Sole Lounge Is the New GEN Z Shoe Stop at SM Center Sangandaan

A good pair of shoes can pull an entire outfit together, and finding one that looks good without stretching the budget is always a win. Shoppers at SM Center Sangandaan now have a new destination to explore with the opening of Sole Lounge on the mall’s second level.

The footwear brand brings together easy-to-wear styles designed for everyday dressing, whether you are heading to class, running errands, meeting friends for coffee or spending the weekend at the mall. From minimalist slides to feminine Mary Janes, the collection offers plenty of options for refreshing your shoe rotation without going over budget.

The slide collection is a standout for its mix of comfort and style. Triple-strap pillow slides in deep plum add a rich accent to casual looks, while double-strap designs in olive, coral and cream offer a more understated take. For those who prefer a darker palette, chocolate-toned utility slides with statement buckles bring a minimalist edge to everyday outfits.

For a softer aesthetic, Sole Lounge’s knit footwear collection brings a feminine touch to the lineup. Two-tone knit Mary Janes with buckle straps can easily be styled with linen trousers, denim or flowy skirts for a polished yet relaxed look. Burgundy ballet flats finished with contrasting fabric bows add a subtle statement, while woven nude slip-ons offer a lightweight option for days spent on the go.

What makes the collection especially appealing is its accessibility. Sole Lounge offers budget-friendly footwear that can work across different parts of the day and different sides of your wardrobe. A pair can take you from a casual weekday outfit to a weekend look with just a few styling changes.

For shoppers looking to give their footwear lineup a refresh, Sole Lounge offers an easy place to start. With its mix of versatile silhouettes, trend-conscious details and accessible price points, the new store adds another style stop to SM Center Sangandaan.

Sole Lounge is located on the second level of your most loved SM Center Sangandaan.

IDfy Philippines Turns Scam Education Into Graphic Novel, Launches “Chaos in Cavite” to Unmask Money Mule Networks

Manila, Philippines — Trust tech leader IDfy Philippines launches “Chaos in Cavite,” an investigative graphic novel designed to educate the public and the financial industry on the mechanics of money mule networks and digital fraud.

 

The graphic novel continues the story of investigative journalist Cal, first introduced in IDfy’s Mayhem in Makati, whose own family was upended by identity fraud. In this installment, Cal investigates a relationship-based "pig butchering" scam targeting Ernesto Reyes, a retired banker in General Trias who lost his lifetime savings through a patient, months-long setup inside a Facebook group. The stolen funds are quickly fragmented into small transfers across mule accounts before converting to cryptocurrency and leaving the country. By following Ernesto's loss, the story exposes how ordinary citizens, often unwittingly or through coercion, are recruited into mule account networks that power multi-billion-peso fraud operations.

 

While traditional security awareness relies on static advisories that consumers often ignore, Chaos in Cavite translates complex fraud schemes into a human narrative. Through its graphics and creative narration, the novel weaves the often-fragmented aspects of money mule schemes, from identity trading and victim losses to multi-account laundering, into a single, cohesive story, illustrating how organized crime actively erodes trust across the Philippines' financial ecosystem. By turning financial crime data into an accessible visual story, the book bridges the gap between technical fraud prevention and consumer awareness.

 

Much of the narrative from Chaos in Cavite is grounded in IDfy’s latest research. According to its joint white paper released with CIBI Information Inc. titled “Mule Hunting: Are We Chasing Ghosts?,” the Philippines risks losing up to PHP 603 billion annually, or nearly 3 percent of national gross domestic product (GDP), to fraud operating through mule accounts. Analyzing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data from 2025, which covers PHP 24.74 trillion in PESONet and InstaPay transactions, the study identified PHP 1.09 trillion at risk, with 55.4 percent tied to push-payment scams and account takeovers that rely directly on mules to launder illicit capital. Crucially, with fewer than 2 percent of cybercrimes formally reported, mule accounts frequently remain active and reusable for months.

 

“While technical safeguards and regulatory compliance under AFASA are essential, technology alone cannot solve a problem that heavily relies on human vulnerability. Money mule networks thrive in the shadows because ordinary citizens often don’t realize they are being exploited until it’s too late. With Chaos in Cavite, we wanted to move past abstract security advisories and present the stark reality of digital crime in a format that resonates. By depicting how money moves from a single scam to international illicit networks, we hope to empower consumers and give institutions a clearer line of sight into the human vector of fraud," said Raghu Chandrasekhar, Country Head of IDfy Philippines.

 

The release underscores IDfy’s broader work to build trust across the Philippines' digital economy. As financial institutions raise safeguards under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), IDfy urges banks, fintechs, and other financial actors to come together to share intelligence across institutions and deploy advanced technology to outsmart and counter sophisticated perpetrators.

 

With Chaos in Cavite, IDfy pushes the conversation past pure statistics to give regulators, institutions, and everyday consumers a clear look at the human mechanics of digital crime.

 

The book will be available to the public digitally for free via https://idfy.ph/chaos-in-cavite-book.

Home Credit Makes the Latest iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max More Accessible with Double-Zero and Trade-In Offers

TAGUIG CITY, Philippines | October 16, 2026 – The latest iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max has officially arrived in the Philippines, and Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) is giving Filipinos a more flexible and easier way to make their next device upgrade through its Double-Zero and the newly introduced trade-In offer that lets customers maximize the value of their current smartphone.

Recognizing the growing role smartphones play in how people stay connected and manage their daily lives, Home Credit continues to provide more accessible and flexible ways for consumers to purchase flagship devices without placing unnecessary strain on their budgets.

Starting today, eligible customers can secure the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max for up to ₱ 137 per day. 

With Home Credit's Double-Zero offer, customers can enjoy 0% interest and zero down payment, depending on customer eligibility on iPhone 18 Pro and Phone 18 Pro Max purchases at participating authorized Apple stores nationwide. Customers can enjoy flexible installment terms of up to 24 months, making it easier to spread the cost of ownership over time. 

Home Credit is introducing its new trade-In offer, allowing eligible customers to get up to ₱50,000 in trade-in value for their current iPhone. The approved value can be applied toward the down payment of a new iPhone purchased through Home Credit. On top of the trade-in value, eligible customers can enjoy additional discounts of up to P12,000, making their next iPhone upgrade even more accessible.  Customers can check their installment shopping offer eligibility through the Home Credit app and visit participating authorized Apple retailers to avail of the offer. Terms and conditions apply. 

"At Home Credit, we believe that getting closer to the things you want should feel simpler and more affordable. With our Double-Zero offer and new Trade-in deals, customers can now enjoy a simpler and more affordable upgrade experience," said Puneet Suneja, Chief Sales Officer of Home Credit Philippines.

Available through Home Credit's extensive nationwide partner network, across key metropolitan cities and growth provinces across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max offers are designed to help customers plan their purchases with greater confidence. Customers interested in availing the Double-Zero and Trade-in offers may visit Apple partner stores nationwide including Abenson, Aerophone, Beyond the Box, Cellboy, Digimap, Digital Walker, GameXtreme, In-box, Power Mac Center, Silicon Valley, The Loop, and Wiltelcom, or shop at over 5,000 Apple resellers offering Home Credit financing.

Starting October 16 at 8 P.M., customers may also pre-order the iPhone Duo through Home Credit for as low as ₱ 227 per day for up to 24 months calculated based on 0% interest and zero down payment, making it even easier to secure Apple's latest innovation with flexible and manageable payment options. The addition of the iPhone Duo to Home Credit's financing portfolio further reinforces the company's commitment to providing Filipinos with more ways to access premium devices through payment solutions that fit their budget and financial priorities.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).