As summer temperatures rise in the Philippines, keeping your home cool and comfortable is essential. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reports that many areas are facing extreme heat, with heat indexes reaching between 42 and 47 degrees Celsius. This makes cooling appliances a necessity for Filipino families.

However, buying new cooling appliances can be expensive, which may not be feasible for families managing tight budgets. This often leads to delays in getting the necessary appliances, causing discomfort during the hottest months.

Thanks to Home Credit Philippines (HCPH), enjoying a cool home this summer is now more affordable. Through their Swakto Summer Deals, families can access flexible installment plans with rates as low as 0% interest and zero downpayment on a variety of cooling appliances. This makes it easier to stay comfortable without overspending.

- Duration: Until May 14, 2025

- Products: Air conditioners, air coolers, refrigerators, and water dispensers to keep you cool and hydrated.

- Mobile phones for travel

- Laptops for remote work

- TVs and electronics for home entertainment

- Furniture for added comfort

- Washing machines to keep clothes fresh

Home Credit offers these products at over 15,000 partner stores across 75+ provinces, ensuring convenient access to financing nationwide.

Applying for installment plans is simple with minimal requirements—just one valid ID. Approval can take as little as one minute for eligible applicants.

For added convenience, download the updated Home Credit App from Google Play, the App Store, or Huawei App Gallery. This allows you to get pre-approved for installment plans anytime, anywhere. If you prefer in-store help, Home Credit representatives are available at partner locations to guide you through the application.

To find nearby partner stores offering appliances and gadgets, visit Shoppingmall.ph. This platform lists Home Credit’s latest offers and available items, making it easier to find what you need within your budget.

This summer, staying cool and comfortable is within reach. Take advantage of Home Credit’s Swakto Summer Deals to enjoy affordable solutions. Don’t miss out on this fantastic promo—avail now!

For more updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit their official website at www.homecredit.ph. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

With YouTube Shopping, viewers can now easily discover and purchase products while enjoying content from their favorite creators. The affiliate program simplifies video e-commerce by allowing direct product tagging within videos, eliminating the need for tedious clicks or website switching. It’s as easy as checking out!

This launch presents exciting prospects for both Shopee sellers and local content creators. Shopee sellers can broaden their reach by collaborating with a diverse network of creators, tapping into a highly engaged audience and driving unprecedented sales. This partnership fosters a seamless connection that enhances product discovery, amplifies brand visibility, and boosts conversion rates.

For eligible creators, this collaboration unlocks new revenue streams, enabling them to monetize their influence by promoting products to their established audiences. As consumers in the Philippines increasingly seek engaging and content-rich shopping experiences, this partnership aligns perfectly with their expectations.

Southeast Asia is rapidly emerging as a leading e-commerce market, with video commerce now accounting for 20% of the region's gross merchandise value in 2024—a remarkable fourfold increase since 2022. The creator economy in the Philippines is thriving, boasting over 450 channels with more than a million subscribers and over 6,000 channels with over 100,000 subscribers.

This growth is driven by a shift towards video-first shopping experiences, where consumers turn to trusted creators for information and entertainment. A global study shows that online users are 98% more likely to trust recommendations from YouTube creators compared to other platforms, significantly boosting purchase intent—YouTube drives 3.8 times greater purchase intent than its competitors.

According to a Kantar study, eight out of ten Southeast Asian Gen Z respondents prefer entertaining shopping experiences, underscoring the importance of content in their purchasing journeys. Despite exploring various channels for product discovery, 63% of Filipino Gen Z respondents still prefer completing their purchases on e-commerce platforms. This synergy between YouTube and Shopee creates an integrated shopping experience that resonates with this demographic.

Sapna Chadha, Vice President for Google Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, expressed enthusiasm about the launch: “Southeast Asia is shaping the future of shopping with its deeply engaged video-first audience, a thriving digital economy, and a vibrant creator community. We’re excited to bring YouTube Shopping to the Philippines, making it one of six countries globally to have this feature.”

Vincent Lee, Head of Shopee Philippines, added, “Our partnership with YouTube Shopping marks a significant milestone for our brands and sellers. It allows them to connect with creators and leverage their influence to drive sales effectively. This collaboration also offers Filipino content creators new avenues to monetize their creativity while promoting products that resonate with their audiences.”

The YouTube Shopping affiliate program allows creators to tag products in both existing and new videos, as well as during live streams. A comprehensive list of tagged products is available in the video description and ‘Product’ section, directing viewers to Shopee’s sales page for a smooth purchasing process.

This program complements existing monetization options, empowering Filipino creators to deepen their audience engagement and build lasting connections. Options include Ads Revenue, YouTube Premium Revenue, Channel Memberships, Super Thanks, Super Chat, and Super Stickers.

In just seven months since its launch in Southeast Asia, the YouTube Shopping affiliate program has shown impressive results. For instance, beauty creator Mai Trinh Hồ reported nearly a fivefold increase in revenue after joining the program. Similarly, tech creator Jagat Review from Indonesia noted that the affiliate program contributed to 50% of his channel's total earnings between July and October of last year.

Filipino creators like Camille Co are already embracing this new opportunity. “I’m thrilled about YouTube Shopping! It makes it easier for me to share products I love and earn on the side,” she shared.

Tech enthusiast Mond Salem of Hardware Voyage echoed this excitement: “I can’t wait for YouTube Shopping to help us creators earn more through product sales!”

For advertisers, YouTube Shopping presents fresh opportunities to connect with consumers and drive better business outcomes. By linking partnership ads to relevant creator content, brands can streamline the customer journey from discovery to purchase. For example, L’Oréal Thailand combined its campaign with the YouTube Shopping affiliate program, achieving tenfold increases in high-intent views and significantly improving cost-per-visit efficiency.

Since the program’s launch, YouTube and Shopee have seen active engagement across various categories, including Beauty, Mobile & Gadgets, and Home & Living. This demonstrates the diverse product range and the potential for creators to influence consumer purchasing decisions. As YouTube Shopping gains traction in Southeast Asia, it solidifies its role as a transformative force in the video commerce and creator economies.

To learn more about enabling YouTube Shopping on your channel, click here.

On April 22, I attended the BDO Fiesta Kapihan Forum at Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Davao. I anticipated the usual corporate updates, but I left feeling genuinely impressed. The event provided a clearer view of how BDO is reaching out to more Filipinos—especially those in rural areas—through thoughtful and practical services.

Let's start with BDO Pay. This app allows you to pay directly from your BDO account or credit card, eliminating the need to load up or transfer funds. As someone who frequently engages in online transactions, this felt like a win. The app offers a wide range of features: Scan to Pay, Send Money, Pay Bills, Split Bills, Request Funds, QR Withdrawals and Deposits, Buy Load, and access to BDO Rewards & Deals. What really caught my attention was the ability to pay bills to over 1,800 billers with no extra fee and transfer to other banks or e-wallets for just P10. Plus, it's secure and backed by BDO, making digital banking more seamless without complicating things.

Then there's Cash Agad—something that truly stood out for me. It's designed for areas where banks or ATMs aren't easily accessible. With Cash Agad, people in remote areas can withdraw money and perform basic banking through local shops like mini groceries, pharmacies, or water refilling stations, as long as there's signal. Even better, these small businesses become partner agents, earning extra income while offering a vital service to their community.

I love how it's not just about access, but also about uplifting local businesses and keeping the economy moving in small towns and barangays. As someone who believes in supporting locals, this really resonated with me.

I left the event with a fresh perspective. BDO isn't just offering services—they're solving real-world problems. Whether it's through the ease of BDO Pay or the reach of Cash Agad, they're helping people do more without needing to travel far or worry about technology gaps.

If you're looking for more convenient banking or have family in areas where access is limited, give these services a try. They just might make life a bit easier.

You can also join the BDO Fiesta at SM Lanang on April 26, 2025 from 10AM onwards. There will be games, prizes, and surprises for new and current BDO customers. See you there!

With race categories ranging from a fun 1K dog run to the intense 30K endurance challenge, the Dream Run offered something for everyone. Legendary race organizer Coach Rio de la Cruz helped bring this event to life, promising runners a world-class experience.

Several of my online friends in Davao joined the event and shared their experiences after the run. Here are some of their personal reflections:

Michael Anthony Martho

"I joined the EastWest Dream Run to push myself. I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t have proper training, but I always reminded myself to finish the race safe and strong.”

Rhea Mae Ortiz

“I joined the EastWest Run to challenge myself and see how far my endurance can take me.”

Jona Rollan

“Started my running era last year… going 40s na bya ta puhon. At least makatabang sa mga unhealthy eating habits. Samot nag mag crave-crave naaaaah… bawion sa dagan oi!”

Bryan Sarte

“As always, I went here with the only intention of enjoying and celebrating my ability to run with the growing running community. EastWest Run tested my limits—30km is not easy—but I thank God, who made it possible, for His strength and guidance. Proving to myself that discipline beats excuses.”


Their stories are a great reminder of the passion and dedication that fuels events like this one. Congratulations to everyone who ran at EastWest Dream Run Davao!