Just Passing Thru: Cebuana Lhuillier

Cebuana Lhuillier Thank You For 30 Concert Series

4:23 AM

Cebuana Lhuillier , one of the country's strongest financial services company, is holding a three-part concert series to mark its 30 years in the business. The Pasasalamat Concert Series dubbed as "Thank You for 30" celebrates Cebuana Lhuillier's 30 years of providing micro-financial products and services to millions of Filipinos nationwide and abroad. The company gives back to its customers for their continued patronage via three entertainment extravaganzas in three different dates and locations.

The first part of the Cebuana Lhuillier Thank You for 30 Concert Series was held on September 1, 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The second and third part will be held on September 22 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu and October 22 at the University of the South Eastern Philippines in Davao, respectively. As a treat to loyal customers, free tickets were made available to all patrons through pawning and domestic remittance transactions. This opportunity was also made possible through other specialized offerings including the 24K Card, Happy and Gadget Loans and ACP Gold Certificates.

Cebuana Lhuillier Thank You For 30

Loyal customers of Cebuana Lhuillier got the chance to win cash prizes by joining the games.

Entertainment was provided by up and coming stars..

...as well as established names in the industry like Rey Valera, Erik Santos, and Nadine Lustre with James Reid.

Of course, Cebuana Lhuillier ambassadors, Sarah Geronimo and Alden Richards also graced the night not only to entertain the audience...

...but also to share how Cebuana Lhuillier became part of their lives even before they became famous.

The family of the founder Henry Leon Lhuillier, composed of Ambassador Phillipe J. Lhuillier and other family members took to the stage to thank the company employees, its patrons, and the public for patronizing Cebuana Lhuillier throughout the years.

My Say

It feels good to see family businesses like Cebuana Lhuillier going stronger. This is especially so when they they share the benefits of doing business to its employees and customers. This is on top of financial solutions that offer timely assistance for personal and small business use.

That said, here's to 30 more years for Cebuana Lhuillier, in its goal of helping uplift the lives of Filipino families by providing products and services that assist customers in their journey towards financial stability.

Cebuana Lhuillier

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches National Pilipino Protektado Day

11:50 PM

Cebuana Lhuillier has declared July 21st as National Pilipino Protektado Day. This declaration was done in the formal unveiling of the project on June 1 at the Fairmont Hotel. The company will be giving away free microinsurance covers to one million Filipinos within the days leading up to July 21.

Mission for Financial Inclusion

Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier stated that this project is in line with the company's mission for financial inclusion. It is their aim to make microinsurance part of every Filipino's disaster preparation efforts especially since the Philippines is struck by multiple disasters every year. It is a known fact how disasters wreck havoc not only to affected communities but the country as a whole. It is important therefore that everyone is protected. This does not only mean having emergency kits but having insurance that would help disaster victims recover faster from their loss.

Value of Government Agencies and Volunteer Groups

Lhuillier acknowledged the value of relief operations conducted by government agencies and volunteer groups including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Red Cross, Oxfam International, Global Peace Foundation, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, and Boy Scouts of the Philippines. The first batch of microinsurance covers will be given to the constituents of these organizations. During the launch, these organizations were also awarded with emergency relief kits, life vests and lifebuoys to be used for rescue and relief endeavors. The rest of the microinsurance covers are to be given to various individuals, groups, and communities across the country.

Other Groundbreaking Initiatives

Cebuana Lhuillier's other groundbreaking initiatives were also announced during the event. These include the Cebuana Alerto, an android app that harnesses the digital mobile platform to provide vital information in disaster preparedness. Another is OurHelp, a website dedicated to donating microinsurance. Last but not the least is the institutionalization of Microinsurance Agents Association of the Philippines, Inc, (MIAAPI), an organization founded to promote the interests and welfare of microinsurance agents nationwide.

National Pilipino Protektado Day

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS) General Manager Jonathan Batangan reaffirmed the company's commitment to disaster resilience. He enjoined every Filipino to be part of the cause. In the face of the "New Normal" where disasters are everyday realities and possibilities, microinsurance can mitigate the impact. He proudly stated that Cebuana Lhuiller has covered more than 6 million Filipinos to date through microinsurance. This is something they would like to pursue more through the National Pilipino Protektado Day.

My Say

Disaster Preparedness should be everybody's business, seeing just how impacting the recent disasters that befell our country. While it is especially so for the low income sector, we have seen how devastating it could be even for those who are seemingly prepared.

That said, microinsurance is one of the real ways to counter vulnerability when disaster strikes.

Cebuana Lhuillier

Why Building Disaster Resilient Communities is Everybody's Business

2:44 AM

In our world where extremes in social and economic standing exist, disasters can be the undesirable equalizer. No one is absolutely safe from its effects, not even the rich and the mighty. Disasters can snatch lives, destroy properties, and create complete chaos in the wink of an eye. This explains why building disaster-resilient communities is everybody's business.

The Chilling Statistics

Being located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is prone to volcanic eruption, earthquake, and thunderstorm. It comes 2nd in the list of most disaster-prone countries in the world. An average of 20 typhoons visit the country every year. Millions of houses are damaged, several million lives affected with disasters striking even before we are able to recover from the previous ones.

There is nothing man can do that will effectively stop natural disasters from happening. This is simply beyond our control. What we can control however is the number of casualties and the amount of damage that will result when they do come. This is by helping build disaster resilient communities which will not only prepare for the worst but are likewise ready to rise even when considerably hit. This can only be possible if everyone understands that each has a role to play in achieving this goal.

2016 Disaster Resiliency Forum

Cebuana Lhuillier Microinsurance is advocating for disaster resilience as it commits to support initiatives to build disaster resilient communities. It believes that everyone must be empowered to prepare themselves against crises of this nature. The holding of the 2016 Ready: Disaster Resiliency Forum - The Role of Microinsurance in Building Disaster-Resilient Communities last January 27 is one concrete step towards this goal.

Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier

The forum sought to bring together all stakeholders. It is no secret that it would need the collaboration and support from all relevant institutions including the government, private corporations, NGOs, and the citizens themselves to start the ball rolling. Keynote speakers during the event came from various entities namely the Insurance Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, ASEAN Insurance Council, Project NOAH, and Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS) serves as the insurance arm of Cebuana Lhuillier. It is primarily promoting Microinsurance as a tool to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. One very good example of this is a story of Yolanda survivors who were able to bounce back faster after the disaster because the father who died during the onslaught of the typhoon was able to buy an Alagang Cebuana Plus microinsurance policy months before the tragedy struck. To date, more than 6 Million Filipinos are insured through the company's various insurance products.

Consumers can also consider Alagang Cebuana Plus-Gold, Builderscare, EmployeeCare, HomeCare, LessorCare, MotorCare, Autocare, SecurityCare, StudentCare, TanodCare, and TodaCare.

My Say

Disasters are constant threats to us Filipinos and we are left with no choice but to live with that reality. However, accepting this truth should not mean complacency as there is something that can be done to lessen their impact.

That said, let us make it our business to make our country more disaster-resilient by ensuring the same for our own communities. If we will all do our part, then there is really nothing impossible.

Cebuana Lhuillier

Cebuana Lhuillier: Enabling Access to Financial Solutions

4:52 AM

To this day I clearly remember the significance of the ring on my father's finger. When he was wearing it, that meant we were doing okay financially. And when not, that meant we were going through some rough times. In time, I learned that he would pawn the ring to tide us over through the tough times and that made me wonder.

He treasured that ring very much so I asked him how he could bear the possibility of losing it if he will be unable to redeem it at the appointed time. He said that what is important is that he was able to get the solution when he needed it. It took having a family and some financially challenging times of my own to fully understood just what he meant.

History of the Pawnshop Industry

The earliest pawnshops were said to have been established more than 3,000 years ago in Ancient China. In fact, it is considered the oldest form of credit which allowed a person to borrow money by leaving a specific item as security. It was used by both the wealthy and the underprivileged albeit in different proportions and circumstances but always for the same reason which is to get hold of cash when needed.

Pawnshops did not exactly enjoy a good reputation then. The industry was unregulated which allowed interest rates to skyrocket. Today, some pawnshops exist like extensions of the formal banking system, offering services that are not merely limited to pawning, thereby giving a new face to the pawning industry. The perfect example is Cebuana Lhuillier.

Cebuana Lhuillier

A young Frenchman named Henry Leon Lhuillier established the first Agencia Cebuana in Cebu in 1953. It adopted its present name in 1987 and continued to grow in number in its number of branches and services offered. A peek into the company timeline should give us an idea of how determined Cebuana Lhuillier is, in establishing itself as a reputable financial services entity.

The company opened Cebuana Lhuillier Services Corporation in 1996 to offer money remittance and auxiliary financial services. Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank, its banking arm, was established in 1998. The following year saw the establishment of the Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions as the insurance arm. It did not take long for the Bills Payment Service to follow. A number of innovations in the pawning service were likewise introduced.

One-Stop Website

In its desire to respond to the changing times, Cebuana Lhuillier decided to consolidate all the company information in one website. The one-stop website offers 24/7 access to everything Cebuana Lhuillier. This includes access to information about remittance, insurance, and of course, pawnshop needs.

The website boasts of several special features that is guaranteed to provide visitors a positive experience. Its Knowledge-Based format allows visitors to look for their desired articles with ease. The Branch Locator not only provides the location of Cebuana Lhuillier branches but also indicates the nearest one. Customers can get an idea of how much they can get from their intended pawn items even before they visit a branch through the Appraisal Calculator.

The new website has likewise been Mobile Optimized. To assist customers faster, the Shortcut Menu containing its main sections appear, resulting to getting the information in a shorter amount if time. The Cebuana Lhuillier App Center provides the links to its online applications including:

Cebuana Lhuillier App

MicroPINOY

Cebuana Maze

Upcoming features include Live Chat, Online Transactions, and Loans Section.

My Say

Judging from how Cebuana Lhuillier conducts its business at present, it is clear that it has come a long away from offering just pawning services. This is in keeping with its thrust to become one of the country's strongest financial services companies. With the launching of its new site expected to widen its reach in the market, this is certainly not a far-fetched idea.

That said, we all want solutions when we encounter challenges. Like my father who chose to use the solution offered rather than be a burden to his friends and relatives by borrowing money, it makes sense to consider how the financial services being offered can be of use to us in our quest for a better life for ourselves and our family. Pawning is not an act of desperation specifically when not done to support a vice. It is a dignified means to get financial solutions while we work on our goals. No one wants to go through rough times...no one, but if we do, then now we know we have this option.