Caring for others by shopping for yourself

Here’s an interesting concept: Shopping as a form of social responsibility. Managing the guilt of indulging one’s pleasures by donating a portion of the expense to a worthy cause.

For cardholders of RCBC Bankard Diamond MasterCard, every purchase using their card helps them provide a proper preschool education for children living in a depressed area of Pasig.

Recently, RCBC Bankard’s Diamond Cares Program turned over P300,000 to Gawad Kalinga Sibol to benefit the indigent children of Gawad Kalinga Tawi-Tawi community in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig. Gawad Kalinga Sibol is a values-based education program that provides an education for deserving children aged three to six years old living in underprivileged areas.

Gawad Kalinga Sibol also provides a support program for street children from seven to 13 years old. These elementary school-age children are provided with academic tutorials, sports and creative workshops, as well as solid values formation through a program called Sagip.  

Another program, Siga (which means “to light” in Filipino), provides scholarships to young people with the aptitude to pursue higher education.

RCBC Bankard and Gawad Kalinga executives and staff pose with some of the Sibol schoolchildren after the turnover rites.

“We remain committed to Gawad Kalinga’s vision for a better life for our less-fortunate brothers and to its efforts to help build dreams,” says RCBC Bankard EVP and COO Ping Reyes. “By supporting Gawad Kalinga Sibol, we are able to put wings on these dreams to allow them to take flight.”  

“We chose Gawad Kalinga Sibol because we wanted something particularly for children since they are the most vulnerable to the effects of poverty,” adds RCBC Bankard VP for marketing Aileen Rodas. “We also know that education is important and we want to help these kids build a better future for themselves through Diamond Cares.”

The Diamond Cares Program enables Diamond MasterCard holders to donate money to good causes every time they shop with their cards. For every P100 charged to their Diamond Card, 20 centavos is automatically donated to Gawad Kalinga Sibol. 

Last year the Diamond Cares Program raised P250,000 for the less fortunate children of Gawad Kalinga’s Arkong Bato community in Barangay Kapitolyo. The money was used to help build schoolhouses and fund the education of the children.   

Sibol schoolchildren gamely perform a song and dance number for guests.

Diamond Cares gives expression to the caring, socially responsible side of the RCBC Bankard Diamond MasterCard holder. The first and only platinum card for women in the Philippines, Diamond MasterCard is designed for every facet of feminine nature.

The savvy woman shopper demands added value for her hard-earned money. Diamond Card fulfills this need through the expanded Diamond Rewards Program that lets cardholders earn two rewards points for every P100 charged to their card. These rewards points can be redeemed for shopping vouchers or annual fee waivers.

Woman’s traditional role has been to take care of others; today’s woman knows she also has to take care of herself. Diamond MasterCard allows cardholders to pamper themselves at the least possible cost.

With the Beauty and Wellness Purchases Converted to Installment Offer, card members can enjoy zero-percent interest installment for three months for beauty and wellness-oriented products and services. These include beauty salons, health and wellness spas, jewelry stores, cosmetic shops, dental salons, cosmetic surgery salons and the like.

All new Diamond Card holders can avail of this conversion offer. It’s also good for wellness purchases made within three months from the issuance date of the card. Retail purchases made five months from the issuance date of the Diamond Card can also be converted to installment.

Apart from catering to a woman’s every beauty and wellness need, the Diamond MasterCard complements a woman’s nurturing qualities. “The Diamond MasterCard allows our cardholders to enjoy guiltless shopping because when they shop, they know they’re helping someone.  It’s not like they’re only spending for themselves,” says Rodas.     

Card for a cause: RCBC Bankard’s Diamond MasterCard

According to her, the Diamond MasterCard is their way of responding to the growing role of women in the credit card industry. “The purchasing power of women has increased because more of them are now in the workforce,” she points out. “Also, we all know that women are the ones who budget the family’s finances.” 

Market response to the Diamond MasterCard has been overwhelmingly positive. “The continued patronage of the card is very promising since we see that women are using it as their primary card,” Rodas notes. “We also have great acceptance in terms of sign-ups, which was more than we expected for a new card.”

RCBC Bankard plans to roll out more relevant products and services tailored to their cardholders’ needs, she says. They hope to expand the Diamond Cares Program and get their employees and cardholders even more involved in worthy social initiatives.

To date Diamond Cares has raised over P500,000 for Gawad Kalinga Sibol. RCBC Bankard officials are optimistic that this joint effort with their platinum cardholders will make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children.

“Gawad Kalinga’s mission of helping our countrymen build their dreams is worth all our support,” Reyes declares.  “After all, education is and always will be the best legacy we can leave to our young people.”