by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 13, 2020 | Business
People have been strictly observing hygiene practices and social distancing as their first line of defense against COVID-19. However, there is more you can do to protect yourself and your family against the threat of this pandemic, especially with hospitalizations, lab tests, medicines, and the financial impact that these can make.
AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, has expanded its Global Health Access (GHA) insurance product to now include medical coverage for epidemic and pandemic illnesses such as COVID-19.
This is on top of the other high-tier GHA healthcare benefits, including access to AXA’s global network of top-rated hospitals and medical practitioners, concierge, international emergency medical assistance, road ambulance transport, and 24/7 Health Support. GHA also offers convenient cashless payment options within a network of over 1,400 hospitals and clinics in the Philippines and over 9,000 hospitals worldwide.
Moreover, customers may avail of a new GHA plan option, Gold Lite Plus. Like all existing GHA plan options, the Gold Lite Plus Plan provides a full spectrum coverage from common illnesses to life-threatening diseases including pandemic illnesses such as COVID-19.

Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines
“As we continue to face a global health crisis, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves and our families. With AXA Global Health Access, including the new Gold Lite Plus Plan option, we are providing an enhanced way for individuals and families to have access to the best treatment and healthcare service,” said AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora.
Through the Gold Lite Plus Plan, policyholders can avail of up to Php100 million for inpatient and outpatient treatments of up to 15 visits per year at a maximum of P1,000 per visit.
Another key feature of the new plan option is health screening or executive check-up coverage of up to Php20,000 per year. Customers may also choose to use part of this benefit to reimburse their over-the-counter vitamins (up toPhp2,500). In addition, this health plan covers up to Php7,500 per night for inpatient daily accommodation charges in the Philippines or regular private room for international hospital accommodations.
Have enhanced world-class health coverage against pandemic illnesses and other diseases anytime, anywhere with AXA Global Health Access. To learn more, visit www.axa.com.ph/health-protection/global-health-access.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 10, 2020 | Business
Palacio de Memoria has recently expanded its unrivaled curated collection of Euro-Filipino art pieces in its museum, shedding light on the landmark contributions of Christianity to the world from time immemorial.

Camille Lhuillier Palacio de Memoria General Manager
“We are the third-largest Catholic country in the world, and our religion is an important part of our history and our identity as Filipinos. Aside from their artistic merits, we hope the new pieces in our museum will help enlighten people about our Christian cultural heritage,” says Palacio de Memoria general manager Camille Lhuillier.
With the easing of the community quarantine, it is a good time to drop by the museum because there are fewer crowds which gives more time to look at and appreciate the new art pieces. Moreover, people may also find some comfort in the religious museum amid the pandemic.
The majority of the museum’s ecclesiastic collection dates back to the 14th century and spans across time until the 20th century. Among the new must-see items at the Palacio de Memoria museum are unique portraits showing religious figures in interesting and considerable variations from the conventional figurations, particularly those of Christ, the Virgin Mary, different saints, and other iconographies.
Museum visitors can also find paintings depicting religious life, including the 17th-century painting from Spain showing the martyrdom of Saints Fausto, Jenaro, and Marcial of Cordoba, as well as an oil painting dating back to the 17th century Flemish-Spanish school portraying the scourging of Christ.
Also part of the newly curated selection is ivory icons of ethical provenances, such as the Madonna and Child sculpture from 18th century Portugal and the Crucified Christ figure encased in a wooden frame. Museum-goers may also see reliquaries of venerated individuals including the apostles and various saints.
Moreover, Palacio de Memoria’s museum collection extends to church artifacts like furniture, altarpieces, and other items used in a liturgical ceremony. Collection highlights include a wooden oratorio with a tableau of the Holy Family in polychrome terracotta, a two-seat choir stall from 18th century Portugal, a wooden processional cross from Spain, and a bishop’s chair from Bolivia with a depiction of relief of Archangel Michael and the Blessed Virgin along with its wooden frame.
With all these, Palacio de Memoria’s Christian heritage museum unifies the educational and devotional functions of the pieces’ ecclesiastic history all in one place.
Aside from the new pieces, the museum will also soon serve as a chapel where religious gatherings such as an intimate wedding or baptism can be held.
Palacio de Memoria is located at 95 Roxas Boulevard, Tambo, Parañaque. Tours are also available upon request. For more information, visit https://www.palaciodememoria.com or follow @thepalaciodememoria on Facebook and @palacio.de.memoria on Instagram.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 7, 2020 | Business
AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, ties up with the Philippines’ leading carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB), to provide non-travel insurance to the airline’s customer base through CEB Health Protect.
CEB Health Protect, underwritten by AXA Philippines, offers value-for-money coverage for the top three critical illnesses: cancer, heart attack, and stroke. This is the first of a number of products under Cebu Pacific’s new suite of lifestyle insurance packages, launched specifically to cater to its customers’ needs beyond travel.
Through the partnership, the two industry leaders strive to offer customers a convenient and seamless booking process for their insurance needs. Every Filipino or “Juan” may start their journey of availing the health insurance from the comfort and safety of their own homes via CEB’s website, which will redirect them to the AXA Philippines’ website for the fulfillment and issuance of the policy.
“We are very excited over this partnership because now we are able to reach out to more Filipinos who will have access to insurance and financial services,” said AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Amor Balagtas. “This enables us to fulfill our mission to help secure the future of every Filipino — or in this case — every Juan.”
“Our passengers have always been at the heart of our business and now more than ever, we strive to always give them peace of mind when flying with us,” said Candice Iyog, CEB vice-president for marketing and customer experience.
“Our commitment to ensuring they have a safe and seamless journey with us does not only cover their actual flight but even beyond. We recognize that there is a greater need to take care of every Juan’s health and assets during this time, and that is why we are very excited to introduce CEB Health Protect.”
Aside from CEB Health Protect, AXA Philippines and Cebu Pacific will soon offer every Juan safety and protection with more non-travel insurance products.
Thanks to AXA Philippines and Cebu Pacific, you can start your health journey and be protected and safe today! For more information, visit https://bit.ly/CEBhealthprotect.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 1, 2020 | Business
Two pesos a kilo for cabbage. Four pesos for cucumber.
After spending to bring their produce to the nearest vegetable trading post in the last week of July, Cordilleran farmers were given a cruel rate, crushing their hope of raising cash to buy seeds for the next harvest.
A Sad Story for New-Gen Farmers
Shereen Umayat and Jessica Dapliyan, two young farmers from Sagada, had a cheaper option for their next maturing vegetables- let the plants rot in the farmland to stop having additional expenses. Asked how much she has spent for her cucumber, Umayat computed it to be at least P40,000. While there are active programs like Sustainable Sagada and Rural Rising organized to help ease the situation, not all produce in the remote Mountain Province town can be accommodated.
Dapliyan, a former innkeeper who shifted to farming following travel bans, started giving away her cabbage produce for free in September after unsuccessful attempts to sell what her family has been working since community quarantine restrictions were implemented.
Trying the Metro Manila Market
For generations, farmers in Sagada and other towns of the Cordilleras have been trading in marketplaces within the mountainous region, and going to the lowlands is not part of their regular routine. But as they run out of options, they are forced to seek help outside the highlands. Tapping Metro Manila-based Cordillerans or Igorots was the first move. Upon learning about the crisis, Christian Aligo, a Marketing Communications practitioner living in Quezon City, started the “The Sagada Harvests Project” on Facebook.
With the assistance from Umayat, Menchie Buking of the Department of Agrarian Reform Mt. Province (DAR MP) and other concerned locals, The Sagada Harvests Project is able to sell out about three tons of produce in its first two runs. Alongside Aligo are other Metro Manila-based Igorots including Luisa Gay Pugong, Jenny Lyn Likigan, Bing Podes Laguipen, and Hector Ngales who transformed themselves into vendors after their day job to help address the crisis.
Joining the force is the couple Atty. Pio and Noemie Jeanet Daoas who now spend their weekends on vegetables. With the help of dedicated riders, the couple delivers the goods within Taguig City at only P20.
A Trade Friendlier to Farmers
As agreed, it is the farmers who set the price of their produce. Currently, in marketplaces, it is the multi-level middlemen who dictate the price and get a bigger portion of it. When the rate at the La Trinidad trading post for cabbage was P2 per kilo, The Sagada Harvests Project purchased the vegetable at P20 per kilo– as dictated by the farmers.
To further assist the Igorot vendors, DAR’s Sagada Linksfarmers Consolidation Center opened its doors to help screen quality produce prior to shipping. Recently, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) also offered transportation assistance to help lower expenses.
Meanwhile, local food producers Gabay Wines and Food Preserves and Masferre Country Inn & Restaurant have been doing experiments for delicate items like wild blueberry, wheat bread, and goat cheese products to check on the shelf-life of the products when offered in places with a warmer climate.
To know more about The Sagada Harvest Project and a list of Igorot vendors who directly source their goods from farmers, contact Aligo at 0956-174-8464 (Globe) or visit www.facebook.com/sagadaharvests now.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 19, 2020 | Business
The company established its position in the pharma industry through successful endeavors in all aspects of operations. Its ambition to give Filipinos with the best helped ADP cap off each year with new product developments and partnerships.
ADP is a team of driven & passionate people, who keep themselves abreast of recent trends in the pharma industry, set with a major advantage in addressing current & future market needs in an era where value-creation for consumers is a must.

Leading up to where they are now — Ambition, Drive, and Passion are what makes them and these are what gave them a decade of rewarding their team as they reward the Filipinos with a wealth of health.
For more information, go to https://bit.ly/2Hct4DX
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 10, 2020 | Business
AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurers and the official insurance partner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the Philippines, helps you reassess your financial game plan as it presents the “Bounce Back” promo from July 25 to September 20, 2020.
It’s a special promotion where Filipinos can get a chance to win prizes simply by undergoing a quick financial needs analysis session with an AXA financial expert.
Here’s how to join:
Simply fill out the AXA appointment booking form by clicking this link, https://bit.ly/2E0kkz4, which is also posted on AXA’s official social media accounts. After filling out the form, participants must answer the call of the AXA financial expert for a brief financial game plan session on the date and time they indicated in the appointment booking form.
On or before September 30, 2020, participants who were able to talk to an AXA financial expert will receive the following from AXA through their registered e-mail: a Personal Accident Insurance Plan worth P50,000 valid for one year and one-time free access to MyPocketDoctor, a mobile app that connects you with a medical professional for check-ups through your phone from the safety and comfort of your home. Both offerings will help participants stay healthy and protected as they use their game plan in the new normal with helpful advice from the AXA financial expert.
Lucky promo participants will also receive their prizes with instructions on how to use or activate them via e-mail or SMS. Promo participants must be 18 years old and above and can only join once.
For more information and updates, visit www.axa.com.ph, or follow @axa.philippines on Facebook.
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