UnionBank and UFSI Empower Women in Quezon City Through Financial Literacy and Digital Safety Symposium
By: Martina Lucero
On November 8, 2025, UnionBank and UFSI partnered with Better World Cubao to organize a Financial Literacy and Digital Safety Symposium at Kalantiaw Elementary School, Project 4, Quezon City. The initiative brought practical financial learning and community support to 557 women and community members, making a meaningful impact on the local community.
The symposium was conducted under Abante Babae: Women’s Empowerment Program on Financial Wellness and Digital Safety, an employee-led and Bank-funded project under GoBeyond Communities. A total of 72 volunteers from UFSI and UB Wealth helped mount the activity and deliver the sessions.
Better World Cubao is a safe and empowering space for women—particularly solo parents and survivors of hardship. The center provides guidance, sisterhood, and access to essential services that help women overcome cycles of poverty, abuse, or neglect. It also offers health services, sessions on women’s rights, and programs that strengthen their ability to advocate for their needs. Many of the women from the center joined the symposium and actively took part in the learning activities.
During the event, volunteers facilitated sessions on financial literacy, insurance, and digital safety. One memorable moment came during a budgeting activity, when a participant submitted a grocery-heavy plan and explained that she sells food to her neighbors. Her insight highlighted how everyday expenses can support livelihood, showing the practical value of financial decision-making.
The program also included a pampagising dance by Wendie Cowi, a welcoming message by UFSI President and CEO Mon Tejero, lectures by Rhon Delos Santos and Peter Lopez, an INLIFE Sheroes session by Faye Cuadra, and a fraud quiz game. After the sessions, the volunteers turned over 600 sacks of 2-kilo rice, 3,600 sachets of detergent, a set of speakers and microphones, and two Megaboxes. Lunch for 700 participants was sourced from a local nanay, extending support to a nearby livelihood.
Teacher Jules of Better World Cubao expressed his gratitude, saying: “On behalf of Better World Cubao, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to UnionBank Philippines for joining us in our Financial Literacy Symposium. Your time, expertise, and commitment to empowering our communities created meaningful learning experiences that inspired many families to take the first steps toward financial confidence and stability.”
For the volunteers, the initiative was a fulfilling experience. They shared how engaging with the women, hearing their stories, and seeing their enthusiasm made the initiative especially meaningful.
Through Abante Babae and other GoBeyond Communities projects, UnionBank continues to uplift, upskill, and unlock opportunities for underserved sectors, strengthening its commitment to empower communities through learning, empathy, and collective action.