Mario A. Deriquito, president of BDO Foundation, has long believed that real change happens when communities are equipped not only with resources, but with knowledge and opportunity.

Since taking the helm of the foundation in 2017, he has transformed it into one of the country’s most consistent and strategic corporate social responsibility institutions, reaching Filipinos in classrooms, health centers and underserved rural areas.

His brand of leadership is quiet but deliberate, focused not on grand gestures but on building systems that last.

Financial literacy across sectors

At the core of Deriquito’s mission is a relentless push to promote financial literacy as a path to empowerment.

Under his leadership, the BDO Foundation has deepened its collaboration with national agencies, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Education and the Department of Migrant Workers, to bring financial education to both urban and rural communities.

These efforts include the development of more than 300 financial literacy teaching exemplars and videos for K-12 schools, the integration of money management topics into teacher training programs, and the creation of customized financial learning materials for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), micro-entrepreneurs, farmers and fisherfolk.

The foundation’s initiatives — such as the PiTaKa program for OFWs and Kita Mo Na! for agricultural communities — have reached millions of Filipinos. These programs aim not only to inform but to foster financial discipline, goal setting, and resilience among those who need it most.

Three-year streak

BDO Foundation’s efforts in advancing financial education were once again recognized this year by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. During the 2025 Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremony (OBSAC), held at the BSP Head Office on 18 July 2025, the foundation was honored as one of the central bank’s Outstanding Stakeholders — a distinction it has now earned for three consecutive years.

Deriquito expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to further integrating financial literacy into daily life.

“On behalf of BDO Foundation, let me thank the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for our long-standing partnership. This recognition will further inspire us to keep finding creative ways to bring financial education closer to everyday life and to help build a financially literate citizenry. Thank you so much, BSP!” he said.

The foundation was cited in 2023 for implementing 10 financial inclusion projects that directly supported the BSP’s national financial awareness drive.

In 2024, it was commended for developing digital learning modules focused on fraud prevention, budgeting, and digital banking, specifically targeting OFWs and vulnerable rural sectors.

This year’s OBSAC recognition highlighted the foundation’s expanded digital campaigns and school-based materials, which promote financial responsibility among learners of all ages.

Even before its recent string of honors, BDO Foundation had already received the BSP’s first-ever Outstanding Financial Education Partner Award around 2019 for its early, impactful initiatives aligned with the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.

These early programs reached public school teachers, military personnel, and Filipino workers abroad.

For Deriquito, the OBSAC awards reflect more than recognition — they signal the success of a shared vision between the public and private sectors to embed financial wellness into national development.

Wider access to services

Deriquito’s commitment to nation-building extends beyond financial education. Under his leadership, BDO Foundation has also prioritized the renovation and upgrading of rural health units, particularly in underserved provinces.

Recent efforts in Antique and Cebu included the rehabilitation of primary care facilities to ensure accessibility for senior citizens, breastfeeding mothers, and young children. These health centers were also redesigned to be more comfortable, functional and inclusive.

“We believe in the importance of basic healthcare and its irreplaceable function in a community,” Deriquito said in an earlier public engagement, reinforcing his belief that health and finance go hand in hand in uplifting lives.

Prior to joining BDO Foundation, Deriquito held senior roles in development work, including positions at SM Foundation and in the public sector. This background shaped his broader view of CSR — not as a publicity tool, but as a commitment to structural transformation.

Under his direction, BDO Foundation evolved from a philanthropic arm into a proactive institution that builds partnerships, creates replicable models, and measures its long-term impact.

His approach is deliberate: empower the grassroots, collaborate with government, and create tools that communities and institutions can sustain on their own.