Adapting to the new normal: Fintech is bedrock of digital services as PH fights pandemic

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The pandemic has changed the way Filipinos deal with everyday life. Today, services are now delivered through digital platforms, and adjusting to this new reality may come in with some form of learning curves.

Now, Filipinos are advised to leverage digital technologies and smartphone apps in conducting day-to-day activities to reduce their risks of contracting COVID-19 outside their homes. For most, working from home has become the new normal, and social interaction is now being done through social networking sites and messaging apps.

Some Filipinos also have turned to online marketplaces for their groceries, medicines, and other supplies, and some have also maximized the use of food delivery apps and ordering services to minimize their time outside of their homes.

Suddenly, many parts of the Philippines have become powered by the digital realm, and payments are now being coursed through digital finance. Today, more and more Filipinos are embracing digital finance, seeing the value that it brings versus conventional cash.

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, alone saw app installations grow by 2x during the community quarantine, while registrations rose by 2.5x, and app referrals increased by another 2x.

“In a world where digital is the new normal, financial technology should be considered the bedrock of digital services. Through digital finance, people have the power to pay for goods and services without the need for physical cash. Aside from the convenience, it is also less risky than cash handling, more efficient than physical payments, and is also very transparent,” GCash Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been promoting the use of digital payments for almost a decade now, adopting several key policies and programs like the National Retail Payments System, and the creation of automated clearing houses for more seamless transactions.

This huge push for digital finance has given birth to a new working target of migrating cash transactions to non-cash. Now, the government aims to increase the share of cashless transactions to 30 percent of the total transaction from the original target of 20 percent.

GCash has been supportive of this shared goal, and has made it easier for Filipinos to adapt into the new normal. Aside from the easier know-your-customer (KYC) process, GCash also offers Filipinos a convenient and very affordable way to transact with merchants both online and offline. Likewise, GCash users may use their digital wallets to pay for bills and government dues, as well as transfer money to almost anyone with a bank or non-bank account.

"We want our customers to be able to use GCash to its full potential. The app has multiple features that would help ease the burden of the average Filipino, from paying their utilities to sending money to their relatives in the provinces. Contactless payments are preferred by many merchants, especially during this time where long lines crowd banks and other shops," Sy said.

With GCash, a simple tap and click would suffice in accomplishing everyday tasks, making financial services more accessible to anyone with a smartphone. Through contactless payments, Filipinos are able to reduce exposure, preventing the spread of the virus from the exchange of money and the use of cards.

Partnering with over 70,000 merchants nationwide, going cashless is an option GCash easily offers, with over 20 million users availing of services like QR code payments, bills payments, and even credit services.

"During this difficult period, GCash stays true to its mission of staying connected. Our services are important, now more than ever, as the Filipino looks for ways to minimize exposure to the virus," Sy said.

Another service GCash has put in place during this crisis is the ability to help, offering a quick and easy way to donate to frontline workers and other marginalized sectors.

"We've also made it easier for the Filipino to help those who are most affected by this global health crisis. Truly, this day and age is now powered by the digital arena, and we all have to learn and adapt to it, as long as this new normal persists,” Sy said. 

Join the Movement: Wear Masks In Public and Block COVID-19

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As the rest of the world works together in flattening the curve due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, several cities and countries have imposed precautionary measures to ensure public safety. These new guidelines will define what the new normal will be for the time being — and it includes wearing masks in public.

Over 13,000 LBC employees nationwide join the mask movement to block COVID-19. Photo Credit: LBC

Wearing masks is now increasingly becoming a global movement where everyone is called to act. Companies, known personalities, and governments all over the world are enjoining everyone to be responsible by wearing masks in public. Online campaigns rallying for people to wear masks have gone viral. What covers up most people’s faces is now an act of solidarity — for friends, families, and neighbors, essential workers, and frontliners. 

The Philippines, which currently holds the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, has also followed suit when the government recently imposed wearing of masks in public.

Recent studies have shown that while masks may not totally prevent transmission of the virus, it aids in reducing it especially after asymptomatic cases have been confirmed in different parts of the world. Coupled with other acts like social distancing, frequent handwashing, and staying at home, wearing masks can help save lives.

People and organizations are doing it not just for themselves, but for others too.

Local conglomerates, like LBC Group of Companies for example, are helping advocate for wearing reusable masks in public. With most of its employees acting as frontliners by delivering essential goods to households, wearing masks is not just a mandatory — but also a welcome act of being one with the Filipinos in flattening the curve. Its employees nationwide join the new normal and wear masks. In just a sheer number of days, the company was able to mobilize its 13,000-strong workforce to help save not just themselves but also, other people.

Creativity is also in action. While personal protective equipment and surgical masks are reserved for medical frontliners, people found a way to create their own: from bra masks to homemade masks made from old fabrics. Online businesses, like swimwear shop Pearlypop Swimwear, have also found ways to be creative by reinventing its product line and starting to sell reusable masks for shipping

Celebrities are on the frontlines of the movement too using their influence to educate the public about the importance of wearing masks. Filipino personalities like Iza Calzado, Tweetie de Leon, and Tim Yap have challenged friends and families to support the movement while Hollywood actress Sophia Bush hit close to home by sharing who she’s masking for. 

These are just some of the examples of how wearing masks have now become more than just a call for safety, but a call for solidarity too.

Feel good this Mother’s Day with this tribute to moms and frontliners

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This Mother’s Day may feel a little tougher than usual because of the challenging times we live in, but that doesn’t mean it has to be cancelled this year.

NutriAsia, the leading producer and distributor of sauces and condiments in the Philippines — home of well-loved brands Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC, Mang Tomas, and Papa, decided to pay tribute to the wonderful moms who have always been there for us through a funny but heartwarming Mother’s Day video of a son asking his mom for some help in cooking.

NutriAsia pays tribute to wonderful moms this Mother’s Day with a heartwarming video.

In the video, a son calls his mom up because he needs her help in cooking some ulam with some limited ingredients. The mom adorably does her best to teach her son even though using new technology can be challenging for her.

Showing that a mother knows exactly what to do with what she has, the mom shows her son that even with simple ingredients like a can of luncheon meat, a couple of carrots, and some potatoes in the fridge he can cook a Masarap at Masayang menudo, especially with the help of a pouch of UFC Ready Recipes Menudo Sauce she left in her son’s apartment.

UFC Ready Recipes Sauces are a range of ready to use cooking sauces, made from ingredients such as real tomatoes, selected spices and meat flavors. UFC Ready Recipe Sauces are convenient and easy to use. It is pre-mixed and pre-seasoned, and all you have to do is to pour the sauce and let it simmer. It’s available in different variants like Afritada, Menudo, Caldereta and Mechado.

At the end, it’s revealed that she raised a great, caring kid who looks out for others, as it turns out that he was cooking some food to give away to our brave frontliners!

The video is definitely inspiring and perfect for Mother’s Day, as it shows us that our moms do know best and we can always turn to her for help whenever we need it—and, of course, that the best children are raised by the best mothers.

You too can show your mom some love on Mother’s Day! Easily make a Masarap at Masayang meal for her at home this Mother’s Day! You may visit https://nutriasia.com/recipe/ for recipe ideas!

 https://youtu.be/yMFibXjObdQ

7 Ways to Make Mother’s Day So Much More Special Express your love for mom even while staying home!

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Celebrating Mother’s Day will be a little different this year. But it remains as meaningful as ever because we’re paying tribute to the most special woman in our lives—our moms.

As we celebrate this special day at home, we can still make Mama’s special day remarkable by adding a dash of creativity and resourcefulness to the mix. From serving up the ultimate breakfast in bed to turning your bathroom into a day spa for some much-deserved ‘me’ time for mom, here are seven ways to make Mother’s Day so much more unforgettable even while in quarantine.

Start her day with beakfast in bed

Show up in her bedroom carrying a tray full of her breakfast favorites. But before you do that, make sure you’ve got everything-- bread, eggs, coffee, and some flowers on the side! Luckily, SMDC residents are just an elevator away from supermarkets so whipping up some of her morning favorites is so easy.

She binge-watches, you clean

Let mom binge-watch the latest Netflix shows with her favorite snacks on the side while you clean the house. Make up for those times that she cleaned up after you. After all, helping do the chores is counted as a gift, right?

DIY a sundae bar

These past few days have been extremely hot so why not hold an ice cream party for your mom? Residents across SMDC residences don’t need to worry about their ice cream melting on their way home as convenience stores such as Alfamart are just a few minutes away from their units. So stock up on candies, toppings, and of course, mom’s favorite ice cream flavor, and create a sundae for her.

Do the laundry

Moms usually do the laundry for us. Give her time off from the washing machine by taking on the task! But you don’t know how to do the laundry, you say? Take it to the laundromat! For SMDC residents, doing the laundry is easy as they can bring their laundry to the laundromat downstairs and spend more time with mom!

Cook her favorite dish

Unleash your inner cooking diva as you create mom’s favorite dish for lunch. Get the freshest produce from the nearest supermarket, or, if you live in an SMDC property in the MOA complex, through The Good Guys Market. Check out SMDC’s Facebook page for easy-to-prepare dishes that you can whip up for your mom.

Have a cake delivered to her

Whether you are with your mom or not, you can have a cake delivered to her on her special day. With bakeshops open around SMDC residences, getting a box of Black Forest or Sansrival delivered to her is a piece of cake!

Pamper her in your home spa

Our moms are in desperate need of quality R&R so consider creating a DIY spa at home for her to relax after a long day. Draw her a detoxifying bath infused with sea salt, lavender, and chamomile and let her soak away the stress. After her relaxing bath, she can take care of her peepers with hydrating eye masks. Then you can cap it by touching up her nails and giving her a hand massage using a moisturizing hand cream. Fortunately for SMDC residents, they can get these materials in no time as personal care stores such as Watsons remain open in their vicinity.

Whatever you choose to do for your mom on Mother’s Day, she will surely be happy with it. Because at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you showed your appreciation, gratitude, and love to her.

Five Mother’s Day gifts you can easily get online even while you're staying at home

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It's Mother’s Day  and while we're all on stay-at-home quarantine mode, it’s still more than possible to make your mom feel special on the day of the year that’s just for her! 

With many businesses now opening online stores with delivery and cashless payments options, finding a good gift for your mom should be a breeze. 

Here are some hassle-free gift ideas: 

1. For the movie junkie mom 

If your mom loves movies, why not give her access to all her favorite films and series with a Netflix subscription? You can even set up a movie night for the entire family complete with your go-to snacks. 

Subscribing to Netflix with your PayMaya virtual or physical card is easy. Buying snacks online at supermarkets like Landers and Super8 is also convenient, now that you can pay by simply keying in the mobile number linked to your PayMaya account. You can even score up to 100% Balik Bayad for your purchases!

2. For the mom who’s the senti type 

If you’re feeling a little crafty, you can also create a scrapbook for your mom. Compile photos of your favorite moments together as well as little memorabilia like theme park tickets, and use materials that are readily available at home. Include heartfelt letters from the entire family and get ready for some happy tears from your senti mom. 

If you don’t have art materials available, you can easily order them via National Bookstore at Lazada and pay with your PayMaya account. 

3. For the foodie mom 

What better way to spend a Mother’s Day than with the people she loves most? Plan a nice and warm Sunday meal with the whole family at home, and take the pressure off her hands by having her favorite food delivered. What’s even better is you can order food online at a PayMaya partner restaurant like McDonald's, Goldilocks, Army Navy, Shakey's, Red Ribbon, Chowking, Burger King, Domino's Pizza, Sariwon Korean Barbecue, Soban K-Town Grill, and Sibyullee Unlimited Korean BBQ, and pay using your phone number for up to 100% Balik Bayad! 

4. For the mom who’s practical 

One great way to show your love for your mom who keeps the house together is by helping out with the household expenses. Take care of groceries by ordering online, and settle her bills for her, all with the help of your PayMaya. You can even get P100 Balik Bayad when you pay a PLDT bill worth at least P1,000 this month, as well as P50 Balik Bayad for Smart and Sun postpaid bills. 

5. For the extroverted mom 

Does your mom miss all her friends and relatives? How about setting up one big video call with the whole family to greet her and her fellow moms a happy Mother’s Day? You can make sure you stay connected by buying data packages for your and the rest of her friends at discounted rates through the PayMaya app! 

This Mother's Day, let PayMaya’s help you show just how much you love your mom at the safety and comfort of your own home. 

If you don’t have your own PayMaya account yet, it’s easy to sign up in time for Mother’s Day! Just download the PayMaya app for Android or iOS, register your own account, and start shopping with the fastest, safest, most rewarding, and hassle-free way to pay for anything both online and in-stores! 

Better yet, teach your mom how to set up her own PayMaya account by checking out paymaya.com/quick-guide. 

For more details on the awesome PayMaya promos you can enjoy, check out paymaya.com/deals. 

Don’t forget to follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more news and updates! 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cuts across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing the payments acceptance for the largest e-Commerce, food, retail and gas merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya is enabling national and social services agencies as well as local government units with digital payments and disbursement services. 

Through its PayMaya app and wallet, it is providing millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account with over 40,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide, more than double the total number of traditional bank branches in the Philippines combined.