Looking to build your art collection on a budget? Don’t miss this chance as the annual Art in the Park, famed for being the most anticipated affordable art fair in the country, returns outdoors on March 19, at Jaime Velazquez Park, Makati City to mark its 17th year of celebrating and championing Filipino artistry.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) once again teamed up with Art in the Park 2023 to offer flexible payment options for fairgoers with BPI Cards when they shop for art at the exhibit-sale, which runs for one whole day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“BPI has been supporting Art in the Park for continuously uplifting the vibrant Filipino art scene and for providing a platform for our valuable contributors of art whose works truly merit more support and respect. It also makes art accessible to Filipinos, helping them learn more about art and Filipino artists,” said Jenny Lacerna, BPI Product and Sales Head for Unsecured Lending and Cards.

For this year’s edition, 60 exhibit booths representing galleries, art collectives, independent art spaces, and student groups will be showcasing and selling an assortment of exceptional pieces by seasoned and rising artists.

One of the galleries that will be participating is Art Cube Gallery featuring Isko Andrade for special exhibits.

“Art Cube Gallery has been a backbone of the Philippine contemporary art scene since it was established in 2012 for helping Filipino artists get their well-deserved spotlight,” said Lacerna.

The said Gallery provides a platform for talented young artists to showcase their works before an extensive roster of art collectors, as well as help promote the careers of seasoned artists by giving art aficionados a broad access to their work in international art exhibitions. The gallery has so far mounted over 100 art exhibitions here and abroad involving award-winning and seasoned artists, as well as promising young painters and sculptors.

Francis Eugene E. Andrade, also known as Isko Andrade, is a young artist based in Bulacan who has been known for sharing his stories through his artworks that evoke a sense of nostalgia. He received several awards and citations such as Shell National Student Art Competition and Metrobank Art Design Excellence Competition. He is a graduate of fine arts with a major in visual communication at Bulacan State University.

For his show titled Intersections II, Andrade uses knots as his art subject to depict his own impression of ‘persevering’ by utilizing oil paint on canvas.

Lacerna said art as an asset remains an auspicious investment as it tends to hold its value over time in contrast with other asset classes whose value has the propensity to decline sharply when the market crashes.

“What’s really enticing about collecting and investing in art is that aside from having a potential lucrative return in the long-term, they can also make stunning display pieces at home,” she said.

BPI Cardholders can enjoy an exclusive Real 0% Special Installment Plan for up to 6 months and buy now pay 3 months later using their BPI credit cards.

Organized by Philippine Art Events, Inc. and supported by BPI, Art in the Park will continue to benefit the Museum Foundation of the Philippines in support of its projects and programs for the National Museum of the Philippines and its network.

For more information about Art in the Park and BPI’s special offers, follow www.facebook.com/bpi and www.facebook/artinthepark on Facebook, or visit www.bpi.com.ph/ and www.artinthepark.ph.

You can now cash in to your PayMaya account FOR FREE via BPI (linked account), Ministop, and your trusted Smart Padala agent - making it easier than ever to go cashless for your everyday transactions.

Wherever you are, and whether you want to do it online or in your go-to establishment, PayMaya offers the most accessible way to cash in to your account for free! Here’s how:

Cash in via BPI

If you’re a BPI account holder, there’s no need to go out of your house because you can quickly cash in to your PayMaya account for free by simply linking your BPI account to your PayMaya e-wallet. Just follow these easy steps:

Select the "Cash In" icon on your PayMaya app’s home screen. Tap “Bank Account," then select the BPI logo. Enter the desired amount, then select "Continue". You will get a prompt to log in to your BPI Online Banking account. Select your source account, click “Continue” Review your transaction details, and click “Send Code” to proceed. Input the one-time PIN you'll receive via SMS. Click “Submit”

Once your transaction is successful, you will receive a text confirmation from PayMaya. And that’s it! Now, you can save on cash in fees and complete your hassle-free transaction with just a few clicks from your phone.

Cash in via Ministop

You can also enjoy free cash in at over 400 Ministop branches across the country. With this, you can save as much as P200 on fees - which you can now use to buy your favorite snacks or chicken meal at Ministop!

To start cashing in to your PayMaya account at your go-to branch, simply follow these instructions:

Select the "Cash In" icon on the home screen of your PayMaya app, and tap the Ministop logo. Enter the desired amount, then select "Continue". Go to any Ministop branch and present your generated barcode to the cashier, along with the cash in amount to the cashier. Wait for the SMS confirmation before leaving the store, and that’s it!

Cash in via Smart Padala

Wherever you live, there’s always a Smart Padala agent near you, and this makes putting money to your PayMaya account so much more convenient. With over 55,000 Smart Padala agent network touchpoints nationwide, cashing in is as easy as heading to your neighborhood sari-sari store.

Now, completing this transaction is also sulit, as PayMaya gives you a 100% cashback on your service fee whenever you cash in to your account until August 31, 2021. This cashback promo is valid for cash amounts of P10,000 and below.

Cashing in to your PayMaya account at your trusted Smart Padala agent is easy. Here’s how you can do it:

On your PayMaya app, tap “Cash In,” then select “Smart Padala via Code” and enter the amount you want to add to your account. Present the Cash In Code and a valid ID to your Smart Padala agent and and provide the cash in amount and the 1% cash in fee. You will receive a confirmation message via SMS regarding your transaction as well as the 100% cashback on your cash in fee.

With more ways to cash in to your PayMaya account for free, you can now enjoy cashless convenience when buying groceries, transferring money to your loved ones, or paying your bills completely worry-free. To top it off, you can spend what you saved on cash in fees on things that matter to you – be it an extra order of your favorite food or perhaps a small donation to those in need through your favorite charitable institution.

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, enterprises, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the leading payments processor for "everyday" merchants in key industries such as retail, food, transportation, utilities, and eCommerce.

PayMaya provides more than 38 million registered users with access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently cash in, pay, cash out, and remit through its over 300,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of 55,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services.

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Earning money is no easy task, that’s why we take every chance we get to maximize our hard-earned cash and make it work just as hard as we do.

Many people may be unfamiliar with the term “financial planning”, but it’s really just a matter of putting your money where it counts. Life comes with its occasional uncertainties and it’s better that you're prepared to handle those when they come up so you don't dig into your savings in an emergency.

There are many ways to secure your money nowadays and it’s just a matter of choosing the right one that’s also easy to understand.

If you’re starting to think about making your money work harder for you, you may want to start investing in an insurance plan that safeguards you, your wealth, and your future at a budget-friendly premium.

For beginners in insurance, Life Ready Plus is a great starting policy. It's BPI-Philam's unit-linked product in the Wellness Series for any Filipino looking to get started in securing the future. With it, you'll get a two-in-one protection and wellness solution at an affordable Php 2,100 a month.

Multiplying your money’s value
When talking about value for money, a unit-linked plan like Life Ready Plus is your best bet.

For one, it provides you complete life protection coverage as much as 30 times the annual premium, which can help you and your loved ones in the future during a time of need. You also get the option to add in riders--or additional benefits--to your policy to customize your coverage against life's uncertainties like accidents, hospitalization, or critical illness.

The policy runs for an appropriate term, meaning you have it as long as you need it. The premium's set at a really affordable price too so that in the coming years, as your needs for protection and coverage change, you can easily personalize your policy as your need dictates.

Aside from funding your life insurance, it also allots a portion of your premium into investments so you'll have wealth being built steadily the longer you keep the policy. This way, you get to grow your money without even having to think about how to do it.

You don't have to figure it all out on your own either—BPI-Philam's financial experts are ready to assist you in any BPI and BPI Family Savings Bank branch in the country.

Better health at no extra cost
Another great thing about Life Ready Plus being in the Wellness Series is now, it's integrated with Philam Vitality--a rewards-based wellness program designed to give you perks for being healthy. You can also get an upfront additional coverage of 20% in your insurance plan through the program.

First, you take a health and fitness assessment to determine your Philam Vitality age, or the difference between your actual age from your bodily age--the closer they are, the healthier you are. The program then evaluates your wellness route to help you bridge the gap between the two ages.

From there, you're on your way! As you take steps toward being more active and reach certain goals, your Vitality Status gets higher.

The higher your status, the more benefits you'll have. Getting discounts to medical services, gym gear, memberships, and lifestyle services are all part of the total wellness package of improving both your financial and bodily health. You even get to receive up to 20% additional coverage in your policy in the succeeding years with no additional fee! All that just for being healthy.

Take charge and worry no more about your finances or your future. Being smart about your money doesn't have to be a one-man job, BPI-Philam's got a great team of trusty financial helpers on-site or online ready to help you out!

Want to know more about Life Ready Plus or any of BPI-Philam's products under the Wellness Series? Go to www.bpi-philam.com and click on any of the e-brochures. Don't forget to like and follow www.facebook.com/BPIPhilamOfficial to get firsthand updates on their products and services so you won't miss out!

It’s that time of the year when everyone thinks of #Goals to make or break for the year. Before you get tempted to create a long list of to do’s and must haves for 2018, focus on must do’s. Simple resolutions can bring you a long way if they’re doable, feasible, and impactful.

On your new journey toward living better next year you may come across challenges. But with a strong and dependable partner to lend you a hand, ticking off the must do’s in your list will be an easier and more rewarding experience.

Two For One

Research institute, StatisticBrain ranks healthy living and wiser financial decisions as the two resolutions that regularly top anyone's list, but Time Magazine says they are some of the most common ones to break throughout the year.

Regardless, the secret in successfully ticking off any item in your annual list of goals is to get help – a buddy for an extra boost to hit two targets with one swing!

Fitness and financial plans may be a challenge to keep, but BPI-Philam offers their latest Wellness Series to help you get started and encourage you to lead a life of total wellness. This takes care of both your financial and physical health through four personalized insurance products integrated with Philam Vitality, a science-backed wellness program that rewards your healthy choices.

Through the Wellness Series you get comprehensive life and health protection, and with Philam Vitality you get upfront 20% additional life coverage, and additional lifestyle rewards throughout your wellness journey. Philam Vitality empowers you to take consistent steps toward a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle – as you continuously do more healthy activities, your Vitality status increases and can give you additional life insurance coverage increase of up to 50%!

More rewards await you with every healthy decision you make! When you take steps to know and improve your health, you get exclusive discounts on services and exciting items like: screens from Hi Precision diagnostics and Makati Medical center, gym membership from Gold's Gym, and sports apparel from Garmin or Toby's Sports. Then, enjoy rewards like discounted air fare on your next Philippine Airlines trip, hotel room reservation at Seda or Marriot, or tickets to Enchanted Kingdom and SM Cinemas!

Which Wellness Series product is for you?

For your protection and insurance needs, choose among Life Ready Plus, Critical Care Plus, Critical Care Max, and Build Estate Plus--affordable solutions that secure your health and build your wealth.

While each of us may generally have similar health goals, we also have specific financial needs according to which of life’s key moments we are in.

For as low as P 2,100 a month, first jobbers and young professionals can build a protection fund for the future early on with Life Ready Plus. This plan also protects them for as long as needed by providing insurance coverage up to 360x their monthly premium.

Meanwhile, employees looking to maximize their health and life insurance to keep providing for their families, will find a fit with Critical Care Plus and Critical Care Max. Either policy gives them and their loved-ones peace of mind by providing cash benefits upon diagnosis or early stages of critical illness. It also builds a health fund that accumulates over time to support future health needs. This minimizes costly hospitalization and medical fees so they can focus on recovering and enjoying moments with their family.

Finally, people preparing for retirement and continually need protection for their assets can do so worry-free and with ease through Build Life Plus. With its life insurance benefit, estate taxes can be covered to secure their legacy, wellness, and their family’s future through health.

Every product also offers riders you can add to the policy to add peace of mind by maximizing protection and customize your cover to make sure it fits other needs you might have.

With your top two, yearly concerns efficiently out of the way, you can focus on accomplishing the things you love doing for the rest of the year without hassle or holding back.

Make nothing but the best life choices as you enter 2018 with BPI-Philam and get ready to live better and healthier not just for the new year but for the many fulfilling years to come.

Partner up with BPI-Philam in planning for a vibrant future today by visiting www.bpi-philam.com or any BPI branch across the country. Want to know more? Send us your inquiries at www.facebook.com/BPIPhilamOfficial .

What’s the perfect gift to get your loved ones? The one they need....

  How many bottles of lotion and perfume, stuffed animals, wall calendars, snow globes, or cutesy pajamas do you get (and maybe forget) every year?

  It’s always a thrill to receive a gift so might as well make it meaningful and more importantly useful. Finding a perfect gift for someone you care about is challenging, but there are unconventional options you can look at, especially for those who are about to enter a key moment in their lives.

  While a nice house-warming present is appreciated, why not help them jump start a more secure and protected future?

This is where insurance comes in. It’s something everyone knows they need but are not always willing to get, all they need is a gentle nudge from you.

  While you can’t wrap life insurance in gift wrappers and ribbons, all it takes is for you to bring your loved one to any BPI branch in the country. The process is quick, easy, and you would spend just as much in helping them with the first month (or more if you’re generous) of premium payments as you would with any other fancy gift. More importantly, it will result in savings and security for their future way beyond any gift-wrapped item can give.

Here are five people in your life that you can help build a bright future for with a gift of BPI-Philam insurance policies.

1.The Fresh Grad

The sitch: Fresh out of the cradles of college and taking the first step toward #adulting and independence. Without financial help from mommy or daddy, saving for the future on a budget may be a challenge. What now?

The gift: For as low as Php 2,000 for the first month, Life Ready Plus covers as much as 30 times the yearly payment while optimal benefits are definitely included. That means no matter what they go through, they are protected while they set aside funds for rainy days. More importantly, it’s easy enough for any first-jobber to set aside Php 2,000 per month and keep up the insurance plan for as long as he wants.

Affordability? Check. Convenience? Check. Financial security? Check!

2.The Newly-Weds

The sitch: It's for them that the wedding bells toll and having a helping hand with finances is great. But building a family is no piece of wedding-cake. There's a home to mind and a baby on the way. This may be a challenge that’ll get their hands full.

The gift: As future parents with growing careers, life will only become more hectic for the couple. When they’re busy making sure the kids are alright, sometimes they forget about themselves.

  Critical Care Max is an affordable and flexible protection plan that makes sure that the family’s future is secure no matter what happens. Even when life hits them with unexpected sickness or early stage critical illness, the plan eases the burden with cash benefits. Even better, now that the policy is charged with Philam Vitality, living healthier gives them additional life coverage aside from exclusive perks and privileges the whole family can enjoy!

  3.The Startup Guru

The sitch: Your best friend has finally transformed her Instagram store into a full-fledged business. What she didn’t expect is a new team of employees with their own hopes and dreams. While you’re both excited about joining the startup revolution, it’s a different story when it comes to making sure she keeps her team happy and protected to bring out their best performance.

  The gift: In a startup environment where each employee double-triple-quadruple-hats, it’s almost too easy to overlook one’s safety. With everyone making deliveries, moving from one meeting to another, manning bazaars and buying supplies, one accident big or small can have a huge impact on the business and on the employee.

Help your friend secure her most important asset: her people. For as low as one peso per day for each employee, BPI-Philam’s flexible Group Accident policy provides employees a plan that will suit their protection needs. Whether it’s making sure road accidents are covered during deliveries or personal injury is attended to during day-to-day operations, a small seed money for your friend’s Group Accident policy goes a long way.

4.The OFW Member
  The sitch: We all have that relative, whether it’s a parent, a sibling, or your favorite aunt or uncle, working doubly hard than anyone in another country. They may be all alone, but they continuously work hard to keep sending help back home. Until they can come back for good, why not help them save up for themselves and their own families, too?

  The gift: Getting close family members and relatives insured is as easy as signing them up as a dependent of your own. Instead of having them put all their investments in through the local currency, Invest Dollar Max breathes life into their hard-earned money. The plan also helps them prepare and build for the future by allowing them to participate in the financial market to help them achieve their goals while providing life insurance coverage. Should they decide to send their children abroad to school or travel with their family, the policy also helps protect their dollars so their families can enjoy their wealth with them.

  5.Your Parents

  The sitch: Your parents aren’t getting any younger, and they’ve given you everything you need to help you be the most successful you can be. With the many sacrifices they’ve made for us, our parents certainly deserve our appreciation and gratitude. It’s time their hard work paid off as you help them take it easy with their preparations for retirement.

The gift: Helping with the family’s finances is a wonderful idea. Now you can help your parents by protecting their assets even as they retire, with Build Estate plus. As your dependents, help them guard their future and secure their legacy through a plan that can look over their assets and cover their estate taxes. By helping them plan their estate, you’re also helping your parents feel burden-free, as if they’ve lived beyond their lifetime.

  Whether it’s Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or graduations, help your loved one build a good future for the next 5, 10, 15 years and beyond. All it takes is a visit to any BPI branch nationwide to get you and your loved one started.

  Show them you care. Know which BPI-Philam products best suit you and your loved ones by visiting:www.bpi-philam.com.

Between meetings, reports, and traveling through crazy traffic, being a typical working Filipino is the perfect excuse to sit back and indulge every time you get a break. Taking time off is the best way to recharge your mind and body, but what happens during the rest of the days when you’re stuck in the daily grind?

Here are three important habits to take up so you not only get on your #fitspiration – you just may start a new lifestyle that helps you not only feel better but live better.

Know where to start
Before you hop on the latest diet and fitness craze, find your starting point. Know where you stand and work from there. Not everyone is running the same marathon, so join the one that’s meant for you.

Thanks to the power of the internet, there are now hundreds of free tools that can give you a general idea of what your health status is. BPI-Philam offers wellness tools like the Philam Vitality Active which can be accessed online for free. Users can get a quick assessment of their health status, and then get a corresponding activity recommendation to improve this.

If you’re willing to take it a step further, the Philam Vitality program can help you start your total wellness journey. Activate your membership to Philam Vitality and get access to different health checks online, and discounts on basic and selected advanced screens from medical partners such as Makati Medical Center, and Hi-Precision Diagnostics – all of which aim to give you an understanding of your current health status.

Make the right moves
Once you know how healthy your body is, it’s easier to know what needs to be done to live better.

Don’t expect to stay committed to a full hour of lifting and cardio on the get go. Ease in to ten-minute workouts, jogging around the village, or doing planks while you watch the latest episodes on Netflix. No matter how quick your workout is, gear up for your routine to train your mind to get your body moving.

Policy-holders of BPI Philam that will avail of Philam Vitality membership are given preferential rates to different active lifestyle brands, which makes fulfilling one's health goals easier. For one, members gets 70% off elite membership at Gold's Gym making staying in shape more accessible. Need the right gear? Members get 25% off regular priced items at Toby’s and selected fitness tracker from Garmin.

Reward yourself
It may sound simple, but deciding to make a lifestyle change to live healthier is never easy. Therefore, always find ways to reward yourself for a job well done!

As you lead a healthier lifestyle, you effortlessly earn points through Philam Vitality that gets you freebies, treats, and discounts on theme parks, cinema tickets, hotel accommodations, and airline bookings. What' s best is that you get an upfront 20% additional coverage on your Philam Vitality-powered premium on the first year, which can increase up to a maximum of 50% as you sustain your active lifestyle and move up your Philam Vitality Status.

Are you finally excited to start living better? Then visit any BPI branch near you, or log on to: www.bpi-philam.com

Philam Vitality is a health and wellness program that encourages you to get the best of life by leading a healthier lifestyle. The program will take you to a journey of knowing and improving your health and eventually enjoy the rewards for your healthimprovements. For more information visit www.bpi-philam.

Financial planning is a topic most millennials rarely consider. This is often seen in behaviors of impulse purchases—using their hard-earned money in things that are temporarily meaningful, that at times lead to a feeling of regret, or what is simply called a grudge purchase.

A Goldman Sachs study revealed that generation "ME ME ME" would rather save up for vacations and leisure activities to enjoy their life now than invest in their future--marriage, a home, their own business, retirement plans. This despite financial institutions constantly encouraging them to favor savings and investments.

  For Surendra Menon, CEO of BPI-Philam, millennials can choose to have the best of both worlds.

  “They can live their present life to the fullest and have a secured future at the same time,” said Menon. "It's a misunderstanding that has to be clarified—protecting your future is simply making sure you can enjoy the lifestyle you have now and for the years to come."

  Hierarchy of needs

For Menon, gone are the days when insurance is seen as a contingency plan for sickness and death. BPI-Philam now offers themselves as a partner for total wellness – securing both physical and financial health, providing better value for money.

He mentions BPI-Philam’s comprehensive health products that lend a hand in living a better life all throughout, and not just when illness strikes.

  "Millennials have been hailed as the most health-conscious generation," Menon attests.

"For them, wellness is a priority. They are willing to spend money to exercise regularly and eat healthy. Our priority is the same, that's why we've integrated ways for them to maintain that lifestyle with our products."

One of the ways BPI-Philam does this is by providing Philam Vitality with their policies—a wellness program designed to reward the policy owner for being and staying active.

“Through Philam Vitality, we’re encouraging them to take that first step to wellness and keep at it by giving them unparalleled rewards and exclusive access to partners like gyms and medical facilities,” said Menon.

The Adultier Adult

He understands that taking the first step to financial planning through insurance might be a big leap from what millennials are used to. Menon assures them that they are on the right track of independence, or simply put, getting better at adulting.

"This new generation of consumers is just wary of where they put their money. They aren't ignorant of insurance," he said. "They just want to be assured that they are getting the value in return of what they pay for. Convenience and customizability are also a factor. We have all of those, but what we truly offer is peace of mind and a way to the wellness of the body.”

To make it simpler for millennials to step out, BPI-Philam eases them into planning forward through platforms that will keep up with their mobile lifestyle.

"These products are available and offered in all BPI branches across the country," Menon enthused. "Whether offline or online, we are prepared to serve.”

Aside from a bancassurance team ready to assist them anywhere in the Philippines, getting a hold of the most fitting policies have been made easier online through their website as well.

Menon also urges them not to look at these plans with the future as an ultimatum to get adulting done but to look forward to an assured future and live a life of total wellness.

"These plans aren't short nor long-term," he adds. "one should always look at what’s an appropriate term for yourself to ensure you get the best value for your money. Our products are based on the appropriate term for your needs.”

Menon hopes informing this generation better of what financial wellness plans are available would align them to the direction they dream their lives would go.

  He believes that with the right financial mentor encouraging them, they will surely gain and win in each key moment in their lives.

  "I think they are done hearing what they could do," he said. "It's time we show them that we believe what they can do." To take the first step in living life to its fullest, visit: https://www.bpi-philam.com/en/our-products.html

The Philippines isn't new to natural disasters or calamities.

Compared to its other Southeast Asian neighbors, our country experiences a wider range of disasters. From floods to landslides, and typhoons to earthquakes – the most recent of which just happened in Leyte with a magnitude of 6.5 – the Philippines continues to endure and survive. Though the government does its best in preparing for and anticipating these times of emergency through awareness efforts and disaster response drills, self-mitigation is still an area that we can further improve on.

 Surendra Menon, CEO of the country's premier bancassurance company, BPI-Philam, learned from the resiliency of Filipinos and their experience in times of crisis, believing this has given them a good start in disaster preparedness.

"Most Asian countries don't have typhoons; most of them are prepared for floods, fires, and some earthquakes. But here you have the full range – you have typhoons, you have earthquakes, tsunamis, even volcanoes. Most things about disaster preparedness Filipinos have learned because you've gone through it all," he said

Despite this vast experience of the nation, Menon encourages practicing resourcefulness by taking notes from disaster responsiveness of other countries in the region. Having worked and lived in Indonesia, he recalls the massive 1989 earthquake that hit its West Papua region, where countless people died and survivors ran out of supplies in a few months’ time, remaining displaced years after the incident.

He believes Indonesians and Filipinos are somewhat similar given their experiences, but Filipinos can up their preparedness by starting with themselves.

"Disaster has a long-term impact, but only short-term assistance will come so it's up to you to bridge the gap between short-term assistance and long-term necessities," he stressed.

Micro-preparedness

Menon, who served as a Lieutenant Captain for Singapore’s Civil Defense Forces, shared some practical tips that could help anybody self-mitigate in times of disaster.

"On a physical basis, make sure you have two weeks’ worth of water in your house. The first and foremost necessity for survival is water," Menon said. "You will need food – dry food like biscuits that can last for two weeks as well for you and your family should be enough to go around when a disaster strikes and until help comes."

Apart from physical needs, he also reminded Filipinos to have available cash at hand for emergency purchases and backup funds in the bank. "Maintaining an insurance plan would help too," he said. "Prioritize protection from accidents first, then your health and life [insurance]."

Prioritize today, protect the future

Starting and maintaining financial contingency plans may not seem to be a priority for the average Filipino worker, but Menon believes foresight is a good thing to have, not just for ourselves but for those who matter to us most.

"The order of priority for your funds should be ‘today’ first and then 'immediate emergency,'" he said. "The next priority after that should be protecting your future income, preferably through a life insurance plan, so your family won't have to worry about resources should something happen to you."

  Confident of the Filipinos’ indomitable spirit – the driving force against some of the worst natural and man-made disasters that hit the region – Menon is convinced the Philippines can only get more resilient through learnings from past calamities and ensure enough preparation for life’s uncertainties.  

Aquabest has renewed its partnership with BPI Family Savings Bank as an accredited franchisor for its BPI Family Ka-Negosyo Franchising Loan.

The company was among the pioneer batch of accredited franchisors and has been recognized as a Best List brand by the bank. The company's prospective franchisees can enjoy favorable and flexible financing terms from BPI Family Savings Bank.

"Our renewed partnership with BPI Family Ka-Negosyo is a testament to our company's hard work to building a strong brand and business that has helped our franchisees succeed as entrepreneurs. At the same time, it continues to make it easier for aspiring entrepreneurs to set up their dream business" says Carson Tan, Aquabest's President and CEO.

For a franchise to be included in the Best List means it is an established, profitable and franchisee-friendly brand. Most of the companies in the list are profitable, having a return on investment (ROI) of less than three years. Aspiring entrepreneurs taking out a BPI Family Ka- Negosyo Franchising Loan on Aquabest can enjoy incentives such as no collateral loan, shorter processing time and no processing fee.