Village Connect
A transformative wave swept through Novotel Manila as Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) gathered the nation’s leading educators, policymakers, and development advocates for the National Financial Inclusion Summit 2025. In partnership with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), and the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), the Summit reimagined financial inclusion not as a distant goal, but as a movement that starts inside the classroom. With the theme #LahatKasama: Strengthening Financial Inclusion through Education, the event became a powerful platform to reshape how the country prepares its citizens for financial stability and lifelong resilience.
Across its sessions, the Summit emphasized a critical truth: financial literacy is most effective when rooted in early learning. In a nation where millions remain unbanked and financial vulnerability persists, CLFI and its partners asserted that the next generation must be equipped long before they begin earning—because habits formed in youth often shape financial outcomes in adulthood. Teachers and academic institutions, they stressed, hold the key to turning financial literacy into a daily discipline rather than an optional skill.
Key leaders delivered compelling insights throughout the program. PUP President Dr. Manuel M. Muhi opened the Summit by calling for stronger collaboration between academia and industry. Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV and LCF Chairperson Shem Jose W. Garcia expressed support for a future where financial learning becomes a standard across all educational systems. Representing Secretary Angara, Assistant Secretary Janir T. Datukan highlighted the urgent need to empower students with financial tools that match today’s fast-changing economic landscape.
Expert-led discussions further enriched the dialogue. InvestEd Philippines CEO Carmina F. Bayombong explored how student financing can expand educational access, while PIRA Executive Director Michael F. Rellosa presented insurance as a critical layer of financial protection. Technology innovators and university leaders shared practical ways to embed financial concepts into everyday teaching through digital platforms and mobile-friendly learning.
The Summit’s most anticipated milestone was the launch of the #LahatKasama Financial Literacy Module, the country’s most comprehensive digital toolkit for educators. Designed to simplify complex financial concepts, it provides interactive lessons on budgeting, saving, investing, and risk management, making financial education more engaging and accessible for learners nationwide.
More than an event, the Summit marked the beginning of a united push to build a financially capable Philippines—where inclusion thrives because education leads the way.
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