It took two boat rides and hours on the road to reach the great schools around Meycauayan, Bulacan.
We went around Meycauayan City’s elementary and high schools. It's been my goal to spread our advocacy for financial literacy in this town. We first had financial literacy workshops and seminars at Parian Elementary School in Laguna a few years ago.
As a financial advisor in Bulacan, it felt great to be able to do this in Meycauayan this time around. Together with Coaches Daggy Sargado and Ally Santos, we went around Meycauayan schools and even visited the island schools in Ubihan and Liputan via boat.
For more photos, please find them here.
This was such a new experience for me. Teaching teachers about modern financial planning is rewarding. But stepping in their shoes just for a few hours truly made us realize how noble but physically draining talking for hours on end can be. Salute to teachers, indeed!
2 Ways Teachers Go Above and Beyond Their Duties
Journey
We went to two island schools. It’s my first time going to island schools. My father had previously told me about Liputan. At first, I did not believe that there was a place in this city that could only be accessed by boat. I was also surprised that there was another school across the river (Ubihan) that needed a boat ride.
When we talked to the teachers here, they did not all live in the island barangay. Previously, some teachers held positions at other schools. The idea of a commute is not new to Filipino workers, but having to conquer land and water transportation just to go to work is such a great feat. Our teacher’s dedication is indeed full force!
How to Go to Liputan, Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Via McArthur Highway, Malanday, you can alight at Total Malanday (McArthur Highway, corner Marcelo H. Del Pilar St.). Walk a few steps towards the tricycle station and say you are going to “Wawang Pulo” (near Valenzuela City Sports Park). A solo trip on the tricycle costs PHP 100. The boat trip from Wawang Pulo to Liputan cost PHP 25.
How to go to Ubihan, Meycauayan City, Bulacan
I took the same boat from Wawang Pulo to Ubihan, but it cost more than PHP 200. It was amusing that during my journey to Ubihan, the boat encountered mechanical issues due to the boat owner's unfamiliarity with the route's floating logs. When I arrived at the school, the teachers told me that it was cheaper and easier to go to Marilao’s Constantino port than to Wawang Pulo.
Teachers Attend Regular Training in the Philippines
The teachers' city-wide training week took place during the students' break. This gave us the opportunity to present to the faculty.
They also conduct a regular School Learning Action Cell (SLAC), which aims to help teachers develop and improve teaching strategies.This helps teachers adjust to a faster-paced hybrid setting.
Read More: How to prepare for your child's future
What Challenges Do Filipino Teachers Face?
Filipino teachers are no strangers to challenging days. Plenty of teachers face the realities of being overworked and underpaid head-on. Ask the whole faculty, and most likely everyone will tell you that the daily grind can be exhausting for them too.
Overwork
Many Filipino teachers look for hiring opportunities abroad. Many of our educators also opt to teach overseas for better pay, leaving the country with a teacher shortage. A shortage would mean more work for the teachers who remain in the country. A less proportionate teacher-to-student ratio can also compromise the quality of education in the country.
This situation can lead to burnout for most teachers on a daily basis. Small compensation can also demoralize hard workers, especially if they also face the next two challenges below.
Debt
Teachers also face a lot of debt. This is not surprising, as they have relatively low pay and would resort to borrowing money to cover their needs.
How to Pay Off Debt
Snowball Method in Debt
This method involves listing and paying off the smallest debt or balance first. Afterwards, move on to the next smallest amount to create the “snowball effect." This snowball method's consistency can also be an ideal mental motivation for people in debt.
Avalanche Method in Debt
The avalanche method is an alternative to the snowball method. It works the opposite way to the snowball technique. To create the "avalanche," prioritize the debts with the largest total or interest first until the debt clears out.
Multiple streams of income
Spending all your monthly income on debt is not sustainable. In addition to the debt, one also needs money to cover their daily needs. Add another source of income to ensure that there is additional cash flow coming in.
Illness
Heart attacks, diabetes, and cancer still remain some of the top causes of death in the country. Teachers and government employees are also not exempt. With a hectic lifestyle, extreme weather, and no money left for health emergencies, getting sick will be a big blow to anyone's family.
How to Empower Teachers, Notes on How to Spend the Mid-Year Bonus
Midyear bonuses and performance bonuses can best be enjoyed when you can use them to cover your bills, debts, leisure, and, of course, long-term plans. For some government employees, they use their holiday bonus for family gifts and leisure. Then, they use their midyear bonus for long-term personal goals.
Here are three things you can do to make the most of the midyear season.
Insurance
Be insured. Get as much coverage as possible. You save more money getting insurance at your current age than at a later age. This is a common practice among insured clients.
Some of our government clients opted to combine insurance and investing in their portfolios.
Nowadays, many people invest in PAG-IBIG MP2. I do, too.
It's great to announce that there is an insurance plan that provides both guaranteed life insurance and guaranteed endowment plans. It pays out 8% of the face amount by the end of the sixth year, and you will receive it every two years until the age of 100.
How much does this insurance cost with an endowment?
Here is a quick sample for a 30-year-old woman who does not smoke:Php 300,000 face amountPhp 600,000 in entry-level life insurance coveragePhp 24,000 in endowment is available at the end of the 6th year, and she will continue to receive this until the age of 100 as she lives.
It will only be around PHP 1905 per month for the regular pay version. For a customized plan, send us your exact birthday; terms and conditions apply.
Health Protection Plans
If you want to focus more on your health insurance, you can also get term insurance, which specializes in health coverage.
This term health plan provides protection against a list of 36 critical illnesses and surgeries. If you get sick and your illness (or surgery) is on the list, you can get insurance coverage of PHP 1,000,000 if you prefer. This also includes accidental death benefits and total disability benefits.
This plan only costs Php 892.83/month for a 30-year-old female non-smoker. Just like the plan above, terms and conditions apply, so please send a message to see how this can be personalized for you.
Multiple Sources of Income to Fund Self-Care or Leisure
Teachers should also still enjoy and reward themselves with leisure time! If you've already used the midyear bonus to cover bills and dues, it can be beneficial to look for another income stream to make sure finances still have a breathing room for spontaneous fun.
We are also hiring for new financial advisors who can perform in a part-time remote work capacity.
Read More: Where you can put your money in your 20's
Thank you, Ma’am Merlina Cruz, PhD (School Division Superintendent), for this opportunity.
Thank you also to the principals and teachers in charge, namely Ma’am Roberta Berboso from Bahay Pare, Sir Ricardo de Guzman from Bancal, Ma’am Minerva L. Siongco from Liputan, Ma’am Carmela Raymundo from Longos, Ma’am Nevilla Sison from Tugatog, Ma’am Elena A. Ramos from Ubihan ES, Ma’am Ma Benilda Mendoza from Zamora, and Sir Jewen Alimen from Ubihan HS/SHS.
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