26/08/2026
NEWS | UST-LEGAZPI JFINEX HOLDS FINANCIAL LITERACY SEMINAR-WORKSHOP FOR BSBA FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STUDENTS
by Akari Magtaca
The University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi Junior Financial and Investment Executives (JFINEX) held its financial literacy seminar-workshop on August 24, 2026, at De Guzman Hall, Peñaranda Campus.
The event commenced with a welcome address delivered by Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Program Chair Cristeta T. Bon, DBA. ”Financial literacy is important because financial decisions are part of our everyday lives,” said Dr. Bon, emphasizing the importance of being financially literate.
She also shared examples of real-life financial situations during her address to help students relate to the topic and encouraged them to participate in the event.
The seminar officially began with the first topic, “Building a Strong Financial Foundation: Budgeting, Saving, and Smart Money Habits,” led by resource speaker Anne A. Tablizo. She stressed that the first step in having smart money habits is not with saving, but being aware of one's budget and priorities.
Tablizo then shared practical knowledge on budgeting and saving that students could apply in their daily lives. She then engaged with the students during the open forum at the end of her session.
The second session, “Investing in Your Future: Financial Planning and Wealth-Building Strategies for Young Adults,” was led by resource speaker Kevin Lelis, CPA.
He discussed how wealth is more than money and highlighted the importance of having information in wealth-building, and knowing when to use it and what to do with it.
The resource speaker also emphasized that the key to using information for wealth-building is identifying problems and developing solutions that provide value to others.
Lelis underscored the importance of consistency, understanding risk and return, setting boundaries, and considering family in the process of wealth-building.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion where the attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the speaker.
Following the seminar sessions, the attendees participated in the “Money Matters Challenge: Build Your Financial Roadmap” workshop where they were divided into groups with seventeen members to work collaboratively on the activity. Each group then presented their output at the end of the workshop.
Anchored on the theme ”Learn Smart, Start Sharp,” the event aimed to equip the students, specifically the BSBA Major in Financial Management students, with practical knowledge in budgeting, saving, investing, debt management, and financial planning.
Through the discussions and workshop, JFINEX encouraged the students to develop responsible financial habits, improve their decision-making skills, and take critical steps toward long-term financial well-being.
Photos by Grizzlyn Arce
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