YouTube Shopping launches in the Philippines, expanding partnership with Shopee in Southeast Asia

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YouTube, in partnership with Shopee, launches YouTube Shopping in the Philippines. With this launch, the YouTube Shopping affiliate program is now available in six countries across Southeast Asia, further fueling the burgeoning video commerce in the region. YouTube Shopping seeks to elevate the purchase experience and create more opportunities for viewers, content creators, and even advertisers.

Camille Co, Vincent Lee,Sapna Chadha,Tyron Syling,Mond Salem

Viewers can now seamlessly find and buy the things they love while watching content from their favorite creators. The YouTube Shopping affiliate program transforms video e-commerce from links in the description box to actual and direct product tagging – no more extra clicking, endless searching, or switching between websites. All they have to do is check out!

The launch of the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program in the Philippines offers exciting opportunities for both Shopee sellers and content creators. Shopee sellers can now expand their reach by collaborating with an even broader network of content creators through this partnership, giving them the opportunity to tap into a highly engaged, incremental audience and drive sales like never before. This seamless connection between creators and sellers accelerates product discovery, amplifies brand reach, and ultimately enhances conversion rates.

For eligible local creators, this partnership unlocks new business opportunities, enabling them to monetize their influence by promoting products to an audience they have already built connections with. As consumers in the Philippines increasingly seek engaging, content-driven shopping experiences, this collaboration meets their evolving expectations.

Tapping on the rise of video commerce and creator economy in the Philippines

Southeast Asia is one of the world's fastest-growing e-commerce markets, with video commerce having surged to 20% of the region’s e-commerce gross merchandise value in 2024–a fourfold increase since 2022[1]. At the same time the Philippine creator economy is thriving, with over 450 channels with more than one million subscribers, and over 6,000 channels with more than 100,000 subscribers[2].

Driving this growth is a shift from traditional discovery to a video-first shopping experience, with consumers looking to online content with creators they trust for information and entertainment. On YouTube, creators are more than just entrepreneurs and cultural influencers – they are trusted advisors on behalf of brands. A global study reveals that online users are 98% more likely to trust recommendations from YouTube creators compared to other social platforms. This trust translates directly into purchase confidence. In fact, YouTube drives 3.8 times greater purchase intent than other social platforms on averages[3].

This underscores viewers’ trust in creators' recommendations and their desire for authentic product reviews and demonstrations ultimately leading to conversion. Consumers are looking to search- and video-led entertainment to enrich their shopping experience, and this deep engagement with trusted creators on YouTube underscores the platform’s unique position to power this.

According to a Kantar study on shopping behaviors among Southeast Asian Gen Zs, eight in ten Gen Z respondents desire entertaining shopping experiences reinforcing the importance of content in their shopping journey. Furthermore, despite exploring alternative channels for product discovery, 63% of Filipino Gen Z respondents still prefer to complete their purchases on e-commerce platforms, making this partnership between YouTube and Shopee highly synergistic in creating an integrated, seamless shopping experience.

Sapna Chadha, Vice President for Google Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier said, “Southeast Asia is shaping the future of shopping with its powerful combination of a deeply engaged video-first audience, a profitable digital economy, and a vibrant creator community. We’re thrilled to bring YouTube Shopping to the Philippines—making Southeast Asia home to six out of nine countries globally that have it. Just seven months since our regional debut, we’re seeing strong traction across creators, sellers, and advertisers already. Building on this early momentum, YouTube Shopping will continue to grow, unlocking new opportunities for viewers, creators, brands, and partners across this dynamic region.”

Vincent Lee, Head of Shopee Philippines shared, “At Shopee, we are committed to delivering engaging shopping experiences that integrate content, community, and commerce. Our partnership with YouTube Shopping is a significant milestone for our brands and sellers, allowing them to connect with creators and harness their influence to drive sales effectively. This collaboration also opens up exciting opportunities for the growing number of Filipino content creators to monetize their creativity while promoting products that resonate with their audiences. As the digital economy continues to expand, our commitment is to support sellers and creators alike, helping them thrive in this evolving landscape."

Earn more with YouTube Shopping affiliate program for creators

With the YouTube Shopping affiliate program, creators can tag products in existing and new videos, as well as pin them during live streams. The full list of tagged products and information about each product is made available at a glance in the description section and ‘Product’ section of the video. Clicking on a product will lead viewers directly to an external sales page on Shopee, for a seamless purchase.

The YouTube Shopping affiliate program complements existing monetization options that empower Filipino creators to engage their audience and build deeper connections beyond immediate sales. These include tools such as Ads Revenue, YouTube Premium Revenue, Channel Memberships, Super Thanks, Super Chat and Super Stickers.

In just seven months since YouTube launched the YouTube Shopping affiliate program in Southeast Asia, the program has delivered impressive results and fantastic momentum.

For example, Mai Trinh Hồ, a beauty and fashion creator known for her honest reviews, joined the YouTube Shopping affiliate program in the last quarter of 2024 and has already seen her revenue increase by almost five times. Another case is that of Jagat Review, a tech creator from Indonesia, shared that his earnings from the YouTube Shopping affiliate program made up a whopping 50% of his channel's total earnings between July and October of last year.

Now that YouTube Shopping is launched in the Philippines, creators like Camille Co are excited – she is already sharing her favorite makeup products by tagging them on her videos.

“I always get asked where I got this and that makeup or clothing or home stuff on my vlogs and for a long time, it’s been challenging to share them all.” Co said. “Now with YouTube Shopping, it’s so much easier to share these products that I love and truly believe in. A huge plus also for me because I get to earn on the side while doing so!”

Mond Salem of Hardware Voyage, a Filipino tech channel, is also optimistic about the feature. “I’m so excited about YouTube Shopping finally being in the Philippines! I’m looking forward to me and my fellow creators earning more with featured product sale commissions,” he said.

Reach and engagement opportunities for brands and advertisers

For advertisers, YouTube Shopping opens new doors to reach and engage more consumers, driving better business outcomes.

By enabling advertisers to directly connect partnership ads with relevant creator content, it will shorten the customer journey from discovery to sale. Brands can also use creator videos both long and short with product feeds in campaigns to expand reach to new customers across YouTube. For example, L’Oréal Thailand combined its campaign with the YouTube Shopping affiliate programme and achieved 10X more high-intent views, with a cost-per-visit twice as efficient as previous campaigns.

Since launching the YouTube Shopping affiliate program across the region, YouTube and Shopee have witnessed active usage and purchase across different categories such as Beauty, Mobile & Gadgets, and Home & Living. This shows the diverse product range and significant potential for creators to influence consumer purchasing decisions. As YouTube Shopping continues to gain momentum in Southeast Asia, it strengthens its position as a transformative force in the video commerce and creator economies.

To learn more about enabling YouTube Shopping on your channel, click here.

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About YouTube

Launched in May 2005, YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share and build community through our stories. YouTube is a Google company.

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.  

[1] eConomy SEA Report 2024

[2] YouTube Internal Data

[3] Commissioned Kantar Context Lab Meta Analysis- 2018-2023.

“Ano ba ang katotohanan?”: an all-original Filipino musical set to unveil a new perspective on the greatest story ever told

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In an era where misinformation spreads faster than light and truth seems to wear many faces, the question asked over 2,000 years ago by one of the most divisive persons in history still reverberates with haunting relevance: “Ano ba ang katotohanan?” This serves as the heartbeat of Pilato, an all-original Filipino musical set to captivate audiences this April at the PETA Theater Center.

With its daring perspective and poignant relevance, the production revisits the so-called “greatest story ever told”--the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ--through the eyes of Poncio Pilato, a man caught at the crossroads of power, faith, and duty.

The musical traces Pilato’s journey from his early ambitions in Rome to his appointment as prefect of Judea, a province brimming with religious and political unrest. There, Pilato’s every decision is scrutinized by a constellation of figures: the enigmatic historiographer, Josepo; the calculating high priest, Caiaphas; his wise and foreboding wife, Procla; and Hesus, a mysterious and magnetic presence rumored to be the King of the Jews.

In a time when Holy Week invites reflection and as the country approaches the critical 2025 elections, Pilato emerges as a vital meditation on truth in all its complexity. Through haunting melodies and powerful storytelling, it challenges us to confront the choices we make as individuals and as a society.

“Information comes to us in countless forms and modes. But how do we sift through the chaos to uncover the truth? Would we even recognize the truth if we meet it face-to-face?” shares writer-director Eldrin Veloso. “Essentially, that is what the play hopes to put out there--a journey that dares to unravel the mystery of truth’s many faces. With our society on the brink of a post-truth era, I believe this is a story that demands to be told, now more than ever.”

With a cast of seasoned musical theater artists and gifted newcomers, Pilato offers an emotional and intellectual journey unlike any other. It is a poignant reminder that even after two millennia, the search for truth remains both our greatest burden and our ultimate salvation.

This marks the inaugural theatrical venture of The Corner Studio, a creative agency renowned for weaving compelling narratives through its expertise in branding, production, marketing, and design. Now, it steps boldly onto the stage, bringing its storytelling vision to life in a new dimension.

Don’t miss Pilato on April 4 at 8pm for its world premiere and on April 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 at 3pm and 8pm, at the PETA Theater Center.

Tickets are now available at pilato.helixpay.com. Follow them on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

SYNOPSIS

Set during Roman rule in Judea, the musical examines Pilato’s moral and political struggles as he grapples with his responsibilities as governor, his own ambitions, and the growing presence of Hesus, whose teachings and actions challenge the status quo.

ACT I

Pilato arrives in Judea under the blazing sun of Rome’s ambition, determined to impose imperial order on a land guided by ancient faith. Flashes of his Roman upbringing—his father’s stern lessons in power—flicker through his mind as he strives to shape his own legacy. Josepo, the Jewish historian assigned to document his rule, silently observes Pilato’s struggle to comprehend a people steadfast in their devotion. Clashes erupt when Pilato introduces Roman symbols in Jerusalem, inciting protests led by the High Priest Caiaphas, whose resolve underscores that faith can eclipse any empire’s might. An ambitious aqueduct, built with funds taken from the temple treasury, deepens the city’s outrage and tests Pilato’s leadership. Only Procla, Pilato’s wife, offers a counterpoint to his relentless pursuit of renown, urging leadership in a land brimming with simmering tension. As rumors of a new teacher named Hesus ripple across Judea, Act I closes with the land poised on the brink of an event that will threaten the balance of power, ambition, and even freedom.

ACT II

Against the vibrant backdrop of Pesach, Hesus enters Jerusalem bearing a message of the divine truth that captivates the crowds—some revere him as a prophet, others denounce him as a threat. Caiaphas, wary of the volatile crowds and eager to avert unrest, views Hesus’ teachings as a spark that could ignite rebellion. Upon his manuevering, Hesus is arrested and brought before Pilato. The governor then hopes to shift responsibility by sending him to Herodes, but the mockery that ensues only sends Hesus back, leaving Pilato to weigh the demands of politics against his own moral misgivings. Procla’s dream warns that condemning an innocent man invites dire consequences, yet pressure from advisors and the clamor of the crowd lead Pilato to offer a stark choice: spare Hesus or release another prisoner. The crowd condemns Hesus, forcing Pilato’s hand. In a final, symbolic act, he washes his hands of the sentence, attempting to cleanse himself of guilt as Hesus is led to crucifixion. That is how the story ended.

That’s how we know the story ended. Led by Josepo’s prodding, the play revisits the whole story once more, reading between the lines, poking on the holes, and offering an alternative narrative. Eventually the two figures will have their arguments converge in the point of singularity of this narrative: the echoing question “Ano ba ang katotohanan?”

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” returns to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

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Mariah Carey continues her reign as the undisputed Queen of Christmas with “All I Want For Christmas Is You” returning to the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 this week.

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The undisputed “Queen of Christmas” also dropped a behind-the-scenes look at her sold-out tour, ‘Merry Christmas One and All!’

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The pop megastar has logged in a total of 13 weeks on the top of the chart since its release in 1994, making it the biggest holiday song of all time.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” also makes history as it scores a record-breaking 16 weeks on top of the Billboard Global 200 chart, which ranks songs based on streaming and sales activity compiled from more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

To mark its global dominance and impact, an activation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia has gone viral featuring Mariah Carey getting “defrosted from a giant Christmas snowball.” After seeing the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Globe campaign that blew up on social media platform, X, Mariah acknowledged the tweet with a positive response complete with celebratory emojis.

In addition to the celebration of the song’s overwhelming success, Mariah Carey has released The Merry Christmas One And All! mini documentary, which gives music fans an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at her sold-out arena tour, Merry Christmas One and All!.

Embracing the festive spirit with unmatched enthusiasm, the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter also gifted her "festive lambs" with a brand-new music video, "All I Want For Christmas Is You (Festive Lambs Edition)."

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Listen to the playlist here, which includes Mariah’s iconic holiday smash.

HBO GO’s fiercest female characters redefine ‘girl power’ : Celebrate Women’s Month with these inspiring ladies of style and substance! Watch ‘em all only on HBO GO, powered by PLDT Home!

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From Effie White with her amazing voice and personality that arrested everyone in the room in Dream Girls (2006) to Imperator Furiosa with her willingness to put her life on the line to free the Five Wives in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), aren’t we all glad to have strong female role models across pop culture to inspire young ladies growing up?

With more women at the helm of productions in recent years, more of these girl power-focused tropes have come to life — with their stories of individuality, resilience, strength, and womanhood front and center.

HBO GO celebrates Women’s Month by spotlighting some of these heroines and their inspiring journeys. From Gossip Girl’s misunderstood queen bee to Batwoman’s self-effacing medic, meet strong, relatable women and discover their stories only on HBO GO — powered by PLDT Home’s fastest connections. For only P149 a month or P299 for three months, access HBO GO’s library of award-winning series and blockbusters conveniently charged to your monthly bill!

Get to know and maybe learn a few life lessons along the way from these female icons. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Gossip Girl’s Julien Calloway

She’s as moneyed as an Upper East Sider as she’s influential as an Instagram celeb. With her shaved head and supermodel bod, Julien (Jordan Alexander) rocks as the new Queen Bee of Constance in this Gossip Girl reboot.

Make no mistake, though: While usually nice, JC uses her Serena van der Woodsen-esque charm and Blair Waldorf-trademarked sense of authority to her advantage. In the recently concluded first season, she shows off a backbone of steel — defying her father’s wishes to connect with her half-sister Zoya and then confronting him about his sexual abuse allegations. In contrast to the OG GG queens though, Julien exhibits more accountability. In one episode, right at Zoya’s birthday party, she realizes she has gone too far in bullying her sister that she asks everyone in the crowd to record her unexpected “I’m a bully” admission.

Stream Gossip Girl now on HBO GO.

And Just Like That…’s Seema Patel

As the overdue follow-up series to the iconic Sex and the City, And Just Like That… proves that women can hold their own — no matter the decade or phase in life.

The show may have its original leads in Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte, but no one translates this message more than 50-something realtor Seema (Sarita Choudhury). A new addition to the series, Seema is a breath of fresh air — playing a major role in showing the recently-widowed Carrie that there is still more to life after Mr. Big’s death. She even helps her find a new apartment! Unabashed and opinionated, Seema points out Carrie’s mistakes including this one insensitive — albeit unintentional — remark on her love life and age.

Stream And Just Like That… now on HBO GO

KIMI’s Angela Childs

Trauma affects people in different ways — Angela (Zoë Kravitz), a sexual assault victim too scarred to step out of her Seattle loft, knows.

Angela works from home as a data monitor for Amygdala, a tech firm whose products include a smart speaker that uses human monitoring to improve its search algorithm called Kimi (think Amazon’s Alexa). It’s the perfect job for her until she hears a terrifying voice recording that has her suspect someone is being assaulted.

Angela reports the incident to her superiors, but none believe her — an experience she knows too well after being disbelieved for her own assault. In this new scenario, she finally musters the courage to check out what’s beyond her front door and gather enough evidence to make a case. Even as she discovers that the higher-ups at work are involved, there is no stopping her.

Stream KIMI now on HBO GO.

The Girl Before’s Jane Cavendish

Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), after suffering from a traumatic stillbirth, ran away to escape her pain by renting a gorgeous home in One Folgate Street owned by an eccentric architect, Edward (David Oyelowo).

Despite red flags (strict rules, cameras everywhere, no personal possessions inside), Jane decides this is the perfect place for her to heal. She even develops a romantic relationship with Edward but everything changes upon learning about Emma, the previous tenant who has more than a passing resemblance to her had mysteriously died. Feeling a connection and wanting to find answers, a suspicious, justice-seeking Jane is led down a dangerous rabbit hole.

Stream The Girl Before now on HBO GO.

Land’s Edee Holzer

Feeling extremely guilty after losing her family in a theater shooting, sole survivor Edee Holzer (Robin Wright) physically isolates herself in the mountains of Alberta, Canada. It’s as if Edee came to the mountains to die, as she leans on her pain and lives off-grid with no survival know-how.

After a bad snowstorm destroys her new home, she meets Miguel (Demián Bichir), a hunter who teaches her how to hunt and rebuild her home. Edee finds solace in her new friend, who also lost his family. Edee finally lets herself grieve for her own loss as she navigates her way back to the life she had left.

Stream Land on HBO GO from March 19.

Batwoman’s Mary Hamilton

In the dark city of Gotham City, the Batwomen— Ryan Wilder and Kate Kane — are fighting with its villains. On the other side of the coin is the cheerful Dr. Hamilton (Nicole Kang), who has hers anchored on nursing. She supports Kate upon learning of the latter’s identity as the female caped crusader.

Despite numerous setbacks, including becoming Poison Ivy and turning on her friends, Mary proves that strong women can do what’s right to help others. In an episode, Mary stops supervillain Alice from blowing up the Gotham Dam and saves thousands in the city.

Stream Batwoman now on HBO GO.

Watch, discover, and be inspired by stories of strong female icons only on HBO GO, powered by PLDT Home’s fastest connections. Enjoy HBO’s collection of award-winning content with the undisputed fastest broadband network in the Philippines, as recognized at the Ookla Speedtest Awards.

For more information on how to enjoy HBO GO with your PLDT Home subscription, please visit the official website at pldthome.com/hbogo.