SM Global Pinoy, CFC hold financial mgmt seminar for OFWs

Emphasizing the need to manage their finances to prepare for their eventual return to the Philippines, SM Global Pinoy, in partnership with the Couples for Christ Migrant’s Program is conducting a nationwide financial management seminar for overseas Filipino workers and their families.

Dubbed as “Seminar on Financial Growth, Abundance and Stewardship (FGAS), Manage Your Money, Manage Your Life,” the seminar is designed to help guide migrants and their families towards financial empowerment and independence by equipping them with knowledge in the proper use of their financial resources.

Glenn Ang, program director of SM Global Pinoy, said the seminars, conducted in various SM malls all over the country, are geared towards supporting communities, especially OWFs and their families. Some 800 participants so far have taken part in the seminars.

“So many times we hear stories of our migrant workers who despite their years of service abroad end up much worse than when they left the country because of failure on their part and of their families to value the financial blessings they received. We want to address that to make them better prepared for the future,” Ang said.

The three-hour seminar also aims to make the participants understand the value of their blessings so that they would be inspired to take care of them.

“OFWs especially their families so often just take the money given to them for granted so they just squander it. This seminar aims to make them realize the value not just of saving but taking care of the financial resources being received by each family,” Ang said.

Participants are given modules on the information and skills to pay off their debts and control indiscriminate spending, prepare a budget and prepare a financial plan and teach them how to increase their savings and put their money on investments.

The seminar is open to all SM Global Pinoy members, OFWs and their immediate family members, for free, including those who are part of different religious groups.

The seminar kicked off last March 25, in SM South Mall and SM City Sta. Rosa. Seminars have already been held on the following dates: May 6 – SM City Cagayan de Oro, SM City Baguio, SM City Lucena, SM City Bacolod, SM Lanang, and SM City Taytay; May 8 – SM City Dasmariñas; May 10 – SM City Pampanga; May 18 – SM Center Muntinlupa. The next seminars will be on June 27 – SM City Clark and July 2 – SM City Fairview

Ang said they have agreed to be involved in the project because they believe that OFWs and their families should be given all the tools to enable them to grow not just financially but holistically to create a more positive impact to their families and communities.

“This is part of our continuing tribute to their heroism in this modern day and age and this project will make sure that they achieve financial success so that their sacrifices and hard work will not be put to waste. This is in line with SM’s commitment to supporting communities,” Ang said.