Celebrating the resilience and ambition of Filipinos working abroad, two fresh yet familiar faces shine bright on billboards at NAIA terminals 1 and 3. Meet Rechel Hoco and Loyd Arago, the dynamic duo behind Taptap Send’s latest campaign to target the new generation of hardworking breadwinners.
These billboards not only showcase their journey from a young OFW to inspiring thousands of Filipinos working abroad, but also symbolize the spirit of community-building that Taptap Send embodies. As influencers, Rechel and Loyd exemplify the new generation of Filipino expats —tech-savvy, driven, and deeply connected to their roots.
Rechel Hoco, a 23-year-old from Oriental Mindoro has a full-time job in a travel & tourism company as a Sales Agent while modeling, promoting brands, joining pageants and vlogging during her off-hours. Her content creation journey kicked off in 2019 in the Philippines when she was crowned Miss Oriental Mindoro, opening doors to vlogging on platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
When asked how did she feel having a billboard in NAIA, Rechel says “Sobrang saya! Grabe, feeling ko po ay artista po ako. Kasi sa Pilipinas po kasi ang nagkakaroon lang ng billboard ay yung mga nakikita sa TV, mga celebrities or talagang big personalities! Pero pwede naman pala na tayo din! Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari, simula noong mag create ako ng videos dito sa Dubai, one year ago, ay nakaka overwhelm na po ang suporta ng ating mga kabayans dito kaya super thankful po ako! Sila ang nagbigay sa akin ng big break and I will be continuously working hard to support and inspire them in ways that I can.”
“Taptap Send is more than just an app; it’s a lifeline for Filipinos abroad,” shares Rechel, reflecting on her experience. “Being able to support my family back home without fees means the world to me. Noon, pumupunta pa ang Mama ko sa barrio para mag pick-up ng remittance at gumagastos pa sya sa pamasahe. Ngayon, with Taptap Send, mabilis na nyang natatanggap ang padala namin sa GCash kahit hindi na sya umalis sa bahay. Parang naaalagaan ko parin siya kahit malayo ako.”
Loyd Arago, a 25-year-old from Bataan, is a licensed Engineer by profession and a brand ambassador to several trusted companies in the UAE. He started as a Trainee Engineer in Dubai and has now transitioned as a Marketing and Sales Executive. His content as a creator shares real talk and advice on how to cope with the pressures of working abroad, inspiring his fellow kababayans to never give up.
Loyd echoes Rechel’s sentiment, adding, “I’m proud to represent Taptap Send because it’s really empowering our community. Marami na po akong natatanggap na pasasalamat sa Tiktok at Facebook dahil naintroduce namin ang Taptap Send sa kapwa ko OFWs. Kahit 10 dirhams lang ipadala nila sa Pinas, walang charge at secured ang bawat padala. Knowing my remittances reach my loved ones instantly and without deductions gives me peace of mind.”
When asked how did he feel having a billboard at the country’s largest International airport, Loyd says “Never po talaga pumasok sa isip ko na magkaka-billboard ako. Sa dami ng raket ko sa media, akala ko hanggang likod lang ako ng camera kaya until now, di pa rin 100% nagsi-sync in sa akin na nandoon ako sa NAIA at nakikita ng libo-libong filipino ang mukha ko araw araw.”
Loyd’s advice to his fellow Pinoy expats: “Sa mga kabayan ko, be limitless! Huwag matakot lumabas sa comfort zone at mag explore ng opportunities. Oo, Nakakatakot at nakakapagod yung proseso pero one thing yung sure ako, iisa lang yung finish line nating lahat, at yun ang success!”
Driven by a genuine mission to empower Filipinos to be more financially aware and independent, Taptap Send has successfully launched in key territories, getting very good engagement from Filipino Communities around the world.
After a year since the launch of its Philippine corridor in 2023, Taptap Send is still experiencing organic hyper growth led by its Philippines Country Launcher, Faye Sta. Ana, one of the few Filipinas in the tech space based in Dubai, also named as among the Most Influential Filipinas on LinkedIn.
Sta. Ana is also a second-generation OFW, similar to Rechel and Loyd, drawing from her own experiences to reach out to fellow kabayans and introduce the benefits of using Taptap Send.
“Their presence on these billboards is a testament to their influence among peers and their commitment to inspiring fellow Filipinos. Pabata ng pabata ang mga OFWs ngayon at nakaka-proud na very positive ang mindset nila. As we continue to redefine remittance services with zero fees*, fast transfers & competitive exchange rates, katuwang namin ang mga tulad ni Rechel and Loyd to represent hope and success for Filipinos worldwide”, Sta. Ana says.
Rolled out to the US, Canada, UK, Europe and Canada and the UAE, Taptap Send is already getting positive responses from users sending to the Philippines. Currently, the app is gaining more popularity among GenZ and Millennial users with its integration to digital money app GCash, allowing for fast, secure and direct transfers to their loved ones GCash accounts.
Launched in 2019, Taptap Send is an international P2P remittance company with a mission to equalize access to capital globally by ensuring everyone has access to instant and convenient remittances at the lowest rates possible.
With Taptap Send, the company’s mission continues as it is made available to more markets and now serving the Filipino Diaspora around the globe, aiming to provide our hardworking and well-deserving OFWs a 5-star solution in sending money to their families back home.
Taptap Send is now available to download for IOS and Android for senders in the US, Canada, UK, Europe and UAE. It is currently giving away AED 50** extra for their first transaction to the Philippines using the code GCASH.
To learn more, visit www.taptapsendph.com or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok @taptapsendph
*FX gains apply.
**Limited time only.
Taptap Send (DIFC) Limited is authorized and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for the provision of money services. Address: Unit GA-00-SZ-L1-RT-208, Gate Avenue, DIFC, UAE