Shopee Launches Manny Pacquiao as its Newest Brand Ambassador for Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

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Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, announces world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as its newest brand ambassador for Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. 

Martin Yu, Associate Director, Shopee Philippines, said, “We are very happy to welcome the holiday season with the Philippines’ People’s Champ, Manny Pacquiao. He is a globally recognized household name and his commitment to achieving excellence in boxing mirrors Shopee’s commitment to giving Filipinos the best online shopping experience. We are thrilled to partner with him for Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale.”

Manny Pacquiao said, “I am honored to be working with Shopee as their newest brand ambassador. My partnership with them will allow me to connect to my Filipino fans in a more exciting way and I am very happy to be working with a company that shares the same commitment to being the best.” 

Manny Pacquiao joins Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

Manny Pacquiao will be featured in a series of initiatives with Shopee to bring fans closer to him: 

● Watch Manny Pacquiao star in Shopee’s latest TVC: stay tuned for Shopee’s latest television commercial starring Manny Pacquiao, which will air on all major TV networks starting October 15.

● Win signed Manny Pacquiao boxing gloves: Shopee will be hosting a nationwide social media contest where fans stand a chance to win ₱200,000 cash prize and signed boxing gloves. 

● Play Shopee exclusive Manny Pacquiao games: Fan-favorite games, Shopee Catch and Shopee Slice, will sport a new look and feature boxing elements to give users a chance to win Shopee coins and vouchers.

Key Highlights for Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale

From October 15 to November 11, the first wave of Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale promises four weeks of exciting promotions. Key highlights include:

● Free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend: Users can avail of free shipping with  ₱0 minimum spend promotions common.

● 50% off deals daily: Consumers can score deals up to 50% off on their favorite products. 

● Category fairs: Shopee will be hosting specially-curated category fairs including Mobiles & Gadgets Sale from October 15 to 17 and Beauty Fair from October 21 to 24. 

● Cashback vouchers: There will be daily cashback vouchers up for grabs.

● Shopee Catch: Users can play Shopee Catch every day at 8PM for a chance to win from a coin pool worth 100,000.

● Shopee Shake: There will be 11 million Shopee coins to be given away in the iconic Shopee Shake game. 

● Win an iPhone 11 from Shopee Live: Viewers of Shopee Live can stay tuned every Friday at 6PM as Shopee will be giving away one iPhone 11.

● Exclusive deals from leading brands: Pampers, Silverworks, Bosch, Unilever, Maybelline, Olay, Pantene, Globe, Anker, Safeguard, Watsons, and Huawei will be participating to giving amazing discounts. 

Find out more about Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale at https://www.shopee.ph/1111. 

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

Max's Restaurant celebrates 74 years of Sarap-to-the-Bones with 'Sorpresang Sarap' Mystery Box

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“The House That Fried Chicken Built” and the beloved culinary heritage brand responsible for Sarap-To-The-Bones goodness turns 74 this October. In celebration of its birthday, Max’s Restaurant offers a special treat: all dine-in transactions with a regular or family-sized whole fried chicken can avail of a special pick from the Mystery Box containing Sorpresang Sarap coupons for only Php 74.

Available from October 11 to 24, these bonus Sorpresang Sarap coupons give guests the chance to win one random item from an exciting, delectable list of freebies: a feast for 10 persons complete with Max’s signature dishes, a Regular Crispy Pata, Kare-Kare, a Regular Whole Fried Chicken, Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, Chicken Sisig, a Small Pancit Canton, Fresh Lumpiang Ubod, or a 1.75L bottle of Pepsi.

Redemption of Sorpresang Sarap coupons is valid for dine-in only from October 11 to December 24, 2019 at any Max’s Restaurant branch nationwide.

Max’s Kabisera, the Bonifacio Global City neighborhood destination for classic and modern Filipino dishes, also celebrates its first anniversary this month, launching NEW appetizing dishes now available for dine-in, take-out, and catering transactions. Savor the flavor of Max’s Kabisera’s version of the classic Chicken Inasal for only Php 299. For grilled chicken lovers out there, the Grilled Boneless Chicken Thigh Fillet combo meal and Griled Boneless Chicken Thigh Fillet 2-piece platter at only Php 424 will surely satisfy cravings and get more bang for your buck. All plates include Peanut Sauce, Toyomansi, Pinakurat with Honey and Cucumber, and Achara on the side.

“As a sign of our unwavering appreciation and gratitude to the millions of Filipinos who’ve supported Max’s Restaurant in the last 74 years, we have these special promos and new menu items that will surely delight our customers’ dining experience,” said Mark De Joya, Marketing Director for Max’s Restaurant. “We’re committed to uphold the excellence in our quality and service as the flagbearer of Filipino cuisine and culture.”

ADULTING #FEELS ON COKE STUDIO SEASON 3

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Rapper Al James and indie band Lola Amour felt an instant rapport when they met to discuss their Coke Studio Season 3 collaboration. 

“Match yung energy namin! They’re all so young so you feel that youthful vibe from them,” Al James said of their first meeting. 

On Lola Amour’s part, lead singer Pio Dumayas has this to say on working with a hip-hop artist, “We really believe that there is strength in numbers and so adding one more genre to the music can only be good. For us, we were just thinking of what could make a great song.”

Lola Amour is composed of eight musicians, seven of whom were part of a marching band in De La Salle Zobel and the youngest member is from the Philippine High School of the Arts. Joining Pio are backing vocalist and keyboardist Martin Kim, backing vocalist and bassist Raymond King, guitarist Mico Fernandez, guitarist Zoe Gonzales, trumpeter Angelo Messina, saxophonist JoxxPerez and drummer Renzo Santos. 

Raymond speaks for the band when he says, “Music is what keeps us sane…especially at this stage when we’re starting to face responsibilities…adulting na kami!” 

And Al echoes this sentiment. “Early on, from childhood, music started as an escape from reality until it became a kind of therapy, especially ngayon sa life and career ko…”

Pio puts it this way—"Music is what helps us to see, to see each other and who we really are.” And who they are is a unique combination of verve, spunk and swag, all rising to the challenge of adulting under the spotlight.

Watch Al James and Lola Amour as they collaborate on Coke Studio Season 3. Catch them on October 19, Saturday, at 10 a.m. on ABS-CBN or on https://www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH.

How to get your own native tree through GCash Forest

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You may have seen it on your Facebook feed before: use mobile wallet GCash and help save the environment.

Through its feature GCash Forest, GCash allows users to be green warriors in their own right by using the app for transactions, eventually earning them points corresponding to a tree.

Upon earning enough points, users may choose a native tree to adopt, an actual sapling to be planted at the Ipo watershed, where GCash aims to plant 365,000 trees in a year, or 1,000 trees a day.

The virtual turned real this month when GCash and partner organization WWF brought several GCash users to the Ipo Watershed in Bulacan. The select group includes those who accomplished the feat of earning at least 20,000 green energy points.

For them, it was an opportunity to get involved in action that would help ensure a healthy environment for the future.

BPO worker and financial adviser Rodolfo Villena Jr. first learned of GCash Forest through a pop-up ad on his computer screen.

“I said sige try ko, wala naman mawawala. Binasa ko, OK, virtual way to plant a tree. Sabi they will plant a tree for you,” he said.

He was happily surprised when, after earning nearly 23,000 green energy points, he was selected as one of the GCash users to join a tree-planting activity on Oct. 12.

“One-of-a-kind experience siya--this is it, pinaghirapan ko itanim ito. It's a chance na not all are qualified to do so ang galing, alam mong ikaw mismo magtatanim ng puno, na-earn mo. You're not just expecting someone to plant for you,” he said.

So how did RJ earn all his green energy points? By using GCash as frequently as he could.

A GCash user for over three years now, RJ said he uses GCash to purchase mobile phone load (even for his friends) and do bank transfers for money he eventually uses for bills payments, which he also does via GCash. He also uses GCash to invest and save, and GCredit when he runs out of funds in his GCash wallet.

RJ frequently uses payment via QR codes, and GCash-to-GCash transfers for his Grab Car. His driver sends him the week's earnings via GCash.

“Bank transfers talaga ang nagpabilis nitong points ko. Minsan I earn 300 energy points for a single bank transfer. I also use QR code, nakaka-engganyo kasi ‘pag may vouchers, bili ka ng bili,” he said.

Phone banker Lorna Jane Andales also learned of GCash Forest through an online ad. A GCash user since April, she has earned 21,962 green energy points by using GCash for bills payments, fund transfers and prepaid load.

“From the very beginning of GCash Forest, I have been so excited to see the outcome. I didn't imagine that I would personally see it,” said Lorna, who was part of the first batch of tree-planters brought by GCash to the Ipo watershed.

Describing herself as a “progressive activist” for the environment, Lorna said the GCash Forest initiative could help spur collective action.

“It's for every one else, but most of all, Mother Earth. I may not be the most green-inspired person you'll meet but for me, every little thing we do affects Mother Nature. That's why it's very important to do small things to get back and fix Mother Nature. Every little thing counts,” she said.

Curiosity led housewife Edna Lyn Pagulayan, 31, to GCash Forest, and she had no second thoughts about lending a hand.

“I saw an ad on Facebook and when I checked my GCash App I saw a new icon for GCash Forest, got curious and found the objective very interesting and helpful,” she said.

Edna, a home-based travel consultant, has earned 20,752 points through using GCash every day for bills payment, groceries and load, and for fund transfers.

“With GCash, I found a better way to preserve our environment by using cashless transactions. Proud of myself, as I am now able to plant a real yakal tree,” she said.

She hopes more Filipinos would get involved, saying protecting our forests “means giving my children a breath of fresh air now and in the future.”

“I look forward to gain awareness and to see all Filipinos help GCashForest in planting more and more trees for a healthier and livelier ecosystem and environment,” she said.

RCBC, Liga ng mga Barangay work towards financial inclusion

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Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has taken the first steps to bringing its digital financial inclusion initiative to grassroots communities as it gets the support and commitment of Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LNB).

The LNB led by National President Eden Pineda, presented its national executive board resolution stating that the organization is adopting DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso as a growth enabler and capacity-building measure for microenterprises in every barangay and its constituents. DiskarTech is a financial inclusion accelerator platform by RCBC that aims to stimulate economic activity to help uplift the unbanked and underserved Filipinos. 

DISKARTECH AS A NATIONAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION ACCELERATOR PROGRAM. The Liga ng mga Barangay, led by its National President Eden Pineda, recently presented its National Executive Board Resolution to RCBC Chairperson Helen Yuchengco Dee. Also in photo are (from left) RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva and RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo, Chairman James Marty Lim, and Executive Director Jel R. Jiongco. The strategic collaboration will focus on accelerating financial literacy, promoting inclusive digital economy, and empowering local communities. This supports the government digitalization efforts aligned with President Duterte’s 10-point economic agenda on investing on human capital development, and promoting technology and innovation for self-sustaining and inclusive development towards poverty alleviation. This will cover all 42,000 barangays nationwide.

The strategic collaboration will focus on accelerating financial literacy, promoting inclusive digital economy, and empowering local communities. This supports the government digitalization efforts aligned with President Duterte’s 10-point economic agenda on investing on human capital development, and promoting technology and innovation for self-sustaining and inclusive development towards poverty alleviation.

LNB is the official organization of over 42,000 barangays throughout the country. It is committed to providing avenues and assistance to promote welfare and ensure success of the national government’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and National Retail Payments System.

“This financial inclusion accelerator will be pervasive throughout the country as it would address the huge gaps in financial services while reducing the number of unbanked and underserved communities,” said RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva.

By adopting DiskarTech, LNB will be taking an active role in leading workshops and programs on financial education and literacy with the assistance of the DiskarTech National Coordinating Team. They will also be engaging its member municipalities to appoint their own DiskarTech Community Leader (DCL) who will facilitate participation of residents and entrepreneurs in the program.

“DiskarTech will pave the way for the real transformation of our communities nationwide as it would provide opportunities to our constituents, giving them the chance to be part of the formal financial system through technology,” said Liga ng mga Barangay National President Eden Pineda.

In an effort to encourage economic activity, partner sari-sari stores or microenterprises will also be identified as Barangay Digital Community Centers (BDCCs) to serve as the go-to hub of every resident for their financial needs - whether it’s paying bills, depositing savings to their accounts, buying micro insurance or sending money to their loved ones.

With this, RCBC hopes to turbocharge the growth of digital financial transactions in the country from the current one percent to a minimum of twenty percent by next year. Through DiskarTech, this initiaitve hopes to bring to realization the vision of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas of creating a cash-lite and digital economy for greater efficiency, security, interoperability, and affordability.

Joining LNB and 20 other existing partners, a number of private organizations have also signed up recently to join the DiskarTech financial inclusion ecosystem to benefit their respective constituents. These partners include Ka-Entrep Micro and Small Entrepreneurs Organization of the Philippines, Bangko Pangasinan, and Rizal Microbank, among others.

Rural bank Bangko Pangasinan and thrift bank Rizal Microbank also share how DiskarTech would empower the agriculture sector with access to basic financial needs and microfinance loans.

“DiskarTech is an open platform and the way it works is that banks like us can communicate with other banks. Similar to an open banking system, there will be no barriers and it will become interoperable to make it easier to reach and assist the underserved market,” said Gregory De Guzman, Bangko Pangasinan president and COO.

Joseph Lumain, Strategic Partnerships and Special Initiatives head at Rizal Microbank, agrees that DiskarTech will be an effective way to reach numerous individuals at the same time. “Basically, what DiskarTech is offering are the basic services of a bank through digital means. And in an era where almost everyone is tech-savvy, DiskarTech can be the perfect solution to present financial services in an understandable way, and eventually helping answer the issue of financial inclusion.”