Singlife‌ ‌Philippines‌ ‌Shareholders‌ ‌Increase‌ ‌Investment‌ ‌In‌ ‌ Mobile-First‌ ‌Life‌ ‌Insurance‌ ‌

Manila, Philippines – Singlife Philippines announced receiving an additional ₱300 million to strengthen its capital base and sustain the growth of its digital-led life insurance business.

Existing shareholders Aviva Singlife, Di-Firm, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures subscribed to all the shares made available for investment, as they are confident in the company’s potential to become a significant industry player following its successful launch. Their vote of confidence furthers Singlife Philippines’ drive to put customers in control of their finances with tools and solutions that fit their needs, their budget, and are always on hand.

Singlife Philippines introduced its first protection product, Cash for Dengue Costs with free COVID-19 cover in October 2020. Customers bought their policies via GInsure on the GCash app, paying as low as ₱300 per year for a coverage of up to ₱421,500. A free 3-month version of the product was also offered to eligible Globe customers, resulting in Singlife insuring well over 100,000 lives against unforeseen Dengue and COVID-19 costs.

The success of Cash for Dengue Costs was soon followed by the launch of its income protection suite, with a choice between Cash for Income Loss and the lower priced Cash for Income Loss (Accidents Only). In the coming months, Singlife Philippines will launch Cash for Medical Costs, Cash for Later, and its direct-to-customer platform called the Singlife Plan & Protect app to continue its strong growth momentum.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to take control of their finances – to be able to save for big funding goals and be protected from the financial burdens that follow a severe medical condition or sudden loss of income,” said Rien Hermans, CEO of Singlife Philippines. “This new investment enables the execution of our business plan, with the development and delivery of a next-level user experience in savings and protection to unlock the potential of money for everyone.”


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About Singlife Philippines

Singlife Philippines is a majority-owned subsidiary of Aviva Singlife Holdings (65%) with partners Di-Firm (20%) and Aboitiz Equity Ventures (15%). The company offers innovative tools & solutions to unlock the potential of money for everyone, helping people be in control of how they save and get protected with just their mobile phone. Visit www.singlife.com.ph for more information.

About Aviva Singlife Holdings

Singapore Life completed its merger with major life insurance player, Aviva Singapore end of 2020. The combined business of the entities is valued at S$3.2 billion, the deal marks one of the largest in the insurance sector in Southeast Asia.

The merger will bring Singlife’s mobile-first savings and protection solutions to Aviva’s 1.5 million strong customer base, while being able to offer existing Singlife customers a significantly deeper product range and advisory capabilities. Visit www.singlife.com for more information.

About Di-Firm

Di-Firm is a Singapore-based private holding company. It is made up of entrepreneurs across a wide spectrum of verticals such as telecommunications, financial services, IT, retail, F&B, real estate, property management and utilities, along with subject matter experts in personal finance.

About Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) is the public holding company of the Aboitiz Group with major investments in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, and real estate. Today, AEV is recognized as one of the best-managed companies in the Philippines and in the region, consistently cited for its commitment to good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. With five generations of Aboitiz Group business success behind it, AEV continues to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities.

Young Innovators Hack Solutions to Marine Plastic Litter this World Oceans Day

This June 8, World Ocean’s Day, seasoned hackers, tech enthusiasts, and young innovators will hack solutions to the country’s pressing marine plastic litter problem at the Plastic 3R Hacks PH Grand Finals. 

Plastic 3R Hacks PH is a nationwide virtual hackathon that aims to harness solutions to marine plastic pollution in the Philippines. More than 150 participants representing cities and universities across the country registered for the competition. The participants went through a series of virtual activities such as a pre-hack event, mentoring sessions, and project development. Eighteen qualifying teams went through a preliminary judging which selected the top ten teams who will advance to the virtual Grand Finals.

These ten youth teams from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, will showcase their innovative solutions to reuse, reduce, and recycle plastics and plastic waste. From technology solutions such as open sources recycling system, AI-based rewards-system waste segregation app for individuals and households, and mobile application monitoring and grading tool for local government units, to disruptive non-tech ideas like business concepts for creative upcycling process, the virtual event will highlight some of the brightest ideas to save our oceans by reducing marine plastic litter. 

The teams will present their solutions to a panel of local and international judges from the national government, NGOs, and the private sector.

“Major adjustments had to be done to run a hackathon in the new normal, and our teams pulled through. The youth’s creativity and passion to come up with innovative ideas – especially to issues as serious as marine plastic litter- should not stop because of the pandemic,” said Elaine Cedillo, Hackathon Master and Founder of Red Wizard Event Technology. 

Based on a 2010 baseline study*, even though the Philippines has among the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia, it has become the world’s third largest source of marine litter. 

Christopher Rollo, Country Programme Manager of UN-Habitat Philippines said, “our country is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, and more than 70% of our cities are along the rivers and coasts – our way of life is very much tied to our rivers, coasts, and seas. We cannot have a better quality of life if we do not ensure the protection and better quality of the waters around us. We are glad that we have bright young minds who join us in keeping our oceans healthy, and our cities clean.” 

Plastic 3R Hacks PH Grand Winner will receive P50,000 cash prize, Runner Up will receive P20,0000. Aside from the cash prizes, all teams have opportunities for possible funding and development of their solutions for real life application. 

Plastic 3R Hacks PH is organized by Redwizard Events Technology in close collaboration with the Healthy Oceans and Clean Cities Initiative, a project funded by the Government of Japan and being implemented by UN-Habitat Philippines, which aims to enable local governments and communities in the Philippines to reduce marine plastic pollution. Plastic 3R Hacks PH is sponsored by Aboitiz Construction, Unionbank Philippines, and Nestle Philippines. 

For more information or media inquiries, visit www.facebook.com/Plastic3RHacksph or contact Hackathon Master Elaine Cedillo at ebcedillo@gmail.com. 

TESDA, Private Sector to Continue Empowering Filipinos amid Pandemic

Taguig City — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the private sector vowed to continue the reskilling and upskilling of Filipinos amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

TESDA, last March 26, forged Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Pilmico Foods Corporation (PILMICO), and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) to provide skills training to Filipinos.

TESDA Secretary Secretary Isidro Lapeña and PILMICO President and CEO Tristan Roberto Aboitiz signed a MOA which aims to establish partnership between the two partiesto conduct series of live webinars related to baking and cooking programs.

TESDA likewise partnered with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) through a MOA signed by Lapeña and PSFI Executive Director Sebastian Quiniones, Jr. The partnership aims to improve human capital through industry-based learning and skills development.

Meanwhile, Lapeña also led the virtual signing of the Right of Usufruct with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). The arrangement allows TESDA to use LLDA’s 2-hectare lot on which TESDA-LLDA Provincial Training Center (PTC) now stands.

It will also be the site of the TESDA Region 4-A Office which will provide training and livelihood opportunities for the fisherfolk and other stakeholders in the region.

In his speech, Lapeña assured that TESDA is doing its best to adjust its programs and services to adapt to the challenges brought by Covid-19 pandemic.

He likewise expressed his gratitude to PILMICO, PSFI, and LLDA saying that these partnerships are align with TESDA’s guiding principle, “TESDA, Abot Lahat.”

“Through proactive participation of several industries, socio-civic organizations and other government sectors, we stronglybelieve that we will be able to hurdle these obstacles,” he said.

Deputy Director General for TESD Operations Lina Sarmiento and Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Linkages AnicetoBertiz III witnessed the signing.

Since the onset of the pandemic, TESDA has been active in providing training for Filipinos especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were affected by the pandemic.

TESDA has launched several initiatives such as developing and offering a contacttracing training program, enhanced TESDAOnline Program (TOP),and establishment of OFW desks in every TESDA Provincial and Regional Office among others.

Project Ugnayan Beneficiaries Reach Over 7.6 Million People in Greater Metro Manila Poor Communities

Project Ugnayan, the fund-raising initiative led by top business groups in cooperation with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), reached over 7.6 million people in the vulnerable communities of Greater Metro Manila.

“As we close, we wish to reiterate our wholehearted thanks to all our generous Donors for making this project possible. By coming together in a Bayanihan spirit so quickly, we were able to create a program of this scale and importance. This unprecedented assembly of so many of the country’s corporations and business families coming to the assistance of the most vulnerable in our society illustrates and speaks of the heart and generosity of the business community.

Our special thanks go to the 10 Bishops of the Dioceses in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna, as well as to Caritas Manila under the leadership of Father Anton Pascual, and the network of Parish Priests, Volunteers, and Barangay Captains who distributed the gift certificates door-todoor in the lowest-income communities of Greater Metro Manila. We appreciate the swiftness and efficiency of their work under very difficult conditions and over very long hours each day,” said Project Ugnayan Lead, Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

"We are grateful for this opportunity to be part of this business community effort to help people in a time of crisis. This is a movement we should nurture as we prepare to let people return to work and to re-start our economy in the post-quarantine period.” said PDRF Co-Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

“The unity in diversity demonstrated by Project Ugnayan reveals the private sector’s serious commitment to help our country recover from the lost economic momentum because of the pandemic. We are proud to be part of this extraordinary collaboration of industries which will prove most valuable in getting the economy back on track,” PDRF Co-Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

According to Father Anton CT Pascual, Executive Director of Caritas Manila, the initiative earned praises from Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo, San Pablo Bishop Buenaventura Famadico and other Prelates of the Suffragan Dioceses of Manila. The Prelates thanked the businessmen and private organization who collectively help to make Project Ugnayan possible.

“The true spirit of Easter is about hope and has special significance in these difficult times. We thank all the generous benefactors of Project Ugnayan for this opportunity to fulfill a great mission of compassion for our vulnerable brothers and sisters. Your gifts have warmed their hearts and uplifted their spirits,” Father Pascual said.

Caritas Manila’s Project Damayan, the project’s main distributor of emergency cash through P1,000
supermarket gift certificates has so far reached 1,070,854 families or 5,354,270 people. It is on
target to deliver gift certificates to 1,366,495 families or 6,832,475 people by Wednesday, April 15
(the original end-date of the Enhanced Community Quarantine).

ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pagibig has reached 238,854 families or 1,194,270 people through food
packs delivered through Local Government Units. They will reach a total of 631,921 families or
3,151,605 people by the end of their program.

ADB and the Government’s Bayan, Bayanihan has delivered food packages to 13,370 families or 66,850 people through the Philippine Army and DSWD. ADB has provided funding to reach 80,000 families or a total of 400,000 people.

Jollibee’s FoodAID program delivers ready-to-cook chicken to low-income families from its commissary through a network composed of Don Bosco, Caritas Manila, and the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid (SNPP). So far, they have delivered to 199,491 families or 977,455 people. They are targeting to reach 500,000 families or 2,500,000 people by end-April.

“In sum, Project Ugnayan and its Partners have reached 1,522,569 families or 7,612,845 people in just over three weeks. This number will rise as all deliveries have already been programmed by the partners,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

The donors of Project Ugnayan are (in alphabetical order): Aboitiz Group, ABSCBN/First Gen, Alaska Milk Corporation, Alliance Global Group & Megaworld, AY Foundation & RCBC, Ayala Corporation. Bench/Suyen Corp, Bonifacio West Devt Corp. Carmelray Group, Cathay Land, Inc, Cebuana Lhullier, Century Pacific, Coca Cola Philippines, Concepcion Industrial, Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal Foundation, Inc., Daiichi Properties, DMCI Group of Companies, Dowell Container and Packaging Corporation, Far Eastern University, First Life Financial Company, Focus Global, Inc., Global Food Group, Glorious Commercial Exports, Inc., Gokongwei Group of Companies/Robinsons Retail Holdings, ICTSI, JAKA Group 1, Jollibee, J.P. Morgan, Kawit Prime Holdings, Inc., Leonio Group, Mercury Drug Corporation, Metrobank, Mumuso Group, National Grid Corp of the Philippines, New World Hotel, Nutri-Asia, Oishi/Liwayway Marketing Group, One Meralco Foundation, Penshoppe, People R People, PepsiCo/PepsiCo Foundation, Philippine Racing Club, Inc, PLDT/Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Puregold, Ramon S. Ang & Family, RRK/Lee Jeans, Shang Properties Inc, SM/BDO, Sta. Elena Construction, Sugar Junction Inc.. Sunlife of Canada, Super Prime Holdings, Inc, Supreme Steel Pipe Corp, The Alpha Suites Inc., Unilab, and Wilcon Depot.

Smile Train Beneficiaries, Aboitiz Foundation Celebrate World Smile Day® with Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Titleholders

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – October 4, 2019 – Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, together with Aboitiz Foundation, celebrated World Smile Day® through an art-filled afternoon with their beneficiaries and the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Titleholders. World Smile Day®, celebrated on every first Friday of October, is dedicated to smiles and encourages people to do acts of kindness around the world.

Held at the office of Aboitiz Foundation at NAC Tower in Bonifacio Global City, over twenty Smile Train beneficiaries showcased their creativity in creating memorabilia plush toys with the help of the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Titleholders. This was led by Bb. Pilipinas Universe Gazini Ganados, along with Bb. Pilipinas International Patch Magtanong, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Resham Saeed, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Emma Tiglao, Bb. Pilipinas Globe Leren Bautista, Bb. Pilipinas first runner up Aye Abesamis, and Bb. Pilipinas second runner up Samantha Bernardo.

Apart from this celebration, Aboitiz Foundation supports Smile Train by raising awareness and funds for children with clefts through KINDer by Aboitiz, an online platform where the public can donate to various advocacies that aim to help create a kinder world. In addition to Smile Train, KINDer supports other causes that benefit education, enterprise development, environmental, health, and other foundations.

“In less than a year, we have raised more than 60 percent of our target funds to support Smile Train and children with clefts through our KINDer website (kinder.aboitiz.com), as part of our efforts to advance business and communities by co-creating safe, empowered, and sustainable communities. Smile Train Philippines supports more than 5,000 surgeries every year and we would like to inspire others to support their life-changing work. We encourage more people to support Smile Train’s cause by donating through KINDer,” said Aboitiz Foundation First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Maribeth Marasigan.

Since 1999, Smile Train, with the support of its donors and partners around the world, has supported more than 1.5 million cleft surgeries. In the Philippines, it has funded more than 60,000 cleft surgeries since 2001. Beyond surgeries, Smile Train has four active comprehensive cleft care treatment programs including orthodontics, speech therapy, nutrition and emotional support.

“As we celebrate World Smile Day® with our partners, Aboitiz Foundation and Binibining Pilipinas, we reaffirm our commitment to raise more awareness and inspire others to join our cause in spreading smiles in the country. We hope to partner with more companies and organizations that will allow us to reach more children in need,” said Smile Train Philippines South East Asia Area Director, Kimmy C. Flaviano.

For more information about Smile Train’s programs in the Philippines as well as the organization’s global efforts, and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org. Follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

About Smile Train

Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.