In the era of social distancing and various health protocols, cashless transaction is the way to go

I took a trip to Singapore and decided to take on the challenge of not carrying any cash. Bold move, you might think, but I wanted to test just how far I could get with just my credit card and my GCash to make transactions.

There is no doubt that the e-wallet’s number of users has grown exponentially over the last few years and that the app has found its place in the everyday lives of Filipinos. Due to unforeseen circumstances, GCash quickly gained popularity as it provided the utmost convenience at a time when making contactless transactions was much needed. Now, as the world begins to go back to normal, Filipinos all over the globe continue to find e-wallets, especially GCash, a game-changer, despite the easing of social distancing protocols.

With the help of Alipay, Filipinos are now able to make transactions internationally through GCash, not just in Singapore, but also in Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia, as of writing.

To be transparent, I came late to the game and only really started using GCash during this trip. I guess nothing ever urged me to need one, although I know that this experience of mine is an isolated case. After seeing all the things I can pay for with just a few taps on my phone screen, I guess you can now say that things have changed for me. Just like that, I no longer see myself not using the app on a day-to-day basis.

The first time I was able to make a transaction using GCash through Alipay+ was at Gardens by the Bay. Upon realizing that my companions on this trip and I were most probably the first few to use the app to pay for things in Singapore, we got a little too excited to be shopping at the gift store. As I purchased a locally handcrafted orchid magnet there to give to my mom, I was amazed to see that I was able to do so by simply generating a QR code on my phone. The transaction was quick and seamless in my experience, and the best part was the real-time forex charging done automatically by the app. It was such a simple joy that took up a small percentage of a much larger feat.

Once the sky darkened and dinnertime rolled around on our first day, I enjoyed a lovely meal together with the GCash team and got to know a few members of the Alipay team in Singapore. After a long day, it was quite nice to be able to unwind through casual conversation over dinner and a glass of wine. As the night progressed, the room filled with satisfied stomachs, drunken laughter, and chatter about each individual’s experiences with GCash throughout the years. Through these stories, I was able to see just how much the e-wallet has grown over the years and how each one of the app’s features play into making everyday life easier.

You can pay through your GCash app at stores all over Singapore. If you plan on visiting Resorts World Sentosa as I did on the second day of the trip, the e-wallet will come in handy. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that you can rent a locker at Universal Studios Singapore by simply generating a QR code on the app and paying via GCash. On top of this, food merchants like Candylicious and Malaysian Food Street accept this method of payment, too.

Walking around the area and exploring the island of Sentosa, although it was a gloomy day, was an enjoyable experience. I was able to keep my valuables safe and myself satiated, all thanks to how convenient it was for me to pay for everything without needing any physical money at all. 

Now, as the world begins to go back to normal, Filipinos all over the globe continue to find e-wallets a game-changer, despite the easing of social distancing protocols.

When traveling to countries that have already incorporated this mode of payment, all you have to do is “find the plus”—the ‘Alipay+’ logo. This essentially means that this merchant will allow you to make transactions through GCash.

This is exactly what I had to keep an eye out for whenever I had to hail a cab in the city. Typically, ComfortDelGro Taxis are the ones that accept this means of payment. (Quick tip: download the Zig app before leaving your country to be able to book rides easily in Singapore!)

If you’re lucky, even some Grab Taxis will allow you to pay with GCash. In my case, I opted to book a ComfortDelGro to ION Orchard and the whole experience went smoothly.

At Changi Airport, you will find that Alipay+ also works at Duty Free stores and stores that sell local Singaporean goods, perfect for doing last-minute shopping for pasalubong. Personally, I decided to go a little crazy on the Bee Cheng Hiang. Although it didn’t seem like the store clerks were used to customers paying through Alipay just yet, the transaction did go through successfully and effortlessly.

As a newbie to all this, it would be an understatement to say I was thrilled by how easy it was to live in Singapore for a few days by relying on just my phone (and credit card). Although, I’m sure that my being a new user is beside the point, and that this whole other level of convenience that the app provides us with leaves us all, Filipinos, amazed in totality. GCash has definitely elevated the mobile wallet game, and it continues to put the satisfaction of our nation’s citizens at the forefront of it all.

Being able to use GCash internationally is only in its beginning stages, but I can already see so clearly its future and just how great it is set out to impact the lives of every Filipino for the better. The drastic increase in the app’s users in just a couple of months is already a telltale sign of how quickly the technology is progressing and the weight it carries in improving everyday lives. My personal experience in Singapore only scratches the surface of what’s to come, not just for GCash itself but for the modernization of the Filipino lifestyle in this day and age.

www.gcash.com