With social media algorithms increasingly shaping how young Filipinos spend, save, and make financial decisions, Metrobank is encouraging students to become more mindful not only of their money, but also of the content they consume, which can influence their financial behavior.
Metrobank recently visited Centro Escolar University (CEU) Manila for the second leg of its Moneygurado Campus Series. Over 100 students gathered for conversations on money management, financial habits, scam awareness, and the growing impact of social media on spending decisions.
Justine Nycole Abad, Metrobank Brand Development Officer, introduces students to Earnest, the bank’s online financial guide, during the Moneygurado Campus Series at CEU Manila.
During the session, students openly shared how social media influences their purchases, often through personalized content and recommendations.
“Sometimes you’re just thinking about an item and it’s already there on your feed,” one student said, reflecting a common experience among young consumers navigating today’s highly personalized online environment.
Metrobank said many financial challenges associated with today’s digital lifestyle begin with emotional and social influences long before they become budgeting concerns.
“Money decisions are emotional before they are mathematical. They start with FOMO (fear of missing out), pakikisama, hiya, and utang na loob. Every scroll on your phone now comes with a suggestion to spend, but not every piece of content should end with a checkout button. Some should leave you financially mindful,” Metrobank shared during the session.
Using social media to promote financial literacy
To help young Filipinos navigate these influences, Metrobank introduced Earnest (@earnestph), its financial education platform on TikTok and Instagram.
Through short-form, easy-to-understand content, Earnest covers topics such as budgeting, saving, debt management, scam awareness, investing, and responsible spending, helping users better understand financial concepts and make more informed money decisions.
The discussion also underscored the importance of credible financial voices in digital spaces, where financial advice is abundant but not always reliable.
“It’s important that banks are on social media because that’s where students like us are,” one participant shared, emphasizing the need for trusted institutions to meet young people where they already consume information.
Students likewise noted that financial education extends beyond the classroom, and that content from credible institutions can help them resist impulsive spending, build healthier financial habits, and make smarter long-term decisions.
Moneygurado promotes financial mindfulness
As part of the program, Metrobank also introduced students to the broader Moneygurado campaign through the third episode of its Moneygurado docuseries, The Price of Hiya.
Moneygurado, Metrobank’s financial mindfulness campaign, derives its name from the Filipino word manigurado(“to make sure”) and combines the words “money” and “sigurado” to promote intentional and secure financial behavior. The initiative brings together financial education and fraud awareness through relatable, real-life content designed to help Filipinos make more informed everyday money decisions.
Featuring historian Prof. Xiao Chua, the episode explores how cultural values and social expectations influence the way Filipinos talk about money, approach financial challenges, and make financial decisions.
The docuseries encourages more open conversations about money and reinforces that financial resilience begins with informed choices, healthy habits, and access to trustworthy financial guidance.
Bringing financial education to campuses
The Moneygurado Campus Series is Metrobank’s ongoing commitment to making financial education more accessible, relevant, and actionable for the next generation.
By bringing meaningful financial conversations directly to schools and complementing them with digital learning platforms, Metrobank aims to empower more young Filipinos with the knowledge, confidence, and mindset to make informed financial decisions and build lasting financial resilience.
Metrobank, the country’s second-largest private universal bank by assets, said initiatives such as the Moneygurado Campus Series form part of its broader effort to equip both current and future customers with practical financial knowledge that can help them achieve their long-term financial goals.
After all, in a world driven by algorithms, financial mindfulness starts with learning to train your feed before it trains you.
