AXA Philippines teams up with GCash for affordable family insurance

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Affordable and comprehensive insurance for your family is now just a text away as leading insurance provider AXA Philippines partners with leading mobile wallet app GCash for SMS Insure, an insurance product that provides financial protection in the event of hospitalization, accidents, or death.

“Every Filipino deserves comprehensive protection that is both accessible and affordable, which is why we continue to pursue partnerships that bring insurance even closer to Filipinos, especially the underserved population,” shared Nandy Villar, AXA Philippines Chief Marketing Officer.

For as low as Php 117 per month, SMS Insure, underwritten by AXA, can help you protect yourself and two other members of your family with its Bronze Family Plan. Each insured family member gets best-value comprehensive coverage, with a Php 25,000 Personal Accident Coverage and Php 25,000 Term Life Coverage, respectively. It also comes with a Daily Hospitalization Income of up to Php 750, which pays Php 250 per day up to a maximum confinement of three days.

It is also made more convenient with its easy purchase and claims process. Simply text INSUREFAM117 to 2158-9628 (for Globe users) or 22565-9628 (for non-Globe users) and get insured within the next 1-2 business days. Once your insurance policy has been fully processed, the monthly insurance fee for your selected insurance product will be deducted automatically from your GCash balance. You can also click the GInsure button in the GCash App and go to the Marketplace. Scroll down, click SMS Insure and choose INSUREFAM117 or other SMS Insure plans. Then simply follow the directions on your screen.

To vouch for the ease of its claims process, SMS Insure policyholder Ruby Gastardo shared in a testimonial video how she was able to easily claim her benefits after her mother was unexpectedly hospitalized. She shared, “Na-ospital si nanay. Wala kaming nagawa, kailangan s’yang i-amputate. Kung wala pa akong insurance, doble ang hirap ko sa paghahanap ng pera. Naalala ko na meron pala akong GCash SMS Insure Family Plan. Right after na mailabas si Nanay, kinlaim ko yung benefits ko. Nag-wait lang ako ng ilang days, then sinend na nila sa’kin sa GCash account ko. (My mom was hospitalized. We can’t do anything [as] she had to be amputated. If I didn’t have insurance, it would have been hard to find money. I remembered that I had a GCash Insure Family Plan. Right after my mom was released, I claimed my benefits. I only waited for a few days then they sent it to me through my GCash account.)”

To learn more about SMS Insure, visit gcash.com/smsinsure. To know AXA Philippines’ other insurance products, visit www.axa.com.ph.

Antifragile: Ways to guard your heart

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Watsons health expert shares heart-friendly tips to pump you up and keep you going

Photo by Castorly Stock (Pexels)

Cardiovascular diseases cause 1 in every 3 deaths, making it one of the world’s leading killers. In fact, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)’s data, ischemic heart disease is the top cause of death in 2021 with 17.9 percent of the total deaths.

This February marks not just Valentine's Day but Philippine Heart Month. The yearly celebration aims to promote cardiovascular health and wellness. Protecting our hearts against potential heartbreaks and ailments is essential. While the heart is the hardest working muscle in the body, it can still become fragile if not taken care of.

Keep a healthy diet

Heart diseases are serious and fatal but it is possible to prevent them even before symptoms arise. Keeping a healthy diet gives you a good start.

Add fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts into your meals, and avoid processed, canned, and fast foods. If you’re a fan of salty meats, try seasoning them with Calamansi juice and vinegar instead.

Losing weight is possible with this new diet. Once you've reached the right body mass index (BMI), it is ideal to maintain it to keep your heart healthy. For example, obesity is one of the most common risk factors for heart disease.

Move more

If maintaining a healthy diet proves to be more challenging than expected, move more! Exercising regularly will greatly help the body become stronger. For those who are too busy to sneak in some workout in their daily routine, increasing your mundane physical activities to 2.5 hours per week will be enough. It’s as easy as walking your dog more, brisk walking to the store, choosing stairs over elevators or escalators, dancing to your favorite song, or doing household chores.

Improve lifestyle

Much like obesity, smoking tobacco, and excessively drinking alcohol are risk factors for heart disease. This includes second-hand smoking and e-cigarettes. Make the right lifestyle choice by avoiding these products. Tobacco is proven harmful to the heart and alcohol has been linked to 200 diseases and injury conditions.

Chronic stress also triggers inflammation, high blood pressure, and unhealthy changes in the body. If you suffer from this, meditation, yoga, and deep breathing are your best friends.

Heart health check

There are more specific ways to care for the heart. The Watsons Health Hub provides tips to maintain the right levels of cholesterol and blood pressure as well as promote heart function. For example, taking daily supplements can be a good addition to your heart-healthy lifestyle. Fiber decreases the amount of cholesterol your body gets from food, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) helps lower blood pressure, and fish oil is full of omega-3 fatty acids that cut down up to 30% of triglycerides, an unhealthy fat in your blood.

For your complete cardiovascular medicines and other health needs, Watsons has over 1,000 stores nationwide that offer over-the-counter and prescription medication as well as expert care through in-store pharmacists, specialists, and staff. You may also conveniently shop online via the Watsons app available for iOS and Android.

Photo by jcomp (Freepik)

While these tips may help you keep your heart healthy, Watsons resident cardiologist Dr. Tony Leachon recommends setting an appointment with your doctor to make sure you are up-to-date with your heart’s condition. “Especially if heart disease runs in your family, it’s best to consult an expert to learn about your risks and how you can manage them,” says Dr. Leachon.

Dr. Leachon added that if you’re experiencing chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, unusual tiredness, sudden dizziness, nausea or vomiting, or cold sweat, inform your doctor right away.

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About Watsons

Watsons is part of the Health and Beauty Store chain of A.S Watson, the largest health, beauty, cosmetics, and perfumery retailer in the world. Today, Watsons H&B Asia is the leading health and beauty chain in the continent with successful operations in 13 markets. In 2002, A.S. Watson Group joined hands with SM Prime Holdings Inc., the Philippines' leading shopping mall developer. The partnership brought about the first Watsons stores in SM Megamall and The Podium (Ortigas).

Today, Watsons operates 1000+ stores in the Philippines serving more than 250,000 customers per day. Watsons strives to ensure that its customers get the best value for their money through monthly promotions, special offers, and continuous consumer marketing programs. Each Watsons store houses nothing but the best brands from top manufacturers all over the world and also carries its own competitively priced, high-quality private labels and brands. With more than 1,000 brands ranging from medicines, cosmetics, and fragrances to personal care items and general merchandise, Watsons Your Personal Store delivers only the best health, wellness, and beauty solutions to each and every customer.

Barbie Almalbis celebrates 25th anniversary with the release of Tower Sessions Live album and a ‘reunion’ concert

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Filipino singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis marks a monumental milestone in music with the official release of her Tower Sessions Live album under Sony Music Entertainment and a reunion concert featuring her iconic bands Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle.

Both celebrations honor her 25^th anniversary in the local music scene as a woman who successfully navigated the realm of Pinoy rock with emotionally resonant songwriting and artistic independence.

Photo by Chealsy Dale

Presenting a new arrangement of her old and new songs, Barbie Almalbis’ Greatest Hits live album was produced by Eric and Carlo Perlas of Tower of Doom, recorded by Kyle Cayton, and mixed/mastered by Simon Durias. It will also feature career-defining hits such as “Firewoman,” “Torpe,” “Tabing Ilog,” “The Dance,” “Goodnight,” and “Just A Smile,” along with fairly new tracks: “Days Are Long,” “Silaw,” “Tigre,” and “Kumpas,” the album’s carrier single.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to record our songs live, because we’re always rearranging songs as a band, and I think there’s something special that gets captured when the we play live together,” Almalbis shares. “My producers and collaborators did such a great job of making you feel like you’re at the gig. You can feel the power of the kick drum and the bass, and then have guitars blasting in your ear — in a pleasant way, of course.”

Aside from the release of Tower Sessions Live on digital platforms, Barbie Almalbis is set to headline her 25^th Anniversary concert at 123 Block, Mandala Park on March 11 (Saturday), from 2pm onwards. Celebrating the impact of her music as a guide to many people’s journey in life, the show will reunite her with former bandmates in Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle.

Aptly titled Firewoman:25 Years of Barbie Almalbis, the mini-music fest will also feature sets by some of the country’s finest acts, including Sandwich, Gab Alipe of Urbandub, Clara Benin, I Belong To The Zoo, Kai del Rio, and Bird.

Reflecting on her career as an artist, Almalbis expressed gratitude to her fans who have been supportive of her endeavors through the years. “I didn’t have so many plans growing up, but always just dreamt of playing music. I’m so grateful that I get to do this and share the experience with others too. I’m always touched by the support of my fans and friends, and really humbled and encouraged by their words and stories about how these songs have also become part of their journey.”

Barbie Almalbis’ Tower Sessions Live is now available on all digital platforms worldwide under Sony Music Entertainment.

Tickets to her upcoming concert, Firewoman:25 Years of Barbie Almalbis are available for purchase via TicketMelon. The event is presented by GNN Entertainment Productions, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, Backspacer Records, JB Music, Nova Wellness Store, D&D,  Smirnoff Mule, and 123 Block.

Follow Barbie Almalbis on socials: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

Tips to become internet smart: what and what not to share online

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The internet offers kids wonderful new ways to discover the world - a tool for learning, exploring, being creative, and connecting with the people who matter. However, with longer screen time, this has made them more vulnerable to risks such as inappropriate content, online bullying, and even exploitation. 

Parents play a big role in keeping their children safe online, and there are practical internet safety precautions that can protect children from potentially harmful or inappropriate content and activities. Here are some ways to ensure fun and productive screen time for your kids.

●       Talk about safety. Engage them in a conversation about how to stay safe online. Discuss with them potential risks and the importance of placing boundaries and protecting their privacy. Teach them to say no to requests that make them feel uncomfortable and to inform you about strangers who are asking them for personal information. It is also important to let them be “share aware” and know that anything they post on the internet stays on the internet for others to see for a very long time.

●       Make house rules. Try to set rules on gadget use, such as not allowing them to use their gadgets in their room and setting the amount of screen time they have in a day. Place larger gadgets such as laptops in common areas where they can be better supervised when they are online. 

●       Tap into their online presence. Drop in on their profiles and posts and look into their app downloads and browser history so you can check for red flags. Try to get to know their online friends and teach them to alert you for inappropriate messages or posts on their social media feed so you can navigate through the situation together. For their safety, it is better to limit their posts to “friends only” instead of public settings. 

●       Set parental controls. There are phone features that can set phone limitations and content controls. Parents can also manage the websites their kids can visit on Google Chrome and disable the “browse incognito” feature. You can also turn on the feature that blocks sexually explicit and violent sites through the search engine’s Family Link app. You can also set parental controls on streaming services to make sure that your child will only have access to age-appropriate content. 

●       Read reviews. Do some research on an app before downloading it for your child, and take the time to pre-screen games, movies, or a series by reading reviews before allowing your child to play or watch them on his gadget. Better yet, double the fun and play or watch it with him!  

●       Build strong connections. Make it a habit to spend quality time with them. This will establish trust and make it easier for them to open up to you about the things and situations that they encounter while scrolling. To set a more natural tone, you can also share interesting things you found online, such as funny videos, fascinating trivia, or current events while you are having dinner together.  This will help set the course for their own online behavior and help them to use the internet in a more positive way.  

Keeping Filipino families safe online

As kids become more digitally-savvy, it is important to guide them to be safe, confident explorers of the digital world. As the Filipino families’ partner in creating stronger connections and in raising a generation of responsible digital citizens, the Philippines’ leading home broadband and digital service provider PLDT Home and Google joined forces in creating a kid-oriented video series on YouTube, Be Internet Awesome. This online series combines animation and live action — featuring Gen Alpha whiz Sam and his trusty friend Robo-berto in fun-filled yet enlightening adventures on how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online.

These initiatives of keeping children safe online are in line with PLDT’s Child Safeguarding Policy implementation and underscore the company’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #16 that promotes just, peaceful, and inclusive societies including the end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Find out more about how to #BeInternetAwesome. Watch the YouTube series HERE.

Watch sci-fi inspired music video for Rico Blanco’s “Palibot libot”

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Acclaimed singer-songwriter/producer Rico Blanco explores sci-fi themes in the music video of “Palibot libot,” his current single under Sony Music Entertainment.

Helmed by Cris Escolano and Rico Blanco himself, the visuals present a story of humanity in a world completely engulfed by hopelessness. The MV stars Rico Blanco, model Tuti Pon, and “The Entity,” a robotic figure created by Richard Somes.

According to Pon, she had fun playing the female lead and embracing the intricacies needed to pull off her character convincingly. “It was definitely a new experience for me and I’d do it again if I got a chance.”

Production Designer Justine Arcega-Bumanlag expressed enthusiasm in working with the team and conveying the fantastically imaginative vision of the material. She shares, “For this, Rico Blanco was aiming for a classic-looking music video that stands the test of time. He wanted to veer away from CGIs, so we started building a set that looks like a wreckage from an unknown planet, and using it all throughout the time.”

The song, which reflects on the uncertainty that thrives between friendship and relationship, was inspired by one of the characters in a series that he filmed in La Union last year. With its storytelling “anchored precariously on someone’s steadfast devotion,” albeit a one-sided one, the song minces no words about the reality of love: It’s not always synchronized. It comes with complications, but that’s the beauty of it.

“Palibot libot” will be part of Rico Blanco’s fourth studio album to be released under Sony Music Entertainment.

Watch the music video of “Palibot libot” here.