Odette Relief Efforts with Tzu Chi Foundation

• Tzu Chi Foundation, industry leaders collaborate for strategic response to Odette victims

• Beyond donations, with preparations for future calamities

Tzu Chi Foundation, Digital Pilipinas, and industry leaders discuss a strategic response to Odette victims – and for future calamities.

A week shy from Christmas, the devastation wrought by super typhoon Odette has leveled large parts of the central and southern Philippines, placing six regions under a state of calamity: Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga. However, the lack of communications within the affected regions and the unpassable roads between the various towns have made the urgent distribution of assistance an enormous challenge. This prompted a call from and for business and NGO leaders to collaborate to get the communities back on their feet, as well as to form strategic responses for future calamities.

Bro. Henry Yunez, Country CEO of the humanitarian organization Buddhist Compassion Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, welcomed the “chance to connect to these groups.” Referring to the faith on which their group was founded, he added that they welcome volunteers and resources from all sectors because “there is no religion involved in what we are doing.”

Since the clearing of the weather which has allowed volunteers and rescue missions to enter the affected regions, Tzu Chi has visited nine municipalities in Bohol and 15 in Southern Leyte. They have sent gallons of water and medicines to these provinces, while looking for more generators that can help in the pumping of water. There are plans to distribute rice to around 20,000 families soon after December 26.

Technology and transparency

When the Philippines was struck by 2013’s Yolanda, one the strongest typhoons in history, Tzu Chi’s response to the relief operations was considered to be one of the most impactful by civil society and government.

Beyond the collection and transportation of relief goods for the Odette victims, help is also needed for “heavy equipment and the construction side of things,” said Amor Maclang, Digital Pilipinas Convenor. A more “participative and transparent” collaboration of partners can tap fast-rising technology like fintech, e-commerce, and logistics to “move money faster” to the recipients who need them the most. Digital Pilipinas, a movement which addresses business and social challenges through technological adoption, has helped the Tzu Chi Foundation previously “even before Odette, to tech up their organization,” said Maclang. “Most importantly, we can leverage technology to show transparency of where the money is going.”

Tzu Chi Foundation Philippine and Digital Pilipinas’ recent meeting, “Typhoon Odette Relief Briefing and Response Planning,” was attended by industry leaders from the real estate, logistics, construction, financial services, payments, and retail spaces. It encouraged ‘Bayanihan’ and a whole-of-nation, whole-of-society approach towards addressing the situation in the Odette-struck areas.

Cherrie Rose Ang, Admin Senior Officer of Tzu Chi’s Admin and Volunteer Affairs Department, acknowledged that the “meeting is not just for awareness, but for support, cooperation, and unity.” Days after Odette has made nine landfalls across Visayas and Mindanao, Filipinos find themselves staying in temporary shelters or evacuation centers. Ang described the situation their volunteers reported: “Children are going out to the streets to beg for help. People are desperate to salvage whatever items they can get from their ruined houses.”

Various businesses represented in the webinar are already helping out in the relief efforts. Gladys Pascual, Etiqa Head of Strategy and Transformation, said that their program EtiqaCares is supporting the rehabilitation programs. Kim Lato, Founder of Kimstore, is opening their platform to collaborate with the Tzu Chi Foundation to launch a fundraiser. Meanwhile, Coins.PH CEO Nauman Mustafa shared that “instead of buying Christmas gifts for our partners, we will be donating instead.”

Even those struck by Typhoon Odette themselves are organizing relief operations. Roy Miclat, President of 1 Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines, said that his team is serving “in the remote areas, even though hundreds of our members have been affected by Odette.”

Long-term solutions

Meanwhile, in response to concerns about restoring communications and internet connectivity, Yoly Crisanto, Globe SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer, said that the telecom giant is “doing what we can to make sure all the provinces struck by Odette become online and connected again.” She also pointed out that the increasing threats against climate change will only spur more and stronger typhoons especially for vulnerable countries like the Philippines. She said, “The challenge of our time is what are we going to do to become better the next time we are faced with the same situation.”

Miclat agreed that forward-looking activities “should not focus on one-time activities, like donation drives.”

One solution is the collaboration between Coins.ph’s Mustafa and Donna May Lina, Director and Executive Board of the OneLGC Lina Group of Companies. Both companies will be tokenizing the efforts for tree planting to better encourage Filipinos to take part in the rehabilitation of the environment. With the Lina organization’s expertise in disaster preparedness, they are looking to onboard more people who can become better equipped when the next disaster strikes.

Marco Santos, representing the Mapua University and the Yuchengco group, said that the country can prepare the future architects, engineers, and other professionals with the knowledge to create resilient structures against calamities. He described it as “producing people who are ready for the job. We produce good engineers. Our first patent is called Project Usher and it enables us to monitor buildings during an earthquake.”

Technology will also be vital not only for the operations in response to Typhoon Odette but for the future. “We can align all our groups to make technology and our systems relevant,” Georgia Martelino, Philanthropist Lead of Microsoft Philippines, said. “Let us pool our resources and label it as a Tzu Chi platform so people can access it for free. We can start with digital literacy.”

Leveraging on its worldwide network of volunteers and employees, Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines is aiding in the rehabilitation, recovery, economic, and educational resumption of the areas affected by Typhoon Odette. They involve the communities themselves in various operations, which is also a way to provide them temporary sources of income.

“With love in our hearts, there is nothing we cannot overcome. We can come together and build again,” Anton Lim, OIC of Tzu Chi Zamboanga Liaison Office, said.

Maclang affirmed that the collaboration will continue because it not just “about Odette but about humanity.” There are plans for Tzu Chi, Digital Pilipinas, and the other companies to hold more meetings with more action plans as the situation develops.

The Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines is open for donations which can be sent through the following: Account name: Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines; BDO Account number: 011978001800; Metrobank Account number: 163-3-16307190-9. Send soft copy of deposit slips at donations@tzuchi.org.ph or through Viber/Line/WeChat: +639672110940

The TikTok Christmas Tree Lights Up Bonifacio High Street, Spreading Holiday Cheer This December

Everyone is invited to visit this joyful attraction from December 21-31, 2021, and Create The Merry together with the entire community on TikTok!

TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video, invites everyone to visit the #TikTokTree, a one-of-a-kind attraction that will be up from December 21 to 31, 2021 in Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The unique #TikTokTree will be made up of LED Screens, and will spread Christmas cheer in the city by continuously flashing exciting and fun holiday content shared by TikTok creators, featuring delicious food, fun dances, fitness, gaming and more!

Apart from enjoying the various videos shown on the #TikTokTree, visitors may also shoot and create their own holiday-themed posts using the different Christmas installations in the area to add flair to their content.

Create the Merry this Christmas with the #TikTokTree

Anyone with amazing content to share can get featured on the #TikTokTree! Simply create entertaining and engaging Christmas-themed videos on TikTok,  make the post public, and use  the hashtag #TikTokTree, for the chance to get featured on the holiday attraction alongside your favorite TikTok creators. 

Post your festive TikTok content and see them flashed on the TikTok Christmas Tree beginning December 21 until December 31, 2021!

Check out the #TikTokTree this December, and celebrate the holidays with the entire community, both inside and outside platform. Download TikTok on your iOS and Android devices today.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19sA2ENtNTnSgB_bZO1JqWw7wimZ2aNIt/view?usp=sharing

Super holiday treats for supermoms from SM Supermalls!

Christmas is just around the corner, and the merriest time of the year is also the busiest, especially for moms! From shopping and wrapping presents, to decorating the home, planning the menu, and making sure everything is festive and special for Christmas eve, moms have it down pat.

To honor and treat the hardworking supermoms in our lives, SM Supermalls, in partnership with SM Markets, have launched the 100 Super wishes promo to give the exclusive SuperMoms Club members #ChristmaSayaAtSM holiday baskets worth PHP1,500!

For supermoms who want to join, there are only two things you need to do. Simply submit your comments about your Christmas wish with the hashtags #100SuperWishes and #ChristmaSayaAtSM on the official SuperMoms Club promo post on Facebook and tag five SuperMom-friends to spread SM’s 100 Days of Caring and Giving.

Since its launch last September 16, the promo has had over 36 thousand entries with the 1st and 2nd batch of winners announced last October 25 and November 25, respectively.

So far, over 13,400 entries are in for Batch 3 which will run until December 24. And supermom winners from this batch will be announced on Christmas Day, just in time for a perfect and delightful celebration with your loved ones!

To date, the internationally-acclaimed SuperMoms Club has over 205,000 members, making it the country's biggest Parenting Group on Facebook Philippines!

Christmas wouldn’t be as magical without our mom’s special superpowers at home, so let’s give them this super treat as our way of thanking them for all they do.

SM implements strict #SafeMallingAtSM protocols nationwide and offers an equally convenient online shopping option with the SM Malls Online app on Google Play or App Store. 

For more information about the SuperMoms Club, become a member by simply visiting facebook.com/groups/SMSuperMomsClub. Also visit www.smsupermalls.com and follow @smsupermalls on all social media accounts.

OPPO celebrates small businesses with an uplifting video honoring breadwinners

Global smart device brand OPPO recently launched a new video in time for the Christmas season, paying tribute to those who have had to put their dreams aside and get resourceful during the pandemic. 

The video shows a family, hopeful and full of wonder at first, and suddenly faced with the effects of lockdowns in the country. Told from the perspective of the breadwinner of the family, the video shows how he chose a high-powered smartphone to revive his business and keep his younger brother’s dreams of graduating alive.

The video encapsulates what many Filipinos went through in the past two years, having to pivot their careers and prioritizing their needs over desires. The video ends on a hopeful note, showing how the family was able to rise back up through sheer resourcefulness and creativity.

With the help of OPPO and its powerful camera technologies plus social media, the family was able to work on their sapin-sapin business together, and reignite joy into their lives, despite the hardships.

OPPO continues its mission to help micro and small business owners keep and even grow their initiatives and this year, partnered with Let’s Eat Pare, a well-known food discovery platform and community, to shine the spotlight on the best restaurants, baked goods, and home meals in town that you might not have heard of just yet. Through this partnership, OPPO boosts traffic to ten verified Let’s Eat Pare merchants by offering exclusive discounts and freebies through its MyOPPO App, hoping to keep their holiday season busy with new customers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgy1gvnPbYE

Support your favorite and soon-to-be-favorite small food businesses, and enjoy all of these special Let’s Eat Pare offers, discounts and more this festive season with the MyOPPO App, OPPO’s exclusive rewards program community, until December 31, 2021.

To know more about MyOPPO App, visit the App Market, OPPO’s official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

Emirates completes A380 fleet with 123rd delivery of iconic aircraft

 

• Largest customer of the world’s largest commercial jet marks 21-year commitment to the A380 program

• Top international airline signals optimism for industry recovery

Dubai, UAE, December, 2021 – Emirates today received delivery of its 123rd Airbus A380 superjumbo jet. The aircraft, registered as A6-EVS, is also the final new A380 aircraft to join Emirates’ fleet, marking another milestone in the airline’s steadfast 21-year commitment to the program.

Watch a video of Emirates' 123rd Airbus A380 as it readies for departure to its home in Dubai.

Receiving delivery of a brand new aircraft amidst an unprecedented global pandemic, Emirates is once again signaling its optimism for industry recovery and the return of travel demand.

Emirates was the first airline to announce an order for the A380 at the 2000 Farnborough Air Show when the aircraft was still marketed as the A3XX. This was followed with a firm commitment and additional order for 15 more units at the 2001 Dubai Air Show, a bold statement just 6 weeks after the events of 9/11 challenged the industry like never before.

Emirates’ commitment was crucial to the launch of the program that brought together leading European aerospace players and its global supply chain to develop and bring to market the world’s largest commercial aircraft with a full double deck and generous cabin interior space.

Since it first took to the sky, the A380 has continued to capture imaginations, generate excitement wherever it operates, and attract traveler preference for its quiet, spacious and comfortable interiors.

"The A380 is a truly special aircraft in so many ways. For Emirates, it gave us the opportunity to redefine the travel experience, efficiently serve demand at slot-constrained airports, and bolster our network growth. The A380 will remain Emirates’ flagship product for the coming years, and a vital pillar of our network plans,” said Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

"The aircraft we are receiving today features our latest cabin products including Premium Economy. Compare it to our very first A380 delivered back in 2008 and you’ll see the myriad of enhancements and upgrades invested in ensuring that the Emirates A380 experience is unparalleled. We’d like to thank Airbus and all of our program partners for enabling us to push the envelope to introduce many innovative ‘industry firsts’, and importantly, deliver the best product for Emirates’ customers."

"The A380 has touched the lives of so many passengers by setting new standards in terms of flying and travel experience. I'm confident that it will continue to do so for decades to come with Emirates, which has continuously introduced new services and products allowing passengers around the world to experience the unique features of their A380s,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO. "On behalf of all Airbus teams, I would like to use this delivery milestone to warmly thank Emirates Airline - the biggest A380 operator in the world - for their unwavering trust and partnership. Here's to many more happy landings!"

The latest Emirates A380 to be delivered features the airline’s latest signature products onboard including First Class Private Suites and Shower Spas, the highly popular A380 Onboard Bar, its new Premium Economy cabin, and the latest inflight entertainment systems offering the best-in-sky personal screens and unmatched choice of content.

At the 2021 Dubai Airshow in November, Emirates also announced a major retrofit program which will see 52 of its existing A380 aircraft fitted with Premium Economy cabins and other enhancements, highlighting the airline’s ongoing commitment to ensuring its A380 experience remains best-in-sky.

realme Unveiled the Appearance of the Most Premium Flagship Smartphone - GT 2 SERIES with the Sustainable Paper Tech Master Design

realme, the fastest-growing smartphone brand unveiled the appearance of its new product - realme GT 2 SERIES. Co-designed with Naoto Fukusawa, inspired by paper, realme GT 2 Pro comes the world-first smartphone with bio-based polymer design.

This time around realme design studio has once again team up with Naoto Fukasawa to bring forth Paper Tech Master design for a sustainable product design with “The Future in Paper” as the core design inspiration, which is the perfect combination of Art and the Respect, Love and Reverence of the Great Environment.

Starting from realme 1, “Power Meets Style” has been there in realme’s blood and act as realme’s founding product philosophy. Therefore when it comes to product, Performance & Design are considered as two pillars of realme’s product. It is the priority that realme products follows to provide the leap forward experience to global users.

As the most premium flagship ever by realme, realme GT 2 Pro come with the special Paper Tech Master Design. Paper is premium, neat and light. Naoto Fukasawa use the element of the paper texture on realme GT 2 SERIES, bring the Beauty of the paper to the mobile.

realme believes materials can break design boundaries in all direction. Distinctive product design is essential for all realme products, but the environment will not be sacrificed in its name. This is where realme thinks style and sustainability doesn’t need to be mutually exclusive. realme believes in the harmony between environment and technology.

realme GT 2 SERIES will be launched soon. Stay tuned.

Mang Inasal’s family-sized meals perfect for holiday feasts

Filipinos take the holidays seriously. It’s a time when families and friends get together, spend time catching up, and simply enjoy each other’s company.

While this year may not be like Christmases past, it is still an occasion worth celebrating because being together with the people who matter most to us is enough reason for the season.

Prepare a fuss-free and flavorful holiday feast with Mang Inasal family-sized favorites

Since no Filipino celebration is complete without great food, Mang Inasal is offering its beloved juicy, ihaw-sarap favorites (and more) this Christmas in family-sized pans good for 4-6 people. These bulk orders allow people to spend more time with the people they love and bond over a meal without all the fuss that comes with preparing a feast.

Get the classic favorite Chicken Inasal Large Paa (or Pecho) at home while getting the same freshly-grilled experience in-store with its new juicy-lock grilling process that maintains the natural juiciness of the chicken while the marinade seeps throughout the meat so every bite is as flavorful as the next.

A Filipino spread naturally requires a noodle dish. This makes Mang Inasal’s Family-sized Palabok the perfect companion to the brand’s ihaw-sarap favorites. With its flavor-packed palabok sauce, pork chunks, smoky tinapa, crunchy chicharron, boiled egg, and green onion, the Mang Inasal Palabok is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Get the Family-sized Liempo, Pork BBQ, or Sisig for more variety to satisfy all kinds of different palates. Mang Inasal has also introduced its new Pork BBQ with the addition of peanut sauce and java rice.

Meanwhile, the Chicken Empanada comes in a box of six. Enjoy this pastry that is loaded with chicken chunks, potatoes, and raisins.

Plan celebrations ahead by ordering Mang Inasal favorites at www.manginasaldelivery.com.ph or the Mang Inasal app.

And the best part is each of these Mang Inasal family-sized favorites are available via take-out and delivery through the Mang Inasal website, Grab Food, and foodpanda so you can sit back, order, pick up your delicious meals or have it delivered – safely, conveniently, and fuss-free.

For more information, visit the Mang Inasal Facebook page and order your Mang Inasal favorites by visiting www.manginasaldelivery.com.ph or the Mang Inasal app.

realme announces three world’s-first technologies present in latest flagship lineup GT 2 Series

realme, the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand and the PH’s no. 1 smartphone brand for 2021, officially unveiled three world’s-first technologies at the realme GT 2 Series Special Event held December 20.

Relentless tech and design innovations have always been the cornerstones of realme's rapid growth globally. As the brand’s first and most premium flagship lineup, the GT 2 series features three industry firsts: a back cover made of bio-polymer material, a 150° ultra-wide camera, and realme's Innovation Forward communication.

World’s first bio-polymer material with Master Design

The realme GT 2 Pro features a minimalist, sustainability-focused design inspired by paper. Created by renowned Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa, this "Paper Tech Master Design" makes the realme GT 2 Pro the world’s first smartphone designed with bio-based materials.

The realme GT 2 Pro's back cover uses a bio-polymer material that serves as an eco-friendly alternative to fossil raw materials that contribute to global warming. The SABIC bio-based material has passed not only the ISCC International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, but also various stringent environmental regulation standards, such as REACH, RoHS, and EPEAT.

In addition, realme's new box design has reduced the overall plastic ratio from 21.7% in the previous generation, to 0.3% for this model.

World’s first 150°ultra-wide Camera with fisheye mode

Ultra-wide-angle lenses are often used in landscape and building photography as they allow the camera to capture a wider perspective in each photo. The realme GT 2 Pro is the first smartphone to offer a 150° ultra-wide camera. This ultra-wide camera expands the phone's field of view by 278% compared to the main camera's 84° field.

realme also developed the world’s first fisheye mode for smartphones on the GT 2 Pro. This mode can produce a strong perspective or an ultra-long depth of field effect. With a large field of view, the overall picture becomes even more visually appealing and allows for more creative possibilities.

Innovation Forward Communication with Stable Signal and 360°NFC

The realme GT 2 Pro is equipped with an Antenna Array Matrix System consisting of three technologies: the world's first ultra-wide-band antenna switching technology (HyperSmart), a Wi-Fi Enhancer, and 360° near-field communication (NFC) technology.

realme's HyperSmart antenna switching technology is designed with 12 wrap-around antennas that cover all sides of the phone and support mainstream bands in almost all directions, all with the same signal strength. This allows the GT 2 Pro to intelligently evaluate the signal strength of all antennas and automatically select the one with the best signal.

In terms of the Wi-Fi network enhancer, the symmetrical Wi-Fi antenna is designed to ensure more balanced signal strength around the phone. In realme's tests, this design improved signal stability by 20% compared to the asymmetrical Wi-Fi antenna design.

The realme GT 2 Pro also integrates the top two cellular antennas with an NFC signal transceiver function, increasing the sensing area by 500% and the sensing distance by 20%. The entire upper part of the GT 2 Pro senses NFC signals in either direction, facilitating the use of NFC for swiping cards or smartphones.

To know more about realme’s latest world’s-first technologies, be sure to stay tuned at the realme PH Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit the official realme website at https://www.realme.com/ph/.

TECNO Mobile Awards Budding Filipino Filmmaker Johanna Serrano as the Grand Winner of Its First Movie Masters Program

● The program featured beautiful short films captured using the ‘Movie Master’ CAMON 18 smartphone. 

● Now everyone can have a happier holiday season with even more offers on the CAMON 18 Series, plus upcoming TECNO models, POVA Neo and Spark 8P.

TECNO Mobile recently concluded its first Movie Masters Program with an awarding ceremony held on December 11, 2021. The Movie Masters Program, which marks the beginning of TECNO Mobile’s commitment to supporting the local filmmaking scene, is a short film competition whose goal is to highlight moving moments from everyday life through dynamic, touching, and beautifully-made original videos shot by aspiring local filmmakers using the CAMON 18 Premier smartphone. 

At the awarding event, filmmaker Johanna Serrano was named the Grand Winner of the Movie Masters Program for her film, Bukidnon An Eco Adventure, besting two other finalists, Dylan Talon and Angelo Crisostomo. In the short film, Johanna takes viewers along as she explores the beautiful province of Bukidnon, sharing raw and authentic moments that she experiences during the trip.

As the Grand Winner, Johanna received a Php 300,000 film grant, along with the chance to create a short film together with top local director, Paul Soriano and the TEN17P team. The film, which will be released globally this December, will take a look back at the past year, and show how Filipinos are capable of overcoming challenges that may shake them, in order to live a steady life with the promise of a stable and beautiful future.

Apart from emerging as the Grand Winner of the short film competition, Johanna was also named as one of two TECNO Mobile 2022 Tourism Ambassadors. The second Tourism Ambassador awarded at the event was Felix Ablao Jr., who submitted the best steadiest video entry for the Shaky Video Championship on Facebook. Both TECNO Mobile 2022 Tourism Ambassadors received Holiday Travel Funds amounting to Php 40,000 as their prize.

In a message to the finalists, and those watching the awarding ceremony, Direk Paul Soriano shared that the technology found in the CAMON 18 Premier makes it a great tool for capturing and telling stories. He also invited more filmmakers and creators to take advantage of opportunities like the Movie Masters Program. He said, “We have the freedom that we all want when we tell our stories. The creative freedom. It’s really just you, and the CAMON 18 Premier, and your stories. What else do you need?”

Capture great stories with CAMON 18 

The Movie Masters Program showcased how the CAMON 18 Series pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a professional camera smartphone. The finalists were able to experience the “Movie Master” CAMON 18 Premier firsthand, testing out its ultra-steady Stabilized Gimbal Camera to achieve a #SuperSteadyShot as they created their short films. 

Other smartphones included in the CAMON 18 Series are CAMON 18P, which has a 48MP clear and steady video camera, plus a 13MP 50mm pro portrait camera, and the CAMON 18 variant, which is equipped with a 48MP Multi-function Triple Camera.

This Christmas season, TECNO Mobile is giving shoppers the chance to enjoy special discounts and deals on the CAMON 18 Series, and other awesome smartphones and AIoT products from the brand. Visit the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada, and the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee Mall to catch the TECNO Pre-Holiday Sale on December 12 to 14, 2021, the TECNO Christmas Payday Sale on December 15 and 16, 2021, and the TECNO Holiday Sale from December 22 to 26, 2021.

It’s a joyous holiday season with Spark 8P and POVA Neo

You can also look forward to these upcoming smartphones from TECNO Mobile this Christmas - Spark 8P and POVA Neo. The “Ace for New Gen”, Spark 8P is equipped with a 50MP Ultra Clear AI Triple Camera that allows you to capture moments clearly and vividly, a 1080P FHD+ Dot Notch Screen, and a huge 5000mAh battery with power saving optimization. Spark 8P is available at the TECNO Mobile Official Stores in Shopee and Lazada for only Php 7,499.

Enjoy your favorite games on the extra tough POVA Neo smartphone, with a large battery and big screen for an even better gaming experience. This smartphone is equipped with ET Engine optimization boost, plus a Game Space with cool interface, and fast play features. POVA Neo is available at the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada, and is priced at Php 5,999.

Stay updated on all the latest promos when you like and follow TECNO Mobile Philippines on Facebook. Visit www.tecno-mobile.com/ph to learn more about your favorite TECNO Mobile smartphones and gadgets.

Investing in the right health insurance for you and your loved ones

There was a time when investment referred to stocks, real estate, market funds and business. While these are still important in growing one’s wealth, health has now risen as one of the most critical investments one must consider.

A survey done by Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a joint venture between the Yuchengco Group of Companies and Sun Life Philippines, indicated that health insurance rose from fourth to second top priority in financial protection among the general public. The respondents of the said survey, done in the third quarter of 2021, revealed that while they are concerned about having a stable source of income to help in emergency situations, they are also highly concerned for the health and well-being of their loved ones and themselves.

According to Richard S. Lim, president of Sun Life Grepa, the pandemic has raised the awareness of people on the importance of health plans. Plans that offer hospitalization and other benefits for dreaded disease treatment or COVID-related confinements are highly sought after at this time, together with life insurance products.

With this growing interest in mind, here are a few more factors to consider when choosing a health insurance policy.

Health Insurance provides options for a wide range of treatment benefits. 

While different people have different protection needs, it is very useful to have health insurance plans that provide coverage options for life-threatening conditions such as critical illnesses. Upon diagnosis of a critical illness, are some benefits paid out to provide the insured person sufficient funds for incurred medical expenses? In certain instances, these conditions may require additional tests and even initial confinements and procedures before the actual course of treatment is finalized. During the treatment process itself, it may be useful to check if the plan has options available to cover surgical-related costs should the treatment program require such intervention. An additional consideration would be hospital confinement-related benefits. This could range from regular room confinement to the more complex Intensive Care Unit (ICU) confinement options. Another useful aspect to consider would be a health plan’s post-recovery benefit options related to post-confinement treatment such as follow-up consultations and even rehabilitation.

Group coverage for MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises).

MSMEs realize now, more than ever, the importance of securing their employees’ health to keep their business/es going. There is a right health insurance plan for the varying needs of such enterprises. Employers just need to thoroughly review plans best suited for them. There are various group hospitalization plans available in the market to choose from. It would be helpful to select one that includes surgical benefit options and possibly to pay for hospital expenses in case an employee needs to be confined. You could also look for an insurance plan that likewise covers the employee’s immediate family members. After all, employees caring for sick family members will likely be distracted and less productive at work if their loved ones’ needs are not looked after.

Reliable, extensive access to medical partners.

It helps to check on the insurance company’s access to medical providers. This access would ideally include hospitals, clinics and health care centers that are of good reputation, experts in their respective fields and with a history of trustworthiness. The more medical partners in more locations the better. A life insurance company with wide provider access can truly help in ensuring flexibility in service options like reimbursement, and also proves the organization's stability, competitiveness, and responsiveness to needs.

Financial advisors that speak your language. 

All financial advisors are trained, so it is important to try talking to various advisors before deciding on one that connects with you the most. It would be ideal to consider not just an advisor’s years of expertise and track record but also his ability to listen, understand your needs, and provide you with relevant financial protection coverage options that will best address your specific requirements. From sharing protection options to providing assistance in processing claims, an advisor’s clarity in explaining products and steps to take is highly beneficial.

About SUN LIFE GREPA: Sun Life Grepa is a joint venture between the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) and Sun Life Philippines (Sun Life). Sun Life Grepa offers financial protection products through its agency, bancassurance, and group account channels. YGC is one of Southeast Asia's largest conglomerates with over 90 companies, while Sun Life has been a top player in the Philippine market for over 120 years.

About the YUCHENGCO GROUP OF COMPANIES (YGC). The Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) is a premiere Philippine conglomerate with interests ranging from banking to international business partnerships, from financial services to construction, and from education to information technology. YGC is composed of market leaders and innovators like RCBC, Malayan Insurance, Sun Life Grepa, Mapua University, EEI Corporation, PetroEnergy Resources Corporation, and RCBC Bankard.

PH, SG sign agreement enhancing ASEAN digital payment cooperation in World Fintech Festival

BSP-MAS CA benefits MSMEs, OFWs, tourism, payments, cybersecurity

The Philippines and Singapore deepened their fintech-based relationship with various cross-border collaborations that will strengthen ASEAN regional payments and provide financial inclusivity to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and micro-small-to-medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

During the recent World Fintech Festival Philippines (WFF) 2021 - Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Managing Director Ravi Menon signed the expanded Fintech Innovation Function Cooperation Agreement. One highlight was the linkage of the two countries’ QR and real-time payment systems. In his statement following the signing ceremony, Gov. Diokno said that "the BSP is taking the initial step in linking the Philippine payment system with those of our ASEAN neighbors, beginning with Singapore.” He added that the agreement will enhance safe, efficient cross-border payments through smoother and seamless international fund transfers. Managing Director Menon called it “a concrete step towards the vision of an ASEAN network of interconnected real-time payment systems."

(Upper row, L-R): Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno; Ravi Menon, Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Assistant Governor Edna Villa

(Middle row, L-R): Michelle Ong, Leading Business Journalist as Host and Moderator; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Director Raymond Estioko, Payments System Oversight; Carmelita Araneta, General Manager, Philippine Payments Management Inc.

(Bottom row): Leila Martin, President and CEO, Overseas Filipino Bank; Todd Schweitzer, CEO of Brankas; Amor Maclang, Convenor, Digital Pilipinas

MAS’ launch of regional tech platforms strengthens the growth of ASEAN cross-border transactions: Proxtera, which enables seamless trading for SMEs; the non-profit open-architecture API Exchange (APIX) which supports ASEAN and global financial innovation and inclusion; and Oxygen, APIX’s knowledge-upskilling platform that provides masterclasses from industry experts.

SFF 2021’s discussions are shaped by new changemakers as well as central banks’ impact-makers, policymakers, and financial gurus. MAS Chief Fintech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty gave one advantage of this approach for MSMEs: “We are democratizing the unique and valuable content into a signature knowledge certification program and a special SME day with an upskilling programme.”

Amor Maclang, Digital Pilipinas Convenor, expressed support for the enhanced BSP-MAS Cooperation Agreement through “the whole-of-society approach in solving today's and tomorrow's technological needs.” Digital Pilipinas, which helped launch WFF 2021 with the MAS, will “continue to be at the service of both the BSP and MAS as this agreement is a very important pillar in tech-ing up our country,” said Maclang.

Tech education and certification

Digital Pilipinas is a national movement that solves Philippine industry-wide challenges through digitalization, tech education with certification, and the creation of industry sandboxes. With the support of the Department of Trade and Industry, its program Business Without Borders and its partnership with Proxtera will connect SMEs with the greater ASEAN network. The upcoming Digital Pilipinas Academy will hold educational micro-certification courses on the blockchain; its academic program, the Incremental Industry-Driven Technology Education Resources Authentication Testing Ecosystem (I-ITERATE), will feature courses on Open Finance, Fintech, and other nascent technologies.

With the BSP and MAS models serving as their guide, the sandboxes that Digital Pilipinas will develop with national line agencies can accelerate innovation in alignment with regulatory policies. Digital Pilipinas’ partners in this initiative are Proxtera, APIX, and Oxygen.

Safe, secure, and swift digital payments

Through Business Without Borders, Digital Pilipinas will operationalize plans for tech-ing up entrepreneurs and connect MSMEs with international trade. Its opening up of the ASEAN market to local companies through digital gateways is in alignment with the BSP-MAS’ updated Cooperation Agreement.

Built on an earlier 2017 agreement between the BSP and the MAS, the updated Cooperation Agreement will also provide opportunities to the tourism, payments, and cybersecurity sectors. Raymond Estioko, BSP Director for Payments System Oversight, said that the 2021 agreement will make cross-border payments “cheaper, more inclusive, and more transparent."

BSP Assistant Governor Edna Villa named another new development: “Collaboration specifically on payments innovation and the linking of the two payment systems of the Philippines’ InstaPay and Singapore's PayNow."

Brankas CEO Todd Schweitzer described how the alignment of financial access and tech education can improve the lives of underserved Filipinos: “Allowing them to connect to the new payment systems can help drive financial inclusion. This can be beneficial to OFWs in their decisions about which insurance product fits their needs."

Carmelita Araneta, General Manager of Philippine Payments Management Inc. (PPMI), acknowledged that economic and tech “power is starting to move in Asia.” Their P2M (Person-to-Merchant) system is designed to connect with Singapore-based OFWs who are Instapay users.

Leila Martin, President and CEO of OFBank, acknowledged that through the new BSP-MAS digital payment network, OFWs “can look forward to a strong, enabling environment that will ensure that cross-border payments are safe and devoid of fraud.”

The BSP-MAS extended Cooperation Agreement and the new Digital Pilipinas partnerships are expected to trigger more collaborations across the ASEAN. As Maclang put it, “They will help speed up cross-border financial transactions between the Philippines and Singapore, and move Philippine industries forward towards economic integration among the ASEAN.”

Teen star Jhassy Busran wins international acting awards

Jhassy Busran, 15-year-old pretty young miss, singer-actress makes the country proud by winning two international acting awards – the Jury Award Best of the Best Performance Short Film (Male or Female) at the 2021 International Film Festival Manhattan-New York and a best child actress award e at the Gully International Film Festival in India for her performance as young child forced into hard labor in the film “Pugon” by Gabby Ramos.

A true artistic feat for a newcomer indeed since she does not belong to the roster of talents of a major television network or a star-maker talent management agency.

Jhassy’s name obviously comes from the fragrant flower that is jasmine, usually white or yellow, and thrives in the temperate regions of Eurasia and Oceania.

Born under the astrological sign of Virgo, this fifteen-year old 9th grader from the Mission Christian School, declares the e King’s Language, English as her favorite school subject. On the side, she is a varsity player of their table tennis team.

Of her scholastic achievements, Jhassy is most modest: “I graduated salutatorian with 7 awards. With the guidance of my parents, teachers and God definitely, I am a consistent honor student since kinder. I also played Table tennis in BULPRISA before and won a silver medal. I’ve became title holder of Bb Kalinisan twice and Ms. Intramurals 2019.”

A certified Swiftie, listens and appreciates all the penned compositions of international singing sensation Taylor Swift. Locally she idolizes Pop Royalty Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli, the Pinoy Pop Kings SB19 and the ripe to become a supermodel, Maymay Entrata.

When it comes to her top picks in acting, Busran says: “I’m an avid fan of Ms. Kathryn Bernardo since 2012 I really love how she acts and her personality. I look up to Ms. Sylvia Sanchez too because of her versatility.”

Her current eye candies are SB19’s Ken Suson, Daniel Padilla and Donny Pangilinan.

She was part of the “Caught In the Act” where she played the part: “I am Daisy Sison, the best friend of Elaine Cruz which Andi Abaya portrayed,” says Busran. “My character in the movie is a nerd but not the typical one. She has a social life. She has great friends. She prioritizes her studies pero di niya kinakalimutan maging masaya.”

Her role preparations, she shares: “When I have a new role to portray I just always think that I have to wear the shoes, the feelings and thoughts of my character. And Daisy and I are somewhat similar. I am also I am also prioritizing my studies but at the same time, I balance it with quality time with my family and friends.”

“My experience in being part of ‘Caught In the Act, I would never forget,”Jhassy avers. “I made a lot of fun and good memories with my co-actors. They were guiding me all throughout the shoot. I also discovered that I can focus pala ng matagal.” She cannot help but guffaw after that reveal.

What makes her unique, she comes clean: “A lot of people say that I have a matured mindset despite my young age. Having that as my uniqueness, I think can invest more emotions and truth to the characters that hopefully will be offered to me.”

She does not say nay to the possibility of having a love team. Her explanation: “I will accept it for as long as alam ko naman po na masaya ako sa ginagawa ko with my partner and together, we bring joy and positivity to people.”

The short film, that gave her first two international trophies, also had seasoned actor Soliman Cruz as cast. It was presented as a short film in an exhibition in the online edition of Ciemalaya, the most prestigious film festival for independently produced motion pictures.

Busran promises: “I know that I always do my best in everything. I can promise them na di ko sila bibiguin at kaya ko. I am a strong-willed person and I am confident with my talents.”

Without a doubt, with her talent and charms, Jhassy Busran’s showbiz career is bright and exciting.

Finding refuge amidst nature in Hamilo Coast

WITH the onset of COVID-19, Filipinos and the rest of the world have had to deal with an unprecedented upheaval in their lives: lockdown. Being confined in one’s home for an uncertain duration, with limited movement and access, required drastic adjustment, with some people inevitably experiencing higher levels of anxiety.

Mechanisms for survival took many forms, including preserving as much of a sense of normalcy as strict quarantines allowed. For many, this meant relocating out of the city, away from urban congestion and higher risks of COVID-19 infection, to more open spaces. Communities like Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas, a mere 90-minute drive from Manila, cradled between mountain ridges and the sea, provided ideal locations close to what has proven to be the most powerful antidote to modern chaos: nature itself.

Staying close to nature improves physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

For many Hamilo Coast residents like human resources manager Jessica Clara Belardo, relocating, for the time being, was not a difficult decision. “Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, we decided to look for a secure and less crowded place nearby where we could stay for at least a year and avoid exposure. We found out that Hamilo Coast was the perfect fit for our family.”

Hamilo Coast is obviously on to something. In a February 2021 article on the website PositivePsychology.com, Madhuleena Roy Chaudhury wrote about “The Positive Effects of Nature on Your Mental Well-Being.” where she also cited that “staying close to nature improves physical, mental, and spiritual well-being; it makes us feel alive from the inside, and we should not compromise it for recent developments like urbanization, technology, or social media.”

Chaudhury, a psychologist, mentioned a host of other benefits of being close to nature, including emotional regulation and memory, fighting depression, reducing the stress hormone cortisol, and improving focus and creativity.

There are plenty of outdoor activities to do in Hamilo Coast such as biking while enjoying the views of nature.

This is validated by people who now live and work in their Pico De Loro Cove homes in Hamilo Coast after work-from-home arrangements became the norm. With the stress of traffic and commuting eliminated and the option to hold virtual meetings with a view now available, productivity and well-being have increased significantly. “As a working mom, one of the best benefits I have experienced and am still enjoying is the perfect work-life balance,” says Belardo. “I can do my work remotely and take care of my child and family while enjoying the beach and other facilities. Plus, my son is really having a great time here.”

“The free strong WiFi and internet connection are among the benefits,” says finance executive and general manager Willard Mosquito. “Then there are lots of places to work even outside the unit, such as the Beach Club. You can bike and swim during free time on weekends, enjoying the beauty of nature. There’s also a very nice chapel where you can pray, reflect, and meditate.”

Developed by SM Prime’s Costa Del Hamilo, Inc., Hamilo Coast is considered the first premiere sustainable community in Nasugbu, combining nature and man-made excellence in residential properties and amenities. Many homeowners had, in fact, chosen to settle here even before the lockdowns. When the pandemic came, extra safety and security measures adopted by the Property Management Team on a 24/7 basis, including seeing to homeowners’ needs, made life much easier.

Many homeowners had chosen to settle in Hamilo Coast because the ambience is relaxing, the security is tight, the place is less crowded, safety protocols are being strictly implemented, and the staff is very helpful.

“The ambience of the place is relaxing, the security is tight, the place is less crowded, safety protocols are being strictly implemented, and the staff is very helpful,” says Belardo. “More important, the guards, receptionists, and maintenance guys are very respectful, friendly, and firm on the rules and guidelines,” agrees Mosquito.

Indeed, despite all the chaos in the city, some people have fortunately found an ideal pandemic cocoon.

Hamilo Coast is a master-planned seaside residential community in Nasugbu, Batangas, developed and managed by Costa del Hamilo, Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime. 

For inquiries, call (632) 7945-8000, check out www.hamilocoast.com, or follow them on www.facebook.com/hamilocoastph or Instagram @hamilocoastph.