Then you can nominate her or him for the fifth BPInoy Awards of the Bank of the Philippine Islands. Any individual or organization can nominate by writing a short article about the nominee, describing:

• how the nominee has contributed to the improvement of the Filipino community abroad
• why the nominee deserves recognition
• what is unique or exceptional about the nominee’s achievements

Nominations must be submitted to bpinoyawards@bpi.com.ph on or before September 15, 2010, addressed to Ms. Athena G. Balleza, Marketing Department, Overseas Customers Segment, Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Last year, the BPInoy awardees were:

• White House executive chef Ms. Cristeta Pasia-Comerford
• Dr. Eli Remalona, chief representative for the Asia and the Pacific of the Bank for International Settlements
• painter Mrs. Anita Magsaysay-Ho

For more info, visit www.bpiexpressonline.com.

List of the 35 Insurance Companies in the Philippines Whose Licenses Were Renewed for the Year 2009 to 2010

1.  AsianLife and General Assurance Corp.
(formerly ATR Professional Life Assurance)
2.  AsianLife Financial Assurance Corp.
(formerly All Asia Life Assurance Corp.)
3.  Ayala Life Assurance Inc.
4. Beneficial Life Insurance
5.  BF Life Insurance Corp.
6.  BancLife Insurance Co.
7.  CAP Life Insurance Corp.
8.  Caritas Life Insurance Corp.
9.  Cooperative Insurance System of the Phil.
10.  Coop Life Insurance and Mutual Benefit Services
11.  Country Bankers Life Insurance Corp.
12.  First Life Financial Co.
(formerly First Guarantee Life Assurance Co.)
13.  Fortune Life Insurance Co.
14.  Generali Pilipinas Life Assurance Co.
15.  Great Pacific Life Assurance Corp.
16.  Great Life Financial Assurance Corp.
(formerly Nippon Life Insurance Co. of the Phil.)
17.  Insular Life Assurance Co.
18.  Manila Bankers Life Insurance Corp.
19.  Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phil)
20.  Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Branch)
21.  Manulife Chinabank Life Assurance Corp.
(formerly Pramerica Life Insurance Co.)
22.  National Life Insurance Co. of the Phil.
23.  Paramount Life and General Insurance Corp.
24.  Philam Equitable Life Assurance Co.
25.  Philippine American Life and General Insurance Co.
26.  Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corp.
27.  Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Co.
28.  Philippines International Life Insurance Co.
29.  Pioneer Life Inc.
30.  PNB Life Insurance Inc.
31.  Pru Life Insurance Corp. of UK
32.  Sony Life Insurance (Phils.) Corp.
33.  Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc.
34.  United Life Assurance Corp.
35.  United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp.

Based on paid-up capital as of Dec 31, 2009, the top ten firms are:

• Philam Life and Gen
• Sony
• BPI Philam Life (Philam and Ayala Life of BPI)
• United Cocolife
• Sunlife
• Great Life Financial
• Manulife Chinabank
• Manulife Phils
• Beneficial PNB (Beneficial Life and PNB Life Insurance)
• Grepalife Financial

Philippine Prudential Life is ranked 22nd among 35 insurance companies based on paid-up capital.

Based on net worth as of Dec 31, 2009,the top ten firms are:

• Philam Life Gen
• Insular Life
• Sunlife
• United Cocolife
• Manulife (Branch)
• Grepalife Financial
• Manulife (Phils)
• Phil. AXA
• Beneficial PNB
• BPI Philam Life

Philippine Prudential Life is ranked 28th among 35 insurance companies based on net worth.

Based on premium income as of December 31, 2009, the top ten firms are:

• Philam Life and Gen
• Sunlife
• Insular Life
• Phil AXA
• BPI Philam Life
• Pru Life
• Generali Pilipinas
• Manulife (Phils)
• Grepalife Financial
• United Cocolife

Philippine Prudential Life is ranked 17th among 35 insurance companies based on premium income.

I bought this one on the picture from CD-R King, where some of the cheapest electronic supplies are sold,  and it has been helpful.  It gives me up to 15 minutes of time to save my files or send a rush email before the PC finally gives out.

This UPS also has a voltage regulator, so it’s two-in-one. The white power strip beside it is also helpful and saves bits of electricity. PCs still use electricity even if they’re off but unplugged from the electric outlet. With the power strip, you don’t have to unplug anything everytime you stop working on your PC.

Related posts:

Freelance Writers — $5 Per 400- to 500-Word Article

Free HP Printer Scanner Copier with Smart Bro

If you’re a former OFW who paid membership fees when Philhealth was still called Medicare, most probably your record is no longer with Philhealth.  So when you want to be a member again, you will be applying as a new member.

You will use the new membership form, and you need to bring your birth certificate, your marriage certificate (so you can include your spouse as your dependent), and birth certificates (so your children will be enrolled as your dependents).  Bring original and xerox copies.

If your spouse is a former Philhealth member, he/she can’t be enrolled as your dependent even if he/she has not paid her membership fees for more than 12 months. This was my case. I was rejected as a dependent even if I haven’t paid for more than 12 months.

What I should do, according to Philhealth, is to write a letter informing them I haven’t paid my fees and asking them to allow me to accept me as a dependent.  I hope Philhealth will address this issue in the coming months, so this becomes automatic.

Here are the offices of Philhealth:

Main Office:
Citystate Centre,  709 Shaw Boulevard,
Pasig City
Trunkline:  637-9999
info@philhealth.gov.ph

Las Piñas Service Office

471 Editha Building, Alabang-Zapote Road,

Las Piñas City

Telephones:

5565374
5565687
8015256

Manila Service Office

Marc I Bldg., 1971 Taft Avenue,
Malate, Manila

Administrative – 5216776

Claims – 5232819
Collection – 5233959/5213610
Membership – 5217724/5239842

Caloocan Service Office

Remcor Bldg., Rizal Ave. Extension

between 10th & 11th Ave., Caloocan City

3652012

3652014

Quezon City Service Office

F.R. Estuar Bldg., 880 Quezon Avenue,
Quezon City

Office of the Branch Manager – 3323022
Collection Section – 3323024
Membership Section – 3323132
Rizal Service Office

The Brick Road Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall
Cainta, Rizal

6815111

Makati Service Office

ITC Building, 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue,
Makati City

solp@philhealth.gov.ph

The minimum membership payment is 300 pesos (payment for one quarter, 100 pesos per month).  You can pay for 12 months or more.

For those in the Alabang area, the Philhealth office is near SM Southmall. If you’re coming from Alabang, it’s to your right, after passing Southmall.

Well, there are other choices:

• Nokia 1680C cellphone
• Smart Plug ‘N Talk
• Smart Bro Plug-it
• rebate of 160 a month or nearly 4,000 in savings over the 24-month period

Additionally, after 3 years, one has the option to apply for a plan downgrade to 799, apparently with the same features, so this means more savings.

As expected, I chose the HP printer, scanner and copier, since I’d be getting three gadgets, wow! And it has been working very well since its delivery.

Renew now and get one HP printer, scanner and copier too.

Nevertheless, Adamson officials insist the rate of increase was among the lowest compared to increases in other universities and that the new tuition fee levels are among the lowest in Metro Manila.

Indeed, Adamson has among the lowest tuition fees in Metro Manila, one of the factors we considered in choosing the school for my daughter.  It was also very near the house of my sister-in-law.

I would have liked my daughter to continue studying at nearby TUP for economic reasons, but sadly, TUP does not approve course shifting, which my daughter had to do because of health reasons.

The tuition fee for the first semester of  BS in Accounting  (29 units) at Adamson is almost 33,000  pesos.  If paid in cash, the discount is 5 percent.  For installment payments, the initial payment is 5,000 pesos.  The rest — three payments of  9,200 plus — are paid before the prelims, midterm and finals.

Included in this nearly 33,000-peso payment are one set of school uniform and one set of PE uniform.

The sad realities of life, such as deaths and illnesses, have struck our family, so I did not have time to make updates on this blog.

Thank you to all those who made comments on this blog while I was away.

There are lessons learned that I can share here:

1. Make your last instructions now, so your family will know what to do in case the Lord calls you to heaven.

Put your last instructions in a safe place that they can access — your personal drawer or your family safe.

List all insurance or investment plans that they can claim. Tell them where they can find your documents. List the requirements needed to make a claim.

Instruct them to cut your credit cards immediately. Tell them about what they will do regarding your balances.

Tell them about your current debts (such as debts owed to persons) and what you have paid and instruct them about what to do.

Similarly, list the persons who still owe you money and the amounts owed and compile documents or proofs if available. Better yet, collect them now, or put the loans into writing, especially for large amounts.

2. If there are still properties that need to be divided with your brothers and sisters, divide them now, so that your children do not have to do the negotiations with their cousins or uncles and aunts. Transfer the titles directly to your children to save on transfer costs.

3. Show more appreciation to you parents, husband and children. Say thank you more often. Tell them you love them.

Lastly, the most important of all, make sure you are going to heaven. This is not about doing good all the time, or never sinning. This is not possible for anyone.

What is possible now at this moment is to accept you are a sinner, accept Jesus Christ as your only Savior, ask forgiveness from Him and believe you are now saved.

Check again because this is often confused with a different company, Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company (PPLIC), an insurance company headquartered in Pasig City and affiliated with Danvil Plans.  Prudentialife and Prudential Life are not affiliated with each other.

If you have decided to terminate your Prudentialife plans, these are the documents you need to bring to Prudentialife to apply for termination:

1. Plan or policy contract (Original)
2. Certificate of Full Payment (Original)
3. At least two valid IDs (Photocopies signed three times)
4. Benefits Settlement Application Form (3 copies)
5. Processing fee of 300 pesos (to be deducted from the proceeds of the plan)

You can view or download a copy of the Benefits Settlement Application Form here.

If you like to view or download copies of a special power of attorney or affidavits, go here.

Always remember though that if you terminate your plan, you won’t get back all the money you paid.  You’ll only get a small portion.  The percentages are written in your plan.

But as others say, mas mabuti nang merong konti kesa wala.

I don’t have a Prudentialife plan. What I have is a Danvil plan. There was one time I also considered termination because of the pre-need crisis, but I decided to wait.

Nevertheless, we have to decide for ourselves. We gather information and then decide.  Whatever happens, we have ourselves to blame or congratulate.

Main Address:

Website:  www.prudentialife.com

For addresses of Prudentialife branches, go here.

Philstar chooses and publishes three essays every week,  and if your essay is chosen,  you’ll receive 2,000 pesos,  and a chance to win the first, second or third prize of 15K, 10K and 5K, respectively,  in December this year.

You should be:

• 18 years old and above
• an OFW or ex-OFW
• a Filipino living abroad or has lived abroad
• a foreigner living in the Philippines
• a Filipino with a friend or relative abroad

Your essay must:

• be in American English
• about a real Filipino experience

This runs from December 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.

Read more details and chosen essays at The Philippine Star website.