Smart Hacks To Help You Manage Your Money

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Let ShopeePay reward you with zero fees and special deals so you can save more.

With all the household responsibilities, daily expenses, and, of course, shopping budols, saving money can be a challenging task — but it doesn’t have to be.  If you incorporate these simple and easy tips into your lifestyle,  you’ll see that small adjustment will add up and make a big impact on your finances.

Here are some practical hacks to help you get started:

Know your spending habits and choose the right platform for your needs.

For starters, understand your transactions and list down the things you usually spend money on such as groceries, utilities, and payments. Once you have those laid out, choose a financial platform that can complement your spending habits.

More Filipinos are finding ways to go digital with their errands these days, and e-wallets have been very useful when it comes to both online and offline transactions. When choosing an e-wallet, use one that affords you many benefits. ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one e-wallet, has got you covered in terms of features and perks with no additional transaction charges.   With ShopeePay, users can conveniently send money, buy load, pay bills, and scan to pay at stores nationwide. Activate and verify your ShopeePay account now to experience its countless features and services.

No transfer fees, more savings

Online transfers are quick and easy, and have become the norm; but some platforms charge fees that add to your expenses. Avoid paying transfer fees when you send money and make the most out of ShopeePay’s free and real time transfers for a hassle-free experience. This feature allows you to withdraw funds from your ShopeePay wallet to your bank account, or send money to your friends’ and family’s ShopeePay wallet or bank account. When sending money to any Shopee user, you can even personalize your transfers with themed virtual cards, fit for any occasion. “Here’s a gift for my favorite person” and “Dropping by to say I appreciate you!” are just some of the virtual cards you can use to make your transfers extra special! Whichever way you use this feature, transfers made with ShopeePay are free, instant, and available 24/7.

Transfer fees eat up a portion of your expenses which can be savings or used for necessities. When on a budget, it’s important to see what expenses are avoidable to help you save more. With ShopeePay, there’s no need to worry about any added fees when you need to transfer money. Plus, no need to stand in line at the bank for your cash transfers, so you get to save both time and money!

Take advantage of discounts and cashback promos when paying utilities.

On a monthly basis, we have expenses for water, electricity, load, internet, and more that we need to pay regularly. With these bills going up to thousands of pesos, it’s best to take advantage of whatever promos we can to lessen our expenses.

When you pay your bills online with ShopeePay, you can get up to 10% off on load across all networks and up to 25% cashback on your monthly bills from over 60 billers from partners such as Meralco, Maynilad, PLDT, Globe, Smart, Converge, and more.

Go cashless when going out to stick to your budget and score deals.

Another great tip for sticking to your budget is to only cash in your e-wallet with the amount you’ve set aside for expenses. Especially when going out to run errands, this lets you stay focused only on the things you need to purchase or pay for. To help you with this, ShopeePay offers free cash ins via InstaPay, where you can get up to ₱25 cashback on your InstaPay fee.

When shopping for essentials or favorite finds, make sure to check out discounted deals exclusively for ShopeePay. Browse the Shopee app daily to avail of ₱1 Deals on essentials and food via ShopeePay Near Me, and redeem your vouchers when you scan-to-pay with ShopeePay at partner merchants nationwide.

Stay updated on the latest ShopeePay promos at https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay. 

PLDT is PH’s fastest internet provider in 2021 – Ookla®

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PLDT Home remains undisputed as the fastest broadband network in the Philippines, dominating telco rivals with a Speed Score™ of 77.24 at the Ookla® Speedtest Awards™ for Q3-Q4 2021.

The latest result showed a big jump from PLDT’s Speed Score of 27.28 in the second half of the previous year. Speed Score is a measure that takes into account both upload and download speeds.

Latest data from the global benchmarking company also showed PLDT besting all other internet service providers (ISPs) in the country with top upload and download speeds of 217.07 Mbps and 203.97 Mbps, respectively.

In determining the network speed of ISPs, Ookla® compared data gathered from millions of consumer-initiated tests taken on Speedtest® platforms. The data include tests done by Filipino internet users on various networks using digital devices connected via Wi-Fi and fixed networks.

“Fast internet is no longer a luxury because it’s what Filipinos depend on to earn, work, and study from home. We’ve been relentless in continuously building and upgrading our network so that our customers enjoy better and future-ready homes,” says Butch G. Jimenez, Jr., Senior Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Business.

Fastest Broadband in PH’s Key Cities

Based on the latest Ookla® data, PLDT registered the highest upload and download speeds in key major cities in the Philippines – Manila, Cebu and Davao Cities.

In Manila, PLDT bested major ISPs - including Converge, Globe, and Sky – with upload and download speeds of 54.52 Mbps and 58.57 Mbps, respectively. In Cebu, PLDT recorded 76.14 Mbps and 74.22 Mbps upload and download speeds, respectively. In Davao, PLDT is the fastest fixed network over ISPs Globe and Sky, with upload and download speeds of 70.06 Mbps and 71.50 Mbps, respectively.

When analyzing the fastest ISPs, Ookla assesses the fastest network speeds attained across a given network, accounting for tests that are taken on various Speedtest applications that connect to a fixed network, including tests taken on mobile phones over a Wi-Fi connection. Each top carrier accounts for at least 3% of the sample size in the geographic area.

Setting the Bar for PH Internet Speeds

PLDT consistently dominates the Ookla® Speedtest Awards™ in the past four years as a result of the telco giant’s aggressive network expansion initiatives. In the second half of 2021, PLDT Home launched its biggest speed upgrade for customers with thrice as much speeds versus the previous broadband plans.

In November 2021, PLDT Home launched the country’s first-ever 10,000 Mbps fiber-optic service in the Philippines, putting the country alongside first-world nations that have access to such ultra-fast home interne speeds such as South Korea, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Italy, New Zealand, and USA.

“The demand for the fastest broadband in the Philippines remains strong and we’re investing as well in our capabilities to install, upgrade, and repair throughout the year,” concludes Butch G. Jimenez, Jr., Senior Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Business.

PLDT Home continues to set the bar for the future of home internet connectivity in the Philippines as it provides access to future-ready innovations including top-of-the-line Smart Home solutions such as Wifi Mesh devices, Entertainment and Security services bundled with its flexible broadband plans.

All these innovations are powered by the PLDT’s widest network in the country with its fiber infrastructure expanded to 743,700 kilometers, extending its reach to 13.9 million homes passed, and with over 5.77 million fiber-powered ports.

To date, PLDT Home has connected over 3.6 Million subscribers, proving to be the most trusted telco of Filipino families for fast internet speeds for work at home, online school, and family entertainment at home amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

More information on PLDT Home, visit www.pldthome.com.

 

Disclaimer:
Based on analysis by Ookla^® of Speedtest Intelligence^® data Q3–Q4 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

 

Indulge in smart home technology with these CHERRY IOT products

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More and more people are shifting to smart living and we all can’t help it—once you get introduced to a more secure, comfortable, and convenient lifestyle, there’s just no turning back. Imagine being able to control your entire home with the internet and your handy smartphone. Yep, that sure does sound convincing. 

Good news, you can have access to a posh abode that equally gives you peace of mind without costing you much, thanks to Cherry Home’s belt of IoT devices.

Here are some of the brand’s products that you can add to your crib to make it smart, in and out:

Cherry Home Smart Floodlight Camera. As soon as you enter your property, you are outright greeted with extra security. Definitely not your ordinary smart camera, the Cherry Home Smart Floodlight Camera can alarm you in two forms—light or siren—once its Human-Detection mode is activated and it senses an unusual movement. It features two floodlights with up to 1600 lm (light output), 100 decibels siren alarm, up to 22W power consumption, and 140˚ wide angle viewing. All these features and more for P4,999.

Cherry Home Smart Video Doorbell and Cherry Home Smart Entrance Lock. This power combo may be sold separately but you wouldn’t want to miss out on each as they are both experts on home security. The Cherry Home Smart Video Doorbell would make you feel as if someone is guarding your door, 24/7. Not only would it keep you safe by letting you monitor who’s outside, you can also conveniently talk to whoever is ringing your chime whether you are in the office, the grocery, or just comfortably snuggled up under the covers with its two-way audio feature. Through the Cherry Home app available on both iOS or Android phones, it even lets you take screenshots or record videos just in case you’ve been getting unsolicited visitors—sketch.

Paired with the Cherry Home Smart Entrance Lock, you wouldn’t have to worry about leaving your house for a period of time. This on the other hand, as seen in 5-star accommodations or some leading K-Dramas, is like your traditional doorknob that made a 180-degree turn—all sleek and modern. Beyond the sophistication that it can add to your door, it boasts of five unlock features. You can choose from the RFID Card Unlock which is same as how your hotel key card functions, the Fingerprint Unlock just as with your smartphone, the Application Unlock that lets you open through your Cherry Home app, the Anti-Peeping Password Unlock so you can simply type in the passcode and the good ol’ Mechanical Key Unlock. You can also let unexpected visitors in without sharing with them the actual code as you can simply provide them with a remote dynamic password or one-time pin.

Get the Cherry Home Smart Video Doorbell for P3,250 and the Cherry Home Smart Entrance Lock for P6,950.

Cherry Home Smart Wall Switch (2-Gang). Kid you not, even your wall switch can now be controlled via smartphone. Introducing the Cherry Home Smart Wall Switch (2-Gang) that is energy-efficient and is compatible with Google Home or Amazon Alexa. You can even schedule its on/off function. Grab one now for only P975.

Cherry Home Smart 4-USB Smart Extension Cord. Does a new gadget always find a way to lure you? If you’ve already got a bunch, charging them all at once can be quite a bother. In all its glory, the Cherry Home Smart 4-USB Smart Extension Cord not only has four sockets but comes with additional four USB ports to boot. You can also choose a schedule for its on/off, features a smart Wi-Fi control, and is energy-saving too. On top of that, its full flame retardant shell can help you feel at ease even if your gadgets are left unattended while charging.

Cherry Home Smart Basic Camera. Starting from your porch all the way through the insides of your home, there’s nothing like keeping an extra eye wherever you go. The Cherry Home Smart Basic Camera can be placed in various parts of your house so you can monitor and keep track of activities when you’re outside. It has a two-way audio, 1080P full HD resolution, smart motion detection, night vision, and of course, smart Wi-Fi control. It also enables 24/7 video recording. Shop as many as you can for this is priced at only P999.

We’re certainly at the peak of advancement and there’s no reason for you to be left behind. Cop all this and discover more of Cherry Home’s IoT products by visiting:

Cherry Shop PH: www.cherryshop.com.ph

 

Project on digital game-based reading intervention from UP and La Salle wins top prize at inaugural TCS Sustainathon in the Philippines

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First TCS Sustainathon in the Philippines brings together students and stakeholders from the private and public sectors to push for inclusive education

Leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization Tata Consultancy Services concluded TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 last January 28, 2022 in an exclusive online event, with the students from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and De La Salle University Manila bagging the top place with their entry Read-IO Works.

Many challenges and issues came to fore when the country’s education sector embraced distance and flexible learning amid the pandemic. Foremost of these are lack of resources, internet access, and a clear and stable line of communication between teachers and students. Through TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021, TCS hopes to encourage and empower the Filipino youth in using technology to explore solutions for these problems, which their generation experiences first-hand, and collaborate with local stakeholders such as businesses and schools.

Students from various parts of the Philippines pitched their proposed solutions for the local theme. Among the submissions, 10 groups successfully made it to the finals.

The technologies developed by the teams involve web and mobile applications, wherein different programs are incorporated to provide convenience and flexibility in education.

TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 first place Read-IO Works developed Read-IO. The team comprises of Jose Javier Lasala and Janos Lance Tiberio. Their entry dove into realizing a deep-learning enabled, digital game-based reading intervention centered on phonics and oral reading fluency. The invention gives way to evidence-based instruction as well as game-based assessments that is not only accessible for offline use, but leverages the gadget distribution initiatives of the Department of Education. With Read-IO, it’s all the more possible to improve students’ reading comprehension, spelling, letter-sound knowledge, and all the other indicators of literacy.

SchoNEXT won second place. Prince Loven Abestano, Abe Apao, Esmael Amatonding, and Gwyneth Chiu explored the bounds of technology in their entry, where they seek to create a distraction-free, student-centered virtual environment for studying. Indeed, distance learning has brought in a huge change into how students learn today. As students study from their homes, an effective, self-regulated studying habit and system can go a long way—and this is what SchoNEXT aims to highlight with this virtual studying environment.

Third place went to GOLS: Gamified Online Learning Space delivered by Racquel Moran, Lance Sangcal, and Migs Ganzon. Their entry is about gamifying students’ online learning space which helps in initiating active thinking and peer-to-peer learning through interactive games. More than anything, learning is best done with peers where students can not only learn vital knowledge, but develop values of teamwork and leadership.

TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 Finals’ third and second placers will take home Php50,000 and Php100,000, respectively. The champion will receive Php150,000 in cash prize. TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 was in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, Converge ICT Solutions, Inc., Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc., Edukasyon.ph, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth, and ADB Southeast Asia Development Solutions (SEADS).

“TCS Sustainathon Philippines showed us the extensive knowledge and passion of the younger generation to deliver solutions to improve the current situation of our education sector. We, together with our partners, are all impressed with the work that we saw coming from these students and how they utilized technology for the better. We are looking forward to see what their initiatives can achieve and how these can help them and the country,” says TCS Philippines Country Head Shiju Varghese.

The champion and second placer will also compete against the Sustainathon winners from Singapore and Malaysia at the TCS Sustainathon ASEAN finale later this year.

Madiskarte Moms PH celebrates Filipina entrepreneurial spirit at the first-ever Gawad Madiskarte

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PLDT Home Biz honors Filipina mompreneurs on International Women’s Day

 

Unsung heroes. In the past two years of the pandemic, that’s what our moms have proven to be.

 

Despite bearing the brunt of COVID-19’s impact in the labor sector (many of whom lost their jobs or suffered pay cuts), these women made sure their family needs are taken care of by finding alternative ways of providing for their households.

 

For many, this meant going out of their comfort zones and starting their own online businesses. Based on data from Investing in Women, one in four micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines is owned by a woman. And this number has only risen during the pandemic with more than 88,000 new e-commerce businesses registered just in 2020.

 

Recognizing their immense contribution to their families as well as the potential of online home businesses in pushing for economic recovery, PLDT Home and a group of Filipino mompreneurs launched Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) last September 2020.

 

MMPH is an online community where moms can get a head start on their own online home businesses or get tips and know-how to grow and expand their side hustles. Now with more than 98,000 members from all over the Philippines, MMPH has become a safe space where moms could exchange best practices, share experiences, and motivate each other to pursue their passions while also becoming financially independent. The community provides members with a 24/7 virtual venue of relevant information and networking opportunities to help mompreneurs kickstart their own online home businesses.

 

Gawad Madiskarte 2022: Pagkilala sa Tagumpay ng Madiskarteng Pinay

 

To recognize the hard work of Filipino mompreneurs and celebrate their success, MMPH is holding its first ever annual awards – Gawad Madiskarte 2022: Pagkilala sa Tagumpay ng Madiskarteng Pinay – this coming March 2022.

 

Powered by PLDT Home Biz, the annual awards ceremony is a tribute to the Filipina entrepreneurial spirit. Inviting moms of smarts and style to a big virtual gathering, Gawad Madiskarte salutes the achievements of mompreneurs who have created and grown their online businesses amid an economically challenging pandemic — armed only with their drive and personal diskarte. The special awarding ceremony fittingly happens on March 8, 2022, which is International Women’s Day, hoping to inspire other moms and women to start their own businesses from home as well.

 

Gawad Madiskarte introduces two main award categories: The Start-Up Division, which honors mompreneurs who have bravely started their online side hustles (at least six months operation) despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, and The Scale Up Division, which recognizes those who successfully started and maintained their businesses for at least 13 months.

 

Awards in the Start-Up category include Diskarteng Solid (Strongest Start-Up Business Model) for those who have developed a business model that reflects their vision and gives exceptional customer value; Diskarteng Malikhain (Most Innovative Product) for those whose creative minds have brought forth fresh and unique products and services; and Diskarteng Eco-Friendly (Most Green Business) for those who have made conscious efforts to be socially responsible and environmentally friendly in their business.

 

Meanwhile, the Scale-Up division includes awards for Diskarteng Angat (Fastest-Growing Business) for those who have achieved exceptional growth with their robust vision and strategy; Diskarteng Digital (Best Multi-Channel Business), for businesses that have capitalized on the benefits of a multi-channel approach; and Diskarteng May Puso (Best Social Enterprise), for those whose goal meant giving back and empowering communities through their businesses. (The Scale Up Division entrants are required to have either a physical or e-commerce shop, and supporting documents including a DTI Permit and Barangay Certificate.)

 

A special award, the Diskarteng HomeBiz (Mompreneur’s Choice Award), will be given to the exceptional mompreneur whose business success story has greatly inspired others to do the same.

 

Gawad Madiskarte will award each winning mompreneur a P100,000 cash prize, a one-year PLDT Home Biz Plan, and a laptop to help them go further in their side hustle.

 

To add prestige to the event, Gawad Madiskarte has commissioned award-winning sculptor and contemporary artist Glenn Cagandahan for customized trophies as part of the major prizes. Cagandahan is known for his expressionist works featuring farmers, their family on carabaos, and other rural images that bring to mind the Filipino’s unwavering sense of hard work.

 

For more information on Gawad Madiskarte 2022, join the Madiskarte Moms PH group at https://bit.ly/JoinMMPH2.