Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation) and its implementing partner, AHA! Behavioral Design® (AHA! BD), were recently recognized at the 60th Anvil Awards after Sun Pera-Aralan, the first behavioral finance program for public school teachers in the Philippines, won both the Grand Anvil Award and the Gold Anvil Award.
Sun Pera-Aralan was launched in 2018 by the Sun Life Foundation in response to the PHP 300 billion debt crisis faced by public school teachers. The program has taken a one-of-a-kind approach by employing behavioral science to promote and develop positive and practical daily money habits that do not disrupt the teacher’s routine.
The program’s primary tool, the Peso Sobre aids teachers in effectively managing their cash flow. By properly allocating their monthly salary to fixed and variable expenses, it helps them avoid going over budget or incurring unplanned debts. The program also fosters an online and on-ground community of practice, where participating teachers can interact and encourage each other in applying behavioral finance in their daily money management habits.
Currently, Sun Pera-Aralan has reached 108,000 public school teachers across the country. This 2025, Sun Pera-Aralan aims to reach 130,000 teachers in time for Sun Life Philippines’ 130th anniversary.
“We humbly thank the Public Relations Society of the Philippines for this great honor and recognition,” said Kristine Millete, Executive Director of the Sun Life Foundation. “This has further inspired us to continue advocating for financial literacy, so that more Filipinos will achieve lifetime financial security.”
“Sun Life Foundation’s daring in trying out behaviorally informed, practical, and scalable solutions has opened up new approaches for changemakers. One of which is Behavioral Science, that leverages human behavior for a successful landing of strategies – especially in last-mile behaviors.” said Leinard Ramos, Principal and Chief Marketing Officer of AHA! BD.
The 60th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal was attended by Benedict Sison, Sun Life Philippines CEO & Country Head and Sun Life Foundation Chairman; Kristine Millete, Sun Life Foundation Executive Director; Kara David, Sun Life Foundation Independent Trustee; Aleister Cruz, Sun Life Philippines Chief Strategy and Enablement Officer and Sun Life Foundation Trustee; Timothy John Agulto, AHA! BD’’s Chief Operating Officer; and Cidee Despi, AHA! BD’s Program Manager.
Sun Pera-Aralan has received numerous awards since it began, including the First Gawad Kaagapay Award for Financial Literacy and the Most Outstanding Stakeholder Award from the Schools Division Office of Quezon City. It also received the Award of Excellence in the Philippine Quill Excellence Awards and CSR Guild Award Outstanding CSR Project in Financial Inclusion.