EMBARKING ON A quest to “impart financial wisdom,” the San Beda Junior Marketing Association (SBJMA) conducted the fourth annual installment of “Marketingdahan,” a sustainable marketing program, in collaboration with Community Engagement Center (CEC). This year’s theme for the event was “Pinansyal na Kaalaman, Susi ng Makabagong Kinabukasan” and was held via Zoom last May 11.
Aiming to guide their partner beneficiaries—such as the non-teaching personnel (NTP) from the San Beda University (SBU) Bookstore and the Instructional Media Center (IMC) Office, and partnered communities of the CEC such as the Kababaihan ng San Gabriel, to develop their livelihood business—the SBJMA invited Mr. Eric Caeg, the President of International Council for Small Business Philippines (ICSB PH) as he shared his expertise. During his talk, he discussed ways on how one may sustain the financial aspect of running a small business, as this year’s installment emphasized the fourth “M,” meaning “Money,” of the “seven M’s” of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s framework of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development.
Martin Pantaleon Jr., the Vice President for Advocacy and Special Projects of SBJMA, acted as the Activity Chairperson for the event. He expressed that they aspired to not just simply provide financial aid, but to also “invest in people” and “equip” them with skills through this event, the core goal for each Marketingdahan conducted every year.
He said that the event is “open to everyone interested in running a business,” and not just those with already existing livelihood businesses. Pantaleon also stated that in coming up with the theme, they “wanted to teach the beneficiaries the sustainable marketing program practices and financial literacy.”
Additionally, he highlighted the fact that such beneficiaries have been present since the first occurrence of Marketingdahan, steadfast in their dedication to being fully equipped with skills and training to mobilize their businesses.
When asked what the plans of SBJMA were once they have completed the 7M’s of DTI’s framework of MSME Development, Pantaleon also looks forward to other frameworks of DTI, not limiting the program to the previously mentioned 7M’s. While unsure of the possibilities for the next Marketingdahan, Pantaleon looks at opportunities of having a factory tour for the beneficiaries, since the next “M” in the framework stands for “machine”. Lastly, to emphasize its objective to help progress its beneficiaries, a donation drive, the “Pamayanang Tindahan”, was established, providing financial aid for them.