Filler up at Shell

The price of gas has been the subject of so much stress and tension in the lives of people all over the world. There is always so much speculation about when the next gas price hike will happen and by how much.

I have tuned into some of the morning talk shows on AM stations and they can really cause panic for a car driver like me.

One of the most common topics on the radio is that gas prices keep going up and there’s not much the government is doing about it. Matter of fact, the government has been repeatedly criticized for not addressing the issue of rising gas prices and how it has affected the everyday lives of Pinoy divers and commuters.

There is talk that the price of gas could reach a high of P65 by yearend. This scary thought can’t be helped because at present the price of crude oil is approximately $145 per barrel and is speculated to reach $150 per barrel.

I remember a trip I took to Bangkok a few years back, and I saw the gas prices there. I was told by my friend who lives in Bangkok that the price of gas goes up and down daily so that the government keeps it to a few centavos per day and this is better accepted by the Thais.

Here, what oil companies seem to have been doing is to raise the price of gas on a weekly basis. This increase has reached at least P1 a week and that is really heavy on the pocket. The average price of gasoline is P53.40.

I travel an estimated 50 kms. daily to work in Port Area and back home. I know how hard it is on the pocket to fill up my Toyota Revo nowadays. Many times I am filled with a deep sense of dread as I hear about the latest gas increase. When I make it to the gas station it is worse because I see just how fast the meter gas pump rises and just how little gas is really loaded into the car. I have also had to increase the amount I set aside for my weekly gas.

Because of all this, I have had to lessen the number of trips I make on weekends and drive more wisely now — no speeding, keeping the car running between 70 to 80 kms. And no jackrabbit starts.

I know a few friends who have opted to go carless a few times a week. Others have resorted to the reliable carpools. And there are those who swear that it is quite easy to take the MRT down EDSA on off-peak hours.

And now, there are the credit card companies that have made moves to help consumers pay their bills easier. One such company is Citibank.

Filipino drivers now have the chance to make their gasoline money go further with the new Shell Citi Visa, which offers the highest rebate for fuel purchases every time they use their card.

Citibank, together with Pilipinas Shell and Visa, launched the latest credit card for motorists with the best-in-market offer of a 5-percent rebate on Shell fuel purchases. Cardholders now enjoy a 0.5 percent rebate on non-fuel purchases, a 5 to 10 percent discount on change oil services at Shell Helix Centers and free roadside assistance service whenever needed.

“At a time when gasoline prices are rising across the globe, our new credit card is sure to receive a very warm reception from the public,” said Mark Jones, Citibank Phils. country business manager. “In the recent years, we have dominated the credit card category for motorists, and we are proud to have a strong track record in delivering the best values for our clients.”

“Two years ago, we raised the benchmark when we offered a 3-percent rebate on fuel expenses, leaving other industry players no choice but to follow suit,” added Bea Teh-Tan, cards business director. “Our latest initiative again redefines the fuel rebate landscape, as we continue to reward our cardholders for choosing the right plastic currency.”

I made a trip to the Shell station on Julia Vargas to avail of the rebates offered by the new Shell Citi Visa card.

At the service center I was told by the mechanic on duty that Shell Helix Super is generally suitable for cars that are over five years old. It has the clean-up power to remove stubborn dirt that has built up over the years through the use of other oils. I followed his advice and got the oil change.

Next stop was the gas pump. I loaded up on the Super Unleaded. Shell Unleaded with fuel economy formula helps prevent buildup of engine deposits. It is the most advanced formula ever that Shell has developed. It contains a triple-action cleaning agent that helps prevent the buildup of mileage-robbing deposits in the engine.

I was happy with the two wise car decisions made and lots of savings for me in rebates as I handed over my Shell Citbank Visa Card.

“People want the freedom to travel by car and we understand that fuel makes up a good part of monthly spending, so we have designed the Shell Citi Visa card to help our customers get more out of their household budgets,” said Sammy de Guzman, VP and general manager for Shell Retail. “Our relationship with Citi is vital because it means working with an established global leader in personal financial services whose credit-card expertise, customer service and reliability are proven in over 50 countries worldwide.”

Sure we can’t stop the way the world prices of oil seem to soar. Perhaps we can only pray that all these increases will soon come to a halt. In the meantime, there is Citibank Shell Visa card to help ease our overburdened pockets.

“The new Shell Citi Visa will strengthen Citibank’s leadership not only in the motorists’ card category, but across the card industry,” added Tan.  “As the world’s largest credit card issuer we bring unmatched scale, efficiency and product expertise to our partnership with Shell so that together we can offer Filipino consumers a world-class credit card with real purchasing power.”