Manigurado, ‘Moneygurado’

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

One would think that with civilization now in the 21st century and the strides in education and technology,  and with the advent of artificial intelligence, a good number of Filipinos would now be more financially literate.

Unfortunately, it turns out that only about one in four Filipino adults, or a mere 25 percent, are considered financially literate, meaning that there is only  foundational understanding of budgeting, saving and responsible credit use.

Studies indicate the Philippines ranks in the bottom 30 out of 144 countries for financial literacy, with 75 percent  of  Filipino adults lacking knowledge of basic concepts like inflation and compound interest.

In a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey, only two percent of Filipino adults could correctly answer all six basic financial literacy questions, and only 42 percent  could identify the effect of inflation on purchasing power.

The survey result showed that  while financial inclusion (account ownership) has grown, it does not directly equate to high literacy, with many adults relying on informal lenders instead of on their savings.

The BSP survey also showed that  many Filipinos continue to struggle to manage debt due to limited financial knowledge.

A significant portion of adults spend before saving, leading to low savings rates, and many older adults rely financially on their children.

Metrobank, the country’s second largest private universal bank in terms of assets, noting the low financial literacy of Filipinos, this week  launched its ‘Moneygurado’ documentary series to explore financial mindfulness through real-life stories.

Moneygurado is  a campaign in line with the goal of instilling financial mindfulness among Filipinos.

The  docuseries is intended to provide  practical money guidance closer to Filipinos by grounding it in real-life stories, cultural realities and everyday experiences.

Derived from “manigurado,” which means “to make sure” in Filipino, Moneygurado blends “money” and “sigurado,” capturing the goal of being confident, informed and protected in every financial decision. It brings together everyday money management and fraud awareness, while taking a different approach — starting not with rules or tips, but with real Filipino experiences that reflect how people think and feel about money.

The financial education campaign builds on Metrobank’s long-standing advocacy of helping Filipinos grow and take control of their finances by translating concepts into everyday behaviors such as  planning ahead, spending with intention, protecting what they have, and staying open to opportunities for growth.

Moneygurado positions financial mindfulness as a practical mindset that empowers individuals to navigate uncertainty with greater clarity, confidence and control.

This initiative comes at a time when financial pressures are becoming more pronounced. Rising fuel prices, increasing cost of goods, and shifting economic conditions that continue to affect household budgets, reinforcing the need to move from reactive habits to more deliberate financial decisions — from “bahala na” to “sigurado.”

“Moneygurado is about helping Filipinos become more intentional with their money by understanding the ‘why’ behind their decisions,” according to  Metrobank chief marketing officer Digs Dimagiba. “By starting with real stories that reflect everyday realities, we make these conversations more relatable — and ultimately more actionable.”

The Moneygurado docuseries is grounded in real Filipino experiences. The Moneygurado docuseries explores money through real-life Filipino stories, showing how culture shapes financial behavior across debt, spending, saving and resilience.

The docuseries examines how deeply rooted values — such as katatagan (resilience), hiya (shame), pakikisama (fellowship) and utang na loob (debt of gratitude) — influence how Filipinos save, spend, borrow and give. While these values define identity, they can also lead to habits that put short-term social obligations ahead of long-term financial resilience.

The premiere episode, “Kapit Lang: The Filipino Way of Surviving,” features entrepreneur Audrey Cruz, founder of OnlyPans Taqueria in Poblacion, Makati. What began as a pandemic food delivery concept quickly grew into a thriving business — until a fire forced them to start over. Her story highlights a familiar Filipino trait: katatagan or resilience. But it also underscores a deeper insight — survival alone is not enough without preparation.

True financial resilience comes from intentional habits built before a crisis, not during it. By grounding insights in stories like this, Moneygurado reframes resilience from simply enduring challenges to preparing for them with purpose.

Upcoming episodes continue this exploration through different lenses: “Utang sa Pelikula: Self-Worth and Borrowing,” featuring director Jose Javier Reyes; “The Price of Hiya,” featuring historian Xiao Chua; and “Alkansya: The Filipino Art of Waiting,” featuring author Michelline Suarez.

Reyes, during a panel discussion, stressed the need for filmmakers to shift the narrative away from the Cinderella drama of  struggling  and  relying on a prince to uplift the struggling Cinderella, and instead portray a more empowered version of learning how to succeed financially on their own.

While Moneygurado begins with stories, its purpose is to help Filipinos translate insight into action. Across the series, familiar financial behaviors are revisited through a more mindful lens — encouraging more purposeful borrowing, disciplined spending, goal-based saving and a more intentional approach to resilience.

“Real progress starts when people see themselves in the story,” Dimagiba explained. “Moneygurado is designed to meet Filipinos where they are — acknowledging their realities and helping them move forward with practical, meaningful actions.”

In the coming months, Metrobank will roll out additional Moneygurado episodes alongside accessible learning materials for students, families and communities through its Earnest website, https://earnest.metrobank.com.ph/moneygurado.

Bringing together financial mindfulness and fraud awareness, Moneygurado translates practical money concepts into relatable, real-life experiences — empowering individuals to plan ahead, spend with purpose, save consistently, and protect what they have.

Through initiatives such as its docuseries and learning platforms, Moneygurado aims to make financial guidance more accessible, actionable and grounded in the realities of Filipino life.

What is also special about this docuseries is that it was produced by Brilliant Jerk, a production company led by Mads Miraflor, a former business journalist, who has experienced her own financial growth as she continues to grow as a filmmaker.