Visa, a world leader in digital payments, presented Maya Business with an award for having processed the highest e-commerce payment volume and the largest share of contactless transactions in the Philippines for each year from 2021 to 2023.

It now powers nearly a million formal businesses, reinforcing its status as the Philippines’ Top Merchant Acquirer and a driver of economic growth and digital innovations.

Maya Business boasts a remarkable 170% year-on-year growth in its active merchant base in December 2023, powering digital payments for the country’s largest retailers such as shopping malls, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), the fuel sector, transportation apps, e-commerce platforms, government agencies, and micro-merchants.

As such, Maya Business tops the market in card and QR Ph transactions, making it the #1 Omni-Channel Payments Processor. It enables businesses big or small to accept credit, debit, e-wallet, QR, and other emerging methods in-store, online, and on mobile apps – reducing reliance on cash and promoting safety, convenience, and increased operational efficiencies.

It has also led the charge in enabling enterprises to accept QR Ph payments, processing about half of the total QR Ph transaction value for Person-to-Merchant (P2M) payments for 2022 and 2023, based on BancNet data.

“Driving the Philippines towards a cash-lite future is truly energizing. Every transaction via Maya Business not only marks a significant leap towards a more digitized economy but also boosts efficiencies for businesses big and small. This transformation enhances safety and convenience for all,” expressed Shailesh Baidwan, President of Maya Group and Co-Founder of Maya Bank.

Maya Business is part of the Maya Group’s broader fintech ecosystem, catering to MSMEs and large businesses. Meanwhile, the Maya app, recognized as the top-rated local finance app, serves all types of consumers.

Maya: PH’s payment backbone

Maya Business has revolutionized digital payments for Philippine enterprises, transitioning them from dealing with multiple providers to a unified platform where convenience meets security.

Through tools like Maya Checkout, Maya Terminal, and Maya QR, merchants can process various payments, including debit, credit, e-wallet, and QR. They can reach global customers through Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, WeChat Pay, and Alipay, as well as local clients via BancNet, QR Ph, GCash, GrabPay, ShopeePay, Beep, and Maya.

Maya Business is also at the forefront of adopting the unified QR Ph standard for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, being the first to adopt QR Ph for business and personal transactions.

Maya Business merchants are also seamlessly connected to the growing base of highly engaged Maya app users for various purchases, from shopping and dining to subscriptions.

Unlocking SME banking with payments

Originally launched as an electronic payment platform in 2015, Maya has since evolved, integrating digital banking in 2022. This transformation allows Maya to leverage its deep relations and rich customer data to offer high-yield savings and instant business loans.

Maya is also solving the significant credit gap for MSMEs, which traditionally access only 4% of total bank loans, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In 2023, Maya Business introduced the innovative 1-2-3 Grow Bundle for SMEs, featuring QR Ph payments at reduced rates, enticing savings with a 2.5% annual interest rate, and prospects for significant credit lines after three months of engagement with Maya’s services.

Micro-enterprises, starting with Maya Center agents, now have access to instant credit through services like Maya Advance, thanks to Maya’s insightful use of payment history and app engagement for credit assessment. – Rappler.com

Maya is the #1 Fintech Ecosystem in the Philippines, with Maya, the #1 Digital Bank, and Maya Business, the #1 Omni-Channel Payment Processor. To learn more about Maya, check out maya.ph and mayabank.ph. Follow Maya at @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and @mayaofficialph on X (formerly Twitter)

PRESS RELEASE

Life insurance policies help families left behind get through a life-changing ordeal. It provides them cash to fund their needs when the breadwinner is no longer able to support them because of critical illness, disability or death.

But don’t take it from us; take it from real stories of actual people who got support from insurance policies because their loved ones wanted to take care of them.

Saving grace

Allen (not his real name) was a young, newly-married business owner. During a visit to his bank, Allen was introduced to the in-house financial advisor, Lady. Allen wasn’t very keen on getting insured at first, thinking that the income from his business was more than enough for him and his wife, Grace. Lady, however, was able to convince him otherwise, saying “Bilang sole income provider ng iyong asawa at magiging anak, sakaling may mangyari sa’yong di inaasahan, paano na ang pamilya niyo?”

Lady’s remark convinced Allen to purchase a sizeable policy. With a baby on the way, and his business expanding, life was going well for Allen and Grace. She would later resign from her job to be a full-time housewife. Just three years later however, Allen unexpectedly passed away from brain aneurism.

Struggling to accept her huband’s sudden passing and with no job to support her and their child, Grace was shattered. Because Grace had no background or experience in managing Allen’s business, she was forced to close it. What was left of the proceeds were used to pay for hospital bills, estate taxes and business loans, leaving Grace with very little to get by. Fortunately, the proceeds from Allen’s policy was able to support her and her child as she slowly and surely began picking up the pieces of her new life without Allen.

Gifted with protection

Robert (not his real name), was a salesman at a logistics company. As a sign of gratitude for his years of service, his employers gave him a life insurance policy. 

A year later, Robert suddenly passed away in his sleep.

“Prior to that, Robert’s medical records from his annual physical exams were clear, so his death came as a shock to his employers and colleagues. His parents were devastated – they unexpectedly lost their only son, and the family’s main breadwinner,” shared Adrian, Robert’s BDO Life Financial Advisor.

Thanks to Robert’s life insurance policy, his parents were able to sustain the small general merchandise store they had in the province, with just enough to supply their needs, including their maintenance medicines. His younger sister, whom he was also supporting up until his death, was able to finish college and pursue her dreams of becoming a dentist.

Witnessing what life insurance has done for Robert’s family, his employers purchased additional life insurance policies for themselves.

Early start 

For married couple Mr. and Mrs. Santos (not their real names), having life insurance was a need they realized earlier on. As doctors, both Mr. and Mrs. Santos have seen how critical illnesses can twist and turn people’s lives and drain them of all their hard-earned savings. So to better protect themselves, they both availed life insurance policies.

“For Mr. Santos, getting life insurance was a way to protect the assets they had built and ensure that if anything were to happen to himself or his wife, their children would still be financially well-supported,” shared Randy, Mr. and Mrs. Santos’ BDO Life Financial Advisor.

True enough, they later benefited from having life insurance policies when Mrs. Santos learned that she had early stage breast cancer. Mr. Santos was also diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after.

Both were unable to continue their careers because of this, but thanks to their life insurance proceeds, they were able to pay for their medical needs, including their chemotherapy sessions. They also used their claim proceeds to help support their children’s daily needs, school tuition, and other household expenses.   

“They were thankful that they purchased their life insurance policy earlier on because it prepared them for what they believe is the most challenging part of their lives,” shared Randy.  Mr. and Mrs. Santos are still on their way to recovery, but they are hopeful that they will overcome this dark period of their lives. Their children, now in high school, are also looking forward to college.

How to prepare ourselves

These stories teach us that life is unpredictable. We will never know what will happen in the future, but we can prepare for it with the right life insurance plan.

To get started, just visit any BDO branch to talk to a BDO Life Financial Advisor. For more information about BDO Life and plans, you can visit www.bdo.com.ph/bdo-life. – Rappler.com

AP shows its love to the community by empowering the homes of Filipinos, with its purpose to “Transform Energy for a Better World.” For decades, the company has provided stable, affordable, and sustainable energy while playing its part in responding to the country’s rising power demand and supporting economic growth. 

While we strive for a balanced energy mix, we also pursue a brighter tomorrow for our host communities by contributing to local taxes and employment and providing them with livelihood, training, and aid packages.

Among our initiatives is a partnership with DORECO, where we turned over medical equipment for the communities of Davao Oriental to promote proactive health monitoring and support emergency response. The supplies include blood pressure monitoring devices, medical manikins, and spineboards. 

Meanwhile, AP subsidiary Therma Visayas marked the 7th year of its Carbon Sink Management Program with 770,000 trees planted en route to achieving a 10-year one million trees target through 2027. Under the program, some 277 tree farm partners earn from payments to their seedlings, maintenance services, fruits, and trees.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the company reiterates its devotion to uplifting the lives of every Filipino, with its main agenda to provide reliable power for the good of the people and the world. – Rappler.com

PRESS RELEASE

BrandRap is the platform for your brand’s next big story. Every day, we collaborate with our partners to create stories that are informative, relevant, and effective. If you want to amplify your message, engage the right audience, and expand your social reach online, we’d like to help. Email us at sales@rappler.com.

In line with Sprout’s North Star to impact the life of every Filipino by improving business in the Philippines, the acquisition offers JustPayroll customers an opportunity to be a part of Sprout’s community of over 1,000 client organizations, as well as an ecosystem of AI-powered solutions that automate and improve key HR processes across the employee lifecycle. New clients from JustPayroll will also continue to be serviced and guided through this transition period by their existing support contacts, now as employees of Sprout’s Customer Success team.

“It is with great pleasure that we share our successful acquisition of the Philippine operations of JustPayroll, a top-tier provider of timekeeping and payroll solutions. Through this acquisition, we’re not just transforming payroll and timekeeping experiences for our valued clients—we’re redefining the essence of seamless workforce management,” says Patrick Gentry, CEO and co-founder of Sprout Solutions.

“In our effort to simplify our Asian operations, we’ve made the decision to exit from the local SaaS and Outsourced payroll markets in the Philippines and focus on our group PEO and BPO offer. We appreciate all our clients’ support throughout this journey, and are committed to facilitating their seamless transition to the Sprout platform,” shares David Bell, CEO of JustPayroll. “Thank you for being a part of the JustPayroll journey,” David adds. – Rappler.com

PRESS RELEASE

And just how frustrating are some of these ordeals? I asked my teammates to weigh in.

Saab shares that sometimes queues are so long that she even has the phone hold music or marketing spiels memorized by the time her call gets picked up.

Meanwhile, Marj says the worst part is having your messages replied to by unhelpful bots.

“I was checking out my cart on an e-commerce site using my online debit card to pay for it. The payment failed but the money was deducted from my mobile wallet. It wasn’t a small amount so I panicked and tried all ways to reach out to the mobile wallet platform – Facebook, X, email, hotline, in-app chat support – but all I got were chatbots. Chatbots everywhere! It’s an endless loop of answering their bot-powered Q&As only to be served a spread of their FAQs each time – and none of it would answer my question. By the end of each frustrating session, the chatbot still had the audacity to ask if it was helpful. A big 👎,” she shared.

Or finding out there isn’t sufficient customer support to begin with, which is something that happened to me recently. After seeing my card charged with a subscription renewal I didn’t authorize, it took me long hours of sleuthing over the internet for answers as the company in question didn’t have customer support in the Philippines.

The solution? I found a customer support rep in Singapore who led me to more FAQs and chatbots until I eventually was led to another customer service representative who also spent hours figuring out what we could do to cancel my subscription.

It was a hot mess!

And how common these stories are is one of the reasons why digital bank GoTyme is investing heavily in its customer support services. One of the taglines they have been pushing this year is to “Say hello to helpful humans.”

First, it only takes less than five minutes to open an account with GoTyme Bank as there are over 900 bank ambassadors ready to help in the various GoTyme Bank kiosks across the country. No more waiting in line for hours to open an account! You also get a free Visa card on the spot, whereas traditional banks can take several business days to deliver a card to your address.

Concerned customers also get access to personal bankers, which means they get assigned an agent who will take care of their needs when they get in touch through GoTyme’s various communication channels.

In fact, GoTyme Bank has made a “123 Go Human Promise” to make it easier for customers.

This means that users will get:

• One human to talk to for all channels, whichever channel you prefer! No chatbots and no call menus at all.
• Two minutes to answer in-app chat, two minutes to pick up the hotline, and two hours to respond via email or social media.
• Three easy ways to reach them: chat through the GoTyme Bank app or social media channels, call, or send them an email.
  

What’s more is that if you lose your card, getting a replacement is fast and easy. First, you can lock your card through the GoTyme app and approach a kiosk to get one reprinted right away!

But don’t just take it from me. Take it from these happy customers who shared their experiences with GoTyme’s superb customer service reps:

Ready to sign up with GoTyme Bank? Download the GoTyme Bank app or go to a GoTyme Bank kiosk located in Robinsons branches nationwide to open your account and claim your free GoTyme Bank VISA debit card in under five minutes. Follow @gotymebank on social media for the latest news and promos. – Rappler.com

BrandRap is the platform for your brand’s next big story. Every day, we collaborate with our partners to create stories that are informative, relevant, and effective. If you want to amplify your message, engage the right audience, and expand your social reach online, we’d like to help. Email us at sales@rappler.com.

That’s why anything that would make life more convenient is always welcome. BDO understands that and wants to help you ease the burden. So the new BDO Online app was built to work just as hard as you. No matter how full your calendar gets, they want you to be able to bank your way. 

The BDO Online app is the new and improved version of the BDO Digital Banking app – designed for easy and secure on-the-go banking. Here are some of the new features that will make banking your way easier and more convenient than ever.

You can log in quickly and securely

Access your app faster and more conveniently with biometrics or 6-digit PIN but without compromising security. No need to key in a username and password whenever you need it. You can access your account anytime.

It allows you to send money to anyone 

You can now stop worrying about sending money to anyone. Sending money to any BDO account, other banks, or e-wallets is free of charge.

It lets you settle bills conveniently

Paying bills is painful but the process doesn’t have to be. With the new BDO Online app, you can pay whatever bills you need to without having to register the billers. That’s one less step you need to do. Just enter your details and pay conveniently whenever or wherever you are. After paying, you can simply save the biller to your favorites for next time.

You can pay transactions quickly via QR

Send and receive money with ease by transacting using a QR code. This reduces the risk of  having your money get into the hands of the wrong account holder. No need to manually type the account name and number on the app.

You’ll never run out of prepaid load again

You’ll never be caught with zero balance again. You can buy prepaid load for you or for someone else using your BDO Online app whenever you need to.

The new BDO Online app is just one of BDO’s ways of helping sustain and enrich your life. Whatever your needs are, BDO vows to be with you every as you “Bank Your Way.” 

The app is available to anyone with savings, checking, or credit card accounts. Download the app on Google Play and iOS, just look for the “BDO Online” app icon. – Rappler.com

After all, kindness leads to more acts of kindness, creating a virtuous cycle of positive energy that makes communities stronger and more vibrant. There are many ways that AboitizPower (AP) and AFI can consistently collaborate to deliver worthwhile benefits.

The Aboitiz Group, for one, sped up the recovery and growth of MSMEs and cooperatives hit by COVID-19 by teaching them how to leverage digital tools and progressive business models. “Byaheng Digiskarte” was so successful it won the 2023 IABC Gold Quill Award of Merit.

Meanwhile, AP subsidiary Therma Visayas and AFI organized an underwater garbage cleanup. Volunteer “Scubasureros” provide marine environment protection and rid the shoreline and submerged coastal areas of Bato Marine Sanctuary of plastic waste, resulting in more fish within the vicinity.

In another partnership, AP and AFI upcycle plastic waste and coal plant ash byproducts into high-value eco-bricks and eco-pavers through the BRICK Hub project. Plastic waste is provided by host communities, traded for sacks of rice or school supplies.

Looking back, the Aboitiz Group even went beyond their commitment of planting 9 million trees by end-2020, planting over 11.7 million. The A-Park program remains ongoing to revive dying and degraded forests.

For 35 years, AFI has partnered with Aboitiz business units to not only better the lives of Filipinos but also help protect our environment. – Rappler.com

PRESS RELEASE

If you missed out on the event last September 7, we’ll give you the top three tips we picked up from key GCash leaders.

Tip #1: Bridge your offline and online tactics

According to an internal GCash study, 51% of consumers still prefer to shop both online and offline. That’s why making a hybrid strategy is essential. One way to do this is by bringing e-commerce phenomena like double-digit sales into your offline channels.

To address both on and offline customers, GCash developed new Partner Solutions offers like Voucher Ads and Geo-Target Ads. The former offers your brand’s claimable vouchers online through in-app ads in prime spots, while the latter targets on-ground GCash users as close as 100 meters away from your store to send push notifications on exclusive offers.

Tip #2: Know what your consumers love

In another internal GCash study, the company found that 83% of consumers find it important that the brands they purchase from do not harm the environment. It’s clear that consumers are more likely to become loyal to brands who support their passion points, like advocacies or hobbies.

To better understand consumers, GCash has created over 50 affinity profiles – from foodies to gamers to K-fans – based on their users’ app behavior. GCash can also help brands harness this power with their Affinity Targeting package, where they can customize in-app ads that speak to the consumer’s interests.

Tip #3: Understand their spending habits during the holidays

Customers are willing to spend money they don’t have. Another insight GCash has uncovered is that during the holidays, loan requests increase by an average of 55% in Q4. Their study also shows that people more often get loans for big buys like gadgets, business capital, or food and groceries.

It’s important to study your customer’s journey during the holiday season to know exactly what they need to hear at exactly the right time to decide on that big buy with you. That’s why GCash has also launched their Hyper AI Ads (beta), which helps you target customers better through hyper personalization of your campaigns by optimizing the best combination of channels, messaging, language and offers using AI technology.

This holiday season, GCash is going all out with their Partner Solutions offerings, giving jam-packed packages that are driven by their data. They have four packages that are perfect for the upcoming 11.11 and 12.12 periods – Mega Shopper Booster, Shopper Pulse Push, Cross Shopper Trigger, and Merry GCash.

Mega Shopper Booster studies the shopping habits of targeted consumers to effectively market to them during the double-digits sales. Shopper Pulse Push makes use of push notifications to alert customers during sale dates. Cross Shopper Trigger employs never-before-done A/B testing and Geo-Targeting Ads to assess shoppers’ GCash redemptions both on and offline.

It’s definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas for GCash and its partners. Want to gift your brand with the knowledge and power of GCash? Learn more about their Partner Solutions here. – Rappler.com

Last June, the first batch of queer couples living in Quezon City signed the contract for the “right to care card.” This card allows couples from the LGBTQIA+ community to make health care decisions for each other through a special power of attorney. 

It’s a groundbreaking move that queer couples hope will be expanded to the whole country and not just in Quezon City. Nevertheless, it’s still a big win for the community who still have to fight for their rights – especially when it comes to their relationships. 

Sun Life recognizes these struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. Thankfully, there’s one other place where LGBTQIA+ couples can enjoy their rights as each other’s partners. 

Did you know that in 2020, the Philippine Insurance Commission (IC) has made it clear that policyholders may designate their same-sex partners as beneficiaries in their insurance plans? That’s right, it’s no longer just limited to your nuclear family and relatives. If you have a partner, they have a right to be your insurance beneficiary. 

Sun Life fully supports this. Whatever product you may want to avail to build your wealth and reach your dreams, Sun Life can be your partner to be with you on your financial journey and help you secure a brighter future. 

Why get insurance? 

Until now, many people are still averse to insurance. It is indeed an added expense, and when money is hard to come by, it’s difficult to shell out for things on top of your daily needs. It’s understandable but not a lot of people know that insurance can also help build and protect their wealth. 

There are insurance products that help you invest and grow your money, protect you and your savings in case of emergencies, care for your family and loved ones in case of death, and so much more. 

You can find a product that not only suits your goals and dreams but your budget, too. You don’t need to compromise your other needs and expenses. You can try using Sun Life’s insurance calculator to see the kinds of products that match your budget.

Sun MaxiLink Bright 

One of Sun Life’s products is Sun MaxiLink Bright. It’s ideal for people who would like to protect their loved ones while also growing their wealth. It’s an investment-linked life insurance plan that offers a combined benefit of insurance protection and investment. You can build funds for at least five years and have the option to add more to your initial for better growth potential. 

Benefits of Sun MaxiLink Bright: 

• Life insurance coverage 
• Flexible investment options 
• Professional fund management 
• Funds for future needs 
• Manageable premium

If you want to know more about Sun MaxiLink Bright and other Sun Life products, you may reach out to a Sun Life financial advisor via www.sunlife.co/TalkToAnAdvisor. To find out how Sun Life can be your partner for a brighter future, head to www.sunlife.co/partnersforlife. – Rappler.com

Did you know that you can help plant coffee trees through GCash’s GForest?

GCash formed a partnership with the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc., which means that users can now actively participate in helping local farmers grow and harvest coffee beans.

Want to know how? Watch the video to find out. – Rappler.com