AXA Philippines recognized for protecting MSMEs

Dally Dalisay, Senior Relationship Manager of AXA Philippines (left), receives a plaque of appreciation from Dr. Alexander Jaeger, Program Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit’s (GIZ) Regulatory Framework Promotion of Pro-poor Insurance Markets in Asia (GIZ RFPI Asia) (right).

AXA Philippines was recently recognized by its partner Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) during the latter’s Regulatory Framework Promotion of Pro-poor Insurance Markets in Asia (RFPI) Closing Ceremony held at the New Coast Hotel in Manila.

Through GIZ RFPI, AXA was lauded for its development of MicroBiz Protek Jr., a property microinsurance product designed for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in partnership with Cebuana Lhuillier. It insures microenterprises against calamities and provides coverage for burglary and robbery. The product also offers emergency assistance available in the Emma by AXA PH mobile app, which gives users free access to services such as ambulance, roadside, fire, and police assistance, while policyholders can pay their premiums through the app, among other things.

EastWest Ageas Insurance: Marked growth in the time of Covid

EastWest Ageas Insurance has posted tremendous growth over the last two years, despite the global pandemic threat.

In just over six years, EastWest Ageas has protected the lives of over 250,000 Filipinos across the country. The company began operations in 2016 with only five insurance solutions, including its Group Mortgage Redemption Insurance (MRI). It now has 13 financial solutions that help Filipinos live their best lives today.

Over the past two years, EastWest Ageas has been the fastest-growing insurance firm among the top 15 insurers in Annual Premium Equivalent (APE). According to the Insurance Commission’s Life Insurance Sector Quarterly Statistics, it has grown by 35% over the same period last year and is now the tenth largest insurer in terms of APE.

UBX appoints digital transformation and A.I. expert Mario Domingo as new global CTO

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has appointed digital transformation and artificial intelligence expert Mario Domingo as its new Global Chief Technology Officer.

With over three decades of experience under his belt, Domingo is one of the most successful digital transformation executives in the Asia Pacific Region, having played multiple roles in various organizations in Asia and the US. 

Domingo is now responsible for the management of product development and technology services at UBX and will spearhead the company’s platform and ecosystem development initiatives.

“Innovation is at the core of UBX’s existence. Domingo’s vast exposure to and experience in technology will certainly complement and strengthen our continuous pursuit for innovation to promote financial and social inclusion,” UBX President John Januszczak said. 

Allianz PNB Life, Xavier School, and the Tzu Chi Foundation partner together for a cleaner environment

As a champion for sustainability, Allianz PNB Life teamed up with Xavier School and the Tzu Chi Foundation in a recycling activity that encouraged students to reduce and recycle the clutter in their homes and make proper waste disposal a lifelong habit. More than 15,000 kilos of recyclable material were collected for reuse or responsible disposal during the four-week period. 

See a video documenting the clean-up efforts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJnJuR2XNZ8

Xavier School President, Fr. Aristotle Dy, S.J., said, “Waste management is one of the most basic practices that needs to be pushed in a big way.” He tied this to the lesson of the church and the Jesuits that we must take care of God’s creations as they are a gift to mankind. “This recycling activity proposed by Allianz PNB Life was very timely in light of the transition to the need for a cleaner post-pandemic world.” 

AXA Philippines and M2 Insurance offer best value car protection for Toyota customers

AXA Philippines and M2 Insurance Agency Inc. (M2IA) inked a partnership last October 18, 2022 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in BGC to provide a comprehensive insurance program to Toyota vehicle owners and employees. (L-R) AXA Philippines Head of Dealers and Partnerships AXA Johanna Janeo; AXA Philippines Chief of Commercial Business Rose Musico; AXA Philippines CEO In-Charge and Chief Financial Officer Gael Lapie; President of Toyota Pasong Tamo (TPT), Toyota Global City (TGC), Toyota Angeles, Pampanga (TAP), and M2IA Alex Macapagal; Toyota Pasong Tamo and Toyota Global City Executive Vice President & Chief Planning Officer  Eiichi Fukuda; TPT, TGC, TAP, and M2IA Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel Sarte; and Executive Vice President & Chief Finance Officer of TPT, TGC, TAP, and Chief Operating Officer of M2IA, Johann Sale.

The Asian Banker recognizes UnionBank as 3-time Best Retail Bank in the Philippines and Best Digital Banking Services in the Philippines

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) received two major awards at The Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services and Technology Innovation Awards 2022, the most rigorous, prestigious, and transparent country level award programme for consumer financial services and technology in the Philippines, at its first in-person event held at the Ballroom of Fairmont Makati.

Best Retail Bank in the Philippines

For ‘demonstrating a long-term, sustainable, profitable franchise with customers as its core proposition,’ The Asian Banker awarded UnionBank as the Best Retail Bank in the Philippines for the third consecutive year. 

Based on The Asian Banker’s research, UnionBank ‘sustained above-industry performance despite setbacks brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

UnionBank Techs Up with Globe Fleet Management Solutions

Partnership to promote better efficiency, personnel productivity in company managed vehicles.

UnionBank is known for bringing digital banking innovations that have an immediate impact to clients. On the back-end of things operational and technical innovations that ultimately benefit the clients are also what the bank constantly works on.  Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has tapped Globe Business for a partnership that will help the Bank in making the operation of their vehicles more efficient. The partnership was made official through a contract signing ceremony that took place last November 16 at the UnionBank Plaza in Pasig City.

PA Properties commits to contribute in PH govt’s efforts to curb housing backlog from reaching 10-M

Laguna-based property developer P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (P.A. Properties) dedicates itself to be a partner of the government in its efforts to curb the country’s housing backlog that is now at 6.5 million units. Recently, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) reported that it could reach the 10-million mark by the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term if not addressed properly.

For the country’s backlogs to ease slowly, the government would need to produce at least 1 million units. To add, the current program budget only supports about 17 percent of the country’s housing needs and housing production.

UnionBank raised $358 million in syndicated loan facility

Union Bank of the Philippines (“UnionBank”) has successfully tapped the syndicated bank market through a $358 million 3-year syndicated loan facility. Despite prevailing market uncertainty and volatility, UnionBank’s syndicated financing was well-received with an overwhelming response during syndication, attracting 15 lenders. The facility was upsized to $358 million, or almost 2.5 times the original launch size of $150 million. 

The proceeds will be used to refinance its maturing USD loan and existing USD bonds, and fund its general corporate purposes.

Asia Leaders Awards 2022 Winners Honored at Historic The Manila Hotel

Asia Leaders Awards (ALA) 2022—TAG Media Group’s flagship event—concluded its year-long nomination and selection of the Philippines’ top achievers in various industries with awarding ceremonies held at historic The Manila Hotel on November 22, 2022 with the attendance of 4 ambassadors from Belgium, New Zealand, Romania and Israel as presenters. 

To date, the ALA is the largest business award-giving body in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia whose main objective is to promote the Philippines as a premier business hub and destination in Asia. In addition, to inspire us all. 

Pioneer AIM grads celebrate golden jubilee with book launch

Rigorous as it is to gain entry into the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), it doesn’t hurt to have enormous intellect and cojones to let alone to survive once you get in.

AIM is explicit in its qualifications:

“We look for candidates who possess the resilience and capacity to graduate from the Institution’s programs. Admissions test scores are one way to measure quantitative, verbal, and reasoning skills necessary for successfully completing studies at the graduate level.

CitySavings celebrates growth as leading motorcycle lender in the Philippines

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: City Savings Bank (CitySavings), the thrift subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) celebrates its exceptional growth in the motorcycle loans market at the Motor Mo’to Dealers’ Night 2022 last September 23 at Revel at The Palace, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. (L-R) CitySavings EVP - Motorcycle Loans Business Head Ret. Adm. Feliciano “Felix” Angue, CitySavings President and CEO Lorenzo “Larry” Ocampo, UnionBank President and CEO and CitySavings Vice Chairman Edwin Bautista, CitySavings SEVP - Chief Operating Officer Manuel "Chut" Santiago, Jr., and CitySavings Board of Directors Jose Julio and Maria Noemi Azura toast to mark this momentous occasion.

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) subsidiary City Savings Bank (CitySavings) recently hosted the “Motor Mo’to Dealers’ Night 2022”, a celebratory event to honor its exceptional growth into one of the largest motorcycle loan lenders in the country. It was held last September 23 at Revel at The Palace, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

UnionDigital Bank Opens its Future Headquarters During the Country’s First Innovation Festival in San Pedro, Laguna

Last September 9, 2022, UnionDigital Bank formally inaugurated its future headquarters in the UnionBank Innovation Campus in San Pedro, Laguna with the President of the Philippines, Mr. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., in attendance. 

In addition to serving as the future main office of UnionDigital Bank, the Innovation Campus will also house various centers of innovation including UnionBank institutes on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and the Asian Institute of Digital Transformation (AIDT). 

The campus was inaugurated during the country’s first Innovation Festival, a three-day event that showcased UnionBank’s and UnionDigital Bank’s partners in financial technology innovation, offering a behind the scenes look at some of the bank’s exciting new developments in the space. 

3 Reasons Why You’ll Need Affordable Fund Transfer Fees

No matter the reason, it’s easier and more hassle-free with EastWest’s low transaction fees

Sending funds online has become more of a necessity in this digital world. The ongoing presence of the pandemic and the press of busy schedules can make going to banks increasingly difficult. This is where easy and affordable online fund transfer systems can come in. With an app like this in hand, you can take control of your time and process your fund transfer needs easily online.

More metaverse innovations to be expected at Web3 Hackathon – UBX

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has collaborated with globally renowned Filipino-led web3 companies in the world, Yield Guild Games (YGG) and Xave Finance, to organize the Web3 Hackathon, an official side event of the first ever Philippine Web3 Festival, to be held on November 12 to 13, 2022 in Makati City. 

The Philippine Web3 Festival is a week-long premier event, which will showcase everything that the Philippines has to offer in the metaverse. Powered by the biggest players in the metaverse, the festival will bring the brightest minds and most renowned thought leaders in the industry together. Co-presenters of the Hackathon are GCash, Globe, and MetaverseGo, it’s also supported by Archipelago Labs and BreederDAO. 

Take a glimpse of premium leisure living at Periveo Lipa City

Golden Home Realty, an HG-III Construction & Development Corp. affiliate, recently unveiled the three model house units of its Periveo project in Lipa City, Batangas. This 42-hectare development will offer modern contemporary homes with generous living spaces, a wide array of resort-style amenities, and future commercial features, all surrounded by nature. 

Periveo draws its name from the Greek prefix ‘peri’ and the Spanish word ‘veo’, which translates to ‘all near and within view’. Periveo aims to build a community of access, mobility, and charm — all for the good life. Future homeowners will have first-hand experience with what it’s like to live in Periveo. 

UnionBank Partners with Lazada to Launch Quick Gives

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) and Lazada Philippines (Lazada) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Quick Gives, to offer more flexibility in payment methods for UnionBank payroll customers in the Lazada app. 

The Quick Gives Program will provide loans to pre-selected UnionBank payroll accounts, currently accessible through a microsite. These quick loans will be approved in real-time and disbursed to the borrower’s Lazada Wallet within two days or less. 

Allianz PNB Life reveals brand-new RideSafe Mural, upholds commitment to sustainable transport and health protection

Allianz PNB Life upholds its commitment to sustainable transport and health protection through the recent reveal of the brand-new Allianz Ride Safe Mural. The mural can be found at the Apartment Ridge Underpass in Ayala, Makati.

Prominent Allianz PNB Life executives like President and CEO Alexander Grenz and Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sustainability Gino Riola were present at the unveiling, as were Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, Makati Business Club Chairman Edgar Chua, AyalaLand Marketing Head Chrissy Roa, and LT Group Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Lucio Tan III. Other guests include Economic Counsellor of the German Embassy David Klebs, Cong. Jose Francisco Benitez from the Third District of Negros Occidental, Head of Makati Central Estate Association (MACEA) Engr. Getty Granada, and star athletes and Allianz PNB Life brand ambassadors EJ Obiena and Alyssa Valdez. Glendford Lumbao, the rising Filipino artist commissioned by the organization for the creation of the mural, was also in attendance.

“It’s a beautiful piece of art that really captures the depth of Ride Safe’s sustainability message,” said Riola. “Cycling is not just a lifestyle change that vastly improves people’s health. It also contributes greatly to the reduction of carbon emissions and vehicular pollution, and it encourages a sense of belonging in a community that shares in your advocacy. Seeing the mural, it’s a concrete reminder of all these things.”

Allianz PNB Life’s Ride Safe Mural project was done in partnership with AyalaLand, the Makati Business Club, and MACEA. The mural shows the organizations’ dedication to supporting initiatives that make a difference, as well as uplifting the work of local artists and their advocacies.

“I am so honored to be part of Allianz PNB Life’s sustainability advocacy, it is something I deeply care about and believe in, too,” said Lumbao. “The point of the mural is to make people, especially bikers and pedestrians, stop, look, and appreciate the beauty of the world they live in. Ride Safe is all about promoting sustainability through biking, so hopefully, the mural touches people enough that they start making little changes in their lives that will impact the planet in a good way.”

The Allianz Ride Safe Mural is not the first time Allianz PNB Life has shown its support, both for local art and sustainability. In 2021, Allianz PNB Life partnered with the City of Manila to install bike racks that were creatively designed to reflect the rich history and culture of locations like Rajah Sulayman Park, Kartilya ng Katipunan, and Intramuros.

Additionally, Ride Safe has birthed other sustainable projects, such as a solar-powered pit stop and Ride Safe Bike Lanes along Ortigas Avenue in partnership with the City of San Juan, and The BikeYard, a dedicated hangout place with bike repair facilities for cyclists in Bonifacio Global City.

Allianz PNB Life has also expressed plans to expand Ride Safe further to include skills improvement and livelihood opportunities through bike mechanic training.

“I am very thankful to Glendford for sharing his talent with us by creating such a striking mural,” said Grenz. “Likewise, big thank you as well to AyalaLand, Makati Business Club, the City of Makati and MACEA for coming together with us to make this project possible.”

“Art is a wonderful medium that we have used in the past to communicate the importance of prioritizing one’s health and taking care of the environment, first with the bike racks, and now through this mural,” Grenz added. “It is a creative and effective way of inspiring Filipinos to think about the state of the planet today, and encourage them to do what they can to secure the future, both on a personal level and on a large scale. I hope it touches many people and sparks a need for positive change.”

For more information on Allianz PNB Life’s Ride Safe campaign, as well as its other products and services, please visit www.allianzpnblife.ph.

Balik Yuhum! Elevate your Masskara experience this year with Home Credit

The Philippines is known to be a happy country. Everywhere you go, you see people break into their warm smiles despite the hidden storms they need to weather. Jeepney drivers, security guards, peddlers, and your Pinoy folks are simply a ray of sunshine. But that’s not the country’s only pride. The Filipino culture is a mix of rich, vibrant, and spirited history and traditions, having a total of 42,000 festivals including both major and minor events that the locals so wholeheartedly celebrate.

One of its famous and world-class festivities is the Masskara Festival originating all the way from Bacolod, the “City of Smiles”. Having been put to a halt for two years given the global pandemic, the province is more than ready to host its vivacious month-long celebration.

CitySavings, DAR sign Government Employee Loan Agreement

REDY TO SERVE: CitySavings President and CEO Lorenzo T. Ocampo and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III proudly show the signed Memorandum of Agreement between the parties that officially kickstarts the Government Employee Loan Program for DAR. Together with them are CitySavings FVP - Salary Loans Business Head, Julian Aboitiz, and DAR Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO) Jesry T. Palmares.

Allianz PNB Life ranked 3rd among life insurance companies based on latest PH Insurance Commission statistics

Allianz PNB Life recently ranked third in terms of Gross Written Premium (GWP) and New Business Annualized Premium Equivalent (NBAPE) in the Philippine Insurance Commission’s (IC) latest performance report for the first and second quarter of 2022.

Allianz PNB Life has performed consistently year on year. In 2021, it ranked fourth under the same categories, while in 2020, the company was listed as 7th in GWP and 8th in NBAPE.

“Insurance penetration is only at 2% in the Philippines and remains one of the lowest in Asia. There is heightened awareness for the importance of insurance however and we continue to enhance our efforts to become the trusted insurance partner of Filipinos,” said Allianz PNB Life President and CEO, Alexander Grenz. “We are grateful to our customers and partners for choosing us every day and propelling our organization to the Top 3 position in both GWP and NBAPE especially considering how we were 10th and 11th respectively when I assumed the role of CEO in 2019.”

Pru Life UK opens new general agency offices in Mega Manila to serve more Filipinos

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK continues to make life and health protection products even more accessible to Filipinos as it recently opened several agency offices in Metro Manila and Laguna. 

Alpine Falcon Life Insurance Agency Inc. opened its office at B-12, Regalena Building, 9049 National Highway, Brgy. Turbina, Calamba, Laguna to serve more of Pru Life UK's customers.  

Meanwhile, two general agency offices welcomed Pru Life UK customers in Makati City. Skyeline Summit Life Insurance Agency Inc. unveiled its office at Sfo-D (2d) Classica Condominium, 112 H.V. Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village and Rising Eagle Dynasty Life Insurance Agency Inc. started operations at Unit D, Ground Floor, Belvedere Tower Bdlg., San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

P1 Million cash credits and other exciting prizes up for grabs with UnionBank's Play2Win Raffle Promo

UnionBank Credit Cardholders, we have a treat just for you! Get the chance to win exciting prizes and P1 Million worth of cash credits with UnionBank's Play2Win Raffle Promo!

To join, all you have to do is register one-time by clicking the PLAY2WIN image featured on the UnionBank website homepage and all your qualified spend using your UnionBank Credit Card after successful registration will earn Playcodes that you can use for UnionBank's Play2Win matching game! There is no minimum spend required; every single use of your UnionBank Credit Card will give you one (1) Playcode. It's that easy!

Spend and play the matching game for a chance to win amazing prizes such as an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, an iPad Mini 6th Gen, a 13-inch M1 2020 MacBook Air, and many more!

That's not all. Each qualified transaction also entitles you to one (1) entry to the Play2Win raffle, where you can be one of the two (2) lucky winners of P1 Million worth of cash credits! This will be credited to the winning UnionBank Credit Card and can be used for shopping, dining, airline tickets, luxury getaways, or even for your daily necessities.

UBX sets up advocacy body to champion development of inclusive open finance framework in PH

UBX, the financial technology (fintech) venture studio of the Aboitiz Group, is setting up a foundation that will champion the development of an inclusive Open Finance Framework in the Philippines. 

To be called the Philippine Open Finance Foundation, the institution aims to make the adoption of open finance as a technology that empowers Filipino consumers with the right set of financial tools and solutions for their needs. 

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and since Open Finance in the Philippines is still infancy, UBX has decided to launch a shared village we call the Philippine Open Finance Foundation,” UBX Managing Director for Open Finance Jaime Garchitorena said at the Singapore Fintech Festival on 2 November, Wednesday. 

The Philippine Open Finance Foundation will bring together relevant stakeholders, including other financial institutions, government agencies, non-government organizations, civic groups, and the academe to come up with meaningful initiatives that will support the development of Open Finance in the Philippines. 

UBX leads multi-sectoral initiative to drive accelerated digital transformation in PH government

#DigiPinas Initiative to capacitate national, local governments with digital tools and solutions to bring services closer to Filipinos 

UBX, the financial technology (fintech) venture studio of the Aboitiz Group, is leading the multi-sectoral initiative that will drive the accelerated digital transformation in government to help bring essential and critical services closer to Filipinos. 

On Thursday, October 27, UBX officially introduced the Digital Transformation ng Pilipinas (#DigiPinas) Initiative, a multi-stakeholder advocacy group that will work closely with all relevant stakeholders towards the digital transformation of the country.

EastWest and JCB: Celebration of a Partnership

EastWest (EW), and JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCB), executives celebrate the partnership of the new EastWest JCB Credit Card. From (L-R): EW VP and Digital and Consumer Business Systems Head Efren O. Dela Cruz; EW FVP and Credit Cards Business Head Aylwin P. Tamayo; EW President Jacqueline S. Fernandez; EW Vice Chairman and CEO Antonio C. Moncupa, Jr; JCB President and COO Yoshiki Kaneko; JCB Philippines Country Manager Yusuke Matsui; and JCB EVP and Asean Business Development Head Hiroyuki Katano

East West Banking Corporation and JCB International Co., Ltd. have recently sealed a partnership for the launch of the new EastWest JCB Credit Card. 

UnionBank earns PCI-DSS certification for 5th straight year

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) once again has been recently certified to the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS). This marks the fifth consecutive year that the Bank was able to earn the said certification. UnionBank also remains to be the only local commercial bank that is PCI-DSS compliant, giving it an advantage over other debit and credit card providers in terms of security.

Card fraud remains as one of the biggest threats affecting the global card industry. According to the latest figures from the annual Nielsen Report, card fraud is seen to cost the industry more than $400 billion in losses globally over the next decade. This has also become a major concern for Filipinos especially with the growth of digital payments during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) reported that credit card fraud done through digital payment channels rose by 21 percent since the start of the health crisis.

Home Credit named in Circle of Excellence at 2022 Asia CEO Awards

Home Credit’s MarComm, Human Resources, and Operations Teams during the awarding ceremony of 2022 Asia CEO Awards 

Leading consumer finance company Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) was recognized at the 2022 Asia CEO Awards held last October 11 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, with two nominations being included in Circle of Excellence. 

With initiatives focused on creating equal opportunities for its 13,000+ diverse and strong employees and innovating its operations for its Filipino customers, Home Credit was among the few companies that were recognized for the Diversity Company of the Year and Service Excellence Company of the Year categories. 

Security Bank named as top Philippine employer

Security Bank Corporation emerged as the top local bank for employment at the recently released 2023 Philippines’ Best Employers survey led by Statista, the world’s leading data and business intelligence portal. 

The ranking comes from a comprehensive research project that evaluated the responses of thousands of employees in the Philippines from various industries ranging from manufacturing, FMCG, e-commerce, to banking and finance. Companies who employed more than 250 people were eligible for the rankings and from this initiative, the Bank emerged at as the top local bank on the list. 

“Security Bank has made great strides in improving the work culture of its employees and this recognition affirms that we are on the right path. The Bank continues to innovate its people programs to attract, engage, upskill, and retain the best talent, as well as foster a strong and distinctive culture among its employees,” says Nerissa Berba, SVP and Head of Human Capital Management at Security Bank. 

Meron yan! Check out these top-rated items from Home Credit that are fit for every shopper

Home Credit celebrates its 9th anniversary with 9 top-rated items customers can enjoy

Ano ang hanap mo? This is the line that commonly greets us as we shop in stores, malls, and marketplaces. Though most of the time we already have something in mind, sellers can offer tons of choices based on our needs and wants.

Options, options, options—we tend to look at stores that offer various selections. As shoppers, we love to compare and do a little mix and match of the items we are eyeing, ensuring that they align with our personal taste and wallets.

Allianz Global Wealth Report 2022 sees positive outcomes in financial asset growth and insurance coverage for PH

Leading global insurance brand Allianz has recently released its Allianz Global Wealth Report 2022, which compounds facts and figures based on the asset and debt situation of households in almost 60 countries, including the Philippines.

According to the report, 2019 to 2021 saw an exponential boom in the growth of global financial assets, with bullish stock markets powered by monetary policy and an increase in private wealth among households. Asia (excluding Japan), Eastern Europe and North America stood out as major contributors to asset growth, and savings were powered primarily by bank deposits, insurance and pensions.

Pru Life UK wins two Stevie® Awards for its #WeDoESG initiatives

The life insurer was recognized for its financial literacy program and thought leadership efforts on climate change

(From left) Pru Life UK Chief Legal & Government Relations Officer Atty. Em Vallente, Prudence Foundation Regional Programme Manager Pia Warburton, Prudence Foundation Executive Director Marc Fancy, and   Pru Life UK VP for Community Investment and Advocacy Gizelle Camua receiving Pru Life UK’s Silver Stevie awards.

PA Properties opens new sales office in Bulacan in its bid to provide quality and affordable housing to more families

PA Properties’ management team at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessing of the brand new sales office in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan

In an effort to expand their endeavors outside of the Southern Luzon region, Laguna-based property developer PA Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (PA Properties) opened a brand new sales office in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan last October 13, 2022. The opening was celebrated through an office blessing, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony.

UnionBank teams up with Noel Bazaar creator to help participating merchants digitize transactions

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has partnered with Cut Unlimited, Inc., the creator of the long-running Noel Bazaar, to promote cashless payments so customers can have a better and enjoyable Christmas shopping experience.

The partnership was made official through a signing ceremony last October 6 at the UnionBank Plaza in Pasig City, and is in line with UnionBank's goal of helping the country's micro, small, and medium enterprise sector as part of the Bank's "Tech-UP Pilipinas" advocacy.

Home Credit kicks off Wais sa Home roadshow in Iloilo City

Wais sa Home aims to empower Filipinos to be wiser about their finances aligned with the company’s mission to be every Filipino’s ally in life

As part of the company’s commitment to empowering more Filipinos, the country’s leading consumer finance company Home Credit Philippines (HCPH), through its Iloilo District Sales Office, kicked off its national community-based Financial Literacy program, Wais sa Home, last October 6 to 8, 2022, in Iloilo City.

Reasons why Chimes Greenhills should be your home in the city

Home to many popular establishments, Greenhills is one of the most recognizable and sought-after areas in Metro Manila. Its strategic location is perfect for professionals and families who seek a home in the city ready for their needs. RLC Residences offers Chimes Greenhills, a ready-for-occupancy (RFO) property in Annapolis Street, for those looking for a new home with everything within their reach.

“Given the location of Greenhills, it has become one of the desirable places that home seekers are aiming for. With Chimes Greenhills, we hope that our residents can feel at ease as soon as they come home, with so many possibilities right outside their door,” says RLC Residences Marketing Head and Chief Integration Officer Karen Cesario.

UnionBank Innovation Festival 2022 brings together key tech industry players under one roof

Many of the biggest technology players in the industry recently banded together in the name of innovation at the first annual Innovation Festival 2022 organized by Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank). The event took place on September 7 to 9 at the newly inaugurated UnionBank Innovation Campus (UBIC) in San Pedro City, Laguna.

The companies who supported the Bank as Platinum Sponsors were Huawei, Cloudera, Globe Business, TIM Corp., eCloudvalley, VMware, Questronix Corp., BlueVoyant, Palo Alto Networks, Integrated Computer Systems Inc., Via Appia PH, Twilio, and METACO.

Salesforce joined as a Gold Sponsor; while Pointwest, Converge ICT, PDAX, and Blancco participated as Silver Sponsors. Meanwhile, XLOG, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Synetcom, and PLDT were tapped as Special Partners for the three-day event.

Financial inclusion and digital transformation: CitySavings and the future of banking

DIGITAL INNOVATIONS FOR THE MASS MARKET: City Savings Bank (CitySavings) joins the 2022 UnionBank Innovations Festival held last September 7 - 9 at the newly inaugurated UnionBank Innovation Campus, City of San Pedro, Laguna. The booth features the thrift bank’s innovative and relevant products that make banking simple for the mass market. Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz (front, 4th from left) joins the CitySavings team.

On September 7 to 9, 2022, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) launched “The Future of Banking is with U”, the 2022 UnionBank Innovation Festival at the UnionBank Innovation Campus in San Pedro, Laguna. The event was hosted in celebration of numerous digital solutions, trends, and innovations in technology and their applications to the lives of Filipinos.

Among the participants at the prestigious event was UnionBank’s thrift bank subsidiary, City Savings Bank (CitySavings). CitySavings is one of the largest thrift banks in the country, with the goal of providing comprehensive yet simple banking solutions for the Filipino mass market.

Institute of Corporate Directors recognizes UnionBank Vice Chairman Justo Ortiz as Honorary Fellow

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Vice Chairman Dr. Justo Ortiz was recently recognized as an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in recognition of his significant contributions to corporate governance. 

“The ICD Society formally recognizes and invites as Honorary Fellow an outstanding corporate governance champion who has, in his personal and professional lives and pursuit, brought the practice of corporate governance to a much higher level of professionalism, consistent with international best practice and global standards,” said ICD Chairman Atty. Cesar Villanueva.

Allianz PNB Life bags top award for marketing efforts at annual Insurance Asia Awards

Allianz PNB Life continues to display its excellence as a company, this time by winning the Marketing Initiative of the Year: Philippines at the Insurance Asia Awards 2022. The virtual awards ceremony was livestreamed via Zoom.

Allianz PNB Life is one of the major life insurers in the Philippines, and is the country’s fastest growing life insurance company in terms of premium income. Through the company’s purpose of securing the future and bringing confidence in tomorrow, the goal of its award-winning marketing initiative was to position itself as the perfect insurance partner for a new generation of FIlipinos.

Insurance penetration in the Philippines is among the lowest in Asia at less than 2%, translating to a protection gap in the trillions of pesos with millions of Filipinos exposed to financial losses from accidents, sickness, and death.

PSAC initiates efforts of local telcos to promote consumer protection

On Friday, September 9, the Digital Infrastructure group of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) initiated the joint efforts of local telecommunication players (telcos) to uphold their commitment to consumer protection amid growing fraud concerns. During the 2022 UnionBank Innovation Festival held at the newly opened UnionBank Innovation Campus in San Pedro, Laguna, executives of UnionBank of the Philippines, Globe Group, Smart Communications, and Converge ICT Solutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cybersecurity and combat financial crimes through Fraud Prevention and Data Sharing Measures. This marks the first course of action of the PSAC Digital Infrastructure sector, headed by UnionBank Chief Technology and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer Henry Aguda, shortly after it was formed last month. 

UnionBank announces winners of GlobalLinker Linker.Store Contest

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has announced the eight winners of its GlobalLinker Linker.Store Contest, which was launched in February 2022. This was a project under the Bank's 'Tech-Up Pilipinas' advocacy to encourage Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to digitize their business.

For emerging as champions, the eight companies are entitled to the following: free media mileage from Ube Media; 1-Day 8 Pass worth Php20,000 from UnionBank; plus, tokens/merch from the Bank. They will also be featured on BounceBack Network and Talkshop Asia, the GlobalLinker platform, and be promoted as model stores on the GlobalLinker home page.

UBX, PhilPost roll out Project Kasama Lahat in 13 pilot areas

Kasama Lahat aims to digitally transform post offices into financial hubs to promote financial and social inclusion 

As the country’s premier postal agency, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost), through its digital transformation and modernization program, has partnered with UBX Philippines, the leading open finance platform in the country, to help the postal service achieve its goal not just the postal needs of Filipinos, but also maximize its power to make sure that nobody gets left behind as they move into the digital age. 

The postal agency will digitally transform its 13 post offices in key areas across the country, modifying the offices into modern hubs that offer financial and data services to their locality. 

After assessing and getting the support of local government units, UBX and PHLPost have identified 13 key areas that are ripe for digital transformation under Project Kasama Lahat. These are: Tuguegarao City; Sorsogon Province; Iloilo City; Zamboanga City; City of Manila; Taguig City; Makati City; Quezon City; San Francisco, Cebu; Davao City; Ilocos Norte; Tacloban, Leyte; and Marawi City. 

Ensuring Your Family is Well-Taken Care of with MediCard

The global health crisis, for sure, has impacted us in various ways, whether financially, mentally, or physically. And yes, because of these uncertain times, we realized the significance of health for ourselves and our family. That is why prioritizing health is now considered a vital investment and not an option in today’s world. 

However, from doctors’ fees, laboratory fees, room rates, medicine, and other outpatient costs, health care in the Philippines is generally costly for an average Filipino. A 2021 report published by the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that in 2020 alone, healthcare costs for each Filipino were at PhP8,216.42 a month.  

For that reason, health cards are critical, now more than ever, to reduce costs while increasing the quality of care for you and your family. The good thing is that MediCard, a leading HMO in the Philippines, offers a wide range of healthcare plans. 

AXA Philippines wins Health Insurance Initiative of the Year at Insurance Asia Awards 2022

AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance providers in the country, recently won Health Insurance Initiative of the Year - Philippines at the Insurance Asia Awards 2022 their latest health insurance offering, Health Care Access. The product stood out among other contenders who were judged based on their level of innovation, effectiveness, impact, and dynamism.

Insurance Asia Awards is a prestigious event by Asian publication Insurance Asia that recognizes insurance firms that successfully navigate around various market challenges whilst keeping clients satisfied and maintaining their revenue. In 2021, AXA also won International General Insurer of the Year (Philippines) and the Mobile App of the Year for their Emma by AXA PH app in the Insurance Asia Awards.

“AXA has long been committed to protecting what matters most to our customers. We always want to be there for them, ready to cater to their needs. When the pandemic struck, the challenge of having access to affordable health protection became more apparent. This is why we wanted to expand our health protection offers to more Filipinos. So in 2021, AXA launched Health Care Access to address this. And the success of this product and the recognition from the Insurance Asia Awards is a testament to its relevance. Furthermore, it inspires us to continue innovating to provide health and financial security solutions to even more Filipinos,” said Gael Lapie, AXA Philippines CEO In-Charge and Chief Financial Officer.

AXA Health Care Access is AXA’s comprehensive and affordable health care plan, empowering Filipinos to take full responsibility for their long-term wellbeing by promoting a more proactive and prepared approach toward health. Launched in 2020, it came at a critical point in the pandemic when people were seeing firsthand the importance of being prepared for the financial repercussions of being sick.

Health Care Access provides flexible and affordable health protection for individuals and all types of families to get the total health protection they need. It provides coverage for emergency care, inpatient care, life and accident insurance, and 24/7 teleconsultation. It also has a Longevity Health Fund that can be used for future medical needs starting at age 76 onwards, and offers an additional cash benefit that can be used for other medical expenses, or as income replacement if the policy holder is diagnosed with critical illness. 

It comes in two plan types, Health Care Access Prime and Health Care Access Lite, to allow people flexibility to choose the plan that best suits their needs. Health Care Access Prime is perfect for families and individuals looking for a plan that provides for their primary medical requirements as well as hospitalization. With the rise of the gig economy in the country, this is also ideal for individuals working freelance or those with small businesses who have no HMO benefits, as it has medical coverage of up to PHP 5 million and includes outpatient care and preventive care.

Meanwhile, AXA Health Care Access Lite is created for those currently employed but would like to supplement their health coverage. It has deductible options to choose from which enables you or your existing health care plan to pay for your hospital bill first. 

For more information on AXA’s Health Care Access, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/health-protection/health-care-access.

UBX launches UrGovPH for LGUs’ digital transformation

UrGovPH to assist LGUs in bringing public service closer to the people

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, is doubling down on its support to the government with the introduction of UrGovPH - a suite of open finance solutions that enable local governments to digitally transform their services. 

UrGovPH equips local government units (LGUs) and national government agencies with necessary tools that enable them to digitalize public service, supporting the country’s drive of bringing essential services closer to the people.

What makes employee performance gamification effective, according to Sun Life ASCP

There is no denying that work-from-home (WFH) or hybrid models have resulted in marked benefits for employees and companies. However, for managers and supervisors, remote work can pose a challenge when it comes to ensuring efficient performance and communication with their team.

Gamification is one way these issues could be addressed, especially in this age of rapid digitalization. While it’s certainly not a new concept, a well-designed gamification program can help improve employee performance. Sun Life Asia Service Centre-Philippines (ASCP), a company providing contact center, business processing, IT, and Investment Research services to Sun Life’s global businesses with locations in India and the Philippines, has launched an extensive initiative for performance management and learning gamification for its over 800-hundred strong operations team in Manila. 

UBX, SouthBank partner to beef up digital rural banking in Mindanao

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, and SouthBank, a rural bank based in Cagayan de Oro, entered into a strategic alliance to provide customer-centric and inclusive digital financial services to more Filipinos in Mindanao.

Under the agreement, i2i, the banking-as-a-service venture of UBX, will expand SouthBank’s financial services to the countryside, empowering the rural bank with the technology to offer digital financial solutions to its customers and clients. 

With the partnership, SouthBank is able to beef up its native mobile application called SBPay, a platform that equips users with financial tools that they can use via their mobile phones. 

4 thrill-seeking activities to try for your next trip

The pandemic has made us more aware of the things we previously have taken for granted. As more travel destinations open up, we’re regaining the momentum to enjoy the activities that were once restricted due to our limited mobility.

To make up for lost time, why not explore new places or create new experiences? If you’re looking to go out of your comfort zone, try out these five activities with a twist:

Swimming or running? Try both!

Did you know that you can do both swimming and running altogether? We’re not referring to the duathlon sport, but actually running under the ocean. Whether you’re a diver or not, sardine run diving at Moalboal, Cebu will surely take your breath away by swimming alongside thousands of sardines.