FWD Life Philippines launches Set for Tomorrow, financial protection for those you leave behind

FWD Life Philippines, one of the country’s fastest-growing life insurers, has introduced a series ofnew protection plans that can be tailored to meet individual customer needs.

“FWD’s Set for Tomorrow will provide protection for the people we love and care about. The
coverage amount and period can be customized to any personal situation and budget. Our aim is tomake real and substantial protection accessible to everyone,” said FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes.

Dubbed Set for Tomorrow, the insurance product has three variants that address the different needsto take care of those left behind should the unexpected happen—Short Term Cover, IncomeProtector, and Estate Protector.

Set for Tomorrow caters to Filipinos from 18 to 70 years of age, from young urban professionals to retirees,” Peter added. “With very basic social security, many professionals have an enormousprotection gap.”

Taking responsibility to protect those you love
In today’s uncertain world, FWD’s latest insurance product is there to protect the ones you love.

Three common reasons that lead to financial problems for those left behind include:

 People have loans and accountabilities that are transferred to their family if they are no
longer around.
 Raising a family requires time and money. Also, if the breadwinner falls away, the family will still need money to continue living a life with dignity.
 People who build up wealth worry about what they leave behind and especially how to best
avoid a family crisis in settling estate taxes and dividing assets. As part of any estate planning solution, long-term insurance coverage is essential to evenly share the assets and ensure those left behind feel equally treated.

Solutions that provide guaranteed protection and give you peace of mind
FWD’s Set for Tomorrow has three variants that meet the needs of the modern Filipino.

1. Short Term Cover is an affordable term life plan that provides guaranteed life insurance coverage for five or 10 years.

2.Income Protector ensures that your family can continue their life even if you are no longer around.

3.Lastly, Estate Protector is a whole-life plan that provides guaranteed life insurance coverage until 120 years of age.

FWD wants to guide people in fitting the right variant, protection amount, coverage period, and payment terms to the customer’s preferences and abilities. With this in mind, FWD launched online calculator “Cali”. By answering just a few questions, Cali allows you to determine the best solution for you and your budget.

To find out the Set for Tomorrow plan that’s perfect for your budget and insurance needs, simply visit cali.ph/SetForTomorrow.

FWD’s Set for Tomorrow plans are now available through FWD Life’s Financial Wealth Planners. Interested customers may call the 24/7 FWD Customer Connect Hotline at (02) 888-8388 or chat with a Customer Connect Executive via FWD’s 24/7 Live Chat (www.fwd.com.ph) to set an appointment. The plans will also soon be available at all branches of Security Bank, FWD’s bancassurance partner.


About FWD Philippines

FWD Life Insurance Corporation (“FWD Life”) is the first life insurance company licensed by the Insurance Commission of the Philippines
under the new Insurance Code. FWD launched its commercial operations in September 2014. By March 2017, FWD Life is the highest-
capitalized life insurer in the Philippines with PhP 2.3 billion in paid-up capitalization.1 Based on premium income data published by the
Insurance Commission2
, FWD Life now ranks 10th in the insurance industry in terms of weighted new business premiums.3
FWD Group spans Hong Kong & Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan, offering life and medical
insurance, general insurance, and employee benefits across a number of its markets. Established in Asia in 2013, FWD is the insurance
business arm of investment group, Pacific Century Group. In the Philippines, FWD has nine business hubs located in key cities nationwide
with its headquarters in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this
customer-led approach, FWD aims to become a leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance.
For more information please visit fwd.com.ph.
1 www.insurance.gov.ph > Statistics > 2017 > Based on Paid-Up Capital
2 www.insurance.gov.ph > Statistics > 2017 > Based on Premium Income
3 Weighted New Business Premium Income: 100% of first-year premium on regular-pay plans + 10% of single-pay premiums

BASF Kids’ Lab helps children in the Philippines learn how to be “Clever Foodies”

BASF Kids’ Lab participants in the Philippines will receive Dr. Bubbles soft toys. These dolls were produced by hand by housewives in Gawad Kalinga community at GK Enchanted Farm, Bulacan. The women are engaged by Plush and Play, a social enterprise under the GK communities.)

• 450 elementary students from Taguig and communities in Gawad Kalinga conduct safe, hands-on chemistry experiments
• “Clever Foodies” experiment program helps children understand healthier eating habits including Vitamin C
• BASF Kids’ Lab to be held at The Mind Museum from October 19 - 21

Last Saturday, October 19, 2018 at Mind Museum BGC Taguig City,– Around 450 children aged 8-12 will learn about chemistry and nutrition through safe, hands-on experiments at BASF Kids’ Lab. This interactive science education program will be held from October 19 to 21, 2018 at The Mind Museum in Taguig City, Philippines.

“Through BASF Kids’ Lab, we provide kids from a variety of backgrounds with the opportunity to experience chemistry through hands-on experiments. This year, to celebrate the United Nations’ World Food Day on October 16, we are introducing a new series of experiments: the ‘Clever Foodies’ program. This program helps boost children’s dietary awareness and encourage them to make positive changes towards healthier eating,” said Ronald Mercado, Managing Director, BASF Philippines.

During the event, mentors will guide elementary school children from public schools in Taguig, as well as from Gawad Kalinga communities, as they explore and analyze the Vitamin C content and other substances contained in fruit and vegetables, and understand the benefits of eating a colorful range of vegetables and fruit.

BASF Kids’ Lab focuses on fostering learning and interest in chemistry among children through safe and interactive science experiments. First held in BASF’s headquarters in Ludwigshafen in Germany in 1997, the program has been brought to more than 30 countries across the globe. “Clever Foodies” was first developed to mark the 20th anniversary of BASF Kids' Lab.

BASF Kids’ Lab has been held the Philippines since 2005, helping more than 3,000 children discover the world of chemistry in daily life and understand scientific concepts.

BASF is an active supporter of education projects in Philippines. Together with The Mind Museum, the Philippines’ leading science museum, in September BASF unveiled the Virtual Chemical Reactions Interactive Touch Table at the Atom Gallery of the museum. The only one of its kind in the country, the Virtual Chemical Reactions Interactive Touch Table, donated by BASF, uses digital simulations, audio, and colorful animations to help children explore the world of chemistry, so that they can observe the chemical reactions between various substances in a completely safe and interactive environment.

About BASF in the Philippines

In the Philippines, BASF has been enabling manufacturers in various industries since 1963. Today, BASF Philippines, Inc. is a leading supplier of chemicals for industries including construction and coatings, automotive, health and nutrition, personal and home care, chemicals and plastics, and agriculture. BASF also operates an agricultural research station which conducts research, laboratory studies and field testing of novel technologies as part of BASF’s global research effort in the field of agricultural solutions. In 2017, BASF posted sales to customers in Philippines of approximately €119 million, and employed 88 people as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF in the Philippines is available at www.basf.com/ph.

WWF-Philippines, Ayala Malls, and partners launch #AyokoNgPlastik movement

Uniting under the call to end plastic pollution, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, together with Ayala Malls and other partner corporations, officially launched the #AyokoNgPlastik movement at Glorietta 2 Activity Center.

With eight million tons of plastic ending up in oceans every year, the Philippines ranks as the world’s third plastic polluter of oceans. The #AyokoNgPlastik movement hopes to address these alarming facts by bringing together companies, individuals, and other sectors to minimize and eventually put a stop to single-use plastics such as straws, bags, bottles, and cups. Refusing these is a simple yet strong first step that individuals can take to commit to a sustainable lifestyle, especially since the harm that these materials cause directly affect humans.

“Plastic pollution is a serious threat not only to marine life but to human life as well. Plastics don’t completely degenerate and just break down into small pieces ─ microplastics ─ which are ingested by the fish that we eat. The possibility of plastics ending up on dinner plates is a serious concern and a health hazard,” said Joel Palma, WWF-Philippines President and CEO.

The movement is one of the major projects of WWF-Philippines this year. Initiated by its Next Generation Council (NGC), the goal is to raise awareness and encourage individuals to live more consciously and for businesses to operate more sustainably. Introduced during the event, the NGC is made up of young movers and shakers who heeded the call to spread WWF-Philippines’ conservation thrusts. Headed by The Net Group Chair Raymond Rufino, members include television host and columnist Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi, Philux COO Stephanie Kienle-Gonzalez, Magsaysay Transport and Logistics COO Jesse Maxwell, Teach for the Philippines CEO Clarissa Delgado, The Moment Group Co-Founder and Creative Director Abba Napa, and former WWF-Philippines National Youth Council Chairperson Alexa Cancio.

"Driven by deep concern, every member of the NGC is volunteering time, energy and resources to reduce single-use plastic pollution in the country.  The challenge is daunting but we are determined and committed," stated Rufino.

Ayala Malls, one of the biggest shopping mall developers in the Philippines, has also expressed support for the movement. As part of the Ayala group of companies (recognized by the United Nations as a sustainable development pioneer), Ayala Malls is committed to driving sustainable business and living practices across their many developments.

“Sustainability has long been a priority for Ayala Malls and we’re especially proud to have the chance to continue the momentum with WWF. We launched our initial campaign in 2009, with the aim to bring focus to the importance of sustainable living, and last year we established our intent for no plastic shopping bags across Ayala Malls. We are thrilled to have found a partner in WWF for #AyokoNgPlastik campaign, as we work together for a more sustainable future for the Philippines,” said Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Malls Deputy Head.

In addition to Ayala Malls, other official partners of the #AyokoNgPlastik movement present during the event include National Geographic, Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, Bo's Coffee, Corkcicle, Coffee Project, Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort, Puerto Pension Inn, foodpanda, HSBC, Impact Hub Manila, IVO, The Lind Boracay, The Moment Group, Toby's Estate, CIBO, and CNN-Philippines.

“We’re very grateful to have a number of companies join the movement this early on. With their involvement, it makes it easier for Filipinos to veer away from plastic and choose a sustainable alternative instead. We’re hoping to get more partners to participate in this cause,” Palma remarked.

WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, who hosted the kickoff event, both stressed the importance of every Filipino’s participation in the movement and how this can contribute to positive environmental change by stating how cleaning up oceans and coastlines is essential in restoring marine life and reiterating the importance of preventing pollutants from entering the oceans.

“We’re very happy to see the growing number of people interested in beach cleanups. Now the challenge we must all take is to go beyond the beach and do whatever it takes to reduce our own carbon footprint,” Fernandez said.

“The amount of trash being collected during cleanups is just unimaginable. Everyone needs to realize that our trash is never actually gone and just ends up somewhere else. We need to be responsible travelers and consumers and avoid single-use plastics and recycle what we can,” Nelson added.

If production and usage of plastic remain unchanged, experts predict that there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Everyone is invited to take part in the #AyokoNgPlastik movement and can find more details through WWF-Philippines’ social media pages or the official #AyokoNgPlastik Facebook group, which now has almost 3,000 members since its launch 2 months ago.

WWF National Ambassadors Rovilson Fernandez, Iza Calzado, and Marc Nelson wearing #AyokoNgPlastik shirts, which are available from October 16 to 21 at Trinoma and Glorietta

An OctoberFresh celebration of World Chicken and Egg Day

Bounty Fresh, the leading Philippine-based farm-to-market poultry producer is at the forefront of celebrating World Chicken and Egg Day here in the Philippines. The event was held at the TriNoma Activity Center last October 12, 2018.

There are several egg and chicken booth activities and in-store promos, which brings fun for the whole family during the event. This is Bounty Fresh’s way of thanking its loyal customers for making them the number one choice in every Filipino feast.

Bounty Fresh’s chicken and egg products, which are strictly produced using only the state-of-the-art, ISO certified technology and processes, was featured in several activities lined up for the whole day. Culinary segments, like a cooking demo, will use only the freshest, most nutritious, and definitely affordable to every Filipino family. This is in line with Bounty Fresh’s theme, OctoberFresh, which focuses on the many benefits in buying only the fresh products.

There are several chicken and egg-related booth activities on the ground. At the same time, the event will also serve as the culminating activity to brand’s very own Egg and Chickenovela, featuring Chicky, the character representing all of Bounty Fresh’s products. She laid an egg and eventually lost it. Fortunately, her friends online did everything they can to find some clues on the whereabouts of her missing baby, which led them to TriNoma Activity Center.

A great bounty awaits to a chosen few, who helped Chicky in finding her baby egg. But before they do, they will have to battle it out on stage, going through competitions like “SWEGG” Dance Challenge, “Beatbok” Challenge, and “Eggs Factor” Season 2 Cooking Challenge. A grand prize of Php 100,000 was given through raffle, along with consolation prizes, and some Masflex items. There are also a lot of raffle prizes available so that everyone can go home with a big smile on their faces. And if they can’t get enough of Bounty Fresh, there is Chicken and Egg Sale, where everyone can purchase these products at a price starts P20.00.

All of these activities and giveaways are the least Bounty Fresh can do to make its customers enjoy this year’s World Chicken and Egg Day. Bounty Fresh promises to continuously provide Filipino families with succulent meat of high quality, steroid-free chickens, and the most nutritious and fresh white and brown eggs, all at the most affordable price.

Aside from the Philippines, the event will also be celebrated in countries like Australia, The UK, USA, Brazil, France, and neighboring Asian countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, to name a few.

GSK and PFV Rolls Out Kontra Diarrhea Campaign The preventable and treatable disease is still the second leading cause of death in children under the age of five

MANILA, October 10, 2018 – Despite advances in modern medicine, children under
the age of five are still susceptible to diarrhea—a disease that has been identified
as the second leading cause of death in children worldwide, next to pneumonia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that diarrhea kills about half a
million children aged under five each year.

In the Philippines, it is also one of the leading causes of death among children, translating to  Filipino children dying of the disease every day before they reach the age of 5. 3
Rotavirus is the number one cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea.

This virus is highly contagious and can spread via fecal- oral route. It is readily transmitted from contaminated surfaces, such as when infants and young children frequently put
their hands and toys into their mouths.5-6 The virus has also sent millions of infants
and young children to hospitals and clinics.

Studies have shown that a child who has experienced severe, dehydrating diarrhea
may suffer from its long-term effects such as loss of IQ by up to 10 points, fitness
impairment, decreased school performance including delayed school age.7-9
It is a universal disease that our children can acquire, rich or poor.

To combat the threat of diarrhea, GSK, one of the world’s science- led healthcare
companies, in partnership with the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV),
officially launched the “Game On: Kontra Diarrhea” campaign on October 10. The
campaign aims to emphasize the gravity of the disease and a holistic approach to
its prevention, which includes breastfeeding, improvement of hygiene and clean
water supply, handwashing, and vaccination.

“We want to inform and empower mothers all over the Philippines to give their
children a better chance to a brighter future. Rotavirus diarrhea can seriously
impact on a child’s growth and development. A holistic approach—breastfeeding,
access to clean water and sanitation, handwashing, and vaccination—has been
considered to give Filipino infants and young children a chance against this life-
threatening disease,” said Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director of the PFV.

“Helping protect our Filipino children from vaccine- preventable diseases such as
diarrhea has always been a continuing commitment and advocacy of the PFV,”
shared Dr. Bravo.
Vaccinating a child against rotavirus has been considered generally safe11 and
effective4 based on data from countries who have implemented national rotavirus
vaccination programs. In line with the WHO recommendation, 11 there are more
than 80 countries12 that have implemented this measure such as the Philippines13
,
Thailand14, United States15, and the United Kingdom16. Hospitalization rates and
diarrheal deaths in these countries, have declined.
“Diarrhea has been a long-standing health issue around the world and in the
Philippines. The time is now for us to act on it by increasing awareness amongst the
public on the serious consequences of diarrhea among children,” said Sriram
Jambunathan, General Manager of GSK Philippines.
“We will continue to help raise awareness on childhood diarrhea in some of the
communities in the provinces with the highest diarrhea cases. All of us—industry,
doctors, policymakers, and the civil society-- need to work together to help ensure
that our children remain healthy and protected from diarrhea,” urged
Jambunathan.

This year, GSK commemorates its 50th year in the Philippines and commits to
continue helping Filipinos do more, feel better, live longer.
The Game On: Kontra Diarrhea Caravan will be in Agusan on October 17, Iloilo on
October 23, Manila on October 25, and finally in Dagupan on November 5.
To know more about the childhood diarrhea and how to prevent it, consult your
doctor or community health worker.

PAAL Congress: Getting Filipinos ready to meet job demands in growing auto industry

The local economy may be going through a few rough patches but there are bright spots on the horizon.  For one, the Philippine automotive industry is slowly yet steadily growing, currently producing 400,000 cars yearly versus 100,000 a decade ago.  Annual car sales in the country are also projected to reach one million units by 2028. The increasing demand means the industry will make more cars, requiring more quality engineers, technicians, specialists, and other professionals within the decade.

With the Philippine automotive sector becoming an employment hotspot, companies are partnering with the public sector to raise awareness about the different opportunities that jobhunters and educational institutions can maximize.  Last September 28, the Philippine Auto Industry-Academia Linkage (PAAL) Congress was conducted by a coalition of four organizations – JobStreet Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments (DTI-BOI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP).  The first-of-its-kind the country, the event connected schools and training centers with automotive companies, bolstering collaboration and cooperation towards future projects and programs that can benefit more students, jobseekers, and businesses.

Preparing to meet higher demand

The coalition estimates that by 2028, direct employment in the industry will grow by 700,000 to 1.17 million more jobs.  Indirect employment will also increase, with many new jobs expected to open in the production of car parts and materials, automotive sales and maintenance, transport and storage, and petroleum stations.  For these prospects to be optimized, the industry needs to address the limited knowledge and on-the-job training opportunities in the different companies, processes, and technical skills involved in the car production chain; human resources’ difficulties in fielding and finding candidates with suitable educational background; and the need for schools and training centers to connect to a bigger and more beneficial network of partners.

The PAAL Congress thus brought together students, teachers, trainers, employers, engineers, and executives in a series of learning and networking sessions.  It aimed to help participants better understand the industry as a whole – its different players, demands, and standards; realize the career potential and different opportunities opening up in the automotive sector; and enable car companies to offer more input in schools’ curricula, thereby developing the right employee candidates in the near future.

The different talks by field experts offered an overview of the local industry, sharing its realities, trends, potentials, job market needs, and future goals.  Participants also heard from practitioners in a panel discussion and asked questions in a fruitful Q&A. Later in the day was the career and product exhibition that showcased the various companies in the automotive supply chain and the different job options.  Resumes were also submitted and same-day interviews were held.

“There are more than 100 companies in the industry’s supply chain.  With the expected growth in the sector, there’s going to be a lot of recruitment activity within the near future.  Through the congress, the partnership has opened bigger doors for dialogue and cooperation, which in turn will provide the sector with valuable information and insights that can multiply opportunities further.  We at JobStreet Philippines have been learning so much through this partnership, and we consider it a pleasure to be able to use this knowledge to make the best-fitting matches between even more employers and thousands of Filipino jobseekers.  This partnership has empowered all of us here to create and seek even more growth prospects for more people,” says Philip Gioca, Country Manager of JobStreet Philippines.

More plans in the future

As a post-event service and to ensure the long-range impact of the event, feedback will be collected.  Among the success indicators are the number and quality of industry-academia partnerships that were formed, job applications facilitated, increased interest and engagement in auto industry careers, and regular communication among the participants who connected with each other. Summaries of the speeches and discussions, tips and other learnings will also be shared online to reach more people.

Gioca adds: “It’s key to monitor the effect of this first congress to help us create better and more effective career and learning experiences in the future. There is unlimited potential in the technology-based skills and working attitude of Filipinos and we will keep supporting them through diverse programs. We have many more partnerships and activities planned.”

Over 50 educational and training institutions, 40 companies, and 800 individuals joined the congress, which is also part of the Elaboration of Industrial Promotion Plans using Value Chain Analysis project. The two-year pilot project operated by JICA and DTI promotes the automotive industry through the development and implementation of concrete policies and plans.

For more information about JobStreet Philippines programs and events, visit www.jobstreet.com.ph.