UNIVERSITY RELATIONS, CFA Society of the Philippines

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

2009-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

Investment Research Challenge, FINALS, Jan 23, 2009.

2009-01-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

Snapshots from the Finals.

WACC slide. Shown to the public.

Recomm slide.

Cases, optimistic / pessimistic.

PEER analysis.

Contestants.

Ernie Francisco, CFA.

April Lee, CFA.

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

2009-01-18T17:41:00.000-08:00

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.

Cheering up candidates for December 2008 exams

2009-01-13T02:13:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-13T00:19:00.000-08:00

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.

Intro to CFA Program at University of Santo Tomas

2009-01-12T23:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-12T23:45:00.001-08:00

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

Finance Students at AIM Entrepreneurship Forum

2009-01-12T23:23:00.000-08:00

Karla Escoto and Kathleen Soriano of Miriam College organized a seminar at Miriam College auditorium on "Careers in Finance" and "Introduction to the CFA Program" on 16 September 2008. I later invited them to observe the Asian Institute of Management "Venture Capital Forum" for entrepreneurial ideas, on 25 September 2008.

Kathleen is the president of JCFAP, the Junior Confederation of Finance-Student Associations of the Philippines. Karla is the president of Miriam College association of finance students.

in photo: Karla, a classmate, and Karla again.

Intro to CFA Program at Adamson Univ, 16 August 2008

2009-01-12T23:14:00.001-08:00

Ramon Valdes, Carla de Castro, Jane Chiong, CFA, and Sandy Gilles, CFA at Adamson University August 16, 2008, to introduce the CFA program to 200 students from five universities.

Ramon Valdes, Carla de Castro, Jane Chiong, CFA.

Faculty members of Adamson University.

Plaque of appreciation for Jane Chiong, CFA.

Investment Research Challenge. 11 June 2008 to December 2008

2009-01-12T22:52:00.001-08:00

Launch Meeting at June 11, 2008 in Maynilad Water offices.

Mark, Rizchelle, April, Ernie, Glo of MWC.

September 26, 2008 at PSE Tektite. Meet the mentors.

Richard Tan, CFA and April Lee Tan, CFA

Mentors and Judges, for Investment Research Challenge. and Organizers.

Contestant Rosana Vasquez of De La Salle University.

Article December 5, 2008 on Contest.

* click on OLDER POSTS to see rest of articles.

Jan 30,2008. CFA Prestige Night

2009-01-12T22:49:00.000-08:00

Cris Acosta, CFA, has a Ph.D in nuclear engineering from MIT, and a bachelor's degree from the US Military Academy at West Point.

Liza Gaspar, founded a firm to do financial research, together with three friends.

My former student La Salle, Alphew Cheng, CFA, is now a high-ranking official at the Central Bank.

Patrick Manaloto, CFA, is very good with economics.

Mark Yu, CFA, proposes a toast for the new charterholders.

IRC Event of the CFA Society... Kristine Lim and Sandy Gilles, CFA, at the Philippine Stock Exchange, in Tektite Towers, Pasig. The Philippines.

April Lee Tan, CFA, working on IRC events, with Rizchelle Sampang, of the Secretariat.

April Lee Tan, CFA, head of the IRC program, confers with two volunteers from Union Bank, who are Level Two candidates. They attended my review class. Let me get their names and post them properly, later on. (Sandy G.)

* click on OLDER POSTS to see more pages.

Intro to CFA program at San Beda. June 25, 2008

2009-01-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

CFA Society of the Philippines, Reaching out to Students

On June 25, 2008, Alexander ("Sandy”) Gilles, CFA and Anna Liza M. Gaspar, a CFA Level II candidate, shared their experience with the CFA program, with over a hundred Financial Management students of the San Beda College. The students had been curious all these past few months about the CFA program because they were about to join the Inter College Finance Competition. They wanted to ask about careers in investing or financial analysis. They wanted to know, what the Level one exam questions, looked like.

The event was organized by the Junior Financial Management Association of the College of Arts and Sciences of San Beda College. The Finance Department’s Chairperson is Prof. Jackqui Moreno, CPA, MBA. The Junior Finance Management Association’s President is Cherielyn Maniego. The External Vice President is Noel Acabado. They had invited the CFA Society to send resource speakers to speak about the Financial Industry and Globalization.

Prof. Moreno said that “the students have many questions about the CFA exam and about the costs and benefits of being a Chartered Financial Analyst.” Already, the B.S Financial Management and Systems Development program, of San Beda, is saying that they want to prepare students to qualify for Level One of the Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) examination …” (see www.sanbeda.edu.ph).

Sandy Gilles, CFA talked about the CFA program, the CFA Society of the Philippines and its activities, and of course, about the benefits of being a charterholder. A discussion on the salaries earned by charterholders ensued. Having a charter typically entitles the employee to some sort of premium over non-charterholders, in most countries in the world.... The students listened attentively.

Ms. Gaspar, had just taken CFA level 2 last June 8, 2008. She shared her experience, what it was like to take the CFA Level I and II exams. She talked about study habits and exam preparation.

During the Q&A portion, students asked, how the exam questions are structured. What is an item set, what is a constructed response. What is the passing grade. What is the cut-off mark. Another question was about, how often one is allowed to take the different CFA exam levels. The questions were addressed by the Society’s representatives.

Opportunities like this are an easy way to promote the CFA program and to do PR for the local Society. They also inspire college students to gain greater financial literacy.

June 25, 2008.

* Click on "OLDER POSTS" to see the other articles.

Investment guide for 2009: CFA designation was mentioned

2009-01-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

MONEYSMART INQUIRER

http://business.inquirer.net/money/personalfinance/view/20090111-182734/Investment-guide-for-2009

Investment guide for 2009

By Ma. Salve Duplito
INQUIRER.net
01/11/2009

CFA Society Prestige Night. 20 Nov 2008

2008-12-27T01:47:00.001-08:00

New Charterholders for 2008

Venue:Top Floor of the Fully-Booked Store at Boni High Street, Fort Bonifacio, The Philippines

Marc Bautista,CFA. Michael de los Reyes, CFA. Sandy G.

Sandy G., Marc Bautista, CFA, and Jasper Cheng.

New CFA Charterholders, as well as Level Three passers, were introduced to the group. Ashvin Vibakher, CFA, was guest of honor.

Arie Bernardo, CFA

Raymond Abara, CFA. Arie Bernardo, CFA. Ashvin Vibakher, CFA.

List of Charterholders since 1997

2008-12-12T18:12:00.001-08:00

1997
Alexander Gilles, CFA
Rico Gonzalez, CFA
Charle Peza, CFA

1998
Mia Yap Chan, CFA

Cristina Infante, CFA
Arnold Oliva, CFA
Gina Oris, CFA
Bernadette Tamayo, CFA
Spencer Yap, CFA

1999
Mary Ann Calvelo, CFA
Robert Cano, CFA
Eleanor Coliangco, CFA
Gilbert Garchitorena, CFA
Eleanor Huang, CFA
Doris Pardo, CFA
Dennis Yaw, CFA

2000
Jonathan Ang, CFA
Arnold Caguiat, CFA
Lester Castolo, CFA
Raymond Neil Franco, CFA
Rex Gabonada, CFA
Jose Jalandoni, CFA
April Lee, CFA
Fritzie Hazel Lim, CFA
Virginia Luy, CFA
Donald Mamaril, CFA
Angelica Santillan-Reyes, CFA
Edgar Tordesillas, CFA
Kenneth Uy, CFA
Rowena Valdez, CFA

2001
Felix Bustos, CFA
Walden Chu, CFA
Jerry Chua, CFA
Ropi Dangazo, CFA
Arnulfo de Pala, CFA
Vincent Paul Guirao, CFA
Edward Gulane, CFA
Francis Lumbres, CFA
Arvind Mathur, CFA
Malou Belmonte-Obong, CFA
Lucia Piollo, CFA
Edison Yap, CFA

2002
Ildemarc Bautista, CFA
JC Briones, CFA
Johnson Chua, CFA
Rewadee Fanega, CFA
Marshall Filart, CFA
Michael Garcia, CFA
Kathy Ann Javellana, CFA
Amora Manabat, CFA
Marivic Pilar Mangonon, CFA
Ernesto Pinpin, CFA
Richard Tan, CFA
Toto Tansingco, CFA
Anabelle Tiu, CFA
Gabriel Villaluz III, CFA

Year 2002,
Officers of the CFA Society of the Philippines
President: Gina Oris, CFA
VP: Noli de Pala, CFA
Secretary: Mary Ann Calvelo, CFA
Treasurer: Francis Lumbres, CFA
Scholarships: Lester Castolo, CFA
Educational Programs: Edison Yap, CFA
Public Awareness: Rex Gabonada, CFA

2003 CFA Society Scholars
Mary Jane Chiong (received her charter in 2006)
Jeremy Clemente
Joel Legaspi
Nancy Uy
Melchor Dikitanan

Reid Schlager Scholar
Reginald Candelaria

AWARDS NIGHT OF 2002
November 7, 2002. Peninsula Manila Hotel. Makati City.
Opening Remarks: Gina Oris, CFA, president
Keynote Address: central bank Governor Rafael Buenaventura
Remarks from a new charterholder: Rewadee Fanega, CFA
Introduction of Society Scholars for 2003: Lester Castolo

CFA PROGRAM IN THE PHILIPPINES
The first CFA candidates took a level three exam in New York City in June 1963. A total of 268 financial analysts received their charter. The CFA program became more international in the 1980s.
In 1995, the Chartered Financial Program was introduced into the Philippines. A review course was organized by the Capital Markets Development Council, led by Roman Azanza. Alfred ‘Pete” Morley, CFA, visited Manila to teach a three-day Introduction to the CFA program. The instructors were Ron Copley, CFA of Copley Investment Management. Dave Upton, CFA of the Virginia Commonwealth University. And Robert Sanborn, CPA of the University of Richmond. The first examinees were 16 in number. The exam was held in Makati. (It was either a classroom in Ateneo Professional Schools, or a case room in the Asian Institute of Management.) Out of the 16, 12 passed (pass rate of 75%).
Out of the twelve who passed level one, ten enrolled for level two in 1996. Six passed.
Out of the six who passed level two in 1996, six enrolled for level three in 1997. And Three passed.
The CFA Society of the Philippines was founded in July 1997. First meeting was on September 5, 1997. The first board meeting was held on October 3, 1997. An application was made to the CFA Institute in Virginia, for recognition.
The CFA Society was officially incorporated in March 1998 as the Association of Investment Professionals in Manila. The name was later changed to CFA Society of the Philippines.
In February 2000, the International Society of Financial Analysts, the Financial Analysts Federation, and the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts, merged. The Philippine association became a member chapter of the Association for Investment Management and Research (later, CFA Institute).

CFA charterholders from the Philippines who have served as exam Graders at Charlottesville include Felix Bustos, CFA; Mia Yap Chan; CFA, Noli de Pala, CFA; and Sandy Gilles, CFA. They were invited to grade papers, starting in 1999. The grading venue in 1999 was the Covenant School. Later on, they moved the grading venue to Monticello High School.

The old office of AIMR. Graders in 1999, wore University Varsity T SHIRTS. Lower photo is me with the very kind chauffer who fetched me from Washington DC in a Limousine. He turned out to be a former Green Beret.

Hardware Store, Charlottesville.

School Bus at Covenant School, to take us home to the Day's Inn / Red Lobster on I-29.

Grading is so hard. After SEVEN short hours of work, we have to play golf, stroll around town, and drink beer in the totally free (not teetotal) bars set up in function rooms at our hotels. Not to mention the basketball games we played during lunch break-- very tiring. Ha ha ha.