By now you may have already heard of Sun Life Financial’s advocacy called It’s Time!, which aims to inform and empower Filipinos so we can achieve financial freedom. Even with the help of our celebrity advocates, Pia Magalona, Bam Aquino, James and Baby James Yap and Piolo Pascual, there are still many Filipinos who are either unaware of their financial needs, uninformed of their options or unprepared to plan for their future.



We are counting on you for help!

Being true advocates of financial preparedness, we are encouraging you to spread the word about It’s Time! by referring 5 of your friends or family members who remain uninsured or unprepared so Sun Life Financial can also be of service to them.

As a token of our gratitude, you get the chance to win in our raffle draws and even receive instant prizes of gift certificates! Get in touch with your Sun Life Financial Advisor for more details.

We truly hope you will join us in this cause. It’s Time!

Still, there is an often neglected aspect of our lives for which we also need advice and guidance—our finances. For this, a different kind of professional is needed—a financial advisor. He is a kind of specialist who is as important as other professionals whom we go to for advice. But rather than using stethoscopes, or X-rays, these financial specialists would look at a person’s financial history, financial objectives and capabilities in order to help him secure his financial future. After all, in the same way that a person’s failure to seek medical attention from a doctor may put one’s physical health at risk, a person’s failure to do a proper financial review and consultation may also put one’s financial health at risk.

Unfortunately, only a minority of Filipinos seek out financial advice. This may be the reason why many Filipinos are financially unprepared for their future. Statistics show that 90 percent of Filipinos have little or nothing to leave their families when they pass away. And, out of 100 Filipino children who enter elementary school, only 10 eventually graduate from college. Furthermore, out of 100 Filipinos aged 65, 45 are dependent on their family for support, 30 are dependent on charity, 22 cannot retire and only two are financially independent.

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These statistics may all be the result of the Filipinos’ lack of awareness for the need for proper financial counseling and lack of urgency when it comes to financial preparation.

As a response to these alarming statistics, Sun Life Financial Philippines has taken efforts to improve the financial preparedness of Filipinos through the It’s Time! campaign.

It’s Time! is Sun Life’s financial literacy advocacy that aims to inform Filipinos about their financial needs, empower them with knowledge about the proper financial solutions and encourage them to act with more urgency in securing their financial future. And to serve as ambassadors of this financial advocacy, Sun Life is armed with 2,600 financial advisors who are well trained and equipped to provide proper advice and guidance to Filipinos to help them achieve financial security.

Having been around for 115 years in the country, Sun Life Financial Philippines has earned the trust of generations of clients who have all taken steps to achieve financial freedom and security. Sun Life understands the strong need for Filipinos to have a financially secured future, which is why it has pursued its campaign in order to properly educate people about financial planning.

This campaign promotes how valuable financial advisors are helping people protect their income, manage their wealth and accumulate funds for their future needs.

“We believe that the future and life’s uncertainties need to be prepared for and managed. We all have dreams and aspirations in life and we need to protect these dreams for ourselves and our loved ones by proper financial preparation. And people need not worry because they can do this through the help of our Sun Life advisors” said Alex Narciso, chief agency distribution officer of Sun Life Financial Philippines.

Some people think that insurance is an added expense and it is an intimidating concept. “We want people to know that insurance is not complicated and must not be treated as an expense but as a guarantee for the future. We have professional and well-trained advisors, some of whom are certified by highly reputable management schools in the country who would be more than happy to provide financial counseling,” Narciso asserted.

Because most people think insurance and investments have so many unfamiliar words and figures, Sun Life has also taken steps to simplify its language. From their brochures and print ads, people can now have a clearer grasp of the company’s products and services, and more can now easily choose the type of insurance and investment products that are perfect for their needs and financial capabilities.

For generations now, Sun Life Philippines has steadfastly grown despite the economic crises that have hit many businesses through the years. It has stood by the Philippines through several world wars, people powers, economic meltdowns and political crises and has never faltered in its service to the Filipino people.

More importantly, it has helped bring a brighter future for over a million Filipinos, who have been enjoying Sun Life’s insurance services for themselves and their families. With its 2,600 advisors acting as ambassadors of financial freedom, Sun Life continues its mission of encouraging everyone to understand the value of financial planning.

This article was originally published in the Features – Supplement Section of the Philippine Star on October 17, 2010.

Born in July 2009, the advocacy was created in response to these alarming statistics:

• 90% of Filipinos have little or nothing to leave their families when they pass away.
• Out of 100 Filipinos aged 65, 45 are dependent on their relatives, 30 are dependent on charity, 22 cannot stop working and only 2 are financially independent.
• Out of 100 Filipino children who enter elementary, only 10% eventually graduate from college.

We believe we can change these odds. We can inspire the whole nation to stand up and make a difference in the way we handle our finances.

Join our advocates Piolo Pascual, Bam Aquino, Pia Magalona and James Yap, as we start planning for our financial future today.

After all, life holds no guarantees and it is always best to prepare for the possibilities that life offers along the way.

To support this advocacy, call 849-9888 and
1.    Set an appointment with a Sun Life Financial Advisor and start planning for your financial future today.

OR

2.    Refer other people you know who need to act on their financial future today.

Visit www.itstime.com.ph to know more about the inspiring journeys of Piolo, Pia, Bam and James towards financial security.

Be an advocate of financial freedom! It’s Time!

Be a fan of It’s Time on Facebook: facebook.com/itstimeph

Dreaming is indeed the first step to attaining our goals but protecting these dreams is also an essential step to ensure that there’s no stopping us in achieving them.

To help us protect our dreams, our latest It’s Time! advocate Piolo Pascual encourages us to plan for our future and prepare for life’s uncertainties. And to make his invitation more exciting, we are giving away tickets to his concert, Private Time with Piolo Pascual. Follow the steps below to qualify for these tickets.

Here’s how:

1.) Go to YOUR Facebook wall and post a wall message
2.) Write down 4 of your most-cherished “financial” dreams at this point.

3.) Narrate how you plan to achieve/protect each goal by sharing with us your gameplan.
4.) Feel free to write in English, Filipino or Taglish
5.) Tag “It’s Time!” in your entry here on Facebook
6.) The entries with the most “likes” will win.
7.) You may invite your friends to “like” our It’s Time! page here on FB to ensure more votes.
8.) Promote your entry by any means you want, in or out of the It’s Time page.
9.) Promo closes on September 30, 2010. Winners will be announced on October 4, 2010 , including how to claim the prizes.

Prize: Twenty-five (25) It’s Time! advocates with most “likes” will each get 2 tickets to “ “Private Time with Piolo Pascual” – an exclusive concert for Sun Life Financial on October 9, 2010, 7 PM at the PICC Tent.

Tickets are transferable but not convertible to cash.

What are you waiting for? Share your dreams and start protecting them now!

* This promo is not open to Sun Life Financial employees and advisors.

WATCH PIOLO’S VIDEO HERE

Chief Strategic Marketing Officer Greg Martin hands over the travel certificate to the winner, Kath Madula

All it took was her dreams, five referrals, and a pledge. Now, Kathleen Madula gets to experience the rewards of financial security as the grand winner of Sun Life Financial Philippines’ (SLFP) It’s Time to Tell a Friend promo. The island paradise of Boracay awaits her for a 3-days and 2-nights stay at the Boracay Regency Lagoon.

However, the trip is mere frosting on top of her financial cake. This advocate believes in the value of insurance, investment, and choosing the right partner for a brighter tomorrow. And her journey begins by basking under the warmth of the Sun.

A commitment

Even before learning of the contest, Madula was already thinking of ways on how to grow her money. Then she remembered the It’s Time billboard along C-5 and quickly visited the website, where she learned more about investment opportunities available in the country.

“Money is inevitable in this life we live in. We have the right to enjoy our life and money helps you achieve your dreams,” said Madula. She plans to avail of a health insurance plan, considering it a priority. Moreover, she wants to provide financial security for her family through an insurance policy.

Plan of action

According to her pledge, her dreams include setting up her own business and investing in real estate. Of course, she does not want her dreams to remain as mere wishful thinking. So Madula is now practicing the art of managing her finances. In fact, she has her own breakdown of funds, which she follows as much as possible

Towards financial freedom

With her plan already put into place, Madula recognizes how discipline and a dependable partner can pave the way to financial freedom. For her insurance and investment needs, she would entrust her future with SLFP. “Sun Life is running the business for more than a hundred years already. I’ve heard thru friends as well as read in papers and online positive feedback about this company. That’s why I’m very much interested with Sun Life,” she explained.

Madula also encourages fellow young professionals to take the first step in fulfilling and protecting their dreams. There are financial products that could suit everyone’s needs, including references that can be freely accessed online, such as the It’s Time advocacy.

“One only needs to stand up and make an effort to learn about it. It’s not as hard as it seems to be. You’ll be thankful once you learn how to manage your money well. It’s time to take action and make your dreams into reality,” she advised.

Blazing a trail with the country’s very first financial literacy advocacy, Sun Life Financial Philippines (SLFP) invites everyone to first register as an advocate the through the www.itstime.com.ph site. Upon completion, refer at least five friends and post a pledge of personal financial commitment in order to qualify for the promo.

Open to Philippine residents only, the latest It’s Time contest runs until June 20, 2010. Winners will be drawn via electronic raffle on June 25, 2010 at 5/F, Tower 2, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The prizes are not convertible to cash.

One grand prize winner will receive a travel certificate for 3 days and 2 nights accommodation at the Boracay Regency Lagoon together with a round-trip airfare for two, including round-trip terminal fees as well as land and boat transfers from the hotel to the airport. Travel period is from June to October 15, 2010 only. Other prizes at stake include three Rudy Project watches, five SLFP messenger bags, ten SLFP desktop calendars, and twenty SLFP diaries. An entry can only win once in the promo.

“It’s Time wants to educate and guide Filipinos about the value of good financial planning. And we encourage our advocates to also carry the good news of financial freedom, with the trip to Boracay as a very sweet incentive in helping us with our advocacy,” said SLFP Marketing Head Mylene Lopa.

For more information, visit www.itstime.com.ph.

When will I finally have the time and energy to do that?

That was one of my statements during a coffee break with a girlfriend — a rare event in my life that constitutes of a hurried gulp, snippets of chika and recounts of what I have to do for the day.

Let me tell you about myself. I work in one of the multinational firms at the heart (heat is more like it) of Makati. I wake up at 5 AM, prepare my kids’ meals, check if they’ve gotten their assignments done correctly, send them off to school, kiss the hubby off to work and attend to my responsibilities as head of the Retail Department of the company I work for. The rest of my day is a blur of boardroom drama, cracking the invisible whip and a plethora of mind-boggling decision-making, process meetings, brainstorming sessions and surprise! More meetings.

At roughly 6 PM, my battle with the maze we know as EDSA begins and ends at around 8 PM., during which I call Yaya Nimfa to tell her what to cook for dinner. As I arrive home, I kick my heels off and plop myself into the sofa for about five minutes until the kids start making lambing mommy for playtime. After tucking them all in to sleep, fatigue of course becomes history at the sight of them—-until hubby calls me and turns on the charm for a back rub and a massage. I attend to my nightly skin care rituals and drift off to a six-hour sleep if I’m lucky — two if I am not,

Yes, this is my life. AND the vicious cycle starts again.

You see, it’s sort of an understatement to say being a woman — a working mother, in these times. While our husbands toil during the day (God bless them) and dive into sleep after, we toil during the same hours, make sure the kids are taken cared of, the household menus planned, and the financial decisions made and the husband happy. It was about the same time I realized that when the hubby did surprise me one night with the sweetest gift ever. He gave me what seemed like the best gift ever next to my diamond solitaire Cartier ring: a life insurance plan.

The whole idea seemed a little morbid at first, I admit. After all, this was my death we are going to cover! But of course, hubby reasons it’s more than that. But when hubby relayed to me what his advisor friend told him, I finally realized I’ve been denying myself the care I could have gotten from this Sun Maiden plan.

Truth be told, it’s been a while since I’ve declared a real Me, Me, Me Day. I miss not being able to have my pedicure in peace. For a while now, I haven’t had a pedicure session because my fingers are in perpetual relationship with my Blackberry. Some days, I catch myself daydreaming of a weekend locked up in a spa, relaxed and pampered beyond imagination. I dream of not having to do (rather manage, sorry Yaya) household chores and my husband taking charge of the kids’ needs so I can take the break of a lifetime.

While pondering over this, I got to thinking more about the Sun Maiden policy my hubby bought for me. According to Ace, hubby’s advisor friend, this Sun Maiden plan gives me free diagnostic/preventive procedures for the first 10 years, such as pap smears, mammography, ovarian cancer tumor marker and other female-only procedures — on top of the life insurance coverage and financial assistance for female critical illnesses that it has. Oh and there’s a benefit, too, for up to 3 childbirths – and that is more than enough for me!

At least now, I feel secure that I can remain healthy by getting all those procedures done and the financial assistance I have if I get struck by a deadly disease (God forbid!) off my worries (and off my expenses!) . And really, I feel like I’m being rewarded for being a woman-in-charge!

I’m so glad hubby got this plan for me. It just seems logical after all. I take care of my family and work and this Sun Maiden takes care of me.

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Sun Maiden debuts in the June issue of Working Mom with Pia Magalona as its endorser:

Time to Tell a Friend Promo Mechanics

How to join:
(This raffle is open to Philippine residents only.)

1. Register through the It’s Time! website: http://www.itstime.com.ph/tell/, by providing a valid email address and your full name (as appearing in your birth certificate).

2. Wait for the confirmation email in your inbox. As soon as your registration is complete, you may start referring the email addresses of your friends. At least five (5) valid email addresses must be referred to qualify for the promo.

Sun Life Financial agency force, members of the Marketing Team, and all SLFP employees with the position Department Head and up, and their relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity are disqualified from this promo. These persons and their email addresses are also considered as invalid referrals for purposes of this promo.

3. Aside from referring at least 5 email addresses of your friends, you must also post your story on the advocate page, http://www.itstime.com.ph/be-an-advocate/ to qualify for the promo. This means that you must post a pledge of personal financial commitment (e.g. It’s Time for me to start saving more of my salary).

4. One (1) grand prize winner will receive a travel certificate for 3 days and 2 nights accommodation at Boracay Regency Lagoon and round-trip airfare for two, including round-trip terminal fees, land and boat transfers from the hotel to the airport. This promo is valid from May 13, 2010 to June 20, 2010 only. Travel period is from May 2010 to October 15, 2010 only.

5. Only one (1) grand prize winner will be drawn via electronic raffle, with thirty- eight (38) minor winners of Sun Life items, (i.e., three (3) winners of Rudy Project analog watches, ten (10) winners of SLF Desktop Calendars, five (5) winners of SLF messenger bags and twenty (20) winners of SLF diaries). An entry can only win once in the promo. An entry who has already won is deemed ineligible to win other prizes thereafter. For example, if a previous winner’s entry has been picked again, his/her entry will be deemed invalid and another winner will be drawn. Sun Life Financial has the exclusive right to determine the validity and eligibility of any entry. Taxes on the prizes, if any, shall be for the sole account of the winners.

6. Raffle draw will be on June 25, 2010 at 5/F, Tower 2, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The prizes are not convertible to cash.

7. Winners will be notified via a phone call and email coming from a representative of Sun Life Financial, with information on how to claim their prizes. Winners are required to present at least 2 valid photo-bearing IDs. Prizes must be claimed at 5/F, Tower 2, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

8. If a winner cannot claim his/her prize personally, his/her representative must bring his/her 2 valid photo-bearing IDs, notarized special power of attorney authorizing the representative to claim the prize, and the winner’s 2 valid photo-bearing IDs. Minors below 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who must likewise present at least 2 valid photo-bearing IDs. Prizes that remain unclaimed within thirty (30) days from raffle draw are deemed forfeited in favor of Sun Life Financial Philippines.

9. The winners must agree to authorize Sun Life Financial Philippines to use his/her name and image in any publicity release or advertising material that may be made in relation to this promo in any medium (TV, Radio, Print) without limit as to the time and number of exposures.

It’s Time! aims to address the market’s growing need for information and guidance about financial planning. Through a multi-media approach, Sun Life wants the public to act with more urgency in fulfilling their financial goals.

Digital messengers

Aptly called Blog Time, the affair came at the heels of a nationwide mall campaign that aims to cultivate awareness and empower Filipinos to achieve financial freedom.

Bloggers from diverse backgrounds snap away as Pia Magalona stepped into the front.

“We believe that bloggers are today’s thought leaders, and they can help spread the powerful message of financial planning through their digital medium,” said Sun Life marketing services head Mylene Lopa.

"So how exactly do we get to our ideal lifestyle? I have two words for you: saving and investing," says Bam Aquino.

Pia fight back tears as she recounts how she and Francis have thought they would be growing old together.

Hannah Villasis and Vince Golangco pose with the advocates at the booth.

Bloggers Jenny and Jeff Aspacio write down their pledges at the It's Time! booth

Pia shares stories and laughs over Italian food with some of the female bloggers.

Bam Aquino, on the other hand, enjoys bonding with other bloggers.

As a social entrepreneur, Aquino imparted the lesson of saving and investment, a value nurtured by his own parents. On the other hand, Magalona espoused the benefits of life insurance, which helped her family recover from the early loss of her husband. Both shared personal stories and even tips on how to start one’s own journey to prosperity.

On the advocacy

To encourage active online participation in the advocacy, the Tell-a-Friend program allows an advocate to invite their friends to also sign up. Prizes at stake are Rudy Project watches, SunPIOLOgy calendars, and Kulay Pinoy diaries.

1. Visit www.itstime.com.ph and sign up as advocate.

2. Specify your name, age, address, and telephone number in the form so that we could contact you.

2. Click the “Invite-A-Friend” then enter the e-mail addresses of your cyber-friends.

3. Every referral who signs up gives you one raffle point.

4. Raffle will be held every 2 weeks.

Grand Prize:

Rudy Project Watch

10 Kulay Pinoy Diaries

10 SunPiology Calendars

Winners will be notified thru email or phone.

Aside from the online promo, the It’s Time Challenge invites mall-goers to Check, Commit, and Carry Out for a chance to win instant prizes and a trip for two to Switzerland.

Related Links:

http://www.marriageandbeyond.com/2010/03/03/sun-life-financial-its-time/
http://fitzvillafuerte.com/the-personal-finance-habits-of-filipinos.html
http://boy-kuripot.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-time-for-sun-life.html