Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation) and its partner, AHA! Behavioral Design® (AHA! BD), achieved remarkable recognition at the prestigious 60th Anvil Awards. Their flagship program, Sun Pera-Aralan, was honored with both the Grand Anvil Award and the Gold Anvil Award.

Launched in 2018 in response to the PHP 300 billion debt crisis among public school teachers, Sun Pera-Aralan stands as the Philippines’ first behavioral finance program aimed at enhancing the financial well-being of public school educators. By integrating behavioral science, the program empowers teachers with practical tools and habits for managing their finances without disrupting their daily routines.

At the heart of the program is the Peso Sobre, a tool designed to help teachers allocate their salaries efficiently, covering fixed and variable expenses and preventing overspending or unexpected debts. This simple yet effective approach is complemented by a vibrant community, both online and on the ground, where participants can support and learn from one another as they apply behavioral finance techniques in their lives.

Since its inception, Sun Pera-Aralan has reached over 108,000 teachers nationwide. With plans to expand to 130,000 teachers by 2025, the program aims to mark Sun Life Philippines’ 130th anniversary with a significant impact on financial literacy across the country.

Kristine Millete, Executive Director of the Sun Life Foundation, expressed gratitude for the recognition: “We humbly thank the Public Relations Society of the Philippines for this honor. This award strengthens our resolve to continue advocating for financial literacy so that more Filipinos can achieve lifetime financial security.”

Leinard Ramos, Principal and Chief Marketing Officer of AHA! BD, also praised the collaboration: “Sun Life Foundation’s innovative approach using behavioral science has opened new doors for changemakers. By leveraging human behavior, we’ve been able to deliver impactful, scalable solutions for last-mile financial habits.”

The Gabi ng Parangal event was attended by key figures, including Benedict Sison, Sun Life Philippines CEO & Country Head and Sun Life Foundation Chairman; Kristine Millete, Executive Director of Sun Life Foundation; Kara David, Independent Trustee of Sun Life Foundation; 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.

Since its launch, Sun Pera-Aralan has garnered several accolades, including the First Gawad Kaagapay Award for Financial Literacy, the Most Outstanding Stakeholder Award from the Schools Division Office of Quezon City, the Award of Excellence at the Philippine Quill Excellence Awards, and the CSR Guild Award for Outstanding CSR Project in Financial Inclusion. With these latest achievements at the Anvil Awards, the program’s impact continues to grow, paving the way for a financially secure future for Filipino teachers and communities.