After its successful stint in Batangas, Banco de Oro (BDO) wrapped up another forum intended for its small and medium enterprise (SME) clients last month.

Attended by around 150 clients from the Laguna and Cavite areas, the forum, held in The Orchard Golf & Country Club in Dasmarinas, Cavite, featured industry experts and BDO resource speakers who gave their perspectives on running and expanding a business.

Dr. Eduardo Morato Jr., chairman ACE Center of Entrepreneurship and Management Education, was the main speaker of the event as he talked about the Simple Approach to Measuring Working Capital and Financing Needs, how to determine their financing needs and manage their cash flows in simple and easy manner.

BDO also brought in as guest speaker Mamerta B. Purificacion, president of Antonina Industrial Corp. (AIC), who shared their success story in growing the family business. AIC, which started as a small homegrown business in Sta Rosa, Laguna, manufactures Milo, Nescafe, Maggi, Cerelac and Nestea packaging for Nestle Philippines, and is now one of the consumer giant's most awarded suppliers.

Other speakers at the forum were BDO vice president and chief market strategist Jonathan Ravelas, who gave a short economic situationer called The Economy of Juan Dela Cruz, and Jaime Nasol, senior vice president for transaction banking group-cash management and e-banking, who discussed Maximizing Productivity & Enhancing Efficiencyfor small and medium-sized businesses. Walter Wassmer, BDO's senior executive vice president for insitutional banking group ended the forum by letting the SMEs know how they can grow their business with BDO's help.

BDO president Nestor V. Tan, for his part, assured the “emerging corporates” of the Bank's full support to their endeavors. He also led the forum's question and answer segment to address concerns and queries from the clients.

Shown in photo were, from left, BDO chief market strategist Jonathan Ravelas; BDO senior executive vice president for insitutional banking group Walter Wassmer; Dr. Eduardo Morato Jr.; BDO senior vice president for transaction banking group Jaime Nasol; and BDO president Nestor Tan.