Last April 24, 2026, I attended the “Live Bright Trivia Night” hosted by Sun Life Philippines—an engaging after-work event that brought together individuals from different walks of life. The gathering was held at Bite: Bakery and Kitchen Iloilo in Times Square Iloilo, creating a warm and inviting space for both meaningful conversations and lighthearted competition.
During the event, I was invited to participate in an interview. The questions felt surprisingly easy to answer, perhaps because they resonated deeply with my personal experiences. In 2013, our family hit rock bottom, and it took us more than a decade to recover from overwhelming debts and the loss of key assets. I shared how a single illness can drastically alter a family’s financial stability—my father’s operation turned our lives upside down. To keep us in school, my parents had to sell nearly everything we owned: our home, properties, car, and even personal valuables. We also faced mounting debts from relatives, banks, and friends. Initially, I thought I would become too emotional while sharing my story, but the interviewer’s warm and cheerful demeanor made the experience feel natural, so much so that I found myself opening up more than I had expected.
After the quick interview, dinner was ready, but I found myself eagerly anticipating the trivia game. I had actually prepared in advance, reviewing information about Sun Life and its insurance products. Soon after, participants were grouped into teams of eight. I was part of Team Confidence, composed of five bloggers from the Iloilo Bloggers Society, two representatives from Daily Guardian, and one from Iloilo Metropolitan Times.
According to Ms. Marga Perral, Regional Sales Manager for Visayas, the goal of the Live Bright Trivia Night was to demonstrate that discussions about adulting and finances do not always have to be serious or intimidating. Instead, these conversations can begin with shared experiences, small realizations, and even something as simple as trivia.
The event featured a variety of rounds, including General Trivia, The Price is Right, Live Bright Financial Literacy 101, Pinoy Trivia (Employee Version), Rebus Puzzles, Singing Bee, Family Feud (Survey Says), and Pinoy Henyo. Personally, I enjoyed the Financial Literacy round the most, as our team answered all questions correctly. Topics such as budgeting, protection, emergency funds, and investments are areas I have actively explored in my personal financial journey. I also appreciated the Rebus Puzzles round, as I have previously used similar games as icebreakers in events, making it easier for me to solve most of the items. Unfortunately, the Singing Bee round was canceled due to technical issues, which was a bit sad since I was confident in that category.
As the night came to a close, several awards were presented, including The Shine Squad Award for the most creative team name and the Glow-Getter Team Award for the most energetic participants. The highlight of the evening, however, was the announcement of the Live Bright Trivia Night Champions.
To our delight, Team Confidence emerged as the overall winner garnering 68 points.
Winning the trivia night felt incredibly rewarding. I was especially grateful that my two nights of reviewing financial concepts paid off. More than the victory itself, I cherished the opportunity to share the experience with fellow bloggers and members of the traditional media. It was a meaningful moment of collaboration and celebration.
Ultimately, the event proved that financial conversations can go beyond seriousness and pressure. Instead, they can be interactive, insightful, and fun, all while nurturing teamwork, camaraderie, and a deeper appreciation for financial literacy.