Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a joint venture between the Yuchengco Group of Companies and Sun Life Philippines, has secured the ‘Best MSME Insurance Initiative of the Year – Philippines’ award at the Insurance Asia Awards for the third consecutive year since 2022.

In addition to this remarkable achievement, Sun Life Grepa has also been recognized at the International Finance Awards, winning the same category this year. This marks their second win at the International Finance Awards, having been previously recognized as Best Insurance Provider for SME-Philippines in 2022.

“Sun Life Grepa’s MSME MyBiz is a suite of insurance products that has been instrumental in supporting the growth and resilience of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), offering comprehensive and accessible insurance solutions designed to meet the unique needs of small business owners. The continued recognition from industry leaders and esteemed institutions highlights our dedication to innovation and excellence,” said Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim.

For his part, Vice President for Group Sales and Marketing Operations Peter Miranda said that “Our MSME MyBiz initiative strengthens and sustains MSMEs by addressing workforce needs. Providing them accessible and comprehensive life and health insurance not only safeguards their well-being but also help MSME economic robustness, fostering inclusive and sustainable progress. Amidst navigating the Philippine economy’s complexities, initiatives like this underscore collaboration and creativity in advancing ‘nation-building’ for a secure and brighter future.”

“We are also very honored to receive these awards, which reflect our commitment to empowering MSMEs through innovative and reliable insurance solutions,” Mr. Miranda added. “These recognitions inspire us to continue our mission of providing financial security and peace of mind to small business owners, helping them thrive and succeed.”

The MSME MyBiz suite offers a range of affordable, easy-to-sell insurance packages tailored to the various stages of MSME development: start-up, growing, and established ventures. These packages, including Accident ProSafe, Smart Care Plus, and HIPSTER, provide comprehensive life insurance coverage, including benefits for death, disability, and critical illness, thus ensuring financial security in times of adversity. The products are designed to be simple and flexible, allowing employers with 5 to 200 employees to customize coverage options based on the needs and preferences of their workforce.

For inquiries, contact groupsales@sunlifegrepa.com, follow the Sun Life Grepa Healthcare Facebook page, or visit www.sunlifegrepa.com.

When it comes to safeguarding personal health and future, many Filipinos are still considered vulnerable.

Poor nutrition is a major contributor to a range of chronic diseases and among the most common diseases in the country are diabetes, heart disease, and anemia. Recent data also show the Philippines is experiencing a surge in obesity rates and diet-related deaths. The National Nutrition Survey revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obese adults has increased significantly over the past decade. These highlight the urgent need for improved nutrition and healthcare strategies to address this growing epidemic.

While good nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, it’s only part of the equation. To fully safeguard one’s health, financial preparation is essential. Just as nutritious food fuels and protects the body, having a health fund allows one access to the appropriate medical care when needed, creating a well-rounded approach to one’s overall wellbeing.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the poorest Filipinos shell out 75% of out-of-pocket health spending while the richest spend 58% for medicine. Health insurance not only provides financial protection, but also facilitates timely access to healthcare services. With the right insurance plan, individuals can receive regular check-ups and treatments that can prevent or manage chronic diseases effectively.

Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa) is committed to helping Filipinos achieve this balance. By offering a range of health insurance plans tailored to meet diverse needs, the company aims to support individuals in their journey towards better health and financial security.

For those who want lifetime health coverage, the company offers Sun Grepa Fit and Well, a comprehensive life and health protection that provides financial benefits upon early or late diagnosis of any of the 114 covered critical conditions. There are also specialized health protection plans such as the Sun Grepa Senior Care for people in their golden years, Sun Grepa Cancer Care for those battling cancer, and Sun Grepa ICU Protect which pays benefits in case of ICU confinement.

“We at Sun Life Grepa are continuously looking for innovative financial solutions to address emerging health issues and concerns, giving the uninsured more ways to protect themselves and their future, not just through good nutrition, but also through affordable health coverage and maximum health protection,” said Richard S. Lim, president of Sun Life Grepa.

Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), one of the leading providers of life insurance in the country, recently participated in the Day of the Seafarer celebration organized by Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTCI).

The event featured a variety of activities designed to honor seafarers, with Sun Life Grepa providing engaging games, informative financial literacy talks, and free financial consultations. The event was attended by Sun Life Grepa Vice President for Affinity Marketing Joen Songco (2nd from the left), Affinity Marketing Sales Head Marge Estrera (4th from the left), and Affinity Financial Officer Jean Galang (3rd from the left). From PTCI’s side, the attendees included PTC Insurance Agency, Inc. General Manager, Rolando Palad (rightmost) and PTC Holdings, Inc. Associate Director, Rey Austria (leftmost).

“As the maritime industry continues to evolve, we remain steadfast in our support for these global maritime professionals and their families. Through our exclusive partnership with PTC Insurance, we aim to provide peace of mind, financial security, and protection to these hardworking individuals and their loved ones,” Mr. Songco said.

“Our collaboration with Sun Life Grepa has been instrumental in ensuring that our seafarers have access to affordable and reliable life insurance coverage,” Mr. Palad added.  

Established in 1979, PTCI is a crew management and diversified maritime services company dedicated to providing high-quality services and innovative solutions to the global maritime industry.

Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), one of the major insurers in the country, continues to upgrade its services under the Sun Life Grepa Healthcare unit with more digital innovations. 

The most recent service is its latest digital innovation, the medical locator tool.  The most recent addition is the “Digital Healthcare Locator”. This new feature, accessible through Sun Life Grepa’s website, allows clients to effortlessly search for accredited service providers including hospitals, clinics, and doctors nationwide.

“Our commitment to enhancing client experience and providing accessible healthcare options remains unwavering,” Sun Life Grepa Vice President for Group Business Peter Miranda said. “The new Digital Healthcare Locator is a significant step in that direction, ensuring our clients can find the medical assistance they need quickly and conveniently.”

This tool offers comprehensive search capabilities which enable clients to search for hospitals, clinics, and doctors using various filters such as location and doctor’s specialization. It also provides information including addresses and phone numbers for hospitals and clinics. For doctors, it includes the hospital or clinic they are affiliated with, along with their contact information.

This tool adds to the list of Sun Life Grepa digital innovations. In recent years, Sun Life Grepa has launched several other digital solutions that include the Healthcare Teleconsult service which allows group clients to consult with doctors remotely and receive medical advice from the safety and comfort of their homes.  A 24/7 Facebook Messenger service is also available on Sun Life Grepa Healthcare’s Facebook page. 

Apart from Healthcare, Sun Life Grepa also has digital services for all its other individual clients. The Remote Online Medical Exam service enables clients to undergo medical examinations online, making the process of applying for life insurance more convenient and accessible. Moreover, Sun Life Grepa clients can also download the mobile app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store which provides easy access to their policies, claims status, and other important information.

“Our suite of digital tools reflects our dedication to innovation and our focus on meeting the evolving needs of our clients,” Richard S. Lim, Sun Life Grepa President, added. “We are proud to offer solutions that bring healthcare services closer to our clients especially now that health protection and life insurance are crucial for protecting one’s family’s future.”

To learn more about our products and services, talk to a Sun Life Grepa Financial Advisor, visit your RCBC Branch of Account, or go to www.sunlifegrepa.com for details.

Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a joint venture between the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) and Sun Life Philippines, recently hosted an Appreciation Night for its esteemed clients and partners. The event, held at the Marriott Hotel earlier this month, was a highlight of Sun Life Grepa’s 70th-anniversary celebrations, marking a significant milestone in the company’s history.

The Client Appreciation Event welcomed distinguished guests, including Sun Life Grepa Chairperson Helen Yuchengco-Dee (3rd from left), House of Investments, Inc. President and CEO Lorenzo V. Tan (1st from left), Sun Life Philippines CEO and Country Head Benedict Sison (4th from left), and Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim (2nd from left). This gathering was a testament to the longstanding and valued relationships that Sun Life Grepa has built over the years with its clients and partners, many of whom were in attendance during the event.

In his speech, Mr. Lim expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the company’s partners and clients, “We wish to thank our partners and clients for their unwavering support throughout the years. They have fueled our growth and success, and we are honored to be their chosen partner in securing their future. They can rest assured that we are here to support them every step of the way – as partners beyond a lifetime.”

In addition to this appreciation night, a press conference was held earlier in the year under the theme “A Journey to Brighter Futures” which highlighted how Sun Life Grepa plans to leverage new technologies and focus on nurturing relationships with clients and partners.

Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a major insurer in the country, is bringing back the Sun Grepa Peso Asset Builder (PAB) ProIncome for a limited time, this time with higher annual payout thus providing clients with the opportunity to earn regular income while participating in global investments using their Peso Assets.

The Sun Grepa Peso Asset Builder ProIncome is a single-pay life insurance product linked to structured investments. It offers life insurance protection of at least 125% of the one-time premium payment for seven years, fixed annual payouts of 4.50% for seven years, and the return of the single payment at maturity. These investments are made offshore, allowing clients to diversify their peso assets further.

“We are excited to bring back PAB, one of our popular products,” Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim said. “This limited-time offer is designed to help individuals boost their money’s earning power while maintaining financial security. It underscores our commitment to helping our clients achieve their financial goals and meet their diverse needs.”

Interested clients of PAB can take advantage of convenient application and policy approval through the Guaranteed Insurability Offer, subject to the terms set by Sun Life Grepa.

For more information and to explore this limited time offering, speak to a Sun Life Grepa Financial Advisor, visit your RCBC Branch of Account, or go to www.sunlifegrepa.com for details.

Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a major life insurance company in the Philippines, recently conducted a medical and dental mission aimed at providing healthcare services to the members of Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. (ASHI). The event saw the participation of 500 individuals from Pililia, Rizal who received vital medical attention and support.

Ahon sa Hirap, Inc., an organization dedicated to uplifting underprivileged communities, welcomed the initiative as a much-needed resource for its members. The medical mission included various healthcare services such as consultations, dental check-ups, and medication distribution, addressing the immediate health needs of those in attendance.

Furthermore, this medical mission was conducted in collaboration with A.Y. Foundation (AYF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, Stronghold Insurance and Harley Davidson Owners Group-Manila (HOG-Manila). AYF supplied the medical and dental supplies utilized by the volunteer doctors and dentists, while Stronghold Insurance provided meals for both attendees and volunteers. Additionally, HOG-Manila played a vital role by contributing additional volunteer doctors, dentists, and nurses.

“At Sun Life Grepa, we believe in the importance of giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the lives of others. Through initiatives like this medical mission, we are able to extend our support to those in need and help build healthier, more resilient communities,” Sun Life Grepa Vice President for Group Marketing Operations Peter Miranda said. “We are also grateful to the volunteer doctors, dentists and nurses who generously gave their time to provide medical care to ASHI members.”

This marks Sun Life Grepa’s continued commitment to serving the members of ASHI as it is not the first time the company has conducted such a medical and dental mission. The first time was in Dasmarinas, Cavite, the second time was in Mauban Quezon and the third time was in San Jose, Antique. 

Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a joint venture between Sun Life Philippines and Yuchengco Group of Companies, posted a 17% increase in total premium income (TPI) from Php 11.5 billion in 2022 to Php 13.5 billion in 2023. According to the Insurance Commission, Sun Life Grepa ranked 10th when it comes to total premium income and net income of Life Insurance companies as of December 31, 2023. 

“There have been challenges in the current landscape but the premium income growth indicates that Filipinos are on a steady path to understanding how achieving financial security is important in planning the future. There is still much room for the market to truly find value in securing the future not just for themselves but more so for their loved ones and we are in a position to meet that demand when the market matures further,” Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim says, expressing optimism.

The company was able to insure over 3 million lives in 2023 and is set to mark 2024 with 70 years in service.

“As we celebrate our 70^th year, we would like to affirm our commitment to help Filipinos achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. We are positive that things will continue to get better from here. We believe that increasing awareness and conducting stronger information campaign about financial preparedness and accessibility of financial solutions will surely aid the consistent growth not just of our company but also of the industry in the coming years,” Lim declares.

Apart from its upcoming 70^th anniversary, there is another reason for Sun Life Grepa to celebrate as the company has been recertified as Great Place to Work (GPTW) for November 2023 to November 2024. It was first recognized as GPTW in November 2022.

The results of the GPTW survey showed that Sun Life Grepa is a great place to work with 92% saying the company makes them feel welcome and another 93% saying the company shows fair treatment regardless of sexual orientation. 92% of Sun Life Grepa employees expressed pride in telling others that they work for the company.

“We value our clients, and at the same time, we also recognize that our people here at Sun Life Grepa are our greatest asset. The growth and longevity of the company will only be possible because of the people’s commitment to quality service and passion for our mission to future-proof the lives of Filipinos. We hope that they will continue to feel valued as well,” Lim states, paying tribute to the employees of Sun Life Grepa.

There is no better time to make the best financial decisions than now.

Every day is a chance to make better choices and one of the areas of our lives that would greatly benefit from a determination to improve and make smarter decisions on would be our finances. The less financial stress to deal with, the better life becomes. The more one gets to take care of financial wellness means greater chances of financial freedom.

According to the 2023 Financial Readiness Survey of major life insurance firm Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), Filipinos have a clear sense of financial priorities but lack financial preparedness when it comes to securing protection instruments to achieve goals and address needs. Only less than 10% of the respondents claim full financial preparedness. Those who are fully or somewhat prepared when it comes to having emergency funds are at 34%, 32% are prepared for major goals, 32% readiness for personal health and 30% for investments.

“One of the important things that the survey showed is that Filipinos are aware about their personal financial priorities but there are struggles and challenges when it comes to taking concrete steps about finances,” said Richard S. Lim, President of Sun Life Grepa. “There is still a need to educate and showcase financial options for the consumers and we at Sun Life Grepa are committed to help reach out to our countrymen and share information about ways and means of securing their future.”

A Standard & Poor’s (S&P Global Rating) study showed that the Philippines only achieved a 25% score on financial literacy, placing the country in the bottom 30 out of 144 countries surveyed. Thankfully, based on the results of the 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Filipinos seem to be starting to change their financial behavior with more adults saving up for emergencies and a growing number of Filipinos having financial account ownership and investments as well.

Every day is a good opportunity to contribute to the statistics of growth and improvement in Philippine financial literacy and financial preparedness. Beyond the national impact of one’s financial smart decisions is a life lived without financial worries so one can truly enjoy life.

To establish an excellent roadmap to a financially healthier year, here are top 10 smart and practical decisions one can make:

Review, evaluate and keep track of your spending and financial health. Just like that irresistible need to do a massive effort of cleaning up or doing a yearend recap, one should apply this similar practice when it comes to keeping track of financial decisions one makes. Awareness of one’s spending behavior and financial habits would be a great start in this year’s journey. Make it a healthy habit to take note of where your expenses go and evaluate spending decisions so you can wisely reallocate budget to make better financial choices.

Know and revisit your life goals and financial aspirations. Taking action on financial goals requires motivation and inspiration. Is it securing the future? Is it getting insurance for loved ones? Is it saving up for quality education? Is it buying a new home? Getting a car? Starting a business? Listing down or having a vision board of your life goals and aspirations will help identify what financial solution or action you can do in order to help achieve said goals. It will even make saving up, getting insurance and investing more fun and purpose-driven.

Seek professional help. After determining your goals and aspirations, plan your route to financial wellness and wealth. It’s always good to partner with a financial advisor since they are professionally licensed and trained to help you discover your needs; make informed financial decisions, identify opportunities and manage your finances wisely. Talk to a financial advisor today and start your journey towards achieving financial freedom and a brighter future.

Pay off your debts. Make it a priority to pay off debts and settle obligations when receiving a large sum of money. It’s much easier to achieve financial goals without the burden of loans and debts. That said, there are good loans and bad loans. When talking to a financial advisor, ask about good loans which can actually help you in reaching your financial targets (e.g. loans you can take and utilize for investments).

Build an emergency fund. Crisis preparedness should always be in your financial planning and setting up an emergency fund is a wise thing to do. An emergency fund provides cushion for unplanned expenses such as losing a job or loss of income and health emergencies. You can also beef up your emergency fund by exploring solutions that allows you to choose fund options suitable to your risk profile and gives you flexibility for partial withdrawals from your funds when you need it for emergency situations.

Prepare for and secure the future. Making financial decisions isn’t just for your personal benefit but also for your loved ones. A bright and secure future is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your family. In life, there will always be uncertainties but preparation is key to at least be in control of financial matters. There is a wide array of life insurance products that can form part of your financial planning this year and beyond. Check out products with increasing life insurance coverage to consider yearly inflation and give increasing guaranteed cash benefits after the paying period up to a specified number of years. This can be used for purposes such as education and even travel goals. 

Get insured and grow your money. Today is always a good start to get insured and maximize the earning potential of your hard-earned money at the same time. As they say, make money work for you. Depending on your risk appetite and financial goals, Sun Life Grepa has fund options that can match them.

Protect your health. The best investment you can make is investing in your health and well-being. Protecting your health is protecting your wealth. Exercise, eat healthy and get a regular checkup with health professionals. Make healthier decisions both physically and financially this year with a Sun Life Grepa Health Plan.

Set up your road to retirement. Later in life, it’s only right to enjoy the fruits of your labor and have one less thing to worry about by preparing for your retirement. Golden years deserve golden experiences. One of Sun Life Grepa’s mission is for Filipinos to secure the future by getting them covered so they can address retirement needs.

Diversify. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and be on the lookout for opportunities. You can get a variety of insurance products as well as ones that come with investment opportunities. A financially secure future requires one to be wise in diversifying financial instruments and in making sure that risk is lowered with this strategy. Sun Life Grepa offers peso and dollar-denominated global funds that give their clients opportunity to participate in investments outside the country. As these fund options are tied to a life insurance policy, one enjoys the security of life insurance coverage and the potential growth of money through offshore investments.

Sun Life Grepa is committed to be one’s partner beyond a lifetime, with a focus on helping to future-proof the lives of many Filipinos through financial solutions that fit one’s varying priorities and concerns. For more information, visit www.sunlifegrepa.com, call 88499633 or email wecare@sunlifegrepa.com.