CitySavings equips 14,000 educators with future-ready skills

Insider Spotlight

• CitySavings reached over 14,000 educators through a three-part capacity-building initiative
• Programs covered emotional intelligence, play-based learning, AI and classroom innovation
• Teachers also received practical financial wellness training on savings, debt and scam protection
  
  
  

City Savings Bank has reached more than 14,000 educators nationwide through a three-part capacity-building initiative that tackled emotional intelligence, play-based learning, artificial intelligence and financial wellness.

Held from April to July, the programs brought CitySavings together with The Human Project Foundation, Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. and WayMaker HQ to equip teachers and other education stakeholders with skills for changing classroom and personal financial needs.

Why it matters

The initiative forms part of the thrift banking arm of Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines’ corporate social responsibility push on capacity building, with teachers positioned as key partners in improving learning outcomes.

“CitySavings believes that future-ready schools begin with empowered educators”, CitySavings assistant vice president and reputation and brand management head Paula Viegelmann-Ruelan said. 

“These strategic partnerships complement our push for championing educators' professional growth as we empower them with tools and knowledge to facilitate transformative learning experiences,” she added.

CitySavings said in a company release that the first program, the Project 12 Summit with The Human Project Foundation, gathered more than 200 school heads, education stakeholders, parents and students in Cebu City on April 10 and 11. It focused on integrating emotional intelligence alongside academic measures to help develop character and resilience among learners.

The human angle

Cebu Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro highlighted the influence teachers can have beyond classroom instruction. 

“What you are doing through Project 12 is something truly powerful. Because while we often focus on what our children should know, today you remind us of something even more important - how they should grow.”

She said education also involves helping young people develop the values, character, perspective and resilience they will carry throughout life.

Zoom in

The second initiative, a virtual Learning Conference with Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. on May 23, convened over 14,000 educators, learning facilitators and parents nationwide. It explored play-based and inquiry-driven learning approaches aimed at encouraging curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.

The three-part series concluded July 18 with CitySavings and WayMaker HQ training 187 teachers in generative AI and wealth management. Participants explored prompt engineering and interactive platforms for creating lessons and managing assessments more efficiently.

Pedro Bombane Elementary School teacher Joyce Krizyll Dalisay found practical applications for the technology. 

"The training introduced various interactive AI-powered tools that can be used to create engaging lessons, develop instructional materials, generate assessments, and enhance learners' participation. It also highlighted how AI can improve teaching efficiency while promoting creativity, collaboration, and personalized learning experiences in the classroom."

The bigger picture

The July program also included CitySavings’ Project PeraParasyon financial wellness training, which covered disciplined savings, debt management and financial protection against scams.

Taken together, the three programs reflect CitySavings’ effort to extend educator development beyond traditional teaching skills, combining classroom innovation with technology and financial resilience. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma