To cultivate financial literacy and money management among the students, a three-part talk symposium held at the Finster Auditorium last Jan. 27, 2018.
The seminar, organized by the School of Business and Governance (SBG) in partnership with the First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation (FirstMetroSec), was attended by students of the graduate and undergraduate programs.

Margie Clavano, the assistant dean for graduate programs of SBG, shared the rationale of the event in her opening remarks.

“We hope that through this seminar we would be able to know what to do with our money and our excess funds. So that we would not only become richer but to also do it for the common good because that is the goal of the university,” Clavano remarked.

Andro Beltran, business development head of FirstMetroSec, shared his personal experience of being a student and becoming a young working adult.

“We were taught how to balance millions of pesos [in a balance sheet], without being taught how to even earn the first million, and there is the gap. That is why we are here in order to address that gap [of financial literacy],” Beltran cited.

He also stressed how 75% of Filipinos are financially illiterate and 80% of the working middle class have no formal financial plan.

Luis Zacal, an equity research associate of FirstMetroSec, discussed the impacts of 2018 economic and market updates to new investors.

Zacal also advised that new investors should be wary of investing by seeking stocks or experts that have at least a five-year track of moderate but consistent growth.

Alexander Gilles, the consultant for the market education of FirstMetroSec, also discussed the effects of the tax reform law on one’s finances.

Angelica Sucayan, a fourth-year accountancy student, shared her experience from attending the event.

“Eto ang first seminar na nakinig ako ng maayos. Noon pa ako nag-plan na mag-start investing pero kulang pa ang knowledge ko in this area so di ko pa natuloy. This seminar reassured me that it’s better to invest and allow my money to grow than to just set aside my savings.,” Sucayan commented.

The seminar ended with an open forum that allowed students to make consultations and ask questions from the three speakers.