MANILA – In his return to the Philippines, former professional English footballer David Beckham on Sunday emphasized the importance of getting enough sleep in sustaining a healthier lifestyle.

Beckham is in the country as the global ambassador of insurance company AIA Philam Life which launched a new brand promise – healthier, longer, better lives – in its attempt to empower Filipinos to achieve the right lifestyle.

Sleep deprivation was among the key issues that was discussed at a wellness and protection summit at the Endurun College in Taguig City, which AIA Group chief marketing officer Stuart Spencer stressed is a growing problem in Asia.

Spencer revealed that Asia is the most sleep deprived region in the world, tallying 6 hours and 15 minutes of sleep daily, well below the 7-hour average.

“You need to have at least 7 hours of sleep for adults. But across Asia, they average about 6 hours and 15 minutes. The impact on physical and mental well-being will be profound,” Spencer said at a press conference.

Philam Life official also debunked the Asian myth that hard work requires sacrificing sleep for prosperity, citing the negative effects of working long hours.

Beckham, for his part, stressed the important of having at least an extra hour of sleep.

So how does he achieve this?

The football icon said he sleeps with the curtains closed since his wife Victoria also does not want to take a rest with open curtains.

But the most important tip Beckham told reporters was to put gadget devices down before sleeping.

“The most important thing for me are devices: put the gadgets down. [This is the] difficult part. You need to prepare yourself to sleep. I have to set right time for my kids,” said Beckham who has four children.

David Beckham is looking forward to return to Philippines. pic.twitter.com/iKnk0ENkn8

— Karl Cedrick Basco (@cedrickkbasco) October 13, 2019

Spencer added that he also doesn't drink coffee after 5 p.m.

The insurance executive noted that while incomes in Asia continue to improve, Asians are not getting healthier as shown in the rapid rise of lifestyle-linked diseases. That's why it is playing a proactive role in the lives of their customers.

In order to reach a larger audience, AIA tapped the services of Beckham to be its global ambassador.

“David is the perfect partner for AIA, as he not only personifies what our brand promise stands for, but has been an inspiration to millions of people across our markets as he shares his thoughts and advocacy on living better,” Spencer boasted.

WATCH: David Beckham now in Manila for a wellness summit organized by Philam Life. He is having a football clinic Sunday morning in Taguig. pic.twitter.com/94Qzz1awLc

— Karl Cedrick Basco (@cedrickkbasco) October 13, 2019

Joining Beckham at Sunday's event were Philippine ambassadors Nico Bolzico and his wife and soon-to-be mom Solenn Heussaff, Raymond Gutierrez, and Wil Dasovich.

The English athlete also graced a morning football clinic participated by young football aspirants and Philippine Azkals members such as Phil and James Younghusband, Anton del Rosario and Aly Borromeo.