I asked her on what will it’s use be, as it looks similar to the Octopus Card RFID terminals we saw in Hong Kong when we went there last August. Her reply is that it will soon be utilized for a rewards program. Hmmm … sounds interesting.

Just this afternoon, I saw a post in Facebook about the HappyPlus card to be launched by the Jollibee Group next Monday, the 23rd of January 2012:

HappyPlus is some sort of a virtual wallet, that you may use in any of the Jollibee Group fastfood branch in Metro Manila (initially). All I wish is for the success of this endeavor. Hopefully, the same system will be used sooner or later in the MRT, buses, taxi cabs, or even at the cinema. Kudos to Jollibee group!

Worry no more. We at TurfSite Computing, Inc. sees the need for people without credit or debit cards to have access to fund their PayPal accounts using cash. We will convert your cash to PayPal account fund with a minimal fee. You may deposit your cash via BDO, GCash, or Smart Money.

http://www.Cash2PayPal.biz

1. If you have a Smart SIM card (postpaid or prepaid), activate your Smart Money using the SIM Toolkit or Smart SIM Menu.
2. After activation (or if you are already using Smart Money), request for a Smart Money MasterCard (physical card) at any Smart Wireless Center or online through here. You will be paying around PHP100 for the card. Wait for a week or two for the delivery of your Smart Money MasterCard.
3. Upon receiving your Smart Money MasterCard, link the physical card to your Smart Money account using your mobile phone; you may also be required to call the Smart Money Hotline to activate the physical card prior to completing the linking process.
4. Now that your Smart Money MasterCard is active, may sure that your account has at least PHP200 balance before proceeding to the next step — adding your Smart Money MasterCard to your PayPal account.
5. Login to your PayPal account. Go to Profile > Add/Edit Credit Card. Click on Add a Card and key-in the required information. Upon completing this step, PayPal will test if your Credit Card (Smart Money MasterCard in this case) is valid by charging around PHP100 from it. Don’t you worry, this amount will be credited back to your PayPal account after 24-48 hours.
6. If you are successful in Step #5, congratulations! You had just linked your Smart Money MasterCard with your PayPal account.

Now, one thing that you will have to do every time that you will be doing a PayPal transaction is to “unlock” your Smart Money MasterCard for internet transaction. This is a safety feature added by Smart Money around a year or two ago to avoid fraudsters from using your Smart Money MasterCard online. To unlock your Smart Money MasterCard, just go to the Smart Money Menu > Card Mgmt > Txn Lock > Unlock > Internet.

1. The Smart Money MasterCard is a DEBIT card and not a CREDIT card: it will not work if it does not have funds in it.
2. If you “unlock” your Smart Money MasterCard, you have 15 minutes to finish the online transaction. Smart Money will automatically “lock” your card after this time frame.

Finally, GlobePH delivered my GCash Card today! Based on the confirmation page after they had deducted PHP100 from my GCash account last 06 Oct 2010, I had to wait for 2 weeks and the ATM card will be delivered to the address I indicated during online application. Well, it just took them more than 3 weeks to deliver the card.

Now, I’m happier — no more trips to the Globe Business Center (and queuing in the long lines) just to cash-out my GCash — GCash is just an ATM transaction away!

But, since this morning (up to the time I was writing this entry), I was not able to access the UnionBank of the Philippines website, which was supposed to be online at http://www.unionbankph.com

I know how hard your IT people are working to merge your data with those of iBank, but please do think of the people that relies on your online services for their day-to-day transactions ;)

Click here to know how PayPal can help you run your business online and even accept Credit Card payments without having to pay a monthly service subscription fee.

“We are unable to process your request. Please use another card or payment method.”

I simply wait for a few hours, and my online purchase pushes through. But since 48 hours ago, I (and some other EON users) cannot make any payments online through my UnionBankPH EON account. Tried to call their Customer Service Hotline, but I am always on hold for atleast 30-45 minutes. Sent an email to them, but no reply is received up to this writing.

Is EON Visa Electron down? Or is it just me?

ALLIED BANKING CORP – 010320013
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND – 010700015
ASIA UNITED BANK – 011020011
BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS – 010030015
BANGKOK BANK – 010670019
BANK OF AMERICA – 010120019
BANK OF CHINA – 011140014
BANK OF TOKYO – 010460012
BANCO DE ORO (& EPCIB) – 010530667
BANK OF COMMERCE – 010440016
BANK OF THE PHIL ISLANDS – 010040018
CHINA BANKING CORP – 010100013
CHINA TRUST COMML BANK – 010690015
CITIBANK N.A. – 010070017
DEVT BANK OF THE PHILS – 010590018
DEUTSCHE BANK – 010650013
EAST WEST BANK – 010620014
EXPORT & INDUSTRY BANK – 010860010
FUJI BANK – 010640010
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK – 010060014
INTL COMML BANK OF CHINA – 010560019
INTL EXCHANGE BANK – 010680012
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK – 010720011
KOREA EXCHANGE BANK - 010710018
INTL NEDERLAND BANK – 010660016
LANDBANK OF THE PHILS – 010350025
MAYBANK OF THE PHILS – 010220016
METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST CO – 010269996
PHIL BANK OF COMMUNICATION – 010110016
PHIL TRUST COMPANY – 010090039
PHIL NATIONAL BANK – 010080010
PRUDENTIAL BANK – 010150018
PHIL VETERANS BANK – 010330016
RIZAL COMML BANKING CORP – 010280014
SECURITY BANK & TRUST CO – 010140015
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK – 010050011
UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK – 010299995
UNION BANK OF THE PHILS – 010419995
UNITED OVERSEAS BANK – 010270189

Now, all you need to do is login to your PayPal account, click on My Account > Profile > Add or Edit Bank Account. Then withdraw your PayPal balance, and wait for 5-7 banking days and you’ll get the cash!

Local bank codes are required though. For a list of bank codes that you may use with PayPal, please click here.