Check out Starbucks’ New Card Designs, Updated Loyalty Program, New Featured Beverages and Food Items

I was privileged to be one of the select Cebu bloggers who tried Starbucks Philippines’ latest menu items as well as hear the latest news from them. If you are a loyal Starbucks fan, there are lots of exciting "new things" you can look forward to in your next visit.

This July 28, be the first to grab the 3 new Starbucks core cards and the second edition Philippines Starbucks Card!

New Starbucks Cards

The Starbucks "core cards" are globally released gift cards that doubles as a loyalty card. They're a convenient way to pay for items in a Starbucks store which makes them a great gift. The core cards usually come in either coffee cup of coffee shop themes.

Coffeehouse Favorites Card
The new coffeehouse themed card gives an inviting feel which
perfectly captures what the Starbucks coffee house is about.

Neighborhood Card
This new core card best illustrates what the Starbucks Experience means---
a neighborhood gathering place, a part of the daily routine.

Thank You Card

All three core cards will now replace the current ones and are available for an initial load amount of ₱300.

2nd Edition Philippines Card

The first country card featured the Philippine Eagle with the native basket weave "banig" as background. For the second edition Philippine card, we have a card design that is inspired by the colors and elements of fiestas. As with other Starbucks country edition cards, this is sold exclusively in the Philippines and is available for an initial load amount of ₱300.

2nd Edition Philippine Starbucks Card

My Starbucks Rewards

Starbucks loyalty program is now called My Starbucks Reward. Card holders still get the same benefits with the addition of online reloading to be rolled out in the coming months.

• One-time complimentary Grande handcrafted beverage with up to two (2) add-ons.

Starbucks Reserve® brewed coffee may now be redeemed as registration drink.

• Yearly complimentary slice of cake with a purchase of any handcrafted beverage on their birthday.

• Exclusive offers on items that they enjoy when they opt in to receive notifications from Starbucks Philippines.

• Special invites to events or early access to new products.

• Conveniently reload Starbucks Card using a Visa or MasterCard Credit or Debit Card through the My Starbucks Rewards website.

New Summer Featured Beverages and Food Items

Expect to see new interesting items in your favorite coffee shop’s menu as Starbucks introduce two new featured summer beverages and an updated line of lunch sandwiches, pastries and desserts. (Yes, it's always summer in Starbucks)

Honeycomb Crunch Mocha Frappuccino® Blended Beverage is a refreshing blend of coffee, chocolate, and cream topped with crunchy honeycomb chunks. It's not too sweet and not too chocolatey (which I liked).

Photo from @jerminix / IG

Orange Honeycomb Crunch Cream Frappuccino® Blended Beverage is a non-coffee drink with rich orange flavor but doesn't burn your throat. It's very refreshing as the taste doesn't linger and the sweetness is just right.

As for the food, here are some of my recommendations:

- Mango Float Cake
- Four Cheese and Garlic

- Tomato Mozzarella and Basil on Flat Bread
- Tuna Salad on Pumpernickel Bread
- Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushroom Melt on Flat Bread
- White Chocolate Very Berry Cookie
- Banofee parfait