A MOTHER’S TREASURE

In a sea of mounting hospital bills and the possibility of losing her son after a violent mugging incident, RUTH SOPELARIO realized with a sudden surge of hope that her foresight had provided an unexpected lifeline.

It was in April 2022 when Ruth Sopelario’s youngest son, Hennessey, was attacked after refusing to drink with a group of street-corner tambay (idle drunkards). What began as an ordinary night turned into a medical emergency for Hennessey that grew worse by the hour.

“(Having the) Insurance didn’t even cross my mind at first,” she says. “Because my first instinct was my child and will he live or not. That was all I was thinking about.”

Ruth, who had been unwell that day, woke up to the noise outside their home and immediately sensed something was wrong. When she saw Hennessey, he had wounds and visible injuries, and he was complaining about the immense pain on his head, but the full extent of the damage inflicted on him was not yet clear.

“He had wounds on his brachium and his left ear. At that point, I didn’t know how serious it was,” she recalls.

They first rushed him to a public hospital. But as his condition worsened, the family had to make a decision.

By the time he was brought to another hospital for further assessment, he was already having seizures. His Glasgow Coma Scale had dropped to three and, soon enough, he went into a coma.

“My second to the eldest son called me and asked, ‘Ma, what do we do?’” she says.

WHEN PREPARATION BECOMES REAL

The policy had only been opened a few months earlier as Hennessey worked as a delivery rider. First using a bicycle, then eventually a motorcycle.

It was not stable work, but it was something he took seriously. He had already begun providing for his own child on his way to becoming financially independent.

However, prior to getting beaten to a pulp, he had a road accident that was too close for comfort.

“He told me, ‘Ma, if I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I’d be dead,’” she says.

That led Ruth to thinking. When she finally had the means, she enrolled Hennessey as the insured in a PRULink Assurance Account Plus plan under Pru Life UK, paying P9,000 quarterly.

“I told myself, I’ll get it when I have the money. And when I did, I opened the policy,” she says.

The plan combines both life insurance and investment components. It provides a death benefit equivalent to the insured amount plus the fund value, along with an additional benefit for accidental death or disability. It also includes coverage for total and permanent disability, which  

can be advanced in case of total and permanent disability brought by  serious illness or injury. Over time, the plan also builds fund value that can be accessed anytime or at maturity.

At the time, Ruth didn’t study the specifics because, for her, what mattered more was the outcome. That something was in place for her son’s security and protection.

She has spent 39 years in government service and raised four sons on her own. Planning has always been part of how she manages life. “I’m a solo parent. Everything, financial, emotional, physical, it was all on me. So you learn to plan, even if it’s hard.”

After only paying two quarters of the insurance policy, the tragedy involving Hennessey happened.

AT ALL COSTS

When Hennessey was transferred to a private hospital, the reality of his mounting hospital bills hit them.

He underwent craniotomy, a procedure that required removing part of his skull to relieve pressure on the brain. The first operation alone cost them around P1.2 million. With another surgery and continued treatment, their total expenses had ballooned to P3 million.

Overnight, the family pooled resources and borrowed money from relatives. “At that point, you don’t think about anything else,” Ruth says. “You just want your child to survive.”

But even with all that financial help plus the family’s combined resources, the money wasn’t enough to cover Hennessey’s expenses. That’s where the benefits derived from his insurance came in.

“Within a month, we received P1 Million. Eventually, it reached P2 million,” she says. These benefits include Life Care Benefit (LCB), Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) and Daily Hospital Income (DHI). 

The amount significantly reduced Ruth’s financial burden due to the plan’s protection features and financial support. “It helped a lot. I didn’t have to keep thinking about where to get money and I could focus on taking care of him,” Ruth says.

It helped her balance out her time and energy. Between work, hospital visits and caregiving, the pressure was already constant. “You’re already tired from responsibilities,” she says. “If one part becomes lighter, it helps a lot.”

Thankfully, her son survived. But recovery has been long and he is currently no longer able to work, and depends on her for his daily needs.

A MOTHER’S PLANS

The whole experience changed how Ruth thinks about the future.

One moment stood out to her. It was when her son asked her what would happen to him when she is no longer around and no one could take care of him anymore.

“I told him, your brothers are okay. They’ll be there,” she says. “And whatever I leave behind, that’s for you.”

For Ruth, it was not a perfect answer but deep in her heart it is the best solution she can offer for now.

As a mother, Ruth doesn’t just plan for immediate needs. Now, it’s also about making sure her family has something to rely on, especially in situations she has no control over.

And after what happened, Ruth has made sure that protection now extends beyond one child.

Her other sons have either bought their own policies or are planning to get one as well. She also secured coverage for her grandchildren from Hennessy, under PRUHealth Prime, a plan that provides financial support in case of serious illness such as cancer.

“They might not understand it because they’re still young, but someday, it will matter to them more,” she says.

She has also begun processing her own insurance, getting the PRULink Elite Protector 5. This policy is an investment-linked  plan that combines protection and investment growth over time. It also allows for higher fund accumulation within a shorter payment period, while still offering protection against death, disability and critical illness

It had reached a point when Ruth was paying around P20,000 a month to cover different policies. It was a bit difficult because it required discipline and constant adjustment of their expenses, but for her it was necessary.

“It was a heavy load but you make space for it in your budget,” she says, highlighting how important insurance is for her and her family, having seen what happens when there is nothing to fall back on.

BEING AT EASE

Today, the worry has not disappeared completely because her son still requires care and the future remains uncertain. But, after knowing that everyone in the family has insurance or is planning to get one, the weight of an uncertain future feels different now.

“I feel at peace,” she says. “At least I know they’re protected.”

For Ruth, that sense of security is not about eliminating risk but about knowing that when something happens, her family will not be left without support.

The assurance of feeling secure and protected has left her feeling settled, and as a mother, that is enough.

As published on People Asia Magazine and website