FROM THE MARGINS This is Holy Week, a time for us to celebrate the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection. Like many Filipinos, I am taking a step back from the usual grind to reflect on how to be a good Christian in today’s world. As I look back on my journey as a poverty eradication advocate,...
FROM THE MARGINS Religious organizations have been providing humanitarian services for a long time, aided by faith-based institutions that demonstrate the capacity-building dimension of faith to help the poor and the marginalized. In the Philippines, the SEDP-Simbag sa Pag-Asenso, Inc. is a prime...
FROM THE MARGINS March is Women’s Month. Since 1988, the Philippines has dedicated March to celebrating women’s achievements and raising awareness about domestic violence, discrimination, and other issues facing Filipino women. March 8 is also International Women’s Day. The Philippines holds...
FROM THE MARGINS The values of shared wealth and people participation distinguish the Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative (K-Coop) from other microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country. K-Coop, which evolved into a cooperative from a microfinance NGO, turned seven...
FROM THE MARGINS Last Jan. 24, I attended the general assembly of the Kabalikat Para Sa Maunlad Na Buhay, Inc. (KMBI), a faith-based microfinance non-government organization. This was their first face-to-face annual membership meeting since the pandemic. Some 170 field-based and head office staff...
FROM THE MARGINS There is much optimism after news of the economy’s robust growth in the last quarter of 2022 came out. The challenge now is sustaining this and ensuring that growth trickles down to the poor. After all, just a few weeks ago, the SWS reported that 51 percent of Filipino families...
FROM THE MARGINS January is National Microinsurance Month. Microinsurance is crucial to financial inclusion and has immense social and economic benefits because it provides poor people with safety nets to help them cope with unexpected shocks. Its growth was facilitated by the Insurance Commission...
FROM THE MARGINS I have a deeper appreciation of agricultural microfinance after my recent visit to Bacolod, where I met with sugar farm workers and beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). I also had the opportunity to commune with officers of the Negros Women for...
FROM THE MARGINS My visit to Bacolod last week brought back memories of my days with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). I worked with the corporate-led social development foundation from 1978 to 1987, initially tasked to manage a demonstration farm in Laguna to show that a farmer...
FROM THE MARGINS New Year’s Day is the most celebrated holiday. But it is also a day of introspection. On this day, people remember the achievements and challenges of the outgoing year, and look forward to new beginnings promised by the new year. As 2022 closes, I also found myself reflecting on...
FROM THE MARGINS Today, we return to work after all the Christmas shopping, gift-giving, parties and get-togethers. I am sure some are still feeling holiday hang-overs, while others are wishing that Christmas would last for just a little bit longer. But is Christmas over now that all the...
FROM THE MARGINS Some good news! Our employment and unemployment rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels based on recent PSA data. The country’s employment rate reached 95.5 percent in October with 47.11 million employed Filipinos, a significant jump from the 43.82 million employed in October...
