Mobile gaming has already seeped into the modern Filipino culture as one of the favorite pastimes of Pinoys of different ages, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2021 report from We Are Social, a global company providing social insights, 72.1% of Filipino internet users spend their time playing mobile games. Quite a number of players have also built careers around it, like content creator and game streamer Cong TV. 

Cong, aka Lincoln Velasquez, started as a vlogger on YouTube doing parodies and comedy skits and got into gaming during the height of the popularity of the online multiplayer battle royale game Player Unknown: Battleground (PUBG) in 2018. Since then, Cong has transitioned into becoming a gaming content creator, streaming his live gameplays of PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile (CODM), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and most recently, Valorant, on his social media channels. Now, Cong TV is hailed as one of the top content creators on Youtube, with over 8M subscribers.  

“Hindi naman talaga ako hardcore gamer. ‘Pag may sobrang time lang sa buong maghapon, sumisingit-singit lang ng laro, pero imposibleng dumaan ang isang araw na hindi ako naglalaro,” says Cong, who thinks gaming is part of his daily self-care routine as a stress-reliever. 

(I’m not a hardcore gamer. I make it a point to play (mobile games) whenever I have time, but it’s impossible that a day goes by without me playing.) 

But even though he doesn’t consider himself a pro, he makes sure to elevate his gaming with skins, and other character and weapon upgrades. “Ako kasi importante sa ’kin na meron akong magagandang skins kasi feeling ko mas lumalakas ako, mas gumaganda yung tutok ko kaysa dun sa default skin lang. Saka mas okay siya, mas masarap maglaro, nakaka-enjoy. Kahit na talo ako sa laro, ‘pag bago o maganda yung skins ko, parang panalo pa rin ako.” 

(For me, upgrading my character’s skin is very important because it makes me feel stronger and more focused when playing than just having the default skin. It also makes me enjoy playing more. So even if I sometimes lose, my cool new skin still makes me feel like a winner.) 

Upgrading his character’s skins is easy and hassle-free because Cong utilizes contactless payments like PayMaya to pay for his gaming purchases. In fact, more gamers like Cong are now able to enjoy a better gaming experience with the e-wallet’s newest in-app offering – PlayMaya.  

Cong has recently been introduced as the ambassador for PlayMaya, PayMaya’s in-app gaming offering that provides Filipinos exclusive rewards to gaming-related purchases, access to over 290 gaming products, engaging mini-games, and curated gaming content. PayMaya is the first and only e-Wallet in the Philippines with this game-changing feature. It is part of PayMaya’s thrust to unlock and enrich the digital life of Filipino consumers with digital payment technology. 

For Cong, PlayMaya is all about the convenience and rewards of gaming as it offers a wide range of products and features that every mobile gamer needs. “Beneficial talaga para sa gamers ang PlayMaya kasi maraming iba-ibang gaming pins na makikita dun para sa PUBG Mobile, CODM, MLBB, Valorant, at marami pang iba. Ang maganda sa PlayMaya ay bukod sa mas convenient bumili ng pins, marami rin silang cashback promos kaya alam mong mas sulit ang binibili mo.” 

(Having a PlayMaya account is really beneficial for gamers because they offer a wide range of gaming products for mobile games like PUBG Mobile, CODM, MLBB, Valorant, and many others. What’s great about PlayMaya is apart from being a convenient way to purchase pins, they also have a number of cashback promos so you know you’re getting the best value for your money.) 

Whether you’re a hardcore or a casual gamer, you can definitely enjoy a better gaming experience with PlayMaya, just like Cong. All you have to do is go to the PayMaya app, press the Play button, and enjoy PlayMaya’s exclusive gaming offers.  

Before becoming a brand ambassador for PlayMaya, Cong has already been an avid PayMaya user. Aside from using the e-wallet for his gaming purchases, Cong also utilizes his PayMaya account for paying utility bills and shopping for everyday essentials.  

“Dati kasi pumipila pa ako sa payment centers sa pagbayad ng bills and nakita ko kung gaano kahirap yung pagpila lalo na ngayong nagso-social distancing tayo.So, yun yung unang reason bakit ako nag-download ng PayMaya noon, para mabawasan ng 1000% yung hassle na nararanasan ko. Nagsa-shopping din ako using PayMaya Mall, yun yung ginagamit ko kapag bumibili ng mga kailangan ko online,” he added.  

(I used to line up at payment centers to pay for my bills, and I saw how difficult that would be especially these days when we’re required to practice social distancing. That’s the main reason I downloaded PayMaya – so I can lessen the hassle by 1000%. I also shop at the PayMaya Mall, where I can purchase our everyday needs online.)  

For Cong, playing games and completing errands is now more convenient and rewarding, thanks to PayMaya. You too can enjoy a leveled-up cashless lifestyle when you download the PayMaya app for free on Google Playstore and Apple App Store.  

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country, including “everyday” merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants, as well as government agencies and units.    

PayMaya provides more than 35 million Filipinos with access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 250,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of 39,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya’s products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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