Manulife Philippines, the local arm of the international financial services company Manulife, hosted global colleagues for its first-ever ‘Impact Agenda Adventure’ — a hands-on, six-day experience that underscored the tangible real-world impact of Manulife’s sustainability, financial literacy, and community initiatives across the Philippines.
Several colleagues from around the globe were selected to participate in the Adventure after submitting a personal story where they shared what Better means to them, connecting their own Better story to Manulife’s mission and purpose.
Manulife’s Impact Agenda focuses on three interconnected pillars of social and environmental commitments: empowering sustained health and well-being, driving inclusive economic opportunities, and accelerating a sustainable future. The ‘Impact Agenda Adventure’ showcased Manulife’s deep commitment to its Impact Agenda in the Philippines.
“Manulife’s Impact Agenda is about taking collective action to accelerate change. It highlights our key social and environmental commitments,” said Sarah Chapman, Global Chief Sustainability Officer, Manulife. “Through our community investments in the Philippines, we hope to create a better business that contributes to a better world and share that with our colleagues globally.”
“The Impact Agenda Adventure is a powerful demonstration of how our community partnerships in the Philippines create real impact and uplift communities, showcasing our dedication to improving the lives of Filipinos,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. “We are delighted to host our global colleagues as they witness firsthand the significant difference Manulife is making in our communities.”
Strengthening Partnerships with Community-based NGOs
The Impact Agenda Adventure highlighted the following initiatives:
Financial Literacy: Participants visited one of Manulife Philippines’ partner schools as part of the Peso Smart financial literacy program, in partnership with Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation, to observe how Manulife’s commitment to financial education is equipping young Filipinos with essential financial skills, such as saving, budgeting, and investing.
Agriculture, Sustained Health, and Poverty Alleviation: Participants toured the Gawad Kalinga (GK) headquarters in Mandaluyong City, where they learned about Manulife’s efforts to promote organic agriculture through the Community Food Farm program and poverty alleviation initiatives. More than 120 Filipino families have benefited from the program, which provides families with the opportunity to grow their own produce in their villages, allowing them to sell any surplus for additional income. Participants also engaged in a soap-making activity facilitated by Hands On Manila, a Manulife community investment partner that provides public school students access to daily nutritious meals, conducts health screenings for malnourished and undernourished children, and provides meal planning support through the help of licensed nutritionists.
Environmental Sustainability: Participants contributed to Manulife’s sustainability efforts through seedling preparation to aid in reforestation alongside Haribon Foundation. To date, Manulife has planted more than 21,000 native trees out of the committed 26,250 across Central and Southern Luzon provinces, helping accelerate a sustainable future for the country.
Helping Shape Filipino Communities for the Better
To learn more about Impact Agenda and Manulife’s commitment towards building a better business to better the world, visit manulife.com.ph. To watch the highlights of the recently concluded Impact Agenda Adventure, go to Manulife Philippines’ Facebook page.