PayMaya expands its widest network of cashless touchpoints nationwide with The SM Store

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PayMaya is making it even more convenient for Filipinos to make the cashless shift as it expands its Add Money partnership with The SM Store, allowing PayMaya customers to easily transact and add funds to their accounts at close to 600 additional top-up locations nationwide.

On top of the service being available at The SM Store branches nationwide, PayMaya users can now add money to their PayMaya account at the Mall Information Booth, Servicio and bills payment counters located in SM Supermarket, SM Savemore, SM Hypermarket, and Waltermart touchpoints across the country.

These new Add Money channels are the latest addition to PayMaya’s extensive network of over 200,000 touchpoints nationwide – the widest in the country to date - where customers can add, transact, and send money for their day-to-day needs. 

“With cashless now being the default and preferred mode of payment for many Filipinos, giving them access to safe and accessible ways to add money to their accounts is very important. We are glad to expand on our partnership with SM Supermalls so that our customers can enjoy the cashless convenience," said Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya President. 

Adding money at the SM branch near you is easy— all you have to do is follow these simple steps: 

1. On the PayMaya app’s home screen, select Add Money 
2. Tap the SM icon 
3. Enter the amount you want to add to your account (minimum P100 and maximum of P20,000) and select Continue 
4. You will get a 7-digit code. Go to the customer service counter at The SM Store or the Bills Payment counter at SM Supermarket, SM Savemore, or SM Hypermarket and present this code along with your payment to the cashier 
5. Wait for an SMS confirmation, and that’s it! You can now pay for your purchases using your PayMaya account.

After adding money to your PayMaya account, you can now enjoy safe, convenient, and rewarding contactless transactions at The SM Store or your favorite restaurants at SM Supermalls via PayMaya’s #BetterQR. You can also pay cashless for your groceries at SM Hypermarket and SM Supermarket using your PayMaya card.  

With all the benefits and rewards of going cashless waiting for you, it’s a great time to start using PayMaya! Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register an account to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores. Remember, don’t pay cash. PayMaya! 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.   

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 200,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 33,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Rising Pop Star Jack Newsome Releases 'Arms'

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Like most people, 24-year-old singer/songwriter Jack Newsome spent a large part of the world’s pandemic figuring things out. The New Jersey native lived in an air of uncertainty in his new home of Studio City, CA, trying to understand what was happening around him.

“'Arms' was the first song I wrote with my new partner-in-crime Cambo. We started the song on Zoom and finished it at his studio. I wore my mask there and only took it off to lay the vocal in the booth. We’re living in really lonely times, so the lyric speaks for itself,” Jack told Popwrapped.

On the accompanying music video, he adds: “The concept of being alone worked out really well for the video to “Arms”; we didn’t need any actors or extras. My creative director Louis Browne is a genius and found this gorgeous movie set in the desert. The concept was super vague which scared me at first. I like having everything planned to a T, but I think keeping it loose was the perfect move for the song and the vibe.”

A former Berklee College of Music student, Jack moved to LA to pursue his music career a couple of years prior and shortly thereafter grabbed the attention of reality songwriting competition series Songland. Jack was a part of the first season, working with singer/songwriter/producer Shane McAnally as his episode’s mentor turned mentor in real life. As a finalist for his episode, Jack and Shane cut “Lying (Next To You)” which cracked the one million mark on streaming platforms. A publishing deal from McAnally’s SMACKSongs and record deal with 12Tone Music followed, and since then his rise has been steady with sync placements in the Rocket League video game, CBS’s Love Island, and credits with multiple well-known recording artists.

To start 2021, Jack delivers his own impactful anthem “The Year The World Stood Still,” a song about the realization that sometimes hitting pause is vital. Much more than a song of the moment, the track carries into the concept of what happens even after this is all over and life goes back to “normal”. Produced by Jack and co-producer Cambo (Doja Cat, Bea Miller), the track is inspirational but also poignant, while bringing together all of the elements of a solid Pop song. It’s something Jack Newsome knows how to do quite well. But above all, his goal is to make music that speaks to different generations who can all understand the same sentiment.

"soft, dreamy but utterly fantastic pop release"

EQ Music Blog

"If Newsome keeps up this pop brilliance with strong melodies and thoughtful lyrics, we’re in for much brighter days"

Arjan Writes

Stay Home and Stock Up on Your Essentials at the Shopee 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale

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 This April 4, shop online and enjoy free shipping, cashback deals, and discounts up to 90% off on essential goods and more

During these times when we should limit non-essential trips outside our homes, we need to turn to more convenient ways to stock up on everything we need. Online shopping, which is safer and easier, can help us keep our trips to a minimum and avoid the long queues and waiting times at supermarkets and drugstores.

Nowadays, you can quickly find everything you need online. At Shopee, for instance, you can buy a wide range of necessities and tick all items off your shopping list, including food and groceries, home care products, and work-from-home essentials.

Aside from the variety of products and risk-free shopping, you can also enjoy lots of perks when you shop for your essentials on Shopee. Shopee’s 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale offers discounts up to 90% off, free shipping, and cashback deals. 

Shop these essentials for yourself and your loved ones this April 4: 

Stay virus-free with hygiene must-haves

Always keep a supply of masks, disinfectants, and antibacterial products at home to ensure you and your loved ones are protected from the recent surge in COVID19 cases. Wear a Cleanwell KF94 Mask every time you go out. It features a high-efficiency ultra-static HEFA filter and a comfy, breathable structure. Upon getting home, immediately take a shower using Safeguard Body Wash, which removes 99.9% of germs and slows down their regrowth. Don’t forget to disinfect your car as well. Lysol Disinfecting Spray kills over 100 illness-causing germs, including cold and flu viruses.

Keep your kitchen well-stocked with your staples

Make sure your home is well-stocked with canned goods and other pantry essentials in case of emergencies. Get the day off to a great start with Milo Choco Malt’s yummy combo of malt, cocoa, and milk. Each glass provides essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium. For an easy but nourishing meal, stock up on the preservative- and cholesterol-free Century Tuna Flakes in Oil which contains Omega 3 DHA to boost heart and brain health.

Have all your basic baby care needs on hand

If you’re a new parent, ensure that you have all the products that support your child’s health and comfort. Try incorporating J&J Milk Bath Oats into your baby’s bath routine. This body wash is formulated with milk proteins and oat extracts to gently cleanse, soothe, and moisturize your child’s skin.  Keep your newborn dry and comfy throughout the day with Huggies Dry Diapers, which rapidly absorbs wetness and provides gentle protection for delicate skin.

Boost your productivity with work-from-home essentials

Upgrading your work-from-home setup? Enjoy lag-free video calls and uninterrupted work with Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi, which also comes with free 10GB worth of data. Accessorize your rig with Logitech Wireless Keyboard & Mouse. With this combo, you can finally ditch tangled cords and work wherever you want. For your charging needs, invest in a Xiaomi Power Strip. Aside from organizing cables, it also protects your gadgets by automatically cutting off the power supply once the electric current exceeds the limit of 10A max. 

Shop for your essentials safely from your home while enjoying big discounts at the Shopee 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale. Don’t forget to tune in to All out Sundays on GMA 7 and Shopee Live on April 4, 1:00 PM for a chance to win ₱200,000. For more information, visit https://shopee.ph/m/4-4.

Want more? Top up at least ₱300 on ShopeePay this April 3 for a chance to win ₱20,000. For more information, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay.

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

Women for women

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Successful women are unselfishly sharing their stories of empowerment for other women to rise above their own challenges.

 

Four women in fact recounted breaking gender norms and defying the odds during a recent webinar offered by Malayan Insurance Co. Inc. entitled “When Life Gives You Lemons”.

 

The event was spearheaded by its We Women program segment in partnership with the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) in celebration of Women’s Month this March.

 

“Let’s not forget that we women carry half of the world, our lives matter, and our lives make a difference. We are women, we are more loving, more thoughtful, and more caring. A lot of women are abused, it may not be physical it can be mental or emotional, so this women’s forum is critical as we share our experiences as women,” Yvonne S. Yuchengco, We women chief program ambassador, said.

 

Rebecca Bustamante, president of Chalre Associates Executive Search, shared her transformative experience from being a domestic helper to emerging as president of a renowned company.

 

From her humble beginnings in Pangasinan, Bustamante became the breadwinner of her family at an early age, supporting 10 siblings and her mother being ill with a terminal disease.

 

She worked as a domestic helper at 19 in Singapore while struggled to get an education to fuel her dreams of lifting her family out of poverty.

Bustamante absorbed all criticisms and discrimination through the course of her life but used this as motivation to prove them all wrong. She migrated to Canada and there started her own family.

 

In the same webinar was Virginia V. Calago, a victim of abuse at an early age. She struggled with her mother leaving them at an early age, her father abused her and ended up with the local social services.

 

She had her tragic experiences in foster homes, but with prayer and the focus to make her goals come true, Calago emerged even stronger.

 

She wears her battle scars with pride and honor imparting that whatever life throws at you, you always have a choice. And she encouraged everyone to stay strong and choose to be brave and face each challenge head on.

 

Trials are not limited to experiences in life but also can be lurking in established businesses. Indira Bagatsing, managing director of Kahariam Farms, shared the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid19) in their organic farming business.

 

From letting some employees go to adapting to the changes needed to sustain the business, Kahariam Farms continued to produce organic fruits and vegetables for the Filipino public despite the odds. Bagatsing pointed out that the support of everyone from her family and all of them working together made all the difference and helped the business push through.

 

In terms of women's representation in the workforce, data from a survey conducted by Deloitte Southeast Asia (Deloitte SEA) and shared by Anna Marie Pabellon during the webinar, revealed that women continue to be underrepresented in terms of the technology workforce with women representation declining at successive levels.

 

Pabellon pointed to a “leaky pipeline” in the education system, wherein only a few women earn a technology-related degree.

 

For working women in the information technology (IT) field, 50 percent was pointed out to be more likely to say they have experienced discrimination in the workplace.

 

Meanwhile, 20 percent of women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sector said that their gender has made it more challenging to succeed at work.

 

Pabellon overcame these boundaries as she herself has defied gender norms being a partner of Deloitte SEA as the first woman country risk advisory services leader. She maintains that women are great at what they do and should pursue their dreams despite what other people say.

 

Apart from the empowering webinar, Malayan Insurance also mounted its #ChooseToChallenge campaign, a social media effort wherein both women and men are encouraged to support their chosen challenge whether it be on violence against women, economic status, inorganic farming methods, or the role of work from home (WFH) women, among others.

 

Malayan Insurance will also be hosting an online event focusing on Kwentong Kababaihan and Great Women Mentors as well as its Chill Convo sessions for this month, staying true to its goal of highlighting what women do for society.

 

Malayan Insurance is a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies.

FedEx Pallets Get a Fresh Start as Upcycled Furniture by Filipino Designer Used wooden pallets repurposed by Trademark Kawpeng Designs into furniture pieces

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FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and one of the world's largest express transportation companies is collaborating with Filipino furniture designer Trademark Kawpeng Designs (TMK), to breathe new life into discarded shipping pallets in support of an emerging circular economy and finding ways to reduce environmental impact.

A Manila-based furniture and home decor start-up known for its unique made-to-order pieces that embody Scandinavian minimalist functionality, TMK works closely with clients in realizing their designs using various quality materials.

This arm table was developed by Trademark Kawpeng Designs using upcycled wooden pallets donated by FedEx Express Philippines.

 

Wooden pallets donated by FedEx Express Philippines were used by Trademark Kawpeng Designs to develop this custom media console.

For this special project with FedEx, TMK created sustainable furniture by repurposing and upcycling wooden pallets from FedEx, which were used in the shipment of items across the globe.

“FedEx has long been committed and made significant progress to Reduce, Replace, Revolutionize^[1] throughout our operations to create a more sustainable environment.” The use and demand of pallets used in supply chain operations is projected to reach 6.4 billion units in 2024 with the Asia Pacific region comprising about 40% of the entire pallet production,” says John Peterson, managing director of FedEx Express Philippines. “We believe that upcycling and repurposing are good ways to responsibly dispose of these pallets and at the same time, contribute to our local communities by generating income for our sustainability collaborators.”

To transform the donated pallets, they were first cleaned, dried, sanded, and treated. TMK’s Matti Kawpeng then crafted them into a collection of functional furniture, including a study desk, an arm table, a side table, and a media console. The rest were turned into useful crates and were marketed to TMK clients. Proceeds were used to subsidize bicycles for TMK workers who were affected when public transport stopped during the coronavirus lockdown.

As a social enterprise, TMK is committed to helping socially disadvantaged workers, especially single and young parents. A portion of the sales generated from donated materials are used for employees’ needs, such as their daily uniforms, snacks, coffee, and maintenance of their bikes.

“We are constantly eager to support sustainable initiatives that also allow for design creativity and ingenuity. I am really pleased that the collaboration with FedEx Express enables us to uphold this cause. It is a delight to be able to transform what would have ended up as land-fill, into beautiful and functional pieces,” says Matti Kawpeng, founder and furniture designer of TMK.

FedEx recently announced an ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutral operations globally by 2040. To help reach this goal, FedEx is committing more than $2 billion to support initiatives designed to make company operations more sustainable across its fleet of motorized vehicles and aircraft, as well as its facilities. This includes a pledge of $100 million to help establish the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture in the United States and its applied research into methods of sequestration at a scale that will offset the impact of long-haul transportation.

Check out Trademark Kawpeng Designs on Facebook and @tmkawpeng.designs on Instagram for more awe-inspiring pieces and design inspirations.

To learn more about ongoing sustainability efforts at FedEx, visit sustainability.fedex.com.

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[1] FedEx Global Citizenship Report 2020