BACOLOD CITY, PHILIPPINES – Every person you pass on the street carries a collection of untold stories. Behind the tired eyes of the woman selling kakanin (rice cakes), the cheerful smile of the barista who made your coffee, or the focused gaze of a hardworking student — each one holds a unique narrative waiting to be heard. And once their story is shared with the world, it becomes something unforgettable and even a source of inspiration.
Imagine a world where more stories are brought to light. Thankfully, GCash is making that happen through “GCash Stories,” a campaign that shares real, heartfelt stories of how GCash has empowered Filipinos through its services. From everyday wins to life-changing moments, these stories inspire hope and progress, no matter how big or small the impact may be.
Over the years, GCash has featured powerful, life-changing narratives of individuals who faced major challenges, and eventually triumphed. From financial setbacks to personal struggles, these stories highlight how the app has played a key role in helping people get back on their feet. A recent account is of Cocoy Rubio, who lost his job during the pandemic but was able to start his own coffee cart business through the help of GLoan. And another featured Turing Quinto, a full-time drag artist and breadwinner who lost her source of income because of the pandemic, but bounced back by earning from her drag livestreams through GCash Send Money.
This year, GCash spotlighted a heartwarming story that resonates deeply with many Filipinos — the remarkable journey of this year’s Bayani ng Barangay, Rhea Inayan. Through her chronicle, the brand also aimed to honor one of the most vital sectors of the Philippine economy: the MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) sector, often considered the backbone of the nation’s economic landscape.
Rhea Inayan’s journey to becoming GCash’s Bayani ng Barangay
Rhea has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2008, she opened a small boutique offering imported items such as clothes, bags, supplements, and other essentials that would typically be too costly for her local community to access.
Sadly, she was forced to close her shop after being diagnosed with lupus, putting her dreams — and her service to the Bacolod community — on pause. As seen in the short film directed by Borgy Torre, her life was once full of color and energy, especially when her shop was open, with neighbors dropping by and joyfully interacting with her. But everything faded when she had to focus on her recovery.
Years later, with the support of her mom and urged by a financially underserved community, Rhea has decided to reopen her business with a brand new service, the GCash Pera Outlet — a service point that facilitates transactions like Cash In and Cash Out, Pay Bills, Send Load, and Claim Remittance.
For Rhea, having a GPO isn’t just about restarting her life and earning money; it’s also her way of helping people around her area at a time when there were no cash in outlets available.
“Sa bawat cash in o padala, na-realize ko ang halaga ng negosyo, yung nakaka-tulong ka habang umaasenso. Ako si Rhea, isang anak at negosyante, nangarap at nag-simula muli, hindi lang para sa sarili, kung hindi para sa iba, ito ang GCash story ko,” Rhea said.
Through hard work and perseverance, Rhea has now become the top GPO around Bacolod City and the entire region of Negros with several businesses like the Tatti Boutique, Sheng’s Pera Outlet, Stargazer Flowershop, and the Alabaster Business Center.
The hunt for a compelling story
adobo Magazine spoke with Neil Trinidad, Chief Marketing Officer of Mynt, the holding company of GCash, to discuss the process of selecting GCash Stories and how the team was able to choose one heartwarming story out of thousands of unique narratives.
“We believe that real stories of progress inspire more progress, and we believe that real stories are worth sharing because they’re stories of hope amid setbacks, of people rising up against all odds, and the story of Rhea Inayan is exactly that,” Neil said.
The GCash team normally discovers these stories on social media, where many users share their experiences and get reshared by netizens. But Rhea’s story was different — hers was discovered during a team visit to Bacolod. They first met with several GCash partner outlets and eventually got to know Rhea more deeply.
“We interviewed her, and were able to retell her life story in a way that inspires, motivates, and hopefully will encourage more people to become the [bayani] (hero) of their own barangays,” Neil said.
He further explained that Rhea’s story stood out because of her life experiences. Despite battling lupus, closing her shop, and grieving the passing of her mother, none of it became a hindrance to her desire to serve her community.
“She’s always had the spirit of service in her heart. That’s what she’s always said, to serve, and not just be served,” Neil added.
Starting with only PHP 10,000 in capital, Rhea is now one of the biggest GPOs in the Visayas region. Her journey of perseverance, service, and commitment to helping others is what truly sets her apart.
This year’s GCash Stories campaign — brought to life through a creative partnership with Publicis JimenezBasic — not only highlights Filipino resilience, but also continues to push for inclusive progress by championing real, lived experiences.
Rhea’s story is more than just a tale of personal triumph; it’s a reminder of the impact one person can make when empowered with the right tools and unwavering purpose. As GCash continues to champion stories like Rhea’s, they’re not just building a brand — they’re building a movement rooted in hope, service, and the belief that progress is for everyone.
