December 2025

Designed as an evening of insightful discussion and curated wine tasting, Legacy Uncorked brought together an intimate circle of the country’s most respected business leaders, wealth advisors, and high-net-worth families in a sophisticated setting at the Grand Hyatt.
In photo: (Left-right) Rozanne Magararu, Pru Life UK Chief Customer & Marketing Officer; Sanjay Chakrabarty, Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer; Michael Ferrer, ATRAM Group Chief Executive Officer; Rex Mendoza, Rampver Financials Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Princess Charm Balingit, Pru Life UK Chief Investment Officer; and Julien Fey, Pru Life UK Chief Strategy Officer

A growing number of Filipino families are facing a quiet financial risk as family-owned businesses and property values rise in the country: delays in wealth transfers and estate settlement problems that may result in frozen assets, court challenges, or forced liquidation.

During Pru Life UK’s special Legacy Uncorked event at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Rex Mendoza, Chairman and CEO of Rampver Financials, stated that many families earn money but neglect to preserve it for future generations. Estate planning is a commitment to continuity and a duty to one’s heirs, not just a financial undertaking.

To address this widening gap, Pru Life UK organised Legacy Uncorked as a platform for intergenerational wealth preservation and responsible succession planning. Headlined by Mendoza, one of the country’s leading voices in financial stewardship and legacy building, the event gathered high-net-worth families, business owners, and wealth advisors to discuss estate preparedness strategies.

Mendoza delivered a compelling message on why Filipino families must prepare not just for wealth accumulation but also for wealth transfer and continuity. He mentioned that legacy is not just what one leaves behind; it’s how one prepares others to carry it forward.

Citing recent global and economic disruptions, he emphasised that unpredictability has become a permanent part of financial strategy. He added that uncertainty is now a constant—with health crises, market disruptions, and policy changes. Families who do not build emergency liquidity and succession strategies expose their heirs to unnecessary financial risk.

He also stressed that the failure of legacy is often rooted not in financial loss but in lack of generational preparation. He noted that heirs do not fail because they lack inheritance; they fail because they lack guidance. Wealth must be transferred with wisdom, purpose, and financial literacy. Mendoza also highlighted the importance of disciplined investment strategies for generational wealth, explaining that asset diversification, risk management, and sustainability must guide long-term decisions.

Legacy Planning

Pru Life UK President and CEO Sanjay Chakrabarty reinforced the importance of legacy planning in the Philippine context, where estate settlement remains a major barrier to preserving family wealth.

He said that many families are forced to sell land, businesses, or long-held assets simply to settle estate obligations. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy—it is for every family that wants continuity, stability, and dignity in how their assets are passed on.

At the event, Pru Life UK introduced PRUWealth 10, its flagship single-pay life insurance solution designed to support estate planning. The product enables clients to generate estate liquidity, protect assets from forced sale, and ensure seamless inheritance transfer.

PRUWealth 10 provides immediate liquidity at the moment families need it most. It prevents the loss of family legacy due to emergency property sales or loan dependency. We continue to see growing interest among discerning families and business leaders who recognise the value of structured protection.

Chakrabarty added that structured wealth transition is now a growing financial priority in the country. He said that these discussions about legacy are no longer taboo. Today’s leaders want to protect both their life’s work and their family relationships. Pru Life UK is here to support that mission with structured, future-ready financial strategies.

Chie Gatchalian, co-founder of The Sip Studio, also developed a wine appreciation journey for heritage Uncorked, signifying how legacies are purposefully created and carefully preserved—reiterating the event’s central theme: heritage must be safeguarded, not left to chance.

The event was a component of Pru Life UK’s continued dedication to estate planning advocacy and financial education in the Philippines, providing families with professional advice, solutions, and assistance to protect multigenerational wealth.

Cebuana Lhuillier has officially named Zacarias Mansing Jr., a passionate literacy and disability inclusion advocate, as the 2025 Happiest Pinoy. His remarkable journey of transforming personal adversity into a nationwide mission for children’s literacy resonated deeply across the country. Selected from more than 500,000 entries, his win marks one of the most extraordinary achievements in the history of Cebuana Lhuillier’s pioneering advocacy.

The awarding ceremony, held last December 2 at Dusit Thani Manila, highlighted the depth and diversity of this year’s competition. Zacarias first emerged as one of the ten national category winners before advancing to the final round, where he stood alongside inspiring finalists representing youth and senior citizens, entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, OFWs, members of the workforce, the LGBTQ+ community, creatives, indigenous peoples, and Cebuana Lhuillier clients.

A distinguished panel of judges—comprising public servants, media professionals, social innovators, athletes, and former Happiest Pinoy awardees—evaluated the finalists through a comprehensive process rooted in four criteria: Resilience; Optimism and Genuine Happiness; Champion of Hope and Impact; and an X-Factor reflecting authenticity.

Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier Inc., emphasized the significance of Zacarias’s win: “Zacarias reminds us that true strength is not the absence of hardship but the courage to lift others as we rise. His life—rooted in faith, grit, and service—captures exactly what the Happiest Pinoy seeks to celebrate: joy that transforms communities and inspires lasting change.”

Zacarias’s story is a testament to that strength. After an accident abroad in 2012 left him paralyzed, he returned home determined to turn his challenges into purpose. Guided by his DRISO values—Determination, Resilience, Inspiration, Service, and Optimism—he launched the Books for Kids Project in 2017. From his wheelchair, he has traveled to more than 300 remote public schools and reached over 50,000 students, championing literacy, disability inclusion, and hope across Negros Oriental. “Being a Happiest Pinoy is about having a spirit that trusts God in all circumstances, and hands that are always ready to reach out to those in need,” he shared.

Zacarias’s triumph is more than a personal victory—it is a powerful reminder that purpose can emerge from pain, and that one person’s resolve can ignite lasting change. His work continues to inspire communities, uplift young learners, and strengthen the movement that Cebuana Lhuillier began: a celebration of joy that endures, heals, and transforms.

Mober Vice President for Brand Marketing and Communications poses for a photo upon receiving the Inspiring Workplaces in Asia award at the ACES Awards 2025 gala night held in Bali, Indonesia

Mober, the Philippines’ top green logistics provider, has been honored at the 2025 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards, earning recognition in the Inspiring Workplaces in Asia category for its leadership in driving sustainable transformation within the country’s commercial logistics sector.

Dubbed Asia’s premier award for leadership and sustainability, the ACES Awards recognized Mober among Asia’s outstanding companies championing ESG initiatives. Mober was officially honored during the Gala Dinner and Summit on November 27, 2025 in Bali, Indonesia, for its people-driven innovation, which is directly responsible for a string of major business milestones this year. These include the launch of the Philippines’ largest commercial EV charging hub, the introduction of the country’s first fully electric tractor head, and the company’s expansion of operations to Thailand, solidifying Mober’s leadership in sustainable logistics across Asia.

Mober Founder and CEO Dennis Ng emphasizes the award’s significance in reinforcing their commitment to investing in human capital towards operational scalability and sustainable growth.

“At Mober, our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workforce is not just a moral imperative, but a competitive advantage that defines our market leadership. We are not just electrifying a fleet,we are humanizing the entire logistics sector and setting the new standard for sustainable transition across the region.”

Mober executives and its team members

Mober currently employs over 400 employees, including more than 200 EV drivers called Green Delivery Specialists (GDS). The Green Warriors Program is central to this strategy, equipping GDS and other employees to become sustainability ambassadors. This focus ensures Mober can maintain operational excellence as it scales its footprint. Meanwhile, the #MoveHer campaign continues to push for safer, more inclusive opportunities for women in logistics, advancing gender diversity alongside environmental responsibility.

“We are proud to be one of the first companies to prioritize carving new pathways for women to get into the logistics industry, which is traditionally male-dominated. Ensuring safe, inclusive workplaces strengthens the operational backbone of EV logistics and builds a sustainable industry for all,” said Miguel Bermundo, Vice President for People and Sustainability of Mober.

Mober is dedicated to creating a greener, more inclusive, and human-centered movement for the future of logistics in the area as it expands its electric fleet and regional presence.

To discover more about how Mober is leading the charge toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, you may visit https://www.moberdelivery.com.

For further information, visit: https://www.mober.ph 

Stigma: Batang Poz 2 builds on the success of its first novel and iWant adaptation, delivering a gripping look into the lives of poz teens in ultra-conservative Philippines

Best-selling novelist and Palanca Award winner Segundo Matias Jr. has published Stigma: Batang Poz 2, the much awaited follow-up to his ground-breaking 2018 book Mga Batang Poz. The discussion concerning HIV awareness and the stigma that young Filipinos living with the infection still experience is deepened by his most recent release.

Melody, 15, joins the “Pete’s Corner” group chat in Stigma: Batang Poz 2, which serves as a virtual haven for young people with HIV like her. She must deal with the stigma as her pregnancy becomes more apparent while drawing support from the experiences of other young people who identify as Poz, including the well-known characters from the first novel. In the middle of the HIV-AIDS crisis in the Philippines, the follow-up examines survival, connection, solidarity, and the pursuit of hope.

Stigma: Batang Poz 2 left a strong impression on me because it shows the real struggles young Filipinos with HIV continue to face. Melody’s story, along with the voices in “Pete’s Corner,” reminds me how powerful safe spaces and shared experiences can be. The book highlights not just the stigma surrounding HIV, but also the resilience, hope, and support system that help these teens push forward. It’s a meaningful reminder that understanding and compassion can change someone’s life.

Matias adds, “Melody, the new character, is especially important to me. If her story reaches video, there is so much within her journey that viewers can learn from. Through Melody’s experiences, the novel discusses both teenage pregnancy and living with HIV.”

A sequel that challenges as it confronts

As the first young adult novel about HIV-AIDS in the Philippines, Stigma: Batang Poz 2 has been hailed as a landmark contribution to both literature and public health, one that challenges prejudice and calls for compassion in the age of social media and digital connection. The first Batang Poz novel received critical acclaim for its courageous and truthful portrayal of living with HIV, later inspiring a powerful 2019 iWant miniseries starring Paolo Gumabao, Mark Neumann, and Awra Briguela. The sequel seeks not only to shed light on the lived experiences of People Living with HIV-AIDS (PLHIV) but also to remind us of the importance of empathy, understanding, and solidarity in combating discrimination.

Stigma: Batang Poz 2 also delivers engaging and practical information on sexual health and empowerment. “The discussions in this book are deeper and more technical,”  shares Matias.                                                 

Early praise for Stigma: Batang Poz 2 

The novel has garnered advanced praise from notable critics, writers, and advocates in the Philippines.

Internationally acclaimed essayist and winner of the Curt Johnson Prose Award for Nonfiction, Wifredo Pascual commends Matias’ masterful craftmanship, noting his skill in crafting “solid and meaningful” scenes. “His sharp eye in choosing the most telling detail is critical in bringing this to light. It’s urgent. And it’s a question worth asking ourselves as readers. How far are we willing to go to get to the source of our discomfort and denial?”

Multi-awarded poet, scholar, and teacher Charlie Samuya-Veric, celebrates Matias’ commitment to making “courageous writing contagious.” He explains, “With Stigma: Batang Poz 2, Segundo Matias, Jr. departs completely from the fantastical concerns of Moymoy Lulumboy and takes his readers close to what they would otherwise deny: their deepest fears and most unacknowledged prejudices. Matias’s courage is enabling. He provides his audience with a different experience and creates a new horizon for YA writers who may not yet have the will, or wherewithal, to explode social taboos.”

Award-winning Gagambeks author Mark Angeles also commends the book for expanding discussions on topics that are frequently considered taboo and controversial. “Binuksan ng Mga Batang Poz ang makulay na mundo ng mga alter—isang produkto ng immersion ng awtor na internet subculture na ito.”

“Health hubs have told me that more people are getting tested because they read Mga Batang Poz,” says Matias. “That alone makes me happy. For a writer like me, being able to convey a meaningful message through one’s work is already a victory.” Matias hopes the sequel will enable readers, especially young adults, to face the world’s challenges with courage and clarity.

Stigma: Batang Poz by Segundo Matias, Jr. will soon be accessible.