Regional insurtech Igloo Launches New travel insurance product - Travel Master with COVID-19 in partnership with GCash and Malayan Insurance

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Regional insurtech firm Igloo, in partnership with GCash and leading local underwriter Malayan Insurance, recently launched Travel Master with COVID-19, a comprehensive travel insurance product to be offered and purchased on the e-wallet. The brand-new product offers coverage for personal accident, emergency medical treatment, hospital cash allowance, travel inconvenience benefits, and COVID-19 protection. With tourism on the upswing due to the easing of restrictions, Travel Master with COVID-19 will enable Filipinos to undertake trips with assured protection in the event of a medical emergency due to the pandemic.

In the forum titled ‘The Philippines and Revenge Tourism – Are We Ready?’ Tourism Secretary, Bernadette Romulo Puyat shared that ‘Revenge Travel’ or leisure travel that follows a period of being unable to travel is driving the tourism boom in the country. Since easing restrictions in February 2022, the country has seen a gradual rise in travel - particularly to local destinations - among Filipinos. In fact, 85% of tourism contribution to the gross domestic product can be attributed to domestic travel, which is expected to grow further with the opening of more local destinations. Travel Master with COVID-19 will help Filipinos be prepared for health and travel risks for their trips.

“As more Filipinos become more comfortable with traveling, our new travel insurance product in collaboration with our long-term partner GCash, will work as a key enabler to facilitate safe travel for Filipinos. Being an affordable, yet comprehensive product, that addresses common travel risks including contracting COVID-19 it will offer travelers the coverage they need so they can enjoy their trip and have peace of mind,” shared Mario Berta, Country Manager for the Philippines at Igloo. “GCash Travel Master with COVID-19 once again highlights Igloo’s commitment to co-creation of insurance products that are relevant and accessible to all Filipinos.”

Underwritten by Malayan Insurance, the benefits of Travel Insurance include Personal Accident with Emergency Medical Treatment for COVID-19 for up to Php 2,500,000, Hospital Cash Allowance due to COVID-19 of up to Php 4,000, and Travel Inconvenience of up to Php 50,000. It also has value-added features such as Car Rental Protection of up to Php 500,000 and Sports Activities Extension of up to Php 100,000. The insurance product is also supported by 24-hour worldwide travel assistance in partnership with Assist America for the medical needs of the insured.

GCash Travel Master with COVID-19 powered by Igloo
Topline benefits
Personal Accident with Emergency Medical Treatment for COVID-19	Up to Php 2,500,000
Hospital Cash Allowance due to COVID-19	Up to o Php 4,000
Travel Inconvenience	Up to Php 50,000
Value-added benefits
Car Rental Protection	Up to Php 500,000
Sports Activities Extension	Up to Php 100,000

Available through GCash’s GInsure marketplace, premiums start at Php 950 for local or inbound, Php 970 for Asia, and Php 1,190 for worldwide travel with up to a 90-day maximum coverage period. 

GCash Travel Master with COVID-19 is the fourth product launched under Igloo and GCash’s partnership. In September 2021, the partners launched the first Online Shopping insurance in the market, followed by Mobile Insurance products and Pet Insurance in 2022.

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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/.

Bambike say's "Biking - More Fun in the Philippines"

A new and unique way of touring Intramuros, and this time, you can do it with style. You might be used to 'karitela'or'kalesa' on touring around Intramuros our Walled City rich on Historical Value starting from the Spanish Colonial Period up to the present, one of the so many reasons why 'It's more Fun in the Philippines'.

Looks like a normal bike but really isn't, its lighter and more durable and for me it can be considered a high end type of land transportation in a form of a bike.

Nowadays more and more people are going green which is a good thing because it means that more individuals are becoming environment conscious which is up for almost everything that is environment friendly.

Bambike which is constructed out of specially selected, precision-cut and dried bamboo poles and wrapped with Manila hemp fibres to give the frame added durability and toughness as well as giving the bike a very distinct and unique look and finish. Bamboo, according to Mclelland is “one of the greenest building materials on earth, so bicycles built out of bamboo are, more or less, the greenest way to get around.”

These were the shots I got while touring around Intramuros, the 'Bambike Way'



What even sold me out to Bambike was the advocacy behind it. The local craftsmen all come from a background of hardships and severe poverty, with most barely eking out enough to be able to feed their families three square meals a day. Because of Mclelland’s efforts at establishing the Bambike Workshop, the workers and their local community are elated to see their efforts slowly bearing fruit and a significant improvement can already be seen in their daily lives. Parts of the proceeds of each Bambike sold will be funneled to fund similar sustainability and livelihood programs across the country, meaning that money spent on each Bambike will go a long way towards reducing acute poverty and improving the lives of many Filipinos who will benefit from similar projects to this unique business model.

You can also check out:

https://www.facebook.com/BAMBIKE

Bambike Ecotours Intramuros
www.bambike.com/ecotours
Call them at +63 (2) 525 8289 or email at ecotours@bambike.com for bookings

Bambike say's "Biking - More Fun in the Philippines"

A new and unique way of touring Intramuros, and this time, you can do it with style. You might be used to 'karitela'or'kalesa' on touring around Intramuros our Walled City rich on Historical Value starting from the Spanish Colonial Period up to the present, one of the so many reasons why 'It's more Fun in the Philippines'.

Looks like a normal bike but really isn't, its lighter and more durable and for me it can be considered a high end type of land transportation in a form of a bike.

Nowadays more and more people are going green which is a good thing because it means that more individuals are becoming environment conscious which is up for almost everything that is environment friendly.

Bambike which is constructed out of specially selected, precision-cut and dried bamboo poles and wrapped with Manila hemp fibres to give the frame added durability and toughness as well as giving the bike a very distinct and unique look and finish. Bamboo, according to Mclelland is “one of the greenest building materials on earth, so bicycles built out of bamboo are, more or less, the greenest way to get around.”

These were the shots I got while touring around Intramuros, the 'Bambike Way'



What even sold me out to Bambike was the advocacy behind it. The local craftsmen all come from a background of hardships and severe poverty, with most barely eking out enough to be able to feed their families three square meals a day. Because of Mclelland’s efforts at establishing the Bambike Workshop, the workers and their local community are elated to see their efforts slowly bearing fruit and a significant improvement can already be seen in their daily lives. Parts of the proceeds of each Bambike sold will be funneled to fund similar sustainability and livelihood programs across the country, meaning that money spent on each Bambike will go a long way towards reducing acute poverty and improving the lives of many Filipinos who will benefit from similar projects to this unique business model.

You can also check out:

https://www.facebook.com/BAMBIKE

Bambike Ecotours Intramuros
www.bambike.com/ecotours
Call them at +63 (2) 525 8289 or email at ecotours@bambike.com for bookings

Genius in Jeepney Why Not?!

Jeepney Ride More Fun in the Philippines!

A Jeepney driver in Camarines Sur was praised for his ingenious way to help out his passengers beat summer heat.

A simple picture that was taken by Facebook user Ninoy Paglinawan during his stay in Pasacao Camarines, surprisingly reached more than 4000 shares while the likes already reached 40,000 likes the last time I checked and still growing.

According to the information provided by Paglinawan, the particular jeepney is one of the regular fleets plying the route Naga-Pasacao.

The heat on our summer time was pretty intense and feels like the sun is following you where ever you go, So seeing something like this is a good vibe read for me and something that is worth sharing. Kudos to Manong Jeepney Driver whomever you are.