Easytrip Reloading Fees and Processing Time

Here's my reloading experience from Easytrip, ordered from best to worst:

1. UnionBank - ₱0.00 (FREE), instant

2. Lazada -  ₱12.00, instant

3. Shopee - ₱12.00, sometimes instant, sometimes 4 days

4. BDO mobile banking - ₱0.00 (FREE), minimum 1 business day

5. ING - ₱0.00 (FREE), 2-3 business days

6. GCash - ₱12.00, 1-2 days

7. Justpay.to - 3.5% + ₱25.00, instant

 

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If you don't have Shopee yet, you may sign up using my referral code MONSH232 to get ₱100 off your first order.

 

On top of that, you can earn rebates when paying bills via Shopee when you use Shopback. Use my referral code wtseqN or click the link below.

 

If you don't have GCash yet, get ₱50 GCash to buy load, pay bills, and many more. Just use my referral code DWGP8Y when you register.

Download the app: iOS / Android. For more information on GCash, please click here.

Earning Miles on Citibank Rewards

Citibank Rewards credit card offers 1 point for every ₱30 spent. The point gets tripled if you spend it on department stores, shopping boutiques, restaurants and Cebu Pacific tickets.

Citibank has one of the most (if not the most) extensive network of airline partners in the Philippines. You can convert your points to Etihad Guest, Emirates Skywards, Air France Flying Blue, EVA Air Infinity MileageLand, Jet Airways Jetprivilege, Qantas Frequent Flier, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, British Airways Executive Club, Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles (not available as of this writing), Qatar Airways Privilege Club,Turkish Airlines Miles&Miles, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus.

The conversion rate is 5 points = 1 mile. On normal spending, ₱150  will give you 1 mile. On transactions where you earn 3x rewards, ₱50 = 1 mile. A bit high if you ask me.

Prestigious Credit Cards in the Philippines

I saw someone using a metal credit card a few days ago. It was my first time seeing one and got intrigued by it. I searched the internet and found out the guy is using a credit card from United Overseas Bank (UOB), a bank from Singapore.

Metal cards are the next tier of elite cards. Can we still call credit cards 'plastic'?

I checked online if there are metal cards in the Philippines but I couldn't find one. Don't fret though. There are other other cards that can be as exclusive as this for now. We will get our own metal cards soon I hope.

By exclusivity:

1. BDO World Elite™ MasterCard® - by invitation only

2. The Platinum Card® - by invitation only

3. HSBC Premier MasterCard® - must be an HSBC premier customer

By annual fee:

1.  Citi^® Prestige - 12,000

 

2.  The American Express® Gold Card - USD150 (around PHP7,500)

3.  Metrobank World MasterCard® - 6,000

Runners-up :

• The American Express® Platinum Credit Card - 5,000
• BPI Ayala Malls Amore Visa Platinum - 5,000
• BPI SkyMiles® Platnium MasterCard® - 5,000
• Citi® Platinum Visa - 5,000
• Citi^® PremierMiles Visa - 5,000
• HSBC Platinum Visa - 5,000
• Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite - 5,000
• Cathay Pacific American Express® Elite Credit Card  - 5,000 
• American Express® Platinum Credit Card - 5,000
• BDO Diamond UnionPay - 5,000
• Metrobank Travel Platinum Visa - 5,000

Pay SSS Contributions Using HSBC Credit Card

I only knew last week that you can pay your SSS contributions via HSBC internet banking. I tried it last Thursday and the contribution was credited to my SSS account the following day. That was fast! Plus, you get points in your HSBC credit card for this transaction.

More information at https://www.hsbc.com.ph/1/PA_ES_Content_Mgmt/content/philippines/personal/pdf/billpay_merchant.pdf

Free Tall Starbucks Beverage from HSBC

Saw this from my Statement of Account:

Starbucks Tastes better when it's on us!

For a minimum single-receipt of P2,000 on your HSBC credit card, get any Tall Starbucks Beverage of your choice plus a free add-on, on us!

Promo period is from April 1 to June 30, 2010. Redemption Period is from April 15 to August 30, 2010.

T&Cs apply. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 1026. Series of 2010.

Finally HSBC has jumped on the bandwagon!

Enjoy Card and BPI Microtel Promo

I recently inquired about the rates of Microtel Davao and they offered me an outright 10% (9.85% to be exact) discount on their double room weekday rate (from 2995/night to 2700/night). They also have a promo rate for a weekend stay at 2350/night.

I have an Enjoy card and a BPI credit card that both offers 10% discount on Microtel Davao. However, their 'promo rates' will be of no use since Microtel will be giving you promo rates even if you don't have these cards.