EastWest issues EMV-compliant cards

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EastWest Debit Card equipped with EMV and Visa PayWave

In line with with the mandate of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to migrate to the more secure chip technology, EastWest has been issuing EMV and Visa payWave-equipped debit, credit, and Travel Money cards. The bank’s ATM switch is already EMV compliant and all its ATMs are EMV-capable. 

In 2016, ahead of BSP’s deadline, EastWest completed the shift for all its credit cards to EMV & payWave. This was followed in January this year by the release of the EMV & payWave-equipped EastWest Travel Money Card, the first multi-currency prepaid card in Southeast Asia, and EastWest Debit Card.

EastWest has been issuing EMV debit cards as early as May 2015. Customers who opened accounts from that period onwards already have chip cards. Starting this year, EastWest began issuing debit cards that have both EMV and payWave for enhanced security, convenience, and global acceptance. Meanwhile, the bank is providing customers who opened accounts before May 2015, with free debit cards with EMV & payWave to replace their magnetic stripe-only debit cards.

EastWest Debit cardholders are advised to go to their store of account to claim their free replacement cards until May 31, 2017. Card replacement is automatic for non-EMV debit cardholders. 

EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa, and is the global standard in card payment security. Its chip-on-card technology feature serves as an anti-counterfeit fraud solution that provides strong security features against theft, cloning, and card fraud. Meanwhile, Visa payWave is a contactless payment feature for quick tap-and-go transactions. It is also a more secure way of paying because the card does not leave the customer’s hand at checkout.

EastWest’s chip cards are accepted at over 30 million Visa-affiliated establishments worldwide, over 350,000 Visa-accepting online merchants, over 2,000 BancNet-accredited establishments nationwide, and more than 1.9 million ATMs in the Philippines and abroad. Customers can also use the cards to enroll in EastWest Online to enjoy secure and convenient internet banking. In addition, EastWest Debit cards are ideal for receiving remittances from other countries via Visa Direct.

LANDBANK, RiteMed, FINTQ launch #TxtMED medicine loan service

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The partnership between LANDBANK, RiteMed, and FINTQ, the financial technology arm of PLDT and Smart's Voyager Innovations  provide digital access, for affordable and quality medicines within easier reach through the Tamang Alaga TxTMED program – “Kapag kailangan ng gamot, dapat may gamot." 

TxTMED leverages the LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver (LMLS) as a digital platform to provide borrowers the option to allocate a portion of their approved net loan proceeds to purchase medicines.

A first in the country, the medicine loan service allows employees from the government and private sector with payroll accounts with LANDBANK, including Overseas Filipinos to electronically order and purchase medicines through their mobile phones without the hassle of outright cash payment. This is available across all telco providers.

From left) RiteMed Philippines, Inc. General Manager Vincent Patrick Guerrero, LANDBANK SVP Liduvino Geron, LANDBANK President and CEO Alex Buenaventura, LANDBANK EVP Julio Climaco Jr., and FINTQ by PLDT Managing Director Lito Villanueva lead the press launch of the Tamang Alaga TxTMED program at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila.

RiteMed will offer a whole range of maintenance medicines at special prices through TxTMED, where medicines will also be delivered for free.

“This partnership with RiteMed and FINTQ attests to the endless possibilities in terms of financial technology and the value of public-private sector collaboration, as we work towards optimizing digital transactions to improve access to quality healthcare across the country,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Alex V. Buenaventura.

"RiteMed is committed to providing access to quality and affordable medicines for our fellow Filipinos. TxTMED is a collaboration of leaders in the healthcare, telecommunications, and finance industries that enable us to fulfill this mandate," says Vincent Patrick Guerrero, general manager of RiteMed.

“Through technology and the strong backend support of a financial institution, our fellow Filipinos can now carry the burden of chronic illnesses who need to take medicines for life. According to a study by the Department of Health in 2016, households spend 50% on out-of-pocket healthcare expenses when a member of the family is sick," Guerrero adds.

Lito Villanueva, Managing Director of FINTQ

"This is another first in the world in providing access to healthcare through a digital lending channel. A high-impact initiative that promotes universal health care and social support access among Filipinos even at the grassroots, which is a basic human right,” said Lito Villanueva, Managing Director of FINTQ.

"The power of digital lies in its ability to address gaps, and we're confident that the TxTMED service will help bridge access gaps for everyone's benefit," Villanueva stressed.

Reinvent Mother’s Day Memories using Original HP Inks

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Gift-giving is most special when done for loved ones. For children, it’s when they give their parents heart-felt presents—not only on birthdays and Christmas, but on special occasions like Mother’s Day. However, finding the perfect token of appreciation can sometimes be difficult, especially when usual gift ideas become less exciting.

Of course, moms will surely appreciate any form of present. From everyday things to wonderful gestures like spending time with them, moms are mostly easy to please. But for those looking for fresh gift ideas—ones that are original, creatively personalized and can last for years—HP printers and Original HP ink cartridges can definitely help make Mother’s Day gifts even more memorable.

From simply printing out mom’s personal recipes into a DIY book, to designing and ironing-on pictures and decals onto her kitchen apron, HP printers and Original HP ink cartridges assure kids of visually-stunning personalized gifts. And with more than 500 years of combined experience, HP’s ink cartridges deliver 36,000 drops of ink per second to produce lasting prints that reinvent memories, especially when used on HP Photo Paper.

For special moments captured in digital images, creating a personalized photo album is made easy—photographs printed using Original HP ink cartridges remain accurate, vibrant, and fade-resistant, to let mom’s most memorable moments stand out even years after. Original HP ink’s fast-drying and anti-curling properties also make it the ideal tool in creating such personalized gifts that involve high volumes of printing.

So whether it’s crafting a simple graphic greeting card or a hardworking picture collage, gifts for Mother’s Day are always made extra special when printed using reliable HP printers and Original HP ink cartridges, as they are built to work the first time, every time. With equal or minimal effort, compared to searching for the perfect present in stores, using Original HP Ink also makes for low-cost, superior-quality prints for such important occasions.

Indeed, when it comes to a unique way of creating do-it-your-own, personalized gifts that will reinvent memories on Mother’s Day, the HP printer and Original HP Inks are truly the best tools to make each gift-giving moment an unforgettable feat.

Want to reinvent memories today? Head on over to the nearest HP printer reseller to get an HP DeskJet printer and Original HP Inks that can produce print-outs that will last a lifetime.

Ascott to open first property in the north

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The Ascott Limited, world-renowned international serviced residence owner-operator, recently announced it will be opening its first property in the northern part of Manila, Citadines Milennium Ortigas Manila. Developed by property developer, CDC Holdings, the milestone property is strategically located in the central business and commercial district of Ortigas. The serviced residence is also the 7th property in the fast-growing Ascott Philippine cluster, set to open in the second quarter of this year.

Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila is just a stone’s throw away from Ortigas’ row of corporate establishments including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Philippine Stock Exchange as well as health and lifestyle hubs such as malls, restaurants, and fitness centers. The new property is also easily accessible to other key areas in the metro like Makati City, San Juan, Taguig, and Quezon City. 

“By building Citadines Millenium Ortigas Manila in the central business and commercial district of Ortigas, we are providing young business executives and couples, a space where they can both work and enjoy a dynamic city lifestyle,” said Arthur Gindap, regional general manager, The Ascott Limited, Philippines and Thailand.

The 32-storey, 293 contemporary apartments also offers spacious units to its residents. Each unit is fully equipped with necessary home amenities such as a fully functioning kitchen and wireless internet. 

Elsie Chua, president and chief executive officer of CDC Holdings, shared, “All throughout the building, from the lobby to the amenities to the serviced residence floor, we have applied greenery and green features so residents may find serenity and beauty of nature amidst the bustling city.”

Citadines Millenium Ortigas Manila has also incorporated energy-and water-saving features throughout the property to help reduce carbon footprint. The building was built to conform to global environmental specifications by using energy-efficient lighting, which makes use of LED lights that burn less energy. 

Apartment toilets feature water-saving fittings like the dual flush toilet cisterns to cut down on water consumption. Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila makes good use of natural lighting and ventilation to minimize environmental impact. More importantly, the apartments have double-glazed windows that prevent unwanted heat from coming in and help reduce medium to high frequency noise from outside. 

The property also features pockets of green with its garden deck found at the building’s 4th floor, as well as guests’ lounge, swimming pool, and fitness center where guests and residents are rest assured to have an enjoyable stay. 

The artsy vibe is also reflected all throughout the building. Apartment designs also incorporate touches of indigenous art to provide total local experience and home-y vibe to its residents. It is uniquely mixed with bio-mimicry that showcases designs bearing elements of nature such as stones, grass, leaves and chartreuse colors. 

BRAVE Nights at Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space

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Van Gogh pop art

Van Gogh Pop Art X Coffee Cupping and BRAVE Nights at Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space: Celebrating good food, coffee and art appreciation while championing plight of society’s most abused sectors 

“Little steps can go a long way,” says Michiko Unso, artist and Managing Partner of Alek Cafe + Kitchen. Unso knows whereof she speaks.

Unso has been rabidly supporting BRAVE, a series of JCI Makati Princess Urduja Empowerment Project for Women, Abused Children, and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) communities.

Driven and indefatigable, Unso’s foremost passions include food and the performing arts. When she and some partners thought of putting up a restaurant business, they knew that it couldn’t be just any run-of-the-mill establishment.

Thus, Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space was born which serves good coffee, food, and other beverages (try the Alchemist Coffee which is a winner) while supporting the arts in all its many forms and the advocacies that Unso champions.

“When we conceptualized this space, I wanted to support local artists, ’yung mga gustong mag-exhibit. We (will) sell the art pieces and proceeds will go to the artist and to BRAVE,” recalls Unso.

The first artist featured at Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space is Paul Anthony Gustilo who has held overseas exhibits most notably at the Art Square Gallery in Kuala Lumpur in 2013. Since he ventured into the visual art in 1992, Gustilo has had many combined solo and group exhibits overseas and in the Philippines in venues such as the Heritage Gallery in SM Megamall, Shangri-La Plaza mall, and the Ayala Mall in Cebu. 

Visual artist Paul Anthony Gustilo and Mikaelah Alekssandra Unso

Gustilo was an easy choice, says Unso. “Several artists showed us samples of their artwork. One of our first considerations was that the pieces should be a good fit for the artsy yet intimate vibe of the place, nothing gory since we’re a hit among the Legazpi Village crowd during lunchtime.”

Gustilo comes from a family of artists since his father is a doctor-slash-painter while his grandfather used to be a background artist at Walt Disney Studios in the ‘80s. Gustilo’s exhibit is dubbed “Van Gogh Pop Art” which features works that are an interpretation of the great but tortured Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh’s immortal works.

“Yung klase ng art n’ya (Gustilo), pop art pero based sa mga classics like Van Gogh’s works,” says Unso. Van Gogh’s works are characterized by bold colors and dramatic, impulsive, and expressive brushwork that contributed to the foundations of modern art. 

Gustilo shares that he has only recently dabbled into pop art. “In one of our international exhibits, binansagan nila akong rocker artist because of the boots I was wearing.”

At Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space, one is treated to a multidimensional experience that is at once relaxing, challenging, and satisfying to all the senses. “I think that it’s a good idea to teach people to appreciate local artists, local food, and coffee and its many categories,” says Unso.

When Unso talks about her journey towards coffee appreciation, it is with feverish enthusiasm. Coffee beans come in three waves, says Unso --- the first wave, the second wave, and the third wave. Their beans at Alek belong to the third wave; they are not mass-produced and go under strict quality control. “We do our own blend, the roasting is fresh, and we use single origin beans, which means that every type of coffee bean comes from one country, one province, one city, and one farm.” Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space also supports local farmers since Arabica beans which are pricey are only grown in high altitude places in the country like Benguet and Sagada.

Mosang (Photo Credit : Trixie Dauxz)

Unso derives comfort from having happily welded all her passions --- food, the arts, and women’s, children’s and LGBTQ’s rights --- into one tastefully-designed space at the heart of a primarily business district that is Makati. Located at the Ground Floor of Builders Centre, 170 Salcedo St. in Legazpi Village, Makati, Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space has begun “Brave Nights,” which started last April 17, with a new presentation this May 13 and every month afterwards.

Kathy Arguelles (photo credit Trixie Dauz)

“Brave Nights” are monologues and spoken word on issues of women and the LGBTQ community performed by different artists which some of them wrote themselves. “Kahit sa maliit na lugar, mahalaga na magkaroon sila ng boses,” stresses Unso. 

The opening monologue during the April 17 showcase was Suffragette, written by Jose Victor Torres, it was about a "traditional" and "subservient" wife having a conversation with her congressman husband about the right of women to vote.

The next monologue, entitled Kiriring (from the play Kiriring, Aida, at Macaraig), an emotionally exhaustive take on physical, emotional and sexual abuse that resulted to her acquiring the dreaded HIV virus.

The third featured monologue, This is My Life, is a bitter sweet representation on the life of an aging gay performer.It was one part nostalgia, one part laugh out loud moments. all part truthful. The many ups and downs of the performer's life mirrored through the Shirley Bassey pop aria.

Capping the first edition of "Brave Nights" was Petunia, a monologue of a woman in her twilight years, who made a vow to enjoy the best years of her life while doing the things she love - dancing, singing and loving herself more. 

Unso is progressive-minded and is quick to clarify that AIDS is not the only issue that the LGBTQ community struggles with. “Discrimination is everywhere, most notably in the workplace. Hindi ka puwedeng magsuot-babae if you’re gay kapag sa isang kompanya ka nagta-trabaho.”

Mikaelah Alekssandra and Michiko Unso

Named after Unso’s tall and lovely 14-year-old daughter Mikaelah Alekssandra, Alek Café + Kitchen + Art Space is a fusion of the things that affect us in our daily lives in both cerebral and visceral ways. “Hopefully, in our little way, we will be able to teach people to appreciate good food and care more for people and local artists,” concludes Unso.