Globe, GCash introduce exclusive data promo for prepaid subs

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Globe prepaid subscribers are up for a treat, as they get a new exclusive mobile promo from GCash that enables them to avail of more mobile data connection for less, allowing them to enjoy streaming videos, to connect with loved ones on social media, and to use their time for productivity.

Through their GCash apps, Globe prepaid subscribers may avail of the exclusive data bundle GoEXTRA90, which offers users with 8GB of mobile data plus unlimited calls to Globe and TM, unlimited texts to all networks, and 1GB of GoWifi access. This is 32GB for 360 pesos per month.

“Customers do not have to worry about staying connected with their loved ones even during the middle of the pandemic, because GoEXTRA90 lets them do this without having to leave the safety of their homes and without breaking the bank. We are offering this exclusive promo to our Globe prepaid subscribers to allow them to do more with less,” GCash President & CEO Martha Sazon said.

With GoEXTRA90, GCash users can enjoy these benefits for the low price of P90 when they register through the app. Even Globe Prepaid subscribers who are non-GCash users can avail of this exclusive promo simply by downloading the app for free in the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.

The pandemic has forced everything to go digital, including schools and offices. GoEXTRA90 is the best alternative to conventional internet and mobile data plans because it provides a week’s worth of fast internet access and unlimited texts and calls for less than a hundred pesos.

“As demand in mobile data and Internet connection rises because of the pandemic, we at Globe have to provide better deals to make the lives of our customers easier. This exclusive bundle with GCash will definitely help promote productivity, while providing Filipinos with a means to cope with the effects of the community quarantines,” Globe President Ernest Cu said.

With GoEXTRA90, GCash users who are Globe Prepaid subscribers get better value for money. For 8GB of mobile data, subscribers can enjoy 96 hours of internet browsing or watch 16 hours of standard definition of videos online. This can also be used to attend online meetings via Zoom for those in a work from home setup or classes for students under remote learning.

On the other hand, the free voucher gives discounts to GCash users when they shop or dine in their favorite stores by using GCash as a payment method.

To subscribe to GoEXTRA 90, open the GCash app on Android or iOS, choose the Buy Load option, and look for the GoEXTRA90 in the ONLY ON GCASH! or the SURF tab.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

Shopee Sees “Online-First” Shift for Food Products, as Filipinos Adapt to the New Normal

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Consumers do a larger share of food shopping online, with a 2.5 times increase in users who buy food items on Shopee multiple times a month

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, highlights significant changes in the food and grocery market as Filipinos become more “online-first” for food products. 

In particular, people are doing a larger share of food shopping online, with a 2.5-times increase in users who buy food items multiple times a month on Shopee. Sellers and brands adapt to this "new normal" by offering a wider variety of online food products and using live streaming to assure buyers of quality in real-time.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, 

“Social distancing has been a big part of our lives, and we have seen major changes in the way people think about and shop for their daily needs. In particular, buying food and groceries has become ‘online-first’ as consumers view e-commerce as a one-stop channel. Sellers and brands are adapting quickly, with Shopee as a vital platform for them to reach new customers. We see this as long-term evolution, and Shopee will continue to lead this trend in the years ahead.”

Shopee outlines four major trends in the food and grocery market in the Philippines:

1. Consumers become “online-first” for food products

Filipinos see e-commerce as the preferred channel for food and groceries, marked by:

● More Filipinos are shopping for food online: Shopee has observed a 2.5-times increase in the number of users who buy food products multiple times a month. This shows that Filipinos are shifting a larger share of food and grocery shopping online to reap the convenience of e-commerce.

● People shop for food around the clock: E-commerce is making it more convenient for consumers to shop for food items at any time. As a result, shopping activity stays high throughout the week, peaking on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

2. Food and grocery shopping evolve as people adapt to Covid-19 pandemic

People are also buying a wider variety of food items online, as they make lifestyles changes at different stages of social distancing and the Covid-19 pandemic:

● High demand for staple foods and baking supplies in March: The onset of social distancing motivated people to ensure ready food supplies at home, with demand for staple foods and baking supplies increasing by 70 times.

● More “offline” food products bought online: Filipinos became more comfortable with buying food and groceries online as social distancing continued. In April, demand for beverages and alcohol grew 8 times on Shopee.

● Top products: Caramelized sugar syrup, evaporated milk, and food flavorings for baking.

3. Rural and male consumers among the most active online food shoppers

As buying food products online becomes a norm, Shopee has observed that shopping activity is proliferating among rural and male consumers:

● Spike in grocery demand among rural consumers: Consumers outside Metro Manila are also seeing e-commerce as a key channel for food and groceries because of reduced access to physical stores. Shopee’s food shopping activity from areas outside of Metro Manila increased 2.5 times in the past few months.

● Men are doing more grocery shopping and cooking: Male food shopping activity increased up to three times from 2019. Men appear to be doing more home cooking and grocery shopping in recent months, with seasoning products and baking ingredients as the most popular among male users on Shopee.

4. Brands and sellers digitalize with Shopee, use new tools to sell food online

Brands and sellers are adapting to the new “online-first” environment through Shopee. They are offering an extensive range of food products and leveraging new tools to sell online:

● Offering more choice and variety: Shopee has seen steady growth in the number of brands and sellers offering food products online, creating more buyers’ preference. On Shopee, the array of food products on the platform has doubled from 2019.

● Using new tools to sell food online: Brands and sellers use live streaming to sell food products more effectively. In recent months, Shopee Live has become a vital tool for sellers to showcase new items and assure product quality in real-time, driving more views and sales.

Tao said, 

“The Covid-19 situation and social distancing measures have created major changes in consumers’ lifestyles, affecting how brands and sellers conduct their businesses. We are committed to helping the Filipinos during this time of need, and we will continue to improve our platform to provide the daily necessities of every consumer, brand, and seller.” 

Download Shopee for free through the App Store or Google Play.

SM Cares, Safeguard promote proper handwashing for #SafeHandsAtSM

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SM Cares and Safeguard team up for the #SafeHandsAtSM campaign to educate and encourage people to practice the five steps of proper handwashing – especially in this time of pandemic.

This partnership with Safeguard forms part of SM’s programs to ensure Safe Malling as all SM malls continue to carry out strict safety and sanitation measures to assure the community that the malls are safe, clean, and compliant with health and sanitation protocols over and above government regulations.

People usually wash our hands fast – but did you know that there are proper steps of handwashing.

A virtual media conference on the partnership of SM Cares and Safeguard to encourage the 5 Steps of Hand Washing in SM malls nationwide was helld this Tuesday, June 23, with theme, #SafeHandsAtSM Campaign.

Mr. Steven Tan, SM Supermalls President was at the zoom virtual media conference said :

“As part of our safe malling commitment, handwashing is our first line of defense against illnesses, and is also crucial during a global health crisis. We very excited to partner with Procter & Gamble’s Safeguard, the leading brand in health and personal care, to raise awareness on the importance of this matter.” 

To ensure that all areas of your hands are properly washed, simply follow these steps: 

(1) wash palms;  

(2) back of hand; 

3) in between fingers;  

(4) fingernails;  

(5) and thumbs, 

and keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Afterward, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly, since good handwashing is our most effective shield and protection from all kinds of viruses.

“Safeguard, being 54 years in the country, has become much of a household name. From our beige bar soap from long ago to our hand sanitizers and liquid hand soap now, we have always committed ourselves to serve the needs of the Filipino people, just like SM has. And in the same way, I believe that both have been ingrained so much in Filipino culture that it is only natural to do this partnership,” said Procter & Gamble Vice President for Skin & Personal Care Ms. Shweta Sharma.

As part of the #SafeHandsAtSM campaign, Safeguard has made its liquid hand soap available in restrooms of all SM malls across the country to help the community fight the spread disease-causing germs. Information materials on the five steps of handwashing are also deployed in restrooms and high-traffic areas in SM to remind customers while in the mall.

With this, Safeguard and #SMDaresYOU to take on the #SafeHandsAtSM Challenge on TikTok from June 23 to 30. Just take a full body video of you properly washing your hands and dancing to your favorite tunes, tag your squad and use the official hashtag #SafeHandsAtSM, and be one of the 10 lucky winners who’ll get exciting giveaways!

This partnership with Safeguard forms part of SM’s programs to ensure Safe Malling as all SM malls continue to carry out strict safety and sanitation measures to assure the community that the malls are safe, clean, and compliant with health and sanitation protocols over and above government regulations.

Through simple efforts like washing your hands, not only are you protecting yourself, but those around you. 

To know more about #SafeHandsAtSM, visit www.smsupermalls.com and https://www.safeguard.ph, or visit their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok.

GCash’s GCredit serves 550k customers, partners with CIMB Bank PH for stronger push for Finance for All

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GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, and the most-awarded digital bank strengthened its strategic partnership with CIMB Bank Philippines to further widen the reach of GCredit, a digital credit facility available for GCash users. 

-GCash through Fuse Lending, Inc. disburses P5B in loans; provides credit line to 550,000 customers

GCash and CIMB Bank Philippines aim to help more Filipinos gain access to critical financial tools and services like credit, which has proven to be critical during the current pandemic. With the partnership, CIMB Bank Philippines will provide full back up funding support for the GCredit product line and provide best-in-class digital credit services to GCash users.

“We are happy to announce that with the full support of CIMB Bank Philippines, we can scale up GCredit to reach more customers who are in need of micro loans. This helps accelerate our vision of providing finance for all, which we at GCash have been pushing for the last decade,” GCash President and Chief Executive Officer Martha Sazon said.

Since it was first introduced in March 2018, GCredit has so far empowered 550,000 customers with credit lines, disbursing roughly P5 billion to date. GCredit has also gained popularity during the pandemic, with users extending their budgets for their groceries and payment for their utility bills. For this strengthened partnership, GCash and CIMB Bank Philippines are already working through the necessary regulatory approvals.

GCredit works like a flexible loan or credit card so it gives GCash customers access to money that they can use to buy groceries from supermarkets, medicines from pharmacies, and even utility bills. Any GCash user with an eligible GScore, the first digital credit rating score in the country, is entitled to use GCredit. The higher the GScore, the higher the credit limit that a user can tap. A GCash user may have access to up to P10,000 in credit line with a low daily interest rate computed as current interest rate divided by the number of days on credit.

While it functions like a credit card, GCredit does not require users to submit extensive documentary requirements or queue up to apply for a revolving credit facility.

“We at CIMB Bank Philippines are happy to strengthen our strategic alliance with GCash, the number one mobile wallet in the country. We believe that through our partnership, we will be able to further reach more Filipinos to help them save, gain access to credit, and manage their finances with us” CIMB Bank Philippines Chief Executive Officer Vijay Manoharan said.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc. CIMB Bank Philippines is part of the CIMB Group, ASEAN’s leading universal bank and is present in over 16 global markets.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com (https://www.gcash.com/)/.

Malacañang declares June 24 a special non-working holiday in Manila

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MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang palace has declared Wednesday June 24, 2020 a special non-working day in Manila in connection with the capital’s 449th founding anniversary.

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The holiday declaration was signed on June 9 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, a copy of which was released by the Palace on Monday evening.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the city of Manila be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to community quarantine, social distancing, and other public health measures.”

This year’s celebration marks the first Araw ng Maynila commemoration under the leadership of Mayor Isko Moreno after winning against former President Joseph Estrada. Moreno served as Estrada’s vice mayor.