Allianz Liga Eskwela Kaagapay: Using Futsal to Teach Technical Skills and Financial Literacy

Recently, the Henry V. Moran Foundation (Moran Foundation) and Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc. (Allianz) launched the Allianz Liga Eskwela Kaagapay futsal for development program. This grassroots initiative uses futsal to teach technical skills and foster financial literacy in Department of Education (DepEd) public schools.

“The program innovatively uses futsal, an indoor small-sided version of football, widely played in Philippine grassroots communities. Allianz Liga Eskwela Kaagapay aims to teach public school children technical skills in football as well as basic financial literacy through capacity building trainings for teachers, training sessions with students, and competitions,” said Gino Riola, Chief Marketing Officer & Head of Sustainability in Allianz. “Teachers who attend the training receive balls to be used in their schools, and also have the chance to be seconded to further coaching and official development programs under the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).”

“Since 2008, the Moran Foundation has been supporting football for development programs in public schools, orphanages, and NGOs across the country,” said Danny Moran, Chairman of the Moran Foundation. “But we realized that a major difficulty in promoting field football in most Filipino communities and schools is the lack of access to pitches. However, all these schools have access to covered basketball courts so it was natural to use futsal (indoor 5-aside football) for the kids as it is a game that has been proven to be an excellent formator of one’s technique, skill, and game awareness.”

Because of the Moran Foundation’s strong connections to the PFF and its relationship with DepEd, the Liga Eskwela Kaagapay Program fosters the growth of futsal. The Moran Foundation, in partnership with the PFF, organizes futsal competitions to complement the program’s training for PE instructors, which teaches them the fundamentals of futsal coaching, refereeing, and tournament organization. As of 2024, the program is operational in 12 school divisions/cities within DepEd Region 7 and all 16 school divisions/cities within the DepEd National Capital Region. Mindanao will soon adopt the program as well.

Along with teaching public school instructors how to use futsal skills and games to teach public school students basic financial literacy concepts like goal setting, saving, and budgeting, the program also highlights the use of futsal for the development of financial values. In 2023, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas released a report indicating that the Philippines’ financial literacy rank is third from last in ASEAN, with only 25% of the population possessing this knowledge.

“Football and futsal in schools are fun for both the teachers and the students. Thus, through our partnership with the Moran Foundation, Allianz PNB Life hopes to address the financial literacy gap in the Philippines by using an attractive medium like futsal to get basic concepts across to public school teachers and students,” added Riola. “Liga Eskwela Kaagapay helps achieves Allianz PNB Life’s sustainability agenda in the country since it directly helps us address the UN Sustainable Development Goal #4 – Better Education.”

Liga Eskwela Kaagapay aims to work with at least 100 public school teachers to reach 10,000 public school children in collaboration with DepEd Regions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The winners of the one-day Liga Eskwela Futsal Festival 2024 in La Salle Greenhills last Jan. 21 are as follows:

● 12U Boys: Champion – Mandaluyong; 2nd Place – Caloocan; 3rd Place – Valenzuela.

● 12U Girls: Champion – Manila; 2nd Place – Muntinlupa; 3rd Place – Valenzuela.

● 16U Boys: Champion – Pasig; 2nd Place – Caloocan; 3rd Place – Valenzuela.

● 16U Girls: Champion – Malabon; 2nd Place – Muntinlupa; 3rd Place – Parañaque.

● 18U Boys: Champion – Pasig; 2nd Place – Manila; 3rd Place – Quezon City.

● 18U Girls: Champion – Valenzuela; 2nd Place – Pasig; and 3rd Place – Caloocan.