Aside from being a competent actress, Shyr Valdez is also in the corporate world.
In fact, she's a PR Consultant of Medicare Plus Inc, a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). In other words it's a health insurance company based here in the Philippines.
"Actually, I've been at it for the past 4 years. Hindi ko lang masyadong nilalabas talaga, but you know how it is in the business. Hindi naman araw-araw meron tayong show."
"So you always have something to back to, fallback position, so that's precisely what I'm doing and naniniwala kasi ako that it's always nice to learn other things and we must not stop from learning."
Shyr explains how she thought of entering the corporate world.
Being in showbiz, acting is your primary tool and you also have to have good relations with other people. It's one of Shyr's good quality - she's friendly to everyone.
"From a previous company that I used to be with, I met Ms. JayJay Viray there," she said.
JayJay Viray is the CEO and President of Medicare Plus Inc.
"I met her through another company, na nakasama namin siya with work and from there, nagkakausap kami. Nagkakatrabaho kami every now and then."
"So one of those occasions, she spoke with me and asked me if I would like to join the bandwagon of Medicare Plus Inc as the PR Consultant and that's how it all began," she narrated.
She's not only the PR consultant of Medicare Plus Inc, Shyr also became the health insurance's celebrity endorser. Joining her as endorsers are young actress Jess Martinez and Korean actor/model Moon Su-in.
"Yes, I am also both a PR and celebrity endorser," she quipped.
As an artist, how important is it to have an HMO policy?
"Oh, you know, an HMO policy, importante yan kasi, again, as I have said, nowadays, it's not...it's not very cheap when you get sick. When you get hospitalized, and kung ang inaasahan mo lang is yomung trabaho mo sa showbiz, tapos matiyempo, magkasakit ka ng wala kang regular show or anything like that."
"At alam din naman natin ang mahal din to maintain and become celebrity. Mahihirapan ka talaga, lalo na masyadong matataas ang mga presyuhan ngayon pag nagkakasakit ka. It's not just by the hundreds, it's by the thousands."
"So, it's important that you are equipped with an HMO. Kasi yun na lang mismo yung ibabayad mo kapag nagkakasakit ka, and that's about it. Wala kang gagastusin. Of course, you get your...pero malaki yung pakinabang mo, for a certain amount you get this kind of...For example, you buy your HMO for let's say, P8,000 or P10,000 or P11,000 or P12,000 tapos ang coverage mo, P200,000. I mean, ang laki ng difference nun."
"So, anytime magkasakit ka and you need to have annual check-ups mo and all this stuff, this will cover it. Hindi mo na kailangan maghanap ng pera. Kaya nga, we're always proud to say in Medicare Plus Inc, you actually have the peace of mind that you deserve," she explains.
Shyr feels very sad every time she hears news about co-actors who have met an accident or got sick and has no money to pay for the hospital bills.
Most of the time, these people come up with fund-raising shows or ask for donations to cover their bills.
"Well, you know, of course, I feel very sad about that. Kasi diyan mo makikita na ang hirap magkasakit, lalo na kung hindi ka nakapag-ipon, di ba? Kahit artista yan and kahit din may naipon ka, di ba?"
"Pero yung klase ng sakit mo at yung mahal ng kailangan mong tustusan pag nagkasakit ka, minsan hindi rin enough ang savings mo. So you need to be properly backed up."
"Kailangan educated ka with what you need to know about not just your health, but the benefits that you will get from companies that offer HMO's, insurance, mga ganyan. It is very important na alam natin yan lahat. Kaya nga ngayon, our company Medicare Plus Inc., something is brewing between Medicare Plus Inc. and our business, showbiz. So as soon as maplantsa namin yan and everything, you'll all know."
Would people from the showbiz industry benefit from this?
"People from the industry. Nasa mga 80% na kami sa planning stage.
How did Medicare Plus Inc get the services of Korean actor/model Moon Su-in?
"Si Moon Su-in was actually tapped by a friend of our CEO, Ms JayJay Viray."
Rams David, who is the Head of Artist Circle Talent Management, happens to be Shyr's talent manager
Rams is the agent of Moon Su-in here in the Philippines.
"Si Rams is the agent here in Manila, and then, from there, we were able to find out kung ano yung mga ginagawa ni Moon Su-in and how he believes yung mga HMO, mga ganyan. He's a believer of that. He's a health buff person."
"He is somebody who embodies what an HMO is. He believes in taking care of oneself and being prepared about it. So yun, and then, luckily, with our ER Guard, which is the emergency card of Medicare Plus. Pumapasok siya roon because if you are a foreigner or a tourist, you're visiting the Philippines, you can actually make use of that."
"If anything happens to you, nagka-emergency ka, you get into a hospital, you just bring your ER Guard. I-register mo lang siya bago ka dumating dito within one week, it's activated and you can use it in one year. Anything happens to you, we'll take care of you," she stressed.
Both Moon Su-in and Jess Martinez are also celebrity endorsers of Nailandia Nail Salon and Spa and Skinandia beauty wellness clinic with its flagstore at SM Fairview and owned by couples Ms Noreen and Juncynth Divina.