Flying Towards Recovery: Philippine Airlines Marks 82nd Anniversary with hopeful promise

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Manila, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) celebrates its 82nd anniversary with a heartfelt video highlighting the airline’s resilience and commitment to the Filipino people amidst the challenges of the pandemic.

The flag carrier marked its 82nd year in the midst of a recovery journey and is keen on further improving its services and enhancing the travel experience of its valued customers.

The anniversary video features PAL’s employees and frontliners who have been instrumental in ensuring the safety of its passengers despite the hurdles in the past two years. The video also showcased the airline’s efforts in transporting vaccines and connecting Filipinos across the world during these trying times.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for the continued support of our customers who have stood by us during these challenging times. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in our ability to continue providing safe and reliable services amidst the pandemic,” says PAL’s director Lucio Tan III.

In line with its commitment to its customers, PAL has also announced its plans for the future. The national flag carrier is gearing up to expand its fleet amid the projected growth in passenger volume. PAL is also preparing to expand its route network and introduce new service innovations.

"At PAL, we remain committed to providing our passengers with world-class travel experiences. We appreciate your continued patience and support as we undergo improvements and innovations in the coming months that will allow us to further elevate our services.," stated PAL President and COO, Captain Stanley Ng.

Pocketful of Sunshine: Inspiration through flight, photography

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SM Cares recently helped bring smiles to 31 pediatric patients afflicted with cancer and other chronic illnesses by supporting the Angeles City Flying Club's (ACFC) event "Pocketful of Sunshine," which treated the patients to a whole day of fun activities. The event was held last March 19 at the Angeles City Flying Club's base, Woodland Airpark, in Magalang, Pampanga.

"Pocketful of Sunshine" was led by the Angeles City Flying Club, a non-profit flying club and school established in 1993 that aims to promote recreational ultralight aviation among Filipinos. It was supported by SM Cares, with participation from photography advocacy group FOTOKLASE, Fujifilm Philippines' volunteer photographers, and UP Aviation Society, among others organizations.

All of the participants were from the Kythe Foundation, a non-profit whose goal is to improve the quality of life for hospitalized children with cancer and other chronic illnesses. Activities included ultralight and Cessna plane flying together with trained pilots, treasure hunting, kite flying, arts and crafts, and a candy drop on the runway.

In previous years, the ACFC together with the late Adphoto, Inc. founder and ACFC member John Chua held similar projects to share their love for aviation with children who are disadvantaged. A professional photographer himself, Chua also began his advocacy Photography with a Difference in 2010 with SM Cares as a partner, as a way to inspire people with disabilities through photography. Chua’s advocacy aligns with SM Cares’ advocacy of uplifting the lives of persons with disabilities, and after every successful program, a Photography with a Difference exhibit happens in a nearby SM mall.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, supporting initiatives focused on communities and the environment. Aside from the company's Program on Children and Youth, its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, PWDs, Senior Citizens, and the SM Bike-friendly initiative.

To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

Introducing Petron’s Best Motorcycle Engine Oil, Petron Sprint 4T HTP!

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Industry leader Petron Corporation showcased its top-of-the-line Petron Sprint 4T HTP motorcycle engine oil at the 15th Inside Racing Bike Festival and Trade Show at the World Trade Center, Pasay City Manila from March 24-26, 2023.

Visitors to the Petron booth learned more about the Petron Sprint 4T HTP (High Temperature Protection) Fully Synthetic SAE10W40 Motorcycle Oil, particularly its advanced Thermal Control System (TCS) additive technology that enhances the oil’s thermal endurance, volatility profile, and oxidation stability. The Petron Sprint 4T HTP is the perfect match for top-of-the-line, high-performance machines such as big bikes, sports bikes, and adventure bikes.

If you’re looking for the ultimate performance, you can ‘Upgrade Your Ride From The Inside’ with Petron 4T HTP as it enhances gear and engine protection, delivers proactive cleaning power, and ensures reliable heat resistance even in extreme driving conditions. For the discerning rider who understands how to get the most out of his motorcycle engine, Petron Sprint 4T HTP offers the best defense against corrosion and engine stress.

Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts at the 15th Inside Racing Bike Festival dropped by the Petron booth for a closer look at Petron’s best motorcycle engine oil, specially formulated for modern, high-performance motorcycles under extreme riding conditions, and is suitable for use in both air-cooled and liquid-cooled four-stroke motorcycle engines.

Petron Sprint 4T HTP is now available in Petron stations and retail outlets nationwide, as well as on e-commerce platforms Shopee and Lazada.

Gigacover: Bringing insurance closer to MSMEs through insurtech

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Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99.6% of business in the Philippines, employing around 63% of the country's workforce. Despite its significant contribution to the economy, MSMEs often lack insurance, leaving both employers and employees vulnerable to risks in times of emergency.

This is not to say that MSMEs do not care for insurance. A recent study by Manulife found 36% of small business owners in the Philippines found medical, health, or accident insurance a top priority among financial products. Entrepreneurs in this sector are interested in financial protection products but find them unaffordable and complex.

Gigacover, a regional insurtech firm, shared insights on the fundamental ways technology can change traditional insurance for MSMEs, including tailored-fit digital policies that are more affordable and simple to use.

Rise of digital insurance offers competitive protection for the underinsured

Digital insurance can pave the way for more accessible and affordable policies. These solutions can be more adaptable to the demands of MSME workers and offer reduced premiums by providing coverage for a particular need and making distribution entirely online.

Insurtechs are also better equipped to develop insurance products that are not being addressed by insurers for several reasons, including lack of data for risk assessment, bureaucratic structure, and regulatory constraints, among others. For instance, as ride-sharing and car-sharing businesses flourished, motor accident risks increased. Gigacover’s Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) product suite helps drivers reduce accident liabilities, improving their financial security.

Seamless management of insurance in unified platform

Customers don't always know when to use insurance products, therefore MSMEs should review their policies on a regular basis to make sure they are valid when the time comes. Analyzing existing policies will also help entrepreneurs better understand new uncovered risks as the business scales up.

However, basic tasks such as reviewing benefits, claims filing, and other processes conventionally require assistance from insurance agents. Gigacover helps companies better administer their insurance through online applications where key processes such as viewing policy information and editing subsidy caps can be done to help businesses act more quickly on their needs. The technology behind it plugs in insurers, lenders, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) into the unified platform for easy access and administration.

Simplifying claims settlement through AI and big data

One of the most innovative ways insurtech is disrupting the insurance industry is by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to help insurers analyze big data and identify risks quickly and accurately. As a result, risk assessment and management strategies become smart and impartial.

Gigacover’s system is able to extract data from claims documents and images, calculate and check against limits, detect potential fraud and also decide if advance claims payouts can be done for specific customer groups. This yields higher client satisfaction and also lower loss ratios for the insurers.

Amerson Lin, Co-Founder and CEO of Gigacover, shared, “By addressing the complexity and high costs associated with insurance, we make insurance more accessible to more Filipino MSMEs. We champion financial inclusion for MSMEs because protecting the vulnerable workers in this sector from health and income risks also financially protects the company, enabling MSMEs to grow sustainably and contribute to improved economic development.”

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About Gigacover

Gigacover was founded in 2017 in Singapore to build digital insurance programs for emerging segments. These include the gig/freelance industry, the mobility sector and now tech companies. Gigacover launched the region's first income protection insurance to meet the needs of the gig economy and then collision damage waiver for the mobility industry. Through technology and data, Gigacover automates distribution, administration and generates insights for risk management in order to bring flexible, affordable and portable benefits to its users. As of 2023, Gigacover has presence in Singapore and the Philippines and is backed by Vectr Fintech Partners, Quest Venture Partners, Alto Partners, M Venture Partners and Farsight Capital.

For more information, please visit: https://gigacover.com

OMRON Healthcare champions heart health with clinically validated digital blood pressure devices

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Staying on top of one’s cardiovascular health is crucial, especially in view of findings by the Philippine Heart Association pointing to a progressive rise in hypertension among Filipinos at a record-high 37 percent prevalence in 2021.[1]

Key to maintaining a healthy heart is consistent and accurate blood pressure monitoring. OMRON Healthcare, a global leader in trusted and innovative medical equipment and a staunch advocate of better heart health for Filipinos, has announced the clinical validation of two of its automatic blood pressure monitors: the HEM-7120 and HEM-7121. The validation, which is conferred by the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH), confirms the quality and accuracy of OMRON Healthcare devices.

The significance of PSH validation

When looking for a home blood pressure monitoring device, it is important to choose one that is validated by hypertension experts to guarantee accurate and reliable measurements at home. A clinical validation is also a hallmark of a trusted brand preferred by doctors.

Getting validated is no small feat, however. The validation of automated blood pressure devices follows a standard procedure and criteria and requires a blood pressure study involving more than 200 participants.

OMRON Healthcare is the only brand in the country with PSH-validated devices that are proven capable of providing accurate and precise blood pressure readings.

“It is important that experts and health organizations such as the Philippine Society of Hypertension guide consumers to only use blood pressure monitoring devices that have been validated under an internationally accepted standard. At the end of the day, the goal is not just to make our jobs as healthcare providers easier but to accurately give proper care to patients and thus save more lives,” said former PSH President Dr. Leilani B. Mercado-Asis.

Dr. Dolores Bonzon, the current president of PSH, also highlighted the importance of a reliable BPM for health monitoring. “Our hope is that every Filipino will make it a practice to monitor their blood pressure and heart health, not only in a medical setting but even in their own homes. For at-home blood pressure monitoring to be effective, we recommend to our patients to use validated devices such as OMRON’s automated blood pressure monitors.”

“We are honored that OMRON devices can serve as a partner for healthcare professionals in uplifting Filipinos’ health. In addition to being a trusted provider of quality medical equipment, OMRON has strong advocacy for improving lives,” said OMRON Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Philippine Branch (Healthcare Division) General Manager Yusuke Kato.

Delivering quality and reliable health monitoring devices

Aside from being clinically validated, the HEM-7120 and HEM-7121 are equipped with state-of-the-art features designed to make at-home blood pressure monitoring as easy as possible for Filipinos.

Both models have a Cuff Wrapping Guide to help the user fit the arm cuff correctly to ensure an accurate and reliable blood pressure measurement. The built-in Hypertension Indicator gives off a signal if the measured systolic or diastolic pressure is outside the standard range. The products are designed with OMRON’s intuitive IntelliSense Technology, which automatically inflates the cuff to the ideal level to deliver accurate measurements with comfort and ease. This feature is especially useful in obtaining accurate readings in cases of fluctuations in blood pressure.

The HEM-7120 and HEM-7121 are the latest OMRON blood pressure monitoring devices to join the brand’s list of clinically validated and trusted devices, which includes trusted models such as the HEM-7130 and JPN1. To guarantee the accuracy of its monitoring devices, OMRON undergoes a validation process with PSH every two years.

“Our commitment has always been to provide the Filipino people with accessible and reliable health monitoring devices and to support initiatives that advocate improved healthcare and quality of life. The clinical validation of our devices is an invaluable process for us in ensuring our products serve our mission of cultivating a healthy heart for every Filipino,” added Yusuke Kato.

OMRON Healthcare likewise supports the annual May Measurement Month, which aims to raise awareness of the prevalence of hypertension across the world and is also a partner of the International Society of Hypertension since 2017.

OMRON Healthcare devices are available in Mercury Drug, Watsons, Southstar Drug, Rose Pharmacy and other leading pharmacies nationwide and in OMRON’s flagship Shopee and Lazada stores.

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About OMRON Healthcare Business

Committed to advancing health and empowering people worldwide to live life to the fullest, OMRON Healthcare is a global leader in the field of clinically proven, innovative medical equipment for home health monitoring and therapy. The company develops and provides remote patient monitoring services for cardiovascular condition management.

Throughout its history, OMRON Healthcare has been striving to improve lives and contribute to a better society by developing innovations that help people prevent, treat, and manage their medical conditions, both at home and in clinical practice in over 110 countries.

With over 300 million devices sold globally*, OMRON provides the world’s most recommended blood pressure monitors by healthcare professionals**. The company provides product and service solutions for cardiovascular condition management, respiratory care, and pain therapy equipment. OMRON Healthcare Group is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan

To learn more, please visit:

https://www.omronhealthcare-ap.com/ph

International: https://www.healthcare.omron.com/

*1 “Global Home Appliance Market Comprehensive Survey 2020”, Fuji Keizai Co., Ltd. (data for 2019)

*2 Cumulative sales of home-use digital blood pressure monitors worldwide (as of May. 2021)

[1] Prevalence, Awareness, and Treatment Profile of Adult Filipino Hypertensive Individuals: Philippine Heart Association–Council on Hypertension Report on Survey of Hypertension (PRESYON-4)