MUST-TRY FOR OFWs! Para sa mas ligtas at hassle-free grocery shopping ng pamilya.

Kasabay ng pandemya, kaliwa’t-kanan na rin ang diskarte ng Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) para ligtas na mapangalagaan at masuportahan ang pangangailangan ng pamilya sa Pilipinas, lalo na pagdating sa groceries.

At dahil Supermarkets ang isa sa COVID-19 high-risk places sa dami ng tao dito araw-araw, dapat maging doble-ingat tayo. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi na tayo mag-grocery shopping, ‘di ba? Buti na lang ngayon, wala na tayong dapat ikatakot dahil marami nang bagong paraan para mas masiguradong ligtas ang grocery shopping experience ng bawat mamayang Pilipino.

If your family and friends are located at the central business districts of Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, or Rizal, mas pinadali na for OFWs na maipa-experience ang premium and COVID-free grocery shopping at Robinsons’ The Marketplace.

Ang The Marketplace ay kilala sa kanilang wide range of fresh, gourmet, beverage, and imported selections kaya naman hindi na kailangan ng OFW families na maghintay ng kalahating taon para sa padalang balikbayan box filled with imported goodies.

S’yempre, hindi ako magpapahuli na ma-experience ang bagong kinahuhumalingan ng OFWs and their families pagdating sa grocery shopping!

Since I reside in Pasig, dumeretso na ako sa nearest branch sa akin – The Grove which is located at 177 E. Rodriguez Ave, C-5, Pasig City. I was welcomed by the security guard, scanned the QR code for contact tracing, got my temperature checked, and cleaned my hands using their automatic alcohol dispenser – all contactless, all safe! Required rin ang face mask, and face shield para makapasok so I got myself equipped.

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Pagpasok pa lang, bumungad na sa akin ang sari-saring imported products. Na-excite ako dahil marami sa produktong overseas ko lang nabibili ay available dito! Kaya dali-dali akong kumuha ng newly-sanitized shopping cart.

Wala pang ilang minuto, halos puno na ang shopping cart ko. ‘Di naman obvious na masyado akong natuwang mag-shopping dito, ‘no?

And here comes the most exciting part… ang bagong paraan ng pagbabayad.

It’s CASHLESS.

It’s INSTANT.

Pagpunta ko sa cashier, instead na wallet ang ilabas ko, smartphone lang na may QR Codes. Pagkatapos ma-total ang pinamili ko, the QR codes were scanned, and voila! Uwian na!

Bagong-bagong form of grocery shopping ang na-experience ko pero I was so surprised na kahit first time kong mag-bayad this way, at bagong payment option ito ng Robinsons, the transaction was fast, hassle-free, and most importantly, safe! Thanks to their very friendly and well-trained staff na talagang memoryado ang bawat produkto.

I’ll surely never do grocery shopping any other way than this again.

So, ang tanong, paano naging possible ang ganitong paraan?

Dahil ‘yan sa Robinsons e-gift certificates na ipinadala sa akin from overseas thru Beam&Go!

If you haven’t heard about this easier, and safer way to take control of your remittance, let me introduce it to you.

Since 2015, Supermarket e-gift certificates na ang core product ng Beam&Go. Sa ganitong paraan, may kasiguraduhan ang bawat OFW na ang bawat padala nila ng pinaghirapang pera, deretso sa pangangailangan ng pamilya.

And with over 280,000 OFWs who trust Beam&Go, talaga namang Robinsons e-gift certificates ang most requested product. This 2021, the long wait is over because it’s now available at the Store, plus redeemable pa sa more than 20 Robinsons-affiliated Stores with over 2,000 branches nationwide – including Easymart, Shopwide, Handyman, Daiso Japan, and Savers Appliance!

So, how does grocery remittance to Robinsons work?

It’s simple.

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  Once Robinsons eGCs have been purchased at Beam&Go, makakatanggap ang beneficiary ng SMS containing the link to Gift Certificate QR Codes.

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  I-download o i-screenshot ang QR Code at i-present sa cashier ng Robinsons branch for the payment of your beneficiary’s purchases.

That’s it, Kabayan! Walang kahirap-hirap.

There’s no reason not to try grocery remittance to Robinsons. It was one of a kind experience for me and I’m more than excited for OFW families to finally try the newest product of Beam&Go.

Walang mawawala. Mas panatag ka lang.

Higit sa lahat, you have one less thing to worry about. I-deretso na ang padala sa grocery needs nila thru Robinsons e-gift certificates at Beam&Go.

Visit Beam&Go website to get started: www.BeamAndGo.com.

Beam&Go’s payment channel partners worldwide:

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OFW SHOPPING ADVICE: Why Bataeños love this supermarket and department store?

Most of the people who don’t know the sacrifices and struggles of an OFW think that working abroad is just a piece of cake. But the truth is, life overseas is not as glamorous as it seems.

The OFW phenomenon has triggered the instant exodus of both skilled and service workers. They are being dispatched to different part of the globe. While OFWs are branded as modern-day heroes because of the much needed dollar remittances that pump the economy, the lush residences, and other earthly amenities from expensive gadgets to alcohol cannot pay off the negative impact of an absentee parent/s to the children left behind. It has influenced these children socially and emotionally.  Kaya dapat parents need to maintain their communication with their children.

Four years ago, BeamAndGo was born with a desire to help OFWs ensure their remittances are spent on basic needs – supermarkets, department stores, and pharmacies. If you use BeamAndGo, you are one step closer to kissing goodbye to all those horrific stories of broken OFW families.

Kaya naman may 24 supermarkets and department stores with more than 350 branches nationwide na ang BeamAndGo at ngayon, hangad namin na kayo ay magabayan sa pag-ba-budget ng inyong padala together with our trusted partner, Vercons and Vergara’s Supermarket. Through our Digital Gift Certificates, your worries will be wiped out dahil sa assurance namin na sa tamang gastusin ito mapupunta.

Ano nga ba ang sikreto ng VERCONS AND VERGARA’S?

Vercons and Vergaras are considered as the “top of mind” shopping malls and supermarket stores in Bataan and Zambales. This merchant was managed by Mr. and Mrs. Vergara since 1987 and proved that the people near their 8 branches will be served well. They are committed to offer their customers “Every Day Low Price” merchandise.

Food is one of the most important needs of our family. Hindi mawawala sa atin na hindi ito paglalaanan. Kung pipili ka ng supermarket for your family in Bataan and Zambales, huwag na magdalawang isip pumunta sa Vercons o Vergaras Supermarket dahil every day, mababa ang presyo dito! No more headaches din dahil sobrang approachable lahat ng staff nila. They have a wide array of goods like vegetables, fruits, baon packs, etc., na sulit ihanda sa hapag-kainan ng inyong pamilya, lalong lalo na ngayong paparating na Pasko!

Kung ang hanap niyo naman ay mga kagamitan na worth it para sa inyong bahay, marami kang pagpipilian sa Department Store. Mapa-damit, appliances, sapatos, school supplies o Christmas decorations ay available rin dito. Reasonable ang price at long-term pa dahil sa quality ng mga ‘to. Bukod sa everyday low prices, everyday new items din.

Bago pumunta, we suggest you bring a shopping list! Don’t overbuy or exceed your budget especially since your parents working overseas worked hard for it.  Stick to your budget.

HERE’S THE BRANCH LIST FOR YOUR FAMILIES IN BATAAN AND ZAMBALES!

• #1 Bonifacio St., Dinalupihan, Bataan
• Mabini Extension National Hiway, Dinalupihan, Bataan
• Baracca-Camachile, Subic, Zambales
• 21st St. Rizal Avenue, West Bajac-Bajac, Olongapo City, Zambales
• 23rd Arthur St., West Bajac-Bajac, Olongapo City, Zambales
• P. Rizal St. Poblacion, Balanga City, Bataan
• New Public Market, Balagtas, Orion, Bataan
• San Carlos, Mariveles, Bataan

HOW TO AVAIL OF GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM VERCONS/VERGARA’S SUPERMARKET?

Alam namin kung gaano ang kahirap magtrabaho sa ibang bansa, kaya pinadali at pinasimple namin ang REGISTRATION para sa inyo! I-type lang sa inyong browser ang www.beamandgo.com and click SIGN UP FOR FREE. Oh ‘di ba? Easy na, libre pa! Ilagay mo lang iyong details (FULL NAME, LOCATION OVERSEAS, VALID EMAIL ADDRESS, MOBILE NUMBER, OCCUPATION) na kailangan para maka-proceed sa next process.

 

After signing up, you can now LOG IN your BeamAndGo account and take the next step which is the merchant selection process. Choose VERCONS SUPERMARKET as your selected product and it’s up to you kung ilang worth PHP500 GC/s ang gusto mong ipadala sa ’yong pamilya. Mas marami, mas masaya!

Your recipient’s details are important, so make sure you provide the correct spelling of their name and mobile number. We know it’s easy but we’ll provide you more screenshots so you could visualize.

 

Last step is your payment. You can pay via credit card, debit card (PayPal), online bank transfer, at any remittance centers that accept BDO deposit, TNG Digital E-wallet (for OFWs in Hong Kong), and through our partners, PNB, Pacific Ace, iRemit and PayRemit (tie-up branches in Singapore, UAE, Saudi and Taiwan).

When everything is done and processed, your recipient will receive the CODES from BeamAndGo. Do not worry, our Customer Service will call him/her to confirm if the codes were received. Pupunta lang sila sa pinakamalapit na branch sa lugar nila at ipapakita ang CODES at isang VALID ID sa CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. And finally, maaari na silang mag-shopping nang mga goods and items na kailangan nila.

Easy, diba? So what are you waiting for? Visit our website now, and start sending for your loved ones here in the Philippines. We are always here to build a better future for you! And if you’re not in any of those locations, don’t worry because we are available nationwide! Here are the rest of our partners.

 

OFW Shopping Advice: Why Batangueños love this supermarket and department store!

Batangas is one of the lovely and peaceful provinces in Luzon, kaya naman hindi na nakakapagtaka kung bakit maraming turista ang  bumibisita rito. Sa dalawang milyong Pilipino na naninirahan sa Batangas, 25% of them ay Overseas Filipino Workers na nakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa para sa kanilang mga pamilya.

Marami sa ating mga kababayan abroad, nasa Batangas ang pamilya. Halos lahat sa kanila ay nagpapadala para sa grocery needs ng mga ito. At dahil marami ang nagrerequest na mga Batangueños na magkaroon ng BeamAndGo sa kanilang lugar, happy kami na isa na ang Citimart sa mga trusted supermarkets namin.

Citimart offers the freshest produce straight from the farm!

Ala eh, balita namin na ang Citimart daw ang pinakaunang shopping mall sa Batangas na nakakapag-provide ng pinaka-da best na grocery products, clothings, kitchen utensils, appliances at iba pa. With their seven branches existing now, walang duda na incomparable ito sa pagbibigay ng excellent customer service all over the city.

Citimart Supermarket

Papalapit na papalapit na naman ang summer ngayon at sigurado ako na nag-reready na kayo at ang inyong pamilya para sa mga planong outing o picnic. Sino ba namang ayaw na hindi maging masaya ang magiging bakasyon kung wala silang handang pagkain diba?

Don’t forget to bring a shopping list! Do not buy  on impulse! Mauubusan ka kasi maraming selection!

Para sa mga kababayan nating Batangueño, Citimart lagi ang takbuhan nila. Sa sobrang dami ng kanilang pagpipilian, sulit na sulit ang pamimili dahil bukod sa fresh at bago lagi ang mga produkto, kayang-kaya ng budget nila.

Minsan okay lang mag snacks! Pero tandaan na unahin mo muna ang nasa listahan! Ano ba ang mga kailangan ng mga bata sa pang baon? Gatas, biskwit, orange juice, at tinapay. Bawas bawasan ang mga junk food!

Citimart Department Store

Pagdating naman sa magagandang kalidad na mga damit at kagamitan sa bahay, kumpleto ‘yan sa Department Store ng CitiMart. Dahil hilig rin ng ilan sa inyong pamilya ang pagsh

Ang mga polo at damit na pang office at lakwatsa ay sikat sa Citimart Department Store! Mura, maganda ang style, at de kalidad!

shopping, good choice ang CitiMart Department store.

 

Para sa mga OFW friends natin abroad, hindi hadlang ang layo para makapaghatid ng saya sa inyong pamilya. Thru BeamAndGo’s digital gift certificate, you can treat them as many as you want.

Ang masayang training with Citimart and BeamAndGo:

Ginanap ang official training na pinangunahan ng aming Senior Vice President, Mr. Albert Christian Go at Customer Service Representative, Mark Pencer Inopiquez nuong February. Ayon sa kanila, bukod sa kalidad ang mga produkto, approachable at organized ang customer service ng aming new partner supermarket. Kaya naman walang duda na tinatangkilik ito ng mga kababayan nating Batangueno!

The Citimart and BeamAndGo Team ready to serve over 500,000 OFWs from Batangas!

 

How to avail digital gift certificates?

Simple lang ang pagsali sa BeamAndGo! First is you need to sign up at www.beamandgo.com. Madali na,  libre pa! Saan ka pa? Pagkatapos mag log in sa inyong account, maari ka nang pumunta sa store at i-select lamang ang Citimart Supermarket GC at ang halaga na nainis niyong ipadala (minimum is Php 500).

At dahil ikaw ang sender, ikaw rin ang bahala kung ilang worth Php

Just tell your family member to show the SMS with the serial number to the customer service team! Bring a valid ID (Government, School, Senior Citizen, or Company)

500 GC/s ang gusto mo ipadala sa iyong pamilya at kung sino ang gusto mong makatanggap ng iyong padala. Ang last procedure ay ang payment, madali lang ito mga ka-Beamer dahil pwedeng-pwede ka magbayad via credit card, debit card (PayPal), online transfer, or pay cash over the counter thru our sales partners Pacific Ace, PayRemit, i-Remit o sa kahit saang remittance centers that accepts BDO deposit.

 

Ang padadalhan niyo ay makakatanggap ng SMS
na may serial code at confirmation number! Ipapakita lang niya ang SMS sa customer service representative ng Citimart branch na pinili niyo.

Madali lang ‘di ba? Ano pang hinihintay mo? Ito na ang chance mo para mas makasigurado na ang iyong perang pinaghihirapan, mapupunta sa magandang kalagayan! Log on to www.beamandgo.com or simply go directly to the Citimart Supermarket digital gift certificate page so you can take care of your family’s needs!

We welcome you Batangas OFWs! Take care of your family’s needs from groceries to department stores through BeamAndGo Digital Gift Certificates.

And if you’re not in any of those locations, don’t worry because we are available nationwide! Here are the rest of our partners.

OFW Shopping Advice: How to take care of your family’s needs in Bicol!

Mga kababayan nating Bicolano! Miss mo na ba ang pamilya mo dito sa Pinas? May good news kami sa inyo mga ka-Beamer! Hindi hadlang ang layo mo dahil swak na swak na magpadala ngayon para sa inyong loved ones. Here’s Liberty Commercial Center (LCC) to provide a  variety of good quality products with excellent service. You can send your love through our gift certificates from LCC Supermaket and Department Store. Bukod sa grocery items, pwede din makabili ng other items na pwede nila magamit every day.

Summer Shopping for your loved ones!

Ang bilis ng panahon, summer is approaching! For sure na madami nang plano ang pamilya mo na mga outing. At siyempre, una sa listahan nila kung ano ang mga ihahanda. Para ‘di maging drawing ang swimming, bili na sa BeamAndGo ng LCC gift certificate dahil dito affordable na kalidad pa sa LCC Department Store!

• Electronics,
• School supplies,
• Uniform,
• Household needs

Sikat na sikat naman ang Supermarkets ng LCC! Tiyak na makakatipid ang inyong pamilya! Alam niyo naman na ang groceries ang priority niyo sa kanila bilang isang OFW. Kumpleto po ang selection nila from snacks, milk, meats, and fresh vegetables.

RELATED STORY: Ang Magaling na OFW, marunong mag budget ng grocery!

New branches!

Dahil sa galing ng serbisyo ng aming trusted supermarket merchant, nadagdagan na ang Redemption Centers na kung saan pwede i-redeem ang BeamAndGo gift certificates. Mas mapapadali na ang pagkuha ng ‘yong pamilya ng mga items para sa daily needs nila.

LCC is not new for our consumers in Bicol, it has been considered as one of trusted stores in their place. They serve really well, kaya naman pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga kaibigan nating Bicolano. Sa dami ng tumatangkilik ng kanilang mga produkto, nagawa nilang magkaroon ng department store at supermarket. They offer a lot of items kaya naman winner para sa mga tao.

Redeem at the following branches in Camarines Sur:

• LCC Daraga – Cor. Rizal and Regidor St, Daraga, Albay
• LCC Labo – Bry. Poblacio Labo Camarines Norte
• LCC Legazpi- Peñaranda St,. Legazpi City
• LCC Market Plus Daet- Barangay 6 Market Site, J. Lukban St., Daet Camarines Norte
• LCC Masbate- Zurbito St., Brgy. Bapor, Port Area, Masbate City
• LCC Naga – Felix Plazo St., Naga City
• LCC Polangui – Ubaliw St, Polangui, Albay
• LCC Sorsogon- Magsaysay St., Sorsogon City
• LCC Tabaco- Ziga Avenue Tabaco City

Upon confirmation of digital gift certificate, beneficiary may now purchase at any of the LCC participating branches below. For the complete list of participating branches, i-visit niyo lang ang website nila sa http://lcc.com.ph/malls/

How to avail LCC gift certificates?

Para sa mga kababayan naming OFW na gustong magpadala sa pamilya nila sa Bicol, para sa inyo to! Madali lang ang pagsali sa BeamAndGo. First is you have to visit our website at www.beamandgo.com. Mag-sign up lang at ilagay ang lahat ng iyong details sa required fields. Para mapadali din kayo, pwede din ninyo panuoring ang instructional video ng BeamAndGo. Tandaan na free po ang membership at mahigit 100,000 members na ngayon ang BeamAndGo!

Once the registration is done, you can now log in and select LCC Supermarket or LCC Department Store as your chosen store. One gift certificate is worth Php 500, ikaw ang bahala kung ilang GCs ang gusto mong ipadala sa family mo. To proceed, you need to put the full details of your recipient. If you’re already a member, just continue your order. Last step is the payment, you can choose whatever payment method you want.

If you are from another province and would like to know our other supermarket partners, you don’t have to worry because we have 19 supermarkets across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao!

Once na matanggap na ng iyong recipient ang transaction codes, pwede na niya ito i-redeem sa kahit saang LCC Redemption Centers na malapit sa kanila.

Madali lang diba? Visit na sa www.beamandgo.com at bumili na!

Ang magaling na OFW, marunong mag-budget ng grocery!

Masarap magtrabaho sa abroad dahil mas marami ka nang pera. Mabibili mo na ang mga hindi mo noon mabili para sa sarili mo at para sa asawa mo at mga anak mo. Ngayon, makakabili ka na ng gamot ni Nanay at ni Tatay at hindi na nila kailangang magbawas ng dosage o kaya lumiban sa pag-inom nito. Maganda na ang buhay.

Dahil naman sa BeamAndGo, mas makasisiguro kang may mga grocery na puede nang puntahan ng mga mahal mo sa buhay.

Puede ka rin namang pumunta sa aming partner na I-Remit para masilip mo ang aming menu at ang aming grocery partners. Dahil sa I-Remit, puede kang magbayad ng diretso sa kanila at kami na ang bahalang magpadala ng BeamAndGo gift certificate sa pamilya mo.

Pero meron bang malapit na grocery partner ng BeamAndGo sa inyo? Eto sila:

Gaisano Capital

Branches: Gaisano Capital has more than 27 branches in Visayas and Mindanao. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here

Review: Sikat na sikat na supermarket chain in Central Visayas, particularly Cebu.  It has a wide selection of grocery items. Our secret is use it for department store purchases!

GMALL (Gaisano Mall of Davao)

Branches: GMall has branches in Davao, Tagum, Toril, Gensan, at Digos. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review: Davao OFWs are one of the most resilient, honest, and respectful Filipinos. We asked our members in Davao which supermarket chain they prefer, and unanimously, they picked G Mall. There’s no need to wait because G Mall is now part of the Beamer family.

Iloilo Supermart

Branches: Iloilo Supermart is a supermarket chain with 8 branches in Iloilo City. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review: Did you know that Iloilo is a world’s recruitment haven for seamen? More than 180,000 Ilonggos are now working overseas! If you are one of them, this is your chance to try Iloilo Supermart!

LCC Supermarket 

Branches: There are LCC  branches in Daet, Iriga, Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, Sorsogon, and Tabaco. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review: Ang mga taga Bicol, kilalang kilala sa kanilang masasarap na pagkain gaya ng pinangat at laing. All the known ingredients can be bought at LCC. Best of all, it’s affordable.

Prince Retail

Branches: Prince Retail is a Hypermart which has branches in Negros Occidental, Cebu, Silay, Leyte, and Zamboanga. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review: If you want to start your own Sari-sari store, look no further. Prince Warehouse is located even in the outskirts “sulok sulokan.”

San Roque Supermarket

Branches: San Roque Supermarket has 10 branches in Luzon. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review: This Supermaket is BeamAndGo’s first merchant. We love it because OFWs get the best prices. No further explanation needed.

Super 8 Grocery Warehouse

Branches: Super 8 Supermarket has branches in Laguna, Cavite, Metro Manila, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Pampanga, and Bulacan. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review: This place is “super!” The prices are affordable and what’s best is the variety of items. Everything you need in your household can be bought here.

Johnson’s Supermart

Branches: Johnson’s Supermart has 2 branches in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review:  Nothing can beat a neighborhood favorite and that is exactly what Johnson’s Supermart is. Trusted by most folks in Ilocos Norte, this place has gained both the popularity and hearts of many.

Jumbo Jenra and Jenra Supermarket

Branches: Jenra Supermarket and Jumbo Jenra has branches in San Fernando (Sindalan), Dau, and Angeles . List of branches, store hours, and addresses can be accessed here.

Review: This is a no frills supermarket!  That makes it the most affordable in Pampanga. It’s so popular among sari-sari store owners, they even have a special lane!

Let’s make a plan!

Ngayong alam na natin kung sino nga ba ang mga partner ng BeamAndGo, budget muna! Hindi naman puedeng gastos nang gastos. Plan muna tayo.

Ano-ano ba ang mga pangangailangan ng bawat isang anak? Ng asawa? Ng magulang? Sino pa ba ang ibang tao sa bahay ninyo? May kailangan ba para sa kanila?

Magkano nga ba talaga?

Ngayon, gawa tayo ng plano. Dapat ba ang shopping every week, every two weeks, o every month? Kung hindi naman malaki ang refrigerator o bahay ninyo, sa weekly shopping na lang tayo. Mahirap na ang daming binibili kasi nakatutuksong ubusin lang ang lahat. Baka manakawan ka pa. Better siguro, para sa marami sa atin, weekly budget na lang.

Tignan mo naman kung magkakano ang mga puede mong ipadalang amount gamit ang BeamAndGo.

Hangga’t maaari, kailangan mong ilista ang lahat ng pangangailangan nila tapos, sa maaabot ng makakaya mo, subukan mong tandaan kung magkano ang bawat isa. Sa gayon, mas matatantsya mo kung magkano nga ba ang dapat mong ipadala.

Take note ha: Wag maging hero. Hindi ka si Santa Claus. Kung ano lang ang kailangan. May panahon para sa party. Everyday needs lang muna. O may rough estimate ka na?

Ready na? Let’s go to BeamAndGo!

Kung gusto mo rin naman, punta na sa I-Remit branch na malapit sa iyo at tignan ang aming menu doon.

Kapag may karagdagang katanungan, we’ll be happy to attend to your needs. You may email us at support@beamandgo.com or call the numbers below:

Mobile(SMART) / Whatsapp / Viber: +63 949-839-3322
Mobile(GLOBE): +63 927-817-2855/+63995-321-7377 (new)

Opinion: The middle class OFWs and the cost of higher income

It was the year 2010.

Having been voted by more than 15 M Filipinos, President Noynoy Aquino delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). His electrifying speech against corruption and the culture of “Wang-wang” or special treatment to VIPs was a hit in local press and the business sector.

A photo of President Noynoy Aquino. Credited for fixing the fiscal policy, reducing foreign debt, and tightening of spending. During his term, income taxes were unchanged. Good or bad for middle class?

Back then, I was working in one of the largest Universal Banks in the Philippines and was drawing a moderate salary but it was not enough for me to be financially free.

Related: Did you know that as OFWs, you can send remit smarter to your families’ household needs from groceries to medicine?  Register now for free and let BeamAndGo help support your family needs

Like many middle class college degree holder employees, my dream was to own my own house and be financially independent. I asked myself the question,” How long would it take for me to accomplish my noble aspirations? 20 years?”

So in January 2011, I finally boarded the cheapest flight to Singapore after months of deliberation with my family.

I armed myself with the very small stash of savings from the past 4.5 years. That’s it! #Bahalanasibatman ika nga but I was confident with my qualifications. So I bid goodbye to my parents, lola, and friends. It was painful, hard, and dramatic. A month after, I landed my first job to oversee the marketing and fundraising programs of a Singaporean NGO. I drew a salary more than 5 times my take home pay in the Philippines.

There were many things I learned while working overseas from cooking, washing of clothes, moving flats, and even dealing with abusive landlords (that’s a different story). But the most important is sending cash remittances back home and its enormous repercussions if not planned wisely. I could just imagine how much more I’d saved and invested if BeamAndGo was already available with its digital gift certificates on supermarkets, medicine, and other basic needs. If you don’t have an idea how it works, just watch this video below:

From my own personal experience and from the testimonies of dozens of OFWs whom I’ve personally met, many of us choose to work overseas because of better employment opportunities and lower taxes.

I will emphasize this because I want our next President to focus on the immediate welfare of middle class Filipinos. You can be assured, just like the millions of Filipinos who left their families, I will be watching your first State of the Nation Address! All of you promised to reduce taxes.  I will be taking down notes and I will hold you accountable. Tandaan niyo, sinabi ninyong lahat na babawasan niyo ang taxes. We are not endorsing any candidate but what we want is for the President to walk the talk, make the biggest sacrifices, and lead by example.  Don’t we all deserve this?

While OFW remittances has been widely acknowledged as the driver of the Philippine Economy (USD 29.7 Billion in 2015), the high costs of absentee parents, loneliness, and risks to life on both physical and mental are enormous. That subject cannot be brushed aside because their are serious concerns. Just read the story of a domestic helper who took her life a few days ago here.

We invite our fellow OFWs to become a member of the Beamer family. It’s a community for OFWs where we freely share stories and provide advice on a range of topics from saving, budgeting, and money allocation, to healthy nutrition.

Not long ago, my blood pressure went up to 160 / 100 in Singapore, when I gorged on chicken rice almost everyday. That was before I noticed that all of my Singaporean friends were eating vegetables and fish soup. Did you know that the mortality age in the  Philippines is 68.5 years as opposed to Singapore at 84.5 years? Stop the chicken rice,  friends!  If you want to learn practical tips on how to live longer, sign up at BeamAndGo now.

I was in Laoag, Ilocos Norte last Saturday delivering a workshop with Vanessa Cartera, our director of sales, to retired OFWs on the keys to claiming victory in both health and finances. One of the highlights was the subject on 8 dimensions of Wellness. I will discuss more on our findings and also learnings from the participants in my next blog. We will give you tips from Dr. Raymond Escalona, a lifestyle nutrition specialist, on how you can reduce the risk of cancer and live a healthy lifestyle. We thank the Laoag City LGU and its Community Affairs Division for inviting their OFW associations to attend.

But right now, since we only have less than 30 days before we elect a new Chief Executive, let’s  watch the debates attentively and cast our vote according to our conscience, wisdom, and knowledge on what is best for our country. There are more issues from poverty alleviation, crime, drugs, women’s rights, contractualization, and K-12.

We have less than 30 days before we elect a new President. Let’s move away from personality politics and focus on knowing how our presidential candidates will solve our nation’s issues.

I believe it’s time to lower income taxes. There are 1.3 M of us OFWs that can cast a vote and make a difference. We will never forget all the days when we thought about quitting, when we reluctantly left our families, and when we almost lost hope in life. But we can always choose to change the game. We may find the ideal president who can walk the talk.

If you are an OFW and you like what you read, join the Beamer Support Community now. We’re now helping 80,000 Filipinos and you could easily be one of them. Together, let’s cast our votes and be heard by our government.

Startups team up to provide OFWs modern, safe remittance service

 

Hong Kong – Two fast-growing social startups dedicated to improving the breadth of services available to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Asia, have teamed up in a bid to maximize opportunities for mutual growth.

BeamAndGo, the Singapore-based alternative remittance service provider, and HelperChoice, the leading online platform for connecting domestic helpers with employers, are committed to empowering OFWs globally by enabling them to access basic services without the need to pay unnecessary fees and charges.

“The two companies have lots in common,” says Laurence Fauchon, founder of HelperChoice. “We have both – in a short period of time – established solid reputations with OFWs around the world. Our helper members know we are working to disrupt the industry and make illegal fees and charges obsolete.”

“Our partnership with BeamAndGo complements our helper empowerment strategy perfectly. We help domestic workers save illegal agency fees so they can provide for their families, not to waste their earnings. Sending cash home is inefficient, expensive and open to misuse. Now our members have access to a modern, safe remittance service where they can choose how and where the funds are distributed.”

BeamAndGo CEO Jonathan E. Chua adds, “HelperChoice and BeamAndGo share the same commitment to ethical business. The main purpose of the partnership is to improve the welfare of OFWs and their families back home. From a business perspective, we estimate that the partnership alone will provide BeamAndGo with an initial revenue growth of 8% month-on-month within the first 2 quarters. And with HelperChoice, we can grow in countries where we do not have a large presence yet. We believe that our membership numbers will grow from 78,000 to over 100,000 within the same period.”

The partnership will present both companies with cross-marketing opportunities. BeamAndGo will propose their remittance services to over 50,000 HelperChoice members currently registered on the platform, and HelperChoice will be a member of BeamAndGo’s sales channel. The partnership is particularly suitable for domestic workers who do not have credit cards or access to online banking.

For further details on HelperChoice visit the website at www.HelperChoice.com or email at contact@helperchoice.com.

For further details on BeamAndGo visit www.beamandgo.com or email at marketing@beamandgo.com.

Staying with an OFW family in Iloilo City

Group picture of BeamAndGo and the Cartera family taken immediately after Ben shared his miraculous 34-year OFW story as a seaman.

The heritage rich city of Iloilo is located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Known for its “oohhh sooo yummy” Biscocho Haus Butterscotch and Chinese inspired Molo Soup, the city is also littered with traditional catholic churches dating back from the Spanish colonial era.

While much of its rich tradition has been kept preserved, the BeamAndGo team witnessed firsthand the city’s lightning speed infrastructure makeover with the acclaimed Iloilo International Airport and the Sta. Barbara Highway.

The very moment we hit the road from the airport, we were absolutely dumbfounded when we passed by the bustling 6-lane diversion highway on our way to the residence of one of our very own and Iloilo native, Vanessa Cartera, Director of Sales at BeamAndGo.

Vanessa, who hails from Iloilo and comes from a family of seamen, said it concisely: “Hindi dati ganito ang Iloilo. Times are changing. And I’m proud to be an Ilonggo.”

If you are wondering, BeamAndGo was one of 90 companies that participated at the PESO Office Mega Christmas Job Fair attended by 1,500 Ilonggos.

BeamAndGo poses with Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and the PESO Office department. The province of Iloilo has long been known to be the world’s resource for seamen and nurses.

In recent years, the BPO industry has spurred growth in local employment. But this city is where the world gets its pool of seamen and nursing professionals. This is the reason why Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., and his PESO office team invited us to orient jobseekers about what we do for OFWs and encourage them to register here  for an account even before they set off for international placements.

But the best part of this trip is the story of Vanessa’s father Ben Cartera, a retired seaman who has had stints in Abu Dhabi, Sweden, and Norway. In his heyday, Ben told me his motivation was to build his dream house and provide education to his children.

After 34 years, he suffered a stroke that paralyzed half his body. It was painful for his family who depended on him for financial assistance. At that time, his daughter Vanessa was studying in a university in Metro Manila. She literally cut back on unnecessary expenses while the family dedicated most of their time to assist their ailing dad.

With tears in his eyes, Ben recounted the times he had to be away from his family during important celebrations such as Christmas and graduation. Thankfully, he has now recovered after years of rehabilitation and physical therapy to restore his facial and body movement. He credits his loving and supportive family who stood by him in his most difficult state.

While I was savoring the home-cooked Molo soup, I couldn’t help but cringe and imagine the thousands of Filipinos who have similar stories demonstrating the Filipino spirit of grit and determination to bounce back from tough times.

A hearty dinner with Cartera family at Tatoy’s, the pride of Iloilo.

From groceries and medicine to insurance and payments of bills, BeamAndGo aims to instill in the mindset of OFWs the importance of covering the basics first. We tell our BeamAndGo friends through our LearnAndGo Workshop Series and daily reminders that their hard-earned income should be spent on the things that matter – health, insurance, food, and education.

And what makes it better? Iloilo Supermart is now an official partner of BeamAndGo.com. Ilonggo OFWs can now purchase digital gift certificates that they can use to buy groceries and medicine from the said supermarket!

The Cartera family displayed to us the famous Filipino warmth and hospitality but it is their story that touches us the most. It serves as an inspiration for us at BeamAndGo to champion our cause to empower OFWs like you. We hope it would impact you the same way it made an impact on us.

Good news for OFWs who want to be financially literate

All smiles from BeamAndGo and TGFI at the Global Summit

As of late, the news coverage related to the OFW community has been negative.

• “OFW who won $2.3 Million in Singapore lottery accused of stealing ticket”
• “Bong Bong Marcos decries alleged “bullet-planting” of OFW”
• “OFW Remittances faces Downward risk”

You might be asking, “Hasn’t there been any encouraging news or inspiring stories among OFWs?” After all, the old adage bad news sells is probably true. Journalists are often quick to report events and incidents that would ignite public outcry or strong opinions from politicians.

Well, there has been inspiring stories. Last Saturday, (Oct 24, 2015), The Global Filipino Investors (TGFI) organized a day long financial literacy event for OFWs in Singapore. The event was called Global Summit and it featured 10 finance experts sharing their wisdom with a full house of over 500 OFWs.

And thanks to the kindness of Floi Wycoco (TGFI CEO) and Malvin Dinlasan (TGFI Marketing Head), BeamAndGo had the opportunity to share our advocacy to promote alternative remittance for basic needs to the OFW community.

I have attended many investment forums but TGFI’s Global Summit provided the most content-rich program with a full range of relevant topics for OFWs: personal finance, business registration and taxes, real estate, mutual funds, and stock market investing.

My personal favorites included:

• ANC News “On The Money” Host Salve Duplito’s warning for people to refuse the lies of investment scams. For more on her personal finance articles, Click here 
• I-Remit Chairman Bansan Choa’s focus on the 3R’s: Real estate, Remittance, and Retirement
• Suzan Bigay, my former finance professor at UA&P, who famously said “Our real asset is our creativity.” (Thanks Suzan, you are the reason why I am not so poor!)
• Marvin Fausto’s Putting Eggs in Different Baskets – This man has raised a family of investors together with FQmom.com blogger Rose Fres Fausto.

From L to R: BeamAndGo with “On The Money” Host Salve Duplito, FMAP Founder Marvin Fausto, and COL Financial Chairman Edward Lee

I also found it mind boggling to discover from Salve Duplito that many OFWs do not plan on how their remitted funds are used. In a survey she presented, when asked the question “When your household receives money, do you plan how it will be used?”,a staggering 45% of the OFWs responded “no”!

At BeamAndGo, through our research, we also noted a lack of financial literacy amongst OFWs. And many wanted to learn but they just didn’t know how. So in September, we launched the LearnAndGo Financial Literacy Workshop Series with our first event held in Iriga City. Over 500 members of OFW families attended. And just this month, we partnered with the Mindanao Federation to conduct a financial literacy workshop in Hong Kong, which was attended by 250 OFWs. We have another event planned before the year and we’re setting up the schedule for 2016.

So while the news circulating related to OFWs has been rather gloomy of late, there are rays of sunshine around. At least in this blog and the TGFI community, we work together to provide the tools, knowledge and encouragement for Filipinos to become financially literate. We Filipinos are known to be resourceful, creative, hardworking and resilient. That is good news!

Lowering taxes and preventing another Balikbayan Box controversy

(Marketing Director, BeamAndGo, Albert Christian Go)

It was in August when the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced that it would start to impose taxes and inspect balikbayan boxes.

In less than a day, blood was boiling amongst OFWs demanding the government to scrap the plan or they would stop monthly cash remittances to their families.

Just search for the hashtag #notoBOCbalikbayantax. You will feel the pulse of angry Filipinos blurting out profane laden language (for good measure).

The controversy erupted like wildfire, deadlier than the haze in Singapore. Within weeks, the government had no other recourse but to strike down the plan to randomly inspect balikbayan boxes upon direct orders from President Benigno Aquino III.

Bottom line: Your voices were heard and the government responded (albeit miraculously).

I was once an OFW. I lived in Singapore for over 4 years because at that time, I felt that was my only way to escape the poorly thought out policies of the government. Just imagine. Taxes are at an astounding 32% compared to Singapore that gives tax relief to our first $30,000. I often asked myself, “Where can I earn the money to buy my own house, get married, or support my parents?”

Keep pushing! Lower Income tax pushed (Inquirer.net headline on October 21)

In January 2011, I took the leap of faith and got employed at a non-profit organization that provides mentoring for children and youth. If I factor in the taxes, my salary in Singapore was 6 times more than what I would get in the Philippines.  It didn’t help that I often read news of bogus NGOs and senators pocketing hundreds of millions. DAMN! This is hopeless, I said.

If I were to have it my way, I wouldn’t leave my country! Not by a long shot. I missed my mom, dad, and everyone who was there to provide support. Although my job was very noble (a non-profit organization for children and youth), I had to hustle at work and wrestle with my emotions every night. The distance could break your heart (literally) in many aspects, believe me. I had to cling to my goals and motivations and of course my faith in the Almighty.

But I had no choice. It became a necessity. If you think we left because we simply want to travel and explore the world, it’s safe to say you’re grossly mistaken. We’re not that shallow.

Like millions of Filipinos, we packed up simply because we saw a fair and equal employment opportunity in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and other countries. To be honest, every country seemed better.

BeamAndGo with officers of Mindanao Federation

For many OFWs, it seemed as if our talents are better appreciated overseas whether we are occupying a skilled profession or not.

Myrna Padilla, whom I recently met in Davao, spoke at the Mindanao Federation in Hong Kong last October 17. Her life is an inspiration to many OFWs. Having worked in Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong for 24 years, she is now the Founder and President of OFW Watch and Mynd Consulting.

A Mindanao Federation member receives a LoadAndGo Gift Certificate from BeamAndGo

We also had the absolute pleasure of meeting Cindy Pesidas Encabo (Chairperson) and Aura Ablin (Treasurer), who spent more than decade in Hong Kong. Today, Mindanao Federation exists because it provides much needed support for Minadanaoans.

At that event, I also spoke about BeamAndGo and how we contribute to the financial freedom of Filipinos through our digital gift certificates. If you are an OFW, I’ll personally invite you to watch this short video.

Together with Raizza Encinas we spent hours interacting with dozens of Mindanaoans. Believe us, they want to return to the Philippines. One of them even angrily told me, “We are sick and tired of politicians promising to install generators, provide jobs, and end war.”  It’s almost as if they have all given up.

Having said so, 2016 will be the most important year for Filipinos. If you want your voices to be heard, at the very least, you should vote for national candidates who would enact genuine change – lower taxes, infrastructure, and promote quality education.

If we vote for the right candidates, we would never have to endure another BOC scandal. It’s election season and again we are reading news of lawmakers promising to reduce taxes. Click here for the Inquirer story titled “Lower income tax pushed.” My only piece of advice, if any lawmaker reads this (I wish!), is to follow through your talk in media. After you get re elected, just do it!

As a Filipino, let’s give it a shot! Let’s vote. Maybe…just maybe..we could all return home one day!