Making every peso count: How Filipinos are getting smarter about everyday spending

Grocery runs cost more than they used to. So does the commute to work, the electricity bill, the load you top up before it runs out at the worst possible moment. For many Filipinos, this hasn't changed how much they need to spend — it's changed how carefully they think about spending it.

That shift in mindset is showing up everywhere: in comparison shopping before a purchase, in hunting down the best data promo instead of grabbing whatever's convenient, in choosing to pay a bill today because there's a cashback attached instead of waiting until tomorrow. Saving well has become as much a skill as earning well.

It's in that spirit that a new app called LiveSmart has entered the picture — not as another bill-pay tool, but as an attempt to put loading, bill payments, and everyday deals in one place, so the daily task of managing money takes less time and yields a little more back. It's available now on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, open to subscribers regardless of which network they're on.

"With the rising cost of everyday expenses, Filipinos are becoming more deliberate about where they spend and how they can get more value from every peso. The LiveSmart App is designed to help make those everyday decisions a little smarter, by giving users convenient ways to load, pay bills, and access exclusive savings and offers in one place," said Lloyd R. Manaloto.

A little something extra

To mark the occasion, the app is rolling out a set of perks meant to reward the everyday habit of loading and paying bills rather than treat it as a chore. Subscribers get 5% cashback on load purchases and postpaid bill payments made through the app, along with app-exclusive promo pricing — like getting a P109-value data pack for just P105.

There's also a limited-time freebie that goes beyond connectivity: free access to AI.Smart, a workspace that bundles several AI models — including AWS Nova, ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and Thinking Machines — into one place. The idea is that a student finishing a school project, a small business owner drafting a proposal, or anyone who just needs help getting unstuck on a task can sign up with their mobile number, claim free credits, and start generating images, documents, spreadsheets, or presentations without hunting for the right tool.

More lifestyle partnerships and deals are expected to roll out over time as the app grows.

None of this means much without a connection that can keep up — and on that front, the network behind the app has recent recognition to point to. Ookla named it the Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines for the first half of 2026, with a Video Score of 72.82, the highest of any mobile operator in the country. That's the backbone the app runs on for streaming, gaming, and sharing in real time.