TABLE of CONTENTS
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Farewell: Executive Board 1920
An E-Celebration of FIN Appreciation Week
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Adapting to the New Normal
Frosh Experiences in MaFIA
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06 10
National Finance Congress 2020
Leading a Non-Finance Related Committee
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LEAP into Art: LEAP 2020
FAREWELL: EXECUTIVE BOARD 1920
I
ALEXANDRA AUSTRIA
t has been a wild and unexpected journey for all of us this academic year.
We started the academic year strong and entered 2020 with high hopes. However, during the first few months of the year, we have been met with several natural disasters in the country and worldwide. The pandemic came into our lives within a snap---and changed our daily routines. The same can be said for the organization. From planning and executing activities on a face to face setting to an online setting, we had to take a lot into consideration such as how we will encourage participants to join our online activities, how our Members, Officers, and Junior Officers are feeling while taking into consideration the immediate transition to online classes and their situation at home. We had lessened our activities and made sure to execute activities which are deemed vital. If not for the pandemic, we would have provided more new and fun activities. There are still unfinished goals for the organization but I trust that the next set of Officers will be able to accomplish what we have started and planned. This is not the way we have grown accustomed to saying goodbye. We would have wanted to spend our last activity in the organization being able to acknowledge and see each other in person, hug one another, and hear all of the loud and hysterical laughter. But for now, let’s keep safe and healthy! Let’s do our part by practicing proper hygiene and following safety protocols.
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To our Members, thank you for letting us serve you this academic year. Our activities would not have been a success without your participation. We will continue to improve on what we lacked this academic year. To our Officers and Junior Officers, thank you for all of your hard work in the organization from crafting activities to submitting post activity requirements---YOU guys are the real MVPs of the organization. Without you, the organization will not be where it is today. We are proud of you! To our Faculty Advisers and the Financial Management Department, thank you for your continuous support in MaFIA. We are grateful for allowing us to assist you in your department initiatives and activities. Within the short span of time, we were able to interact and get to know you better outside the classroom setting. We found professors who are more than professors but rather second parents who are there to help, support, and guide you. I am make
confident MaFIAmily
that the bigger
This is the MaFIA Executive Board 1920, signing off.
next and
set of MaFIA will serve
Officers will you better.
BLACK & GOLD EDITORIAL BOARD ELISA LIM
Vice President for Publicity
JAMES PAUL CALUB, STEPHANIE CHAN, SANDRA CRUZ, RONELLA HUGO Associate Vice Presidents for Publicity
ADA BERNALDO, BRYCE CHEN, HANS GUTIERREZ, DOMINIC HECHANOVA, CATHERINE KE, TRISHA ELLA TALAGON Junior Officers for Publicity
ALEXANDRA AUSTRIA, MICHELLE ANG, SOFIA VILLANUEVA, JULIA DIONGZON, CATHERINE KE, ELISA LIM, PRESENTACION JOY TECKNEY Writers
JERLENE CORONADO, JAMES PAUL CALUB, ANDREA AMIL, RONDEL ORTIZ, STEPHANIE CHAN, MARTIN ORNIDO, Contributors
ELISA LIM, HANS GUTIERREZ, SANDRA CRUZ Photographers/Layout Artists
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F
inance Appreciation Week is one of the most important for The Management of Financial Institution Association. celebrate the importance of finance to the DLSU community, we show appreciation to the students who chose finance as their and we want to show appreciation to the Finance Department
activities As we want to courses as well.
For the past few years of FIN App Week, it was done physically. The officers of the organization always prepare many activities for this week as they were always so excited to celebrate it- be it through games, interviews, publications, and many more. MaFIA always reserves a booth at the Central Plaza where physical activities are held. Since it is a weeklong activity, the officers always stayed at the booth to man them. Because of this, we the officers of MaFIA, as well as the junior officers, became more close as we spent our time there talking and bonding with each other. We always prepare games such as beer pong (but without beer, of course) in our booth where players who win the game can claim prizes prepared by the officers. Moreover, this was even before
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MICHELLE ANG MaFIA made a donation drive where members or people who wanted to donate to the designated beneficiary may do so. This served as a way where people could help students who needed help in paying for their needs as the beneficiaries are students who have a hard time paying for their school expenses. Due to the pandemic, we can only create online activities thus the FIN App Week was also done online. Despite this activity becoming online, we still did our best in order to “e-celebrate� the FIN App Week as we interviewed various students and professors regarding their experiences with FIN App Week before. Also, we interviewed professors with regards to their experience with finance in general- how finance is relevant now, and what made them choose finance as their courses, all of these are all posted on MaFIA’s social media platforms. Moreover, we even prepared fun online finance related games and random fun facts about finance for students. Overall, we the officers of MaFIA prepared these activities to appreciate Finance and make people see its relevance in our world today.
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Adapting to theo the New Normal SOFIA VILLANUEVA
W
hen the class suspension occurred back in March 2020, most of us were delighted. We all cheered at the thought of spending a week with no school. That after a week of no classes, we would go back to school and resume our studies. Little did we know that that day would be the last day we would be attending class in school. Fast forward to today, we are spammed with online classes and activities. With lockdowns and home offices becoming the new normal, aside from schools adapting to new modes of learning, the next big question is how can organizations, particularly MaFIA adapt to this? How can we continue our activities, stay connected with our officers and members, and promote mental health? Well, it wasn’t easy, but with planning, and coordination within the organization, we pulled it off. I could say that the organization has been preparing for an online setting, since 2nd term. We didn’t know then that the school would be pushing for online learning nor did we know that the quarantine will be extended. All we knew was that it was possible, hence with this looming possibility, we prepared for it. We started drafting plans, on what to do if ever the 3rd term was conducted online. We researched what activities were viable to do online. We started looking for software, and applications to make communication with officers and members of the organization easier. And with all this planning and research, we have developed a vision for the new normal. It is this proactive thinking and preparedness that helped us adapt to the new normal. 8
With the plans that we made; all we needed to do was to put them into action. And in order to do so, we needed a lot of coordination within our organization and with external parties. Communication was essential in adapting to the new normal. To put these plans into motion, it is important to purposefully connect, and have an agenda and get people working together. As Winston Churchill once said, “I never worry about action, only inaction.” Now more than ever, showing up and being present is vital to perform these activities online. We were active in communicating with our officers and we were constantly contacting prospective partners and key individuals for projects. Moreover, we made efforts to boost our online presence. It is the drive for connectivity that enabled us to execute our vision and our plans for the new normal. So, after planning and coordinating, comes execution of our vision. coping and adapting to the new normal was definitely a challenge. Instead of conducting seminars at school, we were conducting webinars instead. Participants’ engagement was different. We couldn’t determine the response of participants from the screen nor could we directly engage with a number of participants all at once. It was a learning curve in finding ways to be more interactive online. Webinars are definitely different from the traditional, however, it is what the current new normal is. Organization activities are now conducted through video calls such zoom, google meet and the likes. And big events such as NFC are conducted through FB live. And now with the 3rd term almost complete, from the whole process of planning, coordinating and implementing our vision, I could say that as an organization we have grown immensely. And from this growth we strive to remain resilient and thriving during this new normal.
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Frosh Experience in MaFIA
M
y MaFIA frosh experience has definitely been a challenging one. The most difficult part was navigating the documents that had to be submitted, not only that but also the looming fear of the event not being successful was also something that was difficult to overcome. I think that as a frosh, it isn’t uncommon to have doubts within yourself that would plague your mind but nothing beats the feeling of satisfaction when an event that you have worked so hard for is successful. The feeling of camaraderie and trust that you eventually have with your fellow officers is irreplaceable, with your fellow Junior Officers figuring things out the same way that you are and the higher ranking officers such as your AVP-incharge holding your hand, your VP reminding you of deliverables that have to be done and your EVP always being available to answer your queries. As a person who does not easily open up to new people, I was not expecting to form new relationships with the people in the organization and now, I am grateful for the new relationships that have formed and eager to form relationships with other people. Furthermore, being a part of MaFIA as a frosh tested my management and leadership skills. Initially, I thought that I shouldn’t be joining orgs since it’s just going to be additional work to my already difficult academic work and technically, it did add more work but at the same time, it also felt like it was a break from academic work that I really needed. It made me realize that extracurricular activities such as org work helped me become more productive in my academics since I was able to take a breather from the usual schoolwork. Due to this, I was also able to learn to manage my time well and learn to plan out my schedule to make sure that I was actively doing my part in both schoolwork and my work in the organization. Additionally, I was also able to work on my leadership skills such as initiating work, dividing responsibilities and checking up on others who may need more help. Ultimately, my experience in MaFIA has helped me become a more well-rounded person and it has encouraged me to branch out of my comfort zone and be more open to new possibilities. The higher-ranking officers have made me realize that I won’t really know I’m ready until I’m there already and I’m grateful that with their encouragement, they were able to convince me to apply to be a Junior Officer. Looking back on my journey thus far, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
JULIA DIONGZON
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CATHERINE KE
A
s my frosh year wrapped up, I took a step back and thought about what these org experiences have taught me. All I can say is that within just a one year time, MaFIA has enriched my college journey as a frosh and helped me become a more wellrounded individual. With a little to no experience in photo or poster making, I was assigned to the publicity committee. Although I may have limited and modest experience on photo or poster making and kept producing ‘ugly’ outputs but the way the officers cheered me up and patiently helped me with everything really did motivate me. My courage and confidence came from them, which boost my eagerness to learn, to contribute, and I am very ready to hit the ground running and commit to the org’s missions. People would think or say that we’re actively participating in MaFIA just for the extra bullet point on our resume. I’m telling you, I thought of that at first, but as time passes, I can tell you that that’s a big NO. We’re involved with a heart because we’re not only passionate about the work we get to do through the organization but we’re also excited about the relationships we built - professional and personal. And the most important is about where our experiences will take us. MaFIA provided me unforgettable experiences that unlocked my potential. I was presented with a lot of opportunities to gain confidence in myself as an individual, and discovered more about myself and my capabilities in a span of just one year. I can say that all these experiences are really invaluable and I am excited to continue working with my MaFIA Family in the next academic year.
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ELISA LIM
T
he Management of Financial I n s t i t u t i o n s Association (MaFIA), a duly recognized p r o f e s s i o n a l organization in De La Salle University, once again hosted its annual flagship event, the National Finance Congress 2020 (NFC 2020). Due to the current pandemic, this was the first time that the said event was held online however this did not hinder with regards to the knowledge and insights gained by the participants. With the theme “Providing adequate and equitable financial proficiency for a better future�, this year’s NFC aimed to further enhance the financial knowledge and skills of future financial leaders through learning about how the field has been adaptive and the digital trends in this current era. NFC 2020 was held last August 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2020, each session having different topics and credible speakers that strived to expand the financial literacy of the attendees via Facebook Private Stream.
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The first session was all about personal finance wherein Mr. Randell Tiongson, an advocate for a similar topic and Director of the Registered Financial Planner Institute Philippines focused on having personal connections with finance and business in order to fully know and understand its significance. With this, he stated the importance of hardwork and discipline as well as considering financial knowledge as a necessity. Mr. Tiongson also stated that “the inflow of cash should be greater than its outflow” in order to fully utilize the and control the flow of personal money as well as earning savings. He also mentioned how there the emerging online businesses have started to become income generating opportunities but also encouraged the youth to start investing in themselves especially with their personal growth. “It’s not about the amount, but the habit of investing”, these are words from Mr. Marvin Fausto, President and CIO of COL Investment Management, Inc. during the second session of NFC 2020 which touched on smart investing and building wealth through a balance of active and passive incomes. Mr. Fausto also stated five (5) steps on SMART Investing: 1. Start Investing, 2. Manage your Risks, 3. Asset Allocation, 4. Regular Investing, 5. Targets Review. He also put importance on knowing personal investment portfolios in order to grow ones’ investments and the most effective way to do this is through mutual funds. In relation to investing in the current pandemic, Mr. Fausto stated that the best time to invest is now while the market is still down. Given this digital era, Mr. Kyle Kua, Chief Financial Officer of Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX), discussed digital assets and financial technology during the third session. This also included the use of cryptocurrencies and projects that PDAX have initiated such as PriceLOCQ which is a mobile application that is currently being used by SeaOil. Furthermore, Mr. Kua stated that what makes digital assets different is that there are immutable record keeping, smart contract integration, and omni-purpose. He also gave cryptocurrency advice and the significance of tokenization in the country which is in preparation for the transition towards a digital era. To conclude this event, Ms. Veronica Centeno, Division Head and Assistant Vice President of the Risk Data Architecture and Enterprise Risk Stress Testing of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), tackled financial risks in the last session. One of the most affected processes of banks during the pandemic is the collection of loans since there are a lot of Filipinos who lost their livelihood. She also discussed the different changes and risk factors using the Integrated Stress Testing (IST) framework which also includes the recovery assumption of each industry. Ms. Centeno also discussed BPI’s Covid Action Response Bonds or Care Bonds to help MSMEs. To cap-off the session, she was joined by other panelists from the Enterprise Risk and Stress Testing Head Department of BPI: Mr. Mark Yang, Mr. Raymond Joseph Ruiz, and Ms. Merella Felipe to answer questions from the audience. National Finance Congress 2020 indeed proved that even with this online setting, it can still achieve its main objectives and expand the financial knowledge of the participants who came from various institutions in the country. Just like what BPI Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Mayette Gayares said, “This pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Let’s use this time to gather as much data as we can, and learn as much as we can.” This event has served as the pioneer for the future online events of MaFIA and has proved the adaptability of the organization despite this current situation.
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Leading a Non-Finance Related Committee Presentacion Joy Teckney
L
eading a non-finance committee in MaFIA is both a challenge and a blessing for me. Little did I know it was something I could have regret if I didn’t take the challenge. It was an eye-opener such that I had peculiarities as to the work I had to commit myself to. Nonetheless, my vision for the organization happened and took place in my stay as the Vice President for Student and Social Development. Expanding my knowledge outside the academe was one of the many reasons why I chose to lead a nonfinance committee. It gave me the avenue to widen my horizon through different communications with different leaders, internal and external organizations, and even Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The most important factor I had considered so far when making a decision for the organization and my committee was the people around me. I make a decision for the organization and my committee which means that I am not the only person who will be benefiting and will be affected by the
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the decision that I will be making but the whole organization itself. Thus, I always have to make sure that there is a consensus and respected palaver. When asked what leadership means to me, I said it is the capacity to lead but more than that definition is the real purpose of leading, may it be an individual or a group. One doesn’t have to have the highest position there is to be called a leader. It only takes initiative. Every person has his unique way of leading to which undoubtedly, there are lots of seminars, talks, and even books about leadership that have different ways of answering how to lead people or just about leadership per se. Some people may teach others how to lead but at the end of the day, it’s the unique way of that person’s leadership that will prevail, though those teachings would still be incorporated but not the whole. This I believe is what I was able to teach my Associate Vice President (AVP) officers and Junior officers. As I am heading to my last term as an officer of MaFIA, I could say that the committee I was tasked with gave me lots of lessons and opportunities that honed my leadership. It wasn’t the most difficult task nor an easy one, but I must admit that with the help of my God, I was able to execute all the plans, goals, and objectives I had set for my committee. All Glory to God alone! Animo, La Salle!
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LEAP into Art: LEAP 2020
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he Management of Financial Institutions Association, being part of the accredited organizations under the Council of Student Organization, has continuously been exerting efforts to participate in their events, and this includes this year’s Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program (LEAP). Given this online setting, all of these alternative classes were held online which includes publications, webinars, and game tournaments. MaFIA was able to create seven classes which generally aimed to provide the students a break and relaxation amidst the stress of online classes. Here are some of the experiences of the organization’s class heads.
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CODM MOBILE TOURNAMENT CLASS HEADS Rondel Ortiz and Dane Amil
“Conducting a class online was a burden for some but for me, it was a great learning opportunity for us. Despite the problem of what platform to use for streaming, we were able to push through because of the leap coordinators that have helped and guided us throughout the process. We were glad that the class went well and that we were able to instill some important life-lessons to the participants.”
For CODM Tournament, it was a fun experience for us especially during the planning part since you get to envision the process and stuff. But during the event itself, it was a difficult time for us since we need to ensure that everything will go well. At the end of the event, you will know that it was all over but the excitement is still there. It was a tiring yet fun experience for us!
STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN CLASS HEADS Jerlene Coronado and James Paul Calub
“It was an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Amidst the pandemic, it wasn’t easy to plan at the beginning since our initial plan did not go according to plan. Fortunately, we were able to push through, and we were pleased with how everything turned out.” SPORTS CARDS INVESTING CLASS HEADS Stephanie Chan and Martin Ornido
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