10 Reasons you can’t Afford to Miss the Digital Pilipinas Festival x Festival of Festivals

10 Reasons you can’t Afford to Miss the Digital Pilipinas Festival x Festival of Festivals

Tuesday, November 21

The success of the inaugural Digital Pilipinas Festival in 2022 sparked an even greater desire for the largest private sector-led initiative to advance its vision of digital transformation. All eyes are on this week’s Festival of Festivals as global tech leaders and visionaries head to the epicenter of a digital revolution.

The Digital Pilipinas Festival x Festival of Festivals are not just programs to attend; they are opportunities to be part of a transformative journey. This is a call to engage with industry experts and be a part of shaping the digital economy. The future is digital, and it starts here. Take part in this groundbreaking event and register here now: https://digitalpilipinas.ph/registration2023/.

The second edition of the Digital Pilipinas Festival is fast approaching! Technology leaders, government regulators and international delegations are eagerly preparing to take part in the highly anticipated Festival of Festivals. Here are 10 reasons why you should secure your spot and gain access to once-in-a-lifetime events that are shaping the digital future of the Philippines, ASEAN, and beyond. 

1. Hear from the experts.

Learn from international and local industry thought leaders as they share their perspectives on various fronts of digital transformation. Panel discussions at the Digital SME, Cybersecurity and TrustTech, HealthTech, Digital Government, PropTech, and Philippine Investment Festivals will be anchored on first-hand experience from experts who leveraged technology while leading various organizations and government bodies. 

2. Connect with different industries. 

Take advantage of the vast network of participants from different parts of the world. Forge meaningful connections with professionals from across various industries and sectors that can lead to opportunities for learning, collaboration, and business growth.

3. Play a part in nation building. 

Be a part of the Digital Pilipinas movement in championing significant advancements in various sectors. Support tech-powerment initiatives that drive economic growth, increased financial inclusivity, and cross-border collaborations that ultimately position the Philippines as a hub for digital innovation. 

4. Be where meaningful, tech-powered handshakes for the country take place. 

Find yourself in the room where it all begins! It’s a rare opportunity to see first-hand how governments work with the public and private sectors to reach common goals and transformative solutions for the country through technology.

5. Find a golden opportunity.

With the space buzzing with industry leaders in business and technology, you have the chance to engage with venture capitalists and global investors who could put the spotlight on your innovation and take your idea to new heights. 

6. Be a part of meaningful conversations between governments and businesses. 

Be at the front row as purpose-driven conversations and joint efforts happen between government bodies, businesses, and the tech community as they unfold into change-making strategies for Philippine and ASEAN communities. 

7. Witness the launch of international partnership programs.

Witness the momentous inauguration of international partnerships, including the International Digital Economies Association, along with the community launch of Tech Philippines Advocates. It's a convergence of tech leaders that you won't want to miss!

8. Learn the ABCs of starting and tech-ing up your business.

Discover everything you need to know to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Thanks to government support and innovative online services that promote inclusion and competitiveness, starting a small business is now easier than ever!

9.Cheer for digital champions.

Join in the dynamic celebration of remarkable achievements as the MVPs of digital leadership and innovation are honored at the Digital Bayanihan Awards and Spark Asia 200 Digital Leaders Award.

10.Don't just watch, participate in change!

Take an active role in using the opportunities weaved into the Digital Pilipinas Festival x Festival of Festivals to learn state-of-the-art technologies and apply these to address various challenges across multiple sectors. 

While the whole festival is happening for the entire week in various locations, the Festival of Festivals will be happening on November 21 and 22 at the SMX Aura, BGC. Secure your slots here: https://digitalpilipinas.ph/registration2023/

To learn more about the various collaborations and digital transformation initiatives leading up to the Digital Pilipinas Festival x Festival of Festivals, visit: https://digitalpilipinas.ph/news/

The Digital Pilipinas Festival x Festival of Festivals are co-presented by DragonPay with co-convenors BPI, UnionBank, KPMG Philippines, nChain, Xendit, Chubb, TDG, Appboxo, Slack, Amdocs, BVI, Bureau ID, TPS Worldwide, Apryse, Eco-Global, SID Global, Digital Edge, MFT Group, Wiz Ai, Westcon, F5, Forescout, Palo Alto, Gigamon, AI Rudder, Born2WinPH, Tangere, Angkas, UNO Bank, Gorriceta Law, Collabera, Coins.ph, AXA, Tala, mWell, Inypay, LabX, CyberQ, VFS, Ninja Van, Sybrin, Aboitiz Data Innovation, Ayala Corporation, Proxtera, Simbas, Esquire Financing, Vybe, Bayad, Etiqa, Hydro Flask.

We would also like to acknowledge the support of prominent institutions such as Global Fintech Institute, SPARK by CIO Academy Asia, PropTech Consortium of the Philippines, Fintech Philippines Association, Philippine InsurTech and HealthTech Association, Mercato Centrale and GeiserMaclang.

Finally, we would like to express our appreciation for our media partners such as GMA Pinoy TV, Inquirer Group of Companies, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.Net, Megamobile, The PhilStar Media Group, PhilStar Tech, United Neon, CoinGeek, Fintech News PH and The Business Manual

ABOUT DIGITAL PILIPINAS

Digital Pilipinas is now the largest private sector-led movement for creating an innovation and technology ecosystem in the country that is actively engaged in a global digital economy through its domestic and international trajectories.

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Show Your Love on Father’s Day with Thoughtful Gift Ideas from Mocasa

Show Your Love on Father’s Day with Thoughtful Gift Ideas from Mocasa

Tuesday, June 13

Treat your dad and show how much you love him with Mocasa

Father’s Day is fast approaching. If you haven’t figured out what to give the special guy on this special day, here are some thoughtful and trendy ideas that you can consider and get with Mocasa.

Mocasa is the Philippines’ first credit payment service app that allows you to pay later, anywhere. Simply download the app, apply for a credit account, submit all necessary documents (like government IDs and proof of income), and get approved within a few minutes. Once approved, you can easily buy gifts for your dad at 0% interest for up to 50 days.

You can use Mocasa both offline and online. It is actually one of the first few platforms that support the QRPH code standard of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) which allows you to conveniently pay in more than one million physical stores. It also offers Mocasa Card, a virtual Mastercard powered by Mocasa credit line, available for online transactions.

Make Other Dads Jealous, Scream “Sana Oil!”

Want to avoid the chaos during the Father’s Day weekend? Why not plan a special road trip with your dad and the rest of the family? Take him to Tagaytay for that comforting bulalo, go to Baguio for some horse-riding, or surf with him along the shores of La Union.

Wherever your destination is, Mocasa can help cover your gas and let you go the extra mile this Father’s Day. Just fuel up in any Petron or SeaOil branches and tap their QRPH code to pay using Mocasa app.

Dads Deserve Some Pampering Too

Dads can get stressed too. Let him unwind with a makeover, facial, or massage from his favorite barbershop or spa, or spoil him with some wardrobe additions from his favorite fashion outlets. Simply open the Mocasa app to pay in-store for that haircut, relaxation package, or trendy polo and trousers.

Similarly, you can use your Mocasa Card to finally check out those stylish gadgets, shirts, or shoes that you’ve always wanted to get for him from your online carts on platforms like Lazada and Shopee.

Take Care of “Judith”

There’s no sweeter gesture than giving your dad some relief from this month’s bills. Just open the Mocasa app and go to “Pay Bills” to check the comprehensive list of billers. From telco, electric, water utilities to even real estate and healthcare, Mocasa got you and your dad’s back.

Satisfy Dad’s Food Cravings

Father’s Day shouldn't pass without a proper celebration. Whether you and your dad prefer to have his favorite food delivered to the comfort of your own home or dine-in at a restaurant, you can use Mocasa to pay for it. You can use Mocasa Card as a mode of payment when ordering on foodpanda or pay in-store via QRPH code.

Celebrating Father’s Day should not cause you additional stress. In fact, it should be one of those days when you can enjoy spending extra time with your "special man." So, stop worrying about what to get and, more importantly, about falling short in budget when buying that special gift for your dad. With Mocasa, you can get those thoughtful gifts and pay later, anywhere.

Mocasa is a financial technology company duly licensed and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). To learn more about the latest updates from Mocasa, visit www.mocasa.com or its Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok accounts. Customers are encouraged to download the app in Google Play or App Store to know more about its services and latest promos.

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

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

Monday, November 14

 

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

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."

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UBX returns to The Final Pitch, drives open finance, financial inclusion agenda

UBX returns to The Final Pitch, drives open finance, financial inclusion agenda

Thursday, August 4

 

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, is back on CNN Philippines’ The Final Pitch (TPF) with a stronger drive to promote its mission of empowering startups and smaller players with open finance solutions in pursuit of its goal of including everyone. 

UBX President & CEO John Januszczak will serve as one of the investor-judges supported by UBX Chief Product Officer Anne Yosuico, and UBX Singapore Country Head Cyrus Cruz who will both serve as members of the investor team on the show’s eighth season, which will be focusing on tech innovations in the business industry. 

This year, they are on the lookout for the next big thing in the Philippine startup scene.

Given its established position as the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, UBX is now in a much better position to help smaller and often overlooked players to rise to greater heights, providing insights to startups to survive and thrive in the local scene. 

“We genuinely believe that tech is the greatest equalizer. I am so happy to be back at TFP, especially with this edition being the tech edition, which is the driver of financial inclusion, especially in the modern age,” Januszczak shared.

UBX is the practical go-to platform of MSMEs and startups for financial technology solutions. UBX boasts of innovative ventures such as i2i, its banking-as-a-service platform, SeekCap, its open-lending marketplace, BUX, an end-to-end payment solutions platform that allows merchants of all sizes to accept all forms of payment, and Sentro, a free online shop builder that allows you sell online, manage inventory, accept payments and book deliveries. 

Aside from this, UBX also has an Innovations Garage Program, a three-month program where businesses would have to work on a concept and search for a business model, the final output being a business plan proposal. 

Thanks to UBX, startups will have the resources to develop and refine their ideas, build their prototypes, and test their ideas in the market. Approval by UBX means more funding and eligible participants will move on to the MVP stage.

Before the pandemic hit, 99.5 percent of registered businesses with the Department of Trade and Industry were classified as MSMEs, which generated 62.4 percent of the country’s total employment. With the imposition of the community quarantines, a large portion of this number were forced to shut down their business. 

But they quickly bounced back and found avenues to recover. With the support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Trade and Industry, and other government agencies, smaller businesses started to embrace digital technology and bring their enterprises online. 

Supportive of the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap and the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, UBX also pitched in to assist startups and MSMEs through its different solutions, guiding businesses through true digital transformation. 

UBX’s designs are built to affect and persuade, develop agile products that provide stellar customer experience and digitally transform businesses to adapt to the demands of the real world. 

Small businesses are guided to focus on the right strategy and solution and become cut-above-the-rest leaders with topnotch, data-driven advice from the most sought-after experts in the field.

Thus, with its comeback to TFP, UBX is in search of likeminded enterprises which will help achieve its goal of promoting financial inclusion in the Philippines. UBX is looking forward to providing more access and more opportunities to empower partners, especially those that make a strong impact on society. 

“Tech in general is an enabler of financial inclusion. We’re on the lookout for financial technology, coupled with ruthless product-market fit, that we can help expand or monetize through open finance,” Januszczak said.

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The future of business is OPEN: UnionBank discusses how Open Banking will drive the digital economy

The future of business is OPEN: UnionBank discusses how Open Banking will drive the digital economy

Thursday, June 30

Open banking and open finance are two models that are now slowly taking over the financial sector, with the promise of revolutionizing banking and financial services like never before and acting as "a catalyst for the new wave in financial innovation."

This was the main point of discussion during the 14th edition of Union Bank of the Philippines' (UnionBank) virtual roundtable series E-TalkTales, which took place last June 28 via Zoom. The event was led by UnionBank's Fintech Business Group Head Erika Dizon as its main speaker. 

In her presentation, Dizon explained that while open banking and open finance may differ slightly from each other—the former promotes data sharing on banking services, while the latter promotes data and capability sharing across the financial sector—the goal is the same, which is the creation of an open ecosystem.

An open ecosystem, she said, provides numerous benefits, including seamless data access and sharing, more opportunities for cooperation and collaboration, and most importantly, unprecedented customer-centricity. All of these point to the potential of the movement to completely change the way people see banking and finance.

Dizon listed down a few examples of how the open finance movement can positively impact different sectors of society. For service providers, it can inspire innovation and create new revenue streams. For businesses, it can promote increased transparency and operational efficiency. For customers, it can help enable better personalization, and in turn more meaningful experiences. 

Dizon also named several pillars supporting open banking, namely, (1) regulatory push for frameworks built on principles of consent, interoperability, and collaboration; (2) heightened expectations coming from the digital and modern social experiences that are redefining banking and finance; (3) competition especially with the emergence of non-traditional players; and (4) infrastructure, which is increasingly becoming more reliant on application programming interfaces.

"All of these factors are coming in to play and have triggered the open banking and open finance movement and the beginning of the unbundling of the traditional banking models," Dizon said.

After her presentation, Dizon participated in a fireside chat with the event’s moderator, veteran journalist Rico Hizon. One of the questions that she answered was on data privacy, which is currently one of the biggest concerns related to open banking and open finance. She reiterated that, at the core of open banking, there should be customer consent, where end users can have the choice to share their data or not, and limit how much of their data is used.

Another topic discussed during the chat was balancing competition with collaboration, especially since open ecosystems require the latter for them to truly serve their purpose. She said that for UnionBank, rather than competing, the focus is more on “coopetition,” adding that there is a place for different industry players to benefit from a win-win-win model.

“We understand that some financial institutions, some fintechs, some third parties have specific products and services that we don’t, and we believe that for us to be able to better serve our customers, we should be able to integrate those specific products and services into our own,” Dizon said.

“Open banking and open finance are only as good as the number of players that cooperate within that ecosystem, and that’s, I think, one of the biggest things that we have to consider.”

On the topic of how open banking and open finance can create more value for UnionBank, she said that these allow the Bank to identify new potential business models, and with these, generate more income streams and revenue models.

“More importantly, it adds value to our customers and how they do their financial transactions, and that is what’s really important to us,” Dizon said. “Of course, as a bank, there is a bottom line that we need to think of, but we believe that there is a space for both to co-exist, for the customers to be served appropriately and for the Bank to be able to have new business models.”

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Pinay Pride: Women in tech trailblaze digital Innovations

Pinay Pride: Women in tech trailblaze digital Innovations

Monday, April 11

Celebrates 15 years in the e-Commerce business

 

 

With women’s influence in decision-making being wielded across more platforms of power, the Philippines has made huge strides towards this direction. The country ranked 2nd in the Asia-Pacific region and the 17th globally to close the gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2021 Global Gender Gap Report.

In celebration of Women’s Month, industry executives shed light on how women’s game-changing roles in pushing for digital transformation have bolstered gender equality: Kimstore’s CEO Kim Lato (e-commerce); OFBank’s President Leila Martin (banking); Etiqa’s Head of Strategy and Transformation Gladys Pascual (insurance); and AdSpark’s CEO Gretchen Largoza (digital marketing). 

Q: How would you describe your leadership style? 

Kim: Affiliative, coaching, and democratic. We have two-way communication with managers and our rank and file. They bring in ideas based on their real-time, firsthand experience and I share my plans with our kimmunity. Our office culture and environment is designed to breed leaders who inspire inclusivity and innovation. 

Leila: A leadership style that values the individuality of every team member within a working environment that embraces diversity and encourages inclusivity. I treat my team fairly and provide equal opportunities for career growth, regardless of gender, race, and social status. I recognize every member’s hard work and contributions to OFBank’s success. 

Gladys: Flexible and adaptive because I view each of my team members as unique. I invest time to know them personally, assess their styles and needs, and give them the appropriate guidance to help them succeed. I oversee high-performers, while I coach those who need closer supervision. As a leader, I subscribe to the principles of leading by example and productivity-based culture. 

Gretchen: Leading by example with a strong emphasis on Participative Leadership style, I provide the team the opportunity to participate in the decision-making and give their suggestions. I only lay down clear-cut directions when needed by the leader and/or team. 

Q: How do you support women’s empowerment and gender equality in your field? 

Kim: Many women who were interested in STEM as little girls were discouraged and boxed into choosing more “feminine” courses. Worse, some of them internalized this, and continue to regurgitate the falsehood that women don’t belong in tech. It’s important that we open channels and networks for mentoring. 

Leila: We promote a safe, fair workplace for all employees of all genders. Women receive an equal amount of pay for their work, and there is equal representation in management and executive roles. On top of implementing the standards for women’s working conditions and welfare, our company policies protect women from workplace harassment, and invest in their growth through professional and personal development training. 

Gladys: I have always valued authenticity and diversity. At work, I provide a “psychological safe space” for my team to express ideas and opinions, regardless of gender identity and orientations. I take pride with the fact that I am 1 of only 3 women leaders in a male-dominated Management Committee and I celebrate that to encourage more women leaders to step up and aspire for leadership. 

Gretchen: Mentoring the women in our organization, and building a development program for all leaders, not just women, so that it’s not based on gender but on capabilities. Be a part of programs for women internally and externally and the example you want to see in the world. 

Q: As a woman in a male-dominated industry, please share personal accomplishments that broke the glass ceiling for you. 

Kim: I have been breaking the bias since 2006 when I founded and established Kimstore.com as the CEO/President. We are both the first woman-led e-commerce company as well as a pioneer of e-commerce in the Philippines. 

Leila: Becoming the first President and CEO of the OFBank, the official digital bank of the Philippine government. To be able to lead a financial institution and create pioneering digital banking solutions for Filipinos abroad is a success I celebrate with all Filipinas and women all over the world. 

Gladys: A few years back, I was assigned the daunting task of leading the set-up of a tech-heavy data warehouse project to integrate various legacy systems. Armed with 20+ years of CRM and marketing expertise, plus loads of business acumen, I led a cross functional team of IT professionals, operations people and statisticians to complete a major IT project in a Marketing role within record time and budget. I consider this the tech project that truly broke the glass ceiling for me. 

Gretchen: We have a data management platform and audience targeting companies/ventures inside our 917 Ventures portfolio where we are doing proof of concepts that’s pretty exciting because we are giving the market new platforms. 

Q: What recent innovations that you’ve spearheaded in your company have put you on the tech map? 

Kim: A very hands-on and excellent customer experience that sets us apart from other e-commerce companies. We’re planning to explore more omnichannel selling or automated customer experience design, chatbots, AI, and process automation in online selling and physical stores. 

Leila: Digital technologies that provide our clients with reliable and secure financial and investment products and services through their smartphones. We have onboarded clients from a total of 116 countries and territories already and it is a privilege that we are able to reach out to Filipinos anytime, anywhere utilizing the digital platform that we have that allows our clients to do various banking transactions from account opening supported by artificial intelligence, to fund transfer via ACH, bills payment to more than 700 merchants/billers and even invest in peso and/or dollar denominated government securities, all via their mobile phones. Any of these transactions can be completed in 5 minutes or less providing the ease and convenience of digital banking. 

Gladys: A new portal that allows simpler, faster, and automated requisition of Letters of Guarantee (LOG) for our group medical insurance clients. This digital initiative allowed our customers to directly access our service without having to email us, download an app, or call the hotline. It has resulted in 91% customer satisfaction after only two months of pilot implementation. 

Gretchen: sparkED, our proprietary Training Program, helps us improve our craft and utilize our platforms like GCash and KMD to our advantage. We have and are adding Creatives and Online Media to our roster of Training. 

Q: Which aspect of tech-driven industries needs more advancement in gender equality?

Kim: The corporate culture that assigns certain jobs as “male” and “female” still exists. Technical aspects are automatically assigned to men, while communications and customer service are handed to women. We’re proud to have both men and women in those fields at Kimstore, but the reality is we worked hard for that because that’s an ingredient to our success. 

Leila: Workforce diversity, especially in executive or high-level positions, would be a good place to start. Stop propagating the idea that tech-driven industries are more suitable for males. We must also provide women training opportunities, actively recruit them in the workplace, and encourage a more women-friendly culture with an inclusive and collaborative working relationship. 

Gladys: While women’s participation in STEM education has been increasing, the gender gap remains high in employment. In ETIQA, we make sure that hiring is gender-agnostic and that one’s sex is not a barrier to employment and recognition, particularly in the Digital and Technology department. 

Gretchen: Across all tech-driven industries from ICT, Finance, Ad, Martech, Education, Ride-hailing, we need more role models paving the way and start tech education very young.

Kimstore’s CEO Kim Lato: “The misconception is that it's a requirement for women to act like men and be more masculine to succeed in business. In fact, that’s what we are trying to defeat.”

OFBank’s President and CEO Leila Martin: “Creating a safe, balanced, and collaborative workplace for women is necessary for advancement because it stimulates a diverse exchange of ideas and leads to improvement in productivity.”

Etiqa Philippines’ Head of Strategy and Transformation Gladys Pascual: “Women in the workplace can show assertiveness and authority while celebrating their femininity/womanhood.”

AdSpark’s CEO Gretchen Largoza: “Women are born problem solvers and have a great ability to multitask. It’s the integrated way of thinking and doing that we bring that is needed in every workplace.”

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MSMEs find a strong partner for growth in GCash Pro

MSMEs find a strong partner for growth in GCash Pro

Friday, April 1

As the country enters a new period with now lightened restrictions, many have become hopeful,with a more positive outlook for this year. As key players for economic recovery, this shift also enables micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to find new opportunities that can help them overcome challenges and grow their business. 

Knowing that more people are now more inclined to do digital purchases, GCash, the country's leading mobile wallet, now offers GCash Pro, a digital business solution that helps small entrepreneurs future-proof and expand their business. "We need to be aware of the challenges faced by these entrepreneurs and strengthen our position as a business partner for growth, beyond payments," GCash president and chief executive officer Martha Sazon said. 

GCash continues to enable business owners to provide seamless service to their customers and also track sales and increase their wallet limit, among others.

For as low as P99, business owners can avail of BizStarter99 which is a monthly subscription-based offer that will let them upgrade their business operations. Business owners will no longer have to worry about reaching their wallet limit in accepting payments. With BizStarter99, they can accept more payments from customers with an upgraded wallet limit of P500k. Apart from this, the subscription also helps them in managing their revenues and expenses as entrepreneurs are given up to 5X cashback on bank transfers, giving them up to P75 savings monthly. They also get free personal insurance coverage up to P50,000 — ensuring that they have proper assistance in times of need. All business owners have to do is to head over to www.gcash.com/promos/gcashprobizstarter99, click apply, and fill up the form. Applicants just need to make sure that their GCash account has P99.

Another service that GCash PRO provides for MSMEs is Payment Links which is a platform that lets business owners do real-time tracking and safely move their funds from receiving payments, to processing refunds, to making withdrawals — all through a dashboard. Likewise, Payment Links also gives their customers a convenient and seamless way of paying as they receive the links via messaging apps. They can easily pay the exact amount. The transaction is safe and secure as payments are only released to the merchant once the customer receives their goods. Business owners can sign up to payment links by registering through www.getpaid.gcash.com. Once verified via email, they can already start generating payment links.

"After reaching acquisition targets, launching new products and growing our presence in the MSME community, it's imperative to sustain this momentum and leap forward to more growth opportunities," Sazon said. 

At end-December last year, GCash had 55 million registered users, more than double the 20 million users it had in January 2020. It also recorded 17 million peak daily transactions last year, up from only 6 million daily transactions in 2020. Along with this, GCash also currently caters to about 4.5 million merchants and social sellers who benefit from using GCash for their business needs.

Head over to www.gcash.com/business now to learn more and make it G!

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BUx doubles down on customer acquisition to support BSP’s NRPS goals

BUx doubles down on customer acquisition to support BSP’s NRPS goals

Thursday, March 31

BUx, the Philippines’ leading all-in-one payment solutions platform operated by the country’s leader in open finance UBX, is doubling down on customer acquisition initiatives this year to support the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in achieving its goal of migrating half of the total transactions to digital channels by 2023.

With the continued evolution of consumer behavior and their stronger preference for digital solutions, BUx is confident that more micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as large corporations will adopt digital payment solutions this year. 

“We are intensifying our customer acquisition efforts to equip more businesses — from large corporations to micro entrepreneurs — with digital payment solutions that help streamline their businesses and enable them to provide better customer experience. We are committed to further reach more businesses, including marketplace aggregators, to support the BSP in attaining its goal of converting 50 percent of total transactions to digital channels by 2023,” UBx Managing Director for Commerce and Payments Jaime P. Garchitorena said. 

Latest BSP data showed that the share of digital payments to the total volume of transactions in 2020 reached 20.1 percent from 14 percent in 2019, and a huge leap from only 1 percent in 2013. 

Driving this growth is the 47.8-percent rise in payments to merchants, as well as peer-to-peer transactions, and government disbursements. 

“With one in five Filipinos now transacting digitally, we are seeing a change in consumer behavior. Filipinos are now embracing digital payments and merchants are able to match that demand by adopting digital payment solutions,” Garchitorena said. 

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital payments in 2020 due to the limited mobility brought about by the community quarantines. 

BUx alone recorded a 33x surge in transaction volume in 2021, processing gross transaction value in the billions of pesos.

An end-to-end payment solutions platform, BUx allows merchants of all sizes to accept all forms of payment. It unifies payment channels from card payments, bank transfers, over-the-counter payments, to e-wallets into one solution.

BUx has the most extensive payments network in the Philippines with over 50,000 access points and over 30 payment partner channels, effectively covering all of the payment channels required by merchants. 

Aside from providing customers with payments solutions, BUx also enables businesses to track paid and pending payments, download payment summaries, and receive real-time notifications of funds credited through its best-in-class dashboard. 

“We remain steadfast in pursuing digital innovation and expanding our suite of digital payment services to serve the evolving needs of both consumers and merchants. We believe that as the leading all-in-one payment solutions platform in the Philippines, our growth equates to helping the government achieve its goals under the National Retail Payment System Framework,” Garchitorena said. 

To learn more about BUx, please visit www.bux.ph.

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Open finance to accelerate financial inclusion goal — UBX

Open finance to accelerate financial inclusion goal — UBX

Open finance has the power to accelerate the country’s financial inclusion goal, as it democratizes access to a spectrum of financial products and services particularly for the unbanked and underbanked as well as growing business, according to a ranking official of UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines. 

Driving access and interoperability among financial ecosystem participants, open finance allows financial institutions to reach the unbanked and underbanked, while empowering them to tailor solutions that meet the needs of consumers and businesses.

“Inclusion has always been a critical mission for us at UBX, and we believe that the accelerated adoption of the open finance framework will allow us and the industry to hasten our shared goal of including everyone in the financial system. Open finance will enable our partners to acquire customers at scale, develop solutions specific to the unbanked, underbanked, and growing businesses, and provide consumers with greater choice and control over their data,” UBX President John Januszczak said. 

The Bangko Sentral ng Plilipinas (BSP) recently rolled out the Open Finance Framework, which allows “consent-driven data portability, interoperability, and collaborative partnerships among financial institutions and third-party providers (TPPs).”

Last month, the BSP also unveiled the refreshed 2022-2028 National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI), which aims to reduce disparities in financial inclusion; improving health and resilience; empowering consumers; and increasing access to finance of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) including startups and the agriculture sector.

“Since we were formed in 2018, we at UBX have been consistent with our drive to include everyone into the financial ecosystem. We have invested heavily in open finance technologies and tools that complement the BSP’s regulations and initiatives towards financial inclusion,” Januszczak said. 

Through its banking-as-as-service venture i2i, UBX enables ordinary merchants to become banking agents, who can offer a range of banking solutions from performing know-your-customer (KYC) processes, disbursing funds, processing bills payments, accepting deposits, accepting and forwarding loan applications, to selling insurance, among many others. 

A cloud-based platform, i2i is built on blockchain and open finance technologies, enabling fast, reliable, and secure financial transactions, including but not limited to wallet transfers, domestic transfers, bills payment, mobile scoring, mobile ATM, and offline and online loan processing, among others. To date, UBX has over 200,000 B2B customers on its open finance platform. 

UBX’s open finance platform also gave birth to SeekCap, an online lending marketplace, that enables lenders to reach MSMEs and offer them with affordable loans to help them jump start or expand their businesses. Last year, SeekCap processed over P7 billion in loans from the more than 50,000 MSMEs registered on the platform. 

To complement these ventures, UBX also developed BUx, an all-in-one payment solutions platform that allows merchants of all sizes to accept all forms of payment, unifying payment channels from card payments, bank transfers, over-the-counter payments, to e-wallets into one solution.

“As the leader in open finance and as a strong government ally, we vow to develop more products and services to help the country accelerate our shared goal of including the majority of Filipinos in the financial systems,” Januszczak said. 

To learn more about UBX, please visit www.ubx.ph.

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PayMaya offers surprisingly superior e-wallet features #TooGoodToBeNo2

PayMaya offers surprisingly superior e-wallet features #TooGoodToBeNo2

Monday, November 29

Digital transactions are here to stay and fintechs like PayMaya are making it easier to go cashless. The country's leading digital financial services platform is the only fintech in the Philippines that runs a consumer e-wallet app, an enterprise payment processing business, and a remittance agent network with Smart Padala. 

While its consumer app may not be the no. 1 e-wallet right now, its superior features make it #TooGoodToBeNo.2. If you haven’t tried out using the PayMaya app yet, you're definitely missing out on some of its surprisingly better features that could make your everyday transactions a whole lot easier.  

From its free cash in channels to 99.9% uptime, you'll be surprised at how these nifty features can bring ease, convenience, and even savings whenever you go cashless. 

Most number of FREE cash in channels 

To start, PayMaya offers FREE cash in at 90,000, out of its over 110,000 cash in touchpoints nationwide. Going cashless is supposed to make your essential transactions more convenient and this is exactly why PayMaya is aiming to remove this barrier. Compared to other e-wallet apps, you don’t have to worry about having to pay up to P200 in cash in fees just to put funds in your e-wallet account. 

Cashing in for free is easy too! However you want to cash in to your PayMaya account, there will always be a FREE way to do it – whether it’s at the sari-sari store with Smart Padala in your street, at your go-to convenience stores like MiniStop, or Supermarket like Robinsons Supermarket, or through online transfers from your bank account via Instapay or via a linked BPI, RCBC, or Unionbank account.   

Apart from cashing in for free, sending money to other PayMaya account users is also free - and when you transfer funds from PayMaya to a bank account via Instapay, you can earn a cashback of P15 to cover your fee until the end of the year! To get a full list of PayMaya’s free cash in channels, simply tap the ‘cash in’ button on your app’s homepage, and check out the icons with the ‘no fees’ sticker. 

Widest billers and load items 

Once your account is funded, you can now use it to pay for your everyday needs – from online and in your favorite stores, to in-app - where you can access the widest selection of over 1,500 billers and load items. 

PayMaya offers easy access to everything you need to pay – utility bills, condo association dues, credit card payments, government dues, and more – all with a few taps on your PayMaya app. It also gives you access to hundreds of digital goods – from prepaid load, gaming pins, digital subscription packages, and even digital vouchers for yourself or as gifts to your loved ones. Whatever you need to pay or purchase, you can easily find it within a few taps on your PayMaya app. 

Safer online shopping 

With PayMaya, you also get to ensure that you're only purchasing from legit sellers - whether you're shopping at the in-app Maya Mall where you can access over 360 of your favorite brands or dealing with a PayMaya verified casual seller! 

With Maya Mall, you get to access a wide selection of brands in-app - from your favorite fastfood chain to your go-to grocery sites, and shop worry-free because these merchant partners are guaranteed legit! 

PayMaya has also made sure that buying from casual sellers who are also PayMaya users is easy and safe - with the introduction of PayMaya Verified Sellers. Now, you can easily check if the seller you're paying is legit - all you have to do is check for the Verified Seller badge on the app's confirmation screen right before you pay. You can also see the list of PayMaya Verified Sellers on the Maya Mall. 

Real-time transaction history and notifications 

With all these everyday transactions done in your app, PayMaya understands how important it is to be able to keep track of your transactions in real-time. Need to check if your payment pushed through so you can confirm with the seller? Unlike other apps, you don’t have to wait 24 hours for it! PayMaya allows you to track your transactions in real-time right on the app.

Not only does this feature give an additional layer of security – allowing you to ensure that your transactions have pushed through as they should, it also gives you peace of mind – knowing that you’re able to easily monitor your transactions as it happens. 

Most reliable with 99.9% uptime 

Various finance and e-wallets apps offer trendy features but what good would all these do if your app is on downtime? Lucky for you, you don't have to worry about that because PayMaya won't let you down - 99.9% of the time. 

With PayMaya's 99.9% uptime rate, you can ensure that your transactions will go through whenever you need them. No more waiting for hours for your e-wallet's system maintenance to be over, no more wondering whether or not your much-needed transaction went through. If you’re looking for a trustworthy and reliable e-wallet, PayMaya’s here for you. 

No PayMaya app yet? Registering a PayMaya account is easy. All you need is your phone and mobile number to sign up. Once you’re ready to upgrade your account to unlock more features like sending money to other users and withdrawing your funds from an ATM, all you need is a primary ID such as your license, passport, or other official government cards, and a quick video selfie. 

Sign up today and get 100% cashback on your load or gaming pin purchase when you cash in a min. P100. You can even get up to P200 if you upgrade your account. 

These nifty features are bound to make your cashless experience a whole lot better. But don’t just take our word for it. Register to PayMaya now and experience its surprisingly better features for yourself. For more details, visit www.paymaya.com. 

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