Grab launches Advance Booking, eases airport transport for PH travelers with guaranteed on-time rides

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Hitting the road whether for leisure travel across the Philippines or sealing business deals overseas can be a daunting endeavor. The pre-travel stress between the epic suitcase shuffle and the documents paranoia can be too much to handle – and this is even without considering the challenge of getting to the airport on time or arranging transportation.

Understanding this dilemma, Grab – the partner of every Filipino for safe, convenient, and reliable mobility – launches its latest transportation service Advance Booking. Grab Advance Booking guarantees on-time rides to the airport via the GrabAirport fleet, ticking off yet another item on the travelers’ checklist.

Grab Philippines Head of Mobility EJ Dela Vega shares, “Having served the Philippines for over a decade, we at Grab have deepened our understanding of the distinct needs of our Filipino passengers. One such need that stands out is their requirement for reliable airport transportation. Recognizing this, we are enhancing the experience of airport rides on Grab with the launch of Advance Booking. Our new Grab Advance Booking product goes beyond offering mere airport transfers – it provides travelers the peace of mind they deserve. This new service has been engineered to have guaranteed on-time rides every time, enabling every Filipino traveler to leave their homes with the confidence they'll have a ride to make their flight on time.”

Grab Advance Booking: Guaranteed On-Time Rides, Every Time

The worries about catching a flight in the wee hours of the morning or during the peak of the metro bustle are a thing of the past with Grab Advance Booking. This new Grab mobility service touts guaranteed rides every time.

● Plan as early as 7 Days ahead:  With Grab's Advance Booking feature, passengers can effortlessly plan their journeys well in advance. The reservation window is flexible, allowing bookings to be made as early as seven days or as late as two hours before the scheduled ride. 

● Stay Stress-free with On-Time Pick-up Assurance: The Grab Advance Booking driver-partners are guaranteed to be on time. In instances of service disruption, the Grab platform swiftly and seamlessly reassigns the ride to an alternative driver-partner, ensuring a successful completion of the trip for the passenger. To ensure fairness, a Php-100 courtesy credit will be offered to passengers if the driver arrives late for a pre-scheduled ride. 

● No need to panic with extended wait time: Further enhancing passenger convenience, a 15-minute grace period is implemented for Advance Booking rides. This allows drivers to accommodate minor delays, while passengers encountering unforeseen circumstances have additional time to reach the pick-up location. 

Booking in a Breeze

Accessing Grab Advance Booking is a walk in the park. Passengers can select  “Advance Booking” under the Grab transport page. They can then enter the date and time of their ride, along with their pick-up location and the specific airport terminal for drop-off.

Advance Booking passengers will also be receiving regular updates and reminders about the status of their ride leading to the scheduled pick-up time. 45 minutes prior to the scheduled trip, passengers can already chat and check in with their assigned driver in-app. 

As safety and convenience remain paramount for Grab, Advance Booking rides can only accommodate a maximum of three passengers with three pieces of luggage.

Safeguarding our Driver-Partners

Grab has also implemented protective measures to safeguard the income of the dedicated fleet for Advance Booking. These measures are designed to mitigate the impact of last-minute cancellations by passengers, specifically those made less than an hour before the scheduled pick-up time. During such cancellations, the passenger will be charged the full fare of the ride. The same policy applies when a passenger is unreachable or hasn't arrived 15 minutes past the scheduled time.

However, there will be no charge for any passenger cancellation done at least one hour before the scheduled pick-up time, 

A worry-free airport transfer

The Grab Advance Booking eases the overall experience of leisure and business travelers going to the airport, allowing them to relax as they begin their trip. This new service from Grab is currently exclusive to trips going to Metro Manila airports via its GrabAirport fleet, which was launched last year in conjunction with the MIAA. Its availability in cities and regions outside of the National Capital Region is expected to transpire in the second half of 2024. 

For more information on Grab Advance Booking, passengers may visit the Grab Help Center.

MWC Shanghai 2024: HONOR Unveils Industry's First AI Defocus Eye Protection and AI Deepfake Detection

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Debuted at MWC 2024, the latest HONOR features leverage hardware-level AI to relieve myopia and circumvent scams

Global technology brand HONOR revealed two industry-leading on-device AI innovations created to empower individuals and introduce a new level of user safety. During its keynote at MWC Shanghai 2024, titled “The Human-AI Synergy: Intelligent Devices Will Empower People Better,” HONOR showcased its latest advancements in human-centric AI, AI Defocus Eye Protection and AI Deepfake Detection. During the keynote session, the brand also reiterated its focus on human-centric on-device AI and its belief in the potential for AI-enabled hardware to empower users by delivering tailored services while protecting user privacy.

Evolving Eye Protection Technology from Prevention to Relief

Introducing the latest advancements in eye-protection technology, HONOR launched AI Defocus Eye Protection at MWC Shanghai. Noting the global increase in cases of nearsightedness caused by long-term screen usage, this technology leverages AI to simulate defocus glasses on the smart device’s display.

Wearing defocus glasses is proven to be conducive to eye health as they intentionally induce controlled defocus in the user’s peripheral visual field to help maintain clear central vision. This effect creates an altered visual perception that slows down the eye elongation process, which leads to nearsightedness. Taking eye protection from prevention to creating technology that can lead to relief for consumers, HONOR’s AI Defocus Eye Protection has been shown to decrease users’ transient myopia by 13 degrees on average after reading for 25 minutes, with some users experiencing a maximum reduction of 75 degrees.

Mitigating Fraud with AI Deepfake Detection

Circumventing the risks presented by cloud-based “deepfake” AI technology, HONOR has introduced AI Deepfake Detection. To help prevent fraud and detect digitally manipulated content, AI Deepfake Detection examines frame-by-frame information such as eye contact, lighting, image clarity, and video playback to identify flaws that are imperceptible to the human eyes.

Additionally, the AI Deepfake Detection has been trained through a large dataset of videos and images related to online scams, enabling the AI to perform identification, screening, and comparison within three seconds. If synthetic or altered content is detected by the feature, a risk warning is immediately issued to the user, deterring them from continued engagement with the potential scammers for their safety.

For more exciting announcements and cool tech, head on to HONOR Philippines’ social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok Shop: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). 

To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/. 

Everyone’s in Danger: Humans, Monsters and Neohumans Face Off in Sweet Home Season 3 Trailer

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“From the very beginning, I was you. I was always a part of you,” the monster within Hyun-su (Song Kang) eerily declares in the tension-filled trailer for Sweet Home Season 3 released today. Fans are left wondering which version of Hyun-su will prevail, and to what end.

In the third and final season of the iconic Korean monsterization saga, humans, monsters and neohumans prepare for the ultimate showdown. The main poster captures the clash between Hyun-su and Sang-wook (Lee Jin-uk) amid a wrecked stadium engulfed in flames. Once allies, their paths diverged in the second season and now lead to a final face-off.

The trailer shows a glimpse of intense action between Hyun-su and Eun-hyeok (Lee Do-hyun) immediately after they are reunited. Yi-kyung (Lee Si-young) opens her eyes again after being consumed by a monster, while Eun-yu (Ko Min-si) and Chan-young (Jinyoung) desperately fight for survival. Meanwhile, Tak In-hwan (Yoo Oh-seong), Dr. Lim (Oh Jung-se), Kim Yeong-hu (Kim Moo-yeol), and Kid (Kim Sia) continue their individual journeys, each facing new battles.

Director Lee Eung-bok comments, “There is a variety of characters, so I hope viewers will root for their favorite ones as they all fight in their own ways, from the battle between Sang-wook — who has turned evil — and Hyun-su, who longs to preserve his humanity; Yi-kyung, who fights to protect Kid; and Sergeant Tak, who feels responsible for the survivors’ safety.”

Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to the Sweet Home series, premiering July 19, only on Netflix.

Saya ng mas pinaraming sulit-sarap combos!: Jollibee's Bigger and Better Mix & Match is Here!

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 Jollibee, the country’s beloved fast-food chain, has just unveiled its latest offering that promises to excite your Jollibee experience even more – the new Mix & Match Combos!

The new, delicious additions to Jollibee Mix & Match will surely make it easier and more enjoyable to customize your ideal combo.

More Options, More Fun!

Finding affordable and satisfying meal options when hunger strikes can be a challenge, but with Jollibee’s Mix & Match Combos, doing this is a breeze.

In addition to classic Mix & Match mains like 1-pc. Burger Steak, Jolly Spaghetti, and Yumburger, Jollibee lovers now have the option to choose Cheesy Yumburger, Jolly Hotdog, or the new Crunchy Chicken Sandwich. As if that wasn’t enough, Jollibee’s new Iced Latte has also been included as an option for the Sides. The possibilities truly are endless starting at just P75!

Celebrate the Joy of Choice

“Jollibee has always been about bringing joy to every Filipino,” said Luis Berba, Director for Jollibee Masterbrand and Chicken.

“With the revamped Mix & Match Combos, we are taking this commitment a step further by offering our customers even more inclusions so that they can personalize their meals according to their preferences. This is all about celebrating the joy of choice and the unbeatable taste that makes Jollibee the ultimate fast-food destination,” Luis Berba concluded.

Join the Mix & Match Party!

Jollibee invites all foodies to join the fun and create their perfect meals with the Mix & Match Combos.

Jolllibee’s Mix & Match Combos are available nationwide starting at only P75. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing a quick bite on the go, this new offering is designed to make your meal more enjoyable and exciting.

 

ANALYSIS: Filipinos spent 42 years’ worth of time using digital lending apps in 2023

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The average user of digital lending apps spent approximately 14 minutes and seven seconds per month in 2023.

About 1.3 billion seconds — equivalent to 42 years — were spent by persons in using digital lending applications in the Philippines in 2023, according to new analysis from consumer credit service Digido.

An examination of 70 digital lending applications duly-registered to operate in the country, including Digido, reveal that 63.4% of that time was spent on platforms offering personal loans, followed by ‘point-of-sale’ and secured loans at 17.5%, ‘buy now, pay later’ (BNPL) services at 16.6% and installment loans at 2.5%. 

Activity seen in the 70 apps increased by 37% when comparing it to activity in 2022.

The average user of digital lending apps spent approximately 14 minutes and seven seconds per month in 2023 while the average duration of a user’s session was 54 seconds.

The total number of downloads of digital lending apps reached 89.66 million units in 2023, up 52% a year earlier (or +30.81 million units), with unique users reaching 47.46 million (+64% a year earlier or +18.60 million people). Active users, meanwhile, reached 7.7 million people (+25% a year earlier or +1.55 million people) in the same comparative period.

Commenting on the analysis, Digido business development manager Rose Arreco said: “Duly-registered digital lending applications continue to be viewed as trusted financial partners for persons in need of accessible formal credit, especially the underserved market. The increased use of apps offering personal loans also affirm Filipinos’ growing preference for digital channels and flexibility when utilizing credit.”

Digido expects Filipinos’ interest in digital lending to remain very high and stable due to further collaboration within the fintech industry to make its services even more accessible.

“The high percentage of Filipinos with limited access to traditional financial services, combined with the growing demand for formal credit options in the current macroeconomic context, led to more consumers turning to various lending options, especially ones offering personal loans. Such platforms are reaching more low-income segments of the population through new technologies or partnerships with banks,” Arreco added.

An earlier commissioned survey by Digido published earlier this year revealed that personal loans were the most popular formal credit option, with 54% of respondents having one in 2023 due to its flexibility and variety of use while BNPL was the second most popular type of formal loan at 12%.