Holiday Shopping Puts Payment Security to the Test for Philippine Merchants

 As Philippine retailers prepare for 11.11, 12.12 and the Christmas shopping rush, much of the focus will be on attracting customers and driving sales. But behind every major promotion lies another challenge: distinguishing legitimate spikes in payment activity from transactions that warrant closer scrutiny.

Digital payments accounted for 64.7% of retail payment transactions by volume in 2025, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). In July 2026, the BSP also urged supervised financial institutions to strengthen authentication, cyber-threat monitoring and incident response amid emerging cybersecurity risks.

Promotional campaigns can bring unfamiliar purchasing patterns, from first-time customers to sudden increases in transaction frequency. For merchants, the challenge is recognising these legitimate changes while identifying activity that may require further review.

According to Eng Sheng Guan, CEO of Fiuu, the objective during major sales events is not to apply stricter controls across every transaction, but to ensure payment risks are assessed within the context of each merchant's business.

"Security should protect genuine customers, not become an obstacle for them," said Eng. "During major promotional campaigns, payment decisions should be informed by transaction context so that legitimate purchases continue to move smoothly while activity that warrants closer scrutiny can be identified."

Understanding payment risks without disrupting genuine customers

Promotional campaigns often bring legitimate changes in customer behaviour, including higher purchase volumes, new shoppers, repeat attempts and increased transaction frequency. While not every unusual or failed transaction indicates fraud, repeated failures involving different payment credentials may warrant closer review as they could signal card testing or unauthorised use of payment details.

Equally, failed payments may stem from various factors, such as issuer decisions, insufficient funds, authentication issues or temporary network interruptions. Understanding the reasons behind these failures helps merchants distinguish genuine customers from potential threats while avoiding unnecessary lost sales during peak periods.

"The first step is understanding what the payment data is telling you," Eng explained. "A transaction pattern that appears unusual on a normal day may be entirely expected during a large promotional campaign. The goal is to distinguish genuine customer behaviour from activity that requires further attention."

Preparing payment operations before the sales begin

Effective payment security begins well before customers reach the checkout page.

Ahead of major campaigns, merchants should review existing fraud controls and authentication settings with their payment providers, taking expected promotional activity into account. This can help ensure that legitimate changes in purchasing patterns are properly considered when assessing transactions.

During and after the campaign, merchants should monitor payment activity, including recurring declines, unusual transaction behaviour and customer enquiries, to identify potential issues, determine whether further investigation or support is needed, and improve payment processes moving forward.

Drawing on its experience supporting merchants during double-digit shopping campaigns and limited-edition product launches, Fiuu adapts applicable fraud-monitoring settings to better reflect expected purchasing behaviour. This helps merchants maintain appropriate security controls while minimising unnecessary interruptions for genuine customers.

Building customer confidence beyond the checkout

For merchants, successful payment security is ultimately measured not only by preventing suspicious transactions, but also by enabling genuine customers to complete their purchases with confidence.

As digital payments continue to grow across the Philippines, businesses will increasingly need payment processes that can respond to changing customer behaviour without creating unnecessary friction during periods of high demand.

"The objective is not to make payments more complicated," Eng said. "It's about applying the right controls where they matter while allowing genuine customers to complete their purchases as smoothly as possible."

A School Canteen, a Neighborhood Store: How Two Entrepreneurs Found New Ways to Earn with Maya Business

 For many Filipino entrepreneurs, new business opportunities can come from unexpected places. Sometimes, it's something discovered while scrolling on social media. Other times, it's a conversation that opens the door to new possibilities.

 

For Mark Limjuco, a school canteen in Roxas City, Capiz became more than just a place where students could grab a quick meal. Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro City, Nieves Nale found ways to keep her neighborhood store growing, even after facing setbacks along the way.

 

While their businesses serve different communities, both entrepreneurs share the same ambition: to make the most of every opportunity and find more ways to earn.

 

With Maya Business becoming part of their business journeys, Mark and Nieves show how everyday business needs can lead to bigger opportunities.

 

From a Social Media Discovery to More Ways to Earn

 

Mark Limjuco first discovered Maya Business (formerly PayMaya Negosyo) in 2019 after coming across the platform on social media. He downloaded the app out of curiosity and began using it to sell mobile load to his co-workers.

 

When the pandemic hit, Mark saw an opportunity in online food delivery. What started as an online venture eventually grew into a school canteen inside Capiz National High School in Roxas City.

 

Beyond their food needs, Mark recognized that students could also benefit from having easy access to essential digital services within the school. He continued using Maya Business to offer mobile load, bills payment, and cash-in and cash-out services alongside his food business, giving students more reasons to visit.

 

To keep up with demand, Mark needed additional working capital, particularly to maintain enough load credits throughout the day. He started with a ₱1,000 loan with Maya Business, which he used to purchase additional load credits for his student customers.

 

"Kahit maliit ang unang loan ko, naging malaking tulong ito para masimulan ang negosyo at mas mapagsilbihan ang mga estudyante." (Even though my first loan was small, it helped me continue growing my business and better serve the students.)

 

As Mark continued using Maya Business and responsibly managing his repayments, he gradually gained access to higher loan offers, allowing him to reinvest more capital into his business.

 

Since his first ₱1,000 loan,  Mark has utilized more than ₱160,000 in loans with Maya Business over time, helping him sustain his services and explore more business opportunities.

 

Today, Mark continues to work as a college instructor while operating the school canteen, where he is the sole provider of digital financial services through Maya Business.

 

Together, they have expanded their offerings to include a shake drink stall and school supplies, creating additional income streams beyond their original food and mobile load services.

 

What began as a simple discovery on social media has since become part of how Mark continues to find new ways to earn.

 

From a Sari-Sari Store to Two Growing Neighborhood Businesses

 

For Nieves Nale, running a business has been part of her life for more than two decades.

 

She opened her first sari-sari store at home in 2002 and eventually expanded to a second location. But like many entrepreneurs, her journey came with challenges, including a fire that damaged her second store.

 

Determined to rebuild and keep her business going, Nieves relied on her business income and additional working capital through a loan with Maya Business to support her recovery.

 

Her introduction to Maya Business came through a Maya representative who helped her register on the platform. She began offering mobile load and cash-in and cash-out services, giving customers more convenient ways to complete everyday transactions at her store.

 

As demand grew, Nieves needed sufficient standby funds to accommodate cash-in and cash-out transactions while keeping her business running smoothly.

 

Through a loan with Maya Business, she gained access to additional working capital, which she consistently reinvested into her business to maintain funds for customer transactions and support store improvements.

 

By making timely repayments and continuing to use Maya Business, Nieves gradually gained access to higher loan offers as her business needs grew.

 

Over time, Nieves has utilized more than ₱556,000 in loans, helping her sustain daily operations, improve her store, and continue growing her business.

 

"Proud ako na Maya Business partner ako dahil napalago ko ang negosyo ko at nakapagbukas ako ng pangalawang store." (I'm proud to be a Maya Business partner because I've been able to grow my business and open a second store.)

 

Today, Nieves continues to operate two stores in Cagayan de Oro, building on more than two decades of entrepreneurship while finding new ways to serve her customers and earn additional income.

 

More Ways to Serve Customers, More Opportunities to Grow

 

Mark and Nieves may have discovered Maya Business differently, but both found opportunities to grow by responding to what their customers needed.

 

For Mark, that meant adding mobile load and digital financial services to his school canteen before expanding into shakes and school supplies. For Nieves, it meant offering more services at her neighborhood stores while accessing additional capital to sustain operations and support improvements.

 

Through Maya Business, entrepreneurs can offer services such as mobile load, bills payment, and cash-in and cash-out transactions, creating additional income opportunities while serving their communities. Eligible Maya Business users can also access working capital through Maya Advance to support their everyday business needs.

 

Whether discovered through social media or introduced by an agent, Maya Business offers entrepreneurs practical ways to make more of their business.

 

Looking to grow your business with digital tools and services? Download the Maya Business app on Google Play and App Store and register with just one valid ID to get started.

 

Visit https://www.maya.ph/business and https://www.mayabank.ph/ to stay updated. Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. www.bsp.gov.ph. For 24/7 assistance, call 1800-10-845-7777 toll-free or 0919-057-7777 using SMART or TNT.

 

The POGI Checklist: 4 Things to Look for in the Right Scooter Engine Oil

More than just a ride, many Filipinos rely on their scooters every day to easily get to places, commute to work, or earn a living. This highlights the importance of prioritizing engine health to help keep scooters reliable and in good condition despite daily use.

When it comes to modern scooters, choosing the right engine oil is essential for proper engine protection and consistent performance. Not all engine oils in the market are created equal, so the next time you’re due for an oil change, keep these four factors in mind when choosing engine oil for your scooter.

Protects engine

Direct metal contact between engine components may lead to excessive wear, overheating, and potential damage. A high-quality oil acts as a shield between moving parts and prevents the accumulation of sludge that can be harmful to the engine. Beyond preserving the overall longevity of scooters, sustained engine protection optimizes fuel efficiency and minimizes the risk of mechanical breakdowns.

Oxidation stability

Engines operating at elevated temperatures suffer from accelerated oil degradation—a risk amplified by the country’s tropical weather and stop-and-go traffic. Oxidation may lead to reduced performance, which is why your engine oil should have oxidation-resistant properties to maintain oil stability, resist deposit formation, and support consistent lubrication.

Ganda ng acceleration

Engine responsiveness is influenced by lubricant properties like viscosity stability and friction control. Advanced oils formulated with friction-reducing technology lower internal drag within the powertrain, resulting in a noticeably smoother, more powerful ride, and effortless control across all speeds.

Init control

Effective heat management is critical for maintaining long-term engine reliability. The right engine oil delivers peak thermal stability to resist oil breakdown at high temperatures and support protection against heat-related stress.

When choosing engine oil, riders should consider these four factors alongside their scooter manufacturer’s recommended oil grade and performance specifications, Caltex Havoline SuperMatic 4T, powered by ZoomTech and engineered for heat resistance, is one option for scooter owners, with variants designed to support engine protection and heat resistance.

Caltex Havoline SuperMatic 4T is available in fully synthetic and semi-synthetic variants through select Caltex service stations and authorized motorcycle parts retailers.