Manulife launches Peso Smart storybooks to teach children better money habits while young

Manila – Manulife Philippines recently launched "Manny and Liv" and "Yaman Bayan," two children's storybooks based on its award-winning Peso Smart financial literacy program, which teaches young students to save, budget, and invest money wisely. 

Celebrity mom influencer Andi Manzano-Reyes and daughter Olivia, broadcast personality Delamar Arias, and registered psychologist Dr. Raphael Inocencio shared their insights during the launch and storytelling webinar. 

"As we work to make every day better for more Filipino families, we have evolved our Peso Smart financial literacy program to include educational storybooks that introduce good money habits to children. These storybooks will bond parents and children while learning together," Melissa Henson, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, said. "Manulife believes that learning money management at an early age will help children make sound financial decisions as they grow up, better equipping them to achieve their goals and secure their future." 

During the program, Delamar shared why storytelling is one of the most effective ways of teaching her kids. 

"Storytelling helps our kids understand life lessons better. It helps develop their listening skills and enables them to use their imagination at an early age," Delamar shared. “One thing that I learned in my parenthood journey is how storytelling helps give children the answers to what might be some of their biggest questions, and is a meaningful way to help them develop the values we want to teach them.”

Meanwhile, Andi shared how she and her husband teach better money habits to their daughters and advised how other parents can do the same. 

"At nine years old, I already learned the concept that money is earned, because that’s the time I also started earning my own money. My parents served as my role models when it comes to being financially smart and empowered, and I'm doing my best to teach Olivia and her sister the same values and discipline so they can learn smart money habits at an early age," Andi said. 

Dr. Raphael Inocencio, founder of Better Steps Psychology mental health clinic, gave an in-depth insight into the importance of teaching children financial literacy, even to kids as young as three or four years old. 

"When teaching kids about the concept of money, I highly recommend for parents to make things age-appropriate and visual. Help them understand the value of saving money by showing them how these would look, which can be in the form of a piggy bank or coins in a jar," Dr. Inocencio said.

What started in 2017 as a series of face-to-face classes with public school students in Metro Manila, where Manulife Philippines employees volunteered to teach the basics of saving and investing, has evolved into a Peso Smart program promoting financial literacy through distance learning. Earlier this year, Manulife distributed Peso Smart at-home learning kits that include an activity book, journals, and school supplies to 100 students from Pasig City in partnership with the Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation. 

Webinar attendees will be receiving their digital copies of the Manny and Liv and Yaman Bayan storybooks, which will be available to the public soon. The webinar can be viewed at www.facebook.com/ManulifePH and www.manulife.com.ph. 

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