Ilongga Women Soaring High: Connected Women; #SheMeansBusiness

It all started with a cup of coffee and a bowl of soup, the experience begun. I entered the premise with a bundle of adrenaline rushing because I was a little bit late. I was not bothered and just went straight to the registration booth and saw some friendly fellows who organized the event. I gladly smiled to the usherette who led me to the table filled with women wearing different styles of suits but surely with the same goal like mine, to learn.

Connected Women Iloilo | The Mansion, Iloilo City

Connected Women was founded to create an interactive group of strong empowered women to share tips, stories, ideas and provide unlimited opportunities available for every woman. Gina Romero is the CEO and Co-Founder of Connected Women and now gradually growing across the Asia and soon to the whole world. She aims to let every woman empower each other by connecting to the world, share and help whatever means possible.

Gina Romero, CEO & Co-founder of Connected Women

 During the #SheMeansBusiness event held in Iloilo City, a sweet city in the heart of the Philippines, Gina believes that it is the inspiration behind building a community of tech-powered women entrepreneurs, freelancers and professionals.

Also, Anton Villaluz spoke to hundreds of women explaining that social media such as Facebook and Instagram are now becoming very popular and as life goes easy, women should embrace change. In the Philippines, more and more people are using it and benefiting from it for any purpose. Connected Women pushes Ilongga Women to utilize the advantages technology can bring.

One quick and fun talk given by the COO and Co-Founder of Connected Women Ruth Yu Owen as she introduced the main speaker of the event, Facebook PH Lead Trainer Professor Aries Patawaran who will discuss Facebook content strategy, branding, and marketing.

Ruth Yu Owen, COO & Co-Founder of Connected Women

Prof. Aries Patawaran, Lead Trainer Facebook Philippines

Professor Aries is so passionate about teaching what he knew especially about online marketing, specifically with the use of top 2 social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. In his topic, we were able to understand the difference between Marketing vs Branding vs Advertising. He also discussed the 4 key questions to ask ourselves before marketing a business. We were reminded to be always clear on our "why"we should do online marketing. Organic and paid marketing was also mentioned in his talk.

Prof. Aries pointed out so many things for us to remember in putting up a business and for an effective marketing. Here are some of his useful insights I rephrased and I surely didn't missed:

• In putting up a business, you should understand your business' product-life-cycle.
• All business or product will come to a point that you needed to push really hard in order to save your sales or your business itself.
• You should always find something (a product, etc.) with value.
• To always be mindful of using useful and valuable preferences.
• Choose reliable ways.
• Know the reason why you prefer things.
• Be specific.
• Remember that business not about bigger pictures, pay attention to the small details.
• Start a business on your own.
• Is your business model working?
• Avoid being a "copy-cat", in business it will not work.
• Know how long to recover your profit after investment.
• Go with "long-term" businesses.
• Avoid business that will exhaust you right away.
• Pay attention to small things.
• Know how to alter directions or preference of clients.
• Always know your business logic.
• Assign and adapt a system.

Online Marketing 

Marketing is comprised by 4 Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.

Important things I learned during the Connected Women, #SheMeansBusiness (Online Marketing by Prof. Aries):

• You can create a good product if you know the need. Businesses are made to answer a problem or a need.
• As a business person, we encourage you to stop impulsive buying. 
• Make sure that your business items are intimate.
• Stop producing impulse products.
• Product development-servicized product.
• Avoid "sell and forget" items.
• Sincerity in business is very important.
• Positioning is clear. Position yourself or your business the way you want it to be.
• Differentiate yourself.
• Put a very good substance.
• Know your business objectives.
• Sale does not come, you create it.
• "Archeotyping" is very useful. Know your audience or your client better.
• Put a purchase pattern.
• Classify your customers. Know their wants and needs.
• Be consistent of your brand.
• Manage perceptions well.
• There must have stories in everything.

and so many things.

Learning never stops. Our time must embrace technology.

The time I step out of the room, I learned so many things. I also gained new friends, empowered and strong women from many different industries. Curate all the great things and intensify your passion.

Application is the next key! Hurray!

Money Under 30: A Brighter Life with Sun Life

Everybody wants a good future! A bright future where you can do things you love and get whatever you want. We understand that earning money is difficult while spending it is too easy. That's why we needed something or someone to guide us and teach us about finances and how to become prompt and wise in both saving and spending money.

Let's have Some Funds by Sun Life Financial

A quote says that "it's not about how much you earn but it's your habit of spending and saving." I guess its true. It doesn't count whether you have a good-paying job or a fast income-generating business; its the way you handle and use your money.

For most millennial like me, we are a generation labeled as "magastos" and always living a yolo-lifestyle. We all love to spend and enjoy life now rather than save it for the future. We believe that life is now and let tomorrow worry about itself. It must be true! Nobody wants a life full of stress either.

Bloggers of Iloilo City, Millennial Generation

One of the positive side about being a millennial is that with all the access and availability of opportunities over the web, we all have the potential of becoming huge, top-ranked and successful.

There are a lot of common mistakes we do while we are young. One of that is overspending our income by buying things we don't really need, or things that can make us temporarily happy just like the latest gadgets distracting us by some time. Watching movies and coffee dates over the weekend as a self-reward for a job well-done. Life offers us amazing and irresistible things. All starts in the mind. Whatever you think possible is possible, as long as you act on it. 

Iloilo Bloggers Inc. | Curt, Raymart, Andrea and Leon

But it's not too late. If you are earning and seems that your money is going nowhere, it's time for you to realize something. Sun Life will help you manage and grow your money exponentially. 

Sun Life hopes that their campaigns will inspire more people to take the same path in their financial journey. “As the longest-standing life insurance company in the Philippines, we have witnessed many promises being fulfilled throughout the years and have served generations of clients. It is an honor for us to serve all our clients and help them secure their future and those of their loved ones.” Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa said.

Sun Life for a brighter life.

Sun Life Financial Inc. (“SLF Inc.”) is a leading international financial services organization. It provides insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide. This includes Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2017, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management (“AUM”) of $975 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippines (PSE) stock exchanges. And under the ticker symbol SLF.

July 22, 2018 | Dova Brunch Cafe, Megaworld Blvd., Manduriao, Iloilo City

#SunLifeFUNday
#BrighterLife
#ABCDigital
#glifestyleph

Piolo Pascual: Keeping His Promises

Relationships are built on promises: the promise to love, to care, to secure, to protect, and to provide. This is something that Piolo Pascual knows all too well, committed as he is to the promises he has made to his family as a son, a sibling, and a father.

But when financial troubles arise, bringing such promises to life becomes a challenge.

“Like any other person, I want to give my family the best life possible. I am a man of my word. And that’s why I work hard and seize every opportunity that comes my way,” Piolo said. “But more than just earning money, it’s how you manage your finances that makes a difference. Fortunately, I have the guidance and help of one very special lady: my very own sister, Chiqui Pascual-Gonzales, who also happens to be my Sun Life Advisor.”

According to Piolo, Chiqui has been instrumental in ensuring that his dreams for his family will all come true. “It’s a partnership through and through. With her help, I’ve been able to make it all happen. All these while still pursuing my own passions and advocacies,” he said.

Piolo and Chiqui’s story is but one of many in Sun Life Financial, where lifetime partnerships are developed and nurtured through the years. In fact, this has inspired Sun Life’s latest campaign, at the forefront of which is a new TV commercial highlighting Sun Life’s presence in a client’s life throughout the different stages of her life. It represents the many promises that Sun Life has helped bring into fruition for the past 123 years of its existence.

Sun Life hopes that the campaign, as well as Piolo’s own story, will inspire more people to take the same path in their financial journey. “As the longest-standing life insurance company in the Philippines, we have witnessed many promises being fulfilled throughout the years and have served generations of clients. It is an honor for us to serve all our clients and help them secure their future and those of their loved ones” Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa said.

“The promises we make to our loved ones are sacred, and Sun Life knows this. That’s why it’s committed to helping its clients achieve their goals, no matter what happens,” Piolo said. “You can’t ask for a better lifetime partner than that!”

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial Inc. (“SLF Inc.”) is a leading international financial services organization. It provides insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide. This includes Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2017, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management (“AUM”) of $975 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippines (PSE) stock exchanges. And under the ticker symbol SLF.

#sunlifeph 
#perfectmatchsunlife
#piolospromise

#abcdigital 
#glifestyleph

Options Boutique Opens Their Newest Branch in Festive Walk Mall, Iloilo City

Iloilo City is fast growing as it opens 5 beautiful malls in one year. Festive Walk Mall in Megaworld Boulevard, Manduriao is just one of the city's latest attraction. Mall-goers are sure enjoying the perks of being tourists in their own sweet city.

Options Boutique opens their newest branch in Festive Walk Mall Iloilo. It is a trendy fashion hub that sells simple to elegant designs; collection pieces from tops, dresses, shoes, accessories, bags, belts, everything!

Options Boutique, Festive Walk Mall

During the branch opening, a quick fashion show entertained the guest wearing some latest collections of Options Boutique.

The models with their glam-look during
the quick fashion show.

The models during the quick fashion show.

The store is located at the second floor of Festive Walk Mall, Megaworld Boulevard, Manduriao, Iloilo City. It also offers not just fashion collections but gives you as a shopper an exciting feeling whenever you wear each piece made and designed locally and most bought from abroad.

The owners loved to travel and whenever they do, they make sure to bring some fashionable pieces that their collectors/loyal customers will love.

Options Boutique is a great place for shopping especially for women. Visit their other branches at SM City Iloilo, Atrium Mall and Robinson's Place Iloilo. Options Boutique is proud Ilonggo brand that many loves!

Check out some photos taken from Options Boutique Festiva Walk Mall branch.

Visit Options Boutiques now! For more intimate designs and collections, visit the branches!

See you there!