331 OFWs Graduate from ADMU LSE in 2015

by Reichelle Carlos

“LSE has been a wake-up call for me to put my finances in order and gave me a roadmap for my financial goals.”

This year, 331 more of our modern-day Filipino heroes all over the world are better equipped with skills on dealing with their finances and economic situations. They are the recent graduates of this year’s batches of Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Program conducted in Paris, Rome, Dubai, and 5 other key cities in Europe and Asia.

The LSE Program under the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) has been conducting series of seminars to migrant workers in Europe, Middle East and Asia since 2008. The consortium of ASoG, Overseas Filipino Society for the Promotion of Economic Security (OFSPES), Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) and UGAT Foundation aims to empower OFWs by transforming their mindset and becoming agents of social change not just to their fellow OFWs in their host countries but also to their family members in the Philippines.

Mariel Vincent Rapisura, president and chief executive officer of SEDPI, shares in a phone interview: “My vision is economic empowerment for Filipinos through financial education because no one deserves to be poor.”

SEDPI, a capacity-building institution, conducts the modules on financial literacy and social entrepreneurship. Other module includes courses on leadership.

“LSE has been a wake-up call for me to put my finances in order and gave me a roadmap for my financial goals. In the last six months, my personal finance has improved from 5 to 8 (ot of a possible score of 10). I can’t thank enough the dedicated people behind LSE.” Ricky Zafra recalls his learnings from the 6-month program. Ricky is a graduate from the LSE 31 in Macau. He works as a Document Control Manager and has been in Macau for 11 years.

The participants are also expected to come up with a business plan before the end of the program. Most of the business ideas are out of their experiences in their host countries and are into food, real estate, and agriculture.

One LSE group from Netherlands created Sarap Pinoy NL, producer of prepared Filipino meat products such as longganisa, tapa, and the like. Owners Gladez and Jack Kok shares that their inspiration was to “make the Filipino products available in Europe for Filipinos and Europeans as well”. Later on, they did not expect the positive response of their customers; their products simply hit home. From a simple business plan, they strategize to continue introducing new products to their clients through food bazaars and other related events.

Truly, Filipinos shine through wherever they are – whether at home or overseas. They continue to make the nation proud in their own efforts and provide great contribution in stirring up the economy.