Here’s Why Relationships are Key for Your Wellbeing

Whether you consider yourself a social butterfly or someone who prefers one-on-one interactions, the quality of your personal relationships affects not only your level of happiness but also your overall health and well-being. According to clinical research by the US National Academy of Sciences, individuals who have better social connectedness have lower risks of physiological stress and tend to be happier and live longer than people who are isolated. 

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, is a financial institution that helps Filipinos protect their health while securing a better future for their loved ones. The company shares these tips and insights on why relationships are vital for one’s physical and mental health: 

 

You become physically healthier. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), your health is connected to how you bond with your friends and partners, and even the dynamics of your marriage and family.  A study found that connecting with others helps relieve harmful levels of stress, and, in turn, decreases negative complications of the coronary arteries, improves gut function, insulin regulation, and strengthens the immune system. If you’re looking to build more social connections for better health, spending time with others can be a great place to start. 

 

It improves your mental wellbeing. The WHO defines depression as a result of a complex interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors that can lead to stress and dysfunction. When you’re depressed, the tendency is to withdraw and isolate to the point that connecting to even close family and friends can be tough. According to the AXA 2022 Mind Health and Wellbeing study, which covered 11 markets in Europe and Asia, social connectedness tends to promote health in all ages. Connectedness is also one of the 10 skills needed to be in the state of ‘flourishing,’ or being at the peak of mental health. You can help manage the onset feelings of depression by surrounding yourself with supportive people who remind you that you are not alone and that you are loved.

 

It boosts your self-confidence and sense of belonging. No matter what unites you with your group of friends or your partner, feeling like you belong to a group can be highly beneficial. Research published by the American Psychological Association concluded that a person’s social relationships influence their self-esteem development and vice versa. A sense of belonging also fulfills an important emotional health need and helps reduce feelings of depression and hopelessness, especially during times like the pandemic when most people are isolated from their loved ones. To improve your sense of belonging, put in the effort to join activities and groups of people with whom you share common interests like volunteering in a social group that supports a worthy cause or a hobby you enjoy.

 

Human relationships are indeed crucial as they provide a nurturing environment that can help prevent health issues and chronic illnesses. To further help protect your health and wellbeing, AXA Philippines offers Health Care Access, a comprehensive and affordable health care plan for hospitalization and medical needs. This package can also come with a Critical Illness Booster for additional cash benefit for the treatment of 56 critical illnesses, a Longevity Health Fund that you can tap for medical needs at age 76 and up, as well as life and accident coverage up to P500,000. Moreover, you can personalize your plan by adding outpatient care, optical care, or dental care benefits to the plan.

 

To know more about AXA Health Care Access, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/health-protection/health-care-access. 

Nurturing a Safe and Inclusive Working Environment for PWDs

Based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing covering the 92.1 million household population in the country, there are 1.44 million persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the Philippines, with numbers increasing dramatically worldwide. As recognized by law, this segment of the population is made up of valuable members of the workforce who contribute to economic growth and thus, need to be in an inclusive work environment so they can maximize their talents and abilities.

Leading insurance company AXA strives to consistently provide equal opportunities for PWDs. Inclusion and diversity are closely linked to the company’s values and its culture of respect for employees, customers, and communities. The company collectively works on creating an environment where everyone feels that they belong, are included, and can thrive. AXA also believes that different ways of thinking and varied experiences will be key for the company’s success in the long run. A diverse workforce also helps attract the best talent, because they know they can flourish at AXA and reach their full potential.

Across its different markets worldwide, AXA commemorated the International Day of Persons with disabilities via special activities, including the ‘Together we thrive’ Inclusion Conference. The webinar served as a platform for AXA employees and external experts on inclusion and diversity to discuss disability equality in the workplace. To further strengthen its thrust for diversity and inclusion, AXA Philippines also celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities through Inclusion Fridays, a series of online and offline activities that promote an inclusive work environment for its employees.

“Experts say having a routine is important for PWDs, but the pandemic has disrupted that for many of them, especially those in the workforce. With our commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and our annual inclusion event, we wanted to support the PWDs and empower them in the new normal. We hope that these activities will be an avenue to raise awareness on the importance and unique contributions our PWDs can bring to the company and the community at large,” said Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines president and CEO.

The event opened with online sessions on Inclusion Days with able@axa, AXA’s PWD employee resource group. It was followed by a deaf awareness education activity on how to communicate with the deaf using sign language, conducted by Raymond Manding of De La Salle College of St. Benilde of Deaf Education and Applied Studies department. The online session ended with a sensitivity training by Michelle Aventajado of Best Buddies Philippines, a non-profit organization with a mission of bringing friendship and inclusion to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

AXA Philippines also reached out to one of its partner organizations, Arko Pilipinas, a home for persons with and without intellectual disabilities, for their insights on the importance of commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to Arko Pilipinas, inclusion and immersion experiences are very important as they pave the way to raise awareness of the presence of the core members, and provide an opportunity for people to see the gifts, talents and skills of the PWDs.

In line with raising awareness via experiences, an on-site event also took place at AXA Philippines’ head office titled “Silent Shout Out for Inclusivity” featured a sign language photo session, Braille experience, and experiential booth for employees. Employees working from home were also encouraged participate in the event by sending their selfies while doing sign language. The selfies will be included in the ensuing photo exhibit.

An online disability sensitivity training was also organized by AXA Philippines’ partner, Project Inclusion, a non-profit organization that connects PWDs to opportunities and helps and teaches companies to be more inclusive. The training was facilitated by Patricia Carolino, Work Access Coordinator at Project Inclusion, and aimed to define disability, as well as teach practical techniques in communicating and interacting with persons with disability.

To know more about Diversity and Inclusion in AXA Philippines, visit  https://www.axa.com.ph/multimedia/videos/diversity-and-inclusion-in-axa-philippines. 

AXA Gives Kids Jr. NBA Head Start

AXA, the official insurance partner of the NBA in the Philippines, supported young Filipino basketball players as they participated in the Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska Regional Selection Camp in Metro Manila. AXA backed Johnrey Catalan, Jamir Baldomar, Christian Jaojoco, Dexter Lugmay, Razel de Torres, John Greg Gawat, and Jam Lachica, who joined over 800 young players ages 10-14 at the tryouts held in Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City. AXA supports the NBA’s global youth basketball participation program, which teaches the fundamental skills and core values of basketball. For more information, visit www.axa.com.ph/nba. Photo shows AXA chief customer officer Amor Balagtas (fourth from left) and coach Dick Gawat (leftmost) with the AXA-sponsored kids.

AXA Philippines Helps Rehabilitate a Community in Zambales

Employees of leading global insurer AXA Philippines recently visited a community of indigenous peoples in San Felipe, Zambales to help rehabilitate the area by planting more than one thousand seedlings. With the help of MAD Travel, the volunteers also conducted art and reading activities with the youth of the Yangil tribe. In return, the volunteers were taught archery by the elders, which is their method of hunting for food. AXA Philippines, through its corporate social responsibility initiative AXA Hearts in Action, continuously participates in similar development activities to help empower communities to live better lives, as well as foster awareness of environmental protection and sustainability, and promote community interaction.

AXA bags finals spot in the Efma-Accenture Innovation in Insurance Awards 2018

The Efma-Accenture Innovation in Insurance Awards is a global competition which has served as a catalyst for innovation in the insurance sector and has helped insurers develop better disruptive strategies. Nine innovations have been shortlisted by the Awards Committee out of the more than 300 entries for each of the award categories.

AXA Philippines, one of the top insurance companies in the country, has been chosen as a finalist in the prestigious Efma-Accenture Innovation in Insurance Awards for 2018 for its MyAXA Café, an online insight community. MyAXA Café provides secure, ongoing, and real-time feedback from AXA Philippines’ customers.

The recognition follows last year’s win where AXA France was awarded for AXA Sure (an app that allows information on household contents to be digitized and stored). MyAXA Café is nominated under the Customer Experience and Engagement category, which recognizes innovations that create customer and consumer value by radically enhancing the way companies engage customers.

MyAXA Café was developed in order to generate faster research-driven insight to help AXA créate better products for its customers, improve their experience, and enhance the customers’ satisfaction and loyalty.

“We aimed to cultivate a deeper understanding of our valued customers’ perceptions and attitudes toward insurance. By understanding our customers better through MyAXA Cafe, we are then able to design even better products and solutions and enhance the AXA customer experience,” said Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines president and CEO.

To date, MyAXA Café has 1,200 members with a cross-sectional representation of various customer profiles.

For more information, visit www.axa.com.ph.


The Efma-Accenture Innovation in Insurance Awards is a global competition which has served as a catalyst for innovation in the insurance sector and has helped insurers develop better disruptive strategies. Nine innovations have been shortlisted by the Awards Committee out of the more than 300 entries for each of the award categories.

Efma members and non-members may vote until May 11 at https://www.efma.com/innovationininsurance.

AXA Shared Services Centre Launched

AXA Philippines, the leading global insurer, marked a major milestone in their transformation journey in the Philippines and Asia with the launch of their shared services hub in Manila. The hub is envisioned to help fulfill the company’s future-ready business strategy in the region and aims to be the IT hub for AXA in Asia, and later to Japan, serving as centers of excellence in actuarial product pricing and valuation. Photo shows (first row; L-R) Gordon Watson, AXA CEO of Asian Markets; Nicolas Galey, ambassador of the French Republic to the Philippines; Marc Blottiere, regional COO and CEO of Philippines and Malaysia Shared Services; Mary Harriet Abordo, PEZA deputy director general; (second row; L-R) Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines president and CEO; Dirk Marzluf, AXA Group chief information officer, and Laurent Estrade, French embassy economic counsellor.

*This is Press Release

AXA Earnings per Share up 7%

“AXA delivered another year of strong operating performance, with a 7% increase in underlying earnings per share and our highest ever reported net income”, said Thomas Buberl, Chief Executive Officer of AXA.

“AXA’s underlying earnings and net income both crossed the Euro 6 billion mark for the first time in the company’s history, with all major geographies contributing to this achievement. Our new business value was up 8%. Health was our fastest growing business in 2017, with revenues and earnings growing at 6% and 11% respectively.”

“In the context of the continued successful delivery of our Ambition 2020 plan and our balance sheet strength, the Board of Directors is proposing a dividend of Euro 1.26 per share, an increase of 9% from last year, which corresponds to a payout ratio of 49%.”

“In line with our vision to empower people to live a better life, we enhanced our Payer to Partner capabilities with the acquisition of Maestro Health. We continue to lead our industry in the fight against climate change, notably by quadrupling our 2020 green investments commitment.”

“I would like to thank our customers for their trust, and our teams and distributors for their commitment to our vision, as we strive together towards sustained long-term growth and continued value for all of our stakeholders.”

*This is Press Release

Binibining Pilipinas Beauties Learn Financial Literacy

The captivating candidates of the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 were warmly welcomed by top executives of AXA Philippines during a courtesy call at the corporate offices of the leading global insurer and its non-life insurance subsidiary, Charter Ping An.

AXA Philippines chief of retail propositions Alok Roongta, chief of commercial business Ninoy Rollan, Charter Ping An director Robert Yu, head of partnership Emmanuel Que; and head of commercial underwriting Edwin Salvan greeted the candidates.

As part of AXA’s thrust to empower people to live better lives, the 40 Binibinis were given a brief financial literacy talk.

The highlight of the event was the awarding of insurance coverage certificates to the candidates, who now enjoy full personal accident, medical reimbursement and travel insurance benefits, be it here or abroad.

For ten years now, Charter Ping An, a subsidiary of AXA, has been the official insurance provider of the prestigious beauty pageant, providing the lovely candidates with full personal accident insurance coverage for the duration of the competition.

Prepare for Life’s Unexpected Setbacks Using Your Smartphone

There’s no denying how technology and gadgets have made our lives easier in ways never before possible. Who would’ve thought that through an app on your smartphone, you can now hail a ride, get in touch with someone across the sea, buy movie tickets, or even buy insurance online?

Now, you can even plan for your financial future using your smartphone. AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, recently introduced its Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) platform as part of its promise to empower customers to live the life they choose by helping them create a solid financial game plan. Through the FNA—whether taken via the AXA website or the MyAXA app (available in the Apple App Store)—you can now learn more about the various steps to take today in order to gain financial securitydown the road. All it takes is five minutes online!

For a more in-depth analysis of your financial needs, a full version may also be taken with the assistance of an AXA financial coach. Just fill out the online form at www.axa.com.ph/appointments to get in touch with a representative from AXA.

From the data gathered, your AXA financial coachcan explain in easy terms why life protection is important. He can thenhelp you plotthe proper path to takeby giving you a clear picture of your current financial situation and where you want to be. Armed with anappropriate financial plan powered by AXA, you can be on your waytowards living the life you choose, whether that’s starting your own business, raising a family, owning your first house or car, or even going on trips abroad!

To get started on creating your winning gameplan in life, download the MyAXA app, visit www.axa.com.ph/efna, or contact an AXA financial coach today.

*This is Press Release

AXA Philippines Introduces Financial Needs Analysis Platform

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, recently introduced the Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) platform to its distributors, customers, and prospective clients. The FNA, both an application and a service from AXA, enables agents to engage with customers easily and explain the importance of life protection in planning for the future and for emergencies. This is in keeping with AXA’s promise to help customers live the life they choose by creating a solid financial game plan in life. A shorter version of the FNA platform may be accessed through the insurer’s website at www.axa.com.ph/efna while the full version may be undergone with the help of a financial advisor (Fill out the online form at www.axa.com.ph/appointments to get in touch with an agent). At the FNA launch event were (L-R) AXA Philippines chief business development officer for distribution Ronald Agoncillo, chief finance officer Don San Jose, chief customer officer Amor Balagtas, president and CEO Rahul Hora, chief distribution officer Marie Raymundo, and chief transformation and operations officer John Hilson.

Hit the Road Worry-Free with Smart Traveller

The holiday season beckons! If you’re planning to go out of town, ensure your peace of mind by protecting yourself and your loved ones from unexpected setbacks. Whether you are going on a business trip or a well-deserved vacation, make it a part of your pre-trip checklist to get protection. Smart Traveller from Charter Ping An is a travel insurance package that comes with a wide range of benefits, including 24-hour medical assistance, personal accident coverage, liability and personal safety coverage, protection of personal belongings, and even refunds for travel inconveniences—allowing you to concentrate on having fun and living the life you choose. Application is easy! Visit the AXA website (www.axa.com.ph/charterpingan/smart-traveller) and choose the ideal coverage for your trip. Eligible applicants must hold Philippine identification documents like birth certificate, long-term visa pass, dependent or student pass, and employment certificate for adults 18 to 70 years old. Enjoy hassle-free holidays and avail of Smart Traveller now. For more information, visit www.axa.com.ph/.

First Insurance and Investment Product Available Online

The youth of today—“millennials” as they are called—are known for making the most out of the present, enjoying life but also keeping a keen eye on future goals: whether that’s to travel the world, start a business, or pursue a life-long passion, like the arts.

Now, you can live the life you choose with no fear with the help of MyAmbition, a life insurance and investment plan you can buy online that was designed with young professionals like you in mind. AXA knows that you prefer transacting online and are always on the go. Think online shopping for life insurance!

What’s more, it lets you grow your money by investing in a fund that suits your risk appetite—the amount of risk you are willing to accept to pursue your goal, which in this case is growing your money through investing. Your risk appetite—or “hunger for risk”—may be conservative, moderate, or aggressive (or low, medium, or high). Whatever your risk appetite is, there’s an investment fund that suits you.

You can invest in AXA MyAmbition for as little as P50,000 to a maximum of P125,000. And because it doubles as a life insurance, your loved ones will receive bigger gains in the future in case something unexpected happens to you. You also have the option to let your money stay with AXA so it can grow further.

Avail of MyAmbition via an easy online application process. Everything you need to know about your insurance plan is on the website! Payments are equally easy as they are made via AXA’s secure payment partner, Peso Pay—the leading online payment gateway in the country. You can check the performance of your investment by simply downloading the MYAXA app and registering your policy. You can avail of up to 10 MyAmbition policies, and you can pay your premium via your credit or debit card.

Plan ahead and have a solid game plan to be able to live the life you choose! Visit www.axa.com.ph for more information on MyAmbition.

ABOUT THE AXA GROUP

The AXA Group is a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 166,000 employees serving 107 million clients in 64 countries. In 2016, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 100.2 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to Euro 5.7 billion. AXA had Euro 1,429 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016.

The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISN FR 0000120628 – Bloomberg: CS FP – Reuters: AXAF.PA). AXA’s American Depository Share is also quoted on the OTC QX platform under the ticker symbol AXAHY.

The AXA Group is included in the main international SRI indexes, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and FTSE4GOOD.

It is a founding member of the UN Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Sustainable Insurance and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

ABOUT AXA PHILIPPINES

AXA Philippines is a joint venture between the AXA Group and the Metrobank Group, one of the country’s largest financial conglomerates. AXA Philippines is 2nd leading life insurance company in the country, with P21.6 billion in gross premium income reported in 2016, and over 811,000 customers protected under various individual and group life insurance products.

Most recently, AXA Philippines announced its entry into the non-life insurance business with the acquisition of Charter Ping-An, the 5th largest non-life insurance company in the Philippines.

*This is Press Release

AXA Empowers People to Live a Better Life

Life offers amazing opportunities and grand adventures, but it can also take a sudden turn and bring unexpected challenges along the way. Such was the story of Lisa*, 25, when she decided to travel to Nepal to join a humanitarian mission to teach indigenous children. Lisa was in Kathmandu on the 25th of April 2015 when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, the biggest one to hit the country in over 70 years.

Lisa suffered both physical and mental trauma. The fact that she was thousands of miles away from home caused incredible distress to her family, who were desperate to hear news from her. They sought help from AXA Assistance, and her name was added by the crisis command center to the list of people covered by AXA within the vicinity of the earthquake. An AXA medical professional conducted checks among the injured and found Lisa. He regularly checked on Lisa, gave her a chance to talk to her parents, and arranged for her to return home to fully recover from her injuries. She had surgery, went through physical rehabilitation and attended peer counseling to help her deal with the mental trauma. She was empowered to move forward and fully recover and eventually, Lisa chose to return to her life in Kathmandu.

Lisa’s story is the powerful backdrop for the new brand campaign of AXA, a global leader in insurance. “This campaign is all about empowerment,” shares AXA Philippines CEO Rahul Hora. “It’s all about helping our customers to live the life they choose, by being prepared for unforeseen events and how AXA can help people pursue their dreams, make a difference, and live the life they choose—with the right plan and partner to guide them in their journey”.

AXA is present in 64 countries and has more than 107 million customers worldwide. It has been recognized as the leading global insurance brand for the past eight consecutive years by Interbrand in their annual Global Best Brands ranking.

Rahul concludes, “With this campaign, we hope to inform more Filipinos of what AXA can do for them, how we can help them manage unexpected events, and empower them to live the life they choose.”

You can know more about Lisa’s story at www.axa.com.ph/livethelifeyouchoose

AXA Launches New Insurance Product for Today’s Ambitious Market

Today’s young professionals are ambitious and often on-the-go. They work hard and at the same time want to pursue their own passions. As they focus on their careers, they want to maintain a work-life balance, and ensure that they are also preparing for their ultimate ambitions.  Some would want to travel around the world, have their own business, or pursue a pricey hobby like golf or scuba diving.  

Recognizing the need for investment and protection of today’s discerning consumers, AXA has launched MyAmbition, an affordable investment and life insurance plan that you can avail of online.  Designed with your busy lifestyle in mind, the convenience of availing of an investment product with just a few clicks gives you an attractive option to help fulfill your ambitions in life.  

MyAmbition can be availed of with a one-time investment that starts at only P50,000, a great opportunity to put that 13th month bonus or extra savings to better use.  You can also invest up to a maximum of P125,000.  The funds are professionally-managed by the AXA group to give you security and peace of mind.

MyAmbition gives you a range of options to suit your risk profile and financial goals.  There’s an investment fund for conservative investors, a balanced fund for those who have a moderate appetite for risk, and an aggressive growth fund for those who want to maximize the potential of their investments.

Application is easy. Just visit www.axa.com.ph, and click on MyAmbition.  You can assess your investment profile, pick an investment portfolio, and pay for the policy with your credit card. Debit card and other online payment options are also available.  

“Our innovative digital solutions address the unique demands of digital natives.  You can avail of MyAmbition through our e-commerce site.  You can also download MyAXA, the mobile app that allows our clients to access policy information anytime, anywhere.” says Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines.

On top of these benefits and conveniences, MyAmbition gives you life insurance coverage of 125% of the single premium or the Account Value, whichever is higher.  Should you choose to keep your funds longer, you can receive a Loyalty Bonus of 5% of the average account value to be paid on the 10th and 20th year.

“We understand the needs of today’s professionals. MyAmbition takes their lifestyle needs into consideration – it is affordable, available online, easy to purchase, can meet various investment considerations, and is payable via a credit card. MyAmbition’s combined offering of affordability, convenience, and flexibility will definitely help young and mature Filipino professionals achieve their financial goals and fulfill their ambitions,” adds AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Amor Balagtas.

*This is Press Release

AXA Philippines welcomes Binibining Pilipinas candidates

The 40 lovely candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2017 were warmly welcomed during a courtesy call at the corporate offices of AXA Philippines and its non-life insurance subsidiary Charter Ping An.  For nine years now, Charter Ping An has been the official insurance provider of the prestigious beauty pageant, sponsoring the full personal accident, medical reimbursement, and travel insurance coverage of the candidates here and abroad.

Claude Seigne, chief general insurance officer of Charter Ping An, welcomed the candidates, and shared some insights about how they can protect their future as early as now, by investing their earnings properly.

Also present to greet the candidates were AXA Philippines chief customer officer Amor Balagtas, AXA General Insurance chief technical officer Peili Zhang and AXA General Insurance head of transformation Marc Gorospe.

The highlight of the event was the awarding of insurance certificates to the candidates, and the candidates expressed their appreciation for the assurance that being covered for eventualities has given them. The sponsorship is a reflection of AXA Philippines’ firm commitment to empower its customers to live a better life through its full range of insurance products to suit their needs and lifestyles.

About AXA Philippines

AXA Philippines is one of the leading and fastest-growing life insurance companies in the Philippines. It was borne out of the formidable synergy between Metrobank, one of the foremost financial institutions in the Philippines, and AXA, a global leader in insurance and asset management serving 107 million customers in 64 countries. At present, AXA Philippines has more than 800,000 lives insured and covered by individual policies and group life insurance. AXA Philippines has more than 3,000 financial advisers in 37 branches and 693 financial executives in 938 Metrobank and PSBank branches nationwide. In 2016, AXA Philippines entered the non-life insurance business with the acquisition of Charter Ping An, the 5th largest general insurer in the country.

*This is Press Release

AXA Philippines - Immediate Check Release

Charter Ping An recently turned over a check for 46 million pesos to Grand Sierra Pines Hotel, less than a month after BTG Holdings, Inc., owner of the boutique hotel in Baguio, completed its insurance claim documents. In a simple ceremony held at the AXA Philippines head office, Mr. Ray Florence Reyes (middle), President and CEO of BTG Holdings, received the check with his father, Mr. Cesar Reyes (2nd from right) and brother Mr. Jay Reyes (2nd from left) from Mr. Noel Que, Senior Management Advisor and Business Development of Charter Ping-An (leftmost) and Mr. Peili Zhang, Chief Technical Officer of Charter Ping An. As first-time clients of Charter Ping An, BTG Holdings was pleased with the quick delivery of the check that will be used to repair property damages from Typhoon Lawin. Charter Ping-An was acquired in April 2016 by AXA Philippines, the number one global insurance brand for the 8th consecutive year according to Interbrand.