Ros revealed that before the pandemic they had luckily invested in a coffee roaster, which allowed them to roast coffee beans in-house and deliver to people who were learning more about local coffee and the process of brewing at home.“It was really about rolling with the punches and trying to see how we can serve our market better given all the changes happening around us,” she added.

See also: Tatler's Guide to The Best Local Coffee To Order In Metro Manila

Designer-entrepreneur Marga Nograles, founder of Kaayo Modern Mindanao and managing director of MT Martish Corporation which distributes Brazilian flip-flop brand Havaianas in Southeast Mindanao, also weighed in on the importance of knowing your market to better serve them: “We were quick to set up a website [for Havaianas], but that didn’t work in Mindanao. What worked better for us was our reseller program that we set up. We found different partners all over Mindanao to help us bring our slippers to more people.”

This essence of community extends to the success of the curated and distinctly Mindanao-made clothing brand Kaayo, as more people are now looking to buy with a purpose and support local. “We thrive because, to this day, we are still able to give good sustainable livelihood to our Mindanao indigenous tribes and women’s groups,” Marga shared.

See also: Kaayo's Founder Marga Nograles Shares About Promoting Mindanao's Weaving Traditions

Investing in local also proves to be the ethos of Filipino-focused venture capital Foxmont Capital Partners. “We invest across a variety of industries to empower Filipino entrepreneurs,” Managing Partner Franco Varona said. “It really starts with an investment thesis: what do you want to invest in? What is your core belief? And for us, it’s really the digitalisation of the Philippines and how to access different communities in very creative ways.”

With the digital sphere rapidly expanding and with countless new opportunities arising in tech and finance, the next question is: how can we be smart about investing? And likewise, how can we ensure to be financially secure during these unpredictable and unprecedented times?

See also: GCash Fintech 'Mynt' is Philippines' Only Unicorn, Now Valued at Over USD 2B

Results of a recent Cocolife Cares survey on concerns brought about by the ongoing health and economic crisis revealed that a single event can bring many Filipinos from financial freedom to financial destitution. “To address the protection gap, Cocolife’s ongoing financial literacy programs stress the importance of every life, of every dream, and every tailored policy that will help achieve financial security,” relayed Cocolife Senior VP Trinna Bernardino. She went on to say: “As an insurance provider, we do not trivialise to our customers the importance of money. Money is important, but we are not chasing money, we are chasing financial freedom.”

Investing in an insurance plan is one of the most assured ways you can secure your financial resources and provide financial protection for your loved ones. “Insurance is the deciding factor between sickness and health, or [between experiencing] poverty or experiencing financial freedom. Insurance is a necessity. It’s always a smart move to allocate a portion of our income to insurance,” Trinna shared.

On top of their financial literacy programs, Cocolife continues to develop solutions that are responsive to the needs of the Filipino people. Their latest product, the Cocolife LifeVest, combines insurance benefits with a potential earning investment fund—a testament to the brand’s commitment to improving the lives of Filipinos by making it easier to achieve financial freedom while growing their money as well.

See also: Financial Tips: How To Bounce Back From The Pandemic Economic Crisis

While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to investing, Trinna did lay out three important principles at the end of this Tatler Talks episode: One, invest in yourself and what you know. Two, invest in something that’s set to grow exponentially, like the digital space. And lastly, invest in something like insurance, as it will give you protection for the long run and not just today.

So take the necessary steps to secure your financial future from here on out. It’s never too early nor too late to start.

Rewatch the entire Tatler Talks here:

To know more about Cocolife and how you can secure your financial future, check out their website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also contact their Customer Care line at +6328 810 7888 or email them at customer_service@cocolife.com.

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