Julia Barretto and Maris Racal Are Back Fighting for What’s “MINE” with Maya

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Julia Barretto and Maris Racal are back, and they’re taking getting more from your money to a whole new level.

In their last Maya video, the two showed what it feels like when your savings earns interest daily. Now, they’re turning their attention to everyday spending, with a new face-off over something they both want to claim.

This time, the two go head-to-head over 1% cashback when you pay with your Maya Card, making cashback something neither of them is willing to give up. The result is an all-out, wildly entertaining showdown built around one simple idea: if there’s value to be claimed from money you’re already spending, why leave it behind?

It’s a mindset that hits especially close to home today. Filipinos want more out of their money, and we’re becoming more conscious of where it goes and what we get in return—comparing prices, waiting for sales, looking for deals, and finding ways to make everyday spending go further.

Cashback taps into that same instinct. And Julia and Maris take it to an entertaining extreme. Watch just how far they’ll go to claim their cashback here: [Embed YouTube Vid: https://youtu.be/8wUazyPfWVk]

And claiming yours is much easier. Get 1% cashback on all in-store or online purchases in the Philippines when you use your Maya Card, from your morning coffee and weekly groceries to dining out, shopping, and your latest online checkout.

Julia and Maris may be fighting for what’s “MINE,” but when your everyday spending can give you something back, there’s no reason to leave yours behind.

So however you choose to spend, make that cashback MINE with your Maya Card.

Visit maya.ph/mine and follow @makeyourmoneymaya on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to stay updated. Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (www.bsp.gov.ph). Deposits are insured by PDIC up to ₱1 million per depositor.

GCash drives faster international transfers and digital trust at the 2026 Philippine Tech Mission to Australia

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The Philippines–Australia remittance corridor is set to become more seamless as digital financial services improve and cooperation between the two countries strengthens, supporting faster, safer, and easier cross-border payments for Filipinos, overseas workers, and businesses.

(L-R) G-Xchange Inc. president and CEO Ren-ren Reyes, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor Mamerto Tangonan, and RCBC executive vice president Lito Villanueva

G-Xchange Inc. President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes, during a panel discussion hosted by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in Australia, highlighted efforts to deepen PH–AU collaboration in digital finance, with a focus on making cross-border transfers near real-time and less complex for users.

As the ecosystem develops, the goal is to enable real-time value transfer that supports smoother participation in global trade and financial activity. This is being supported by future-ready infrastructure and emerging technologies such as blockchain and stablecoins, which can improve speed and cost efficiency as they scale.

Artificial intelligence is also expected to enhance currency conversion, risk assessment, and the delivery of more efficient cross-border financial services.

Closing the infrastructure gap

GCash has been doing its part in making sure that the cross-border infrastructure services the needs of its users here and abroad, including GCash International Transfers, which allows users in the Philippines to directly send money abroad from their e-wallets.

Launched earlier this year, the remittance product is available in 16 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Funds are sent in Philippine pesos and received in the recipient’s local currency, eliminating the need for manual conversion and making cross-border transfers faster, more convenient, and more transparent for both parties.

With fees starting at just ₱180, significantly lower than many traditional bank charges, and real-time tracking for both sender and recipient, the service offers a more convenient remittance experience.

It also supports small businesses that source goods and services abroad, providing a faster and simpler way to settle international payments.

Connecting two nations

Organized by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the 2026 Philippine Tech Mission brought together senior leaders from the private sector and government, led by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan.

Strategic conversations were framed by Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, with discussions anchored on the shared values of Bayanihan and Mateship to build a more open, efficient, and secure trading and remittance environment between the two countries.

At the center of it all is a large and growing community: over 408,000 Overseas Filipinos and 40,000 international students currently living in Australia, most of whom depend on cross-border financial channels to support families and run businesses back home.

The 2026 Philippine Tech Mission makes one thing clear: when financial leaders align on connected infrastructure, digital safety, and technology, the old architecture of international money transfers gives way to something far more powerful—a borderless financial system that works as a natural, seamless part of every Filipino's life.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.

Manulife Philippines Appoints Ganesh Murugesan as Chief Information Officer

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Appointment strengthens technology execution and enterprise transformation capabilities to support sustainable growth, operational transformation, and customer experience

Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading international financial services provider Manulife, today announced the appointment of Ganesh Murugesan as Chief Information Officer. He will be part of the company’s executive committee.

Prior to his appointment, Ganesh served as Head of Delivery for Manulife Philippines and was part of Manulife’s Regional Technology team in Hong Kong for the past eight years. During this time, he has played a key role in strengthening delivery capabilities and leading major transformation programs across the region. With nearly 25 years’ professional experience, Ganesh draws on a strong track record of shaping and delivering technology solutions that support distribution growth, enable operational transformation, and enhance customer experience across insurers in Asia.

“Ganesh brings deep expertise and a strong execution track record that will be critical as we continue to strengthen our technology capabilities and drive transformation across the business,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. “His regional experience and leadership will help us deliver more seamless, efficient, and customer-focused solutions, supporting our ambition to be the #1 choice for Filipino customers. He will play an important role in connecting our technology priorities more closely to business outcomes, ensuring we deliver consistent, high-quality experiences at scale.”

“I'm excited to work with colleagues across Manulife Philippines to strengthen execution and technology capabilities that help us deliver better outcomes for our customers, distributors, and colleagues. By investing in our people and transforming our business through AI and innovation, we can improve customer experience, increase speed to market, and accelerate the company's growth ambitions,” said Ganesh Murugesan, Chief Information Officer, Manulife Philippines.

Before you Post, Comment or Share: ‘PR Matters’ Brings Everyday Communication Tips to Social Media

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Before you hit “post,” do you stop and think about how others might take it? Do you check the message in your group chat if it’s true before forwarding it? And when something suddenly goes viral for the wrong reasons, what can we learn from it?

Seasoned PR professionals from IPRA Philippines share their expertise and 

real-life PR lessons in new digital series

In celebration of PR Month, the International Public Relations Association Philippines (IPRA Philippines) is launching “PR Matters” on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook with a new 12 short-form videos that make communication practical, relatable, and useful in everyday life.

The idea is simple. People communicate every day, posting, commenting, sharing, sending messages, and interacting with people online and offline. “PR Matters” on social media turns lessons from professional communicators into short, conversational videos that anyone can understand and use in everyday life.

Every Monday, “PR 101” makes communication basics easy to understand, with IPRA Philippines chairperson Claire Papa, past chairpersons Joy Buensalido, and Jingjing Romero, and Abigail Ho-Torres discussing topics such as influencer promotions, why some stories make the news, and how is PR different from advertising and marketing.

“PR IRL” brings real-life communication stories to social media every Wednesday. IPRA Philippines vice chair Kane Errol Choa, director Charisse Chuidian, past chair Noel Nieva, and secretary Rowena Capulong Reyes look back at widely discussed PR cases and issues that made media headlines, and sharing simple lessons we can still use today.

“PReady FR FR,” featuring IPRA Philippines treasurer Wilford Wong and past IPRA Philippines chairperson Millie Dizon, offers practical communication tips for everyday life from what to check before posting online and why you shouldn’t immediately forward messages from your group chat to navigating cancel culture and social media habits that can affect how others see you. New episodes drop every Friday.

“PR Matters” began as a weekly column on public relations and communication. IPRA Philippines also published “PR Matters: A Communicator’s Guide to Public Relations in the Philippines” in 2023 and has brought PR practitioners to students through its CommuniTalks sessions at UP Diliman, Far Eastern University, and Centro Escolar University.

IPRA Philippines is the Philippine chapter of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), a global organization of public relations professionals.

Follow PR Matters by IPRA Philippines and catch the 12 short-form videos every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Beyoncé Marks her Birthday with the Release of a Remastered Deluxe ‘B’Day’ Album

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(London, UK ) Today marks Beyoncé’s birthday and the release of a voluminous remastered B’DAY, her coming-of-age second album. When it was released on September 4, 2006, music fans around the world were introduced to a 25-year-old woman with a bold, new voice. Not just a powerful singing voice, but an artist determined to take over her career as a singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist. She recorded the album in a two-week session, fully cemented at the helm, and knowing exactly what she wanted to create. She was pushing herself, revealing layers to her innovative approach to recording, writing, and producing. That fierce and urgent approach was extended to all her collaborators, with each one digging a little deeper to define the sound of her deeply personal album.

“I wanted the album to be big, percussive, hard, up-tempo, and energized, and it was important to me that we used live instrumentation,” she recalls. “Hip-hop was taking over at the time, but I was fighting to preserve the bridges, melodies, and harmonies that have always been at the heart of R&B. The goal was to blend those two worlds through the art of sampling. I loved the minimalism of a beautiful vocal arrangement over a simple drum loop or a classic guitar like ‘Irreplaceable’…but only if that 808 was banging underneath.”

B’DAY was essentially her first visual album, with short films that explored the making of a relationship in full, through every turn. It was a conceptual project, urgent and captivating. Its themes of finding one’s confidence, liberation, audacity and compatibility are as relevant today as they were two decades ago.

And in preparing for this milestone release, Beyoncé once again went back to the boards and worked on remastering songs. The videos, originally captured on 35mm are now remastered and re-colored and finished in 4k, including “Déjà Vu,” featuring JAY-Z, and directed by Sophie Muller, also out today.

Images, shot on location in New Orleans, and never seen before, are also included. New Orleans, where Beyoncé’s family has deep roots, was working on rebuilding following the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Big Easy’s resilience and fortitude served as inspiration for Beyoncé who wanted to contribute in her own way to the city’s revitalization.

When news of the B’DAY (20th Anniversary Edition) broke last July 4th, it was ushered in by the song “MORNING DEW (DONK).” Astute fans quickly pointed to the history of the song, which leaked in 2023. A remix of the track, featuring JAY-Z, was delivered on August 4th, solidifying the song’s placement among the twenty-three-year plus history of collaborations between the Carters.

B'DAY 20th Anniversary Edition is replete with a celebratory offering of Spanish language songs that speak to Beyoncé’s love and admiration for the culture and the incredible artists who contributed and continue to build on the genre. “Cuerpo Tumbao (Get Me Bodied) feat. Maluma” marks a first-time collaboration with the Colombian artist, one of the leading voices in Latin music. She has been a fan of his work and feels flattered to finally work with this multi-genre artist. A philanthropist in every way, Beyoncé applauds Maluma for the work he does in his country to help young people through the arts, and through humanitarian efforts following the recent earthquake. The song contains a sample of Afro-Cuban star, Celia Cruz’s “La Negra Tiene Tumbao.” Beyoncé has long admired Cruz’s pride in her African culture; her refusal to bend in the wake of racism, colorism and the narrow definition of beauty. In a time when society wanted her to be bitter and broken down, she boldly claimed her Blackness. The sample was the perfect fit for a song that pushes strength and confidence on the dancefloor and in life. The song was produced by Beyoncé, Edgar Barrera, CASTA and co-produced by Ali "Ali Ali" Alvarez.

“Irreemplazable (Como La Flor) featuring Selena” is a momentous inclusion. Selena was one of the most celebrated Mexican American entertainers and was known as the “Queen of Tejano Music.” Since her passing in 1995, her estate rarely grants use of her music. This resounding approval for Beyoncé from Selena Quintanilla’s estate made it possible for this timely and meaningful duet. Two women from Texas. Two unmistakable and irreplaceable voices that broke down and continues to break down barriers.

Beyoncé revered Selena and remembers listening to her on the radio in Houston. She credits her for inspiring the recording of Irreemplazable, her Spanish EP released in 2007.

B'DAY 20th Anniversary Edition – Deluxe Vinyl - a 4LP edition pressed on 180G Bayou Blue Vinyl. It features "MORNING DEW (DONK)," Spanish recordings, and B-Sides. It comes with a 60-page commemorative booklet and two collectible double-sided art prints. The Deluxe Vinyl is jampacked with massive, new gems including “Can I Watch You”, produced by Beyoncé and Pharrell, and “My First Time,” which was originally recorded for Beyoncé’s debut solo album, DANGEROSUSLY IN LOVE, but was taken off the final track list. Also included here are “Lost Yo Mind,” “Creole” and “Back Up,” B-sides that were not included on B’DAY in 2006.

B'DAY (20th Anniversary Edition), is available in standard and deluxe volumes on vinyl and CD, as well as a deluxe digital offering.

B'DAY 20th Anniversary Edition - Standard Vinyl is a limited edition 180G 2LP with new sequencing and new tracks/remixes. It features “MORNING DEW (DONK)” and a 16-page collectible booklet with never-before-seen imagery.

B’DAY 20th Anniversary Edition Digital Deluxe - All tracks on the deluxe vinyl plus two digital-only bonus additions, “Cuerpo Tumbao (featuring Maluma)” and “Irreemplazable (Como La Flor) Featuring Selena.”

B/DAY 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION -DIGITAL DELUXE (31 TRACKS)

1. DÉJÀ VU (FEAT. JAŸ-Z)

2. GET ME BODIED

3. SUGA MAMA

4. UPGRADE U (FEAT. JAŸ-Z)

5. RING THE ALARM

6. KITTY KAT

7. FREAKUM DRESS

8. GREEN LIGHT

9. IRREPLACEABLE

10. CHECK ON IT (FEAT. SLIM THUG)

11. BEAUTIFUL LIAR (BEYONCÉ & SHAKIRA)

12. FLAWS AND ALL

13. RESENTMENT

14. LISTEN

15. MORNING DEW (DONK)

16. MY FIRST TIME

17. CAN I WATCH YOU (FEAT. PHARRELL)

18. WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD (FEAT. JAŸ-Z)6

19. LOST YO MIND

20. CREOLE

21. BACK UP

22. GET ME BODIED (EXTENDED MIX)

23. CUERPO (TUMBAO) FEAT. MALUMA

24. IRREEMPLAZABLE (COMO LA FLOR) FEAT. SELENA

25. AMOR GITANO (BEYONCÉ & ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ)

26. LISTEN (OYE)

27. BEAUTIFUL LIAR (BELLO EMBUSTERO)

28. IRREPLACEABLE (IRREEMPLAZABLE)

29. GET ME BODIED (TIMBALAND REMIX) [FEAT. VOLTIO]

30. IRREPLACEABLE (IMPLAZABLE) [NORTEÑA REMIX]

31. GET ME BODIED (MUEVE EL CUERPO)

ORDER THE VINYL HERE