Single mom's love and foresight saves daughters after COVID-19 tragedy

 

Cathy Santos, a courageous single mother, and smallbusiness owner, took decisive action to protect her daughters' future amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Her story is a testament to the power of love and thoughtful financial planning in the face of adversity.

 

During a visit to her BDO branch, she was able to talk to a BDO Life Financial Advisor (FA). Cathy sought life insurance policies for her two daughters. Her intention was very specific– she wanted to provide her children a financial head start which they could spend for whatever they needed as they got older. 

 

The BDO Life FA noted Cathy’s commitment and sense of responsibility. She asked Cathy a crucial question: “Why not get a life insurance policy for yourself as well? You’re the sole breadwinner of a single-income household. Sa inyo lang poumaasa ang mga anak ninyo (Your daughters solely depend on you). If something happened to you, paano na po sila? Sino po ang susuporta sa kanila kung mawala kayo? (If something happened to you, how will they survive? Who will support them?)”

 

Something in what her FA said struck a chord in her heart. As a single mother with no one to depend on financially, Cathy thought, “What if by some twist of fate, I am taken out of the picture? My daughters would be left all alone with very little or nothing at all to support them.”

 

After much thought, Cathy listened to her FA’s advice and took out a life insurance policy for herself. Despite the financial strain that the added premium would cause, safeguarding her daughters’ financial well-being was her top priority.

 

With her own life insurance policy in place, Cathy felt more at peace, knowing that whatever happens, her daughters would be protected.

 

Cathy’s parents, who were then living with them felt differently. Believing that paying for insurance premiums was a waste of money, they discouraged Cathy. Despite her parents’ efforts to convince her to withdraw her policies, Cathy diligently paid the premiums for her and her daughters’ coverage. Cathy's concern and commitment to protect their future prevailed. 

 

Several years later, in 2021, tragedy struck. Cathy contracted COVID-19 and after a few weeks of fighting the virus, she passed away in her sleep. Her daughters experienced unbearable pain from losing their mother. Moreover, losing the only person they relied on for survival worsened their situation.

 

In this unfortunate development, Cathy’s foresight and diligence paid off. Upon learning of her client’s passing, Cathy’s BDO Life Financial Advisor worked on enabling Cathy’s daughters to gain immediate access to funds to cover Cathy’s final expenses. Whatever remained out of the proceeds of Cathy’s policy was sufficient to sustain them over the next few years. 

 

Nothing can bring Cathy back to her daughters. Yet her life insurance policy, serving as her Plan B for life, enabled her to continue providing for her daughters—a symbol of her love transcending life itself. 

 

Cathy's inspiring Plan B journey with BDO Life reminds us that love for family need not be limited to this lifetime. With proper financial planning and the right insurance plan, one can ensure that their loved ones will continue to be taken care of, even if they’re no longer in the picture. 

 

With BDO Life, it’s easy to start your Plan B journey. Just drop by any BDO branch and look for the BDO Life Financial Advisor. You can also visit the website at www.bdo.com.ph/bdo-life.

 

Tuloy ang pangarap kapag may Plan B! BDO Life offers life insurance plans to protect against life’s uncertainties. See how Plan B can work for you here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6kTbqAHUiU

Fur baby love: In sickness and in health

 

 

Filipinos love their dogs and cats now more than ever. The numbers even bear this out. Here are few interesting facts about Filipino fur parents and their fur babies, according to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale: 

 

• Highest in Asia-Pacific. An amazing 67% of households in the Philippines have one or more dogs. There are more dog owners in the country compared to the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. Cat owners aren't far behind; 43% of Filipino households have cats.  

 

• By the millions. In 2020, it was found that there are 11.6 million dog owners in the Philippines who stay with 10.8 million dogs in their homes. That number includes 1.57 million registered purebred dogs.

 

• Still growing. More dogs (and presumably cats, too) are joining Filipino families as the years go by. In 2022, there were 137,000 dogs registered as new furry family members.This is a higher number compared to that of 2020, when 94,000 dogs were added. 

 

Just like any family member, fur babies need professional medical care. This isn't so easy for all households that also have to deal with other expenses. A fur parent revealed that he once paid P39,000 after his beloved dog's hospitalization. His dog was already a senior and had health issues. 

 

Even routine tests and procedures like blood tests, stool tests, vaccinations, neutering, spaying; or treatments for distemper, heartworm, parvovirus, and other conditions can add up to thousands of pesos. Every responsible and loving fur parent will do their best to shoulder the costs—but it would be easier on them if there’s a way to cover such expenses. 

 

Healthcare for fur babies

 

One such means is pet insurance, which safe guards the health of fur babies especially in the face of emergencies when veterinary expenses may sky rocket. It also offers financial protection to fur parents, as it helps cover these out-of-budget and unexpectedcosts.

 

BDO Insure, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank, offers affordable and customizable pet dog and cat insurance plans.Starting at P560, fur parents can insure their beloved pets against accidental injuries, including bone fractures, poisoning, or burns. Insurance coverage ranges from P15,000 to P30,000 per accident (up to five incidents) under Plans A to D.

 

Pet dogs and cats, aged 3 months to 6 years of age, are eligible as long as they are kept as household members and not used for commercial purposes, such as racing or breeding. To apply, pet owners must provide their pet's immunization/vaccination record book/pet book, vet clinic, vet's name and license number, and photos.

 

BDO Insure is committed to providing affordable and customizable Pet Dog and Cat Insurance options that fit the pet's and pet owner's lifestyle. For more information on BDO Pet Dog and Cat Insurance, visit their website at www.bdo.com.ph/bdoinsure/pet. 

 

BDO Insure is a registered trademark of BDO Insurance Brokers, Inc., an insurance broker licensed and supervised by the Insurance Commission of the Philippines. Clients can email at bdo-insure@bdo.com.ph or call at +63 (2) 8838-2364 or 1800-10-8382364 (Domestic Toll-free; available Mondays to Fridays, except holidays from 8AM-6PM). They can visit BDO branches where representatives are based.

 

Happy Fur Family. Filipino fur parents can protect their fur babies and at the same time, their budget with BDO Insure’s affordable and customizable pet dog and cat insurance plans. Learn more at www.bdo.com.ph/bdoinsure/pet.

BDO, SM binigyang parangal ang Overseas Filipinos sa Migrant Workers' Day celebrations

Hatid ng BDO at SM, nagbigay-saya ang mgakomedyanteng sina MC & Lassy sa Migrant Workers’ Day celebrations ng OWWA sa SM City North Edsa & SM City Bacolod kamakailan. Maliban sa games & prizes, nagbigaydin ng financial tips ang BDO sa Overseas Filipinos at tumugon sa kanilang mga katanungan tungkol saremittance services.

 

 

 

 

 

Muling nagsanib-pwersa ang BDO Unibank (BDO) at SMSupermalls sa pagbibigay ng parangal sa Overseas Filipinos sa pamumuno ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) & Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). 

 

Ginanap kamakailan sa DMW office sa EDSA-OrtigasAvenue, Mandaluyong City,

SM North EDSA at SM City Bacolod ang Migrant Workers’ Day celebrations, kung saan nagbigay ng saya ang BDO at SM Supermalls kasama ang mga komedyanteng sinaMC at Lassy.  Nagpa-games, namigay ng prizes, at naghatid ng kaalaman sa financial education ang BDO representatives at kung paano makakatulong ang BDO sakanilang mga financial goals. 

 

“Pinapahalagahan ng BDO ang Overseas Filipinos dahilnaiintidihan namin ang sakripisyo nila para sa pamilya. Kaya naman sinisiguro namin ang mabilis at maaasahangremittance para sa beneficiaries nila, pagbibigay ng financial lessons or tips at access sa aming mga produktonang sa gayon ay matulungan namin sila na mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kanilang pamilya. Lagingnaka-suporta ang BDO sa kapakanan ng mga kabayannatin at nagiging posible ito sa tulong ng DMW & OWWA”, ayon kay BDO Remittance SVP & Head Genie Gloria.

 

Ayon naman kay Joaquin San Agustin, SVP for Marketingng SM Supermalls, "Ang collaboration ng BDO at SM Supermalls ay isang pagpupugay sa ating mga Overseas Filipinos at kanilang pamilya. Bilang mga minamahalnaming mga customers, gusto namin silang magingmasaya. Ito ang aming munting paraan upang maipakitaang pagkilala sa mga naging sakripisyo ng ating mgaOFWs. Mabuhay ang ating mga modern Filipino heroes!”

 

Bukod sa events sa DMW office, SM North EDSA & SM City Bacolod, ginanap din ang Migrant Workers' Day celebrations sa SM Puerto Princesa, SM City Iloilo, at SM City Davao (Ecoland) at SM City Tuguegarao. May mgaoff-mall activities din na ginanap sa Clark, Pampanga; Bacoor, Cavite; at sa Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

 

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ABOUT BDO UNIBANK, INC.

 

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail services such as traditional loan and deposit products, treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking and microfinance, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, cash cards, credit cards, and online and non-online brokerage services.  

 

BDO has the country’s largest distribution network, with over 1,600 consolidated operating branches and more than 4,600 ATMs nationwide.  It also has 16 international offices (including full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore) in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

 

The Bank also offers digital banking solutions to make banking easier, faster, and more secure for its clients.

 

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of December 31, 2022. For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph

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BDO is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

www.bsp.gov.ph

 

For concerns, please visit any BDO branch nearest you, or contact us thru our 24x7 hotline (+632) 8631-8000 or email us via callcenter@bdo.com.ph.

 

 

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