Last June 20, 2014, TSPI held its first Record-Keeping Training Seminar, with the objective of teaching the participants a system in tracking and computing for their sales, expenses and income for proper financial management.
The seminar also emphasized to the clients the importance of recording their business transactions diligently. This seminar
was organized as part of TSPI’s effort to help clients grow their enterprises.
While the event was organized for the Masikap and Maunlad (individual loan) clients, Individual Loan Credit Officers (ILCOs)
and Supervisors were also encouraged to attend the learning event to refresh their knowledge and skills. A total of 48 participants attended the seminar, 19 of whom were clients from the National Capital Region (NCR).
Considering that the participating clients had very little accounting knowledge, the seminar was paced in a way that even beginners could comprehend and follow. The participants learned about Basic Accounting Principles and Financial Statements, Transaction Analysis, System for Record Keeping, and the Accounting Cycle.
At the end of the workshop, the participants brought home with them not only certificates of participation but new information and skills they could apply to their businesses.
When asked what she gained from attending the seminar, Nanay Adelia Palacios, who runs a waterlily bag-making business answered, “Kailangan talaga naming mag-lista. Kasi kahit na maliit lang na halaga yun, kapag hindi mo yun nailista, bawas na kaagad yun sa kapital mo. Dapat bawat pasok at labas ng pera [sa iyong negosyo], ilista mo. Natuto din ako ng mga technique sa accounting na dati hindi ko alam. (We must list and keep records. Even if it’s just a small amount [of money], if we fail to note it down, it’s already a loss to our capital. Every inflow and outflow of money must be recorded. I also learned new accounting techniques I didn’t know before.)”
Nanay Teresita Molina, a videoke rental and sari-sari store owner from San Mateo branch shared, “Natuto ako tungkol sa bookkeeping, assets,
kapital at kung paano mag-rekord ng kita. Kung gusto mong malaman kung kumikita ka talaga, dapat naglilista ka. Natutunan ko iyan diyan sa seminar at ngayon i-a-apply ko siya sa business ko (I learned about bookkeeping, assets, capital and how to record your income. If you want to know if your business is profitable, you must keep records. I learned these things from the seminar and I will apply it now to my business.)”
Tatay Romeo Luna Jr., a sari-sari store owner from Tondo branch was very grateful for what he learned from the seminar. “Yung tinuro ni Ms. Diaz na dapat mag-lista ng mga gastusin, napakalaking bagay nun. Ngayon alam ko na ang dapat kong gawin, at gagawin ko siya (The lesson taught by Ms. Diaz about recording your expenses is a very helpful tip. Now I know it is something I must do, and I will do it.)
But it’s not just the clients who gained from participating in the workshop. Mr. Ronald Monzon, Individual Loan Credit Officer for La Union I and II said, “Marami akong natutunan sa accounting, balance sheets, income statements, lahat yun. Mas lalong na-clarify sa sarili
ko ang mga assets and liabilities. Napakalaking bagay talaga, mas lalong na-clear, lalo kong natutunan ang mga bagay na yun (I learned many things about accounting, balance sheets, income statements, the whole lot. The topic of assets and liabilities became clearer to me. This seminar was a big help. Many things were clarified for me.)”
Was the seminar worth it for the clients, and even for the staff?
Tatay Joseph Serillo, a sari-sari store owner from Caloocan branch, expressed his positive sentiments. “Dahil sa pag-attend ko sa training na
ito, gumanda ang pananaw ko sa pag-ne-negosyo at ma-i-a-apply ko ito sa aking business (Because of my participation in this training, my perspective about doing business improved and I can apply it to my own enterprise.)”
Nanay Adelia responded to this same question, “Malaking bagay po ang natutunan ko kay Ma’am Diaz. Hindi ko naman po napag-aralan ang mga ito, ngayon ko lang po ito nalaman (What I learned from Ms. Diaz is a very big help to me. I wasn’t able to study these things [in school], I learned about them just now.)”
Ms. Honey Dawn Romantico, Individual Loan Credit Officer Supervisor for North and North Central Sectors affirmed these views and stressed that the training seminar was appropriate for the audience. “Napakaganda ng training kasi naaangkop siya sa kaalaman ng mga kliyente, at the same time, naaangkop siya sa trabaho na ginagampanan ng aming mga ILCO, especially sa pag-guide o pagturo sa mga Masikap at Maunlad client kung paano nila ilista o ayusin ang kanilang mga pinansyal na listahan (The training was very useful because it was suited to the clients’ level of knowledge, and at the same time, it was appropriate for the work that our ILCOs are doing, especially in guiding or teaching our Masikap and Maunlad clients on how to list or organize their financial records.)”
Ms. Maria Rowena Flores Diaz, a consultant from the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), the training arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was the facilitator and resource person for the whole day workshop. Ms. Diaz, who is also an entrepreneur and an accountant by profession has been training small entrepreneurs for 14 years.
Tatay Joseph was all praise for her teaching. “Napakahusay ni Ms. Rowena Diaz. Napakagaling niya talaga at tinuruan niya kami, step-by-step (Ms. Rowena Diaz was a very good trainor. She is an expert and she taught us, step by step.)” Ms. Honey Dawn verbalized her admiration for Ms. Diaz’s teaching ability as well, saying, “Parang hindi accounting. Para lang siyang nagkuwento. Yung napakahirap na accounting terms naibigay niya sa amin na mas simpleng words o layman’s terms at napaintindi niya in such a short time yung madugong proseso ng pag-a-accounting (It did not seem like we were studying accounting. It’s like she just told a story. She taught us the difficult accounting terms using simple, layman’s terms and she was able to help us understand the challenging accounting process in such a short span of time.)”
The Record-Keeping Training Seminar was held at the TSPI Head Office and jointly organized by the Field Operations and Client
Management Services, Discipleship and Training and the Planning and Business Development Department.