Metrobank launches ‘Moneygurado’ docuseries to explore financial mindfulness through real-life stories | #BenchPaylaBlog

Direk Joey Reyes, Audrey Cruz, and Digs Dimagiba

Metrobank has launched Moneygurado, a campaign in line with its goal of instilling financial mindfulness among Filipinos and a docuseries that brings practical money guidance closer to Filipinos by grounding it in real-life stories, cultural realities, and everyday experiences.

Derived from “manigurado,” which means “to make sure” in Filipino, Moneygurado blends “money” and “sigurado,” capturing the goal of being confident, informed, and protected in every financial decision. It brings together everyday money management and fraud awareness, while taking a different approach—starting not with rules or tips, but with real Filipino experiences that reflect how people think and feel about money.

This builds on Metrobank’s long-standing advocacy of helping Filipinos grow and take control of their finances by translating concepts into everyday behaviors: planning ahead, spending with intention, protecting what they have, and staying open to opportunities for growth. Moneygurado positions financial mindfulness as a practical mindset that empowers individuals to navigate uncertainty with greater clarity, confidence, and control.

This initiative comes at a time when financial pressures are becoming more pronounced. Rising fuel prices, increasing cost of goods, and shifting economic conditions continue to affect household budgets, reinforcing the need to move from reactive habits to more deliberate financial decisions—from “bahala na” to “sigurado.”

“Moneygurado is about helping Filipinos become more intentional with their money by understanding the ‘why’ behind their decisions,” said Metrobank Chief Marketing Officer Digs Dimagiba. “By starting with real stories that reflect everyday realities, we make these conversations more relatable—and ultimately more actionable.”

Metrobank Chief Marketing Officer Digs Dimagiba

Moneygurado: A docuseries grounded in real Filipino experiences

At the heart of the campaign is the Moneygurado docuseries, which explores money through real-life Filipino stories, unpacking how culture shapes financial behavior across debt, spending, saving, and resilience.

Instead of prescribing rules, the series examines how deeply rooted values—such as katatagan (resilience), hiya (shame), pakikisama (fellowship), and utang na loob (debt of gratitude)—influence how Filipinos save, spend, borrow, and give. While these values define identity, they can also lead to habits that put short-term social obligations ahead of long-term financial resilience.

The premiere episode, “Kapit Lang: The Filipino Way of Surviving,” features entrepreneur Audrey Cruz, founder of OnlyPans Taqueria in Poblacion, Makati. What began as a pandemic food delivery concept quickly grew into a thriving business—until a fire forced them to start over.

Prof. Xiao Chua, Prof. Xiao Chua, Direk Joey Reyes, Audrey Cruz, and Digs Dimagiba

Her story highlights a familiar Filipino trait: katatagan or resilience. But it also underscores a deeper insight—survival alone is not enough without preparation. True financial resilience comes from intentional habits built before a crisis, not during it. By grounding insights in stories like this, Moneygurado reframes resilience from simply enduring challenges to preparing for them with purpose.

Upcoming episodes continue this exploration through different lenses: “Utang sa Pelikula: Self-Worth and Borrowing,” featuring director Jose Javier Reyes; “The Price of Hiya,” featuring historian Xiao Chua; and “Alkansya: The Filipino Art of Waiting,” featuring author Michelline Suarez.

While Moneygurado begins with stories, its purpose is to help Filipinos translate insight into action. Across the series, familiar financial behaviors are revisited through a more mindful lens—encouraging more purposeful borrowing, disciplined spending, goal-based saving, and a more intentional approach to resilience.

“Real progress starts when people see themselves in the story,” Dimagiba added. “Moneygurado is designed to meet Filipinos where they are—acknowledging their realities and helping them move forward with practical, meaningful actions.”

In the coming months, Metrobank will roll out additional Moneygurado episodes alongside accessible learning materials for students, families, and communities through its Earnest website, https://earnest.metrobank.com.ph/moneygurado.

About Moneygurado

Moneygurado is Metrobank’s financial mindfulness campaign designed to help Filipinos become more confident, informed, and protected in their everyday money decisions. Derived from the Filipino word “manigurado,” meaning to make sure of something, Moneygurado combines “money” and “sigurado” to reflect a mindset of intentional and secure financial behavior.

Bringing together financial mindfulness and fraud awareness, Moneygurado translates practical money concepts into relatable, real-life experiences—empowering individuals to plan ahead, spend with purpose, save consistently, and protect what they have. Through initiatives such as its docuseries and learning platforms, Moneygurado aims to make financial guidance more accessible, actionable, and grounded in the realities of Filipino life.

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