother, a messenger, both work hard to provide for the family, Josel wants to lighten their financial burden by becoming more financially independent, especially during uncertain times such as these. Even before the pandemic, he busied himself with other part-time motorcycle delivery gigs to help his parents out. As the eldest in a brood of five, Josel sets an example for his siblings.

Josel wakes up before 6:00 AM each day to pick up a batch of parcels at the nearby Shopee Xpress hub and deliver them to shoppers. At noon, he goes back home for online classes and training. Whenever he has time to spare, he delivers more batches of parcels. Josel initially found it hard to focus with such a packed routine, but eventually found his groove. “Na-aapply ko ‘yung pagiging student-athlete sa pamamagitan ng disiplina at pagbalanse ng oras,” he shares.

He is determined to create a brighter future by graduating and becoming a table tennis coach someday. He also finds motivation from his sukis, fellow riders, and his family. He particularly dedicates his earnings and hard work to his beloved, ailing 78-year-old grandmother, who underwent back surgery last year. “Gusto kong magpasalamat sa lola ko sa lahat ng sakripisyo niya, sa pag-aalaga niya sakin simula nu’ng bata pa ako. Kahit walang-wala siya, lahat binibigay niya pa rin. Ang hiling ko lang, sana gumaling na siya,” he says.

Aside from his grandmother’s improved health, Josel’s only wish is for a new motorcycle. His run-down motorcycle would often break down mid-delivery, and he’d end up finishing work well into the night. After hearing of Josel’s heartening story of dedication, Shopee donated not just a brand-new motor vehicle to Josel, but accessories and groceries as well.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, says, “We are deeply humbled by Josel’s devotion to his work as a Shopee Xpress rider, but most especially to his family and dreams. To the rest of our Shopee Xpress riders, you inspire us all as well. You are indeed the true lifeblood of Shopee.”

Whether as the awesome, reliable kuya at home, the driven student-athlete at school, or the diligent Shopee Xpress rider at work, Josel inspires everyone he meets. He feels grateful for the opportunity to start securing his future and the lessons he has gained along the way from his team leads and fellow riders.

As a Shopee Xpress rider, he finds fulfillment in learning how to stand on his own two feet. He adds, “Gusto kong sabihin sa tropang SPX na kahit araw-araw mahirap ang ginagawa, kalaban natin ang init at ulan, tuluy-tuloy lang. ‘Wag tayong susuko, balang araw tayo rin nasa taas.”

Watch Josel’s journey as a Shopee Xpress rider here. Visit Shopee Philippines on Facebook and Youtube, and Shopee Cares on Facebook.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Get better health and device protection with PayMaya Protect powered by bolttech

One thing we have learned during this pandemic is to value what's important in our life – from our health and livelihood to our loved ones. That's why it doesn't hurt to take measures to future-proof our lives by securing insurance and protection coverage relevant to our needs.

If you're seeking insurance and protection, PayMaya has got you covered. The country's leading FinServ (financial services) platform has teamed up with insurtech unicorn bolttech to bring innovative insurance and service products to Filipinos. With the new PayMaya Protect feature inside the PayMaya app, you can now easily access affordable health insurance coverage and mobile service plans within a few taps on your phone.

Personal Protect

With the current public health risks, one can't take chances when it comes to health matters. While we strictly follow standard safety protocols, having insurance coverage for COVID-19 will give that added layer of safety for our peace of mind.

Accessible via the Protect button in your PayMaya app, Personal Protect offers flexible and affordable health insurance that can cover dengue & COVID-19 medical expenses as well as Permanent Total Disability caused by accidents, dengue or COVID-19. Pioneer Insurance, a trusted name in the insurance industry that has been serving Filipinos since 1954, is the insurance provider for Personal Protect.

PayMaya offers flexible and affordable insurance products that suit any budget. For as low as Php 85 per month or less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can already enjoy up to over Php 500,000 worth of coverage. PayMaya Personal Protect comes in three different plan options:

Basic Protect Plan for Php 85 per month includes:

• Diagnosis benefit for COVID-19 or Dengue
• Daily Hospital Confinement benefit due to COVID-19 or Dengue
• Permanent Total Disability benefit due to COVID-19, Dengue, or Accident
• Total coverage amount: Php 523,000

Advanced Protect Plan for Php 95 per month includes:

• Diagnosis benefit for COVID-19 or Dengue
• Daily Hospital Confinement benefit due to COVID-19 or Dengue
• Permanent Total Disability benefit due to COVID-19, Dengue, or Accident
• Intensive Care Unit benefit for confinement in an ICU due to COVID-19 or Dengue
• Total coverage amount: Php 543,000

Holistic Protect Plan for Php 105 per month includes:

• Diagnosis benefit for COVID-19 or Dengue
• Daily Hospital Confinement benefit due to COVID-19 or Dengue
• Permanent and Total Disability benefit due to COVID-19, Dengue, or Accident
• Intensive Care Unit benefit for confinement in an ICU due to COVID-19 or Dengue
• Burial/Cremation Cash Assistance benefit for death due to COVID-19 or Dengue
• Total coverage amount: Php 553,000

Mobile Protect

Smartphones are an essential part of our lives, and for many, these are essential for livelihood – allowing us to work remotely or manage our online business. These devices don't come cheap, and sometimes, it even takes months to save up for that dream phone.

With PayMaya's Mobile Protect offered by bolttech, users can purchase mobile phone repair services for Cracked Screen and Accidental and Liquid Damage for as low as Php 21/month.

In case of liquid damage, instead of burying your phone in rice for 48 hours, you can simply send it for a 24-hour repair without breaking the bank! You have two Mobile Protect packages to choose from:

Cracked Screen package starting from Php 21 per month includes:

• Protection package for screen only
• Up to 2 repairs within 12 months
• Repair within 24 hours
• Free pick-up and delivery

Accidental & Liquid Breakage package starting from Php 31 per month includes:

• Protection package for your phone
• Up to 2 repairs OR 1 repair + 1 replacement within 12 months
• Repair within 24 hours
• Free pick-up and delivery

Accessing these flexible and affordable insurance offers is easy. All you have to do is tap the Protect button on your PayMaya app, choose Mobile or Personal Protect and your desired package, input the requested details, and proceed to pay using your e-wallet.

On top of affordability and ease of access, PayMaya Protect also offers more flexibility to customers, giving them better control over their finances. Consumers can choose to subscribe to Mobile Protect monthly, while they can avail of health coverage bundles via Personal Protect for three months and choose to renew their coverage plans based on their budget.

With the most flexible and affordable protection offers conveniently available on the e-wallet, PayMaya and bolttech are widening access to insurance products. The two fintech companies are working on introducing other consumer and enterprise insurance offers to meet Filipinos’ evolving needs.

Expect more exciting insurance and service offers from PayMaya as it expands into financial services after making its mark in the digital payments space! It is the only financial technology company in the Philippines that operates an end-to-end FinServ (financial services) ecosystem with its widely used leading e-wallet, the most extensive on-ground digital remittance network through Smart Padala, and the largest non-bank merchant payments processing business.

AirAsia Philippines Air Force Reserve Unit - 1st Airlift Wing has been recognized by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) as the Best Reserve Unit among all other reserve units from across the country.

The AirAsia’s 1st Airlift Wing composed of 99 pilots, cabin crew and office staff has been providing the muscle for alwaysREDy relief operation projects and other Philippine Air Force disaster relief activities.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla and Director of Flight Operations and 1st Airlift Wing Lead Capt. Gomer Monreal received the plaque of recognition during the Reservists Recognition Ceremony held at the Agunod Hall, Colonel Jesus Villamor Airbase.

The unit was recognized for its exceptional desire of serving the Filipino people especially during the aftermath of Typhoon Ulysses in Cagayan and Isabela, Typhoon Rolly in Catanduanes, the relief operations successfully mounted in Binangonan and Rodriguez, Rizal and the clean-up drive in Marikina last year.

The unit was also recognized for actively participating and sharing their medical expertise as exclusive Air Force first aid responders.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said, “The heart of the humanitarian efforts towards building a better nation is rooted in AirAsia’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign, “alwaysREDy: Anytime, Anywhere”, which advocates readiness in responding to national crises and calamities, emergency rescue operations, and medical missions.”

“This award is also a good reminder for us at AirAsia to continue our humble efforts of reaching out to those in need, and show sincerely how much we care for them as partners in nation building.”

This recognition also coincides with the timely commemoration of the UNESCO International Day for Disaster Reduction which reminds people and communities around the world of the need for their proactive participation in reducing exposure to disasters.

AirAsia was recently awarded as the Best Low-Cost Airline in the world and in Asia for the 12th consecutive year by international airport and airline review and ranking site Skytrax. AirAsia Group is also among the top airlines worldwide to achieve the top 7/7 rating for being Covid-19 safe by the aviation experts at Airlineratings.com.

Save up to P1,500 when paying for your Meralco bill, Spotify Premium subscription, and so much more!

There’s truly nothing like treating yourself after all your hard work every PayDay - from splurging on a good meal at your favorite restaurant, to finally buying that air fryer you’ve been eyeing for a while. While these PayDay sales and 10.10 budols are enticing, it's also important to ensure that you're spending your sweldo smartly, and not simply giving in to impulse buys that you'll soon regret.

Digital payments leader, PayMaya, lets you do just that with its #PayMayaPayDaySave offers - giving you massive savings of up to P1,500 when paying for the things you need like your Meralco bill, or the things that elevate your day like a Spotify Premium Subscription for your daily soundtrack needs, from October 10 to 17, 2021.

Now you can indulge in spending your hard-earned sweldo on yourself and on your loved ones without feeling guilty – because you know you’re spending smartly with PayMaya. Your go-to e-wallet has also partnered with your favorite brands to ensure that you get to shop with only legit items - no more worrying about getting scammed or not getting your money's worth. Say goodbye to 10.10 budols, and hello to saving while you spend with these offers!

Save up to P500 on your Meralco bill when you settle it via the PayMaya app for the first time – with a minimum spend of P1,500. Within a few taps on your smartphone, you can already complete your transaction and enjoy the 33% savings (max of P500) as a cashback that you can use to treat yourself later!

You can also enjoy up to P150 in savings when you settle other bills on the PayMaya app. When you pay a minimum of P1,000 for any of the 600 billers featured on the app, you’ll get 10% savings if you’re a new user or 5% savings, if you’re a returning user, max of P150 as a cashback.

When shopping for your groceries and other essentials, be sure to scan-to-pay via PayMaya QR to enjoy safer transactions and save up to P200 at your go-to supermarket or retail store for a minimum spend of P500. First time PayMaya users will get to enjoy a 20% cashback on the transaction while returning PayMaya users will get 10% cashback as savings at establishments like Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, Super8, AllDay, Waltermart, Mercury Drug, Watsons, The SM Store, Abenson and many more!

First-time Spotify users can now purchase Spotify Premium subscription plans and enjoy savings of up to P194. Get up to 100% cashback off your first month when you use your registered PayMaya mobile number to pay, to access more than 70 million music tracks and 2.2 million podcasts. This offer is applicable for the following Spotify Premium Plans:

• Student (P65) Monthly Subscription Plan
• Individual (P149) Monthly Subscription Plan
• Duo (P169) Monthly Subscription Plan
• Family (194) Monthly Subscription Plan

You can also rack up savings when shopping or ordering online – be it for a nice meal for your family, or a new kitchen must-have. Simply pay with your PayMaya mobile number at your go-to website or at the in-app MayaMall to save up to P200. Just be sure to spend a minimum of P500, to get a 20% cashback for first-time PayMaya users, and 10% cashback for returning PayMaya users. You can enjoy this deal with brands including Jollibee, McDonald’s, Bonchon, Frankie’s, Army Navy, 8cuts, Ooma, Landers Pick.a.roo, AllDay, and many more!

Save up to P100 when you purchase digital vouchers, prepaid airtime load, and gaming pins at the PayMaya in-app Shop. When you spend a minimum of P200, you’ll get a 10% cashback if you’re a first-time PayMaya user or a 5% cashback if you’re a returning user. Enjoy these extra savings when buying gaming pins like Steam, Xbox, Mobile Legends, PUBG, and Valorant; transportation credits from beep, and Grab; and lifestyle subscriptions like Viu and even Tinder for yourself or for a friend!

On top of these savings for your wants and needs, you can also get an additional reward of P200 when you complete these Smart Spending Goals with PayMaya:

• Cash-in worth at least P5,000 to your PayMaya Account
• Send Money worth a minimum of P1,000 to a verified PayMaya user using the PayMaya Send Money Feature
• Purchase a min. of P200 from the In-App Shop OR Pay a Biller in the PayMaya App worth at least P1,500
• Scan to Pay with PayMaya QR for a min. spend of P500 OR Pay with their PayMaya-registered number for a min. spend of P500

With PayMaya, it’s easy to stretch your sweldo to cover both your wants and needs – and even save a little extra so you can have a payday with no regrets.

To check out all available offers, simply go to the Missions tab on your PayMaya app. From the app homepage, just click the profile button at the upper right side of your app, choose Missions, and see the full list of ongoing offers from merchant and biller partners.

Download the PayMaya app from Android Playstore or iOS App Store, and register to enjoy the safety, convenience, and additional savings when paying for your wants and needs!

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, enterprises, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is one of the leading payments processors for "everyday" merchants in key industries such as retail, food, transportation, utilities, and e-commerce.

It provides more than 38 million registered users access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently cash in, pay, cash out, and remit through its over 300,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of 55,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services. For more information, visit www.PayMaya.com.

Four things Robi Domingo learned to prioritize in the new normal

Host and youth advocate Robi Domingo has experienced his fair share of challenges this past year. Just like most, the stress of the pandemic took a significant toll on him and his family.

“It came to a point that I asked myself if I made the right decision not to pursue medicine. When everyone needed a frontliner, why didn’t I become a doctor?” Robi shared.

The situation taught him certain things that many would take for granted before the pandemic happened. Now, Robi found ways to keep himself productive and healthy, and he continued to use his platform for good. Here are four things he learned to prioritize even more:

Staying physically healthy and fit

Because his parents are frontliners, Robi admitted they were scared of the virus coming to their home. To ensure everyone's health, they are medicine-ready, focused on staying fit, and have set up automated alcohol dispensers in various rooms. Using a product like Shield+ Alcohol is also important for Robi because it helps disinfect and kills germs. It also has vitamin E and collagen to moisturize dry skin caused by constant sanitizing.

Watching out for his mental health

Robi emphasized the importance of mental health, especially since many remain cooped up at home and, at the same time, experience different levels of stress. He acknowledges how fortunate he is to have parents who remind him to de-stress. Plus, he started making a daily schedule to have more control over his life in these uncertain times. His advice for everyone: “Let people know you’re there for them, to listen to them, and be proactive in asking how they are doing.” For Robi, the latter may be key to unlocking powerful stories and, somehow, reduce the baggage they are dealing with.

Taking up new hobbies

While many Filipinos—his dad for instance—have become plant parents to stay productive at home, Robi went back to playing the piano to relax. His mom usually asks him to learn and play songs from K-drama shows like Goblin and Crash Landing On You. He also brings up how important it is to find hobbies to recharge and refresh one’s mind, especially during stressful times.

Making a positive impact

As a public personality, Robi learned the power of using his platform to spread awareness and encourage the youth to make good choices, especially with the upcoming elections. “Beyond protecting ourselves, registering to vote resonates with the youth now. I want them to realize that the power is really in our hands,” he said.

Robi is also passionate about supporting farmers and sustainability. As the brand ambassador for Shield+ Alcohol, a Filipino-made alcohol that is concocted using sustainable sugarcane, he believes that using this product can help protect customers, at the same time support the local sugarcane industry.

“Shield+ Alcohol doesn’t just keep your hands clean, but also moisturizes since alcohol can be drying. Most importantly, it supports the farmers and contributes to the sustainable development of our country and the planet with the use of renewable local resources,” he shared.

The maker of Shield+ Alcohol, Universal Robina Corporation Agro-Industrial Group (URC AIG), shared that Robi was a perfect fit as the ambassador of the brand. “Robi’s values are very much aligned with URC’s. We believe in the capabilities of Filipinos and we aspire to have a sustainable future,” URC AIG Managing Director Vincent Go said.

If there’s anything that this pandemic taught people like Robi, it’s that keeping one’s health in check should go beyond protection through constant hand sanitizing. One should also focus on their body, mental well-being, and making a positive impact on the people around them during these challenging times.

Shield+ Alcohol comes in two scents and six different bottle sizes. It is available in select online merchants and supermarkets nationwide.

GCash, PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Arrest Top Fraudsters Through Entrapment Operations

GCash, the #1 mobile wallet in the Philippines, shows its strong commitment in protecting its customers by working with the top law enforcement agencies in the Philippines and apprehending criminals that abuse its community.

Through the assistance of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), GCash was able to arrest its top three fraudsters, unscrupulous individuals who have been victimizing customers through fake social media pages and digital storefronts such as Facebook and Lazada.

Two suspects, named Gerlina Manalo and Regienald Mataya, were arrested in an entrapment operation for offering cash loans to potential victims, asking for an advanced processing fee of PHP 7,000, and then blocking victims on Facebook after the payment of the said amount.

Another suspect, Katherine Lean, was arrested in an entrapment operation in Bulacan following a fake seller scam on Lazada. A victim bought a supposed air-conditioning unit for PHP3,500, only to be asked for a further PHP 13,500 for processing fees. The victim was later blocked by the suspect on Facebook Messenger after receiving the payment.

Malachy Achunike, a Nigerian, and two of his Filipino cohorts, Reynaldo Manalese and Marial Manalese, were also arrested after scamming a senior citizen out of PHP 110,000 through a fake parcel delivery modus, also on Facebook. The trio were arrested by the PNP-ACG.

“We are warning all the fraudsters and criminals that will try to or are actively victimizing the GCash community: We will find you,” said Ingrid Beroña, Chief Risk Officer of GXI (GCash). “We are working with the top law enforcement agencies of the country, and we will stop at nothing until your arrest has been made,” she added.

If found guilty, cyber criminals may serve up to 12 years in jail.

GCash was recently recognized by the PNP-ACG for being instrumental in its fight against cybercrime in its 8th Founding Anniversary. The fintech company also launched the “Pulis Magiting” advocacy program together with the Ayala Foundation, where police officers are recognized by doing good and doing right, and expressing “kagitingan” in their everyday lives.

For its part, GCash has been consistently pushing efforts in keeping its community safe and secure. It has launched several security communications campaigns revolving on social media and through the GCash app, and have even developed an employee ambassadorship program aimed at raising awareness on best practices in app and customer security.

“Trust is at the backbone of what we do, and we value that greatly at GCash. That is among the reasons why we’re continuously working with our government stakeholders, such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the government’s law enforcement agencies, to further improve our customer experience, not only for our app, but also in protecting them against cyber criminals,” said Chito Maniago, VP for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of GCash.

GCash has also signed an agreement with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) ensuring that it provides the highest standard of anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and fraud measures.

For help and assistance, contact the PNP-ACG via their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560, 0998-598-8116, or via email at acg@pnp.gov.ph.