Insular Life and the awe-inspiring art of ensuring lives
This is what grips you first: the Filipino story documented in bas relief by Napoleon Abueva. Of common folks at work, in mid-song, in a procession, under an all-encompassing sun, and in stony silence — symbols, allegories and metaphors of a country looking back, confronting the present, yet ever on-the-rise. At the ground floor are Antonio Raymundo’s Higaonon and Itneg terracotta maidens who are the bearers of water and carriers of life. At some point you get flanked by Impy Pilapil’s dancing dolphins and Jose Mendoza’s freewheeling birds — both structures detailing freedom of movement and power of stability, giving form to the aphorism “one must first be grounded before one could soar.” More sculptures at the ground floor and auditorium foyer. And then the paintings with the dappled light of Fernando Amorsolo draw you in like a “stun of jewels.” These are masterful impressions of how a nation came to be: the show of industriousness, cooperation, and camaraderie in the rice fields; the ability to count one’s blessings and celebrate life’s rich pageant; and the fostering of harmony with nature and fellowmen. Art has a way of bringing to light the goodness of a people, the qualities of a race. Amorsolo knew that well. So does an institution like Insular Life Assurance Company, which is marking its 98th anniversary of unwavering service and dedication to the Filipino people.
Consider this: a trip to the Insular Life Corporate Centre (ILCC) in Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang could be likened to an art tour of sorts. You could just imagine the voice-over: Above you is a sculptural mural done in the early ’60s for the iconic Insular Life building on Paseo de Roxas corner Ayala Avenue by Abueva fresh from a Harvard Art Scholarship Grant and which was reinstalled by the artist himself at the Alabang headquarters in 2001… To your left are the archetypal Malakas and Maganda black-and-white marble sculptures by Pilapil... In the chairman’s office are a couple of Amorsolos depicting the birth of a nation…. More paintings here, more sculptures there… Not at all surprising since, historically, Insular Life has been a staunch promoter of Filipino culture and the arts. And there’s no one better to act as curator of sorts than the Insular Life chairman of the board and CEO Vicente “Ting” Ayllón.
“Did you know that during the post-war period, Insular Life commissioned Fernando Amorsolo to create a series of paintings of historical events to be put in our offices (and which were subsequently used in Insular Life calendars from the late ’50s to the ’80s) — and we paid him P1,000 each?” says the very amiable Ayllón, whose knowledge of Philippine art is astounding. “I was sent by Fernando Zobel to talk to Amorsolo and he was a very nice person. So soft-spoken.”
Ayllón points to a painting behind his desk that highlights the chairman’s office: “Confeccion de la Standarte Nacional (Making of the Philippine Flag).” “We bought that for just a thousand pesos, would you believe?” says an amazed Ayllón. “The value of that painting now is much, much more.”
In the painting, three women (symbolic of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) are sewing the Filipino flag, laden with history and the proud fruit of revolutions and revaluation. An essential visual document. A national treasure. Something inarguably priceless.
But the value of Insular Life’s Amorsolos lies less on monetary considerations and more on the paintings’ historical significance. That particular painting — along with other works by the country’s first National Artist such as “Princess Urduja,” “Sale of Panay for a Golden Salakot,” and “Igorot on Bontok Trail,” as well as those donated to Ayala Museum — namely “The Burning of the Idols” and “The First Baptism in the Philippines — is an “apt reminder of the company’s love and pride for its Filipino heritage.”
Ayllón laments the loss of some of the master’s paintings. In 1971, a fire that razed the upper floors of the company’s Makati office destroyed most of the paintings from Insular Life’s collection. One could just imagine those oil on canvas masterpieces crackling in the fire, with the national psyche being charred in the process. Unfazed by the terrible incident, Insular Life continues its support for the arts through regular purchases of artworks (to date it has 20 Amorsolo artworks), even commissioning noted artists to create sculptures for the company. Through the years, Insular Life has accumulated artworks by Ang Kiukok, Araceli Dans, Betsy De Brias, Edgar Doctor, Gamaliel Subang, Jose Joya, Juvenal Sanso, Macario Vitalis, Manny Baldemor and Malang, among other masters.
The Insular Life Theater in the Alabang headquarters also underscores the company’s commitment to the arts. Ayllón enthuses, “Since we opened the theater doors to the public, it has become the venue of many plays, recitals, musicals and concerts.” I guess you could consider it the Cultural Center of the South.
Ayllón remembers how the Insular Life building in Makati had an auditorium that was used regularly by Repertory Philippines. The one in Alabang has excellent acoustics, plush interiors, and can sit 524 theatergoers.
Early this year, the company launched the FILfest (Friends of Insular Life) Concert Series under the artistic direction of internationally renowned pianist Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz. Its thrust is to purvey to the youth of the community everything that is good about the performing arts — an alternative to tacky variety shows on TV such as Wowowee. The response has been very good so far, what with shows featuring the likes of Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata and conductor Gerard Salonga.
“FILfest is composed of very energetic and resourceful ladies of Alabang, headed by Vicky Zubiri, who are very much driven by the mission of inculcating an appreciation of music and the arts among the residents in and around this area, making the Insular Life Theater the cultural hub south of Metro Manila.”
Another group that the company is supporting through a venue grant is Theater Down Southunder the leadership of director Michael Williams. “Theater Down South has produced a number of children’s plays such as Midsummer Night’s Dream and Rapunzel — all performances were booked to the rafters.”
All these efforts that we support, emphasizes Ayllón, are aligned toward the educational development of the Filipino and “toward an appreciation of our country’s history and culture.”
Outstanding Filipinos
Fernando Amorsolo is undoubtedly an outstanding Filipino. So are the recipients of Insular Life’s TOFIL or Outstanding Filipino award such as Lorenzo Tañada, Jovito Salonga, Salvador Laurel and Rosa Rosal, among others. The TOFIL award was conceived by the Philippine Jaycees Senate in partnership with Insular Life in ’88 to honor Filipinos over 41 years old who have not only excelled in their chosen field, but have made a significant impact in public welfare and development.
Ayllón explains, “Being the largest Filipino life insurance company, we should be at the forefront of efforts to uphold our fellow Filipinos who have contributed greatly to community and national development. To date, we have honored 91 outstanding Filipinos in various fields such as community service, public service, education, arts & culture, business, medicine, science & technology, and other fields.”
The STAR has dedicated a special column called “Leaders in Our Midst” wherein the lives and works of the TOFIL awardees are documented. Insular Life even published a book titled Common Threads, Uncommon Lives: Profiles of TOFIL Awardeeds from 1988 to 2005. Insular Life donated 3,500 copies of the book to public high school libraries.
“It was a book written for the younger generation to give them role models that will inspire them to work hard, aim for the best and make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Teach Your Children
In simple terms, Insular Life is in the business of providing financial security through life insurance. Ayllón expounds, “We advise people on how to responsibly allocate their money so that they will have something for the present, and still build a disciplined savings program so that they could continue to enjoy their lifestyle several years from now.”
He adds that the company is undertaking information campaigns and road shows to various cities across the country, talking about the value of savings and financial planning, essential concepts during these troubled times. “But to have a real, long-lasting effect, we have to start the saving habit on the very young,” Ayllón stresses. “It should begin with proper education.”
Highlighting the value of education is one of the crusades of the company.
“The problems of the country are enormous, so we are focusing on one basic problem — our public schoolchildren’s access to quality education. We would like to make a difference in improving the retention of children in school, in increasing their reading proficiency, and in improving their achievement grades.”
Insular Life is focusing on a literacy campaign in this regard, donating brand new storybooks to adopted schools in Muntinlupa and orphanages such as Tuloy Foundation and ERDA. The employees conduct storytelling workshops and training to interested teachers on the art of storytelling. “We are very happy to learn that our partner schools have created ‘Reading Corners ‘ and ‘Drop Everything and Read’ programs.”
Insular Life employees are providing one year’s supply of school materials, bag, uniform and storybooks for 100 elementary public schools since 2003.
“We are also part of the 57-75 Campaign, a multi-sectoral campaign to decrease drop-out rates, increase reading proficiencies and increase achievement rates,” informs Ayllón. “57” stands for the achievement level of public elementary schools, and “75” or a passing rate is what the campaign would like to achieve in five-years’ time. Insular Life has chosen Pampanga, one of the pilot provinces identified by the Task Force 57-75, and provides support through substantial funding.
Insular Life’s Gold Eagle Soars Again
The company recently re-launched the Insular Life Gold Eagle Award, a high school incentive program with a scholarship grant component, which was very popular in the ’60s to the early ’80s. The idea of reviving the program came after a management conference of Insular Life executives.
“We started reconnecting with our past scholars and found out they are now occupying very high positions in their companies, run their own businesses, hold distinguished positions in the academe and other fields,” he relates. “If we made a difference in the lives of these past scholars, then we would want to continue doing the same to more poor yet deserving students.”
In the revitalized program, the valedictorians of the graduating batch of the top 1,000 public and private high schools will receive an Insular Life Gold Medal. As a further incentive, the top three students from each of these schools can vie for a full college scholarship at the UP Diliman College of Education.
“We want to encourage the best and the brightest to consider pursuing a teaching career,” shares Ayllón. “This is our answer to the growing need for more highly qualified and skilled teachers. To have a progressive country, we need to have young, educated people. The best way to achieve this is to have the best teachers. What hurts the country is that our very good teachers are migrating. It’s a loss to our young. Our country is only as good as our youth.”
A new component to the grant is the two-year service requirement after graduation. The scholar should teach in any school in the Philippines for two years, as his or her way of giving back to the country.
“We have always believed that education is a great equalizer. In the future, we will pursue new programs or scale-up existing ones that will help increase the achievement level of our public school elementary students, encourage more bright high school students to become teachers, and help teachers aspire for continuous improvement.”
And who knows? With the initiatives being undertaken by Ayllón and the rest of the Insular Life family in terms of educating the youth, our country might just produce more stellar TOFIL awardees, or even — maybe, just maybe — someone as great as Fernando Amorsolo, an artist, a teacher, but first and foremost a Filipino.
