Wazzup Pilipinas!
Mastercard signed an agreement with the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) and Mediapro Asia to be an official sponsor of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and 10th ASEAN Para Games.
“As the appointed sponsorship agent for the SEA Games, we are excited to announce Mastercard as an exclusive category sponsor, joining other partners who are also leaders in their respective categories to support this Philippines milestone Games and most important sporting event across South East Asia in 2019,” said Lars Heidenreich, Managing Director of Mediapro Asia.
Supporting big events and campaigns in sports, music, fashion and entertainment is not new to Mastercard which has been a sponsor of major events like the GRAMMY Awards®, Australia Open and Pebble Beach Food and Wine. Through these sponsorships, Mastercard creates Priceless Experiences to engage cardholders through their passion points and also supports national economic and welfare agendas.
This sponsorship of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games affirms Mastercard’s commitment to support the cash-lite agenda of the Central Bank as it has pledged to power the official mobile app of the regional multisport events. The bespoke platform will be a one-stop source of information for spectators, athletes, and officials during the Games. It will include details on game schedules, score tallies and medal tables, and news related to the event.
As a technology network powering smart and secure payments, Mastercard will also enable convenient and secure online and offline purchases like event tickets and food at the venues through a payment card stored in the mobile app.
The Philippine SEA Games Organizational Committee (PHISGOC) Foundation, Inc. welcomes MasterCard as the official payment partner of the 30th SEA games.
PHISGOC Chair, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, welcomes the entry of MasterCard in the growing list of private companies expressing their support for the Philippines hosting.
“The outpouring of support from international private companies encourages the organizers to work harder every day. And with less than three months to the Games, we also look forward to the entry of more local Filipino businesses and Philippine-based companies in our growing list of sponsors and partners,” Cayetano said.
"Indeed, with our friends from the private and public sectors, and our sports-loving Filipino people who all have supported Philippine sports throughout the years, we can truly win as one," added Cayetano.
The unique involvement of Mastercard in the Games is expected to make it easier for people all over the region to converge and enjoy the events. Through the use of the app, Mastercard promises convenient tracking of game results straight from one’s mobile device and quick and secure cashless transactions for the events.
Mastercard aims to elevate the Games’ experience in the Philippines through the app and through a number of activities for its cardholders to engage with and support the Games. The first of these will be the upcoming exclusive privilege for Mastercard cardholders to have access to the best and most popular seats before the tickets go on sale to the public. This will be accompanied by a special offer on the tickets.
“While Mastercard lends its technical expertise to the Games with the goal of paving the way for the Philippines to be a cash-lite society, it also wants to provide an opportunity for Filipinos to come together to support the nation and its athletes and to Start Something Priceless,” said Rowell Del Fierro, Country Manager, Philippines, Mastercard.