Love Japan? You’ll Love the BDO JCB Platinum Credit Card

We brought our kids to Osaka last summer and they loved it so much, they’ve decided we need to keep on coming back to Japan to explore more of it. 

 Kani Doraku in Dotonbori 

 The fake food that still looked appetizing 

Ichiran ramen 

The sights were a treat, but it was the everyday experiences that fascinated them. From the food we ate, to the vending machines we’d pass by, from riding the subway to just getting lost in the streets – it was a visual feast. 

Xavi loved the vending machines, he would ask us to take photos of him beside each one 

And that was just one city! There are still so many Japanese cities and towns to discover, and from watching documentaries on Netflix, it does not even require any convincing on their part to get us to schedule regular visits. 

I’m sure we are not the only family that thinks this way. As they say, Japan is the new Hong Kong, so it makes sense to get the newly launched BDO JCB Platinum Credit Card if you also foresee more trips to Japan in the years to come. 

The BDO JCB Platinum card is exclusively issued by BDO. Their partner is JCB, a major player in the Japanese card business and accepted not only in most Japanese shops and restuarants, but also by many merchants all over the world.

It comes in with all the standard Platinum Card features like: 

• Complimentary access to select VIP airport lounges 
• 24/365 Platinum Desk Concierge Desk for restaurant and golf course reservations, sightseeing, entertainment and support for credit-card related emergencies 
• Special rates for Airport Meeting Service 
• Up to Php20,000,000 Travel Insurance Coverage 

With the BDO JCB Platinum Credit Card, you earn one (1) point for every P40 transaction you charge to your credit card. Your points are convertible to travel miles, gift certificates for shopping and dining or Annual Membership Fee waiver. Credit Card points do not expire, and up to 6 Supplementary cards are FREE for LIFE. 

But here’s where it gets exciting. When you use the card in Japan, you get: 

• Free Wifi access in more than 200,000 hotspots across Japan, 
• 10% discount on the Kansai Rail Pass 
• free admission to various Japan towers 
• extra discounts on tax free shopping for electronics and home appliances 
• plus so many more exclusive benefits only for BDO JCB Platinum Credit Cardholders 

From L to R: Ma. Nannette R. Regala, BDO Senior Vice President and Consumer Lending Group Marketing Head, Yuichiro Kadowaki, JCB Senior Vice President - Head of Development and Coordination, Rolando C. Tanchanco, BDO Executive Vice President and Consumer Lending Group Head, Mikihisa Asano, JCB Country Manager and Geraldine C. Liggayu, BDO First Vice President and Consumer Lending Group Cards Issuing Head 

To learn more about the BDO JCB Platinum Credit Card, visit https://bdo.com.ph/personal/credit-cards/jcb/jcb-platinum

Shop for FREE with your BDO Rewards Card!

Saving and Shopping has never been this rewarding! 

If like me, you have a BDO Rewards Card that is!

Because from now until December 31, 2014, BDO Rewards cardholders get to shop for FREE at our favorite stores! Just imagine if you have 100,000 rewards points. That’s equivalent to a Php100,000 shopping spree! 

How? We just simply convert our BDO Rewards points from qualified BDO bank transactions, SM and retail partner purchases to gift certificates from RSSI (Benefit Cosmetics, Shiseido, Topshop, River Island, Warehouse, Howards Storage World, True Value, Daiso Japan, etc), Resorts World Manila (Adidas, Bally, Beyond the Box, Bvlgari, Pandora, Rimowa, Rolex, etc) and select Lucky Chinatown Mall stores, Rustans, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Mango, 7 for All Mankind and more. 

Redemption is easy! If you are already a BDO Rewards cardholders just go to your BDO branch of account and look for the branch manager or marketing officer to fill up the redemption form. Another way to convert points is through the BDO Rewards call center hotline, at +02 631-8000 

Branch or call center will then submit request to BDO Rewards Marketing and your GCs will be delivered to your branch of account so you can claim your GCs. 

If you don’t have a BDO Rewards card, but your parents or a sibling has one, you may redeem their points for shopping GCs, with their permission, of course. To save them the hassle, you can even be the one to do the redemption for them, all you need is an authorization letter! 

To get a taste of what’s it like to shop for FREE with a BDO Rewards card, join the BDO Rewards Giveaway! 

Three winners will each get Php2,500 in SM Movie passes and 2,500 Starbucks GCs. 

Just retweet “I want to win the #BDOrewardsGiveaway!” and link to https://www.bdo.com.ph/bdo-rewards/special-offers 

Contest starts on Nov 20, 2014 and last day for entries is on Nov 29, 2014 at 11:59 PM. Join, Join, Join!

Shop Safe Online with a MasterCard Virtual Card

I was initiated into the world of online shopping when I first bought a bottle of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence at SaSa in 2005 and since then, I have gone on to explore and embrace this then uncharted shopping territory like a fish takes to water. 

Today, I am obsessed with online shopping. Big, huge, humongous fan? That’s an understatement.

Between Dada & I, we have bought a flat-screen TV, gadgets, furniture, bags, shoes, clothing, an electric guitar, groceries, specialty food items, beauty products, makeup, diapers, toys, actually, make that everything! 

Just some of the stuff I've bought online: Berry's Pampers from diapers.com, groceries from FreshDirect, my trusty La Mer UV Fluid from cremedelamer.com, Alexander Wang Rocco from satineboutique.com, Gianvito Rossi pumps from netaporter.com, CdG Play striped shirt from lagarconne.com,, Valentino rockstud flats from valentino.com, Samsung flat screen TV from amazon.com, Mulberry Alexa from lagarconne.com, SK-II from sasa.com and sk-ii.com

It’s not just about variety, it’s ease of use and convenience. Apart from the fact that I can do my shopping right at home, or wherever I am on my mobile phone (hello there Net-a-Porter and eBay apps!), it just shaves off so much time for me. Rather than take a shower, get dressed, step out and go out to look for what I need, I just search, compare prices (here’s looking at you, ShopStyle) and add to cart online. In minutes. Easy Peasy. 

While I still find shopping in stores a lot of fun, there are deals online, such as coupon codes and free shipping, where the price just can’t be beat elsewhere. I especially get a kick out of receiving packages, because it feels like Christmas all the time! 

 If you have yet to explore the possibilities and experience the thrills of shopping online - maybe because you still feel nervous about the whole thing, or you’re simply afraid of credit card fraud, then I’m about to share with you something life changing. 

*cue music* Presenting, the MasterCard Virtual Card!

The MasterCard Virtual Card is a regular plastic card or a reference card that shows a card number and the card verification code for use only on the Internet.

Unlike a physical plastic credit, debit or prepaid card, a MasterCard Virtual Card is not accepted for face-to-face purchases or at in-store card payment terminals.

It’s definitely safer and a lot more secure to use for online purchases. Here’s why:

1. Your MasterCard Virtual Card number gives you the security of not disclosing your regular card number online to protect your primary credit or bank account details from identity theft. Your MasterCard Virtual Card account number is issued exclusively for use on the Internet.

2.  Your MasterCard Virtual Card allows you to limit your credit line for online shopping, so you don’t have to worry about dubious Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels splurging on your card. With a MasterCard Virtual Card, you can carry out online transactions without having to worry about maxing out your credit limit.

3. Family members aka your supplementary cardholders are also given unique accounts for online purchases. These separate credit card and virtual card accounts allow you track online and retail purchases separately.

If you are a MasterCard credit, debit or prepaid cardholder from the following issuing banks - BDO, BPI, EastWest Bank, Metrobank, RCBC Bankard and Security Bank, then you can get a MasterCard Virtual Card account number to use exclusively on the Internet.

Simply apply online by visiting the official website of your MasterCard-issuing bank and completing the application form online.

With that, you’ve got a whole new world to discover! Happy Online Shopping!

Ready to shop online with your MasterCard Virtual Card? I shared some tips for savvy online shopping, HERE!

Get Coffee from Starbucks with BDO Rewards

Online banking has changed my life. 

It just frees up so much time for me to do the things I really want to do, like spend more time with the kids, or go on trips with Dada, worry free.

I really find waiting, be that waiting on the phone for a phone banker, or waiting at the bank for my turn at the teller, to be a waste of time. With online banking, I get none of the dreaded waiting. 

I check my bank balance, pay bills, schedule bill payments, transfer funds, and do my banking transactions right at home, or even when I am out, between errands. For as long as I have wifi or on LTE, then I am always good to go. 

In fact, one time, while Dada & I were on a trip to Singapore, I realized that our credit card bill was due the following day. It just totally slipped my mind to settle the bill beforehand because I was too busy planning for our trip. But of course, online banking came to the rescue and I managed to schedule payment minutes before I settled into sleeping. 

I think the convenience of online banking is a reward in itself, but if you bank with BDO, and you have a BDO Rewards Card, then you’ve got an extra perk, just for enrolling in BDO Online Banking.

From January 1 to March 31, 2014, you get a complimentary P100 Starbucks GC simply by enrolling in BDO Online Banking. It’s like having your cake, and eating it too. Or rather, having the time for a leisurely coffee break, and also getting your latte for free. 

For more details on this promo, visit https://www.bdo.com.ph/bdo-rewards/get-rewarded-free-coffee.