How a social worker from Kidapawan helped her family even after her sudden passing

Grief often arrives without warning. In its wake are unfinished plans, unanswered questions, and the quiet weight of a future abruptly changed. Yet sometimes, amid loss, there are small, steady reminders of care, decisions made in silence that continue to hold a family together.

When 29-year-old social worker Sheina Clare Lumogdang died in a vehicular accident on August 3, 2025, her family in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, was left shaken by the loss.

She was the youngest of four children, the one who had recently started carving out a life of her own after being employed by the City Government of Butuan.

“During our time of grief, halo-halo talaga ang nararamdaman [we felt a mix of emotions],” her father Efren Lumogdang told BusinessMirror in an online interview “Parang wala kami sa aming sarili [It felt like we weren’t ourselves]. Pakiramdam namin, wala kaming magawang desisyon na tama, maliban sa tulong ng mga tao sa paligid namin [It seemed there was no right decision to make, except with the help of those around us].”

Efren recalled that when Sheina moved to Butuan for work, she shared with her family modest but meaningful dreams: saving up for a place of her own, eventually building a house, and one day bringing her parents there for a vacation.

“Malayo ang Butuan mula sa Kidapawan [Butuan is far from Kidapawan],” Efren said. “Pero plano talaga niya na magkaroon ng bahay doon, para sa sarili niya at para rin sa amin [But she truly planned to have a house there for us].”

What she did not talk about, however, was a decision she made just over a year earlier.

In May 2024, at age 28, Sheina took out a life insurance policy, PRULink Assurance Account Plus. She was single, starting her career, and supporting her family in quiet ways that did not always need explanation.

Her parents only learned about the policy after her passing.

“Hindi niya sinabi sa akin [She didn’t tell me],” Efren admitted. “Ang nanay niya ang nagsabi na may insurance pala si Sheina [It was her mother who told me that Sheina had insurance], for her protection.”

Following Sheina’s death, the family submitted the required claims documents on August 12, 2025, with the help of Pru Life UK insurance agent Mary Luz. At the time, Efren expected a long and uncertain process.

“Sa mga naririnig namin sa iba na may life insurance, matagal nila nakuha [From what we’ve heard from others who have life insurance, it usually takes a long time for claims to be released],” he said. “Pero dito sa kinuha ni Sheina, hindi nagtagal [But in Sheina’s case, it didn’t take long].”

By August 19, barely days after the submission, the claim had already been processed and released. For a family still struggling to make sense of their loss, the speed and clarity of the process mattered.

“Sa ganitong sitwasyon, mahalaga ang mabilis at malinaw na proseso [In situations like this, a fast and clear process is important],” Efren said. “Habang nagluluksa ka, parang wala kang magawa [When you’re grieving, it feels like there’s nothing you can do]. Pero malaking bagay na alam mong may darating na tulong [But it means a lot to know that help is on the way].”

A father’s reflection

Efren spent decades working as a tricycle driver in Kidapawan, often starting early mornings and squeezing in trips before and after work to support his children’s education. He retired in 2022, shortly after his children, especially Sheina, found stable employment.

The insurance claim helped the family manage immediate expenses and provided breathing room during a period clouded by grief.

“Masakit pa rin sa loob [It still hurts deeply],” he said, his voice breaking.

To Efren, the policy felt like an extension of his daughter’s care, her way of making sure the family would not be left entirely unprotected.

A lesson carried forward

The experience has reshaped how Efren talks to his children and grandchildren about the future. What was once an abstract idea, planning for uncertainty has become a concrete lesson.

“Pinapayuhan ko na ngayon ang mga anak at apo ko na kumuha ng insurance [I now advise my children and grandchildren to get insurance],” he said.

He believes planning early opens the door to more than just death benefits.

“Kapag maaga kang nagplano, mas marami kang benepisyo, hindi lang sa death, kundi pati sa medical at iba pang tulong [When you plan early, you get more benefits, not only in death, but also for medical needs and other forms of support],” he added.

Efren now hopes to secure insurance for his grandchildren using his pension, turning his daughter’s quiet decision into a legacy of awareness and preparedness.

In her short life, Sheina Lumogdang served her community as a social worker and supported her family in ways both seen and unseen. Even in her absence, the choices she made continue to offer comfort, proof that care, once given, can endure beyond loss.

As published on BusinessMirror’s website