Lifestyle

Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray visits baby Grace at her home in Limuru, Kiambu County. Gray, who just concluded her two-day visit to Kenya, had the chance to interact with beneficiaries of cleft treatment to spread the message that ‘All Smiles are Beautiful’.

Even after her reign as Miss Universe ended, Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray recently visited Kenya to spread awareness of Smile Train as a partner in comprehensive cleft care for those in need. Catriona continues to use her voice to share the message that “All Smiles are Beautiful” and help reach more people who can benefit from Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity.

Despite of her busy schedules filming in Mauritius and hosting segments at the Miss Universe South Africa 2021 pageant, Catriona made time to visit Smile Train patients and their families in Kenya. She was able to learn about their cleft care journey and the stigma that cleft lip and palate bring through her interactions with them.

LOOK: Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray in an African neckpiece by Smile Train Vice President and Regional Director for Africa Mrs. Nkeiruka Obi during a press conference.

Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray at a Smile Train Africa press conference

At a press conference arranged by Smile Train Africa in Kenya, Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray also appealed to the Department of Health to implement birth screenings so that cleft lip and palate can be detected in the early stages of development, enabling both mother and child to receive appropriate care and support. In Africa, 1,300 children are born with cleft issues every year, and 1 out of 10 newborns die due to malnutrition. Despite many who believe cleft is only a cosmetic issue, cleft has serious health implications. Cleft can also affect a child’s ability to breastfeed properly, therefore many suffer from malnutrition.

“It is vital to note that cleft also affects one’s emotional and mental wellbeing,” said Gray. Thus, Smile Train wants to break down the stigma for people who suffer from cleft, as many of those with untreated cleft conditions cannot productively participate in society without being taunted for their appearance.

“We also ask media to help in demystifying cleft and educating the public that cleft is not the result of a ‘curse’ or ‘witchcraft’, nor is it an indicator of mental disability,” added Gray.

Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray poses with Travis and his mother Rahab Mwau (left), and Grace with her mother Damaris Murugi (right) when she visited Kenya, seeking to raise awareness about cleft.

Across the globe, Smile Train has a sustainable system focused on solving the problems brought about by cleft lip and palate. Smile Train’s global footprint allows them to partner with local health organizations to provide proper cleft care treatment at no cost to patients.

In addition to life-changing surgery, Smile Train’s local medical partners provide essential cleft care such as speech therapy, emotional support, nutrition services, and orthodontic care to ensure that children have the opportunity to lead full and productive lives. Smile Train, with the support of its donors and partners around the world, has supported safe and quality cleft care for more than 1.5 million children in need for the past 22 years.

Even during the pandemic, Smile Train in the Philippines has continued to provide comprehensive cleft care and patients still have access to Smile Train’s services and are still able to schedule surgeries in partner hospitals, despite lockdown retrictions. With the launch of the first Filipino mobile Smile Train Speech App and the Virtual Telehealth Program, Smile Train enabled Filipino patients to join speech therapy sessions from the safety of their homes.

Philippine TV Actor Sam Milby (left) and Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray (right) share smiles with Anastacia and her daughter, Grace (center) during a visit to their home.

Please visit smiletrain.org for more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

Have you tried an all-natural product for your home, pets, or personal hygiene? There’s no need to look everywhere because Happy Life Organics will be holding its greatest one-day deal ever! Get a discount of up to 65 percent, or over P1,860 in savings! You may find them in Lazada, Shopee, and Zalora’s official online malls.

Watch out for their best-selling banner goods, such as the waterless pet shampoo, the first and first no-rinse pet shampoo that simulates a bath without the trouble by reducing bath time by 70%. Because it contains the power plants madre de cacao, neem, aloe vera, and lavender, it’s ideal for your dogs and cats.

Pets spray, an instant Pet Disinfectant, Deodorizer and Insect Repellent on the go, is perfect before and after dog/cat walks. It is safe and mild, effectively repels and kills insects, and removes odors instantly.

Pet Shampoo and Conditioner, the 2-in-1 (shampoo and conditioner), is perfect for sensitive skin. It will help repel and kill ticks and fleas leaving fur skin soft and huggable for many days.

For your home and pet essentials, BGone LC Disinfectant is an area heavy duty Disinfectant, Deodorizer and Insect Repellent that is also a plant-based disinfectant used in Malacanang Palace to fight Covid. It effectively gets rid of mosquitoes, ants and cockroaches. It’s a strong deodorizer and cleaner yet mild and gentle in formula. Additionally, it is very cost efficient as it needs to be diluted before use. More importantly, it is safe for pets, babies, pregnant women, elderlies and asthmatic children.

Alcohol is the most essential item nowadays.

• It eliminates germs and viruses in less than a second and protects up to 3 hours.
• Moisturizes hands in every application with signature fresh scent and is FDA approved.

With dengue rising up, Lotion and Mosquito Cologne is the perfect mosquito repellent protection. With two choices of either perfume or lotion based solution, both safely repel mosquitoes and are safe for babies from 6 months old and above, and even for pregnant women.

Finally, with Christmas approaching quickly, they provide a large assortment of Christmas bundles. Happy Life Organics has handpicked gift sets that you can purchase. Follow the link below to the store.

Happy Life Organics can be purchase on this site below:

• Shopee: https://shopee.ph/happylifeorganics?smtt=0.0.9
• Lazada: https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.3uoUt
• Zalora: https://www.zalora.com.ph/catalog/?q=happy+life+organics

Bonifacio Global City implements community initiatives that can make it easier for BGCitizens and more to be involved in actions that champion eco-friendly solutions. This steps toward sustainability even the smallest way can create huge impact to heal our earth.

Most recent endeavours of BGC is in partnership with the City of Taguig, BEST and BXtra, is Project Bins, an app-and-cashback-based waste recycling program for residents to have an avenue to drop off recyclables and earn points to purchase their weekly vegetables at Luntian Express, BGC’s mobile market. Those interested simply have to download the bXTRA CLIENT APP to exchange their recyclables into environmental points (EP).

Aside from purchasing goods at Luntian Express, earned EPs can also be used to purchase goods either in-store through merchants such as Rackshack, Pooch Park, Brothers Burger and more, or they can also visit www.bXTRAoutlet.delivery to convert their EPs into Lazada wallet credits.

The drop off process is made smooth as the Bins Truck goes around different locations in BGC every weekend from 8AM to 5PM to collect recyclables. For more information on the schedule, locations, and allowed items, check out the attached FAQs.

To be in the know of the estate’s other sustainability projects and the latest updates, visit Bonifacio Global City’s Facebook page! We know that recycling and taking part in protecting the environment has never been easier.

Many Filipinos’ lifestyles were transformed as a result of the financial burden brought on by the worldwide health pandemic. Many people have lost their employment in the nearly two years after the global COVID-19 pandemic began, and they have had to make due with whatever money they have.

More than half of Filipinos named boosting their savings as one of their top priorities when it comes to personal finance, according to a study titled “State of Banking and Financial Wellness”  commissioned by US-based research firm Forrester.

The desire to have money safely stashed when rainy days come, is one that is shared by every Filipino—regardless of stature in life or the money they earn. When COVID-19 hit, majority of Filipinos were left without a stable means of livelihood as the strict lockdown badly affected the economy, leading to a significant number of business closures and an uncertain future for those engaged in the gig economy.

Stemming from its desire to push for financial inclusion for every Filipino, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank partnered with Cebuana Lhuillier, one of the country’s leading micro financial service providers, to introduce Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings in 2019. Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings provided Filipinos with an accessible and convenient means to save their hard-earned money by addressing the common barriers in saving, including lack of accessibility, the need for numerous documentary requirements, and the high cost of a starting and maintaining a balance.

“Our main priority is to be a one-stop shop for the micro financial needs of our kababayans. With our commitment of financial inclusion and mobility for everyone, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings account is one of the great products we have created to empower many of our kababayans to save, regardless of their status in life,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

The promise of having money saved in times of need was what inspired Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings account holders Pillilia Pardo and Maria Luisa Luna to open a savings account and work hard to build a comfortable fund that they can rely on when needed.

Pillilia Pardo, 79-year-old, sari-sari store owner from Las Pinas and a loyal micro savings account holder, dreams of imparting the value of savings to her children.

Pillilia, a 79-year-old sari-sari store owner in Las Pinas, makes sure to deposit a fraction of her daily earnings into her micro savings account. With her store located right beside the Cebuana Lhuillier Casimiro branch, she has become a daily fixture for the branch personnel who assists her on her everyday transactions.

“Napakahalaga ng savings, kasi pag dumating ang pagkakataon na ikaw ay magigipit, kailangan mo ng pera. Kung mayroon kang ipon, anytime puwede ka makapag-withdraw,” shares the septuagenarian. When the pandemic hit, Pillilia used her micro savings account to augment her day-to-day expenses, which included medicines, food, utilities, and rent. When the lockdowns affected her store’s earnings, she was comforted by the fact that she did not have to resort to borrowing money in order to get by. “Hindi ka magsisisi kung nakapag-ipon ka…anytime nangailangan, nandiyan ang ipon ko. Mayroon akong magagamit,” she adds.

Maria Luisa Luna, a 64-year-old, garbage collector from Manila relied on her micro savings account when the pandemic badly hit her family.

For Maria Luisa, it was her savings that literally saved her family in the midst of the strict Manila lockdowns. She earns her keep by collecting recyclables which she then sells in a junkyard. For over two years, even before the lockdown began, she would make sure that a portion of her earnings goes to her Cebuana Lhuillier micro savings account, which she intends to use during emergencies.

“Hindi na kami  makapangalakal nung naghigpit sa lockdown. Yung kinakain namin, halos galing na lang sa ayuda ng gobyerno pero hindi naman sapat yun. Nagkasakit pa ang anak ko. Hindi ko naman matiis na hindi maipagamot. Doon ko na naisip na gamitin yung ipon ko sa Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings. Tuwing may kailangan sa bahay, gaya nang pangkain at pang-renta, withdraw ako. Tapos pagpapagamot sa anak, withdraw ulit,” Maria Luisa shares. She admits that the protracted quarantine period had drained her savings, but now that everything is slowly going back to normal, she has also resumed building her emergency nest egg, visiting the Cebuana Lhuillier branch nearest her after a day of collecting recyclables and items to sell.

Since its launch, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings has enabled more than 5.5M account holders to have a semblance of peace of mind in times of great need and emergencies. As a cash agent, Cebuana Lhuillier provided account holders with a reliable and highly accessible venue to deposit and withdraw their money in any of its 2,500 branches nationwide, anytime and anywhere.

In 2020, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings was made even more accessible and convenient with the introduction of its new digital features.

“We’ve always believed that Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings should be able to evolve according to the changing needs of its users. By going digital, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings is providing greater IPON POWER to its account holders, by providing them convenience and mobility in maximizing the use of their savings through digital channels,” Cebuana Lhuillier bank President, Dennis Valdes added.

Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings gives you more IPON POWER by allowing you to withdraw cash from over 21,000+ BancNet ATMs nationwide at any time; shop online with UnionPay merchants around the world; have 24/7 unlimited banking access with the eCebuana app; and make cashless payments in over 350,000 UnionPay and BancNet accredited stores nationwide.

With more Filipinos gradually appreciating the importance of saving, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings is working to improve its features so that account holders have a reliable partner they can rely on at all times.

Did you guys know that only 53% of the adult population saves, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2019 Financial Inclusion Survey? This outcome is as frightening as it sounds. As a result, the significance of saving money should be highlighted more frequently.

In our zoom meeting, luckily, I was invited, I am so delighted to learn and have insightful knowledge about saving. There it gives us ideas on how we can save and how important saving is. Things that I learned during the session is that we have a lot of things that need to prioritize and that we must also include savings as a priority. Also, I realized that I have to control my impulses to do my saving act well. Little by little we can make a change and have better security for ourselves. At my age right now saving money is also a form of investment because at the end of the day I can use this with all my future needs and endeavors.

World Savings Day is a day set aside for financial institutions, both governmental and commercial, as well as financial activists, to come together to promote saving mobilization. The concept is simple: saving is for all Juans!

Here are some more reasons to learn how to save money:

To achieve financial freedom

The ultimate goal for people who are financially knowledgeable is to achieve total financial independence, where you will never have to worry about your finances again. This is only possible if you manage your finances well.

To be ready in the event of an emergency

Unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, job loss, or family medical issues, necessitate the establishment of an emergency fund. Your savings may be sufficient to meet the amount required for the unforeseen expenses, ensuring that you do not go into debt.

To achieve a financial and/or personal goal

Saving money allows you to fulfill all of your financial and personal objectives. You can never buy and invest in a house and lot or a start-up business without appropriate savings. You’ll need to save money in order to afford a larger down payment on a home. A new car or a trip overseas are examples of personal milestones.

Not to miss out on a chance

Life presents us with opportunities that may or may not be financially rewarding. A seat sale to your favorite location, a pre-sale house and lot within your budget, a new stock in the IPO stage, or even a new company idea are all examples of opportunities. Your money could be used as a start-up fund. Keep in mind that the more money you have, the more possibilities you’ll have.

Especially in all the crises that we’re facing there’s a lot more reasons why people must save. As we face difficulties and unforeseen circumstances, we can’t predict what will happen in the future. We might lose our jobs and or face a financial crisis or health related issues and as for that we can lean on the amount we kept from our savings.

One of the most essential financial lessons we’ve learned from the current pandemic crisis is the need to save money. Emergencies do occur, and those who have not budgeted for them will find themselves worried about how to make ends meet. The pandemic also provided people with newfound leisure to pursue their side hustles for extra cash. People are becoming bakers, internet sellers, and vloggers, and firms in the health supply industry, such as masks, are expanding. When you undertake a general home cleaning, this is also a good time to sell any unused stuff you have. Finally, for individuals who work in an office, the shift to online school implies further savings for lunch and transportation.

How much you can save is mostly determined by your salary. Perhaps you’re considering a savings target that’s higher than what you’re getting paid. If you want to save more money, you should raise your salary and look for alternative ways to supplement your income. The more money you earn, the more money you should save, not the other way around. Consider it a never-ending wealth loop.

Saving is much more convenient thanks to Cebuana Lhuillier. As they changed their 24k Micro Savings Card to a normal Savings Card with all the perks of an ATM, minus the exorbitant startup deposit and daily maintenance balance requirements, which may deter most wage-earners like me.

According to Ms Lorna Z Teczon, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank’s Head of Digital Banking and Strategic Alliances, “This is as easy as depositing a minimum of P50 to open an account or P1 to reactivate a dormant account, and you can, with a minimal or zero fees, send, receive, save money with interest and withdraw from nearby Cebuana Lhuillier branches and BancNet ATMs.”

Saving is introduced to regular people, freelancers, and youngsters by making banking accessible not only to wage earners, but also to those who don’t, can’t, or haven’t experienced opening a bank account due to prohibitive restrictions.

This convenience is enough to persuade people to start saving without worry of becoming caught in bureaucracy or being turned off by commercial banking jargon.

So, what are you waiting for to make a better future and secure a means for yourself by saving money. As we commemorate World Savings Day it gives us an idea on how it is really important to us.