Manulife and MCBL encourage Filipinos to invest in global markets through variable unit-linked insurance to build resilient growth

Manila ― As economic projections become more optimistic and recovery is underway amid COVID-19, Manulife Philippines and Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation (MCBL) held “Growing Wealth Beyond Borders” webinars to help educate more Filipinos on the value of investing with resilience, to help ensure they have the needed life protection to build long-term financial growth. 

These webinars, which featured Rex Mendoza, President and Chief Executive Officer of money and asset management advisory company Rampver Financials, provided insights into how Filipinos can take advantage of global investment opportunities and build more resilient portfolios that will allow them to reach their financial goals. With many asset classes available across different markets, Mendoza underscored the importance of diversification through asset allocation and variable unit-linked (VUL) insurance solutions to strengthen one’s portfolio in both bull and bear markets. 

“Because markets evolve, especially in a crisis, and the pace of recovery in every country will be different, having a diversified portfolio is key to achieving the right investment. If you are concentrated in just one asset class, you will not do very well. Diversification has the capability to help you bounce back from adversity and even thrive despite the odds,” Mendoza said. “VUL policies can play a significant part in one’s asset allocation strategy as it gives you “the best of both worlds”―they protect you and your loved ones in the event of uncertainties, while providing investment opportunities to grow your wealth.” 

Recently, Manulife added three new fund options to Manulife and MCBL’s VUL portfolios: the Tiger Growth Fund, which invests in innovative publicly traded companies in the growing economies of mainland China and Hong Kong; the US Growth Fund, which supports some of the largest and most profitable publicly traded companies in the United States; and the Global Preferred Securities Income Fund that invests in preferred securities of publicly traded companies worldwide. 

“As most market forecasts see that economies are positioned to recover strongly post-vaccination, we want Filipinos to better understand the investment opportunities that are available to them, not only in the Philippines but in other major global markets as well, so they can leverage these instruments to better prepare for the future,” said Richard Bates, Manulife Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer. “By helping them understand the value of VULs, they will have greater confidence to take charge of their finances, while protecting themselves and those that matter the most.”

“Aside from giving our customers easier access to global funds, our VUL products can also help them build their portfolio despite market volatility,” added Sandeep Deobhakta, MCBL President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through these products that are tailor-fit to match their investment appetite and personal journeys, we can help them reach their investment goals.”

At the webinars, Zed Matubis, Vice President and Head of Wealth Sales, Manulife Investment Management, also shared that for Filipinos looking to invest after COVID-19, “technology, communications, consumer, and discretionary growth securities are projected to do very well” given the trends in technological disruptions, deglobalization, and new monetary and fiscal policies that will transform economies and contribute to overall growth. 

The Tiger Growth and US Growth Funds are available through Manulife’s FutureBoost and MCBL’s Invest plans, while the Global Preferred Securities Income Fund is offered through Manulife Philippines’ Affluence Max Elite and Affluence Max Gold, and MCBL’s Platinum Invest Elite and Affluence Max Elite.

To know more about these products, visit manulife.com/ph or www.manulife-chinabank.com.ph. To learn more about Manulife’s webinars, visit their Facebook page or their YouTube channel. 

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 grown to 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 manulife.com/ph and following them on Facebook (facebook.com/ManulifePH), Instagram (@manulifeph), and LinkedIn (Manulife Philippines).

About Manulife China Bank Life Corporation

Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation is a strategic alliance between Manulife Philippines and China Banking Corporation (China Bank). It provides a wide range of innovative insurance products and services to customers of China Bank as well as the bank’s thrift arm, China Bank Savings (CBS). MCBL aims to ensure that every client receives holistic life, health, and wealth solutions to address his or her individual needs.

Since opening in October 2007, the company has grown into a business of significance for both Manulife and China Bank. The two strengthened their partnership further in 2014 when China Bank raised its equity stake in MCBL to 40%.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.