Written by Lenard Dom-ogen Masgay (Graduate School)
On July 13, 2025, the University of Baguio Graduate School held a Holistic Basic Bookkeeping and Financial Literacy Seminar in Barangay Alapang, La Trinidad, Benguet. The seminar, which was organized by Dr. Alvin T. Morales, GSFTRP1 Professor, and MBA and DBA students, aimed at bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical community needs. The seminar, which ran from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., brought together 23 members of the local community to discuss significant knowledge gaps in financial management, namely budgeting, record-keeping, savings, and responsible debt management.
The seminar taught participants basic bookkeeping skills that may be used to manage personal money, community enterprises, and local businesses. Proper bookkeeping assures tax conformity, monitors revenue and spending, and offers insights into financial health. The program aimed to increase financial literacy and responsible financial behavior among individuals, particularly in budgeting, saving, and debt management. This method is especially important because entrepreneurs confront several problems, including a lack of access to capital, markets, technology, skills, and information.
The seminar’s influence goes beyond immediate financial education, contributing to several Sustainable Development Goals. Financial literacy improves healthcare decision-making and resource allocation for health needs. The seminar exemplifies great quality education by offering lifelong learning opportunities that improve participants’ skills. By introducing financial management skills, the program promotes long-term, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and promising job opportunities.
The University of Baguio’s dedication to community outreach reflects global trends in graduate education, where MBA and DBA universities place a greater emphasis on community engagement and social responsibility. Mr. Jomar Padduyao gave an engaging lecture during the seminar, which was followed by question and answer sessions and practical accounting applications.
The seminar’s focus on Barangay Alapang is especially important considering the community’s economic profile, since financial literacy training may improve local business operations and tourism-related industries. The university’s outreach strategy expands on its current connections with numerous barangays, including recent collaborations with Barangay Pinsao Proper and Barangay Pucsusan.
The seminar’s success highlights how academic institutions may act as catalysts for community development by providing specialized knowledge and resources to meet community needs. It is consistent with global best practices in financial education and community outreach, and future seminars will reinforce the university-community relationship, establishing a long-term foundation for continued collaboration and mutual benefit.
