GCash Summer x Heart Evangelista : How To Live Your Best Summer Ever, According To Heart Evangelista

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Summer is in full swing, ushering a season of relaxing vacations and exciting getaways. While we all have our dream summer bucket lists, we could all use a tip or two to make it the best season yet. Count on no less than international fashion and lifestyle icon Heart Evangelista on how to make it your best summer ever. 

Heart, who was just launched as the face of the summer campaign of GCash, shares stories and snippets of how she plans to live out her dream summer. From the perfect day in one of her favorite cities, her tried and tested travel hacks, and even her newest discovery on the best way to pay when traveling, Heart spills it all.

“Summers are always so special to me. Ever since I was a kid, it’s the season I look forward to the most because summer basically meant traveling and making new memories,” she shares.

The actress, who recently dominated Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks, reveals that her dream summer destination this year is not that far from home: “Japan—I love it this season. It’s also a special place that I love visiting with my husband and our kids. My sisters and I also have a lot of great memories there.”

Heart fondly recalls all the trips she’s had in Tokyo, and she has already created the perfect itinerary in the city that she wants everyone to experience: “I’ll start with sushi in Omotesando, then coffee in a quaint cafe in the area, followed by hours of vintage designer shopping. I’ve found so many treasures at great prices over the years—from bags, shoes, jackets, and jewelry. I’ll end the day getting lost in Don Quijote buying anik-anik, then eat snacks at a convenience store before calling it a day. I’m getting excited just thinking about it!”

Heart Evangelista on a night out in Paris during Fashion Week 2025

Photo taken by: Nikko Mendoza

As someone who travels so often, jet-setting between Manila and wherever the world calls her, we can already assume Heart already has her pre-travel preps down pat. And, of course, she does. Weeks prior to a trip, she has the important things—we’re talking outfits and shopping—planned out in her head. Depending on her mood for the season, she’ll put together looks ahead of time and spend at least a day packing and planning, shopping budget included, of course. “I’m better at budgeting now! I’ll set a budget for the trip, transfer it to my GCash account, and use my GCash Card for the trip. That way, I have better control of my spending. It’s so convenient,” she shares.

In the recently launched GCash film starring the actress, Heart dreams up a summer trip that feels like a montage of her travels in real life. One minute, she’s shopping for a bag in Japan, and the next thing, she was ordering a meyngo shake in sunny Boracay, all with her trusty travel companion, her GCash Card.

Heart recalls a time when GCash proved its convenience even more during one of her trips: “I was shopping in an airport abroad when I found a lipstick that I knew a dear friend had been looking for. It was so late already in Manila but I called her and she got so excited and asked me to buy all the stocks they had, nag-GCash na lang siya on the spot, and that was it! I tapped my GCash Card na, and the exchange rate was also really good.” She also added that she and her team rely heavily on their GCash Card when abroad to be stress-free: “Cabs, booking cars, snacks, shopping, everything!”

For a fuss-free trip, Heart encourages GCash users to maximize the features and services on the app they could be missing out on. While most users are only familiar with the convenience of sending money and paying basic bills on the app, GCash actually has a wealth of services that can save you precious time and money, especially when traveling. For one, you don’t have to worry about finding money changers abroad, as your GCash Card can be used to withdraw money from ATMs at competitive exchange rates and functions as a debit card for ease of transactions. “The GCash Card is the best way to pay abroad for me. Low forex and service fees plus no hidden charges—life-changing, really,” Heart says.

TheGlobalPay feature of GCash also provides another perk, allowing users to easily pay via QR in selected merchants and unlocking rewards and discounts abroad. (Tip: You can score 10% off in Japan when you use Scan To Pay in select stores until April 30, 2025.)

One other feature Heart strongly recommends is GInsure: “Travel insurance is truly important—you never know what’s going to happen. A lot of people forget about this, but this is a tip I always give for a stress-free trip. Once you have insurance, you can have the best summer,” she says. With GInsure, users can seamlessly purchase travel insurance for international trips on the spot – covering trip cancellations, lost baggage, flight delays, medical emergencies, and more – for as low as P350 and with coverage of up to P2.5 million.

When asked how she thinks summer trips can be both memorable and rewarding, Heart says not to forget to live in the moment. “Enjoy the moment when you’re finally on the trip you planned and saved up for. Remember, it’s a summer trip to make memories and milestones—take lots of photos and yes, reward yourself with good food and indulge in a bit of shopping with GCash, I’m serious!”

The world is truly Heart’s runway, and she’s ready to make her dream summer a reality. “Elevated basics, understated elegance is my mood board for this summer trip. I’ll pair my neutral outfits with an interesting bag in tow—with my GCash Card inside, of course,” she quips.

Heart Evangelista in Paris during Fashion Week 2025

Photo taken by: Nikko Mendoza

Just like Heart, we can all make our dream summers happen with a little help from GCash. Whether you’re traveling locally, abroad or just cozying up in hotels for staycations, GCash can be your reliable companion. Enjoy cashless transactions with your GCash Card, unlock perks with Global Pay, and stay safe and secure with GInsure. Indulging in some summer shopping? Make payments lighter with GGives. The possibilities are endless.

Check out Heart’s dream summer film on GCash’s social media pages here, and download the GCash app to discover how you can make it a summer to remember.

Running for a Greener Future: The GCash Eco Run plants over 76,000 trees through the support of Green Heroes and Partners

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First ever GCash Eco Run gathers 12,000 Eco Runners and sustainability partners to take collective action for mangrove reforestation in the Negros region

 

Runners gather at the starting line of the first-ever GCash Eco Run, taking strides for sustainability and mangrove restoration–planting over 76,000 trees in the Negros region

The time, effort, and dedication needed to train for a race or marathon make crossing the finish line so rewarding for many runners. In the same way, creating a greener, more sustainable future requires the same level of collective commitment.

(Left to right) Content Creators Reyn Bautista, Reuel Morales and Baileys Acot join the first-ever GCash Eco Run

Nuvali Run Club members joined the 10KM race of the GCash Eco Run

More than just a race, the first-ever GCash Eco Run turned the streets of Ayala Avenue, Makati, into an eco-movement. Over 12,000 eco-runners laced up their shoes—not just to set personal records but to make a lasting impact on the environment. With the support of its event sponsors and sustainability partners, this milestone initiative has already planted 76,000 trees across 11 hectares in the Negros region.

GCash Eco Run’s interactive booths by advocacy and sustainability partners, promoting sustainable practices and adopting an eco-conscious lifestyle

A Race That Goes Beyond the Finish Line

In support of the South Negros Reforestation Initiative, a long-standing partnership between Silliman University and GCash, each sign-up to the GCash Eco Run contributed to the planting of a grey stilted mangrove tree in Negros Occidental. GCash doubled their commitment by pledging an additional tree for every participant. This means that the runners alone contributed 24,000 new trees.

Grey stilted mangroves play a vital role in environmental conservation as they mitigate the impacts of extreme weather and sequester carbon while providing habitats for marine life. As a result, mangrove forests are some of the most effective natural ecosystems for carbon storage today, making them a crucial asset in the fight against climate change.

In line with its commitment to using tech for good, the GCash Eco Run served as a platform to raise awareness on sustainable living, bringing together partner organizations and eco-conscious brands to share their advocacies and inspire collective action.

Organizations championing various sustainability advocacies joined, such as Berdeng Kalaw, which collects paper and metal for recycling; Caritas Manila, which turns clothing donations into funds for scholars; Zolo, which resells and recycles e-waste; and Aling Tindera, which gathers plastic waste for recycling.

Attendees also explored products from the partner eco-merchants such as Cut the Craft, Bukid ni Bogs, Wonderhome Naturals, Eco Shift, and Commune. They also got their GCash VISA cards from 100% recycled plastic.

GCash makes it easy for partners to drive positive change by bridging them to Silliman University, turning commitments into real action. With the support of 8 companies working together for a greener future, a total of 52,000 trees will be planted in Negros on top of the 24,000 trees from the eco runners.

Continue Taking Steps for the Environment with GForest

GCash continues to make sustainable living easier and more accessible for every Filipino. Through GForest, every transaction on the GCash app, such as cashing in, sending money, paying bills, buying load, or even taking 20,000 steps a day, earns green energy points, which users can redeem to plant virtual trees and contribute to a greener future.

Together with various partner organizations, GCash transforms these into actual trees, planted in key areas around the country, demonstrating how GForest serves as a Tech for Good platform.

“Much like how GForest turns virtual trees into actual ones, the GCash Eco Run brings together our community of Green Heroes, driven by a shared purpose to create real-world impact—one step, one tree, and one action at a time," said CJ Alegre, GCash Head of Sustainability.

The biggest digital eco-movement is now even bigger. Every step, every action, and every tree planted brings us closer to a greener future. Be a green hero today and sign up by tapping GForest on your GCash app dashboard.

The GCash Eco Run is supported by corporate partners who also pledged trees, such as IKEA Philippines, Globe AT HOME, Pay & Go, and eTap Solutions. This effort strengthens Silliman University mangrove reforestation efforts.