by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 24, 2021 | Business
The pandemic has resulted in volatile market conditions, and it’s during these times when diversification of investments is especially important. Investing globally is one of the best ways to diversify because it spreads out one’s investment to other markets, thus lowering risks while also capitalizing on growth in other countries.
So why are many Filipinos still reluctant to invest globally? It’s possible that some still find the idea abstract, or may not be familiar with available options, while others may just want to stick with what feels comfortable. However, if we don’t overcome these barriers, we lose the opportunity to take advantage of the growth that global investing offers.
Rahul Hora, President, and CEO of AXA Philippines
In its bid to equip more Filipinos with the knowledge and the confidence to venture into global investing, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, has collaborated with Wealth Arki for a new five-part YouTube webisode series on global investing. Wealth Arki is a Philippine-based company that aims to help people achieve wealth through proper financial planning and money management.
“Online video content channels are one of the most effective social media platforms to capture a wider audience and educate them on how to be more financially secure and independent. We hope to continue our financial literacy education and empower Filipinos through this content partnership with Wealth Arki,” said AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora.
Featuring AXA Philippines investment solutions director Dexter Agcaoili, the five-part video series can be streamed on AXA Philippines’ YouTube Channel. Each episode was produced to explain fundamental concepts that are relevant to global investing. Experts will give concrete examples and talk about their own investing experiences to further enrich the audience’s knowledge and simplify complex topics.
Episode 1: Difference between local and global investing
Episode 2: Reasons to invest in international markets
The first two episodes discuss the prospects of investing in international markets and the benefits and risks associated with it.
Episode 3: Tips on choosing the right investment
Episode 4: Importance of time horizons
The third and fourth episodes delve deeper into the importance of risk profiling, asset allocation, and the concept of the time horizon to determine what is the appropriate investment solution for each investor.
Episode 5: Different ways to invest globally
Lastly, the fifth episode tackles not only the different strategies to enter the global markets, but also gives valuable advice on how to get started the right way.
If you want to make the most of your money and aspire to invest globally, be sure to check out and subscribe to AXA Philippines’ YouTube page to watch all five episodes discussing global investing. And to stay up-to-date on AXA’s upcoming financial literacy initiatives, follow @AXA.Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 11, 2021 | Business
Need to send money, buy prepaid load, or order food, but your GCash funds are running low? Now, it’s easier to cash into your GCash account as the country’s undisputed no. 1 e-wallet app, expands its network of merchants to a total of 60,000 active cash-in doors nationwide.
To reach more Filipinos nationwide, GCash has recently partnered with 9 more leading brands to establish additional cash-in kiosks at (number) of these companies’ branches: ExpressPay, DA5, Panalo Express, SouthStar Drug, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, The Marketplace, Robinsons Easymart, and No Brand. In addition, customers may conveniently cash in their GCash wallets through top outlets, such as SM, Palawan Pawnshop, Villarica Pawnshop, Ministop, Puregold, and Cebuana Lhuillier.
Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO
“Our goal is to make Filipino lives better every day,” said Martha Sazon, GCash president and chief executive officer. “Our cash in outlets is one of the essential solutions that GCash offers consumers, especially during the pandemic. With 70 percent Filipinos still unbanked, it’s always been our goal to expand our partner merchants to house more cash in outlets all over the Philippines, making topping up GCash wallets accessible to more Filipinos.”
With more cash in partners all over the country, GCash users will have lesser trouble in finding the closest outlets to them — allowing them to enjoy the many useful services on the app. For instance, for all their lifestyle and essential needs, they can browse through GLife, the e-commerce feature within the GCash app that allows users to shop exclusive deals from 35 brands across retail, food, gaming, entertainment, and transport.
GCash also aims to add more Cash In Doors in the future. Previously, GCash reached another milestone: GCash’s active user base is now at 46 million – a more than 20 million increase from January 2020. With more Filipinos shifting to digital wallets, GCash is continuously looking for more ways to best serve its customers while staying safe. For more information, visit www.gcash.com.
About GCash
GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines. Through the GCash app, customers can easily buy load; pay bills at over 600 partner billers in the app; pay at more than 7,000 online partners; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines; pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner merchants nationwide, save money while earning interest, and invest money at local and global funds — all through the convenience of their smartphones.
GCash is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom, Inc. GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 40 million Filipinos in the country today.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 8, 2021 | Business
77 Living Spaces, Inc. (77LSI), the local housing developer in the Visayas specializing in residential spaces, is all set for the construction of its mass-housing project for 902 Cebu government employees, amid the pandemic.
The housing project, which will be erected in the remaining 7.3-hectare property owned by Cebu provincial government in Barangay Tunghaan, Minglanilla town, is an initiative of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Cebu Provincial Government.
Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Tunghaan Subdivision Project. Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña who also graced the ceremony, expressed gratitude to the national government, particularly DHSUD, for the implementation of the project that will benefit civil servants from the Cebu Provincial government and Minglanilla LGU.
DHSUD Sec. Eduardo Del Rosario, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Mayor Elanito Peña (6th, 7th and 8th from left) with (L-R) Hon. Jenny Young, Hon. Jaime Caumeran, 77LSI COO Engr. Gionmaar Navaja, Hon. Atty. Rajiv Enad, Hon. Raul Bacaltos, Hon. Yolanda Daan, DHSUD Asec. Leira Buan, DHSUD Reg. Director Engr. Francis Ordeniza, and 77LSI AGM Jan Phillips Galo.
Joining them is 77 Living Spaces Chief Operating Officer Gionmaar Navaja. “We are grateful for this opportunity to work with the government and LGUs to strengthen the national housing program in the region and to promote resilient Filipino communities across the country,” Navaja said. “This is our way of giving back to the community as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility program.”
The mass housing project is an initiative to push the government’s whole-of-nation approach to give Cebu government employees who have served the government all their lives, the opportunity to enjoy the comforts of having a decent home that is both affordable and sustainable.
The P111-million project is the company’s first socialized housing endeavor in Cebu under the Balance Housing Actwhich requires owners and/or developers of the proposed subdivision and condominium projects to develop an area for socialized housing, at the option of the developer, equivalent to at least 15 percent of the total subdivision area or subdivision project cost. Most of the company’s socialized housing projects are located in Negros – some of which are low-cost housing like the Aldea Homes 1, Aldea Homes 2, Aldea Homes 3&4, and Marina Del Costa located in Sibulan Negros Oriental.
The company is the developer behind the three Aldea Premier developments: the Malibu Residences in Talisay City; Bali Residences which is located in Lapu-Lapu City; and Florence Residences in the Cubacub-Mandaue area. 77 Living Spaces Inc. was also dubbed as a top-performing developer for the Visayas by PAG-IBIG Fund in 2020.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 9, 2021 | Business
To rebuild public trust and attract hotel guests worried about hygiene, social distancing, and safety at the top of their concerns, Hotel Sogo pioneered anti-covid technologies based on research and benchmarking from best practices around the world.
The worldwide pandemic the country is continuously experiencing resulted in millions of lives lost and massive unemployment. The crisis has likewise destroyed the public’s trust whenever their health safety is at stake.
As quarantine policies restricting movements of the population were lifted, the majority of the people, as well as businesses, started to go back to a sense of normalcy, the people’s continuing distrust, affects various businesses, including the hospitality industry.
Contactless Features
no contact key
To regain the public’s trust, at the top of Hotel Sogo’s priority is reducing touch points and intensifying no-contact fixtures. Based on pre-pandemic research carried out by Hotel Sogo, data shows that guests had a minimum of 59 Touch Points (TPs) during a typical hotel stay. Due to new protocols that include contact-less fixtures, TPs have been reduced by 40.7% to achieve a reduction of 66.1% with more advanced technology centered on cellphone use.
At the onset of the pandemic on March 202, Sogo was the first hotel to use UVC (254nm) to fight Covid-19. Taking the cue from hospitals abroad, remote-controlled carts have been deployed for room disinfection. Compartments for utensils, key cards, and cash were also fitted with UVC LEDs but kept away from personnel since 254 nm UVCs, while great for killing viruses that may harm the skin and eyes.
Airconditioners with automatic UVC disinfection
UVC disinfection in all the rooms
Hotel Sogo also expanded UVC disinfection for its room air conditioning units. All room ACs are fitted with specially manufactured UVC LEDs. The UVC light attacks the DNA/DNR of micro-organisms through germicidal irradiation, killing bacteria and viruses and preventing their spread. As it is turned on with the aircon, room air is always sterilized each time it passes through the unit, ensuring the best possible room air quality for our guests.
FAR UVC disinfection was also extended at elevator lobbies. After extensive research, Sogo has acquired and tested the FAR UVC 222 nm lamps that effectively kill viruses while being harmless to humans. Just recently (2020 Q4) produced commercially, it is quite expensive and is sold by only a few manufacturers abroad. Sogo is the first hotel to install these revolutionary excimer lamps in all its elevator lobbies.
In its lobbies and hallways, ventilation ACR Air Change Rate is doubled. The ACR or the number of times the air is replaced for all general spaces is set at ≥ 4 per hour by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers). Sogo is doubling its current ACRs for intensified inflow of covid-free fresh air to accelerate indoor air replacement.
Automatic doors with temperature screening
Automatic thermal scan controlled entry doors were installed in most branches. Guests on their own, get scanned before entry, and if within the safe temperature limit, main doors will open automatically without the need for any contact.
Each branch has an Anti-Covid Team that regularly swabs high touch point surfaces that pass through ATP Fluorescence Detectors to verify microbial presence and effectivity of the new protocols. Anti-microbial coatings were applied on furnishings, fixtures, and touchpoints. Widely used in hospitals and mass transports in China, Hong Kong, and Japan, these Polymer coatings are formed after spraying millions of nano-capsules with contact killing and anti-adhesion features that last for weeks. It effectively kills bacteria and viruses, including H1N1 and Covid. Sogo applies these overall furnishings and touchpoints.
To further sanitize indoor air, Sogo installed air-purifying equipment having several levels of filters: Pre-filter, Activated Carbon, HEPA (H11), with built-in Cold Catalysts, Ion Generators and UVC lights that eliminate allergens and pollutants such as dust, pollen, odor, bacteria, viruses, and even reduces carbon dioxide levels.
K9 Covid Crew
Covid sniffer dogs are being utilized for regular covid screening of employees. Patterned after Dubai and Helsinki Airports where sniffer dogs screen passengers and report a > 94% accuracy rate with dogs detecting the virus days before symptoms even start. Sogo has tied up with a leading K9 company, to have specially-trained Covid sniffer dogs regularly screen its personnel for Covid.
To date, Hotel Sogo continues to invest and rely heavily on research-proven technologies that alter the spread of Covid-19 to assure the safety of its guests. The hotel also continues to accept frontliners and essential workers across all Hotel Sogo branches, and can also accommodate those who prefer a long-term stay for work purposes.
Hotel Sogo is also ramping up its effort in helping the country’s indigent communities through Sogo Cares, the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility program. Continuously, Sogo provides basic necessities, such as food and water to indigent communities. Recently, it donated food packs with linens and towels to some fire victims in Manila; essential needs such as bottled waters, linens, pillows, surgical masks, pillowcases, and mattresses to the Philippine General Hospital with the help of AFP and donated in different community-pantries in Bulacan and Quezon City.
For more information about Hotel Sogo, check out https://www.hotelsogo.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 6, 2021 | Business
With the current safety precautions, many Filipinos take in their everyday lives, it’s no surprise that many looks for less direct ways to interact with sellers especially in a pharmacy space. Drugstores may be the best source to purchase all your health needs, but safety is also an aspect many consider before they step out of the comforts of their homes.
Because of this growth habit, GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, has now made over-the-counter Cash In and “Scan to Pay” options available at Southstar Drug, one of the largest drugstore chains in the Philippines with over 559 stores — offering customers convenient and safe payment options when they buy medicine, personal care, and other essential items amid the pandemic.
“With this strategic partnership with Southstar, which has so many branches across the Philippines, now in place, Filipinos have a more convenient and safer way to infuse funds to their GCash accounts,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash. “Making over-the-counter Cash In options available in all Southstar branches is proof that GCash is aggressively pursuing our commitment to make innovative financial services accessible to Filipinos from all walks of life, especially amid the pandemic.”
“Our customers rely on us now more than ever for their health and wellness needs; hence we continue to further innovate and offer services that will support access to these needs. This partnership with GCash will surely help us serve our customers with more ease and confidence. At a time when we need assurance, Southstar Drug will remain to be a partner for a healthy and safe lifestyle that Filipinos can trust,” said Christine Tueres, General Manager of Southstar Drug.
Southstar Drug carries a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and a variety of food, personal care, and health and wellness items. The health retailer operates stand-alone dedicated pharmacies to stores inside supermarkets and pharmacies with self-service convenience sections.
Customers just need to go to any Southstar Drug outlet and simply inform the cashier that they would like to Cash-In to their GCash wallet. Then, they just need to launch the GCash app, then tap “Cash In” and choose “Southstar Drug.” Next, just tap on the “Generate Barcode” button and show the generated barcode to the cashier. The cashier will then process and confirm the transaction, collect a payment, and print the receipt. A text confirmation will be then sent to the customer’s mobile number upon successful Cash In.
GCash has also made payments via QR Codes available at Southstar. For customers who also wish to buy items using GCash QR Codes, they simply need to log in to their GCash account, choose “Scan to Pay” as the mode of payment, and click on “Pay QR,” then tap “Scan QR Code.” Alternatively, they can also simply tap on the QR button on the navigation bar found at the bottom of the homepage, align their phone’s camera over the cashier’s GCash QR code to scan it, input the amount in the payment screen, tap “Next” and choose whether to pay with GCash or GCredit. After selecting the payment option, an SMS confirmation message will be sent to the customer’s mobile number as the receipt and proof of purchase.
With the availability of the GCash Cash In and QR Code feature at participating Southstar Drug branches, customers can easily load funds in their GCash accounts or pay without the need to carry cash or a credit/ATM card to avail of cashless payment.
“This is the next level of safety, convenience, and security in cashless payments because, with the GCash Cash-In and QR Code, they don’t need to type in the numbers or share their mobile numbers with others. And it’s available to anyone with the GCash app – that’s real financial inclusion for all Filipinos across the country,” said GCash GM for Business Center and Financial Products Gina Salgado.
For more information, visit www.gcash.com.
About GCash
GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines. Through the GCash app, customers can easily buy load; pay bills at over 600 partner billers in the app; pay at more than 7,000 online partners; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines; pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner merchants nationwide; save money while earning interest, and invest money at local and global funds — all through the convenience of their smartphones.
GCash is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly owned by Globe Telecom, Inc. GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 40 million Filipinos in the country today.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 22, 2021 | Business
Leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. shared its 2020 contributions to the country’s sustainable development through initiatives that reduced carbons emissions, improved resource efficiency of operations, and uplift communities and business partners.
The company discussed accomplishments in these areas and commitments to further improve until 2030 in its first Integrated Annual Report that follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which sets standards for reporting sustainability performance.
Cara Ramirez, Holcim Philippines Vice President of Communications: “This Integrated Annual Report reflects our company’s commitment to transparency about our sustainability performance, and pledge to be a partner of progress beyond cement. Following the GRI standards helps us to go beyond reportorial requirements of corporate regulators to provide stakeholders a full view of our efforts to deliver business results and positively impact the environment and our communities.”
The company grouped its sustainability targets under four pillars: Climate and Energy, Circular Economy, Environment, and People and Communities. These are aligned with the sustainability priorities of global building solutions leader LafargeHolcim Group and support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate and Energy
Under Climate and Energy, Holcim Philippines disclosed that carbon emissions per ton of cement produced are at 608 kilograms in 2020, 22.15% lower versus 1990 levels. This was driven by investments in efficient production technology and a shift towards more blended cement products such as infrastructure cement Holcim Solido, general-purpose cement Holcim Excel and masonry cement Holcim Wallright. The company is looking to further reduce emissions aligned with the LafargeHolcim Group’s target of 475 kilograms CO2 per ton of cement by 2030.
Circular Economy
On Circular Economy, Holcim Philippines aims to significantly increase usage of alternative fuels such as qualified residual wastes through its co-processing technology, and alternative raw materials for its products to require less clinker.
In 2020, the company co-processed 70,680 kilograms of wastes through unit Geocycle to reduce the usage of traditional fuels. These also enable the company to help partners in the public and private sectors divert discarded materials away from landfills.
Environment
Under the Environment pillar, the company reported that it withdrew 290 liters of fresh water per ton of cement produced in 2020. Holcim Philippines aims to lower this further to 262 liters per ton of cement by 2030 through efficiency initiatives and utilization of rainwater.
People and Community
Finally, Holcim Philippines listed programs that uplift communities and partners under the People and Communities pillar.
Among the highlights was the 164,913 people assisted in 2020 through its Holcim HELPS corporate citizenship campaign, which focused on community health and sanitation projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.
With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental, and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.
Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), ISO9001:2008 (Quality Management System), and OHSAS 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).
Holcim Philippines is a member of the Holcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 80 countries with over 75,000 employees.
GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines. Through the GCash app, customers can easily buy load; pay bills at over 600 partner billers in the app; pay at more than 7,000 online partners; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines; pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner merchants nationwide, save money while earning interest, and invest money at local and global funds — all through the convenience of their smartphones.
“With this strategic partnership with Southstar, which has so many branches across the Philippines, now in place, Filipinos have a more convenient and safer way to infuse funds to their GCash accounts,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash. “Making over-the-counter Cash In options available in all Southstar branches is proof that GCash is aggressively pursuing our commitment to make innovative financial services accessible to Filipinos from all walks of life, especially amid the pandemic.”
Southstar Drug carries a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and a variety of food, personal care, and health and wellness items. The health retailer operates stand-alone dedicated pharmacies to stores inside supermarkets and pharmacies with self-service convenience sections.
Under Climate and Energy, Holcim Philippines disclosed that carbon emissions per ton of cement produced are at 608 kilograms in 2020, 22.15% lower versus 1990 levels. This was driven by investments in efficient production technology and a shift towards more blended cement products such as infrastructure cement Holcim Solido, general-purpose cement Holcim Excel and masonry cement Holcim Wallright. The company is looking to further reduce emissions aligned with the LafargeHolcim Group’s target of 475 kilograms CO2 per ton of cement by 2030.
On Circular Economy, Holcim Philippines aims to significantly increase usage of alternative fuels such as qualified residual wastes through its co-processing technology, and alternative raw materials for its products to require less clinker.
Under the Environment pillar, the company reported that it withdrew 290 liters of fresh water per ton of cement produced in 2020. Holcim Philippines aims to lower this further to 262 liters per ton of cement by 2030 through efficiency initiatives and utilization of rainwater.
Finally, Holcim Philippines listed programs that uplift communities and partners under the People and Communities pillar.
Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.
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