Pagsubok at Pag ahon

Pagsubok at Pag-ahon by Executive Vice President for Externals Chloe Say

Rotaract Club of De La Salle University

As the Covid-19 continues to spread, with no end in sight, this pandemic will most likely be one of the most significant world events of the 21st century. History will remember these months and the actions of the people while living in these unprecedented times. These types of uncertainty have led us to a need to adapt to our fastchanging world; and with living in these times, many are leftfeeling hopeless.

In the face of an overwhelming amount of bad news, fearmongering, and hatred, the world needs to be reminded that we are still humans. There are thousands of inspiring and creative responses to our situation, and we have selected fourindividuals toshare theirstories. On September 5, 2020, The Rotaract Club of De La Salle University held its first webinar entitled Pagsubok at Pag-ahon. This event aimed to inspire others and encourage young leaders to share their different stories, insights, and experiences. From pursuing business ventures to advocacy projects, we hoped to bring inspiration and motivation to those who may feel lost.

Our first speaker, TP Jean Tayag talks about their organization's experiences in conducting their project, Pasada Para sa Namamasad: a fundraiser for the benefit of jeepney drivers who have been displaced due to the extended lockdown. This was followed by Mr. Rovin Camalig, the founder and owner of Rovin Cars, where he discussed how he started his business by simply saving his allowance and used it as a stepping stone. He discussed how having the right motivation and mindset can be an asset to anyone who wants to try their hand at business. Our third speaker is the project and finance head of Project Salu-Salo, Ms. Isabella Bolaños, who shared her experience with handling an initiative that has garnered over Php300,000 for meals of our frontliners. Lastly, the co-owner and co-founder of Dulce Gensan, Ms. Acee Salangsang, discussed the importance of branding and making your signature in the market. She shares how parts of their sales have been donated to Radyo Mo, Kinabukasan Mo, a DEPED initiative to provide radios for students.

An extraordinary occurrence is unraveling, and no one will be unscathed. The pandemic brought with it a widespread social and economic disruption. We want to assure the community that RAC DLSU will continually strive for the betterment of the people, as the pandemic continues to unfold.

Business 101: New Normal Edition by Dane Dagatan

Rotaract Club of San Antonio de Padua

As the pandemic continuously infests the country, the challenges for the Filipino people are incessantly growing. In April 2020, 7.3 million Filipinos lost their job reflecting the effects of the economic shutdown brought by Covid-19. Twothirds of the Filipino people are laborers who depend on wages and salaries. However, due to the situation, a hefty chunk of these workers were forced to find an alternate source of livelihood and consequently, started their own businesses to make ends meet. This demonstrates that as cliché as it sounds, the Filipinos never backed down from any challenge, may it be by choice or not. The Rotaract Club of San Antonio de Padua believed not only in the unflagging diligence, but also in the potential of every Filipino to prosper in business. This catapulted the idea to assemble “Business 101 : New Normal Edition”, a professional development seminar that equips attendees with basic knowledge in starting their own businesses in this highly digital era. The first session entitled “How to Start a Business during a Pandemic”, was given by Mr. John Sy, the owner of Everwing Profem Corporation. With an indispensable experience of 34 years in business, Mr. Sy and his quirky slides imparted the practical wisdom and knowledge in fostering your business during crises. He introduced successful businesses and ventures, which started during recessions, that significantly inspired the attendees. In addition, he discussed the necessities that must be put in mind by every aspiring businessman. The next session was entitled, “Digital Marketing and Branding”, by Ms. Gretchen Veran, the founder of “Get Smarter and Better Movement”. Ms. Veran has a 10-year experience in marketing and business development in her arsenal. According to her, staying in business is as important as starting one. With an endless list of new businesses that offer the same product or service as yours, how will you stand out? That was the question that Ms. Veran was able to answer. She explained the framework of marketing in a nutshell for an extremely limited amount of time in her session. Rotaract Club of San Antonio de Padua aims to continue this project to pursue its purpose of developing the professional aspect ofits members and the community, specifically unveiling new sources of income. Our project “Business 101: NewNormal Edition” is setto be a series of seminars that are designed for growth and stability of our futureCEOs.