A Pinoy food adventure

MANILA, Philippines - Capitalizing on the growing appreciation among upscale Filipinos to see new places, try new experiences and share good food and finds, American Express newest Selects program offers its card members savings and perks not just from restaurants, hotels and shops in Metro Manila but also from establishments in Cebu, Davao, Boracay, Bohol, Pampanga, Ilocos, Palawan and other destinations.

The expanded list of cities and places where American Express cardmembers can enjoy special privileges through the Selects program reflects a growing trend among affluent Filipinos to travel— mostly within the country and to make food a key part of that adventure,” says Ma. Nannette R. Regala, head of marketing of the consumer lending group of BDO. In the Philippines, BDO is the issuer and exclusive merchant acquirer of American Express Credit Cards.

Popular blogger Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet has 138,000 visitors a month to his site. Among the trends noted by Diaz is that more people are willing to try new restaurants guided by food blogs. Many of the dining choices offered by the American Express Selects program have been positively rated by bloggers and other reviewers. These are Aubergine, Bistro Filipino by Chef Laudico, Chelsea Market, Marciano’s at Greenbelt, Silk, Zao and Cebu City Marriott’s Garden Café. 

 “Maybe due to the increase of local flights of budget airlines, more people are now able to travel around the Philippines and appreciate Filipino food in other regions. In fact, when Pinoys travel, food is an important factor,” says Diaz in a discussion on “What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Evolving Philippine Dining Out Market.”

 American Express offers cardmembers through its Selects program privileges and savings from 145 restaurants, 65 hotels and resorts, 37 shops and 23 beauty and wellness establishments in the Philippines. In their travels to any country where American Express Credit Cards are issued, cardmembers enjoy a similar number of privileges. Regala says that wherever cardmembers see the American Express Selects logo, they can expect savings and perks when they use their American Express Cards to pay their bills.

She remarks: “We understand our cardmembers passion for the finer things in life as well as their appreciation for great value. We want our cardmembers to realize that their American Express Credit Card takes their personal indulgences to a new level.”

Cardmembers also enjoy savings on an exclusive list of accommodations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao ranging from 10 percent up to 50 percent on published rates.

Also highly appreciated by cardmembers are the savings of up to 50 percent on medical procedures from specialized establishments like the American Eye Center, 50 per cent savings from three-and six-month packages from Gold’s Gym as well as 20 percent savings on all treatments from Shangri-la’s Chi Spa.

For information on American Express Cards and the exclusive Selects Program , call the 24-hour customer service hotline at 81-417.