1st Life celebrates a decade of strong partnership with Swiss Life, the world's largest employee benefits network, at the recently concluded Asia Pacific Conference in Mumbai, India. (L-R) 1st Life President and CEO Peter Coyiuto is in handshake with Swiss Life Senior Vice President and Network Head, Margrit Schmid as Gaurang Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Life Insurance Ltd., partner and host in India, looks on. 1st Life, one of the country's leading insurers, has been the Philippine representative company of the Swiss Life Network since 1996 and provides group life insurance coverage for employees of multinational firms with local operations.

Mr. Ernesto Tanmantiong, Executive Vice President of Jollibee Foods Corporation

Mr. Benson Dakay, Chief Executive Officer of Shemberg Corporation

Dr. Rolando Hortaleza, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Splash Corporation

1st Life tackles the leadership issue in an exclusive forum with three prominent business executives from distinctly Filipino companies as resource speakers. Keeping true to its core value of Filipinism, 1st Life shares and upholds the triumph of local companies such as Jollibee, Shemberg and Splash in the "2006 Leadership Summit", the company gathering for its valued clients.

The event is set as a discussion of leadership strategies by distinguished businessmen: Mr. Ernesto Tanmantiong, Executive Vice President of Jollibee Foods Corporation, Mr. Benson Dakay, Chief Executive Officer of Shemberg Corporation and Dr. Rolando Hortaleza, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Splash Corporation. 1st Life's company leaders will also share the center stage and will be cited for their achievements and contributions.

The Leadership Summit is an opportunity to learn first-hand from top entrepreneurs and know more of their personal strategies and organizational success. "We hope through this forum, we will inspire our guests and help grow their leadership attributes both on the individual and business side," said 1st Life President & Chief Executive Officer Mr.Peter Coyiuto. More importantly, it serves as a way of cultivating the Filipino spirit in helping the country thrive economically.

In the midst of leaders, 1st Life agency producers will also be recognized in the same event. The awardees have exemplified leadership skills as they emerged victors of the "Gawad Kagitingan", 1st Life's own sales drive for its agency force. Leading the pack of achievers are Josie Gotohio and Lorna Lao as top awardees of the night (Gawad Uliran). Other awardees are Teresita Perez and Lourdes Yao (Gawad Lapu-Lapu), Patricia Cua (Gawad Gabriela Silang), Ester Sy (Gawad Melchora Aquino), Rosalie Aslon, Jackie Chua and Susan Tan (Gawad Sultan Kudarat) with Wilson Lee Flores and Mary Ann Lee (Gawad Francisco Dagohoy).

Mr. Coyiuto lauds the success of the three companies, being local players that helped support the development of the Philippine economy. In a similar way, 1st Life is proud to be a local life insurance company that gives back 100% of its earnings to the Philippine economy through premium income that is retained and used for nation-building.

Jollibee, Shemberg and Splash corporations are established leaders in their respective fields even with multinational players in the arena. Jollibee Foods Corporation is a Top-100 local company that has bested a long-established, international fast-food giant and now making waves in Filipino communities abroad. Shemberg Corporation is the country's top and the world's no. 2 producer of carrageenan, a hydrocolloid food ingredient in powder form extracted from red algae seaweed. Splash Corporation is now famous for quality personal care and cosmetic products that rival international brands.

1st Life's LUTCFs. The Life Underwriters Training Council (LUTC) Fellow designees (L-R) Josie Gotohio, Ester Sy, Lourdes Yao, Teresita Perez, Lorna Lao and Mary Ann Lee. Other First Life LUTCFs are Evelyn Alinas, Ines Ang, Margaret Chua, Rhodalyn Magsino (not in photo).

1st Life takes pride in growing quality people by instilling in them the values of high-quality customer service and persistency in life insurance business through continuing industry education by subscribing to the programs of the American College's Life Underwriters Training Council (LUTC) and the Life Office Management Association (LOMA).

LUTC is an organization that develops and administers educational materials and exams to life insurance agents, emphasizing sales techniques. On the other hand, LOMA is an association of more than 1,250 insurance and financial services companies worldwide engaged in research and educational activities to improve company operations. These organizations work with local sponsors (for LUTC) and with partner-member companies (for LOMA) through quality agent and employee development, research, information sharing and related products and services.

1st Life's FLMIs. Achievers of Life Office Management Association's (LOMA) highest designation of Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) (L-R) by Otto Cruz, Gina Bernardo (FLMI/M), Rochelle Munsayac, Jhoanna Majarocon, Bennett Cayanan, Eva Hermogenes, Michelle Roxas and Ninian Cedo with EVP & Actuary Jaime Santiago, FSA, FASP.

1st Life agents and employees have received distinctions from these programs after completing the necessary requirements. Among those who have accomplished the LUTC Fellow designation are agents Evelyn Alinas, Ines Ang, Margaret Chua, Josie Gotohio, Rhodalyn Magsino, Teresita Perez, Ester Sy and Lourdes Yao. Adding to the number of 1st Life LUTCFs are Lorna Lao and Mary Ann Lee who will be awarded the designation during the upcoming conferment rites. On the other hand, LOMA's highest designation of Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) has been achieved by 1st Life employees Gina Bernardo (FLMI/M), Bennett Cayanan, Ninian Cedo, Otto Cruz, Eva Hermogenes, Jhoan Majarocon, Rochelle Munsayac and Michelle Roxas. Other LOMA designations of Associate Customer Service (ACS), Associate Insurance Administration (AIAA), Associate Insurance Regulatory Compliance (AIRC) and Associate Reinsurance Administration (ARA) are among the programs that 1st Life employees participate in. 1st Life believes that agents and employees should be given all the opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills in areas of industry functions so that they can obtain badge authority in handling their responsibilities.

1st Life Rewards Excellent Performance. First Life President Peter Coyiuto (right) bestows the EOY award to Teresa Marie Bautista (left).

In addition to international designations awarded to agents and employees, 1st Life also gives recognition to deserving employees through the "Employee of the Year" (EOY) program. This is an award to acknowledge a personnel's exemplary performance in terms of providing quality service to policyholders, productivity, building harmonious relationship and work ethics. EOY motivates employees to go above and beyond the call of duty.It also promotes peer recognition as nominations are submitted by fellow employees. The latest EOY award was given to Teresa Marie Bautista from the New Business Department.

1st Life believes in serving clients with professionalism through the international relationships the company has kept over the past years.

1st Life has also been a steady partner of Munich Reinsurance Co., one of the world's largest reinsurers and the second-largest primary insurer in Germany. 1st Life President and CEO Peter Coyiuto recently attended the Senior Executive Forum, an exclusive event for highly-valued clients of Munich Re, which was held in Germany, the venue of the football World Cup last July.

1st Life also subscribes to the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the premier association of financial professionals with nearly 33,000 members from 77 nations and territories. One of 1st Life's top agents and MDRT member, Lorna Lao, had the distinct honor of carrying the Philippine flag at the opening parade of colors at the MDRT annual meeting in San Diego, California last June.

PLIA Anniversary (L-R) PLIA President Peter G. Coyiuto with guest speaker Sen. Ralph G. Recto and Insurance Commissioner Evangeline C. Escobillo

The 34-member-strong Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA) recently celebrated its 56th anniversary with president Peter Coyiuto of 1st Life leading the affair. Guest speaker Senator Ralph Recto and Insurance Commissioner Evangeline Escobillo headed the life insurance business dignitaries who graced the evening.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Coyiuto talked of how PLIA is leading the move to clear all the hurdles to the outstanding growth opportunity for the business. Industry leaders renewed the call for relief in taxation and for changes in sales and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans. As Mr. Coyiuto explained, "the current tax regime of charging 5% premium and 1/4% documentary stamp tax is devastating to the market. These taxes dampen consumer demand and result to shrinkage or unconsummated sales due to the fact that buyers are discouraged because of higher prices." The industry is also petitioning government to allow it to handle tax-qualified retirement funds similar to its counterpart life insurance companies in the US which hold 20% of the total retirement fund market in the form of annuities and IRAs.

PLIA is also moving to make life insurance the premier product for the protection of Filipino families as it also makes headway in its drive to stamp out the reported illegal business of unlicensed insurers. Last July, the association launched a nationwide awareness and marketing campaign that concentrates industry efforts towards the best protection of life insurance consumers by promoting only legitimate companies. Culminating in October in time with the Life Insurance Consciousness Week (LICW), PLIA has lined up an all-media promotion through the website , various TV guest appearances, a tree-planting activity, print ads, press releases, public fora, and merchandising.

Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) president Stephen O. Rothschild (4th from right) and U.S. Embassy Counselor for Commercial Affairs Judy R. Reinke (2nd from right) pose with PLIA and Insurance Commission (IC) officials

In a pre-anniversary reception, PLIA officials played host to visiting president Stephen O. Rothschild of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), Illinois, U.S.A., the premier association of financial professionals with 32,981 qualifiers who reside in 74 nations and territories, representing about 480 companies worldwide. Counselor for Commercial Affairs Judy R. Reinke of the U.S. Embassy in Manila was special guest at the affair. PLIA welcomed the stronger cooperation with the MDRT to provide local agents/members with resources for outstanding technical knowledge, sales and client service while maintaining a culture of high ethical standards.

1st Life proudly announced its Gawad Kagitingan Awardees and Born-To-Lead achiever thru a print ad published in Philippine Daily Inquirer and United Daily News. The Gawad Kagitingan award is designed to recognize agents' outstanding performance in activity, persistency & production requirements. The Born-To-Lead achievement on the other hand, is a distinction for 1st Life managers for exceptional performance in terms of recruitment and production.

June 2006: 1st Life Publishes the IQA and Activity Club Awardees

1st Life releases the respective lists of International Quality Awardees (IQA) and the Activity Club Achievers through a print advertisement in Philippine Daily Inquirer. The IQA of the Life Insurance Marketing & Research Association, Inc. (LIMRA) is an annual distinction for excellent production and outstanding performance in the insurance business. The Activity Club distinction on the other hand, is an assembly of 1st Life agents who have shown an excellent performance in terms of activity during the year 2005.

1st Life proudly announces the 2006 Million Dollar Round Table achievers in a print advertisement in the national newspaper, "The Philippine Star". The MDRT requirement was completed by the following agents: Josie T. Gotohio, Lorna C. Lao, Lourdes T. Yao, Teresita T. Perez and Susana Y. Tan.

MDRT achievement is a prestigious accomplishment recognized in the life insurance industry as the international standard of excellence. MDRT is an independent association of more than 27,000 of the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals from 70 nations, MDRT members demonstrate exceptional product knowledge, outstanding client service and strict ethical conduct.

1st Life employees followed Company and Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA) president Peter Coyiuto's footsteps to build houses for the PLIA Gawad Kalinga Village for the Ati's in Rodriguez, Rizal. Armed with shovels, long sleeve shirts (shield for the sunlight) and passion to help the disadvantaged, company personnel went to the 'build' site to help construct a house for an Ati family. It was a day filled with hard work capped with a sumptuous lunch with the residents.

Dr. Solomon S. Huebner, the great life insurance educator, did say that in a true profession there essentially must be service to others. More than insuring against risks and unforeseen events, the Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA), the umbrella organization of 35 life insurance companies in the country, takes on a more compelling reason to serve as the organization links up with Gawad Kalinga to help the Ati community in Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal.

Led by Insurance Commissioner (IC) Evangeline C. Escobillo and president Peter G. Coyiuto, PLIA recently launched the bayanihan activity for the industry village in Rodriguez. Ready with their helping hands at the site were PLIA officials: Esther C. Tan, vice president; Gregorio D. Mercado, treasurer; Jose C. Lee and Benjamin C. Lim, directors; and Sylvia D. Amansec, General Manager.

Putting into action the united commitment to help the less privileged, PLIA has dedicated the construction of 35 housing units, each representing one life insurance company, to the Atis, an indigenous group of hunters and gatherers from Panay Island, in Sitio Maislap, Brgy. San Isidro.

IC chief Escobillo urged life insurance officials to beat the July 23 expected completion date of the PLIA GK Village by pooling not only funds but as much time and effort. Each PLIA member-company will take its turn in the next weeks to involve industry people in the concerted effort of helping build a more livable habitat for the Atis.

Mayor Pedro Cuerpo of Rodriguez backed the initiative with the donation of the land on which the units are to be built. PLIA immediate past president Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., under whose term the PLIA-GK agreement was inked, maintained the faith with his participation.

PLIA joins Gawad Kalinga (GK), a non-government organization, as partner in improving lives in the country. For PLIA, contribution to the country's socio-economic development is always a priority. GK is working to help alleviate poverty by harnessing the best of the Filipino's patriotism.

As PLIA head Coyiuto explained, life insurance is the only financial product that gives real answers to uncertainties in life. Other products may identify themselves with a worthy cause to project a wholesome image, but life insurance does not have to make such a pitch because the product itself is valuable to society. After all, there is no such thing as strategic philanthropy in life insurance - only a greater purpose to be of service.

Peter G. Coyiuto, President and CEO of First Life Financial Co., Inc. (1st Life), is elected for the second time as president of the Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA), the umbrella organization of 35 life insurance companies in the country.

Achieving sustained growth for the industry remains the focus of the new PLIA chief as he endeavors to aggressively address and pursue ongoing initiatives and to build major new competencies on such key issues as life insurance awareness, amendments of the Insurance Code and changes in the Code of Ethics, Risk-Based Capitalization (RBC), abolition of premium tax and administration, sale of tax-qualified retirement plans, and the concern on unlicensed insurance sellers.

The executive is open-minded about new opportunities amidst changes and challenges for the industry and hopes as much to strengthen the impact of life insurance in Filipinos' lives. The PLIA head believes that heightened awareness of life insurance buyers bodes well for increasing premium growth in the future and envisions a continuum of life insurance protection that will be better appreciated by every Filipino family. Coyiuto also considers appropriate and transparent regulatory guidelines as a high priority for 2006 with the proposed changes in the Insurance Code and in the industry charter on ethics.

The PLIA chief also holds that pursuit of growth requires capital and the risk-based reserving initiatives will have important implications. Tax reform looms large in this year's priorities set by the new PLIA president as debate continues on the potential changes to, or repeal of, the premium tax. The illegal practice of unlicensed insurance sellers demands scrutiny with the loss of tax revenues from such solicited business. Coyiuto is committed to help the Philippine economy thrive with the industry premium income that is translated to investments.

Coyiuto sits as chief officer of 1st Life, the strategic partner since 1996 of Swiss Life Insurance and Pension Co., the world's largest employee benefits network; and from 1997, the group insurance partner of The Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co., Japan's second largest. He finished BSC Insurance & Accounting from the Wharton School of Business and Finance, University of Pennsylvania. He attained the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation, widely recognized as the highest level of studies in the life insurance profession, from the American College.

Mr. Coyiuto is also Vice Chairman of Prudential Guarantee and Assurance Inc. (PGA), the general insurance firm of the Coyiuto Group of Companies. Coyiuto is also past director for industry organizations such as the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA) International, premier provider of research-based marketing insight and networking opportunities in financial services worldwide, and the Insurance Institute for Asia and the Pacific (IIAP). He also now serves on the board of the Manila Polo Club and is a member of various local business organizations.

Other PLIA officers for 2006 are Esther C. Tan of Sunlife, Vice President; Estelito G. Madrid of Pru Life of UK, Secretary; and Gregorio D. Mercado of Phil. Prudential Life, Treasurer. Other directors are Emilio S. De Quiros, Jr. of Ayala Life, Armando C. Trinidad of Fortune Life, Benjamin C. Lim of United Life, Enrique R. Alberto of AsianLife Financial, and Jose C. Lee of Phil. International Life.

1st Life policyholder Katrina Chan (2nd from left) receives a gift check worth P3,000.00 as prize for submitting names as possible agents for the Client-Get-Agent project. The activity which ran for two (2) months is geared to recruit people and inform them of the rich possibilities of a career in the life insurance business. Ms. Chan also has the chance to receive an additional prize of P5,000.00 for every successful referral*. Others in photo are Ms. Chan's servicing agent Carren Co (far left), Pasig Branch Manager Josie Gotohio (far right) and Individual Insurance Marketing Dept head Agerico Melgar (2nd from right). (*subject to conditions)

1st Life's charity project, Bless the Children donates P227,000.00 to Cartwheel Foundation for its pre-school program. Present during the turn-over ceremony are 1st Life's President & CEO Peter Coyiuto (2nd from right), Executive Vice President, Actuary & COO Jaime Santiago (far left) and Individual Insurance Marketing Department Sr. Asst. Vice-President, Agerico Melgar (far right) with Cartwheel Foundation's Vice-President Nenita Santos (middle) and Officer-in-Charge Rojean Caharian (2nd from left). The contributed amount is from life insurance policies bought by and donations from clients and employees of 1st Life.

1st Life culminates its Bless the Children (BTC) charity campaign with a P227,000.00 check to its program beneficiary Cartwheel Foundation. The project which started early 2005 collected the amount through insurance policies sold; "when a life insurance policy is purchased, the policyholder automatically makes a donation to the foundation at no extra cost on his/her part," expressed 1st Life President & CEO Peter G. Coyiuto.

Bless the Children is born out of 1st Life's core value of the social responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the Philippine society. Mr. Coyiuto added "we build a legacy by what we believe in, by who we are and by what we do to others. We believe that we will realize in the life insurance business the profound meaning of legacy with the unique opportunity to give back, not only to our clients but to the community at large."

Since 1994, 1st Life's Bless the Children (BTC) campaign has made the commitment to serve others. The campaign is envisioned to provide assistance to Cartwheel Foundation in improving the facilities of their pre-school and making available other necessary materials for the development of the students. The contributions will become new learning experiences for the children.