Atty Martin Loon is Cocolife Insurance's youngest President and CEO at 32. (Photo: Michael "Myke" J. Messina)
Cover Atty Martin Loon is Cocolife Insurance's youngest President and CEO at 32. (Photo: Michael "Myke" J. Messina)

At such a young age, Martin Loon has already worn so many hats. He was a member of the commission that reviewed the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a lawyer, and now the youngest President and CEO of Cocolife, the Philippines' biggest stock life insurance company

One can only have so much passion and dedication to service to accomplish what Atty. Martin Loon has done in the past 32 years. At his age, he's brushed shoulders with top political and business figures in the country and now leads Cocolife, the Philippines' biggest Filipino-owned stock life insurance company.

Loon obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, and his Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University Law School; he is also the founding partner of his own law firm Yebra, De Jesus, Loon Law offices. When asked why he pursued such undertakings, the Cocolife President and CEO can only reflect on one noble cause—service

"Basically, I pursued law because it was a good avenue to serve. A lot of great Filipinos were lawyers and a lot of people who served this country, in whatever capacity, were lawyers or members of the legal profession. I thought it would be a very decent way to live my life," he said. "It is also a good instrument of service. When you're a lawyer, you're empowered as an individual to assist people in need, most especially those who cannot fight for themselves; so it's one of those things that you can do as an individual to be of assistance to others."

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Cocolife President and CEO Atty. Martin Loon believes that a life well lived is a life lived in public service (Photo: Michael "Myke" J. Messina)
Above Cocolife President and CEO Atty. Martin Loon believes that a life well lived is a life lived in public service (Photo: Michael "Myke" J. Messina)

Cocolife's dedication to service is the same value that attracted Loon to the group. Although he never planned to venture into the insurance business, the young lawyer learned to love the company's core values. 

"Honestly, the insurance business was never part of my life plan. I was nominated to the board at age 31, but eventually, when the company needed a new set of leaders, I was considered and chosen to lead the team," he explained. 

"It was very unexpected, I would say that this specific detour in my life was never planned and I never imagined myself in the insurance industry," he added.

Sacrifices Amid the Pandemic

The board entrusted Loon with a huge responsibility right when the COVID-19 pandemic upended everyone’s life. For Loon, this meant that he had to double his efforts most especially at a time when many lives are at stake

"I've been President for almost three years now, I've been with the company for almost four years and I'd say it was one of the biggest challenges of my life. Challenging in the sense that you are responsible for the lives of the entire organisation, their safety, their welfare, and you're responsible also for the mission of the company," he disclosed.

"'That responsibility required a lot from everyone, including sacrificing our personal convenience, time, and indulgences. When you deal with real human lives and there are real people who depend on you and your performance, you really cannot think of yourself. You have to think of the mission and you always have to think of the organisation—and that's my attitude, it's always mission first. Mission has always been my priority, over myself, over my life," he further explained.

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Loon's sacrifices finally paid off when in September 2021, Cocolife swept prestigious awards from the International Business Magazine; it was hailed as the Most Outstanding Life Insurance Company, while its healthcare arm was commended as the Most Outstanding Healthcare Provider in the country.

The young lawyer has also shown his entrepreneurial prowess after being included into the Young Leader of the Year Circle of Excellence at the 12th Asia CEO Awards. He was also the Global Business Review Magazine 2021 Young CEO of the Year.

Under Loon's leadership, Global Business Review Magazine also recognised Cocolife as the Best Life Insurance Company, Philippines 2021 and Best Insurance Customer Service Provider, Philippines 2021.

"I am very grateful to these award-giving bodies, the International Business magazine, it will only inspire the organisation to do better and to be excellent in what we're doing, to serve with integrity at all times, and to have the mission as a core of what we do, we just tried our best to do what's right and what's best for the organisation and that to me is something that's very important, to always strive to do our best."

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Photo 1 of 3 Cocolife swept prestigious awards from the International Business Magazine under Martin Loon's leadership (Photo: Michael "Myke" J. Messina)
Photo 2 of 3 Cocolife swept prestigious awards from the International Business Magazine under Martin Loon's leadership (Photo: Michael "Myke" J. Messina)
Photo 3 of 3 Cocolife swept prestigious awards from the International Business Magazine under Martin Loon's leadership (Photo: Michael "Myke" J. Messina)

Mission has always been my priority, over myself, over my life

- Cocolife President and CEO Atty Martin Loon -

The Youngest President and CEO

The young leader considers being 32 at the time he became president a blessing. This age, he said, gives him more power to combat the threats of stress and the deadly COVID-19.

"The age has been a blessing, especially during the pandemic, because of the flexibility it brings me. When you're younger, you're more flexible, you're able to risk and do more, I will use that age and maximise my age to serve the company more competently," he said. 

Loon said he is grateful for the pieces of advice he receives from seasoned colleagues, members of the board, and his mentors. "I do get advice from them. They have always been there to give me tips on how to run things and guidance on how to respond to certain problems," he added.

On Financial Stability

Loon has shared an important take on financial stability, the lawyer believes that every person must carefully assess his or her priorities in life.

"In order to achieve financial stability, you need to know your priorities, so when you know your priorities, you then know what you need to spend on, you know what you need to invest in, you have to understand what's important to you. When you know what's important to you, you will know when and where to devote your resources and analyse the risks you're willing to take."

Passion In Service 

In the coming days, supporters of Cocolife can expect the company to think of more innovative ways to provide services. "I think they should expect us to continue with our innovation, with maximising technology as an instrument to improve the servicing capacity of the company, they can expect us to digitalise more of our services. I think that is the way we intend to move forward."

For Loon, nothing else feels more fulfilling than living a life built on service. Whether it's for the law or for a renowned insurance company, the young leader seeks to spend the rest of his days beside the Filipino people. 

"In everything that I do, I try to find an opportunity to serve because that is the only way for any person to have a full life. To have a full life you need to live a life of service, to make an impact you need to lead a life of service, everything has a lot to do with you and serving others," he shared.

"You cannot choose the mission given to you by God and by circumstance. Sometimes when you are given a mission, you just have to live it, you have to live it by giving your best," he concluded.


To know more about Cocolife, feel free to visit their official website, or follow them on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram. You may also contact them through their trunkline +6328 812 9015 to 58. To know more about Atty Loon, feel free to check him out on his official Cocolife profile page, Facebook profile, Instagram, and Twitter account.

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Credits

Photography  

Myke Messina

Grooming  

Johnson Estrella

Producer  

Jove Moya and Nicole Trinidad

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