Sunday, February 1, 2009

Tarlac State Univ sponsors Symposium on CFA Program & Careers in Finance, Jan 31, 2009


is at http://wikimapia.org/8509061/Tarlac-State-University

Tarlac State University invited me to talk about careers in finance, savings and investments. Special Mention of the CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST program. In the audience were 200 students, gathered them into the function room of Tessie's Grill in Tarlac City.

You can find it in http://wikimapia.org, if you request these Coordinates: 15°28'39"N 120°35'44"E.

Jay Penaflor of PSE Market Education spoke about the workings of the stock market. Claire Quiray spoke about the pros and cons of active trading. In the photo, below, you see prof Meneses of Tarlac State U. at left, then Jay, and Claire.


Established in 1906, Tarlac State University (TSU) is the center for academic excellence in Tarlac, Philippines. It offers graduate courses, vocational training, and undergraduate degree programs in engineering, physical and social sciences, computer studies as well as information technology, business and accountancy, physical education, education, fine arts and architecture, and nursing.


TSU has these campuses:
* Main Campus
* San Isidro Campus
* Lucinda Campus
* Techno Campus



I spoke about the material on this slide. MBA degree holder functions tend to be in the bottomhalf. CFA charterholder functions tend to be in the upper half.



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I called "DEP'T of FINANCE" the Junior Finex officers, who coordinated the event. Org President Regina Yabut, is at far left.

The registration desk volunteers. I encouraged them to dream big, by calling them the "future bank presidents."

You might notice that there is too much gender equality in the Philippines. The men have to struggle to be recognized, to have a voice, to be able to break the "Glass Ceiling."





Anyways, the Glass Ceiling is transparent, say the women. What's your problem, guys. Not competitive enough, not aggressive enough?






Sales people need the ability to convince the client.

This gentleman in front, left, has a good singing voice. He performed one number, during Intermission. At least the men had ONE chance to shine.

I encouraged the students to read up about bond markets.

...and stock markets


Intermission Number by a talented student.
video

In conclusion, ladies, and gentlemen, after all is Sung and Danced, please register.




Prof Rowena Ramos at LEFT, took CFA level 1 last December after i had encouraged her to get into the program. Results of the December exam were posted on the internet by Jan 28 or so. As of Jan 31, she still COULD NOT BEAR TO LOOK at her exam results.


These students were attentive.


On the far right, is a faculty member. He, too, has singing talent.

On stage with the student council officers.

Some student leaders = junior financial executives.


After my long story-telling exercise, i settle down to the bus ride back to Manila.




I reach Makati at night.


Friday, January 23, 2009

Investment Research Challenge, FINALS, Jan 23, 2009.

Snapshots from the Finals.

WACC slide. Shown to the public.


Recomm slide.


Cases, optimistic / pessimistic.


PEER analysis.


Contestants.




Ernie Francisco, CFA.


April Lee, CFA.





Sunday, January 18, 2009

Intro to CFA Program at De La Salle Univ, Dasmarinas, CAVITE, Jan 17, 2009





De La Salle University, Dasmarinas, CAVITE, Jan 17, 2009. Alumni Center Auditorium.
Organizers: Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, Junior Philippine Institute of Management Accountants, Junior Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX), led by Donna Caimic and Jean Marie Villondo.

The hardworking secretariat. Phoebe is seated.


10am to 12. Intro to CFA Program was delivered by Marc Bautista, CFA and Alexander Gilles, CFA.




2 - 4pm. Intro to financial markets, careers in finance, and latest trends in stock markets, was delivered by Alexander Gilles, CFA.


Participants from various degree programs.


Fourth-year students of financial management. Roselyn is second from right, front row.


Volunteers of the Secretariat.


Karen Muralla, organization officer, is in front row, at right.


From left, Professor Eva Aquino and Prof May E., and Sandy Gilles, CFA.


Faculty members of a college in Batangas province, and Sandy Gilles, CFA.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Cheering up candidates for December 2008 exams

I make it a point to "Meet and Greet" the CFA exam candidates in the MORNING, say 7am to 830am as they stream into the TESTING CENTER..... . And i join the candidates (those that i had assisted in the review courses) for lunch. My goal: confidence booster for the examinees. I've done this "meet and greet" routine twice before and it cheers them up, especially the gloomy ones, those making last-ditch efforts to master a chapter in the morning of the exam. . . . . I'm saying to them, "you can do it. Close that Book. Go in there and Ace the Exam."


She's nervous. I say, you Go in there and just Write the Answers.


Natalie Niu, graduated from London School of Economics.


Drei Andres


Mr Jerry Garcia accompanied his son, Raffy, to the Testing Center. He is also the father of Mike Garcia, CFA.


Beth Legaspi and friend, Level One. My students at the review course.


Sandra Araullo. BS Physics summa cum laude.


Martin Nograles and Glo of Manila Water (note: topic of the Investment Research Challenge is Manila Water: a Buy, Sell, or Hold?) My students at the review course.


The Dreaded Sign.


Register, sil vous plait.


Keep your bags in this area.


Raffy Garcia, Level ONE. My former student in the review course. (whose Dad very kindly drove him to the testing center.)


Anne Dee, my former student at University of Asia & the Pacific. (I had no idea, she was a candidate. All i knew was, she works in CitiGroup... Good to encounter familiar faces. That's why there is a FaceBook.)


Abby Kho, a good student at the review course.

Abby, in the middle, hard at work in the classroom for the prep course, level one.


Comrades in Arms:
Ave Caesar Imperator... Morituri te Salutant.


Go in there, and Ace the Exam. Let's see if the cheerleading, had any effect on the Pass Rates.

Junior CFA of the Philippines. 29 Nov 2008.

About 600 students gathered on 29 Nov 2008 to hear about the financial crisis, prospects and outlook.... career choices, and why the CFA program still is the best investment they can make in themselves. Venue, De La Salle University, Taft Avenue, Manila. Yuchengco auditorium, three-levels.


Sandy G, CFA. Kathleen Soriano. Samar Khan. Marc Bautista, CFA.

Finance majors at several universities banded together and called themselves the Junior Chamber of Financial (Management Students) Associations of the Philippines. They wanted their organization's name to have the letters "CFA" in there, somewhere... to remind them, what designation they are striving after.

Below: Noni Mauricio, adviser of the JCFAP. Marc Bautista, CFA. Sandy Gilles, CFA.

Marc Bautista, CFA spoke on the origins of the US financial crisis.
I spoke about the likely eventual outcomes for the next twenty years. I uploaded my talk to www.slideshare.net/sandygilles.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Intro to CFA Program at University of Santo Tomas

University of Santo Tomas (Saint Thomas Aquinas), business and financial management students, organized an Orientation to the CFA program on 21 August 2008. I spoke for two hours, and answered questions. The students in the photos wear a white uniform simply because the different student bodies are "color-coded." Management students wear brown, Fine Arts students wear red, Engineering students wear gray, Finance students wear white so that they can remember, to be as pure as the driven snow. (I'm speculating, but it does sound like enlightened policy, don't it.)



They are not medical students but financial management majors.



Prof Tommy Tiu. The Dean. Sandy Gilles, CFA. Prof Ramon del Rosario.

Mentoring the UA&P Team for Investment Research Challenge, CFA Society

October 11, 2008. As part of my mentoring duties, i conduct a class on Equity Valuation for my favorite Team (in the investment research challenge). Ms Jerivic Angeles is the team leader.



These three gentlemen and the lady are an IRC team from the University of Asia & the Pacific, my alma mater for an economics masteral course.

Venue: La Salle campus at RcBC plaza, Makati.

November 18, 2008: i mentor my team of UA&P students: two are economics majors, three are management majors. Venue: UA&P at Pasig.








Venue: management faculty, conference room.
University of Asia & the Pacific, Pearl Drive, Pasig. The Philippines.
www.uap.edu.ph