Home Credit, Citi ink social financing facility to expand Filipinos’ access to mobile services, to support women

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Leading global consumer finance company Home Credit has inked a P420 million (8.2 million USD) social financing facility with the country’s largest foreign bank Citi to further promote greater financial inclusion in the Philippines.

This loan agreement of Home Credit Philippines (HC Consumer Finance Philippines, Inc.) with Citi (Citibank N.A. – Philippine Branch) is expected to support purchases of mobile devices in the Philippines, about half of it would be for women. This also enables them to access features of a digital device such as online banking, tracking financial progress, installing productivity apps for their business, among others.

Borrowers can apply for a loan at Home Credit Philippines’ thousands of partners. They can also apply for a loan through Home Credit’s App.

Standing L-R: Kel Fabian, Citibank Relationship Associate; Carmela Ongsiapco, HCPH Senior Corporate Lawyer; Henry Segovia, HCPH Business Development and Funding Manager; Victoria Tupaz, HCPH Head of Funding; Vincent Lopez, Citibank Senior Relationship Manager

Seated L-R: Fernando Fleury, Citibank Corporate Banking Head; Zdenek Jankovsky, HCPH Corporate Treasurer and Chief Business Development Officer; Ajay Paul, Citibank Global Subsidiaries Group Head

“This loan facility is a continuation of a deliberate strategy at Home Credit to pursue innovative and sustainable funding options for our business. Empowering our customers to live better lives is a core part of our approach. This loan is another example of how we are working to deliver sustainable, responsible financial services and products in developing markets,” said Jean Lafontaine, Head of Funding, M&A and Investor Relations, Home Credit Group

Borrowing at the “point-of-sale” as offered by Home Credit is the first experience many Filipinos have of any kind of credit. This inclusive loan is especially targeted at women, who comprise around 50% of Home Credit’s total borrowers.

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting new chapter in Home Credit’s story in the Philippines. I am proud that the measured KPIs of the loan will be particularly beneficial to our female customers. The combination of safe access to responsible financial services and digital technology has the potential to have a transformative effect for Filipinos across the country,” said David Minol, President and Chief Executive Officer of Home Credit Philippines.

The facility is a social loan which qualifies under the “S” of both company’s approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). It will be monitored every quarter through a certification detailing the “mobile-point of sale” portfolio for key performance indicators (KPIs) including the number of new digital devices (including smartphones) financed and percentage of female borrowers.

“Supporting basic digital infrastructure is a tenet of Citi’s approach to social financing in emerging economies. Through Citi’s first social finance facility we would like to give more Filipinos safe access to affordable financial services to grow their business, and in this way affirm our commitment to the country as we celebrate our 120th year in the Philippines,” said Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed.

This transaction contributes to Citi’s $1 trillion commitment to sustainable finance by 2030, specifically supporting the social finance criteria of economic inclusion, which is to improve access to credit and financial services in vulnerable or underserved communities, including micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) financing. It will also generate employment opportunities as well as improve public spaces and community resources.

Something BIG is happening at The Big Dome!

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Four of the biggest South Korean acts are slated to visit Manila for “Begin Again: KPOP Edition” taking place on May 29, 2022, 5 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Fans are sure to have a blast with NCT DREAM, SHINee’s KEY, WEi, and ALICE performing their latest hit songs on the Philippine stage.

NCT DREAM will be headlining the show, coming on the heels of their widely successful album “Glitch Mode.” Released last March, NCT DREAM has recently wrapped promotions after selling an impressive 2 million albums. This makes them a double million-seller for two consecutive years—a feat only a handful of groups have achieved.

Seemingly a magnet for historic achievements, NCT DREAM is set to tick another one on its checklist. Back in 2020, the group is the last to hold a live concert in the Philippines before COVID-19 lockdown. Now, they’ll be one of the first international artists to perform live again after two years. Needless to say, NCT DREAM is making dreams come true with their return to the country.

Performing alongside the group is labelmate KEY, lead dancer, and lead rapper of SHINee. In 2018, KEY made his solo debut with the single “Forever Yours,” which he quickly followed up with a full studio album titled “Face.” The album peaked at number 5 on Korea’s Gaon Chart and snagged a top 10 entry on the US World Albums Chart.

September last year, KEY released his first mini-album “Bad Love,” which earned him another top entry on the Gaon Chart. The titular track also enjoyed commercial and critical success with its Music Core win and The Ringer naming it the Best KPOP Song of 2021.

WEi, a six-member boy group from OUI Entertainment, is also joining in the fun. Though only debuting 2 years ago, the group is no stranger to the limelight. Members DAE HYEON, DONG HAN, YONG HA, YO HAN, SEOK HWA, and JUN SEO have different charms, and as a fourth-generation youth icon, WEi is loved by domestic and international fans.

In March of this year, the group released their fourth mini-album “Love Pt.1: First Love” with “Too Bad” as the main title. The album sold more than 100,000 copies and placed at number five on Korea’s Gaon Chart.

Last but definitely not the least is ALICE, consisting of members EJ, Do-A, Chaejeong, Yeonjae, Yukyung, Sohee, and Karin. In 2018, the group was named the Best Rookie Group at the 24th Korean Entertainment Arts Awards. Fresh off the May 4 release of their latest single “Power of Love,” these fearsome femmes are ready to wow on the stage.

The 2-hour concert marks the first live KPOP show in the country since the COVID-19 lockdown. Don’t miss this historic event and come see talented artists on one stage.

Pre-selling of tickets begins on May 17, 2022 (12NN) via https://www.cdmentertainment.ph.

Official ticket selling begins the next day, May 18, 2022 (10AM) via https://www.ticketnet.com.ph/ and all Ticketnet outlets nationwide.

Prices are as follows:

● Patron A PHP10,250

● Patron B PHP9,450

● Lowerbox PHP7,850

● Upperbox PHP4,950

● General Admission PHP3,250

*Prices are subject to ticketing charges.

“Begin Again: KPOP Edition” is brought to you by CDM Entertainment in partnership with BRODYWORKS.

#BeginAgain_KPOP

Discover what you need for whatever summer adventure at the Shopee May 15 Payday Sale!

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Enjoy summer while it lasts and get shipping discount vouchers, 10% off vouchers, and 100% Bills Cashback when you shop this May 15 Payday Sale

Say yes to new adventures and enjoy the great outdoors before summer ends. This May 15 Payday Sale, get-up from your chair, try new activities, and explore a change of scenery that’s a good break from all the stress of work. Be well-equipped for whatever thrilling adventure awaits you when you check out these payday deals:

Invite your loved ones to a fun picnic under the sun

Spend some quality time together with your loved ones while appreciating the beautiful summer weather. Before heading out, complete your outfit with a pair of Birkenstock Sandals that have a Lightweight EVA sole to keep you comfortable throughout the day. Pack all your meals in Home Gallery’s Lunch Bag Set, Its two-way handle design makes it easier for you to carry your delicious meals. Don’t forget a trusty Coleman Picnic Cooler that will store your drinks to beat the summer heat.

Push yourselves to a challenging hike in the mountains

It’s a good time to go back to hiking or finally try it out if you haven’t yet. Equip yourself with the heavy-duty GoPro Hero10 Camera and capture memories and scenic views to share with family and friends with its 23MP resolution for photos and 5.3K video quality. Break in your new PEAK Hiking Shoes on your next hike, as it has a durable outsole to help plant your foot firmly amid any type of terrain and under all weather conditions. Store all your hiking essentials neatly in this Under Armour Outdoor Backpack. 

Be one with nature when you go on a relaxing camping trip

Unplug and recharge by taking in the serenity and calm of nature with a camping trip outside the city. Enjoy the view and hours of conversations with your companions while sitting in a lightweight and durable Coleman Foldable Chair. Maintain the ideal temperature of your favorite beverage when traveling to your go-to campsite with the Klean Kanteen Insulated Tumbler. At night, have the Firefly Portable Fan by your side with its multiple speed control settings and battery life that can last up to four hours. 

Work on your cardio and fitness by biking in the city or in a nearby trail

The bicycle boom which started early in the pandemic continues now that more people are out and about. Bring these LUEASPY Biking Sunglasses anywhere you go as they have UV400 coating to block harmful UVA & UVB rays when you bike. Safety is a number one priority for cyclists. Consider the LUEASPY Cycling Helmet that has a protective covering lined with high density EPS. Lastly, check out West Biking’s LED Bike Light with its battery capacity of 700mAh and a brightness of 80 lumens to keep you safe even during rides at night.

Elevate your summer adventure without breaking the bank. Pay with ShopeePay and get 30% cashback on your hotel bookings at EstacioUno Boracay, Quest Hotel Tagaytay, Solea Palm Resort Mactan, Mithi Resort and Spa Bohol, White Breeze Palawan, and more. You can also utilize ShopeePay when paying shared vacation expenses - send money to your friends for free, plus win rewards and cash prizes. Register at ShopeePay Milyonaryo, send at least P50 to any bank, e-wallet or Shopee user for a chance to play and win up to P1,000,000 on Shopee Live. Watch out for ShopeePay Happy Hour to win up to 100 coins daily when you send at least P50 to any Shopee user during happy hours.

Don’t let your data run dry while on vacation to keep your social media feed updated. Load and data packages from major telcos are discounted for up to 50% off on May 15. Leading up to payday, participate in ShopeePay Fridays this May 13 to get a chance to win P50,000 by simply liking ShopeePay’s official social media pages. But before you get caught up in your travel plans, make sure you’re all settled. Get up to 100% cashback on participating billers such as Meralco, Maynilad, Globe, Smart, PLDT, Cignal, RCBC, and Metrobank when you use ShopeePay this May 15. With these rewards from ShopeePay, you can already start saving for your next getaway.

For more information on Shopee’s May 15 Payday Sale, visit: https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale

Did you know that you can use ShopeePay to send money to any bank or e-wallet for free?

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We already know how easy it is to send money online—all it takes is a few taps on your phone and you’re done. Convenient and ideal, right? Yes, but only if you’re sending money to someone with the same bank account or e-wallet as yours or else you need to pay extra fees. That’s not very practical so we’ve got a solution for you. Did you know that ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, actually lets you send money to any bank, e-wallet or Shopee user for free? Yes, no hidden fees because we want to enable all Filipinos to fully enjoy the benefits of sending money online.

It’s inconvenient to create and maintain multiple apps just to avoid additional transaction fees. To minimize the hassle, all you need is ShopeePay, which is part of the Shopee app—simply activate and verify your ShopeePay account. With ShopeePay, enjoy free and instant bank transfers with 40+ banks and e-wallet partners, including the country’s major banks like BDO, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Metrobank, Security Bank, UnionBank, and more. With this integrated service, you no longer need to jump from one app to another to make your fund transfers.

Watch the video below to know how to send money for free with ShopeePay.

On top of convenience, ShopeePay also makes sending money more fun and exciting through promos where you can qualify to win rewards and cash prizes. Get the chance to be a ShopeePay Milyonaryo—register at this link, send at least P50 to any bank, e-wallet or Shopee user for a chance to play and win up to P1,000,000 on Shopee Live. In addition, be sure to check in during ShopeePay Happy Hour so you can win up to 100 coins daily when you send at least P50 to any Shopee user.

Activate ShopeePay now and start enjoying its benefits. To learn more about ShopeePay, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay. Download Shopee for free through the App Store or Google Play.

Get. Set. Turbo: vivo kicks off PUBG Turbo Cup Challenge

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Gamers now have the chance to show off their PUBG skills in a big gaming tournament organized by vivo and Mineski Global

vivo, one of the leading smartphone brands in the country, is calling the best of Gen Z gamers and the esports audiences as it kicks off the very first PUBG Turbo Cup Challenge Tournament.

On July 9, 2022, the most vicious players from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines will gather together and bring their A-game to battle it out in this one big and electrifying gaming tournament. In collaboration with Mineski Global, Southeast Asia's premier esports organizer, the PUBG Turbo Cup Challenge Tournament is set out to be an experience that gamers would never forget.

Ready, set, turbo!

The vivo PUBG Turbo CUP Challenge will have three stages: country qualifier, country finals and SEA finals, all will be executed in a Battle Royale style.  These stages will consist of four games where players must explore and compete in four maps, Erangel, Sanhok, Miramar and Vikendi, in the third person perspective (TPP).

Sixty-four teams, divided into four groups from each region, will compete during the country qualifier. Four winning teams will be determined from each group in the first stage, and they will proceed to the country finals. Another four will advance to the SEA Finals, from the competing teams in the second stage. The winners of each match will be determined with the highest place and total kill points.

Team leaders of the winning teams from the country qualifier will be given the opportunity to meet and greet one of the country’s pro gaming team leaders, who will help them sharpen their gaming tactics and skills. All four countries will have their own local stream during the country and SEA finals. There will also be a virtual stage to go with the local stream where supporters and participants can keep track of the tournament.

How to join?

The vivo PUBG Turbo Cup Tournament is for active students. To join, they should register through the Turbo Cup Tournament website and upload a photo of their student ID card and their student portal account profile. They should also have their own PUBG mobile account and registered ID nicknames. Participants should register through the team registration in order to play at the main event. They can only be enrolled in one team that should consist of four people.

Teams with a total of eight points will be awarded fourth place, teams with 10 points will be awarded third place, garnering 12 points will secure the second place, and a winning 15 points will bag the first place.

To fuel up the excitement even further, vivo will be distributing the company’s newest top-of-the-line gaming smartphone to the finalists of the PUBG Turbo Cup Challenge! It features Z-axis linear motor that guarantees a faster response and a 4D gaming vibration that will immerse gamers right into the heart of the action.

Are you up for the challenge? Take this chance to represent your country in the first vivo PUBG Turbo Cup Challenge Tournament. Call your gaming buddies and register through the website today. To know more, you may check out this link: http://vivoturbocup.com/