UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

Faculty of Arts and Letters

Espaa, Manila

A NARRATIVE REPORT OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

IN THE ON-JOB-TRAINING UNDERTAKEN AT

BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC STATISTICS

Roxas Boulevard, Manila

In Partial Fulfilment to the Requirements of the Course in

Practicum

Submitted to:

Assoc. Prof. Emmanuel J. Lopez, Ph. D.

Chair, Social Sciences Department

Practicum Coordinator

Submitted by:

Mark Martin C. Celino

Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics

A.Y. 2013-2014
Introduction

As among the last batch of students that have undertaken the course in Practicum as part
of the AB Economics Program Curriculum, I have been able to grab the opportunity to actually
apply my academic training experience for three years to the workplace experience in the real
world. The course has provided me the venue to further enhance my knowledge and
competencies as an economics student in my chosen field of specialization and future career
objectives after Graduation. As a student trainee, I have been able to take advantage of the tools
and skills I have been equipped by my intensive academic formation in the university, to be
competent enough in pursuing the different opportunities available for us in the outside world to
be able to contribute and actively participate in the endeavours of actual work experience.

Practicum Experience

My objective was to be able to obtain an on the job training position where I can
effectively apply my critical and analytical skills from my academic training experience as an
economics student who has a special interest in the fields of policy and business research as well
as banking and finance. With this goal in mind, I pursued my application to be a student trainee
at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Fortunately, my application was accepted by the Monetary
Policy Sub-Sector (MPSS). I was assigned in the Department of Economic Statistics to be part of
the Monetary and Financial Statistics Group (MFSG), Banking Sub-Group (BA) where I can best
be able to contribute my knowledge and skills as student trainee as well as to personally improve
in my chosen field.
I started my on-the-job training in BSP on April 18. Maam Jane Fabia of the
Administration Office of MPSS gave me a brief orientation regarding my 200-hour practicum
under the Banking Sub-Group where I will be handled by Maam Mary Rose C. Espina, my
Immediate Head as student trainee. I was introduced and welcomed in the Group where I met Sir
Gio Obra, who stood as my Immediate Supervisor. He gave me an orientation regarding the
duties and responsibilities I have been tasked as their student trainee. Below is an enumeration of
the duties and responsibilities I was expected to accomplish during the schedule and duration of
my practicum.
1. Assistance in the Processing of Credit Reports of Thrift Banks
 2. Assistance in the processing of Statement of Affairs (SOA) of banks under
liquidation.
3. Assistance in the processing of selected accounts in the SOA which will be used as
data input to matrix developed by the Risk Management Team of the Department of
Economic Research (DER).

My schedule started from 8:00am and ended at 5:00pm every day. My first week at the
Bangko Sentral was personally motivating and enhancing. I have been exposed to the credit
report of thrift banks under the watch of BSP. I was exposed to the preparation of data for
analysis regarding the loans granted and outstanding for Savings and Mortgage Banks (SMBs) as
well as Private Development Banks (PDBs). Among the credit reports of thrift banks I was asked
to work on, I was able to accomplish the processing of generally data provided for the February
and March of 2013. Aside from that, I was also able to observe the dynamics of organization
within the central monetary authority of the Republic of the Philippines. It was indeed a privilege
for me to be a part of the Bangko Sentral as a student trainee as I was also able to become
actively involved at least in a particular way to a function of Monetary Policy which is within
Statistical analysis in nature.

I thought that I would be doing just the same thing for the whole duration of the
practicum experience. But then suddenly, during the April General Assembly of the Department,
Maam Rosabel B. Guerrero asked the trainees to present for the Asset Watch Report to be
conducted in the next General Assembly which is in May. After 3 weeks, I, together with my
fellow trainees, worked in preparation for the Asset watch presentation. Maam Mia of the Flow
of Funds (FOF) Sub Group was the one who is in-charged for the presentation. She guided us in
the course of preparing and summarizing the report and asked us to contribute our own input
particularly in the aspect of economic data analysis explaining the Whys and Hows of the
situation in the different markets. I was given the assignment to report on the Equities and Bonds
Markets which really motivated me to work hard before going in front of the whole DES on the
day of the presentation. I discussed the Cross-Country analysis of Price Earnings Ratio of the
Philippines comparing with other neighbouring countries in the region and the participation share
to PSE value traded between foreign and local investors in our Equities market. In the Bonds
Market, I analysed the implications of the data being presented in terms of Corporate Bond
Issuances and Global Bond Issuances and Outstanding Local Currency Government Bonds and
Outstanding Foreign Currency Bonds in time series. Despite the pressure of given only two days
to prepare the report, this experience has really helped me develop further in my field of interest
and career path as an aspiring professional economist.

Afterwards, I was also exposed to the processing of data for the January to March of
2013 National Government Treasury Bills/Bonds Authorization under Maam Fe. Then I was
assigned to assist in the Flow of Funds Sub Group since I have already accomplished the needed
TCR (Thrift Banks Credit Report) data processing in MS Excel under the Banking Sub Group. I
was tasked to prepare the data for Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) and Income
Statements of private corporations and its subsidiaries.

Then on my last week, I was able to submit the tasks I have to accomplish to my
respective supervisors. I also assisted in organizing posted bank reports and general files
including the Masterlist of Filed Documents for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. The overall
experience for me was very worthwhile. I was able to be exposed on certain aspects of statistical
work that is done in the Bangko Sentral. I was also able to contribute my knowledge and
competencies for the accomplishment of particular tasks in the Department. Most importantly, I
was able to interact with a group of people whom I share my interests as an individual. I was able
to improve my leadership skills, communication, social and economic training for career growth
being able to actively work with other people and exchange of experiences one way and the
other. The Practicum as a course made me more involved in the actual happenings outside the
university, which trained me to apply my theoretical and academic ideals to the methodologies
and specific demands of professional work.

Accomplishment and Contribution

My most important accomplishment and contribution from my practicum to the Bangko

Sentral include:

My participation to the Asset Watch Presentation dealing with the Equities and Bonds
Market.
Assisting in the processing of Credit Report of all Thrift Banks nationwide under the
regulation of the Bangko Sentral.
 Preparing the data for analysis of the National Treasury Bills/Bonds Authorization as
well as the State of Financial Position and Income Statements of certain private
corporations.

Competencies Gained and Learning Experience

I have gained further knowledge and skills in statistical analysis as part of the Department
of Economic Statistics, particularly the role of the Bangko Sentral in regulating banks and
private corporations being assigned to both the Banking Sub-Group and Flow of Funds Sub-
Group.

Impact to Field of Specialization

The on-the-job experience I have made in the Bangko Sentral served as a motivation for
me to improve myself and become better as a student of economics and an aspiring professional
economist of the country in the future. The impact that it has made in my field of specialization
is that it contributed to my realization in the significant role that economics plays in the national
development and the improvement of the standards of living of the Filipinos. In that way, it has
given me more interest in the financial aspect of economics and how it relates to the
understanding and better participation of the ordinary Filipinos to the economy of the country.

Conclusion

The practicum experience is worth the time, effort and hard work. The short period of
time that I have spent in the Bangko Sentral contributed a lot to the increase in my awareness,
understanding and practical application of my course to the daily undertaking of the country and
every individual Filipinos. The experience was a wakeup call to my involvement in the realities
and opportunities of our country economically and to be a part of that bright and strong outlook
of the future led me out of my limited theoretical and ideological grounding which were enriched
by my practical experience of a less mathematized and more of realistic foundation of social
conditions. The experience increased my commitment, competence and compassion as a
Thomasian AB Economics student who is soon to become part of the society outside as a
working professional.