“Covering Nanay” Wins at 43rd National Book Awards

Authors Pia Benitez Yupangco, Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, and Lorenzo Chan Jr. proudly accepted the Best Book on Business award for “Covering Nanay” at the 43rd National Book Awards.

Covering Nanay: The Philippine Microinsurance Journey was awarded Best Book on Business at the 43rd National Book Awards, spotlighting the partnership that expanded insurance protection to tens of millions of unserved and underserved Filipinos.

The award was conferred by the National Book Development Board and the Filipino Critics Circle on March 14, 2026, and was received by authors Dr. Jamie Aristotle Alip, Lorenzo Chan Jr., and Pia Benitez Yupangco. 

The National Book Awards remains one of the Philippines’ most respected literary and publishing honors, recognizing outstanding books across both literary and non-literary categories, including business.

The citation from the awarding body reads, “Covering Nanay offers a meticulously researched, highly relevant examination of the Philippine microinsurance landscape, presenting complex policy and financial mechanisms through clear, disciplined writing. By weaving institutional history with grounded community narratives, the book demonstrates how microinsurance became a functional tool for resilience among low-income Filipino households. Particularly notable is its documentation of the role of women (“nanays”) as central agents in advancing financial inclusion. Combining analytical depth with accessible storytelling, the work offers both scholarly value and practical insight. It is a definitive contribution to Philippine business, development finance, and social enterprise literature.”

Covering Nanay stood out among five finalists in the Business Book category.

Chair of the Filipino Critics Circle Dean Francis Alfar shared, “This year’s finalists (for the professions category) demonstrate how professional writing can move beyond technical instruction toward narrative-rich, accessible works that humanize expertise and deepen civic awareness.”

Representatives from the National Book Development Board and the Filipino Critics Circle confer the Best Book in Business award to Covering Nanay authors (center).

Dr. Alip dedicated the award to the nanays, "We embrace the mission of building safety nets for their families and commodities. This is their story."

Available globally on Amazon and locally at selected Fully Booked outlets, the book has sold over 10,000 copies and is now on its third printing, reflecting strong interest from the business, insurance, and development communities.

Chan shared, “The pursuit of financial inclusion is a never-ending one. There are endless concerns to resolve and millions more to serve. May our journey and the lessons taught to us by the nanays serve as a reminder that while not without its challenges, it is indeed possible!”