SM Grand Central's Mane Attraction Rings in Year of the Horse

Moving beyond the traditional crimson and gold of the Lunar New Year, SM City Grand Central has unveiled a moving installation to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with a rotating, "Power Pink" carousel that bridges ancient symbolism with a modern, "Lucky Feels" aesthetic. 

The installation, which has quickly become the mall’s "Mane Attraction," features a life-sized pink stallion captured in a spirited mid-stride. Unlike static displays of years past, this centerpiece is a moving carousel, rotating gracefully beneath a towering canopy of cherry blossoms. The rhythmic motion is a deliberate nod to the Horse’s traits of vitality and "unyielding perseverance," symbolizing a community in constant, positive momentum. The installation blends fiery zodiac energy with Valentine’s season hues, creating a vibrant experience for a new generation of shoppers.

Beyond the visual spectacle, the "Lucky Feels" campaign offers a multi-sensory experience, including zodiac-themed claw machines, "CNY Must-Try" food markets, and the traditional Lion and Dragon dances and wushu performances that have become a staple of SM’s cultural heritage.

The Lucky Horse carousel will remain on display throughout the festival season, inviting shoppers to witness the motion and "snap their luck" as they gallop together into a year of prosperity.

Sales agents work hard and earn big in Naga with Surf2Sawa

Robert Borces and Maribel Mancilla from Naga City

Door-to-door sales is no walk in the park, but for Surf2Sawa agents Robert Borces and Maribel Mancilla, the hard work is made a little easier by two things: a supportive retail partner and moreover, an excellent connectivity product loved by Filipinos, the Surf2Sawa prepaid fiber plan.

Neither Robert nor Maribel are new to sales, both were formerly salespeople of a competing telco.

"I was formerly with this telecommunications company, also as a team leader. They changed management and it wasn't a good change for me so I tried Surf2Sawa with Tita Daisy, and I got the job," noted Borces.

Maribel echoed the same story, but she started as an agent with the former company; now with Surf2Sawa, she was elevated to a team leader handling a few sub-agents in Albay and Cam Sur.

Both Maribel and Robert are employed by a Surf2Sawa distributorship in Naga, called Tita Dais FiberX Enterprise Solutions. Tita Dais diligence and care in handling demand in her area - from installation to customer service spurred the growth of her enterprise, and she is now considered a major retailer in her territory.

Converge, in offering the cost-competitive Surf2Sawa, is lowering the barriers for residents to themselves become micro-entrepreneurs. Many subscribers, said the agents, are not just students but work-from-home employees, and some may even have their own online businesses via Instagram or Facebook.

Further, the competitive advantage of Surf2Sawa, offering unlimited fiber internet with no contract at just P 700 a month, also made it an easy sell' to Naga customers.

"Maganda ang bentahan ng Surf2Sawa ngayon. Marami talaga ang nag-aavail kasi mura ito at non-contract ito. Kapag nabenta namin ito sa isang tao ngayon, bukas naman, yung kapitbahay niya," said Maribel.

For Robert and Maribel, every day is a ripe opportunity to sell the fiber prepaid product. Motivated to earn well and bring the low-cost connectivity to kababyans, Robert and Maribel end each day strategizing on where to sell the next day.

"Mag-uusap kami ni Sir Robert kung ano gagawin. May agents siya na hawak online and mga sub-agents ko, pag-uusapan namin, ito ang gagawin natin bukas'. Sumasabay na din dito ang mga nakapila na pupuntahan na sasabihin ni Ma'am Daisy," said Maribel.

For the two team leads, there's no 'secret sauce' to earning well. They earn on commission and on load top-ups so the key is really persistent effort in selling and answering customers' load requirements.

With Surf2Sawa on high demand in Naga and with a lot of flexibility in top-up loading, Robert and Maribel are seeing healthy retums on their hard work, exhibiting the benefits that the connectivity can bring to workers.

"Sa pagloload, nakukuha ko doon allowance ng mga anak kong pinapaaral ko. Marami na rin akong napaayos sa bahay, at yung appliances namin puro bago," noted Robert.

"Nakapundar ako ng motor dahil kay Ma'am Daisy and S2S. Nagkaroon kami ng motor, nakakabili na rin ako ng mga gamit sa bahay. Nung isang linggo, ang daming benta na nakuha, nabigyan ko ng cellphone mga anak ko. Nakabili ako ng higaan, tapos yung pang araw-araw na gastusin napupunan," added Maribel.

With better eaming opportunities with Surf2Sawa, Robert and Maribel intend to keep working hard to provide for their families, while also helping Tita Dais' business to continue thriving.

"Sabi ni ma'am Daisy kailangan lang dito sipag at tiyaga, at kailangan hindi ka ma-zero sa isang araw. Kaya yan ang ginagawa ko pag nag-aarea kami. Iniisip ko, 'ay pera 'to. Yun lang ang mindset ko," ended Maribel. 

We’ve All Been There: When Your Train Card Runs Out—There’s a Convenient Alternative!

In a rush and dealing with top-up issues or checking your balance? Commuters now have a reliable way to pay for trains with GCash.

Days move fast. For daily commuters, they are a constant juggle—beating the rush, staying on schedule, and making sure you get from home to work as quickly as possible.

Which is why nothing spikes commuter stress like realizing you’re low on balance—right when you’re already in line, already late, and already surrounded by equally rushed strangers. 

Suddenly, it’s a scramble: searching for a top-up station, queuing behind others, or dealing with reloading machines that seem to break only during peak hours or even the ticket booths where card top-up lines merge with single-journey ticket purchases. In the middle of rush hour, these small hiccups turn into full-blown setbacks, proving that top-up problems don’t just delay your commute—they derail your entire day.

One Less Thing to Worry About—Thanks to GCash 

Somewhere between the morning rush and the daily routine, you discover GCash—and finally, no more second-guessing your balance while the line grows longer behind you, checking your balance in a stored value card reader, or lining up again to reload at the ticket booth or machine. 

With GCash, your phone or GCash Visa Card is your train ticket!

And even on days when you do need to cash in, it’s easy–You can CASH IN FOR FREE at GCash cash in machines, available across all MRT-3 stations, or transfer funds online from your bank accounts. Topping up can fit seamlessly into your commute instead of disrupting it. With FREE WI-FI AT THE MRT also available, you can complete transactions on the spot—no data, no detours, just a smoother commute from start to finish.

With GCash, you can ride the MRT-3 in hassle-free ways: 

Tap to Pay using your phone

Using an NFC-enabled Android phone? Great news! Your device is now your ticket for a seamless entry and exit pass.

To get started, GCash Tap to Pay is a quick, one-time activation:

1. Simply tap Settings on your mobile phone.
2. Turn on the NFC feature.
3. Login to your GCash app.
4. Select Tap to Pay and agree to the Terms & Conditions.

Once activated, paying for your MRT-3 ride is just one tap away. Just login to your GCash app, then tap your phone on the turnstile upon entry to proceed to the platform. Upon exit, don’t forget to tap your phone again at turnstile to automatically deduct the exact fare.

Scan your GCash Commute QR 

No NFC-enabled Android phone for tapping? No worries! You can still enjoy the convenience of cashless commuting by generating a Commute QR code on your GCash app, serving as your digital ticket without the need to input any station details. 

Here's how easy it is:

1. At the start of the trip, tap Commute on the GCash app.
2. Click Generate QR. You may download the QR or take a screenshot.
3. Scan your Commute QR at the turnstile, then proceed to the train platform.

Upon exit, just scan the same QR code again, and the exact fare will be automatically deducted from your account. 

Tap your GCash Visa Card

Spotty signal, running out of battery, or simply love using a card? You can still breeze through your MRT-3 commute using your GCash Visa Card. Just like the current card ticketing system, you can simply tap your card upon entry and again upon exit. The GCash Visa Card is linked to your GCash wallet – use it directly to pay not just for MRT rides but also shopping in millions of online and offline stores and withdraw from your GCash account in any ATM for as low as P10. See the details of your GCash Visa Card payments on your app’s Transaction History.

To use this convenient payment method, order your GCash Visa Card on the app, and after it is delivered to you, make sure to link it to your GCash account:

1. Tap 'Cards' in the GCash app to order or link your GCash Visa Card.
2. To order – Select ‘Order a Card,’ then input your delivery address and pay P250. It will be delivered to you in 7-10 days.
3. To link – Select 'Link my Card,' then input the One-Time Pin (OTP) and submit.
4. Enter the last 4 digits of your card and your virtual account number found on the back, then submit.

In a world where every minute is accounted for, convenience isn’t a luxury—it’s self-care. Saving precious minutes by skipping the line at the ticket booth or machine, eliminating a bit of stress there, and keeping your headspace intact can make all the difference in how the day feels. Simple tools, like GCash, take the friction out of everyday routines, proving that small wins add up.

With its growing daily usage, GCash has become a trusted and established payment option at MRT-3—making it a seamless part of the everyday commute. Whether you tap, scan, or use your card, you are not just skipping one extra line and saving yourself time, but also experiencing a global, innovative way to pay with GCash!

Ready to power up your commute journey? Download the GCash App on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App Gallery.

Your Dinner Plans This Love Month, Now With 20% Cashback When You Pay With Your Maya Credit Card

February usually means more dinner plans than usual. Some are dates. Some are catch-ups. Some are just excuses to go somewhere good. And if a solid night out for you means great food, good company, and a bill that doesn’t kill the vibe, this one’s for you.

This Love Month, Maya, the #1 Digital Bank and leading all-in-one fintech platform in the Philippines, is adding a little extra value to your nights out. Credit Cardholders can enjoy 20% cashback on a minimum single receipt of ₱3,500 at participating restaurants, capped at  ₱1,000, when you pay with your Maya Credit Card.

Whether it’s an intimate table for two, shared plates with friends, or finally checking out that restaurant you’ve had saved for months, the idea is simple: enjoy the night, and get something back.

It works across the kinds of places people usually gravitate toward this season. Think dining at Antonio’s, Gallery by Chele, Toyo Eatery, or Hapag. Intimate, chef-driven spots like Helm, Celera, or Den by Nikkei. Classic go-tos for a dressed-up night out such as Blackbird, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Smith & Wollensky, Mamou Prime, or CRU Steakhouse. 

And because good nights don’t always end when the plates are cleared, Maya is extending the same 20% cashback to Manila’s bar scene. This month, cardholders can enjoy cashback on a minimum single receipt of ₱2,500 at participating bars, capped at ₱600.

The bar list includes some of the city’s most familiar late-night fixtures such as Blind Pig, After Hours, El Gato, Three Dots, and The Opal Bar, places where one drink is rarely the last.

On top of the cashback, cardholders continue to earn their usual rewards. Maya Black Credit Card users receive up to 10x Maya Miles, while Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card holders earn 2% cashback points on eligible transactions.

For the full list of participating restaurants and bars and complete promo details, visit maya.ph/curateddining.

Follow @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to stay updated. Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (www.bsp.gov.ph). Deposits are insured by PDIC up to ₱1 million per depositor. 

Jollibee marks first Valentine’s Joy Day with nationwide promos and phygital surprises

Jollibee, the Philippines' no. 1 fastfood chain, is marking Valentine’s Day with its first Valentine’s Joy Day, a nationwide celebration with limited-time promos, branch surprises, and special treats for online fans. 

The celebration highlights Jollibee as a beloved hub of joy for Filipinos, where couples share romantic moments, families create lasting memories, and friends come together to celebrate their bond.

“Valentine’s Day is a time for love, laughter, and making memories with the people who matter most,” said Dorothy Ching, vice president for marketing of Jollibee Philippines. “At Jollibee, we’re grateful to share in those moments and celebrate alongside our customers, whether through special treats in our stores or fun surprises online. Valentine’s Joy Day is our way of thanking everyone for letting us be part of their happiest moments.”

 

To mark the occasion, Jollibee is offering a special series of limited-time offers nationwide. From February 10 to 16, customers who order any two Chickenjoy Value Meals can enjoy a free upgrade to a large iced tea through the brand’s Perfect Pair Combos.

The Perfect Pair Combos let customers pair their favorite Jollibee meals, including 1-piece Chickenjoy with regular fries and iced tea, 1-piece Chickenjoy with spaghetti and iced tea, 1-piece Chickenjoy with mashed potato and iced tea, 1-piece Chickenjoy with chicken macaroni soup and iced tea, and 1-piece Chickenjoy with burger steak and iced tea. Any combination of two Value Meals comes with a free large iced tea upgrade. Starting at just ₱152, the Perfect Pair Combos are available for dine-in, takeout, drive-thru, and delivery, making it easy to share love and joy this Valentine’s season.

Delivery customers can also celebrate Valentine’s Joy Day with special treats for online orders. When ordering through the Jollibee App or order.jollibee.com this February 14, customers can get two free one-piece Burger Steak Solos with a minimum order of ₱600, or enjoy free delivery with a minimum order of ₱500.

Beyond product promotions, Jollibee is extending the celebration through in-store and online activities. On February 14, select stores will delight customers with surprise Valentine’s Day treats. The fun continues online, where fans can join the #ValentinesJOYday X Party and photo contest on Facebook by sharing their love stories and joyful Jollibee memories for a chance to win exciting prizes.

Craving more Jollibee treats and exclusives? Head to www.jollibee.com.ph for the latest updates, order your favorites at https://order.jollibee.com, and follow us on social media for more JOYful surprises!

Converge Bags Prestigious MEF 3.0 Certification – Elevating PH Connectivity to Global Standards

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (Converge), a leading fiber optic technology provider in the Philippines, has announced it has earned the globally recognized MEF 3.0 certification – a significant milestone advancing the country’s digital excellence and connectivity capabilities. The achievement reaffirms Converge’s commitment to meeting the industry’s highest international benchmarks for performance, assurance, and agility.

MEF 3.0 certification validates that Converge’s Carrier Ethernet solutions comply with stringent global standards for quality, interoperability, and security. It also grants the company entry into the newly evolved Mplify Alliance, a global federation of automated networks accelerating the AI-powered digital economy through standardized, trusted services. This positions Converge as a world-class provider equipped to tackle the dynamic demands of today’s digital landscape.

“Securing the MEF 3.0 Certification is a game-changer that highlights our strict adherence to international standards,” stated Paulo Martin Santos, Converge Chief Technology Officer. “By aligning with these top benchmarks, we give our clients third-party validation of our network quality – empowering Filipino businesses to compete globally with faster, more agile, and secure connections.”

The certification marks Converge’s transition from a local player to a world-class technology powerhouse. As the company evolves into a full-scale techco, its infrastructure is optimized to meet the rigorous requirements of the global digital economy, proving the Philippines is not just keeping pace but setting standards for world-class connectivity.

For enterprise and wholesale clients, the framework enables seamless integration with international carriers and guarantees performance backed by robust reliability standards. The purpose-built infrastructure supports next-generation solutions, allowing Filipino enterprises to confidently adopt secure remote work setups and high-capacity data transfers.

With the foundational certification now in place, Converge is also finalizing several additional variant certifications. This ongoing roadmap ensures all network layers operate at peak global efficiency, solidifying the company’s role as a world-class provider dedicated to powering the Philippines’ digital future.

Sweet Deals, Bigger Discounts at the SM Store Marilao

Enjoy an EXTRA 10% OFF on EVERYTHING until February 17 when you shop at SM Store Marilao—no minimum spend required!

Make Valentine’s Day celebration even sweeter with deals on apparel, shoes, must-have essentials, beauty finds, gadgets, and a lot more. Whatever’s on your list, your favorite brands are dropping offers you’ll want to jump on.

It’s easy to save: just screenshot this ad and present it at the counter when you pay. The discount is capped at P1,000.

Experience feel-good shopping, only at SM Store—Your Every Day Store!