WITNESSETH

   1
                                                           Exhibit (A)(8)(a)(ii)


                         AMENDMENT TO SERVICE AGREEMENT


         This Amendment to the Service Agreement dated as of June 1, 1988 is
entered into this 31st day of December, 1992 between The Manufacturers Life
Insurance Company, a mutual life insurance company organized under the laws of
Canada ("Manufacturers") and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of
America, a stock life insurance company domiciled in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania ("Manufacturers of America").

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, Manufacturers of America is in the process of redomesticating
from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the State of Michigan; and

         WHEREAS, Manufacturers of America is introducing new products which may
involve the use of non-insulated, non-unitized separate accounts; and

         WHEREAS, under Michigan law these non-insulated, non-unitized separate
accounts are subject to the same investment laws as the general account;

         NOW THEREFORE Manufacturers and Manufacturers of America hereby agree
as follows:

1.       Effective upon approval of the redomestication of Manufacturers of
America to the State of Michigan, Section 17 of the Agreement shall be deemed to
be amended to read as follows:

         "Section 17.      Governing Law.

         This Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws
         of the State of Michigan".

2.       Effective upon the date Manufacturers of America first offers to the
public products registered on Form S-1 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the last sentence of Section 4(a) of the Agreement shall be deemed
to be amended to read as follows:

         "Manufacturers shall manage the investment of all general account
         assets of Manufacturers of America and assets of any separate accounts
         which are subject to the same investment regulations as the general
         account".

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed under seal by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
above-mentioned.


                                           THE MANUFACTURERS LIFE INSURANCE
[Seal]                                     COMPANY
_________________________________          By:__________________________________
                                           Its:_________________________________


                                           THE MANUFACTURERS LIFE INSURANCE
[Seal]                                     COMPANY OF AMERICA
_________________________________          By:__________________________________
                                           Its:_________________________________