Tips for New and Seasoned Pet Owners on How to Keep Happy, Healthy Pets

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Filipinos adore having pets. With 79% of Filipinos being pet owners, it’s no surprise that they find joy in taking care of animals, whether they're of the feathered, furred, or even scaled kind. But beyond the joy of companionship and protection, pets offer a multitude of health benefits, including increasing opportunities to exercise and socialize and even alleviating feelings of loneliness, allowing pet owners to live healthier, happier lives.

Pets offer unconditional love to their families, and as such, it is every pet parent’s responsibility to ensure that their pets are also living their best and healthiest lives. So if you’re planning to be a first-time pet parent or a pet parent looking for tips on how to care for your pets better, here are some tips to take into consideration.

Ensure that your pet can thrive in the environment you’re in

Yes, pets are cute and are a joy to have around but the first step for any prospective pet owner is to gauge if the pet you want to take care of can thrive in the environment you’re living in. In the Philippines, that means looking for pets that can live in tropical climates.

For furry animals like cats and dogs, this means looking for breeds that have the right kind of coats and body structures. Otherwise, pet parents should invest in creating the right environment for their pets, including proper temperature regulation and ventilation.

Feed your pets food that’s proper and healthy for them

A responsible pet parent should always do research on what to feed their pets. Like humans, pets can have intolerances, allergies, and even food that are poisonous for them. It’s important to learn about what a proper, balanced diet is like for your pet and this can be done through research and through consultations with your veterinarian.

Exercise your pets

Pets need exercise, as this not only helps them burn their energy but also keeps them limber and mentally and physically healthy, as in the case of dogs. Just make sure that the type of exercise you give your pets is appropriate for them, as different pets and breeds require different kinds of exercise.

Keep up with their checkups and vaccinations

Taking care of pets is very much like taking care of ourselves–they need proper nutrition, exercise, and regular medical checkups. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, all pets should receive a physical medical examination at least once a year. These visits include regular vaccinations and treatments to ensure that they are healthy, as unlike humans, pets may not be able to communicate or show outward signs of disease or injury–things a trained veterinarian can spot and provide treatment and guidance on.

Invest in pet insurance

Routine vet visits and even unexpected medical emergencies can put strain on a pet owner’s finances, which is why it’s important to consider getting a pet insurance product like Pet Insure,

Pet Insure is a customized non-life product specifically designed to protect the health of dogs no matter their breed, allowing dog parents to fully address the needs of their fur babies, including emergencies and accidents.

Regional insurtech Igloo, together with Malayan Insurance and GCash, created Pet Insure to afford owners convenience and security as it offers three-in-one coverage that includes medical reimbursement for veterinary care up to a maximum of P100,000; owner's liability coverage of up to a maximum of P250,000; and a personal accident cover for dog owners worth P50,000 for as low as P650 for a one-month coverage on the GCash GInsure marketplace.

Having pets is a huge responsibility, and every pet owner must recognize the importance of ensuring that their pets are healthy, thriving, and happy. Learn more about how Pet Insure can protect your pet here.

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About Igloo:

Igloo is the first full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia,  Thailand,  The  Philippines,  Vietnam  and  Malaysia  and  tech  centres in China and India.  With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies  to  eliminate  their  exposure  to operational  risk,  create  new  revenue  streams,  and optimise  and  enhance  existing  products  and  services.  Igloo  has  partnered  with  over  55  well-known   brand   names   across   the   markets   in   various   verticals,   including   insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services.

For more information, please visit https://www.iglooinsure.com/.

Opening a Business in the Philippines? Here’s What you Need to know to Get Started

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - In the Philippines, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99.58% of all businesses in the country and employ 64.67% of the entire workforce and are the driving force of the economy. These businesses, which include small community stores or sari-sari stores, water refilling stations, laundry stations, and many others, not only contribute to the country's GDP but also provide essential services to the local communities.

Such is the outsized importance of MSMEs that the United Nations (UN) designated every June 27 as International MSME Day to raise awareness on their immense contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These enterprises play a pivotal role in driving local and national economies while also supporting the livelihoods of the working poor, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

It’s no surprise that many Filipinos want to open their own small businesses. A recent survey by Philippine research firm OCTA Research showed that 81% of adult Filipinos want to be entrepreneurs. This desire to start their own businesses reflects the recognition of the opportunities and potential that MSMEs offer, not only in terms of economic growth but also in empowering individuals and communities.

If you’re one of the Filipinos who want to try their hand at starting their own businesses, here are some tips that can help you get started.

Starting an MSME in the Philippines

The first step of every aspiring entrepreneur is deciding what kind of business to open and where to open it if you plan on having a physical storefront. It’s essential to conduct thorough research whether there’s a market for your product or service, enough foot traffic and if the location is appropriate for it.

Aspiring entrepreneurs can also explore a hybrid phygital (a portmanteau of physical and digital) setup including offering online payments or e-commerce options to widen reach and market.

Second, once you’ve decided on the business and where to open it, get your necessary documentation and permits. In the Philippines, businesses are required to register with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), if they’re a sole proprietorship, or with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if it’s a partnership or a corporation.

Businesses also need to get a Mayor's permit or municipal license from the city or municipality where the establishment is located. They also need to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure proper taxation. If they plan on employing other people to help run the business, registrations with other government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Social Security System (SSS) are also required.

This may seem like a lot of steps but these registrations and permits ensure that you’re able and willing to run your business properly and legally by following applicable laws and regulations. For a full list of registration and permit requirements, DTI has compiled a list here.

Beyond securing the location and required permits, an important step when it comes to running a business is to protect your business from any unwanted incidents including injuries, burglaries, and accidents. Consider getting small business insurance like NegosyoCare. Created by regional insurtech Igloo in partnership with Malayan Insurance and GCash, NegosyoCare is an insurance product specifically designed to protect MSMEs.

“MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, but they often run on tight budgets and have limited access to financing. This puts them at risk when unexpected events come knocking and disrupt their operations. That's why having small business insurance, like NegosyoCare, is so important. It offers affordable and accessible coverage, giving these businesses the protection they need without breaking the bank,” said Mario Berta, Igloo Philippines Country Manager.

Available via GCash’s GInsure marketplace, NegosyoCare premiums begin at P160 for one-month coverage and up to P525 for one-year coverage. It provides coverage for accidental deaths, total permanent disability due to accident, and disablement or dismemberment due to accident for up to P50,000. Benefits also include medical reimbursement for accidents for up to P5,000, fire cash assistance for P10,000, and coverage for burglary and housebreaking for P10,000.

These tips only scratch the surface of what it takes to run a business in the Philippines, but by taking these steps, aspiring entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success and remember: protect your small business with NegosyoCare, available at the GCash GInsure Marketplace.

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About Igloo:

Igloo is the first full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia,  Thailand,  The  Philippines,  Vietnam  and  Malaysia  and  tech  centres in China and India.  With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies  to  eliminate  their  exposure  to operational  risk,  create  new  revenue  streams,  and optimise  and  enhance  existing  products  and  services.  Igloo  has  partnered  with  over  55  well-known   brand   names   across   the   markets   in   various   verticals,   including   insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services.

For more information, please visit https://www.iglooinsure.com/.

Protecting your “Budol” finds: How Insurance Plays a Role in e-Shopping

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Filipinos love to shop online–a recent report by data and analytics firm GlobalData showed that nearly 90% of Filipino consumers have shopped online in the last six months. This has put the growth of the e-commerce market at 31.3% in 2022 and is expected to grow by 22.9% and reach a value of P615.7 billion within the year.

Along with the widespread adoption and convenience online shopping offers comes the risk of frauds–from fake products to sellers who send defective products or send no product at all. 61% of Filipinos reported being targeted and/or victims of fraud in the past three months, according to a Q4 2022 Consumer Pulse Study by consumer credit reporting agency, TransUnion. This is a significant increase from the 55% reported in Q3 of the same year. While phishing remained the most commonly reported fraud scheme (51%), third-party seller scams on legitimate e-commerce sites came in third (33%), indicating a concerning trend that puts Filipino online shoppers at risk.

So before you whip out your smartphone and click buy on that item you’re itching to get your hands on, here are a few tips you can do to protect your “budol” finds and your hard-earned money from online shopping frauds:

Buy from official stores or legitimate sellers

Sometimes when browsing through online stores, you’ll undoubtedly encounter a deal that’s too good to pass up but before you bite the bullet and check out, take a few seconds to check the seller and make sure that they are legitimate sellers or official stores.

Buying from official stores and legitimate sellers ensures that the products you’re buying are authentic and are of good quality. Plus, some e-commerce platforms also offer additional perks when you buy from these stores including warranties, free shipping, and even money back guarantees.

Check the reviews

You’ll undoubtedly come across multiple products being sold by different stores online and the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. One way to weed out the best deals and items is to check reviews from previous buyers.

Check the review section of the product you’re eyeing on e-commerce platforms or if you’re buying from Facebook Marketplace and other social media pages, see if you can find a business page where previous customers have left reviews.

Reviews are helpful in helping you make informed decisions on your purchase–if the item is worth buying, if the seller is legitimate, cooperative, and responsive, or if there are any watch outs like long delivery lead times or trouble when it comes to repairs, returns, or refunds.

Compare prices

If you’re on the lookout for a good deal, it never hurts to compare prices. Several sellers will have the same exact product on sale and it’s good to take a second and look at other sellers before deciding on where to buy.

Some stores may offer the same price but throw in other perks like free shipping for no minimum spend, extended warranties, a small freebie, or the lowest price offered on the platform. A word of caution on super low prices, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is, and it would be beneficial to check if the seller is legit and the products reviews before deciding where to buy.

Get an online shopping insurance to protect your purchases

One of the main advantages of shopping online is the time it saves from selection to purchase–you don’t need to go to a physical store and buy an item as with a few clicks, the item will be on its way to you within a few days.

However, its main advantage can also be a disadvantage as you’re buying something sight unseen–you really can’t check the quality of the purchase until it’s already delivered. Even if you follow all the steps to make a good purchase, sometimes you may still receive a bad or fake product, or it may not even show up at all.

Designed to protect consumers from e-commerce scams and frauds, Igloo and GCash collaborated on an Online Shopping Insurance that provides coverage for undelivered goods and uncontactable sellers, partial delivery or fake goods for up to P150,000 for as low as P15/month.

Policy holders can file multiple claims until they reach their benefit amount after which the policy expires and will require a shopper to apply for another policy.

By following these steps, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to online shopping fraud and scams, safeguard your “budol” finds and shop worry-free.

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About Igloo:

Igloo is the first full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia and tech centers in China and India. With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies to eliminate their exposure to operational risk, create new revenue streams, and optimize and enhance existing products and services. Igloo has partnered with over 55 well-known brand names across the markets in various verticals, including insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services.

Igloo Underscores Importance of Device and Health Protection for Mobile Gamers

MANILA, PHILIPPINES– eSports is experiencing incredible growth globally with analysts projecting that the eSports market as a whole will grow to US$5.48 billion by 2029 from US$1.44 in 2022.

The Philippines is one of the countries where eSports is becoming increasingly popular. The country is home to the biggest eSports organization in Southeast Asia and to some of the most talented esports players in the world, ranking 8th in the world in terms of skills. As a rising gaming juggernaut, 95.8% of Filipino internet users play video games across different devices. In fact, 76% of Filipino gamers prefer to play on mobile phones due to its affordability and accessibility.

With the continued growth of the industry and its recognition as an official sport in events including the Olympics, it’s not surprising that many Filipinos are beginning to view becoming a professional gamer as a career option and are investing in good quality gear to upgrade their gaming experience and performance. 

Improving one’s skill takes time and logging in hours upon hours of playtime can lead to the wear and tear and damage in gamers’ devices. Continuing to play on a damaged phone or one with a cracked screen not only presents challenges to gameplay performance, it can also cause injuries to the player.

Regional insurtech Igloo understands that fixing damaged parts or in more serious cases, replacing the entire phone itself, can be very expensive, which is why it introduced various insurance products to not only protect mobile devices from unwanted incidents such as cracked screens and water damage but also the health of mobile gamers.

With the Cracked Screen Protection and the 360-degree Phone Protection, mobile users are provided complete protection for their mobile devices for as low as P21 a month through the GCash GInsure Marketplace and Shopee.

“The global gaming industry is growing at such a rapid rate, with Southeast Asia accounting for over 50% of this growth. At Igloo, we aim to provide insurance products for every kind of lifestyle and that includes mobile gamers,” said Igloo’s Country Manager for the Philippines Mario Berta. “Through products like the Cracked Screen Protection and the 360-Phone Protection, we aim to ensure that Filipinos are able to access affordable comprehensive protection through convenient, easy-to-use platforms like GCash and Shopee.”

The health risks of mobile gaming

The loss or damage of one’s gaming smartphone isn’t the only risk when embarking on a mobile gaming career as long hours of gaming and spending hours in one position can also lead to health issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome or even heart attacks.

The World Health Organization has sounded the alarm over Video Game Addiction or Gaming Disorder as legitimate illnesses that plague gamers from all over the world. Understanding its role in providing protection to mobile gamers, Igloo, together with leading Indonesian e-wallet platform DANA, introduced Gamers’ Protection last year.

The award-winning product provides coverage for heart attacks and carpal tunnel syndrome, illnesses that can be caused or exacerbated by frequent and long gaming sessions.

“While we share the world’s enthusiasm for mobile gaming, we understand that gaming for long periods of time can also pose health risks for gamers. Understanding our role as an insurtech company providing protection, has spurred us to create Gamers’ Protection,” said Mario. “Gaming is more than just having the best device or skills–it’s also about having protection for yourself and your devices to unleash your full gaming potential.”

Gamers’ Protection is currently available in Indonesia but Igloo is looking to bring the product across Southeast Asia in the near future.

“We’ve seen how this insurance product has benefited gamers from Indonesia and are currently seeking to introduce said product to other countries within the region in the near future as we believe Southeast Asian gamers will benefit from the protection this product provides,” Mario added.

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About Igloo:

Igloo is the first full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia,  Thailand,  The  Philippines,  Vietnam  and  Malaysia  and  tech  centers in China and India.  With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies  to  eliminate  their  exposure  to operational  risk,  create  new  revenue  streams,  and optimize  and  enhance  existing  products  and  services.  Igloo  has  partnered  with  over  55  well-known   brand   names   across   the   markets   in   various   verticals,   including   insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services.

For more information, please visit https://www.iglooinsure.com/.