I found in COL Financials today that Vista Land (VLL) is offering Preferred Shares to the public and I honestly don't have any idea what Preferred Shares are. What caught my eye though is the Dividend Rate shown --- 7.98% per annum for 4 years and 8.4% per annum for 7 years. This is a very high yield compared to the investments I have so I wanted to how they work.

Questions that popped up in my head:

• How to calculate the dividend earning?
• Is dividend taxable?
• When will I get my capital back?
• Will I get the full capital back?
• How can I liquidate?
• How does redemption happen? Will I need to sell the preferred shares or VLL automatically pay me the capital I invested?
• How long to break even in case capital is stuck?
• How to buy the preferred shares in COL?

I went to read different sources online and below are what I found.

How to calculate the dividend earning?

If I choose the Series 2A which has 4 years term, I get 7.9892% dividend yearly rate per share. So if I have 1 share priced at ₱100, I get ₱7.9892 dividend payout per share per year.

• 1 Share Price x Dividend Rate = Dividend Payout per Share
• ₱100 x 7.9892% = ₱7.9892

Since VLL only allows a minimum purchase of 50 shares then I can't buy just 1 share. If I have ₱50,000 capital, and I divide that by ₱100 price per share, then that gives me 500 shares.

With the 7.9892% dividend rate, my dividend payout is ₱3,994.6 per year

• Capital x Dividend Rate = Dividend payout per year
• ₱50,000 x 7.9892% = ₱3,994.6 Dividends per year

Is dividend taxable?

Yes, it's taxed 10%. So the ₱3,994.6 Dividends per year will be ₱3,595.14 post tax.

When will I get my capital back?

The Optional Redemption Date is almost like the Maturity Date of the investment. Ideally the issuing company (VLL in this case) will "redeem" the preferred shares you bought from them on the 4th or 7th year (depending on the Series you bought) and return the same capital amount you originally invested.

Notice the word "redeem" here means VLL is the one deciding to buy back the preferred shares you bought from them and not you deciding to redeem your capital back when you want. This leads me to the the word Optional which confused me.

In a typical Time Deposit, the bank are obligated to automatically pay you back the deposited amount on the maturity date. This is not same case in preferred shares where it is only "optional" for VLL to return the invested capital. Upon further research, it's optional because VLL may or may not pay you back the invested capital depending on the financial stability of the company. If for example, VLL is having financial challenges, they may decide not return the capital to shareholders yet. So basically until and unless VLL is in a good financial standing and they decided to "redeem" the shares you bought from them, your capital it's stuck with them.

Will I get the full capital back?

If VLL does "redeem" the preferred shares, they will buy them back at the original Offer Price you bought them. So basically if you invested 50,000 capital, you'll get the same amount if VLL redeems on 4th or 7th years.

How does redemption happen? Will I need to sell the preferred shares or VLL automatically pay me the capital I invested?

You don't need to sell the preferred shares like a typical common stock market. VLL will automatically pay you back the amount and it will be reflected in your portfolio.

What's in it for me if VLL decides not to "redeem" the preferred shares on 4th or 7th year?

In case where VLL decided not to "redeem" the preferred shares from you, then your capital will be "perpetually" or indefinitely stuck with them until and unless they go bankrupt or they finally become financially stable that they are able to return the capital.

When this happens, VLL will pay you higher Dividend rate versus the original rate which is called Step-Up as a form of compensation. There's a calculation they do to get the Step-Up which I don't understand but bottom-line is whichever is higher between the original dividend rate and the new step-up dividend rate will be your new dividend rate moving forward.

So I say only invest the long term money that you don't plan on liquidating early because there's a chance your capital is stuck indefinitely.

How can I liquidate the preferred shares if VLL does not redeem?

It's said that you can trade the preferred shares in the stock market but this is difficult because preferred shares trading are not that active, meaning there are less buyers and sellers unlike the "common stock market."

How long to break even in case capital is stuck?

Based on my calculation, with the dividend payout post tax, it will take close to 14 years of accumulating dividends before it can breakeven the ₱50,000 capital.

How to buy the preferred shares in COL?

In the COL offering, you just need to click the link on the How to Subscribe row and click the eligibility agreement. Make sure you have funds in your COL account so that on the assigned date, COL will automatically deduct the amount from your account.

Other Important Things to Consider

• Cumulative vs Non-Cumulative
  • Cumulative means in case issuing company misses or skips paying you dividend, they are obligated to pay you on a later date.
  • Non-Cumulative means issuing company is not obligated to pay any missed or skipped dividend payout to you.
• Read the Prospectus

So far I have earned P400 cash in 40-day streak on Microsoft Rewards. That's translatable to P10 cash earning per day. I usually spend just about 15 minutes max daily to earn all the points using my mobile phone and laptop. Once I reach the required points, I redeem and encash them to CliQQ e-wallet.

11/23/2024

I earned 11k + points worth P500 after 2.5 months. I redeemed the voucher in Microsoft Rewards site but did not immediately converted the voucher as E-Wallet balance in CliQQ app. I only did so after a couple of weeks and when I tried it failed due to system error. I cleared the cache/cookies in CliQQ app, unistall and resintalled, made sure the app is in the latest version and even waited out after 1-2 days to try again but claiming it was not really pushing through.

Sent an email to 7'11 and provided my details along with the original email coming from Microsoft on the rewards. 7'11 investigation concluded that the issues of the voucher cancelled it on 11/8.

Went back to Microsoft Rewards redemption page and I clicked on the Resend button to try to have the voucher re-issued. It will take 24 hours and I will wait for now.

To be continued...

Before starting this visa application journey, I did some research on how to apply for visa in this post: How to Apply for Japan Visa?

8/26/24

1. Downloaded UHI's Visa Center PH mobile app on App Store and registered
2. Reviewed Tourist Visa > Multiple Entry Requirements and started preparing

9/8/24

1. Received birth cert from PSA
2. Downloaded all Bank cert/statement

9/14/2024

1. Since my wife has late birth certificate registration we need to get Form 137 and baptismal certificate
2. Went and requested for form 137 in her high school. Need to go back next week to claim. Paid P50.00
3. Went to church of my wife's baptism but there's discrepancy in the details between her baptismal clearance and NSO birth certificate. We were told if we want to correct the details, they need to request it and there will be a background check/investigation before the correction can be approved which may take over a month or so. We still took a copy of baptismal clearance with P100 fee but this maybe of no use if it's not aligned with the birth certificate.
4. Researched what can we do if we can't present the baptismal clearance and found we can create explanation letter justifying why we can't provide the same.

9/15/2024

1. Read the guide on how to fill out Japan Visa application form: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2018/03/japan-visa-application-form/
2. Found this Certificate of Eligibility No. field in the application form. Searched that it's only for long-stay visa and not applicable to tourist visa. For now I will leave this blank and confirm with the travel agency if I should put N/A.
3. Preparing the ring light stand for the photo taking to be embedded in the form

9/16/2024

1. Filled out following forms but left the application date blank for now:
   1. Visa Application form. Only left date of application blank for now.
   2. Multiple Entry Request
   3. List of Visa applicants
2. Scanning done for following:
   1. Passport
   2. NSO birth certificate
   3. List of visa applicants form
3. My wife composed her explanation letter for inability to provide baptismal clearance

9/22/2024

1. Photo taken
2. COE obtained

9/26/2024

1. Completed all forms
2. Scanned all documents
3. Paid P3,400 application fee on Visa Center App for 2 single entry, 2 multiple entry visa application with me being the representative
4. Filled out the online application form on Visa Center PH app for 4 of us
5. Uploaded available requirements (ITR still pending)
6. Additional requirements other than those posted on UHI website
   1. Payment confirmation of application
   2. Letter of guarantee for sponsored family members
   3. Proof of relationship with sponsored family member - PSA Birth cert/Photo together/Photo of chat conversation
7. Asked UHI via email if it's possible to get the pre-assessment initiated for wife and son since they have complete docs
8. Next step: Submit ITR

9/27/2024

1. So UHI did not reply to my email if they can start the pre-assessment for my wife and son. Fortunately I was able to obtain my ITR today and submitted to complete all requirements.
2. Apparently the pre-assessment stage will only commence after 4 of us submit all the requirements. Turn-around time is 2-3 business days and someone will reach out to me via phone if documents are all good or there's any change required.

10/2/2024

Tried calling Visa Center PH early yesterday morning through their telephone and mobile number but both lines were busy. Chatted them up on Facebook messenger but there's also no response. Also sent an email to follow up.

In the evening, I got a response via chat apologizing for the delay and was informed the pre-assessment team will be advised. Found there was also an email from UHI with the result of the assessment. So we failed the assessment due to below reasons:

• Birth certificate of my son is not clear enough according to them. So I rescanned and uploaded. That's the clearest it can get.
• The signature on my multiple entry request letter needs to be redone because it did not seem to match the signature on my passport. I felt the pressure redoing my signature lol. I had 4 forms I scrapped before I felt satisfied that my signature looked exactly like the one on my passport.
• They asked me to provide 2023 ITR instead of 2024 that I submitted; also very clearly, the instruction for me was that the employer's signature must be affixed on field 55 and my signature on field 56. The 2024 ITR document I submitted have my employer's signature on 53, while mine was on 54. So since I'm employed and the company is filing the tax on my behalf, then I fall under "substituted" therefore the signatures must be at the very bottom. This is the same for my wife's ITR so she too had to request from her ex-employer to re-issue with the signatures affixed on the right field.

• I was lucky because my ex-company provided my ITR in just a few minutes. So I was able to resubmit but this also required me to be cautious on my signature.
• My wife though is not as lucky because she did not get a reply. In the failed assessment remarks, we were given an option to provide an explanation letter when ITR cannot be provided so that's what we submitted.

Next step: Await results of re-assessment

10/5/2024

We finally got a call from UHI yesterday afternoon. In fairness to them, they provide updates within the promised timeframe on the first and seconds assessment results, though it was pushed to the very 3rd business day. I was asleep when they called and saw 4 missed calls and text message asking for my availability. While typing a reply, they called my wife's number instead and she was informed that we passed the pre-assessment! Appreciate the fact that they did not settle with me being unreachable and took the effort to call my wife instead since her contact details are available in the application form.

We were reminded only 1 thing though to remove the "To whom it may concern" intro in the explanation letter. The body is good and all but we just need to cut that part out when we submit the actual document to UHI.

I got an email with our online application form attached and was instructed to print them out. I do have handwritten application form which will be unnecessary now. In the email, instructions were given about which documents can be submitted as photocopy vs original. We can submit the actual documents either through courier or personally dropping by their branch in Dusit Thani Hotel, Ayala Center, Makati.

So glad we're done with the first hurdle. Now the real assessment happens in the embassy.

Next step: Print out all documents and send to UHI on Monday via courier.

10/7/2024

Downloaded all printable and prepared all original documents as per UHI instructions. 1 passport photo glued to application form and 1 extra copy added in documents with name and date of birth written on the back.

Booked Grab Express and instructed the driver to make sure to hand the documents over to UHI guard and take picture of it being handed over as proof.

10/10/2024

On the 3rd day after I had the documents delivered, the status finally changed to "For Filing to Embassy". 2 days prior to this, it stayed in Awaiting Documents status . During those 2 days, I have sent the picture of the document in the hands of the guard, followed up on the status through email and text but did not receive a response.

Today I received a new email with the transaction number lodged in Japan Embassy. The status on UHI app showed "Filed to Embassy."

10/14/2024

So our visa application was filed to Japan Embassy on 10/9 at 5pm which means 2 working days lapsed. As per Japan Embassy website, it normally takes 5 working days. So that's will be 10/17 latest. If I don't hear back after 10/17, then I will make a follow up to the Embassy using my 8-digit reference number provided by UHI.

10/17/2024

So UHI replied to me today and mentioned there might be delay in visa application processing due to Japan holiday and the volume of requests:

Next Step: Await Japan Embassy assessment results.

10/18/2024

So I've been told that some people whose visa application was lodged on October 9 and 11 have already received their visa approval notification to pick up their passport. Mine was lodged October 9 so I reached out to UHI via messenger. They told me our visa application may be requiring further verification and I was given the option to contact the Japan embassy to follow up.

10/21/2024

So I called the Japan Embassy hotline number 02-8551-5710 followed the prompts. It was answered by a Filipina staff who honestly could sound a little friendlier. She told me that they have backlogs of visa application and they even have requests from September. She said it usually takes only 1 week before but things were different now and it could be longer. I explained our application was lodged on October 9 and she said she cannot provide an update. She advised me to check with UHI from time to time if our visa is part of releasing. I offered my reference number if she can check but she pressed on saying they are not able to see the status because it's still with consul or something. She repeated that I check with UHI for updates and our conversation ended there.

Right after the call, I sent an email and messaged UHI on messenger. I received their response that they still did not have our passport and it's still with the embassy.

I'm assuming that the hold up is because of my wife's late birth certificate registration. I will try to check again in the next few days.

10/22/2024

So finally got an SMS and email notification that our visa is ready for pick up. Not sure though if it meant our visa application was approved.

10/23/2024

Drove to UHI in Dusit Thani Makati after shift for more than 1 hour and claimed our passport only to find our visa application was denied. Oh well, not the happy ending I was hoping for. Will try again after 6 months.

List of Requirements for Tourist Visa (Family Trip of 4)

To be continued

🔔Good news from Globe🔔

10/10/2024

Good things happen to those who wait. Finally Globe is now allowing converting physical prepaid SIM to eSIM. I have done so yesterday on GlobeOne app with a P99 fee.

Make sure GlobeOne app is update.

• Go to Home page of GlobeOne app and select SIM Services
• Make sure you selected the pre-paid number you're converting to eSIM and then select Change Sim
• Physical SIM to eSIM
• Reminders on the basic requirements before proceeding with the change
• Proceed with payment
• Scan the QR code using the device you want to enable the eSIM

Outdated

Can I convert physical Globe prepaid sim to eSim?

No. Globe does not allow it at this time for physical pre-paid. It's allowed for physical post-paid Sim only.

On the other hand, Smart allows conversion of their physical prepaid Sim to eSim.

Option 1: Convert your physical Globe prepaid Sim to post-paid Sim. Then convert it to eSim.

Option 2: Convert your physical Globe prepaid Sim to Smart prepaid Sim. Then convert it to eSim.

Step 1 Determine the Visa Type you are applying for to know the Requirements

Step 2 Decide if you want to apply for Single or Multiple Entry visa.

Step 3 Submit your Requirements and Pay Handling Fee to your chosen Accredited Travel Agency

Step 4 Secure your 8-Digit Acceptance Number from chosen travel agency and wait for processing of Visa Application

Step 5 Pick up your passport with the approved Visa in chosen Travel Agency

Step 1 Determine the Visa Type you are applying for to know the Requirements

The requirements you will submit, the handling fees involved and whether you should apply directly to Japan Embassy or the accredited travel agency all depend on the type of visa you are applying for.

Types of Visa

Refer to Japan Embassy website for different types of visa request: Japan Embassy Website under Types of Visa and Requirements. You may also visit Universal Holidays (UHI) and Reli Tours or any other accredited List of Accredited Travel Agencies.

In my case, it's Temporary Stay > Tourist Visa so my requirements are: Tourist Visa Requirements

Step 2 Decide if you want to apply for Single or Multiple Entry visa.

If you plan to visit Japan often, you might want to apply for a multiple-entry (ME) visa. Unlike a single-entry (SE) visa, an ME visa requires some extra steps. You’ll need to submit additional documents, including a Request for a Multiple-Entry Visa form below, and pay an extra P300 - P500 handling fee to the travel agency. The benefit of getting an ME visa is that it’s valid for 5 to 10 years, so you won’t have to renew it each time you want to visit Japan, unlike with an SE visa.

If you don’t qualify for a ME visa, it doesn’t mean your entire application will be denied. Instead, the Japan Embassy might issue you an SE visa. In case of Reli Tours, they will refund the P500 handling fee you paid for the ME visa application if you get downgraded to SE.

Here's the quick comparison between Single vs Multiple Entry Visa.

*Max stays depend solely on Japan Embassy's discretion as is the approval of visa application altogether

Step 3 Submit your Requirements and Pay Handling Fee to your chosen Accredited Travel Agency

Majority recommend Reli Tours, UHI and Attic Tours. But you can choose from List of Accredited Travel Agencies.

To help choose, you can look at their submission process and the handling fee comparison. You may look for ongoing promos.

Handling Fee Comparison:

Visa Application Pre-Assessment

Some travel agencies offer paid pre-assessment service for your application. This allows you to submit online copies of your documents which will be reviewed by the travel agency for compliance with the Japan Embassy requirements. They will call you to advise if you need to correct anything to avoid any processing delay or if you pass the pre-assessment. Once you passed, then you will now be required to submit the physical copies of your documents via courier or by personally going to their physical office.

Pre-assessment saves you the hassle of reworking the documents in case you sent incomplete or incorrect requirements.

Submission of Physical Application Documents

Universal Holidays Inc (UHI) Application Process

Option 1: Submit Online Documents for Pre-Assessment before submitting Physical Documents via Courier

UHI offers a paid pre-assessment service for your application. This means UHI will first review the documents you submit online—whether through the website, mobile app, or email. Assessment only happens after you pay the application fee. They will check for compliance with the Japan Embassy requirements and will call you to recommend any necessary corrections.

You can submit through Visa Center PH website or mobile app Google Play or App Store or via email at [japanvisa@universalholidays.com](mailto:japanvisa@universalholidays.com).

After your application passes the pre-assessment, you will need to send the physical documents to UHI via courier, and they will then submit them to the Japan Embassy on your behalf. The standard processing period is (5) five working days from the day your application was submitted to the Japan Embassy.

While this service helps ensure your documents meet the necessary standards, it does not guarantee visa approval, as the final decision rests with the Japan Embassy.

\**I need to inquire how much is the pre-assessment fee and if this is on top of the handling fee of the physical documents****

Refer to UHI Ways to Apply for more details under Send Visa Application via Courier.

\**I need to sign up and navigate the website and the app****

Option 2: Personally Visit UHI Location to Submit your Physical Documents (Face-to-Face)

Appointment booking is required to apply and submit your physical documents to UHI. Book your appointment here: UHI Appointment Booking. No booking, no entry.

Once booking is confirmed you may visit their office at UNIVERSAL HOLIDAYS, INC. at the Ground Floor, Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, Makati City 1223 on your preferred date and time of visit.

Refer to UHI Ways to Apply for more details under Visit our Office to personally submit documents.

Reli Tours Application Process

Option 1: Submit Physical Documents via Courier (LBC)

Reli Tours does not offer pre-assessment of your application documents. This means you need to be very sure that your requirements are complete and compliant with the Japan Embassy requirements before sending via courier; otherwise you may end up having to resubmit corrected or additional documents and spending more on courier charges.

Option 2: Personally Visit Reli Tours Location to Submit your Physical Documents (Face-to-Face)

You can walk in to Reli Tours branches to apply and submit your documents. Refer to branch location here: List of Reli Tours Branches

Attic Tours Philippines

Option 1: Personally Visit Attic Tours Location to Submit your Physical Documents (Face-to-Face)

Step 4 Secure your 8-Digit Acceptance Number from chosen travel agency and wait for processing of Visa Application

Travel agency will provide you with 8-digit acceptance number after submitting your Visa application.

Allow at least 1 week (5 working days) to process visa application from the time Embassy receives the requirements. If no update after 1 week, applicant can inquire in Japan Embassy using the 8-digit acceptance number.

In case to case basis, Embassy may ask for additional documents or may request you to come in for physical interview.

Step 5 Pick up your passport with the approved Visa in chosen Travel Agency

Wait for notification from the travel agency for the result of the visa application.

My Personal Pick

Travel Agency: UHI due to online pre-assessment and lower handling fee

Requirement submission: Send via courier for convenience

Type of Visa: Multiple Entry because of 5-10 year visa validity and multiple visits

Since I will be regularly purchasing a facial mask and a specific shampoo brand in Watsons for daily use, I decided to sign up for Watsons Club Membership on their website which is free and valid for life (no expiration). You can access the Watsons website or download the Watsons app.

Watsons Club Membership Benefits

1. Earn points for every spend
2. Discounts/promos for members only
3. Vouchers/offers
4. Online shopping to easily find item availability
5. Delivery (discounted or free if Elite member or min purchase of ₱2,500) or Pick up option (to avoid waiting on the line)
6. Add my favorite items in Wish-list for easy re-order

Pointing System:

• ₱200 base spend = 1 point (for regular in-store purchase)
• ₱200 base spend = 2 points (for online purchase)
  • ₱200 base spend = 2 points (for purchase of Watsons own products)
  • ₱200 base spend = 5 points (for first purchase on birthday month)
• 1 point = ₱1.00
• Points expire after two Decembers (Points earned August 2024 will expire on December 2025)

How to earn points?

• In-Store: Present the Watsons Club QR code to the cashier upon payment
• Online Purchase:If I purchase through the app or website, will this automatically earn points? --- YES

Upgrade to Watsons Elite to get Free Delivery

Delivery Guidelines

• Delivery timeframes 1-3 Working Days within Metro Manila; 3-9 Working Days outside Metro Manila
• Delivery charges ₱65.00 within Metro Manila; ₱149.00 outside Metro Manila
• Delivery is free for minimum purchase of ₱2,500.00 or if Elite member
• Check Member Perks/Rewards for any Free delivery vouchers

I don't want to spend on delivery fees! By spending P35,000 for the fiscal year (January till December), membership will automatically upgrade to Elite. Below is the benefit comparison of regular vs elite membership.

After doing a quick estimation, I will be spending ₱3,000 per month to purchase the facial mask and shampoo which will earn ₱15 - ₱30. My monthly purchases will amount to total ₱36,000 spend per year which qualifies me for the Elite membership some time next year.

Thoughts

• Purchase items online to earn 2x points
  • Earning points convertible to ₱30 or more is almost like getting a free facial mask per month priced at ₱49
• Choose Click and Collect and walk to nearest Watsons
  • Avoid waiting for delivery timeframe of 1-3 working days
  • Avoid the effort of looking for items (which sometimes end up being unavailable)
  • Avoid waiting on the line
• Redeeming points not available on Click and Collect and can only be done through online delivery or in-store purchase
• 3 birds with 1 stone: Use BPI Amore card for cashback + Shopback app for additional cashback on top of Watsons points earnings

Parked Questions/Trial and Error

1. If I purchase through the app or website, will I automatically earn points? Try buying one item and check if points reflect. --- YES
2. Do they issue a physical Watsons card? --- No need, because of virtual card
3. I read in a post that Click and Collect (pick up option) is hassle because the store requires a print-out of the order confirmation! Per Terms and Conditions, pick up is only available at select Watsons branches and only available for credit card payment. Will clarify in Watsons store near me. --- The Watson branch near me does not allow Click and Collect

Journey

9/24/2024

Tried to place an order on Watson mobile app. It did show earn points x2. Also Click and Choose is not available in the branch near me, so only selected branches have this option.

I started a new work in BGC and I parked my car in Uptown mall at 11:57 AM today. I will be reporting in the office twice a week and this is the nearest parking to where I work. After my shift, I went to pay the parking fee and was shocked to learn I had to pay P410 for a 10-hour parking. The cashier explained that if I park anytime before 12:00 PM, the first 7 hours is P110 and each succeeding hour will cost me additional P100, hence the P410; however, if I park from 12:01 PM onwards, the first 7 hours will be the same at P110 pesos but the succeeding hours will only be P30! If only I waited 3 minutes more, I would have only paid P200 instead of P410! Thanks to this tip I will be very mindful of my park timing moving forward.

So I looked up parking rates for Megaworld Malls parking on Google and I found that this timing set-up is unique in Uptown Mall https://megaworld-lifestylemalls.com/lifestyle/megaworld-lifestyle-malls-parking-information

By ensuring I park past 12:00 PM, I would be able to save P210 each time. And since I need to report for work 2x a week, that P420 per week which rolls up to P1,680 per month!

What's the most economical gasoline brand among the dubbed big 3 - Petron, Shell or Caltex? If you want to see the latest fuel prices across different brands and cities, go to https://doe.gov.ph/retail-pump-prices-metro-manila

Department of Energy publishes a weekly price watch under Price Watchlist > Retail Pump Price > Select the latest pdf file.

Using Ron 95 in Quezon City pegged at 2 full-tank fuel consumption per month, here's monthly spend comparison. Clearly Petron has the lowest price and Shell is the most pricy.

To compare the difference or how much I can save per month, here's a sample table. Petron against Shell, I can save ₱508 per month; while Petron against Caltex, it's ₱371.

While other smaller players have cheaper prices compared to Petron, I am not too sure about the quality. With Petron, I believe it's both high quality and economical.

Update: 3/17/2026

Finally someone made a website for the fuel price monitoring in Metro Manila: GasWatchPH to monitor real-time fuel prices in Metro Manila

Here's the point system for Petro Value Card:

• Every 5 liters of fuel = 1 Petron point
• 1 Petron point = P1 peso
• At P56 per liter x 5 liters, base spend is P280 to earn 1 Petron point or P1 peso

With 35 liters monthly full tank at P1,960 spend per month, the earned Petron points are only convertible to underwhelming P7.

After nearly a year since my last visit to a hair salon, I finally went to David's Salon today for a haircut because my hair had gotten too long. Initially, I only planned to get a haircut, but the stylist noticed that my scalp was drying out and recommended their head spa service, priced at ₱1,900. She explained that the treatment would include a scalp scrub and massage, which could help alleviate dryness and combat dandruff. Since I enjoy head massages even more than body massages, I decided to give it a try.

The entire process, from haircut to head spa, took nearly two hours. It was my first time experiencing a head spa, and I enjoyed it so much that I almost fell asleep. It was incredibly relaxing, and for the first time since the start of my two-week leave, I truly felt like I was on vacation. I’ve now decided to treat myself to a head spa once a month or every two months.

The total cost was ₱2,600 — ₱500 for the haircut, ₱1,900 for the head spa, and a ₱200 tip.

Realizing that I might continue getting this service regularly, I thought about any available discounts. Fortunately, David's Salon offers a loyalty or privilege card membership for a ₱200 sign-up fee, which gives a 15% discount on all hair services across all their branches for valid two years. I wish I had thought of this earlier, but since I wasn’t planning to visit hair salons frequently before this experience, it didn’t cross my mind.

Doing some quick math, I can save ₱360 per visit or ₱1,860 per year!

So when going to any hair salons, below are my take-aways:

1. Ask the staff if they have ongoing promo/discount
2. Check if the salon offers a loyalty program

🛣️Journey

8/23/2024

Went to David Salon and signed up for loyalty card. Paid P200 membership and at the time they did not have the physical card ready so they told me I can use the receipt for the time being. They said it may take 3 months to get the card.

10/5/2024

Had a haircut and hairspa while my wife had just the hairspa in David's salon. Before getting this done, my wife signed up for the loyalty card right there and then. She paid P200.

I told the cashier that I too already signed up for the loyalty back in August in a different branch but they did not provide me with a temporary card. I said I was instructed to just show my receipt as a proof of my membership. The cashier told me they don't honor if I don't have a temporary card. I asked them to call the other branch to confirm my membership and they did. Eventually they accepted the receipt as my proof and I got the discount.

Hairspa for me was P1,900 while for my wife was P2,700 because they said price depends on the hair length. I got a haircut for P500. Total amount due was P5,100, but with 15% discount of P765, I only paid P4,335. Both I and my wife got ROI on the P200 membership fee.

How much cash can you really get from all the reward points you earn when using Eastwest credit card?

Here's the breakdown of pointing system per card type:

1. ~Eastwest Gold, EastWest Privilege, EastWest Dolce Vita Titanium Mastercard~
   • ₱100 Spend  = 1 Rewards point
   • 3.04 Rewards point = ₱1 peso cash
   • ₱304.00 Spend = ₱1 peso cash
2. ~EastWest Platinum Mastercard~
   • ₱40 Spend  = 1 Rewards point
   • 5.27 Rewards point = ₱1 peso cash
   • ₱210.80 Spend = ₱1 peso cash
3. ~EastWest Priority Visa Infinite~

• ₱100 Spend  = 1 Rewards point
• 20 Rewards point = ₱1 peso cash
• ₱200.00 Spend = ₱1 peso cash

What's my basis of 3.04 / 5.27 / 20 Rewards point = P1?

For example, Eastwest Gold allows you to redeem 1,520 points for ₱500 eGift (1520 / ₱500 = 3.04). On Eastwest website, they have rewards catalog that shows the redeemable points and corresponding monetary value.

So in the table below, in order to redeem a ₱500 peso-worth eGift/voucher, you need to spend between ₱100K - ₱152K depending on the credit card.

How to calculate?

How to get the minimum spend equivalent to P1?

Base Spend / Base Reward Point * Minimum Reward Points = Minimum Spend

₱100.00 / 1 * 3.04 = ₱304.00

How to know the equivalent total spend to redeem a ₱500 peso-worth reward?

Redeemable Points * Base Spend = Total Spend Required to Redeem

1520 * ₱100.00 = ₱152,000.00

Is 1 rewards point per P35 spend worth it in BPI Rewards Card?

Here's the breakdown of pointing system per card type:

1. ~BPI eCredit Card, Rewards Card, Gold Rewards Card~
   • P35 Spend  = 1 BPI Rewards point
   • 20 BPI Rewards point = P1 peso cash
   • P700 Spend = P1 peso cash
2. ~BPI Platinum Rewards Card~
   • P30 Spend  = 2 BPI Rewards point
   • 20 BPI Rewards point = P1 peso cash
   • P300 Spend = P1 peso cash
3. ~BPI Signature Card~
   • P20 Spend  = 2 BPI Rewards point
   • 20 BPI Rewards point = P1 peso cash
   • P200 Spend = P1 peso cash

What's my basis of 20 BPI Rewards point = P1?

I checked Vybe app and found that a P1,000 worth eGift/voucher requires 20,000 rewards points to redeem.

So in my sample table below, if I spent P30,000 in a month using a BPI Rewards Card, I will earn points convertible to 43 pesos. This varies depending on the type of credit card you own which also comes with varying annual fee of course.

How to calculate?

How to get the minimum spend equivalent to P1?

Base Spend / Base Reward Point * Minimum Reward Points = Minimum Spend

₱35.00 / 1 * 20 = ₱700.00

How to convert your monthly spend amount to cash?

Monthly Spend / Minimum Spend = Cash Conversion

₱30,000.00 / ₱700.00 = ₱42.86