“Nag-aalala ka dahil nagmamahal ka (You worry because you care).”

Ms. Sharon Cuneta expressed this perspective in her most recent vlog for the Insular Life (InLife) Dreamweaver Series.

“My life still had its ups and downs but generally I have been really fortunate. And while most of you will see me as an accomplished individual, believe it or not, I still have my own share of worries. I still worry about my kids, my husband, my family, which is just normal,” the mom of KC, Frankie, Miel, and Miguel said.

The acronym S.A.D., which stands for sickness, accidents, and death/disabilities, can be used to summarize some of these concerns. Cuneta emphasized to the audience that worries about these are understandable given their inevitability.

Finding Certainty in an Uncertain World

“But there is a way to free yourself from these worries, and it’s called life insurance. Just a small trivia from someone born in the sixties, noong araw ang tawag namin sa insurance ay seguro, which is a Spanish word meaning ‘sure’, or in Tagalog, tiyak,” shared the icon who has been hailed as Philippine entertainment’s Megastar.

Cuneta pointed out that having life insurance guarantees that your loved ones are taken care of if something happens to you — from replacing the income and financial support that you have provided to assistance in paying for funeral expenses.

The Benefits of Life Insurance

The multi-awarded actress, host, and singer explained that life insurance is a policy or plan that one pays for on certain periods of time and that its lump sum will be received by the policyholder’s beneficiaries when they pass away. Its benefits can be summed up in the following:

• It can support the family in case of the breadwinner’s sudden demise. The death benefit can help maintain the family’s standard of living and keep them financially stable.
• It can be used to pay off the policyholder’s outstanding debts, like mortgages, car loans, and credit card payments.
• It can help with estate planning as it can secure the value of one’s assets and easily transfer them to the loved ones when the time comes.
• It can also  secure a policyholder’s business in case of sudden death, as it can cover their business obligations.

A Life with No Worries

“The real value of life insurance is that it gives you peace of mind, it frees you from the anxieties you have about the future of your loved ones should any of the sad uncertainties happen to you. It’s your hakuna matata, a life with no worries, and not worrying means you can focus on living your life to the fullest, and making more happy memories with the people you love,” Cuneta said.

The Megastar, together with her daughter Miel Cuneta-Pangilinan, are proud Dreamweavers for InLife, the country’s first and largest Filipino-owned life insurance company. As Dreamweavers, they are helping amplify InLife’s mission of helping Filipinos lead A Lifetime for Good.

“As an InLife Dreamweaver, it is my privilege to share with you that InLife has flexible life insurance coverage options, depending on your budget, your preferences, and your needs. They have policies with guaranteed cash payouts, meaning you will get an amount for certain periods of time,” Cuneta said.

For those who wish to grow their premium policies created for a specific time period and for life, InLife also offers investment-complementary plans.

You can see Megastar’s most recent vlog on insurance at www.insularlife.com.ph and https://www.youtube.com/@SharonCunetaNetwork, as well as her prior one about financial and health wellbeing.

To find out more about the insurance plan that best suits your needs, contact an InLife financial advisor or stop by the InLife office that is closest to you.

Modern farming methods increase yields for some farmers, but many Filipino farmers are still unable to keep up. These seasoned workers are clinging to tried-and-true, frequently ineffective techniques that have been passed down through the generations while they find themselves falling behind in a market that demands increased output.

Jayson Garcia, a Pampanga farmer, aimed to challenge the dominant narrative among his family. He was aware that, in the quickly changing world of contemporary agriculture, he would need to innovate and set a new direction for his farm in order to stay competitive.

“Noon, mahirap ang magtanim,” he recalled their life before joining SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan. “Para bang tsambahan, basta pag itinanim mo ‘yan, hintayin mo na lang mamunga. Mas mahirap pa lalo kapag nagkaroon ng kalamidad,” he added. 

SM Foundation’s training program focused on high-value crop cultivation was the breakthrough Garcia needed to revitalize his farming techniques. These included selecting the best seeds and caring for them as well as strategic planting schedules.

The livelihood program also gave way for him to discover alternative sales channels that enhanced his earning potential while extending fair prices to his customers. The knowledge and confidence he gained led him to expand his farm, and in effect, increased his monthly income to more than Php25,000.

Aside from directly selling his harvests, he is now planting a variety of vegetables–on his farm, including lemongrass, malunggay, and madre de cacao, which he sells online to small businesses that process the produce into other products.

Embracing new techniques

Sharing the same story of hope is another KSK farmer from Pampanga, Juanito Dela Cruz. Despite his age, he actively pursued and adopted modern farming techniques. Building on his current success, he shared the importance of adaptability for farmers, calling for others to try and explore new practices.

From a modest monthly income of Php10,000, Juanito experienced an upsurge in his earnings, notably through participation in the Weekend Market at SM City Clark, yielding around Php30,000 weekly. “Kailangan maging bukas tayo sa makabagong pamamaraan ng pagsasaka para makahabol tayo sa demands ng panahon ngayon—ito ang itinuo sa akin ng SM Foundation-KSK,” he said.

Jayson and Juanito are two of the approximately 30,000 Filipino farmers whose lives have been transformed by the SM Group’s KSK program. Farmers who had given up thanks to its activities were able to adopt contemporary farming methods and become more adaptive in the face of the changing agricultural world.

The SM Group is unwavering in its dedication to advancing social good through the SM Foundation. This commitment continues SM’s upcoming initiatives, which will be spearheaded by its planned smart city real estate development, with an emphasis on boosting beneficial social impact in the areas in which SM operates.

Through its climate action program, Project GREENLIGHT, ChildFund Philippines assists young people in Infanta, Quezon. The program’s goal is to address climate change issues and reduce the risk of climate-related disasters, highlighting the crucial role that young people play in promoting climate action in their community.

Project GREENLIGHT incorporates Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) into Infanta, Quezon’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) program in collaboration with the municipal government and ReINa Federations of Parents Associations, Inc.

Project GREENLIGHT represents a comprehensive approach to climate action, acknowledging that climate change is a complex and interconnected issue. “It integrates education, community engagement, and sustainable livelihood development to help the next generation of local eco-leaders combat climate change, especially since the Philippines is prone to various climate hazards and risks due to its geographical location and human activities,” said Erwin Peter Galido, Program Specialist – Disaster Risk Management of ChildFund Philippines. “Our ultimate goal for this project is to eventually make this a national program and support more Filipino youth taking action to mitigate climate change impacts,” he added.

The initiative employs a classroom-to-forest approach to support the youth in taking an active role in environmental protection and conservation, efficient energy consumption, waste management, awareness raising, local policy advocacy, and climate action. It involves taking students out of traditional classroom settings and into natural environments, such as forests, wetlands, or parks, to learn about environmental concepts, ecological systems, and conservation practices firsthand.

“We believe in the power of these young individuals to make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond. With Project GREENLIGHT, we aim to work hand-in-hand with them to actively contribute as catalysts for climate action, particularly in communities vulnerable to the impacts of disasters, and for a more sustainable and eco-friendly world,” said Anand Vishwakarma, CEO & Country Director of ChildFund Philippines.

Youth leaders and advocates in the program, called Eco-scouts, highlight the importance of youth engagement in creating sustainable solutions to address climate change.

“This immersive approach gives us a better understanding of why we need to combat climate change now more than ever,” said Ramiline Resplanador, one of the Eco-scouts. “Throughout the implementation, we are learning the impacts of deforestation and degradation on our community, and so we encourage other children to become better stewards of our planet,” she added.

Lu By Ron Broto, another Eco-Scout, shared, “I apply what I learn from the project by encouraging my family to switch to more sustainable ways of living, including waste segregation, plant growing, and efficient energy consumption.” He added that the project also enhanced his leadership skills to educate more members of the community about climate change, helping them make conscious choices that have a positive impact on the environment.

The project’s approaches and tools will enable individuals and communities to adapt to the challenges of climate change while simultaneously promoting sustainable development. This includes the promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices, green jobs and livelihoods (e.g., zero waste stores), and renewable energy, among others.

In order to enhance climate resilience in Infanta, Quezon, which is vulnerable to natural disasters due to its diversified topography, ReINa Federation and the government of Infanta, Quezon have been essential partners in the program’s pilot implementation.

The government of Infanta emphasizes that climate awareness should lead to action. “It is imperative to get commitments on the ground and to act with more urgency. By thinking globally and acting locally to adapt to our community’s needs, we can effectively utilize our resources to mitigate climate change impacts,” said Ron Pallugna Crisostomo, Municipal Government Department Head I – Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer of Infanta, Quezon.

ChildFund Philippines advocates for increased multi-sectoral partnerships with business entities, non-governmental organizations, and other relevant parties in order to extend the implementation of Project GREENLIGHT to additional communities around the nation.

Go to https://childfund.org.ph/get-involved for further details on how to become involved.

Fifteen minutes is a long time in the eyes of the modern metropolitan resident.

In just fifteen minutes, you may accomplish a lot of worthwhile tasks, like meditate, clear your inbox, jog a 1.5-kilometer route, perform high-intensity interval training (HITT), read the news, and make a smoothie.

However, 15 minutes is hardly enough time for a commuter in Metro Manila to get from point A to point B. You have probably not moved an inch in this time, especially during rush hour.

Do you know about the 15-minute city? It’s a contemporary idea for urban development that prioritizes both people and the environment. The phrase was first used by urbanist and Sorbonne University professor Carlos Moreno of Paris. He stated that the perfect neighborhood or city is one in which jobs, dining, housing, entertainment, and educational opportunities are all conveniently located within a 15-minute walk or by bike.

Pasay City, in its forward-looking 360-hectare smart city development, aims to create an innovative tropical 15-minute city for over 300,000 residents.

Situated at the edge of a densely-packed and overpopulated metropolis perpetually in a traffic gridlock, this city will provide respite to its residents and visitors with sustainable, inclusive, safe, and healthy living where all their needs can be accessed within reach.

Among its intended features, the project is envisioned to have low carbon and safe mobility networks with multimodal public transport services and enhanced infrastructure that prioritizes active mobility like walking and biking. There will be parking lots equipped with electric vehicle charging stations, dedicated bike lanes, easily accessible public transport hubs, and unimpeded pedestrian walkways.

This assures lower transportation costs, less carbon emissions, and most importantly, healthier and happier people. No more long and tiring queues at the EDSA bus carousel or sitting hours on end in the middle of EDSA traffic.

The project has been thoughtfully planned and designed for many years, and finally it has received the green light by government to proceed. In fact, no less than Albay 2^nd district Rep. Joey Salceda highlighted how the Pasay-led project is expected to earn billions in real estate assets for the government.

The project’s revenues are expected to provide an enormous multiplier effect on our GDP and around 300,000 additional jobs between 2027 and 2040. It is anticipated to employ 4% of all workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) by 2035.

It is anticipated that the Pasay 360 Project will reinvigorate the economy, foster livelihoods, and develop the next wave of Filipino leaders. Filipinos may take pleasure in it as we advance toward the twenty-second century.

Despite differences in population and culture, cities all around the world strive for advancement through new urban developments. Through a variety of socioeconomic activities, such as the development of jobs, these projects not only improve convenience in the midst of urban congestion but also invigorate local economies and communities.

A single new development, whether it takes the shape of state-of-the-art business districts, public transportation, or tall residential communities, necessitates a wide range of employment from planning to completion. These include suppliers, builders, and real estate developers and planners; all of them need close cooperation to ensure the successful development of projects.

Hudson Yards: Direct and indirect employment opportunities

The cycle of job creation doesn’t stop after completion. A new development also drives indirect employment opportunities generated from industries attracted or related to the development.

Such is the case for Hudson Yards, New York City’s 28-acre mixed-use development and considerably the United States’ biggest megadevelopment in history. It had created thousands of construction jobs that resulted in transforming Manhattan’s iconic skyline and becoming home to diverse shops, offices, cultural institutions, and hotels and residences. Ongoing operations and management of these facilities are expected to contribute to its large-scale economy, such as hosting over 55,752 workers daily and about $19 billion annually to the city’s GDP.

Dubai and Songdo IBD: Creating economic opportunities afresh

Meanwhile, cities like Dubai and Songdo International Business District (IBD) generate jobs by creating economic opportunities from the ground up. They used land reclamation as an urban development strategy to address land scarcity and high population density challenges.

Dubai’s ambitious projects, including the Palm Islands, the World Islands, and Burj Al Arab, have turned it into an ultramodern metropolis for commerce and tourism. In 2023, it drew over 30,000 new businesses, driving demand for talent in finance, legal, and digital technology sectors.

The Songdo IBD is an ongoing smart city built on reclaimed land in Incheon, South Korea. It’s designed to be an international business and residential hub with sustainable features. As of 2020, the 1,500-acre development hosts about 30,000 residents, 33,000 jobs, and 70% fewer emissions than any other development.

SM’s Integrated City Developments: Empowering local communities and residents

The SM Group, a leading conglomerate in the Philippines, has an ecosystem of interests spanning retail, banking, property, and mall developments across the country, making it the largest employer with over 140,000 employees.

For every SM mall development by SM Prime Holdings, the integrated property developer of the Group, the local economy is invigorated because of the opportunities created by supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that comprise about 68% of its mall tenants. For instance, SM City Bataan, SM Supermalls’ 83rd mall, employs about 96% of its mall administration staff who are residents called Bataeños, including two in leadership roles. It also proudly showcases local industries by partnering with homegrown businesses like family-owned brands and locally managed franchises.

The local workforce’s quality of life is influenced by tax revenues, steady employment, and job security. SM Prime makes sure that these advancements are reflected in all of its developments, particularly in its plans for future smart city initiatives in the Philippines, which will be led by its ongoing 360-hectare development in Pasay City.

New urban projects shape local economies through the production of jobs and better living conditions. They are also sources of innovation, growth, and opportunities for enhanced affluence. A network of opportunities is necessary for these city centers to succeed, from their pre-construction supply chain to enabling enterprises so that people can prosper and give back to their communities.