I wasn’t able to update my site for a long time, I know. Not because I did not have anything to write about, but more because work interfered with my blogging life. Teehee. Thing is, we’re due to celebrate our Company’s 100th anniversary in a little over a month and there are just sooooo many things to do that many have noticed how we just don’t talk much in the office anymore. Galit galit, kumbaga. The amount of work we have to finish is just so much…much taller than me, in fact (well that doesn’t sound too much considering I am just 4’11” but still, it’s much much much higher than me, believe me.)
And that’s just in our company. But then the Life Insurance Consciousness Week had to squeeze in, and the last two Sundays were very hectic. The Life Week kicked off at Megamall on 10-10-10. The whole-day affair left me sick with fever, cough and colds. Pero kesehodang me sakit ako, lagari pa rin ang drama ko. I took care of our food provisions so even if I was not feeling well, I had to go back and forth to KFC’s place on the 2nd floor, and the lower ground floor activity center where the program was being held. Can’t let Insular Life people go hungry, after all. Too bad, I wasn’t much of a company to Ate Kara who was with me. We just bonded over Red Mango froyo during the break. But I guess she did not mind because that’s where she met her new crush. (which reminds me, I think I have to get more info about him to compensate for his absence in yesterday’s activities. Hehe)
Me, Chris Tiu and Ate Kara before the Walk for a Cause started
Then yesterday, the closing ceremonies were held, starting with the Walk for a Cause, a fund-raising, fun walk activity from the Folk Arts Theater to the Raja Sulayman Park in Malate where we raised funds for the Philippine General Hospital Pediatric Cancer Ward. The whole life insurance association was able to give P132,000 from combined donations from different life insurance companies. But Insular Life gave a separate donation of P100,000. All these came from employees from branches all over the nation. It was very humbling to see provincial employees giving thousands to the cause. But then, I guess life insurance employees (and specifically Insular Life employees) are a generous lot, owing to the fact that they know how important life is. We are in the business of securing lives, after all.
But this post is also to remind everyone that life is really temporary, and it is good to be financially prepared for oneself and one’s loved ones. Before I worked in this industry, I thought owning a life insurance meant that a person is going to die soon. But when I got to work in Insular Life, I realized it is one of the most important ways of showing just how important our loved ones are to us. So at 23 years old, I opted to get a life insurance plan which would benefit my family in case something unfortunate happens to me. I decided early on because the earlier in life one gets protection, the better. You are protected much earlier, and the premiums are much lower, too.
I haven’t gotten around to getting a memorial plan, too, but that’s next in my list. I mean, let’s face it. I am not being morbid. I am just being practical. At a time when my family is grieving (well, I am thinking they would be, considering how nice a person I really am. Bwahahaah!) I don’t want them being hounded with concerns on where I should be laid to rest after holding a month-long (just kidding!) wake for me.
But there is also more to life insurance than just leaving a legacy for one’s loved ones. If you don’t want to be bothered by how you will live after retirement, you can get an endowment plan which matures after a certain number of years. The money you get may be used to invest on a business, or something that would keep you busy while enjoying life.
Meanwhile, if you just want to invest your money so you can see it grow, it’s better to get a plan that does not just invest your money in different money market instruments, but also gives you life insurance protection. That’s like hitting two birds with one stone, right?
Oh you don’t have to earn much in order to do these. You will be surprised to find out that there are a lot of ways to be financially smart without having to shell out thousands and thousands of pesos.
Ok, I am not an agent. I am not allowed to sell any of our plans, actually. But if you want someone to help you assess your life insurance needs, I can refer you to one. Wala akong komisyon nyan. I just want everybody to take charge of their lives as early as possible. After all, it’s better to see where our hard-earned money goes, right? Right.
Happy Life Week, everyone!
