TECHNOLOGY
Home Credit boosts digital payment service thru QR PH

December 9, 2021 2:26 p.m.
To provide a fast, easy and safe way to meet the financial needs of their customers, Home Credit boosts its QR Code payment service by joining Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) with QR Ph, the national QR Code standard launched recently to move the country to a more “cash-lite” environment.
In partnership with Asia United Bank Corp. (AUB), Home Credit – the first non-bank institution in the country to issue a credit card to its customers – is also a pioneer in the QR code payment service being the first to allow their credit cardholders to make cardless payments through the use of quick response or QR codes. With the availability of QR Ph person-to-merchant (P2M) payments, its cardholders will have access to an additional 30k+ participating merchants nationwide including retails stores, groceries, gas stations, pharmacies and more.
Through the My Home Credit App, cardholders will only need to scan the displayed QR Ph codes to pay for their purchases paving the way for a cashless and convenient payment option for transactions. As their newly-launched buy now, pay later product Qwarta also becomes available, their customers will be provided with a spending limit of up to 10,000 within the app for their shopping needs.
Aside from the convenience it brings, QR codes are also considered a safe and secure payment method. Offering multiple layers of security, customers are in control of the process by scanning the code without the need to provide personal information such as PIN. In the My Home Credit App alone, all transactions made will be automatically charged to the Home Credit Card or Qwarta which can also be checked and tracked through the mobile app.
“Our digital efforts go all the way back before the pandemic and we continue to do that by offering innovative digital payment products and services to our almost 8 million customers. You can always count on us to fully support any initiative of BSP to further the adoption of digital payment methods and ultimately, foster financial inclusion in the country,” said Home Credit PH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Minol.
A vital part of BSP’s advocacy to promote financial technology and digitalization is to shift all transactions to digital by 50 percent before 2023. In the same time period, the central bank is also aiming for at least 70 percent of Filipino adults to have digital payment accounts.
In the recent months, the use of QR Codes has been gaining popularity amongst consumers and businesses alike due to social distancing measures caused by the pandemic. It has quickly replaced the heavy use of cash in various transactions and served as a viable alternative to traditional debit and credit card payments. Home Credit, with its partner AUB, was one of the first to respond to this increasing demand with partner brands and merchants already offering QR Code payment services to its customers.
“Our long-standing partnership with Home Credit starting in 2018 also makes them a pioneer in the usage of QR code payments,” said Executive Vice President and Head of Operations and IT Group, Mr. Wilfredo Rodriguez Jr. “Having them as our partner will help widen our reach as well as improve the user experience of their growing customer base with the accessibility of seamless payment services for various sectors such as retail, food and beverages, electronics, supermarkets, services, entertainment, and attractions.”
Founded by the mission to provide services to the unbanked and underserved segment, Home Credit’s participation in the implementation of QR Ph is only expected. With the launch and availability of QR Ph, more stores and merchants will be available to Home Credit consumers so they can continue using digital payments for their day-to-day transactions with their My Home Credit App and enjoy its benefits with greater ease.
The inclusivity that QR Ph brings due to its low cost and convenience will enable more consumers and businesses to participate in the digital payment ecosystem – starting with micro & small enterprises and vendors such as sari-sari stores and tricycle drivers that will eventually help them improve and grow their businesses. In turn, this will empower more consumers, particularly the unbanked market, to start using and patronizing QR Code payment services.
More than 9 million users of the My Home Credit App can simply scan the QR Ph codes displayed in over 30,000 establishments using their mobile device for essential goods and services, making it a faster, easier and safer payment option.
For more information, visit www.homecredit.ph and follow Home Credit at www.facebook.com.homecreditph.
TECHNOLOGY
Never miss a beat: Why you need a failsafe internet backup at home

6:02 p.m. June 7, 2025
Imagine you’re on an important work call while your kids are researching online for a school project when suddenly, the connection drops. Your co-workers’ video freezes, and you hear your kids complaining about the internet. At this point, there is nothing you can do but wait for the connection to be fixed. If you don’t want to be caught in this situation, having a reliable backup is a must. And if you need more reasons why your home needs an “always-on” connection, here are three big ones.
1. Keep Your Productivity on Track
Today, we rely on the internet for almost everything, including our livelihoods. If you work from home, you know that a stable internet connection is non-negotiable. You can’t afford to miss online meetings and important emails or be offline during work hours.
And it’s not just you. If your kids are still studying, they need a reliable connection to finish their schoolwork. We can’t have them scrambling for a hotspot, especially at night. A failsafe backup, like a secondary LTE connection, ensures that everyone stays online by kicking in automatically when your primary line fails. It may not be as fast as your primary connection, but it will keep you connected. This brings us to the second reason…
2. Stay Connected, Especially During Emergencies
We live in an era where being connected is more important than ever—especially during emergencies. Need to contact emergency services? Attending a Telehealth appointment soon? Checking in on a loved one at the hospital for updates? Noticing unusual behavior in your pet and need to research symptoms online? Away from home and want to check your security cameras?
A primary connection with a reliable backup ensures that you’re always online when it matters the most. No need to worry about internet outages when you need access to crucial information or services.
3. Keep the Fun Going
After a long day, you deserve to unwind without frustration. A failsafe setup means that even during an outage, your household can still stream movies, play games, or stay in touch with family and friends.
While productivity and connectivity are top priorities, uninterrupted entertainment ensures that you can relax with confidence. It’s not just about fun—it’s about knowing that your downtime won’t be derailed.
Stay Connected with PLDT Home Always On
A failsafe internet backup isn’t just about avoiding headaches—it’s about being ready for anything. PLDT Home Always On features a built-in backup LTE that activates automatically when Fiber service becomes unavailable due to unexpected fiber cuts. These could be caused by events like cable theft or damage from road digging, tree trimming, extreme weather, and even rodent chewing. It also comes with a new WiFi 6 modem that supports up to 1Gbps on Fiber and UNLI LTE. Plus, it automatically notifies the repair team and creates a service repair ticket for you after 15 minutes.
With this kind of system, you’re future-proofing your home for a more productive, connected, and stress-free life. Don’t wait for the next outage to realize how much you need it. Get PLDT Home Always On today and stay online when it matters most.
TECHNOLOGY
Next generation of LG AI TVs is here

7:11 p.m. June 6, 2025
The next evolution in home entertainment is here. Continuing its 12-year legacy of OLED innovation, LG Electronics introduces its 2025 TV lineup, packed with powerful AI, immersive displays, and smart features designed to fit your lifestyle.
With next-level AI performance, intuitive controls, advanced display technology, and a refined user interface powered by enhanced processing, LG’s latest TVs deliver a major leap forward in performance, personalization, and everyday convenience.
Leading the Way in Display Technology: OLED evo and QNED evo
Marking 12 years of OLED excellence, LG continues to raise the bar in home entertainment with its 2025 OLED TV lineup. The latest LG OLED AI B5 delivers lifelike colors and richer hues for a more natural viewing experience, while the LG OLED evo AI C5 enhances brightness with its new Brightness Booster for clearer, more vibrant scenes. At the top of the range, the LG OLED evo AI G5 offers exceptional clarity and immersive visuals in a sleek, premium design—perfect for any modern space.
Pushing boundaries beyond OLED, the LG QNED evo AI impresses with Dynamic QNED Color that brings every scene to life. With a new 100” screen size option, ultra-slim design, and advanced color technology, LG’s QNED evo series redefines what’s possible for these TVs.
Smarter Performance with α-Series AI Processors
LG’s 2025 TVs are powered by the latest lineup of α-series AI processors: α11 AI Processor Gen2, α9 AI Processor Gen8, and α8 AI Processor Gen2, each designed to deliver a smarter, more immersive viewing experience. The α11 AI Processor Gen2 brings the most powerful performance for fast-paced content and premium entertainment. The α9 AI Processor Gen8 delivers incredibly clear and lifelike picture quality. The α8 AI Processor Gen2 ensures smooth and reliable everyday viewing.
With intelligent upscaling, adaptive sound, and content recommendations, LG’s AI processors help create a viewing experience that feels effortless, personal, and elevated.
A Viewing Experience Designed for You
LG’s 2025 OLED TV models learn and adapt to you. With a simple press of the AI button, the screen greets you with a personalized welcome and suggests relevant keywords based on your habits and environment. These TVs enable real-time learning, voice recognition, and accurate content recommendations that evolve over time.
The new Voice ID feature enhances personalization by instantly recognizing individual users without the need for manual profile switching. Just say, “Show me action movies,” and the TV curates content tailored to your viewing preferences. With support for user profiles, customizable Quick Cards, app prioritization, and the intuitive AI Concierge, LG’s 2025 lineup transforms the home screen into a smart, dynamic space that responds to your lifestyle.
Next-Level Picture and Sound, Powered by AI
Elevate your viewing experience with LG’s AI Picture Pro technology that maps each scene in three dimensions, fine-tuning contrast and detail for incredibly lifelike visuals. At the same time, LG’s AI Sound Pro adapts audio in real time, surrounding you with rich, immersive sound that makes every moment feel cinematic.
Remote Control, Reinvented for You
The AI Magic Remote, redesigned for your smart life, comes standard with the 2025 LG OLED lineup. The AI button has been moved front and center for easier access, replacing the previous mic button. Meanwhile, the new Home button replaces the usual Input button, providing quick access to the Home Hub for effortless management of all your connected devices.
Refreshed in design, the remote retains the familiar point, click, and scroll functions, making navigation simple and smooth. Engineered to unify your smart ecosystem, the AI Magic Remote streamlines control across all your devices.
Troubleshooting Made Easy
With LG’s built-in AI Chatbot, assistance is always at your fingertips. First introduced in 2024 and now even smarter, it can easily distinguish between content requests and technical issues. Just long-press the AI button and describe a problem such as “My TV turns on by itself,” and the system quickly scans relevant settings to provide real-time troubleshooting tips, making solutions effortless and quick.
LG’s latest OLED TVs don’t just innovate—they connect with you on a whole new level. With smart technology that adapts to your preferences, every moment at home becomes more immersive, intuitive, and truly yours. Designed to inspire optimism, these TVs help you appreciate the good in today while opening doors to tomorrow’s possibilities through meaningful, connected experiences, because life’s good when your TV feels like it knows you.
Life isn’t just about having the latest technology—it’s about the meaningful experiences it creates and the impact it brings to our everyday lives. Discover more at www.lg.com/ph/tv-soundbars/ and stay connected by following LG Philippines (@lgphilippines) on www.facebook.com/LGPhilippines/, www.instagram.com/lgphilippines/ and www.tiktok.com/@lgphilippines.
TECHNOLOGY
Equinix completes acquisition to bolster digital innovation in the Philippines

8:11 p.m. June 3, 2025
Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the world’s digital infrastructure company®, recently announced the completion of the acquisition of three data centers in Manila, the Philippines, from Total Information Management (“TIM”), a leading technology solutions provider.
In 2024, the Philippines’ digital economy reached US$45 billion (PhP 2.5 trillion), accounting for 8.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.[1] This encompasses a wide range of digital transactions, including digital-enabling infrastructure, e-commerce, and digital media/content. The growing digital population, advancements in cloud development, and government initiatives—such as the National Broadband Plan and the Digital Philippines Campaign—are also accelerating the nation’s demand for high-performance digital infrastructure and advanced technology like AI.
Equinix hosts more than 2,000 networks globally and has a nearly 40% market share of the on-ramps to the major cloud service providers in the markets in which it operates. These newly acquired data centers also host leading network service providers with four of the main internet exchanges (IXs) in Manila. This robust network ecosystem offers a wide array of connectivity options for businesses that have a presence in the Philippines. With strategic partnerships with AI industry leaders like NVIDIA and HPE, Equinix’s entry into the Philippines will empower local organizations to connect with more than 10,000 companies within Equinix’s extensive global ecosystems, addressing growing demands for digital infrastructure and fostering AI innovation within the nation.
ASEAN has emerged as a premier destination for global businesses, drawing unprecedented foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of US$230 billion in 2023, despite a 10% decline in global FDI.[2] With a robust data center network spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, Equinix’s facilities in the Philippines will provide global customers and partners the opportunity to build their digital infrastructure in this vibrant market and throughout the wider region.
Cyrus Adaggra, President, Asia-Pacific, Equinix, said: “This expansion is instrumental in fostering interconnection, enabling our customers and partners to scale seamlessly and securely within one of the region’s most dynamic digital economies. By broadening our footprint in the Southeast Asia region, we are not only expanding our digital platform but also supporting the development of cutting-edge AI services and technology, aligning with the governments’ digital ambitions. This move reaffirms our commitment to empowering Philippines with innovative, world-class infrastructure to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.”