NEWS
Home Credit PH extends close to P6M financial aid to Odette-affected employees
CaptionJean Anne Ramos, Sales Associate from Bais City, Negros Oriental with the items she bought from HCPH’s financial assistance
January 28, 2022 3:58 p.m.
Home Credit Philippines disbursed close to P6 million pesos in cash assistance to its employees affected by Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao.
A total of 1,012 Home Credit employees received initial financial support a day before Christmas.
According to Home Credit Philippines Chief People Officer Alpha Omega Aquino, more than P250,000 was raised through donations amongst fellow employees which the company added to reach the total amount and sufficiently support the affected employees and their families.
In addition to the initially distributed cash aid, HCPH continuously monitored their situation and conditions, and extended further financial assistance to those severely impacted.
Some 82 employees, whose houses were totally lost or had major damage, were given up to P20,000 each.
Due to the typhoon, many properties were destroyed by the strong winds and severe flooding, including the house of Lovely Ramos, a Sales Associate in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
“Sobrang lakas ng hangin at lagpas tao ang baha kaya sahig na lang ang natira sa bahay namin. Lahat ng gamit pati pera at ATM cards natangay,” (The wind was too strong, and the water was high. The floor was the only part of the house that was left. All our belongings, including money and ATM cards, were completely washed out.) she recounted.
When told that they would receive financial assistance, Lovely was very thankful because at least she can use the money to rebuild her house.
On the other hand, Joerald Sasing from the Collections team experienced the challenge of cash withdrawal after receiving the aid.
“Ang pila sa mga ATM, umaabot ng limang oras at kailangan pa tumawid ng kabilang bayan dahil nasira yung ibang machines. Pero pasalamat pa rin kay Home Credit dahil mayroong makukuhang pang-gastos,” (The queue at the ATM lasts up to five hours, and you have to cross to another city just to find a working one. But we’re still grateful to Home Credit because we have something to pay for the expenses.) he narrated.
Jean Rose Ramos, another Sales Associate, sends her thanks to HCPH for the help they got. Since relief goods arrived a little late in their area, she was able to use the financial aid to buy food and necessities for her and her family.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Home Credit para sa tulong na ibinigay nila para makabili kami ng basic needs tulad ng pagkain. Maswerte kami na maging parte ng isang kompanya na may malasakit.” (I would like to thank Home Credit for their help so we can buy basic needs such as food. We are fortunate to be part of a company who cares for us.)
“We believe that in any challenges or calamities, nobody should be left behind, most especially our people. This is our way of looking after them,” Aquino said of the initiative.
With majority of the affected employees coming from the Collections and Sales departments, the teams initiated a donation drive for their fellow Home Credit employees, within their respective groups.
On top of the financial assistance the company initially provided, they also passed the hat among teammates to help contribute to the distributed cash aid.
They also donated Christmas tokens in the form of gift certificates and other relief items.
Earlier, the consumer finance company also earmarked 1M through partners foundations to help other victims of the typhoon.
To date, HCPH has distributed food packages to 112, 712 individuals through GMA Kapuso Foundation and almost 4,000 families were given relief items in partnership with World Vision Philippines.
Home Credit Philippines has already served over 8 million Filipinos, empowering them to afford their needs through various consumer finance products.
NEWS
Atayde bats for moratorium on student loan payments during emergencies, calamities
March 17, 2023 9:00 p.m.
STUDENTS won’t have to worry paying their loans during times of calamities and emergencies, as Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has introduced a moratorium on the payment of student loans administered by higher educational institutions (HEIs).
The House Bill 7279, which Atayde filed last Feb. 21, headed into its first reading six days later in the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark O. Go.
He said the bill — once it turns to a law — will halt the payment of all the fees, charges, and costs relating to student loans and technical-vocational training institutions (TVIs) or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) during emergencies.
It will cover all students residing in areas declared to be under a state of calamity or emergency — those who are enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private HEIs, and public and private TVIs.
“We have to find a way to help our students and their families, when natural or even these man-made calamities hit them hard. We just have to make everything easy for them including a moratorium on the payment of student loans,” Atayde said. “It is a burden on a student and their family especially in difficult times like aftermath of typhoon, fire and earthquakes, among other disasters.”
“In the order of spending, student loans will be their least priority since spending will go mostly to basic necessities for survival,” Atayde added.
The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and for 30 days after its lifting. No penalties shall be collected on the deferred payments.
“To provide adequate relief and protection to our students in times of calamities and emergencies, this measure shall allow the deferral of student loan collections for a reasonable period during and after the onset of disasters.”
The Quezon City lawmaker cited also the availability of the moratorium, which shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation.
“The proposed legislation doesn’t prevent public and private HEIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment relief or assistance to students affected by disasters, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing subsidies and assistance from the government,” Atayde concluded.
NEWS
ShopeePay now available as a payment method for App Store, other Apple services in PH
March 16, 2023 1:59 p.m.
Beginning today, ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, is now available as a payment method for Apple services in the Philippines. Customers can use their ShopeePay account to pay for App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV app, and iTunes Store purchases, iCloud storage and more.
The addition of ShopeePay as an Apple ID payment method offers a new way to pay for Apple services without needing a credit card and still allows for easy, secure one-tap purchasing from Apple products including iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Customers can manage their Apple ID payment information in Settings on iPhone and iPad, or on their Mac or PC.
Agatha Soh, Director at ShopeePay commented, “ShopeePay is committed to meeting the needs of users who are increasingly expecting seamless payments across all platforms. We are excited to offer ShopeePay as a convenient payment option for our customers, and expand access to digital payments, benefitting more users.”
For more information on how to add ShopeePay as a payment method, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201266 or https://shopee.ph/m/ShopeePay-Apple-ID-PH.
NEWS
Be bolder, braver, more confident at SM Supermalls’ Women’s Month celebration!
March 8, 2023, 8:30 p.m.
Ladies, take center stage as SM celebrates Women Power throughout the month of March. Lots of activities both online and on-ground are in store to empower women and girls all over the country.
Join the Future of Women Global Summit
SM Supermalls will be joining UN Women in kicking off the IWD 2023 celebration through a women’s summit on March 8, at the SM Aura Premier Samsung Hall. Focusing on the future of women in ICT, the two-part event will gather young women, country leaders, policy makers, and advocates together to share perspectives and affirm their commitment to supporting digital equality for women and girls.
Photo courtesy of SM City Lucena
Photo courtesy of SM City San Jose del Monte
Support your local Womenpreneurs
Great finds for ladies are on sale at the SM Womenpreneur Market! This pop-up of small and medium businesses owned by women for women will give you everything you need from food and beauty to wellness and fashion!
Wednesdays are for women!
Shopping on Wednesdays has become even more tempting because the Women’s Wednesday Sale is back! Achieve the glow-up you deserve with special discounts, deals, and promos on fashion, beauty, and fitness exclusively for women every Wednesday of March. So don’t hold back on your shopping; you deserve all these and more!
A beautiful treat of wellness all for you
Forda glow-up and pampering sesh tayo this month because lots of self-care deals are available at the Women’s Wellness Sale. Avail of great deals from wellness salons on facials, hair and body treatments, nail care, and massage from March 1 to March 31.
And more deals online!
Special deals are up for women via the SM Malls Online app. Get the best brand offerings every Wednesday from shoes and beauty and wellness to home and hobbies. Use the code WOMEN and get an extra 10% off, capped at 250. What’s great is that there’s no minimum purchase required!
Also, a collection of brand vouchers will be sent to all women SM Malls Online shoppers valid all month. Wait for your Beauty Pass and give yourself the retail therapy you deserve with tons of discounts, GWP deals, samplers, in-store pick up bonuses, and mystery boxes!
Plus, the SM Malls Online app will be hosting self-care sessions online. Follow SM Supermalls on social media to get a dose of starter packages, Get-Ready-With-Me routines, and beauty products that your favorite beauty experts swear by.
Photo courtesy of SM City East Ortigas
Photo courtesy of SM City Manila
Celebrate Women Power on IG!
Capture the beauty and power of women at the beautiful spots and installations all over SM. Be free to express your own uniqueness and creativity in the specially-designed selfie spaces in partnership with Selfie Studio. Don’t forget to tag us on IG!
We don’t know about you but exciting days await every SM woman. So be bolder, braver, and more confident! With these activities, you can confidently step forward in fashion, beauty, wellness, and express yourselves to make a positive impact.
Stay updated on all things women this IWD 2023 by visiting www.smsupermalls.com and following @smsupermalls on social media.
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