With a goal to equip participants with income-generating and business management skills in hopes of supporting community development initiatives, Saint Mary’s University (SMU) through the School of Accountancy and Business (SAB) spearheaded a livelihood and entrepreneurship training program for members of the Sitio Masina Women’s Organization of Barangay Baretbet, Bagabag, and the Timpuyog Iti Babbalasang Idi Kalman, Inc. (TIBIK, Inc.) of Nueva Vizcaya, Spetmber 30, 2023 at SMU’s Debuscherre Hall,

The event included a seminar on “How to Start a Business” and a hands-on training on wine and vinegar making organized by Mrs. Mayvelyn S. Covita, Head of the Graduate Program Cluster, and Dr. Harrison T. Villanueva of the School of Accountancy and Business.

Lingkod Maria Community Development and Advocacy Center Director Dr. Allen Christopher S. Marquez emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between SMU and its community beneficiaries through resource sharing and collaboration.

More so, Angela C. Garra, a Ph.D. student, served as the resource speaker for the session on starting a business, while Mr. Neil Jansen O. Reginalde, an MBA student, discussed product marketing and the fundamentals of the marketing mix.

Following the seminar, the wine and vinegar making led by Mr. Robert S. Aceret, Mr. Jerome A. Cabanag, Mr. Olivar Reimus Barroga, and Mr. Vincent Carlo C. Boniol from the College of Natural Sciences (CNS), under the supervision of Dr. Elsa Cajucom, CNS Director, commenced where participants learned how to produce wine and vinegar from local fruits such as rambutan and lanzones.

Furthermore, representatives from the Sitio Masina Women’s Organization and TIBIK, Inc. shared their impressions of the training, while Hon. Roland Carub, Board Member of the North District of Nueva Vizcaya and founder of TIBIK, Inc., delivered a response on behalf of the women’s groups.

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