Seabank Philippines Inc. changed its name to Maribank Philippines Inc. after the central bank and SEC approved its request to change its corporate name. ​The move marks the latest chapter for an institution with deep roots. Seabank is a registered rural bank that first rebranded from Banco Laguna, Inc. in December 2021. The bank’s history, however, stretches back 60 years to its founding as the Rural Bank of Pagsanjan in December 1965. This long history provides MariBank with the existing community ties sought by new entrants into the digital financial market. ​The name change follows the acquisition of Seabank by Singapore-based digital bank MariBank in April 2025. The transition received swift regulatory clearance: the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) approved the rebranding on April 21, 2025, while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) followed suit on July 31, 2025, formalizing the corporate identity shift. ​The MariBank Singapore Banking Group operates as a ...

In the world of gardening, a trellis is a fundamental tool designed to support climbing or vining plants. By offering a stable structure for plants to grasp and grow upon, trellises serve multiple critical functions: they maximize growing space, improve air circulation to reduce disease, elevate fruits and flowers for easier harvest, and add vertical interest to the garden's design. What is Trellis? A trellis is a foundational gardening structure, primarily functioning as a supportive framework for climbing plants. However, to describe it merely as "support" is to underestimate its role. A trellis is an architectural element that shapes growth, maximizes space, and enhances the aesthetic of any garden. At its core, a trellis is any open, lattice-like construction—made of wood, metal, vinyl, or other materials—that provides a surface for vines and climbers to attach to, either by twining, clinging with tendrils, or being manually tied. This simple function unlo...

In a significant move to bolster financial inclusion and protect its members, the Social Security System (SSS) has partnered with Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) to introduce SSS LoanLite . This new micro-lending program is strategically designed to provide a safe, accessible, and affordable credit alternative for millions of Filipinos, specifically targeting those most vulnerable to predatory lending institutions . A Digital Shield Against Predatory Lending The core mission of SSS LoanLite is to act as a financial safety net. SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph de Claro explicitly highlighted this protective function, stating, “ This will really help each Filipino, members of SSS, not to fall victim to loan sharks. ” This direct acknowledgment of "loan sharks" by the SSS leadership is a crucial step. It validates the real struggles many Filipinos face when in urgent need of cash and positions a government-backed institution as a proactive defender of ...

GCash recently announced that the Tap to Pay feature is now available to selected verified users of their mobile e-wallet. GCash and the global company Mastercard teamed up to give users a fast and convenient contactless payment solution. The GCash Tap N’ Pay feature allows mobile e-wallet users to pay cashless and cardless using only their phones. Though this feature is quite cool, not all GCash users are able to enjoy it, as only Android phone users with NFC (Huawei and iOS devices are not supported at this time) can use Tap to Pay at point-of-sale terminals. How to Activate Tap to Pay in GCash? Make sure that your phone supports NFC — Near Field Communication, a communication protocol that enables two devices to connect over distances of 4 cm or less. Check the list of phones with NFC here . Open your GCash app and tap “ View All Services .” Select “ Tap to Pay .” Agree to the Terms and Conditions. Where Can You Use GCash Tap to Pay? You can only use this on POS terminals that acce...

The simple egg, a staple of breakfast tables worldwide, is in fact a biological masterpiece. Its flawless form, protective shell, and life-sustaining contents are not created by magic, but through a meticulously orchestrated process within the hen's reproductive tract. While the yolk begins its journey in the ovary, the true architect of the egg as we know it is a remarkable organ called the oviduct. This long, convoluted tube is a multi-chambered factory where the yolk is transformed, step-by-step, into a complete, fertilize egg ready for the outside world. An Overview of the Avian Reproductive System Unlike mammals, most female birds (hens) possess only one functional ovary and oviduct, typically on the left side. This streamlined system reduces body weight for flight. The process begins in the ovary, where yolks (ova) mature and are released one at a time in a process called ovulation. Once released, the yolk is captured by the oviduct, which is not a single uniform tube but a s...

Are you looking for a fast and convenient loan with minimal requirements and no collateral? Then maybe this lending app suits your needs. Filipinos often prefer the simplest transactions and fast approval when it comes to loans, as many of us urgently need extra cash. FT Lending App is one of the online lending apps offering no-collateral loans for Filipinos. Most OLAs with no-collateral loans have high interest rates, as lending money to unknown borrowers is considered risky. Approval still depends on the company’s screening results through profiling and assessing whether the borrower is capable of repaying the requested amount. After assessment, if approved, the credit limits may differ for each user. This credit limit is a revolving credit—like Maya Credit , GCredit , Mabilis Cash Credit , Billease , Spaylater and Revi Credit —where you can reuse the available credit after repayment, even if you have pending installments. If you're willing to know more about this lending app, j...

Do Legal Online Gambling Take a Big Hit from the BSP Order to Delink from E-Wallet Sites or In-App Icons? The Philippines' Central Bank has ordered e-wallets to delink online gambling from their platforms or websites before August 17, 2025. This is in line with the goal of securing a healthy financial ecosystem for the Filipino people. However, this order has caused significant damage to the gambling industry. During a House briefing on August 20, 2025, PAGCOR Chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco stated that they observed a sudden 50% decline in online gaming transactions following the temporary delinking of online casinos from mobile e-wallets. This decline was observed within just three days—from August 17 to 19, 2025—after mobile e-wallet platforms, especially Maya and GCash, complied with the BSP order to remove links to online casinos from their platforms. Deep Thinking on the Delinking of Online Gambling from GCash and Maya Payment platforms like e-wallets function simi...

Visa is gearing up to revolutionize the payment landscape in the Philippines by launching its highly anticipated Visa Pay tap-to-pay service by the end of the year. This initiative will allow Filipino consumers to use their NFC-enabled smartphones to make contactless payments at any Visa-supported Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal—signaling a major shift towards frictionless, digital transactions. Fintech Collaboration Leads the Way The first phase of the rollout will be in collaboration with fintech powerhouse Maya, aiming to seamlessly bridge Visa Pay across digital wallets and participating merchants. Ezra Escolar, Visa Philippines Head of Products, highlighted the ease of integration and the potential for broader adoption. Meanwhile, Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro emphasized that further expansion hinges on the readiness of additional partners, with negotiations actively underway. Empowering Sellers through Visa Accept Visa isn’t stopping at consumers. The launch of Visa Accept...

In a powerful demonstration of commitment to agricultural progress, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spearheaded a dual celebration on June 30, 2025, distributing cutting-edge farm machinery to Nueva Ecija’s rice farmers while honoring the country’s top agricultural innovators at the 50th Gawad Saka Awards.   The event underscored the administration’s vision: transforming subsistence farming into profitable agribusiness through technology, investment, and recognition.   Photo Courtesy:  Department of Agriculture P95.1-Million Farm Machinery to Revolutionize Rice Farming   At the heart of the initiative was the turnover of P95.1 million worth of agricultural machinery, a game-changing investment for Nueva Ecija, the Philippines’ rice granary. The package includes:   A state-of-the-art Rice Processing System (RPS) (worth P64 million), featuring a rice mill and two recirculating dryers   16 combine harvesters A four-wheel tractor...