• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Fifty grades 5 and 6 students of Catabla Baybay Elementary School (CBES) in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, are the latest graduates of Peso Smart, the award-winning financial literacy program of Manulife Philippines, in partnership with the Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation (CSAMF).
The graduation ceremony and fair, held Jan. 28 at CBES, also included interactive booths, games centered around real-world financial concepts, and career awareness activities, aimed at reinforcing what were learned during the five-month program duration.
“We are proud to celebrate our Peso Smart graduates, who have shown remarkable progress in their financial learning journey,” Sonali Verma, chief marketing officer of Manulife Philippines, said in a statement. “We’re happy to see their enthusiasm in building sound money management skills, even at this early age.”
Verma stressed that “financial literacy is a lifelong advantage, and by nurturing it now, we help young Filipinos build the confidence to make informed decisions about their future. Aligned with the Manulife Impact Agenda, we are committed to supporting financial resilience by expanding access to financial education and guiding the next generation toward lasting financial empowerment.”
Peso Smart is designed to support youth and underserved communities with essential financial knowledge and skills. Students receive a Peso Smart kit, including educational modules that teach them the importance of budgeting and investing, and coin bank (alkansya) where they could save any amount for a rainy day.
“The program aims to give the children the confidence to dream big and the knowledge to make this dream comes true,” Candy Suarez, chief risk officer of Manulife Philippines, said at the graduation ceremony.
“When we teach them how to manage money on a daily basis, becoming Peso Smart, we (also) teach them responsibility, independence, and life skills for a better future,” Suarez told teachers and coordinators. “You are shaping not just students but future leaders, who will carry these values forward.”
In Negros Occidental, students from three schools in Talisay City are the first beneficiaries of the Peso Smart program. Aside from CBES, the two others are Bubog Elementary School and Talisay South Elementary School.
Councilor Martin Lizares, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Education, who represented Mayor Rowena Lizares at the event, thanked Manulife Philippines and CSAMF for helping the students become financially responsible and independent.
The program, launched in 2017, equips students with practical money skills and the confidence to navigate an increasingly long and complex financial future, Manulife said, adding it has already reached 4,000 learners across 18 public elementary schools nationwide.
CSAMF executive director Margarita Atayde said they plan to expand the Peso Smart program to 25 schools next year, but stressed the need for sustainability. “We want to make sure that there’s impact and proper implementation.”
CSAMF, a nonprofit organization that seeks to eradicate illiteracy and create learning opportunities for underserved communities in the Philippines, has been a partner of Manulife since 2020 in empowering the youth through financial literacy.
“Across Asia—especially in the Philippines—nearly 40 percent of adults face financial insecurity in later life. Building wealth early, managing it wisely, and drawing it down sustainably are essential to long‑term quality of life,” the life insurance company stressed. | CGC
