As part of their community engagement, students under the Master in Public Administration (MPA) program conducted a seminar on financial literacy to the 22 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection and SAVERS Club members of the municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur last March 13, 2021.
The main speaker of the seminar was Ma. Janna Kristel Tabasa, a first-year MPA student. She talked about life goals, investing, and financial wellness.
Ms. Tabasa is a member of the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and International Association of Registered Estate Planners. She was assisted by other MPA students and their professor, Ms. Debbie Torres.
The activity almost did not happen because of the health protocols. However, under the guidance of Ms. Torres, the students were able to pursue the seminar.
“The preparation per se was not that easy because of the restriction of doing group events, particularly seminars. Hence, we limited the participation from among us students and the seminar participants so as not to compromise health protocols,” Speed Junior Dean Salera, one of the organizers, said.
Activities like this are part of the students’ transfer of knowledge learned from graduate school.
Ms. Torres, currently the OIC Assistant Director of the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and a part-time teacher of Cor Jesu College, requires students to conduct seminar-workshops as part of their community engagement.
Last year, the students gave a seminar to barangay captains on a different topic.
Due to the limited number of people, only 12 other students were allowed to join. They were Romulo Birondo, Darren Simon Edem, Noreem Joy Sumatra-Carcedo, Speed Junior Salera, Bernadette Pagayon, Shayne Elivera, Angela Mae Arguella, Ferdinand Cabardo, Kien Marie Camiguing, Jealan Vistas, Hanna Leigh Mindoro, and Russel Donn Isnain.
