AXA Philippines has renewed its partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of an ongoing effort to highlight the importance of mental health, particularly in sports.
The collaboration brought 2006 NBA champion and Hall of Famer Gary Payton Sr. to Manila, where he met fans and spoke about the role of openness and emotional support in building resilience.
AXA and the NBA have worked together in recent years on initiatives aimed at shifting public conversations toward mental well-being. AXA said the partnership underscores a shared belief that true strength begins with acknowledging—not hiding—personal challenges.
For athletes, Payton noted, mental health remains a difficult topic. He recalled the pressure during his playing career to stay silent about struggles and “grind it out,” a mindset he said continues to affect younger players who lack guidance or safe spaces to talk. “You want somebody to talk to… you need somebody on your shoulder to cry on. You need to release it,” he told Filipino fans.
AXA Philippines President and CEO Ayman Kandil said supporting mental well-being is aligned with the company’s purpose. “AXA is in the business of protecting what matters, and that includes mental well-being,” he said. Working with the NBA, he added, allows the company to amplify the message that speaking about mental health is “an act of strength, not weakness.”
Through the partnership, AXA and the NBA aim to encourage more open dialogue and help communities build environments where people feel supported—whether in sports, at work, or at home. The companies said the initiative reflects a broader push to empower Filipinos to pursue healthier, more balanced lives.
MAIN PHOTO: NBA legend Gary Payton (center) with (left to right) AXA Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Nandy Villar, CEO Ayman Kandil, Chief Transformation and Technology Officer Caloi Santos, and Chief Human Resources Officer Sharon Hernandez.