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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Financial Security, Closer to Home: EastWest Ageas Insurance Opens Doors in Naga

Naga City, Camarines Sur, February 10, 2025 – For many Filipinos, securing their financial future can feel like a distant goal — something to think about "later." But what if expert financial guidance was within your reach? EastWest Ageas Insurance, one of the fast-rising insurance providers in the Philippines, is making that a reality with the opening of its first agency house in Naga City. This is the second agency opening of the insurance provider outside Metro Manila, marking a major step in EastWest Ageas Insurance’s mission to help more Filipinos take control of their financial future—bringing expert advice, insurance solutions, and investment guidance closer to home.

EastWest Ageas Insurance opens its agency house in Naga City to provide financial solutions to more customers in the Bicol region. In the photo: Sjoerd Smeets, President & CEO, Marlon Vicente, Chief Agency Officer and Greg Martin, Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer

The Naga agency house will serve as the hub of EastWest Ageas Insurance’s financial consultants. This will allow the insurance provider to connect with interested policyholders throughout the Bicol Region.


“We strive to extend our reach and touch more Filipinos,” shares Sjoerd Smeets, President and CEO of EastWest Ageas Insurance. “And with our agency house opening here in Naga, we are living up to our promise of helping more Filipinos build a financially secure tomorrow. We’ll be even more accessible to those who want to have expert financial advice and solutions that can protect their life, wealth, and health.” 


The newly-opened Naga hub will also allow EastWest Ageas Insurance to pursue its advocacy of spreading financial literacy. “For us to make a real impact, we plan to clear up misconceptions about financial literacy. We want to help more Filipinos understand that securing their financial future is more than just having a savings account or insurance –– it’s really about how they spend their money to bring them closer to their financial goals,” explains Marlon Vicente, EastWest Ageas Insurance Chief Agency Officer. 


To support this effort, EastWest Ageas Insurance held a client forum with expert speakers who shared the basics of investing and how to best maximize investments with a reliable insurance provider’s financial solutions. EastWest Ageas Insurance’s Investment Head, Mitch Lumabi and Product Management Head, Jessa Cuaresma led the forum.

This investment forum was held at the Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga, and was attended by select clients and VIPs.

“At EastWest Ageas Insurance, we strive to make investing and getting protected with insurance simple, more accessible, and easy to understand,” says Greg Martin, EastWest Ageas Insurance’s Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer. “Our ultimate goal is to cultivate even deeper and stronger ties, not just with the people of Naga, but with all Filipinos who are keen on building their better tomorrow. And we’ll be there ready to help them all the way.”


The EastWest Ageas Insurance agency house is located on the 2nd Floor TDM Bldg. Panganiban Ave. corner Dinaga St. Naga City.


Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Fall in love with good fortune in Power Mac Center’s ‘Charms & Treasures’ promo

 


Power Mac Center (PMC) kicks off 2025 with its annual double celebration of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, setting the stage for a host of seasonal events throughout the year.

As the world welcomes the Year of the Wood Snake, the season of giving continues with abundant offers and exclusive in-store and Web Store freebies. With the theme Charms & Treasures,” customers can look forward to an array of discounts, special gifts, exclusive offers, and a fun photo contest.

“The year of the snake is largely associated with transformation and rebirth, and it’s the same vibe we wish to see our customers continuously pursue. Power Mac Center will keep fostering an environment of creativity and community to support our customers’ journey to self-improvement and innovation,” said Joey Alvarez, PMC Director for Marketing and Product Management.

Show up in-store, enjoy exclusive promos

Ahead of the Lunar New Year, which falls on January 29, drop by any of the over 120 Power Mac Center or The Loop branches to enjoy up to 50% off on select Apple accessories and Apple TV when purchased with any Apple device via non-installment modes of payment. Offer is valid from January 25 to February 16, 2025.

Be one of the first customers to make any purchase on February 8-9 or February 14-15 in select stores and receive two complimentary Polaroid souvenirs.

Tap tap your way to free shipping, discounts, and gifts with purchase

Over at the Web Store <powermaccenter.com> and The Loop by Power Mac Center store on Shopee and Lazada, customers can enjoy up to 50% off on select Apple accessories and Apple TV from January 25 to February 2, 2025.

Shop online and get 14% off on participating premium accessories plus free shipping from February 3 to 13, 2025 and up to 50% discount on participating premium accessories plus free shipping from February 14 to 16, 2025.

Customers who check out select Apple devices online can also receive a gift from Power Mac Center from January 25 to February 16, 2025. Get the Anker SoundCore R50i True Wireless Earphones for every purchase of participating iPad models, Before Anything Else Dual Port 30w Wall Charger for every purchase of participating iPhone models, or STM NetGain Backpack for every purchase of participating Mac models.

Upgrade with UpTrade for additional trade-in value

If you’ve been planning to switch to the Apple ecosystem or upgrade your device this new year, take advantage of exclusive offers from PMC’s trade-in program “UpTrade.” From January 20 to February 20, 2025, customers can receive up to P3,000 top-up trade-in value they can use to purchase new items in PMC and The Loop stores nationwide.

Take a selfie with the giant Ang Pao, get a chance to win GCs

From January 25 to February 5, 2025, PMC and The Loop are having an online photo contest where customers get a chance to win up to P2,500 worth of Power Mac Center gift certificates.

Spot the giant Ang Pao at select Power Mac Center or The Loop stores including SM Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 3, Power Plant Mall, SM Megamall, Robinsons Magnolia, SM North EDSA – Annex, TriNoma, Ongpin, S Maison, Bonifacio High Street, U.P. Town Center, Alabang Town Center, SM City Sta. Mesa, Lucky Chinatown Mall, SM Araneta City, and Ayala Malls Feliz. Take a photo with it and share on Facebook and/or Instagram along with the hashtags #PowerMacCenter and #PMCCharmsandTreasures. Don’t forget to tag Power Mac Center!

Always be in the loop for exciting happenings by tuning in to the OFFICIAL Power Mac Center accounts on FacebookInstagramXTikTokViber, and YouTube, as well as The Loop Ph Facebook and The Loop Ph Instagram.

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) Announces Change of Company Name to Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines, Inc. (CCEAP)

 


MANILA, PHILIPPINES (15 January 2025) — Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) has changed the company’s legal name from “Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc.” to “Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines, Inc.” (CCEAP).

Following the announcement on 23 February 2024 on the completed acquisition of CCEAP by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Plc (CCEP) and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), the company has obtained approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission for the change of its company name.

“Our new name signifies an exciting new phase in our journey as we reaffirm our commitment to serving our customers, supporting our people and communities, and driving long-term growth for the country. In the 113 years that Coca-Cola has called the Philippines home, we look forward to a hundred more years of refreshing our consumers and making a difference through our Great People, Great Beverages, Great Execution, and Great Partners — Done Sustainably,” says Gareth McGeown, President and CEO of CCEAP.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Banking public warned against prevalence of text or SMS hijacking scam

 


THE banking public should be wary against the prevalence of text or SMS hijacking, a type of scam wherein fraudsters impersonate legitimate SMS senders to dupe recipients into believing that the messages they receive are authentic.

 

According to reports from law enforcement agencies, illegal cellular sites, also known as International Mobile Subscriber Identity catchers, are using sender IDs of trusted brands like BDO to make scam texts appear legit. 

 

These spoofed messages usually entice clients with claims of prizes won, free gifts, or claims of account problems. In all these cases, the scammer instructs the client to click on a link included in the spoofed message. 

 

Once clicked, the fake link will lead to a fake website, wherein the victim will be instructed to enter his/her account details including username, password and One-Time PIN or OTP. After this information has been shared, the scammer will then use these bank credentials to gain access to the victim's bank account and steal their money.

 

BDO emphasized that it will never send messages containing clickable links to its clients. To help avoid falling victim to SMS hijacking scams, the Bank shared several important tips: never click on links, as BDO will never send links in its messages—if a message contains a link, it’s a scam; never share personal information via SMS; and always be cautious of unsolicited messages that offer deals that seem too good to be true. These precautions are essential in protecting oneself from fraud.

 

The Bank also advised its clients to report and forward any suspicious messages to 22567888.




Saturday, November 23, 2024

BDO, nagbabala laban sa mga ‘vishing’ scam

PATULOY na pinag-iingat ang publiko laban sa tinatawag na "vishing" o voice phishing scam na kadalasang tumatarget ng mga bank depositor o online bank account client para nakawin ang kanilang pinaghirapang pera.

Ang vishing ay isang modus ng scam kung saan ang scammer ay tumatawag upang makumbinsi ang kanilang nabiktima na magbigay ng sensitibong impormasyon tulad ng bank account details. Kapag nakuha na ang nasabing impormasyon, dito na maaaring nakawin ng scammer ang laman ng bank account ng biktima. 

Ayon sa BDO Unibank, narito ang ilan sa kadalasang ginagamit na modus ng mga vishing scammer upang mangbiktima:

 

1.     Tatawag sa biktima at magpapanggap na representante ng isang ahensya ng gobyerno, bangko, o di kaya'y magpapadala ng text o direct message para sila na mismo ang tawagan ng napili nilang biktima.

 

2.     Upang makumbinsi ang biktima na sya ay lehitimo, gagamit ang scammer ng impormasyong tungkol sa credit card o bank account ng biktima bilang dahilan ng kanyang pagtawag. Ang mga impormasyong ito ay maaaring makuha ng mga scammer sa mga dokumentong may sensitibong detalye na hindi naitapon ng maayos, o sa mga posts sa social media ng mismong biktima. May mga pagkakataon din na bumibisita o sumasali mismo ang mga scammer sa mga "credit card o bank account groups" sa social media para doon sila maghanap ng mabibiktima.  

 

3.     Gagamit ng pananakot o mabilis at kapani-paniwalang pananalita ang mga scammer upang tuluyang makumbinsi ang kanilang biktima, tulad ng mga katagang "na-hack ang iyong account", "may na-detect na problema sa account mo", "Congrats! Nanalo ka ng...," "Special Offer! Effective only today!," o inaatasan ang biktima na i-activate ang isang offer sa ATM kapalit ng isang reward.  

 

4.     Habang tumatagal ang usapan, tumataas din ang posibilidad na makumbinsi ng scammer ang biktima. Dahil inaakala ng biktima na lehitimo ito at hindi nya makayang putulin ang tawag o ibaba ang telepono, mas malaki rin ang posibilidad na sundin nya kung anomang instructions ang ibigay ng scammer tulad ng pagbibigay ng Card Verification Value o CVV ng credit card, username at password ng online bank account, One-Time PIN o OTP, o ang pag-click sa isang link na ipapadala ng scammer.


Sa lahat ng mga nabanggit na scenario, ang pinakakaraniwan dito ay ang pagmamadali ng scammer sa biktima nila na umaksyon na agad habang kausap ito sa telepono. Dahil dito, maaaring mataranta ang biktima at sumunod sa mga ibibigay na utos ng scammer.

Upang hindi maging biktima ng vishing scam, nagpapaalala ang BDO sa publiko na laging maging mahinahon kung makakatanggap ng text o tawag lalo sa mga hindi rehistradong numero. Dagdag pa ng bangko na kahit na alam ng scammer ang numero, pangalan at trabaho nila, huwag kaagad maniniwala sa binibitawang mensahe o susunod sa mga instruction nito. Marapat na tapusin na ang tawag lalo na kung may pagmamadali, at tumawag sa official customer service hotline ng sinasabing ahensya o bangko, dagdag pa ng BDO.

Ayon pa sa BDO, matapos ma-verify na peke ang nasabing tawag, i-block na agad ang numerong ginamit ng scammer at i-report ang insidente sa Customer Contact Center nito.

Para alamin ang iba’t-ibang uri ng scam at tips kung paano makakaiwas dito, marapat na bumisita lang sa www.bdo.com.ph. #BDOStopScam

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Filinvest Land Tops Off Building A in Futura Monte Naga

Trusted property developer Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) recently held a topping-off ceremony for Futura Monte’s Building A in Naga City, marking the official completion of its structural framework. Soon, this building will stand as the embodiment of quality living within reach.


With its steady construction progress, Building A is expected to be ready for turnover by the fourth quarter of 2025. By then, residents can enjoy the ideal lifestyle inside a safe and secure community complete with comfortable living spaces, vibrant greenery, and healthy venues for family bonding.


Futura Monte is conveniently located along Roxas Avenue in Brgy. Triangulo at the heart of Naga City. Its prime location allows easy access to daily necessities with schools, churches, hospitals, malls, and various essential establishments nearby. It also provides seamless commute with its proximity to accessible transportation hubs.


Thoughtfully crafted with the residents’ well-being in mind, Futura Monte dedicates 60% of the property to lush open spaces and complete, family-centric amenities. Four mid-rise buildings with a modern minimalist design comprise this 1.9-hectare enclave, creating a harmonious balance between nature and modernity.


One of Futura Monte’s central amenities is the clubhouse with swimming pool. This is where gatherings, occasions, and even simple relaxing moments take place, building stronger connections and creating lasting memories with loved ones. A play area is also available for kids to embrace their childhood joys, while adults can pursue their health goals in the fitness gym.



Building A consists of well-appointed units that cater to the varied needs of the market—from studio units to 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units. These living spaces are built with reinforced concrete to ensure durability and convenient functionality. Embedded columns and beams are also integrated to create optimized and adaptable spaces for families and individuals to embrace their independence.


Futura Monte’s attractive features have caught the attention of aspiring homeowners. Units in Building A are already sold out, officially establishing the success of the project in Naga City. This milestone is another testament to Filinvest’s mission of building Filipino dreams by efficiently meeting the high demand of young professionals and start-up families seeking their ideal home. 


With a proven track record of creating quality and sustainable communities for over 60 years, Filinvest Land ensures that Futura Monte is a worthy investment poised for growth. With its accessible location and attractive offers, units in Building A have great potential for property appreciation over time.


To know more about this modern mid-rise community, interested parties can contact (0917) 545-7788 / (0919) 076-4836 or visit the project website: https://futurabyfilinvest.com/project/futura-monte# for more information. 


For inquiries, please contact: 

GENEDINA MESA 

Senior Manager – Media & Admin. 

genedina.mesa@filinvestland.com 

 

About Filinvest Land  

 

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), is one of the country’s leading and multi-awarded full-range property developers. It is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the trading symbol $FLI. Staying true to its mission, FLI continues to build the Filipino dream across the Philippines.  

  

For over 60 years, FLI has built a diverse project portfolio spanning the archipelago, from its core best-value homes to residential townships, mid- and high-rise condominiums, office buildings, shopping centers, industrial parks, co-living properties, and leisure developments.   

  

These include the large-scale townships: Havila (306 hectares), Timberland Heights (677 hectares), and Manna East (60 hectares) in Rizal; Ciudad de Calamba (350 hectares) in Laguna; Palm Estates (51 hectares) in Talisay City, Negros Occidental; and City di Mare, the Lifestyle Capital of Cebu (50 hectares).  

  

FLI owns 20% of Filinvest Alabang, Inc., developer of Filinvest City (244 hectares), South Metro Manila’s premier garden central business district and home to Festival Mall, the flagship Filinvest Mall in Alabang. FLI is also developing two townships in the Clark Freeport Special Economic Zone: the industrial Filinvest Innovation Park-New Clark City (288 hectares) and Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City (201 hectares), the former in partnership with BCDA, and the latter in partnership with FDC. 


Friday, November 8, 2024

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Naga City Government, team up to boost PET bottle collection and recycling efforts

In line with its mission to support local communities’ sustainable waste management efforts, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the Philippines, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to formalize its partnership with the City of Naga and its community partners. As part of this collaboration, CCBPI provided a baling machine to support the city’s PET bottle collection and recycling initiatives. 


Representatives present (L-R) during the signing: Alfredo M. Gatongay of the Independent Component City Agriculture and Fishery Council of Naga, Annielen L. Panerio, General Manager of the CamSur Multipurpose Cooperative, Naga City Mayor Nelson S. Legacion, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) VP for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, Chairperson of RAFC Region 5 Bernadette delos Santos, and Chief of PMED and RAFC Bicol Regional Executive Officer Aloha Gigi Bañaria.



"CCBPI is proud to support the City of Naga in promoting its waste management initiatives and empowering its community members to actively participate in the city’s collection and recycling efforts. We thank all our partners—Mayor Nelson S. Legacion, the CamSur Multipurpose Cooperative, and the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council of Region 5—for working with us towards our goal of fostering cleaner and greener communities,” says Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, CCBPI VP for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs.


The partnership underscores the shared commitment of Coca-Cola, the local government, and partner communities to fostering a collective effort toward creating a circular economy for recyclable plastic packaging in Naga. Central to the effort is the CamSur Multipurpose Cooperative, which leverages its network of over 7,000 members to execute the collection initiatives for post-consumer clear PET plastic bottles within the city. The Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council Region 5 will help oversee the project implementation to ensure that the collection efforts are seamlessly integrated into the community’s needs.


The goal is to ensure that all collected clear PET plastic bottles, regardless of brand, are diverted to PETValue Philippines, the country's first facility dedicated to bottle-to-bottle recycling. PETValue employs advanced technologies to transform fully recyclable post-consumer plastic packaging into new food-grade recycled PET (rPET) bottles. This facility is a joint venture between CCBPI and Indorama Ventures, a global sustainable chemical company.


Through strong multi-sectoral partnership, the initiative aims to promote a circular economy that is geared towards protecting the environment, supporting local livelihoods, and creating a better future for the residents of Naga City. 

Education beyond the classroom: Teachers learn FinLit lessons in session organized by BDO Foundation

 OCTOBER 2024 – A teacher’s influence extends beyond the four walls of the classroom. Recognizing the role of teachers in guiding the youth, the Department of Education (DepEd) and BDO Foundation organized a financial literacy session for the benefit of 20 teachers from Naga, 20 teachers from Iriga, and 60 teachers and nonteaching personnel from Camarines Sur in commemoration of this year’s National Teachers’ Month. This was hosted by Schools Division Office - Camarines Sur. 


DepEd Camarines Sur Schools Division Superintendent Norma B. Samantela, CESO V and BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito witnessed the financial literacy session. (Photo courtesy of Empower and Transform)

Designed to empower teachers in the early stages of their career, the session focused on essential financial management lessons like budgeting, saving, financial planning, debt management, and fraud and scam prevention.

“As teachers, we are responsible for setting a positive example to our students – we are their second parents after all,” said Norma Samantela, Camarines Sur schools division superintendent. “This training initiative enables us to be better role models as we make sound financial decisions and secure our futures and those of our families.”

 

DepEd and BDO Foundation work closely to help improve the financial literacy levels of beneficiaries in the education sector. Together with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the partners currently implement a financial education program for public schools across the country.

Teachers actively participated in visioning exercises designed to identify financial goals. (Photo courtesy of Empower and Transform)


Veteran business journalist and staunch fin ed advocate Salve Duplito facilitated the learning session held at Lotus Blu Hotel. Raised by a mother who was also an educator, she related to the common struggles of teachers, especially those with family responsibilities.

 

“Sharing the gift of knowledge that hones the minds of the youth is what teachers do best. We want to give back to them in the same way – through financial education,” she shared.

 

Financial inclusion is one of the program pillars of BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank. The initiative in Naga is one of the many efforts of the organization to spearhead actions that aim to help improve the economic well-being of Filipinos in different sectors of society.

A story of service and resiliency: BDO remains online amidst the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine

IN the face of great damage brought by Tropical Storm Kristine to the Bicol Region, BDO Unibank remained online within the Rinconada District to serve the community’s cash requirements at a dire time when people needed access to their funds.

The only one. BDO branch in Iriga City was the only bank in whole Rinconada District in Camarines Sur to remain online during Tropical Storm Kristine’s surge.

The Rinconada District encompasses the municipalities of Baao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, Bula, Nabua, and Iriga City.

 

According to Romeo R. De Vera III, Senior Assistant Vice President and Area Head of Region 6-Southern Luzon, the BDO branch in Iriga City remained open to clients in need of cash on October 24, when the rest were not available


De Vera explained that to ensure uninterrupted service to their clients even during calamities, they strategically deployed personnel and resources where they were needed the most, as some branches had to close due to floods and other challenges. He also stressed that BDO prioritized the welfare of its personnel, especially during these challenging situations. "That's always been our practice during calamities—after securing our respective homes and families, our personnel then headed to the branches to help get these up and running, ready to serve our clients.”

 

All in a day's work

 

For De Vera, it's business as usual even in the face of typhoons.

 

"For us, as long as the roads are passable, we went and help out where we were needed. But we only asked employees who were able to report for work and not adversely affected by the flood,” he pointed out.

 

He also proudly shared that resilience is one of the many positive traits of Bicolanos like him.

 

"When it comes to calamities, Bicolanos are resilient. It's just a typhoon. But this (Tropical Storm Kristine) was the strongest we've had in 30 years. We were surprised by the magnitude of the ensuing floods," he admitted. "But here in BDO, it's nothing new. Like we always say here, ‘we find ways.’ That's why our clients are so happy with us, as even clients from other banks were able to withdraw using our ATMs."

 

He also noted the bank’s “We find ways” philosophy extend not only to the level of service they provide to their clients, but also to the support they offer to fellow employees especially amid trying times.

 

This, De Vera explained, came to fore when personnel from other branches were unable to go home because of the floods.

 

"A branch manager opened her home to one of the staff who got stranded and was unable to go home because of the flood. The same was true for personnel in our Camarines Sur-Nabua Branch, who were stranded there. We also would like to thank our Security Division for facilitating the delivery of relief goods," he said.