Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading international financial services provider Manulife, won the Most Creative Marketing Campaign in the Philippines at the InsuranceAsia News Country Awards for Excellence 2025.
Manulife Philippines received the award for its Manulife Stories campaign, which showcased inspiring real-life stories from customers whose lives were positively impacted by the insurer’s comprehensive suite of products and solutions. These stories reflected how Manulife effectively addressed evolving health and financial needs through meaningful support and tailored coverage.
The featured stories are:
Marielle, who was able to finish her medical school because of the insurance benefit received when her mother passed away;
Yvonne, who used her husband’s death benefit to send her child to nursing school;
KL, a mother who used her policy’s living benefits to be able to afford an IVF procedure;
Peach, an HIV+ transgender woman, who was able to save up for her family’s needs through her insurance; and
Mark, a father of a child with special needs, who was able to obtain health coverage for his son.
“Our mission to make decisions easier and lives better for our customers in the Philippines comes to life through the Manulife Stories campaign,” said Sonali Verma, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines. “The experiences shared by our customers remind us that our interactions go beyond business transactions. We take pride in representing our commitment to being Filipino customers’ trusted partner towards a better, more financially secure future.”
Manulife Philippines today hosted its inaugural “Time to MOVE – Manulife Longevity Symposium” at Grand Hyatt Manila, bringing together over 500 healthcare experts, industry thought leaders, financial advisors, customers, colleagues, and partners to address one of the nation’s most pressing challenges: how to live not just longer, but better.
This milestone reflects Manulife’s deepening commitment to advancing the longevity movement in the country, building on similar initiatives across Asia.
The symposium served as a platform to share insights, foster collaboration, and inspire action toward healthier, more purposeful living. The event also marked the launch of Manulife MOVE, a holistic health program designed to encourage healthier habits through everyday movement and proactive lifestyle choices.
Central to the symposium were key findings from the Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025, which explored Filipinos’ perspectives, readiness, and concerns about aging and longevity. The survey revealed a shift in mindset: Filipinos are increasingly focused on the quality of life they want to experience as they age, rather than simply extending their lifespan.
As Filipinos embrace a new meaning of living longer and better, Manulife Philippines President and CEO Rahul Hora reaffirms the company’s commitment to empowering them with trusted guidance, expert insights, and financial tools to make confident, informed decisions about their future. 🇵🇭💚 Through its Longevity Symposium, Manulife continues to champion a future where Filipinos can live healthier, more rewarding lives at every stage. 🌿✨ #Manulife#RahulHora#LiveBetterLonger#FinancialWellness#Longevity#EmpowerFilipinos#HealthyLiving#FutureReady#FinancialConfidence
“As Filipinos redefine what it means to live longer and better, we at Manulife are committed to helping them achieve this vision with trusted guidance and financial tools to help them make informed decisions about their future,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.
“This Longevity Symposium underscores our dedication to equipping Filipinos with relevant expert insights, comprehensive solutions and financial strategies that empower them to gain confidence and enjoy a healthier, more rewarding life as they grow older.”
Bridging health, finance, and purpose: Cross-sector collaboration in action
The symposium featured keynote sessions, interactive showcases, and expert panels exploring how individuals, industries, and communities can work together to extend health span, strengthen financial readiness, and enhance quality of life across all life stages.
Key symposium highlights included:
Preventive Health Innovation: Leading experts Dr. Jeremy Lim (CEO & Co-founder, AMILI), Dr. Natha Kumar (Head of Medical Affairs, Guardant Health), and Dr. Beverly Ho (Chief Health Officer, Ayala Health) showcased cutting-edge health solutions, including methods for prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, and management of pressing health challenges.
Future of Retirement: In line with Manulife’s mission of delivering exceptional financial solutions and services, Aira Gaspar (President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Investments Philippines) and Elvin Tharm (Head of Retirement, Manulife Asia) gave a fast-paced presentation focused on busting the most common myths about retirement readiness.
How can we live better—and longer? 🌿💚 Manulife’s Global Head of Sustainability Ariel Kangasniemi joined brand ambassador Erwan Heussaff to explore how sustainability, equity, and health come together to help people live longer, better lives. From forest restoration to carbon sequestration, Manulife’s nature-based investments are driving climate resilience and building healthier communities for generations to come. #Manulife#Sustainability#LiveBetterLonger#ClimateAction#ESG#HealthyCommunities#NatureBasedSolutions#ErwanHeussaff#GreenInvestments
Living Better for Longer: Manulife Global Head of Sustainability and Climate Performance Management and Managing Director, Head of ESG – General Account Ariel Kangasniemi joined Manulife Philippines brand ambassador Erwan Heussaff in exploring how sustainability, equity, and health intersect to support longer, better lives. They highlighted Manulife’s nature-based investments—from forest restoration to carbon sequestration—as key drivers of climate resilience and community longevity.
“Our choices now impact our future. It does not take extreme efforts, sometimes, even the smallest steps such as choosing to eat healthy, getting enough sleep, learning from expert advice, when done consistently, help us to achieve our desired future,” shared Kangasniemi during the panel discussion.
Generational insights meet actionable solutions: From research to real change
A key highlight of the symposium was the launch of ManulifeMOVE, a holistic health program bringing together the right proposition, products, platforms, and partners to improve customer’s well-being at every stage.
Health Empowerment – With relevant insights, ManulifeMOVE aims to empower customers with the knowledge to understand the importance of preventive care and integrate these into my everyday life for improved overall wellness.
Partnership-driven Health Proposition – Linking up with industry partners, ManulifeMOVE will give customers access to discounted and exclusive offerson preventive services, quick diagnosis, effective treatments, and comprehensive support for recovery and ongoing health management.
Digital Health Experience – The MOVE section in the Manulife app will be a consolidated entry point for health solutions and journeys.
Health Solutions – Manulife’s comprehensive suite of health plans offers critical illness and life coverage from early diagnosis to recovery, supplementing Filipinos’ state-provided health insurance.
The launch was marked with interactive breakout sessions designed to translate insights into action. Participants engaged in four themed experiences—Live, Flex, Breathe, and Think— each offering practical guidance on nutrition, fitness, mental well-being, and brain health. These sessions highlighted sustainable eating practices, physical exercises that help people stay strong as they age, stress management, and cognitive health tips, providing attendees with actionable advice that they could immediately incorporate into their daily routines.
For Manulife brand ambassador Anne Curtis, the message resonates personally: “While many Filipinos are aware of the importance of good health, there remains a gap between awareness and action. As a mom, I’ve realized how important it is to stay strong and healthy for myself and my family. Manulife’s Time to MOVE is such a meaningful reminder that caring for our bodies and minds is an investment in a longer, better future.”
Shaping better tomorrows: Strategic partnerships for national longevity
The symposium also served as a springboard for broader conversations about the role of private-public partnerships in shaping a healthier future for Filipinos. Discussions emphasized how strategic investments and institutional support can significantly contribute to helping individuals and communities prepare for the realities of longer lifespans.
“Filipinos are beginning to view their future through a new lens, with our survey revealing a rising emphasis on living well—prioritizing independence, financial stability, and overall quality of life,” Hora added. “There’s a clear opportunity to bridge the gap between aspiration and action through practical, preventive solutions that empower our kababayans to maintain their well-being and enjoy a more fulfilling future. At Manulife, we’re committed to turning these insights into action by offering solutions that support Filipinos in planning confidently, living meaningfully, and securing the future they envision.”
Manulife’s “Time to MOVE” symposium marks a pivotal moment in the company’s efforts to champion healthier and more confident living in an aging Philippines. By bringing together diverse voices and actionable insights, Manulife Philippines reinforces its commitment to supporting Filipinos at every stage of life and encouraging them to live longer and better, with health, purpose, and financial security at the core.
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Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading international financial services provider Manulife, and its brand ambassadors, food content creator Erwan Heussaff and daughter Dahlia, premiered their third collaborative video, which emphasizes the importance of healthy eating.
The video, now live on Heussaff’s social media pages, shows the father-daughter tandem bonding at home on a rainy day and cooking tomato soup, highlighting that even small steps and simple recipes can make an impact on our overall health.
“Teaching kids to eat right at an early age is just as critical as instilling values like honesty or kindness. It sets the foundation for their life-long health, discipline, and relationship with food,” Heussaff said. “Obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases once seen in adults, are now affecting kids. Healthy eating early can help prevent these long-term issues.”
A recent Manulife Philippines study found that 33% of Filipinos consider their current lifestyle as unhealthy, while 24% of respondents say they do not really know what is considered a healthy diet. Further, this year’s Manulife Asia Care Survey revealed that while people in the Philippines view physical health as the most important factor to living their desired lifespan, only 5 of 17 preventive actions are being taken by more than half of the respondents to stay healthy. With his collaboration with Manulife, Heussaff aims to show how small everyday habits can lead to a healthier lifestyle.
“Insights from our recent studies reveal Filipinos are aware of the importance of their physical health to living a better life. Despite the high level of awareness, there are still gaps in their action to fully attain a healthy lifestyle,” said Sonali Verma, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines.
Verma added,“At Manulife, we remain committed to empowering Filipinos to take charge of their health, wellness, and financial security through our products and solutions. Additionally, our partnerships with trusted public figures like the Heussaffs help us communicate this message—making decisions easier and lives better for more Filipino families.”
Since joining wife Anne Curtis as a Manulife brand ambassador, Erwan has collaborated with the insurer to produce a video series, which supports Manulife’s commitment to enable Filipinos to live healthier and better lives. The first two featured healthy cooking tips and the company’s Impact Agenda initiatives with Haribon Foundation in Quezon Province. The Heussaffs also recently starred in Manulife Philippines’ latest brand campaign, “M Knows Better.”
About Manulife Philippines
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company opened its doors for business in the Philippines in 1907. Since then, Manulife’s Philippine Branch and later The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.), Inc. (Manulife Philippines) has grown to become one of the country’s leading life insurance companies. Manulife Philippines is a wholly owned domestic subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation, among the world’s largest life insurance companies by market capitalization. Learn more about Manulife Philippines by visiting their website manulife.com.ph and following them on Facebook (facebook.com/ManulifePH), Twitter (@ManulifePH), and Instagram (@manulifeph).
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping our customers make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice and insurance for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2024, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 109,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 36 million customers. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong.
Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading international financial services provider Manulife, launched a new digital film featuring brand ambassadors Anne Curtis, Erwan Heussaff, and their daughter Dahlia for the “M Knows Better” campaign. The mockumentary-style video introduces “M,” a loving but hilariously overprepared family friend who always goes the extra mile to take care of those she loves.
In the video, “M” helps the Heussaff family through various scenarios—being ready to put out a fire amid a kitchen mishap, calling an ambulance when Erwan simply catches a cold, and helping Dahlia train to become a prima ballerina—all because she genuinely cares and wants them to be prepared for anything life throws their way. While her methods might be a bit “extra,” her heart is always in the right place. The video ends with a simple but powerful question: “Do you have someone who cares as much as you do?” followed by Manulife’s tagline, “Where will better take you.”
The campaign resonates with the family’s authentic experience with Manulife. “Manulife has really helped our family plan ahead and build financial security for our family’s future,” said Anne Curtis, a Manulife policyholder since 2009. “This new digital film is a fun and creative way to show people the kind of care and support we’re receiving from Manulife.”
The campaign shows how caring means going the extra mile, especially for people who matter to us. Through “M’s” character, Manulife wants to demonstrate the kind of genuine care they provide to their customers.
“We want to show Filipinos that they can count on Manulife as a trusted partner who cares, protects, and is there to help them secure a better future,” said Sonali Verma, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines. “Our mission is to make our customers’ decisions easier and lives better, so we aim to be their trusted partner, always there to support them and help them plan ahead.”
“M Knows Better” is now available on Manulife Philippines’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading international financial services provider Manulife, and its brand ambassador, Erwan Heussaff, launched their newest collaborative video featuring the environmental conservation efforts in Quezon Province.
The video, now live on FEATR’s YouTube channel, also highlights how sustainable farming and conservation work in these communities have created opportunities for more stable income streams for community members while allowing them to rebuild the ecosystems future generations will inherit.
Manulife makes investing in forests a priority because it believes that a healthier planet means healthier people. Through its global Impact Agenda initiative, Manulife is committed to continuing to scale its nature-based climate solutions to help combat forest cover loss and protect related livelihoods. The Philippines has lost approximately 140,000 hectares of mangrove forests since 1920. Quezon Province, which faces the Philippine Sea, regularly experiences typhoons that make mangrove restoration critical for coastal protection.
“One of the reasons we decided to partner with Manulife Philippines was their dedication to their Impact Agenda, where they have a mission of creating a better tomorrow for business, communities, and ultimately, for the planet,” Heussaff shared in the video.
The video shows how local farmers have taken a more active role in efforts to reforest Siera Madre, which is considered a natural barrier against typhoons, with the help of the Haribon Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to protect and restore biodiversity and natural resources. Since 2022, Manulife Philippines and Haribon have planted over 21,250 native tree seedlings across 17 hectares in Luzon provinces. Their partnership now includes mangrove restoration efforts in Quezon Province, with plans to plant 15,000 mangrove seedlings over three years.
“Our ridge-to-reef approach forms part of our holistic efforts to connect different ecosystems in the Sierra Madre mountain range. By protecting the Sierra Madre and our mangrove systems, we also protect the Filipino families who depend on them for livelihood,” said Nova Regalario, Conservation Specialist, Haribon Foundation.
Lasting impact to communities
In the new video, Heussaff highlights these benefits to the local community. He first visits the women of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) running a thriving cacao tablea business in Real Quezon. There he meets entrepreneur Merissa Marquez who demonstrates their cacao tablea production process, turning locally sourced cacao into chocolate tablets. For Marquez, the collaboration between Haribon Foundation and KALIPI has empowered women in their community.
“Before, we used to import cacao from other places. When we became part of KALIPI and started working with Haribon, we realized we could produce our own tablea and provide business opportunities for women,” shared Marquez.
Heussaff also learned to cook traditional dishes with local ingredients sourced from these restored ecosystems. He prepared sinigang na baboy with katmon fruits found in reforested areas and sinantolan na alimango using crabs that thrive in healthy mangrove nurseries.
“What really struck me was seeing how important these natural resources are to the locals and their cuisine,” shared Heussaff. “The crabs come from healthy mangroves, the katmon fruits from reforested areas. It made me realize how we need to put more effort into protecting our environment if we want to safeguard Filipino culture for future generations.”
“What’s remarkable about these communities is how they’ve turned environmental challenges into real livelihood opportunities, which we hope will contribute to their upward economic mobility,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.
“This collaboration in Quezon Province aligns perfectly with our Impact Agenda—our commitment to empowering sustained health and well-being, driving inclusive economic opportunities, and accelerating a sustainable future. We want to continue supporting local communities like KALIPI through conservation efforts that create lasting economic benefits for families and protect the environment for future generations.”
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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
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.
