Philam Life gears up for bigger milestones in the Year of the Wood Horse

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The country's premiere life insurer, Philam Life gears up for bigger milestones this year 2014.  As the Filipino-Chinese community ushers in the Year of the Wood Horse, Philam Life kick started the new Chinese year with its annual dragon parade held in Binondo.

Philam Life head of Marketing, Jessica Abaya shared to us that Philam's Chinese New Year celebration is a gesture of solidarity with and respect for the Filipino-Chinese community.

“Philam Life is part of the AIA group, a leading Pan-Asian life insurance organization across Asia Pacific, which has roots in Shanghai, China. This celebration is important to us as it affirms our deep roots in Asia,” she said.

Philam Life’s Chinese New Year dragon is known for being the largest parade dragon in the Philippines.

Long-standing tradition

During the celebration, Abaya also noted that the Chinese “highly value face time when they interact with anyone for business purposes.”

“Aside from our long-standing tradition of welcoming the Chinese New Year in Binondo, Philam Life has year-round activities that aim to help the Filipino-Chinese community achieve their financial goals through our products and services,” she added.

“We hold regular client forums wherein we discuss current economic conditions, wealth management principles, and applicable product solutions.”

While the Filipino-Chinese market has the same financial needs as other life insurance clients, they prefer products with earning potential, thus the tendency to purchase investment or savings products. Philam Life is also doubling efforts to undertake a more specialized recruitment strategy to be able to serve the Filipino-Chinese community better.

Winning year

In 2013, the Philippines’ largest life insurer reinforced its leadership when it bested 16 other AIA countries and won both AIA Premier League Gold Cup and the AIA Champions League Gold Cup. This recognition highlights Philam Life’s outstanding performance in achieving its growth targets specifically in new business and annualized new premiums. The award also recognized the company’s leadership style that focuses on continually improving the quality of the company’s business.

Philam Life’s recent milestone reflects the robust performance of the local insurance industry, which also grew significantly last year. According to data from the Insurance Commission, total industry premium income ballooned to P135 billion as of third quarter of 2013 from P82.6 billion in the same period in 2012.

Improving financial literacy

With bigger milestones in store for 2014, Philam Life sustains its commitment as The Real Life Company that is genuinely engaged in real people’s lives through meaningful dialogue, and empowers them to achieve financial security and prosperity by providing solutions and plans that turn their real-life struggles into success.

To enable their clients to turn dreams into reality, the life insurance leader bared plans to drive financial literacy programs in key markets through strategic partnerships. “This year, Philam Life will reach out to more Filipinos through our financial planning programs in tandem with partners from key sectors — OFWs, parents, entrepreneurs and employees,” said Abaya.

Abaya also shared product plans for the year. “Right now, only 16 percent of Filipinos say they’re financially prepared for health setbacks. And since Filipinos still prefer unit-linked products especially after the country was upgraded to investment grade, Philam Life will launch a unit-linked health product early this 2014 to address this key yet unmet need,” she added.

Rey Centeno, Philam Life Chief Operating Officer, noted that there is a lot of opportunity to increase insurance penetration in the country especially given the Philippines’ demographic window which is expected to begin in 2015 and last until 2050. 

“Data from the National Statistical Coordination Board projected a population of almost 103 million Filipinos by 2015, of which more than 65 million will be aged 15 to 64. The United Nations defines demographic window as the period “when more people or a prominent portion of the population is of working age,” Centeno said.

Financial planning made easy

According to a Philam Life Brand Tracking Study in 2010, limited accessibility is a key barrier for Filipinos who do not own a life insurance policy. Another significant barrier is the apparent complexity of how insurance works (Philam Life Consumer Study 2010).

To bridge this gap, Philam Life commits to make financial planning easier and more accessible for more Filipinos by launching new programs and applications. The nine-time Reader’s Digest Asia Platinum Trusted Brand award winner is set to become the first local insurance company to use an iPad-based Interactive Point of Sale (iPoS) — a paperless platform that allows proposal presentations, filling out of policy owner details, and even signing of applications to be done through the financial adviser’s iPad.

The company is also launching ePlan, a convenient customer self-service online facility for policy inquiries, transactions and payments. Philam Life policyholders can now choose to go online, instead of calling the hotline, for faster and real-time transactions. 

“We at Philam Life are dedicated to making dreams and goals real for our clients,” Abaya said. “Regardless of what their Chinese zodiac forecasts say, Philam Life is dedicated to empower more Filipinos to achieve financial security and rein in prosperity this Year of the Wood Horse.”

For more information about Philam Life, log on to www.philamlife.com.

Luistro encourages private schools to focus on the needs of their locality

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“Come up with relevant programs that will allow your graduates to work in the very city where they were born.”

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC encourages private schools to focus on the needs of their locality.  He added that schools can help in its respective communities by providing job opportunities for its graduates; thereby, preventing them from being uprooted from where they were. He said that “it will be a challenge that is worth the while of institutions that truly wish to anchor their offerings to the needs of a locality.”

“You will notice that in the past, if you review programs, both high school and tertiary, of both public and private schools, we’ve had the phenomenon of graduates of various programs and careers moving to the big cities. And therefore cutting them off from the very schools and communities where they studied.”

During his keynote address for a two-day conference on the Senior High School (SHS) program organized by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Luistro explained that revolutionizing education by creating programs that answer the needs of the community will open venues to sustainable jobs for the alumni.

“Come up with relevant programs that will allow your graduates to work in the very city where they were born,” said Luistro. He added that schools can help in its respective communities by providing job opportunities for its graduates; thereby, preventing them from being uprooted from where they were. He said that “it will be a challenge that is worth the while of institutions that truly wish to anchor their offerings to the needs of a locality.”

Towards reforms in education 

The education chief also encouraged the private schools to “engage the Department regarding the remaining areas in the SHS curriculum, the other tracks that may not yet be complete.” He added, “You do not have to wait for the final and official curriculum to be out. The Department is happy to be engaged by schools in this regard.”

Aside from this, he emphasized the importance of having educational reforms that would impact the learners. He said, “Like many Filipinos, part of our dreams and hopes is to institutionalize reforms that will really matter. It is easy to change things around. The most difficult thing to do is to ensure that those are the things of great priority.” He said that despite the transition that would take place in education, the learners were still the top priority.

He highlighted the milestones on the implementation of K to 12 program. One of the highlights he noted was the formal institutionalization of the program itself by the virtue of Republic Act 10533, also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which was signed in 2013. 

“The Philippine now belongs to the community of nations with at least 12 years of pre-university with the passing of that law. For those of you who have international linkages, it has implications with regard to the mobility of the students and teachers as well as exchange programs between you and your international partners,” he addressed the private schools. In addition to this, he said that K to 12 program also “institutionalized Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE).” He said, “This main principle of MTB-MLE is to start the learner in a language that he or she is comfortable with.”

He added that the K to 12 curriculum and learning materials were available for download on the DepEd website. More than this, he stressed that the Department would “continue to reach out to private schools” to help in the alignment of their plans and programs for Senior High School.

The Biggest Director’s Club Cinema Branch At SM City BF Parañaque

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People from the South can now have the convenience of watching the most awaited blockbuster hits with the opening of the biggest Director’s Club Cinema branch in the country with four new and modern Director’s Club Cinemas in SM City BF Parañaqaque. The Director’s Club Cinema is the premier cinema line of SM Cinema that caters to people who prefers intimate and personalized movie experience that’d make them feel like they never left home.

The Director’s Club Cinema boasts of extensive luxurious features. It is equipped with top notch projection equipment, latest technology in surround sound, first rate acoustics and crystal clear digital screen that promises beyond amazing movie watching experience. Unlike the regular cinema, Director’s Club has 30-50 comfortable reclining chairs and personalized butlers who will offer the Director’s Club Cinema movie goers special eats. With each ticket purchase at the Director’s Club Cinema, a bowl of complimentary SnackTime Popcorn are freshly made and delivered to each guest’s seat.

One of the biggest problems that we all go through when watching blockbuster films are the long queue of lines on the ticket booths. However, Director’s Club Cinema movie goers will have the advantage of avoiding the long lines as Director’s Club Cinema provides access to seat reservations to guarantee slots to big ticket films. Those who enjoy watching movies and throwing a fun movie night out with friends or family can book the Director’s Club Cinemas for private screenings, parties or corporate events to experience the best movie experience.

Apart from the branches in SM City BF Paranaque, Director’s Club Cinema is located in two other SM Supermalls branches: One at the Mall of Asia in Pasay and two at SM Aura Premier at The Fort. Director’s Club Cinema is expected to open soon in more SM Supermalls branches.

Visit the Director’s Club Cinema Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/directorsclubcinema

or Follow its Twitter at@directorsclub_ 

and Instagram at @directorsclubcinema.

You may also visit www.smcinemas.com or call the SM Cinema Hotline at 470-2222 

for more details on Director’s Club Cinema.

About SM Cinema

SM Cinema is the country’s leading exhibitor—boasting 252 cinemas and 7 IMAX Theatres in 47 branches nationwide. SM Cinema continues to expand and lead the country’s development in cinema technology.

For a more convenient way of watching a movie, experience the newest from SM Cinema—the CINEMOBILE: Your mobile, your movie ticket. With its turnstile system, SM Cinema delivers a more convenient movie-going experience to its patrons.

You may also avail SM Cinema’s e-PLUS (Entertainment, Privileges, Lifestyle, Upgrades and Surprises) card to make your movie-watching more convenient, rewarding and fun. On top of the reward point scheme, e-PLUS is loaded with VIP privileges, special promos like a 50 percent discount on select movies, seasonal offers, quarterly raffles and invites to exclusive events. e-PLUS members can also avail promos and discounts from partner merchants. The e-Plus starter kit comes with your personalized e-Plus card, free movies, snacks and a premium item.

To know more about the company, visit SM Cinema’s website at www.smcinema.com. You may also like SM Cinema on Facebook (facebook.com/smcinema) and follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/sm_cinema). To connect with IMAX on Facebook, follow facebook.com/imaxsmcinema and like them on Twitter.com/imax_smcinema. 

TGP reveals results of human clinical study done on TGP Paracetamol

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With more people looking for better and more affordable alternatives to quality healthcare, the country’s largest drugstore chain, The Generics Pharmacy® (TGP), continues to provide its customers with generic medicines that are equally safe and effective as off-patent branded medicines.

One example is the TGP Paracetamol. In a recent human clinical study conducted by the Center of Biopharmaceutical Research at the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLSHSI), it was found that the TGP Paracetamol, the company’s first private label generic medicine, is as safe and effective as the leading and innovator paracetamol brands in the market. 

A human clinical study is a particular kind of research that is usually done by pharmaceutical companies to assess the safety and efficacy of a new drug. The TGP Paracetamol prides itself as the only clinical and human trial-tested private label paracetamol that is proven to be in equal effectiveness to off-patent brands.

Led by Director for Research Support and Extension Services, and Chairman of the Bioavailability Unit and Drug Testing Laboratory at DLSHSI, Dr. Rita Grace Alvero, the team tested the rate and extent of absorption of the TGP Paracetamol after single dose administration against the leading and innovator brands. 

The team’s study made use of a randomized three-way crossover single dosed bioequivalence study. A bioequivalence study is the objective way of measuring absorption in the body while a three-way crossover entails that one subject had to take the three drugs in different dates or intervals. 

“We are not measuring the clinical effects; we are more focused on the quantitative analysis of the TGP Paracetamol. This includes monitoring the safety and tolerability of the three drugs,” explained Dr. Alvero during the study presentation.

“Our study design was a standard one and it is in accordance with the guidelines of the FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMEA).”

After a three-month period, results of the study revealed that the parameters involved in the evaluation of the TGP Paracetamol were more or less similar to the other two drugs. 

“The final check of bioequivalence depends on the confidence interval. In this case, the TGP Paracetamol falls between the limit of acceptance which is 80-125. Thus, we can say that the TGP Paracetamol is bioequivalent or has the same clinical effects of the leading and innovator paracetamol brands,” added Dr. Alvero. 

The study also proves that the TGP Paracetamol and the two other drugs are therapeutically equivalent. All three are well tolerated and have the same formulation and safety profile, proving that TGP Paracetamol is as safe and effective to use as other brands yet more affordable with a price of only P1.00 per tablet. 

With over 1,600 outlets nationwide, TGP is the country’s largest drugstore chain. The company offers its customers a wide range of safe, effective and affordable generic medicines like vitamins, treatment for colds and cough, and maintenance medicines for the heart, diabetes and cholesterol. 

Customers can also get free medical consultation by availing of TGP’s Dial-A-Doc service via the number 732-3333. The service is available from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

e-PLUS Tap to Pay Solidifies Partnership with Banking Giant BDO and the SM Food Retail Group

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e-PLUS Tap to Pay welcomes 2014 with two exciting news for the e-PLUS Tap to Pay cardholders to look forward to. 

To uphold its promise of providing the cashless convenience for its cardholders, e-PLUS Tap to Pay recently sealed its partnership with the country’s largest Food Retail Group : SM Hypermarket, SM Supermarket and Savemore in bringing cashless convenience to its shoppers. Held last November 25, 2013 at the SM Corporate Office Building E at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay, the contract signing was attended by Mr. Edgar Tejerero - SVP, West Avenue Theatres Corporation; Mr. Jose Mendoza, President, SM Supermarket; Ms. Bang Manalad, AVP for Operations, Savemore; Mr. Robert Kwee, President, SM Hypermarket. The e-PLUS Tap to Pay Card will be accepted in select stores by February and will be rolled out nationwide by 3rd quarter of this year. Starting the month of December 2013, the SM Food Retail Group has officially began accepting e-PLUS Tap to Pay allowing e-PLUS Tap to Pay cardholders to experience cashless payments for their purchases. 

Aside from the nationwide acceptance of e-PLUS Tap to Pay by the SM Food Retail Group, e-PLUS Tap to Pay is now giving its cardholders more reloading options. e-PLUS Tap to Pay seals its partnership with the one of country’s largest ATM network, BDO as one of its reloading partners at a contract signing held November 29, 2013 at the Mall of Asia Arena A-List Lounge. Beginning December 1, 2013, e-PLUS members may reload their e-PLUS Tap to Pay cards in over 2,000 BDO ATMs nationwide. The contract signing was attended by Sahara Jean Garnica - AVP, e-PLUS Tap to Pay; Djoanne Czarinna Dela Cruz - ATM Product Development Officer, BDO; Juvencio Pereche Jr. - ATM Channel Head, BDO; Edgar Alan Fernando - ATM Product Development Head; and Haidie Esmero - Senior Manager, e-PLUS Tap to Pay

The e-PLUS Tap to Pay card is now available in e-PLUS stations at all SM Cinema branches nationwide. Once you get your own e-PLUS Tap to Pay card, you can start breezing through daily transactions with a simple tap.

To know more about the features of e-PLUS Tap to Pay and its many benefits, please visit www.eplus.ph