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BLACK GOLD VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
THE OFFICIAL ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ASSOCIATION
Hello from MaFIA
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Meet the Executive Board
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Meet the Vice Presidents
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Faculty Advisers
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What's new in MaFIA?
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Events to Look Forward To
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Global Finance Convention 2021
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Lockdown Life
STNETNOC FO ELBAT
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Hello from MaFIA Dear Members,
BLACK & GOLD
EDITORIAL BOARD STEPHANIE CHAN Vice President for Publicity ADA BERNALDO, BRYCE CHEN, HANS GUTTIERREZ, CATHERINE KE, TRISHA ELLA TALAGON Associate Vice Presidents for Publicity ELISA LIM, KENNETH ROJAS Writers MIGUEL PONCE, PAOLO DELFIN, ELISA LIM, RONELLA HUGO, HANA SEBE, TRIXIE TAGABUCBA, ERRYL LACANLALE, REGINE TORRES, KAYLIN DING, MARTIN ORNIDO, JANELLE BALMACEDA, JERLENE CORONADO, DR. JUNETTE A. PEREZ, MR. DIOSCORO P. BAYLON, JR., MS. MARYCRIS O. ALBAO, PIO ORTIZ, JAMES PAUL CALUB, JULES LASTINO, RIANA JADE NG, HANS GUIERREZ, MAXIM MIRANDA, GWENETH TE TAN Contributors
On behalf of the Executive Board and all officers, I would like to welcome you to the Management of Financial Institutions Association (MaFIA). This Academic Year 20202021, our primary goal is to adapt to the virtual setting. Once achieved, we can continuously offer activities and events to enhance our members' skills and talents and allow them to be the best version of themselves. Moreover, we want to show that MaFIA is not only a Finance organization. It is also one that steps out of its comfort zone and reaches out to those in need. Hence, we want to have more community engagement activities, including donation drives. Despite the unusual setting, we want to uphold the legacy that MaFIA started. These circumstances will not stop us, officers, from giving quality services that our members deserve and reaching our goals as an organization. We will make this year count and every member proud of choosing MaFIA. We hope to know you better. Welcome to One MaFIA!
Juan Miguel B. Ponce President MaFIA 2020 - 2021
ADA BERNALDO, CATHERINE KE Graphic/Layout Artists STEPHANIE CHAN, BRYCE CHEN, HANS GUTTIEREZ Photographers
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MEET THE
EXECUTIVE BOARD MIGUEL PONCE PRESIDENT
Joining and being active in MaFIA completed my college life. I met great people and learned so much from organizing activities and events. MaFIA made me realize what I am capable of doing. I will always be grateful for the chance to serve the organization.
PAOLO DELFIN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS
MaFIA connected me with people from different walks of life. Joining this organization helped me sharpen my capabilities through challenging and memorable experiences, which I would do again if I could choose.
ELISA LIM
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
MaFIA opened more opportunities that made me a better individual, a better leader. It also gave me a new family and more friends whom I can count on anytime.
RONELLA HUGO
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACTIVITIES
MaFIA has contributed a lot to my personal growth, especially in nurturing my strengths and overcoming my weaknesses. It is where I gained memorable experiences with the astounding people I met.
HANA SEBE
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR OPERATIONS
MaFIA enhanced my leadership and interpersonal skills. It allowed me to engage with diverse groups of people and earn unexpected friendships.
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MEET THE
VICE PRESIDENTS
TRIXIE TAGABUCBA
REGINE TORRES
Through MaFIA, I got to step out of my comfort zone, try new things out, and make new friends, whom I hold dear to my heart.
MaFIA enriched my college life with opportunities, but more importantly, with the best people.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMICS
MARTIN ORNIDO VICE PRESIDENT FOR TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
MaFIA boosted my confidence and made me the responsible leader that I am today.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE
KAYLIN DING
VICE PRESIDENT FOR DOCUMENTATIONS
MaFIA is one of my stepping stones for my holistic development. It gave me all the necessary experiences and friendships in my college life.
JANELLE BALMACEDA STEPHANIE CHAN VICE PRESIDENT FOR MEMBERSHIP
VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLICITY
MaFIA enabled my skills and new friendships along the process. It was tough at times, yet fulfilling.
MaFIA opened opportunities for me to grow. I was able to do things that I didn’t know I was capable of doing.
ERRYL LACANLALE JERLENE CORONADO VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MaFIA shaped me into a well-rounded professional, along with the other members, as soon as it welcomed me.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR CORPORATE RELATIONS
MaFIA made me who I am today, a fearless one. People in MaFIA helped me to have a fruitful and fulfilling college experience.
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FACULTY ADVISERS MaFIA is... Dr. Perez
DR. JUNETTE A. PEREZ junette.perez@dlsu.edu.ph
Management of Financial Institutions Association (MAFIA) is one of the top organizations in De La Salle University (DLSU). It exists to provide the best possible service to its members. Choices have consequences, but choosing MaFIA may perhaps be one of the best decisions you will make in your extracurricular activities while in school.
MESSAGE TO STUDENTS Mr. Baylon
MR. DIOSCORO P. BAYLON, JR. dioscoro.baylon@dlsu.edu.ph
MS. MARYCRIS O. ALBAO marycris.albao@dlsu.edu.ph
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Is life like Finance, or is Finance like life? Finance offers powerful principles that we could use in life. Take the case of the challenges we all face now, fraught with so many risks. These could either make us or break us. It is empowering to know, though, that we have the choice to carve out returns from these challenges. The colors of this magazine, Black and Gold, fits a “T� risk and return principle. We can choose to rise above these black ashes of difficulties and channel them as golden opportunities to improve our skills and knowledge. One thing we can do is learn new skills despite the pandemic. As Finance students, we can add to our skillset the use of necessary software like R and Python or take online courses related to Finance. This pandemic, after all, could be a friend if we treat it as such. When things do not go our way, remember every adversity is the seeds of opportunity and growth.
WHAT S NEW IN MAFIA? '
by Elisa Lim
eing the home for Finance students, the Management of B Financial Institutions Association (MaFIA) has garnered various
opportunities as a professional organization in De La Salle University (DLSU). In its 43rd year, MaFIA aims to maximize its members' stay in the organization and the University and help them in their future careers and personal growth. This Academic Year, there are five (5) members for the Executive Board, instead of 3-4. This change made the organization more diverse and hands-on to every activity or event and promoted an equal distribution of committee assignments and efficient information relay. Moreover, MaFIA has forty-three (43) officers to contribute to the success of the organization. The new normal challenged the organization a lot. But it did not stop MaFIA from providing the best experience for its members. Instead, it made the officers more creative and focused. They pushed through with every training program, pocket seminar, and flagship event without compromising the quality and values that MaFIA has always provided. MaFIA also plans to give back to the community and contribute to its welfare, especially during this difficult time by a donation drive. Hopefully, the organization remains to be unified and a catalyst for innovation and continuous improvement.
Always, One MaFIA! 07
EVENTS to look forward to
National Finance Congress (NFC) is an annual event attended by over 800 to 1,000 participants for the past six (6) years. The Management of Financial Institutions Association (MaFIA) launched it in February 2013 with the vision of equipping business majors to become competent and responsible professionals in the future through necessary exposure and instruction. NATIONAL FINANCE CONGRESS
INVESTMENT SUMMIT
Investment Summit is a halfday event that introduces the basics and technicalities of stock trading. It also acquaints the participants to appreciate the stock market and gain more knowledge and ideas regarding the industry.
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by Kenneth Rojas
Every day, we spend money on necessities, such as food and
water. Yet, not everyone is privileged enough to receive proper education on how to manage their wealth. The lack of Financial Literacy may cause financial problems, which may affect one’s mental and physical health, performance at school or work, and relationships with friends or family. It is a common misconception that Finance and Business concepts should only concern Business students. Thus, some individuals cannot acknowledge the practical application of these concepts in their lives. Now that we are in a pandemic, it is a more crucial time to become financially literate and identify alternative ways to make ends meet. With this, the Management of Financial Institutions Associations is delighted to bring you the Global Finance Convention 2021. This year's theme of the Global Finance Convention is Generating Financial Capabilities. It focuses on three topics—Financial Literacy and Capability, Financial Investments, and Entrepreneurial Finance. It aims to broaden the students' perspective on practical and professional financial management applications in their everyday lives.
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LOCK DOWN L I F E a peek into MaFIA members’ new normal
The whole world paused because of the pandemic and the enforced quarantine rules and regulations. With this, people had to stay at home. Many were shocked at the extreme change of routines. Most people coped through this by making the most of their newfound time to learn new skills and engage in new hobbies. It is also the case with the officers of the Management of Financial Institutions Association (MaFIA).
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Pio Ortiz AVP - Finance
Talk about your lockdown hobby
The lockdown taught me that I should have an alternate income, so I became more active in trading stocks. Market prices were low, and I make fewer expenses ever since the outbreak, so I thought I should invest my money. It can be intimidating at first. But I mainly invested in blue chips for safe trades, while I used Investagrams to simulate some riskier trades. I feel that this hobby is right and practical. It also motivates me to stay updated on the current local and global developments as these affect price trends. Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? Yes, I plan to continue stock trading, having an alternate income, and keeping up with the business news and trends. I believe these are advantageous in the real world.
James Paul Calub
AVP - Academics
Talk about your lockdown hobby
I believe that each of us has our lockdown scenarios; we have different approaches and circumstances. As someone who has always felt extreme pressure to be doing things, this pandemic has taught me to focus more on having self-acceptance over selfimprovement. The quest for productivity makes us believe that we are unproductive and not being good enough. So, embracing the downtime to do the things I want, like binge-watching any Netflix series or finishing a game Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? Even after the pandemic, I would continue watching and playing games. They are some of my ways to cope with everything. We should not feel pressured for not challenging ourselves to be productive because we can always turn things on our way again.
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Ronella Hugo EVP - Activities
Talk about your lockdown hobby During the early months of the lockdown, I loved watching movies or Korean Dramas on Netflix. I also watched Master Chef Junior and Tasty on Youtube. I found it comforting and enjoyable to watch other people cook mouth-watering meals. Watching these shows is the reason why I got into cooking and baking. I tried simple recipes like the Korean Soy Garlic Chicken, Garlic Butter Shrimp, Banana Bread, Chocolate Cake, and Cheese Puto. As a first-timer, I didn’t expect that it would turn out so well. I was happy and proud of it. Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? I would say yes, I definitely would want to learn more recipes. I would watch more food and recipe videos and try to make them here at home if only I had the luxury of time. I realized that there is something different about cooking for other people, especially my family, that I find enjoyable.
Jules Lastino AVP - Corporate Relation
Talk about your lockdown hobby Given the unfortunate situation, I needed something that I could temporarily escape my mind. I was able to revisit an old hobby I had in my preteens, reading books. The last piece of advice that my senior high school professor gave me was to invest in books. With that in mind, I have accumulated various reading materials from browsing through the internet and taking advantage of sweet deals from book fairs that could help fill in the spare time I have.
Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? I cannot be sure as other priorities may arise coming back to face-toface classes. However, I promised myself that I should make it a habit to read a few chapters a day or a week to expand my taste and the number of books I read in my lifetime.
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Janelle Balmaceda VP - Membership Talk about your lockdown hobby Before the lockdown happened, I used to live a very unhealthy lifestyle. I was body-conscious, but I did not act on it. I initially started working out for an hour since the quarantine period started. Yes, I was one of those girls who joined the Chloe Ting Challenge. It was difficult, challenging, and gave me a love-hate relationship with fitness YouTubers. At the same time, it was rewarding to see the fruit of my hard work. Exercising helped me cope with everything and give me a boost of energy for the day. Honestly, I cannot imagine how I would be right now if I did not start exercising Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? Absolutely! Working out helped me improve both my physical and mental health. I understand that everyone would be busier when the lockdown ends, but why not sacrifice an hour of my time, right? It challenges me to manage my time well, but it’s a test I am willing to take.
Riana Jade Ng
AVP - Student & Social Development
Talk about your lockdown hobby Before the lockdown, I always spent my time outside. However, being quarantined for a long time made me start cooking and baking. Now, I usually cook my breakfast and dinner for my family. Also, I bake at least once a week. Doing these activities helped my mental health through productivity.
Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? Yes, I would still do these new hobbies of mine even after the lockdown. Cooking and baking have become an outlet for me to distress and a source of happiness. Spending some time doing our hobbies is a great way to improve our mental health and overall well-being
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Hans Gutierrez AVP - Publicity
Talk about your lockdown hobby During the lockdown, I started to learn more about investing in the stock market. I became a bit pressured to see others stay productive while all I did was play video games. I then finally asked myself at one point, “Is this how you’re going to spend the entire lockdown period?” Then, I gathered my savings, signed up for a brokerage account, and did some research. It feels good knowing that I am doing something that will bring me closer to obtaining financial freedom. Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? I plan to pursue investing for the rest of my life. I hope I can influence others to do the same. It is also nice that I can help others by donating some of the profits I earned.
Maxim Miranda AVP - Documentations
Talk about your lockdown hobby During the lockdown, I have been learning how to cook. Apart from making delicious meals, I also bond with my sisters, who are also my cooking teachers. Surprisingly, I got into gaming as well, particularly Mobile Legends and Among Us. I never had any interest in gaming before, and I did not think I would enjoy it. But I discovered that it is a great way to relieve stress and interact with my friends.
Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? I will continue cooking since I prefer home-cooked meals. On the other hand, I would probably not continue gaming after the lockdown. Instead, I would pursue other physical activities, like traveling and going out with my friends.
Gweneth Te Tan AVP - Training & Development
Talk about your lockdown hobby Before the lockdown, I enjoyed going to thrift shops. It was satisfying to find quality clothes at lower prices. Since the lockdown, I decided to thrift-flip my old clothes and learn how to sew. I enjoyed the process of altering and transforming my old ones into new trendy pieces. Do you think you’ll be pursuing this even after the lockdown? Yes, because I enjoy it and get creative about what I do and style it based on my liking.
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