AIA Philippines is pushing the conversation on wellness in a more meaningful direction, urging Filipinos to see health not as a daunting goal but as a series of brave, everyday choices.
At its first-ever Rethink Healthy Influencer Summit, AIA Philippines gathered more than 200 creators, media partners, employees, Life Planners, health advocates, and experts for what it described as the biggest influencer event in the local insurance industry. More than just a gathering, the summit served as a call to action—challenging participants to move beyond old habits and rethink what it truly means to live well.
The event builds on insights from AIA Philippines’ latest study, “Rethink Healthy: Shaping Filipino Health-Seeking Choices, from Thinking to Doing,” which found that Filipinos are steadily shifting away from a passive “bahala na” mindset toward a more intentional “handa na” approach. The study points to a growing willingness among Filipinos to take charge of their health, driven in large part by a deep sense of responsibility to their families and a stronger desire to pursue holistic well-being.
For Melissa Henson, Chief Marketing Officer of AIA Philippines, that shift is exactly what the campaign hopes to sustain. She said the focus now is no longer just about teaching people what healthy living looks like, but helping them see that better health is possible through small, practical decisions made every day. That message resonated throughout the summit, where guests were encouraged to challenge long-held beliefs and embrace simple lifestyle changes that felt realistic, personal, and empowering.
One of the most striking discussions came during the session on healthcare, where MediCard Chief Executive Officer Julian Mengual tackled a familiar Filipino pattern: delaying medical care until a health issue becomes serious. He pointed out that this hesitation is rarely rooted in neglect, but often in confusion over how to access care and uncertainty over what steps to take. For many, it is only when a personal or family health scare happens that the value of preventive care becomes fully clear.
Mengual underscored the need to make healthcare easier to understand and less intimidating, saying prevention should not feel complicated or frightening. Supporting this view, AIA Life Planner Grace Quinto stressed that planning ahead—whether through emergency funds, medical savings, or insurance—can spare families from heavier emotional and financial burdens later on. She warned that the common “tiis muna” mindset often leads to more serious and more expensive health problems down the road.
Mental wellness also took center stage in a candid conversation led by content creator and AIA brand ambassador Wil Dasovich, MindNation co-founder Cat Triviño, and psychologist Dr. Francine Bofill. Their discussion peeled back the polished surface often seen online and focused on the quiet struggles many people endure behind high-functioning lives. Dasovich shared that some of his most meaningful impact on social media has come from moments of vulnerability, arguing that honesty about setbacks and uncertainty can build deeper human connection than curated perfection ever could.
Triviño echoed that message, noting that high-performing individuals often find it hardest to admit when they need help. She emphasized that support-seeking should not begin only at the point of crisis, but should become a regular and normalized part of maintaining well-being. Dr. Bofill added that the path toward better mental health often starts simply—with awareness, openness, and the willingness to ask for help.
The summit also explored the role of influence in shaping healthier behaviors, with AIA ambassadors Nico Bolzico and Solenn Heussaff joining TikTok Philippines Market Lead Charissa Kow for a discussion on authenticity and responsible storytelling. The panel emphasized that real influence comes not from appearing flawless, but from being honest enough to create genuine connection. Solenn said authenticity allows people to build trust, while Nico pushed back against the exhausting culture of perfection, saying no one who presents themselves as perfect is being fully truthful.
Kow, meanwhile, highlighted how digital communities and trends shape the way young people view themselves, their confidence, and even their well-being. She said TikTok continues to invest in tools and programs designed to encourage responsible content creation and foster an environment where self-expression can thrive without unnecessary pressure.
Closing the summit was South Korean cross-fitter Amotti, best known for winning Netflix’s Physical: 100 Season 2 and Physical: Asia. In his session on strength, he offered a grounded and refreshing view of health—one that is built not on extremes, but on consistency. For him, strength begins with routine: waking up, eating, and training at regular times so the body can settle into a rhythm. More importantly, he reminded the audience that health is not about getting everything right all at once, but about starting where you are and building forward one choice at a time.
That idea lies at the heart of AIA Philippines’ Rethink Healthy campaign. More than promoting wellness as an ideal, it frames health as something achievable—something built through courage, consistency, and daily decisions. Through initiatives like the Influencer Summit and its wider creator-led platform AIA Voices, AIA Philippines is working to inspire Filipinos to stop merely thinking about change and start living it, one brave step at a time.