Written by: Gianna Rose D. Basilio & Diane P. Quinito │ Photography by: Janah Mariel Ola
The Junior Financial Executives (JFINEX) of the School of Business Administration and Accountancy (SBAA) at the University of Baguio successfully conducted a seminar entitled “Safe and Secure Transactions: Responsible Digital Payments and Fraud Prevention” on September 30, 2025, at the Centennial Hall, University of Baguio. The event was established to give students an essential knowledge of digital finance and to increase awareness of cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and responsible digital payments, which are important abilities to have in a financial world that is becoming more and more digital and cashless. With the dedication of the university for high-quality education, the JFINEX organized the seminar to emphasize the value of digital financial literacy in fostering responsible digital transactions and trust in financial systems whereas the seminar doesn’t limit to as event but rather a step to make the financial management students be more familiarized in the financial world whether it is a physical or digital transactions.
The seminar paves the way for the Junior Financial Executive to connect with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and create a bridge in order to connect the knowledge and awareness to the participants. Molding the participants to deepen their digital literacy and financial education, the seminar targeted the Sustainable Development Goal 4 of Quality Education, whereas, it does not only give the opportunity to experience BSP but also let the participants have a knowledge that is not only applicable to a classroom but also useful in an actual field before stepping out of the venue.
It prepares them for the actual job environment, where digital competence is essential, while contributing to the increase of financial inclusion, which aligns with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Reaching out to BSP for this seminar develops a transparent institution wherein the event serves as a platform for meaningful discussions that empower the financial management students with knowledge that could be learned and applied beyond traditional classroom boundaries. It not only helps students but also helps the BSP in promoting financial literacy and financial inclusion.
This outcome connects to SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals, wherein the Junior Financial Executives (JFINEX) of University of Baguio starts to collaborate with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to enhance and awaken the financial literacy of the School of Business Administration students.
The seminar gathered 133 Financial Management students across all year levels under SBAA. It was organized by the JFINEX officers, led by President Gianna Rose D. Basilio, with the support and guidance of Dr. John V. Balanquit, Dean of SBAA and Dr. Ruby R. Buccat, Program Chair of Business Administration and Adviser of the JFINEX organization. The highlight of the seminar was the engaging and interactive lecture delivered by Mr. Dennis D. Gundran from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), who shared expert and detailed insight on preventing digital fraud and practicing secure financial habits. His talk reflected BSP’s advocacy for responsible financial behavior and CHED’s mission to promote financial literacy among youth. The BSP’s involvement also underscored the significance of strong institutional partnerships in advancing public financial education, particularly under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) which promotes public–private sector collaboration.
Throughout the activity, although some of the participants were hesitant to ask questions to the honorable speaker, the organizers had prepared activities to make participants feel comfortable in engaging in interactive sessions, including Q&A segments and dynamic icebreakers that encouraged an open communication and a fun-learning environment. As Mr. Dennis Gundran also prepared his way to reaching out to the students, he had given commemorative coins from BSP as a means of rewards to those students who answered his questions where the knowledge of financial management students put to challenged and awakened their knowledge as it correlates to their subject, Monetary Policy and Central Banking.
The student’s excitement and interest were a reflection of their growing awareness of digital finance and cyber security. The JFINEX working committee’s hard work and commitment made the event run smoothly and had made sure that the seminar wouldn’t be seen as a requirement but would be seen as an event of learning experience that is impactful and seamless. To support the resounding success of the seminar, participants expressed high levels of satisfaction in the post-activity evaluation, with ratings between 83.75% and 87.5%. The speaker received a score of 3.50, while the seminar objectives were rated 3.49 where it both fell under the “Very Satisfied” category, validating the event’s effectiveness in meeting its educational goals.
Overall, the “Safe and Secure Transactions: Responsible Digital Payments and Fraud Prevention” seminar reaffirmed the University of Baguio’s unwavering commitment to nurturing financially literate, ethically responsible, and digitally competent graduates. Through embedding sustainable development goals into its core objectives, this initiative not only empowered students with practical knowledge but also contributed to a broader mission of shaping socially aware, globally competitive individuals capable of thriving in a modern financial landscape. Moving forward, with the resounding successful event, the JFINEX organization is planning to collaborate again with BSP to deepen the financial education programs of the School of Business Administration and Accountancy.
