How to Transfer Money from UnionBank to GCash
Learn how to transfer money from UnionBank to GCash with our 2025 guide. We cover the step-by-step process, transfer fees, and how long it takes.
If you’re a frequent traveler, using a miles credit card can help you access extra travel perks, including upgrades, lounge access and complementary insurance. There are Mabuhay Miles credit card options from most major banks, which have varying eligibility requirements and earning rates.
This guide walks through some popular travel card options for you to consider, looking at Mabuhay Miles redemption features and other travel perks. We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.
In this guide we've picked out six of the best Mabuhay Miles cards, from different banks in the Philippines. We’ve got a head to head comparison of their core features, with a bit more information right after to help you decide. Once you’ve selected one, you’ll be able to check how to get a Mabuhay Miles card from your preferred bank on their website, or by giving the service center a call.
| Card | Eligibility | Annual fee | Reward earning | Travel perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCBC Visa Platinum Credit Card¹ | 21 - 70 years old, with a mobile number and workplace landline | 5,000 PHP waived in year 1² | 1 mile per 48 PHP locally Up to 1 mile per 25 PHP overseas | Lounge access and insurance |
| Metrobank World Mastercard³ | 700,000 PHP income, card holder with another bank already, employed for 6 months or more | 6,000 PHP waived in year 1⁴ | 1 mile per 50 PHP locally 1 mile per 17 PHP overseas⁵ | Lounge access |
| Security Bank Platinum Mastercard⁶ | Filipino Citizen and Philippine Resident, 780,000 PHP minimum income, with landline number | 4,000 PHP | 2 points per 20 PHP spend | Lounge access, dual currency billing with USD |
| HSBC Red Mastercard⁷ | 400,000 PHP income, card holder with another bank already | 2,500 PHP⁸ | 4x earning on overseas and other select spending | Exclusive travel deals |
| PNB-PAL Mabuhay Miles Mastercard⁹ | Apply for pre-approval online | 6,000 PHP¹⁰ | 30 PHP per mile | PAL discounts, Mastercard travel deals, travel insurance |
| BPI Signature Card¹¹ | ID and proof of income required | 5,500 PHP¹² | 2 points per 20 PHP spend | Lounge access, travel insurance, exclusive deals |
*Details correct at time of research - 29th September 2025
You’ll want to compare a few Mabuhay Miles cards to see which is the best fit for you, based on your eligibility and the reward earning opportunity.
It’s helpful to know that different cards operate differently in terms of reward redemption. Most of the cards available in the Philippines offer bank issued reward points which you can then convert to Mabuhay Miles - or for other perks if you’d prefer. This gives some flexibility in terms of how you use your rewards, but does mean that the conversion rates are subject to change.
This guide will help you compare the options available - check the latest redemption rates online to make sure you're selecting the very best card for your needs.
Here’s a bit more detail on each of the top cards we’ve selected to help you decide if any fit your needs.
The RCBC Visa Platinum Credit Card is available with the PREFERRED AIRMILES scheme, which allows you to convert your earned miles to Mabuhay miles.
Use your card to spend locally and overseas, and earn PREFERRED AIRMILES which convert to air miles including Mabuhay miles. You can also use your card to get airport lounge access and some complementary travel and purchase insurance.
If you’ve already had a credit card with another bank which has a limit of 150,000+, for 9 months or more, you can apply for a Metrobank World Mastercard and earn Mabuhay miles.
The Metrobank World Mastercard lets you earn rewards at a higher rate on foreign spending, and also offers a relatively low foreign transaction fee of 1.85%. You’ll also get unlimited local airport lounge access and limited access to international lounge when you travel.
The Security Bank Platinum Mastercard offers rewards which you can convert to Mabuhay miles and extras like dual currency billing for people using USD.
You can use your credit card for local and overseas spending and earn 2 points for every 20 PHP. Check the Security Bank Platinum Mastercard rewards catalogue for the latest conversion rates to Mabuhay miles. Cards also offer airport lounge access and some purchase protections for extra peace of mind.
The HSBC Red Mastercard is available for customers who have already had a card from another bank for at least 6 months, and who have an annual income of 400,000 PHP.
You can earn 4x bonus points on online, dining, shopping and overseas spending which you are then able to redeem for airmiles and other perks. The latest conversion rates are available online when you log into your HSBC account.
There are several different types of PNB-PAL Mabuhay Miles Mastercard including some which are invitation only - apply for pre-approval online to see which you’re eligible for.
You can earn rewards at a rate of up to 1 mile per 30 PHP spend, and convert your reward points to miles at a rate of one to one. The card also offers some extra benefits like discounts on PAL flights which can make it very appealing to frequent travellers.
With the BPI Signature Card you can earn points to convert to miles, as well as getting access to exclusive offers and deals.
The BPI Signature Card has a host of travel benefits including local lounge access and some complementary travel insurance. The foreign transaction fee is relatively low at 1.85%. There’s no set income requirement for this card, but you can apply online with your proof of income or a bank statement from a different bank, to check your eligibility.
Before you choose a credit card take a moment to consider the costs associated with using your card for spending at home and abroad. Travel credit cards can help you unlock some great benefits - but they’re not offered for free. You’ll need to pay an annual fee for most credit cards, and there are also some transaction costs which can rack up when you’re overseas.
While many cards let you earn more rewards when you travel, you’re likely to also need to pay a foreign transaction fee which can be around 2.5% or more - which might undermine the extra perks you’re earning.
Some banks offer a Mabuhay Miles redemption chart which lets you compare how many Mabuhay Miles to redeem a flight, which can help you weigh up the costs against the benefits of the card you’re considering. In some cases you might decide it’s better to leave the credit card at home when you travel, and use a low cost international debit card instead.
The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including USD, SGD, GBP, and JPY so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up PHP to get started.
A physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 369.60 PHP. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP each month, before low fees start.
While abroad, you can choose to spend directly in PHP and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.57%.
Sources:
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
Learn how to transfer money from UnionBank to GCash with our 2025 guide. We cover the step-by-step process, transfer fees, and how long it takes.
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