If you’ve found yourself short on funds way before the next payday, you are not alone. According to a survey conducted for Sun Life by the Social Weather Station (SWS) in 2014, nine out of 10 Filipinos have experienced shortage in the past 12 months. Some 74 percent found themselves short on money to pay for household expenses, 41 percent for educational expenses, and 25 percent for medical costs.
In a follow-up survey, respondents were asked what they were doing to improve their family’s financial situation. Fifty-four percent 54 percent said they were saving money, 17 percent said they put up a business, 15 percent improved their personal capabilities through training or education, 9 percent found work overseas. Only 8 eight percent are investing their money, and a whopping 18 percent chose to do nothing.
Money for Life Campaign
This is certainly unfortunate. As Sun Life President and CEO Riza Mantaring observed, “Despite the bright prospects that the country’s economy has, prosperity still hasn’t trickled down to the more disadvantaged sectors of society. We have to address this.”
With the objective of educating Filipinos about the value of financial planning and the importance of translating information into action, Sun Life has launched a number of exciting initiatives under its Money for Life Campaign, including a bus tour which could give you a glimpse into your financial future.
Money for Life is a comprehensive, customizable financial planning program that will ensure that you have sufficient funds for every stage of your life, whether you’re a young professional getting started, a newlywed with a growing family, a parent with school-aged kids, or an empty nester on the cusp of retirement.
One of its components is a 360-degree visual reality (VR) video, which transports you to different scenarios based on your chosen life stage. Sun Life Brand Ambassador Piolo Pascual welcomes you in this educational and entertaining VR video which gives you a glimpse of a bright tomorrow should you start planning for it today. Advisers from Sun Life will be on hand should you have any questions or concerns on how to go about the program.
The Sun Life Bus to the Future
Visitors get a peek at their financial future through a 360-degree visual reality video
Visual Reality Video
The video, which is viewable through a VR headset, may be experienced in a customized vehicle called “Bus to the Future.” And the good news is that the bus will be making its way to different malls and campuses nationwide. It made its first stop at Bonifacio Global City High Street last June 11. It will also visit Eastwood on June 19, SM City Cebu on June 25), and Solenad, Nuvali on July 2.
Since Sun Life wants to educate the young about the value of saving and investing, the bus will also be doing a campus tour and maybe seen at De La Salle University on June 16, University of the Philippines Diliman on June 17, San Sebastian College on June 20, University of San Carlos Cebu on June 24, Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila on June 29, and University of the Philippines Los Banos on June 30.
If you don’t have the opportunity to catch the bus, then get online and go through Sun Life’s Money for Life e-Planner at moneyforlife.com.ph. It’s a valuable online financial tool which encourages you set goals and identify needs according to your life stage, explore your options, and more importantly, take action.
These initiatives would certainly help to make sure that you never get short ever again!
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