Manulife Philippines has entered into a partnership with Watsons Philippines to promote preventive healthcare, nutrition, and wellness under the insurer’s Better Days initiative.
The program seeks to make preventive care more accessible by addressing common obstacles such as affordability and ease of access.
The companies said they will introduce health-focused programs for Manulife’s customers, employees, and financial advisers nationwide.
The initiative will also leverage both brands’ networks to expand the reach of health-related offerings.
Sonali Verma, Manulife Philippines chief marketing officer, said the collaboration aims to help more people take proactive steps to protect their health and finances.
“People in the Philippines can picture better days ahead as Manulife supports them in taking charge of their lives through greater health awareness and valuable financial protection,” she said. “By collaborating with Watsons Philippines, we look forward to leveraging each other’s network to enable more Filipinos to take proactive steps towards a healthier and more secure future.”
Joweehlyn B. Liao, Watsons Philippines finance, property, and health business unit director, noted that Manulife’s distribution network will help broaden access to the retailer’s health products.
“Our collaboration with Manulife further strengthens our commitment to inspire holistic well-being through our various offerings. Manulife’s nationwide network of colleagues, advisors, and customers enables us to expand our reach and cultivate an even healthier lifestyle for them by providing them easier access to health products,” she said.
First launched in early 2025, Better Days combines health awareness with financial protection through products such as Medical Secure and HealthFlex.
Medical Secure provides up to ₱5 million in cashless hospitalisation benefits.
Meanwhile, HealthFlex offers lifetime coverage for major illnesses including cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
Both are designed to align with preventive care strategies.
Also in August 2025, Manulife and brand ambassador Erwan Heussaff released a video highlighting simple approaches to healthier eating.
The content, featuring Heussaff and his daughter preparing a home-cooked tomato soup, emphasises that small lifestyle changes can contribute to long-term health.
Heussaff said introducing healthy eating habits early can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
“Teaching kids to eat right at an early age is just as critical as instilling values like honesty or kindness. It sets the foundation for their life-long health, discipline, and relationship with food,” he said. “Obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases once seen in adults, are now affecting kids. Healthy eating early can help prevent these long-term issues.”
A recent Manulife survey indicated that a third of respondents view their lifestyles as unhealthy, and nearly a quarter are unsure what constitutes a healthy diet.
Findings from the 2025 Manulife Asia Care Survey suggest that Filipinos place greater emphasis on quality of life than on longevity.
Only 13% of respondents named a longer lifespan as their top goal in old age.
In contrast, 26% prioritised financial independence and 17% valued staying active physically, mentally, and socially.
The average preferred lifespan was 69 years – lower than the projected 73.2 years by 2050.
Younger adults reported higher health concerns, with 44% experiencing conditions affecting daily life.
Respondents reported practicing only five of the 17 recommended preventive health measures on average.
On financial preparedness, the average retirement savings was ₱630,000, roughly 16% of the estimated ₱3.85 million needed for a comfortable retirement.
Two-thirds of respondents preferred holding cash or deposits, while over half expressed the need for stable income streams in later years.
