Braving the Storm, Building Financial Futures

August 29, 2026. Despite continuous heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon in the days following Tropical Storm Wipha, the Rotary Club of Manila’s youth development and financial literacy seminar, “Know Yourself, Know Your Money,” successfully pushed through on August 29, 2026, at Zero-Ten Park in Makati City.

The inclement weather reduced attendance to only a handful of participants. Nevertheless, organizers proceeded with the program, ensuring that those who braved the difficult conditions received the full benefit of the seminar’s lessons on personal development, financial responsibility and informed decision-making.

The activity formed part of the Youth Service projects of the Rotary Club of Manila and was undertaken together with the Rotaract Club of Manila, River Valley Irregulars, Zero-Ten Park and Myles Tan Ministries. Designed as a Rotary Youth and Vocational Service initiative, the program sought to help young people understand how their personalities influence their habits, decisions and financial futures.

The seminar was graced by Rotary Club of Manila President Reginald Yu, Club Auditor Undersecretary Gani Macatoman, and Rotaract Club of Manila President Angel Macasieb, whose presence demonstrated the organizations’ shared commitment to empowering the next generation through practical education and mentorship.

Resource speaker STAR Rotarian Myles Yeo Tan, RFP, CTA, Chief Operating Officer of Ilyon Industrial Corporation, anchored the workshop on a central idea: sound financial decisions begin with a clear understanding of oneself.

The first part of the program introduced participants to the DISC personality framework, which identifies four broad behavioral styles: Dominant, Influential, Steady and Conscientious. The discussion examined the strengths and potential blind spots associated with each style, particularly in communication, leadership, decision-making and risk-taking.

Participants were encouraged to recognize how traits such as impulsiveness, optimism, caution, patience and perfectionism can shape the way they earn, spend, save and invest. The session emphasized that financial literacy is not merely about learning formulas or market terminology, but also about understanding the person making the financial decisions.

Building on this foundation, Myles discussed five common money personalities: the Saver, Spender, Maker, Worrier and Indifferent. Through relatable scenarios, participants reflected on how different people might respond to the same financial opportunity. Some may preserve their money, while others may spend it immediately, pursue maximum returns, postpone making a decision or choose to give it away.

The exercise reinforced the workshop’s central progression: personality influences habits, habits shape decisions, and decisions ultimately determine one’s financial future.

Participants were also guided in setting one-year goals for their families and friendships, finances, fitness, careers and contributions to society. The activity encouraged them to translate broad aspirations into specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound commitments.

The second part of the program turned to practical financial literacy. Topics included money habits, budgeting, responsible investing, financial planning and generational wealth. The presentation distinguished among saving, investing and trading while underscoring the importance of aligning financial strategies with one’s goals, circumstances and tolerance for risk.

The session on generational wealth highlighted that lasting prosperity involves more than transferring assets. Financial knowledge, sound values and responsible habits must likewise be passed from one generation to the next. As the workshop stressed, wealth becomes truly generational only when wisdom also becomes generational.

Myles also introduced participants to basic market concepts, including price trends, support and resistance levels, and the characteristics of bull and bear markets. Drawing from his experience in cryptocurrency, stocks, foreign exchange, precious metals and non-fungible tokens, he discussed both the opportunities and the considerable risks involved in trading and investing.

Particular attention was given to the dangers of fear of missing out, emotional decision-making and financial scams. Participants were reminded that no investment is free from risk and that impressive past returns do not guarantee future results. The more sustainable objective, the discussion emphasized, is not to predict every market movement but to become sufficiently informed and prepared to respond responsibly.

The workshop concluded with a call for young people to resist chasing every emerging investment trend and instead develop competence in financial instruments suited to their personalities, objectives and risk profiles.

Although the severe weather limited the size of the gathering, it did not diminish the program’s purpose or the organizers’ resolve to carry it forward. Through “Know Yourself, Know Your Money,” the Rotary Club of Manila reaffirmed its commitment to Youth Service by helping young people develop the self-awareness, discipline and financial knowledge needed to build more secure and responsible futures.