Fire insurance to suit every need by Country Bankers

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At the start of 2018, eight fire incidents around the Metro had been reported. Damage to life and property had been estimated in the millions -- all within just a day to kick off the new year.

With the unpredictability and destructiveness of fire accidents, there is a need to find more efficient, reliable means of protecting our properties today.

“It is time that Filipinos change their old view of fire insurance as something unnecessary. Nobody wants to see the investment they have worked so hard for to just turn into ashes -- literally. Whether big or small, homes should be covered by insurance because accidents occur anytime, anywhere and to anyone. It is best to be ready at all times,” says Geraldine Desiderio-Garcia, senior vice president and general manager of Country Bankers Insurance Group (CBIG).

There were 1,217 fire incidents reported in the first quarter of 2017, a decline from the 1,381 recorded fires in 2016. Despite this slight decrease, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported that the cost of damages and casualties was higher than the year prior.

Insurances have evolved over the years, says Garcia, improving the quality and scope of fire insurances and giving homeowners affordable options that fit their lifestyles.

“Some fire insurances cover a person’s property against fire and lightning (buildings and/or contents), some have available insurance for allied perils such as earthquakes, typhoons, and floods. Optional supplementary covers may also be availed, which include covers like clearing of debris, firefighting expenses, and household employee belonging. Really, insurance has become dynamic because we only want to provide homeowners security and protection, to give them peace of mind during times of distress,” Garcia explains.

Country Bankers Insurance Corporation (CBIC), a subsidiary of CBIG, has expanded its fire insurance portfolio to make sure that all homeowners’ requirements are covered. CBIC continues to come up with innovative products to answer to every insurance need of the individual consumer.

For inquiries on life and nonlife insurance products, visit Country Bankers Centre at 648 T.M. Kalaw Avenue, Ermita, Manila or call 523-8611 for life and 524-0621 for nonlife.

Globe completes system refresh for Value Added Services (VAS) subscriptions

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100% of customers on VAS opted out

To protect its customers from unknown load deductions and improve overall experience, Globe successfully completed its system refresh and opted out 100% of its customers with prepaid or postpaid VAS subscriptions.

Beginning March 10, customers have been notified about the completion of the VAS system refresh and given new instructions should they wish to re-enroll to any VAS of their choice. Customers were directed to visit http://www.globe.com.ph/entertainment/ for new subscriptions. New enrollments will go through a 3-step verification process in compliance with directives of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to ensure that the VAS transaction has been authorized by the customer.

A verification, for example, starts when a customer clicks on an SMS or digital ad, the customer will be redirected to another SMS or landing page with proper information on the service or product offered. Second, once a customer clicks to initiate subscription, a verification code will be sent to the customer's mobile number as a second confirmation to avail of the service. Third, once the code is entered and verified, the customer will be notified confirming the VAS subscription. The notification will contain an unsubscribe or opt-out option should the customer change his mind.

"As a purpose-led organization, we are committed to do what is right for our customers and provide a better connected experience. The VAS system refresh provides all customers with prior subscriptions with a fresh start so they will have peace of mind and truly enjoy the service as originally intended,” says Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo. 

  

On March 5, Globe started its VAS system refresh and has enforced upon its VAS providers to strictly comply with set guidelines before being able to push subscription content or fulfillment of services via load credit. VAS providers will only be allowed to send out content that the customer actively requests following the 3-step verification process.

Aside from the VAS system refresh, Globe is preparing to enhance its monitoring system for every load transaction and will also soon be implementing an upgraded customer subscription management system within the year.

Bayad Center Launches Mobile App , A game-changer in bills payment

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“Everyone wants everything to be simple. The BC Mobile is just that. It puts together in one app all your payment needs, no bells and whistles – it sends you a reminder for your due dates, it shows you the nearest Bayad Center branches and Authorized Partners, and it allows you to pay all your bills on the fly. No need to enroll in different online payment sites, because BC Mobile carries under its umbrella the string of billing partners, and the seal of service and reliability that Bayad Center offers,” says Wendell Kristian P. Labre, CIS Bayad Center Inc.’s Marketing Head.

With its continuing thrust in widening its customer touch points while adapting to the various paying habits of its customers, Bayad Center is determined to make bills payment even more convenient for every paying Filipino with its latest mobile app.

Complementing its more than 12,000 payment locations nationwide, Bayad Center, the country’s premier payment solutions provider, creates yet another breakthrough as it extends its footprints to the rapidly growing market that is now mobile.

“Everyone wants everything to be simple. The BC Mobile is just that. It puts together in one app all your payment needs, no bells and whistles – it sends you a reminder for your due dates, it shows you the nearest Bayad Center branches and Authorized Partners, and it allows you to pay all your bills on the fly. No need to enroll in different online payment sites, because BC Mobile carries under its umbrella the string of billing partners, and the seal of service and reliability that Bayad Center offers,” says Wendell Kristian P. Labre, CIS Bayad Center Inc.’s Marketing Head.

As a one-stop online shop for all your bills payment needs, Bayad Center Mobile App removes the need to fill out forms and mail bills on a monthly basis. It allows you to pay your bills anytime, anywhere using your mobile phone.

Features

“Aside from its Bills Payment feature, the online app has a Bill Reminder feature to ensure that we get notified of Due Dates, helping us manage our finances better. You can easily customize the notifications based on what is most financially convenient for you,” Labre adds.

Another game-changing component of the app is the Branch Locator, where you can find the nearest Bayad Center in your area with just a tap away. “For most of us who are always online yet still prefer paying over-the-counter or face-to-face, the branch locator shows you the list of Bayad Center branches, authorized partners, collecting agents and automated payment machines near you,” Labre emphasizes.

Both the Branch Locator and the Bill Reminder features are available even when you’re offline.

Security Breach-Proof

In terms of online payment security, Bayad Center adheres with quality standards to protect the consumer’s data and online payment information.

The BC mobile app has a unique system that allows users to securely make payments online without the risk of exposing your financial information. You can either use credit, debit card or PayPal to pay your bills in the application.

Future Plans

Similar to Bayad Center branches nationwide, the mobile app will soon offer remittance or money transfer services, prepaid loading and selling of Instasurance. It aims to provide innovative initiatives to keep up with the modern times.

Bayad Center Mobile App will soon be tied up with Bayad Center’s Loyalty Program which will also be launched this year. It will also have features such as Bills Payment Management, where users can view payment history across different payment channels, and Crowd Sourcing Tools, where you can log in, comment, and provide information that will help others identify branches that have lesser queues, and the like.Ba

Bayad Center Mobile App Launch

Brand Ambassadors Bayad Center Mobile App has recently unveiled its brand ambassadors last March 13 at Ballroom B, Marco Polo Hotel: influential motoring journalist, blogger and TV host James Deakin and actress-modelMax Eigenmann as Judith.

Through a contract signing attended by CIS Bayad Center SVP and COO Francispito P. Quevedo, and President and CEO Manuel L. Tuason, the two celebrities expressed their excitement in being part of the campaign.

James Deakin

“Anything that puts the paying public in first priority gets my support,” James Deakin said. “With Bayad Center Mobile App, Filipinos now have a hassle-free and more secure way of paying their bills in just a few taps. I think the world is prepared for something as important as this.”

Max Eigenmann

Max Eigenmann, on the other hand, will serve as the brand’s online and offline persona, and will be portraying Judith—a pun on the term “due date.” 

Keen on changing the way we give meanings to due dates, Eigenmann looks forward to inspiring Filipinos to make intelligent choices in their everyday life, including bills payment. “I want to be there in every step of the way, helping the public to manage their finances and make everyday transactions easier and more convenient, because that’s what Bayad Center Mobile App is all about: it makes bills payment hassle-free.”

About Bayad Center

Bayad Center is the country’s pioneer and leader in the mum-platform bills payment collection business. To know more about Bayad Center, visitwww.bayadcenter.com.

FREIA, the new luxury beach condo development at Hamilo Coast

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Premier beach resort living has always been the ultimate dream of urban dwellers who want to seek refuge from the harried pace of city life. There is no more idyllic setting than one that offers a breathtaking view of the sea and a pristine environment that inspires frolicking on the beach under the sun.

With this vision in mind, SM Prime’s Hamilo Coast presents FREIA, its new luxury beach condominium development in Pico de Loro Cove, where future residents can indulge in the spectacular panorama of sea and verdant mountains.

FREIA indeed provides the best vantage points looking out to the picturesque West Philippine Sea and the Pico de Loro mountains. Its prime location makes it just a five-minute stroll away from the Pico Beach, which boasts of 1.5 kilometers of white sand and clear blue waters.

Offering premium seaside living to its discerning clientele, FREIA will have in its roster 223 superior condominium units that include spacious 2-bedroom flats and 3-bedroom penthouses. Ranging in size from 67 to 392 square meters, these resort-type condo residences are designed with sustainable green living in mind and exude a contemporary tropical vibe enhanced by its masterfully designed architecture by Broadway Malyan and GF & Partners.

Common areas of the condominium such as the lobby was interior designed by Budji+Royal with cutting-edge local and international design concepts and high-quality fixtures giving residents a total luxury beach resort experience.

FREIA’s residents will have exclusive access to its upscale, resort-style amenities, among which is an outdoor pool, lounge deck, function rooms, and lush pocket gardens.

Unit ownership at FREIA also comes with membership at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, giving homeowners a chance to enjoy a variety of recreational and sports facilities in Hamilo Coast.

Supporting Hamilo Coast’s commitment to responsible stewardship of nature and the seaside community’s natural topographies, FREIA at Pico de Loro Cove also takes pride in its features that allow sustainable green living and consider cost-efficient operations. For instance, natural ventilation and daylighting, photovoltaic roofing, and an efficient waste management system will ensure reduced carbon footprints on the part of the residential community.

Beach resort living can now become an everyday lifestyle option, with Hamilo Coast’s careful integration of residential, resort, leisure, commercial and institutional land uses. Potential homeowners may thus consider FREIA as a luxury retirement home and not just a weekend getaway.

With naturally stunning views and amenity features that are a cut above the rest, Freia is indeed one of the most coveted premium beach condo developments in the country.

Hamilo Coast is the SM Group’s premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas. Hamilo Coast is now approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 945-8000, or visit www.hamilocoast.com

QBO Innovation Hub launches new QBO App, now available on iOS and Android

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QBO Innovation Hub a joint multi-sectorial venture created in cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, Ideaspace and JP Morgan which aims to aid Philippine startups which have the potential to make it big in the industry.

QBO Innovation Hub, the Philippines’ first public-private sector platform for startup companies today launched the QBO App, a new and convenient way for QBO’s community to connect with each other and access QBO’s programs and services, at the City Garden Grand Hotel. 

QBO is supported by a consortium composed of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), J.P. Morgan, and IdeaSpace Foundation Inc., a leading incubator of early stage startups established by the First Pacific, PLDT and Metro Pacific group of companies. 

The launch was headlined by speakers such as Secretary Fortunato dela Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Roberto Panlilio, Senior Country Officer of J.P. Morgan Philippines; Chito Bustamante, founder of Chikka; Justin Hall, Principal Investor at Singaporean venture capital firm, Golden Gate Ventures; and Katrina Chan, Director of QBO. These speakers represent the bleeding-edge pioneers in the local startup ecosystem. 

The event was attended by both notable startups in the local ecosystem and top executives and officials from QBO’s partners including Butch Meily and Diane Eustaquio of IdeaSpace Foundation Inc. and Chris Young of First Pacific among others.

The QBO App is a virtual hub that allows startups to connect with a broader range of entrepreneurs, investors, partners, and other potential resource persons. It’s also an avenue for users to engage in startup-related discussions as well as stay updated with 

QBO’s events and services. Not bound by geographical or physical limitations, the QBO App enables users to discover and connect with potential partners from regions outside of Metro Manila.

“This is an exciting time for us, and indeed for the local startup community as a whole. With our app, never has it been easier for our entrepreneurs to access the essential services and resources that will help them take their companies to the next level,” said Katrina Chan, QBO Innovation Hub Director. Chan also added that the app will act as an avenue to more conveniently connect with QBO's roster of experienced mentors and consultants.

The QBO App features three primary functions. Its QNNECT feature provides access to QBO’s network and connects users with people with whom they can create meaningful partnerships. Through QNNECT, founders can meet other industry players and potential partners; startup enthusiasts can find ways to get started in the industry, or otherwise stay on top of the latest news; and mentors and investors can find new businesses and other potential investments.

The QLLABORATE feature enables a more active startup community through the QBO App. Through it, users can discover startup-related events across the country, participate in groups to seek advice, discuss trendy topics, and communicate with special guests and speakers. Important resources like government forms, speaker presentations, and other documents can also be downloaded through QLLABORATE.

Finally, with QNTRIBUTE, users can become active members of the startup ecosystem, sharing their news, pushing their own products, and posting photos, links, videos and other startup-related content on a social media-like timeline, as well as give feedback to QBO’s programs and services.

  

“Our goal is to help provide opportunities and mentorship for our budding startups, especially those driven by young, tech-savvy entrepreneurs. The convenience of an app will be very appealing to them, and eminently helpful,” said Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara of DOST.

QBO’s partners share its passion for supporting local startups. Its collaboration with J.P. Morgan has led to the creation of the elite INQBATION Program, that seeks to develop select, high-potential startups – empowering underserved founders and creating impact for the community.

“With mobile technology continuing to disrupt the business landscape, connectivity helps level the playing field for many of our startups – in terms of access to resources and partners that they can tap as they develop and grow their business. Launching this app is certainly a step in the right direction,” said Roberto L. Panlilio, Senior Country Officer, J.P. Morgan Philippines. 

  

The QBO App is only the latest development in QBO’s vision of Filipino startups changing the world, and it is available and ready for use on both iOS and Android devices.

For more information about QBO, visit www.qbo.com.ph.