(From ICIC Colloquium on Community Based Research and CSR last September 11, 2013 at SBC-Conference Hall) My Reflective Learning: Pactil Societal Marketing Prof. Jennifer T. Ramos, FBE, DMS San Beda College Reflective Learning The business clinic is comprised of administrators and faculty members of accountancy and business cluster. The clinic helps ICIC develop and assess the business and project proposals for the Kankanaeys (Igorots) in Pactil, Mountain Province. We support the projects from planning, execution, to evaluation. May I share my experiences and how these have transformed me. I have been in San Beda for the last 10 years, and I have been searching for my place in the Benedictine community and CAS Family. The invitation from Dr. James Piscos to join the Pactil business clinic, was a challenge, it meant going outside of my comfort zone. The trip up to Baguio took six hours, plus another four hours to Pactil, Moutain Province. Long distance travel by land was not easy, especially for one with Vertigo or motion sickness. In spite of my inhibitions, I still joined the team. Slowly, I made more friends and made more connections. I discovered that I was going back to what I loved when I was a teenager in our church youth group—Antioch in Makati, and in the group of young professionals at Cenacle in Katipunan, Quezon City. It is to reach out to others. I stopped all my advocacies when I concentrated on my graduate studies and became the breadwinner for my parents. In 2011, the Department of Marketing Management was invited to do a market study for Pactil’s agricultural business. Back then, we focused more on the vegetables like cabbage, bell peppers, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms. I am grateful to Professor Raquel Castro who helped with market assessment and Professor Rita Cucio, who helped profile the Kankanaey market and producers. The first batch of professors conducted the needs and market assessment of the vegetables mentioned. The camaraderie of CAS faculty grew to become warm and authentic. We spent time in communal prayer at Sadsadan Chapel; and had fun looking for a TV set just to be able to watch the Red Lions basketball game together. After the market assessment, I presented a sales program to ICIC’s Dr. James and Father Bede Hechanova, OSB of Benedictine Foundation. The program focused on direct selling schemes and emphasized social enterprise. Following the clinic, our 4th year marketing students wrote press releases about this—”Basta’t may tiyaga, may nilaga” and “Kung may tinanim, may aanihin!”; and we hosted a salesmanship seminar when our Pactil partner community visited San Beda. Last summer, we also work on a marketing plan presentation, while our Chairperson, Ma. Pamela Tendero, crafted a product development plan. For me, what we are doing for Pactil? I have made this my advocacy. This is societal marketing in progress. Societal marketing is addressing the challenges posed by social responsibility through marketing strategies. Conclusions The Pactil Business Clinic—opens a lot of opportunities. It gives heart to my purpose as educator and Bedan professor. It gives concrete form to my advocacy. It fills me with serenity and joy. The breathtaking scenery of the Mountain Province reminds me that God is truly good to all of us. Italian poet Dante Alighieri put it this way “In God’s will, will is our peace.” I am grateful to ICIC and the Benedictine Foundation for the rare opportunity to talk to God, on top of a beautiful mountain. May God richly bless us all!
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 13:16:27 +0000
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