Sun Pera-Aralan, Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc.’s (Sun Life Foundation) flagship financial literacy program in collaboration with AHA! Behavioral Design, was recently recognized at the 2026 Marketing Excellence Awards with a Silver Award for Excellence in Financial Empowerment Marketing.
Launched in 2019, Sun Pera-Aralan aims to help lessen the debt crisis among public school teachers. The program uses insights from behavioral science, combining an innovative budgeting tool called Peso Sobre, cash flow management learning sessions, learning resources, and peer networks to help make better money management habits part of everyday practice. Through these efforts, the program aims to help teachers strengthen their financial health.
In 2025, Sun Pera-Aralan achieved its goal, reaching over 133,000 public school teachers across more than 2,300 schools in Metro Manila and CALABARZON. The program has also helped teachers build healthier financial habits, with 81% of Peso Sobre users reporting that they are able to stretch their budgets for the entire month and 90% reporting that they are able to save consistently.
Its impact can be seen in teachers such as Maria Elena of Muntinlupa City, who has been able to build her savings, and Sharon of Quezon City, who credits Sun Pera-Aralan for helping her develop financial discipline.
“All that we have accomplished in Sun Pera-Aralan ties back to a simple dream: to empower our public school teachers by making financial literacy practical, relevant, and accessible,” said Joy Castillo, President of Sun Life Foundation. “We are honored to receive this recognition and are inspired to continue our work in promoting financial wellness and security among our fellow Filipinos.”
“Sun Pera-Aralan shows that financial empowerment requires more than sharing knowledge. Change happens when programs are grounded in people’s lived realities and make healthier financial habits easier to do and continue,” said John Leinard Ramos, Principal and Chief Marketing Officer of AHA! Behavioral Design. “This is why, for us, behavior-centered solutions are so powerful: insights become practical action, and meaningful change can take hold and be sustained at scale.”
As Sun Pera-Aralan enters its final stages of implementation, its focus has shifted to preparing school communities to carry the program forward by equipping them with the tools, support systems, and ownership needed to sustain healthier financial habits after the program concludes.
As the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines, the country’s first and longest-standing life insurance company, Sun Life Foundation helps uplift Filipino lives by supporting programs focused on health, education, and environmental sustainability.
