Golden Flame of Partnership. Former AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. conferred the Golden Flame of Partnership Award to BDO Foundation represented by the organization’s president Mario A. Deriquito.
BDO Foundation has received recognition from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its financial education program for the armed forces, an initiative that has benefited more than 73,000 personnel as of December 2025. The foundation’s partnership project with the AFP and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has helped improve the financial literacy of Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, and Philippine Navy personnel.
Former AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. conferred the Golden Flame of Partnership Award to BDO Foundation at the AFP Recognition of Stakeholders Ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“This is the first time that we are giving this kind of award,” the former AFP chief said in his message. The event, which also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, served as Gen. Brawner’s last flag raising ceremony.
The Golden Flame of Partnership Award symbolized the invaluable partnership and steadfast commitment of the foundation, AFP, and BSP to advancing financial literacy and financial wellness among military and civilian personnel of the armed forces.
As part of the program, the partners developed financial education modules covering lessons on saving, budgeting, financial planning, investments, entrepreneurship, managing debt, avoiding scams, and retirement planning.
Institutionalizing financial education for military personnel. Financial education sessions have become a part of the training program of AFP personnel after it was launched in 2019.
BDO Foundation, the AFP, and BSP likewise co-developed and produced the AFP Financial Education Trainer’s Manual and facilitated the conduct of training of trainers sessions, empowering AFP instructors to teach financial literacy lessons.
Six educational military-focused videos were also produced as part of the learning tools provided and made available on BDO’s official YouTube channel.
These significant contributions integrated financial education into the regular training program of the AFP, the service commands, and the Philippine Military Academy, further enhancing the financial capability, preparedness, and overall well-being of AFP personnel and their families.
Launched in 2019, the ongoing financial education program supports BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion. It contributes to the achievement of the AFP Transformation Roadmap to build a better and stronger armed forces.