by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 8, 2025 | Banking and Finance
In a tech industry that is rapidly becoming more inclusive, empowering women with advanced technical skills and strong mentorship is crucial for closing the gender gap in the sector. With access to the right tools, women leaders can thrive individually and help shape a more dynamic and equitable digital future. This was a key highlight from the recent Women Up Top Masterclass launched by GCash, the country’s leading finance app and the largest cashless ecosystem.
The full-day event brought together 30 participants who earned certifications in Agile 101 and AI/ML Workflow and AutoML. Both courses were facilitated by women leaders within the GCash tech teams, showcasing the company’s commitment to internal mentorship and representation.
While significant strides have been made to improve representation, women in tech still face structural challenges, including fewer mentorship opportunities, limited access to advanced training, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. By equipping women with essential technical skills and leadership tools, this program underscores GCash’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and future-ready digital workforce.
“Technology doesn’t run on code alone; it runs on people. And that includes data professionals, agile thinkers, machine learning engineers, and especially, women who bring not just skills, but empathy, intuition, and insight into every solution they help build,” GCash Head of Data Governance Sara Venturina shared a reminder that the success of any tech innovation depends as much on people as it does on code.
The Agile 101 session introduced participants to the principles and frameworks of the Agile methodology, a foundational capability in modern tech environments. Meanwhile, the AI/ML Workflow and AutoML session provided hands-on experience with the machine learning lifecycle, including practical work with PyCaret, an open-source, low-code machine learning library.
In addition to technical instruction, the masterclass fostered a sense of community among participants. Throughout the day, attendees shared insights, exchanged ideas, and experienced firsthand the support of peers and mentors who understand the unique challenges that women face in the tech industry.
As Venturina said, “We know the tech world hasn’t always made it easy for women. But we also know this: when women are equipped with the right tools and the right community, we can excel and get far in this field.”
GCash is committed to uplifting women and advancing their careers, reinforcing its dedication to creating a tech ecosystem that promotes diversity, equity, and empowerment.
For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.
About GCash
GCash is the Philippines’ leading finance super app and the country’s largest cashless ecosystem. With the GCash app, users can easily:
- Purchase prepaid airtime
- Pay bills through partner billers nationwide
- Send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, including to other bank accounts
- Shop from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers
- Access savings, credit, loans, insurance, and investment options
All of this can be done conveniently from a smartphone. The mobile wallet operations are managed by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mynt, which is the first and only unicorn in the Philippines, valued at $5 billion.
GCash is also a strong advocate for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on SDGs 5, 8, 10, and 13. These goals aim to promote safety and security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion, while also taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 2, 2025 | Banking and Finance
GCash, the leading super finance app in the Philippines, is offering relief to its borrowers through its lending arm, Fuse Financing Inc. They are providing a 15-day grace period for customers of GLoan and GGives who live in areas affected by the “Habagat” monsoon and Tropical Depressions Crising, Dante, and Emong.
Loan repayments due between July 19 and July 31 will have their deadlines automatically extended by 15 days. For instance, if a customer’s due date is July 21, 2025, and they are unable to make the payment or have insufficient funds, no penalties or late fees will be charged until August 5, 2025. During this extension, borrowers will not incur any additional interest or late fees, allowing them to focus on their recovery without added financial pressure.
Eligible borrowers will receive SMS notifications with details about their new due dates and advice on managing their repayments. Those who can repay early are encouraged to do so.
“We stand with the communities affected by the recent onslaught of typhoons and are committed to helping them rebuild their lives,” said Tony Isidro, president and CEO of Fuse Financing. “Every single effort counts, and together, we can make a significant difference.”
GCash is offering a 15-day grace period for borrowers affected by the recent typhoons in the following areas:
- National Capital Region: Las Piñas, Malabon, Manila, Marikina, Navotas, Quezon City
- Region I: Pangasinan
- Region III: Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac
- Region IV-A: Batangas, Cavite, Rizal
- Region IV-B: Palawan
- Region VI: Antique
- Region VII: Cebu City
Additional areas may be added if the government declares them under a state of calamity. Customers with questions can submit a ticket through the GCash Help Center or contact Gigi within the GCash app.
About Fuse Lending, Inc.
Fuse Lending, Inc. is a company that provides simple, affordable, and secure loans in the Philippines. Its primary goal is to empower individuals and small businesses to achieve financial security and growth through a variety of digital lending products. Fuse Lending is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only duacorn in the Philippines, and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Mynt, through its fintech operations, is a strong supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 5, 8, 10, and 13. These goals focus on safety and security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
About GCash
GCash is the leading finance super app in the Philippines and the largest cashless ecosystem in the country. Through the GCash app, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime, pay bills through partner billers nationwide, send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines (including transfers to other bank accounts), shop with over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers, and access services such as savings, credit, loans, insurance, and investment opportunities, all from the convenience of their smartphones. Mobile wallet operations are managed by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only unicorn in the Philippines, valued at $5 billion.
GCash is also a strong advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals 5, 8, 10, and 13. These goals emphasize safety and security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the urgent need for action to combat climate change and its impacts.
by Ferry Bayu | Apr 7, 2025 | Banking and Finance
Exciting crypto news: Babylon’s $BABY token is launching on Bitrue, featuring staking rewards and airdrop events! Discover its utilities and token distribution, and learn how to benefit from the Babylon Protocol.
The crypto ecosystem is constantly evolving, bringing new opportunities for users. This week, one of the major stories comes from Bitrue, which is set to launch the Babylon $BABY token and hold a deposit contest.
What are the details, and what benefits will users receive? Read this article to find out!
Get to Know about Babylon $BABY
Before we discuss the launch of the $BABY token on Bitrue, let’s get to know Babylon first. The $BABY token is the native cryptocurrency of Babylon Genesis, which is the inaugural token of the Bitcoin Secured Network (BSN). This network is specifically designed to protect and manage various blockchain systems. The $BABY token has four main utilities: Governance, Network Security, Transaction Utility, and Rewards and Incentives.
Later, Babylon token holders can be involved in forming the direction of the protocol, which means users have a voice in the network.
Babylon token holders also support validator operations and maintain consensus.
Babylon tokens will later be used to pay network transaction fees.
$BABY tokens will later be distributed as staking rewards to $BABY and $BTC token stakers while promoting active participants in the network.
These four utilities demonstrate that networks built from this segment of Bitcoin will also incorporate smart contracts and staking, features that were previously absent in Bitcoin. As a result, users can feel assured that staking on the Babylon network is both safe and trustworthy.
In a post from the official Babylon Foundation account (@bbn_foundation), Babylon will conduct a $BABY token airdrop event as part of the Phase 1 transition. This airdrop program will be available to stakers during Phase 1.
A total of 6% of the Babylon supply, which amounts to 600 million BABY tokens, will be allocated for the Babylon airdrop program. The airdrop will be distributed alongside the launch of the Babylon Genesis blockchain. There are five categories for the Babylon airdrop program, which are as follows:
Stake Participation Airdrop
In this category, 30 million BABY tokens will be allocated for stakers who meet the requirements. There are three types of prize recipients in this category:
- Cap 1 participants with a total of 550 $BABY tokens received. In this first type, a total of 16.5 million BABY tokens were distributed.
- Cap 2 participants with a total of 150 BABY tokens with a total of 2.25 million BABY tokens
- Cap 3 participants with a total of 100 BABY tokens for each participant and a total of 11.2 BABY tokens distributed.
Base Staking Reward Airdrop
There are a total of 335 million $BABY tokens distributed in this category. Every eligible staker will receive a fixed allocation of BABY tokens for each BTC block. For more details, please refer to the following table.
Bonus Staking Reward Airdrop for Phase 2 Transition
The third category consists of 200 million BABY tokens that will be distributed to eligible recipients. Active stakers on March 31, 2025 will receive an airdrop bonus in addition to the second category if they successfully transition to Phase 2.
To receive this bonus, users must continue staking, register to stake on Babylon Genesis within 4 weeks of Network Launch, and continue staking for at least 100 consecutive days after registration.
The fourth category is aimed at NFT Pioneer Pass holders with a BABY token count of 30 million. Each holder will receive 300 BABY tokens per NFT. The block that will be taken as a requirement is Polygon 68305555.
GitHub Developer Recognition Program
A total of 5 million $BABY tokens will be distributed to users in this fifth category. A snapshot was taken at 8 AM UTC on February 23rd. If there are not enough eligible users, the tokens will be returned to the community allocation.
Babylon $BABY Launch on Bitrue: Coming Soon
Babylon will be launched on Bitrue on April 10, 2025. Many programs, such as launchpoo, staking, and power piggy, will provide benefits for Bitrue users.
In order not to miss the events that Bitrue will hold before or during the Babylon listing, you can immediately register as a Bitrue user. Later, you will join the community and become a targeting Bitrue core user who will receive the latest information.
by Ferry Bayu | Nov 8, 2024 | Banking and Finance
Explore how Donald Trump’s 2024 election win is boosting the crypto ecosystem. Learn about Bitcoin’s price surge, altcoins’ growth, and Trump’s crypto-friendly policies that could shape the market’s future. Stay updated on the latest crypto trends and predictions!
Donald Trump was declared superior to Kamala Harris in the 2024 US Election held on November 5. Trump received 50.9% of the vote while Kamala only received 47.6%, with Trump’s voter area being much more dominant.
This victory is good news for the crypto ecosystem. Evidently, due to Donald Trump’s superiority, the price of crypto tokens has skyrocketed, and Bitcoin has even become a new ATH.
Check out the detailed explanation of the crypto ecosystem, which has strengthened again due to Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 US Election.
Bitcoin Predicted to Hit $100,000 in Q! 2025
After yesterday BTC recorded a price of more than $75,000, today the price of Bitcoin even touched $76,391 its highest price in 24 hours. When this article was written on November 7, BTC was trading at $75,216, with an increase of 3.05%. This price is, of course, very amazing and has only happened during this US election period.
You can see from the screenshot of the Bitrue price chart above. The BTC RSI value is at 71.74, which means the buying trend is still strong like yesterday, but if it is higher, it will be overbought.
The Bitcoin MACD indicator also shows a bullish trend that could continue to climb along with Donald Trump’s victory celebration. Because of these very positive BTC indicators, many crypto observers say that BTC could touch a price of $ 100,000 in Q1 2025.
As reported from TradingView, Bitcoin’s current dominance is at 60.05%, which is much higher than BTC’s dominance on normal days, which is only in the 50s.
Crypto is Greening
The crypto ecosystem has been green since yesterday. Not only Bitcoin but various Altcoins and meme coins have also experienced significant increases.
Ethereum continues to strengthen its price at $2,821, with an increase of more than 8%. In fact, in 24 hours, ETH touched a price of $2,878. Just like BTC, Ethereum’s RSI value is also very high at almost 80, with a MACD line that has jumped significantly, indicating that ETH’s bullishness is happening and will be more positive in the future.
SOL is also no different. The SOL MACD line indicates a positive bullishness. No mistake, SOL’s price also touched its highest price at $191.90 in the last 24 hours.
Why Crypto Ecosystem Supports Donald Trump
Donald Trump has indeed attracted the sympathy of crypto investors. This is because, during the campaign, Donald Trump seemed serious about supporting this ecosystem. Trump was also recorded as stating 11 points to support crypto:
- Fire SEC Chairman Gary Gensler on Day 1
- Establish a “National Bitcoin Stockpile”
- Make the United States the “Bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world”
- Retain 100% of the 203,650 BTC$BTC ($14.95B) currently held by the U.S. government
- Eliminate capital gains tax on Bitcoin
- Support U.S. Bitcoin mining
- End regulatory crackdowns (the “anti-crypto crusade”)
- Launch a “Bitcoin and crypto presidential advisory council”
- Protect individuals’ rights to self-custody digital assets
- No CBDC
- Commute Ross Ulbricht’s double-life sentence, the founder of Silk Road.
Conclusion
Will the crypto ecosystem strengthen in the future during Donald Trump’s leadership in the United States? Will Trump’s promise to make crypto regulations easier and more protected, as Trump mentioned during the campaign?
To find out, you can access the Bitrue website. There, you will find out all the updates about the crypto ecosystem in real-time, wherever you are.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 21, 2024 | Banking and Finance, Entertainment
If asked to choose between working a regular 9 to 5 job and playing a video game all day, most people nowadays will probably choose to play. I can already hear my parents scolding me and saying something like,
“Why waste time on games? It’s not as if you can make money from that!”
But the world is not as it was, and people of all ages have discovered that it is actually possible! How? The most obvious answer would be to join tournaments. Just like in any sport, amateur and professional gamers compete against each other to win the prize money and other additional items, both virtual and physical.
But is that the be-all and end-all of how to earn from gaming? Phantom Arena has gone BEYOND that and introduced the concept of game finance or GameFi.
According to Capital.com, “GameFi combines blockchain technology elements such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies with gaming to provide economic incentives to players. Therefore, GameFi is also referred to as play-to-earn (P2E) gaming.”
Phantom Arena is the Grab/Uber of Game Finance
In early 2024, a new player entered the realm of game finance. Phantom Arena is a blockchain PVP game that “provides up to 50 players with the opportunity to engage in real-time battles within the selected arena. Players compete for the supreme position to achieve top rankings and win enticing rewards.”
According to Phantom Arena CEO Alan Hung, “Phantom Arena is a pioneering platform in today’s crypto landscape, designed to empower Web3 users worldwide. It serves as a comprehensive, ready-to-deploy ecosystem aimed at supporting projects facing challenges with utility and community engagement.
Our goal is to establish a new standard within the GameFi sector and collaborate with crypto enthusiasts to enhance the overall quality of the crypto environment.”
Grab and Uber are the industry leaders when it comes to ridesharing, not just in the Philippines but all over the world. While there are many riding apps in the market, nothing beats them in popularity. Despite being a new player in the market, Phantom Arena has been able to position itself as such with tournaments and networking events organized in multiple places all over the world.
Here in the Philippines, when we want to book a ride, top of mind we think Grab. In the realm of game finance, that name would be Phantom Arena.
I confess, just like many Gen-Xers, I have many reservations about cryptocurrency, mostly because of a lack of knowledge about it. Currency being something other than dollar, peso, or any other regular country currency is scary! But then, after doing some research and talking to some people who invest in cryptocurrency have made me open it.
A solution born out of necessity and ingenuity
The pandemic resulted in many suffering from mental health issues and aggression due to enforced confinement and the inability to socialize normally. This meant that interaction was limited to a virtual space. Phantom Arena provides an outlet for users to express their aggression in a safe space while having the opportunity to earn money at the same time.
Which leads to the question of “how do you earn money from playing this game”? Watch out for the details in the next article.
by Ferry Bayu | Oct 9, 2023 | Banking and Finance
Do you find it cumbersome to always have to carry cash? Have you missed out on a dream purchase because you didn’t have enough cash on hand? Or had to forgo an online plane ticket purchase for a family trip? With a credit card, these worries are a thing of the past, offering you convenience and peace of mind.
Credit cards open up a world of benefits, especially when used wisely. They are universally accepted, allowing you to travel, dine, and shop without the burden of cash. Plus, they often come with a range of rewards, discounts, and deals, making your experiences more enjoyable and cost-effective.
Despite the numerous benefits, some people are hesitant to apply for a credit card, often due to concerns about high interest rates. However, by using your card sensibly and paying on time, you can fully enjoy its advantages. It’s important to choose a card that suits your lifestyle, and with responsible use, it can significantly improve your life.
Having a credit card means that you can typically gain access to exclusive discounts or benefits, receive rewards, and earn points, which could be redeemed for travel, dining, or cash equivalent for daily purchases. Credit cards also offer substantial cashback rewards for purchases made at supermarkets, gas stations, pharmacies, and with other merchants, including airlines and partner restaurants that have special discounts and seasonal promos you can enjoy with your loved ones.
A credit card is an extension of your spending capacity. It enhances your purchasing power, especially in securing products and services – from your everyday needs, such as gas, groceries, coffee, and medicines, to high ticket items, such as treating your family to a staycation or vacation, finally getting that gadget you have wanted for so long, front row concert tickets to your favorite band, upgrading your home appliances, or buying your loved one a jewelry for that important milestone.
Depending on your choice and lifestyle, credit cards offer entertainment treats, privileges, seasonal dining promos, free travel insurance coverage, cashback on overseas shopping, and the ability to buy now and pay later, to name a few. There are various incentives, too, including travel benefits, hotel and restaurant discounts, and travel perks (such as the privilege of relaxing in posh airline lounges) to make your trips stylish, more exciting, and twice the fun!
Online shopping? Credit cards assure you of a more protected and seamless e-commerce purchase with features like encryption, multifactor authentication, and fraud monitoring.
A credit card from BDO, one of the leading banks in the Philippines, for instance, offers year-round deals and exclusive dining deals for up to 50% off. It also provides ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ options, a feature that allows you to make a purchase and pay for it in installments over a period of time, often without interest. This, along with 0% interest on big-ticket purchases, lets you earn Peso Rewards and more.
There is no better time than now to own at least one BDO Credit Card! When you apply for a BDO Credit Card, you can get up to a P25,000 cashback credit when you meet the minimum spending requirement. The promo runs until October 31, 2023. Qualified cards are Mastercard, Visa, JCB, UnionPay, Diners Club, and BDO-issued American Express. Terms and conditions apply.
GCash is the Philippines’ leading finance super app and the country’s largest cashless ecosystem. With the GCash app, users can easily:
Loan repayments due between July 19 and July 31 will have their deadlines automatically extended by 15 days. For instance, if a customer’s due date is July 21, 2025, and they are unable to make the payment or have insufficient funds, no penalties or late fees will be charged until August 5, 2025. During this extension, borrowers will not incur any additional interest or late fees, allowing them to focus on their recovery without added financial pressure.
In early 2024, a new player entered the realm of game finance. 
According to Phantom Arena CEO Alan Hung, “Phantom Arena is a pioneering platform in today’s crypto landscape, designed to empower Web3 users worldwide. It serves as a comprehensive, ready-to-deploy ecosystem aimed at supporting projects facing challenges with utility and community engagement. 
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