Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, PhD
The power of hope, compassion and resilience
December 18, 2024 9:42 am
In a world where achievement is often measured by titles and wealth, there are unsung heroes whose impact is felt in the hearts of communities. Sixty-year-old Elsa de Torres, a microentrepreneur from Barangay Caloocan, Talisay, Batangas, is one such figure.
SineMaya Film Festival
December 15, 2024 4:00 pm
Last week, I watched 16 short films created by microfinance and social development organizations across Southeast Asia. These films – submitted as entries to the 2024 SineMaya Community Film Festival – are based on the real-life experiences of ordinary people, documenting their inspiring journeys of resilience, hope, and empowerment.
Making people’s lives better
December 08, 2024 11:26 pm
Decades ago, I started my microfinance journey by providing credit to landless rural women for enterprise and community development, with a holistic vision of fighting poverty. I have seen firsthand how microfinance can improve people’s lives. By offering a myriad of financial and social services, microfinance institutions (MFIs) do not only help poor vulnerable households address their immediate needs. They provide access to resources that enable people to transform their lives in the long-term.
Beyond resilience
December 01, 2024 4:12 pm
December is here. Even as we look forward to the Christmas season, many are still reeling from the devastation caused by the recent round of typhoons that visited the country. Typhoons Nika, Ofel, and Pepito caused almost ₱2 billion-worth of damages to agriculture and infrastructure, affecting 1.8 million people and forcing 453,000 to evacuate their homes. This is heartbreaking, coming in the wake of Typhoons Kristine and Leon, which affected 2.4 million families and damaged more than ₱7 billion worth of infrastructure and agricultural products. More than a hundred people died.
Microinsurance: A critical safety net
November 24, 2024 4:07 pm
The past weeks have been challenging for millions of Filipinos, especially the vulnerable clients of microfinance institutions (MFIs). At least five strong typhoons affected more than 500,000 families in areas where we operate, and as was our wont, we conducted relief operations to help affected communities.