by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 23, 2021 | Business
The Philippines ranks ninth in the world among countries with extreme weather events in the 2020 World Risk Index, according to the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department by the House of Philippine Congress. When natural disasters and calamities strike, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are one of the most vulnerable segments.
Since MSMEs make up the majority of businesses in the Philippines today, Cebuana Lhuillier, one of the country’s leading micro-financial services company has teamed up with AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, and the German Development Cooperation / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ), to unveil its newest microinsurance product, the MicroBiz Protek Jr., which will help to insure microenterprises against typhoons, floods, earthquake, lightning, and fire for an annual premium as low as P172.

Rahul Hora, President, and CEO of AXA Philippines
“AXA Philippines is dedicated to sustainability, and we have launched this product in response to the climate and disaster risk that Filipino MSMEs are constantly exposed to. We hope that through this product, Filipino entrepreneurs can now enjoy the protection that they need to sustain their businesses during natural calamities and disasters,” said Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines President, and CEO.

Jonathan Batangan, PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies Vice President and Group Head
“With the Philippines being one of the top five in the world most at risk for natural disasters, I think it’s only right to offer such a product to our MSMEs. Hopefully, this is something that we can be able to scale and promote for the protection of the MSME sector,” said PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies Vice President and Group Head Jonathan Batangan.
The new product, which was introduced during a recent virtual launch, offers lump sum cash assistance in case of property damage caused by natural calamities and disasters. Moreover, it offers 10 percent personal accident insurance for two employees, 10 percent cover for robbery and burglary, and free emergency assistance through the Emma by AXA PH app.
Likewise, GIZ also shows its support to the MSMEs through this product: “Our private-public partnerships with companies like AXA Philippines is filling parts of the vacuum of climate and risk insurance products in the Philippines, and we are very happy with the development of the MicroBiz Protek Jr.” shared Dr. Volker Steigerwald, GIZ Programme Director.

(Clockwise from top left) Jimmy Loro, GIZ RFPI Asia senior advisor; Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines president, and CEO; Jonathan Batangan, PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies vice president and group head; and Dr. Volker Steigerwald, GIZ program director during the MicroDRI Project Microbiz Protek, Jr. product launch.
Also present during the virtual unveiling of MicroBiz Protek Jr. were Department of Trade Industry Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona and AXA Philippines Chief of Retail Propositions Alok Rungta.
Protect your business now by availing of MicroBiz Protek Jr. via https://bit.ly/3gPDMPq.
by Ginny Angeles | Oct 22, 2021 | Yummy Reviews
Just after I made some Korean Corn Dogs at home, my family spotted some frozen Korean corndogs at Waltermart. At less than 300 pesos for 10 pieces, this is pretty cheap and very convenient.
Taste
It tasted okay. It’s an instant thing so nothing earth-shattering. As with all corn dogs, you can add your favorite condiments to suit your taste. A quick snack, and one that everyone in the family enjoyed.
The pack we got was for the basic corndog. They may have other varieties and we will try them all (when we find them).
Advantages:
- Inexpensive. It comes up to about 30 pesos per corn dog. That’s less than the current price if you buy from most stalls/stores.
- Quick to cook. This is a just fry product. Takes just a few minutes to enjoy this treat.
- No prep, no mess. – Nothing to do but heat some oil and eat when done.
Disadvantages:
- texture – the bread came out a bit dry. I prefer my corndog to have a slightly softer feel.
Overall, I still think it’s okay. it’s something you can keep on hand if you love Korean Corn dogs and have no time to make it from scratch and can’t have it delivered.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 21, 2021 | Health and Wellness
A teleconsult website that promises to make medical consultations easy and convenient for many Filipinos was finally launched today, October 20.
QURE.ph, an all-Filipino-made website, provides a platform for online video consultations, connects doctors and patients for easy scheduling of appointments, and makes available a directory of pharmacies and other health and wellness providers.
What is Qure?
QURE.ph offers a free platform for doctors who want to expand their services via teleconsult amid the increasing demand for a virtual consultation.

Garry Libby – Qure CTO
“We created this platform with the Filipino patient in mind. It’s a simple website and it does not complicate the teleconsultation process. Even those not comfortable with technology will find these consultations easy to do. This is our new normal and QURE is here to help you navigate the future of healthcare,” said Gary Libby, QURE Chief Technology Officer.
A trip to the hospital may also be burdensome these days, as the COVID pandemic persists. QURE will help Filipinos find their way through this public health crisis while keeping their health in check.
“This will definitely benefit doctors and patients. No more overbooking for doctors, and no more long lines for patients waiting for their turn at clinics. Whether via teleconsult or face-to-face check-ups, the scheduling system of QURE helps both patients and doctors,” Libby added.

Andrea Trinidad – Qure CEO
Andrea Trinidad, Chief Executive Officer of QURE, said the idea of the teleconsult platform started last year when the lockdowns extended and it became difficult for patients to see their doctors. Trinidad, who has a life-long disorder called hemophilia and is the president of Hemophilia Advocates Philippines, said the pandemic really affected patients.
“When I was approached by my friends last year and they shared with me their idea of a telemedicine platform, I told them it was brilliant. We envision QURE to be an e-mall of health services where you can book consults, buy medicines, book laboratory appointments, and even book a consult with the veterinarian for your fur babies,” she added.
More to know about QURE:
The platform is data-safe, both for patients and doctors.
Registering is FREE for patients and doctors. Consultation fees range from P500 to P1,500, depending on the doctor’s specialization. But for its introductory price, QURE is offering a 50% discount for consultations.
Registered users can look for doctors for their teleconsult.
Specialists have expertise in Cardiology; General Surgery; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Integrative General Medicine; Internal Medicine, Dermatology; Otolaryngology (ENT); ENT Specialist Head & Neck Surgery; Psychiatry-Adult; Physical Medicine/Rehab; Pediatrics; Allergy & Asthma, Immunologist; Urology; Sleep Medicine/Insomnia; Ophthalmology; Family & Occupational Medicine; Cardiology; Pediatrics-Pulmonology; Family Medicine; Lifestyle Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery and Hematology/Oncology.
Also in QURE’s pool of experts: Nutritionist Dietician; General Dentistry/Orthodontics; Dentistry/Prosthetic and Esthetic;
The website lets you know who is online.
Is the doctor in? No need to guess or call the doctor’s secretary. Through the QURE website, you can easily see if the doctor is available to take consultations.

Find doctors in your area or teleconsult with a specialist anywhere in the Philippines
QURE has a growing number of specialists from all over the country. The drop-down menu on the website shows that many doctors have already signed up. Many more are joining QURE in the following weeks.
It’s a growing health and wellness community.
In the coming months, expect more health and wellness features. You will also soon see reviews of doctors done by patients themselves.
For more information about QURE, you may contact us at su*****@**re.ph or 0991.398.8781. To check our pool of specialists, visit https://qure.ph/search-doctor.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 20, 2021 | Events
Responsible investing is a strategy and practice of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in one’s investment decisions. It can yield better results in the long run, not just for the investor, but also for the community at large. One of the companies that believe this is AXA, a leading global insurance brand. In recent years, the insurance company has developed a philosophy of ‘responsible investing is also good investing’ as part of its efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The benefits of responsible investing were covered in “From All into All Clean,” a recent webinar organized by AXA in partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP). The webinar featured the Chief Investment Officers of AXA’s global asset managers, AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) and Architas, who shared their experience in transitioning to a responsible investment approach and the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors they consider in their manager and fund selection process.

Chris Iggo, Chief Investment Officer of AXA IM

Jaime Arguelles, Architas’ Chief Investment Officer
Chris Iggo, Chief Investment Officer of AXA IM, said: “We want to invest in companies and in all kinds of different assets that not only deliver a good financial return but also, through their operations, are beneficial to society and to the environment. To us, responsible investing is also good investing. It’s not an additional service but at the core of what we do.”
Responsible investing is part of AXA’s global sustainability strategy that is built around climate action and inclusive protection. AXA assesses the impact of its sustainability strategy in three key areas: as an insurer, as an organization, and as an investor.
As an investor, AXA has committed to reaching €25 billion of assets in green investments by 2023 and to decrease the carbon footprint of its general account assets by 20% by 2025. Its asset managers practice an exclusions-based approach, where certain companies or sectors cannot be held in portfolios, and integrate ESG considerations in their investment processes. AXA has also developed a proprietary ESG research and scoring methodology, which has been applied to over 9,000 partner companies in its database.
“For us, ESG is a criterion that we believe enhances returns,” explained Jaime Arguelles, Architas’ Chief Investment Officer. “We believe that it is essential for us managers to have this integration right now to influence good behavior, and work towards climate change and other criteria of ESG areas.”
Webinar 2
“From All into All Clean: How your investments can support sustainable development and climate action” is the second of a three-part webinar series that will run until October. Through the webinars, AXA and the ECCP hope to provide an informative responsible investment platform where local investors can equip themselves with the knowledge needed to become more responsible in their investment decisions and for fund managers to effectively guide them through the whole process.
Webinar 3
The third webinar, “The Road to Net Zero: A look inside China’s quest to champion climate action” will be held on October 25 at 4 pm. For the full schedule and to register for the responsible investing webinars, visit the ECCP website at https://www.eccp.com. More information can also be found on the AXA Philippines Facebook page or by visiting the AXA Philippines website at https://bit.ly/AXAECCP_Oct.
For more information on responsible investing topics, check out AXA IM at https://www.axa-im.com/responsible-investing and Architas at https://www.architas.com/responsible-investing.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 19, 2021 | Business
Among the many possible treatments that scientists are studying to battle symptoms of COVID-19, virgin coconut oil has been found effective in reducing and preventing the progression of symptoms as well as providing relief.
To help boost the immune system of Filipinos and those who are battling the virus, Coco Mama has launched its very own Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. To mark the timely introduction of this new product, the brand donated 500 bottles of Coco Mama Organic Virgin Coconut Oil to the local government unit of Manila City, to quarantine facilities and hospitals, for the use of Covid-19 patients and front liners in the city.
“We are grateful that we are in a position to help Filipinos in their fight against the Covid19 virus,” said Mr. Bryan Lingan, Marketing Director for Emerging Business of Century Pacific Food Inc., the company behind Coco Mama. “One of our goals in introducing this product is to help Covid-19 patients through a science-backed supplement that has been proven to boost the immune system and alleviate the symptoms of the virus.”

Marketing Director for Emerging Business of Century Pacific Food Inc., Mr. Bryan Lingan with Director Arlene Dominguez at the COVID Field Hospital, Quirino Grand Stand
Based on studies conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), virgin coconut oil supports faster recovery from signs and symptoms of COVID-19. An in vitro showed that lauric acid and monolaurin, compounds produced from VCO decrease coronavirus count by 60-90% at low viral load. VCO may also strengthen the immune response against COVID-19.
“Through research and clinical trials on alternative treatments, we hope to lessen the burden of the health sector and Filipinos from Covid-19. With our current health crisis, it is vital that we trust and support science-backed solutions to beat COVID-19 especially virgin coconut oil which is a readily available commodity in the country,” said Dr. Fabian Dayrit who led the research in virgin coconut oil as an antiviral agent to prevent or reduce COVID-19 infection.
For Covid-19 patients in Manila city, bottles of Coco Mama Organic Virgin Coconut Oil were handed over by Lingan to the Manila City LGU as well as to the COVID Field Hospital at Quirino Grandstand Ospital ng Maynila and to the Santa Ana Hospital.
With the donation of their organic virgin coconut oil, Coco Mama is hoping that it would help patients with COVID – 19, strengthen their immune systems as well as speed up their recovery, effectively preventing the progression of symptoms brought forth by the virus.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 18, 2021 | Health and Wellness
Being a new parent is such an exciting time. Whether it’s your first baby, or your second or third, every newborn makes any parent feel like they are entering a new chapter in their lives. But with the excitement of this chapter comes worries and fears about making sure you are giving your baby everything he or she needs. Sigurista Parents like you can’t help but want only the best for your baby!
To help you get started, here are some of the items you need to invest in and stock up on as soon as possible. It will help make your baby’s first few months some of the best months of his or her life!
Drink up
One of the first decisions every parent has to make is how they will feed their baby. There is extensive research on the benefits of breastfeeding, so if you are going this route, it’s best you stock up on breast pumps, nursing pads, and nipple cream. If you’re going the bottle-feeding path, stock up on quality bottles and bottle brushes. There are also a bunch of sterilizers that you can look into to make the cleaning process easier for you!
Bath time is fun time
For first-time parents, giving their tiny babies a bath can be daunting. To ease your fears, make sure you get shampoo and soap that are gentle on baby’s skin, as well as soft towels to dry them off with. Invest in a bath seat or infant tub to lessen the chances of accidents in the bathroom.
Sweet dreams all night
Sleep training is becoming more popular among this generation of new parents. Not only will your baby have better sleep quality, so will you! Check out crib sheets and mattresses first, then extend your research to swaddles and hush machines. Soon you and your baby will wake up energized every morning!
Rash protection like no other
A baby’s diaper is one of the most important items in a parent’s must-have list. A Sigurista Parent knows that a good diaper will help keep baby more comfortable and prevent unwanted rashes. That’s why it’s important for Sigurista Parents like you to invest in the best.
Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn has a 2-in-1 Rash Shield that helps prevent diaper rash that comes long periods of kulob and babad. Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn is the best diaper choice if you’re looking for superior protection from rashes for your newborn’s skin.

Sigurista Parent, Camille Co, photo credit taken from https://www.instagram.com/p/CTCNUQ6M-yt/
As a new mom, Sigurista Parent Camille Co shares how her adorable little girl is growing up so quickly and how choosing Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn has helped her savor every moment with her baby.
“Sienna bug is growing up too fast! 😭 She’s already learning how to sit! Soon, she’ll be crawling. Someone press pause, please. Before we know it, we won’t be playing like this anymore and I’ll probably be chasing her all over the house. Imagine having to chase her countless times for diaper changes too? 😂 Good thing with @pampersph Baby Dry for Newborn’s 2-in-1 Rash Shield, we can do fewer diaper changes and not worry about rashes brought about by kulob and wetness.”

Mommy Fidelis, photo credit taken from Instagram
Mommy Fidelis on the other hand puts her baby’s comfort as a top priority and Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn helps her provide this.
She shares, “Playtime and bedtime are very important to growing babies like Francine. And ayokong naabala yun just because I need to change her diaper frequently. Kaya naman simula umpisa pa lang, Pampers Baby Dry na ang gamit nya that protects her all day from kulob and wetness. And most importantly, it has a #SiguristaShield kaya iwas rashes! Comfy night and day!”
You got this Sigurista Parent!
At the end of the day, you are the best person to judge what’s best for your baby. Don’t panic too much. Trust your parental instincts. Let your love and care for your baby guide your way. Start with the essentials and trust only the best-reviewed products with proven benefits.
When you’ve invested in only quality products like Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn, you can rest assured that your baby is well taken care of. Camille reiterates, “#ChoosePampers and trust in its #SiguristaShield for more bonding moments and less stress.”
Add this Sigurista Parent essential to your cart today. Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn is available in the P&G Official online shops on Lazada and Shopee.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 12, 2021 | Business
These days, more and more industries are empowering women to take on leadership roles within their organizations or the community at large. Studies have shown that female leaders are more nurturing, empathetic, and are great communicators and listeners, which are key to motivating employees and consequently, help boost the company’s growth.
This was one of the issues discussed during the recent virtual Women Future Conference 2021, an event that promotes feminine leadership and management in typically male-dominated industries such as financial technology, banking, and insurance.

Pebbles Sy, GCash CTO & COO
According to Pebbles Sy, Chief Technology and Operating Officer at GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet app, half of the population and senior leadership team at Globe and Mynt, the operator of GCash, are women. “It’s really important that we see a lot of women represented now. We have a lot of young managers and young leaders, and a lot of them are looking for mentorships and communities where they can participate,” shared Sy.

Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO
Notably, at GCash, the top post is also led by a woman: Martha Sazon, the e-wallet app’s president and chief executive officer. Under her leadership, the company rapidly grew its user base from 20 million in January 2020 to an impressive number of more than 46 million to date.
With a vision of providing financial inclusion for all Filipinos, especially the unbanked and underbanked, GCash has been successful in introducing financial services that are accessible, affordable, and easy to understand.
GCash features

GCash features
On the app, users can enjoy GSave, an online savings bank; GInvest, an easy investment feature; GInsure for insurance for medical emergencies such as dengue, COVID-19, and accidents; GCredit, a personal credit line with up to P30,000 credit line and up to 3% prorated interest rate. Users can also have easy access to more than 600 billers on the app, including utilities, transportation, real estate, and even government units. As a super life app, GCash also has GLife, the e-commerce feature on the GCash app that allows users to shop exclusive deals from 35 brands across retail, food, gaming, entertainment, and transport.
As GCash continues to enjoy steady growth, its female workforce is getting more involved to ensure that the e-wallet app achieves its goal of making Filipino lives better every day. “There is really no barrier for us. It’s really just about doing your job and working hard,” shared Sy.
Joining Sy during the event were female executives from all over Asia-Pacific including Jael Tan, Manager of the Monetary Authority of Singapore; Yang Yang Zhang, Managing Director of Xendit Philippines; WijitlekaMarome, Deputy Director of the Fintech Department in the Bank of Thailand; Shan Luo, Managing Director of Fintech Space Taiwan; Leila Martin, President of the first government-backed Digital Overseas Filipino Bank; and Gae Martinez, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Insular Life.
For more information, visit www.gcash.com.
About GCash
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 2.5M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.) since 2015.
GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 46 million Filipinos in the country today.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 8, 2021 | Business
All Landers Superstore branches in Metro Manila and Cebu have been awarded the Safety Seal by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The award is given by the government agency to establishments that are compliant with the minimum public health standards set by the government.
The announcement comes with the welcome news that all Landers Superstore employees are fully vaccinated.
“As we face this health crisis, we value the safety of our members and our employees the most. We want to make sure our members are safe and protected while shopping at Landers and that our employees are also in the best physical condition to serve them,” said Pieter Lukman, COO of Landers Superstore. “The Safety Seal award from the DTI is a confirmation of our continuing commitment to follow strict health protocols within our store.”
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Landers Superstore has been implementing health protocols to comply with the requirements of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. This also aims to assure Landers Superstore members are protected against the threat of COVID-19.
As they enter the store, members can conveniently sanitize their hands with an alcohol dispenser available at the entrance and checkout counters. Body temperatures of members are also checked. A sanitized foot mat is also located at the entrance for the protection of shoppers.

Landers Superstore Alabang
Within the store, security personnel ensures that physical distancing, proper wearing of face masks, and face shields are being observed by shoppers. To guide members on physical distancing, floor and directional signages are installed all over the store.
Checkout counters, pushcarts, and display fixtures where members have direct hand contact are sanitized regularly to ensure that there will be no virus contamination. Landers Superstore also limits the number of members allowed to shop inside the superstore. With the DTI Safety Seal award and all its employees fully vaccinated, Landers Superstore has made shopping a safe and truly enjoyable experience for its members.
Landers Superstore in Metro Manila are located at at Landers Alabang West – Daang Hari Road, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City; Landers ArcoVia City – 99 Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Pasig; Landers Balintawak – 1240 EDSA Balintawak, Apolonio Samson, Quezon City; Landers Otis – 1890 Paz Guazon St., Paco, Manila.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 6, 2021 | Lifestyle

Inax washbasin
It’s that time of the year when INAX, the renowned Japanese brand for its pioneering spirit embodied in masterfully designed bathroom fixtures, presents its Water Indulgence Promo for 2021 where thoughtfully designed bathroom pieces, toilets, and accessories are available at huge discounts.
With discounts of up to 30%, the INAX Water Indulgence Promo offers the perfect opportunity to upgrade your bathrooms with masterpieces from the brand that introduced Japan’s first advanced toilet and self-powered automatic faucet.
For those who have been eyeing INAX’s intuitively designed washbasins, faucets, and toilets, this promo should not be missed! Customers can look forward to as much as 30% off on one-piece toilets, up to 30% off on close coupled toilets, and as much as 25% discount on showers. Bathroom accessories, spalets, and bidets are also available at huge price-offs. Truly, it’s the most opportune time to transform your bathroom into a haven for relaxation.
Promo deadline

Inax toilet
Available until November 30, INAX Water Indulgence Promo 2021 is available in select AllHome branches including Sta. Rosa, Antipolo, Molino / Daang Hari, Taguig, Bataan, Imus, Kawit, Las Piñas, Sipag, Naga, Bulacan, Cebu, Iloilo, Vibal, Silang, Cabanatuan, Butuan, San Ildefonso, Koronadal, Santiago, Gapan, Cagayan De Oro, Libis, Pampanga, General Trias, Tanza, Evia, Malolos, Dasmariñas, and North Molino.
You can also avail of the promo without leaving your home – simply chat with AllHome’s Personal Shopper on Viber to help you shop safely and conveniently. You may get the number of the Personal Shopper at the AllHome branch nearest you through this link: https://allhome.com.ph.
For a complete listing of INAX products included in the promo, visit INAX Philippines on Facebook, www.facebook.com/InaxPhilippines.
by Ginny Angeles | Oct 3, 2021 | Product and Service Review
I was admiring my niece’s press-on nails and learned that she got them from MadeByBeaL. I was definitely interested in a way to get some nail art done without having to go through hours of sitting (and not having to do it myself).
I went to the Instagram site of MadeByBeaL and browsed through her existing designs. She did tell me I could give her a design I wanted, and she’d try to do it. The BTS fan in me was happy to choose the Love Yourself set.
With the help of my niece, we figured out my nail sizes. I messaged the sizes to MadeByBeaL together with my preferred design and nail shape.
How was it packaged?

The nails came in a simple box. The kit contained the following:
- 10 UV gel hand-painted nails
- 1 nail file
- 1 nail glue
- 1 instruction card – I can’t stress enough the importance of following the instructions.
The one suggestion
How sturdy are these nails? I managed to keep them on for two weeks without any nails popping off. I was working and doing all my chores as usual. They felt so natural it was necessary to remind myself not to grip using my nails to avoid damaging the tips.
The challenge was getting them OFF my nails. I had to soak my nails in hot water for a while to get the glue to loosen (The nail glue is strong!) The great news is the nails are ready to be reused after just a little clean-up.
If you know anyone who wants to have beautiful hands but doesn’t have time to get their nails done and wait for it to dry, point them towards MadeByBeaL.
MadeByBeaL sells press on nails she’s painted herself. Customers can choose from existing designs or request for some to be custom-made. Just message her for inquiries. She also sells tote bags and hair accessories.
Order yours now! MadebyBeaL is on Facebook and Instagram.
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