(from left) British Embassy Manila Head of Political and Economic Section Iain Cox, Chevening scholars Mel Fatric Rhai Yan and James Earn Esperida, Pru Life UK Corporate Affairs Head Gizelle Camua at the Chevening Scholars Farewell Reception
Scholars and education advocates will pursue a one-year course through the Chevening program.
British life insurance company Pru Life UK, through its community investment arm Prudence Foundation, in partnership with the British government, is funding two Filipino advocates of education and financial literacy through the Chevening Scholarship. This is a scholarship and fellowship program that enables Filipino scholars to study in the UK.
Pru Life UK is the first life insurer in the Philippines to partner with Chevening and offer Filipino professionals a chance to pursue higher learning in education and financial literacy.
“Promoting literacy remains our priority. Chevening allows us to deliver on this commitment and support outstanding individuals whose vision aligns with ours,” says Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga. "This program has helped many professionals pursue quality education and build international networks and relationships. Taking part in this brings us closer to our goal of promoting financial literacy in influential sectors of society.”
Pru Life UK funds two Filipino Chevening Scholars
James Earn Esperida, a youth financial advocate, is one of two scholars sponsored by Pru Life UK this year. He is also a two-time awardee of the Cha-Ching program, an initiative by Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation that teaches financial literacy to grade-school teachers and students. The second scholar is Mel Fatric Rhai Yan, an education advocate and a Senior Program Officer in Ramon Aboitiz Foundation.
Esperida is currently a public-school teacher and specializes teaching Cha-Ching as one of the champions of financial literacy at the Department of Education. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Naga College Foundation under the Education Studies program, and master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Nueva Caceres. Through Chevening, he is set to undergo the International Development and Education program at Newcastle University.
“Being an advocate of financial literacy requires a lot of knowledge and experience and this is what I’m trying to achieve through the Chevening Scholarship,” says James. “I would like to thank Pru Life UK and the Prudence Foundation for their continued support. Since my days as a Cha-Ching coordinator, I was given opportunities to grow my knowledge and skills in developing and implementing financial literacy programs in schools that I apply to this day,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Yan is a Chief Operating Officer of the KA.T.ON Barangay Impact Visayas Management, a program that supports public high school students to continue their studies. He holds a degree in Secondary Education from the University of San Carlos and a master’s degree in Public Management Major in Voluntary Sector Management at the University of the Philippines.
“Ultimately, I hope to contribute to the education system of our country and encourage more Filipinos to finish their studies,” shares Yan. “I believe that better integration and implementation of local and international education programs are key to producing financially-literate Filipinos.”
A consistent partner of the Chevening Scholarship, Prudence Foundation has supported 126 students from Asia since 1997. This year, their scholars are part of 28 grantees from the Philippines.
“We appreciate Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation for being co-champions of education. This partnership plays a vital role in developing future leaders in the Philippines and other countries,” says British ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce.
“Pru Life UK’s We DO Education campaign reinforces the company’s commitment to empower Filipinos by providing access to literacy and molding our promising educators. Likewise, we are grateful for this chance to create meaningful changes in the education sector,” says Tumbaga.
