GCash expands payments system
Ernest Cu, Globe president and CEO, is ending 2023 with a series of payments tieups that could see the Ayala-led telco improve its financial performance by next year, after frontloading some expenses to expand and improve its GCash payments systems this year.
The telco started its initial salvo of tieups last Tuesday, Nov. 7, with e-mobility pioneer and Taiwan-based Gogoro Smartscooters, by opening the Gogoro Experience Center at the second floor of Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, which will allow prospective buyers to see and experience the Gogoro Smartscooters and battery-swapping before its commercial launch next month.
An oppa-dressed Ernest Cu and Horace Luke, founder and chief executive officer of Gogoro, along with Bernie Llamzon, president of Gogoro Philippines, and Ayala Corp. president and CEO Cezar Consing, officially opened the Experience Center, with other top Ayala executives showing strong support for the joint venture of Globe’s 917Ventures, Ayala Corp., and Gogoro Taiwan and Gogoro Philippines.
Ayala scions Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, Marianna Zobel, along with Ayala Corp. chief financial officer Albert de Larrazabal, Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo, Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe SVP for the International Business Group, and Yoly Crisanto, Globe chief sustainability and corporate communications officer, also attended the event which also emphasizes the Ayala Group’s shift to sustainable and renewable energy solutions.
It was interesting to see the trendy-looking Ernest and Horace, with their white sneakers, interact with Cezar Consing, Jaime Alfonso and Albert de Larazzabal, who were more conservatively garbed in relaxed coat, shirt and slacks sans tie, and Froi Castelo with his Marcos-style barong shirt jack.
Talk about the evolution of the Ayala corporate look. During the time of Enrique Zobel, or EZ as he was fondly called, the traditional barong Tagalog was the preferred office garb. However, when Jaime Augusto Zobel or JAZA, and his brother Fernando joined the firm, their preferred office wear was the very formal coat and tie.
GCash x PAL
The following Wednesday, Nov. 8, GCash and PAL announced their tieup, hoping to make history in their shared pursuit to support and aid the comeback of the travel industry by offering an exclusive seat sale for GCash users, with up to 20 percent off on domestic and international travel to select Asian destinations.
The tieup comes just in time for the holiday season when families, friends and companies are looking for the best deals for their holiday plans and trips.
The travel industry has been thriving given the easing of travel restrictions, pent-up demand for travel, and economic growth. Philippine Airlines for its part has posted over 70 percent growth compared to last year, making it a significant key partner in driving growth for the travel category.
The partnership between PAL and GCash will further boost the travel industry’s performance, giving travelers more options for the best prices, best seats, and best travel destinations exclusively for GCash users.
With this offer, passengers can pay directly with GCash and enjoy discounts when they book their flights with PAL. The promotion will run on select weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) starting Nov. 18 up to January next year, with travel period extending from the day of booking until the end of 2024.
Goodbye Manila, hello Paranaque
As I write this column, I have officially moved out and said farewell to our editorial home in Port Area, Manila, and have brought my computer to our newly constructed office building in Amvel Park in Paranaque. By Saturday, the whole editorial staff will close the newspaper for the very last time at the Port Area, and by Sunday, The Philippine Star will have officially moved into our new home.
Our transfer had actually been delayed by about a month due to some last minute construction issues, but we will finally be spending Christmas of 2023 and the new year of 2024 in our new home.
It was with some sadness that I left the office, having started my career in journalism at the Port Area in the early 1980s. I have driven the same route to work for the past three decades and have seen the changes along the way, and not are all good. The districts of Malate and Ermita have lost their glory days of genteel neighborhoods that have now deteriorated into dilapidated buildings and slum-filled lots, and streets easily flooded when the rain pours.
Big businesses had left the City of Manila decades ago to transfer to Makati because of tax issues, Rizal Park is seeing some redevelopment, but some of its trees have been cut down.
Hopefully, things will turn a corner and the City of Manila will experience a renewal so that when we do get to visit we will see improvement and rejoice.
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