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Monday, April 11, 2005
Spend and earn, travel and learn
Traveling for a cause, Nelia G. Neri gives back and gets more in return.
Spend and earn, travel and learn.....This could well be the message of HSBC Mabuhay Miles Visa to its cardholders and its come-on to would-be cardholders.
Spend and earn? Is this possible? How does it go? When cardholders spend and spend through the use of the card (food, medicine, gasoline, clothing, household items, and all else), they earn PAL Mabuhay miles at the same time. Every PHP45 charged to the credit card earns one airmile. And if shopping is done in partner establishments, miles earned are doubled for the Classic cardholders, and tripled for the Gold cardholders. Neat, isn’t it?
To demonstrate the possibilities of this tempting travel offer, Claire Ann Yap, SVP PFS Operations and head of Cards, and AVP-Public Affairs Laine Santana initiated a Bohol Exploration Tour in tandem with PAL, bringing with them a group of about 20 media personalities from Manila. PAL was represented by Babsie Aragon, AVP-Marketing Products, and Ria Carrion Domingo, officer-Program Development and Communications of Mabuhay Miles.
The ladies were quick to point out that it takes only 4000 (earned) miles to get a free one-way ticket from Manila to Bohol. “Sayang ang miles if you don’t use the HSBC Mabuhay Miles Visa for your spending sprees,” they all chorused.
Four of us from the Cebu press (Honey Loop, Mayen Tan, Mimi Lijauco and me) were included in the group with VP/HSBC-Cebu head Debbie Dy designated as our “mother hen.” Debbie, in turn, asked her good friend, true-blue Boholano Norris Oculam to be our special guide on the day we arrived.
Travel and learn...
From a sleepy, non-descript little province years ago, Bohol has emerged as one of the favorite tourist destinations in the country today. It has bloomed, so to speak, and now proudly flaunts its historical and heritage sites, its culture and character, and not least of all. its natural wonders (think Chocolate Hills), and native products….ube, kalamay, baskets, anyone?
Our Bohol trip was a real exploration tour, thanks to the organizational abilities of Annie Ringor and Leah Carińgal of Bridges (Creative Ideas & Strategies) who put everything together. More than half of the group were first-timers, and as for me, I haven’t visited Bohol in a decade. The organizers commissioned no less than Ino Manalo, the director of the Metropolitan Museum (Manila) as guide. Ino was a delight to listen to.
Extremely knowledgeable, he could rattle off all the historical facts, including interesting asides on Bohol’s old churches, as well as the treasures they hold. The Baclayon and Loboc churches brought us back to the Spanish era when our churches were painstakingly built stone upon stone, and walking through their conventos gave us an “ancient feel.” It was fascinating looking through their treasure trove of antiques…..statues and icons, chalices and monstrances, well-worn vestments, books (Bible, prayer books, music scores), musical instruments……everything was awesome!
An unforgettable interlude was listening to the famed Loboc Children’s Choir at the Loboc convento itself. Talk of ambiance and angel voices…we had it all! Not only that, we also had dinner there prepared by staunch environmentalist Vicky Wallace of Bohol Bee Farm who prepared such goodies as home-made honey spread, camote bread and squash muffins, salad greens grown in her garden, and other healthy food. By the way, her Bee Farm is worth a visit.
What else is there to do in Bohol?
A Loboc River cruise is a must if only to see the scenic nipa-lined riverbank and the waterfalls. Our one regret though is that we didn’t reach the waterfalls because Ino M. insisted on going the opposite direction. … we didn’t quite understand why.
Getting acquainted with tarsiers (dubbed the smallest monkey in the world) is another “must do.” And of course, there are the Chocolate Hills to behold, the Blood Compact and other heritage sites to visit, the Carlos P. Garcia Museum to see, the white beaches and more nature wonders to enjoy.
Antique hunting, as well as handicraft shopping, are other interesting options.
Island life at its most idyllic was what we found at the Panglao Island Nature Resort where we stayed for two nights. The villas are spacious and well-appointed, and best of all, they have a “native feel.” The entire place is beautiful with lots of flowers and trees, romantic little nooks and crannies, and a charming little islet a stone’s throw away.
The Bohol tour organized by HSBC Mabuhay Miles Visa and PAL demonstrated to one and all how free miles
earned from the card can be put to good use. Bohol beckons and so do the other places in and out of the country….after all it is summer!
(April 11, 2005 issue)
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