Paano Na Ang Pera Ko? Three Money Questions Filipinos Keep Asking

My personal insights as a financial advocate and a minster

For almost four decades, I have spent much of my professional life helping people understand money. From banking, investments, insurance, and financial planning to writing books, coaching people, and speaking at conferences, I have answered countless questions about personal finance. Today, as I serve in full-time ministry, I find myself looking at those same questions with a somewhat different perspective.

I still believe in the importance of sound financial principles, disciplined saving, responsible investing, and wise money management… those convictions have not changed. What has changed is that I have become increasingly conscious that behind every financial question is a person with real struggles, responsibilities, fears, and hopes.

When someone asks me how to save, I realize that the question may be coming from a father struggling to provide for his children. When someone asks where to invest, it may be a young professional hoping to build a better future for his family. When someone asks how to get out of debt, I know there may be sleepless nights, strained relationships, and a great deal of anxiety behind that question.

Money is never just about money. It affects our marriages, families, relationships, decisions, and sometimes even our understanding of God.

And the financial challenges facing Filipinos today are very real.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, inflation reached 7.2 percent in September 2026, with increases in food, housing, utilities, and transportation putting additional pressure on household budgets. A 2025 Sun Life Financial Resilience Index survey found that 61 percent of Filipino respondents prioritized day-to-day budgeting, while 45 percent focused on building emergency funds. Meanwhile, a July 2026 OCTA Research survey showed that 41 percent of Filipinos considered having savings a personal concern.

These numbers tell us something important. Many Filipinos are not necessarily trying to become wealthy – they simply want to make ends meet, provide for their families, and have some financial security.

While there is no definitive public ranking of the most searched personal finance questions across Google and social media, three recurring questions capture much of what Filipinos are concerned about. Let me share how I would answer them, both as someone who has spent many years advocating financial literacy and as a brother who wants to help people see their finances through the lens of faith.

1. “Paano ako makakaipon kung kulang ang sweldo ko?”

This is probably one of the most difficult questions to answer because I know that for many Filipinos, the struggle is genuine. When the cost of food, transportation, utilities, education, and healthcare continues to increase, saving money becomes increasingly difficult.

My usual advice has always been to spend less than you earn and consistently set aside something for the future. I still believe in that principle. However, I also recognize that telling someone to save 20 percent of their income when they can barely afford their family’s basic needs is not particularly helpful.

We need to acknowledge that some financial problems are caused by poor spending habits, while others are caused by inadequate income. Often, it is a combination of both. The solutions will not always be the same.

My first advice is to take an honest look at where your money goes. I have met people who earn relatively high incomes yet remain financially distressed because their lifestyles have expanded alongside their salaries. I have also met people with modest incomes who are remarkably disciplined and resourceful. Income matters, but how we manage that income matters as well.

If your income is genuinely insufficient to cover your basic needs, cutting expenses alone will not solve the problem. You may need to find opportunities to increase your income, develop new skills, pursue better employment, or explore legitimate sources of additional earnings. At the same time, you need to distinguish between genuine necessities and expenses driven by lifestyle expectations.

I would encourage you to begin saving whatever amount is realistically possible. You do not need to start with a large amount. Establish the habit, build a small emergency buffer, and increase your savings as your financial situation improves. Eventually, aim to accumulate enough to cover several months of essential expenses.

I often remind people that financial discipline is not about how much money you have but about how faithfully you manage what has been entrusted to you. Proverbs 21:5 teaches us that diligent planning leads to better outcomes, while acting hastily can lead to poverty.

But let me also offer a pastoral perspective. Your financial struggles do not make you less valuable in God’s eyes, nor should you measure God’s love for you by the size of your bank account. We are called to be responsible stewards, but we must never confuse financial success with spiritual maturity.

My brotherly advice is this: Do not despise small beginnings, but do not settle for financial habits that keep you trapped. Start where you are, be faithful with what you have, and take deliberate steps toward improving your situation.

2. “Saan magandang mag-invest ng pera ngayon?”

This question has followed me throughout my years in financial services. Whether the conversation is about stocks, mutual funds, real estate, Pag-IBIG MP2, digital banks, or cryptocurrency, people are always looking for the next good investment.

My answer is usually not what people expect.

Before asking where to invest, I think you should first ask yourself why you want to invest, what you are investing for, when you will need the money, and how much risk you can realistically afford.

Investing without a clear financial objective is like getting into a car without knowing your destination. You may end up going somewhere, but it may not be where you need to be.

I have seen people invest because their friends were making money. Others invested because an influencer recommended something or because an investment promised unusually attractive returns. Unfortunately, some ended up losing money they could not afford to lose.

Let me remind you that investing is not a shortcut to wealth, and it certainly is not a substitute for good financial management.

Before investing, make sure you have a reasonable emergency fund, manageable debt, and sufficient protection against major financial risks (insurance). Money that you will need in the next few months should not be exposed to investments that can suffer significant market losses.

For beginners, I generally encourage them to understand relatively straightforward options first. Savings accounts and deposits with regulated financial institutions can serve short-term needs, while government-backed savings programs such as Pag-IBIG MP2 may be appropriate for certain medium-term goals. Diversified mutual funds, unit investment trust funds, and equities may have a place in longer-term investing, depending on the individual’s objectives and risk tolerance. Every option has its own limitations, risks, and costs.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that only 50 percent of Filipino adults owned a formal financial account in 2025. While access to financial services has improved in several areas, the figure reminds us that there is still much work to be done in helping Filipinos develop financial capability.

One of my biggest concerns today is that social media has made financial information widely accessible, but it has also made financial misinformation easy to spread. People can become excited about an investment without understanding the underlying risks. We need to be especially cautious about products promising guaranteed high returns or presenting speculation as a reliable path to wealth.

As a believer, I also believe we need to examine our motivations. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to grow our resources. Building financial security, preparing for retirement, providing for our families, and creating resources that can benefit others are worthwhile goals.

However, there is a difference between responsibly building wealth and allowing the pursuit of wealth to consume us.

In 1 Timothy 6:17, Paul reminds those who are rich not to place their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God. I find this particularly relevant in a culture that increasingly equates financial success with personal worth.

My brotherly advice is this: Do not invest because you are afraid of missing out. Invest because you have a clear purpose, a sound plan, and a proper understanding of the risks. Grow your money, but never allow money to become the center of your life.

3. “Paano ako makakaahon sa utang?”

Of the three questions, this is perhaps the one that carries the greatest emotional burden.

I have encountered people who feel trapped by credit card balances, personal loans, and borrowing from online lending applications. Some accumulated debt because of irresponsible spending, while others borrowed because of medical emergencies, unemployment, business losses, or family obligations.

The BSP’s 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey found that 25 percent of Filipino adults reported borrowing, down from 45 percent in 2021. While fewer adults reported borrowing, the experience of those struggling with unmanageable debt remains a serious concern. There is also a view that informal borrowing and on-line lending is on the rise.

I have always taught that debt must be approached with great caution because it creates obligations against future income. Borrowing may sometimes be necessary or financially justifiable, but excessive debt can rob us of flexibility, financial security, and peace of mind.

My first advice is to stop pretending that the problem will disappear on its own. You need to know exactly how much you owe, whom you owe, how much interest you are paying, and when your payments are due.

Once you understand the full picture, develop a realistic repayment plan. Prioritize debts with particularly high interest rates while keeping up with essential obligations. If you are struggling to meet your payments, communicate with legitimate creditors and explore reasonable restructuring arrangements where available.

Most importantly, avoid taking on new high-cost debt simply to pay existing debt. That often makes the situation worse.

You may also need to make uncomfortable lifestyle adjustments. This could mean postponing major purchases, reducing discretionary spending, selling assets you no longer need, or temporarily finding additional sources of income. There is no easy way around it. Getting out of debt usually requires sacrifice, discipline, and time.

But as a minister, I also want to address something that financial advisers sometimes overlook: the shame that often accompanies financial problems.

I have seen how money struggles can affect relationships and create enormous emotional pressure. Some people are reluctant to seek help because they fear being judged. Others hide their financial problems from their spouses, making an already difficult situation even more complicated.

I believe we need to approach people struggling with debt with both truth and compassion. Financial irresponsibility must be confronted, but people should not be defined by their financial mistakes. We must also recognize that not every person in debt arrived there because of irresponsibility.

If you have made poor financial decisions, acknowledge them and learn from them. Seek wise counsel, speak honestly with your family when appropriate, and take responsibility for what you can change. Your past decisions may have consequences, but they do not have to determine every decision you make moving forward.

There is also a danger in treating prayer as a substitute for financial responsibility. I absolutely believe in praying for God’s provision and wisdom. But I also believe that faith should move us toward responsible action. We cannot continually spend beyond our means, ignore our obligations, and expect our financial problems to resolve themselves.

My brotherly advice is this: Face your debts honestly, take responsibility without allowing shame to consume you, and commit to the difficult but necessary process of becoming financially free.

Financial Stewardship Is More Than Financial Success

Having spent so many years teaching personal finance and now serving in full-time ministry, I have become even more convinced that biblical wisdom and sound financial principles are not competing ideas.

There is no need to create an artificial divide between what is spiritual and what is practical. Budgeting, saving, investing, avoiding unnecessary debt, and providing for our families are all matters that involve wisdom, character, and stewardship.

But I also want to be careful about something. Biblical stewardship is not a formula for becoming rich. Following Jesus does not guarantee that we will never experience financial difficulties, just as having financial wealth does not necessarily indicate God’s approval.

I have known people with considerable wealth who remain deeply anxious and dissatisfied. I have also encountered people with very modest resources whose lives reflect remarkable contentment, generosity, and faith. This has reminded me that financial security and spiritual security are not the same thing.

Money is important, but it is not ultimate. It can provide for our needs, help us care for our families, support worthwhile causes, and enable us to serve others. However, money cannot provide the lasting identity, meaning, and hope that we ultimately find in Christ.

As a financial advocate, I want Filipinos to become more financially literate, responsible, and secure. I want families to experience less financial stress, young people to make wiser decisions, and future generations to be better prepared.

As a minister, I want something more. I want people to understand that everything we have is ultimately entrusted to us by God, and that the way we handle our resources is part of how we live out our faith.

I want us to become people who are not only financially capable but also content, generous, compassionate, and mindful of the needs of others.

This is why I continue to advocate sound financial management even as my primary calling has shifted to pastoral ministry. I do not see these two callings as contradictory. In many ways, they complement one another. Financial education helps people make wiser decisions, while the gospel helps us understand what ultimately matters and where our hope should rest.

My Encouragement

If you are struggling to save, start with what you can realistically manage. If you are thinking about investing, educate yourself and make decisions based on sound principles rather than excitement or fear. If you are overwhelmed by debt, confront the problem honestly and take the necessary steps toward recovery.

And wherever you are in your financial journey, remember that your worth is not determined by your income, your investments, your possessions, or your debts.

I still believe that financial freedom is a worthwhile goal. But after all these years, I have also learned that the deeper goal is not simply to have more money. It is to develop the wisdom to manage our resources well, the contentment to know when we have enough, and the generosity to use what we have for the good of others.

We should work diligently to improve our financial condition, but we must never allow our financial condition to define who we are.

At the end of the day, we are not merely trying to build bigger bank accounts. We are learning to become better stewards of what God has entrusted to us.

And for me, that is what makes personal finance truly personal.

Research references: Philippine Statistics Authority, September 2026 Inflation Report; Sun Life Asia Financial Resilience Index, 2025; OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa Survey, July 2026; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey.