Charo Santos-Concio Finds a Partner in Health

Charo Santos-Concio

"The whole idea that someone you dearly love is not well at the time of COVID-19 is really scary." --Ms. Charo Santos-Concio

This was what Charo Santos-Concio had to say about her pandemic experience thus far. In the past year, she underwent one of the most trying challenges in her life because her husband, Cesar Rafael Concio, Jr. needed constant medical attention due to an existing health concern.

“I went through a roller coaster ride because my husband’s condition required us to make frequent hospital visits,” she recalls. “You really feel the anxiety, the worry, and the fear that you might get infected. However, it also strengthened my resolve to face these fears because my husband needs me.”

Charo further shared that, despite the stresses, it was important to accept the circumstances, remain calm, and keep up with the flow. “Life goes on. We must all learn to adjust to the new normal. We cannot be paralyzed by our fears,” she says. “Kailangan nating harapin ‘yan. Tingnan natin nang mata samata. Hindi tayo puwedeng magpatalo.”

The experience also highlighted the importance of securing her and her family’s health. “We must never take health for granted,” Charo reiterates. “We must all live an active life and take very good care of ourselves. It is equally important to look after our mental well-being as part of living healthier.”

And there’s also the importance of protecting one’s finances. Charo recognizes the importance of having a health protection plan to be financially secure should an illness strike. “Importante sa akin ang sense of security. Importante sa akin that whatever happens to me, I will not be a burden to my loved ones,” she says.

This was a lesson learned after the demise of her father, where the proceeds from his insurance policy allowed the family to financially cope after his passing. This experience taught her to be pragmatic and to embrace the value of security and peace of mind that an insurance policy brings to the family.

“Ayaw mong iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay with uncertainty about their future,” Charo shares. “As we work hard for ourselves and our loved ones, we should also put our money to good use by investing it in insurance, health protection, and mutual funds.”

Today, Charo looks forward to living a full life with her loved ones. And while she has retired, she continues to take on interesting projects every now and then. With Sun Life as her partner in health, she is assured that no matter what happens, she and her loved ones are financially protected from life’s unexpected twists and turns. “Having a partner in health can indeed help you lead a brighter life,” she 
muses.

Just like Charo, you too can secure your future and be financially protected should an illness strike. Know more about Sun Life’s Partner in Health campaign by visiting https://sunlife.co/SLPIH.

Finally: Life Insurance for Senior Citizens and the Elderly

I once read somewhere: “If the weather forecast says there is a 50 percent chance of rain, would you bring an umbrella? What if I told you there is a 100 percent chance you will die; how much life insurance would you get?”

For most Filipinos, they think getting an insurance sucks because they feel like it’s a bummer to their planned budget travels or because it sounds oh-so repetitively advertised by almost everyone, that even their distant weird relative tries to get in touch with you after a long time. Insurance may feel like a scam that agents out there seem out to rob you of your money. Insurance sucks because it sounds so morbid and it doesn’t even add up to your bucket list of skydiving or seeing the northern lights. Insurance sucks because we all hate 

being sold to and you don’t want to give your hard-earned money to those annoying people who keep telling you to save. 

For the millennials, insurance sucks because you are forced to become an adult when you’re still quite unsure if you’re way past your puberty. Insurance sucks because suddenly you need to think about others when you just want to think about yourself. Insurance sucks because despite that you hate it, you know you need it. Insurance sucks because if ever you don’t start today and something does really happen, you wish you’ve started earlier. So look no further, find that annoying financial adviser who can guide you in insurance. Trust me, it’s a necessary pain in the ass. But we all need them. 

Senior citizens had something to be happy about! Finally, a health and insurance coverage for seniors (age 50 and up) with SUN SENIOR CARE!

Senior citizens had something to be happy about

How an Accident Made Me Change the Way I look at Insurance

This is how our ATV went turtle on the rough roads of Sandbox in Pampanga

My mom and I almost died when we met a vehicular accident in an adventure theme park in Porac, Pampanga back in 2014. That’s the ordeal I had to go through in order for me to learn the value of being insured. I wouldn’t want anyone to experience such in order for you to learn the value of having an insurance that’s why I’m sharing this story. I realized insurance was something I should’ve done long before I needed it. 

There is no way to really describe accidents accurately. I don’t remember anything at all; I don’t remember the ATV taking a sharp turn to the right either.  I just remember the sound of crashing ATV against my back, and then silence. My lumbar was hit by the ATV itself, I was frozen for only a moment, screamed at the top of my lungs asking nearby people for help, as I thought about my mom who was later found a few meters from where I was, unconscious with a fractured femur. 

Mom and me before the accident

Those who rescued us asked if I was okay and I got up after the ATV was removed off my back, my lumbar felt some tremendous pain but I ignored it. “I’m fine, is my Mom okay?”

My arm was filled with scars, burns and bruises right after the accident.

My mom was badly hurt. “At least she was alive. That is what’s important,” I said to myself.

My mom suffered a fractured femur and had to undergo operation/surgery for partial hip prosthesis

Money Lessons I learned as an Adult

Navigating the world of personal finance can be overwhelming, even for an adult who has quite a bit of experience in the working world. With some smart planning, a good strategy and understanding of the basics you should be able to develop the money-management skills you need to get your finances under control. Handling money is a lot different when you were twenty and single, and when you’ve suddenly become a mom (because I was given the challenge of responsibility in raising my nephew at an early age). Here are a few things I learned about money that I believe are valuable, as well as some fundamental truths of personal finance that everyone should be aware of.

Saving a portion of your paycheck each month will have a big payoff in the future. 

Having your own savings will make you feel more secure, knowing that you have a fund that will tide you over in cases of emergency. Ëver since I was kid, I was always taught by my parents to save portion of everything, however small amount. When I started working, I became more frugal with my spending and opted to save most of my salary (they say ideally, it should be at least 80 percent) for those “rainy days.” If you can’t save that much, at least set aside around twenty percent, and make sure to transfer it into separate bank accounts to prevent yourself from accidentally spending your savings. 

 It’s perfectly okay to want to nice things so long as you can afford it.

As you move up the corporate ladder, your salary also increases. So there’s nothing wrong if you want to dine out, do a little shopping or reward yourself for a job well done. Ï give in to my indulgences on an as-needed basis. I enjoy a few quality and luxury experiences and items once in a while, but nothing too decadent, too often. When you become a mom, these rewards also change in kind, like get-togethers and trips with the family or a date night with hubby (if you're already married). 

Investing early is more advantageous because you have more control over your cash flow. 

If you start investing in your twenties, your cash will grow through the power of compounding, and the earlier you start, the more years you’ll have to generate earnings. Make your money work for you as soon as you can and as often as you can because you’ll enjoy the much needed dividend payoffs when you become a mom, when your time is limited and when your appetite for risk is far less.

Sun Life Shares Heartwarming Stories through Sun Shorts 2

There’s nothing more touching than sharing significant human experience. These are stories about one’s triumphs, the journey to success, stories about love, family and friends as well as life’s lessons. We always get inspiration and be able to learn a thing or two in every story that we relate, hear or share. Sun Life recognizes this and they’re recently able to come up with Sun Shorts.

Sun Shorts are Sun Life’s collection of short films that depicts love, hope and commitment inspired by stories of Sun Life’s very own clients. The campaign was launched back in as early as 2012 and it created astounding positive feedback among consumers as it sends touching messages which had inspired everyone who’s seen them. Sun Life Inc. decided to come up with another series this year.