"The McDonald’s Stripes Run has built a loyal following over the years, but we’ve also worked hard to keep it fresh and exciting. This year, we leveraged social media, engaged with schools and fitness groups, and partnered with pet communities to create a truly inclusive event. The inclusion of the Fur Stripes category reflects McDonald’s broader commitment to creating feel-good moments. It’s a way to make the event more inclusive, family-friendly, and meaningful, while celebrating the special bond between humans and their pets. The long-term goal of Bahay Bulilit is to give every child access to quality early learning opportunities, regardless of their background. By participating in the Stripes Run, families are not only strengthening their bonds but also contributing to this important cause.”~Adi Timbol-Hernandez, McDonald’s Philippines Assistant Vice President for Corporate Relations and Impact and Vice President of RMHC Philippines
The highly anticipated McDonald's Stripes Run 2024 ended with record-breaking success on December 1, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. The 13th edition of this family fun run drew an incredible 11,000 participants, the highest turnout in the event's history.
Since its inception in 2010, McDonald's Stripes Run has been a celebration of family, friendship, and fitness. This year's event raised ₱1 million to benefit the Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers, which provide safe and nurturing spaces for children in underserved communities.
McDonald's Philippines credits the event's record-breaking attendance to ongoing innovation and a robust digital outreach strategy.
One of the event's most popular additions is the Fur Stripes category, which allows participants to run alongside their furry companions. This year, the category was at capacity, with 500 fur babies participating. McDonald's created this unique category to promote inclusivity and acknowledge pets as an important part of family bonding.
The attendance of popular celebrities, including the Agoncillo Family (Ryan, Judy Ann, and Luna), KaladKaren, Angeline Quinto, Ysabel Ortega, Barbie Forteza, and David Licauco, heightened the excitement. Their presence energized the crowd and highlighted the event's appeal to a wide range of ages.
The proceeds from the Stripes Run will be used to establish more Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers across the nation. These centers provide safe environments for children to learn, play, and grow while their parents are at work.
“2024 has been a transformative year for Ant International. We are committed to advance inclusive growth through AI-powered innovation and collaboration on cross-border travel, trade, commerce and inclusive finance. In 2025, we will continue to be laser-focused on supporting SMEs across borders with AI-powered innovative and trusted payment, digitalisation, and inclusive financing solutions through expanded public- and private-sector collaboration.” ~Peng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International
Numbers show Alipay+ expands a vibrant wallet-based payment and digitalisation space that further strengthens WorldFirst and Antom, the two business fintech services.
Starting with over 11 million underserved SMEs and individuals in Southeast Asia and South Asia, the new Embedded Finance segment deepens Ant International’s ecosystem by offering a rich array of FX, treasury management, inclusive lending and other AI-powered fintech solutions to clients and partners across the other three main businesses.
Ant International, a leading global provider of digital payments and financial technology, reported strong growth over the past year across all four of its pillar businesses: Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst, and Embedded Finance. This growth was achieved through a series of organizational and strategic upgrades in 2024.
WorldFirst and Antom, the two business fintech services, are further strengthened by Alipay+'s expansion of its thriving wallet-based payment and digitalization space. By providing a wide range of FX, treasury management, inclusive lending, and other AI-powered fintech solutions to customers and partners across the other three primary businesses, Ant International's new Embedded Finance segment expands its ecosystem.
With its headquarters in Singapore, Ant International offers a wide range of financial technology and digital payment solutions to partners in various markets and industries. It is dedicated to promoting inclusive growth via transparent cooperation and ongoing innovation.
Among Ant International's notable progresses in 2024 so far:
Alipay+: Ant International’s cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation technology solutions.
Alipay+ leads the industry in collaboration with 35 leading mobile payment partners, including e-wallets, banking apps and BNPL apps, etc., connecting over 90 million merchants in 66 markets to 1.6 billion user accounts. It has also formed strategic partnerships with national standardised QR schemes, such as Singapore’s SGQR, Malaysia’s PayNet, South Korea’s ZeroPay, Cambodia's KHQR, Nepal’s NepalPay QR and Sri Lanka's LankaPay.
Among the global merchants accepting QR code payments via Alipay+, over 90% are SMEs, reflecting Ant International’s focus on inclusive digital transformation.
Cross-border transactions of global payment partners together (excluding Alipay) via Alipay+ registered three times year-on-year increase in 2024, where Alipay maintains the leadership.
Alipay+ builds a broader digital payment and digitalisation ecosystem for other pillar businesses of Ant International.
Antom: a leading merchant payment and digitization services provider, offering one-stop, vertical-specific digital payment solutions to merchants of all sizes.
Total payment volume (TPV) of Antom’s direct acquiring services nearly doubled between January and November 2024 over same period of 2023.
Antom continues to strengthen its payment processing capabilities across all payment channels. Antom’s card processing volume grew over 10 times from that of previous year, while delivering top notch authorization rates to its global enterprise merchants.
Antom continues to launch tech-driven innovative solutions to provide more secure and efficient services at lower cost to its customers. Antom Copilot helped enhance operational efficiency for merchants by reducing the payment channel integration time from 5 to 10 days to only a few minutes. Antom EasySafePay streamlined digital wallet payments procedures, eliminating the need to redirect from merchant checkout page to the user’s wallet app, and offers full account takeover protection to wallet users, and lead to significant payment success rate increase.
WorldFirst: a one-stop digital payment and financial services platform for global businesses.
In 2024, five years after its acquisition, WorldFirst achieved an annual TPV of US$100 billion, four times that of 2020. This marks its transformation into the world's leading one-stop digital payment and financial services platform for cross-border businesses.
Accumulatively, WorldFirst has served more than 1 million SMEs globally, with a total TPV surpassing US$300 billion and an ever-strengthening growth momentum as it expands footprints from Asia and Europe to the rest of the world.
Under Embedded Finance, our Credit Tech and Platform Tech teams leverage cutting-edge AI and blockchain technologies to innovate secure, end-to-end embedded finance solutions to clients and partners across Alipay+, Antom and WorldFirst businesses, ranging from risk-modelling, cross-border settlement, FX and liquidity management, to credit and lending services for underserved SMEs and individuals.
In line with G20's commitment to lower cross-border payment costs via technology innovation, Platform Tech developed a world-leading Time-Series Transformer AI FX Model to help multi-national merchants in airline, e-commerce and other sectors to improve treasury management efficiency and reduce cost. Our FX solutions predict real-time local currency needs by the hour, with an accuracy of over 90%, significantly lowering cost and uncertainty for not only our own operations but millions of merchants, including SMEs.
Through collaborative innovation with global financial institutions, we leverage blockchain technology to provide 24/7 real-time cross-border settlement serviceability to our global business and clients. In 2024, the blockchain solution supported over one third of Ant International's total processing volume.
In 2024, leveraging AI-powered Credit Tech and Risk Tech capabilities, Ant International added to ANEXT Bank, its Singapore-based MSME-focused digital bank, a new inclusive credit service under the brand bettr. Today in emerging markets including Bangladesh and Indonesia, bettr collaborates with local fintech partners to enable over 11 million unserved micro businesses and individuals, most first-time borrowers, to acquire uncollateralized loan services based on more accurate and fairer credit ratings.
In 2024, loans under management across Ant International's SME financing services more than doubled compared to 2023.
You don't have to wish to start the New Year with ₱1 million in your pocket. Maya, #1 Digital Bank App in the Philippines, is transforming every purchase, savings, and swipe into incredible incentives this Christmas season. Your holiday shopping with Maya not only makes people happy, but it also gets you one step closer to becoming a Holiday Millionaire!
Here’s your ultimate guide to winning big this season:
Double Your Entries with the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card
Double your raffle entries right away by applying for the Maya Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card! After being accepted, you will receive up to 5% cashback on purchases and receive two entries for every 1,000 naira you spend. Imagine having double the chances of winning while still getting your favorite presents!
Pro tip: Use your card for everything—Landers groceries, gifts, and dining out—to maximize entries.
Shop, Swipe, and Scan Your Way to ₱1M
Treat the family to a celebratory feast, buy gifts, or obtain that long-awaited device. You're getting closer to becoming a Christmas millionaire with each purchase! Simply use Maya to pay for all of your holiday expenses using your Maya Card, online transactions, or QR codes, and begin collecting raffle tickets.
Hack: Use Maya for your big-ticket purchases to rake in entries fast.
Ease The Holiday Expenses
Use Maya's Personal Loan or Easy Credit solutions to relieve the stress of the holidays. Do you need extra money for Noche Buena, travel, or gifts? With no trouble, borrow up to ₱250,000. For every ₱1,000 borrowed, you will receive one raffle entry.
Smart move: Borrow strategically to cover holiday essentials and earn more chances to win big!
Grow your Xmas Bonus & Hard-Earned Money Why not aim for ₱1M while growing your holiday fund? This holiday season, make the most of your savings! Earn one raffle ticket for every ₱1,000 deposited into your Maya Savings, Personal Goals, or Time Deposit Plus accounts, up to three times each day.
Bonus: With Maya’s high-yield savings rates of up to 15% p.a., you can earn up to ₱1,200 per month while boosting your millionaire potential.
Boost your Freelance Hustle
Working as a freelancer? Transferring your PayPal profits to Maya is simple, cost-free, and even more satisfying! Simply transfer a minimum of ₱15,000 to receive ₱250 in return. Additionally, you can spend and accrue raffle entries with these profits. With Maya, your freelance endeavors will be even more fulfilling this Christmas season!
Double the Raffle Entries Every Payday!
Remember the dates! Every payday treat or well-earned indulgence becomes twice as rewarding with two raffle entries from December 11–15 and December 29–31. It's your opportunity to increase your odds of winning while borrowing, saving, and spending.
You may win back all of your holiday gastos if you stack up raffle entries and become one of the 11 fortunate winners! For the duration of the promotion, one grand prize winner will receive ₱1 million. Additionally, five monthly winners will receive ₱100,000 in shopping spree cashback in November and December!
For more details on how to become a holiday millionaire, visit maya.ph/xmas and follow us on @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
About Maya
Maya is the #1 Fintech Ecosystem in the Philippines, with Maya, the #1 Digital Bank, and Maya Business, the #1 Omni-Channel Payment Processor. Maya Bank is a digital bank regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), with deposits insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) up to ₱500,000 per depositor. To learn more about Maya, check out maya.ph and mayabank.ph. Follow Maya at @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and @mayaofficialph on Twitter.
“We are excited to open our newest center at AMA Tower. This launch is part of our ongoing efforts to provide businesses with greater flexibility, enabling them to thrive without the burden of long-term commitments. With coworking spaces continuing to rise in demand, we believe that Regus AMA Tower will provide a much-needed space for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and even large multinational corporations to grow.”~Lars Wittig, Senior Sales Vice President for IWG Asia-Pacific
(L-R) DR. AMABLE C. AGUILUZ IX – Vice Chairman and CEO of AMA, MRS. CIELO AGUILUZ -Treasurer Emeritus of AMA, DR. AMABLE R. AGUILUZ V – Chairman, Founder of AMA Group of Companies, Father of IT Education in the Philippines, LARS WITTIG – Regional SVP, APAC North and Country Manager, Philippines, ROWENA NATIVIDAD – Head of Partnership Growth
AMA Tower is an impressive IWG workspace complete with co-working spaces, private offices, meeting rooms and creative spaces
The new Regus location is part of the drive to provide top class facilities in a wide variety of locations as hybrid working becomes a reality for more workers
This opening follows a partnership agreement with the building owner, who has invested in the International Workplace Group platform to create a branded flexible workspace in their building
The location comes on the heels of International Workplace Group signing 465 new locations globally in the first half of 2024, and posting record revenue, cashflow and earnings growth
International Workplace Group, the world's largest provider of hybrid working solutions with brands such as Spaces and Regus, unveiled a cutting-edge flexible workspace in Mandaluyong City on December 4, 2024. The new Regus center is located in AMA Tower, EDSA, corner Fordham St., Brgy. Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City, introduces a new cutting-edge workspace to the local coworking community.
As hybrid working becomes more popular in the Philippines, the number of queries for space in International Workplace Group locations has skyrocketed, and this new opening will assist fulfill the growing demand. This collaboration between Regus and AMALAND meets the growing demand for hybrid workspaces, and the launch serves as an important opportunity to outline Regus' expansion strategy in the Philippines while also highlighting the unique aspects of the AMA Tower location.
The opening of International Workplace Group's latest location in Mandaluyong City follows the company's record-breaking revenue, cashflow, and profitability growth, as well as rapid network expansion, with 465 new locations signed in the first half of 2024 alone.
(L-R) DR. AMABLE C. AGUILUZ IX – Vice Chairman and CEO of AMA, MRS. CIELO AGUILUZ -Treasurer Emeritus of AMA, DR. AMABLE R. AGUILUZ V – Chairman, Founder of AMA Group of Companies, Father of IT Education in the Philippines , LARS WITTIG – Regional SVP, APAC North and Country Manager, Philippines, ROWENA NATIVIDAD – Head of Partnership Growth
A New Chapter for Regus in the Philippines
The Regus AMA Tower center is the latest addition to IWG's large network in the Philippines, which now encompasses 32 centers in significant cities, including 23 in Metro Manila. With a presence ranging from Metro Manila to regional centers like as Baguio City, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Davao, and Cebu, IWG's flexible office solutions are quickly becoming the preferred workspace for enterprises of every size. As of 2024, IWG maintains 23 facilities in Metro Manila alone, with additional partner sites planned throughout the country in the future years.
Driving Growth with Flexibility
The AMA Tower center will include cutting-edge facilities geared to satisfy the changing needs of the modern workforce. From flexible office options to private meeting rooms and coworking spaces, the facility caters to enterprises seeking professional and stimulating work environments.
Expanding Horizons: Regus' Strategy for Growth
IWG's continuous expansion in the Philippines comes as the demand for coworking spaces rises. As more organizations and individuals adopt hybrid work patterns, the demand for flexible, high-quality office spaces has never been higher. With accelerating market development as businesses of all sizes adopt hybrid working for the long term, 30% of all commercial real estate is expected to be flexible workspace by 2030. Partners working with International Workplace Group can capitalize on this rapidly increasing area while benefiting from the company's unique experience. Companies can save an average of £9,000 per employee by implementing hybrid working practices.
International Workplace Group is the world's top provider of flexible workspace, with approximately 4,000 sites in over 120 countries. Members can access all locations and business services through the International Workplace Group app.
As the worldwide shift toward hybrid working intensifies, the potential for additional growth is exponential, with an estimated 1.2 billion white collar workers and a total addressable market of more than £1.57 trillion. Conventional office occupancy will continue to decline as organizations require less traditional space and shift to flexible workplace. In 2023, International Workplace Group welcomed over 800 new partner locations and serves 83% of Fortune 500 firms.
The Future of Workspaces in the Philippines
As the Philippines grows as a commercial and innovation hub, the need for flexible office spaces is likely to rise. With the development of freelancing, remote work, and the gig economy, more organizations and entrepreneurs are looking for cost-effective and efficient workplace solutions. Regus is at the vanguard of this transformation, with a huge network and a diverse range of services geared to help businesses at all stages of growth.The Regus AMA Tower center, which opened on December 4, 2024, is critical in satisfying these needs. The center lets employees to work wherever, when, and how they choose, whilst International Workplace Group's Design Your Own Office offering allows businesses to completely customize their space. Regus provides the space, flexibility, and assistance required to flourish in today's competitive landscape for start-up entrepreneurs as well as large corporations.The building owners choose to participate in the International Workplace Group platform to maximize the return on their real estate investment by leveraging on the constantly growing demand for hybrid working. With an annual investment of around £50 million in its technological platform, International Workplace Group gives partners with access to all of the company's knowledge, as well as design and fit-out support, sales and marketing capabilities.
“We are establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in the Philippines with this latest opening. As an important business hub Mandaluyong City is a fantastic place for us to boost our expansion plans. The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar as hybrid working becomes the new normal. We are very pleased to work in partnership with AMALAND to develop the Regus brand under a management agreement that will add a cutting-edge workspace to their building. Our opening in AMA Tower comes at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction, while helping the environment. Our workplace model is also proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs.”~Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of International Workplace Group PLC
International Workplace Group's multi-brand expansion strategy is intended to cater to all types of businesses and entrepreneurs. International Workplace Group delivers personal, financial, and strategic value to enterprises of all sizes, including some of the world's most interesting corporations and well-known organizations, as well as individuals and the next generation of leaders. All of them use flexible working to improve productivity, efficiency, agility, and market closeness.
"The inauguration of the Regus center at AMA Tower marks a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to foster innovation and adaptability within the Philippine business landscape. By collaborating with International Workplace Group, we are providing entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational corporations with state-of-the-art facilities that cater to the evolving demands of the modern workforce. This partnership not only enhances the flexibility and productivity of our tenants but also contributes to the economic growth of Mandaluyong City and the nation as a whole. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to International Workplace Group for their unwavering commitment to excellence and to our partners who have made this venture possible. Together, we are setting a new standard for flexible workspaces in the Philippines, empowering businesses to thrive in an ever-changing global environment."~Dr. Amable Aguiluz V, Chairman of AMA Group of Companies / AMALAND
About International Workplace Group PLC
International Workplace Group is the global market leader in hybrid work solutions and workspace branding. We provide personal, financial, and strategic value to organizations of all sizes. From some of the world's most fascinating and well-known firms to individuals and the future generation of industry leaders. All of them use International Workplace Group's hybrid working platform to boost their productivity, efficiency, agility, and market presence.
International Workplace Group's unrivaled network coverage covers approximately 4,000 locations in more than 120 countries, with 83% of Fortune 500 businesses among our growing customer base.Through their brands, including Regus, Spaces, HQ, and Signature, we assist millions of people and organizations in working more efficiently. We accomplish this by offering the world's premier hybrid work platform, which includes professional, inspiring, and collaborative workspaces as well as digital services, all accessible through the International Workplace Group app.
Giardana. Giardana in Urdaneta City is positioned as a central commercial hub in North Luzon, leveraging the connectivity of the area and potential to attract businesses and residents.
The top real estate developer in the Philippines, Vista Land, is converting Northern Luzon into bustling urban centers with its master-planned communities under the Vista Estates brand. These estates are ideally situated next to important infrastructure projects like highways, railroads, and airport upgrades with the goals of increasing regional connectivity, drawing in investors, and promoting sustainable growth.
Bramasole. Replicating the quintessential Tuscan way of life, Bramasole in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, is a 20-hectare estate designed to blend the charm of the area with modern conveniences.
Querencia. Vista Land is developing the Querencia in the heritage city of Vigan, designed to offer modern conveniences while complementing its historical charm.
Notable developments include Querencia in Vigan, which combines modern living with the city's ancient charm, and Bramasole in Laoag, which is inspired by the idyllic Tuscan lifestyle. Urdaneta City in Pangasinan, a vital trade center, will house Giardana, exploiting its connectivity to become a central economic hub. Vista Land's Ylana development in Alaminos, Pangasinan, home to the renowned Hundred Islands National Park, adds to the region's ecotourism attraction.
Offering serene homes and contemporary conveniences within tropical surroundings, this resort-inspired neighborhood prioritizes sustainability.
Ylana. In Alaminos, Pangasinan, home to the renowned Hundred Islands, Ylana aims to enhance the regional eco-tourism appeal while promoting sustainable practices.
Vista Land’s vision of integrating modern conveniences with local cultural and natural assets positions Northern Luzon as a burgeoning economic and lifestyle destination. For more information, visit www.vistaestates.vistaland.com.ph and follow VistaLandAndLifescapesOfficial.
“The Edge Sports Bar brings Malate a bold, flavorful dining experience in a high-energy atmosphere. It’s a dynamic hangout perfect for sports lovers, foodies, and arcade fans alike where the collective energy of passionate minds and good company come together.”~Alan Sy, Assistant Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Entertainment
The Edge Sports Bar Highlights
Delectable Dishes & Signature Cocktails: From craveable classics to one-of-a-kind creations, paired with drinks crafted by our top mixologists.
Games Galore: Enjoy the fun of arcade games, challenge friends at the beer pong table, or take over the PlayStation area for next-level gaming!
Stunning Venue: A bold, modern setting with moody lighting and screens so you won’t miss a second of the action!
Prepare to discover Manila's hottest new sports and entertainment destination, The Edge Sports Bar at LaVie Resort & Casino in Malate! Whether you're a sports fan, an arcade enthusiast, or simply looking for the perfect hangout, The Edge Sports Bar has it all.
Taste the Flavor
The Edge Sports Bar provides a culinary experience to satisfy any craving. Indulge in delectable signature dishes, ranging from crave-worthy bar bites to full-flavor creations, all perfectly paired with our handcrafted cocktails. Each dish is a celebration of bold flavors and good times, making your culinary experience unforgettable.
Feel the Energy
The Edge Sports Bar is more than just a venue; it's an experience. With a layout that allows guests to immerse themselves in a sports and gaming environment, it's the ideal location for gatherings—whether it's a lively reunion, a casual hangout, or a celebration of your favorite team's win. The dynamic space is surrounded by interactive games and a lively atmosphere, ensuring that each visit is full of laughter, camaraderie, and endless fun.
Live the Game
With The Edge Sports Bar's impressive game lineup, you can immerse yourself in nonstop entertainment. There's something for everyone, from classic entertainment units to crowd favorites like Beer Pong Tables, Foos Ball Tables, Arcades, Darts, Pop-A-Shot Station, and a PlayStation area. Whether you're challenging friends or playing solo, the adrenaline and excitement keep the fun going.
Located at LaVie Resort & Casino, Malate’s newest entertainment hotspot! Find us at 1588 New Coast Hotel Manila, Pedro Gil St. corner M.H. Del Pilar, Malate, Manila.
Your New Favorite Hangout Awaits!
Kick back, dig in, and game on at The Edge Sports Bar – where every night feels like a victory!
