By Thea Andrea C. Magueriano
Getting older can be intimidating, even for a volleyball star like Alyssa Valdez.
“Not that I had trouble with it, but it’s more like I did not think right away of the long-term. ‘Pag mas bata ka (when you’re younger), you think that you will stay young forever,” Valdez told Manila Standard in an email interview.
The 28-year-old volleyball player and celebrity endorser admitted to be lacking foresight when she was younger. She shared, “I think what I should have done was think about the future and what was long-term earlier.”
“Many Pinoys don’t want to think about what will happen if they get sick or into an accident, or even pass away. But all these are facts of life, and it is better to think of these directly and do something to take control of the situation, to make it easier in case those bad things happen,” said Valdez. “We have to train ourselves to think of what is important five, 10, even many years into the future.”
Lucky for her, she has parents who believe in teaching their kids how to be responsible for what they have – health and finances. The athlete emphasized the value of seeking guidance on financial health “as early as possible”.
“It’s never too early or too late to learn about proper financial management. There’s always something to learn, even just by having a proper attitude towards financial health.”
It also helps to live a simple life, like Valdez does, especially amid a pandemic. “A good home-cooked meal after a hard day of training is enough to make me happy. So I was actually ready when the pandemic hit since I have simple wants, it wasn’t too hard for me to adjust financially.”
The new face of Allianz PNB Life has the insurer to thank for opening her eyes to the importance of preparing for the future. “They make financial literacy simpler and more accessible to people my age,” she said.
Prior to the pandemic, the Allianz PNB Life conducted financial literacy seminars for Filipino youth. It offers a range of life and financial products for various needs.
As with savings and investments, getting an insurance early is also strongly recommended. Valdez aims to encourage people her age and younger to get one.
“When you are younger, the risks are less, and you have more years to accumulate and pay, so it actually comes out more affordable and cheaper in the long run. It also means that you are preparing earlier, giving you more time to invest and save up for the future,” she said.
While currently in the training bubble getting ready for a tournament, Valdez is able to put her mind at ease knowing she is protected.
“It’s never too early to start protecting yourself, be it your health, your finances, or anything. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones,” she said, adding that it is “all part of self-care”.
“Don’t think that just because you’re starting out you shouldn’t think of this. Start saving and finding the means to get insured so that you will have confidence in the future.”
After months of rest because of the pandemic, Alyssa Valdez is looking forward to doing activities she enjoyed before the health crisis hit the globe.
“I look forward to the day when we can travel regularly and when we can all go out to restaurants to eat again. I want to be able to meet with friends and loved ones without worrying about anyone getting sick,” she shared.
Recognizing the value of protection, she added, “ I will feel safe and secure when our medical experts say we have reached what they call herd immunity.”