FROM THE MARGINS Like weavers of old, microfinance players are documenting the minutiae of their everyday lives into interconnecting stories of hope that build a tapestry of how microfinance transforms lives and communities. The SineMaya Community Film Festival has catalyzed the microfinance...
FROM THE MARGINS Congratulations to the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) for the successful holding of its annual conference at the Manila Hotel last Aug. 15-16. It was a momentous occasion, coinciding with the celebration of MCPI’s 25th anniversary. The event brought...
FROM THE MARGINS Young people’s energy and creativity never cease to inspire me. My last two articles featured three young Filipino entrepreneurs from poor families who succeeded in establishing their own businesses. Many young people from diverse backgrounds are now choosing to become...
FROM THE MARGINS Last week, I wrote about how small businesses serve as incubators for innovation and creativity, propelled by entrepreneurial Millennials and Gen-Zs who are changing our business landscape. I shared the story of 27-year-old Ciriaco Villagonzalo Jr. from Davao, who successfully put...
FROM THE MARGINS Entrepreneurship is crucial to economic growth. Not only are micro-small-and-medium enterprises (MSMEs) the backbone of the economy. Small businesses also serve as incubators for innovation and creativity, especially from entrepreneurial millennials and Gen-Zs, with their...
FROM THE MARGINS Living in the moment is a popular mantra these days. People often say, ‘seize the day’ or ‘focus on the present.’ That is well and good, but I find bouncing from day to day, wrapped up in schedules and juggling modern living too frantic. I tend to balance reflection...
FROM THE MARGINS Bad debts are called non-performing loans (NPL) in the financial industry. It describes a loan that has not been repaid in accordance with the agreed upon terms for a specified period, usually around 90 days. An NPL may involve missed installment payments or complete failure to...
FROM THE MARGINS I am very happy that people nowadays, especially the youth, are supporting social businesses that pursue social development objectives and not just profits. Social business is aligned with my life’s work, which is social and financial inclusion via microfinance. It is...
FROM THE MARGINS There is nothing more inspiring than stories of microfinance women-clients transforming their lives for the better. Narratives of “nanays” starting small businesses from microfinance loans, improving their families’ well-being and contributing to their communities’ economic...
FROM THE MARGINS In another win for Philippine financial inclusion, the latest data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed that insurance contributions from low-income people hit ₱13.53 billion in 2023, up by 17.35 percent from ₱11.53 billion in 2022. The increase was driven by higher...
FROM THE MARGINS Yesterday, we celebrated Fathers’ Day to honor our fathers or father figures, grandfathers, uncles, mentors or community leaders who have provided or are providing paternal guidance and making a positive impact in our lives. I thank my wife, children, grandchildren,...
FROM THE MARGINS It has been weeks since I met with the Filipino community in Bahrain, but until now, their warm welcome and inspiring stories fill me with hope. Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are real heroes – sacrificing for their families and sending remittances that for many years had...
