November 14, 2022

Start your holiday shopping early this 11.11 Lazada’s Biggest Sale with PLDT Home Rewards!


November is finally here and that means you can score the best deals on 11.11 Lazada’s Biggest Sale! With the infinite selection of stuff that you can get from the leading ecommerce platform, there’s no shortage of gifts for your family and friends—and rewards for yourself, too. After all, getting into the Christmas spirit of giving and sharing is the best way to kick off the holiday season.

Luckily for PLDT Home Rewards members, five P100,000 Lazada gift cards are up for grabs in this month’s Grand Giveaway promo, and joining the raffle is fast and easy.

If you are a PLDT Home subscriber but not yet a member of the loyalty program, you can simply enroll your account to PLDT Home Rewards and start earning Crystals and raffle entries. If you are an existing member, just pay your PLDT bill in full and on time, upgrade your plan, apply for paperless and auto-charge payment, or pay via digital channels to start earning Crystals and raffle entries.

You can also exchange 10 Crystals for a Lazada voucher that gives you P100 off for a minimum spend of P1,000 during Lazada’s Biggest sale from today until November 13— for which you’ll also automatically get two raffle entries to the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway this month.

Here are some of the awesome finds that you can get with your P100,000 Lazada gift cards on the most awaited sale:

Fashion

Update your wardrobe or give your family and friends some stylish clothes that you can get at a discount this 11.11. From fashion essentials like jeans and shorts, stylish and colorful tops, to the most trending sneakers, you can express yourself creatively without breaking the bank.

For those looking for great deals on fashion essentials, a cute pair of Levi’s denim shorts or these elegant and chic ZANZEA khaki chinos look good in your OOTDs. You’ll also want to look good in stylish tops and dresses, which is why getting a dress like a pretty Crissa woven dress or a fashionable Plains and Prints vintage top gives you great style options for parties and reunions this holiday season. If you want something sporty, get a pair of the Fila Lite Matrix Run or the timeless Adidas Stan Smith.

Home essentials

Looking to level up your house? There’s a whole range of home improvement choices available online, such as furniture, accessories, decorations, and other unique pieces. If you saw it on social media like Facebook and TikTok, you’ll most likely find it on Lazada.

You can give your living room an upgrade by getting a piece like a new BAIERDI luxury sofa bed set perfect for a cozy holiday movie night with the family. Try something new for your dining room at home like the 16-piece Corelle dinnerware set that can add more flair to your Noche Buena. If you want a comfier holiday sleeping experience over the break, then getting a new Uratex foam mattress is definitely the perfect choice.

Games, consoles, and accessories

Holidays mean long breaks and more quality time to spend with family and loved ones. Bond over action-packed and fun video games.

Playing the hottest games of 2022 on a brand-new Sony PlayStation 5 will surely be the highlight of your family’s holiday season. Don’t forget to add one or more extra PS5 controllers to your cart for fun multiplayer sessions with more family members. For solo players, you can get a copy of Elden Ring, one of the best PS5 games right now. You can also buy other gaming accessories and peripherals during the 11.11 sale, like the HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical keyboard, which is a great gift idea for PC gamers who are also keyboard enthusiasts.

Work and study at home essentials

Grab productivity essentials like office and study tools, gadgets, electronics, and more at great deals in the 11.11 sale.

For the hardworking go-getter in your life, the Infinix INbook X1 is one of the best value-for-money laptops available right now. If they prefer to work or study on a device that’s more portable, another good option is a reliable tablet like the Huawei MatePad T10. Meanwhile, you can also upgrade your home workstation with the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2337 3 in 1 Printer, which gives you and the family an easier and more hassle-free time in printing important documents for school or work.

Beauty must-haves

Feel great, beautiful, and confident this holiday season without breaking the bank. Lazada also offers a wide variety of health and beauty products from makeup to skincare.

Score nice deals on effective skincare products like the Garnier Sakura All Star Kit, which can give you dazzling glass skin in one week. A set of RP Frozen Collagen Face Masks can also keep your face clean, cool, and healthy all the time. For gift ideas to give your friends or family, you can’t go wrong with something like the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser bundle.

There’s an infinite number of deals to score in this year’s Lazada 11.11 sale! So, don’t forget to register to PLDT Home Rewards, pay your PLDT bill in full and on time, upgrade your plan, apply for paperless and auto charge payment, or pay via digital channels to get a chance to win a Lazada gift card in PLDT Home Rewards’ Grand Giveaway Promo this month.

It doesn’t stop there—your raffle entries serve as your tickets to win the grand prize: a whopping P5 million pesos! Make the most of PLDT Home Rewards and join the Grand Giveaway Promo today. Visit https://pldthome.com/grandgiveaway to find out more.

Another first for digital finance in PH: You can now @UseYourName to send and receive money with Maya!


A safer and more personal way to send and receive money has arrived, and that's with your very own Maya @username.

Maya, your all-in-one digital bank, rolls out a new, game-changing feature that lets you send and receive money with your very own username -- another first-of-its-kind feature from the leading digital bank and fintech in the country.

This gives you options for more personalized, convenient, and safer money transfer transactions. Much like how you tag your family/friends on social media, you can use your @username when requesting payments - no need to memorize and input 11-digit mobile numbers. If you're a small business owner, this feature can come in handy as you can easily set up your store name as your account username for an easier, hassle-free mode of payment!

With Maya's username feature, you can also choose to keep your personal data private, such as your account name and mobile number. This feature is available for upgraded Maya app users - ensuring a secure experience for the Maya community.

"We're excited to be the country's first digital bank to launch this feature as we continue to help Filipinos master their money and enable meaningful personalization. It's a game-changer for safety and making our experience with sending money more fun – especially when you attach a GIF to it!" said Pepe Torres, Chief Marketing Officer for Maya Philippines.

Maya has also partnered with Giphy to help you add a personal touch to your Send Money transactions. To make your send money transaction even cooler, you can even throw some GIF action in there! With over 10 billion GIFs, you're sure to find one that can perfectly complement how you feel.

Setting up your Maya @username is easy. You simply need to:
  1. Tap the "Profile" icon on the upper-left corner and tap "Get Started."
  2. Key in your preferred @username and hit "Confirm."
  3. Finish off by keying in the One Time Password (OTP) sent via SMS.
Once you've registered your preferred @username, your friends can now use this to send money to your account with these easy steps:
  1. Tap "Send Money" on the Maya app
  2. Key in the recipient's @username, input the amount to send, and tap "Continue."
  3. Review the "Send Money" transaction details and tap "Send."
  4. Wait for Maya's confirmation via SMS.
A username is unique to each Maya account holder, so choose well! You can have the option to present your username or your mobile number registered to your Maya account whenever you want to receive money through Maya. In general, registration of usernames is on a first-come, first-served basis, and to ensure protection, Maya has provided guidelines for username registration here.

"Sending money via @username is just one of the innovative features which make money management with Maya more fun and rewarding. With up to 6% savings interest rate and free bitcoin or cashback offers, Maya is easily the most engaging and rewarding payments and banking platform for your money," Torres added.

Maya packs a feature-rich e-wallet, an inclusive digital bank, and everything else you need to save, spend, grow, and manage your money—right from your smartphone.

Want to flex your Maya @username to your friends and family? Register to Maya now and get a joining bonus of P20 plus an additional P40 when you upgrade and do your first transaction until November 30, 2022.

For more information and updates from the country's all-in-one money platform, visit maya.ph

November 13, 2022

UnionBank “Techs Up “ anew at the 2022 Singapore FinTech Festival

Becoming a great retail bank is a journey and not a destination.

UnionBank stood-out on the global stage as the lone Filipino bank gold sponsor bannering the “Tech Up Pilipinas” advocacy that is the cornerstone of its digital strategy.

UnionBank has been part of the annual festival since 2018, working the room with the biggest banks in the region. This year, more than 60,000 participants, more than 850 speakers, and more than 500 exhibitors attended the event, a testament to its status as the “world’s most impactful fintech event.”

The UnionBank delegation, headed by Chairman Erramon I. Aboitiz and President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista, showcased key business units that are the pillars of its digital journey through a two-story exhibit booth at the priority sponsors area of the expo.

Trailblazing technologies developed by UnionBank for blockchain, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence, were featured on the booth’s Patent Wall, while the Bank’s digital journey was prominently displayed at the booth’s central area. Noteworthy was the video showing UnionBank’s game-changing acquisition of Citi’s ‘crown jewel’. The multiple screens on the booth highlighted how UnionBank’s technological innovations touched clients while top-level UnionBankers were on hand to tell the deeper stories behind these.

Aside from engaging with clients, entrepreneurs, investors, government, financial services, and technology leaders, UnionBank executives led discussion panels and speaking sessions in the various stages of the 2022 SFF. Corporate clients were also hosted to listen in to globally and locally relevant presentations affecting the financial industry at the festival.

Dignitaries from the Philippine government who visited the UnionBank booth include Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officials Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and Director Mhel Plabasan; Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Kelvin Lester K. Lee; and Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Maria Francesca Montes-Del Rosario.

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has always been among the first to embrace client-centric technological innovations, as a result it has consistently been recognized as of one of Asia’s digital trailblazers, ranking among the country’s top universal banks in terms of profitability and efficiency. It has garnered a record-breaking number of awards and recognition, such as the Most Recommended Retail Bank in Asia Pacific by BankQuality.com; 5-time Digital Bank of the Year by The Asset Triple A; Asia Pacific’s Digital Trailblazer by IDC Asia Pacific, and the Top 1 of Most Helpful Banks in the Philippines during COVID-19 by BankQuality.com.

With what can almost be anticipated as an annual endeavor, UnionBank’s participation in the Singapore FinTech Festival is a testament to its promise to power the future of banking by “Teching Up Pilipinas” to best serve the growing needs of Filipinos everywhere, fulfilling its vision of building a Bank of enduring greatness while pioneering innovations for a better world.

UnionBank’s “Tech’d up” highlights at SFF2022

SEC Commissioner Kelvin Lester K. Lee (left) with UnionBank Chief Marketing Officer Albert Cuadrante, and UnionDigital PCEO Arvie De Vera

Day 1

· UnionDigital Co-Founder, President and CEO Arvie de Vera got the show on the road, joining as a panelist for the session titled "Wake Up With the Leaders," which focused on building a resilient business model in light of the current macro climate.

· UnionBank SVP and Head of Fintech Business Group, Open Finance and Digital Services Center of Excellence Erika Dizon-Go gave a presentation on Digital Finance before joining the session "The Antifragile Digital Economy of ASEAN - The Digital Pilipinas Case Study.”

· Capping off the Bank's Day 1 talks was the launch of the Philippine Open Finance Foundation led by Jaime Garchitorena, UBX Managing Director for Open Finance. The institution aims to make the adoption of open finance as a technology that empowers Filipino consumers with the right set of financial tools and solutions for their needs. The foundation will bring together relevant stakeholders, including other financial institutions, government agencies, non-government organizations, civic groups, and the academe to come up with meaningful initiatives that will support the development of Open Finance in the Philippines.

Day 2

· UnionBank SVP, SME and Micropreneurs Segment Head Jaypee Soliman gave a presentation on Embedded Banking and Alternative Credit Scoring

· UnionBank SVP and Head of Blockchain Center of Excellence and API Business Group Cathy Casas sat down for an interview with METACO, and IBM focused on "Leveraging Digital Assets to Build New Business Models for Financial Institutions."

· UnionBank's Chief Data and AI Officer Dr. David Hardoon joined a roundtable discussion entitled "Open Finance and Beyond," capping off the Bank's Day 2 talks.

Day 3

· Dr. Hardoon returned to join the roundtable discussion titled "Distributed Data Ecosystems in a Web3 World - Heterodox Approaches to Data Portability," followed by De Vera who joined the roundtable discussion titled "Asia Digital Banking CEO Strategic Roundtable."


From Left – UnionBank Chief Cross-Sell Officer Anton Corro, BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan and UnionBank Chairman Erramon I. Aboitiz


Gracing the UnionBank booth are BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier and Director Mhel Plabasan (2nd and 3rd from right) welcomed by UnionBank President and CEO Edwin Bautista (3rd from left) together with (from left) Board Director Roberto Manabat, UnionDigital President and CEO Arvie De Vera, and UnionBank CTOO/CTO Henry Aguda.

November 12, 2022

Rihanna’s ‘Lift Me Up’ from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack



"Lift Me Up"
Rihanna 
(from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack)

Lift me up
Hold me down
Keep me close
Safe and sound

Burning in a hopeless dream
Hold me when you go to sleep
Keep me in the warmth of your love
When you depart keep me safe
Safe and sound

Lift me up
Hold me down
Keep me close
Safe and sound

Drowning in an endless sea
Take some time and stay with me
Keep me in the strength of your arms
Keep me safe
Safe and sound

Lift me up
Hold me down (Hold me down)
Keep me safe (Keep me close)
Safe and sound (Safe and sound)

Burning in a hopeless dream
Hold me when you go to sleep
Keep me safe
We need light
We need love

Lift me up (Lift me up, in your arms)
Hold me down (I need love, I need love, I need love)
Keep me close (Hold me, hold me)
Safe and sound (Hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me)
Lift me up (Hold me, hold me)
Hold me down (Hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me)
Keep me safe
We need light
We need love



Rihanna’s newest single “Lift Me Up” is the singer’s first solo song released since her last album “Anti” in 2016. “Lift Me Up”   was premiered on October 28, 2022.

The song was released as part of the soundtrack for the newest film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'' 

“Lift Me Up” was written by Rhianna and co-written by Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems, Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson, and “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler.

In remembrance of the late artist, written as a tribute to the "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman, who died from cancer in 2020 at the age of 43.


Jet Ski racer wins World Finals international competition

Paul Del Rosario is among the athletes putting the Filipinos on the map of competitive Jet Ski and motorsports racing

For most people, riding a jet ski is a recreational activity. But unbeknownst to many, Jet Ski racing is a thing. And Filipino athletes are making waves in this niche—but awesome unique motorsport.

Jet Ski racing is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a water sport similar to motorbike or powerboat racing, in which riders use Jet Skis to compete in open water. It’s a popular sport in the United States, Japan, Australia, and Europe. But in the Philippines, it does not have the exposure that, say, basketball or volleyball does. Other extreme sports gets more press than Jet Ski racing.

One of the world-class athletes bringing more attention to the sport—and putting the Philippines on the map of competitive Jet Ski racing—is Paul del Rosario.

Most recently, Del Rosario took home the gold medal at the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Finals (Ski Modlites) held in October in Arizona, USA. IJSBA is the governing body of the sports, similar to how the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) oversees soccer in the world.

Bagging the top prize in categories offered in the World Finals is a big deal. In the world of Jet Ski racing, this league is like its Olympics, with respective national champions from other countries sent to compete. Last October, Del Rosario beat racers from countries such as Brazil, South America, France, and America.
Aside from bragging rights and taking home an awesome trophy, the prestige of winning at the World Finals comes from moving up the world rankings. This also makes it easier for athletes to land sponsorships from brands. With his recent win, Del Rosario is now ranked #1 in his category (Ski Modlites), which is part of the ski/stand up type class, the hardest category of all Jet Ski races.

Del Rosario had also become World Champion at the IJSBA World Finals Runabout (Amateur Runabout Open Class) in 2010, as well as being the 2007 Thailand Pro Am Runabout Super Stock, national champion, among many other awards.

“Jet Ski races have been happening in the country since the ‘80s. And while there’s still a long way to go before the sport becomes more mainstream, Filipino Jet Ski racers are slowly being respected and seen as a powerhouse in the international scene,” said Del Rosario.

It’s all about cultivating athletes and designating them in the right categories. For the sport to become more popular, it’s going to take more than just one person, but rather a group of athletes and advocates dedicated to the movement.

Government support is crucial, too, in the form of tax benefits, incentives and athlete recognition, if Jet Ski racers hope to further make a killing in the sport.


Barrier to entry

Perhaps one of the reasons why Jet Ski racing hasn’t cultivated a bigger following is because of the high cost it takes to get into the sport. In fact, some had called the sport “elitist.”

Del Rosario said these observations are not entirely baseless. It does, in fact, cost a lot to take up the sport, including the cost of buying the actual Jet Ski (it’s virtually impossible to train competitively without owning one), as well gear like helmets, wetsuits, floatation aids, and other forms of safety equipment.

“More than the cost of getting into the sports, competing in a Jet Ski race takes a lot of hard work and dedication. You have to put your time, body, and mind. We practice and physically train—a lot,” Del Rosario said.

A lot of people have the misconception that Jet Ski is the safest sport, just because it’s done in the water. In reality, the dangers are serious and they are real.

Over the years, Del Rosario had encountered athletes who had broken their bones, or those who needed brain surgery because a fellow racer ran over them when they fell from their Jet Skis. Del Rosario himself had endured injuries such as herniated lumbar discs, advanced tendinitis of both kneecaps, and an impinged shoulder, among others.

All of the injuries were worth it, though, Del Rosario said. “Jet Ski racing makes me feel alive,” he said. “When I’m riding one, it feels like I’m in a different world.”

A 7-year hiatus, comeback

Before bagging his latest IJSBA World Finals title in October, Del Rosario took a seven-year break from the sport. It was a combination of a lot of factors, mainly because he wanted to focus on raising his three children, recovering from past injuries, and finally getting his college degree, as well as giving more attention to his work.

This underscores the fact that aside from being at the peak of their physical fitness, athletes like Del Rosario have to be in the right state of mind to compete, too. After all, when you’re racing on a Jet Ski with up to 300 horsepower in open water, focus is key.

It was a challenge to get back into shape so he could compete once more, especially against younger athletes. He trains religiously, doing cross fit, swimming, weightlifting, and cycling, among others.

“At 43 now, I’m a dinosaur in the sport,” Del Rosario said in jest. In the competition he joins, it’s not unusual to go against athletes in their teens. Del Rosario himself started Jet Ski racing when he was 13.

This is why he thinks he’s on for his last stretch of competitive Jet Ski racing within the next year. The goal for next year is to qualify for the SouthEast Asian Games which will be held in Cambodia in the summer of 2023, and at least place top 3, defend his Philippine title, and win another world title in the 2023 IJSBA world championship.

“I’ll still be riding Jet Skis recreationally after that, and focus on my wife’s racing, who by the way is also a contender in the women’s events locally. But in terms of competitive sports, I’m preparing for one last ride,” he said.

Hanging up the mantle is never easy for any athlete, but something that all athletes have to go through eventually. That doesn’t matter. Del Rosario had already achieved a lot in his sporting career, including getting the Philippine Rider of the Year award from the JSAP a record eight times.

As for whether he wants any of his three children to take up Jet Ski racing, he said he won’t be forcing any of them to do so. He is aware of the dangers, so he’d rather they not. But should they want to take up the sport of their own volition, he won’t be one to object. There are stage fathers and mothers who live vicariously through their children. He wishes not to be one of them.

Del Rosario said: “The future is bright for Jet Ski racing. We, Filipinos, have an advantage in that we relatively live close to the water, which works to our advantage. We’ve come a long way. From being laughed at before to being respected in the game. I look forward to the day that more Filipinos get into Jet Ski racing, with our own superstar athletes.”



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