Milestones

Pioneer Insurance was established in May 1954 with a staff of five at the Quisumbing Building, along Dasmariñas Street in Binondo, Manila. First officers were Johnny Cheng as Chairman; Lorenzo Chan Toh as President; and Yang Pao Wang as General Manager.

1958

Four years from inception, premium volume surpassed the P1 million mark.

1961

Operations expanded outside Manila with the establishment of its first provincial branch in Cebu. This was followed through to the 1990s by the establishment of 15 other branches in key cities in the Philippines Bacolod, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lipa, Manila, Naga, San Fernando, Subic, Tacloban, and Zamboanga.

1963

Ventured overseas with the opening of the branch in Hong Kong, remaining to date the only local insurance company writing direct business in China’s Special Administrative Region.

Pioneer Life Assurance Corporation, a life affiliate was established - helping clients chart a path of financial stability through a superior term product and attractive investment rider.

1966

Pioneer Intercontinental Insurance Corporation, a non-life subsidiary, was set up to service a targeted segment of the insurance market primarily in downtown Manila.

The first building, Pioneer House Manila, was inaugurated, providing bigger and more equipped workplaces for a growing workforce.

1973

Started publishing The Pioneer, its corporate magazine, boosting efforts to communicate to and strengthen relations with stakeholders.

Paid the full claim amount of US$11 million for the loss of the “Philippine Leader” two months after the oil tanker sank in the Indian Ocean. This was then ranked as the biggest and the fastest Marine Hull claim settlement in Philippine insurance history.

1974

Pioneer Insurance marked the 20th year by breaking into the top five ranks of the non-life insurance industry.

1975

Extended a P45-million personal accident insurance for the Thrilla in Manila, the super heavyweight bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at the Araneta Coliseum. This coverage included third party liability.

Issued a unique coverage for the Las Piñas bamboo organ, confirming the company’s concern for the preservation of the country’s cultural treasures. The then 153-year-old national treasure was air-shipped for repairs to Bonn, West Germany. Built in 1816, the Las Piñas bamboo organ is described by international organ masters as one of the finest in the world.

1976

Through the London brokers, arranged transit cover of US$130 million for the transshipment of priceless Chinese and Egyptian artifacts for public viewing in Manila - then the biggest single air cargo exposure ever placed in the world reinsurance market.

1977

Opened the doors of the new corporate headquarters, Pioneer House Makati, in the country’s prime business district.

Remained steadfast even during those critical days of the last years of the Marcos regime with gross premiums surpassing the P300 million mark.

1990

Settled the country’s biggest single cargo claim, paying US$2.2M for the disappearance of 4,491 metric tons of finished steel products. The cargo was on board Isla Luzon, which was hijacked en route to the South. Also settled the $2.75 million-claim as the Hull insurer.

1991

Designated the exclusive insurer of the 1991 Manila Southeast Asian Games, providing P720 million worth of group personal accident coverage to all accredited athletes, officials, and sportswriters from 9 participating countries. This was followed by other sponsorships: 1992 Barcelona Olympics; 1993 Southeast Asian Games; 1994 Asian Games; 1995 Southeast Asian Games; 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

1994

Consolidated gross premiums written has broken the P1 billion mark.

1995

Issued a fully collateralized P19.5 billion surety bond for the development and conversion of Fort Bonifacio into a world-class city - then the biggest in local insurance history.

1997

Appointed as the Official Insurer of the Philippine national athletes and coaches, providing them with continuous cover and not only when there is an event. This sustains the company’s support for sports development in the Philippines.

Entered into a five-year joint venture known as Pioneer Allianz Life Assurance Corp. with Europe’s largest global insurer and provider of financial services – Allianz A.G.

2000

Appointed as the Official Insurer of the Philippine Production of Miss Saigon - a world-acclaimed musical that has showcased Filipino theater artists, including multi-awarded Lea Salonga, to global audiences.

2000

Life Simplified advertising campaign was launched with its television commercial the recipient of 10 local and international awards. It was cited at the Asian TV Awards and the only Filipino finalist in the Insurance category of the Midas Awards at the New York Festivals. It received the Philippine advertising industry’s highest honor, a Platinum, at the Araw Awards of the Phil. Ad Congress and was recognized at the New York Festivals with a Finalist certificate in the Banking and Finance subcategory of the TV and Cinema Advertising Awards.

2001

Life operations reached its own milestone when it hit the top ten ranks of new business premiums in the life industry.

2003

Launch of Pioneer Life Inc.