Card payment partners charge 2.58% convenience fee for GCash cash-in via MasterCard/VISA bank card

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The card payment partners of GCash will charge a minimal convenience fee of 2.58 percent for cash-in via MasterCard/VISA bank card services starting July 6, 2020. The fee is a direct charge of payment partners.

The convenience fee will be computed and will be stated in the GCash app for each cash-in via bank card transaction. For instance, a customer cashes in P100 in his GCash wallet. The convenience fee would be P2.58, for a total amount of P102.58 charged to the card.

The fee is still lower than other mobile wallets, which charge a flat rate of P30 for cash-in transactions below P1,000. GCash also provides other cash-in methods that are totally FREE, such as cash-in via linked BPI or UnionBank accounts or through a bank app or website powered by InstaPay.

“We at GCash have always provided the most convenient, safe, and affordable financial services in the country. We aim to keep it that way despite the recent increases in charges implemented by our card payment partners. We would like to assure that GCash does not earn a single centavo from the direct charges implemented by our payment partners,” GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon said.

GCash account holders that cash-in via their MasterCard/VISA bank cards may check their transaction histories on the GCash app or may download their transaction histories through their nominated e-mail addresses.

“Even with this soon-to-be implemented minimal charges, GCash will continue to provide the best-in-class services that Filipinos have come to love over the past decade. We will continue to be more innovative and proactive in developing safe, secure, and affordable financial services and tools so that more Filipinos can maximize the benefits of digital finance,” Sazon 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.

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

"Seven Exciting Promotions to Look Forward to at Shopee’s 7.7 Free Shipping Fiesta"

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MANILA, JULY 2, 2020 - It is a grand fiesta! 

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches 7.7 Free Shipping Fiesta with huge discounts and fantastic promotions. Running from June 22 to July 7, 2020, Filipinos can look out for deals such as ₱7 deals, free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend for featured stores, up to 90% off on selected products, and cash prizes.

Here are seven things to look forward at Shopee 7.7 Free Shipping Fiesta: 

1. ₱1.9 million in cash prizes up for grabs on July 7 

On July 7, Shopee-holics can stand a chance to win cash prizes of up to a total of ₱1.9 million. Shoppers need to tune in to the following Shopee TV specials in order to win:

a. Shopee 7.7 Free Shipping Fiesta: Shake & Win at 11:30 AM on Shopee Live and at 12 NN at Eat Bulaga GMA

b. Shopee 7.7 Free Shipping Fiesta: Shake & Win TV Special at 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM on Wowowin GMA 

2. Free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend

On July 7, users can avail of free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend all day sitewide from 12:00 AM to 2:00 AM, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Shopee will also offer free shipping vouchers from the main campaign microsite which is accessible from the homepage. 

3. Amazing ₱7 deals

Shopee-holics can buy high-value products for as low as ₱7. On July 7, users can score a Nintendo Switch Labo Variety Kit Bundle, a Platinum KS-10 Plus Junior 2 Karaoke Player, and an ACE 32" Slim LED TV for only ₱7.

4. Exclusive Discounts up to 90% off

Users can get huge discounts on various products from categories like beauty, electronics, fashion, groceries, and health & personal care. Users can enjoy exciting discounts up to 90% for items, including a Knight Black WaterProof Sport Watch, a Transcend SD Card with 128GB of memory, a JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker, and a 33 cm-Inflatable two-ring swimming pool. 

5. Big prizes on Shopee Candy

Filipinos can win amazing prizes when they play the new in-app game, Shopee Candy. Users can stand a chance to win Shopee coins, cashback vouchers, and exclusive rewards, including a Nextbook Flexx 11 2-in-1 laptop and a Huawei Nova 3.

6. Convenience and bigger savings with ShopeePay 

Shopee users can enjoy greater convenience and cost savings with ShopeePay. Users can enjoy special promotions and discounted offers when they pay via ShopeePay. Shoppers can check out more of the ShopeePay deals and 7.7 promotions here (https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay). 

7. Exciting deals and promotions from leading brands

Users can look for exclusive offers and up to 90% off on products from leading brands such as Globe, Pampers, Nestle, Unilever, Maybelline, Wyeth, and The SM Store. 

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are excited to launch another campaign that lets our users shop conveniently and lets them save more. With the Shopee 7.7 Free Shipping Fiesta, users can shop, play, redeem amazing rewards, and win cash prizes right in the comforts of their own homes. We understand the many challenges Filipinos face as they embrace the new normal, and we commit to provide them with bigger and better offers. Shopee will continue to innovate our platform to serve our users better and elevate the online shopping experience for all.” 

For more information, visit https://shopee.ph/m/double-doubl

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

GCash powers SAP second tranche; to disburse P16B to 2.4M beneficiaries

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GCash, the undisputed leading and preferred mobile wallet in the Philippines, has been tapped by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the disbursement of P16billion of financial aid to over 2.4 million beneficiaries from seven different regions in the country.

Through its partnership with GCash, the DSWD will be releasing the second tranche of its Social Amelioration Program for beneficiaries Nationwide.

The amount to be disbursed to beneficiaries’ GCash wallets range from P5,500 to P8,000 depending on the area. GCash is allowing the DSWD to tap its platform for the disbursement for free.

“We at GCash believe in the value of partnerships, especially during times of great need. By providing the government with a safe, secure, transparent, convenient, and free disbursement platform, we are helping the Philippines win against the pandemic,” GCash President & CEO Martha Sazon said.

Beneficiaries of the second tranche of the SAP may use their mobile wallets for a variety of financial services. GCash empowers users to pay for physical and online transactions to over 75,000 merchants, transact with over 400 billers, and transfer funds to over 40 banks in the Philippines. GCash users may also use their GCash wallets to buy airtime load, save money, invest in money market funds, and purchase insurance products.

They also have the option of cashing out their financial assistance from partner establishments such as Puregold, Villarica Pawnshops, as well as ATMs through their GCash MasterCard.

Aside from disbursing the second tranche of SAP, GCash has also been assisting other national government agencies and local government units in distributing financial aid to Filipinos adversely affected by the national health situation.

So far, GCash has disbursed close to P2 billion in financial aid to more than 335,000 Filipinos. Among its government partners are Makati City, Quezon City, and Pasig City, as well as the Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Social Security System.

“We are happy to see that our platform is being used for the good of the many, especially those who are most in need. With GCash, we are providing a better alternative to physical distribution of cash aid, which can pose great health risks not only for beneficiaries, but also to government employees and volunteers,” Sazon 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.

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/).

Pexels updates search algorithm to increase visibility for LGBTQ+ community

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Pexels’ algorithm update gives LGBTQ+ couples equal presence, another step in strengthening its overall quest to improve representation for marginalized communities

Pexels shows photos of families with straight couples, same sex couples, and interracial couples when you search for the term ‘family’

Pexels, the multimedia library dedicated to sharing diverse, free stock photos and videos, announced that it has made a major update to its algorithm to increase visibility of content that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. This announcement follows Pexels’ previous partnership with Nappy in March of 2018 to highlight photos representative of diverse cultures and races. A company that values inclusivity at its core, Pexels has been on a mission to improve its search results to provide more well-rounded offerings since it launched in 2014 and was later acquired by Canva in 2018. Now, in light of Pride month, Pexels is permanently adjusting its algorithm for all relationship-based search keywords to deliver more diversity across genders and sexualities, giving presence to all types of relationships.

Searching for the term ‘couple’ on Pexels returns images representing all races, genders and identities

Pexels sets itself apart from its competitors with its artful, high-quality and curated library that offers over two million photos and videos for free. Additionally, Pexels’ library is the first truly inclusive collection focused on diversity across cultures, ethnicities and genders. While other stock photo sites do have images to reflect diversity, these do not naturally surface in the search results.

To find these photos, users must use search terms that clearly indicate whether they want a photo of a straight or a same-sex couple. Pexels’ algorithm update is focused on inclusivity and prioritizing LGBTQ+ imagery, democratizing all images, not requiring a user to delineate between same sex or other descriptors. Search terms like ‘couple’ or ‘holding hands,’ that typically only return images of heterosexual couples, now yield photos representing all races, genders and identities, increasing visibility and encouraging mainstream use. In a space that is crowded with cisgender, heteronormative, and white-washed content, Pexels continues be a pioneer in supporting underrepresented communities. The company hopes to empower its own community to tell better stories and inspire other stock photo sites to do the same.

“As one of the premier free photo and video libraries, we understand the power a photo or video can have,” said Monica Silvestre, Head of Community at Pexels. “Media has the power to make or break ideologies, challenge the status quo and humanize experiences. Images fuel stories and create movements, and it’s our responsibility as a global platform to act as a force for good; a force that helps power progress. This is why we’re improving our learning algorithm. The next time someone searches for “couple” or “love” they will find refreshing content that reflects life as it really is around us—straight couples, same sex couples, interracial couples, non-binary folks and more.”

In addition to the algorithm update, Pexels has amped up its efforts to partner with creators and companies that prioritize images and videos that challenge relationship norms and offer LGBTQ+ perspectives. The team will continue to adjust how its algorithm learns, making it intentionally calculate equal representation in order to offer its users choices they might not have previously considered. Pexels also employs a team of curators to specifically view, tag and boost submitted images to ensure the highest level of diversity and equality across the platform. Pexels encourages all photographers and creators to upload their LGBTQ+ photography to the platform. 

For more information about Pexels, please visit pexels.com.

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ABOUT PEXELS

Launched in 2014 and acquired by Canva in 2018, Pexels is a free to use photo and video library powered by a community of photographers. Its beautiful library of images and videos is donated by a global community of talented contributors who upload their work for everyone to use freely, helping millions of creators around the world develop beautiful products and designs. Pexels believes in diversity as a force for good and creative innovation. The team of over 30 people worldwide celebrates strength in different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds and embraces its community of imaginative photographers.

ABOUT CANVA

Launched in 2013, Canva is an intuitive online design and publishing platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast library of templates ranging from presentations, social media posts, posters, invitations to resumes, a huge collection of stock photography, illustrations and fonts, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful. Canva is available on web, iOS and Android.

LBC Amps Up Digital Services for Filipino Businesses on the Move with LBC Online

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Logistics and delivery services have become the lifeline for many households and businesses especially with the stringent lockdown and those who have limited access to physical shopping spaces. The growing reliance of the general population on online delivery and services inspired LBC Express, Inc. to continue to fuel Filipino businesses by providing digital solutions to online sellers as a way to move their passions and dreams.

With the steady rise of online businesses over the last few months, LBC has launched a platform dedicated to sellers in the social sphere, LBC Online. The platform fast-tracks the business transactions by giving social sellers a tracking service for their packages and flexible collection options. LBC enables sellers through its services and with this new platform, aims to help them succeed as they continue to move their businesses forward. 

Miguel Angel A. Camahort, president of LBC, said, “LBC has always been the stronghold of generations of Filipinos when it comes to cargo and courier services and we are always ready to gear up for their changing needs. As we recover our normalcy and recuperate completely from the challenges that have forced us to rethink our normal, LBC will reinvent its way of moving, its service to bridge the distance between Filipino to Filipino. We start by introducing a safe, convenient way for Filipino online sellers to manage their business.”

By signing up for an LBC Online account, sellers get to pre-process transactions online and enjoy a number of benefits including their own dashboard that allows them to track and trace their deliveries, faster transaction for a smoother branch experience, and more flexibility in payment options that lets you collect your funds at your own convenience. 

Shipments can also be processed online to make your branch drop-off transactions easier and more convenient. Those who need transaction reports can rely on the platform’s dashboard — simply filter your transactions by date and download your reports to save time for more important matters. 

“We hope that through LBC Online, we are in a way, lifting up Filipino online sellers with a platform that helps them manage their business at the comforts of their own homes,” adds Camahort. 

To sign up for LBC Online, just visit https://lbconline.lbcexpress.com/signup. 

LBC introduces more digital services

As the demand for door-to-door delivery increases, the country’s leading courier is also cutting the steps of sending parcels to any point in the country with LBC Pickup, an online booking system that allows LBC staff to get the packages directly at the home of the sender.

To also minimize the need to go to-and-fro in their local branches, LBC is enabling sending remittances from home through Instant Peso Padala (IPP) Online. With IPP Online, anyone can send money through their phones and computers, and have it claimed through thousands of LBC’s physical stores or remittance partners: Cebuana Lhuillier, MLhuillier, and Palawan Pawnshop. This service is free of transaction charges until July 5, 2020.

In view of the current situation, LBC is firm in strengthening country’s collective effort to bring the local economy off the ground. Needless to say, LBC is pioneering the next wave of services needed by the modern Filipino retailer and consumer. 

For more information on LBC’s newest services, visit www.lbcexpress.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/LBCExpress/.