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Policymate offers dengue insurance amidst rising cases
Advanced Abilities’ online insurance platform, Policymate, is offering Dengue Insurance with Select DengueGuard Medical Insurance by Pacific Cross. This provides PHP 10,000 worth of coverage for in-patient and out-patient treatments.

The rainy season has begun in the Philippines, which means Filipinos need to be more mindful of dengue symptoms that might arise. There has been a boost in dengue cases this 2024, with a 68% increase in comparison to 2023. Given the uptrend, it has become more crucial to be mindful of possible dengue symptoms, such as high fevers, severe migraines, and body pain.
Advanced Abilities’ online insurance platform, Policymate, is offering Dengue Insurance with Select DengueGuard Medical Insurance by Pacific Cross. This provides PHP 10,000 worth of coverage for in-patient and out-patient treatments.
“With the rising dengue cases, it’s very pressing now to be prepared for whatever symptoms you may experience. We’re pleased to share this opportunity and support Filipinos in their times of need with our dengue insurance coverage on Policymate. Sudden illness can be alarming, and with our offerings, we hope to ease our clients’ worries,” says Angelo Antonio “AA” Buendia, CEO and President of Advanced Abilities.
Aside from Dengue Insurance, Policymate also offers a holistic array of Medical Insurance options from Pacific Cross to suit a variety of emergencies. Users may opt to avail of more than one type of policy in order to gain more coverage, which may vary from emergency medical conditions, COVID treatment, and even post-hospitalization medication coverage.
For instance, a client confined for dengue may purchase the Select DengueGuard policy, then on top of that, they may also purchase Select Assist in order to boost coverage for their final hospital bill. This way, clients may also maximize different benefits from the two products.
With Policymate’s user-friendly platform and interface, users are able to browse and select their preferred Medical Insurance policy as needed. This hassle-free process makes filing for claims and tracking updates as easy as possible, with insurance coverage being made accessible for all Filipinos.
“One of our goals has always been to bring modern services to Filipinos all over the country,” shares Buendia. “With Policymate, anyone can easily purchase the insurance policy they need and treat their illnesses as immediately as possible.” Policymate also provides options for Travel Insurance, Accident Insurance, Property Insurance, Automobile Insurance, and Pet Insurance.
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Manulife Wealth and Asset Management appoints Fabio Fontainha as Head of Asia
Fabio will be a member of the Manulife WAM leadership team and Manulife’s Global Leadership Team (GLT). He will be based in Hong Kong and report to Paul Lorentz and will also have accountability into Phil Witherington, President and CEO, Manulife Asia.

Manulife Wealth and Asset Management (Manulife WAM), the global wealth and asset management business of Manulife that brings investment solutions to institutional, retirement, and retail customers across the globe, has announced Fabio Fontainha as its new Head of Wealth & Asset Management, Asia, effective February 2025. Fabio succeeds Michael Dommermuth, who is leaving the firm at the end of the year.
“We are excited for Fabio to build on the momentum that has been growing for Manulife Wealth and Asset Management in Asia as we look to provide wealth and investment solutions to even more investors. We believe his expertise in key areas of focus for our business will make his transition into the role feel tangible almost immediately,” said Paul Lorentz, President and CEO, Manulife Wealth and Asset Management. “We are also appreciative of Michael’s commitment to our firm and the impact he has had on our expansion in multiple markets over more than two decades, ranging from multiple emerging Asia markets including India, as well as the conversion of our joint venture in China into a wholly-owned entity in Manulife Fund Management. We are grateful for his leadership that has provided broader capabilities to our clients across Asia.”
Fabio will be a member of the Manulife WAM leadership team and Manulife’s Global Leadership Team (GLT). He will be based in Hong Kong and report to Paul Lorentz and will also have accountability into Phil Witherington, President and CEO, Manulife Asia.
Fabio will collaborate closely with all country and regional heads, chief investment officers, and global product teams to deliver investment capabilities for the region. He will also drive Manulife WAM’s strategic growth plans locally and provide local oversight to the retail, retirement and institutional businesses, partner closely with local functional heads, and serve as a touch point for teams working on strategic initiatives throughout Asia.
Fabio was previously at Citigroup where he had an extensive career spanning more than three decades including experience with consumer and private wealth, as well as retail markets. He has also lived and worked in Tokyo, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur during this time. He most recently served as Global Business Execution Head – Citi Private Bank. Throughout his career he has managed global, regional, and local businesses in Asia, Latin America, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East with various mandates including Head of Retail Banking for Citi across APAC (Asia Pacific) and EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa).
“I’m delighted to be joining Manulife WAM at a significant inflection point in their business. I have been privileged to see the expansion and growth in Asia throughout my career and admire the progress and the commitment Manulife WAM has made to serve its clients in the region,” said Fabio. “I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and expertise to this role and help to meet the goals of our institutional, retail and retirement clients.”
Manulife WAM believes its business will see additional organic growth opportunities as a result of prevalent global megatrends including the retirement savings gap, increased longevity and the need for individuals to prepare for potentially spending additional years – or even decades – in retirement compared to previous generations, and the anticipated demand from both the middle class and high net-worth populations who are seeking additional solutions to save and invest and new strategies to diversify their portfolios.
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PhilCare members can now access Healthway’s full-service offerings
This development comes on the heels of a recent partnership that allows PhilCare members to receive leading-edge, holistic, and affordable cancer treatment via the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH).

PhilCare, one of the country’s top HMO providers, has entered into a partnership with Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers (HMC), the clinic arm of Healthway Medical Network (HMN), to provide its members access to their full suite of services, from diagnostics to primary care.
This development comes on the heels of a recent partnership that allows PhilCare members to receive leading-edge, holistic, and affordable cancer treatment via the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH).
“We are excited to be joining forces with PhilCare as they are aligned with our entire care continuum model that starts from screening, diagnosis, and treatment, all the way to post-recovery. We’re happy that their members can now access our multi-specialty clinics and hospitals located all over the Philippines,” said Mr. Jaime Ysmael, Healthway Medical Network President and CEO.
“Our Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers are very eager to develop special programs and packages for PhilCare members, as well as to deliver high-quality care to them in the most efficient way possible. I am certain that the partnership will expand to other exciting mutually beneficial initiatives,” Mr. Ysmael continued.
According to PhilCare Executive Vice President for Operations Raymond Tiangco, the partnership is a testament to the alignment of the goals, mission, and vision of PhilCare and Healthway Medical Network, through its Multi-Speciatly Centers, to provide quality care to the Filipinos – and this sets his company apart from the rest of the market.
“Unlike other HMOs that are putting up their own clinics, PhilCare has a different plan,” he added. “We intend to partner with experts. And there is no more premium brand than Healthway when it comes to delivering healthcare services.”
Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers COO Edwin Magsino said that HMC is happy to become the go-to provider of PhilCare members for essential healthcare needs. He is confident that the partnership will satisfy the needs of many people—from their entry to the clinic all the way to their availment of HMC services.
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Watson boosts global expansion, unveils 16,800th store worldwide
This store was opened in Rotterdam, marking a remarkable milestone in AS Watson’s ongoing expansion and its commitment to delivering a seamless and exceptional O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.

As Watson, the parent company of Watsons Philippines, announced the grand opening of its 16,800th store worldwide, further consolidating its position as the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, with a portfolio of 12 brands operating across 29 markets. This store was opened in Rotterdam, marking a remarkable milestone in AS Watson’s ongoing expansion and its commitment to delivering a seamless and exceptional O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.
Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, expressed her excitement at the store opening ceremony, “The opening of our 16,800th store represents more than our growth as a company – it symbolises our commitment to serving the communities worldwide. With every store we open, we create jobs, foster customer relationships, and build lasting trust.”
“16,800 is a number with special meaning in Chinese culture. The number 6 symbolises ‘everything goes smoothly’ while 8 represents ‘good fortune’. We embrace the special meaning of this milestone and look forward to a future of lasting success and prosperity, not only for our business growth but also in extending these best wishes for a brighter future for the world during this festive Christmas season,” Malina added.
Commitment to Continuous Growth
Ed van de Weerd, CEO of AS Watson Benelux, remarked, “We’re honoured that AS Watson’s 16,800th store worldwide opens in vibrant Rotterdam, demonstrating AS Watson’s steadfast commitment to growth in the Benelux region and globally. As the No. 1 health and beauty retailer in the Netherlands, Kruidvat serves its customers with nearly 1,000 O+O stores and over 24,000 passionate colleagues and has become an integral part of many Dutch people’s lives.”
The brand-new store will serve over 11,000 customers every week. As one of the largest Kruidvat stores, it spans over 770 square meters and is designed to enhance O+O shopping experience with clear in-store navigation. The store offers an extensive assortment of over 36,000 products, making it the largest selection among all Kruidvat stores.
Watsons Philippines operates in over 1,100 stores nationwide, reflecting its commitment to bringing health, wellness, and beauty closer to every Filipino. Enhancing this experience is the Watsons app, which provides customers access to exclusive deals, personalized recommendations, and convenient services such as Click & Collect and home delivery.
Looking ahead, AS Watson remains committed to innovation and excellence in customer experience, and will continue its growth journey with the purpose of putting a smile on the customers’ faces today and tomorrow.
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