USM Boosts Bagobo-Tagabawa Women’s Enterprise Skills via UniK Project 3
December 16, 2025
In an effort to empower the Obo-Manobo community through targeted capacity-building and sustainable support initiatives, the University of Southern Mindanao- Extension Services Office (USM-ESO), through the College of Business, Development, Economics, and Management (CBDEM), successfully launched Component III of the Harnessing Efforts for Recovery Operations (HERO) Project, titled “The Entrepreneur’s Toolkit: Financial Foundations, Strategic Positioning, and Ethical Excellence,” on November 14, 2025 at Brgy. Bongolanon, Magpet, Cotabato.
The primary goal of the training was to provide participants with essential entrepreneurial skills, aiming to foster economic resilience while simultaneously preserving the tribe’s rich cultural heritage.
Punong baranggay Suarez Apan delivered his welcome remarks by highlighting the role of the participants and resource speakers in the conduct of the activity.
”Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. Unang-una, nagpapasalamat kami sa USM dahil sa pamamagitan ng training na ito, alam kong may matututunan na naman ang aking nasasakupan. Para sa mga speakers, alam kong sa training na ito kayo ang magiging daan para sa mabahagi ang mga impormasyon na kailangang malaman ng ating mga participants. Sa ating mga participants, ang inyo namang task ay aralin ang mga bagay na ibabahagi nila sa inyo. Kaya naman, nawa’y iisa yung goal natin, at ‘yun ay matuto,” he stated.
The training featured specialized sessions led by esteemed academic speakers, each focusing on a critical aspect of entrepreneurship: Prof. Allen Shane C. Garcia (Bookkeeping Basics: A Foundation for Financial Clarity), Prof. Sandra Angela A. Bangcaya (Pricing and Costing: Maximizing Profitability), Prof. Analyn A. Gonzales (Defining your Niche: Mastering Positioning Strategies), Prof. Mitzi Aileen M. Alba (Strategic Marketing: Crafting Effective Campaigns), and Prof. Apple R. Ureta (Ethics and Professionalism: Building a Strong Reputation).
The lecture session was then followed by the distribution of certificates to the resource speakers and the participants. The activity culminated with a closing message by Cheryl Y. Dulay, CBDEM Dean.
”Sa pagtatapos ng ating training, hinihikayat ko kayong ipagpatuloy ang paggawa ninyo ng mga produkto at patuloy na mag-innovate gamit ang mga likas na yaman at materyales na nasa inyong paligid. Nawa’y magsilbing inspirasyon sa inyo ang mga training na natanggap ninyo tungkol sa pagne-negosyo. Alam kong sa paraang ito, mas mapapaunlad ninyo ang inyong kabuhayan, maitataas ninyo ang kalidad ng inyong produkto, at mas mapapatatag ninyo ang kabuhayan ng buong komunidad,” she expressed.
The Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Training was a meaningful step toward achieving the HERO Project’s goals, fostering collaboration between the university, local government, and indigenous groups. Through this collaborative endeavor, the project advances economic resilience among community members while honoring and preserving the Obo-Manobo tribe’s cultural heritage.
