Every Peso Tells a Story: VP Florendo Calls on the 132nd Managers Course Graduates to Lead with Financial Stewardship
The University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI) celebrated the successful completion of the 132nd Managers Course (MC) during its Closing Ceremonies held on 18 July 2026 at the UP ISSI Plaza, honoring the achievements of 57 completers who finished the intensive training program.
In his keynote address, UP System Vice President for Planning and Finance Joselito Florendo congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the Managers Course and, in particular, the program’s culminating requirement—the Integrated Organizational Survey and Assessment (IOSA).
Opening his message with words of commendation, VP Florendo expressed his admiration for the participants’ work after personally reviewing some of their IOSA reports. He emphasized that what impressed him most was not the pursuit of perfection but the participants’ genuine effort, critical thinking, and sincere commitment to helping the enterprises they assessed.
Whether evaluating a café, a mushroom farm, or another small business, the participants demonstrated the ability to go beyond identifying operational issues. They listened carefully to enterprise owners, observed business operations, analyzed organizational challenges, and developed practical recommendations aimed at strengthening business sustainability and competitiveness.
Drawing from the reports, VP Florendo noted a common finding across many of the enterprises: the need for stronger financial management systems. He pointed to recurring opportunities to improve bookkeeping, budgeting, inventory management, and financial planning, while placing particular emphasis on the importance of cash flow analysis.
He reminded the graduates that profitability alone does not guarantee business success.
“Profit measures performance, but cash determines survival.”
According to VP Florendo, understanding cash flow enables managers to determine whether an organization can meet its financial obligations, pay employees and suppliers on time, invest in future opportunities, and remain resilient during periods of uncertainty. He challenged the graduates to look beyond financial statements by continually asking one fundamental question: “Where is the cash coming from, and where is it going?”He stressed that the answer to this question often distinguishes organizations that thrive from those that struggle to survive.
Extending the lesson beyond the workplace, VP Florendo encouraged the participants to apply the same principles of sound financial management in their personal lives. He advised them to live within their means, prepare budgets, save consistently, invest early, avoid unnecessary debt, and manage their personal cash flow wisely. He emphasized that long-term financial well-being depends not on how much one earns but on how responsibly one manages available resources.
VP Florendo also invited the graduates to view financial management through the lens of stewardship. He reminded them that every peso reflected in a financial statement represents more than numbers—it tells the story of entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams, employees supporting their families, and communities depending on thriving enterprises. Behind every sale is a customer served, behind every expense is a management decision, behind every asset is an investment in the future, and behind every profit is the hard work of people striving to build something meaningful.
As he concluded his keynote address, VP Florendo expressed his hope that the Managers Course had prepared the graduates not only to become competent analysts but also principled leaders and responsible stewards of the organizations and resources entrusted to them. He encouraged them to carry forward the values of integrity, accountability, and service as they continue their professional journeys.
The 132nd run of the Managers Course was led by Sendy delos Reyes as program manager with Menchie Sumilang , Neldie de Jesus , and Kris Cordon serving as program coordinators. Their collective efforts ensured the successful delivery of UP ISSI’s flagship program, continuing the Institute’s mission of developing competent, ethical, and future-ready managers who contribute to organizational excellence and national development.