Manulife Philippines and MCBL Bring Back Limited-Offer Wealth Management Product Wealth Guarantee

Manulife Philippines and Manulife China Bank Life announce the limited-time return of Wealth Guarantee, a single-payment insurance plan that helps Filipino customers grow their wealth in seven years through a guaranteed savings plan.

Wealth Guarantee is a medium-term wealth management product that grants policyholders yearly payouts of up to 4.5%1 over six years. Wealth Guarantee also provides 125% life protection coverage, giving policyholders adequate protection during the plan’s seven-year term plus 100% capital return.

"At Manulife, we are committed to offering our customers financial products and services tailored to their unique needs and aspirations. With its guaranteed annual returns and valuable life protection, Wealth Guarantee is designed to help Filipino customers secure their future through stable returns, helping them achieve financial growth amidst uncertainty and volatility," said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.

"Through the Wealth Guarantee plan, we aim to be Filipinos' reliable and trusted partner in wealth management—enabling their journey toward financial independence," Hora added.

"Financial security should be a year-round priority," said Amy Gochuico, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife China Bank Life. "Wealth Guarantee delivers competitive guaranteed annual returns, full capital return at maturity, and life protection coverage so customers can feel confident with their finances while enjoying their lives today."

Wealth Guarantee requires a minimum single premium of PHP 500,000. It will be available for a limited time beginning April 21, 2025, through Manulife financial advisors. It can also be availed through Manulife’s financial sales associates based in China Bank and China Bank Savings branches nationwide.

1 For a single premium of at least PHP3,000,000; 4.1% payout rate applies to policies with single premium below PHP3,000,000; Subject to market risk factors.

Manulife Philippines Appoints Amy Gochuico as Manulife China Bank Life President and CEO

Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading international financial services provider Manulife, and Manulife China Bank Life (MCBL), the strategic alliance between Manulife Philippines and China Banking Corporation, announce the appointment of Amy Gochuico as MCBL’s President and CEO, effective 01 April 2025.

Gochuico joins Manulife Philippines with over 30 years of insurance and leadership experience across various Asian markets and organizations, specializing in bancassurance for two decades. Before her appointment, she served as Manulife Indonesia’s Chief Bancassurance Officer from 2021, where she was responsible for the Bancassurance channel’s overall growth and profitability.

“We’re excited to welcome Amy back to the Philippines as part of Manulife’s executive committee. During her time at Manulife Indonesia, she ensured sustainable and consistent growth for the Company’s Bancassurance business to meet its long-term commitments,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.

Hora added, “As MCBL President and CEO, she will lead overall partnership management, deliver growth, develop our distribution team and bench strength, manage key business risks, and ensure quality outcomes that can help Manulife become the number one choice for our customers.”

Manulife China Bank Life is the strategic alliance between Manulife Philippines and China Banking Corporation.

GenAI Capabilities rolled out to 100% of Manulife’s Workforce with 75% Engagement Rate

Manulife announced that over 75 percent of its global workforce are engaged with GenAI through learning, immersive experiences and tools, including ChatMFC, its proprietary GenAI assistant introduced in 2024. Manulife has been actively investing in AI tools to embed across its workforce since the AI practice was introduced nearly ten years ago.

By democratizing access to AI-enabled solutions, the Company is empowering colleagues to harness its potential in their daily workflows, enhancing efficiency and driving innovation. AI is not a stand-alone function at Manulife, it is an integral part of how the company operates across teams, geographies, and business units.

A Culture of AI Democratization and Innovation

“AI is transformative, and it is creating efficiencies for how we work, create, and interact with one another,” said Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Analytics Officer, Manulife. “By equipping our teams with GenAI tools, we’re enabling them to work smarter, move faster, and make a bigger impact. We’ve doubled our AI-driven impact by diversifying and expanding solutions, strengthening data and AI platforms, and practicing responsible AI governance, proving that our teams see real value.”

Manulife has made a multi-billion-dollar investment in its’ digital transformation including a cloud-based data and AI platform and scaled AI solutions. Today, the Company has deployed:

● ChatMFC, available across Manulife’s global workforce, this GenAI tool can be used to automate routine tasks and allow employees to focus on higher-value, strategic work.

● A skills-building program that empowers colleagues at all levels to understand, experiment with, and apply AI effectively.

● More than 35 GenAI use cases across Canada, the U.S., and Asia have been deployed to-date, with an additional 70 GenAI use cases prioritized to be deployed by the end of 2025. These GenAI use cases are sourced from the Company’s pipeline of over 400 GenAI solutions submitted by its workforce.

● A dedicated talent pool of nearly 200 global data scientists and machine learning engineers, embedded across the organization to scale AI capabilities.

Manulife’s Global AI Strategy: Scaling Responsibly

“AI is driving efficiency, fueling growth, and strengthening our bottom line globally,” said Karen Leggett, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife. “By embedding AI at scale, we’re not just optimizing operations – we’re empowering colleagues to deepen customer relationships, improving advisor connections, and unlocking new revenue streams. As a strategic enabler of long-term success, AI will continue to be a cornerstone of Manulife’s responsible and scalable growth.”

Manulife’s commitment to responsible AI ensures that innovations align with ethical, safety, and sustainability standards. The company's Responsible AI Principles guide how solutions are designed, developed, and deployed, reinforcing trust and transparency in AI applications.

Beyond ChatMFC, AI is being embedded in customer interactions, operations, and strategic decision-making. Examples include:

● New Ways of Working: Manulife's new AI-enabled translation tool provides global access to self-serve real-time translations in 9 languages, increasing efficiency and speed.

● Revenue Growth: The Sales Enablement Tool, initially launched in Singapore, provides personalized insights to advisors. Its rapid global expansion, including to wholesalers, has expanded to multiple global markets.

● Customer Experience: GenAI-powered solutions now support over 110 million calls annually, with further expansion planned this year. Deployed across all North America contact centres and being scaled to our Asia operations, the technology enhances response speed, accuracy, and service quality by providing agents with instant, source-backed answers and confidence scores.

Manulife’s AI roadmap for 2025 is designed for impact, deepening AI-driven insights, enhancing personalization for customers and advisors, and expanding investment in scalable, responsible solutions. By ensuring every colleague can leverage AI in their work, Manulife is strengthening its position as a leader in AI adoption across financial services.

Manulife expects their digital capabilities, including AI-enabled enhancements, to generate a threefold return on investment over five years through 2027 with over $600 million of benefits realized in 2024 from our digital initiatives globally .

To learn more about Manulife’s AI progress, visit: https://www.manulife.com/en/about/ai.html 

Manulife Philippines Marks 118 Years with a Focus on Health, Financial Protection, and Community Investment

Kicking off its 118th year in the country, Manulife Philippines, the local arm of the leading international financial services provider Manulife, has reaffirmed its commitment to adapting to rapidly changing needs of its growing customer base.

Manulife Philippines is ushering in its 118th year with important milestones anchored in its continued focus on driving customer satisfaction. It recently captured the top spot among Philippine life insurance companies in customer recommendation, based on the Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey conducted in the Philippines by the global market research firm IPSOS in 2024. Additionally, over the last five years, the company has also paid claims amounting to PHP 12.9 billion, standing by its promise to be with customers as their trusted financial partner for its customers.

“Customers in the Philippines are becoming more proactive in planning their financial protection against any uncertainties. They seek products and services that enable them and their families to live better lives, and we take pride in partnering with them to get closer to this goal. As we aim to the #1 choice for our customers, we are deeply committed to providing them with better innovative solutions on all fronts,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. 

“I am pleased to see the trust and confidence our customers have given us—particularly based on the end-2024 NPS results, where we ranked #1 in terms of customer recommendation. These results inspire us to delight customers even further and consistently provide them the level of service and customer focus they truly deserve,” Hora added.

Financially securing and empowering Filipino families 

Driven by its goal to protect more families, Manulife Philippines aims to further broaden its customer base to household decision-makers and young Filipinos through its comprehensive suite of health and life protection products including Manulife Freedom and Manulife HealthFlex. 

• Manulife Freedom offers guaranteed cash payouts and life protection and is designed to be a reliable savings plan which can help customers fund their children's education, pursue their passions, prepare for a comfortable retirement, or leave a legacy to their loved ones.

• Manulife HealthFlex, on the other hand, offers comprehensive protection for over 100 critical illnesses from early diagnosis to recovery, with different payment plans tailored to customers’ lifestyle and budget.

Enabling customers to live Better Days

Manulife Philippines also recently introduced renowned content creator and creative director Erwan Heussaff and daughter Dahlia as the brand’s newest ambassadors, joining actress, wife, and mother Anne Curtis to promote better protection for Filipino families.

“Much of what we know about health and wellness starts from what we learn at home from our own family members, so we are delighted to partner with the Heussaffs to inspire more Filipino families to make financial planning a priority,” Hora shared. 

“Particularly following the pandemic, customers have realized that out-of-pocket payments and their emergency savings are not sufficient to pay for future medical costs. They want to be as prepared as possible to ease any financial burden on their children—who can, in turn, learn and adopt the same thinking from their parents,” he added. “That’s why we at Manulife Philippines are constantly looking for ways to boost Filipinos’ level of financial security through products and services that provide protection against uncertainties, empowering customers to live better every day.”

Similarly, Manulife Philippines is focusing on its young Millennial and Gen Z customer base to demonstrate the importance of early preparation to secure their financial futures. The company is enhancing its product offerings and strengthening its health and life protection solutions based on customer insights, as well as recruiting younger advisors who can provide financial advice to help address young Filipino customers’ evolving insurance needs. This is in light of a 2024 Manulife Philippines study, which found that Filipinos remain largely unprepared for medical emergencies, with 41% dipping into out-of-pocket spending. On average, surveyed Filipinos have set aside PHP 62,000 for future medical needs. However, those ages 18-29 only have an average of PHP 38,000 saved.

“While Gen Z customers are starting to build their financial security, they are also highly conscious of how easily factors beyond their control, like medical emergencies, can deplete their savings. In this view, we encourage young customers to start investing in their health and financial future through protection solutions that suit their unique needs and budgets, helping them face the future with confidence,” Hora said. “They can count on us at Manulife to continue developing solutions that provide financial and health protection when it truly matters.” 

Since opening its doors in 1907, Manulife Philippines has expanded its business of providing customers with diverse and innovative health, wealth, and protection solutions through its comprehensive product suite. In 1999, Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC), Manulife Philippines’ parent company, was officially listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange. As of end-January 2025, MFC has the largest market capitalization among companies listed in the PSE with PHP2.95 trillion.

Shaping Filipino communities for the better

As part of its legacy, Manulife Philippines has also committed to investing in the communities it serves through the Impact Agenda, its global community investment program focused on building a better business to better the world.

• Peso Smart is Manulife Philippines’ award-winning financial literacy program that supports the initiatives of the Department of Education to expand and improve the financial literacy aspect of the K-12 curriculum. To date, nearly 2,500 Filipino learners have benefited from the program, with its offshoot PesoSmart x RecoveREADS currently being implemented in 10 public schools and three community centers in 9 cities nationwide.

• Since 2022, Manulife Philippines has engaged colleagues and advisors through its Forests for Life collaboration with Haribon Foundation. This program successfully planted over 21,000 native tree seedlings across 17 hectares in the provinces of Quezon, Zambales, and Rizal, and contributed to a much-needed increase in forest cover across Southern Luzon.

• Manulife Philippines also established and operationalized 20 Community Food Farms in Gawad Kalinga villages to benefit community members and enable them to grow, harvest, and earn from their own produce.

Last year, Manulife colleagues from different countries in Asia and North America visited partner communities in the Philippines during the five-day ‘Impact Agenda Adventure.’ These global colleagues spent time on the ground to understand the communities’ needs and see the real-life impact of Manulife’s programs in collaboration with its NGO partners.

“Through our Impact Agenda, we are deeply committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve to empower sustained health and well-being, drive inclusive economic opportunities, and accelerate a sustainable future with the help of our colleagues and partners,” Hora added.

Manulife Philippines continues driving health and longevity through innovative products, high-quality sustainable growth of its business and distribution channels, and meaningful community initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to securing better futures for Filipinos.

Manulife Philippines and Erwan Heussaff Launch Video Series with Tips on Healthy Cooking

Manulife Philippines celebrates National Heart Month with the launch of a special video series starring its brand ambassador, Filipino restaurateur and multi-awarded cultural storyteller Erwan Heussaff.

The video, now live on Manulife Philippines’ social media pages and YouTube, features Heussaff cooking up kinilaw, a raw tuna dish on top of a tangy sauce served with roasted vegetables, for a simple lunch date with wife Anne Curtis. The traditional recipe uses quality and easily accessible Filipino ingredients that promote heart health that can support longer, healthier lives.

“We know from research that heart disease and diabetes are among our most feared critical illnesses in the Philippines, and these are heavily lifestyle-influenced diseases. It’s my ambition to show Filipinos that we can take practical steps to improve or health and reduce the chance of suffering from these diseases. This video series partnership with Manulife, which shows how simple things such as cooking with whole foods and choosing local ingredients, is a great way to get this message out there,” shared Heussaff.

A 2024 study conducted by Manulife Philippines found that many Filipinos still find it challenging to adopt and maintain a “healthy lifestyle.” Most respondents cited barriers such as healthy food being too expensive, less appetizing, or taking too much time to prepare, despite diet and nutrition being among their top priorities.”

“Through this collaboration with Erwan, we hope to inspire more Filipinos to see healthy meals as more than just nourishment. Cooking these meals is also a simple yet meaningful way to care for yourself and those you hold dear,” shared Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.

“Living a healthier lifestyle starts by taking small yet proactive steps, and through conscious efforts to watch one’s diet and nutrition, Filipinos can stay on top of their health and wellness goals. At Manulife, we are committed to doing our share of helping and empowering Filipinos to make smarter health decisions – one meal, one plan at a time,” Hora added.

Manulife Philippines is slated to release more videos with the Heussaff family to encourage Filipinos to prioritize their health and wellness.

For more information on Manulife Philippines’ products and services, visit manulife.com.ph or follow their official social media channels.

[YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/CzSY1aTNg-g?si=PV4SPQX3HChi8bLV]

[Manulife 2024 Study: https://www.manulife.com.ph/about-us/newsroom/latest-news/health-awareness-not-enough.html]

Manulife Collaborates with MDRT to Drive Quality Agency Force Growth and Strengthen Customer Focus

 

Manulife Asia announced recently that it has signed a three-year Exclusive Premier Sponsorship agreement with the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a global, independent association of the world’s leading insurance and financial services professionals from 85 nations and territories and more than 700 companies.

The program, which started earlier this year, is a strategic initiative to drive high quality, sustainable growth for Manulife’s agency force by better providing agents with essential tools and knowledge to advance their skills and careers in the life insurance and financial services industry. Recognized globally as the standard of excellence, MDRT's collaboration with Manulife, which ranked third worldwide in MDRT members in 2023, solidifies Manulife’s leadership in the industry and inspires its professionals to expand their expertise as the insurance sector evolves. 

“The signing of Manulife’s Premier sponsorship deal with MDRT represents a tremendous opportunity for our company to grow and advance by further professionalizing our strong agency force. This renewed sponsorship underlines our continuous dedication to developing our team and upholding the outstanding quality of our agency force. Our professional agents are crucial to maintaining trusted relationships with our customers and they make a positive difference in the lives of the communities that we serve across the region,” said Rishi Srivastava, Chief Agency Officer, Manulife Asia.

This three-year MDRT sponsorship program supports career advancement for top agents at all Manulife markets at all stages, from newcomers to future leaders, ensuring that Manulife's customers receive quality advice and comprehensive services from well-trained and motivated professionals. This initiative encompasses a range of tailored development programs, including Academy Train the Trainer year-round support, in-person workshops supporting both agency leaders and MDRTs by MDRT expert speakers, and other valuable learning content and online courses, all aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of Manulife's agency force to better serve their customers in the region. 

In the Philippines, Manulife has been taking steps to support and equip their agency force with the recent launch of LEAP (League of Extraordinary Advisors Program). LEAP is an initiative aimed at providing financial advisors with learning, coaching and mentorship opportunities to become MDRT members and leaders. The courses cover local and global best practices, top sales ideas, as well as MDRT tools, and include mentoring sessions and performance coaching. Additionally, Manulife Philippines has rolled out an industry-first program, which provides special career progression to financial advisors who achieve Top of the Table (TOT) and Court of the Table (COT) honors.

“Achieving our mission to make decisions easier and lives better for customers means strengthening our agency force by investing in their learning and development. At Manulife Philippines, we are committed to setting up our financial advisors for success, so they can better serve our customers while also empowering them to acquire best practices from fellow advisors and agency leaders, grow their careers, and achieve their life goals and aspirations,” said Sailesh Nalinakshan, Chief Agency Officer, Manulife Philippines. 

The MDRT sponsorship is in alignment and complementary to Manulife’s strategy in accelerating Asia growth and enhancing the quality of agency force. To attract and nurture top talent in the financial services industry, Manulife continues to roll out Manulife Pro, a proprietary recognition and activation program for top-tier agents across Asia. Together, the MDRT engagement and the Manulife Pro program will help create a best-in-class professional, customer-centric agency force that supports Manulife’s goal of becoming a leader in the Asian market.  

Mr. Srivastava further commented, "As Manulife continues to prioritize customer needs and enhance customer experience by leveraging advanced data and analytics, our dedicated agency force is key to delivering high-quality, holistic solutions to meet their needs in this world. By investing in comprehensive, training for our agents, we empower them to drive our transformation into a leading digital, customer-focused market leader and the best long-term partner for our customers."

Manulife Philippines Appoints Victor Tanjuakio as New Chief Corporate Solutions and Alternative Distribution Officer

 The Philippine arm of leading global financial services provider Manulife announces the appointment of Victor Tanjuakio as the Company’s new Chief Corporate Solutions and Alternative Distribution Officer.

Tanjuakio joins Manulife Philippines with over 35 years of experience working with some of the country’s leading insurance organizations. As Chief Corporate Solutions and Alternative Distribution Officer, Tanjuakio will be responsible for driving high-quality sustainable growth for Manulife Philippines’ corporate solutions business.

“Victor has delivered remarkable results for top financial services companies in the Philippines throughout his career, and we’re delighted to bring his expertise to our senior leadership team. He’s a veteran actuary skilled in financial reporting, underwriting, risk management, marketing, sales, and talent development,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. 

Hora added, “With Victor at the helm of our corporate solutions business, we look forward to providing our group insurance clientele with more innovative financial solutions tailor-fit to their organizations’ and their employees’ unique protection needs.”

Tanjuakio will oversee a team in charge of multi-channel sales, group pricing, group accounts management, group operations, and digital transformation to develop and execute strategies that enhance Manulife Philippines’ customer and distributor experience for stable of corporate clients. Under his leadership, the team will be tasked to further drive business growth through strategic partnerships with other financial institutions as well as traditional and emerging digital players.

For more information about Manulife Philippines, you may visit their website at www.manulife.com.ph

Erwan and Dahlia Heussaff join Anne Curtis as Manulife’s newest brand ambassadors to promote better futures for Filipino families

 Manulife Philippines officially welcomes Erwan and Dahlia Heussaff as its newest brand ambassadors, helping to promote wellness and financial security for Filipinos.

Erwan and Dahlia will champion better health and life protection for Filipino families through Manulife’s broad and comprehensive range of insurance products. Erwan and his daughter, Dahlia join Anne Curtis, an actress, TV host and mother who became Manulife’s brand ambassador in 2022.

Erwan is a Filipino restaurateur and a multi-award winning cultural storyteller, helping redefine food and cultural media in the Philippines. His brands — The Fat Kid Inside and FEATR Media — have gained various recognitions, including a 2023 James Beard Award.

“Erwan and Anne are accomplished individuals in their respective fields, but caring for their family has remained a priority amid their busy careers. As parents, Anne and Erwan have shared the importance of financially protecting Dahlia and securing their family’s future, and Manulife is delighted to be their partner,” said Sonali Verma, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines.

Financial awareness and better money habits start at home

Beyond their roles as Manulife brand ambassadors, the Heussaffs are taking financial literacy to heart at home. Erwan plans to introduce a chore-based allowance system to four-year-old Dahlia, laying the early groundwork that can help her develop smart money habits at a young age. Their hands-on approach to financial education coincides with a much-needed shift toward family-based money management financial learning among Filipino families.

“With Anne and Erwan’s individual and collective influences, we hope to inspire and enable more Filipinos to achieve their personal and financial goals. As one of the longest-serving financial services brands in the country, Manulife is ready to meet our customers where they are and provide the tools to guide them toward financial security and a more resilient future,” Verma added.

“Our Manulife insurance policies have been an integral part of taking care of our family and preparing for Dahlia’s future. I hope that we can inspire families like ours to pursue their goals and unlock meaningful opportunities with the help of a trusted partner, such as Manulife,” said Curtis.

“I’m excited to collaborate with Manulife as their brand ambassador to encourage more Filipinos to lead healthier lifestyles, helping them set their sights on better days – one milestone at a time. And I’m happy to know that there’s a Manulife plan for all of life’s milestones, from protecting your family’s health and funding your child’s education, to preparing for your golden years,” Heussaff added.

Recently, Erwan was a featured speaker at a press conference launching the firm’s newest study “In Wellness and In Health: Navigating the Landscape of Health, Well-being, and Financial Preparedness in the Philippines,” alongside Manulife Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Rahul Hora.

The local arm of international financial services provider Manulife, Manulife Philippines is one of the leading and most trusted life insurance companies in the country. Manulife Philippines is committed to offering Filipino customers best-in-class and innovative financial solutions tailor-fit to address their personal needs and goals.

Manulife and MCBL Receive Golden Arrow Awards for Corporate Governance

 Manulife Philippines and Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation (MCBL) recently won two Golden Arrow Awards for exemplary performance in corporate governance. The awards were given by the Institute of Corporate Directors at their Global Governance Summit held on September 19, 2024.

The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) recognizes publicly listed corporations that have exhibited observable conformance with the Philippine Code of Corporate Governance and internationally recommended corporate governance practices promoted by the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) and Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS). The ACGS and CGS measure fair stakeholder treatment, accountability and transparency, and board effectiveness on the strategic management of a company, based on publicly available disclosures.

“Awards like these are a testament to the work we are doing to ensure good corporate governance and stakeholder engagement for Manulife Philippines and MCBL. We are honored to once again receive the Golden Arrow Awards from the Institute of Corporate Directors, and remain steadfast in our commitment to doing honest work for our stakeholders and communities,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.

“We are in a business of trust, so it is our duty to all our stakeholders — from our customers to our shareholders — to operate with transparency and accountability and observe fair and equitable corporate practices. We are dedicated to providing holistic financial solutions that enable Filipinos to achieve financial security and live better every day,” Hora added.  

Through the Golden Arrow awards, the ICD aims to raise the standards of corporate governance toward local companies and make Philippine companies more attractive to investors.

Aspiring for Better: Stories of Courage, Hope, and Financial Resilience

  Manulife Philippines proudly presents  “Manulife Stories,” a video series that celebrates the achievements of realized dreams and the challenges overcome to reach them. This campaign reinforces Manulife’s new brand strategy and global tagline, “Where will better take you.”

In this three-episode series, Manulife customers Peach Abella, Mark David, KL Fernando, Marielle Malaga, Yvonne Reyes, and Manulife brand ambassador and policyholder Anne Curtis share their personal stories of resilience and how investing in themselves paid off over time. 

“At the core of every insurance policy is a very human story. No matter the situation, we want our customers to feel supported and know we are looking after their dreams and those of their families,” said Sonali Verma, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines. 

“It is heartwarming to hear our customers talk about how the Manulife team gave them the support and encouragement when they needed it most. Through ‘Manulife Stories,’ we hope to inspire more Filipinos to take proactive steps toward their financial security, knowing that Manulife will be their trusted partner in securing a better future.” 

The joys and tears of motherhood

When KL purchased her first Manulife policy, she never imagined its living benefits would play a crucial role in helping her and her husband start a family. 

"My husband and I have been married for 14 years. We always wanted to have a baby. We tried everything and in vitro fertilization (IVF) was our last hope. I asked my financial advisor if I could withdraw from my policy to help pay for the procedure. She said yes and helped me with the whole process. A few months after, we had our son, Pedro,” KL shared.

Like KL, Anne Curtis credits her early financial planning for helping her better manage her pregnancy with her daughter Dahlia during the pandemic.

“Everyone was in lockdown, it was a scary feeling. Lalo na I wasn’t working na so may fear of, “paano ‘to?” Of course, I had my husband to help me through it and I had that security also of the insurance that I had in case anything would happen to me. That’s why sobra akong saya (I’m so happy) that at an early age, I decided to prepare. I feel that Manulife has helped me feel assured. From being a single person who loved to travel, now I’m prepared for my own family,” Anne said.

Legacies that save a child’s future

Losing a loved one is destabilizing and it comes with financial and emotional challenges that some families may not be fully prepared to handle. Two families share how their lives were made more secure in the long term with a proactive insurance plan.

Yvonne lost her husband when she was 30, leaving her a grieving single parent to a young daughter. Thanks to her Manulife insurance plan, Yvonne was able to put her daughter through nursing school. “That was when I realized, maybe there was a reason I had to get and keep that plan. Now, as a single parent, I can use the benefit payouts for my daughter’s tuition,” Yvonne shared. 

Similarly, Marielle thought she would have to put her dreams of becoming a healthcare professional on hold to financially support her family, spending a month looking after her hospitalized mother. But, in Marielle’s words, she “luckily didn’t have to make that choice” after all. “The money from three combined (Manulife) policies was enough to help pay for her (stay in the) ICU, for the medical expenses, and allowed me to continue (studying) medicine,” Marielle said. 

Providing for unique needs

Securing insurance for those with pre-existing conditions, can be challenging. Peach, who is HIV-positive, and Mark, who cares for his son with autism, intellectual development delay, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), found hope with Manulife. 

“We weren’t able to find that security. Alam kong, hindi kaya [ng anak ko] na siya lang (I know that my son can’t do it on his own),” Mark shared. “He’s already disadvantaged. We want to give him every opportunity, everything that we can give him,” he added.

Filled with determination to financially secure themselves and their loved ones, both Mark and Peach found Manulife financial advisors who collaboratively worked with them to find the right insurance plan and became a good friend to them.

“Siya po yung tumulong, at siya ang rason, kung bakit ako may insurance policy. Hindi ko pababayaan. Sobrang thankful ko na secured na ako ngayon,” Peach said.

(“She helped me find the right insurance policy. She’s the reason I have one. I won’t let this go to waste, and I’m so thankful to be secured now.”)

“Manulife Stories” is now available on Manulife Philippines’ YouTube channel, showcasing these inspiring journeys of courage and hope.