₱100 That Disappears… or ₱100 That Protects for a Year?

As a financial planner, consultant, and leader, I often ask people to pause and reflect—not on how much they give, but on how wisely they give.

Picture this.

You finish a meal at a restaurant. The service was warm, sincere, and hardworking. You reach into your wallet and hand the waitstaff ₱100 as a tip.

They smile. You feel good.

And by tomorrow—it’s gone.

Now let me offer you a different lens.

What If That Same ₱100 Became One Year of Protection?

Imagine instead that the same ₱100 pays for a one-year term insurance coverage that provides:

• Accidental death benefit

• Hospitalization support due to accident

• Peace of mind for the worker and their family

• Protection during the most financially vulnerable moments

  
  

That ₱100 no longer disappears overnight.

It stands guard for 365 days.

Cash Tips Help Today. Protection Helps When Life Happens.

Let’s be clear:

There is nothing wrong with tipping. It is kind. It is generous. It is appreciated.

But as a financial planner, I must say this plainly:

A waitstaff member may earn daily wages. Missing one week of work due to an accident can mean:

• No income

• Medical bills

• Borrowing at high interest

• Long-term financial stress for the family

  
  

₱100 cash cannot solve that.

₱100 worth of protection can soften the blow.

The Deeper Value: Dignity, Not Just Charity

Giving insurance instead of—or alongside—cash changes the nature of generosity.

• It says: “I see your future, not just your present.”

• It says: “You deserve protection, not pity.”

• It says: “Your life and family matter beyond today.”

This is not charity.

This is empowerment.

Why This Matters in the Philippines

Many service workers:

• Are breadwinners

• Have little to no emergency fund

• Are one accident away from financial collapse

Yet for the cost of a meal add-on or a small tip, we can extend a safety net.

If more people redirected even a portion of casual spending toward micro-protection:

• Families would stay afloat

• Debt cycles would break

• Communities would grow stronger

A Leader’s Question to Reflect On

As leaders, professionals, and people of faith and values, we must ask:

₱100 cash is appreciated.

₱100 worth of insurance is remembered when it matters most.

Final Thought

The next time you tip, consider this:

You can give ₱100 that will be spent by tonight.

Or you can give ₱100 that will protect a life for a year.

One fades.

The other stands ready when life takes an unexpected turn.

And that—is the true value of intentional generosity.