Metrobank brings Moneygurado to schools, empowering students

Students and speakers come together for conversations that turn financial awareness into real-life action at FEU Alabang

Metrobank strengthens its push for financial education among young Filipinos, bringing its Moneygurado initiative to campuses and reframing how students understand and engage with money early in life. In its first leg at Far Eastern University-Alabang, the program moved beyond traditional financial literacy, opening grounded, real-life conversations about everyday money decisions and the mindset behind them.

The session was led by Andoy Beltran, a financial advocate from First Metro Securities, the brokerage arm of the Metrobank Group. The discussion explored how today’s students are growing up in a digital financial environment defined by speed and convenience, making money management more seamless than ever, but also making it easier to spend quickly and often, sometimes without much reflection.

Andoy Beltran, financial advocate from First Metro Securities, the brokerage arm of the Metrobank Group introduces Moneygurado to FEU Alabang students

This shift, he noted, calls for a different kind of financial education—one that goes beyond concepts and focuses on behavior, discipline, and decision-making.

“Financial literacy today is no longer just about knowing what to do with money. It’s about building the discipline to actually do it,” Beltran shared. “We want to move from bahala na to sigurado, from being reactive to being deliberate. Filipino resilience is real, but survival should not be the end goal. Being Moneygurado means making intentional choices, even in small, everyday moments.”

The campus activation brought this philosophy to life through storytelling. Students viewed the first episode of the Moneygurado docuseries, “Kapit Lang: The Filipino Way of Surviving,” featuring entrepreneur Audrey Cruz. Her journey of rebuilding her taqueria business after setbacks resonated with students, highlighting a familiar narrative of perseverance, while also challenging the idea that resilience alone is enough to secure financial stability.

By anchoring financial education in lived experiences, the initiative aims to shift the narrative from endurance to preparedness—encouraging students to think beyond getting by and toward building stability and resilience over time.

The discussion also acknowledged that students are not removed from financial realities. Many already manage daily expenses such as transportation, food, and school-related costs, often within a limited budget. In a broader environment marked by rising fuel prices and increasing costs of basic goods, these day-to-day decisions carry more weight, making early financial awareness not just helpful, but essential.

To translate these ideas into action, Beltran introduced Metrobank’s H.A.N.D.S. guide—a simple, practical approach to managing money in uncertain times through five actions: Having a plan and taking control of finances; Acting intentionally to avoid overspending; Nurturing income sources and opportunities; Defending against scams and the unexpected; and Spotting opportunities for growth. Framed as everyday actions rather than rigid rules, the guide was positioned as something students can immediately apply in their own financial journeys.

More than a one-time talk, the Moneygurado campus series reflects Metrobank’s broader advocacy to make financial education more accessible, relatable, and actionable, especially for the next generation. By meeting students where they are and grounding lessons in real Filipino experiences, the initiative aims to build not just awareness, but lasting financial habits.

Metrobank is set to expand the Moneygurado campus series to more schools nationwide, continuing its effort to equip young Filipinos with the mindset and tools to take control of their financial future.

Watch the first episode of the Moneygurado docuseries here: https://earnest.metrobank.com.ph/moneygurado

About Moneygurado 

 

Moneygurado is Metrobank’s financial mindfulness campaign designed to help Filipinos become more confident, informed, and protected in their everyday money decisions. Derived from the Filipino word “manigurado,” meaning to make sure of something, Moneygurado combines “money” and “sigurado” to reflect a mindset of intentional and secure financial behavior.

 

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.

About H.A.N.D.S. 

A simple, practical financial guide developed by Metrobank, H.A.N.D.S. highlights five essential actions that Filipinos can follow to stay in control of their finances, especially in uncertain times. It encourages individuals to Have a plan and take control of their finances, Act intentionally to avoid overspending, Nurture income sources, Defend against scams and the unexpected, and Spot opportunities for growth. By focusing on clear, everyday actions, H.A.N.D.S. helps make financial decisions more manageable and empowers Filipinos to move forward with greater confidence, knowing they have a trusted partner supporting them every step of the way.

Hallmark Mining Leads Industry Shift with ‘Towards Sustainable Mining’ Initiative

 

As global demand for resources continues to rise, the mining industry is undergoing a critical transformation. Under initiatives such as Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM), companies are rethinking traditional practices, shifting from extractive operations to models that promote environmental restoration, community development, and long-term sustainability.

TSM has emerged as a framework that encourages mining companies to adopt stricter environmental standards, improve transparency, and strengthen relationships with host communities. It reflects a growing recognition that responsible mining must go beyond compliance and actively contribute to ecological and social well-being.

Hallmark Mining Corporation (HMC) is among the companies advancing this approach. Since beginning operations in 1992, the company has consistently positioned itself as a leader in eco-responsible and sustainable mining, particularly in the Davao Region.

Hallmark Mining Co, initiates not only to mitigate environmental impact but to ensure that its areas of responsibility thrive even after mining activities conclude as conspicuous in their projects in livelihood, community, education, partnerships, and careers. 

‘’Our commitment is to protect the environment and uplift our host and neighboring communities through empowerment and sustainable development,” said HMC. “We hold the highest regard for both people and the environment, ensuring that our operations create lasting, positive impact.’’

It is noted that through Hallmark Mining’s initiatives, it redefines the mining industry’s role, demonstrating that resource extraction can coexist with environmental stewardship and sustainable mining is possible. 

To learn more about sustainable mining and the company’s measure, check out Hallmark Mining’s website at https://www.hallmarkminingdevelopment.com/.

Metrobank posts income of PHP12.6 billion in 1Q26

 

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) reported a net income of PHP12.6 billion in the first quarter of 2026 driven by modest asset expansion alongside better margins and healthy fee income growth.

“Our first quarter results underscore the resilience of Metrobank’s core businesses and the consistency of our execution. With strong capitalization, solid asset quality and healthy buffers, we remain well-positioned to manage risks while continuing to support the growth and funding needs of our customers," said Metrobank President Fabian S. Dee. 

The Bank’s net interest income rose by 13.6% to PHP33.4 billion, with net interest margin higher by 12 basis points to 3.7%. Gross loans grew by 9.2% year-on-year with corporate and commercial loans up 8.6% and consumer loan growth increasing by 11.2%, indicative of economic growth trends.

Total deposits expanded to PHP2.6 trillion, with low-cost Current and Savings Accounts (CASA) rising by 8.4% year-on-year, accounting for 59.2% of total deposits. The Bank continues to have sufficient capacity to support lending with loan to deposit ratio of 76.6%. 

Meanwhile, fee and trust income jumped by 11.8% to PHP5.1 billion, mitigating the impact of volatile markets on trading income.

Operating costs grew by 9.8% to PHP21.1 billion, mainly driven by transaction related taxes and technology expenses. Cost to income ratio stood at 52.5%.

Metrobank’s portfolio health remains intact. Non-performing loans (NPL) ratio stood at 1.75% during the quarter, largely steady from end-2025 level and well below industry’s 3.44%, as of February 2026. NPL cover of 137.1% further provides a strong buffer against risks to asset quality.

Metrobank’s total consolidated assets expanded by 8.3% to PHP3.8 trillion, making it the second largest among private universal banks, in asset terms. Equity increased by 5.1% to PHP396.4 billion. The Bank’s capital position remains strong with Capital Adequacy Ratio of 14.9% and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.2%, well above the BSP’s minimum regulatory requirements. Metrobank’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is also still high at 151.1%.