As a parent of a son with special needs, I have many dreams for him that I thought would remain just that -- dreams. But, through the years, God has shown our family that certain wishes could actually come true when we take the time to look for, and recognize, answers to our prayers.

In my wildest dreams, I never thought my son would get the chance to go surfing!

Honestly though, I didn't quite imagine receiving certain unexpected blessings that seemed so impossible to have many years ago. And yet, here we are, seeing James getting to enjoy life so much more because he's healthier and happier and is presented with opportunities that were not available when we were still living in the Philippines.

Last year, one of the best things that gave us so much joy was seeing James go surfing and do other fun water activities that we never thought existed!

Daddy and James on a paddleboard in Newport Beach

It was sometime in February 2018 when I chanced upon a blog post of Joyful Journey Mom who shared the list of special needs resources she compiled. Unfortunately, her website couldn't be found anymore because the domain seemed to have expired. Anyhow, I've read there about an organization called Ride A Wave that "enables kids with special needs to experience the thrill of riding a wave regardless of their challenges."

Curious, I visited their website and saw that they are based in Santa Cruz, California, which is 364 miles away from where we live. Still hopeful, I filled out their contact form and asked if there may be a chance for them to hold a beach camp nearer us. The next day, Don, a member of their advisory board, emailed back and suggested I check out their sister organization in Southern California instead. 

Best Day Foundation has the best volunteers and staff members!

That was how I found Best Day Foundation, an organization that creates special days for kids and young adults ages 4 to 24+ who have Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Blindness, Cancer, Spinal Cord Injuries, and other physical and developmental challenges.

Eagerly, I visited their website, browsed the photos and videos, and got more excited when I found locations that are within reasonable driving distance. When I had James watch some of the videos and asked if he would like to go to the beach and ride a surfboard, his eyes lit up and he started smiling and laughing. In my heart of hearts, that was my affirmation that he should have that amazing experience!

Isn't that smile contagious?! :)

After discussing it with my husband, I signed James up for a slot for the May 20th activity in Seal Beach even though it was still three months away. In the meantime, we'd watch the videos on the website every now and then while I kept reminding James to patiently wait for a few more weeks. He would always answer me with a big smile.

May 20th turned out to be a little cold and cloudy though so I became a bit concerned about how chilly the water would be. Thankfully, aside from the helmets and life jackets, Best Day provided all participants with wetsuits to keep them warm. Everyone was so friendly when we got to the site. James was paired with his beach buddies, Heather and Bryan, who took great care of him while hubby, myself, and our son Gab, took photos and videos to preserve the precious moments.

When it was finally James' turn to ride the specially designed surf chair, I felt nervous but still excited at the same time especially seeing how far he and his surfer buddy were from the shore. Once they caught a wave and we saw them coming closer, everyone could see the big grin my son had. It was such an emotional moment for us to see James experiencing something that didn't even cross our minds to be a possibility!

Needless to say, the day was a huge success. Our young man was smiling all throughout that morning, in the car while going home, and up until he fell asleep that night. It felt so good to see him thoroughly enjoy that unique experience that I wish other kids like him could also get to have.

happy family at the beach

Since then, every time we show him photos of him surfing and being on the beach, he would express excitement and happiness at the memory. So I checked if there would still be other activities in SoCal in the coming months and fortunately found a slot for October 7th at Seal Beach. There, he was taken good care of volunteer Eddie, his assigned beach buddy for the day.

I am blogging about this now because I'd like to encourage other parents with special needs kids to likewise sign their children up to upcoming 2019 activities that start next month and will be happening in Florida, California (San Diego, Orange County, LA County, Ventura, Sta. Barbara), North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. 

Best Day at the beach with new friends

Volunteers are also welcome to share their time! Please visit bestdayfoundation.org/volunteer to sign up and read the FAQs. Donors, please consider sharing your resources at bestdayfoundation.org/donate to help subsidize participants whose parents may not be able to shoulder even the minimal registration fee. 

Dear readers, if you know of families who may benefit from this information, please do share it with them. I hope, one of these days, I'll be able to hear about a kid who was brought to a Best Day event because their mom or dad happened to read this blog post. It would be awesome to find out how more young people with special needs were able to experience one of their best days like our James had :) 

I was there when FWD Life Philippines was launched in 2014 and I am glad to see how much this insurance company has grown since. Last year, I also wrote about their partnership with Wattpad when they launched stories about financial literacy via the creative use of digital media.

This 2017, FWD Life Philippines takes on championing health and fitness by supporting the Fit Filipino (FitFil) Movement's National Weight Loss Challenge. Spearheaded by Jim and Toni Saret, fitness coaches at Biggest Loser Philippines Season 2, FitFil aims to get Filipinos to collectively lose one million pounds during the campaign period of June 6 to December 5, 2017.

Rochelle Vandenberghe, FWD Life Philippines Head of Marketing, expressed, "As an insurance industry pioneer in the space of health and wellness, [we] are delighted to partner with the Fit Filipino Movement and coaches Jim and Toni to inspire Filipinos in leading healthier lives with a series of fitness-centered events." 

Through FWD's Live to Move fitness parties in collaboration with FitFil and the challenge's partners, Vandenberghe said they "hope to inspire a new wave of awareness for the health benefits of keeping fit. For us at FWD, living life to the fullest starts with being healthy." I totally agree!

According to Coach Jim, founder of the FitFil Movement, "We have been working with FWD for over two years and their #GetReadyToLive brand attitude serves as one of the strong pillars of the National Weight Loss Challenge. We are excited to bring to life the country's biggest health and wellness campaign as we challenge Filipinos to collectively lose one million pounds!"

Coach Jim added that through this advocacy and movement, the goal is to spread the message that being fit and well starts with a simple commitment. "We encourage everyone to take ownership of their health and join us in getting fit," he implored. 

To launch its Live to Move health and wellness program, FWD Life held an energy-packed fitness party this past weekend at Central Park, SM by the Bay, Mall of Asia. Coaches Jim and Toni were joined by some of the country's top coaches from various gyms and fitness centers. The workout program centered around FWD Motion, a metabolic fitness (metafit) routine that helps shed off pounds in just four minutes of exercise. 

Hundreds of participants, including members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), joined other fitness enthusiasts in doing zumba, hip-hop, TRX, kickboxing, and cardio workouts, among others under the glow of the beautiful Manila Bay sunset. 

The FitFil National Weight Loss Challenge is supported by the country's premier medical organizations led by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the country's umbrella organization for medical practitioners, as well as the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), Nutritionist-Dietitians' Association of the Philippines (NDAP), and the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA). Additionally pledging their support to the challenge are the PNP, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), various universities, local government units (LGUs), fitness clubs, and numerous corporations. 

It is quite heartening to see more and more Filipinos taking their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle. If you are really serious about losing those unwanted pounds, make a pledge to lose them by December by signing up for free at www.fitfil.ph. FYI, there are rewards waiting for those who achieve their goals! :)

Summer breaks give us, parents, more time to oversee our children's food choices and encourage them to pursue fitness activities. However, once they start going to school again, it gets more difficult to monitor if they're still eating healthy given their exposure to a lot of junk foods outside the home.

Thus, Robinsons Supermarket encourages families, especially students, to continue their journey towards healthy living this back-to-school season by discovering nutritious and rewarding food choices through Learn Wellness, the second promo event in the Route to Wellness campaign. 

Last Saturday, Robinsons Supermarket held its Magical World of Wellness event at Eastwood Central Plaza. I love the enchanting Harry Potter world setup, especially the photo booth where my son and I got to dress up as wizards from Hogwarts! All the booths have their own creative themes and interesting activities that guests got to enjoy. 

The fun wizarding exercises included a VTR game, potion-making, and finders-keepers game. Select moms were also able to learn how to make bento-boxes that they can prepare for their kids' baon when school starts next month. All these activities aim to help educate kids and kids-at-heart on the importance of proper nutrition and regular exercise.

Robinsons Supermarket's Route to Wellness campaign is the company's commitment to strengthen its We Love Wellness advocacy that enables it to provide healthier food options and alternatives to Filipinos. 

From May 1 to June 30, 2017, shoppers will get a P100 OFF coupon for a minimum single receipt purchase of P3,000 at Robinsons Supermarket. Purchases must be inclusive of P500 worth of participating products from Nestle, CDO, Splash, Wyeth, or Purefoods. Loyal shoppers can also earn additional 10 Robinsons Rewards Card points when they buy select Nestle products during this promo.

Personally, I am really happy to support advocacies that promote health and wellness since my husband and I are also actively trying to keep our family fit through running and other physical activities as well as through healthy food choices.

Please stay updated with Robinsons Supermarket's upcoming activities and learn more about its Route to Wellness campaign by liking facebook.com/RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial and visiting www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph.

I have become more conscious about advocating for Mother Earth's protection since I became a mom more than two decades ago because I know that my children, and the generations after them, would still need the resources our planet generously provides.

So I am glad to see more and more establishments taking up this worthwhile cause and it was a pleasure to join Conrad Manila's first Earth Hour celebration the other day. The hotel took action locally to conserve energy and help raise awareness of climate change as part of a global initiative that is open to Hilton's more than 4,900 properties across 104 countries and territories.

With other Conrad Manila guests and team members, led by Hotel General Manager Harald Feurstein, my husband and I spent Earth Hour 2017 by joining them at the Hotel veranda where they had a symbolic formation of "60" using dozens of candles. In addition, their annual switching off of lights was done simultaneously with the Mall of Asia complex.    

While gathered around the candlelit formation, Mr. Feurstein and other hotel executives also led a commitment ceremony with children of hotel staff and guests to symbolically engage the next-generation of earth savers.

Checked-in guests were moreover invited to actively participate by switching off their room lights for 60 minutes in a unified effort to show commitment. Conrad Manila''s back-of-the-house facilities likewise observed the one-hour lights-off initiative.

Apart from conserving a significant amount of energy consumption during Earth Hour, the Hotel's dining outlets also made an effort to make the occasion an interactive experience for diners. Brasserie on 3, the Hotel's all-day dining outlet known for its open kitchen and live action stations, featured farm-to-table organic and sustainable dishes; the famed China Blue by Jereme Leung offered guests a special four-course set menu; while special cocktail mixes complemented by a live acoustic performance took center stage at the C-Lounge. 

An ardent environment advocate, Mr. Feurstein affirmed, "Conrad Manila is deeply committed to making a difference in the communities where we operate, particularly along environment protection, education, and social enterprise. We share a strong partnership with our local community partners for sustained environment community projects: clean-up drive, proper waste segregation and management, water recycling and energy conservation, and educational-cum-nutritional program assistance for pre-school children and their families."

In 2015, Hilton and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced a multi-year commitment to collaborate on a water-stewardship strategy, expand sustainable seafood efforts, advance food waste efforts, and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across Hilton's portfolio.

It is Hilton's view that sustainability is a key part of its business because water, energy, food, commodities, waste requirements, and other factors significantly impact the economics of the company every day around the world. As such, preserving the environment is a business imperative and a cornerstone of Travel with Purpose. This is the company's corporate responsibility strategy to create shared value for Hilton Team Members, guests, business partners, and communities. 

Learn more about Hilton's commitment to preserving the environment by visiting cr.hiltonworldwide.com.

The Nat Geo Run 2015 will remain one of my favorite races because it was there where I ran my very first 10k. You can read more of that story, here: http://mommywrites.blogspot.com/2015/04/national-geographic-holds-successful.html

Now, two years later, National Geographic's Earth Day Run 2017 would help me mark another milestone as I prepare to join the 21k category for the first time -- right after running my first 16k last month, whew! I guess that's what happens when one becomes a runner; you continue to level up and celebrate how far you've come in your fitness journey! :)

This coming April 23, Earth Day Run 2017 will once more continue to raise people's consciousness about environmental issues as well as health and fitness in partnership with Cherifer Premium and World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). On its 8th year, Earth Day Run maintains the tradition of being one of the biggest running events in the country, expecting thousands of running enthusiasts and Eco Warriors to register and run for the environment.

Apart from Manila, the event will likewise be held simultaneously in the cities of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taichung to replicate the initiative adopted last year, which effectively spread the vision and advocacy of Earth Day Run across Asia.

Hoping to mobilize all Eco Warriors of previous Earth Day Runs, this year's race welcomes all previously registered participants with VIP treatment and special loyalty perks to be enjoyed on the day of the run. They will be given priority placement in front of the starting line at the beginning of the race and can claim loot bags and finisher shirts at a special express booth. They can also make use of a special warm-up and cool down tent before and after the race to condition themselves and recover in comfort.

All participants are also invited to visit the 8 Years of EDR Gallery at the race village to learn about what the event has accomplished over the years, including environmental and social initiatives that has benefited with the help of registered runners. Personally, I am interested to learn how runners' participation at Earth Day Run has made a significant impact on certain communities in the Philippines as well as how our actions as individuals can affect the environment.

To be held at the SM Mall of Asia grounds, participants of all ages can join 5k, 10k, 21k, and 42k categories. Whether a newbie runner or a serious marathoner, everyone can be an Eco Warrior for Mother Earth! 

This year, Earth Day Run 2017 will also be sporting new features such as LED shoelaces for all distance categories to serve as a badge of pride and as a safety accessory when running at night or before sunrise. Prizes will also be awarded to costumed runners who showcase their creativity in coming up with an ensemble made from recycled materials. Lastly, to make each Eco Warrior's voice heard in this run for the Earth, there will be advocacy banners hanging above the finish line that runners can grab as they cross. These will serve as a shoutout for the environment, can be kept as a souvenir, and used for post-run selfies to amplify the message of acting now to save the Earth. 

Last year's Earth Day Run benefited causes such as saving the Irawaddy dolphins at the Malampaya Sound Research and Conservation Project in Palawan; giving the Earth Hour or "Gift of Life" village in Monreal, Masbate sustainable solutions that reduce carbon footprint; conservation of the Marine Protected Area and coral reef and Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro; and beefing up reforestation efforts in the Ipo Watershed in Bulacan, which supplies Metro Manila with fresh water. 

"Earth Day Run 2017 will be the biggest version of the race yet, with more expected participants from Manila and four other cities across Asia. We're also excited to look back on our eight years of environmental advocacy and share and celebrate with our runners the positive change that they helped make possible through the years by joining Earth Day Run," said Charo Espedido, Director and Head of Content Marketing at FOX Networks Group Philippines.

"We hope that Earth Day Run 2017 not only brings communities of running enthusiasts together for the common cause of saving the environment, but also that it amplifies the important message of doing your own part today to help stop climate change and commit to sustainable solutions to save our beloved planet Earth," concluded Espedido.

To celebrate the eight years of social awareness through fitness with special program features, NatGeo requests Eco Warriors to please use the hashtag #8withEDR when posting on social media. Register until April 16, 2017 at natgeoearthdayrun.com now! 

"Confidently beautiful with a heart" -- a phrase popularized by ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach aptly describes what a beauty queen should be: a lady who represents "beauty with a purpose." 

Prior to the coronation of the 2016 Miss Universe, 19 candidates spent time and harnessed their creativity to customize Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers to be auctioned for the Positive Action Foundation, which is supported by the Miss Universe organization. This advocacy is devoted to helping individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families, particularly those who lost their jobs due to the stigma of their medical condition.

Beauty pageant aficionados and Chucks collectors now have the chance to own a personalized Chucks by the following candidates: Ms. Angola – Luisa Baptista, Ms. Belgium – Stephanie Goldof, Ms. Belize – Rebecca Rath, Ms. Brazil – Raissa Santana, Ms. Bulgaria – Violina Ancheva, Ms. Cayman Islands – Monyque Brooks, Ms. Costa Rica – Carolina Duran, Ms. Germany – Johanna Acs, Ms. Guatemala – Virginia Argueta, Ms. Iceland – Hildur Maria, Ms. Mexico – Kristal Silva, Ms. Netherlands – Zoey Ivory, Ms. Nicaragua – Marina Jacoby, Ms. Panama – Keity Drenan, Ms. Paraguay – Andrea Melgarejo, Ms. Philippines – Maxine Medina, Ms. Russia – Yuliana Korolkova, Ms. Thailand – Chalita Suansane, and Ms. Uruguay – Magdalena Cohendent.

Through a silent bid auction, interested individuals are encouraged to give their bids, names, and contact details to the information officer in any of the mall exhibits of the shoes or thru a private message at the Converse Philippines Facebook page. Starting bid for all pairs is US$50.

View the personalized pairs at the exhibits in the following dates and venues:

Keep updated by liking Converse Philippines on Facebook. You can also join the conversation online by using and searching for the hashtag #ConversePHx65MissUniverse.

I used to dislike doing strenuous physical activities when I was younger. I thought ocassionally walking the whole length and breadth of a mall while window shopping or moving around the house doing chores every day were enough to keep me fit. 

I was wrong and I honestly regret not starting my fitness journey earlier. I started running about three years ago and found how much it has improved my endurance as well as my body. I am now seldom sluggish and am no longer afraid of very long walks or climbing long flights of stairs. More importantly, it comforts me to know that I am taking concrete steps to be here longer for my family.

Having experienced the benefits of regularly working out, I really want to encourage people I care about to also be more mindful of their health as well as their diets. It's hard to backtrack when you're already diagnosed with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure but you can still do something to improve your fitness level. You just have to start NOW!

Personally, I feel sad about the findings of this year's Sun Life Financial Asia Health Index because the Philippines, along with Thailand and Malaysia, topped the list of countries in the region where people don't exercise regularly. It's ironic that Filipino respondents were found to be the most optimistic about their state of health and yet 61% do not make a lot of effort to engage in physical activities! In addition, 30% feel less healthy than they did three years ago. 

Launched in 2014, the Sun Life Financial Asia Health Index is a periodic study of health trends in Asia. The research is based on the findings of an Ipsos survey conducted in August 2016 involving around 4,000 Asians from 25 to 60 years of age and with middle class incomes. Respondents from Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam were interviewed online about their attitudes towards healthy and active living, their health concerns for the future, and expectations on access to healthcare.

According to Ms. Mylene Lopa, Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer who delivered the report, survey respondents identified several barriers from living a healthier life: 57% of Filipinos blamed it on their lack of time due to work, 47% admitted to "lack of personal motivation," and 47% said it's due to "distractions of modern life" which, I presume, include too much time on social media. Other key factors named were cost (45%) and lack of accessible venues to engage in sports and recreation (36%).

Let me tell you right now that IT IS POSSIBLE to exercise at home if you can't afford gym membership fees or don't have a place nearby where you can go running! Buy a jump rope or yoga mat (they are not as expensive as you think, promise!), watch YouTube videos you can follow, and you'll soon be on your way to developing a simple fitness regimen for starters. 

Please don't remain part of the population dubbed as "Generation O" or people who are overweight, overworked, or overwhelmed. Last year's Health Index identified six health segments in the Philippines. Find out where you belong by reading my other blog post, here, and see where you need to make adjustments.

Sun Life President and CEO Ms. Riza Mantaring reminds, "With all the things that demand our time and attention, it's usually our health that suffers because it's relegated to the least of our priorities. However, this should not be the case. This is why we at Sun Life have been boosting our suite of wellness products and mounting events that would help Filipinos to pursue their health goals." 

FYI, despite her very busy schedule, Ms. Riza finds time to do practice runs every day and has finished marathons in various countries! "You just have to schedule exercise like any other activity," she advises. 

Speaking of wellness products, Sun Life recently launched SUN Fit and Well, which offers comprehensive life and health protection from childhood all the way to the golden years. While most products offer benefits only when an illness strikes, SUN Fit and Well covers policy holders' needs from prevention to diagnosis to treatment, all the way to rehabilitation. 

Ms. Lirio Torres, Sun Life Health and Accident Head, shares that this new generation wellness product covers 114 critical illnesses (major and minor) that encompass conditions across life stages. She describes, "SUN Fit and Well is comprehensive health protection and savings from childhood (starting at 30 days old) up until age 100." 

For prevention, SUN Fit and Well provides Gold membership access to GoWell, Sun Life's wellness program. Here, members can enjoy special privileges that will help them keep mind and body fit. According to GoWell advocate, Ms. Jaymie Pizarro, this includes easy access to health and wellness information, fitness and wellness events, advice from nutrition and health experts, and more.

The good news is, even if you're not yet a SUN Fit and Well policy holder, you can still be a member of GoWell. Just log on to www.gowell.com.ph so you can pre-register and join activities like zumba and yoga sessions, running clinics, and more for free! "We make sure to cater to all people so that a vast majority of Filipinos could start exercising now, get fit, and have fun," assured Jaymie.

"Sun Life remains committed to helping Filipinos face a brighter tomorrow by being in the best of health," shares Ms. Riza. "The results of the Asia Health Index reiterate the need to promote a healthier lifestyle, and Sun Life wants to be the Filipinos' partner in pursuing the journey."

For those who need that extra push, I pray that after reading this, many of you would finally find time to exercise. However, if you have an existing medical condition, make sure to ask your doctor for advice first. Please do share with me in the comments section if I was able to encourage you. I'd love to hear your story! 😊

For many years now, my family and I have been very mindful of how we dispose our trash. After all, we only have one Mother Earth that needs our help in preserving its beauty and natural resources. This planet is our only home so ALL OF US should be doing our part in taking care of it!

we live in a beautiful world, let's help it stay this way!

While they were young, our children have been taught to always look for a trashcan and throw garbage responsibly even when they are out of the house. I’m glad my husband and I don’t have to nag them about it now that they’re in their teens and twenties. At home, we have different bins for segregating trash. There’s one for paper, one for tin cans, another for plastic containers, and another for everything else that the junk shops would not accept. 

reduce, reuse, recycle, or upcycle trash and help save our planet

Although we’ve been able to considerably reduce the amount of trash that is collected by the garbage trucks, I’m always on the lookout for more ways to reduce our carbon footprints. So I was really glad to have come across a post on Facebook last month by fellow blogger Kira about an organization that came up with a brilliant idea to turn seemingly useless, unrecyclable plastic into something fantastic!

every stuff counts!

Let me introduce you to The Plastic Solution. Basically, they encourage people to stuff as many clean and dry trash (so there will be no decomposition of organic matter inside) into plastic bottles as possible until they are filled. The stuffed bottles, called eco-bricks, are then collected and brought to various places where they build structures like libraries, schools, and houses. 

see, even the wrappers of pain reliever patches served a purpose!

Please watch the video below to learn better how this is done. You can also read their instructions to eco-brick making, here. Imagine, together, we can turn plastic pollution into a simple solution that is making a big impact! So gather those soda, juice, and energy drink bottles; rinse them and dry upside down before using.

The millennial consumer market is a huge one. It's no wonder brands often align their marketing strategies to appeal to this younger generation of spenders. While it's good that young people nowadays seem to have better purchasing power, they also need to be educated on how to properly manage their hard-earned salaries. This is so they can also enjoy the fruits of their labor when they get much older.

FWD Life, the country's fastest growing insurance company (read about their Philippine launch in 2014, here), partnered with Wattpad, the global multiplatform entertainment company for original stories, to revolutionize financial education via the Piso Tales advocacy campaign.

Piso Tales, a one-of-a-kind initiative that aims to bring financial literacy closer to the Philippines' rapidly expanding millennial market, is geared towards changing the way people learn and share financial stories. FWD passionately worked with three Filipino Wattpad authors in coming up with stories showcasing how millennials can succeed financially in life.

Chris Stefanyk, Wattpad Business Operations and Strategy Lead, expressed, "FWD Life's Piso Tales Campaign will empower a new generation of Filipinos to take control of their finances to prepare for their and their loved ones' future."

During an intimate gathering for the media and several Wattpad fans held at Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street recently, Wattpad subscribers were encouraged to read the following stories:

Did you know? Every month, Filipinos spend 500 million minutes engaged in stories about the things they love! With a total monthly audience of six million, Wattpad is a good channel to spread and make financial literacy relevant and entertaining for millions of Filipino millennials. According to Adspark Business Director Miki Yuhiko, "Through this, I hope we make financial literacy easier and more digestible for our target market."

"At FWD, Piso Tales is truly close to our heart. As a company which aims to encourage Filipinos to live life without hesitation, we are delighted to breathe life to the Piso Tales campaign," illustrated Roche Vandenberghe, FWD Life Philippines' Head of Marketing. 

She said that they recognize the potential of the country's millennial market and that, "Through this advocacy, we are reaching out to a huge segment that has been, thus far, quite underserved in terms of financial education."

"Our partnership with Wattpad is premised on the idea that financial literacy need not be boring," added Vandenberghe who pointed out that Piso Tales is entirely aligned with their vision to change the way people feel about insurance.

Just a few hours after the upload of the last chapters on Wattpad last December 16, the stories already garnered 35,000 readers / views proving how effective this way is in reaching Piso Tales' intended audience. "Let this be a new way of sharing money talks!" concluded Vandenberghe.