With a shared mission to support underserved communities in Metro Manila, Tala Philippines partnered with non-profit organization Project PEARLS (Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, and Smiles) to conduct an outreach program in Tondo, Manila last May 2, 2025. The program expands Tala’s social impact and raises awareness on the importance of financial literacy for the global majority.
Since its foundation in 2010, Project PEARLS has helped children, youth, women, and communities grow and thrive through initiatives to provide access to education, nutrition, and healthcare.
“Our partnership with Project PEARLS stems directly from Tala’s mission to advance financial health for the global majority. Their core programs in education, financial literacy, and skills development align perfectly with our goal of empowering underserved communities here in the Philippines,” said Mia Lim, People Director of Tala Philippines.
According to Lim, it is through initiatives like this that Tala employees can witness firsthand the impact of their contributions.
“Employee engagement is one of the primary goals of our CSR strategy. It was important for us to find a partner who could help our team directly connect Tala’s mission with the communities we support beyond our day-to-day work,” she said.
Tala committed to sponsor scholarship grants for 20 hard-working students from the community in Tondo as part of the collaboration. It also provided 500 meals that were served to the educational program’s participants.
”This coming school year, with the help of our sponsors including Tala Philippines, we will be helping a total of 800 scholars from preschool to college level,” said Karen Beblañas, Education Partnership Manager of Project PEARLS. “Our partners are vital to the success and sustainability of the program. We cannot do it alone. All the needs informed to us by the community cannot be addressed without the support of the donors.”
To teach high school and college students the basics of money management, Tala held a TALAkayan session led by registered financial planner, Jog Bondoc, from Empower & Transform during the outreach program. The topics discussed included financial concepts not normally taught in school, such as saving and budgeting, debits and credits, and the pitfalls of compound interest. Participants were also guided on how to spot unauthorized lenders and how to avoid common scams. Bondoc encouraged students not to obtain loans until they reached the age of majority and had stable and consistent sources of income.
Through an engaging and simplified discussion, Tala was able to equip the youth with the essential skills and knowledge to responsibly start their long-term financial growth.
“Dahil graduating na ako, ngayon palang iniisip ko na saan ako makakahanap ng trabaho, makakasave ng pera, at makatulong sa family. Thankful ako na nagkaroon kami ng ganitong oportunidad na talagang tumatak na po sa amin kung paano gamitin ang pera sa tamang paraan,” (“As early as now, I’m already thinking about where I can get a job and how I can save money to help my family. I’m grateful for this opportunity to learn about proper budgeting and money management,”) said Rina Bignayan, an incoming 4th year college student and TALAkayan participant.
Talazens, including Moritz Gastl, General Manager and Charisse Alavarez, President and Head of Finance, joined the activities including an arts and crafts session for elementary students and a crochet and weaving session for women of the community.
Alvarez also reiterated how partnerships like this remain crucial in Tala’s mission of unleashing the economic potential of the global majority in the country.
“Tala Philippines brings to this partnership a track record of deeply understanding and serving underserved communities through our technology-driven data. Combined with Project PEARLS’ incredible grassroots work — from their education programs in Tondo to their livelihood and healthcare efforts across the country — we can extend the impact even further. It’s a partnership built on shared values: trust, compassion, and action. By joining forces, we can deliver not just aid, but real, sustainable financial empowerment,” she said.
About Tala
Tala is a global technology company building the world’s most accessible financial services. Their financial services provide customers with flexible, convenient, online credit to help support the unbanked and underserved population. Tala has given more than 40 million loans totaling more than 5 billion USD to more than 10 million people across three different continents. Customers have used Tala products to start and expand small businesses, manage day-to-day needs, and pursue their financial goals with confidence. Start your journey into financial freedom: https://tala.ph/borrow/.
For questions about legitimate digital lending platforms, visit gotala.co/help or interact through the official Tala app. Tala is operated by Tala Financing Philippines Inc., a licensed financing company with SEC Registration No. CS201710582 and Certificate of Authority No. 1132, and a registered operator of payment system, with OPS Registration No. OPSCOR-2023-0010. Always study the terms and conditions and the disclosure statement before proceeding with any loan transaction. Tala is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, with email address at flcd_queries@sec.gov.ph.
For more information about Project PEARLS, visit their website at www.projectpearls.org.
