Hidilyn Diaz and Bea Alonzo headline Manulife’s “Filipina In Action” webinar to celebrate International Women’s Month

Manila ― In celebration of International Women’s Month, life insurer Manulife Philippines, the local arm of global financial services group Manulife, will feature Manulife brand ambassador and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, and award-winning actress and entrepreneur Bea Alonzo in its upcoming webinar titled, “Filipina In Action: In Business and in Health.” These successful Filipino women will share their stories and insights on how to take charge of one’s life through self-empowerment and self-belief, and managing mind, body and finances well to secure a better future.  

Slated for March 24, Thursday, at 3:00 pm, the webinar will be hosted by journalist and LGBTQIA+ member G3 San Diego, and will also feature advice from certified life coach Carelle Mangaliag-Herrera. 

“In our recent Manulife Asia Care Survey, we found that 81% of Filipinos surveyed have experienced mental health symptoms in the past six months, and majority of them are Filipino women. These symptoms include feelings of sadness, difficulty in sleeping and excessive worrying. In pursuit of our mission to support Filipinos’ overall wellbeing and empower them to make healthier choices, this webinar aims to guide them further in overcoming challenges and harnessing their power to achieve their life goals,” said Melissa Henson, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines. “With Bea and Hidilyn at the forefront of this important conversation, we are confident that we can continue to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), promote more opportunities for women to thrive, and reinforce the important role that women play in building better and stronger communities.”

Manulife’s global DEI thrust includes supporting and promoting women empowerment and advancement in the workplace, while driving greater inclusion of various communities so everyone can truly belong. In 2020, the UN Women Asia-Pacific Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) recognized Manulife Philippines as one of the most gender-inclusive workplaces in the country. 

Those interested in joining the webinar can register at manulife.pub/FilipinaInAction. 

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About Manulife Philippines 

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company opened its doors for business in the Philippines in 1907. Since then, Manulife’s Philippine Branch and later The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.), Inc. (Manulife Philippines) has become one of the country’s leading life insurance companies. Manulife Philippines is a wholly-owned domestic subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation, among the world’s largest life insurance companies by market capitalization. Learn more about Manulife Philippines by visiting their website www.manulife.com.ph and following them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ManulifePH), Twitter (@ManulifePH), and Instagram (@manulifeph).

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our global wealth and asset management segment, we serve individuals, institutions and retirement plan members worldwide. Our principal operations are in Asia and Canada, and the United States, where we have served customers for more than 155 years. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. In the previous 12 months we made CAD$31.8 billion in payments to our customers. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

DTI Reminds Establishments to Still Follow Health Protocols even under Alert Level 1

The Department of Trade and Industry reminds establishments to still follow the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) set by the government even after the National Capital Region (NCR) shifted to Alert Level 1 beginning 01 March 2022.

On 04 March 2022, DTI-Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo and DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Assistant Director Marimel Dancel Porciuncula led the surveillance and monitoring team in inspecting the health protocols compliance of establishments in one (1) mall in Quezon City.

The DTI-FTEB team spot-checked a total of seven (7) establishments covering personal care services, cinemas and movie houses, recreational venues, dine-in and take-out restaurants, supermarkets, and fitness and gym venues.

For These Three Women Sellers, E-Commerce Meant Empowerment

MANILA, MARCH 7, 2022 - More women in e-commerce continue to excel in the industry and are stepping out of their comfort zone to pursue their dreams and transform their lives. On March 8, the world will celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and this year’s campaign theme, #BreakTheBias, promotes gender equality and a community that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusivity. In celebration of IWD, three local female Shopee sellers share how they overcame the challenges they faced and how they’re breaking barriers. They hope that their stories may serve as an inspiration to other aspiring women entrepreneurs venturing into the world of e-commerce. 

Embracing the Shift to Online Selling

Setting up an online business requires a lot of focus and can be intimidating. Shine de Luna was pregnant when she started selling online, and eventually decided to focus on her online business when she gave birth so that she can spend more time taking care of her child. She knew it was risky and faced many difficulties when she first set up her online shop. “I had zero orders in the beginning, but I persevered, pushed forward, and didn’t give up. I made sure I boosted my posts every four hours and replied to inquiries fast. It took months before my business picked up the pace, and now, I’m getting a hundred orders daily.” In addition to traveling to Divisoria to source products to sell, she also had to tend to her child and bring them along. 

The same goes for Anjelica Tullao, who started with zero ratings and zero items sold. “Establishing the customer’s trust was my main obstacle. For them to consider buying from my shop, they need to trust me and that my products are of high quality,” she said. 

Emerald Sin, on the other hand, was already selling her pre-loved clothes in college to finance her studies. She invested in a brick-and-mortar store located around the University Belt and shifted online to cater to her clients who were going home to their provinces. 

Rising Above the Challenges One Step at a Time 

Despite the hardships faced, Shine, Emerald, and Anjelica rose above the challenges, determined to succeed no matter what. For Shine, not only was she able to provide for her family, but she also became a channel of blessing to the few workers she employed to get her business running. “I am grateful to my team for helping me through it all. It was risky, but it was worth it because I can also help others during this difficult time.” It was also through online selling that she was able to help achieve her parent’s lifetime dream of owning their own house. 

Both Emerald and Anjelica focused on how to market their products effectively. Emerald branched out and became a direct manufacturer, hiring local seamstresses to produce high-quality fashion products, while Anjelica maximized the in-app features of Shopee to improve customer trust and retention. “Whenever I encounter issues, Live Chat is always available to answer all my queries. I am also grateful to the Shopee team who helped me become a ‘Preferred Seller’ and recommended me to join big campaigns.” With her shop’s good performances, she went from being a one-man team to having seven additional team members.  “With our shop’s growth, we were able to expand our office, rent a warehouse, and purchase two vehicles for personal and professional use.” 

Supporting Women in E-commerce 

This International Women’s Day, Shine, Emerald, and Anjelica encourage other women to step up, break stereotypes, and reach for their dreams. “I’m encouraging those who are hesitant, to take a leap of faith. I believe that we can do so much more. Don’t let the circumstances stop you from being successful and from helping others. A successful journey always starts with someone determined to overcome anything life throws at us,” said Emerald. 

Shine, on the other hand, is proud to be both a mother and a successful entrepreneur. “Sobrang saya ko kasi natupad ko ang pangarap ng aking mga magulang na magkaroon ng sariling bahay sa tulong ng pagiging online seller ko.” (I’m very happy because I was able to fulfill my parent’s dream of having our own house, and this was made possible by being an online seller). She also adds that women should pursue their dreams and work hard towards it. “Huwag kang aasa sa magulang or partner mo. Naging makahulugan ang pagiging anak at ina ko dahil nabigay ko sa kanila ang pangangailangan nila mula sa negosyo ko.” (Don’t just expect things from your partner or parents. I feel fulfilled as a mother and daughter since I can provide my family what they need thanks to my online business.)

Anjelica also pushes aspiring female entrepreneurs to grab the opportunity. “Find your own purpose, challenge yourself, and pursue your goals. Being a successful woman in business means being your authentic self and showing up, day after day, to get to work your dreams.”

Celebrate and support local sellers like Anjelica, Emerald, and Shine at the 3.15 International Women’s Day Sale this coming March 8. Here, users can look forward to 90% off on select categories like Lifestyle, Fashion, and many more. For those who are considering online selling and want to explore the evolving digital space, they can Get Started on Shopee right now. 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

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About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.