A new set of college graduates are set to join the workforce in the coming months, and as they begin earning their own money, it’s important to help build their financial portfolio on a bright note.
This is among the inspirations behind Sun Life’s continued effort to promote its digital life insurance products through GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet.
“Insurance is often overlooked by those who are starting to build their financial portfolio, but in reality, it’s better to start securing insurance products at a young age. It will not only help build smart financial habits, but also enable them to be on track with their financial goals,” says Alex Narciso, President of Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. “Our tie-up with GCash contributes to this goal because together, we can offer insurance that’s both affordable and accessible.”
Through the Sun Life and GCash tie-up, first time insurance buyers who would like to try the benefits of being insured without having to shell out huge amounts of cash for premiums may avail of Sun Life’s “Digital, Easy, Affordable, Life insurance” (D.E.A.L.) products through GCash’s GLife and GInsure.
Sun Life’s D.E.A.L. insurance products include Life Armor, a life insurance product; Personal Accident Armor, a personal accident insurance; and Byahero Protect, a personal accident insurance with hospital income benefit and burial benefit for accidents due to land travel.
“With Sun Life’s D.E.A.L., we earnestly hope to help the younger generation invest in becoming more financially prepared for the future because it is our firm belief that their financial security is the steadfast foundation of nation building for the Filipino people,” Narciso concluded.
Good things always come in pairs. Whether it’s enjoying a well-loved pastime with your favorite snacks, getting pampered while getting some online shopping in, or catching a great film on your very own TV while having a great sound system to amp that fantastic viewing experience… The best things in life come in twos.
When it comes to the TV of your dreams, it’s a great idea to match it with the best sound system to complement it. With this comes the best pairing of the season with Samsung’s One True Pair Promo. Grab a chance to level up your lifestyle and finally buy your dream Lifestyle TV and Soundbar together, and save up to P34,999.
This is your chance to take home the most coveted The Serif or The Frame TV with the ultra-chic and sleek Lifestyle Soundbar, all at a special bundled price when you purchase it via straight card or cash payment at any participating Samsung Authorized Dealer.
There’s simply no better duo than Samsung’s One True Pair. Pairing The Frame or The Serif with the Lifestyle Soundbar is seamless and allows you to experience the absolute best of both devices through the Q-Symphony feature which allows both the TV and Soundbar speakers to synergize together and provide a greater and more immersive sound experience. Both devices have aesthetically delightful designs that adorn each other and elevate every room they are placed in, creating truly inspiring spaces. Most of all, the top-notch highlight of these two products combined will be the QLED technology meeting Dolby Atmos, giving you beautiful picture quality and exceptional cinematic sound.
Hurry, Samsung’s One True Pair Promo is runs until March 31, 2023. Get your fill of exciting promo updates on Samsung TVs, log on to www.samsung.com/ph, and follow Samsung on their official Facebook and Instagram pages.
It’s the time of the year again where we celebrate the superwomen of our lives – the one day that’s all about her.
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and it is best to plan this special occasion ahead. If you still don’t have a present in mind, it is always a good idea to give her a day of pampering and relaxation.
For all the sacrifices and hard work they have done, moms deserve nothing but the best so treat her to a well-deserved staycation in the heart of Manila on Mother’s Day. For only P6,000 nett per night, Rizal Park Hotel offers an overnight stay in a deluxe room with breakfast in bed for (2) two. Best of all, mom gets to enjoy a (1) hour massage at the hotel’s spa. This Mother’s Day room promo is available for booking from April 27 to May 13, 2023 with stay periods from May 12 to May 15, 2023.
You can always choose to celebrate this special day with your loved ones. Gather the whole family and treat mom to a delicious lunch or dinner at Café Rizal or Imperial Court. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, the hotel’s restaurants are perfect for a memorable family gathering.
Attendees of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Conference pose for a photo at Novotel Manila, Quezon City recently, with the theme “Prevention Digest: Strengthening the prevention strategy and family-based initiatives in the Philippines”.
During the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Conference recently, at Novotel Manila, Quezon City, Rex Education bared its ‘Bawat Paaralan Edukampyon (BPE) Continuum’ for strengthening drug-abuse prevention.
UNODC’s Conference gathered organizations, policymakers, and prevention implementers for discussions on addressing drug-related problems in the country. Under the theme “Prevention Digest: Strengthening the prevention strategy and family-based initiatives in the Philippines”, UNODC encouraged individuals and groups to share drug-abuse prevention responses that are health-centered and based on family intervention. The agenda tackled the healthcare system, evidence-based programs, and Philippine experiences in family-centered interventions.
During the 3rd day of the event, REX was among the government and non-government organizations who shared their experiences with prevention programming, as well as the impact and influence of these initiatives.
Taking a whole school approach to reform initiatives
BPE officially launched during the January 2021 Annual Educators’ Congress, where 400 private and public schools expressed interest and intent in pilot implementing the framework.
In March 2021, pilot implementation for BPE began with 13 schools completing one implementation cycle. These schools were Marantha Christian Academy, St. Edward School, Canossa Academy Calamba, Ednas School, Cherished Moments School, Colegio de Santa Rita de San Carlos, Inc., Cabulay High School, San Andres Elementary School, Divisoria High School, Rosario National High School, Sagana National High School, Patul National High School, and Sinili Integrated School.
REX gave life to the portmanteau ‘Edukampyon’, a combination of the words edukasyon (education) and kampyon (champion) to mean champions of education. The BPE program is grounded in the Edukampyon advocacy: To engage duty-bearers and build their capacities for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the right to quality education.
Pursuant to BEDP 2030, REX advocates a whole school approach that entails the collaboration of all members in a school community. The whole school approach recognizes that the informal curriculum is just as valuable as the formal one, highlighting the importance of providing learners with inclusive and safe environments beyond the classroom. This framework is meant to advance agendas on global education and reform initiatives such as health awareness, eradication of violence, and drug-abuse prevention.
The whole school approach also comes into play in promoting the six facets of the Filipino whole learner. REX has identified various indicators that should ensure a Filipino learner is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged, and values-oriented. Across these indicators, there is a common theme that encourages school culture and leadership to promote learners’ physical and mental health, implement policies relevant to civic participation, and equip students with the essential competencies for lifelong learning. Families and communities are recognized as a major part of this advocacy, as the success of a child’s education largely relies on the effective collaboration of stakeholders advocating every learner’s well-being.
Bawat Paaralan Edukampyon in support of UNODC standards
Based on the standards of UNODC, drug-abuse prevention is a significant motivator for children, young adults, and adults to contribute positively in their families, schools, workplace, and communities. Drug-abuse prevention at the school level focuses on the health and safety of children and youth, in a bid to encourage self-actualization that can lead to the realization of their full potential, prompting them to become productive members of society.
UNODC has found that developing a student’s personal and social skills can prevent drug use and alcohol abuse. For children aged 10 and below, programs centered on improving resistance skills and self-control have been shown to reduce general problem behaviors in and out of the classroom. Several other factors can also influence discouragement of substance abuse, such as students’ academic performance, commitment to school, and social opportunities.
To achieve these benchmarks, REX designed BPE as a three-tier implementation framework that will allow schools to conduct systematic assessments of their progress in the UNODC’s domains. BPE encourages schools to work with their stakeholders, students, parents, and community members in the planning and implementation of activities and interventions that are relevant to UNODC’s standards.
Bawat Paaralan Edukampyon as an exemplary school-community-family program for drug-abuse prevention
The BPE’s pilot implementation allowed learners to learn about drug-abuse prevention through the collaborative efforts of their teachers, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders. In particular, parents reported feeling more engaged and knowledgeable of their children’s school activities and priorities after participating in the BPE process.
The participating schools showed significant levels of involvement and support, having developed appreciation for the BPE framework. REX intends to leverage this support in fine-tuning effective BPE advocacies, communications, and education initiatives for more schools across the nation.
In doing so, REX was able to complement UNODC’s standards on drug-use prevention. Placing value in partnership, emphasizing the importance of effective parenting, and delivering evidence-based prevention strategies proved to be the pillars that drove the success of BPE’s initial launch. REX is committed to pushing BPE at a wider scale, in a bid to ensure children and youth become invulnerable and more resilient to drug use.
The newly-opened HONOR Experience Store in Caloocan is located at Level 4 Cyberzone Area of SM City Grand Central. More HONOR Experience stores will open in June: SM City Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, SM City Southmall, and SM City Sucat. For more announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorphilippines/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.
Bike commuting has become more mainstream in the Philippines because of the pandemic, as Filipinos sought safer and more cost-effective means of transportation during the height of the quarantine restrictions. In April 2022, data from survey company SWS showed that 7.3 million Filipino households owned a bike, one million more than its May 2021 survey result of 6.2 million.
With this growing biking community, Allianz PNB Life launched the Ride Safe initiative in 2020 to help create safer, more bike-friendly cities in Metro Manila. Through the program, Allianz PNB Life partnered with local government units (LGUs) and organizations to promote road safety and road sharing through cyclist education and by advocating for bike-friendly infrastructures.
Sustainable futures
Though Covid restrictions have been eased, many Filipinos still choose to ride their bikes to work and for leisure as an efficient, low-cost, and sustainable form of transport. This led Allianz PNB Life to expand its CSR campaign and evolve Ride Safe into a new program. The program now incorporates a livelihood intervention component in partnership with global non-profit organization SOS Children’s Villages Philippines (SOS Philippines) and bike advocacy group Tambay Cycling Hub (Tambike), an independent bike repair shop in Pasig City that aims to help all bikers, whether recreational bikers or those who use bikes for transportation or livelihood. The program will provide participants with livelihood skills that will help them support their families, as it has been found that poverty is one of the challenges in keeping a family together.
Through this entrepreneurship and bike-skills program, Allianz Ride Safe selected 9 SOS Children’s Village Family Strengthening program participants from Iloilo, Cebu, and Tacloban. The participants underwent one week of training on bike maintenance and repair from instructors at Tambay Cycling Hub. The participants were also equipped with entrepreneurship and financial literacy mentoring to help them start their own small businesses. During training, the participants drafted a business plan and received a grant of P150,000 to set up a bike shop.
Kevin Skinker, president of Tambay Cycling Hub, lauds the Ride Safe initiative as a vital support to the biking community. “With more Filipinos taking to the road on their bikes, there is a need for more skilled bike mechanics and bike stores. This program will help to grow the bike community and make the world a better, safer, more environment-friendly place.”
According to Andrea Celica Santos of SOS Children’s Village, the program was met with much enthusiasm by the participants who were eager to learn new skills. “The primary reason for the breakup of families is poverty and the lack of livelihood opportunities. With this program, families can stay together and have stronger foundations because they have a source of income. Our participants are motivated by the future of their families.”
Program participants Renato Gadot and Ricky Natalyo from Iloilo agree, adding that this will help greatly in supporting their families. Both of them are excitedly planning to start a business as soon as they return home from training. Maria Filipinas Ansale, a mother from Tacloban, is also proud to be a participant. “Learning is hard, but it shows that women can also do bike repairs.” She previously availed of an SOS Children’s Village training program in cooking and is glad to have learned a new skill that can help her raise her children.
Creating green jobs
The new Allianz Ride Safe program not only promotes biking as an environment-friendly form of transport, but it also enables the creation of sustainable green jobs to support families and communities. This will not only help secure the financial future of more Filipinos, but will also help preserve nature for future generations.
Allianz PNB Life Chief Marketing Officer Gino Riola says, “With the brilliant revolution in terms of cycling, we wanted to turn this into livelihood opportunities for Filipinos. The ability to make this happen is dependent on our partners, with Tambay Bike Hub extending training to our program participants and SOS Children’s Village providing the platform to reach out to those in need. We are happy that we extended our advocacy out of Metro Manila, with Ride Safe now in the provinces. The success of this program is also dependent on our participants who will work with bikes in their respective communities.”
Allianz Ride Safe is an initiative under the Allianz PNB Life Kaagapay program that aims to teach financial literacy and aid families through microinsurance. In 2021, the Ride Safe campaign won the CSR Initiative of the Year at the Insurance Asia Awards.
More information about Ride Safe and AZPNB is available at allianzpnblife.ph or @allianzpnblifeofficial on Facebook.
KSK-SAP farmers and partners from San Pablo City, Laguna.
SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) has taken another step in its mission to enhance the agriculture and entrepreneurial skills of farmers. The organization recently launched the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP) across various locations in Calabarzon.
Beginning with its launch in Padre Garcia, Batangas on April 13, 2023, the program has since been extended to Silang, Cavite, Batangas City, San Pablo, Laguna, and Calamba City. SMFI is also set to provide free agri-skills training to local farmers in other parts of the region to help other beneficiaries uplift their families and communities.
Empowering local farmers
The local farmer-beneficiaries will undergo a two-phased program, spearheaded by its partner school Moca Family Farm RLearning Center, Inc.
The said program kicked off with an immersive 14-week training program, designed to equip participants with essential skills and knowledge in agriculture. The modular training curriculum covers topics on the latest agri-technology updates, capacity building, financial literacy, product development, and market opportunities. Through these comprehensive modules, KSK-SAP aims to empower and enhance farmers’ agricultural practices and explore avenues for sustainable growth.
As a highlight of the program’s first phase, KSK-SAP farmers will join the SM Sunday Market, a collaborative initiative between SM Foundation and SM Supermalls. This platform offers trainees a valuable opportunity to showcase their agricultural produce and gain firsthand experience in institutional selling. Through this market opportunity, participants can not only generate income but also cultivate their expertise and experience in the sales and marketing aspects of their agri-businesses.
KSK Trainees at Tabangao Ambulong, Batangas City, Batangas
To prepare for the second phase of the program, SMFI will also assist the farmers in formalizing their respective groups. To boost their earning capactiy and contribution to economic growth, the foundation will support them in creating a sustainable and profitable farming community through the assistance of its partner agencies.
KSK-SAP originated from the vision of SMFI’s founder Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr. to establish a sustainable initiative that would uplift the farming skills, food security, and livelihood know-how of low-income Filipino farmers. Over the years, the program has evolved into a comprehensive training program that generates opportunities for skills development, employment, and livelihood.
Since its inception in 2007, KSK-SAP has helped more than 28,000 marginalized farmers from rural and urban areas across the country, fueling their entrepreneurial and farming capabilities. As a result, some of the program’s graduates have turned into seasonal suppliers for the SM group and other local markets.
SM Foundation’s KSK-SAP is conducted in partnership with SM Supermalls, TESDA, DA, DSWD, DOST, DTI, DOT and partner farm schools.
(May 22, 2023, Pasay City) SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of the leading integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, has been recognized by three international award-giving bodies for excellence in transparent Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting for its 2021 Annual Integrated Report entitled “Together, We Rise”.
SM published its sustainability reports since 2013 even before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated sustainability reporting in the Philippines. SM Prime further promotes transparency and accountability by informing investors and stakeholders of its ESG performance and impacts, decision-making processes, and competitive positioning value in the sector.
“We are honored to receive these awards as a recognition of our commitment to provide transparent reporting in our sustainable practices. We value all our stakeholders, and we strive to enrich the quality of life of the Filipino people,” SM Prime President Mr. Jeffrey Lim said.
At the summit of international recognitions, SM Prime bagged accolades from the biggest and most coveted awards competition in the business world called Stevie® Awards. The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards recognizes business innovation across the entire Asia-Pacific region, whereas IBAs is one of the first and most highly anticipated awards programs of the Stevie Awards that features a wide variety of categories relevant to every facet of the workplace that is open to all kinds and sizes of organizations globally. SM Prime was awarded the Bronze Stevie® Winner at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards program and Silver Stevie® Winner in the 2022 International Business Awards (IBAs).
Also, in the regional scene, the company won a Silver Rank in the Asia Sustainability Reporting Rating (ASRRAT) 2022, a sustainability report ranking by the National Center for Sustainability Reporting (NCSR). ASRRAT’s rating system employs criteria based on GRI Standards compliance, GHG disclosures transparency, and alignment with and support of the UN SDGs, among other factors.
The international recognitions are a testament to SM Prime’s active role in championing sustainability across its operations as it continues to be a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people.
In 1971, the Philippines launched the Community Health Organization Program to classify health services into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. As part of this initiative, barangay health stations were created to ensure that primary healthcare improves the overall health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
Since then, these local health centers have played a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of Filipinos. They have not only provided general healthcare services but also served as agents during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped with the vaccination rollout. Additionally, they continue to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Adequate facilities for improved healthcare
SM Foundation (SMFI) has made it its mission to provide adequate facilities and upgraded equipment to boost health centers as they fulfill their mandate of delivering quality health care, even amid the pandemic.
Pursuing its mission, SMFI and UNIQLO Philippines traveled to the cities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan in Cagayan Valley and upgraded two health facilities serving thousands of Filipinos. Beyond the new infrastructure, health workers see it as a chance to put forth the services they have always drawn from the heart.
In Brgy. District 1, Cauayan, Midwife Tarita Ann Ballasteros has tended to patients from low-income households, who barely have money to spare for the fare going to the facility and to buy medicine. She would then give the best care she can offer to compensate for the limitations of their center.
A resident of Cauayan City, Isabela undergoes a routine checkup in Brgy. District 1 Health Center
“Nakikita ko ang sitwasyon nila na ultimo pamasahe, wala sila. Iniisip ko, wala man lang akong maibigay na gamot sa kanila. Para sa akin, hindi ko man sila lubos na mapagaling, lalabas sila sa facility na magaan ang pakiram dahil sa tinatawag nating TLC (tender loving care),” she said.
Before, they had to use curtains as improvised medical partitions or lock the health center’s door to provide comfort to women seeking reproductive health care or pregnant mothers coming in for prenatal checkups.
“It takes time to prepare and attend to the next patient. Kailangan pa namin takpan ng kumot o ilock ang pinto ng center para magkaroon ng privacy ang mga pasyente. Dahil dito, isa lang ang naaaccommodate namin. Minsan, hindi sila komportable dahil nakikita ng iba yung procedure na ginagawa namin sa kanila,” she said.
Through the upgrade, the Brgy. District 1 Health Center had its own room for maternal and child health services, equipped with necessary medical tools. It was also fitted with a breastfeeding area and a designated space for immunization.
Health workers of Brgy. District 1 Health Center provides free prenatal checkups in the newly renovated health center
The upgrade served as the boost they needed to complement the TLC they have always given their community.
“Malaki ang connection ng renovation ng center sa pagsasaayos ng kalusugan ng aming komunidad. Kaming mga health workers ay mas eager na sa pag-pasok sa trabaho at mas marami na kaming pasyenteng mabibigyan ng serbisyo at matutulungan,” she said.
Through the newly renovated health center, residents of Brgy. District 1 health center enjoy free medical checkups.
“Dahil maganda na at maaliwalas, nakakatulong ito para gumaan ang pakiramdam ng pasyente bago pa man sila gamutin,” she added.
A change for the better
Sharing the same passion for health care service is Corazon Tanguilan, a Barangay Health Worker from Brgy. Cataggaman Pardo Health Center in Tuguegarao City.
“As a healthcare provider, hindi po namin gaano iniisip ang kalakihan ng aming health center. Ang importante po ay taos pusong pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa patients namin. Nasa kalooban po namin kung paano namin gagawing maayos pagpapatakbo ng aming operasyon,” she said.
Through their dedication, they strived to accommodate the healthcare needs of their patients despite unfortunate working conditions–from broken tiles, cracked wall paint, and damaged cabinets to limited electric fans for ventilation.
“Sira po ang aming mga tiles. Mahirap po ito dahil baka madulas o mapaano ang aming mga pasyente na kadalasan ay buntis at mga bata. Kaya nilagyan na lang po namin ito ng masking tape para makaiwas sa aksidente,” she recalled.
Due to the center’s layout and space limitations, it became even more difficult for them during the pandemic. With sick children, pregnant women, and TB-DOTs patients, it felt like a weight was pressed against their chests as they hoped to safely accommodate all patients while implementing social distancing.
Brgy. Cataggaman Pardo Health Center health workers cater to the general medical needs of its community in the newly renovated health center.
“During immunization days, may mga pregnant mothers na darating for prenatal check-up. Ine-entertain namin sila dahil hindi namin puwedeng pauwiin ulit at pabalikin pa. Mahalaga po ang sapat na espasyo para maisagawa ang infection prevention and control measures. Kaya mainam po ang ginawa ng SM Foundation na pagpapalawak ng health center namin para sa kaligtasan ng patients namin,” she explained.
As their center was rebuilt from the ground up, they felt relief and gained renewed optimism to improve their operations.
Pregnant mothers from Cataggaman Pardo, Tuguegarao City can now get comfortable prenatal care in the newly refurbished health center.
In addition to the installation of new equipment and facilities, complemented by cosmetic improvements such as fresh paint and tiles, the upgraded health centers now include designated rooms for maternal care, medical check-ups, and TB-DOTs treatment. The spacious and well-ventilated lobby provides a warm welcome to the people of Tuguegaraonos, encouraging them to pursue healthy living and become valuable contributors to the growth of their city.
“27 years na po ako sa serbisyo at bihira po ang health center na naka-aircon at well-ventilated. Kaya ngayon pong naisaayos na po ito, tiyak po ako na mas maeengganyo ang constituents ng namin na pumunta sa aming Center,” she said.
Continuing its commitment to helping elevate the country’s education system, SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI), in partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI) and the Department of Education (DepEd), have recently collaborated to construct two new school buildings in Laguna and Batangas.
Upon the completion of the joint initiative, two two-story four-classroom school buildings will be donated to the Laguna Resettlement Community School in San Pedro City, Laguna and the San Antonio Elementary School in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas.
Each of the school buildings is set to be equipped with learning materials, armchairs, handwashing facilities, emergency equipment, and PWD-friendly facilities to ensure that students, especially from low-income communities, gain access to modern, safe, and conducive learning facilities.
Formalizing the partnership, representatives from the SMFI, DepEd, and the local government units of said provinces attended the memorandum of agreement signing last April 28, 2023, at the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) in Malvar, Batangas.
SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd in various educational programs. This social good initiative aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide. To date, it has turned over more than 100 school buildings to grassroots communities.
