The Sports Camp served as the culminating activity of the Sports Clinic sessions held every 7 am to 12 noon of every Saturday from October 2011 until December 2011. The all-male participants coming from different barangays in GMA and Silang, Cavite were grouped into four teams represented by the colors red, green, yellow and blue.  In every session of the Sports Clinic, the participants were grouped in different teams to develop their social skills and decrease their tendency to form themselves into gangs.

Sports Camp participants listening intently during a Bible Study session.

What is noteworthy about this Sports Camp is that it did not just focus on sports (namely, basketball) but also taught the participants the Word of God and values important in sports as well as in life. Integrated Bible Study and Character Formation Sessions with topics ranging from building your self-esteem, respecting your leaders, trusting your team, being resilient, pushing your team to the limit, wisely spending your time and finishing strong were integrated in between the basketball games.

Ms. Ressy M. Juico, Community Development Supervisor, said positive changes were observed in the behavior of the participants during the camp. “We believe that the eight sessions of sports clinic held last October to December 2011 contributed to this good outcome. Most of them became neater in their appearance. Before, they have metal accessories on their eyebrows, tongue and nose. The smoking habit of other participants lessened, nobody attempted to smoke during our Sports Camp. In our previous sessions of sports clinic they habitually shouted foul words during basketball practices but in our sports camp, no foul words were heard inside the gymnasium. They were all wearing smiles while playing basketball until they reached the final game,” she adds.

Mark Anthony Padil was recognized as the MVP at the end of the Sports Camp. When asked what he can say to his fellow youth, he said, “Kahit po natalo kami ng dalawang beses hindi pa rin po kami sumuko at ginawa po namin ang lahat para po kami ang manalo hanggang umabot kami sa championship dito. Saka may tiwala rin ako sa mga kakampi ko kasi alam nila, gusto nila magchampion kaya sinuportahan ko rin sila para mag-champion kami. (Even though we lost twice, we did not give up and we did everything so that we will win until we made it to the championship. I have trust in my teammates because they know, they also want to be champions that’s why I supported them so that we will emerge as champions).”

The Church of God valued the youth’s participation and included in their plan the involvement of the youth in their sports tournament this coming March.

Tatay Sulpicio and Nanay Daling both hail from the province of Aklan. As the custom goes in some families, Tatay Sulpicio, aged 17 at that time, was married to Nanay Daling, who was four years younger than him.

Tatay Sulpicio Macario poses near their two-storey dream house.

Both their parents were farmers and Tatay Sulpicio himself only reached the 3^rd grade, but these did not hinder them from putting up their own business. After migrating to Montalban, Rizal, they started a charcoal business, which they source from the “Dumagats”, indigenous people in Rizal. Soon after, they opened a sari-sari store with an initial capital of Php 1,500.00.

The couple decided to apply for a Php 5,000 loan from TSPI on their ninth year of business for business expansion.  Their daughter who was an OFW in Abu Dhabi also helped put in additional capital.

Now on their 20th year in business, Joan’s store (named after their youngest daughter) is known for its good quality charcoal or “uling”.  Other than the sari-sari store, it also annexed a rice wholesale dealership, selling 50 to 80 cavans of rice per week.  Five to eight of their relatives are presently employed for re-packing the charcoal, earning Php 10.00 for every 100 grams re-packed.

The couple passed on their entrepreneurship abilities to their children and supported them by providing them capital for their respective businesses such as fish and vegetable vending and carinderia (small canteen) with videoke. They also provided seven computer units for their son’s computer shop business.

From the store’s initial Php 1,500 capital, Tatay Sulpicio said that the store now manages P700,000 of capital. Financial prudence is key to all these.  According to Tatay Sulpicio, they do not blend their personal expenses with their business expenses. Even though they do not offer credit to their customers, they remained committed to selling inexpensive goods, keeping their store well-stocked and practicing integrity by using proper and accurate measuring devices for their goods. They have also gained the trust of leading FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) companies, a nearby grocery store (named Suave) and other suppliers.

During holiday seasons, they give out calendars and T-Shirts to express their gratitude for their customers who have patronized their store and other businesses.

Over the years, the couple learned the importance of proper time management and maintaining a simple lifestyle. Their husband-and-wife team proved to be a key factor in their success.  There is a clear delineation of functions in running the business. Tatay Sulpicio is responsible for manning the store and its finances while Nanay Daling is in charge of marketing the charcoal, buying rice at Bocaue, Bulacan and attending in center meetings at TSPI.

They share the same passion and excitement for growing their business. Communication is also central to their teamwork.  Tatay Sulpicio said, “Bago kami matulog, usap kami tungkol sa negosyo.”  (We talk about the business before we sleep at night.)

Years of hard work paid off as they now have their dream house built on a 100-square-meter lot near the store. They have also invested on two delivery jeepneys.

Tatay Sulpicio shares, “We never stop conceptualizing new approaches on how to further grow the business and maintain our current customer base. Our ultimate goal is to see all our three children finish their schooling.  Pangarap namin ang magandang bukas para sa kanila.  Ganito lang ang aming naabot sana mahigitan pa nila.”

Big dreams from a couple who from their very humble beginnings in Aklan have really gone a long way.

This article was originally written by Maria Gracia P. Gaza, Project Officer, Strategic Research and Planning Services Department

Ms. Cathy Cativo, Branch Manager of TSPI-Valenzuela, received the award last January 16, 2012. The plaque was given to recognize TSPI’s generous role in supporting the City Government’s Early Childhood Care and Development Program.

Ms. Faye reads a story to the children at Paso De Blas Daycare Center 1.

“We’re elated with the recognition from the Mayor’s office, affirming TSPI’s contribution in bringing development initiative to the grassroots level,” Cativo said upon receiving the award. TSPI has launched its Child Care Project middle of last year. The Child Care Project features the selection and adoption of a Day Care Center situated in an indigent community, using the Child-Friendly Checklist tool of the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Paso De Blas Day Care Center was chosen among the list of six (6) Day Care Centers recommended by the CSWDO and TSPI Client Leaders. Selections were based on the following criteria: high incidence of underweight students, difficulties of parents sustaining the operations of their Day Care Center and willingness of Parents-Teacher Association (PTA) to partner with TSPI Valenzuela Branch.

Aside from turning-over a customized book-casket bearing books and educational toys, TSPI also linked its ministry partner to the PTA to spearhead weekly story-telling sessions at the Day Care Center using the various books donated. Ms. Merry Fie Barientos or Ate Faye, as she is fondly called by the children, visits the Day Care Center every Thursday morning to share stories. Ms. Barientos is the youth volunteer storyteller assigned by the Open Heaven Christian Church, a ministry partner of TSPI Valenzuela Branch.

TSPI supports Republic Act 6972 or the Act establishing A Day Care Center in Every Barangay. Also called the Barangay-Level Total Development and Protection of Children Act, this act ensures the commitment of the state to defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and to provide them with special protection against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

This article was originally written by Stanley Andrew C. Yu, TSPI Community Development Supervisor.

Before she became a TSPI client, she was a dealer of a direct-selling company. She also delivered bread at the Taguig City Hall via installment basis, collecting her payment every 15^th and 30^th of the month. Then, she started thinking of another source of income with the following criteria:  must be a home-based business, must provide her a regular income, must not require higher educational attainment because she only finished high school, and must be enjoyable at the same time. After contemplating for a number of years and through God’s blessing, she started her sari-sari store business in 2009 selling only softdrinks and bread.

Nanay Precy Badua stands beside her bread products.

Financial difficulties led Nanay Precy to become an entrepreneur.  “Di naman kasi sapat ang kinikita ni mister bilang security guard.  Tapos sabi ko di habang buhay ang trabaho.  Kaya dapat may negosyong pinagkakakitaan (My husband’s salary as a security guard isn’t enough. I also thought a job won’t last a lifetime. That’s why I must have an income-generating business).”

The store of Nanay Precy is not the typical sari-sari store with a window bar and a signage.  Her store has a wooden hump that serves as a partition between the store and the customers. Little by little, she became known for selling delicious and affordable bread.

When she realized that she needed to have enough storage for her stocks, a refrigerator and a weighing scale, Nanay Precy decided to apply for another loan at TSPI. She is now on her 12^th loan cycle.

She still gets emotional while describing the challenges she went through after having a sari-sari store. But these challenges are all worth it because for her, being employed has so many uncertainties but having a business will make you financially stable regardless of the amount you earn. It all depends on how you will manage it, she says.

Nanay Precy allots a Php3,000 running capital daily for stock replenishment. Php1,000 is allotted for her e-load business that earns from Php170 to Php200.00 every other day. With careful diligence, she saves her husband’s salary while deducting household expenses from the sales of her sari-sari store.

Even though she is not offering credit, she has many regular customers, some of whom saw an opportunity to earn extra income by re-selling her affordable bread which  she sources from Tipas, Taguig. Her other customers are her direct-selling customers at Camp Bagong Diwa and passers-by. Her store’s location is a blessing to her business, it being in a high traffic area where passers-by go through to reach the main highway of Lower Bicutan.

Her baked goods are Nanay Precy’s pride.  They are not only delicious but also very affordable.   Her bestseller product is a bun with spread which costs only Php5.00 a piece.

Nanay Precy also sells re-packed cooking oil to give way to those who can’t afford to buy one bottle. While her customers are attracted to her well-stocked store, she also pays close attention to the littlest things they need, like needles and thread, letter envelopes, acetone, sharpener, pens, batteries, plastic for ice water, among others.

Everyone in the Badua household has his or her own share in helping in the business. While Nanay Precy goes to SM and Puregold to replenish their stocks, her daughter Joy oversees the store. Her husband goes to Pasig three times a week to order frozen products including onions, tomatoes, and spread in boxes. He also volunteers to pick up the breads from Tipas.

Although Nanay Precy sees a good business opportunity for a water refilling station and LPG business, a limited store space is presently a big hindrance for her but she remains prayerful and optimistic that in God’s time, it will be granted unto her.

Nanay Precy upholds honesty as her primary business advice for those who want to get into business.  “Basta honest ka lang.  Ibigay ang tamang timbang at huwag masyadong malaki ang patong (Just be honest. Give the proper weight and do not put an extremely high profit).”

Ms. Lotis Apat, Taguig 2’s Branch Manager, also mentioned that Nanay Precy is very supportive of her co-members in the center as she inspires them to achieve the same success she experienced in running her store. Ms. Lotis also added that despite her good fortune, Nanay Precy remains humble and ready to help anyone in need especially the new members of her center.  “Nagdadala pa nga siya ng merienda sa kanila kahit marami pa yang ginagawa (She even brings them snacks even though she has many things to do).”

Just like most parents, Nanay Precy’s dream is to see their only child graduate from college. And even after her daughter graduates, Nanay Precy envisions her sari-sari store ‘without a name’ to be passed on to the next generation.

This article was originally written by Maria Gracia P. Gaza, Project Officer, Strategic Research and Planning Services Department.

Ms. Aquilina G. Onesa, Product Development Services (PDS) Director and one of the key people behind the creation of Masikap said that, “The Masikap Program was created to support the growing needs of clients with growing businesses. We have existing clients who specifically expressed their desire for higher loan amounts and individual loans. We see the wisdom in moving or “graduating” clients from the group loan set-up of TKP to the individual loan set-up of Masikap. This movement is an indication of a client’s greater responsibility and capacity in growing and managing their business; it is clearly saying that they are becoming more independent. It is a reality, however, that some clients want to stay in the group out of concern for their co-members, but I believe that “graduating” them to Masikap will actually provide them more opportunities to help and serve their co-members and their larger community.”

On February 3, nine TSPI branches simultaneously and successfully launched the new Masikap Program to qualified existing clients. 

Branch staff and clients dancing to the Masikap Jingle.

Key people from the Head Office from different functions who are part of the Product Development Team were distributed among the pilot branches of Tarlac, Tondo, Taguig, Bacoor, San Pedro, Sariaya and Tayabas, Carmen and Valencia to observe the launch of the respective branches.  The Masikap launching was carefully planned to include not just the product feature orientation but also some games and funfare to keep the prospective clients excited. 

According to Ms. Aby G. Carlos, Training Officer, the launch at Taguig 1 was successful because of the good number of client attendees and the orderly and organized flow of the event proper. Only 100 clients per branch was expected but “119 clients came to the launch at Taguig 1, and 40 expressed their desire to join the program. During our post-event evaluation meeting, 12 out of these 40 applications are already being processed,”she shares.

Client interest in the program was also evident in the streams of questions about the Masikap feature during the Q & A.  Aside from the prompt payment discount feature of the loan, clients were very enthusiastic about the flexible repayment terms based on their business income and cash flows, and that it is an individual loan.

Mr. Erness Emmanuel D. Guinto, Project Officer and member of the Product Development Team, wrote portions of this article.

Nanay Anita Resurrecion with a few of her RTW merchandise.

Her story is a shining example of how hard work, faith and commitment can turn a life around for the better. With heartfelt emotion, she recalls, “Dati, ang laman lang ng bahay namin, radyo, bentilador at maliit na telebisyon. Yun lang. (In the past, our house only had radio, electric fan and a small television. That’s all.)”

In 2004, her sister shared with her the opportunity to start a business through TSPI’s Kabuhayan Program (TKP), but she initially hesitated out of fear that she may not be able to pay the loan back. Her sister, however, was persistent in encouraging her and even offered assistance to help her repay her loan. Her husband who was then working in a tailoring shop convinced her to try starting her RTW business, knowing that she had the sewing capability. Finally in 2004, Nanay Anita borrowed Php 5,000.00 to buy raw materials and other tools (she already had a sewing machine prior to the loan) from TSPI. Nanay Anita began to produce shorts for children and was offered a one-meter store space by an aunt who had a store in the Pasig market. That space became very helpful in building her customer-base.  She sold all her shorts to the market shoppers, most of whom were Nanays. Soon she was able to save up and buy a permanent store space near her home for Php 20,000.00. “Iba kapag may sarili kang puwesto. Mas nakakaipon ka. (it’s different when you have your own space. You are able to save up more),” Nanay Anita says.

Her business steadily grew. From children’s shorts, she began to produce sandos (undershirts), blouses, dresses and jogging pants for children and adults. From two employees, she now has twenty-five full time sewers and cutters. From living in a house with only three pieces of home appliances, she is now living in a furnished apartment and hopes to buy land to build her own home soon.

But like any business, challenges abound in the garments industry. During rainy season, their sales would drop considerably because her customers would rather stay at home than go out to make purchases. Demands from clients for new styles and new cuts test their skills in sewing. Competition is tough in the garments business and this continually pushes Nanay Anita to be ahead of the others.

Nanay Anita understands the value of constantly updating her products. She makes new samples regularly with new styles and designs so her customers have something to look forward to. With the introduction of silkscreen printing (which her husband is currently in charge of), Nanay Anita has expanded her product offering to include it as well. Focus in business is also apparent in the way Nanay Anita conducts her day to day operation. She re-invests 60% of her annual profits back into her business. She also happily shares that she has her husband to thank for being very cooperative and supportive of her business goals since the start. She also understands the value of treating her employees well. She has never fired an employee, even the dishonest ones who steal samples of her products and sells them elsewhere. She talks to them instead and carefully does the inventory of her goods herself. “Hindi sila umaamin, pero nakakausap ko naman sila. Ayaw kong makasakit ng damdamin. Ako na rin ang nag-iingat. Tinututukan ko na lang sila. Tapos nun, nagtatapat na rin ang imbentaryo. (They don’t admit it, but I am able to talk to them. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I myself exercise caution. I watch over them. After that, the inventory of the goods match.)” Her outlook and practices in employer-employee relations may be quite lenient, but it seems to be working for the business’ advantage. She sees the importance of every sewer and cutter in her operation. In fact, to prepare for a bigger volume of orders, she is planning to hire more sewers.

She fervently follows a daily business schedule showing discipline in the way she conducts her affairs. Sundays are delivery days to a public market. Mondays are cloth-buying days and Tuesdays are days for selling in a tiangge (open bazaar or marketplace). These activities ensure Nanay Anita order at work, a steady income and opportunities to widen her network and customer-base.

Through all the ups and downs in managing her small business venture, she remains faithful and devoted to God. She allots time to visit the Antipolo Church thrice a week to pray, and recently started to visit the Quiapo Church as well.

She says that she is very grateful to TSPI because their life as a family improved considerably over the years. Who would have thought that an initial Php 5,000 loan would someday allow her to buy a Ford vehicle for delivery of her products, hire twenty-five employees and buy high-class equipment for her business?

However, more than the opportunity which TSPI opened up for her, it is really Nanay Anita’s values as a person and as an entrepreneur which must be given due recognition. Her story is a fine example of how the big and successful come from the small. Nanay Anita was given a small seed of knowledge, but she showered it with commitment, guarded it with wisdom and tilled it with innovation. Now, her RTW business is a source of livelihood not just for her family but for families of her twenty-five employees. She is constantly drawing strength from God, believing that being a sewer micro-entrepreneur is her mission and that all her hard work will continue to bear fruit. And it is very likely that it will.

Nanay Anita Resurrecion was a semi-finalist in the Maunlad Category of the Citi Micro-entrepreneur of the Year Awards Program 2011.

The Seal of Transparency from MFTransparency in recognition of TSPI's commitment to transparent pricing.

According to Ms. Aquilina G. Onesa, Social and Enterprise Development Services Director, the conference was a back-to-back event with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The first part showed the results of the study conducted by MFTransparency regarding the most transparent programs of lending institutions in the Philippines, in which TSPI’s Palayan Program (TPP), TSPI’s microlending program to rice farmers, ranked first with over 90% rating, the highest amongst the programs submitted by 43 micro-finance institutions (MFIs). Twenty-four out of these forty-three participating institutions are members of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI), the national network of microfinance institutions in the country. This reflects the network’s and the whole industry’s commitment to client protection through transparency pricing. The second part of the event covered updates on transparency initiatives by the BSP.

She said the main message of MFTransparency’s conference, echoed by BSP’s initiatives, is “to promote transparent and responsible pricing”, defined as not just saying to the clients that a particular loan product they wish to avail has a 3% interest per month but of letting them know the other fees they would pay to secure the loan, such as membership fees, insurance fees and savings, among others. The end goal of transparent and responsible pricing is to enable the clients to make informed decisions in securing loans from lending institutions, and for the proper regulation of the players in the micro-finance industry themselves.

MFTransparency is a global initiative working towards accurate and fair pricing in the micro-finance industry through pricing disclosure advocacy, training and education of stakeholders, policy advisory services and cooperation with other like-minded initiatives.

Close to 300 farm leaders and members of the TPP program attended these seminars in 8 different locations in Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Tarlac.

Addressing the crowd of TSPI TPP Client Farmers is Dr. Aurora M. Corales, PhilRice’s Supervising Science Research Specialist. A Soil Analysis Seminar using the Minus One Element Test (MOET) Kit was conducted among TSPI TPP Farmers last November 9 to 11, 2011.

Leading the activity was Dr. Aurora M. Corales, PhilRice’s Supervising Science Research Specialist and Agricultural Program Managers Mylene Salmazan and Jojo Cancino.

The MOET was developed by PhilRice as a method of analyzing the farm soil to determine the nutrient deficiency in irrigated lowland rice soils. The method does not require sophisticated equipment and can be easily done using available materials in their farmland. It is easy to use, with fast and reliable results.

The highlight of the activity was the hands-on approach of the seminar where the farmers were allowed to do the actual field collection, processing and application of kit to the simulated soil pots that they themselves prepared.

This activity is in line with TSPI’s Palayan sa Kaunlaran Program for farmer-clients.

Since 2005, TSPI has provided relatively cheaper rice production financing to small rice farmers.

TSPI, through its microfinance and community development programs, is committed to provide opportunities for the poor to lead self-sufficient, responsible and dignified lives by offering a broad range of services in the area of microfinance and capability-building support. TSPI is a Christian-based, non-government, non-stock microfinance organization established in 1981.

Citi Foundation gift over P1 million to 8 winners, including health and life insurance plus entrepreneurship training

November 23, 2011 – The winners of the 2011 Citi Microentrepreneur of the Year Awards (MOTY) were announced today by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Citi Philippines and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI). Eight microentrepreneurs, including two national winners and two winners each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, bested 140 nominees from all over the country.

Funded by Citi Foundation, the MOTY Awards was launched in 2002 as part of the celebrations for Citi’s 100^th year in the Philippines.  MOTY recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs with assets less than PHP1 million, who have achieved remarkable growth as indicated by employment generation, profits, sales turnover and other enterprise performance measures. Chicken lumpia entrepreneur Carina Gonato of Consolacion, Cebu, and Corazon Bautista who runs an RTW business in Taytay, Rizal, were awarded this year’s national winners.

In his welcome remarks, Citi Country Officer Sanjiv Vohra commented on the record-breaking success of this year’s awards program.  “We received the most number of nominations in our nine-year history, from nearly 40 microfinance institutions, about a dozen of which submitted entries for the first time.  We are very glad that the award continues to attract attention and remains to be very relevant in promoting microfinance in the country.  Our finalists exhibited true courage, vision, and entrepreneurial skill in using their businesses to improve their lives and provide opportunities for their community.”

During the launching in July, BSP Governor Amando Tetangco was the keynote speaker and he said: “In the process of conducting thorough evaluation of thousands of nominees to the Awards, we have witnessed many inspiring success stories of microentrepreneurs who became employers and catalysts for development in their respective communities. Not only have they become employers, many have also mentored their former workers on how to access micro credit to start their own business.”

The Citi MOTY awards program has two categories: the Masikap Awards which recognizes individuals who have set up businesses that are now providing a reliable source of income for their families; and the Maunlad Awards, that recognizes those who have grown their businesses and are now providing employment to others beyond their family circle.

In addition to  RTW manufacturer Bautista, this year’s Masikap Awards were also given to Jocelyn de Guzman of San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija (manufacturer of slippers and sandals); Anastacio Postrero from Bantayan Island, Cebu (seaweed farming); and Danelito Castro of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte (herbal oil manufacturer and distributor).

The top Maunlad Award went to Gonato who produces chicken lumpia, while the island-group winners were Natividad Gabriel of Taytay, Palawan (deep offshore fishing, red grouper culture, dried fish processing); John Cabillon of Estancia, Iloilo (seafood  buying and selling, vehicles-for-hire and sari-sari store owner); and Andresa Javines of General Santos City (manufacturer and supplier of tuna packing materials and gel ice).

The national winners each received P200,000 while the island winners were awarded P100,000 each.  This year, Citi MOTY enhanced the awards to include three-year health and life insurance coverage for all the winners, as well as a grant to attend an entrepreneurship management course in Bayan Academy – both to ensure the sustainability of their businesses.

Tetangco and Vohra both serve as co-chairpersons of the National Selection Committee that determined this year’s winners.  The judges included Philippine Daily Inquirer Chairperson Marixi Prieto, who credits this year’s large turnout of nominees to the growth of the microfinance sector in the Philippines; and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion, who was pleased with the variety of industries that the nominees represented. Fellow judge and Ayala Land, Inc. Chairman Fernando Zobel for his part said, “The quality of this year’s batch of enterprises has never been better.”  Other National Selection Committee members are Ateneo de Manila University Professor Dr. Darwin Yu, former Monetary Board member Antonino Alindogan, Jr., GMA Network Chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon and Entrepreneurs School of Asia president Vivian Tan.

After peddling ready-made chicken lumpia sourced from a local market, Maunlad topnotcher Carina Gonato decided to develop her own recipe and sell the freshly made delicacy to neighbors and friends. Today, Nateck’s Chicken Lumpia has an annual profit of PHP 2.4 million, employs 43 workers, and currently delivers its products not only in Cebu, but also in Negros, Masbate, Surigao, Samar, Zamboanga, Dipolog and even Metro Manila. Gonato partly credits her success to a willingness to listen to suggestions and being always open to improvements.

Another winner in the Maunlad Category, Andresa Javines did not allow her lack of formal education to keep her from becoming a successful microentrepreneur. After years of working in the tuna industry in General Santos Port Area, she ventured into supplying tuna packaging materials. Javines developed an innovative product known as gel ice: a mixture of cornstarch, salt and sea water that works like ice and not only preserves the tuna but also helps to retain its natural flavors. The gel ice caught the attention of two large exporters of sashimi-grade tuna to US, Japan, and Canada whom Javines now counts as regular clients.

Masikap winner Anastacio Postero went from being a simple fisherman to one of Bantayan Island’s most prolific and successful microentrepreneurs. He set up the first sari-sari store in 2004 in the remote town of Doong where he lives and where motorized pump boats remain the main mode of transportation. That initial venture eventually led to two other businesses: danggit manufacturing and seaweed farming. Today, Postero and his family enjoy revenues of over PHP 1 million annually from the three businesses.

Corazon Bautista, a simple seamstress from Taytay Rizal, is this year’s national winner for the Masikap Category. It was a small loan and lots of determination that eventually led to her small Ready-To-Wear business becoming one of Taytay’s leading corporate-wear manufacturers with an annual sales of nearly PHP 4 million. Plans are already underway to expand the business beyond Metro Manila and even to go into export.

This year’s batch of Citi MOTY awardees is a testament to the winning formula of hard work, ingenuity, and microfinancing. Like the winners, thousands of Filipinos have been able to seize unusual opportunities through microfinance.

With the proper funding, these microentrepreneurs have set up thriving businesses that have changed their lives for the better while positively impacting the economy as a whole.

The 2011 Citi MOTY is being supported by Inquirer LIBRE, Inquirer Bandera and Cebu Daily News.

Account Officer Haydee De Guzman found her reason for being through Nanay Andrea.

When I was an Account Officer, I always felt tired because of busy schedules at work. Sometimes the thought of resigning crossed my mind.  For someone who has a college degree, what am I doing here in the slums? Why do I have to exhaust myself? But then I realized God really has a plan for me.

I was in the formation process[1] when I came to Brgy. Agora Phase 1C.  I was able to form a center[2] with 10 members but almost all the neighbors of the group told me not to push through with it.  According to them, I am likely to have an extremely difficult time with the Group. Nanay Andrea was a client in my group, whom most of her co-members consider a swindler. They are just afraid of excluding her from the group because of the bad words that come out of her mouth. I tried everything just so she won’t be able to secure a loan from TSPI but in the end she still got a loan because she was able to answer all the questions of our Branch Manager during their Center Recognition Test (CRT). I just said to myself, “Whatever will be, will be. I am ready to face any problems that may arise.”

As the date of loan release was approaching, I talked to Nanay Andrea and explained I can only approve a maximum of Php 2,500.00 loan for her. I knew that she was hurt but she said she will do everything so that she can settle her payments and her name will not be ruined.

All I’d hear from her were bad words whenever she’d address her co-members, more so when she’s with her gambling buddies. I thought, it’s hopeless for Nanay Andrea to change; this is really who she is. On her second loan cycle, I approved her loan for Php 3,000.00. When she found out that all her other co-members got a higher loan amount, Nanay Andrea reacted negatively.  She was angry and she started cursing all her co-members thinking that they were talking behind her back.

When we had the 25-weeks module, it helped make our meetings become more lively. Nanay Andrea was active in the center.  She even became the point person for following up on her co-members and collecting their payments. Even so, her habits of cursing and gambling remained.

Then the unexpected thing happened.

Since no center officers were present on the day of the loan release, Nanay Andrea volunteered to bring the logbook and go with the fillers[3] to get their loans.  On the day of the center meeting, she said their center’s logbook was missing and she did not know where she left it. Weeks passed and one of my colleagues from the office brought Nanay Andrea’s center logbook. She showed it to me and asked me if the logbook belonged to my center. I was surprised and confirmed that it was the missing logbook.  She responded, “Do you know where my client saw this logbook? In the house where the drug addicts stay. The owner of the house returned it after seeing ‘TSPI’ written on it.”

I didn’t want to believe it at first because I know Nanay Andrea won’t lie to me but then, other members who knew about Nanay Andrea testified that there was one Nanay who availed of a loan and Nanay Andrea borrowed from her just so she could buy drugs. After this incident, I didn’t see Nanay Andrea for weeks and I told the center that she will never be allowed to avail of a loan again because of what she did. I thought about it for many days. Every time I’ll introduce a new topic for discussion I remember Nanay Andrea who often shares and explains during discussions, who curses and gambles. I knew that something was missing and I felt something was wrong in my work.

On my way home one day, Nanay Andrea suddenly approached me and requested to talk. I asked how she was and wanted to know why she was no longer attending the center meetings. I confronted her about the drug issue and asked how she could have done that to me. I told her that I won’t allow her to loan again. I said, “I heard many things about you but I still gave you a chance, but I’m sorry, I won’t let you loan again.”

With her head bowed down, Nanay Andrea replied. “Ma’am, I’m sorry! I wanted to tell you but I was afraid because I knew you’d be angry. Please give me one more chance Ma’am, to loan again. When I joined TSPI, I promised myself that I will do everything so my name won’t be ruined because, in all honesty Ma’am, TSPI is the only MFI that trusted me, that didn’t require a guarantor. You heard many things about me but you still gave me a chance, that’s why I said I will really pay my loan at TSPI. Thank you Ma’am because you came to teach and give loans. I will really change now, Ma’am and I will fix my life and that of my children.”

I cried at that point and even up to now that I am typing these words. Nanay Andrea really changed after that. She would always lead our opening prayer and share about our topics. I know that Nanay Andrea is smart, she was just ruined by her vices. I left them with Nanay Andrea at her 6^th cycle and a loan of Php 11,000.00.

Every time I feel tired and want to give up, Nanay Andrea is my motivation to continue. And it is through her that I found my reason why I am here in TSPI. I am here not just to give loans but to transform other peoples’ lives.