Filipino Women Prioritize Healthier Years and Financial Independence, Manulife Study Finds

MANILA, Philippines — Data from Manulife's #FYP: Future-proofing Young Pinoys study shows that 60% of young Filipino women prioritize their healthspan—the years spent in good health—compared to 46% of male respondents. Women also place greater importance on financial independence than men (60% vs. 44%), underscoring that Filipinas want a future on their own terms.

Yet the path toward that future is not without its pressures. The same study finds that 73% of female respondents report high stress levels, compared to 55% of their male counterparts. The work-life balance gap offers a telling glimpse of why stress levels are notably wider among women (22%) compared to men (15%), reflecting the competing demands many Filipinas navigate across their professional, personal, and caregiving roles.

For many women, this pressure shows up as sustained stress that affects everyday well-being. One in five experiences shortfalls in sleep, while 15% struggle to maintain a balanced diet, foundational habits that directly influence health, energy, and resilience.

It is worth noting that awareness isn’t the issue. Most survey respondents report strong knowledge of health and wellness—yet 76% of millennial women say stress prevents them from pursuing their desired level of well-being, highlighting a persistent gap between knowledge and action.

“The data is clear: many women are feeling the physical and mental strain of trying to manage everything at once. With careers, caregiving, and financial pressures converging, Manulife is focused on giving Filipino women practical options to protect their health today while building financial confidence for tomorrow,” said Grace Mallabo, Chief Health and Products Officer, Manulife Philippines. 

Turning insights into action: Solutions that help Filipinas protect their health today and build financial confidence for tomorrow

Through its suite of health and protection solutions, including the Manulife HealthFlex critical illness plan, which offers coverage for over 100 critical illnesses from early diagnosis to recovery, and provides additional benefits for gender-specific cancers, including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer for women, among many others. Manulife Medical Secure, meanwhile, provides up to PHP5 million in medical coverage with cashless access to over 1,700 hospitals and clinics nationwide; and Manulife GoalReady, which supports long-term financial goals with protection and investment features, Manulife helps women safeguard their financial independence, no matter what stage or season of life they're in.

As part of its global commitment to championing longevity, Manulife runs programs such as ManulifeMOVE, a holistic health platform designed to encourage healthier habits through everyday movement and proactive lifestyle choices Manulife Philippines and Manulife China Bank Life also recently entered into a partnership with ACHealth that aims to educate Filipinos on cancer prevention and help improve access to comprehensive cancer care.

“Closing the work-life balance gap starts with tools that enable women to protect what matters most: health, income, and time,” Mallabo added. “With the right coverage and guidance, women can move through every stage of life with confidence, whether they're building careers, caring for family, or planning for the future. That’s how we champion longevity—not just living longer, but living better—by making financial wellness practical, personal, and empowering for every Filipina.”

As Women’s Month calls attention to the resilience and contributions of Filipino women, Manulife Philippines encourages women to prioritize their own health and financial security now and for the long term. 

This initiative builds on Manulife’s refreshed strategy, advancing its strategic priority of empowering customers' health, wealth, and longevity and aligns to the recently launched Manulife Longevity Institute, a global platform to drive action that helps people live longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives by 2030. 

'Kababae Mong Tao’ film by Coca-Cola Challenges Unconscious Biases Against Women

Sari-sari store owners, one of the featured women in Coca-Cola Philippines’ Kababae Mong Tao film, represent the women micro-retailers whose efforts are seen as small and invalid. These women are supported by Coca-Cola Philippines through STAR program, as aligned in the 5by20 global initiative, that aims to economically empower more women through livelihood and financial assistance

For most Filipinas, the phrase ‘Kababae mong tao…’ is a statement that they have probably heard at least once in their lives. It’s a seemingly harmless remark that aims to put them in their place, a reprimand that tells them what they should and should not do. And while society has over time become more progressive, we still have a long way to go in addressing this deeply-ingrained and unconscious discrimination – one that inhibits women from realizing their full potential.

Coca-Cola Philippines believes that the place of a woman is anywhere and anything she wants to be. And this Women’s Month in the Philippines, Coca-Cola is reappropriating ‘Kababae mong tao…’ by re-telling and re-casting the narrative in an inspiring way. Coca-Cola’s simple yet powerful online film advocates for uplifting women and fighting against gender biases. The film features women from different walks of life who choose to challenge societal norms by showing how their perceived ‘faults’ are actually their strengths. As such, the film celebrates the very traits that make them who they are whether it is a ‘brusko’ drummer, a ‘palaban’ photojournalist, and more.

One of the women in the story is the ‘loud’ carinderia cook, a woman who tirelessly calls to passersby as she sells her dishes to provide for her family. The carinderia owner represents many other women with untapped entrepreneurial potential whose ventures are sometimes seen as small and insignificant. Within their homes, they are also oftentimes relegated to the role of housekeeper and caretaker because of the outdated belief that it’s their duty as women.

Contrary to common assumptions, businesses like sari-sari stores and carinderias actually make up a whopping 88% of the total MSMEs in the country, with women contributing to 35%-40% to the Philippine economy.

Recognising the important role of women in society and in the economy, Coca-Cola set a decade ago its ambitious “5by20” global goal of economically empowering 5 million women entrepreneurs by 2020. Localizing this goal to the needs of Pinays, Coca-Cola Philippines partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to create the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) program – a comprehensive program designed to unleash the potential of women micro-entrepreneurs.

The STAR Program begins with a gender sensitivity module designed to help women understand that they are free to go beyond the roles placed upon them by society or by their families. This important module shows them who they can be beyond ‘mother’ or ‘wife’ and inspires them to pursue their ambitions and aspirations.

Once this seed of confidence has been sown, the trainees flourish further with modules that tackle simple yet effective practices that allow their businesses to grow.

The 5by20 initiative of Coca-Cola also goes beyond the STAR Program, with off-shoot programs like Women’s REACH, a program created to assist overseas Filipino worker (OFW) women in their economic reintegration upon returning to the country; and STAR Rebuild, an initiative that focuses on supporting the rehabilitation of micro-enterprises in disaster affected areas.

With the pandemic’s impact on businesses and livelihoods across all sectors, Coca-Cola also launched its OFW Re-Integration through Skills and Entrepreneurship Program or OFW RISE program which equips repatriated overseas Filipinos with entrepreneurial skills and capital necessary to start their own businesses, and its Rebuilding Sari-Sari Stores Through Access to Resources and Trade or ReSTART program which provides safety educational materials, products and much-needed capital to help them recover and restart their businesses in the new normal.

Coca-Cola’s commitment to gender parity also extends to its own associates. Since 2019, Coca-Cola Philippines achieved its goal of 50-50 gender parity across all levels of management, with 57% of the local senior leadership roles held by women. At the same time, an increasing number of women have been taking on previously male-dominated positions and departments in its manufacturing plants. This increase in female plant managers, engineers, logistics officers, and leaders is a testament to the commitment of Coca-Cola Philippines in enabling women empowerment, diversity and inclusivity in the Philippines. Recently, Coca-Cola was awarded with the Gender-inclusive Workplace and Community and Industry Engagement Award during the UN Women 2020 Asia-Pacific Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards. This award-giving body recognizes exemplary business practices for gender equality aligned to the UN Women, UN Global Compact’s WEPs, and the UN’s Sustainable Development goals.

Coca-Cola Philippines has always been a key mover of women empowerment, from providing more economic opportunities to micro-retailers to providing growth opportunities to its associates. Recently, Coca-Cola Philippines was awarded with the Gender-inclusive Workplace and Community and Industry Engagement Award during the UN Women 2020 Asia-Pacific Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards. This award giving body recognizes exemplary business practices for gender equality aligned to the UN Women, UN Global Compact’s WEPs, and the Sustainable Development goals.

To further its commitment to gender and diversity, Coca-Cola also recently signed the United Nations’ Women Empowerment Principles that offers guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace, and the community.

Since 2010, Coca-Cola Philippines has believed in the dreams of women and the company’s various 5by20 programs have helped to positively transform the lives of 244,207 Filipina entrepreneurs in 81 provinces. With Coca-Cola having now met and exceeded its 5by20 goals locally and globally Coca-Cola Philippines aims to go beyond and empower even more Filipinas in this new decade and beyond.

Join in the celebration of Women’s Month with Coca-Cola Philippines and see how these empowered women choose to challenge the #KababaeMongTao statements in society. Watch the film here and share your own story of how you broke away from unconscious gender bias.

To learn more about the women economic empowerment vision of Coca-Cola, visit https://www.coca-colacompany.com/shared-future/women-empowerment.


About Coca-Cola in the Philippines

Coca-Cola has been refreshing Filipinos and making a difference in the Philippines for 109 years. The Philippines was Coca-Cola’s first market in Asia to begin local bottling operations. Today, the Coca-Cola system in the Philippines has evolved into a total beverage company, offering a diverse portfolio of brands in its beverage portfolio and employing over 15,000 Filipinos in over 19 manufacturing facilities and more than 60 distribution centers nationwide. As part of its long-standing commitment to the country, Coca-Cola continues to #GOBEYONDGOOD as a business by continuously supporting safe water access programs in over 250 communities, empowering around 250,000 women entrepreneurs through training and peer mentoring, and accelerating packaging collection and recycling under its global World Without Waste initiative.

Ready, Set, Glow: A New Go-to Skin Care for Modern Filipinas

Pasig City, July 16, 2019 — The character of individuals blooms as they overcome obstacles and hardships in life. Millennials, in particular, tend to bring all their abilities, strengths, and skills in pursuing their aspirations regardless of the situation. Rain or shine, they will keep pushing themselves to their limit just to achieve their goals, despite possible consequences to their health, let alone their often neglected skin.

A 2014 GSK Skin Health Asia Pacific Consumer Report revealed that 50 percent of women across Asia experience sensitive skin. In the Philippines, 71 percent and 61 percent of Filipinas experience sensitive face and body skin, respectively.

These problems are not new for Dr. Ian Banzon, a doctor, a kick-ass multi-sport athlete, a running and cycling coach, and a member of the Santé Barley Tri-Team, as well as the Santé Barley Obstacle Course Race (OCR) Team.

Sports has always been a part of Banzon’s life. Having been a swimmer ever since grade school, she said that her friend from her high school swimming team opened the door of the multi-sport competition to her.

“My friend’s mom organized a triathlon for kids when I was in high school. She asked me if I want to join. I know how to swim and to ride a bicycle so, I took the challenge,” said Banzon.

Her first triathlon stint, however, was put to a halt when she decided to focus on other things, including her studies as she started in medical school. As a student-athlete, her love for swimming paved the way for her to be part of the Ateneo De Manila University Swimming Team—all while doing other sports like wall climbing, badminton, running, among others, on the side.

Banzon is now a doctor, specialized in medical and sports acupuncture. However, she cannot seem to take triathlon out of her life as she got back to it in 2012. Since then, Banzon has been joining countless triathlons, including the likes of IRONMAN and Asian Triathlon Cup.

When asked on what made her continue joining races and other sports events, Banzon said that she just wants to compete and be physically ready all the time—this also means constant training to maintain physical and mental strength.

“Just like most Filipinas, my skin is also prone to different skin conditions, especially that I am always outside. Being exposed to the sun and wind, as well as pollution in the city, dehydrates the skin and makes fine lines appear,” said Banzon.

Amid long training sessions, Banzon believes, however, that taking care of our skin is important to avoid aggravating skin conditions, as well as supply confidence to chase one’s goals.

“I avoid this by keeping my skin well-nourished and hydrated with Marula oil, which contains 60 percent more antioxidants than argan oil to combat free radicals. Patting on a few drops protects my skin so, I don’t have to worry about it. I want to glow with confidence as I continue exploring the world and overcome new obstacles,” said Banzon.

Sante, a provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, introduced Banzon recently as the new brand ambassador of Soleil in a launching event at the Le Pavillion in Pasay City last June 30.

For Banzon, it is integral for modern Filipinas to seek a product that protects the skin from environmental stress, as well as prevent other skin concerns, such as acne and dry skin, so they can continue claiming new opportunities.

“It motivates me to see a generation that glows doing what they love in life but, I also know that sometimes there are complex challenges that really test your patience,” said Banzon.  “It’s also completely fine to take a well-deserved rest after a frustrating day, followed by a self-care routine. When people prioritize themselves and nurture their potential during their downtime, they can regain the confidence to take on the world and, explore new territories.”

Soleil, an all-natural, cold-pressed oil, is extracted from the nut of the Marula fruit found in South Africa and, infused with the health benefits of Santé barley extract harvested from New Zealand. With its anti-aging and anti-acne properties, Soleil revitalizes and rejuvenates one’s complexion, repairs damages caused by pollutants, calms acne-prone skin, and reduces blemishes and scarring. It also helps balance the scalp’s natural oils, prevent dandruff and frizz, as well as strengthen weak hair strands.

The newly-launched Soleil also boasts of its new Safari-inspired design and packaging, which represents its premium ingredients and benefits. With its growing traction in the local market, Soleil has also received positive feedback from people who have tried the product.

Banzon applies Soleil in the morning and evening after washing her face, so that her skin is protected throughout the day and, rejuvenated at night. She also uses it as an effective facial oil cleanser and as a primer for makeup to decrease the likelihood of oxidation due to the skin’s natural acidity.

“We are proud to introduce Ian Banzon as the new face of Soleil. As an adventurous, strong, and outdoorsy modern Filipina, she truly represents what Soleil is all about,” said Santé Chief Executive Officer Joey Marcelo. “As a member of our elite Santé Tri-Team and our Santé Barley OCR Team, we are really excited about this new endeavor with Dr. Banzon.”

Santé offers products that improve the quality of life of people around the world. The company has been providing premier organic health and wellness products and services with Santé Barley at its core. Barley grass is an effective antioxidant, rich with vitamins and minerals that not only detoxifies the body but also, aids in digestive health.

Maxi-Peel Encourages Women with Troubled Skin: “Wag Mong Isuko Ang Laban!”

Have you ever been judged because of your looks? Or rejected because your skin wasn’t perfect? The 4 women you are about to meet experienced negativity that have impacted their lives in a lot of ways simply because of a skin condition — acne.
We see it every day, a lot of us have had acne at some point in our lives, but for these women, it’s the source of an undying insecurity, causing them pain that goes beyond skin deep, scarring not only their faces, but also their self-esteem.

And in a society where looks and aesthetic is very influential, the fight for respect and equality is a lifelong struggle for people with pimples. But that fight is a fight that Maxi-Peel is unwilling to give up. The brand’s mission is to amplify the voices of those who have been misjudged, ridiculed, and discriminated because of their acne through their newest campaign — “'Wag Mong Isuko ang Laban”. (Don’t Give Up the Fight)

Maxi-Peel puts their brand on the line with a documentary campaign that follows 4 women from different walks of life in a 60-day journey with Maxi-Peel Exfoliant Solutions, capturing real progress, with real results in real time. The campaign begins with a heart-wrenching 60-second testimonial video of these 4 women telling everyone what society tells them every day.

“Alam mo Kata, mas maganda ka sana kung kasing kinis ng legs mo yung mukha mo.” Kata San Mateo, a digital marketing head and an aspiring artist, recalls a painful moment during her acne breakout. Teary-eyed, she continues, “Siyempre tatawa-tawa lang ako pero sa loob loob ko, sobra na.”

“Bakit siya ‘yung napiling host, eh ang dami niyang pimples?” Andrea Roces, a retail manager and an active humanitarian says pimples have affected her work and her credibility, damaging her self-esteem and self-belief, “The confidence I’ve built for many years, it all goes away.”

“Honestly, lately hindi ako lumalabas ng bahay. There’s this misconception na ‘pag ma-pimple ka, madumi ka kaya sometimes I feel hopeless.” A former special education teacher, now a full-time mom, Angeline Carandang powers through the negativity, despite an overwhelming feeling of insecurity, “Behind this face, I can be a great mom… matatapos din ‘to, ngayon lang ‘to.”
“Nakulam ka ba… Naagnas ka na” Joepy Libo-on, a cum laude graduate who is now working as a marketing manager, still remembers some of the most painful things people have told her. “Before n’ung sobrang lala talaga ng pimples ko, there was a time na sobrang bumaba ng self-esteem ko.”

Through real stories from real people, Maxi-Peel aims to open our eyes and minds to the truth behind acne. That removing pimples is not just about being beautiful, or achieving smoother skin, or to gain more followers, those are just the aesthetic effects. The real purpose of the brand is to help Filipinos treat and cure an actual skin condition, boost their self-confidence, revive their self-belief, and empower them to have a fighting chance against prejudice and discrimination.
This fight isn’t just about the face, this fight is about facing challenges head on, and acknowledging that it’s only just a phase. Never quitting, never stopping. To all Filipino women out there who have lost their confidence, hope is not lost. You can get past this, in your fight against acne and all its inherent negativity, “Wag Mong Isuko Ang Laban”.

Sarah G to Independent Ladies: Learn How to Cook for Yourself

What is an independent Filipina? Is she someone who likes to do things on her own, learn new experiences as she moves through life, or someone who knows how to take care of herself? For many women, being independent means more than living on their own. It also means experiencing life in her own terms and being able to follow one’s passion without restriction.

Take it from Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo who is starting to claim and enjoy her own independence—free to chase her passion and discover new ones. “Para po sa’kin, being an independent person means kaya mong gawin ‘yung mga bagay na gusto mong gawin. As an independent woman, gustung-gusto ko pong mag-explore ng mga bagay na di ko pa nagagawa, and also learn more about myself in the process.”

One passion she decided to pursue is cooking. “Ang sarap po kasi ng pakiramdam na kaya mong ipagluto yung sarili mo. Whenever I cook, I get that sense of freedom in my own kitchen. I’m free to experiment, try new dishes, or recreate my Mom’s recipes,” she adds. “Kaya to all independent women out there, I advise that you learn how to cook. It’s very empowering to rely on yourself, and a good start will be in the kitchen.”

As testament to her new-found independence in pursuing her passion, Sarah even shared some easy-to-cook recipes. Her favorites are found in the cookbook that comes with every purchase of the all-new Phoenix Super LPG at select super hubs.

Whether you’re living alone or just simply someone who loves to do things on their own, these Sarah G-approved dishes will make you rediscover the joys of cooking (and eating!).

The Filipina Cartoonist Who’s Making a Splash in the World Stage

While artwork from local comic strip legends such as Mars Ravelo (“Darna”) and Carlo J. Carapas (“Panday”) are utterly adored throughout the country, there is little local attention being given to a Filipina cartoonist who is making big waves all around the world.

From critical acclaim and major showcases, to features in prominent comics conventions and anthologies, November Garcia’s wild ride to international notice began in earnest just a few years ago — yet, it is something that she’s been working towards her entire life.

Born and raised in the Philippines, November Garcia always drew and created comics for fun. However, it wasn’t until she moved to San Francisco in her early 20s to attend art school that she discovered indie and underground comics. “Reading Peter Bagge, R. Crumb and Jim Woodring is what made me want to seriously make comics.”

“I tried to avoid doing any real writing because I wasn’t confident in my abilities. Meanwhile, my professors would encourage me to enter pieces into the school’s art shows even though I never got in. I guess they always loved my funny ideas and weirdo characters but my art was lacking in execution.”

Returning home to the Philippines in 2014, she continued to make comics, persistently and diligently focusing on improving her craft, often just posting her work online to little notice. Then, in a combination of sheer luck and fortuitous timing, Matt Moses of Hic and Hoc Publications happened upon her blog and offered to publish her first comic.