MANILA, PHILIPPINES, March 12, 2025 – In a candid and thought-provoking roundtable co-hosted by leading insurance firm AIA Philippines and women empowerment platform SheTalksAsia, women from diverse backgrounds came together to discuss topics that are often kept under wraps, challenge stereotypes, and unpack limiting beliefs that hinder their wealth and well-being.

This conversation created a much-needed safe space to rethink how women view money, defy societal norms, and prioritize both immediate needs and long-term goals. From discomfort around discussing finances to undervaluing one’s worth, these are the dialogues we need to have—more openly and more often. Topics like these often get swept under the rug, but platforms like this can help change that.

Challenging limiting beliefs among Filipinas

SheTalksAsia founders Lynn Pinugu, Bianca Gonzales, and Iza Calzado got real about how cultural conditioning and hiya (shame) can make it tough for Filipino women to talk about money. "We’re often taught that talking about money is taboo and conditioned to just accept what’s given to us," Lynn shared. Iza added, "Many of us were raised to think that asking for more is just too much. But it’s totally okay to ask for what you deserve, knowing your worth."

AIA Philippines' CEO Melita Teo (center) and AIA Philippines CMO Melissa Henson (leftmost), and the founders of SheTalksAsia join forces to initiate conversations that challenge lingering beliefs and inspire women to invest in themselves.

This hit home for a lot of women, highlighting how many still believe they should not be assertive about money. This often leads to self-doubt about financial decisions and feeling embarrassed to ask for help. The women in the room made it clear that it is time to ditch those outdated beliefs, own our financial power, and shape our futures.

AIA Philippines CEO Melita Teo shared her own experience, stressing how important it is to initiate these conversations: “I also needed to become more comfortable discussing finances as part of my work. By striving to do my best in every role and always asking for guidance, I gradually gained that confidence.”

CMO Melissa Henson agreed, and added, “The earlier you take charge of your finances, the more peace of mind you will have as you progress on your journey.”

Mariel Bitanga, Janna Simpao, and Zara Carbonell-Near share their wisdom through actionable tips designed to empower women to take control of their well-being.

Achieving financial confidence and goals

The roundtable flowed with practical tips and inspiring ideas for boosting financial well-being. Janna Simpao, who founded Bride and Breakfast, pointed out that understanding your worth and finances begins at home. "If we start in our homes and within our circles, we can create change and normalize conversations about money among women."

Athlete and entrepreneur Zara Carbonell-Near suggested swapping the restrictive word "budget" for the more empowering "priorities," a simple yet powerful mindset shift. Meanwhile, Mariel Bitanga, founder of Simply Finance PH, reminded everyone that financial know-how is a learnable skill, not an innate talent. Her top tip: "Face your finances. It's the hardest but most important part."

They also looked into the power of seeking guidance and exploring financial tools, including insurance products such as AIA Ascend, for reaching both short-term and long-term goals and building a secure future for themselves and their families. These tools can provide a crucial safety net and empower women to invest confidently. The importance of financial security was a key theme, with participants emphasizing the peace of mind that comes with planning for the future.

As AIA Philippines CMO Melissa Henson explained, "Insurance isn't an expense. It's an investment in your peace of mind. Getting insured early means protecting your future at a lower cost, especially while you're healthy."

Learning to prioritize one’s well-being

The discussion then turned to the vital connection between financial well-being and overall health, discussing how societal pressures often lead women to prioritize others, resulting in burnout and neglecting their own needs. They explored the "good woman" archetype—often seen as self-sacrificing—and its impact on emotional labor, caregiving, and the guilt many women feel when prioritizing their own needs due to societal expectations.

Practices like exercise, mindfulness, and setting firm boundaries emerged as crucial for sharper decision-making, stress reduction, and safeguarding their health and financial stability simultaneously. The participants learned that true well-being encompassed all aspects of life, not just financial success, and that prioritizing one's own well-being is essential for being the best partners, parents, and professionals they can be.

More than just a conversation, the AIA Philippines and She Talks Asia roundtable ignited a powerful shift, helping women reclaim their confidence, rethink their beliefs about health and finances, own their worth, and build a future rooted in well-being. This spark is bound to inspire generations.

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About AIA Philippines

AIA Philippines (AIA Philippines Life and General Insurance Company, Inc.) is one of the country’s largest life insurance companies. Originally established on 21 June 1947 as Philam Life (The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company), AIA Philippines has earned the trust of customers for its financial strength, strong brand name, and ability to deliver on its promises. Today, AIA Philippines is a member of AIA Group Limited, the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group, which operates in 18 markets across the Asia-Pacific region.

AIA Philippines has PHP266.75 billion in total assets¹ and PHP72.54 billion in net worth¹ as of 31 December 2023 while serving nearly 1,200,000 individual policyholders and almost 1,000,000 insured group members.

Based on the Insurance Commission results as of 31 December 2023, the combined total premium income of AIA Philippines and BPI AIA was at PHP27.93 billion.

AIA Philippines understands the needs of its customers and provides holistic solutions that include life protection, health insurance, savings, education, retirement, investment, group, and credit life insurance. Its subsidiaries include BPI AIA Life Assurance Corporation (formerly BPI-Philam Life Assurance Corporation), its bancassurance arm; AIA Investment Management and Trust Corporation Philippines, its trust company managing its local funds; and MediCard Philippines, its wholly owned health maintenance organization (HMO) company.

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR², Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR³, and a 49 per cent joint venture in India. In addition, AIA has a 24.99 per cent shareholding in China Post Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$289 billion as of 30 June 2024.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 42 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock codes “1299” for HKD counter and “81299” for RMB counter with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol “AAGIY”.

For more information:
Michelle Velete
Communications Lead
AIA Philippines
michelleelaine.velete@aia.com

Trix Catly
Senior Media Relations Manager
Ogilvy Philippines
trix.catly@ogilvy.com