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TECHNOLOGY

GCash, Heart Evangelista collaborate

January 19, 2024 8:30 p.m.

GCash, the country’s leading finance super app, brings a powerful start to 2024 with the launch of its newest endorser — international fashion icon, Heart Evangelista-Escudero.

The unveiling of Heart as the new face of GCash was announced together with the release of the brand’s latest digital film, set to take over our feeds. The film not only showcases Heart’s exciting partnership with GCash, but also demonstrates how GCash has made its way into her heart, being her go-to super app for easy, safe & secure transactions, whether it be online, in-store, or even abroad.

Inspired by her travels and experiences, Heart shared her anecdotes of the moments GCash saved her in times of need –from receiving a sweet gift from her loved ones by using the app’s Send Money feature, to shopping online for cute trinkets for her dog, Panda. She even talked about how the ease of the Scan to Pay feature when it comes to simple things, like buying kwek-kwek when the craving strikes, and of course, who could forget her delighted reaction when she successfully used her GCash Card for the first time to pay for a coffee run in Paris!

“For me, GCash has been a game changer. You can use it for so many things, and literally EVERYWHERE! From my local cravings, shopping finds and even now that I’m getting ready to head out for Fashion Week season, there is no limit when I’ve got my GCash with me. Ang galing diba? ” – Heart Evangelista-Escudero

Much like Heart, there are so many new things to discover and love about GCash! Apart from being able to send and receive money for FREE, and get free vouchers and discounts when paying online, thanks to the GCash Card, its users can transact seamlessly in over 200 countries — with lower foreign exchange rates vs. competitors, it instantly became one of her travel essentials!

The different scenes showcased in the brand’s new film were inspired by the star’s day-to-day life. In fact, Heart was heavily involved in crafting the script, and dressing herself in some of her signature pieces from her personal wardrobe, some of which we’ve seen all over social media!

“In my Heart, GCash is the best way to pay”

Quoting Heart’s ending line in her newest film, GCash invites its users to enjoy the best things life has to offer in the most convenient and secure way possible.

“Heart was really the perfect, and easy, choice for us when it came to developing this campaign. She gave a mountain’s worth of ideas from the very first time we met her and the team was left inspired! Her attention to every detail was key for us to develop a material that was unique but also very personal to her. We loved the way she was able to share her personal experiences with us in highlighting how her GCash has made her transactions easier, not only in the Philippines but all over the globe. ” – Neil Trinidad, GCash Chief Marketing Officer

GCash, the country’s no. 1 finance super app continues its mission to empower Filipinos to move towards financial progress. Through this new collaboration between Heart and GCash, users can only expect more to come in 2024 as they continue to open doors to a brighter future for all Filipinos, so that they too can say that GCash is the best way to pay.

Watch the full GCash short film produced with Heart through the official GCash page @gcashofficial on Facebook and YouTube.

TECHNOLOGY

OPPO Reno16 Series 5G coming soon to capture every ‘barkada’ moment

7:11 a.m. July 26, 2026

Every barkada starts with a first. Your first spontaneous café hop with new college friends, your first weekend road trip together, or your first concert with people who soon become your favorite memories.

These shared experiences deserve more than a quick snapshot. They deserve photos everyone will want to save, share, and remember.

That’s why OPPO is bringing the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G to the Philippines. Built around its Pocket Studio imaging experience and the all-new OPPO Bubble with Camera Remote View, the upcoming smartphone is designed to help every barkada capture their first moments together without leaving anyone out of the story.

Professional-level imaging for every first barkada moment

The OPPO Reno16 Series 5G is designed to make everyday photography feel more effortless and expressive. At the heart of its Pocket Studio experience are a 200MP Main Camera, a 50MP Ultra-Wide Selfie Camera, and Dual View Video, giving users the tools to capture group adventures, everyday moments, and creative content with professional-quality results.

So whatever moment you are capturing, be it a barkada food crawl, a weekend getaway, or your first day on campus, the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G is designed to make memorable group photos easier to create than ever.

A smarter way to get everyone into the shot

One of the biggest challenges of group photography is making sure everyone, including the person behind the camera, gets to be in the shot.

The OPPO Reno16 Series 5G introduces OPPO Bubble with Camera Remote View, a first-of-its-kind innovation from a smartphone brand that reimagines the way people take group photos together. Working wirelessly with compatible OPPO devices, OPPO Bubble lets users preview the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G camera frame from another device and remotely trigger the shutter, making it easier to capture group shots without rushing back and forth to beat a timer.

It also opens up new possibilities for selfies and groufies by allowing users to take advantage of the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G’s powerful rear camera system while still seeing exactly how the shot is framed. Whether you’re taking a family portrait, gathering your barkada for a travel photo, or documenting a concert or special celebration, OPPO Bubble transforms the way shared moments are captured, making professional-looking group shots easier, smarter, and more inclusive than ever before.

Designed for today’s generation of creators

Designed for today’s on-the-go creators, the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G combines a sleek, premium design with advanced camera hardware and intelligent creative tools. Together with OPPO Bubble with Camera Remote View, it is designed to make group photography and collaborative content more intuitive, whether users are meeting friends at a café, traveling with their barkada, or documenting a concert or celebration, all while delivering professional-looking results without relying on a complicated camera setup.

Because every first barkada moment deserves to be remembered.

The OPPO Reno16 Series 5G is arriving soon in the Philippines, bringing its Pocket Studio imaging experience and OPPO Bubble with Camera Remote View to help users capture every first barkada moment together.

Visit the nearest OPPO store to check it out yourself. For more details about the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G, visit  OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com/ph/ or OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on FacebookYouTube, and TikTok  for  more updates and be among the first to discover the next evolution of smartphone photography.

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TECHNOLOGY

Alibaba Cloud unveils Agent-Native Innovations at WAIC 2026

12:19 p.m. July 22, 2026

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, Alibaba Cloud introduced a suite of agent-native technologies aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of AI agents across industries. 

Key announcements include the Agent-Native Cloud suite, designed to govern, optimize, and orchestrate multi-agent workflows while improving large-model inference efficiency. The company also expanded its open-source efforts with the release of the T-Head SAIL software stack, alongside new products such as the team version of its AI development tool Meoo and its first Qwen-powered earbuds, Qwen Clip. 

These updates reflect Alibaba Cloud’s continued focus on building a full-stack AI ecosystem spanning silicon, infrastructure, platforms, and applications. 

Alibaba unveiled the Qwen 3.8-Max-Preview on its Token Plan, Qoder, and QoderWork platforms. Boasting 2.4 trillion parameters, the model delivers impressive performance comparable to leading frontier AI models, with initial tests ranking it second only to Fable 5. The company has also announced the Qwen 3.8-Max will be open weight soon. 

Cloud Infrastructure: From AI-Native to Agent-Native 

Alibaba Cloud is advancing toward an agent-native architecture, providing a managed environment for building, deploying, and operating autonomous AI agents. 

At WAIC, the company introduced two new products—AgentLoop and AgentTeams—expanding its existing AgentRun platform. Together, these offerings support the full lifecycle of enterprise AI agents, with built-in governance and control. 

AgentLoop enables real-time tracing, evaluation, and optimization of agent performance. AgentTeams supports coordination and governance across multiple agents, allowing organizations to manage complex workflows. AgentRun provides lifecycle management, covering development, deployment, and operations. 

Alibaba Cloud also introduced TokenWorks within its Platform for AI (PAI), available through PAI-EAS. The new service integrates request routing, inference execution, compute reuse, and scheduling into a single system, helping improve performance, reduce costs, and increase reliability for large-model inferences. 

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TECHNOLOGY

Peace of mind for busy pet parents: Xiaomi Smart Ecosystem keeps your pets safe, nourished

7:29 p.m. July 16, 2026

For most Filipino households, pets are (rightfully) considered full-fledged family members. Owners aren’t just owners anymore; they’re fur-parents now, they call pets their “fur-babies,” celebrate their birthdays, and worry about them constantly when we are away—just like real parents do and should.

But as the world moves faster and we find ourselves balancing office days, social lives, and daily errands, maintaining a flawless pet care routine can feel like a precarious tightrope walk. Are they eating on time? Are they drinking enough water? Is the house smelling a little too much like a pet sanctuary?

Fortunately for many Filipino fur-parents, raising a healthy, happy pet doesn’t have to conflict with a busy modern lifestyle. In the digital age, smart home technology is stepping up to bridge the gap, helping them provide consistent, reliable, and loving care even when they are miles away from home.

For those who need help keeping pets loved and well-maintained at home, Xiaomi’s got solutions that can completely transform your daily pet care routine, offering you peace of mind and your pet a healthier, more comfortable life.

1. Mealtime, Always on Time

One of the biggest anxieties of leaving the house is missing mealtime, and the Xiaomi Smart Pet Food Feeder 2 takes the guesswork and worry out of the equation.

This smart feeder allows you to schedule precise portions at specific times through your phone. Whether you are stuck in traffic or working late on a project, your pet’s feeding schedule remains completely uninterrupted. Plus, with its sealed design, every bowl of kibble stays as fresh and crunchy as the moment you opened the bag.

2. Encouraging Healthy Hydration

Just like humans, pets need constant access to clean water to prevent urinary tract issues—a common concern for both cat and dog owners alike.

The Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain 2 solves this by mimicking the flowing natural streams that animals instinctively love. With its multi-stage filtration system, it ensures your pet always has access to fresh, oxygen-rich running water. It operates quietly in the background, making sure your pet stays hydrated throughout the day without interrupting your focus.

3. A Breath of Fresh Air for Everyone

Living with pets often means living with pet hair, dander, and those unmistakable “pet odors.” While most fur-parents have gotten used to the different kind of air at home, that doesn’t mean it’s always healthy.

To keep your indoor air clean and healthy for both you and your fur-baby, the Xiaomi Smart Pet Care Air Purifier is a household game-changer. Specially optimized for pet-owning homes, it quickly captures floating pet hair and neutralizes common pet odors, ensuring your living space always smells fresh, clean, and welcoming.

4. Keeping a Loving Eye from Afar

Even when all their physical needs are met, you’ll still miss your pets when you’re out—that’s just the ruff reality of being a fur-parent.

For clingy parents and babies, the Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 Pro helps you stay connected. With its advanced pet detection feature, the camera can intelligently recognize when your pet is active or moving around the room. Instead of constantly monitoring a live stream, you will receive a handy notification whenever your pet does something cute, letting you check in, say a quick hello, and smile during a busy workday.

The Ultimate Peace of Mind

At the end of the day, technology is here to help us give our pets the love they deserve more consistently—and with it, the peace of mind we need in knowing that they are happy and healthy.

By automating the essentials and keeping us connected, Xiaomi’s smart pet ecosystem ensures that your fur-babies are always cared for, healthy, and safe, giving busy pet parents the ultimate gift: peace of mind.

Ready to upgrade your pet parenting game? Explore the Xiaomi Smart Pet Care lineup today. Find them at your nearest official Xiaomi offline store, or shop online via Shopee, Lazada, and Xiaomi Online Store.

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