EL SALVADOR, MISAMIS ORIENTAL- Two powerhouse speakers, both successful farmer-entrepreneurs and businessmen were the Resource Speakers of the Seminar on Financial Literacy held on January 30, 2019 at ATI-RTC X Training Hall, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental. The Seminar was attended by almost a hundred participants in various professions and ages who responded to the Free Seminar advertised in the ATI Northernmindanao Social Media pages.
Former Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos (of Hoyohoy Highland Stone Chapel Organic Farm) centered his discussion on the Four Quadrants popularized by Robert Kiyosaki and the importance of transitioning from one quadrant to the other, from financial dependence to financial freedom. Financial dependence is experienced by those whose income comes only from his employment or from being self-employed, where those under these two quadrants work for money. Quadrants 3 and 4 are those who have their own Business System and those who are into investments, respectively. These type of people let money work for them.
He said one must find his “Ikigai” (Japanese term which means your reason for being) before deciding his path or business to engage in. In finding one’s Ikigai, one must answer the following questions: 1. What is your passion?; 2. What do you do best? (vocation) ; 3. Is it contributing good to the world? (Mission); and lastly, 4. Are you making money out of it? (Profession). If these four elements are present, then you must pursue this. He said, to succeed, one must have positive mindset and money consciousness.
The second equally successful speaker is Mr. Jose Feron Cacanando of Moriah Farms and Semilya sa Kinabuhi. Mr. Feron emphasized on the principles of the Bible as guide in his farming. He said, he discovered that most successful farmers are in the Bible, citing Abraham and Joseph. His farming is guided by the what is written in Genesis 9:7 “ Be fruitful and multiply...”. He said fruitfulness is a function of the plant and that for it to be fruitful, the seed must be nurtured and planted in good soil. He emphasized that good plants bear good fruits and good plants are produced by good farmers. Presently, his farm which used to be a barren and unproductive land, is now very productive despite the fact that he almost do not use fertilizers and zero pesticides. Sir Dodong, as he is fondly called, has published three books detailing his journey to farming and the principles and formula that he follows. Those books are Breaking Through, Keeper of His Garden and Creating Wealth and Managing Finances.
“I am very inspired by what I heard. I will apply it in my life and in my farm. I am so happy that I decided to attend this Seminar. I will surely attend more ATI trainings/seminars next time.”, says Ms. Rizen Sutacio, a farmer from Kadingilan Bukidnon who attended the Seminar.