Singlife Launches ‘Cash for Goals (Education)’ a Better Way to Fund your Child’s Ambitions

Manila, Philippines – Filipino Parents understand that quality education is the best way to pave a better life for their children.  However, college tuition fees are expensive and continue to increase annually. To make sure there is money when it’s needed, they need to start building an education fund as early as possible. Singlife Philippines developed Cash for Goals (Education) to help parents prepare for education expenses. 

Helping parents provide for their children

Cash for Goals (Education) helps parents save and grow their money so they can afford their child’s college tuition fees. Singlife makes this hassle-free by making the product available on GCash, which is accessible anytime, anywhere through any mobile device. The purchase experience is designed to be informative, user-friendly, and transparent so that parents can learn how the product works and make a purchase in just a few minutes. 

Singlife has made investing for a child’s college fund budget-friendly. Initial investment starts low at only Php 2,500 and additional investments can be as low as Php 500/month. And it’s easy to stay consistent with monthly investing as funds are automatically deducted from the parent’s GCash account for convenience. 

Through Cash for Goals, the parent’s money is invested in the Singlife Smart Investment Fund - a peso-denominated investment-linked fund that aims to earn more than traditional savings accounts by primarily investing in a mix of Philippine fixed-income and equity classes. The fund is managed by ATRAM, one of the country’s leading asset management companies.  

On top of helping parents save and grow their money, Cash for Goals (Education) also ensures that the child has money for college in case anything unfortunate happens to his/her parents. If the parent investing in the child’s college fund passes away, Singlife will ensure that the target amount is available for the child by the time he/she enters college.  

Singlife provides a better way

What makes Cash for Goals (Education) better than the run-of-the-mill investment-linked insurance product is that 100% of the parents’ money is invested, as compared to other products that charge very high entry fees. For parents, this translates to their investments earning more than 50% versus other products in the market, especially during the early years. 

The product’s low cash out makes saving for education budget-friendly for every-Juan (and Maria). Cash for Goals (education) is available for as low as Php 500/month after a one-time initial investment of just Php 2,500. And when things get tight and parents need to withdraw funds for emergencies, they can do so without any fees or charges at any given time. 

“As parents, we want to provide all we can for our children to help them reach their big ambitions and education is key to that. It is better to start as early as possible to avoid being confronted with the high cost of education when the need is already there and when our budgets might be constrained. To help parents be ready, we created ‘Cash for Goals (Education)’ and give them a better way to plan, save and grow funds for their child’s education,” says Rien Hermans, Singlife’s CEO.

Cash for Goals (Education) is the first unit-linked investment product offered by Singlife Philippines. The company develops products that help customers plan, save, and invest for their financial future.  

To learn more about Singlife’s Cash for Goals product visit our website (http://singlife.com.ph/cash-for-goals/) or go to GCash (http://go.gcash.com/SinglifeCFGE). 

 

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ABOUT SINGLIFE PHILIPPINES  

Singlife Philippines is a mobile-first savings and protection company with headquarters in Singapore, Asia’s technology hub.  

As a start-up in the long-standing insurance industry, we provide a better way to plan, save and protect your financial future. Through technology, we provide insight, guidance and fulfilment on your phone to support you with financial solutions that fit your needs and budget to ensure there is money when it’s needed: for everyday emergencies, loss of income, to pay for high medical expenses, or to fund future spending for education, retirement or any other wish that can be fulfilled.  

Singlife Philippines secured its license to operate from the country’s Insurance Commission in February 2020 and sealed a partnership with the country’s leading e-wallet Gcash in May 2020.  

To learn more about Singlife Philippines visit www.singlife.com.ph.

Sinag Schools Program Powers up School in Batangas

SM Foundation (SMFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group, together with Maxeon Solar Technologies, recently powered up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School (LPES) in Batangas through the Sinag Schools program.

This social good collaboration between SMFI and Maxeon aims to provide clean and renewable energy to schools in grassroot communities by installing solar panels on an SM school building, especially to those that have low operating expenses. 

In addition to the solar panel installation which intends to power positive change in the way energy is consumed in public schools, the program also aims to enhance the understanding of students in terms of energy management and the need to transition to cleaner energy alternatives with lower environmental impacts.

“Through this program, we want to power up the learning and development of young people. We want to help teach young people about solar energy, about renewable energy. We want to power up the next generation to help save our planet,” Maxeon Fab4 General Manager Glenn Everett said.

The SM school building at the LPES, which was donated by SMFI in partnership with SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) in 2017, now boasts 21 solar panels—estimated to produce 6510 watt-p. With the savings on electricity, the school may realign their budget to more efforts and other innovations that will give the students an environment more conducive to learning.

It takes a village to raise a child

SMFI executive director Debbie Sy underscored the importance of collective efforts in advancing the learning experience of every student in the country: “We believe that collaboration can drive growth and become a force for good in addressing societal challenges. CSR partnerships can create solutions that improve society by fostering learning, promoting innovation and gaining access to new technologies, such as the Sinag schools program. CSR collaboration can pool resources, both financial and human resources - between multiple organizations which can amplify social good impact.”

“The establishment of an ever-evolving CSR strategy and partnerships will help companies and non-government organizations in developing and implementing crucial social good programs over decades while having procedures in place that integrate social and environmental priorities into CSR core strategy – all in close collaboration with stakeholders,” she further added.

Moreover, Everett mentioned how SMFI and Maxeon share the similar set of values and interest when it comes to helping Filipino learners: “We have this concept of powering.

More Courses Now Available in TESDA Online Program

Taguig City – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is continuously expanding its online training program as more courses are now available in the platform.

As of October 2021, there are now 114 courses in the TESDA Online Program (TOP), according to the data released by e-TESDA.

Among the new courses integrated in the platform are International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Job Readiness, English as a Medium of Instruction, Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom and Microsoft’s Digital Literacy.

The TOP is a web-based platform that offers free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) for the technical education and skills development of the Filipino workforce.

Through the use of information and communication technologies, the TOP provides an effective and efficient way to deliver technical education and skills development services to Filipinos and widen their chances of employment or sources of livelihood.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has also pushed Filipinos to register in the TOP. From its launching in 2012 up to October 2021, the TOP now has 3,443,530 registered users.

Since the government imposed travel restrictions due to COVID-19in March 16, 2020 up to October 2021, there are 2,006,923 Filipinos who registered in the TOP, which is over the half of the accumulated registrants since 2012.

In June last year, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña led the launching of “TESDA Abot Lahat ang OFWs” program which aims to help upskill Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte, through his state-of-the-nation-address, ordered TESDA to empower OFWs especially those repatriated due to COVID-19pandemic.

Data, also released by e-TESDA, showed that a total of 163,750 OFWs and their dependents have registered in the TOP from March 2020 to August 2021.

With this, Lapeña encouraged everyone to avail of the agency's online courses to remain productive amid the mobility restrictions due to COVID-19pandemic.

“I invite the public, especially those who have lost their jobs or those trying to venture into a new livelihood, to try enrolling in our online classes. This is offered for free. I’m sure you can find a course from the many options that will best suit your need,” Lapeña said.

For those interested to register or view the list of available courses,just visit https://www.e-tesda.gov.ph/.

Enrollees will be given a certificate of completion after finishing a course.However, those who wish to receive a National Certificate must undergo competency assessment in TESDA-accredited assessment centers.

Teachers Laud Success of Vibal Group's Youtube Channel

Vibal Group Inc. (VGI) celebrates another milestone as it reached more than 690,000 subscribers on its Youtube channel, VibalTV. As of October 2021, VibalTV has more than 15.2 million views.

VibalTV primarily aims to educate students with their lessons, train teachers’ skills and techniques of the 21st-century teaching and online distance learning, and present diverse content that tackles different topics such as culture and history. Through Vibal TV, VGI continues its steadfast commitment and dedication to rethink and reimagine the entire teaching and learning experience.

Videos for 21st Century Teachers
Among the many digital initiatives VGI has produced are free webinars for teachers. These webinars let the participants learn from respected resource speakers from various fields, as well as receiving certificates of attendance. Some of its videos include Speaker’s Demo Reel and Learn@Home webinars that are shown live on YouTube. Currently, both Learn@Home and Speaker’s Demo Reel have more than 50 webinars each on the VibalTV channel.

Prior to the pandemic, VGI had already shown support to the Department of Education's (DepEd) call to improve the quality of teaching that meets the needs of ASEAN integration, K to 12 education system, and other emerging global learning frameworks. When the pandemic affected the education setup, VGI rose to the occasion and maximized its digital platforms to assist public and private school teachers as they transitioned to online teaching.

Videos for Learners
Other video contents that VibalTV produces are educational videos for students such as Teacher Vibal, 3-Minute Lesson, and Mga Kuwentong Chikiting. The Teacher Vibal and the 3-Minute Lesson videos help students learn school lessons in a fun and interactive way. The lessons on these videos are written and presented by licensed professional teachers, making sure that the lessons adhere to DepEd’s approved curriculum. Teacher Vibal and 3-Minute Lesson videos may also be used by teachers for their lessons.

Teacher Vibal has more than 150 videos posted on VibalTV, while 3-Minute Lessons have more than 40 videos posted on the channel. Videos from Mga Kuwentong Chikiting are based on VGI’s storybooks, Chikiting Books. Currently there are more than 80 episodes of Mga Kuwentong Chikiting on VibalTV’s channel.

Tertulia Videos
A new addition to the channel are short videos from VFI’s tertulia. The tertulia is a special online gathering, where viewers and visitors honor and remember the Vibal matriarch, Mrs. Esther A. Vibal. This is also where VFI launches new books and presents song and dance performances by renowned Filipino artists and groups such as the Sheila Ferrer, Ramon Folkloric Group, and the CCP Dance Workshop.

VibalTV's Success
More than just the growing number of its viewers and subscribers, VibalTV's success is measured by the positive impact that it makes on Philippine education. Teachers become more capable to be masters of technology in order to facilitate more personalized learning experiences for their students through the easily accessible free video content on YouTube.

You can subscribe and watch VibalTV on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/vibaltv and stay updated with VGI's latest projects and announcements.

Habitat for Humanity - Education starts at Home

Children lack access to decent education when they lack access to decent home.
Access to proper education has recently been hampered due to various socio-economic factors, such as lack of proper healthcare, job opportunities for parents and notably, adequate housing.

In the Philippines, more than four million families live in unsafe, unsanitary and unhealthy places which they call ‘home’, hindering the learning environment of the children living in these conditions.
The Urban Institute (2012) states, “High-quality, affordable housing, located in safe neighborhoods can go beyond providing basic shelter and stability, and can help provide a stable environment where children access high-performing schools, learn, and succeed academically.”
According to Rothstein (2013), a child who lives in inadequate housing, has limited ability to enrich themselves, stunting their growth and development in their crucial formative years. It takes a direct toll on the child’s capacity to develop and fully realize the skill sets and potential they possess.
Consequently, these children are more likely to become exposed to violence, crime and drug abuse, further postponing their development (Urban Institute, 2012).
The case of youth offenders has increased and continues to as the Philippine National Police found an 18% increase in juvenile crimes reported, in 2008.
“Children have the right to have a healthy home and neighborhood which provides them a sound learning environment – where learning is easy, and cherished. If we focus on giving children the decent homes they not only deserve, but have the right to, our future will be prosperous,” says Charlie Ayco, Managing Director and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
School provides our children the knowledge to equip the next generation, but without the environment to foster that knowledge, they are unable to apply these lessons to their lives.
A home is more than just four walls and a roof. It is where children develop into the best versions of themselves.
“Together, let’s build a world where every child has a decent place to live, and study,” says Ayco.

The Back-To-School campaign’s aim is to help generate funds in order for Habitat for Humanity Philippines to provide adequate means of living such as a home for families. Children of these families have every right to study in a conducive environment to be able to reach for their hopes and dreams. Give millions of children the opportunity to improve their lives and support Habitat’s Back-To-School campaign.  


Kindly link the “Donate Now” button to this link: http://bit.ly/DonateToHabitat