“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
In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Month, InLife Sheroes marks three years of bringing together women from all walks of life with the common goal of inspiring one another, recognizing each woman as a masterpiece in her own right, and choosing to achieve the good in life. It is our duty to set examples, become role models for women who persevere, and replicate our best work, our Obra Maestra—to create more trailblazing women, and raise A Nation of Sheroes.
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| InLife Celebrates 3rd Year of Sheroes Movement |
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.
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| Nina D. Aguas, InLife Executive Chairperson |
With keynote speaker Lorelie Quiambao Osial, the first Filipina to be named President and CEO of Pilipinas Shell and Country Chair of Shell companies in the Philippines. Joined with Ana Patricia Non, the Grand Winner of the 2021 Young InLife Shero of the Year Award and the woman who sparked kindness through the Maginhawa Community Pantry. She will relate stories about the community pantry movement and how this roused the innate spirit of the Filipinos for bayanihan.
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.
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| Lorelie Quiambao Osial, the first Filipina to be named President and CEO of Pilipinas Shell and Country Chair of Shell Companies in the Philippines |
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.
“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). 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
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| Ana Patricia Non, Founded the Maginhawa Community Pantry, Grand Winner of the 2021 Asia CEO InLife Young Shero of the Year Award |
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. 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.
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:
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| Malou Perez of Pawssion Project |
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Maureen Ledesma of Vesl
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| Charlene Tan of All Vision Solar |
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Anya Lim of Anthill Fabric Gallery
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Nina Opida of Humble Sustainability
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Karen Jane Salutan of Pinoy Indie Films Roadshow
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Therese Clarence Ruiz of Rags2Riches
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| Ray Alyannah Ysabel Lagasca of Youth for Mental Health |
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Jenica Dizon of Waves for Water Philippines
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Atty. Therese Guiao of Parabukas
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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.
Recently, InLife employees showed their own SHEROISM by taking part in various donation efforts. In Baguio, InLife volunteers packed and transported vegetables that they donated to the Maginhawa community pantry founded by Patricia Non, who received the 2021 Asia CEO InLife Young Shero of the Year Award.
The vegetable donation was done in coordination with Cordillera Landing on You (CLOY), a group that was established during the pandemic. It started with the aim of helping local farmers and businesses bring their produce to Metro Manila during the lockdowns.
In Muntinlupa City, InLife employees took part in preparing and delivering hygiene kits and art kits to the children of Elsie Gaches Village. Headed by Social Welfare Officer V Maria Clara P. de Guzman, the facility provides care and rehabilitation to children and adults with developmental disabilities.
In Davao, InLife brought food items and hygiene kits to House of Hope, which provides temporary lodgings to pediatric cancer patients awaiting treatment at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). Dr. Mae Dolendo, SPMC Lead Pediatric Oncologist and House of Hope Program Director, established the halfway house to give children coming from areas outside Davao a safe space as they prepare for their medical or surgical treatment or while undergoing their chemotherapy.
Earlier this year, InLife and Insular Foundation raised PhP2 million to help families in Typhoon Odette-affected communities in Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, and Surigao del Norte. Additionally, the Insular Foundation provided ₱1.02 million worth of food packages and sleeping mats. The Foundation partnered with NORFIL Foundation and the Philippine Association of Social Workers Cebu Chapter to reach out to 380 families in Mandaue City, Cebu; and with the League of Corporate Foundations to help 200 families in South Cebu. They likewise worked with the Philippine Relief and Development Services, Inc. to provide two-week food supplies for 150 families in Dinagat and Siargao islands, and Surigao.
InLife also extended assistance to its policyholders in typhoon-affected areas, as well as its building tenants in its Cebu office. These are only a few of the various acts of kindness that InLife and Insular Foundation spearheaded.
- 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.
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.
