PSBank Holiday Schedules

Heads up to PSBank clients, this is inform you that all PSBank branches will be closed on December 24, 25, 30 & 31, 2019 and on January 1, 2020.  Meanwhile, all our 557 ATMs, PSBank Mobile, and PSBank Online (Internet banking) facilities will be available for your banking needs.

Details of the bank holiday are as follows:

Amaia set to launch new condominium development in the heart of Quezon City

For many Filipino urbanites, living in Quezon City, the largest in Metro Manila in terms of population and land area, has its perks. For one, this expansive city boasts of a Central Business District that offers bright opportunities for employment and business. It is also home to prime residential estates, the finest schools and universities, popular restaurant and bar strips, cavernous shopping malls, and the country’s top broadcasting networks.

PSBank: Keep hackers away this Christmas

As the holiday season draws near, Filipinos are expected to once again spend more money as they buy presents and prepare for their get-togethers and celebrations. This culture of gift giving has always fueled one of the happiest peaks of the year, and has undoubtedly carved its way into the hearts of many families, loved ones, and friends. However, with the rising number of purchases and transactions, the holiday season has also become a prime time for criminals to do their worst.

Just this August, the government signed Republic Act No. 11449 into law, proclaiming that bank hacking is now a heinous crime punishable by life imprisonment, with a fine of up to PhP 5 million. In support of this act, PSBank shares timely tips to ensure that your hard-earned funds are always well protected.

For Home Credit, being good at budgeting is as easy as Juan, Two, Three

Imagine a world where everyone is empowered to handle their finances. Here, people from different walks of life know how to make informed financial choices, whether it be on budgeting, saving, or borrowing. Even complex financial concepts such as “compound interest” are understood by many.

This world was the exact vision brought by Prague-based consumer finance company Home Credit when it first started its operations in the Philippines five years ago. Though this may seem far-fetched, given the latest figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for 2017 stating that 77 percent of Filipino adults remain unbanked and 52 percent are unable to allocate money for savings, Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) made it its mission to bridge the gap in making more Filipinos included in the financial system. The company provides in-store loans to customers with minimal requirements, requiring only two (2) valid IDs, and offers other financial products such as cash loans and credit cards.

According to its Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Franchette Cardona, Home Credit’s commitment to financial inclusion doesn’t stop at providing loans to the underserved. “Financial Literacy is our number one advocacy. Since many of our customers are first-time borrowers, we want them to be ready for the responsibility of having a loan.”

That’s why in 2016, Home Credit officially launched its flagship campaign “Juan, Two, Three”, which focuses on teaching the basics of budgeting and saving to different communities all over the country. Through the use of creative approaches like games and comic books, the campaign equips Home Credit customers and the public with the know-hows in handling financial tools.

Understanding budgeting

Most people would think that financial basics such as budgeting and saving are common knowledge nowadays—especially with the presence of technology, making financial information and services easily accessible.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with 21 percent of the 52.8 million adults in the country who do not have formal bank accounts because of their perceived lack of need for them. BSP’s 2017 Financial Inclusion Report also states that 10 percent do not have proper knowledge of how to open an account, while 8 percent have a lack of awareness about it.

On top of that, many Filipinos still often find the term “budget” as intimidating—associating it with being time-consuming, boring, and restrictive. Some even think one has to be good at math to be great at budgeting.

This gap in financial knowledge was something Juan, Two, Three was successful in identifying. “We’ve talked to farmers, students, teachers, even soldiers, and a lot of them have said that they didn’t understand the importance of keeping their money on formal bank accounts before.

Others simply needed some extra guidance on how to start saving. You’d think these are things that most people would know already too,” Cardona shares.

For this very reason, the financial literacy campaign focused on creating learning materials and modules centered on the fundamental concepts and real-life applications of budgeting and saving.

“We want people to understand the importance of budgeting and having savings kept away. Our goal is to make them realize that handling finances can be enjoyable, flexible, and done in just a few minutes,” says Cardona.

Viewing loans and credit in a new light

Apart from budgeting and saving, Juan, Two, Three also touches on the topic of borrowing, which is largely anchored on Home Credit’s core business of providing financing services to customers who are often first-time borrowers.

“Since we offer loans, it’s important for us to also inform people, especially our customers, about the key principles of safe and responsible borrowing. Part of our financial literacy campaign is transforming the way people look at borrowing by teaching them how to properly manage their loans and maintain good credit score,” says Cardona, referring to the misconceptions usually attached to borrowing.

“Having the flexibility to buy the things you need, when you need it is a good thing. Making late payments, however, can negatively affect your credit score—making it more difficult to get loans and credit in the future,” Cardona adds. “We make sure people know both the benefits and risks associated with borrowing for them to have better financial decisions.”

Scaling up financial literacy

As part of its efforts in expanding its reach, Juan, Two, Three continues to build and strengthen its partnerships with both public and private institutions. Its long-term partnership with the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program has allowed the campaign to reach more than 16,000 people and 175 communities all over the country.

The campaign also started partnering with other stakeholders. This year, the Juan, Two, Three campaign joined Credit Information Corporation and BSP in the first ever Kapihan sa Manila Bay on financial literacy to support the government’s drive to promote financial inclusion in the country. It also visited farmers and major rice industry players in the recently concluded 9th National Rice Technology Forum in Mindoro.

The impact it has brought on the communities it has visited has earned Juan, Two, Three the 2018 Silver Stevie Award and 2019 Bronze Stevie Award for Innovation in Community Relations or Public Service Communications. The Stevie Awards is a premier award-giving body that recognizes outstanding organizations that make positive contributions in the industry.

“Our goal is to fill in the gap where financial education is needed. Right now, our main focus is to educate as many as we can and help them learn the basics so they can feel more empowered in handling their money. We’re also hoping that we encourage these people to become future Financial Literacy Ambassadors too so they can help educate more. These are

small steps, but if we want to achieve something bigger, we have to start with these,” closes Cardona.

Why You Should Try e-Payment: 5 Reasons

After all the big advances in technology, it’s no surprise that the banking industry has adapted to keep up with progress.  Financial institutions have digitized processes and even developed modern, feature-packed apps to make services more accessible to an ever-growing customer base.

PSBank is one of these progressive financial institutions; as an industry leader, it continues to sharpen its focus to promote the utilization of electronic channels. Its efforts are in support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ goal to increase the adoption of digital transactions in the country.

The Bank’s recently-upgraded Mobile App, for instance, is designed for effective, safe, real-time banking – offering a full suite of innovative services with easy-to-navigate enhancements and security features that allow its customers to focus on the moments that truly matter.

GCash makes investing possible with P50

Filipinos can now kickstart their investment journey for the price of a donut or a cup of milk tea, thanks to leading mobile wallet GCash, which is bringing investment to the mobile wallet.

Invest Money, a feature in the GCash app, is an online platform that allows users to invest in mutual funds straight from their smartphones for a minimum of only P50, making it the cheapest and most accessible investment vehicle in the country.

The price of entry is roughly the value of a fancy donut at Krispy Kreme or half the price of a large milk tea, a come-on for beginners in investments or those afraid to put their hard-earned money at risk.

Traditional investments, on the other hand, require a minimum capital of P5,000 to P10,000.

As of October, GCash users have opened 432,000 Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITF) accounts in the Peso Money Market Fund of GCash’s partner provider ATRAM Trust Corp., surpassing the number of retail UITF accounts in the Philippine banking system, according to Mynt, the company behind GCash.

GScore 101: What it is and why it's worth understanding

Many Filipinos find it hard to take out loans in banks and other financial institutions. There are too many requirements, including documents that, ironically, those in most need do not have.

And so, with limited choices in the face of financial emergencies, some would turn to loan sharks who impose hefty interest.

It is because of such gap in financial services that Mynt, the company behind GCash, designed a way to make loans more accessible for Filipinos while at the same time giving them a dignified way to borrow.

GCredit, the country’s first mobile, QR-based credit line, aims to make loans available to everyone. It allows users to pay their bills and buy from partner merchants using credit.

GCredit has over 250,000 credit lines and impressive default rates, reaching underserved sectors.

At the heart of GCredit is the GScore, the first trust-based score in the country. So how does it work? Read on.

The GScore is a 3-digit number that represents a user’s relationship with GCash. The score is based on how users transact with GCash, whether by sending money, buying load or making payments, among others.

One’s GScore is earned through frequency of GCash use: the higher it is, the higher the credit limit.

Maintaining a good GScore is vital in keeping access to GCredit. The credit limit starts at P1,000, but keeping a good GScore gives users a chance to avail themselves of bigger loans.

Amaia Scapes Cabuyao residents to benefit from new Skyway Extension

Sleekly designed modern homes boasting roomy interior spaces never fail to catch the eye of prospective homebuyers. When these are located in well-maintained and secure gated communities and have close access to key commercial hubs, individuals and families that aspire for a stress-free lifestyle wisely seek them out. 

Amaia Scapes Cabuyao offers all these features and more. The property will soon benefit from the construction of the new Skyway Extension to Susana Heights, a project that started last June. 

Over 1,000 local, foreign bizmen to gather under one roof for biggest business event in PHL Infra, digital economy high on agenda of 45th PBC&E

The country's top policymakers, including President Duterte himself, will be meeting with over 1,000 foreign and local businessmen to set the tone for public-private initiatives in the coming years at th 45th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (45th PBCE) on October 16 and 17 at the Manila Hotel.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country's largest business organization, again takes the lead in this undertaking as the country seeks to continue improving it business climate amid the Duterte administration's massive infrastructure buildup and preparations for the digital revolution. 

The Growth Faculty Welcomes President Barack Obama at its Asia-Pacific Executive Business Seminar in Singapore

Special event ‘In Conversation with President Barack Obama’ to take place on Monday 16 December 2019

Leading business events provider, The Growth Faculty has confirmed President Barack Obama will address Asia-Pacific business leaders at a special event this December in Singapore.

GCash is the preferred mobile wallet by Filipinos for cashless transfers

E-wallet segment seen to continue expanding

GCash is the top mobile wallet used by Filipinos for cashless transactions, comprising 4.9 million out of the overall 6.4 million mobile wallet remitters in the country, according to a 2019 study conducted by The Nielsen Company.

Cashless transfers are defined as the use of any device or tool to send and receive money online, including bank transfers. Filipinos utilizing cashless transactions now comprise 19 percent or 9.3 million out of an estimated total 49 million who do money transfers. 

FPG Insurance launches Premium Medical Insurance

FPG Insurance President and CEO Ramon Yap Dimacali
and Regional Managing Director Stephen Blasina
(fourth and fifth in the photo respectively) together with
(L-R) NatRe Life and Health Treaty Officer Russell Agustin
and Head of Life Operations Victor Tanjuakio, AMAPHIL President
Izanina Magpantay, and FPG Health and Accident Assistant
 Vice President Ma. Mercedes dela Cruz.

FPG Insurance, a major player in the general insurance industry, formally launched its newest addition to the roster of its non-life insurance products, a high-end medical insurance called FPG HealthPlus.

FPG HealthPlus caters to Philippine-residing expats and the affluent public ensuring full medical coverage anywhere in the world. In partnership with a global institution such as the Advanced Medical Access Philippines, Inc. (AMAPHIL), FPG Insurance provides access to its clients to more than 2,500 medical providers through an extensive medical network around the globe. This latest offering has medical benefits which are unprecedented in the local market such as coverage for cancer treatment, kidney dialysis, day surgeries, as well as organ transplantation.

AP Cargo reinforces digital transformation with the implementation of Ramco Logistics Software

Ramco’s Unify Mobile Apps help simplify processes and step up online visibility, arresting revenue leakage

Philippines’ leading domestic provider of express logistics for air cargo and other goods, AP Cargo Logistic Network Corp. today announced the go-live of a powerful cloud-based Logistics ERP suite enabled by Ramco Systems, to improve tracking, planning and management of its air freight operations nationally in more than 80 branches worldwide.

Ramco’s Logistics Software implemented at AP Cargo includes modules for Transport Management System, Fleet Maintenance System, Supply Chain Management, Finance Management as well as Human Capital Management.

From Manila to Aklan in just a minute: GCash Send Money feature addresses need for faster, more reliable domestic remittance service

It is no secret that sending money from urban centers to the provinces is a massive part of the Filipino culture. People send money for various reasons, but majority of them are for allowances and their families’ daily needs. 

Due to their popularity and the lack of banking facilities in the provinces, people flock domestic remittance centers such as pawnshops to send money to their loved ones in their hometowns. And with the demand for local remittance steadily growing, the lines in remittance centers likewise continue to become longer.

The 2019 Consumer Expectations Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revealed that cashing out from remittance centers remain to be a pain point for most Filipinos due to very stringent processes and documentation needed that cause long lines that are often very inconvenient for many Filipinos. 

GCash Forest adds social features to promote green lifestyle

To make planting trees more fun, the country’s leading mobile wallet app has added social features to GCash Forest, a personal carbon tracker in the GCash app that contributes to the reforestation and rehabilitation of the Ipo watershed through green energy points earned. 

Ney Villaseñor, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Mynt, the company behind GCash, said GCash Forest users—now numbering more than 860,000—can invite their friends to join the GCash Forest green movement by sending them a link with their favorite social media app, such as Facebook or Telegram.

They can also allow GCash to access their contacts list so the mobile app can send an invite to their friends to interact through GCash Forest.

GCash PowerPay+ expands financial inclusion in Semirara Island

Empowered by its vision of financial inclusion, GCash, operated by Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), takes another leap towards the realization of its vision by bringing its financial services to far off sites like Semirara Island.

Located at the southern tip of Caluya, Antique, Semirara Island was almost untouched by development with lush vegetation, sandy beaches, and clear skies backdropping the beautiful people of the area.

As such, the closed island is only equipped with a single bank and six automated teller machines, serving over 19,000 residents that are heavily dependent on cash. Communities of workers would struggle to avail basic financial services, such as sending money to their families or even buying prepaid load for their cellphones. Individuals would have to allot time and effort to do something as menial as withdrawing cash to buy basic commodities, such as food, groceries or clothing items.

PSBank’s Sixth Sense Wins at the 2019 PANAta Awards

PSBank recently won a Bronze “Brand Builder” award for Excellence in Brand Positioning at the 2019 PANAta Awards – the premier industry recognition program of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) – for its highly-successful Sixth Sense campaign, which effectively positioned how easy and fast it is to get a home loan with the bank.

The short film-driven campaign, which was launched online and on TV, received an abundance of positive feedback for its creative, humorous, and effective attempt to communicate how clients can overcome the fear of a long waiting time for loan approval, through PSBank’s one-day credit decision capability.

Act now, act fast: WWF PH, GCash call for participation of Filipinos in fight for PH forests

Over the last couple of years, the Philippines has been experiencing an alarming decrease in forest area. Due to rampant illegal logging and the lack of funds to better secure protected areas, the countries forests are going nude. 

Each year, based on data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), around 47,000 hectares of forest cover is lost, which is equivalent to approximately 1.2 million hectares of deforested land in a hundred years. This translates to about 24 percent in deforestation rate, one of the fastest in the world. 

These figures may sound too statistical, but they are a constant and stark reminder for Filipinos of the state of Philippine forests. This is also a wakeup call for everyone that while the government pursues efforts to create a greener country, a great amount of work is still up ahead, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

CIMB Bank Announces 500,000th Customer Expands strategic partnership with GCash

CIMB Bank Philippines (CIMB Bank PH) today announced that it has garnered 500,000 customers, approximately six months after opening its doors for business in the Philippines. The milestone was reached anchored on a strong proposition of co-creation and partnership between CIMB Bank and GCash.

The all-digital, mobile-first CIMB Bank PH, was launched in early 2019 with a goal of bringing a unique and differentiated banking proposition to Filipinos. Anchored on a DNA of strong strategic partnerships and solving customer pain points digitally, CIMB Bank PH had forged a partnership with GCash, to allow GCash’s customers direct, paperless and seamless access to savings account services, a product termed GSave. GCash is an epayments platform owned by Mynt, the revolutionary fintech startup of Globe Telecom, Ayala Corporation and Ant Financial, an affiliate of Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group.

PSBank’s Sixth Sense Wins at the 2019 PANAta Awards

PSBank recently won a Bronze “Brand Builder” award for Excellence in Brand Positioning at the 2019 PANAta Awards – the premier industry recognition program of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) – for its highly-successful Sixth Sense campaign, which effectively positioned how easy and fast it is to get a home loan with the bank.

The short film-driven campaign, which was launched online and on TV, received an abundance of positive feedback for its creative, humorous, and effective attempt to communicate how clients can overcome the fear of a long waiting time for loan approval, through PSBank’s one-day credit decision capability.

ENCASH and Ayannah launch the Panalo Express SuperPOS, ushering in a new era of Fintech for Financial Inclusion

ENCASH President Juan Miguel Mapa and Panalo Express
President Ian Atienza

ENCASH, the country’s first and leading non-bank ATM deployer and Ayannah, one of the country’s leading providers of fintech applications recently partnered to launch the Panalo Express SuperPOS, a new product that aims to make electronic financial services more accessible and affordable for both banked and unbanked Filipinos. 

The Panalo Express SuperPOS is the very first electronic POS device in the country that allows agents (retailers or enterprising individuals) to process both cash in and cash out services. Through the ATM technology of ENCASH, cash withdrawals will now be possible through the same POS device that can process prepaid mobile “load” top ups, Smart Padala acceptance and encashment, PayMaya, GCash, WeChatPay and AliPay top ups, Bayad Center bills payment as well as cash remittance through Panalo Express’ agent network and Ayannah’s growing network of leading remittance companies which now includes LBC, MLhuillier, Tambunting, Raquel Pawnshop and RD Pawnshop.

BPI opens biggest flagship branch in Metro Manila

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) today formally opened its biggest flagship branch in

Metro Manila to date-the BPI Shangrila-Shaw branch and Preferred Center in Mandaluyong

City, as it marks 168 years of building a better Philippines.

The new flagship branch follows the design of BPI's other flagship branches in Ayala Insular

and Makati Stock Exchange. BPI Shangri-la Shaw showcases the most modern and innovative designs that will complement the Bank's aim to provide trusted financial advice, and seamless and convenient client experience.

"This new flagship branch, like similar ones in Metro Manila, represents how technology and

brick and mortar can be combined to enhance the customer experience. Today's Filipino customer wants and deserves more, and a modern branch like this one is one way that we can respond," said President and CEO Cezar P. Consing.

Mastercard and Zoho Expand Access to Tools to Help Small Business Owners Around the World Thrive

Robust solution suite offers resources to help small businesses increase efficiency and grow faster

Mastercard today announced it is expanding its partnership with Zoho to bring small business owners around the world a comprehensive array of products and services to make running their enterprise easier, more efficient and more profitable.

Every business is on a quest to increase efficiency and productivity; for small business owners it can be a matter of survival. With Zoho’s platform, Mastercard is able to offer its small business customers access to a suite of marketing, accounting and CRM tools to automate and digitize time-intensive, paper-based processes. Scaling its existing partnership from India to the rest of the world, Mastercard and Zoho are enabling simpler business operations for SMBs globally.

7 Things You Need To Know About General Insurance

Because it pays to be prepared for life’s surprises, the Mercantile way!

In disaster-prone countries such as the Philippines, you can never be too prepared for unforeseen circumstances. With every unexpected thing that can really set you back, having non-life insurance is your best solution to rebuild assets that are accidentally destroyed or affected by natural disasters.

UnionBank wins multiple awards from BSP

UnionBank President and CEO Edwin Bautista (4th from left), Chairman Justo Ortiz (3rd from left), Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Technology and Operations Officer Henry Aguda and Transaction Banking Group head John Ong receive the 3 awards for the bank from BSP Gov. Benjamin Diokno and Monetary Board Member V. Bruce Tolentino in ceremonies at the central bank.

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) won three awards at  the 16th Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas stakeholders held last Wednesday at the BSP Complex in Manila.

AUB and GCash partnership to boost merchant acquisition in the QR payment space

Asia United Bank (AUB), one of the country’s fastest-growing publicly listed banks, has partnered with GCash, operated by Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc. (Mynt), an affiliate of Globe Telecom, Ant Financial (an Alibaba Group affiliate), and Ayala Corporation.

AUB is the pioneer Philippine QR Partner of e-wallet giants WeChat Pay, AliPay and UnionPay.

QR payment acceptance enabled close to 7,000 merchant outlets in the country to accept QR payments from Chinese tourists in a span of 1 year.  It launched the AUB PayMate, a mobile app, a web portal and an API that allows AUB to service merchants operating in different payment acceptance environment, whether self-employed, small & medium businesses or large retail chains. 

GCash bags BSP awards for digital transformation and innovative mobile financial services

For its innovative and responsive digital financial services, the Bangko Sentral ng PIlipinas (BSP) recognized G-Xchange Inc. as its Outstanding Partner for Digital Transformation and Outstanding Partner for Innovative Financial Services for 2019.

On top of bagging the two awards, G-Xchange, the registered entity for GCash, was also a finalist for Outstanding Partner for Digital Excellence and Top Instapay Volume Contributor, which recognizes InstaPay participants that contributed significantly toward the realization of the BSP’s 20% by 2020 vision under the National Retail Payment System project.

UnionBank launches its own Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank),  Asia's Best Company to Work For, will open its doors to aspiring data scientists by launching its very own Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute (DSAI) on July 22, 2019.

UnionBank’s senior vice president and Human Resources Director Michelle Rubio said the bank's higher purpose is to co-create innovations for a better world and this is why capability-building is top priority. 

Amaia Land Introduces Amaia Scapes in Historic Capas, Tarlac

Amaia Scapes Capas offers prospective homeowners two options:
 buy residential lots (in the ‘residential lot only’ sector)
or buy a furnished unit(s) and the residential lot
(in the ‘house and lot’ sector). For more information,
 and for the availability of open house events,
 kindly visit our website:www.amaialand.com Or like them on
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Amaia Scapes Capas now offers the option of either buying residential lots (in the residential lot only sector) or buying a furnished unit(s) and the residential lot (in the house and lot sector), for your convenience and practicality.

Amaia Scapes Capas also offers a  Twin-Pod Promo, which gives buyers the flexibility of combining 2 units for more spacious living quarters for their family. When they buy a combinable twin pod unit, they can also avail of the FREE “punch-through” and have as much as Php300k worth of discounts for a limited time period only. 

Buyers may also avail of the residential lots only option if their family is the type who prefers to have some flexibility in their house designs.  A total of 32 lots ranging from 100 to 149sqm are now available. Residents of this project will find an array of functional amenities for them to use and enjoy.

Month-long success empowerment happening at Estancia Mall

Filipino dream advocates labeled the Ambitious Tribe is now spearheading a month-long activation on community empowerment through a series of talks and free interviews featuring personalities with inspiring stories and thoughts to share.

With the posh Estancia Mall at Capitol Commons in Pasig as the venue host, these empowerment talks are bound to fuel the drive for success of those attending the sessions available to everyone for free."The accessibility on learning shouldn't be a hindrance" the team of 10X Your Success Summit said. Some of the topics to be discussed include "How To Write A Book and Self-Publish", "Make Your Wardrobe Work," and "Leadership for Millennials."

GCash Forest eyes 365 thousand trees planted in 365 days

Filipinos who want to contribute to environmental preservation can now conveniently use an innovative mobile phone app to help plant trees and increase the Philippines’ forest cover. 

Leading mobile wallet, GCash, is introducing an exciting “green” feature on the app called GCash Forest, which lets subscribers plant virtual trees that will have real-life counterparts. By the end of 365 days, GCash Forest aims to plant 365 thousand trees with the help of GCash subscribers.

EXCELLERATEHR.PH: Elevating and Accelerating Filipino People Management during the 56th PMAP Annual Conference

This coming July 17-19, 2019, over 1,500 people managers will gather together at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino for the 56th PMAP Annual Conference, the biggest and preeminent HR event in the country. 

With organizations facing the challenges of disruption and the 4th industrial revolution, it becomes crucial for people managers to EXCELLERATE. For its 56th annual conference, PMAP pushes innovation one step further by invoking poetic license and creating a new word that captures the twin challenges facing the organization and people management in the country today – driving and inspiring EXCELLENCE in the practice of people management and increasing the degree of ACCELERATION of people programs to become up-to-speed with technology and innovation.

UnionBank wins HR Asia’s ‘Best Company to Work for in Asia 2019’ award

Fresh from receiving its “Dream Company to Work For 2019” award at the recent Philippines Best Employer Brand Awards, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) was once again lauded for its exceptional corporate culture, this time bagging HR Asia’s “Best Company to Work for in Asia 2019” award last Friday at the Marriott Hotel Manila.

HR Asia is considered as Asia’s most authoritative publication for senior HR professionals, where best practices and inner workings of companies are investigated to understand what distinguishes them from the rest.

More units for aspiring homeowners in Alabang as Amaia Steps

Spurred by the brisk sales of its first five buildings—Aria, Blanca, Clara, Delicia, and Esperanza—Amaia Steps Alabang is set to launch Helena, the newest building that aims to seamlessly provide more well-designed, modern spaces for Filipinos seeking high-quality homes in the Alabang area.

Amaia Land saw the need to fast-track the opening of Helena following the quick occupancy of Aria (98%), Blanca (97%), Clara (95%), and Delicia (93%). Esperanza, which was launched earlier this year, has sold 89% of its available units.

3 Common Types of Scams You Should Be Aware Of

Philippine banks have been ramping up their digitization efforts to serve their consumers faster and make banking simpler and secured for them. However, this improvement isn’t without risks. As banks innovate and enhances the security features of their products and services, scammers also advance in the technology and methods they employ.

Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) believes that being aware of the most common scams – how they are done and how to avoid them – can help you to protect yourself from becoming victims.

Manny Pacquiao Launches Pac Coins This Year

Global Crypto Offering Exchange (GCOX) announces during a press conference at Makati Shangri-La, Manila this Friday that the global blockchain company is producing the highly-anticipated Manny Pacquiao Live In Concert 2019 and PAC Token launch scheduled to be held at the prestigious Smart Araneta Coliseum on 1 September 2019. Present at the press conference are legendary boxing world champion and Senator of the Philippines.

Arnold Vegafria, and Sir Dr. Jeffrey Lin, CEO of GCOX Manny Pacquiao, his business manager GCOX is a licensed cryptocurrency exchange that offers an unprecedented platform for global celebrities to issue personalized tokens. The Exchange had a successful launch on 21 May 2019.

Troo launches BuildWealth Limited Pay as an investment-linked life insurance plan with guaranteed payment terms

In photo (from L-R): Rafael Algarra, Jr., SEVP & Loans, Wealth and Markets Head (EastWest Bank), Richard Chester Tamayo, FVP-Priority Banking Head (EastWest Bank), Martha Isabel Perez, Deputy Head of Bancassurance (Troo), Melinda Valencia, Chief Bancassurance Officer (Troo), Jesus Roberto Reyes, President & Deputy CEO (EastWest Bank), Gerardo Susmerano, SEVP & Retail Banking Head (EastWest Bank), Ivy Uy, SVP & Regional Branch Banking Head (EastWest Bank)

When it comes to growing your wealth, insurance may not always be the first thing that comes into mind. But Troo’s BuildWealth Limited Pay not only offers policyholders an insurance policy with guaranteed payment terms, it comes bundled with a variety of investment options. 

GCash and Concentrix Tie Up for Digital Rewards Launch: Over 20k Employees Enjoy Mobile Money Convenience

The leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, GCash, partnered with the country’s largest private employer, Concentrix, to provide digital rewards to the BPO company’s employees. This is in line with Concentrix’s drive to digitize aspects of employee rewards and recognition, thus providing greater value, flexibility, and convenience for any of its 80,000 staff nationwide.

"Our employee incentive programs take many forms, but a digital solution like GCash is great because it enables us to quickly and easily provide rewards to our team. Moreover, the perceived value of the reward is much higher because they are free to choose how they want to use it so that it stays relevant to their individual needs,” said Rain Tan, Head of People Solutions in Concentrix Philippines. 

Considering to buy a pre-loved car? Here are the benefits!

Other than a house, a car is probably the most expensive purchase a person ever makes.  But while everyone loves the look and feel of a brand new car, buying a pre-loved vehicle might be a better way of managing your finances responsibly and getting more value for your money.

While there are also discounted rates or bargain buys on brand new vehicles, buying pre-loved cars --particularly those that are less than two-years old-- can help you keep some of your savings in the bank. Below are the benefits of buying a pre-loved car over a brand new one:

SM Prime & Hamilo Coast: Defining Beach Resort Living in the Philippines

SM Prime's Hamilo Coast is a master-planned development,
a sprawling beach resort community that encompasses 13 coves.
Its maiden development, Pico de Loro Cove, is home to residential
condominium developments and a variety of leisure amenities. 

Recognized as one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, SM Prime offers innovative and sustainable lifestyle communities. Under its portfolio of leisure developments is Hamilo Coast, a master-planned seaside community located along Nasugbu, Batangas. 

Hamilo Coast is a sprawling coastline residential resort town that encompasses three major mountain peaks and 13 coves, three of which are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Its unique location at the head of the Nasugbu coastline makes it the gateway to the so-called “Philippine Riviera”.

Bounded by the vast West Philippine Sea and misty cloud-covered Pico mountain ranges in the east, Hamilo Coast carefully integrates residential, resort, leisure, commercial, and institutional land uses into its communities, wherein beach resort living will eventually be spun into an everyday lifestyle choice. 

Hamilo Coast's latest residential development is Freia,
a contemporary tropical inspired beachfront condominium
with encompassing vistas of the West Philippine Sea and Mt. Pico.

Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast’s maiden development, is a vibrant community where environmental sustainability thrives. It boasts of a 1.5 km. stretch of fine white sand beach, a 4-hectare man-made lagoon centerpiece with pocket gardens, and a Beach and Country Club that features the most extensive land- and sea-based recreational facilities in Nasugbu. In 2007, Hamilo Coast teamed up with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines, a partnership that continues to thrive up to this day. One of its environmental programs included declaring Pico de Loro Cove as one of its Marine Protected Areas. Conservation efforts under this partnership include ridge-to-reef management, the use of renewable energy, and guidance on the responsible and eco-handling of solid waste.

A membership at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club is a pass to a whole new world of exciting recreational adventures. A member has access to aquatic sports like sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and scuba diving and outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, and birdwatching. Members can also enjoy indoor activities such as billiards, bowling, basketball, tennis, badminton, and swimming.

The Pico de Loro Cove Beach and Country Club is a lifetime
 membership club that provides exclusive access to the most extensive
 land and sea-based recreational activities in Nasugbu, Batangas.

To enhance, Hamilo Coast continues to elevate beach resort living through its latest residential offering, Freia. Rising a few steps away from Pico de Loro Cove’s beachfront, Freia gives its future residents a breathtaking vista of the serene blue waters of the West Philippine Sea and verdant Pico mountains. 

Upon entering Freia, residents are welcomed by a grand, high-ceiling lobby designed by acclaimed consultant Budji+Royal. The beach condominium will offer 214 superior two-bedroom units and nine bi-level three-bedroom penthouses, each designed with living spaces, large picturesque windows, and spacious balconies, that open up to the owner’s chosen view. 

Only a 90-minute drive from the SM Mall of Asia, Hamilo Coast is the premier sustainable beach resort town of the Philippines. 

Hamilo Coast is the SM Group’s premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas. It is now approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 945-8000 or visit www.hamilocoast.com.

Lalamove Embraces GCash for Partner Driver Payments, Explore More Opportunities for Cashless Transactions

Local logistics provider Lalamove Philippines have partnered with the nation’s leading mobile wallet GCash to secure payments for their partner drivers. This move comes after the company’s push for a more efficient disbursement method for their drivers, who are usually on field 24/7.

Logistics personnel usually encounter challenges when withdrawing their salaries, as some still depend on cash envelopes, in which, by late afternoon, their head office is already closed. Meanwhile, some do not have ATM cards at all. GCash solves this with the GCash App and its GCash Mastercard. The GCash App empowers the user to be able to use money in the app real-time: customers can purchase discounted prepaid load, send money to other GCash users for free, pay utility bills without actually setting foot in payment centers, or pay using GCash QR in over 60,000 GCash Partner Merchants nationwide, including restaurants, apparel, and other product and service brands. The GCash Mastercard, on the other hand, is a card directly linked to a customer’s GCash App, and can be used for swipe, ATM, and online transactions. 

EastWest Bank and Ageas steadily build local insurtech Troo

In photo (L-R): Dominik Smeets, Chief Strategy & Business
Development Officer (Troo); Hans Loozekoot, President & CEO (Troo);
Antonio C. Moncupa Jr., Vice-Chairman & CEO (EastWest Bank);
and Jesus Roberto S. Reyes, President & Deputy CEO (EastWest Bank)

EastWest Bank and Ageas celebrate the 4th anniversary of their joint venture in the Philippines. This partnership operates under the brand name Troo. Troo offers life insurance to customers of EastWest Bank and Filinvest Group.

“From the start, Troo has been embracing the latest technology and digital solutions as a core of its daily business,” says Hans Loozekoot, President & CEO of Troo. “We are the first insurance company in the world to put in place its end-to-end integrated IT platform in the cloud. This enables us to offer our customers a seamless experience and optimize our operations.”

Sun Life Prosperity Card now available in P1,000 denomination

In keeping with efforts to make investing in mutual funds even more accessible to Filipinos, Sun Life Asset Management Company, Inc. (SLAMCI) is launching a new variant of its Sun Life Prosperity Card in a lower denomination of only P1,000.

A first in the industry, the Sun Life Prosperity Card is a stored value gift card that may be used to invest in peso-denominated mutual funds managed and distributed by SLAMCI. It may be purchased for personal use or as a gift to loved ones.

The Sun Life Prosperity Card is a lasting and precious gift option ideal for special occasions such as birthdays, baptisms, graduations, and weddings," said SLAMCI President Valerie Pama. "It enables the recipient to have his own starter mutual fund with a value that potentially appreciates over time.

UnionBank invests in Shiptek J.V. Partnership seen to take logistics to greater heights

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), the country’s Best Digital Bank, is acquiring 30-percent stake in technology solutions firm Shiptek Solutions Corp, the developer of end-to-end digital logistics platform known as XLOG.

UnionBank, via its wholly owned technology and investments subsidiary UBX Philippines Corp., recently inked an agreement with Shiptek to formalize their strategic partnership. Shiptek is owned by the Ynion Group which has been in the logistics business for over two decades.

“As an industry leader in digital banking, we continuously endeavor to co-create innovations with like-minded companies who are as obsessed in forging transformative experiences for customers. We have long sought to serve the logistics sector, and with the onset of digitization, the introduction of platforms like XLOG, represents the industry's movement from traditional methods to electronic. And with such change, it is vital for the bank to continue to be relevant to its customers by being present,” said UnionBank President and CEO Edwin Bautista.

Savor Cool Mountain Weather and the Tropical Sun at Vireya in Tagaytay Highlands

Nestled in the highest point of The Midlands is Vireya
 which overlooks the mysterious Mount Makiling and the majestic 
Taal Lake---blending the elements of nature with modern 
architecture---in a tropical-themed community set in a lavishly 
green landscape and perfect for those seeking to savor 
the cold Tagaytay weather the whole year-round.

Yearning for the cool mist of the mountains, while lured by the warmth of the tropics? Let’s face it: a lot of Filipinos do. This is why during the hot and humid summer, many drive up north for the chilly weather or book for “staycations” in the metro’s plush hotels—then troop to the beach for some fun in the sun. 

The good news now is Filipinos can savor year-round cool weather and, at the same time, enjoy a sunny ambiance at Tagaytay Highlands’ Vireya, a residential enclave where the warmth of the tropics meets the cool breeze of the mountains.

Cashless Shopping Race

The aspiration of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the country is to transform a fifth of total volume of transactions to non-cash methods by 2020.

Achieving this goal might sound to be a bit of a stretch, but it is highly doable, as the signs of the time point to two things — that Filipinos are now more receptive to disruptive technology and that handling cash is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Coding the future of payments: GCash breaches 50k QR merchant mark

The use of QR for mobile digital payments is very popular in various emerging and developed economies. In China, for example, mobile digital payments account for over half of the country’s total transaction volumes.

In the Philippines, the use of the said technology is still in its nascent stage, and has yet to see an explosion in usage today. 

Despite this GCash, operated by Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), sees the value of setting up as many QR-enabled merchants as possible, as it believes that the future of mobile digital payments lies on innovative technologies.