BBFI, Swiss Embassy, CLSU tie-up to train student entrepreneurs.

By Werlo Palomar The Bato Balani Foundation Incorporated (BBFI), in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland held the WIWAG business management program for CLSU students at the Research, Extension and Training (RET) Function Rooms, November 28 to December 2, 2011. WIWAG (an acronym for wirtschafs wochen, meaning business week) is a five-day business management training program developed by the Ernst Schmidheiny Foundation of Switzerland and is a compulsory subject for all students of Swiss high schools. The program involves training the participants in concepts of business management based on a computer-assisted simulation game that interlinks the basics of economics and stimulates the development of a company by enhancing the business functions and showing their interrelations. First acquired by Holcim Philippines Incorporated in 2005, the program was then translated from its original German form and it is only here in the Philippines that it is taught in English. BBFI subsequently gained the franchise and WIWAG became their latest addition to their corporate social responsibility programs aimed to uplift the quality of education in the country and targets to train 10,000 student entrepreneurs by 2020. The event, which was done for the first time in our university through the generosity of the Swiss Embassy paying for all the expenses, was formally opened by the Dean of CBAA, Dr. Danilo Castro who thanked BBFI for magnetizing students to a training like this, which perfectly complements the vision of CLSU to produce globally competitive and quality graduates. Lessons were immediately given by the instructors which who are highly qualified and experienced resource persons: Mr. Rey Lomarda, Mr. Buddy Togle, Mr. Emmanuel Tagunicar, and Mr. Wovi Villanueva. The students were given the opportunity to step into the shoes of an executive who has just been given a 10-year old company to manage for the next four years so that at the peak of each day, they would have to make decisions using the things they have learned which would be encoded to the WIWAG software to analyze and produce an annual report. The companies were subjected to several economic scenarios (zero market growth, inflation, new competitor) and other situations commonly encountered by a firm (labor relations, press reviews, stockholders general assembly) and everything the members decide on would affect the performance and position of the firm in indicators such as sales, profit, quality index, stock market price, etc. Competition was fierce to figure out by the end which company was the most balanced most loved by the customers, the employees, the loaning banks, and the general public.

Of course, the training days were not without any problems, the major one was the backing-out of the representatives from the college of education saying that they were pulled out by their Dean, Dr. Rhodora Dela Rosa herself because they were required to attend an activity in their college. But after a confirmation by CBAAs chair of the Department of Business Administration, Prof. Elizabeth Bajit, Dr. Dela Rosa denied such act. Sa ilang taon ng WIWAG, ngayon lang may nagback-out says Ms. Mutya Delos Reyes, BBFIs Project Manager for WIWAG, even saying that it was better to accommodate additional participants that removing some from the list because the expenses were already incurred especially the manual that costs P2800.00 which was asked to be returned by the trainees who left. But the seminar still flowed smoothly and was officially ended by a graduation ceremony attended by Dr. Castro; Dr. Ruben Sevilleja, University President; and Mr. Jeurg Cassarini, Charg dAffaires of the Embassy of Switzerland. WIWAG in CLSU has produced 52 more future entrepreneurs. Words of gratitude were relayed by the representatives of the participants, the instructors and the guests. Dr. Sevilleja being apologetic for the problems caused by the participants who backed out, but in spite of this, he was still hopeful for the continues cooperation of BBFI, Swiss Embassy and CLSU for the betterment of the whole country. There has never been a gathering this big of CEOs and Vice Presidents stated by Mr. Cassarini as a challenge to the WIWAG graduates to pursue being entrepreneurs, be employers rather than employees. But the best way to describe the means in achieving success in business and in life was given by an instructor, Mr. Villanueva: Aim H.I.G.H. Honesty, Integrity and for Gods Honor!