Plan B: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

     “If you are the family's breadwinner, your most valuable asset is your ability to earn. And the only instrument that can protect that asset is life insurance,” says Renato Vergel De Dios, President and CEO of BDO Life. 

     For 50 years, he has built his career around one mission: helping Filipino families achieve financial security through life insurance, or Plan B. One would think that in that span, life insurance would already be part of every Filipino’s financial portfolio. Yet many breadwinners remain without coverage, leaving their families vulnerable to financial ruin. 

Plan B: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

May Plan B ka na ba? BDO Life President and CEO Renato A. Vergel De Dios has dedicated his career to

helping Filipino families achieve long-term financial stability.

M Lhuillier Insurance Sigurado

With the uncertainty that the pandemic has brought us, more Filipinos are now becoming conscious of their health and finances. The aftermath of the pandemic made us realize that health is truly wealth. We suddenly became fitness enthusiasts, health and wellness gurus, and financial advisors to our family and friends. One of the important lessons that the pandemic has taught us is to take financial security seriously. That is why aside from our savings, emergency fund, and earnings from business, most of us are now open-minded about insurance.

     Thanks to financial institutions that are offering different types of insurance that will provide financial security not only for us but also for our loved ones. While looking for insurance providers online, I stumbled upon ML Insurance. I presume you are familiar with M Lhuillier as one of the leading financial services providers here in our country for their ML Kwarta Padala remittance service. While browsing their website, I saw that they also offer different services such as eLoad, bill payment, quick cash loans, and insurance to name a few. The latter got my attention and to my surprise, they offer not one but five insurance plans for the Filipino family. Sharing more about M Lhuillier Insurance Sigurado after the jump!

Feature: M Lhuillier Insurance Sigurado

6 Ways You Can Protect Your Family’s Health

     Healthcare is a complex and ever-changing landscape, which can make it difficult to keep up with the latest information and developments especially when you’re trying to do so for your entire family. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to help ensure that your loved ones stay healthy and safe. Here are just a few things you can do.

6 Ways You Can Protect Your Family’s Health
image from unsplash.com

AIA Brings Community Together Through Live Better Expo

     Since 2017, the Live Better Expo has been an experiential platform for the recently rebranded AIA Philippines (formerly AIA Philam Life) to fulfill its promise to help people live healthier, longer, better lives.

     This year, AIA Philippines brings the Live Better Expo online, sharing tips and insights on how Filipinos can live healthy everyday through its Brand Ambassadors Gary Valenciano, Solenn Heussaff, Nico Bolzico, Raymond Gutierrez, Wil Dasovich, and Anton del Rosario.

AIA Brings Community Together Through Live Better Expo

AIA Philippines Total Health Solution

     How's life lately? I'm hoping and praying that you are all safe and sound. We are down to the last two months of the year and a lot of things happened already because of Covid-19. Amid the global pandemic, we find ourselves today, taking care of our health has become more important than ever. Unfortunately, with everything we have on our plates now, it can be challenging to always put one’s health first.

     AIA Philippines, the country’s premier life insurance company, recently introduced Total Health Solution, its ecosystem accessible through a single touchpoint platform that allows customers to access all of its services that can help them live better, protect better and get better. Read more information about this promising offering from AIA Philippines below.

AIA Philippines Total Health Solution

     Last October, I was invited to an afternoon of all things health and wellness as AIA Philippines introduced a new way that will help us Live Better, Protect Better and Get Better so we can achieve this goal, no matter what our health starting line may be.

We at AIA Philippines understand the importance of staying healthy especially during the pandemic,” AIA Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Leo Tan said. “We all have different health needs but we have the same goal, which is to be the healthiest we can be. The Total Health Solution ecosystem will help our customers achieve this. Insurance companies used to be just about providing protection products. With Total Health Solution, we are there to help them live better so they are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle, protect better so they have peace of mind that they are prepared for life’s uncertainties, and get better, giving them access to healthcare needs should they find themselves unwell.”

     To make the launch more exciting, they sent us special kits with items that will help jumpstart our journey towards a healthier, longer, and better life. 

AIA Philippines Total Health Solution

Live Better

     AIA Philippines customers can find the support they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle in the Total Health Solution ecosystem. It houses the AIA Vitality program, the Company’s game-changing program that incentivizes customers with rewards for knowing and improving their health. It’s also where healthcare partners such as EZ Consult can be easily accessed, allowing customers the means to consult nutritionists with a few clicks of a button.

Protect Better

      “As a life insurance company, our mission is to race against risk to protect more Filipinos. And at the end of the day, that is at the core of what we do. Through Total Health Solution, we are able to fulfill this mission by providing them the means to be protected, and more importantly, stay protected,” Tan explained.

     Within the ecosystem, customers have clear visibility on their policies, and allows them to make changes. With these details on hand, customers can be reminded regularly when their premiums are due, helping them avoid missing their payments.

Get Better

     With Total Health Solution, customers have the support they need anytime, anywhere. Healthcare needs such as teleconsult, medicine purchase via delivery, vaccine administration, and discounted laboratory procedures are easily accessible.

The pandemic has increased the need for healthcare solutions among Filipinos. As their partner in health and wellness, we want to be able to address that need. These days, it can be a strain to schedule a consultation or a lab procedure, especially if you don’t know where to go. Having the Total Health Solution ecosystem reassures our customers that they will be supported for everything related to their health care needs,” Tan expounded.

     The journey to helping Filipinos live better began in 2017 and with Total Health Solution, AIA Philippines has come full circle. “This is one of the many innovative solutions we have developed to take care of our customers as part of our transition to AIA Philippines. Through Total Health Solution providing the means for us to be with our customers every step of the way, we bring to life our purpose of helping more Filipinos live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives,” said Kelvin Ang, AIA Philippines Chief Executive Officer.

     For more information on AIA Philippines,

visit their official website: http://www.aia.com.ph/

email customerservice.ph@aia.com, or call (02) 8528-2000.

Like them on Facebook: AIA Philippines 

AXA Health Care Access

     I always believe in the saying that "Prevention is better than cure" that's why now more than ever, securing our family's health must be our number one priority. According to a report on health spending released by the Philippine Statistics Authority in late 2020, paying for one’s medical needs grew in the country by 11% in recent years. 

     On this spending, a staggering 48% of the expenses came from “household out-of-pocket”—meaning Filipinos have resorted to digging into their hard-earned savings or worse, turning to loans from well-meaning family, to be able to pay for the cost of hospitalization or other medical expenses that they did not have the capacity to cover. In a separate report from the National Economic Development Authority, it was cited that 96% of Filipinos are concerned about their own and their family’s health, but only 16% are prepared to pay for medical costs. But it does not have to be this way. Here's something worth getting these days because of the pandemic and other unavoidable situations that may arise in the future.

AXA Health Care Access

5 Ways To Build A Better Future For Your Family

     If there is one thing the past year has shown us, it’s that uncertainty is always just around the corner. For many of us, experiencing a pandemic was a lesson in preparedness, teaching us that the best way we can be ready for anything is by protecting ourselves, our family, and our hard-earned savings, so we can continue to enjoy life and fulfill our dreams no matter what.

     AIA Philam Life remains committed to helping Filipino families prepare for the future, through products that protect loved ones from sickness and death, and those that address their long-term savings needs through viable investments. Without a doubt, the country’s premier life insurance company is living its Purpose by creating products that help Filipino families live healthier, longer, better lives.

5 Ways To Build A Better Future For Your Family
image from pexels.com

AIA Philam Life Med-Assist for Children

     I just realized that life insurance is essential when my father was in and out of the hospital a few years ago. It never crossed my mind that I'll be needing it too for my family especially for my child. In this time of uncertainty, protection from financial burden in time of sickness is non-negotiable and getting one today is the key to peace of mind among others.

     It's true that for most parents, getting medical insurance for their child rarely crosses their minds. The more pressing matter, especially for first time parents, are immediate physical needs. But the truth is, a child’s medical needs can be costly, and with 54% of health expenses coming from the household budget, this can be a burden to many.

AIA Philam Life Med-Assist for Children
Nico and Solenn Bolzico with daughter Thylane

BDO Life Transforms What Ifs from Challenges to Opportunities

     Life is full of “what if” moments—crossroads and decisions that help us fulfill our dreams and realize what we set out to achieve. Each “what if” moment presents us with two possibilities, that which is desirable or that which is undesirable. Our subsequent decisions and actions direct the course of our lives moving forward. Therefore, whenever we face a “what if” moment, are we ready and prepared to make the right moves? One expert who advocates the necessity of financial protection for “what if” moments is Mr. Renato A. Vergel de Dios, President and CEO of BDO Life Assurance Company, Inc. He explains how we can make “what if” moments work to our advantage with the correct mindset.

     “When we are faced with a ‘what if’ moment, we are also confronted with potential benefits and risks. The most reasonable course of action is to make a decision that maximizes the potential benefits and minimizes the potential risks,” he says. Vergel de Dios points out that the entire country experienced a crucial “what if” moment when the pandemic struck. “On top of dealing with our own survival, we also have to help others. Taking an ‘every-man-for-himself’ attitude is unacceptable. We are all in this together. As they say, ‘we must heal as one,’” he says.

BDO Life Transforms What Ifs from Challenges to Opportunities
Mr. Renato A. Vergel de Dios, President, and CEO of BDO Life Assurance Company, Inc.

A Php1,799 Insurance Yearly? Yes, "KanDuu!"

     The past 8 years have been a roller-coaster ride for us because of my father's health condition. He was a diabetic at the age of 35, an end-stage renal disease patient at 50, and was diagnosed with a terminal illness just last month. All these boil down to one important aspect of life- health. My father would always tell me to set him as an example that health is non-negotiable. If he had been considerate and compliant in his early 30's, he is still at the top of his game.

     No thrice a week visits at the dialysis center, no weekly trips to the emergency room, no quarterly staycation at the hospital wards, and no dropping by at the operating room for minor or major surgeries. These series of unfortunate events drained us physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. The worst part? We're not financially stable and don't have life insurance that will somehow ease the burden. I asked my mother why we don't have the insurance in any forms and her answer was the hassle of filling up forms and submitting documents just to get insured. Well, that's a thing of the past because now we "KanDuu" get insurance fast and hassle-free! Scroll down to know more about FWD Life Insurance.

A Php1,799 Insurance Yearly? Yes, "KanDuu!"

My papa at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute after his major colon operation (Sigmoidectomy) last November 2019

A Brief Look at Buying Travel Medical Insurance

     Regardless of whether you are taking a short break or a trip around the world you need good quality travel insurance. Without it you run the risk of being stranded or worse falling sick or getting injured and not being able to afford to see a doctor. As you will see finding the right policy for you is actually not that hard. You just need to take your time, do your research, and follow the tips below.

A Brief Look at Buying Travel Medical Insurance

Are You Ready to Start Adulting for Real?

     Adulting is real! It's the time of your life where you pay for the food that you eat, the bills at home, and saving up for important things aka needs rather than wants. This is also the time where you need to try other alternatives when you think that you have a certain budget but it falls short to come up with the amount that you need for investment. I'm sharing five things that you should know before signing your first loan. 

     For a generation largely thought of as entitled and unprepared for the real world, Millennials, currently, aged 22-36, are doing better financially than people give them credit for. As young professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, artists, freelancers, among many, many others, living in constant contemplation of their future, most Millennials are, in fact, so passionate about and consumed by their #lifegoals, that most, if not, all their income go to paying for their first car, getting their own place, and generally, living the best years of their lives. 

Are You Ready to Start Adulting for Real?

4 Ways to Protect Your Family's Future

    Lay the foundation for their future, and go beyond it! The future is made of the small, everyday decisions that shape the kind of life you’ve envisioned for the people you love. Starting a family? Scrimp and save to build your dream home. Striving to send your children to the best schools? Work hard at your day job and… your “rakets.” Planning to leave a legacy to your children and grandchildren? Wisely invest your earnings. 

     But don’t stop there because things don’t always go as planned. Jobs are lost. Unexpected expenses crop up. Not all investments pan out. It’s not enough to just build a future, you have to make sure that your loved ones get to enjoy it, too, in the future. How to do that? Here are five easy ways to ensure that all your hard work will not go in vain, no matter what! 

5 Ways to Protect Your Family's Future

Philam Life #LiveBetter Expo

     If someone asks you how to have a better life prolly your answer will be having a stable income and continuous earnings. But did you know that all the savings and earnings you have will lose its value if you're sick and eventually have a chronic illness? As cliché as it sounds, "Health is wealth" saying is important nowadays to live better.

     Philam Life makes a positive difference in the lives of Filipinos by supporting them in fulfilling their dreams and aspirations. A reliable life partner that will help you secure your future and your loved ones. They help you make the right choices that lead to living a longer, healthier, better life. Last August 25, 2017, Philam Life hosted a 2-day event dubbed as the Live Better Expo. Sharing highlights of the event below :)

Philam Life #LiveBetter Expo

How to Reduce Your Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenses

     With most employees cutting down on their health insurance benefits, consumers are left with the headache of filling in the gap. You can take several steps to ease your financial burden when it comes to medical costs that are not covered by insurance. 

How to Reduce Your Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenses

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches Cebuana Alerto App on National Pilipino Protektado Day

     We Filipinos have proven that in times of need, we always extend our helping hand to strangers. We also make sure to protect our families, relatives, and friends when there are misfortunes happening around us and from this, we are also making sure that we protect our 'kababayans' in times of disasters and obstacles. When we say protection, it's not only a physical thing because being protected also comes in other aspects.  

     When the word 'protektado' or protected comes to mind, I always associate it with insurance. I guess, it's because I have parents who have introduced me to different kinds of insurance when I was growing up. Being insured is important nowadays because we cannot predict what calamities or problems that we will encounter everyday. Just recently, one million Filipinos officially joined the country’s rally to be a fully-insured nation as Cebuana Lhuillier—the Philippines’ leading microfinancial company—provides free microinsurance through its National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign. Read more details below and I'm inviting everyone to join this meaningful campaign from Cebuana Lhuillier.

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches Cebuana Alerto App on National Pilipino Protektado Day

     Helping Filipinos be more disaster-resilient and prepared against various calamities, Cebuana Lhuillier has declared July 21 as the National Pilipino Protektado Day as part of the company’s advocacy to build disaster-resilient communities and help the Insurance Commission achieve its vision of protecting 80% of the Filipinos with microinsurance by 2020. 

     In partnership with Pioneer Insurance and with the help of various public and private organizations, free microinsurance were given out across the Philippines, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities, families and individuals from the marginalized sector.

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches Cebuana Alerto App on National Pilipino Protektado Day
Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier

“For the past years, we’ve been constantly just introducing new and innovative products and services to the public to be able to help them be financially included. This time, with our National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign, we decided to take a bolder step and took the initiative to really touch ground with those who are most vulnerable to calamities and directly offer them free microinsurance as a new way for them to be secured,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said. 

     Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions General Manager Jonathan Batangan reiterates that National Pilipino Protektado Day is only one of the company’s many endeavors in its push for disaster resilience.

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches Cebuana Alerto App on National Pilipino Protektado Day
Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions General Manager Jonathan Batangan

“National Pilipino Protektado Day is a great milestone in our disaster preparedness campaign. But after insuring one million Filipinos, we are on to more initiatives that will help us promote microinsurance and foster disaster resiliency. We are introducing an app, a microinsurance organization, and later on, a website--all designed to ultimately promote the welfare of Filipinos,” he said. 

Cebuana Alerto App by Cebuana Lhuillier 

• An android app that harnesses the digital mobile platform, Cebuana Alerto is designed to provide real-time vital information about disasters within the Philippines. 
• The app was launch in Cebuana's initiative of reinforcing its disaster resilience advocacy further.
• Equipped with an interactive technology that allows users to share updates in areas affected by any disaster, the Cebuana Alerto app features an alert system that sends notifications to the user in the event of disasters such as typhoon, earthquake, fire, and flood. 
• It has live newsfeeds that show the latest updates from third-party government agencies including the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDDRMC) for weather updates, the Department of Education (DEPED) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for school suspension announcements, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for information on traffic and road conditions. It also informs the users about Cebuana Lhuillier’s various insurance products and services which they can also purchase immediately online through the app. 
• The app also includes a "Safe Button" special feature that will automatically notify and send an “I AM SAFE” SMS message to the intended recipient about the user’s current state during a disaster. 
• Download this app and get the latest updates from these third-party government agencies that will give important information and whereabout everyday.

     MIAAPI Simultaneously, Cebuana Lhuillier also led the formation of the Microinsurance Agents Association of the Philippines, Incorporated (MIAAPI)—an organization founded to promote the interests and welfare of microinsurance agents nationwide. 

     MIAAPI interim Board Members include ASEAN Insurance Council Head Michael Rellosa, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) RFPA Asia Senior Adviser Dante Portula, Pioneer Insurance VP Geric Laude, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Past President Enrique Abellana, Philippine Insurers Club Treasurer Edgardo David, RBAP Coordinator Gay Mapano, Eternal Plans SAVP Jumer Lecetivo, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Executive Trustee Atty. Cesar Vidal, and CLIS General Manager Jonathan Batangan. 

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches Cebuana Alerto App on National Pilipino Protektado Day
MIAAPI board members ASEAN Insurance Council Head Michael Rellosa, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) RFPA Asia Senior Adviser Dante Portula, Pioneer Insurance VP Geric Laude, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Past President Enrique Abellana, Philippine Insurers Club Treasurer Edgardo David, RBAP Coordinator Gay Mapano, Eternal Plans SAVP Jumer Lecetivo, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Executive Trustee Atty. Cesar Vidal, and CLIS General Manager Jonathan Batangan.

     Moreover, Cebuana Lhuillier is also set to launch an online platform for insurance donations called OurHelp later this year. Connecting donees in the Philippines and donors from all over the world through a dedicated website, this crowdfunding website further aims to provide quality insurance protection awarded to the most vulnerable sectors in the form of premium donation from socially aware enterprises. 

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches Cebuana Alerto App on National Pilipino Protektado Day

     Prior to the culmination of the National Pilipino Protektado Day, Cebuana Lhuillier kicked off its disaster resilience advocacy by mounting and leading the highly-commended “2016 READY: The Role of Microinsurance in Building Disaster Resilient Communities” forum last January.

Thank you Cebuana Lhuillier for giving 1 million Filipinos free insurance for National Pilipino Protektado Day!

Good Times!~

More Peace of Mind for Filipinos with Alagang Cebuana Plus

     What can P25 buy you today? With Alagang Cebuana Plus, it can now buy peace of mind. And by making insurance more affordable, Pioneer Insurance and Cebuana Lhuillier are bringing security and peace of mind to more Filipinos, especially to those who cannot afford traditional insurance policies.

     Ideally, an insurance policy is a necessity, especially for those who are continuously exposed to the hazards of living and working in places like Metro Manila. However, the high cost of traditional insurance products has hindered most minimum wage workers from purchasing them. Below are the reasons why Alagang Cebuana Plus is a must!

More Peace of Mind for Filipinos with Alagang Cebuana Plus

• It is this issue that encouraged Pioneer Insurance and Cebuana Lhuillier to offer micro-insurance to majority of the country’s low-income earners through Alagang Cebuana Plus, a basic form of insurance policy that covers individuals aged seven to 70 years old from accidental death, dismemberment, and disability, and a rider benefit for unprovoked murder and assault for up to P20,000. 
• The product also extends fire cash assistance of P5,000. Each policy is available for only P25 with a four-month validity period.
• Developed by Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions with Pioneer Insurance as underwriter, Alagang Cebuana Plus is changing the insurance landscape by making policies more simple, suitable and affordable for the larger segment of the population. 
• More importantly, the product provides majority of the minimum wage workers with much-needed security and protection against unforeseen accidents and calamities so they can have peace of mind.
• Aside from its low cost, insurance claims are also easily made available at any of Cebuana Lhuillier’s close to 2,000 branches nationwide.

How Cebuana Lhuillier Helps Micro Entrepreneurs Grow

     Hello dearies! I'm excited to share with you these tips from Cebuana Lhuillier on how they can help micro entrepreneurs grow in their chosen field. I'm a loyal Cebuana Lhuillier customer and I'm proud of that. In my opinion gone are the days when Filipinos would rather choose to seek financial assistance from their relatives because this results to 'utang na loob'. If you have jewelries and other resources that you can bring to a pawnshop, definitely do it. It's more practical these days. Aside from the Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop that we all grew up with, Cebuana is now a microfinance institution that will help you in all your bank and finance needs. 

     Most Filipinos dream of becoming an entrepreneur someday and they start early – the student who sells candies or pad paper to his classmates, or the girl who sells stationery paper to her peers. Then the entrepreneurial dream grows bigger to include home-baked goodies, a sari-sari store or small grocery, a fleet of tricyles, and other small-scale businesses.

How Cebuana Lhuillier Helps Micro Entrepreneurs Grow

     The country’s leading microfinancial institution, Cebuana Lhuillier, recognizes this potential and aims to help strengthen the chances of Filipinos succeeding in entrepreneurship through a financial literacy campaign that showcases the available support for micro entrepreneurs today.

     There are Cebuana Lhuillier products that provide for the needs and protect the resources of micro entrepreneurs – from micro insurance products to immediate financial assistance.

Keeping small businesses safe

     One of Cebuana Lhuillier’s micro insurance products is the Alagang Cebuana Plus which offers affordable personal accident and fire insurance. For only P25, the holder is covered from accidental death, dismemberment, and disablement for P20,000, with an additional P5,000 coverage from fire. The coverage is valid for four (4) months. 

    There are other Cebuana Lhuillier micro insurance products that help micro entrepreneurs protect their investments and resources against various risks.

Banking without the bank

     Nowadays, payment options available for businesses, no matter how small, include transactions that do not go through the banks. Social networking platforms have become the new marketplace that offers products ranging from home-baked goodies, imported candies and chocolates, second hand clothes and bags, and almost anything under the sun.

     Micro entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this to grow and reach a wider market. With the help of Cebuana Lhuillier’s 24/7 Pera Padala nationwide operations, they are able to receive payments sent from across the country, in real time, hassle-free and without the need to open an account.

Easy-Access Funds

     No matter how small the business, it is integral to have easy access to funds in the course of the operations. Cebuana Lhuillier offers a nationwide pawning service that can address the need for funds for sudden business expenses. Its high appraisal rates, low interest rates, flexible terms, hassle-free transactions and 24/7 operations for select branches, make Cebuana Lhuillier’s pawning services the perfect partner for micro entrepreneurs.

     Becoming an entrepreneur can be a challenging task, but with the right support from microfinance institutions like Cebuana Lhuillier, it can be a sweet success.