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TECHNOLOGY

No more keep the change: SM, PayMaya introduce e-sukli

April 23, 2022 5:26 p.m.

Digital financial services leader PayMaya partners with the Philippines’ largest department store chain, The SM Store, to launch e-sukli, the first-of-its-kind digital sukli service which makes receiving change more convenient for shoppers.   

Instead of getting bulky coins and bills from the cashier, e-sukli allows customers to receive a change of up to P50 directly to their PayMaya accounts.

Now available in over 60 The SM Store branches nationwide, this service makes receiving change much easier and eliminates the need to find a smaller bill for your purchases.   

To encourage more Filipinos to use digital payments, PayMaya is incentivizing customers who use e-sukli in any of The SM Store branches.

From April 1 to 30, 2022, those who use e-sukli will get a P5, P10, or P25 bonus amount on top of their actual change. SM Shoppers can avail of this reward four times until April 30, 2022.  

Customers can get their e-sukli at the checkout counter in The SM Store by simply asking the cashier to send their change via PayMaya.

On their PayMaya app homepage, they simply need to tap the icon in the upper-left corner and tap the QR code beside their name. The cashier will then scan the PayMaya account QR code and transfer your change.   

“We are happy to team up once again with our trusted partner, The SM Store, to be the first to bring this digital sukli initiative to Filipinos,” said Pepe Torres, Chief Marketing Officer for PayMaya Philippines.   

“As more people flock to malls following the eased quarantine restrictions, we continue to develop digital solutions based on cashless technologies which will make their shopping experience fun, safe, and convenient,” he added.    

“The SM Store is committed to providing mall-goers with a great shopping experience through our offers, and we are pleased to have PayMaya align with this goal,” said Dhinno Francis S. Tiu, Executive Vice President for The SM Store. “Launching e-sukli is just one of the ways we welcome our customers back in the malls and promise an even better experience for them.”   

The e-sukli initiative with The SM Store is just among the many programs and innovations that PayMaya is rolling out to its enterprise partners to encourage more Filipinos to adopt digital payments for their everyday transactions.   

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government.

As of end-December 2021, PayMaya provides more than 44 million Filipinos access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 63,000 partner agent touchpoints serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services.

Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country, including “every day” merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants, as well as government agencies and units.   

TECHNOLOGY

DigiPlus earns first ASEAN Golden Arrow Award for corporate governance excellence

10:10 p.m. October 24, 2025

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (DigiPlus), the country’s digital entertainment provider behind BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, achieved a major milestone in corporate governance excellence by earning its first-ever Golden Arrow Award.

The recognition was conferred on Oct. 23, 2025, during the awarding ceremony organized by the institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), the Philippines’ Domestic Ranking Body (DRB) for the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS).

DigiPlus received a 2-Golden Arrow Award, one of the five levels of distinction granted to publicly listed companies that demonstrate outstanding corporate governance performance.

The Golden Arrow Recognition is among the Philippines’ most prestigious corporate honors, recognizing companies that lead in transparency, accountability, and integrity.

Anchored on the ACGS framework, it evaluates how effectively organizations uphold shareholder rights, engage stakeholders, promote sustainability, ensure transparency, and maintain strong board oversight in alignment with both local and international governance standards.

“Earning our first Golden Arrow affirms DigiPlus’ commitment to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance,” said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco. “We are proud to be recognized among the country’s most trusted, publicly-listed companies and remain focused on creating a long-term value for our shareholders, stakeholders, and the customers and the communities we serve by leading with transparency, accountability, and integrity.”

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TECHNOLOGY

Rest easy with the Index Sleep Monitor smart sleep band  from Garmin

11:09 a.m. August 29, 2025

GARMIN has announced the Index™ Sleep Monitor, an ultra-comfortable and lightweight smart sleep band that tracks sleep for a more comprehensive view of overall fitness and recovery.

Featuring up to 7 nights of battery life with continuous Pulse Ox tracking, the Index Sleep Monitor is worn on the upper arm and tracks sleep stages, heart rate variability (HRV) status, breathing variations, skin temperature and more to calculate a sleep score for users and provide valuable insights about their health. 

After a night of sleep, the data seamlessly syncs to the Garmin Connect™ smartphone app and can be combined with metrics from a compatible Garmin smartwatch to fill in gaps in data for users who don’t wear their watch at night or are looking to better understand how well they recovered. 

“We are thrilled to add the Index Sleep Monitor to our suite of innovative health and wellness products. Wearing this smart sleep band every night can provide in-depth sleep insights and a more complete picture of fitness and recovery so users can wake up ready to seize the day.” — Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing

Rest and recover 

Throughout the night, the Index Sleep Monitor tracks the following sleep and recovery metrics, which can then be viewed on the Garmin Connect app:

 ● Sleep score: Every morning, receive a personalized score (0-100) for last night’s sleep based on sleep duration, stress, sleep stages and more. 

● Sleep stages: View light, deep and REM sleep stages and when they occur during the night.

● HRV status: See the previous night’s average HRV and status (balanced, unbalanced, low or poor). After several nights of wear, the smart sleep band will establish a personal baseline to help provide a better understanding of recovery and overall wellness.

● Pulse Ox: Track blood oxygen saturation during sleep1.

● Breathing variations: Used in conjunction with Pulse Ox, view and better understand shifts in breathing patterns while sleeping.1

● Respiration: View respiration rates throughout the night.

● Skin temperature: Track skin temperature changes, which can be related to recent activity, sleep environment, potential illness and more.

● Women’s health tracking: Using skin temperature, women can get more insights into their menstrual cycle, including improved period predictions and past ovulation estimates2. Women can also track their menstrual cycle or pregnancy and get exercise and nutrition education in the Garmin Connect app.

● Body BatteryTM energy monitoring: View energy levels to see if the body is charged or needs more rest. Users who wear a compatible smartwatch while awake can get a more complete picture of their energy levels—day and night.

● Stress tracking: See if last night’s sleep was calm, balanced or stressful.

When it’s time to wake up, the smart wake alarm feature looks at lighter sleep stages during a pre-selected window of time to gently wake users with a light vibration so they feel more refreshed.

Available in two sizes (S-M and L-XL), the Index Sleep Monitor is easy to clean; just remove the module and toss the band into the washing machine on the gentle cycle. 

It is for P10,290.00 and available via official Garmin Stores online in Kinetic, Shopee, and Lazada and in all Garmin Brand Stores and Garmin Specialty Stores. 

For more information, visit https://ph.garmin.com/. 

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TECHNOLOGY

Time to make your moment: OPPO Reno14 Series 5G now available for pre-order

9:11 p.m. August 10, 2025

OPPO’s latest smartphone series is now available for pre-order in the Philippines—and it’s built for those who want to turn everyday moments into stories worth sharing.

The OPPO Reno14 Series 5G brings together AI-powered photography, vivid 4K video, sleek design, and powerful performance, all in one beautifully crafted device. Whether you’re creating content, diving into your favorite game, or simply making your moment, the OPPO Reno14 Series 5G makes it effortless to discover and explore—without compromise.

Your Studio, In Your Pocket

Capture yourself at your best with AI Portrait capabilities that naturally refine lighting, angles, and facial details—no filters or editing apps needed. Want to adjust after the shot? Features like AI Recompose and AI Perfect Shot help you fix framing, expressions, and more—all within the native camera.

Even in low light, the Ultra-Clear Low-Light Camera System and AI Flash Photography keep your shots vivid and full of life—perfect for nights out, concerts, and candle-lit dinners.

Powered by next-gen chipsets, MediaTek Dimensity 8450 for OPPO Reno14 Pro 5G, Dimensity 8350 for  OPPO Reno14 5G, and Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 for  OPPO Reno14 F 5G, you can count on a fluid experience whether you’re gaming, streaming, or multitasking.

Smart features like AI HyperBoost 2.0 and AI LinkBoost 3.0 optimize gameplay, prevent lag, and keep your connection smooth wherever you are.

Designed to be seen

The Iridescent Mermaid Design of the OPPO Reno14 Series 5G is more than a color, it’s a statement. Inspired by the shimmer of light underwater, the finish is paired with Velvet Glass and aerospace-grade aluminum for a look and feel that’s luxurious, durable, and uniquely OPPO.

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