Living a healthier, longer and better life comes easily when you know you’re protected with Philam Vitality

I was one of the Admitting Officers before at a Tertiary Hospital in Manila. Getting a room was hard then as it requires a certain deposit for every patient with different illnesses. I have witnessed and admitted every patients with diagnoses ranging from cancer to hypertension. Some of them have healthcards or health insurance to cover for their admission and medicine. But most of the time, some are paying for cash. The hardest part is some of them are unprepared for the unexpected hospitalization costs.

No one wants to get sick or hurt but most people need medical care at some point. Health insurance like Philam Life AIA Critical Protect 100 covers these costs and offers important benefits for you and your loved ones. For just p113 a day, you can be covered from minor and major illnesses.

Philam Life recently launches AIA Critical Protect 100 at Ayala Triangle, Makati. It offers comprehensive health and protection benefits from 0-100 years old, offering coverage for up to 100 minor and major illnesses including cancer, heart attack, or stroke.

The launch was attended by Philam Life Brand Ambassadors Wil Dasovich, Raymond Gutierrez and Nico Bolzico.

Data shows that the average cost of critical illness is about PHP2 million, but when it comes to actual claims made by its customers, Philam Life shared that the average in 2018 is only about PHP350,000. This leaves a big question on where the remaining balance to cover the expense will come from. 

In the 2018 Healthy Living Index Study conducted by AIA Group, Philam Life’s Hong Kong-based parent company, the survey revealed that a staggering 78% of Filipinos surveyed are expecting the government to shoulder the cost of treating critical illness. 

These numbers will mean more from the point of view of actual people who have battled critical illnesses. Regardless of what age critical illness hits, it wreaks havoc on carefully laid out plans, making the future uncertain for most people, especially those who have a history of illness in their families. This is why Philam Life is committed to create innovative products that help protect Filipinos against the uncertainties of critical illness such as the newly launched AIA Critical Protect 100. 

“Being diagnosed with cancer at such a young age was a huge scare for me. Illnesses like cancer is supposed to come when you’re old and you’ve lived life to the fullest, not when you’re just starting to have fun,” said Wil Dasovich, Philam Life Brand Ambassador. “It was such a wakeup call for me to start thinking and preparing for my future, now that I’ve been given a second lease in life.”

“Most couples our age are probably more concerned about saving up to invest in property or splurging on trips. As brand ambassadors of Philam Life, Solenn and I have become more aware of the importance of life insurance and protecting ourselves from illnesses or untoward events in the future. Investing and saving for the future are important but we’ve come to understand that protection is the most basic need that we have to address first. Living a healthier, longer and better life comes easily when you know you’re protected,” added Nico Bolzico, Philam Life Brand Ambassador.

AIA Critical Protect 100 offers comprehensive health and protection benefits from 0-100 years old, offering coverage for up to 100 minor and major illnesses including cancer, heart attack, or stroke. There’s an option to include riders which give increased coverage for gender specific cancers like ovarian or prostate, as well financial benefits during recovery period and plan protection for loved ones. Best of all, the product is powered by Philam Vitality, Philam Life’s game-changing wellness program that helps encourage the right behavior by incentivizing customers with rewards for knowing and improving their health.

“As a Philam Vitality member, I’m not just protected by life insurance; I’m also rewarded for living a healthier, longer and better life. The program can help prevent the onset of critical illness by challenging and motivating me to meet my weekly fitness target and rewards me for living healthy. This year, Philam Vitality gives stronger motivation to live better with its bigger and bolder rewards that include more instant weekly rewards such as free coffee and cinema tickets, as well as a chance to win a fitness device and a trip to El Nido, Palawan,” said Philam Life Brand Ambassador Raymond Gutierrez. 

Philam Vitality’s enhanced weekly rewards include free coffee or tea from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, SM Cinema tickets, GrabCar vouchers, Globe postpaid and prepaid credits, on top of preferential discounts from program partners like Toby’s Sports, Garmin, Gold’s Gym, UFC Gym, Hi-Precision Diagnostics, Makati Medical Center, Enchanted Kingdom, Philippine Airlines, Seda Hotels and SM Cinema.

Find out more about AIA Critical Project 100 and the Philam Vitality by visiting the Philam Life website at philamlife.com, Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PhilamLifeAIA/, or contact them through email at philamlife@aia.com or landline at (02)528-2000.   

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The Sweetest Success for Estela Belen

When faced with challenging circumstances or seemingly impossible choices, there are only two categorical responses: fight or flight. Almost every person in the world has experienced being at such a decisive moment. For Estela Belen, it was when her husband of 25 years suddenly died. She was 44 years old then, and was suddenly faced with the responsibility of maintaining a household and raising 13 children… by herself. Difficult as things may seem, she chose to fight.

All throughout her married life, Estela has always been a housewife. While she managed most of their domestic affairs, she had no job experience whatsoever, and was relying on her husband for their household’s financial resources. When her husband suddenly passed away, she knew she had to provide the financial support that was now lacking. She needed a source of income, especially since 11 of her kids were still going to school then.

In her search for employment, a good friend led her to become a financial advisor for Philam Life, the largest insurance company in the Philippines. She went through the motions and found that her natural management aptitude, with running her 13-plus-one household, was helpful to the job.

It was, of course, a rough start because she had no background on the insurance industry, but she trudged on and learned what she could as quickly as possible. She also had to make the transition from being a housewife to a career woman, which was no small feat. She struggled to balance her new working life with her family life, but she persevered -- selling insurance policies and providing very good service to her clients for her clients. Eventually, through hard work and pure grit, Estella was able to work her way up to become a bona fide top earner, an achiever in her industry.

Fast forward to the present -- twenty one years after taking on the job, Estella was awarded with one of the company’s highest and most elusive honors: Top Associate of the Year. This accolade is given to the financial advisor with the highest premiums in one year

Her exceptional work ethic and her positive outlook contributed a lot to her success. Through her earnings and performance bonuses, she was able to financially support her children, all of whom are grown up and some of whom chose to work with her at Philam Life. Thanks to the schedule flexibility of being a financial advisor, she did not have to take too much time away from her family.

Estella is proud of how far she has come in the company, but remains humble, choosing instead to focus on the good that her work brings to her clients. “More than anything, it feels fulfilling,” Estella said. “I get to help my clients with their financial planning, to give them peace of mind and security about their financial future, at the same time, I also get to help my family. It’s a happy, win-win situation for all,” she concluded.

Estella has proven to be the personification of perseverance, tenacity, and determination and she is eager to continue her work with Philam Life for years to come.

ARP 2016 with my manager Rick Jared Belen, VIP client Susana M. Ipapo, and my secretary James Y. Sunico

(L-R standing)) Ma. Katrina B. Licudine (1), Enrico C. Belen, Jr. (2), Ria B. Trillo(3), Rachel B. Salapa (6) Eve Stella B. Valdez(grand daughter 8), Susana M. Ipapo (VIP client), Eric C. Belen(5), Estela C. Belen, Kris C. Belen (7), Kristal C. Belen (11), Ma. Estela B. Valdez(12), Maura Luz c. Belen (13).
(Kneeling center) Francis C. Belen (9),
(Kneeling L-R) Dan Louie O. Salapa(son in-law to #6), Rick Jared C. Belen (8), Charles C. Belen (10), James Y. Sunico (Personal Secretary).

(L-R) Ma. Katrina Belen-Licudine, Enrico Belen, Jr., Ria belen-Trillo,Richard Belen,Eric Belen,Rachel Belen-Salapa,Kris Belen,Rick Jared Belen,Francis Belen,Charles Belen,Kristal Belen,Ma. Estela Belen-Valdez,and Maura Luz Belen.

Philam Life primes against fraud

In the insurance world, when we talk of fraud, we often referred to the policyholders and/or claimants.  But fraud can take many forms as it comes in all shapes and sizes.  Insurance fraud is evolving.  Fraudulent activities in the organization may be perpetrated by internal and external individuals.   That is why fighting fraud and mitigating fraud risk are gaining significance in the insurance industry.

Nick Wright, Associate Director for Investigations and Financial Crimes Compliance of AIA Group Compliance, talks about “Gathering and Analysis of Evidence” during the Fraud Investigation Workshop.

Philam Group participants working on analysis and assessment of a case study.  
(From left) Philam Life Chief Risk Officer Joseph de Dios, AIA Group Compliance Associate Director Nick Wright, Philam Life Head of Compliance Ivan Justiniano.



Recently, Philam Life conducted a Fraud Investigation Workshop, with the intention of guiding participants (key employees, senior management officers, and bank partners) of effective anti-fraud efforts – including prevention, detection, and investigation of fraud, fraud reporting, and fraud risk awareness, education and training.

The two-day Fraud Investigation Workshop shows the company’s commitment in treating customers fairly and that it does not condone nor tolerate any acts of fraud within the organization.  Proper and effective investigations reinforce ethical culture as they help:

⦁ Management to “walk the talk”
⦁ Employees and agents feel safer to report misconduct
⦁ Increase deterrence
⦁ Protect customer interests and the company
⦁ Strengthen internal processes and governance

To combat fraud effectively and proactively, Philam Life and its affiliates (BPI-Philam, Philam Asset Management) adhere to its Anti-Fraud policies and guidelines, set-up a Whistleblow Policy and Hotline, promotes Speak-Up culture, conducts Ethics Survey and Ethical Leadership Training.

Philam Life upholds the highest standards of integrity and professionalism by adopting a zero-tolerance policy to fraud.  Trust and integrity are of utmost importance to a financial institution like Philam Life.  It is committed to conduct business in an environment of honesty and integrity and will strive to reduce if not eliminate fraud from all operations.  Philam Group works to protect customer interests and ensures fair and ethical approach to customers.

As the premier life insurance company in the Philippines, Philam Life continues to embody its commitment of being a real life company that people can trust.

Philam Life supports Financial Advisors through GENESIS Philam Life

You will learn that insurance is necessary and a lifesaver when you are unprepared for medical emergencies. I never thought about having an insurance when I was younger, as I have worked in a hospital institution, it was the least of my considerations before. But as I get older, I worry more about my family, their state of health, and contemplating of getting them an insurance while its not yet too late.

Not having an insurance leaves you and your family vulnerable. Many people have lost everything by not being properly prepared for emergencies.

The next big question is where and how financial advisors can guide clients through the array of life insurance options available to them.

Philam Life is acknowledged as one of the enduring pillars of the Philippine life insurance industry.   For nearly seven decades, Philam Life has earned the trust of customers for its financial strength, strong brand name, and its ability to deliver on its promises.

Philam Life CEO Mr. Aibee Cantos graced the event on October 20 at Green Sun Makati and embarks on a transformational recruitment and explained to the media how financial literacy helps an individual achieve one's goal in life. He explained how GENESIS by Philam Life, a modern facility for financial advisors offer an end-to-end training and development program that fast-tracks the journey of Philam Life financial advisors to becoming premier agency leaders and elite members of the global Million Dollar Round Table club.

An after party and awarding of financial advisors followed right after the presscon.

According to Philam Life CEO Mr. Aibee Cantos and the balance is not just about time, but also having a meaningful balance between achieving one’s ambition and at the same time making a positive difference to other people’s lives.

“We are able to accomplish all these because we have the capacity and resources to make our plans a reality. This superior financial strength has allowed us to make significant investments into expanding our distribution channels, growing our roster of financial advisors, and setting new industry standards and will make it possible for us to continue to create more positive changes in the years to come,’’ said Cantos.

Philam Life takes on a different approach to recruitment by doubly ensuring its new advisors will be provided with the right tools via targeted development programs.

Mr. Cantos added that their financial advisors get the support they need to be highly productive, collaborative, dynamic and tech savvy, to have a good understanding of the needs of their clients in a fun and nurturing environment.

Philam Life has PHP236.4 billion in total assets as of 31 December 2015 and has delivered timely payouts of over PHP10 billion in education benefits (2004-2015) and over PHP131 billion in insurance benefits (1950-2015), while serving close to 600,000 individual policyholders and over 2 million insured group members.

Recently, it launched its one-stop-shop office called SPARK that offers fully digital personalized services to give the best customer service experience to customers of Philam Life, BPI-Philam and PAMI. Its online Customer Portal called ePlan  is also now up to provide customers a facility to access policy details and make transactions anytime, anywhere.

In terms of product innovation, Philam Vitality is the first of its kind in the Philippines and the only full-scale wellness program that is all about getting healthy and being rewarded for making healthy choices. The company has also launched Future Scholar, the first in the market hybrid education plan that gives guaranteed benefits at the same time offers long-term growth potential to help parents maximize their savings for their children’s college education.


Philam Life’s financial advisors and agency leaders also work from the comforts of their own interactive mobile office called IMO - an app which they can use to plan their business, recruit, monitor and manage sales activity. Another innovation, IPoS, is the interactive point of sale system, first iPad-based paperless application that aids financial advisors do financial needs analysis, present product options, receive applications and pay in one sitting.

Philam Life appoints Mr. Ariel Cantos as its New CEO

Philam Life is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ariel G. Cantos as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective June 24, 2016.  Mr. Cantos succeeds Mr. Axel Bromley, who has decided to relocate to the United States for personal reasons.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Cantos held the role of CEO of BPI-Philam, the bancassurance joint venture of Philam Life and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the leading bancassurance operation in the Philippines.

Gordon Watson, Regional Chief Executive, AIA Group, said, “I am delighted that Aibee is assuming the role of CEO of Philam Life. Aibee has spent his entire career with Philam and has successfully held a range of senior leadership positions over the course of his long career. I am confident that Aibee will help lead Philam Life to new levels of growth and success. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Axel Bromley, who helped to lay the foundation for Philam Life’s transformation journey. We wish Axel and his family all the best in their next chapter of life back in the United States.”

Mr. Cantos,known among peers as “Aibee,” joined Philam Life as a management trainee and over a career spanning almost 30 years,subsequentlyheld a number of senior roles, including Profit Center Head of Accident & Health Products, Sales Director of Manila Agencies, and Sales Director of Provincial Agencies. His most recent position at Philam Life was Senior Vice President and Chief Agency Officer, where he led over 450 agency leaders and 6,000 advisors, before joining BPI-Philam in 2013.

As CEO of Philam Life, Mr. Cantos will lead a team that is united in its commitment to achievePhilam Life’s Vision to become the undisputed leader in life insurance and wealth management in the Philippines.

Mr. Cantos said, “I am truly honoured to have the opportunity to lead Philam Life. The outlook for our Company is extremely bright, as we continue to strengthen our distribution channels by advancing our Premier Agency strategy as well as driving bancassurance growth and expanding our portfolio of corporate clients. We will also continue to invest in new technologies and modern facilities to ensure that our advisors are well equipped to provide the best possible experienceto our large customer base as we help them to lead longer, healthier, and better lives.”

Secure your child’s education with a Philam Life policy

(From left) Philam Life Chief Life Operations Officer Richard Bracken hands-over a check to Philam Life Policyholder Agnes Belazon


Agnes Belazon knows how a mother’s love can fuel her to do whatever it takes for her child to have a good life with a college education. She however did more than just toil away. She made the right step of purchasing an education policy after the birth of her eldest daughter Jheansen.

Nineteen years later, Agnes is now nearing the fulfillment of her dream of a college degree for her daughter. Jheansen is now in her graduating year at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ Human Resources Management program, graduating ahead of time. Having a Philam Life education policy freed Agnes of financial worry as Philam Life releases semi-annual payouts just in time for every school semester’s enrollment.

Since 2004, Philam Life has delivered timely payouts of over PHP10 billion in education benefits. This May, 50,000 scholars nationwide will receive their education funds in time for the first semester of school year 2016-2017.  This is a testament to the company’s ability to fulfill its promise to help parents give their children a good education, year after year.

Like Agnes, you too can secure your child’s education with a Philam Life policy.
For more information, get in-touch with a Philam Life Financial Advisor or visit www.philamlife.com.

A better life begins with a smart choice: Life Smart

More than anything in the world, Filipinos value their family the most. Breadwinners work hard to maintain a stable source of income to provide for their family’s needs and to achieve a worry-free and happy family life. Making choices in life is hard because of the loved ones to consider.

The future holds a lot of uncertainties.  No matter how careful anyone tries to be, things may not go according to plan.  A smart choice that every breadwinner should make is to have the right plan that can help them prepare for the future.

Recognizing the need to simplify the value of an insurance protection plan, Philam Life recently introduced Life Smart, an insurance plan designed to give the policyholder a worry-free future with life insurance coverage, accident and terminal illness benefits so that his family can continue to live the life he planned for them. If nothing happens by the end of the plan, he can get his payments back plus an additional cash bonus, making it a smart choice for his needs.

Life Smart gives guaranteed life insurance coverage with accident and terminal illness benefits.   This means that in case the policyholder passes away, his beneficiaries will receive the full coverage of his plan.

If cause of death was due to an accident, the amount that the beneficiaries will receive becomes double the amount of the insurance coverage.

If the policyholder gets diagnosed with a terminal illness, he will receive the guaranteed benefit in advance.

Moreover, after 20 years, the policyholder will get all the payments back.  Plus, he can also get additional cash through yearly dividends and a loyalty bonus.

Think of it this way: the breadwinner and his family are financially protected the entire time for 20 years, and if nothing unexpected happens, all the payments will be returned. As the name implies, Philam Life’s new Life Smart plan is designed to be smart and simple.

A better life begins with a smart choice.  So make the smart choice today with Life Smart. Visit www.philamlife.com.

Philam Life and BPI-Philam to give living benefits “like never before” with Philam Vitality

For the first time in the Philippines, insurance products will give living benefits “like never before” with a science-backed and global wellness programme, Philam Vitality.

Philam Life launched Philam Vitality last year, and is now also available through BPI-Philam.
Life insurance premiums with Philam Vitality can now get an upfront discount of 10-15%. This is
unprecedented in the Philippines.

Vitality is a global brand with close to 20 years of success spanning South Africa, United States,
Europe, China, Hong Kong and Australia. Now it is available, through Philam Vitality, to Filipinos who would like to go beyond traditional insurance products.

“With Philam Vitality, insurance becomes strongly relevant to our policy holders every day. It is there when they make daily choices: what to eat, how they can improve their health, what exercise to do today, what vacations to plan for, to name a few,” says Philam Life chief executive officer Axel Bromley.

Beyond protection, investment and savings, Philam Vitality pushes the bar and gives day-to-day living benefits that reward members for being healthy. It is a programme that recognizes people’s healthy behaviors worldwide.

“Our mission is to empower Filipinos to achieve financial security and prosperity. To achieve this,
health should not get in the way. People want to be healthy. However, they don’t always act on it. This programme gives amazing tools to help even the most unfit and unhealthy person to start on his
Philam Vitality journey,” continues Bromley.

Philam Vitality gives easier access to basic health check so members will watch out for their health
status, like their updated cholesterol and sugar levels. The programme has partnered with industry
leaders Makati Medical Center and Hi-Precision Diagnostics for discounts to basic and some
advanced screens. Its exclusive dental partner, Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC),
likewise provides significant discounts for basic dental assessments.

To keep improving their health, members are given exclusive discounts to Gold’s Gym, Toby’s Sports
and renowned fitness device brands, Garmin and Polar. Smokers can also take advantage of a special
package for Smoking Cessation at the Makati Medical Center.

Each time a member takes the screens and does healthy activities, Philam Vitality Points are awarded.
The points add up to allow a member to reach a higher status for higher benefits, starting from Bronze to Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Intelligent incentives were designed to reward members for taking steps to be healthier. These
rewards come from partners like SM Cinema, Seda Hotels, Marriott and Enchanted Kingdom.
All these partner branches and establishments are located in over 180 locations all over the Philippines, giving a great chance of access to members for their benefits.

“The rewards one can get from the Philam Vitality programme are astounding. From the insurance
premium discount to all the partner benefits, a member can see that insurance is now more and more
relevant. We’re excited that Philam Vitality is now available to our BPI-Philam customers. We hope it
will encourage them to sign-up as members to take advantage of the benefits and live healthier and
happier lives,” says BPI-Philam chief executive officer Aibee Cantos.

Making Education Policy payouts more convenient with Philam Life

Direct Deposit Promo Winners. Front Row L-R: Juan A. Daoang and his Financial Advisor Esther Pria; Felicitas A. Evangelista; Salvacion and Melchor Mandader; and Sara Espiritu Santo, Philam Life Financial Advisor who attended on behalf of her client, Ammie M. Altavano.

Back Row L-R: Giovani Evangelista;  Philam Life Chief Life Operations Officer Richard Bracken; and Philam Life Chief Executive Officer Axel Bromley.



Every parent aims to give his child a good college education. Through an education policy, parents are assured that no matter what happens, their child will have funds for a college degree.

Philam Life understands the real life needs of its customers and knows how important education is for its policyholders. The company has constantly delivered on its promises and has promptly released over P9 billion in education pay-out to its policyholders.

To make education payout release faster and more convenient for its policyholders, Philam Life launched the Direct Deposit payment facility—through which Scholar Gold policyholders will get their policy benefits credited directly to their bank account.

As part of the campaign to promote the Direct Deposit facility, Philam Life recently held an electronic raffle promo to the early enrolees of the Direct Deposit facility by giving away brand new Apple iPhone 6 to five (5) lucky Scholar Gold policyholders.  

The winners of a brand new Apple iPhone 6 are: Juan Daoang of Pangasinan, Felicitas Evangelista of Malate, Manila; Melchor Mandadero of Parang, Marikina; Ammie Altavano of Angono, Rizal and Wilma Aquino of Pangasinan.

One of the winners, Mr. Juan Daoang, who came all the way from Pangasinan, shared that he has Philam Life education policies for his three children.  When he learned about the new Direct Deposit facility from his last visit to the Philam Life Customer Service Center in Dagupan City, he immediately applied for it. Now with the convenience of the Direct Deposit facility, Mr. Daoang will be able to withdraw tuition funds directly from his bank account, without having to travel great distances.

Another winner of the electronic raffle, Mrs. Felicitas Evangelista and her husband didn’t have a child of their own. Instead, Mrs. Evangelista invested in a Philam Life Scholar Gold education policy for her nephew, Nathaniel, who is a third year Computer Engineering student at Bulacan State University. Because the Evangelista couple lived and worked in Manila and their nephew was in Bulacan, the responsibility of claiming the benefits went to Nathaniel’s grandfather. Since he is not the policyholder, he always went through the process of presenting authorization documents to claim the policy benefits. Now with the new Direct Deposit facility, the education benefits will be directly credited to Mrs. Evangelista’s bank account, which she can easily transmit to Nathaniel’s grandfather.

“We understand the real life needs of our customers so we are shifting to paperless and online transactions. Thanks to innovative technology, we are able to give our customers like Mr. Daoang and Mrs Evangelista a faster and more convenient way to receive their policy benefits,” said Philam Life CEO Axel Bromley.

The Direct Deposit facility is just one of the ways that Philam Life is undertaking to make financial planning easier for customers.

For more information about Philam Life, please visit www.Philamlife.com

Philamlife launched "Wanderlust" An epic journey to your next big career adventure

Successful people are the ones who see opportunities and seize them. However, not all people truly appreciate how seizing opportunities can lead to a fulfilling life. Only those brave enough to explore possibilities and embrace change can truly enjoy life and live their dreams.

Philam Life launched its first ever MEGA Business Opportunity Program (BOP)at the SM Megamall cinema entitled “Wanderlust.” With over 800 guests, Philam Life introduced how this career of being a financial advisor can change their lives and the lives of the people they serve.

Record-breaking attendance with almost 800 passengers and Philam Life Financial Advisors

Three of the power speakers, Aileen Palmes, Nina Solomon, and Eric Nicdao are all proud travelers of the Philam Life Premier Agency career path. Each of them described how different their journey started at first and how similar they have become.

Aileen Palmes started out in the hospitality industry and then shifted to the retail industry. She wanted to have personal growth, own her time, and do the things she loves doing. She then decided
to make a career change and become a Philam Life Financial Advisor. At first,the adjustment was difficult because she would constantly find herself out of her comfort zone. But Aileen found this
career to be more meaningful in terms of providing serviceto her clients’ needs. This gave her strength and inspiration to overcome her challenges.

 District Manager Eric Nicdao, Unit Manager Nina Solomon and Premier Advisor Aileen Palmes answer questions by the audience and by celebrity host RJ Ledesma

“I realized that as a Financial Advisor, I’m still in the service industry,” said Palmes. “What I enjoyed in my previous work in a hotel, I still enjoy up to now and even more because servicing has rewarded me with engaging with clients, and really getting to know them to build lasting relationships.”

Unit Manager Nina Solomon likewise came to the same conclusion. Her personal experience strengthened her commitment to help others secure their future and those of their loved ones. “As a Philam Life Financial Advisor, I’ve made it my mission to make sure that my clients’ families will have a good life no matter what happens,”she said. Nina’s hard work has also been greatly rewarded with travels to 25 different countries for free. She was able to accomplish these while being the master of her own time, something that District Manager Eric Nicdao also affirms.

In the first seven years of Eric Nicdao’s corporate career,staying late in the office until 4am and reporting back at 7am was expected of him. This left him with no free time to be with his family. When he made the career shift to join the Philam Life Premier Agency,Eric truly appreciates being able to balance work and life.“A happy person should have a healthy body, a spiritual life,and a good balance between life and work,” said Nicdao.  “As a Philam Life Financial Advisor, you own your time thus enabling you more leeway to set your priorities and live a quality life.”

The three speakers have many traits in common--persistence, courage, and charm. They also attribute their success to a wide array of intensive training and development programs offered by the Philam Life Premier Academy. A combination of training and hands-on mentoring from well-experienced agency leaders has also helped them understand the business,build their client portfolio,bring out their leadership capabilities, and step up to be highly productive and profitable.

All these have made Aileen, Nina, and Eric achieve their Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) status. MDRT is an organization whose membership is internationally recognized as the standard of excellence in life insurance and financial services.

To cap off the event, Philam Life Head of Agency Strategy Office Stephen Segismundo stressed the common bond that ties Philam Life Financial Advisors and their customers together.


“Being a Philam Life Financial Advisor is more than just a career. We are in the business of helping our customers live their real life passions and achieve their dreams. Taking on this career path will reward you in ways that you could never have imagined. In life, using the road less travelled can be worthwhile,” said Segismundo.

Philam Life offers this exciting journey to those who want to make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others. Indeed, life is full of possibilities worth discovering.

For more information, please visit http://www.philamlife.com/en/about-us/careers/agency-careers/

Philam Life swings higher in the Year of the Fire Monkey

Philam Life celebrated the year of the Fire Monkey at the heart of the Filipino-Chinese Community in Binondo. Manila where employees, agency leaders, advisers, and customers gathered at the Philam Life office on Quintin Parades Street.

“Philam Life celebrates the Chinese New Year as a gesture of solidarity and respect to this important tradition among the Filipino—Chinese community," says Axel Bromley. Philam Life CEO.

in his welcome message, Bromley expressed Philam Life’s deep affiliation with the Filipino-Chinese since its parent company. AIA, was established in Shanghai, China over 90 years ago. This continuously inspires Philam Life to carry on the legacy of delivering innovative products and services to the Filipino Chinese community and to all Filipinos.

As the New Year offers more room for bigger growth. Mr. Bromley highlighted the company’s achievements for the past year and reiterated the company's commitment to provide customers with the right plans and the right solutions to enable them to achieve their dreams.

This 2016. Philam Life will build its Premier Agency through leader development and quality recruitment to grow MDRTs; beef up its bancassurance channels through BPl-Philam and NA Citi; offer a complete suite of financial solutions ranging from protection, health, education, savings, investment and retirement to meet the real life needs of our customers; make services simpler and faster for customers through multiple payment facilities, e-billing. and other innovations; and embark on office transformation to level up customer services through modern office facilities.

Part of the day's event was the traditional eye-dotting ceremony, which cleanses and provides good luck in the area where the dragons and lions are awakened. Philam Life CEO Axel Bromley and Philam Life Chief Agency Ofncer Jay Ledesma led the eye-dotting ceremony and were joined by Philam Life agency leaders.

“The year 2015 has been a remarkable year for Philam Life.” said Mr. Bromley. “We are even more excited for 2016. We are confident that with our robust and innovative plans, Philam Life is well
positioned for more growth to make the Year of the Monkey an auspicious year for our customers and all our stakeholders," he enthused.

For more information about Philam Life. log on to wwwphilamlifecom.

AIA CEO Mark Tucker pays courtesy call at Philam Life Makati

Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel F. Dooc, Department of Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima and Chief Executive Officer and President of AIA Group, Mark Tucker

.Recognizing the Philippines as an important market of AIA, the Chief Executive Officer and President of AIA Group, Mark Tucker (right) was recently in Manila to meet with the Philam Life agency force as they move “Faster, Stronger, and Higher” this 2016.

During his trip, he also met with Department of Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima (center) and  (left) at the Philam Life Tower in Makati City.

Philam Life is a subsidiary of the AIA Group, the world’s second largest life insurer and the largest independent publicly-listed pan-Asian life insurance group with presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific.

An OFW Sails to New Wealth Horizons

Christopher Cervantes was only twenty one years when he left his family to travel the world and work on an oil and chemical tanker ship. Later on after marrying and having kids with the woman of his dreams, he hoped to pay for the education of his children, and help his family live a comfortable life. He rose through the ship ranks, and soon became captain of the ship. As his salary began to increase, however, he noticed that the money he was sending home was not.


“I feel that OFWs, with most of us coming from a difficult financial background, aren’t used to handling large sums of cash. We’re overwhelmed by the sudden inflow of money,” Cervantes observed. “This is why we tend to buy the latest gadgets, go on  outrageous shopping sprees, and splurge on leisure and recreation as if there were no tomorrow,” he further mused.

Eventually, Cervantes realized he had to take a more long-term and responsible approach to his finances. He began to read finance books such as “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, and started to talk to his crewmates about wealth management. In the midst of this newfound perspective, he arrived at one crucial realization: given the rising costs of education and living expenses, a high salary does not guarantee future security.

Despite all the studying Cervantes did on the ship, however, he still had no practical knowledge of how and where to begin investing. He was particularly interested in the stock market, but found it daunting. “At the time, I thought the stock market was only for wealthy businessmen in well-tailored suits. I was hesitant about investing my family’s money on a system I didn’t know much about,” he explained.

It seemed like divine intervention when Cervantes ran into a Philam Life financial advisor at a local fast food restaurant. The financial advisor then convinced the ship captain about the wisdom of life insurance and long-term financial planning, and soon Cervantes was passing on the same knowledge to his crewmates.

“I organized a regular group on the ship every Sunday,” Cervantes narrated. “My goal was to remind them of their original intentions for going abroad in the first place – to provide for their family. And I want to help them realize that the best way to do this is to think long-term, invest in stocks, equity funds, and life insurance plans to secure their family’s financial freedom,” he added. 

Cervantes took this dedication for financial education even further by becoming a Registered Financial Planner. He noticed that although the majority of OFWs plan to retire by the age of 45, a good number end up working overseas even after becoming senior citizens, mainly due to poor financial planning. Chris on the other hand was able to retire at the age of 39.
“It really is my passion to teach people financial literacy. I believe that it is something we should all have, and to eliminate the misconceptions that only the rich can invest and be wise about their money.”

Nowadays, Cervantes holds regular financial literacy programs at his office in Philam Life Cubao. He is also the author of “Financial Planning in the Fast Changing World,”  

“The Seed Money,” and the runner-up in Angat Pilipinas’s OFW Advocate of the Year award.
“My life would be very different if I were still on that boat,” said Cervantes. “Philam Life gave me such a big opportunity to turn my financial mind-set upside down, and it has changed my family’s life for the better.  I encourage all my clients to do the same: invest in stocks, bonds and life insurance plans now.” he concluded.

To find out more about Philam Life’s Balikbayani Program, contact a Philam Life Kabalikat Financial Advisor or call 528-2000 or visit www.philamlife.com

Health and happiness in a convenient package for employees

Happy and healthy employees lead to improved morale and higher productivity. This is why providing attractive medical benefits for a company’s workforce is essential. It is also one of the key considerations of employees in choosing which company to work for.

While providing employee medical benefits is a sound investment for employers, many are still daunted by the cost and challenges of medical insurance application for their employees. Luckily, there are companies that provide medical benefits to large groups that don’t cost as much as employers think.

Philam Life, the country’s premier life insurance company, recently launched a comprehensive Group Medical Insurance plan through its Corporate Solutions arm. Employers can now avail of flexible and extensive medical insurance for their employees depending on their need and budget.

“Companies need to take care of their workforce if they want them to be efficient and productive,” said Philam Life CEO Axel Bromley. “With the new Group Medical Insurance plan, Philam Life empowers employers with the right solution to address the real life needs of their employees,” Bromley emphasized.

In partnership with Medilink, the pioneer in state-of-the-art technology solutions in the healthcare industry, Philam Life introduced Health Link, a packaged plan for micro and small businesses that gives employees the best of both HMO and medical reimbursement programs while providing life insurance benefits.

"We believe that healthcare is a universal human need. It should be affordable, accessible and efficient," explained Medilink President and CEO Esther Go. "We are pleased to support Philam Life's newest product. Trust that our commitment to quality services and innovation will remain as strong as ever."

Employers can choose from any of Health Link’s basic benefits like Basic Medical/Inpatient Benefits, Group Life Insurance, Accidental Death, Dismemberment & Disability Benefit and Total & Permanent Disability Income Benefit.

They can also add optional medical benefits such as Annual Physical Exams, Dental Benefits and Outpatient Benefits which include physician/specialist consultations and x-ray and laboratory tests. The benefits and premiums of Philam Life’s Health Link can be customized depending on the budget or needs of the employer.

Philam Life’s Health Link is available for small business owners with at least five regular employees. Employees may also enroll their legal spouse, children, parents and siblings as their dependents. For large companies or non-employee-employer groups, Philam Life can customize a plan specific to their requirements, too.


Insured members who need financial and medical assistance must simply present their Philam Life membership card to any hospital, clinic or doctor accredited by Medilink. In case their preferred hospital, clinic or doctor is not accredited with Medilink, members can still avail of their services and subsequently, reimburse the expenses incurred. All benefits will be subject to their plan limits.


To know more about Group Medical Insurance or Health Link, contact Philam Life Corporate Solutions via phone at (02) 528-5363, or email at PHI.PAL-CSNewBiz@aia.com. You may also visit www.philamlife.com.

Philam Life presents National Artist Vicente Manansala's paintings at the National Museum

Philam Life CEO Axel Bromley

The last time I made a visit to the National Museum was in high school and it was a school field trip. I had a vague memory of the museum, until I saw the movie "Night at the Museum". Now that I am older and wiser, I suddenly had an urge to visit our own National Museum,  to see what's iconic artifacts are inside and if its in mint condition, to ghost haunt, see the Spoliarium painting by the National Artist Juan Luna, and what the museum offers now that Im two and a half decade older. Until I got an invite from a PR friend.

Spoliarium 

Philam Life offers an exclusive tour of the Philam Life Gallery by National Museum Assistant Director Dr. Ana Labrador last June 16 together with Philam Life CEO Axel Bromley to the media guests. The building itself is newly renovated and painted, the hallways are clean, the exhibition room is well- lit and organized. We first passed by the "Spoliarium" painting by National Artist Juan Luna. Spoliarium is a Latin word for coliseum's morgue which refers to the basement of the Roman Colosseum where the fallen and dying gladiators are dumped and devoid of their worldly possessions.

 Philamlife brings the Vicente Manansala collection , another illustrious National Artist,  the late Vincent Manansala, had his work exhibited at the National Museum. Vicente Manansala was a cubist painter and illustrator of no small renown. He was commissioned by Philam Life to create murals for the Philam Life Head Office. Following his passing in 1981, he was posthumously proclaimed a National Artist in Painting on the same year.

The gallery houses Manansala's  art collection that depict Filipino life, rendered in the artist signature style of “transparent cubism”.

Philam Life donated Php 1 million to the Museum through the Philam Foundation. The sum will be
used for the further upkeep of the paintings at the Philam Life Gallery, and was received by Dr. Ana Labrador on behalf of the National Museum.

The Philam Foundation has also been cooperating with the National Museum in building classrooms in typhoon-affected areas under the “Philam Paaralan” program. They jointly built four new classrooms - two in Loon South Central Elementary School, in Loon, Bohol soon after the earthquake and two in Salug Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, which was among the schools devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.

Philam Life’s new CEO takes pride in its Manansala collection. “As an art connoisseur myself, it is a privilege to be part of an institution that strongly supports the arts,” said Mr. Axel Bromley. He believes in the importance of developing education and promoting the advancement of Philippine arts and culture. “We hope that through this partnership with the National Museum, more Filipinos can appreciate our collection and have access to these precious artworks of National Artist Vicente Manansala.”

Visit The National Museum, the Manansala paintings are now available for public viewing. The best part is, admission is free.

Philam Life elects Axel Bromley as new CEO

Philam Life today announced the election of J.Axel Bromley as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2015, subject to regulatory approvals.

Mr. Bromley brings rich global experience to the role, after spending over 20 years of working in Eastern Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East and the Indian Sub-Continent. He also has more than 13 years of experience in the insurance industry, previously as General Manager/Country Manager in Nepal, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Ukraine.

Prior to the election, Mr. Bromley was Director of Strategic Initiatives at AIA Group, Philam Life’s parent company, which is the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group with presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific.

AIA considers the Philippines as a high priority market, taking into consideration the country’s booming economy and continued investor confidence. High expectations is alsoplaced on its local subsidiary, Philam Life, to take advantage of the huge potential of the booming market and continue its strong financial performance.

Based on its 2014 year-end audited financial statements, Philam Life’s total assets stood at P226.8 billion and net worth at P85.2 billion.  Total revenues was P35.2 billion, including gross premiums of P18.6 billion and investment income of P12.5 billion.

The company’s strong performance can be attributed to the shift to Unit Linked Products (ULP) which are insurance products tied to investments. These investment-linked products have since been in-demand given the market upswing. With a GDP growth of 6.1% in 2014, the Philippines remains among the top performing economies in Asia.

Philam Life’s banc assurance arm, BPI-Philam also posted strong results in 2014 with total assets of P63.5 billion, net worth of P7.9 billion, and gross premiums of P14.5 billion.

"Philam Life remains committed to become the leading provider in insurance and wealth management solutions. Our vision is to be the undisputed industry leader, in terms of scale, quality and profitability. With the support of our parent company, AIA Group, we are confident to continue providing our customers with a diverse range of products and solutions to address their real life needs,” said Mr. Bromley.

Invest an education plan with Philam Life

Planning Ahead To Learn

Cecile S. Nishigaki (left) receives a check from Philam Life Director of Agencies for Manila B, Rico Bautista, for the education of her daughter Johannah who studies at the Lyceum of the Philippines.



It is a universal truth that parents only want the best for their children, and this is evident when it comes to education. No matter how diverse goals may be, a good education is considered by many as the main foundation of a successful future.

The curriculum, staff, social surroundings, and a school’s track record all play a part when parents need to choose the best academic program to help prepare their kids for “real life.”  A high quality education, however, usually comes with a high price tag.

Considering that future tuition fees can be overwhelming, new parents can benefit a lot from planning ahead. Before their child reach a year old, parents like Cecile S. Nishigaki decided to invest in an education plan with Philam Life to be paid for over the span of five years.

Fast forward to her children’s college years, Cecile now receives her investment in the form of annual checks. Although the annual payments may not cover the tuition in entirety, they undeniably help lighten a lot of the financial load.

Since 2004, Philam Life has released more than P9 billion in educational benefits, with P1.5 billion of that released in 2014 alone.  Johannah, the daughter of Cecile will be entering her 4th year at the Lyceum of the Philippines. Indeed, parents who choose to invest in their children’s future with Philam Life will be happy to see their investment pay off in the future.

Real People, Real Heroes

We often see heroes as larger-than-life individuals with super strength, cool gadgets, or martial art skills. But in real life, heroes are characterized by genuine kindness, selfless acts, and making a difference. It is these seemingly non-super-powered (yet still challenging) every day acts of kindness and selflessness that make these real life heroes super in their own right.

AIA Group Limited, the real life company, believes that ordinary people are more than capable of going above and beyond the call of duty to help others.  They have launched the first-ever AIA Real Life Hero Awards, a conglomerate-wide search for outstanding financial advisors of the AIA group of companies, which includes Philam Life, the country’s premier life insurance company. AIA has been on the look-out for stories of advisors that best embody the four brand beliefs of AIA: professionalism, caring, fairness, and ease to work – making them fit to be called heroes.

Out of the 15 selected candidates from various AIA markets in the Asia Pacific region, the Philippines is proud to have two finalists from Philam Life. Captain Chris Cervantes actively promotes financial literacy among his fellow OFWs, and Nina Solomon shares her time and blessings to many charitable institutions. Their mission as Real Life heroes is to help Filipinos secure the future, so they can enjoy the present.

To know more about the inspiring works of Chris Cervantes and Nina Solomon, and to vote for whom you think is the best Real Life Hero, please visit http://www.aiareallifeheroes.com/hero/voting/index.   Last day of voting is on May 20, 2015.