Global Company Opens Cebu Site

One of the world's top 20 general insurance and reinsurance companies, with operations in 38 countries across the globe, including both commercial operations and Group Shared Service Centres in the Philippines has formally opened in Cebu - QBE.

QBE opened its first Group Shared Service Centre in the Philippines in 2013 in the Bonifacio Global City site in Taguig, Manila. In mid-2014, operations began in its Cebu site at the Skyrise Alpha Building in Cebu Business Park. Operating in only one floor of the building, a pioneer class of employees started processing claims and providing global support in human resources, finance and operations.  Group Executive Officer for Operations Mike Emmett said, "After only two years since the opening of our first Group Shared Service Centre site, the Philippines has now become QBE's 4th largest location worldwide employing 2,200 people across two sites in Manila and now one in Cebu." The Cebu site officially launched in May this year and currently has 600 employees.

Karen Batungbacal, Executive General Manager for QBE Group Shared Services Centre, added, "We have been very impressed with the talent pool in Cebu, with an excellent command of the English language and great enthusiasm for what we are creating. We are looking for another 400 people to join our team in the coming months and we are sure that the appeal of our company, our employee care program and the ability to work close to home will help us attract the right people for our team."

While the Group Shared Service Centre has gone from strength to strength, so too has the insurance operations and underwriting business in the Philippines. QBE Insurance (Philippines) Inc., has been renamed QBE Seaboard Insurance Philippines Inc., and is positioned to deliver world-class commercial and retail products through its broker and agent partners nationwide, according to President and CEO for QBE Seaboard Philippines Joli Wu. QBE Seaboard offers supplies property and engineering, marine and aviation, general liability and professional liability products to both local and multi-national companies under its Corporate Division while the Retail Division provides motor and personal accident products to individual customers.

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There was a lull and we at The Freeman Lifestyle Section couldn't help but spend a rush time filling our stomachs with the freshest of catfish and baked tahong at Kuya J's resto along Escario Street. Exchanging brief pleasantries but we had to rush back since work was waiting for everybody. Anyway, next stop would be a little longer time for the six of us - including our dear Ed-in-Chief Quennie B.

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Benjie Diola, more known as the director of plays par excellence, was in town for a brief visit and surprisingly called us to dine with him and some close friends. It was also sort of a despedida for dear friend Tata Atega who was leaving for London the next day. After a day or two, Benjie too left back to his second home… GUAM!