Virtuous cycle

A Victorian-era statue of Prudence looks over the entrance of Prudential Plc’s former headquarters at Holborn Bars, London, a prominent reminder of the values that the financial services company has been striving to live up to since it was established in 1848. To this day, the figure carries her arrow, signifying strength of purpose; serpent, the ancient symbol of wisdom; and mirror, representing self-awareness.

It is in keeping with these values of service and providing financial security that Prudential Plc has thrown its support behind Prudential RideLondon, one of the United Kingdom’s biggest charity fundraising events.

And in the latest edition held in late July this year, Pru Life UK, the Philippine unit of the London-based Prudential Plc Group, sent a team of four professional cyclists and another four hobbyists, who joined the over 100,000 who took part in the two-day festival.

According to Jonathan Oliver, Prudential Plc Group communications director, Prudential has invested in cycling events because these are aligned with the company’s business of insuring people’s health as cycling makes people more active and feel healthier.

“When this came along in 2013 [after the 2012 London Olympics], it seemed a great opportunity for us to be associated with something that could change a lot of people’s lives,” Oliver said, “Six years on, Prudential RideLondon is firmly established as part of the British calendar.”

Since 2013, almost 70 million pound sterling has been raised, benefiting 800 charities globally.

London’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman in a statement declared this year’s edition of the Prudential RideLondon festival of cycling the “biggest and best” and London’s “most powerful means of encouraging more people to take up cycling or to use their bikes more often.”

Added Oliver: “It’s not just for elite riders. It’s something for everybody—men and women, young and old, people who haven’t cycled before attempting the 100-mile challenge and other challenges. It’s a money-can’t-buy opportunity.”

The delegation from the Philippines was composed of Jermyn Prado, Ismael Grospe Jr., Jeremy Genesis Maraña and Aidan James Mendoza for the professional division. Joining them were hobbyists Tetsuya Junior Minagawa (PRUride PH 2018 Brompton Challenge Winner), Ryan Lamayo (Pru Life UK Employee) and raffle winners Bertrand Dominique Teplitxky and John Kenneth Cruz.

Oliver estimated that during the two-day festival from July 28-29, three million miles were cycled —the equivalent of cycling from London to Manila 450 times.

“It’s great to see this spreading around the world, in Asian cities like Manila where people are starting to see the benefits of taking control of your health,” Oliver said.

And Pru Life UK is taking the lead.

Pru Life UK CEO Antonio G. De Rosas noted that Pru Life has been holdings its own cycling festival—PRUride PH—since 2016. It has become the country’s largest cycling festival with over 2,000 participants cycling over the two-weekend festivity in January.

“As an insurance company, Pru Life UK is not only committed to protecting Filipinos’ finances but also promoting ways where they can take care of their health and wellness. Through cycling, we are able to encourage more people to try an alternative mode of transportation that is good for both their wellbeing and the environment,” De Rosas added.

The Prudential Group considers encouraging people around the world to take better control of their life an integral part of its global business, whose purpose has not changed since a group of Victorian gentlemen met 170 years ago to form Prudential.

“We were set out to help people take the risks out of life’s big worries. In those days, people worry about their funeral. Talking about death was a horrific thought especially for a religious [country]. We were the first company to help the ordinary men and women insure themselves,” Oliver said. “In a sense that’s exactly what we still do today, worldwide. A social safety net is what we provide, then and now.”