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A vibrant community gathering for a feeding program, with children and adults seated eagerly in a local basketball court, showcasing unity and support. Before I started teaching financial literacy through Elevate Cents, I had the opportunity to take part in a community feeding program in my Manila, Philippines. At first, I thought the experience would mainly be about helping provide food and support to families in the community. But after being there, I realized it became muc

TikTok Made Me Buy It: Exploring the Influence of Social Media on Spending Habits—From trends and online shopping to influencer impact and peer pressure, discover how platforms transform our purchasing decisions." Let’s be honest: most of us are on social media every day. Whether it is TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or just scrolling through posts and stories, social media is a big part of our lives. We use it to watch videos, message friends, follow trends, laugh at m

I just concluded a conversation with Ms. Robbie Go, Country Head of UBS Philippines, and our discussion reinforced how important long-term financial thinking is to building real economic security in the Philippines. Ms. Go explained that many Filipinos are hardworking, creative, and naturally entrepreneurial, but often struggle to plan far into the future when it comes to money. She connected this not only to culture, but also to gaps in formal education, since basic financia

We recently held our third Elevate Cents financial literacy workshop at King Solomon Bacoor School in Cavite, where we had the opportunity to teach 36 students about financial literacy. The session was coordinated with the support of the school principal and teachers, who helped organize the workshop and made sure everything ran smoothly. A few teachers were also present during the session, which made the experience feel more connected to the school community. Grateful for th

I just concluded a conversation with Mr. Apa Ongpin, the Executive Director of the Makati Business Club, and our discussion reinforced how closely financial literacy, financial inclusion, and poverty reduction are linked in the Philippines. Mr Ongpin framed poor financial literacy as both a consequence and amplifier of poverty: when people are living day to day, they rarely get the chance to learn how to manage money. Yet without those skills, it’s harder to build stability a

We recently had an amazing financial literacy workshop in Manila, teaching around 25 students. For the first time, we were able to use our new financial literacy handbook in a live workshop setting, and seeing it come to life with students made the day even more meaningful. What started as an idea and a resource we worked hard to build became something real in the hands of students who were learning, participating, and applying the lessons for themselves. During the se

A warm holiday family table, Noche Buena setup, or simple Christmas gathering In the Philippines, Christmas does not really start in December. For many families, the holiday season begins as soon as the “Ber months” arrive — September, October, November, and December. Once September starts, we begin hearing Christmas songs, seeing decorations, planning reunions, and thinking about gifts, food, and family celebrations. That is one of the things that makes Filipino Christmas so

In this episode of Elevate Cents, I sat down with Congressman Irwin Tieng to explore how values driven leadership can impact and improve everyday living standards. We talked about why he chose public service over his family’s media business, the lessons he drew from his upbringing, and what compelled him to enter politics so young. Congressman Tieng mapped out urban life, the structural roots of poverty, and how everyday debt traps like “5–6” lending and weak budgeting habits

Budgeting starts with knowing where your money goes. Even a small allowance can teach big money habits. For a lot of students, allowance is the first money we actually get to manage on our own. It might come from our parents, guardians, relatives, or even from small jobs or gifts. The amount may not always be big, but it still teaches us something important: how to make choices. Most teenagers do not have full-time jobs yet, so it is easy to think money management is somethin

In this episode of Elevate Cents , I sat down with Manila City Councilor Bobby Espiritu to explore how local leadership can directly impact everyday financial realities. We talked about his journey from working behind the scenes to becoming an elected official, the lessons he learned from public service, and what it really takes to create change at the barangay and district level. Councilor Espiritu shared insights into the financial struggles of Manila’s residents, ranging f

When I launched Elevate Cents , I had one main goal in mind: to help young people build a strong financial foundation. I believed that if...

Seeing the community firsthand helped me understand the strong family culture in the Philippines, but also the everyday financial challenges many families face. While doing community service in my mother’s hometown in the Philippines, I encountered many things that were new to me. One of the first things I recognized was the tight knit family culture. This was visible in the local shops and markets, where families could be seen laughing, eating, and enjoying themselves. Howev