InLife Sheroes Shines the Spotlight on Filipino Women as it Celebrates 5th Anniversary; Launches the InLife Sheroes Awards

InLife Executive Chairperson Nina D. Aguas (4^th from left) and InLife Dreamweaver Megastar Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan led guests in exchanging Sheroes bracelets representing the bonds formed these past five years and the promise to stand by each other through thick and thin. With them are (from left) host KaladKaren Davila, Ms. Mitch Valdez, Aryn Cristobal, and Nicki Morena.

InLife Sheroes shone the spotlight on women, led by Executive Chairperson and InLife Sheroes prime mover Nina D. Aguas, and InLife Dreamweaver, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, in an afternoon program that celebrated its achievements in the last five years.

Aside from Ms. Cuneta, other performers included veteran actress, singer and comedienne Mitch Valdez, multitalented performer Aryn Cristobal , Stand-up performer Nicki Morena. Versatile comedienne KaladKaren hosted the event.

Ms. Aguas recalled how from a goal of reaching one million Filipino women three years after its inception in 2019, InLife Sheroes, now 5 years old, has reached more than 6.5 million Filipino women through various on-ground and online activities.

“InLife Sheroes will reach out to more Filipino women so that they become empowered through financial education and inclusion. This will be done through various digital/online and on-the-ground initiatives nationwide coupled with partnerships with various like-minded organizations.” ~Nina D. Aguas, Executive Chairperson and InLife Sheroes Prime Mover

InLife Sheroes, InLife’s flagship program for women empowerment, was established in partnership with the  International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. It aims to reach out to the relatively untapped segment of the women in the Philippines, especially women entrepreneurs who need life and health protection as well as financial solutions to expand their businesses. InLife Sheroes’ four focus areas are financial literacy, health and wellness, women-specific solutions, and access to social and business networks.

In order to exemplify these, InLife forged strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations such as the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment, the University of the Philippines – Manila’s Mu Sigma Phi, I Can Serve Foundation, Imaginable Impact, For The Women Foundation, Connected Women and major hospitals in the country among others, aside from its bancassurance partner UnionBank of the Philippines, associate Insular Health Care, and social commitment arm Insular Foundation, Inc.

Recently, InLife launched a critical illness life insurance plan called Resilience Female Cancers, aimed at providing coverage for women who would suffer from nine kinds of cancers such as: breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer; uterine sarcomas, malignant mixed mullerian tumors, malignant germ cell tumors, fallopian tube cancer and leiomyosarcomas.

Meanwhile, Ms. Cuneta, a Shero herself, launched a video series on her YouTube channel, with the first episode discussing the importance of choosing a healthier lifestyle and preparing for the financial impact of health emergencies.

During the anniversary show held at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula on March 12, InLife also launched the InLife Sheroes Awards. The Awards Program will honor Filipino women who embody the four pillars of InLife Sheroes: champions of financial education, advocates for physical and/or mental health and wellness, accomplished women who work for the benefit of women and business leaders whose products and services address women’s needs. Nominations should be accompanied by a 500-word  write up on the nominee’s profile, explaining her advocacies and endeavors, and must be sent to inlifesheroes@insular.com.ph from March 12 to August 15, 2024.

For more information on the InLife Sheroes, visit https://www.inlifesheroes.com/.

InLife Sheroes Third Anniversary & Nation of Sheroes

InLife Sheroes Third Anniversary & Nation of Sheroes

Insular Life (InLife) celebrated the third anniversary of InLife Sheroes, its women empowerment movement on March 22, and called on Filipino women to be trailblazing masterpieces in their own right. 

Titled Obra Maestra, InLife Sheroes’ 3rd Anniversary celebration aims to build a nation of masterpieces made up of trailblazing women in various sectors of the society who create meaning and purpose for others. They are women whose simple acts of Sheroism have improved the lives of others. These women masterpieces who have blazed the trail in various ways make up a Nation of Sheroes.

“Today we celebrate the third year since we launched our ambitious program, the InLife Sheroes, with the goal of helping women to be financially independent, to live healthier, wealthier and meaningful lives.  Our target was to reach out to 1 million people in three years. We reached not just 1 or 2 or 3 million, but 7.6 million lives. We at InLife and InLife Sheroes will always strive to do good and bring out the good in people through our advocacies.  This year and onwards, we see InLife Sheroes as a movement that will flow, and grow even bigger and wider.” ~Nina D. Aguas, InLife Executive Chairperson

Empowered Women

Two Filipino women who have shown that they can make a difference in the world shared their experience and insights during the event.

 

Lorelie Quiambao Osial, the first Filipina to be named President and CEO of Pilipinas Shell and Country Chair of Shell Companies in the Philippines, is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, and digital transformation. She spoke about gender and corporate leadership. 

She talked how in her line of work, leadership really has no gender. She discussed her journey and success as a woman leader in an industry normally dominated by men, which she credits to her uniqueness and her being multidimensional—having many facets and wearing many hats as she goes through life. Her brand of leadership is transformative, where leaders inspire and motivate people to innovate and create change that will help and grow the business, and shape the future. 

Ana Patricia Non, who founded the Maginhawa Community Pantry that sparked the spirit of volunteerism among Filipinos during the pandemic, spoke about how her love for herself made her realize she has so much more to give to her community. She was the Grand Winner of the 2021 Asia CEO InLife Young Shero of the Year Award. 

The Award aims to honor young Filipino women aged 40 and below who have achieved recognizable success in overseeing organizations that advance the country’s economic or social standing in the eyes of the world. Among the young women who make up the first batch of the InLife Young Shero of the Year Circle of Excellence are: Malou Perez of Pawssion Project, Maureen Ledesma of Vesl, Charlene Tan of All Vision Solar, Anya Lim of Anthill Fabric Gallery, Nina Opida of Humble Sustainability, Karen Jane Salutan of Pinoy Indie Films Roadshow, Therese Clarence Ruiz of Rags2Riches, Ray Alyannah Ysabel Lagasca of Youth for Mental Health, Jenica Dizon of Waves for Water Philippines, and Atty. Therese Guiao of Parabukas. 

Ana Patricia Non, Founded the Maginhawa Community Pantry, Grand Winner of the 2021 Asia CEO InLife Young Shero of the Year Award

“Para sa mga kababaihan, nasa atin na ang pagmamahal, pagaaruga, lakas at talino. Nasa atin ang mga bagay para simulan ang mga pangarap natin. Dapat ang pangarap natin hindi lang para sa sarili kundi para sa community, (As women, we possess love, care, strength, and intelligence. These things will help us in fulfilling our dreams. We should not only dream for ourselves but our community as well). ” ~Ana Patricia Non, Founded the Maginhawa Community Pantry, Grand Winner of the 2021 Asia CEO InLife Young Shero of the Year Award

She reminded women that giving out food and goods is not a requirement, that they can help by providing their expertise to improve the lives of others.

“Kung ano yung expertise sa pinili nating larangan…pwede tayong magturo, pwede tayong magvolunteer. Iba-iba po ang paraan sa pagtulong at hindi din tayo mauubusan ng creativity.  (Whatever is our expertise in our chosen field…we can teach, we can volunteer our services. There are different ways to help and we will never run out of creativity in doing them).” ~Ana Patricia Non, Founded the Maginhawa Community Pantry, Grand Winner of the 2021 Asia CEO InLife Young Shero of the Year Award

A Nation of Sheroes

To encourage more women to participate in creating and multiplying random acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, and make life a little better for those who need help, InLife Sheroes launched the Nation of Sheroes. InLife volunteers recently went to three areas and volunteered their services in Baguio, Muntinlupa and Davao Cities. 

In Baguio, InLife volunteers packed and transported vegetables that they donated to the Maginhawa Community Pantry. This was done in coordination with Cordillera Landing On You, a group that helps Baguio farmers bring and sell their produce directly to consumers in Manila. In Muntinlupa City, volunteers helped pack art materials and hygiene kits for the wards of Elsie Gaches Village, a facility that provides care and rehabilitation for children and adults with developmental disabilities. In Davao, volunteers brought food and hygiene kits for the pediatric cancer patients of the Southern Philippines Medical Center who are temporarily sheltered at the House of Hope. 

How InLife Sheroes Started

InLife Sheroes was born out of the company’s aim to recognize women as a pillar of strength and empower them. In partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank, it launched the campaign in 2019.

The campaign has four focus areas: financial literacy, health and wellness, women-specific solutions, and access to social and business networks. Through the campaign, women from different walks of life have gathered to learn more about how they can better take care of their health, finances, and overall well-being. 

To learn more about InLife Sheroes, visit www.inlifesheroes.com.

About The Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd

Insular Life (InLife) is the first, largest, and only mutual Filipino life insurance company in the country with over 111 years of uninterrupted service. We apply over a hundred years of experience in financial protection, risk management, savings, and investment to help you make confident decisions for you and your loved ones. 

As a mutual life insurance company, our accountability is to our policyholders.  They can be assured of being protected by a company that has an asset base of over P148 billion and net worth of P37 billion. We have a nationwide presence in 53 branches all over the country, and an expanded digital footprint to serve our customers, wherever and whenever they want. Our success is anchored on the growth and security of our partners, policyholders and beneficiaries, because we exist to offer a lifetime for good for everyone. For more information, visit www.insularlife.com.ph.