(From left) BSP Governor Felipe Medalla and RCBC’s Lito Villanueva, test the QR code payment feature in the Converge bill while Uy, and Ulysses Naguit of Converge look on.
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. joins “Bills Pay PH” as the first participating telecom services biller and has adapted the national Quick Response (QR) code standard – QR Ph – to make bill payments possible through any participating financial institution’s mobile application.
In a ceremony led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently, Converge together with the Philippine Payments Management Inc. (PPMI), RCBC, and other partner banks, provided a successful demonstration of the scanning of a QR code unique to a customer account to pay for a Converge bill.
“Staying true to our goal to continuously innovate, we are glad to join the network of digital-ready billers in joining the Bills Pay PH system, and add another convenient payment option for our 1.84 million subscribers,” said Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy who was present during the BSP launch.
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Bills Pay PH, launched by the BSP in partnership with PPMI, is the interoperable facility through which digital payments between customers and billers are coursed through. It is a unified platform that allows billers to collect payment from customers even if each party’s payment service providers are different.
PLDT employee marks 40 years
MerlyGaspay, was recently feted for her 40 years of service in PLDT.
Gaspay joined PLDT in 1982 as the only woman in her department that navigated through electrical engineering, jump wires, and mechanical switches.
Gaspaycurrently serves as a senior telecom engineer under PLDT’s Network Field Services.
NTC bags two FOI Awards
In a recent 2022 Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards ceremony, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) through the Freedom of Information – Project Management Office (FOI-PMO), under the agencies/bureaus/commissions/council category, recognized the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) as a runner-up FOI Champion awardee and one of the Top Requested and Performing Agencies with 1000 above requests and with at least 90 percent closed transactions in the eFOI portal.
This is the fifth straight year that the NTC was awarded as a Top Requested and Performing Agency. The Commission was also FOI Champion last year.
The FOI Awards is an annual celebration dedicated to FOI partners, program implementors, and stakeholders who have contributed to the FOI Program’s progress, development, implementation and advancement.
Half a decade of fruitful partnerships
SmarTrade partners, clients, employees, and stakeholders enjoyed an evening of appreciation.
SmarTrade celebrated its fifth year in the Philippines with a festive gala held recently at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom. In an evening of appreciation for its partners, clients, employees, and stakeholders, SmarTrade acknowledged the importance of having the support of its network in achieving its goal of bringing world-class financial education to Filipinos.
In the past five years, even with the pandemic, SmarTrade has reached more than 500 cities and provinces nationwide, providing free in-person and online learning sessions to over 36,000 Filipinos on how they can build wealth through online trading. In photo is the SmarTrade team led by president and CEO Joyce Mayo together with Jeff Hsu, ATFX CEO for Southeast Asia, and Jeffrey Siu, ATFX COO.
More magical Christmas
GCash brings back the magic to Christmas for the lolos, lolas and the whole family through the short film ‘Akap’, reuniting the start tandem of writer-director Antoinette Jadaone and leading man and new GCash member Joshua Garcia.
The film is dedicated to all the elderly who have no family left.
Through its Scan to Donate initiative, GCash encourages Filipinos to extend their Christmas celebration to the elderly beneficiaries of three non-profit and non-government organizations: Caritas Manila, Coalition of Services of the Elderly and Anawim Lay Missions.
Key to financial inclusion
As the Philippines still faces low banking penetration despite growing account ownership, digital banking plays a key role in solving this “irony of financial inclusion,” Angelo Madrid, Maya Bank president, said at a regional APAC summit.
Maya represented the Philippines at the recent 2nd Annual Fintech &PayTech Connect APAC Summit 2022 held in Singapore.
Madrid said Maya has broadened its runway for future growth by taking a bolder route than competitors that adopted a banking marketplace model or incumbents that migrated previous customers to their digital bank platforms.
Maya has enormous leverage over its payment ecosystem, allowing it to create a single access point and seamless experience. Customers only go through one KYC process to access their e-wallet, savings, and credit products in one app.
“This all-in-one, branchless, full-digital banking has given Filipinos who are underserved by traditional modes a better way to grow their money and provided the unbanked a less intimidating form of banking,” Madrid said.
Employment opportunities
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Chooks-to-Go has extended its support for the Sisters of Mary Girlstown and Boystown Inc. as it will invest in the future of the students in the foundation.
In a historic agreement between Chooks-to-Go under the leadership of president Ronald Mascariñas and the institution, the company committed to providing employment opportunities to graduates of Sisters of Mary Schools Girlstown and Boystown.
This is on top of Chooks-to-Go’s promise to refurbish the sports facilities of the two campuses and the supply of monthly meals to each of the 2,000 students of the schools.
Happy Holideals
Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) through its Happy Holideals promo has special offerings from December 1 to 31.
These include the City S Buy Now, Pay Next Year scheme where buyers of 22YM City 1.5 S CVT are entitled to a special free two months amortization financing and the
Brio V Special Promo where buyers of the 22YM Brio 1.2 V CVT can get promo discount, special low all-in downpayment; and low monthly.
The 23 YM All-New BR-V 1.5 S MT has following special offers:
special all-in downpayment for as low as P40,000; low monthly amortization for as low as P20,150.
Festive with COS
COS has released a specially curated gifting inspirations together with its winter 2022 collection for the holiday season.
From statement accessories and stocking fillers to warming cashmere, one can discover theperfect presents that are made to last. Oversized scarves are crafted from a blend containing alpaca and traceable wool for an extra fluffy hand feel. Minimal jewellery constructed from recycled silver, timeless leather goods, and clutches in color-block bright shades — this is gifting made easy.
For those who are eager to travel, embrace the elements with luxurious knits, silky separates, and tactile accessories while adventuring abroad. Crafted from traceable merino wool, signature knitwear tops are set to become the headliner of the holiday wardrobe. Colder weather also calls for fashionable layering with faux shearling coats and lightweight recycled down puffers, topped off with knitted balaclava or a classic checked scarf.
Timeless evening wear and contemporary tailored suits in traceable wool fabrics are designed to shine, sparkle, and make a statement in this party season.
Unstoppable resiliency
The appreciation night in Xylo, BGC
Eastern Communications brings back its appreciation night series through its award-winning Link VIP loyalty program.
With the theme “Unstoppable”, the event highlights the company’s promise of ‘heart of service’, honoring the resiliency and success of Eastern’s partners from different industries. Over 800 guests from various enterprises, SMEs, carriers, and other regional partners were able to enjoy the nights filled with treats, drinks, exciting prizes, and entertainment.
As one of the front-line organizations during the pandemic, Eastern Communications has witnessed the disruptions and challenges brought about by the crisis, driving the telco to inspire hope among its customers and champion digital transformation.
According to Eastern Communications, most of its customers have experienced challenges during the pandemic especially when it comes to digital adoption to continue their operations. This led the telco to intensify its initiatives to make digital transformation more attainable, no matter the business size.
Offered to its loyal and long-time partners, the appreciation night is only one of the many perks and benefits of Eastern Communications Link VIP program. On top of providing world-class connectivity and ICT solutions, the telco likewise showcases its customer service excellence through workshops, seminars, exclusive and social events, and personalized services.
Eastern Communications kicked off the appreciation night in Seda Hotel Cebu, followed by Seda Hotel Nuvali, several event places in BGC Taguig, and continued several dates and locations across the country until it completed its final appreciation event in Baguio City.
BillEase, Alternative Airlines partnership
Global flight search and booking site Alternative Airlines, and consumer finance app BillEase announced a partnership to enable Filipino travelers to book flights from 600+ global airlines and pay later without a credit card.
Alternative Airlines is a United Kingdom-based online travel agency.
Through BillEase and Alternative Airlines, travelers can choose from hundreds of flights available and only settle a minimum down payment, then split the rest of the payments for up to 12 months in light and easy installments.
To book a flight with Alternative Airlines and pay later, one can use the BillEase app
