DOT, Intramuros tap PayMaya to enable safe re-opening of museums and sites through cashless payments

CASHLESS PAYMENTS FOR SAFE VISITS TO INTRAMUROS. Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (in photo) led the re-opening of select sites and museums in the walled city of Intramuros to the public as part of its efforts to re-ignite domestic tourism and boost the recovery of the local economy. In this photo, Sec. Puyat is scanning the PayMaya QR code displayed at ticketing booths using her phone to pay contactless for tickets and other admission costs as part of the minimum health standards being observed in Intramuros.

Visitors to the recently re-opened historic sites and museums in the walled city of Intramuros in Manila will be assured of a safer experience as digital financial services PayMaya offers cashless payment options for fees and tickets in the various tourist attractions in the area. 

The Department of Tourism and the Intramuros Administration have tapped PayMaya to provide cashless payment options via PayMaya QR as it re-opened select sites such as Fort Santiago, Casa Manila Museum, and Baluarte de Santiago on a limited-capacity basis to the public. 

When tourists and visitors go to these sites, they only have to scan the PayMaya QR displayed at the ticket booth using their PayMaya app to pay for the necessary fees and avoiding person-to-person contact with the site personnel. 

“PayMaya fully supports the DOT's efforts to bolster safety in the domestic tourism industry as we chart our path toward economic recovery. With the help of cashless payments powered by PayMaya, local tourists and visitors in Intramuros and other local destinations can be assured that it’s not just more fun but, more importantly, more convenient and safer to travel around the country at this time,” said Orlando B. Vea, Founder and CEO of PayMaya. 

The DOT has been promoting various local tourist destinations such as Boracay, Bohol, and Palawan for domestic travelers in order to re-ignite interest in local tourism sites and support the sector, which was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Linking the past to the future with cashless payments 

“We are glad to offer safe and convenient cashless payments to all of our tourists and visitors in Intramuros with the help of PayMaya. Today we start with select museums and sites but we are looking forward to equipping the other attractions and merchants around Intramuros with cashless payments, so that this historic walled city of the past can also be a progressive, cashless city of the future,” said Atty. Guiller Asido, Intramuros Administrator. 

Aside from empowering Intramuros with PayMaya QR for ticket sales in sites and museums, the Intramuros Administration is also utilizing PayMaya's digital invoicing solution, allowing them to accept card (Visa, Mastercard, and JCB) and PayMaya for online payments meant for rental payments of merchants, permits, and other similar transactions.

Other than cashless payments, the Intramuros Administration has also collaborated with PLDT wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, in rolling out free Wi-Fi access around various sites and public areas of Intramuros, as well as interactive tourism markers powered by QR codes and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology as part of its nationwide Digital Tourism Program and #TravelSmart campaign.

To support the government in this endeavor, PayMaya has also enabled government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), as well local tour operators and travel agencies, to accept cashless payments from local tourists and visitors. 

At the same time, PayMaya is the only financial technology company in the Philippines capable of enabling the entire transportation chain across the entire country with the widest range of solutions – a vital component in the revival of the local tourism industry. 

Getting your own PayMaya account and enjoying the convenience of traveling safe and paying cashless is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register an account to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores! Remember, for your safe travel needs, don’t pay cash. PayMaya! 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.    

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 200,000 digital touchpoints nationwide.  

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 37,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Ready for more music on #FetePH25’s 2nd weekend?

Fete-stivities continue in Intramuros, Baguio, Laguna, Palawan and more 

After what many fans consider as the best staging of Fete de la Musique in 25 years last weekend, with over 2,200 artists in two main stages and 52 pocket venues, #FetePH25 is bringing its anniversary fete-stivities to more Pinoy music fans outside Makati City. 

Fete de la Musique will be staging more free concerts in Puerta Real Gardens in Intramuros, Manila on June 28, and in Baguio, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, Palawan, and Pampanga on June 29.

The Intramuros Main Stage, co-produced with the Intramuros Administraion, presents an exciting lineup of performers including alternative rock band Sandwich,  singing-songwriting duo Leanne and Naara, hip-hop group Stick Figgas, independent jazz, soul and funk band Extrapolation, indie-folk band Munimuni, and The Vowels They Orbit, Rice Lucido, and One Click Straight + Ena Mori. Performances are set to begin at 4:45pm.

Heritage and Film Together With "We Are Intramuros 24 Hour Filmmaking Challenge"

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) together with the Intramuros Administration  partners for the one-of-a-kind project that aims to promote the walled city and its structured and living cultures with #WeAreintramuros 24 Hour Film Challenge. Aimed for students from high school to college students studying in Metro Manila, it will be something like a guerilla style of filmmaking that will involve a lot of activities, challenges and fun along the way.

Taking A Visita Iglesia Via The Pasig River!

Holy week is upon us and one of our devotional traditions is doing Visita Iglesia by visiting churches. Depending on your preference, you could visit 7, 8 or even 14 churches, usually done with the way of the cross. I've been practicing this tradition with friends and family, and I would always ask myself how can I make this a unique experience every year.

With many churches located within Metro Manila, there is practically a lot of place to go to to complete your itinerary. And recently, there is a new way of doing Visita Iglesia and this is through the Pasig River. It was in recent years that ferry service was available for the public. The Zoomanity Group had a great idea of infusing Visita Iglesia with the river cruise which makes it an unique experience.

Visita Iglesia Diaries 2013

With the holy week now entering the Easter Triduum (Late Maundy Thurday to Early Easter Sunday), many Filipinos follow the tradition of Visita Iglesia which I also grew up with. And in the past years, I have being doing a blog/video documentation of my journeys going to the 14 churches (traditionally 7 or 8 to some but I opt to go with 14 for the stations of the cross and the abundance of churches in the city).

In 2013, I went on the Visita Iglesia journey with my fellow SCAns (Student Catholic Action) which was a yearly tradition of the organization. Touring around the city of Manila staring at PLM in Intramuros and first visiting the churches inside the walled city.

Now let me take you on what we went to the whole day with these churches, most of them are old and historical.

Why It's More Fun In The Philippines!

There are so many reasons why it is more fun in the Philippines, and aside from breathtaking views, one can find himself in an adventure anywhere and anytime in the country especially when it comes to food tripping. This is why I never get bored of exploring starting from by birthplace and home city Manila.

I also explored several places in the country but I'm looking forward to traveling to more this year. It's indeed fun and addicting at the same time.  It's really more fun in the Philippines!

This is a pre-qualifying entry to the Intramuros Bloggers Challenge 2012 by IntramurosManila.Asia. This campaign is fully supported by the Intramuros Administration, Barbara's Restaurant, Celdran Tours, Mabuhay Guides, Pilgrimage Pilipinas,Castillan Tours, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc., and Payless Pancit Shanghai.

LAKBAYAN: Rizal Heritage Trail

Rizal is now 150 years old if he is still alive, however even he is executed at at young age, he had made the made  a mark in Philippine history by waking up the minds and heart of  Filipinos which lead to the revolution and the independence of the Philippines. And as he is also a backpacker himself going to many places in the Philippines, well not on his free will at some time, has marked the nation with his heritage and wisdom that we the children of the present has the responsibility to preserve it. 

Lyf's Guide to Commuting: Ferry Joy Ride

I love going to new places, however since I'm always busy with a lot of things however I actually got a chance to ride the pasig river ferry service. Yep you heard it right, this ferry goes trough the pasig river. My original location was Intramuros where one station, Plaza Mexico is located. I was very fustrated with the traffic in road at that time and tried to go on a cruise on that ferry service. I was aware that this service is already operational however I never tried to go on board. Well it was really a new feeling knowing that you road is the pasig river. And that one fact is I cant swim, so it was one of my hesistations. But because of the need to go to school I had to take a chance to take the ferry service. I was quite impressed about the station and the ferry itself. a fare of 20 pesos is fair for a student from intramuros to the PUP station.

the golden mosque near the river

a boat! a boat!

pandacan oil depot

also part of the oil depot

under the bridge

inside the ferry

the other ferries...

under the Quezon bridge

a different view of escolta

guess where...

And the journey itself is also an adventure. Seriously, how many of us go to work or school through the river. I have passed to stations like Escolta, Lawton, and the highlight was to pass by the Malacanang palace which again we don't see directly since it faces Malacanang park. You know, security purposes. Also with this reason I was not permitted to take a click on the "white house". Don't also miss the oil depot, one of the benefactors of the river but also contributes to its contamination. However, another sight to see are the birds that fly over the polluted river. They seem to adapt the environment of man and was able to survive with it. Thus there might be some hope in reviving the river. And practically there had been improvements thanks to the linear parks on the side but still a lot of work to be done to attain the former glory of the river.

Blah Blah Blogs! Ferry Ride on the Pasig River...

Ferry Joy ride...

I love going to new places, however since I'm always busy with a lot of things however I actually got a chance to ride the pasig river ferry service. Yep you heard it right, this ferry goes trough the pasig river. My original location was Intramuros where one station, Plaza Mexico is located. I was very fustrated with the traffic in road at that time and tried to go on a cruise on that ferry service. I was aware that this service is already operational however I never tried to go on board. Well it was really a new feeling knowing that you road is the pasig river. And that one fact is I cant swim, so it was one of my hesistations. But because of the need to go to school I had to take a chance to take the ferry service. I was quite impressed about the station and the ferry itself. a fare of 20 pesos is fair for a student from intramuros to the PUP station.

the golden mosque near the river

a boat! a boat!

Pandacan oil depot

also part of the oil depot

under the bridge

inside the ferry

the other ferries...

under the Quezon bridge

a different view of escolta

guess where...

And the journey itself is also an adventure. Seriously, how many of us go to work or school through the river. I have passed to stations like Escolta, Lawton, and the highlight was to pass by the Malacanang palace which again we don't see directly since it faces Malacanang park. You know, security purposes. Also with this reason I was not permitted to take a click on the "white house". 

Don't also miss the oil depot, one of the benefactors of the river but also contributes to its contamination. However, another sight to see are the birds that fly over the polluted river. They seem to adapt the environment of man and was able to survive with it. Thus there might be some hope in reviving the river. And practically there had been improvements thanks to the linear parks on the side but still a lot of work to be done to attain the former glory of the river.