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PLDT Home: Free Calls to Filipinos in Middle East

by Contributor
written by Contributor

In times of uncertainty, the sound of a loved one’s voice gives more than comfort. As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, PLDT Home is committed to ensuring that families remain connected when it matters most.

To help Filipino families navigate these uncertain times, PLDT Home has activated free International Direct Dial (IDD) calls for subscribers in the Philippines who need to reach loved ones in affected regions.

From March 1 to 7, PLDT Home subscribers can make free international calls from their landlines to the countries with the following area codes:

  • Bahrain: +973
  • Kuwait: +965
  • Iraq: +964
  • Oman: +968
  • Qatar: +974
  • Saudi Arabia: +966
  • United Arab Emirates: +971
  • Israel: +972
  • Iran: +98

To make an IDD call, subscribers must dial “00” (exit code) + country code + area/mobile code + phone number when placing the call. There’s no limit to the number of calls a subscriber can make per day and each call may last up to 30 minutes.

By waiving these international charges, PLDT Home ensures that families in the Philippines can connect, reassure, and update their loved ones abroad without the burden of cost. 

PLDT Chairman, President and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan announced the support through an X post saying, “The marching order is to make it easy for our countrymen to reach their loved ones and vice versa.” The PLDT Group has also activated its 24/7 Smart crisis hotline for those who need to connect with their loved ones at home at +63288457799 or call the DMW-OWWA 1348 hotline for free through PLDT Global’s TinBo app for overseas Filipinos.

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Community

Tanduay Gives Homecoming Gifts to Returning OFWs at Cebu Airport

by Contributor
written by Contributor

CEBU, Philippines —  Coming home for the holidays is a significant moment for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs),  many of whom have spent countless occasions away from their loved ones. Some of them even have to wait years to return to the Philippines and be part of their family gatherings.

To celebrate their homecoming, Tanduay welcomed them with Tanduay Select, one of the brand’s most popular products, upon their arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport last December 29.

“At Tanduay, we recognize the hard work and sacrifices of our OFWs. We hope that this gift would remind them of the love and warmth of home as they celebrate the holidays with their families,” said Tanduay International Business Development Manager Roy Kristoffer Sumang.

As the OFWs stepped into the arrival area of Terminal 2, they were greeted by Tanduay representatives who gave them their Tanduay Select 700 mL bottle and a complimentary rocks glass.

Tanduay Select is the embodiment of Tanduay’s Filipino heritage and craftsmanship, making it the perfect gift for the country’s modern-day heroes. It is made with a unique blend of cane spirits derived from choice sugarcane, and has a 30% ABV (alcohol by volume).

Jerika Lorraine Demillo, who came home from Japan, expressed her appreciation for Tanduay’s surprise, saying, “Tagal ko nang hindi nakakainom (ng Tanduay). Thank you po sa Tropang Tanduay for this very wonderful surpise.”

Ludevico Amodal, who came back from Qatar, also thanked Tanduay for the gift. “Magiging masaya ang New Year natin,” he said.

Another OFW who received a Tanduay Select expressed how she missed her family. “Super miss ko na (ang aking pamilya). Hindi nila alam na uuwi ako ngayon,” said Hazel Tusoy, who has been away from her family for two years working in Hong Kong.

“We raise our glass to all hardworking Filipinos, wherever they are in the world. As a brand that values family and dedication, we are proud to honor your efforts, especially during this joyful season,” Sumang said.

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Community

Give the gift that travels far into the future

by Contributor
written by Contributor

This Christmas, we know your heart is back home.

After all, wala nang mas hihigit pa sa pag-uwi para sa pamilya. But while you can’t be with your family now, you always find ways to make your presence felt: a balikbayan box lovingly and carefully filled with pasalubong that would surely make them feel important, a remittance sent with love, or video calls squeezed in between long hours of work.

But as the years pass, you will surely find yourself wishing for something more, not just joy this holiday season, but something that will last a lifetime for the people you love.

A gift that goes beyond Christmas

As an OFW, supporting your family is both a blessing and a responsibility. And sometimes you ask yourself:

Paano ko mas mapagaganda ang kinabukasan nila? What will happen to my family if something happens to me, especially when I am far away?

We worry, we confront the hard realities of life, and these should spur us on to plan for the future. We do all these because we love.

It has been the same with InLife for the last 115 years. For InLife, love should be expressed not only during special occasions like Christmas, but beyond, and most especially, in the everyday difficult decisions that protect the family’s future. Love should make others feel a sense of security and belonging, and love should empower one to take action. Because let’s face it, life is tough. But worry not, InLife’s love is tougher.

“We hope families begin honest conversations about planning for their future, whether for the children’s education, possible critical illness that could affect the family’s quality of life, the parents’ retirement, and even the untimely passing of the family’s breadwinner,” said InLife Chief Marketing Officer Gae L. Martinez. “Here we call it Love in Life: making family-focused choices today so you can strengthen the family and build a lasting legacy. Of course, you can confidently do these because InLife is here for you.”

I-Pinoy: Your partner in building a better tomorrow

Hindi matutumbasan ang saya nating Pilipino na makapiling muli ang mga mahal natin sa buhay hindi lang sa Pasko, kundi habambuhay.

And until that day comes when you can come home for good, I-Pinoy is here to help you build a secure and sustainable future for your family. I-Pinoy is InLife’s dedicated program for OFWs, designed to help them achieve their financial dreams so they can return home sooner. Through partnerships with private and government organizations, I-Pinoy provides financial wellness programs nationwide, participates in OFW events, and conducts Financial Literacy sessions with recruitment agencies.

Through I-Pinoy, you can choose insurance solutions that match your goals and your family’s needs:

  • For your children – Abundance
    A smart way to secure their education through guaranteed payouts and life protection.
  • For yourself – iProtect, Wealth Assure Plus, Resilience
    Plans that protect your income, build savings, and help cover serious illnesses because your well-being matters.
  • For your parents, (and even for yourself) – Retire Assure
    A meaningful gift that offers guaranteed monthly cash payouts and life insurance, giving one comfort and dignity in retirement.

A Gift only you can give

This Christmas, you can give your family something deeper than material gifts and celebrations: peace of mind that lasts far beyond the season. After all, your love knows no distance, and it goes beyond the present.

For more info on how you can find the greatest gift of protection for your family, visit www.inlife.com.ph, or talk to your InLife Financial Advisor. Abundance, Wealth Assure Plus and Resilience are available on a guaranteed issue offer until December 31, 2025.

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Featured

Cebu Pacific to Launch Direct Service Between Manila and Riyadh

by Contributor
written by Contributor

Cebu Pacific is giving Filipino migrant workers and their families an early Christmas gift with the launch of direct service between Manila and Riyadh, offering OFWs more affordable and accessible options to travel to Saudi Arabia or be reunited with their loved ones in the Philippines.

Starting March 1, 2026, CEB will operate flights between Manila and Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, four times weekly. Manila to Riyadh flights are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while Riyadh to Manila flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

“Our OFWs in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East make tremendous sacrifices to support their families and contribute to the Philippine economy. Launching our Manila–Riyadh service is one way we honor their hard work, making it easier and more affordable for them to fly home,” said Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer. “We remain committed to providing reliable and accessible connections for Filipinos wherever they may be in the world.”

With CEB’s direct Manila–Riyadh route, passengers can enjoy the most affordable fares between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia—saving up to 57% on roundtrip fares compared to other travel options.

To make this route launch even more meaningful, CEB is rolling out a special seat sale from December 9 to 13 where passengers can book their flights between Manila and Riyadh for as low as PHP 1, one-way base fare exclusive of surcharges and other fees. The travel period is from March 1 to October 28, 2026, ideal for OFWs planning vacations or homecoming celebrations next year.

From December 9 to 31, passengers can also avail discounts on CEB’s Fare Bundles, allowing them to purchase flights with seat selection, meals, and baggage allowance at lower rates.

Riyadh is the fourth long-haul destination in CEB’s growing international network, joining Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

The new direct flights to Riyadh will also allow more Filipinos to explore the beauty of Saudi Arabia, from its expanding cultural attractions to its modern urban destinations, as the Kingdom continues to welcome more international visitors.

Passengers may use their existing Travel Funds to book flights and avail themselves of other add-ons. CEB also offers other payment options, including credit or debit cards and e-wallets. CEB operates in 37 domestic and 27 international destinations spread across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

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Business

Western Union launches new mobile app in the Philippines

by Contributor
written by Contributor

MANILA – Western Union announced the launch of a new mobile app in the Philippines, giving millions of consumers in the country the power to send funds abroad, enjoying competitive FX rates in the process, and request remittances in a new way that adds convenience and flexibility. The Philippines is the first global market where Western Union launches an app with both send and request capabilities. 

Consumers who download and use the app can send funds abroad seamlessly, and through Western Union’s global financial network, gain access to billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and hundreds of thousands of retail locations for cash payout. To send funds, app users have the option to pay online securely using the national QR code payment method ‘QR Ph’. Signing up to use the app is easy and takes up only a few minutes.  

Equally, consumers who use the app can request funds from senders in the U.S., Australia, Singapore, the UK, and several other global markets with large Filipino diasporas present1, simply by filling in their receiver info. Senders will then be able to complete the transaction online from the country they reside in. Receivers have multiple options to access their funds: cash withdrawal at a retail location, deposit to a bank account, or directly to a digital wallet, depending on the market. Additionally, when funds are sent by Senders from abroad to the Philippines, their Receivers will be able to redirect the funds to their preferred bank account or digital wallet². Consumers can track their transfers by entering the transaction tracking number (MTCN)​ in the app. 

“Today’s launch marks an important milestone in our effort to serve consumers in the Philippines better and connect them to their families and loved ones across the world,” said Gregory Laurent, vice president for the Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands at Western Union. “For many in the country, remittances represent a life with more opportunity and hope. At the same time, an increasing number of Filipinos opt to send funds abroad. Our new app gives the opportunity to do both, with the flexibility and trust that Western Union can provide.”  

According to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, remittances to the Philippines reached an all-time high of $38bn in 2024. According to the World Bank, the Philippines had the fourth-highest remittance levels among low- and middle-income countries last year. The United States was the biggest source of cash remittances in 2024, followed by Singapore.  

The app is available on the App Store and Google Play. 

1 Global markets available: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Saudi Arabia
2 Applies to digital transfers from the USA, Italy, Germany and the UK.

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