News

Google Wallet rolls out in the Philippines

Android users can now tap-to-pay and store digital essentials in one app

Published

November 18, 2025

Rodneil Quiteles

Google has officially launched Google Wallet in the Philippines. This gives Android users a secure and convenient way to pay in stores, online, and in-app. The service also supports digital items such as loyalty cards, boarding passes, event tickets, and more.

Google Wallet is available for download on the Google Play Store starting today. You can add a participating bank card to Google Wallet, then pay with your Android phone or Wear OS device wherever contactless payments are accepted.

Prep Palacios, Country Manager of Google Philippines, said the launch aligns with the country’s growing digital lifestyle and supports faster, safer transactions.

FinTech Alliance PH chairman Lito Villanueva noted the service strengthens financial inclusion, backed by collaboration between the private sector and government.

BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan emphasized that banks and e-money issuers remain responsible for risk management when working with technology service providers. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said Google Wallet supports the nation’s digitalization agenda.

Features and supported partners

Google Wallet stores digital credentials securely. The app holds your payment cards, and Google Pay completes the transaction. You can also add boarding passes from Philippine Airlines and other carriers, with instant alerts for flight changes. The app supports event and cinema tickets, loyalty cards, vouchers, and digital car keys.

Participating issuers include Visa and Mastercard cardholders from banks such as China Bank, EastWest, RCBC, GoTyme, Maya, UnionBank, Wise, Zed, and GCash. Online payments are supported on platforms like Shopee and select merchants via partner payment service providers.

For transit, users can tap and pay at MRT-3 stations, modern jeepneys in Cebu and Mandaue City, and other terminals that accept Visa or Mastercard. Google Wallet supports digital tickets from Easybook. Beep App integration will follow soon.

Setup and security

To enable tap-to-pay, users can add a card inside the app, agree to terms, and complete verification. Google Wallet uses tokenization and device-specific security codes for every transaction, with screen lock required for access. Lost devices can be secured or erased via Find My Device.

Google Wallet is now available for download through the Google Play Store.

Related Topics:Google Wallet Philippines

Gaming

Bloodborne is getting an R-rated animated film adaptation

And it’s going to be produced by Sony and Jacksepticeye.

Published

April 14, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

FromSoftware fans are eating well these days. Though gamers are still anticipating the arrival of The Duskbloods on the Switch 2, the studio’s other franchises are getting well-deserved nods for adaptations: Sekiro, Elden Ring, and now, Bloodborne.

Sekiro has already been slated for an anime adaptation for a while now. Meanwhile, Alex Garland recently confirmed that he is adapting Elden Ring for A24. Today, Sony Pictures has confirmed that the studio is working on an R-rated animated film based on Bloodborne.

Via Variety, Sony Pictures president Sanford Panitch says that the upcoming adaptation will keep the game’s essence of horror and gore. With a name like “Bloodborne,” you can’t have an adaptation without a heaping of blood.

Besides Sony, the animated project has another big name attached to its production: YouTuber Jacksepticeye. Throughout his career, the creator has been vocal about considering Bloodborne as his favorite game of all time. He even has a tattoo of the Hunter’s Mark on his forearm. For this project, Jack will be a co-producer.

Though the creator’s skill in filmmaking is still a relative unknown, Jack’s love for the game should give the project a gamer’s voice. If anything, Markiplier’s recent Iron Lung adaptation offers optimism that YouTubers can also create decent films.

Gaming

Xbox CEO admits Game Pass is too expensive right now

Her statement was clear in a leaked memo.

Published

April 14, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Formerly a cheap and convenient way to enjoy content, today’s subscription services are anything but affordable. Signing up for so many services can quickly pile up and rob you of a significant chunk of your monthly salary. Today, recently instated Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has surprisingly agreed with the sentiment and called out the Game Pass for being “too expensive for players.”

While today’s subscriptions still conveniently collate a swath of content under one roof, their service providers continuously up their prices for no reason or, worse, for the promise of AI features no one asked for. The Game Pass is no different after a series of price hikes have placed the service beyond what budget-conscious players might call justifiable.

As of late, Sharma has been adamant about the resurgence of Xbox as a worthy competitor to the PlayStation and the Switch. She even teased the platform’s next generation as a device that can also play PC games.

Today, in a leaked memo (via The Verge), Sharma has reportedly admitted to the ongoing pitfalls of the Game Pass system.

“Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system which will take time to test and learn around,” she said.

A simple price cut still seems like a lot to hope for. Xbox might also introduce a new tier that might reduce the price at the expense of some features. At the very least, Xbox’s new head recognizes the problem of an overly expensive subscription.

News

vivo V70 FE pre-orders now open, starts at PhP 25,999

Offers, perks available throughout pre-order period

Published

April 13, 2026

GadgetMatch

vivo has officially opened pre-orders for the vivo V70 FE, the more affordable follow-up to the vivo V70 launched last February.

The pre-order period is until April 24 and the midrange smartphone is available in two memory configurations:

8GB+256GB: PhP 25,999
12GB+256GB: PhP 29,999

Customers who place pre-orders at vivo stores nationwide will receive:

limited-time vivo VIP Card with a 6-month extended warranty and 6-month broken screen insurance
limited edition vivo Buds Air3
PhP 1,000 discount

Customers can also bring home the vivo V70 FE for as low as PhP 37/day with 0% interest installment plans up to 18 months via Home Credit.

In addition, Globe has been tapped as the official network partner for a free prepaid SIM with 1-year unli 5G.

The vivo V70 FE has a POP MART Zsiga Exclusive Photo Border, thanks to its partnership with the IP. You may recall that the vivo V70 also released an exclusive Golden Hour colorway earlier.

The device is built for creators with a 200MP main camera, which can deliver portraits at different focal lengths, including an 85mm zoom.

In front is a 32MP camera and a 6.81-inch 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED display.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7360-Turbo processor. It houses a 7,000mAh battery with support for 90W fast charging.

Customers can choose from three colorways: Muse Purple, Ocean Blue, and Urban Silver.