Cebuanegosyo: Fostering Entrepreneurial Spirit Within - Cebuana Lhuillier’s Innovative Approach

According to a recent study, about 78% of the population or four out of five Filipinos dream of having their own businesses. While most of these are part of the workforce in the country, some people find it hard to juggle the weight of starting a business while working a full-time job. However, such is not the case for Cebuana Lhuillier employees, who are widely encouraged to pursue their passions and aspirations while doing what they can for the company. 

Whereas other companies may see entrepreneurship as a hindrance to the best performance of their employees, Cebuana Lhuillier goes the opposite way. As the company treats its employees as its strongest asset, it cultivates a more engaged workforce by empowering its employees to think and act like entrepreneurs. By actively supporting and nurturing employees, aspiring business owners in the organization continuously feel supported. 

Rather than confining employees to predefined roles, Cebuana Lhuillier has launched the Cebuanegosyo program which empowers its employees. Through this, Cebuana Lhuillier employees are given a chance to explore their passions and turn their ideas into reality.

Under Cebuanegosyo, employees can apply for a Microbiz Loan without any interest. This is a special loan assistance program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs get enough funding to start their businesses. This makes it easier for them to kickstart their businesses, whether it be for getting initial supplies or processing necessary permits. 

But more than the loans that are mainly directed towards microbusinesses, the Cebuanegosyo program for Cebuana Lhuillier employees also comes with coaching sessions that will help them become better entrepreneurs. Aside from that, employees who join the program are also given exclusive use of Cebuana Lhuillier’s social media platform. 

Since the program was implemented, Cebuana Lhuillier has been able to inspire a lot of its employees into venturing into their desired industries. Over the years, the Cebuanegosyo program has helped employees open local sari-sari stores, restaurants, salons, and other businesses that align with their personal interests. 

“Implementing programs like Cebuanegosyo allows us to serve as our employees’ steppingstone towards the fulfillment of their dreams. As we remain dedicated to help Filipinos towards financial inclusion, we feel that it is our utmost duty to start from within our organization and open the best opportunities for our employees so they can feel motivated to work,” says Jo-Ann Tacorda, Chief Administrative Officer of the Corporate Services Group. 

“Here at Cebuana Lhuillier, we care about the welfare of our employees and what makes them happy. It fills us with immense pride and joy when we witness how we improve the lives of our employees by encouraging them to live their dreams rather than confining them within our offices. By doing so, we believe that our support for their businesses becomes a vital force that pushes them to strive better for their families,” says Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO. 

Given the success of the program and the positive impact it has left on Cebuana Lhuillier’s employees, the program becomes a continuous effort for the company to motivate their people to reach for their aspirations in life.

 

Cebuana Lhuillier continues its foray into innovation and fintech as it announces its recent integration into the Stellar blockchain network

                

Leading microfinance services provider Cebuana Lhuillier continues its foray into innovation and fintech as it announces its recent integration into the Stellar blockchain network. This partnership reinforces its venture into block-chain based payment services.

 

The partnership with the Stellar network allows customers to receive cross-border remittance payments almost instantly and more conveniently at more than 3,000 Cebuana Lhuillier branches across the Philippines. 

 

This new setup is a blockchain-powered alternative to traditional remittance flows, which typically come with long waits for users, and heavy capital requirements that limit scale and liquidity for Money Transfer Operators (MTOs). The alternative significantly alleviates the challenges faced by MTOs by allowing them to settle payments immediately instead of after days via traditional fiat rails.

 

This is encouraging news for the millions of Filipinos working overseas who rely on remittance companies like Cebuana Lhuillier to send support to their families in the Philippines. Currently, the Philippines remains one of the top five recipient countries for money remittances, with millions of Overseas Filipino Workers spread out across the globe, forming a key part of a $31 billion-dollar industry.

 

“Cebuana Lhuillier has always stood by its mission of providing financial inclusion to Filipinos, and that includes the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers, considered modern-day heroes, who toil away overseas in order to provide a better future for their families. Our integration with the Stellar network is part of Cebuana Lhuillier’s constant innovation of its tried-and-tested financial services, all for the purpose of making it easier, more convenient, and more cost-effective for recipients in the Philippines to instantly receive their remittances from abroad,” shared Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO.

 

The Stellar network is a decentralized, fast, scalable, and uniquely sustainable network for financial products and services. This integration with Stellar is part of Cebuana Lhuillier’s move towards further exploration of fintech in order to increase the efficiency and convenience of its services.

 

“As Cebuana Lhuillier joins the Stellar ecosystem, a powerful route for affordable and instant

remittances emerge in the Philippines,” said Denelle Dixon, CEO and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation. “Together, we are improving the global financial system by bringing more equitable access to critical markets. Stellar is the network built for payments around the world and this is a step in fulfilling our mission.”

 

“This integration with Stellar is just one of the many initiatives of Cebuana Lhuillier. We are setting our sights on ensuring a seamless transfer between the offline and online channels for the business and putting systems in place that focus on convenience, accessibility, and efficiency. Our goal is to ensure that every Ka-Cebuana will be able to seamlessly send and receive money via Cebuana Lhuillier, anytime, anywhere, everywhere—whether via physical transactions or through their mobile phones,” added Erl Sumanga, General Manager and Head for Cebuana Lhuillier’s Money Transfers Business.

 

Cebuana Lhuillier extends heartfelt thanks to loyal clients for decades of trust, loyalty

For many of Cebuana Lhuillier pawning clients, their jewelries are more than valued accessories. To many, these items were heirloom pieces, fruits of their hard work, or precious investments. During times of need, they also represent a quick solution, an opportunity for a better life, or a fresh restart.

 

For more than 35 years, Cebuana Lhuillier has known these stories from its clients as they go through its doors during theirtimes of need. More than its high appraisal rates, they comfort their clients by the assistance of well-trained branch personnel and the assurance that their precious pieces are safely and securely taken cared of. This eases the burden of parting with the jewelry for the clients, until the time that they come back to claim their pawned items. 

 

Aware that the value of the items in their care goes beyond their weight in gold, Cebuana Lhuillier thought of a way to further give meaning to the Holiday Season for some of its most loyal clients. 

 

Salamat, Ka-Cebuana 

As part of its CSR initiatives, the company has made it its annual tradition to give back to those in need during the Holidays. Usually, these gift-giving activities were held every 6thof December in celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of pawnbrokers and the inspiration behind the legend of Santa Claus. 

 

This year, Cebuana Lhuillier chose the best recipients—its valued clients, many of whom has stayed with the company for years, entrusting some of their most precious items in their times of need. The event, dubbed “Pasasalamat,” gathered more than 200 clients across eight regional locations nationwide in a simultaneous celebration of thanks and love from Cebuana Lhuillier. The gathering proved to be more than a celebration as attendees were feted to a day of fun and prizes, but the end of the program proved to be the most poignant of all when Cebuana Lhuillier, through its operations team, returned all the pawned items of its attendees as a special surprise. 

 

Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO, shared, “Pasasalamat2022 is our way of giving thanks to our clients for the trust and partnership we have established in the last 35 years. We’ve known their stories—and were blessed to be with them as they chased their dreams and provided better lives for their loved ones. With “Pasasalamat,” we are returning this trust by gifting them with the items they pawned with us. We hope that through this small gesture, Cebuana Lhuillier is able to give further meaning to this season.” 

A Season of Joy, Hope, and Giving Thanks

For many of the attendees of the Pasasalamat celebration, the unexpected blessings were more than expressions of gratitude coming from a long-time ally—it brought hope and joy as precious pieces, family heirlooms, and cherished investments find its way back to them. 

For Grecilda Torres, a small business owner and client of Cebuana Lhuilier for 26 years, the unexpected return of her pawned items—all rings—brought to tears. “Nakaka-touch isipin na gumawa ng time si Cebuana Lhuillier na ipakita saamin na importante kami. I am very much grateful and thankful na—yung 26 years naming magkasama, it keeps going lang. My business and the business of Cebuana Lhuillier, magkasama pa din kami. Nagka-doctor na akong anak, pero still, nandito pa din ako with Cebuana. And for that, I am very thankful,” she shares. 

 

Meanwhile, Remigia Mejia, a 79-year-old cancer survivor and loyal client of Cebuana Lhuillier for 30 years, cannot believe that a pendant which her late husband gifted her before they were married has found its way back to her. She shares, “Hindi ko akalain na babalik yung mga alahas ko since pinag-iipunanko din na matubos sila. Karamihan sa kanila, matatagal na saakin, including yung pendant na bigay ng asawa ko and yungsingsing ng anak ko which I gave her nung nag-debut siya. As much as possible, ayaw ko silang maremata kasi they are very valuable and sentimental pieces para sa akin. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa Cebuana Lhuillier for this event and for the many years na hindi nya din ako pinabayaan. Nagtra-trabaho pa lang ako, kasama ko na ang Cebuana Lhuillier and even till now, kami pa din ang magkasama.” 

 

For Ana Marie Mendoza Rapido, a teacher from Cavite and a Ka-Cebuana since 2012, Cebuana Lhuillier has been a trusted ally during times of emergencies. Through their jewelries, Ana Marie and her siblings were able to sustain the hospitalization and medication of their mother who have been in-and-out of hospitals in the last ten years. “Ang Cebuana po, trusted nanamin at lagi naming taga-sagip sa oras ng kagipitan, lalo nanung panahon ng pandemic,” shared Ana Marie who was in tears when she opened the box and saw her pawned item inside.

 

Grecilda, Remigia, and Ana Marie were just three of the many loyal clients whose continued trust and loyalty to Cebuana Lhuillier proved to be instrumental in the company’s continued reign as the country’s number one pawnshop. With Pasasalamat, the decades-old financial institution was able to express and extend its thanks for the many whose continued patronage remains the reason for its longevity and its continuous desire to serve as an ally and a friend to millions of Filipinos and their journey towards a better future.

 

Are you a saver or a spender?

According to an article, it is projected that there will only be 17 billionaires in the Philippines by 2024 and around 19,000 millionaires, but they are not millionaires in Philippine pesos, but in US dollars. So while only a handful can eventually become “milyonaros” in their lifetime, we can still work our way toward achieving that dream by starting out as “iponaryos”.

Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I a saver or a spender? Now if you don’t have your passbook or access to your bank statement all you need to do is look around your room and check out all the stuff you have.

@lola_lamon @cebuanalhuillier The good thing about being an iponaryo is that you don’t actually have to start big. You can start with even just P150 and open your own Cebuana Lhiulier Micro Savings Account #WorldSavingsDay2022 #RestartyourSavings ♬ original sound - Lou Sv

To start your saving journey you can do a savings tracker like this one. Get a new notebook, some pens and stickers and do your graph, from personal savings to emergency funds. . Whatever you want to do with it.  This Savings tracker can be a component to sticking with your goal. 

Do you spend more on your needs or your wants?

While it’s not bad to give in and treat yourself once in a while, especially if it serves to motivate you even more to work harder. What is important is that you need to be cautious about your spending. If you are actually spending more than you are actually saving, maybe those personal rewards have become unnecessary indulges, which in the end could actually be preventing you from achieving your financial goals.

 

The good thing about being an iponaryo is that you don’t actually have to start big. You can start with even just P50 and open your own Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings Account.

Just go to any of Cebuana Lhuillier's over 3,000 branches nationwide and fill-out the Client Customer Information File Sheet and bring 1 valid government-issued ID.

Estudyante? No worries. Student ID is applicable basta currently enrolled.

Enrolling for your minor kid/s? Just bring a copy of birth certificate ng inyong anak.

Open a Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings Account now!

For more information visit https://www.cebuanalhuillier.com/help/micro-savings 

 

Investing in Jewelry? Here’s why it makes sense and where you can start buying for less!

Investment you can wear? Go for Gold!

All my friends know how much I love bags. Although I started just a couple of years ago because of the pandemic, my modest collection has been my stress reliever as well as my source of pride—especially when I find out that their value has risen in just a few months.

It’s the same reason why I’ve become more interested in jewelry recently. I remember my nanay telling me that it’s the only purchase that wasn’t just “gastos lang” because the value of jewelry often appreciates. Now it’s my daughter and daughter-in-law who have been teaching and influencing me with my initial purchases.

Precious stones, gemstones, and jewelry have always been connected to human culture since time immemorial. Throughout the course of history, jewelry has been offered as a trophy, an amulet, and sometimes, even art because of how meticulously it has been crafted. It perfectly symbolizes love, a celebration of milestones, and of course, the ultimate representation of wealth giving these beautiful adornments real meaning and value.

The line between jewelry and money has always been intertwined with each other and to this day, jewelry continues to be used as currency, inheritance, and investment.

Interestingly enough, while the value of the world’s currencies has severely been affected by the global pandemic, gold, diamonds, and other precious metals and stones remained stable and the value of jewelry has held strong.

As its market value continues to grow in every year, the idea of investing in jewelry is making more sense because it is less risky than stocks and way less dangerous than crypto.

Unlike the investment of a car or a house, with jewelry, you are more than likely to get your money back (sometimes even more than your invested value) when you sell it. And unlike your shares of stock, you can wear and enjoy your jewelry--- while it grows in value.

Now before you start calling your “alahera” or rush of to the mall and hoard that jewelry on display, there are a few things you need to consider as you’d want to avoid paying for expensive jewelry only to  find out that it is either fake or not worth the value you’ve paid for it.

If you are decided that investing in good quality jewelry is a good idea, then it is time to learn some valuable tips when it comes to buying jewelry. These tips will guide you to guarantee that you are buying the right pieces of jewelry, from the right shops.

1. Always go to a reputable jeweler: Because of its popularity, a lot of people are now going into the jewelry business. While that may be easier and more convenient for you since they could go to your house, it also makes buying a bit more tricky—and risky. 

You’ll need a license and specific business permits to be able to sell high-value jewelry and only certified jewelers have the right to sell such valuable pieces of items. So going to reputable jewelry shops makes more sense and safer than getting it from someone you barely know or just found online. Avoid buying jewelry from just a regular-looking shop, or even from a vintage store, as there’s no guarantee that the jewelry you are looking at, is both authentic and are legally sold. This is of course with the exception of pawnshops.  

2. It's good to compare: Sometimes you find yourself completely smitten by a piece of jewelry, but before handing off your cash or credit card you might want to do a quick online check to see if the value of that piece of jewelry reflects similarly to that of similar designs from other jewelers. This will guarantee that you are not overpaying for an item.

3. Inspect the jewelry: Like the jewelry and convinced that you are getting a good deal? Now its time to inspect the quality and condition of a piece of jewelry. Look for scratches, discolorations, and even loose stones. With the high amount of money you’ll be paying, you should also have high standards for the quality you are receiving. Remember that having that loose stone secured, or getting scratches removed will cost you as well so make sure that you are getting the item at its utmost best quality. You should also check for the designer marks to make sure it's legit.

Buying from a pawnshop is a smarter choice: Many people immediately think of going to a jewelry store when looking for jewelry for themselves or a loved one. But visiting a pawn shop first is actually very smart if you are investing. If you are truly searching for a bargain over other jewelry shops you might want to go to a pawnshop like Cebuana Lhuillier instead. 

Pawnshops are more analytic when it comes to pricing their items. They can price their gold pieces according to the current price of gold in the market this means that their prices are even more realistic than what you can find on a jewelry retailer.

While jewelers price their items according to its make, design, or even designer name, pawnshops price theirs according to weight and karat. So it’s not just aesthetics, but more about the real value of the item. This means that you would always get a fair price, or even lower if the item in question is affordable according to the market markdown.

Pawnshops usually disregard designer names and origins, in order to evaluate the jewelry fair and square, its contents, its weight, its make, the intricacies of its design, etc. Getting rid of the designer name makes it more practical to analyze the item since you wouldn’t want to raise its price just because the designer or brand name is famous. The reputation of the designer would definitely come last as it’s all about the actual quality of the jewelry.

CEBUANA LHUILLIER, THE INVESTMENT JEWELER’s SECRET SOURCE

With all the jewelry available, getting started might feel quite overwhelming. Well, it can be a lot less complicated if you head over to Cebuana Lhuillier’s online or even offline stores.

I actually went to Cebuana Lhuillier’s  branch at Circle C in Quezon City  to ask if they have upcoming sales or promotions and they actually have a PAYDAY sale happening until September 30 and you could get 10% off all items. What I do like about visiting their offline stores is that they have really helpful  staff who will gladly assist you with your purchase.

But if you want to have a more private browsing experience I would suggest you head over to either https://www.cebuanalhuillierjewelry.com/ or https://www.cebuanalhuillierjewelrypremium.com/  for premium jewelry, to check out all the jewelry (and other items) they have available.

From there you could choose the type of jewelry you are looking for, whether its Necklaces;  Anklets; Rings; Bracelets;  Jewelry Sets; earings, pendants, new arrivals, or Website Exclusives. You can even sort them according to price or set your preferred price range.

Cebuana Lhuillier even does jewelry selling via FB Live, Shopee and Lazada and besides offering great deals you could also get a lot of tips from their hosts.

Ready for your first purchase? 

Remember investing in good quality jewelry may just be one of the smartest investments you’ll make in your life.

There are so many advantages to buying real jewelry and contrary to what many believe, its not as expensive as you'd think, you just have to know the right place to buy it and there's no better time to start but now!

Happy Jewelry Hunting!

Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s micro financial services giant, was awarded four Quill Awards

Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s micro financial services giant, was awarded four Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) in the 19th Philippine Quill Awards.

 

The awards underscored the creative campaign and strategic communication initiatives that the company undertook over the past year.

 

The company’s financial literacy campaign “Iponaryo”, which responds to the call for financial inclusion to empower Filipinos with access to financial solutions, won the Excellence Award for Communication Management. 

 

The campaign was launched in partnership with Cebuana Lhuillier’s banking arm, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank (CL Bank), to promote the bank’s Micro Savings offering--its flagship product that aims to help millions of unbanked Filipinos gain access to a savings account by lessening the complicated requirements that common Filipinos experience when opening a bank account.

 

The company’s 2021 Mother’s Day video campaign “Dakilang Ina” also clinched the Excellence Award for Communication Skills and was nominated for the Top Award on the same category. 

 

Meanwhile, Cebuana Lhuillier’s internal COVID-19 response communications, “Ka-Cebuana COVID-19 Healthwatch”, earned a Merit Award for Communication Management for its effectivity in cascading COVID-19 information and the company’s pandemic-related responses to its 8,000+ internal stakeholders. 

 

The company’s annual internal publication, also “Benedizioni” won an Excellence Award for Communication Skills. The publication features the company’s wins and milestones in the past year and its employees’ initiatives in carrying out its commitment to financial inclusion.

 

“These recognitions from IABC attest to our goal of delivering excellent services, not only as a micro financial services player, but also in all the things we do as an organization. We are deeply humbled by these honor and this inspires us to do better and uphold our value of excellence”, Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

 

“More than our role as communicators in promoting our brand and its products, it is also our responsibility to keep our stakeholders engaged and well-informed. Telling their stories allow us to understand and respond to their needs as our clients. Getting these recognitions from IABC motivates us to work harder and impart and communicate the value and relevance of Cebuana Lhuillier as a micro financial services institution to every Filipino,” Cebuana Lhuillier Integrated Marketing and Communications Group Head, Michael Sena added.

 

Through IABC, the Philippine Quill is the only awards program that honors the dedication, innovation and passion of communicators using a global standard. Adding to Cebuana Lhuillier’s long list of accolades, these awards serve as a testimony to its excellent services and commitment of financial inclusion.

 

Cebuana Lhuillier, CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier receive Golden Bridge and Quill recognitions

The country’s leading micro financial services provider, Cebuana Lhuillier, along with its President & CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier continued their winning streak with newly-badged recognitions from the Golden Bridge Business and Innovations Awards and the Philippine Quill Awards. 

 

The company received 17 distinctions from Golden Bridge, including the Grand Globee Award which is bestowed to companies with the most number of wins for the year. Meanwhile, Jean Henri Lhuillier received four awards— including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Maverick of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Executive Achievement of the Year. All four titles are indicative of the high caliber leadership exemplified by Cebuana Lhuillier’s chief executive.

COMMITTED TO SERVICE EXCELLENCE. Cebuana Lhuillier and its President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier once again bagged multiple business awards from local and international award-giving bodies.

 

The company also made strides as it accounted majority of the awards, with 10 distinctions comprising Gold award for Comms Campaign of the year, Best Corporate Brochure, and Best Annual Report categories for its yearly publication, Benedizioni. Its Mother’s Day 2021 social media campaign, “Dakilang Ina”, also won the Gold across three categories. The company’s year-ender event, “Humans of Cebuana Lhuillier”, also received two more gold awards.

 

Additionally, Cebuana Lhuillier was awarded with four Quill awards this year in recognition of its various communications campaigns, covering various channels such as internal communications, digital, and public relations. 

Michael Sena, Integrated Marketing and Communications Group Head of Cebuana Lhuillier

 

 

 “These wins are proof of our continuous efforts to strive for excellence not only as the leading player in the micro financial services industry; but inherently, in all that we do as one organization. Guided by our corporate values, our commitment to excellence has allowed us to always push the boundaries on what we can accomplish—not only on the products and services we offer, but also on how we communicate and engage the public,” Lhuillier said.

 

Other big winners include the company’s internal COVID-19 response publication, Ka-Cebuana Healthwatch, “Tulong sa Pagbangon”, its very own CSR response during Typhoon Odette, as well as its pawning web platform, Cebuana-from-Home. 

 

Michael Sena, Cebuana Lhuillier’s Integrated Marketing and Communications Group Head, puts emphasis on the important role that communications play in engaging, empowering, and inspiring people. “As an organization, we believe in the power of strategic and impactful communications in order to reach our desired audience and inspire them into action. We aim to tell the stories of the people we serve, and use this as a driving force to fulfill Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment of pushing for financial inclusion.” 

Jean Henri Lhuillier was also recently named as “Master Innovator” during the recently-concluded 2^nd Mansmith Innovation Awards where he and the company were cited for the various tech-oriented breakthroughs of the company’s micro insurance products.