GCash dominates Philippine retail e-payment landscape with over 4,000 QRs deployed nationwide

GCash dominated the Philippine retail e-payment landscape in 2017 with over 4,000 QRs deployed nationwide, a testament to the growing number of merchants who believe in the capability of GCash to usher in cashless payments in the country.

A mobile wallet service offered by Mynt, a financial technology company owned by Globe Telecom, Ant Financial and Ayala Corp, GCash has been relentless in helping Filipinos get used to a cashless lifestyle and has been bullish in its vision to create an inclusive cashless environment in the Philippines. E-payments provide safety and convenience when shopping for goods and services as people need not carry around loads of cash anymore.

Grassroots program TM Basketball Para sa Bayan joins forces with LA Tenorio in 3 provinces

PBA three-time Most Valuable Player LA Tenorio staged TM Basketball Para sa  Bayan sports clinic for the benefit of underprivileged youth in Tuguegarao City. 

Globe Telecom through its grassroots sports program TM Basketball Para sa Bayan has teamed up once again with one of the country’s top athletes, L.A. Tenorio, in reaching out through basketball to underprivileged Filipino youth in Tuguegarao City; Porac, Pampanga and Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Globe and Tenorio, who runs Method Basketball Academy, held recently a free basketball clinic and tournament at People’s Gym in Tuguegarao City; Babo Sacan covered court in Porac, Pampanga and at the Talavera Municipal Gymnasium in Nueva Ecija.  Previous stagings of the free basketball clinic and tournament were held in Tondo and Dumaguete.

TM Basketball Para sa Bayan sports clinic in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

TM Basketball Para Sa Bayan, is a sports program that promotes sports development in the Philippines at the grassroots level. It creates opportunities for kids especially in far-flung places in the country where prospects are scarce and dreams aren’t likely to be realized.

Studies have shown that involving the youth in sports helps keep them away from drugs, not to mention open doors to better education opportunities. 

“We continue to strengthen our grassroots programs to give today’s youth more opportunities to hone their interests and talents. The TM Basketball Para sa Bayan program remains an effective tool in strengthening values and encouraging the youth to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Globe Director for Citizenship and Sustainability Chel Obligacion-Gray.

LA Tenorio shows a proper dribbling technique to a participant of the TM Basketball para sa Bayan sports clinic held recently in Porac, Pampanga. 

The free basketball clinic participants played in 3-on-3 basketball tournaments divided into two categories – a youth category for kids aged 9 to 14 and the open division for participants aged 15 to 21. Basketball shootouts and basketball arcade games were also available for everyone to enjoy.

The basketball program is set to roll out in more provinces nationwide to be able to encourage more kids to explore and be aware of the positive benefits of sports. TM Basketball Para Sa Bayan is a component of a larger sports program of Globe which also includes Football Para Sa Bayan launched in 2013.

GLOBE, PAL, MIAA spread cheer to arriving OFWs, tourists with special Christmas surprise

Globe Telecom’s International Business Group, together with Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) held a special Christmas surprise for arriving Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and tourists as a way to spread cheer and make them feel the spirit of the holiday season.

Passengers of PR 659 from Dubai to Manila who landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 were welcomed by representatives from MIAA, Globe and Philippine Airlines with heart-warming messages as soon as they disembarked the plane. 

The best surprise were waiting for them at the baggage carousel. Instead of their luggage, the carousel were filled with surprise treats for everyone. In the background, a lively Filipino Christmas tune was playing to create a festive atmosphere at the arrival hall. Santa Claus, on the other hand, had his huge sack filled with toys for the kids.

“Christmas is something that Filipinos love to celebrate together with their family and friends, thus, homecomings during this season becomes more meaningful. We at Globe, in collaboration with PAL and MIAA, wanted this occasion to be very special to returning Filipinos and to tourists alike to make them happier and for them to appreciate why Pasko is truly more fun in the Philippines,” said Mike Frausing, Senior Advisor for Globe International Business Group.

The surprise was in celebration of the first year partnership of Globe and PAL. Globe IBG has been giving away free Mabuhay Traveler SIM to all international PAL flight passengers which gives them 500 bonus Mabuhay Miles, free 300 MB of data and unlimited calls to Globe valid for one day, and 10% discount at selected Duty Free Philippines shop.

Globe and PAL are working together to be of service to more Filipinos in and out of the country with a common advocacy of delighting international visitors and returning Filipinos by giving them a wonderful experience every time they arrive in the Philippines.

AirAsia Wins Two Awards At 2017 World Travel Awards Grand Final

AirAsia has been named the World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline for the fifth year in a row at the 2017 World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final.

AirAsia emerged top in the category having received the highest votes from travel professionals and industry players from around the world, beating Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Ryanair, easyJet, Jetstar Airways, Norwegian Air, West Air, flydubai, Air Arabia, flynas, kulula, Mango and fastjet.

Asia’s largest low-cost carrier by passengers also won the inaugural World's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew award, ahead of the same 13 budget airlines. The win builds on AirAsia's success earlier this year when it secured WTA’s first ever Asia's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew award and in 2015, when it became the first ever low-cost carrier to win Asia's Leading Cabin Crew, ahead of full-service carriers like Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and Cathay Pacific.

AirAsia Group Chief Commercial Officer Siegtraund Teh and AirAsia senior cabin crew Rosita Sulaiman accepted the awards at a gala ceremony held at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay in Vietnam yesterday.

Also present were AirAsia Berhad Executive Chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Berhad independent non-executive director Dato' Fam Lee Ee and AirAsia's Vietnam joint venture partner Tran Trong Kien.

AirAsia named World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline for fifth straight year and wins the inaugural World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew award

AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said, “I am very proud to stand here today to receive our fifth WTA World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline award in as many years. I’ve always said we are the world’s true low-cost champion, and I’m thrilled to see I’m not the only one and the industry agrees with me. And we will only get better as we continue on our digitalisation journey to better understand what our guests want and to make flying a richer, more enjoyable experience, as we continue to strive to provide world-class service at the lowest fares.”

AirAsia Group Cabin Crew Head Suhaila Hassan said, “An airline is only as good as its people, and we have some of the best. Two years ago, we were named Asia's Leading Cabin Crew by WTA, beating a field of full-service carriers. Since then, we’ve gone from strength to strength, winning the World's Leading Inflight Service award in 2016, Asia's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew earlier this year and now, the first ever World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew award by WTA. This shows our unwavering commitment to excellence and, as the world’s best low-cost carrier, we promise to continue delivering to our guests onboard the best experience money can’t buy.”

The World Travel Awards is one of the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought after awards programme in the global and tourism industry.

Established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across key sectors of travel, tourism and hospitality industries, the World Travel Awards brand is now recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

Globe, Abojeb bring cheers to Seafarers this Holiday Season

Carl Martin Faannessen, Managing Director, Abojeb Company (2nd from left) and Mike Frausing, Senior Advisor, Globe International Business Group (2nd from right) together with Tom Wagan, AVP, Branding and Communications, Abojeb Company (left) and Jurist Gamban, VP, Strategic Marketing, Globe International Business Group (right)

Globe Telecom and Abojeb, a leading maritime solutions services and manpower provider, have initiated a stronger collaboration as part of their shared common advocacy to support more than 400,000 Filipino Seafarers working globally and their families at home.

In celebration of Abojeb’s 35th anniversary, Globe took part in Abojeb’s Job and Family Fair at the SMX Convention Center recently and will also join the nationwide Christmas party for Abojeb seafarers that will be held in Davao, Iloilo and Cebu.  The Christmas Party — with the theme “Stronger Together Since 1982: The Bayanihan Spirit Lives On”—is expected to attract over 2,000 guests from the four major cities.

The one-day Job and Family Fair brought together over a thousand seafarers and other Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including their families, international ship owners and key service providers for the maritime industry.

Mike Frausing, Globe International Business Group Sr. Advisor said:  “Globe looks forward to working closely with Abojeb in providing innovative solutions that address the needs of Filipino seafarers and their families. We will leverage on the partnerships that we have built domestically and abroad to come up with services that enable the seafarers to nurture relationships and create meaningful connections with their loved ones.”

“It’s all about the connection between the seafarers and their families and loved ones. Globe and Abojeb share this view and we will work together to see how we can offer better and better services to these groups. The mobile revolution continues, with Globe and Abojeb in the forefront,” said Carl Martin Faannessen, Managing Director, Abojeb.

Globe International Business Group Sr. Advisor Mike Frausing speaking before the seafarers and their families

To help seafarers stay connected with their families at home, easing loneliness and bridging the distance between their loved ones, Globe recently rolled out the Globe Seafarer SIM which offers special roaming rates for calling and texting. The Globe Seafarer SIM has unique features designed for seafarer needs to call home for as low as P30 per minute and P10 per text while abroad to Globe numbers. The SIM which is valid for 1 year has a pre-activated international roaming feature and comes with free five (5) international text credits to Globe/TM numbers every month for 12 months from over 50 destinations.  

With this strengthened collaboration with Abojeb - composed of Jebsen Ship Management, Jebsens Maritime, Jebsens Orient Shipping Services, and Abojeb Manpower Solutions, Globe will soon be able to make it easier for seafarers to shop for their families in the Philippines through Sarisari.ph, the eGifting online channel that they can use to send instant eGifts to loved ones at home.

“We are aware of the pain points of our seafarers and their loved ones that is why we are continuously looking for ways to enable them.  We will also provide seafarers with a convenient way to shop for their families in the Philippines through Sarisari.ph which they can use to send instant gifts,” asserted by Jurist Gamban, VP for Strategic Marketing, Globe International Business Group.

Sarisari.ph is a virtual marketplace where overseas Filipinos can buy and instantly send eGifts from 170 plus brands in food, retail, health and wellness, travel and business services to their families anywhere in the Philippines through three channels: online, international retailers and remittance companies.   

GCash ‘Scan to Pay’ feature now at The SM Store nationwide

Manila, Philippines - GCash mobile wallet service announced today that its scan to pay feature  is now available at all SM Store nationwide and at the information booths of SM malls.

This development makes it more convenient for customers to do their shopping, especially this holiday season as shoppers can already easily pay for their purchases without the need to bring cash.

Using GCash scan to pay method is like a walk in the park. A customer with a smartphone only needs to either download or update to the latest version of the GCash App, create an account and fund the GCash wallet through cash-in centers located across the country. Once done, the customer just has to tap on Scan QR and point the phone’s camera at the item’s QR code to pay.

The SM  Store is the latest addition in a growing list of merchants which have embraced the GCash App scan to pay feature. Among the early adopters are Mercato Centrale in Bonifacio Global City and Ayala Malls, particularly Glorietta.

Anthony Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mynt, the financial technology company owned by Globe Telecom, Ant Financial, and Ayala Corp., said they have already begun the rollout of the QR code acceptance.

“We’re not installing a device but just a sticker with a QR code. The customer simply scans that sticker so no need for additional machines for transactions and there’s no cost to the machine but more benefits to the merchants. Cash is still convenient but there’s also the issue of security and handling. With GCash scan to pay feature, we’re bringing that down to the level where merchants can adapt,” Thomas explained.

With the addition of The SM Store, the use of the GCash scan to pay feature continues to gain support among the top malls and merchants in the country.

Other well-known merchants currently using the feature are the Max’s Group of restaurants, apparel brand Bench, and international brands specialty retailer Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI). Smaller sellers located at celebrity bazaar destination Noel Bazaar and in Mercato have also adopted this new cashless payment option.

Over the next few months, GCash will continue to aggressively roll out the use of the scan to pay feature in other locations nationwide to encourage more people to use it and enjoy its benefits.

Learn more about GCash by visiting www.gcash.com. Follow us on our social media channels: www.facebook.com/gcashofficial,www.twitter.com/gcashofficial, and www.instagram.com/gcashofficial.

Globe myBusiness Academy gathers online sellers and industry experts

Passion and mission key to success in digital marketing, experts maintain

Pursuing your passion and finding a niche market are key to successfully using digital marketing for your business. This is what experts at the Online Sellers’ Summit advised. The event, hosted by the Globe myBusiness Academy, was recently held at the Hole in the Wall food plaza of Century Mall in Makati. Online sellers at the summit were given tips to boost sales through digital innovations while those still toying with ideas were given clear directions.

According to Derrick Heng, Senior Advisor for Globe myBusiness, online sellers should seize opportunities in the new era of doing business where “digital is the new normal.”

Bearing in mind the following factors, Globe myBusiness offers innovations to optimize the operations of online sellers:

· Increased demand for personalization

Customers demand products and services that suit their needs and lifestyles. Lana Macapagal, marketing communications manager of AdSpark, says online sellers need to keep in mind that 80 per cent of the digital content should be about the consumers and the remaining 20 per cent about the products they sell. Digital marketing is about brand awareness, she explains, and sellers need to keep their content interesting and keep adjusting to the needs of the audience.

For better customer reach, Globe myBusiness offers digital solutions such as AutoSMS blast to inform subscribers of the companies’ promos. At the same time, Business Website Builder allows online sellers to create a website and online portal for business, using a web-based payment system. Shopify, one of Globe myBusiness’ solutions, for example, assures customers their online transactions are easy and secure.

· Rise of the omni-channel and online presence

Customers now spend more time researching online before they go to the malls or physical stores. Therefore, online sellers should use different platforms to provide customers a convenient shopping experience.

Paolo Lacuna, head of Business Development for Facebook Philippines says there are currently two billion Facebook users and this is expected to increase to 3.8 billion in 2018. This being said, Lacuna urges online sellers using Facebook as a platform to think of the market as a global market and sell products from abroad because these are the products preferred by clients. He discloses online sellers can earn as much as US$33,000 per week using Facebook Audience Insight Tool to build client base and promote products.

To improve customer engagement, online sellers can tap Globe digital innovations such as Queuing Solution, a service that allows business owners to better manage store traffic using an automated SMS-based queueing system; Rush Rewards a platform which enables business owners to create a digital punch card that rewards customers for every visit or purchase; and Auto Appointment reminder, which automatically notifies customers of their appointments through SMS.

· Automated Business Operations

Online sellers can now simplify operations by automating work processes and boost customer satisfaction. Globe myBusiness offers a line of solutions for better management including myShopkeeper to monitor inventory and sales, as well as a G-Suite app to manage salon, spa and store devices. The Canvas app also eliminates paper and uses digital forms for business.

· The Power of Customer Advocacy

Online sellers need to increase advertising through photos and powerful stories since clients take photos and do reviews establishments. Social entrepreneurs also have ways of turning passion into profit and marketing a ‘purpose driven’ brand.

Jen Horn, founder of MUNI, says digital marketing should also sell ideas such as zero-waste by buying less packaged food.

Jourdan Sebastian, head of Taclob foundation says disasters can be turned into opportunities. For example, he says, he assisted survivors of typhoon Yolanda to rise above their misfortune by helping them go into the bag business.

Ricca Del Rosario, head of Half The Price (HTP) fashion online store, says she used digital platforms to promote cheaper clothing and eventually ventured into fashion design.

For more information on Globe myBusiness’ solutions products,, visit the website at https://mybusiness.globe.com.ph/solutions/, call the hotline at 730-1010, or visit any Globe store.