Find Your Way to Play: Game On, Dreamers! Unveils expanded lineup for Singapore Playfest this December

Gaming, cosplay, live music, and family fun are taking over Singapore this December! Game On, Dreamers! runs from December 11 to 13 at Marina Bay Sands, bringing esports tournaments, epic cosplay battles, arcade adventures, and a two-night electronic music rave under one roof.

Filipino cosplayer Sergio Sta. Ana will represent the Philippines in the Cosplay Fight Club All Stars division, while gamers, music fans, and families can explore three themed zones packed with experiences. Tickets start at S$20. 👀

Planning a Singapore trip? Discover what awaits at Game On, Dreamers! Read more 👇

Sentosa unveils A Magical Island Adventure with Disney Cruise Line

What if your summer getaway came with Disney magic around every corner? This year, Sentosa is transforming into a massive Disney-inspired adventure playground through a new collaboration with Disney Cruise Line, bringing beloved characters, immersive attractions, glowing night experiences, and themed activities across the island. From Marvel and Toy Story to Disney Princesses and Moana, visitors can explore a one-of-a-kind day-to-night experience designed for families, fans, and anyone looking to add a little magic to their next trip.

Sentosa Invites Guests to ‘Discover Your Good’ in Celebration of Highly Anticipated Film from Universal Pictures, Wicked: For Good

This holiday season, Sentosa turns into a magical escape as Resorts World Sentosa and Universal Pictures bring the world of Wicked: For Good to life across the island, giving guests the chance to walk the Yellow Brick Road, explore Glinda’s Bubble, meet iconic characters and experience cinematic installations from Sensoryscape to Universal Studios Singapore. Families, fans and holiday explorers can discover new sights, flavours and photo spots at every turn, making it a festive journey filled with wonder, connection and unforgettable moments.

5 stunning Singapore spots in juan karlos’ 'Kailan Ka Uuwi?' music video

What if your next Singapore trip looked like a music video? The Singapore Tourism Board and Universal Music Group just dropped the official MV for juan karlos’ “Kailan Ka Uuwi?” featuring Flow G, and it’s packed with some of the most breathtaking places you can explore in the Lion City. From lush gardens to hidden green pockets in the middle of skyscrapers, the video shows how Singapore blends nature, culture, and city life into moments worth coming home to.

Whether you're a fan of jk, a traveler hunting for new spots, or someone dreaming of a quick escape, these stunning locations from the music video might just inspire your next Singapore adventure.

Actor David Corenswet Discovers the “High Life” in Singapore

David Corenswet, best known as the newest Superman, got his first taste of the Lion City and discovered the real meaning of the “High Life.” From indoor skydiving at iFly Singapore to walking above the treetops at Henderson Waves, he shows how Singapore lifts every adventure above the ordinary.

Teaming up with the Singapore Tourism Board, Corenswet gives fans a fresh look at the city where breathtaking thrills meet calm, nature-filled escapes. Whether it is meeting colorful lories at Bird Paradise or soaking in the serenity of Upper Seletar Reservoir, he proves that in Singapore, unforgettable experiences are always within reach.

Kyndryl Launches AI Innovation Lab in Singapore

Kyndryl (NYSE: KD), a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise technology services, announced the launch of its ASEAN AI Innovation Lab in Singapore. The Lab will offer responsible enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) solutions with advanced security features across Southeast Asia. This announcement follows Kyndryl’s recent investments in the United Kingdom and France, demonstrating its commitment to create regional hubs of AI talent, drive innovation and support national growth agendas.

Elevate Your Sentosa Experience with EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Mastercard

Dive into an all-new travel experience with EastWest's exclusive Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Mastercard promo. In collaboration with Sentosa and the Singapore Tourism Board, EastWest is offering cardholders a chance to indulge in the wonders of Sentosa at an unmatched value.

Experience Sentosa Like Never Before

From today until March 31, 2024, cardholders can enjoy a 15% discount on all Sentosa Fun Pass products, unlocking a world of leisure at Singapore's leading island resort. Whether you're seeking adrenaline-pumping theme park adventures, serene spa days, or just a tranquil beach escape, the EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Mastercard makes every moment count.

Maximize Your Miles & More with EastWest

Earn KrisFlyer miles on purchases in Singapore, from sumptuous hawker fare to elite shopping sprees on Orchard Road.

The perks don't stop there. With the EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Mastercard, enjoy:

• A competitive spend-to-miles conversion rate
• Up to 15,000 anniversary bonus miles annually
• One of the industry's lowest foreign currency conversion rates at 1.7%
• Four complimentary lounge accesses each year
• Free comprehensive travel insurance worth up to Php20 million for you and your family

Hear What The Experts Are Saying

Mia P. Tamayo, SVP and Credit Cards Business Head at EastWest, expressed, "Our EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Mastercard epitomizes our pledge to offer unmatched value to our esteemed cardholders to discover the globe and amplify their travel adventures. “Sentosa isn't just an island – it's an experience. With themed attractions, award-winning spas, pristine beaches, and world-class amenities, we're excited for our cardholders to immerse themselves in everything this iconic destination offers," she added.

How to Avail of The Promo

1. Visit Sentosa Fun Pass Offer Page at https://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/deals/promos/sentosa-fun-pass/.
2. Choose your preferred Fun Pass product
3. Enter the promo code “EWS15OFF” at checkout
4. Complete the purchase with your EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Mastercard.

Don’t have an EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Mastercard? Apply now to experience a world of unparalleled travel benefits and more! Plus, receive up to 6,000 welcome bonus miles upon reaching the minimum accumulative retail spend requirement* within 3 months from card activation.

Simply apply via ESTA, the EastWest System Tech Assistant chatbot, at www.ewlend.com/cardSQ today.

Terms and conditions apply. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-172822, Series of 2023.

Bayad Makes a Massive Mark at the 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival

Bayad, the biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform in the Philippines, showcased its commitment to advancing financial technology and expanding its global presence at the 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival.

Bayad President and CEO - Lawrence Y. Ferrer presents a massive potential on advancing the global digital economy by bridging international businesses and Filipinos overseas through its bills payment services.

The highlight of Bayad's participation was the thought-provoking presentation by President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer, where he shared valuable insights on the pivotal role of bill payments in catalyzing digital economic growth.

In his presentation titled "Fueling Progress: Bill Payments as the Catalyst for Digital Economic Growth," Mr. Ferrer emphasized the importance of bill payments in the Philippines and its significant contribution to the country's economy.

 

The Move Toward Digital

Currently, the Philippines ranks as the largest recipient of money remittances in Southeast Asia, 3rd in Asia, and 4th globally, with the World Bank predicting continued growth in remittances.

Payment behavior in the Philippines is shifting towards digital transactions, with a projected increase to at least 50% in 2023, aligning with the Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. 

The digital economy clearly continues to grow, as “Every day, more and more people are choosing to make digital transactions, as seen in the 9.4% share of the digital economy to the GDP of the Philippines in 2022. With the growing Philippine market globally and the increasing preference for digital payment platforms, we want to answer to the demand of Filipinos for a secure and convenient way of managing their bills, wherever they may be, by creating solutions anchored in their bill payment needs,” said Ferrer.

Bayad President and CEO - Lawrence Y. Ferrer highlights the transformation roadmap for digital financial transactions in the Philippines.

 

Bayad's Role in the Bill Payment Industry

Given this, Bayad, formerly known as Bayad Center, has continued to be a trusted brand in the industry for 26 years, initially serving MERALCO customers with alternative bill payment outlets.

Now with a massive ecosystem, Bayad has evolved into the premier bill payments aggregator, serving over 3,000 biller brands from both public and private sectors, covering a wide range of services, including electric and water utilities, telecommunications, government contributions, airline booking payments, loans, e-loading, e-wallet top-ups, toll RFID loading, insurance, memorial and more.

“And of course, with our dedication to providing Filipinos more payment channels to access our biller partners, we continue to strengthen our omnichannel presence. We currently have over 400,000 physical touchpoints and we are connected to over 80 million subscribers of leading digital and mobile platforms, spread across domestic and international borders,” pointed out Ferrer. 

“In fact, 9/10 of all banks and fintechs are connected through our bill payment trail. We stand as a single point of transaction for billing institutions and payment channels who want a faster time-to-market approach,” he emphasized.

Bayad Overseas - Expanding Opportunities for Global Filipinos

With the launch of Bayad Overseas, Filipinos around the world now have a convenient way to pay their bills in the Philippines, enhancing their financial experiences globally.

Bayad Overseas aims to support and uplift the global market of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) by providing a secure, convenient, and reliable payment solution for their bill payment needs.

“Capture the global OFW market by partnering with the biller aggregator of choice and the most trusted brand by Filipinos for their payment needs. With Bayad’s physical and digital payment touchpoints, Filipinos are assured of a safe, convenient, and reliable payment transaction whatever their payment style may be,” Ferrer said as he invited the audience.

 

Partnership for the Future

Ferrer concluded his presentation by welcoming potential partners to collaborate with Bayad, emphasizing the company's commitment to integrity, reliability, and trust.

“Bayad is with you in shaping a better world of fintech. Become a Bayad partner today and together, let’s fuel the expansion of the global digital economy,” he said.

Bayad also participated in a booth exhibition, alongside more than 500 fintech companies from around the world, showcasing its massive biller ecosystem.

"As a single point of transaction for billing institutions and payment channels, Bayad offers a faster time-to-market approach, making us the biller aggregator of choice," said Mr. Ferrer.

Bayad's participation in the 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival marks a significant step toward its mission of empowering individuals and businesses with seamless and convenient bill payment solutions, both domestically and internationally.

To be part of Bayad’s extensive international channel network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad.com.

Alipay+ Integrates Into SGQR and Is Now Available At All Hawker Centres in Singapore

Enabled through its partnership with Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS), Singapore’s leading payment services group, Alipay+ is now integrated into SGQR and becomes available as one of the payment schemes at about 11,000 stalls at NEA hawker centres in Singapore, as well as HDB coffee shops, wet markets and JTC industrial canteens. Users of Alipay+ partner e-wallets can pay via SGQR displayed at stalls by opening their home e-wallet apps and scanning the SGQR. 

Alipay+ e-wallet partner GCash app scanning the SGQR

SGQR is the world’s first unified payment QR code. It is a single standardised QR code for e-payments and combines multiple payment schemes into a single SGQR label. Consumers just need to look out for the SGQR label to see which payment options a merchant accepts. 

Alipay+ is a suite of global cross-border digital payments and marketing solutions designed to enable businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to process a wide range of mobile payment methods and reach 1 billion regional and global consumers, through one-time integration and simple technical adaption. Alipay+ currently supports six partner e-wallets in Singapore, including Alipay from Chinese mainland, AlipayHK from Hong Kong SAR, China, Touch ‘n Go eWallet from Malaysia, GCash from the Philippines, TrueMoney from Thailand and Kakao Pay from South Korea. Alipay, one of Alipay+’s e-wallet partners has been integrated into SGQR earlier since 2019. 

Dr. Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant Group, said: “With Alipay+’s integration into SGQR, it makes it more convenient for foreigners traveling to Singapore, by enabling them to pay with their home e-wallets which they are familiar with. Tourists no longer have to worry about trying to find the right amount of cash to pay in a bustling environment like hawker centres. We look forward to continuing to partner with NETS to drive digital payments innovation and acceptance, connecting thousands of merchants in Singapore with digital consumers in the region.”

“At NETS, we believe that every business should have access to digital payment solutions. By facilitating digitalisation for hawkers through collaborations with partners such as Alipay+, we are empowering small businesses to better serve their customers whilst providing them opportunities to expand their customer base,” said Mr Lawrence Chan, Group CEO, NETS. 

In addition to NETS, Ant Group has also formed partnerships and collaborations including the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Changi Airport Group, Resorts World Sentosa, ComfortDelGro Taxi and many other local merchants and brands to bring best-in-class digital payment solutions to enhance the travel experience in Singapore.  

Data from STB shows that more tourists are visiting Singapore. From January to March 2023, there was a month-on-month increase in the number of international visitors, with Asian tourists forming majority of arrivals. Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, China and Thailand are in the top ten  for visitor arrivals to Singapore in the first quarter.

GameStart 2016: Back with SWAG (and more)

GameStart 2016 to set the gaming world on fire this October and happening in Singapore! Big names from Esports, Cosplay, and exhibitors from the kings of console gaming will make the 3-day convention the best gaming weekend of 2016!

Discovery Partners Asia's Online Film Hub Viddsee

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific today announced a content partnership with Viddsee, where select content from Discovery will be available online for the first time in the region, starting with films from the channel’s First Time Filmmakers (FTFM) initiative.  Fans will now be ale to view the full-length documentaries on mobile, as Discovery continues to diversify its product offering, engage new audiences, and make content more accessible in a multi-platform environment.