The University of Santo Tomas SIMBAHAYAN Community Development Office continued to celebrate the culture of hope with the partner communities in Pistang Tomas 2021. Dubbed as “Kusina, Kabuhayan, at Kultura: Mga Bagong Kaalaman sa Pagbangon ng Pamayanan,” the two-day activity, this time conducted through a webinar series, imparted lessons and skills in starting small businesses and livelihood opportunities via Zoom and Facebook Livestream.
College of Commerce and Business Administration (CCBA) Dean Prof. Leonardo M. Canoy Jr., Ph.D., delivered the opening remarks. Mr. Jeremias Perez from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and Mr. Mark Lester Toribio of the UST AMV-College of Accountancy (AMV-COA) served as inspirational speakers for the first morning session. They both emphasized that there is hope amidst the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the afternoon session, the participants learned the basics of culinary entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Chef Vin Angelo Soriano from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management talked about starting a small restaurant, while a practitioner, Ms. Pepper Solis, shared insights on customer service.
Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Rosalina Erece of the AMV-COA tackled the sources of capital and managing the small funds of a business enterprise. The second day was devoted to a series of livelihood opportunities. The participants were shown tutorial videos. Faculty members from participating academic units College of Commerce and Business Administration (CCBA), College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM), and the Senior High School participated through their video presentations of possible business options. CCBA faculty member Assoc. Prof. Imelda Angeles, showed a video on vegetable and pickled fruit making. CFAD faculty members Mr. Hercules Adonis and Asst. Prof. Ana Rhea Adonis of CFAD shared a video on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) bamboo speakers. For her part, Chef Fhamela Sarmiento of CTHM shared tapa, tocino and longanisa-making for a tapsilogan business that participants can start in their communities.
Meanwhile, Ms. Christia Olimpia Lumpas, a senior high school teacher at Mandaluyong High School, taught urban gardening and how one can earn while enjoying the hobby. Selected participants from the various communities showed their own return demonstration video of what they learned in the sessions. Lynlyn Valdes from Sitio Bamban, Hermosa, Bataan demonstrated pickled vegetable-making and Bernido Daria from Sitio Malasa, Anupul, Bamban, Tarlac demonstrated the DIY bamboo speaker-making. Rosalina Flores and Jaydelyne Hipolito both showed what they learned in the urban gardening. Finally, the Ringor Family from the Ministry of Urban Poor, Diocese of Caloocan, and Alcaraz Family from Smokey Mountain, Camarin, Caloocan City presented their versions of tapa, tocino and longanisa-making. Students from the Conservatory of Music and the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, and members of the Mimosa Band, a local band from CCBA, made the event interesting with intermission performances.
The celebration concluded with the lecture on Non-Formal Savings and Loans Association by CCBA faculty member Asst. Prof. Franklin Prieto. The closing remarks were delivered by UST SIMBAHAYAN Director Asst. Prof. Froilan Alipao. The event was organized by the Pistang Tomas Cluster of the UST SIMBAHAYAN, headed by the CCBA, together with the CTHM, AMV-College of Accountancy, CFAD, COM, and IPEA.
