This Christmas It Pays to Have Diskarte – And With GCash, You Can Make Your Holiday Prep Easier

MANILA, Philippines – The holidays are always an exciting time, but any Christmas planner knows that getting everything ready can get stressful. Between planning the reunions and parties, figuring out the Noche Buena menu, and finding gifts for everyone, there are expenses to manage, traffic to plan around, and a never-ending to-do list that feels like a big mission in itself.

Still, Filipinos want to make the season special for the people they love. It’s why a little diskarte during this season is important. Through the return of its Merry GCash celebration, GCash is sharing smarter ways to tackle the holiday checklist, making every peso count and easing the stress of holiday prep with the right diskarte.

Make every holiday challenge easier with GCash-powered diskarte

Whether preparing for Noche Buena, shopping for gifts, or heading to a party with the barkada, there is always a way to make holiday planning easier with a little creativity and GCash-powered diskarte.

Hack 1: For Your Back-to-Back Plans

It’s an age-old debate: Southies swear by Makati as the midpoint of Metro Manila, while Northies are sure it’s Ortigas. Wherever your holiday plans take you, avoid the hassle of lining up to reload your RFID or paying in cash. Simply top up your RFID toll fees instantly through the Pay Bills feature on GCash so you can spend less time at the tollway and more time getting to your next party.

Hack 2: Dream Apple Purchases, Now Made Possible!

If your kids have been asking for a new gadget all year, the holidays might be the perfect time to finally make that wish come true. With GCash, you can pay for any Apple products using GGives and enjoy 0% interest and zero down payment*, making those long-awaited gifts a little easier on your holiday budget.

*Available at the following stores: Apple: Power Mac Center, The Loop, Beyond the Box, Open Source, Digital Walker, Digimap, Digiplanet, Abenson, Electroworld, Silicon Valley

Hack 3: Smarter Grocery Runs

While menu planning and cooking your holiday spreads get hectic, the trickier part of Noche Buena prep usually begins outside the kitchen: the holiday grocery rush. Make your checkouts effortless by paying the exact amount via scanning QR with GCash, saving you from long lines and the hassle of counting loose change. Here’s an extra saver tip: stock up at Puregold to get ₱100 cashback with a minimum spend of ₱1,000.

More ways to use GCash-powered diskarte this year

And because good diskarte deserves extra cheer, GCash is also bringing back its Shake It Win It promo to award those who use their GCash for their holiday planning. Prizes up for grabs this year include ₱100k GCash credits and a BYD Seal 5 DM-i hybrid car, while overseas users also have a shot to win a pangkabuhayan showcase worth ₱150k in GCash credits and even ₱1 million in cash! Everyone gets the chance to win big this year, so it just makes all the more sense to keep using GCash throughout the season.

The Merry G Christmas Village is also popping up to bring the holiday cheer to select malls nationwide. Discover homegrown brands and unlock exclusive promos to help your holiday preps while you shop at the Marquee Mall in Pampanga on November 6-8; Estancia at Capitol Commons in Pasig on December 11-13; and at the Festive Walk in Iloilo on December 18-20.

When it comes to diskarte during the holidays, using GCash is the ultimate solution to cross off every item on one’s holiday checklist. Users even get more chances to win while making holiday prep a little easier and the season more enjoyable for them and their loved ones.

Discover more hacks throughout the season by following @gcashofficial on Facebook and Instagram.

HUAWEI Offers Affordable Device Repairs and Added Protection Through 2026 Service Days and Worry-Free Care Package

MANILA, Philippines – Keeping smartphones, tablets, wearables, and other gadgets in excellent condition is essential for maximizing their performance and lifespan. Recognizing the importance of reliable after-sales support, HUAWEI is making device maintenance more affordable through its 2026 HUAWEI Service Day program and Worry-Free Care Package.

The initiatives provide customers with opportunities to save on repair costs while enjoying additional protection against accidental device damage.

Enjoy Exclusive Savings with HUAWEI Service Day 2026

HUAWEI Service Day takes place every first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the month throughout 2026. Customers can look forward to the upcoming schedules on November 6–8 and December 4–6 by visiting participating HUAWEI Authorized Service Centers.

During these special service weekends, HUAWEI waives labor charges for out-of-warranty repairs covering smartphones, tablets, wearables, audio products, and personal computers. Customers only need to pay for the replacement parts based on the repair quotation.

Additionally, HUAWEI users can receive a complimentary screen protector for their smartphones and wearables. This benefit is available even without requesting a device repair. Each customer can participate in Service Day once per month.

Extra Protection Through the Worry-Free Care Package

For customers seeking additional protection, HUAWEI offers its Worry-Free Care Package with select devices, including the newly launched HUAWEI nova 16s series and eligible wearables.

Valid for one year, the package provides one-time protection against screen damage, back cover damage, camera damage, and liquid penetration. Instead of paying the full replacement cost, customers only pay a fixed PHP 1,299 service fee per repaired component, while the replacement parts are provided free of charge.

The package also covers eligible battery replacements when a device's maximum battery capacity drops below 85% within the coverage period, subject to inspection.

One notable benefit is liquid penetration protection, which can cover mainboard replacement—potentially saving customers from repair expenses exceeding PHP 20,000.

Making Device Ownership More Worry-Free

Customers can check their protection coverage through the My HUAWEI App under Support > Benefits. Those planning to visit service centers can also schedule repairs through the official HUAWEI Service Day website.

With these initiatives, HUAWEI reinforces its commitment to accessible customer support, affordable maintenance, and longer-lasting devices.

For more updates, visit HUAWEI Philippines on Facebook or follow its official Instagram account.

LG Unveils Its Latest AI-Powered OLED, Micro RGB, and QNED TVs in the Philippines

LG Electronics showcased the future of home entertainment with its latest lineup of AI-powered OLED, Micro RGB, and QNED televisions during the LG OLED TV Media Launch held on October 30, 2026, at the Ayala Museum in Makati City, Philippines.

Carrying the theme “A Canvas of Possibilities,” the event highlighted how LG continues to redefine the television experience by combining advanced display technologies, artificial intelligence, and immersive entertainment features. The showcase transformed the venue into an interactive environment where guests could experience the possibilities of next-generation home entertainment through cinema, gaming, and digital art.

Among the featured products were the LG OLED evo AI, LG Micro RGB evo AI, and LG QNED evo AI television lineups. Each series demonstrated LG's commitment to delivering exceptional picture quality while integrating intelligent personalization features designed to enhance the viewing experience.

Through AI-powered capabilities, LG aims to make entertainment more intuitive and personalized. These technologies are designed to optimize viewing experiences while allowing users to enjoy their favorite content with impressive visual clarity, vibrant colors, and enhanced performance.

The event also featured several interactive zones that allowed media guests and attendees to explore the latest innovations firsthand.

The True Cinema experience demonstrated how LG's advanced display technologies can bring cinematic entertainment into the home, delivering an immersive viewing environment for movie enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Gaming zone highlighted the televisions' gaming capabilities, showcasing how LG continues to cater to gamers seeking responsive performance and visually engaging experiences.

Another major attraction was the Digital Art exhibit, which featured LG Gallery+. The experience demonstrated how televisions can become more than entertainment devices by transforming living spaces into personalized digital art displays. Through this feature, users can explore creative visual content that complements their home interiors and personal preferences.

With its latest television lineup, LG continues to explore the intersection of technology, entertainment, and lifestyle. The company's focus on AI-powered personalization and advanced display innovation reflects the growing demand for smarter and more versatile home entertainment solutions.

The LG OLED TV Media Launch underscored the brand's vision of turning television screens into more than just viewing platforms. From cinematic experiences and gaming to digital art and intelligent personalization, LG is presenting a future where technology becomes a canvas for creativity, entertainment, and everyday living.

PLDT and Smart Support Palawan’s Drive for More Responsive Public Services Through AI Capability-Building

Technology creates the greatest value when it helps address the everyday needs of communities.

In Palawan, efforts to build a more responsive and citizen-centered government are being supported by continued investments in digital skills and innovation, including an AI capability-building session conducted by PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) for provincial government employees.

More than 50 employees from various offices of the Provincial Government of Palawan participated in the AI upskilling session for the LGU under PLDT and Smart's AI-in-a-Box initiative. Designed to complement the provincial government's ongoing digitalization efforts, the session provided participants with additional insights into AI tools and applications that could help streamline and improve workflows and support more responsive citizen services.

The engagement also included the turnover of an AI-in-a-Box package containing a Smart 5G WiFi device, Smart prepaid load cards, and an AI tool subscription. The initiative forms part of PLDT and Smart's broader efforts to make emerging technologies more accessible through a combination of connectivity, digital tools, and learning opportunities.

Opening the session on behalf of Palawan Gov. Amy Alvarez, Provincial Administrator Atty. Jefrie Sahagun emphasized that the province's adoption of emerging technologies like AI should be ultimately anchored on improving the lives of the people it serves.

‘A better government enabled by AI’

"Our goal is not simply to have an AI-enabled government. Our goal is to have a better government enabled by AI," he said, noting that while citizens may not always see the technology supporting government operations, they directly experience the quality of the services they receive. “Our people’s needs are simple: Fast service, clear answers, and fair and just treatment. In the end, they want a government that listens to them and speaks their language.”

Atty Sahagun noted that technologies such as AI should serve as tools that help public servants become more effective, while preserving the human qualities that form the heart of public service. "If AI can help us deliver those things, then we should welcome it. But technology must never replace human judgment, compassion and accountability," he stressed.

The session provided participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of AI and explore how emerging technologies may be applied responsibly in government settings, particularly in functions involving research, content development, administrative work, and public engagement.

For Christian Anthony T. Villon, Supervising Administrative Officer and Data Protection Officer at the Palawan Provincial LGU, the excitement among his fellow government employees about AI is heartening. “We look forward to exploring the use of AI to help us do our tedious day-to-day tasks, such as transcribing meetings and other administrative activities,” he said, adding that he is also hopeful about the potential of AI to speed up delivery of government services as well.

“As we invest in these AI tools, we hope to be able to give back to the people. I hope our government offices will learn how to use AI, and eventually automate our manual processes, so we can expedite some of our services to the people,” he said.

The engagement reflects PLDT and Smart's commitment to supporting local government units as they continue building digital capabilities that can contribute to more effective and citizen-focused public service.

By bringing together connectivity, digital tools, and learning opportunities, PLDT and Smart, through their AI-in-a-Box initiative, support local governments such as Palawan as they continue exploring how emerging technologies can strengthen governance and enhance service delivery. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that innovation remains focused on improving outcomes for the communities they serve.

AI-in-a-Box is also aligned with the PLDT Group’s broader efforts to expand digital inclusion and encourage innovation in line with the UNSDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Globe, Ayala Foundation Scale Digital Learning Approach in Public Schools

As the country concludes National Teachers’ Month, Globe and Ayala Foundation are helping public-school teachers better respond to students at different learning levels through CENTEX Digital Education, a teacher-led, technology-enabled approach that combines educator expertise with adaptive learning tools, training, coaching, and community engagement. Using learning data and personalized exercises, the program helps teachers identify where students need additional support and adjust instruction based on each learner’s level and pace.

A 2024–2025 pilot in San Marcelino, Zambales provided early evidence of the High Touch, High Tech approach’s impact on mathematics learning and classroom practice, reaching 1,635 students from Grades 4 to 6. After 12 weeks, average mathematics scores among learners in the program increased from 27% to 56%, while the treatment group outperformed the comparison group by 13.8 percentage points. Teachers also showed changes in classroom practice, with 85% of trained teachers consistently applying differentiated instruction by the end of the intervention and all using learner data in lesson planning.

“Technology can have its greatest impact when it equips teachers to understand their learners better and respond to what each child needs,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer. “Through our partnership with Ayala Foundation, we are helping build an approach that puts teachers at the center while using technology and data to create more meaningful learning opportunities for students.”

Teachers participating in the program have also reported stronger student engagement and more time for targeted instruction. Angelica F. Artillera of Nagbunga Integrated School observed that the model made it easier to track learners’ progress and provide differentiated support, while Esthefanie Ann Espinosa of Pili Elementary School said technology reduced time spent manually checking assessments, allowing her to focus more on guiding students.

Building on the pilot results, the Department of Education (DepEd) Zambales has expanded CENTEX Digital Education across the province, training at least one teacher from each of its 315 public elementary schools. Seventy-nine schools are now implementing the program, extending the approach beyond the original pilot sites.

“CENTEX Digital Education demonstrates how teacher-led, technology-enabled approaches can strengthen classroom instruction and improve learning outcomes,” said Tony Lambino, President of Ayala Foundation. “The encouraging results from San Marcelino, supported by Khan Academy’s learning platform, give us a strong foundation to expand the program. We are grateful for Globe’s continued support as we work with DepEd to reach more Filipino learners.”

The broader CENTEX Digital Education program has reached approximately 14,100 students, with more than 120 teachers trained. Its next phase deepens implementation across Zambales through stronger teacher coaching, local higher education partnerships, and continued collaboration with DepEd. Globe customers can support CENTEX Digital Education by opening or downloading the GlobeOne App, tapping on the “Rewards” button, searching for “CENTEX Digital Education,” and sending available Rewards points.

Globe Prepaid customers can support CENTEX through GoGIVE by tapping GoGIVE on the GlobeOne app, selecting Ayala Foundation to start earning hearts, and automatically supporting the cause every time mobile data is used.

For more information about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.