We Prepare for the Rain, But Are We Prepared for Life's Biggest Storm?

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An ordinary moment between a mother and son reminded me why planning ahead is one of the greatest acts of love.

I was scrolling through TikTok when I came across a video that made me stop.

It was an influencer sitting in a restaurant with his mother. What seemed like an ordinary moment between a mother and son turned into a conversation that was difficult to forget.

He shared that he had cancer.

But what struck me most wasn't simply his illness. It was his worry about his mother.

She was already 75 years old.

From what he shared, they only had each other in this world. And the thought that seemed to weigh heavily on him was this: What would happen to his mother if he didn't survive his illness?

Imagine that.

Here was a man facing a frightening diagnosis, yet one of his deepest concerns was not just what might happen to him, but what would happen to the person he loved most if he were no longer around.

I kept thinking about that video long after I had scrolled past it.

Because I think many of us can relate to that kind of love.

As parents, children, husbands, wives, and breadwinners, we spend so much of our lives worrying about the people who depend on us.

We think about their food, their education, their health, their bills, and their future.

But there is one question we often avoid asking ourselves.

What happens to the people we love when we're no longer here to take care of them?

Death Doesn't Choose Between the Rich and the Poor

We live in a world where it's easy to believe that having money, influence, or success gives us greater control over our lives.

We see influencers travelling, celebrities enjoying luxurious lifestyles, and successful entrepreneurs building empires.

Sometimes, looking at their lives, we forget that behind the fame, money, and accomplishments, they are human beings just like us.

They get sick. They experience loss. They worry about their families.

And yes, they face the same reality of mortality.

Death does not choose between an ordinary worker, a social media influencer, a successful businessman, or someone with millions in the bank.

We may have different circumstances, but none of us can predict exactly how much time we have.

Some people live long, beautiful lives. Others face unexpected illnesses or accidents.

Some families have time to prepare. Others receive heartbreaking news without warning.

And when that moment comes, the emotional pain alone can be overwhelming.

But for many Filipino families, grief is often accompanied by another burden: the financial and practical responsibilities that come with losing someone.

Funeral arrangements. Memorial services. Expenses nobody had planned for. Decisions that must be made while everyone is still trying to process what happened.

This is why I believe we need to talk about preparation before life forces us to.

Filipinos Know How to Prepare for Rainy Days

There's something interesting about us Filipinos.

We live in a country where preparing for storms is practically part of our lives.

When PAGASA announces an approaching typhoon, we immediately think about what needs to be done.

We charge our phones and power banks. We stock up on rice, canned goods, and drinking water. We check our roofs, secure important documents, and prepare emergency bags.

Families living in flood-prone communities move appliances and furniture to higher places.

We do all these things because we understand what happens when a storm arrives and we are unprepared.

And this isn't simply an exaggeration.

According to the World Bank, approximately 60% of the Philippines' land area and at least 74% of Filipinos are vulnerable to multiple natural hazards, including typhoons, floods, landslides, and other disasters.

Source: "World Bank – Strengthening Climate Preparedness in the Philippines" (https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/11/17/wb-delivers-financial-boost-to-ph-to-strengthen-climate-preparedness-at-schools-health-facilities-commu)

We understand the value of preparation because we have experienced the consequences of being caught off guard.

But here's something I've been thinking about.

If we can prepare our homes for storms that may or may not come, why do we hesitate to prepare our families for something we know is eventually part of life?

Perhaps it's because we don't want to think about death.

Perhaps we're afraid that talking about it makes it feel too real.

Or perhaps, like many Filipinos, we simply tell ourselves:

"Saka na. Bata pa naman ako."

"Malakas pa naman ako."

"Wala pa sa budget."

"Marami pa akong kailangang unahin."

And I understand that.

Life is expensive. We have bills to pay, children to support, groceries to buy, and countless financial responsibilities.

But sometimes, the things we keep postponing are the very things that could make an enormous difference to our families later on.

The Numbers Tell Us Something About How Filipinos Prepare

I became curious about how many Filipinos actually have some form of financial protection.

What I discovered made me think even more seriously about this topic.

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey:

Only 14% of Filipino adults reported having insurance other than PhilHealth.

Although 47% reported having insurance when PhilHealth was included, the numbers show how limited other forms of insurance protection remain.

Among adults who reported having insurance, only 10% reported owning life insurance.

Source: "BSP – 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey" (https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Inclusive%20Finance/Financial%20Inclusion%20Reports%20and%20Publications/2025/2025CFISreport.pdf)

These figures don't tell us exactly how many Filipinos have prepaid memorial plans, which are different from conventional life insurance. But they show that preparing financially for unexpected events remains a challenge.

There is, however, growing interest in pre-need planning.

According to figures from the Insurance Commission reported by BusinessWorld, 895,679 pre-need plans were sold across the Philippines in 2025, an increase of 28.02% from the previous year. Life and memorial plans accounted for 99.84% of those sales.

That figure represents plans sold, not the percentage of Filipinos who own a plan.

Source: "BusinessWorld – Pre-need Sector Books Higher Premium Income" (https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/02/24/732234/pre-need-sector-books-higher-premium-income-2/)

For me, these numbers raise an important question.

If we're willing to spend money protecting our homes, cars, gadgets, and other possessions, shouldn't we also make time to understand the options available to help protect our families?

The Kind of Preparation We Rarely Talk About

This is where companies such as St. Peter Life Plan come into the conversation.

Many Filipinos are familiar with St. Peter, but not everyone understands what a prepaid memorial plan is intended to provide.

Unlike conventional life insurance, which is generally designed to provide financial benefits to beneficiaries, a prepaid memorial plan primarily helps make arrangements for future memorial services.

St. Peter offers plans with specified memorial services and, depending on the plan and eligibility, additional insurance-related benefits.

The services, limitations, and benefits depend on the particular contract.

For me, the value of having a conversation about these plans goes beyond the financial aspect.

It's about taking some of the difficult decisions out of an already painful situation.

It's about having the opportunity to discuss preferences while everyone is still together.

And it's about allowing our families to grieve without having to figure out every single arrangement from scratch.

Of course, a memorial plan cannot replace the emotional presence of someone we love. Nor is it a substitute for comprehensive life insurance, savings, or other financial protection.

But as part of thoughtful family planning, it may help address one specific responsibility that people often overlook.

Going Back to That Mother and Son

I keep coming back to that TikTok video.

A son sitting with his 75-year-old mother, worried about what would happen if his illness took him away from her.

I don't know what happened to them afterward, and I sincerely hope they have more years together.

But their story made me realise something.

Sometimes, the greatest fear isn't what happens to us. It's what happens to the people we leave behind.

Maybe you're a parent worrying about your children.

Maybe you're a daughter or son supporting ageing parents.

Maybe you're the breadwinner whose family depends on every paycheck.

Or maybe you're simply someone who wants to make sure your loved ones will have fewer difficult decisions to face someday.

Whatever your circumstances, I believe there's value in having these conversations while we still can.

Not because we're expecting something terrible to happen tomorrow.

But because preparation gives us choices today.

When Life's Rainy Days Come, Will Your Family Be Ready?

In the Philippines, we've learned to live with the reality of storms.

We cannot stop the rain. We cannot control the typhoons. But we can prepare our homes, protect our belongings, and make plans to keep our families safe.

Life works in much the same way.

We cannot control every illness, accident, or unexpected loss.

But we can make decisions today that may help our families navigate difficult moments with greater clarity and less financial pressure.

Being prepared doesn't mean we're afraid of death. It means we care enough about the people we love to think beyond our own lifetime.

And perhaps that's what the story of that mother and son reminded me of most.

Love isn't only about being there for someone today.

Sometimes, love is also about making sure we've done what we reasonably can for them, even when we can no longer be there.

Let's Talk About Preparing for Life's Rainy Days

If you've been thinking about getting a St. Peter Life Plan, or you're simply curious about how prepaid memorial planning works, I'd be happy to help you explore the available options.

No pressure. No need to make an immediate decision.

Just an opportunity to understand what planning ahead could mean for you and your family.

Send me a message at hello@loigesmundo.com and let's talk about how you can begin preparing for those "rainy days" of our lives.

Because when the time comes, one of the greatest gifts we can give our loved ones may be the peace of mind that comes from knowing we prepared as thoughtfully as we could.

Hindi natin hawak ang bukas. Pero habang may panahon pa, may pagkakataon tayong maghanda para sa mga mahal natin sa buhay.