Manulife Investments Philippines has teamed up with GCash to launch a suite of international income-generating funds, including real estate investment trust options available directly in the mobile app.
The partnership aims to democratize access to high-value global property markets, allowing GCash’s 94 million users to invest in a diversified portfolio of hotels, condominiums, and office buildings across Asia and Western markets for as little as P1,000.
The move marks a significant shift in the Philippine retail investment landscape, where high capital requirements have traditionally barred the average saver from offshore property assets.
By embedding institutional-grade Manulife products into the GFunds platform, the two companies are providing a digital gateway for retail investors to hedge against local market volatility through geographic and asset-class diversification.
The new offerings include the Manulife Global REIT Feeder Fund, which targets trophy assets like international office towers, and the Manulife Asia Pacific REIT Fund, which taps into rental income from commercial properties in the region’s primary hubs.
Additionally, the Manulife Global Preferred Income Fund and the Manulife Asia Dynamic Bond Feeder Fund offer exposure to high-yield dividend securities and regional fixed-income markets, respectively.
The move underscores a strategic pivot for GCash, backed by Ant Group, Globe Telecom, and Ayala Corp., as it evolves from a high-volume payment processor into a sophisticated digital wealth management hub.
