Jax Reyes Won’t Stop Speaking Out Against Gambling — Even When It Costs Him a Sponsorship

 

Finance content creator Jax Reyes has spent the past year building one of the most consistent public campaigns against online gambling in the Philippine content space — turning down paid partnerships, citing government data on how far the problem has spread, and steadily pointing his followers toward legitimate ways to grow their money instead.

A YEAR-LONG ADVOCACY, NOT A TREND

Jax Reyes has been vocal on the issue since at least July 2025, when he appeared on ABS-CBN's TV Patrol to argue that Filipinos are better off avoiding gambling altogether. He has continued raising the issue on his own Facebook page ever since, telling followers that his position hasn't shifted — that speaking out against gambling was never about riding a trend, but a continuous advocacy against what he describes as a crisis quietly damaging Filipino families.

TURNING DOWN THE BRIEF

In one post, Jax Reyes shared a screenshot of an unsolicited pitch from an agency representing an online gambling platform, inviting him to join a campaign built around “Responsible Gaming” messaging — encouraging players to set limits and maintain a healthy balance while playing. Reyes turned the offer down, telling his followers that no rate could be worth trading his audience's peace of mind for a quick paycheck.

THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE WARNING

Reyes has repeatedly cited PAGCOR data reported by Inquirer.net in August 2025, showing an estimated 32 million adult Filipinos are now gamblers — up sharply from roughly 469,000 recorded online gambling players in 2018. As he's pointed out to his followers, that figure now exceeds the number of Filipinos who hold a credit card, or even a bank account, and represents nearly half of the country's working-age population.

REDIRECTING TOWARD LEGITIMATE ALTERNATIVES

Rather than gambling, Reyes has urged his followers toward options like High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSA), Pag-IBIG MP2, mutual funds, and the SSS Pension Booster — regulated vehicles he says protect hard-earned savings instead of risking them. He's described the hardest part of quitting gambling as accepting that money already lost cannot be won back.

“Stop chasing your losses.”

A POSITION KasKasan Buddies SHARES

The pushback echoes a stance KasKasan Buddies (KKB), the Philippines' #1 personal finance community with over 2 million members across platforms, has also taken publicly. KKB has said it will never promote any online gambling platform — casino, sportsbook, or betting app — regardless of any offer or partnership presented to it, and has pointed Buddies toward the same category of legitimate alternatives: HYSA, Pag-IBIG MP2, and regulated investment products.

As individual voices like Jax Reyes keep choosing advocacy over sponsorship checks, the message reaching their followers stays the same: real financial security is built through saving and investing, not chasing wins in a game designed, from the start, to keep the house ahead.

About KasKasan Buddies Ventures Corporation

KasKasan Buddies (KKB) is the Philippines' #1 finance community and app, empowering Filipinos to “KasKas Wisely” through accessible financial literacy, budgeting tools, and exclusive credit card deals. With over 2 million community members and 520,000+ app users, KKB partners with major banks and government agencies to make personal finance a healthy, open conversation for every Filipino.

 

Won the Project but Need Funds to Start? Here's How Contractors Can Keep Projects Moving with PayNow

 

 Goldwater Capital explains how PayNow helps contractors bridge cash flow gaps and fund projects while waiting for client payments.

For many contractors and project-based businesses, winning a project is a major milestone. But for some, it's also where the real challenge begins.

The contract is signed. The opportunity is secured.

But before any payment comes in, the work needs to start. Materials must be purchased. Workers need to be mobilized. 

Equipment has to be secured.

And all of this requires cash. Right now.

Winning the project is only the beginning—working capital keeps it moving

This is a challenge faced by thousands of Filipino contractors, suppliers, and service providers every day.

The Problem Isn't Sales. It's Timing and Starting the Project

Many business owners assume that cash flow problems only happen when a company lacks customers.

In reality, even businesses with confirmed projects can struggle.

Imagine this.

A contractor successfully wins a new project worth several hundred thousand pesos. The client is reputable and payment is guaranteed.

The catch?

Payment will only be released after project milestones are completed or even 60 days later.

Before any billing can happen, the contractor must first:

- Purchase materials

- Mobilize manpower

- Pay suppliers

- Cover operational expenses

Nandiyan na ang proyekto. Sigurado na ang kita.

Pero kailangan mo munang gumastos bago ka makapagsimula at kumita

When One Project Delays the Next

For many contractors, delayed collections don't just affect one project.

They can affect future opportunities as well.

Without available working capital, business owners may find themselves:

- Delaying material purchases

- Turning down new projects

- Missing supplier discounts

- Stretching payroll budgets

- Taking on unnecessary financial stress

Instead of focusing on delivering quality work, they end up worrying about how to bridge the gap between expenses today and payments tomorrow.

Turning Project Opportunities Into Action

This is where PayNow by Goldwater Capital can help.

PayNow is designed for businesses that have secured projects but need access to funds to get started.

Instead of waiting for milestone payments or delayed collections, qualified businesses can access working capital to support project mobilization and execution.

Whether it's purchasing materials, paying suppliers, mobilizing workers, or covering operational costs, having access to funding allows contractors to move forward with confidence.

Helping Businesses Say Yes to More Opportunities

Every contractor knows that opportunities don't wait.

When a new project becomes available, clients expect immediate action.

The ability to mobilize quickly often determines whether a business wins future contracts and strengthens long-term client relationships.

Kapag may access sa working capital, mas madaling tanggapin ang bagong opportunities without worrying about short-term cash flow gaps.

Instead of waiting for collections before moving forward, businesses can focus on growth, delivery, and customer satisfaction.

A Financing Partner for Project-Based Businesses

At Goldwater Capital, we understand that contractors, suppliers, and project-based businesses operate on timelines that don't always match payment schedules.

Through PayNow, our goal is to help qualified businesses unlock working capital from their receivables so they can continue operating, fulfill commitments, and pursue new opportunities with confidence.

Because sometimes, business growth isn't about finding more projects.

It's about having the resources to keep moving while waiting to get paid.

About PayNow

PayNow is a receivables financing solution by Goldwater Capital that helps qualified businesses access working capital based on outstanding receivables. Designed for contractors, suppliers, and SMEs, PayNow enables businesses to bridge cash flow gaps, fund operations, and continue growing without waiting for lengthy payment cycles. Based on PayNow's program, qualified SMEs can convert what clients owe them into funds they can use today, with fast approval and no hard collateral required.

About Goldwater Capital Inc

Goldwater Capital is a Philippine financing company committed to helping individuals and businesses bridge the financial gap between ambition and achievement. Through fast, fair, and technology-driven financing solutions—including business funding, salary advances, and education financing—we empower Filipinos to pursue opportunities, manage cash flow, and achieve sustainable growth.

One App, Every Money Move: Inside the KasKasan Buddies App’s All-in-One Toolkit

KasKasan Buddies (KKB), the Philippines’ #1 personal finance community with over 2 million members across platforms, is spotlighting its free mobile app as a single home base for the tools Filipinos already juggle to manage a credit card life — comparing cards, catching bank promos, tracking bills, splitting expenses with friends, and building real financial literacy. 

Most tools on the market do one job at a time. A bill-splitting app only splits bills. A budgeting app only tracks spending. A coupon site only lists promos. A comparison site only ranks cards. The KasKasan Buddies app was built specifically around Philippine banks and Filipino spending habits, bringing all of it into one connected home screen — instead of four different apps.

EIGHT TOOLS, ONE HOME SCREEN

•  Cards — a virtual card holder that lets members compare credit cards across banks like UnionBank, BPI, RCBC, Metrobank, and HSBC, track benefits like fee waivers and lounge access, and unlock NAFFL (No Annual Fee For Life) promos — all without entering a real card number, CVV, or PIN.

•  HYSA Comparison — a side-by-side view of High-Yield Savings Account offerings from participating Philippine banks and digital banks, covering interest rates, minimum balance requirements, withdrawal limits, and other key terms — so members can see where their idle money actually grows fastest before opening an account.

•  Deals & Promos Near Me — a home feed organized into Dining, Cashback, Travel, and more, plus a live map view that surfaces nearby deals based on the member’s location in real time.

•  Guides — step-by-step walkthroughs for landing welcome offers, waived annual fees, and airport lounge access, alongside broader travel tipid (money-saving) tips.

•  Fin Lit 101 — a built-in financial literacy library of bite-sized lessons on budgeting, credit card basics, and card safety, designed to be read in a few minutes.

•  KKBudget — a budget tracker built for Filipino spending categories, with savings goals and recurring transactions — built entirely on entries members log themselves, with no bank account connection required.

•  KKBills — a due-date dashboard for every credit card and subscription, with live countdowns to help members avoid late fees.

•  KKBayad — a bill-splitting tool for barkada trips, households, and recurring hangouts, so groups can track shared expenses and settle up without doing the math themselves.

BUILT AROUND PRIVACY AND INDEPENDENCE

KKB emphasized that the app is designed so members never have to hand over sensitive financial details just to use it. Saving a card to a profile only marks it as “owned” from KKB’s card catalog — no card number, CVV, expiry date, or PIN required — and KKBudget runs entirely on entries members log themselves. The app processes personal data in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act 10173).

KKB also noted that while it partners with select banks — including UnionBank, Metrobank, and HSBC — for exclusive promos and streamlined applications, non-partner cards remain fully visible for comparison, and any partner placement is clearly labeled so members can still make an independent choice.

FREE TO EVERY KKBUDDY

Downloading the app and using its core features — deal discovery, HYSA Comparison, KKBudget, KKBills, KKBayad, Guides, and Fin Lit 101 — is free for every user. Like most comparison and deals platforms, KKB said this never changes the price, terms, or approval odds a member gets, and in many cases unlocks an exclusive welcome offer not available through a bank’s standard channel.

For every Buddy who currently jumps between a bank app, a coupon site, a spreadsheet, and a group chat just to spend smarter, KKB’s message is simple: it can all live in one place.

Download the KasKasan Buddies App for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to get started.

KasKas Wisely, KKBuddies.

About KasKasan Buddies Ventures Corporation

KasKasan Buddies (KKB) is the Philippines' #1 finance community and app, empowering Filipinos to “KasKas Wisely” through accessible financial literacy, budgeting tools, and exclusive credit card deals. With over 2 million community members and 520,000+ app users, KKB partners with major banks and government agencies to make personal finance a healthy, open conversation for every Filipino.

DID YOU KNOW?

Long Before the Philippines Became a Nation, This Dam Was Already Sustaining Farmers in Misamis Occidental

By Bhal Abad Cabrera | Malindang NewsLine

PLARIDEL, Misamis Occidental — For more than 150 years, the Nazareno-Gamutan Dam and Irrigation System has done more than deliver water—it has sustained livelihoods, strengthened communities, and secured harvests for generations of farmers in Plaridel.

Its story began in 1872, when Nazareno Namocatcat, a migrant from Bohol, envisioned bringing water from the Langaran River to the municipality’s farmlands. Together with about 30 pioneering settlers, he built the first diversion canal using only stones, timber, and indigenous engineering techniques. Their determination laid the foundation of what is now known as the Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation System (NGIS).

The group they established eventually became the Nazareno Gamutan Agricultural Development Irrigators Association (NGADIA)—recognized today as the first farmers’ organization in the Municipality of Plaridel.

More than a century and a half later, the irrigation system continues to irrigate nearly 1,000 hectares of farmland and serves more than 3,000 farmers, making it one of the most important agricultural lifelines in Plaridel. Every drop of water flowing through its canals represents productive rice fields, stable incomes for farming families, and greater food security for the community.

What makes the Nazareno-Gamutan Dam truly remarkable is not only its age but also the enduring tradition behind it. Long before concrete diversion structures existed, farmers known as the “Pahinante,” together with the Cabicilla Leaders, gathered before every planting season to rebuild the stone diversion dam by hand, ensuring that water reached every field. This unique tradition of cooperation has been passed down from one generation to the next and continues today under the stewardship of NGADIA.

In an era of climate change, unpredictable weather, and rising agricultural costs, the Nazareno-Gamutan Dam remains as relevant as ever. It is more than a historic landmark—it is a vital source of irrigation that helps farmers increase productivity, protect their livelihoods, and strengthen the local food supply.

Today, the Nazareno-Gamutan Dam stands as a living monument to Filipino ingenuity, community cooperation, and agricultural resilience. For over 150 years, it has continued to flow—not only with water, but with a legacy of perseverance that still nourishes the fields and the future of Misamis Occidental.

6200 Book fest concludes inaugural three-day celebration

  

The inaugural 6200 BookFest concluded its three-day run last July 19, bringing together publishers, authors, booksellers, readers, and creatives in Dumaguete City. 

Filled with book launches, literary discussions, workshops, performances, and publishing initiatives, the festival was held from July 17 to 19 primarily at Filinvest Malls Dumaguete.

Organized by the Arts and Design Collective Dumaguete (ADCD) and the Duma LitFest team in partnership with the Dumaguete City Government, the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and Futura Shores by Filinvest Land, the festival carried the theme "Across the Shores" and served as a host event for the NBDB's Philippine Book Festival in the Regions initiative. It is also the first regional book fair of its kind in the Negros Island Region.

The festival featured a marketplace of national and independent publishers and literary organizations, including Vibal Group, 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing, Anvil Publishing, Haring Ibon, Everything's Fine, Aklat Alamid, Sto. Niño de Cebu Publishing House, Central Books, Johnny and Hansel Publications, ABC Children's Books, DumAlt Press, Sands and Coral, Libraria, Romanceclass, Utopia, and Happy Unicorn. Authors Kate D. Pirate and Joanna Villamor also participated in the festival's programming and marketplace.

Programming included book presentations and launches, focused group discussions, film screenings, musical performances, workshops, and keynote sessions.

The first day opened with a series of book presentations and launches featuring Geraldine Solon's “Talk Smarter Live Better” series, Angela Fabunan Flores' “Migratory Notes,” the 2026 edition of the Sands and Coral literary anthology titled “Maps,” Anna Del Prado's “The Happy Unicorn,” and Koren Fontelo's “Tiny Hands, Growing Faith.”

On day two, the NBDB convened a focused group discussion attended by publishers, authors, booksellers, and creatives to discuss registration policies, publishing grants, and the role of Dumaguete as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature in the Philippine literary value chain. 

The day's program also included a screening of Lilas in partnership with UNESCO Creative Cities Network member Quezon City of Film, alongside book presentations by Central Books authors Dr. Noel Marjon E. Yasi, Dr. Armando A. Alviola, Atty. Marcelino C. Maxino, and Atty. Mikhail Lee L. Maxino. 

Moreover, independent publisher Anvil Publishing presented Ian Rosales Casocot's “The Last Days of Magic,” while DumAlt Press introduced its upcoming book of Dr. Justin Bulado during the afternoon program.

The festival's final day featured Andrea Panaligan's Zine Makeshop, a musical performance by Kate Torralba, the NBDB Primer on Registration, book presentations by Kate D. Pirate Books and Everything's Fine, a launch of the latest issue of Duma’s local food zine, Kaon-Kaon, and the launch of “Rosa Redux: Women from Southeast Asia,” edited by Katrina Stuart Santiago. 

Historian and author Ambeth Ocampo delivered the festival's closing keynote address before the official closing program, Panamilit: A Festival Closer.

Meanwhile, “BookFest: The Post-Script” events held on July 20 extended the festival's programming beyond its official dates. 

Ocampo led a meet-and-greet and booksigning session at LibrAria and delivered a guest lecture at Silliman University. The festival also hosted Pamahaw, a book signing event paired with a traditional Dumaguete breakfast at The Sala. 

The inauguration of 6200 BookFest marked Dumaguete City's first book festival following its designation as the Philippines' first UNESCO Creative City of Literature. 

Through partnerships between local and national literary organizations, the festival provided a platform for discussions on literature, publishing, and the role of creative communities in regional cultural development.

About Backpack Solutions, Inc.

Backpack Solutions supports ADCD and the Duma LitFest team as its marketing and content media partner. Backpack believes in 'content for good, of good'

www.backpack.solutions