“Don’t Pay Cash, PayMaya” the latest payment introduce in the Philippine Market.

Filipinos now have more reasons to go cashless as PayMaya launches its “Don’t Pay Cash, PayMaya!” brand campaign promoting a more convenient and rewarding payment experience for all Filipinos nationwide.

PayMaya ramps up its efforts to increase cashless transactions in the country with the launch of its “Don’t Pay Cash. PayMaya!” Campaign, along with a fresh new look, exciting app upgrades and more rewarding promos. In this photo are executives from PayMaya Philippines (from left to right): Raymund Villanueva, Head of Growth and Brand Marketing; Mitch Padua, Chief Product Officer; Kenneth Palacios, Head of Wallets Business; Paolo Azzola, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director; Orlando B. Vea, Founder and CEO; Shailesh Baidwan, President; Miguel Fernandez, Group Chief Finance Officer; Mar Lazaro, Head of Enterprise Business; and Heidi Garayblas, Head of Brand and Marketing Services.

Through the upbeat consumer campaign, the digital financial services leader unveils an enhanced PayMaya mobile app, exciting new features, and more compelling merchant partner promos, as well as the best cashback promos and discounts for an overall more rewarding experience for all users.
PayMaya’s new brand campaign features a catchy jingle with lyrics promoting the best perks of going cashless, set against the tune of the song “Ligaya” popularized by the iconic OPM band Eraserheads. Through the campaign, PayMaya encourages all Filipinos to get more joy and value out of daily transactions by opting to use PayMaya instead of cash for all their payments needs.

CUTENESS OVERLOAD: Attendees of the “Don’t Pay Cash. PayMaya!” Launch were entertained by PayMaya’s official mascots, Maya, who danced to PayMaya’s newly launched jingle to the tune of the iconic Eraserheads anthem “Ligaya.”

“PayMaya is undoubtedly the best way to pay in the Philippines today. Our formula is simple – make digital payments accessible, more convenient, more secure, more rewarding, and more fun. With a newer and smoother app experience, the biggest discounts and cashback promos, and an ever-growing network of merchant and add money partners, it’s now better to ‘PayMaya’ instead of paying with cash,” said Paolo Azzola, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of PayMaya.

Better than cash rewards

PayMaya is taking the lead in unlocking the multiple rewards and benefits of going cashless. With the pre-holiday and e-Commerce sales just around the corner, using a PayMaya account for everyday transactions is the best way to get the best discounts and cashback for all your purchases.

Cashless convenience, just a click away: Attendees of the event experienced firsthand the cashless convenience featured in the “Don’t Pay Cash. PayMaya!” campaign launch with seamless payments via PayMaya QR available at the Eattogether Food Hall in Capitol Commons.

Just for September alone, PayMaya users can get as much as P5,000 in cashback from the various promos rolled out by the brand. All one has to do is use the PayMaya app for prepaid load and gaming pins, bills payments, sending money, PayMaya QR transactions with partner merchants, and online shopping.

Even getting a PayMaya account gets more rewarding as PayMaya is giving as much as P200 just by registering with a referral code and upgrading their account.
“We’re just getting started and this will get more exciting as we gear up towards the holiday shopping season. Our goal is to make every Filipinos embrace digital payments by multiplying the benefits of going cashless,” said Azzola.

Better than cash experience

To usher in a next-level experience, PayMaya has updated the mobile app to make it easier and safer to use.

The most popular services such as Sending Money, Buying Load, or Sharing Treats are now easily accessible with just one tap at the home screen of the app. Under the PayMaya Shop, one can also find more variants for digital goods such as telco load, gaming PINs, and treats vouchers – with the best discounts through promos.

Funding one’s PayMaya account is also easier–users can add money from your bank account through InstaPay or by linking their credit* or debit card.

PayMaya places high importance in security. All PayMaya users are encouraged to upgrade their accounts not only for higher transaction limits but also for safer transactions. To facilitate this, PayMaya has introduced a simpler and faster Upgrade process featuring selfie and AI technology. PayMaya also recently unveiled a sexier and safer black card design with the card number and other sensitive information at the back, instead of being displayed at the front.

Better than cash: Influencer Ashley Chan shows off her PayMaya card which sports a new, sleek design, as well as an added layer of security for instagram-savvy Pinoys. With her PayMaya in hand, she can easily hop on the cashless lifestyle and unlock awesome rewards!

The new app design, initially available to Android users and also soon for iOS devices, prominently features the latest promos and perks that account holders can take advantage of, so that they can easily discover ways to make the most of their money with PayMaya.

“Expect more features and services to roll out in the coming months. Our goal is to make the payments experience of every Filipino hassle-free and more secure,” explained Azzola.

Don’t pay cash. PayMaya!

With all these brand-new features and exciting new promos for users, PayMaya’s “Don’t Pay Cash. PayMaya!” campaign targets to accelerate digital payments adoption in the Philippines. This is in support of the National Financial Inclusion goals of the country and the aim to increase digital transactions in the country to 20% by 2020 under the National Retail Payment System (NRPS).

PayMaya is the only financial technology company in the Philippines offering integrated consumer and merchant payment solutions with the widest on-ground branch network. It is the first to give millions of Filipinos an e-wallet that allows them to pay cashless transactions at any time of the day, anywhere in the world, and from any device. It is the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations, the leading technology company in the country backed by PLDT, KKR, Tencent, World

Bank’s IFC and the IFC Emerging Asia Fund.

Its “universal payments platform” enables the country’s top eCommerce sites, major retail and quick-service restaurants and government institutions, as well as MSMEs to accept multiple kinds of cashless payments.

To know more about how you can maximize your PayMaya account, visit paymaya.com/deals or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Strengthening efficiency and security: Eastern Communications launches upgraded cloud services and cyber defense

(From left) Eastern Communications Product and Innovation Head Edsel Paglinawan, Co-Coordinatior Atty. Aileen Regio, DOSarrest Platform Specialist Scott Girbav, CloudSigma CEO Robert Jenkins, Eastern Communications Co-Coordinator Ramon Aesquivel during the launch of upgraded Eastern Cloud and Cyber Defense.

Fostering business efficiencies and security, Eastern Communications, one of the premier telecommunications companies in the country, introduces its newly upgraded and most advanced products and services in partnership with global allies DOSarrest and Cloud Sigma.

According to the Global Connectivity Index (GCI), Philippines’ digital connectivity has improved from Starter to Adopter status and ranked 57 out of 79 countries in 2018. This is reportedly due to expanded smartphone and computer use, higher speed 4G coverage, and national planning with “cloud first policy” in government’s aim of reducing expenses through cloud technology.

Connectivity plays a vital role in businesses today as it allows companies to adapt and have efficient operations. With the transformation emerging in the business environment, security threats arise, and flexibility becomes a challenge.

Cost-effective business operations

Cloud service is starting to get recognized in the business landscape. It is a cost-effective method of storing and sharing company data and applications securely over the Internet instead of computer hard drive.

Eastern Communications joined forces with international cloud service provider Cloud Sigma to launch its public cloud solutions providing the full spectrum of infrastructure and IT Services. Established in 2009 in Switzerland, CloudSigma has been providing a pure-cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) that enables the digital industrial economy through its enterprise-class hybrid cloud servers and cloud hosting solutions in Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Australia.

Big companies can get the best of cloud service such us Public Cloud, one of the most customizable services available in the market, a type of computing in which a service provider makes resources available to the public via the internet and accessible by anyone who wants to pay for subscription or use it for free.

Protecting enterprises from cyber threats

Cyber threat landscape is constantly changing. Local companies and even institutions have been victims of several data breaches and cyberattacks, affecting their business security and operations.

Eastern Communications partners with Canada-based cybersecurity solutions provider DOSarrest in the aim of equipping Filipino companies with the right technology against cyber threats. DOSarrest was founded in 2007 and has been mitigating Distributed Denial of Service or DDoS attacks for a global customer base with its leading-edge cloud-based DDoS protection.

With this partnership, companies of all sizes can now secure their business from basic to the most sophisticated DDoS attacks. Eastern Communications has various cybersecurity solutions such as Web Application Firewall (WAF) that blocks any Layer 7 threat like cross-site forgery, cross-site scripting, among others; while Content Delivery Network (CDN) generates faster loading of a website, which saves companies money yet enhances website performance at the same time.

“It’s always been Eastern Communications’ High-Tech promise to provide the best and right solutions especially to businesses that aim for utmost productivity and efficiency without compromising security. And through our partnership with reputable global firms in the industry like DOSarrest and CloudSigma, we’re looking forward to helping companies here in the country to elevate their business connectivity and harness the long-term benefits our services can offer,” shared Product and Innovation Head Edsel Paglinawan.

Eastern Communications’ upgraded Eastern Cloud Service and Cyber Defense are now available in the market. For more information, visit www.eastern.com.ph.

Discovering Convenience with GCash

Jesus Ogayre, Jr., 38, was running his small computer shop and softdrinks wholesale business in Pandacan, Manila when a friend urged him to put his family vehicle, a Mistubishi Adventure, to better use by driving for Lalamove.

Curious, he went to a Lalamove orientation with his documents— police clearance, driver’s license, pictures of vehicle, OR/CR—and by the end of the day, he was convinced he could do it part-time. He paid the P3,000 cash bond and began driving for Lalamove the next day. That was in June 2018—he is still with the logistics company today, and as a full-time driver.

“When I started, Lalamove was more like a hobby that brought in extra income. But I enjoyed it, and l I found myself going home only when there were no more bookings. It’s now a full-time job for me, and it pays for our monthly mortgage on the Adventure,” Ogayre said.

Working with the logistics company, which is also popular in Singapore and Hong Kong, introduced Ogayre to GCash. He had never used any mobile wallet apps but as a Lalamove driver, he needed to download GCash to receive his earnings.

Lalamove is one of many companies that have moved their payment platforms to GCash’s Powerpay+ for more convenience and better security. Powerpay+ is an online disbursement facility that makes remitting commissions, salaries, incentives, allowances, and even loans easier and safer with the use of GCash. Employers who use Powerpay+ can simply move funds from their GCash account to other enrolled GCash accounts.

“At first, I found it difficult to use something unfamiliar but the more I used GCash, the easier it became for me. I learned how to top up, which I usually do at 7-Eleven stores, and now I can even send money,” he said.

Ogayre discovered the convenience of sending money through GCash when one of the recipients for a booking was not there to receive the package and had left no money with those who will accept his delivery.

“The client called me and asked if she could just transfer the payment to my GCash account. I said OK, and she sent the P500 payment to my GCash. That’s it—it was fast,” he said.

Ogayre, a father of four, said he himself used GCash’s Send Money feature when a friend approached him for a small loan. He transferred funds from his GCash account to his friend’s GCash account. His friend also used GCash to send payment to Ogayre’s PNB account.

Besides sending money, Ogayre also uses GCash to buy load; he received P50 free load because of one transaction.

“I really want to learn everything in the GCash app, especially how to pay bills. I want to know more about how I can use it everyday. I’ll ask the other drivers for tips on how they use GCash,” he said.
Ogayre, whose vehicle is in Lalamove’s MPV (300 kg) category, said he could earn as much as P12,000 weekly from Lalamove if he works six days a week. His bookings usually involve delivering cake, cosmetics, flowers, auto supply, and even electric fans, but his most valuable package so far were medicines and medical supplies, which came with a staff escort from Pasig. The company that booked Lalamove was a supplier to Mercury Drug, also a GCash merchant partner.

Ogayre’s wife now runs their shop and softdrinks business while he takes on a different journey with Lalamove, discovering new ways of doing things.

Giving Filipinos more financial freedom and flexibility by using Cashalo


Cashalo introduces the first-of-its-kind e-commerce digital-credit payment solution
Cashalo enables fly-now, pay-later solution on Cebu Pacific flights

Cashalo, rolled out its latest innovative product, Pay with Cashalo—a cutting-edge digital-credit payment solution designed to provide a transparent and consumer-friendly payment alternative to cash and traditional credit. Echoing its mission of making digital financial services more easily accessible to everyone, including unbanked and underserved Filipinos, Pay with Cashalo gives unrivaled choice, freedom, and flexibility to address lifestyle needs and provide a convenient, transparent and secure digital credit payment facility.

On top of making payments easier and more convenient, Cashalo’s solution helps broaden the e-commerce experience of Filipinos. Pay with Cashalo empowers Filipino consumers to easily pay for their online purchases over time, even without a credit or debit card. Data from the Bangko Sentral shows that less than 16 million Filipinos, or roughly only 23% of the population have bank accounts, with even less owning credit cards.

Kicking-off Pay with Cashalo, the fintech company partnered with Cebu Pacific that will enable more Filipinos to fly now and pay later. Through Pay with Cashalo, travelers can book flights worth a maximum of PHP7,000 on Cebu Pacific, use the new digital-credit solution as a payment alternative, then pay later in affordable installments over three or six months.

Hamilton Angluben, General Manager of Cashalo, said: “Through innovation, we are able to unlock greater financial possibilities for more Filipinos. As a first-of-its-kind solution, we firmly believe that ‘Pay with Cashalo’ can transform how Filipinos from all segments of society transact online and build a more secure financial future. We’re thrilled to launch this product with our valued partner Cebu Pacific who shares our mission to empower every Juan with more opportunities and create memorable moments.”

Pay with Cashalo is fully integrated into the booking system of Cebu Pacific. Travelers can easily choose Pay with Cashalo and enjoy its benefits as they book their domestic flights, with credit approval processed in less than three hours.

Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Distribution, Cebu Pacific said, “As Cebu Pacific enables every Juan to fly by broadening the base of travelers with affordable and accessible flights, our partnership with Cashalo will harness more potential travelers through a fly now, pay later scheme. It will enhance payment options for our customers and even provide assistance to those who have urgent travel needs.”

In the coming months, Cashalo will be partnering with many more e-commerce platforms and merchants to integrate Pay with Cashalo as a payment alternative.

By continuing to develop innovative and purpose-built financial products, Cashalo pushes financial inclusion forward while simultaneously promoting financial literacy. The company recently launched CashAcademy, a grassroots financial education program that makes accessible online and offline free learning modules and training resources to benefit more Filipinos. CashAcademy aims to cultivate a generation better equipped to make sound financial decisions, making them “Pera Experts”- financially aware and responsible.

About Cashalo
Cashalo is a leading fintech platform used by millions of Filipinos to build financial identities, access fast, secure, affordable credit and other financial services, and take control of their financial health. Since its launch in 2018, Cashalo has already helped over 1.5 million previously ‘credit-invisible’ Filipinos build a financial identity. The company continues to see rapid growth, with the Cashalo app in the phones of more than 3.5 million users and counting.

Cashalo is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oriente, a Hong Kong-headquartered technology and data science company committed to financial inclusion in emerging Asia. Oriente’s founders include visionary leaders behind internet giants Skype and LU.com. JG Summit Holdings, Inc. is an important strategic partner and investor in Oriente’s regional efforts to build the future of finance and unlock economic value for the millions of unbanked people, underserved communities and merchants across Southeast Asia.

Media Contacts:
Patti Dizon
Communications Lead, Cashalo
patti@cashalo.com
09173282088

HP study shows Filipino millennial parents want their kids “future-proof”

Key Survey Findings:
● Ensuring their children are future-proof is a top priority for Filipino parents
● 70% of Filipinos, the highest among markets surveyed, are willing to spend on extra
classes or activities for their children outside of regular school work
● 91% say it is most important for their children to be happy when they grow up
● Parents believe that printed materials are essential to learning
HP Inc. in the Philippines today released findings from the HP New Asian Learning
Experience Study. The survey explores how the personalities of these parents impact the
ways in which they define learning for their children in order to ensure they have the right
skills for their future success.
The study also revealed that most Filipino parents are realists. They are aware of the
potential obstacles that their children may face in the future and are willing to do whatever
they can to ensure that they are prepared. They want their kids to be exposed to the world
and develop skills that they can use beyond the class room and in real life.
“The study gives us insights on how learning is evolving and where our innovation can ensure
these young learners thrive,” said Pallasena V Viswanath, Managing Director of HP
Philippines. “At HP, we are aligned with the parental focus on reinventing learning to create a
positive impact on their children.”
Fighting a future of uncertainty
In all countries surveyed, future proofing children is the greatest concern for all parents.
Amid the accelerating inflation in the Philippines, 75% of Filipino parents surveyed say that
they worry about the rising cost of living, while 56% are worried about job security for their
kids in the future market. This is why a major sacrifice that Filipinos make for their children is
finding ways for them to learn a wide range of skills. 70% of these parents, the highest
among all markets surveyed, are willing to use a part of their family’s income in for extra
classes or activities in order to give their children an advantage over their peers.
When asked about their top priority for their child’s future, the study revealed that Filipino
parents only want their children to be happy and feel fulfilled. 93% even say that they like
teaching their children because it’s the best time to bond, rather than to control their learning.
Filipino parents want to take advantage of technology alongside traditional learning
The HP New Asian Learning Experience Study also revealed that parents believe printed
materials will impact their child’s learning more positively than purely digital learning.

Ultimately, they perceive a mix of both print and digital as most beneficial. Parents feel that
printed materials are better used for activities related to art (61%), math (60%), and
memorization (50%), whereas electronic materials better facilitate learning in music or auditory
skills (60%) and art (57%).
HP, through its range of innovative printers and personal computers, such as the HP DeskJet
Ink Advantage 3775 and the HP Pavilion x360, reinvents learning to ensure that students have
the right tools to develop their skills and help their practical, creative, critical, and inventive
learning.
For more information, please visit HP Official Store on Lazada.

Access the press kit here: http://bit.ly/HPNewAsianLearningExperience
About the HP New Asian Learning Experience Study 2019
The HP survey engaged 3,177 respondents across India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia and the Philippines aged between 25 and 42 with at least one child. The survey was
conducted from November to December 2018. The results in the press release are based on
respondents in the Philippines only.
About HP
HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our product and
service portfolio of personal systems, printers and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that
amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com

Dragonpay’s SureTayo launches own smartphone app

SureTayo, an escrow service powered by Dragonpay Corporation, has introduced their very own smartphone app to handle the needs of the buyer and seller who are always on-the-go.

Launched in 2018, SureTayo is a payment solution that makes every transaction convenient and safe. By becoming a third-party, SureTayo receives the payment from the buyer and once the item was delivered and received, SureTayo releases the payment to the seller. And to make it more convenient, SureTayo also utilizes Dragonpay’s popular alternative payment channels. No need to worry about fraud and scammers!

SureTayo saw the growing need of the customers today especially those who rely their businesses on mobile phones. In response, SureTayo has recently launched their very own SureTayo smartphone app.

The mobile app is designed to cope with the demands of every transaction giving the sellers an opportunity to easily facilitate and manage customer payments. SureTayo App’s UI is straightforward, has no complicated processes, and provides the customers what they exactly need.

The app features six (6) main tools to help the customer’s needs:

PROFILE – For first timers, there is no need to register on PC or laptops because registration can now be done through the app. On the main app dashboard, the profile button contains the seller’s information and link that they can share to their customers to place orders.

ORDER – The sellers can now create invoice through the app! Just click the Order button, fill-up the transaction details and voila! The invoice will be automatically sent to the buyer via SMS, email or other messaging apps. The buyer will receive a message containing the link that he/ she can use to pay via Dragonpay payment channels.

TRANSACTIONS – Once the payment has been settled by the buyer, the seller will be notified through the Transaction button. This button also allows you to check the status of your transactions – from paying to shipping!

PAYOUT – Want to check the total earnings? Payout button helps the seller to see his/ her total earnings for the week and when it will be received to his/ her registered bank account.

FAQ – You have questions? FAQ button can help! It contains several answers to basic questions or even the technical ones.

REWARDS – Stay tuned for exciting promos and special offers that will appear in the Rewards button!

“We created SureTayo with the promise of making the seller-buyer transactions convenient, fast and easy, and I am proud to say that we were able to do it. While we achieved this feat, we in Dragonpay never stopped innovating. We developed the SureTayo app to ensure that we adapt to the needs of our clients,” said Robertson “Dick” Chiang, the founder and Chief Technology Officer of Dragonpay Corporation.

To know more about SureTayo, visit www.suretayo.ph or follow /SureTayoPH on Facebook. You can also download the SureTayo app in the App Store and Google Play.

Taiwan Excellence Inspires the Philippines in Information and Communication Technology

TAIWAN can certainly serve as the Philippines’ role model in information and communications technology (ICT), given its strong foothold in innovation.

For almost three decades, Taiwan has been highly regarded as a vital player in the global IT supply chain, as well as a significant partner for many international brands including Apple, Google, and Microsoft. The ICT sector has therefore become a huge source of pride for Taiwan.

Taiwanese companies hold significant market shares in semiconductors, PCs, mobile devices, broadband appliances, and display products and technologies. Taiwan is the world’s largest supplier of these products, collectively contributing to over 16% of Taiwan’s total GDP.

With the rise of AI and IoT, Taiwan is shifting from an economy based on high-tech manufacturing, to an economy driven by intellectual property and innovation. Taiwan’s high-tech competitiveness includes top talent, a well-developed industrial chain, and a formidable entrepreneurial spirit. These elements combined enable Taiwan’s ICT industry to leverage today’s trends and pave the way for the technology of the future.

The ‘Taiwan Excellence’ experience, organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), will provide businesses ranging from small to large from the Philippines a platform to offer the latest IoT innovations, directly from leading Taiwanese IoT solutions providers. This is a great opportunity to consider how these solutions can enhance one’s own business offering.

The participating companies in this year’s Asia IoT Business Platform (AIBP) held at the Marriott Hotel, Manila are: Accton Technology Corp., a best practice awardee for manufacturing quality; Apacer Technology Inc., a leading producer of industrial SSDs, digital consumer products, and memory modules; Aver Information, award-winning education and communication innovators; ICP DAS, an industrial automation technology innovator and enhancer; and, IEI Integration Corp., a leading industrial computer provider.

‘Taiwan Excellence’ is confident in the Philippines’ ability to progress in ICT, as indicated by its IT sector’s steady spending. “We see progress in the Philippines’ ICT sector and Taiwan will be happy to contribute to this growth and help Filipino enterprises further succeed in their operations,” said Wen-Chung Chang, Director of the Economic Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines.

Taiwan is determined to advocate for innovation, improve employment and income distribution, and to create more balanced regional development, by leveraging the immense momentum of many markets, at present.

According to Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Taiwan moves up to 16th in global competitiveness, a notch higher from the previous year’s ranking. Furthermore, Taiwan has steadily maintained its place as the 4th most competitive economy in Asia as declared in the 2019 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking. With many software and hardware engineers and technological centers and innovation clusters growing organically throughout major Taiwanese cities, Taiwan is on its way to becoming a major startup hub in Asia, and even internationally.

Just how substantial is the potential global economic impact of IoT?
Citing a research report by McKinsey & Company’s Global Institute, ‘Taiwan Excellence’ said the estimate could range to “$3.9 trillion to $11 trillion a year by 2025”. McKinsey has continued a significant expansion In Taiwan with the recently launched regional industrial IoT hub in Taipei, due to its rapid growth in the past 18 months.

Factories could be the strongest driving force behind IoT’s generated value, followed by cities and health.

Pursue passions with greater flexibility with Intel® Core™ i7-powered HP Pavilion x360

Nowadays, pursuing one’s passion takes more than just commitment and hard work. In a world that is connected and made smaller by the internet, it also pays to have equally hardworking and reliable devices and equipment that can help you continuously improve your craft, learn and develop new skills, and reach out to other people who share your interests.

Recently, HP Philippines introduced the Pavilion x360, its latest flagship laptop that boasts of power and unmatched flexibility to help young individuals further pursue their passions and aspirations, in more ways than one.

At a YOUnique Gathering at the Yardstick Coffee in Makati City, HP Philippines welcomed some of the country’s leading bloggers and gave them a first-time, first-hand experience of how the HP Pavilion x360—featuring the latest technology and an ultrathin and light design—is made flexible so passion-driven individuals like them can truly have the means to pursue their interests and freedom to express their individuality, through different points of view.

“HP Pavilion x360 combines power and flexibility not only to meet the discriminating needs of goal-oriented individuals, but also to make it more convenient for them to achieve their passions, no matter where they are, through whatever way they want,” said Dos Roque, HP Philippines Marketing Manager for Personal Systems. “With the HP Pavilion x360 laptop, passionate people now have more power and flexibility in their hands to accomplish goals that they have set for themselves.”

Expressing one’s passion in the internet
The event showcased an intimate audience discussion on expressing one’s passion in the digital age. YouTube influencers Kali Vidanes, Nate Punzalan and Nadine Felice led the conversation as they shared insights on new ways of establishing one’s uniqueness on social media through their passions.

HP also invited the bloggers to express their passion and uniqueness, and test the reliability and flexibility of the HP Pavilion x360 by asking them to create on-the-spot YouTube videos, artistic sketches and drawings, and Instagram-worthy photos using the latest HP laptops in the YOUnique video, design and photo booths.

Among those who made the rounds of the YOUnique booths were Kali, Nate and Nadine, who guested in each other’s vlogs covering the event, entirely created and uploaded using the HP Pavilion x360.

As a highlight of the launch event, a “Passion Show” was held where all the unique content created by the bloggers was showcased, to celebrate their individuality and the flexibility of the HP Pavilion x360.

Achieving one’s passion with flexibility
For people who are always on the go, the HP Pavilion x360 is a convertible personal computer that can serve as a laptop and a tablet. A durable 360-degree geared hinge lets you easily use the HP Pavilion in four modes—work in laptop mode, watch in stand mode, play in tent mode, and write or draw in tablet mode.

The HP Pavilion x360 PC has a micro-edge bezel design which makes the 14-inch screen seem bigger, for a more immersive viewing experience, especially when you need to watch DIY videos and other self-help content to continuously improve your craft. The Full HD IPS touchscreen also helps you navigate sites with ease.

Running on up to 8th generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad-core processor, INVIDIA® MX130 GDDR5 discrete graphics options and a 512GB SSD and 1TB HHD dual storage, the HP Pavilion x360 can handle numerous photo and video editing and curating tasks that come with keeping an online presence and engaging people about your passion and aspirations. On select models, there is the 16GB of Intel® Optane™ memory for storage acceleration.

The HP Pavilion x360 is available in Pale Gold, Sapphire Blue, Natural Silver, and Mineral Silver colors for only P62,990 at all authorized HP reseller outlets nationwide.

GLOBAL SEED EXPERTS GATHER FOR THE 25TH ASIAN SEED CONGRESS IN THE PH Millions worth of business expected to be generated

Hundreds of seed experts, traders and buyers from all over the world are now in the Philippines for the 25th Asian Seed Congress (ASC), the biggest gathering of seed industry players in the world. The ASC is jointly organized by the Asia Pacific Seed Association (APSA) and the Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA). This is the third time that Philippines is hosting this prestigious seed conference.

APSA is the biggest regional seed trade association with more than 600 members from 50 countries, accounting for more than one third of the global seed trade. Since it’s inauguration in 1994 in Chang Mai, Thailand, this exclusive event has attracted close to 2,000 delegates annually, including key executives, officials, legislators and scientists who all share a common stake in the development, production, distribution, regulation, and trade of quality seeds.

Anchored on the concept, “Seed the Future,” the Congress also hopes to reinforce the significant role that the largely ignored tiny seed play in our daily lives, as the main source of our food, clothes, fuel, among other things.

“The Philippines is proud to once again host this year’s Asian Seed Congress, especially as it celebrates its 25th year. Our annual gathering is something that all of us in the seed industry look forward to because it is the time where, together, we learn new seed technologies, exchange views on regulatory trends, network for seed trading, reconnect with colleagues in the industry, experience, explore opportunities for farmers to further grow their businesses, and jointly discuss strategies on how to better promote and protect the industry. We are also excited on the business that will be generated in the trading tables knowing that our regional seed industry is the strongest around the world,” PSIA President Mary Ann Sayoc adds.

APSA President Brenda Dossey for her part said that the organization’s growth to become the largest regional seed association in the world is through the cooperation of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Danish International Development Agency aimed at promoting quality seed production and marketing in the Asia and Pacific Region. Dossey adds that APSA has already established strong linkages with international organizations for economic cooperation and development.

For her part, APSA Secretariat Acting Director May Chodchoey said that “the Asian Seed Congress facilitates a prime opportunity for stakeholders to get together in one place where delegates can network, grow their business and get updates on the latest industry developments and technologies, to gain an edge in the most populous and lucrative region in the world.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said that while the Philippines may be regarded as one of the emerging leaders, there is still a necessity to explore additional growth in this sector and ensure that is protected by the right regulatory framework. Villar filed Senate Bill 322, which seeks to set up a continuing national program for hybrid and other quality seeds production which hopes to complement the existing SEED Industry Development Act (SIDA).

The two-decade old SIDA is up for amendment and the seed industry is excited looking forward to additional measures that will improve, safeguard and strengthen the country’s seed industry.

PayMaya takes holiday madness to the next level with ‘PayMaya Pa More!’ P10 million raffle promo

PayMaya is ringing in the holiday cheer–whether it’s shopping online or at the mall, sending money to loved ones, buying load, or even paying for bills—with the launch of its “PayMaya Pa More!” promo, where account holders stand a chance to win as much as P10 million in the grand raffle draw and a myriad of other prizes and cashbacks every day.

With PayMaya, you’ll get more from every cashless transaction from November 8 to December 31 because you get raffle entries for a chance to win P10,000 every day or as much as P10 million in the grand raffle draw just by using your app or card.

Here’s how you can earn raffle entries:

Upgrade your PayMaya account
Send money to friends or family
Shop online or in-store using your PayMaya virtual or physical card
Purchase telco load, gaming pins, or prepaid cable TV credits at the in-app shop
Pay your bills
Pay using PayMaya QR at partner merchants

And because PayMaya is determined to give you more this holiday season, each account holder who completes four out of the six ways to earn raffle entries within the month will get an additional 100 entries in the raffle!

Users can transact using the PayMaya app, PayMaya in Messenger or through PayMaya-powered physical cards to earn raffle entries, wherever applicable.

“Our customers deserve more so we’re giving each PayMaya account holder more than a million reasons–10 million reasons, in fact– to enjoy the holiday season. It’s been another breakout year for PayMaya and the digital payments space as a whole, and we do expect even more Filipinos to hop on and embrace the benefits and convenience of going ‘cashless’ with PayMaya,” said Paolo Azzola, COO and Managing Director at PayMaya Philippines.

Mega discounts and cashbacks for 11/11

To kick off the holiday shopping rush, PayMaya is treating everyone with discounts and cashbacks on 11/11, also known as “Singles’ Day,” a popular shopping event which originated in China.

November 11 is also going to be “Digital Shopping Day” for all PayMaya users because they can get a one-time 11% cashback (maximum of P300) on their PayMaya purchases on that day–including shopping online using their virtual cards, transacting in-store with their physical cards, paying using PayMaya QR, buying telco load and gaming pins at the PayMaya shop, as well as paying their bills using their PayMaya account.

Additional Rewards from Lazada and Zalora

Meanwhile, users who purchase using their virtual or physical PayMaya cards at Lazada will get an additional 50% off their purchases (maximum of P300), with no minimum spend so they can shop to their hearts’ content, on top of other promos for 11/11. Shoppers who are into fashion deals can also get an additional 20% off at Zalora for a minimum purchase of P1,000 using their PayMaya cards on the same day.

“PayMaya is always looking for ways to give better rewards than your credit card or cash this holiday season and beyond. Expect us to give each account holder a little gift from PayMaya with every purchase that they make starting on 11/11. On top of that, you even have a chance to win P10 MILLION! It’s definitely going to be a merry Christmas for all PayMaya users nationwide,” added Raymund Villanueva, Vice President and Head of Growth and Marketing at PayMaya Philippines.

PayMaya is the digital payments arm of Voyager Innovations, the leading technology company in the Philippines backed by PLDT, KKR, and Tencent. To stay updated on the latest promos and discounts from PayMaya, visit stories.paymaya.com/promos or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.