InLife, GCash Partnership Sees P196M Transactions in 2021, Raises Women’s Role in the Digital Economy

InLife and GCash Partnership

Insular Life (InLife) recorded P196 million worth of transactions made through GCash from January to December 2021. This came from forty-six thousand transactions that were recorded using the GCash app for payments for various InLife insurance products. 

But more than a channel to collect premium payments, the partnership between InLife and GCash serves a more meaningful purpose – inclusion. 

“Our partnership with GCash, the largest FinTech platform in the country, is the latest and, by far, the widest net we are casting in our financial inclusion agenda for women. GCash breaks the barriers for the millions of the unbanked to avail themselves of financial services and health solutions at the most convenient and safe way.” ~Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

InLife term life insurance and accident insurance plans that do not need medical examinations are now available through GCash since last year.  It also made the affordable emergency prepaid cards of its health subsidiary, Insular Health Care (IHC), available through GLife. The move is in line with InLife’s advocacy of promoting financial inclusion and empowering women through technology.

• Empowering Women Through Financial Inclusion 

InLife and GCash Partnership

“The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the attitudes and behavior favorably toward getting adequate healthcare and insurance coverage. And data shows that it is the women who are active seekers not necessarily for themselves, but for their husbands, children, or parents.” ~Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

She noted that because of its reach and wide use, GCash is very suitable in influencing the health and financial security of the bigger communities, especially those who are financially excluded.

In her message during the event, GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon said that their partnership with InLife has enabled them to bring affordable and accessible insurance coverage to everyday Filipinos.

“This has allowed them access to relevant products ranging from life insurance to health care coverage through InLife and InLife Health Care, respectively. We are providing more Filipinos access to get covered more quickly and conveniently, giving them and their loved ones peace of mind. This is another step forward in our pursuit of financial inclusion – where we strive to make financial services more accessible to all Filipinos, especially for the unbanked and underbanked. Through our app, they now have access to digital financial services – even as the banking penetration remains low. Usage of our app is at an all-time high, as people now think of GCash as a digital life hack and more than just an e-wallet.” ~Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO

Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO

• Inspired by the Sheroes Movement

IHC President and CEO Noemi G. Azura disclosed that their experience in the InLife Sheroes Movement, InLife’s women’s advocacy program, made them realize the importance of digital channels to reach Filipino women.

In a nationwide study conducted by InLife in 2018 for its Sheroes program, it learned that Filipino women are the primary caregivers in the family, including extended ones. 

"We realized that online storefronts are viable distribution channels to reach more women who are looking for affordable protection products for life and health for their family. While tech is not usually a field women are associated with, our team at GCash is proof that it can happen – with women making up around half of our employee base.” ~Noemi G. Azura, IHC President and CEO

Noemi G. Azura, IHC President and CEO

She added that digital technology is effective in terms of promoting awareness about the program, and in delivering educational activities on health and personal finance.

Ms. Sazon said that they are celebrating their partnership at a special time – Women’s Month.

• Addressing Challenges in Financial Inclusion

“It is our hope that millions of Filipinos will enjoy peace of mind knowing that they have life and health insurance coverage for themselves and their loved available through GCash.” ~Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

InLife and GCash Partnership

During the launch, InLife and GCash executives also took the time to discuss the challenges of financially empowering women and how both companies can address them.

Insular Health Care Head of Sales and Marketing Division Tricci Rose A. Sadian; InLife Vice President and Head of Digital Sales Distribution Geraldine G. Pascual; and GCash Assistant Vice President and Head of Financial Services, Distribution, BPO & CICO for Enterprise Kim Pineda shared their insights on financial inclusion for women. They also discussed the various products and services of InLife and GCash that cater to women.

About The Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd

Insular Life (InLife) is the first, largest, and only mutual Filipino life insurance company in the country with over 111 years of uninterrupted service. We apply over a hundred years of experience in financial protection, risk management, savings, and investment to help you make confident decisions for you and your loved ones. 

As a mutual life insurance company, our accountability is to our policyholders.  They can be assured of being protected by a company that has an asset base of over P148 billion and net worth of P37 billion. We have a nationwide presence in 53 branches all over the country, and an expanded digital footprint to serve our customers, wherever and whenever they want. Our success is anchored on the growth and security of our partners, policyholders and beneficiaries, because we exist to offer a lifetime for good for everyone. For more information, visit www.insularlife.com.ph.

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 1.3k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 4.5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at over 170k partner agents; 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.).

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 55 million Filipinos in the country today.

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab. The premier strength and conditioning facility invites all Filipinos to be a part of their growing community.

As we inch our way to building better habits in 2022, we need all the strength to power us through these unprecedented times. More and more, we realize the immeasurable value of health, giving us the motivation we need to keep our minds and bodies strong every day of our lives.

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Strong body, strong mind, strong heart

“Strength, in the physical, mental, and emotional sense, is key to living a fulfilling life. In the physical sense, being strong allows you to address almost all other physical attributes associated with health, fitness, and performance. In the mental sense, strength allows creative and assertive resolutions to otherwise daunting and crushing challenges or conflicts. Finally, in the emotional sense, being strong simply gives you a higher threshold for the rigors of modern living.” ~Marlon Lugue, Kinetix Lab’s Coach

And strength—in all its forms—is what you’ll find at Kinetix Lab UP Town Center. 

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Meet your new tribe

Find your strongest self wherever you are in your fitness journey. Whether it’s your Day 1 or Day 1,000.

 

“What we want is for people to feel at home—somewhere they can be vulnerable, so we can work on what they want while keeping in mind what they need.” ~Marlon Lugue, Kinetix Lab’s Coach

From the community that built Kinetix Lab in The Podium, the new location in UP Town Center is a fresh opportunity for them to bring their exceptional facilities and services to more clients. Here, they aim to build the same rapport they have successfully established with their regulars in their previous location. When you become a part of the tribe, trust that everyone will support your truest self and your biggest goals with the positive energy you can only find in the gym’s tight-knit community.

Second only to the incredible people that make up Kinetix Lab is their state-of-the-art equipment and their premium fit-out, which we’ve come to expect from the fitness center since its inception. 

Now, more clients living in the North can experience the industry-leading training equipment and coaching services Kinetix Lab offers at a more convenient and accessible location.

“We’ve been here for quite some time, and we know what we’re doing, as evidenced in the hundreds of lives we've made better. We don't like to brag about our facilities, equipment, and amenities since you can easily buy those. If you have enough capital, putting up a nice place with all the bells and whistles would be a breeze. What we have are conviction and passion— Conviction to deliver what is promised and passion to do things in the most creative and heartfelt manner.” ~Marlon Lugue, Kinetix Lab’s Coach

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Kinetix Lab is for everyone

Although Kinetix Lab has a solid reputation as a powerlifting-centric gym, you need not lift weights to find your own power here. Every day, you will find that 90% of the fitness center’s clientele show up to get in better shape.

Through the years, Kinetix Lab has welcomed more and more health enthusiasts working out and getting stronger alongside serious fitness buffs.

“We understand, more than ever, the different dimensions of getting physically stronger and healthier. Kinetix Lab espouses finding your own version of stronger. Kinetix Lab is our home, and our community is the family that resides in it. Most of the people in the gym know and are acquainted with each other. It’s not uncommon to see several members flocking around on the gym floor, cheering on a fellow member for a big lift. This is a common sight in our facility. We all support each other. The big difference with our community is that, despite socializing within and without the confines of Kinetix Lab, we still mean business.” ~Marlon Lugue, Kinetix Lab’s Coach

For those who have yet to experience Kinetix Lab, their YouTube channel gives you a sneak peek of what you can expect from their training facility, training template, and exercise programs—all for free! Visit and subscribe to get alerts on all new content at https://www.youtube.com/c/KinetixLab. 

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Stronger days ahead

This dedication to health and fitness has driven the whole Kinetix Lab community to achieve their best as they continue to foster a goal-oriented culture and find inspiration in each other. Once you walk through the gym’s doors, you can expect that becoming stronger is the priority, and everything else comes second. 

Define Your Own Version of Stronger with Kinetix Lab

Allow Kinetix Lab to help you find the strongest version of yourself with more accessible facilities, a more comprehensive line of services attuned to your needs, and an unwavering passion for health and fitness from the whole community. 

With Kinetix Lab, you only have stronger days ahead!

Use Waterless Shampoo on your pets!

Every year on March 22, the world observes “World Water Day.” It is an annual United Nations Observance that celebrates water and raises awareness of the two billion people who live without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis.

 

With the summer season just around the corner, it is important that we conserve as much water as we can. Even fur parents can do their share by using a product that will help you save on water.

 

Introducing Happy Life’s Waterless Shampoo, the first product of its kind in the Philippines which is 100 percent natural and pet friendly. It’s an innovative and plant bath alternative to the chemicals that are usually found in shampoos for pets.

 

The product provides less effort and less time in every bath. It saves 70 percent of bath time every time you use Happy Life Waterless Shampoo. The product is perfect for a quick bath and for those on the go. You can still groom your pets even if you are in a hurry.

 

What’s nice about the product is that it helps relieve pets that suffer from skin and fur irritations such as but not limited to wounds, bad odor, itchiness, scaling, manage allergies, dandruff, hotspots, inflammation, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, redness, viruses, bacteria and fungi. 

 

Using the Waterless Shampoo is as easy as one, two, three. 

1. Shake and spray generously directly on your pet’s fur and skin from head to paws to tail.
2. Rub, lather and enjoy this special bonding moment with your pet.
3. Wipe dry with a clean towel and be amazed by the benefits you provided and the time that you saved.

The Waterless Shampoo is one of the many products developed by Happy Life Organics Philippines Inc., a Philippines based company that promotes innovative and eco-friendly solutions for your home, pets and unwanted pests.

 

Happy Life Organics provides all natural, sustainable eco-friendly solutions to homes across the country. The company promotes a healthier lifestyle based on a plant based organic view and by bringing home and pet product alternatives that are changing and improving lives for the better.

 

For more information about Happy Life’s Waterless Shampoo and their other products, you can visit www.happylifeph.com, Happy Life Organics in Lazada, Shopee, FB and IG.

Pia Wurtzbach as the newest ambassador for Avon's Intimate Apparel line

Pia finds home in Avon

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has taken over the world - the universe, rather - since her coronation, expanding her ventures and platforms both local and international, and sharing her advocacies and travels on social media.

Two decades after she first joined the brand as a teen model, Pia finds home in Avon and especially in the brand's Intimate Apparel Nudes, which give her the right support and comfort to freely be herself. While she accomplishes many things in her packed schedule, there’s nothing like being at home — space away from the spotlight is where she can comfortably be just Pia.

“To me, home is comfort and where everything fits perfectly. That’s why whenever I’m in my Avon intimate apparel, I feel at home. I feel supported in whatever I do and most comfortable being myself. I want to empower every Filipina to choose a love and home that she deserves. ” ~Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015

Pia Wurtzbach in the Zari Bra

Two decades after her stint as a teen model for its cosmetics line, Pia finally comes home to Avon as the brand welcomes her as the newest ambassador for its Intimate Apparel line. 

“We are so excited to be welcoming Pia back. She is honest and true, someone who always chooses the best for herself because she knows what she deserves and what will bring out her most authentic self.” ~Jamila Reyes, Avon Philippines’ Head of Beauty Plus

Just like Pia, you too can feel right at home wearing the no.1 Intimate Apparel brand in the country. Avon introduces new nude shades for its bras and panties, designed to enhance your curves and fit your body not just flawlessly, but comfortably. A standard across all of Avon’s intimate apparel offerings, the new nude undies are created with high-quality fabrics that are made to last, so you can trust that your Avon undergarments will give you exceptional all-day comfort and support for many years to come.

Pia Wurtzbach in the Brittany bra

The new offerings feature a full range of nude tones created to match every Filipina’s skin tone, perfectly blending into whatever skin tone so you don’t have to worry about the clothes you want to wear or fuss about making adjustments during the day. You are free to be you, free to feel at home no matter where you are! 

With Avon’s Intimate Apparel Nudes, you can get the support and comfort you need to feel right at home with yourself. 

Be your most authentic, realest self when you feel at home in Avon Intimate Apparel Nudes. Shop the collection today through www.avonshop.ph, Avon’s official Shopee and Lazada stores, or your trusted Avon representative.

Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avonworldwide.com.

Follow us!

https://www.avon.ph/ph-home 

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About Avon 

For over 135 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of independent Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands such as Avon True Color and ANEW through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon supports women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over $1billion to women’s causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation. 

Enjoy Up to 30% Off on Select Hanabishi Products in Lazada and Shopee’s 3.3 Sale From March 3 - 7

Whether you’re looking to replace your old unit or buying an appliance to give as a gift, you’ll never go wrong with a Hanabishi product. 

Tested and proven for its efficiency and durability, the well-loved Philippine appliance manufacturer is offering a Triple Treat this March 3 to 7, 2022 as part of the 3.3 Sale of LazMall and ShopeeMall.

From March 3 to 7, 2022, you can enjoy up to 30% savings on select Hanabishi products at both Lazada and Shopee.  Not only that, you’ll also get to enjoy a Lazada Bonus. Buy PhP1, 000 worth of products and get PhP100 off. At Shopee, you can avail yourself of a PhP50 voucher.

You can also enjoy free shipping of up to PhP50 at the leading e-commerce platforms. Buy 2 products, and get an additional PhP33 off.

Start adding to your cart now and don’t forget to checkout from March 3 to 7 to enjoy these amazing deals.

Visit https://shp.ee/njphbzp for more details about the exclusive Shopee Mall Promotion and LazMall https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/hanabishi.

The local appliance brand is offering amazing deals this coming 3.3 Sale  through their online stores in both Shopee and Lazada. 

If you are interested in quality and affordable products, you may check out Hanabishi's offerings from these leading e-commerce platforms.

Enjoy Up to 30% Off on Select Hanabishi Products in Lazada and Shopee’s 3.3 Sale From March 3 - 7. 

About Hanabishi:

Sa Bahay at sa Business Mo, Hanabishi!

Hanabishi is a Filipino household name for appliances for over 35 years. It is a brand engineered to fit the lifestyle of the Filipino both for homes and businesses.  Hardworking, durable and resilient, are the attributes that personify Hanabishi making it the brand of choice of every Filipino mom and businessman when it comes to value and practicality. Hanabishi is the mark of quality that grows with you through the years.  Built with passion and an impeccable desire to uphold the quality of life in every Filipino home, Hanabishi will remain to be the PRACTICAL choice and KAPARTNER, today and for the many years to come.

For more information about Hanabishi, please visit www.myhanabishi.com/shop/ and  like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHanabishiAppliances/.

How the pandemic sparked changes to Gen Zs and Millennials’ breakfast habits

Forming new habits is not always easy. It takes determination, strong willpower, and a right environment to start something new. Research has shown that on average, it takes 66 days, equivalent to over two months, for a new behavior to become automatic. 

Over the past year, with more consumers staying at home as a result of the pandemic, new habits were being formed. According to the Asia Pacific Breakfast Habits Survey 2021 conducted by Herbalife Nutrition to understand the impact of the current pandemic on consumers’ breakfast attitudes and habits as well as the behavior preferences of different demographic groups, two in five (37 percent) Gen Zs and Millennials in the region began eating breakfast more often and half of the respondents who started doing so said they ate breakfast six to seven more days per week. 

When it comes to positive breakfast habits, they mainly involve two key considerations – the frequency of eating breakfast and the nutrition that goes into it to make a healthy meal. 

As revealed by the survey, Gen Zs and Millennials have increased their breakfast frequencies because of their motivation to improve health and well-being (65 percent); ability to prepare breakfast with more time on hand (48 percent); and their desire to use this time at home to make a positive lifestyle change (41 percent). In addition, they have also started eating healthier by incorporating more vegetables and fruits (57 percent); have a nutritionally balanced meal (54 percent); and drank more water (52 percent).  

While there have been positive changes to their breakfast habits, making consuming breakfast a daily commitment does require effort and determination to ensure that these good habits stick. 

Here are some tips offered by Susan Bowerman, Senior Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training, Herbalife Nutrition, on the benefits of a healthy breakfast and how to ensure that their positive breakfast habits last. 

What Is a Good Breakfast?

The foods you eat for breakfast can affect how you feel and perform throughout your morning. There are several things that a good breakfast can do for you.

A healthy breakfast can:

• Keep you fueled up until your next meal or snack. A well balanced breakfast should provide you with staying power. Foods with protein help to satisfy hunger, and high fiber foods help to fill you up.
• Supply your body and brain with energy. In the morning, your body’s gas tank is running close to empty. When you eat the right foods for breakfast, you’re providing your muscles and brain with the fuel they need for optimal performance.
• Help avoid blood sugar swings and reduce cravings. A balanced meal that contains both protein and healthy carbohydrates can provide sustained energy throughout your system, and help prevent wild swings in your blood sugar that trigger cravings for sweets or other unhealthy foods. (This applies as long as you don’t have any medical issues regarding your body’s ability to regulate your blood sugar.)
• Help you make better food choices throughout the day. Breakfast skippers often experience food cravings for sweets and fats that can persist throughout the day. When breakfast is eaten, the cravings for sweets drop dramatically. If the breakfast is high in protein, it tends to also reduce cravings for salty, fatty foods. So, the right foods in the morning can help reduce cravings for unhealthy foods later in the day, and steer you towards healthier choices.
• Provide enough protein to help support muscle health. Eating enough protein in the morning not only helps satisfy hunger, it can also help maintain muscle health. For many people, typical daily meals tend to provide little protein at breakfast, a bit more at lunch, and a much larger amount at dinner. This is a pattern that may not provide the best conditions for building and repairing muscle tissue. Muscle protein synthesis can improve when protein intake is more evenly distributed throughout the day.

Don’t skip breakfast 

With the many benefits that a healthy breakfast offers, it’s a meal that shouldn’t be so casually dismissed.

However, whether you are working from home or working from office, it is easy and convenient to skip breakfast just for those extra few minutes of sleep, especially on days when it is challenging to wake up because of a cool rainy morning or pulling an intense late night the previous night. 

With this in mind, perhaps making a few simple changes to daily living might do the trick – such as waking up 15 minutes earlier each day to prepare a quick and nutritious breakfast.

Incorporating a nutritious breakfast everyday

When it comes to selecting what to eat for breakfast, a healthy, balanced breakfast should provide you with a decent amount of protein (20-30 grams is a good target). This helps satisfy hunger and supports muscle health, and along with some healthy carbohydrates can provide sustained energy and fiber. Carbohydrates should include, at the very least, some fruits or vegetables. If your calorie budget allows, add some whole grains as well.

On days where you want an all-in-one breakfast that delivers the right nutritional balance for you body, breakfast protein shakes are good options to consider, like the Herbalife Nutrition Formula 1 Shake. It is easy to prepare and provides all the nutrients required to start your day right. 

Consuming a healthy breakfast can bring you many benefits in the long run. All you need to have a healthy breakfast every day is a little time and commitment!

About Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

Herbalife Nutrition (NYSE: HLF) is a global company that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers high-quality, science-backed products, sold in over 90 countries by entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle. Through the Company's global campaign to eradicate hunger, Herbalife Nutrition is also committed to bringing nutrition and education to communities around the world.

For more information, please visit IAmHerbalifeNutrition.com.

Two Filipino Kids Named among the Top 10 Young Storytellers by Scholastic Asia

2021 SAYSA Winners

Two Filipino kids were among the 10 children across Asia who were awarded the 2021 Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award (SAYSA).  The virtual awarding ceremony was held on the 22nd of January, 2022.

Cassandra Ysabel Ignacio and Phoebe Niguidula were among the 10 who best delighted the SAYSA judges who chose from the 70 finalists shortlisted from more than 1,700 participants.  Scholastic Asia received read aloud entries from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

The SAYSA judges were Ms. Selina Lee, Vice President of Scholastic Asia, Ms. Christabel Pinto, Senior Director, Global Literacy Program of Room to Read,  Ms. Catherine Wu, Scholastic Asia’s Reading Ambassador, and Mr. Peter H. Reynolds, Award-winning Author and Illustrator.

Among the 70 SAYSA finalists were these 14 Filipino kids, selected through public voting and judging by Scholastic Asia:

2021 SAYSA Winners

Scholastic launched the Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award (SAYSA) in October 2021, leveraging the use of the digital space to provide a platform for children to showcase their many talents.  SAYSA invited readers aged 4 to 10 years to express their creativity through storytelling. 

Scholastic wants to encourage children in Asia to be confident as they narrate and read from their favorite Scholastic storybook while instilling a competitive spirit and a sense of camaraderie among peers.  Moreover, Scholastic wants children to be able to share with other kids their love for books and reading.

With the successful inauguration of the Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award, Scholastic Asia has announced that SAYSA 2022 will be in October.

For over 100 years now, Scholastic has been championing a love for reading and learning all over the world.  In the Philippines, Scholastic is partners with over 250 schools in its Reading and Math Programs – PR1ME English and PR1ME Mathematics.  In PR1ME English, reading aloud to students by their teachers, parents, and peers is integral in nurturing students’ comprehension and critical thinking skills, and instilling in them a love for reading.  Scholastic Philippines is happy and proud that 9 out of the 14 Filipino kids who made it to Asia’s Top 70, including Cassandra and Phoebe, are from among its current partner schools in PR1ME English.

Scholastic Philippines is sharing the 14 SAYSA read aloud videos from the Philippines to the public as part of the WORLD READ ALOUD DAY (WRAD) Celebration in February.  The videos may be viewed on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmqSEvEhhWS82yS0s3y1W9A/videos

As part of the WRAD Campaign, Scholastic Philippines is also sponsoring the Scholastic Voice of the Youth Awards – interschool contests amplifying the voice of the Filipino youth through reading, writing, and speaking.  The contests are open to Scholastic’s partners in PR1ME English.

For more information about Scholastic’s programs, please visit scholasticph.com.