FROM THE MARGINS Christmas is just around the corner, and as always, I love the parols that currently adorn the windows in my neighborhood. The blessed holiday has many symbols, but the parol really is the quintessential Filipino Christmas statement. It is humble and bright, reminiscent of...
FROM THE MARGINS People often say that knowledge is power. This is true, but I believe that real power lies in the sharing of knowledge for the benefit of many. This is important, especially for the microfinance sector which targets vulnerable groups that usually do not have sufficient...
FROM THE MARGINS There is a line from the Broadway musical Hamilton that I really like. In his final soliloquy, Alexander Hamilton says, “Legacy. What is legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” This profound statement reminds me of Bro. James Dunne, SJ, beloved...
FROM THE MARGINS Digitalization accelerates financial inclusion for both microentrepreneurs and microfinance institutions (MFIs). Digital tools enable micro-small-and-medium-enterprises (MSMEs) to broaden their market base and operate more efficiently. MFIs embark on digitalization to improve their...
FROM THE MARGINS Last Nov. 11, I attended the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF) awarding ceremonies with my wife, Annie and our young granddaughter, Margarett. Dubbed as the Nobel Prize of Asia, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is bestowed on individuals who embody “greatness of spirit and...
FROM THE MARGINS Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona, Jr. has announced that 65 percent of Filipino households now have bank accounts. Account ownership is a basic indicator of financial inclusion and this jump in account penetration, from 29 percent in 2019, is a big...
FROM THE MARGINS Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta Platforms once said: “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” This brings to mind one of the best woman-leaders I have met, Silvida “Salve” Reyes-Antiquera,...
FROM THE MARGINS With three non-working holidays, this will be a relatively quiet week for many Filipinos. All Saints’ Day – celebrated to remember all saints and martyrs throughout Christian history – and All Souls’ Day – to commemorate those who have passed away – are just around the...
FROM THE MARGINS The Filipino saying goes, “Matibay ang walis palibhasa’y nakabigkis.” Literally, “a broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound,” the proverb extols the virtue of unity. These days, when people tend to focus more on individual strengths rather than...
FROM THE MARGINS Civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Abundia Manabes, former president of the first microinsurance mutual benefit association (mi-MBA) in the country, agrees. Her experiences with the...
FROM THE MARGINS I would like to begin this last article on the best practices of microinsurance mutual benefit association (MBA) by sharing the words of Aristeo Dequito, the managing director of the country’s biggest microfinance network. Highlighting the importance of client empowerment, he...
FROM THE MARGINS I had the privilege of joining the Microinsurance MBAs Association of the Philippines (MiMAP) in meeting Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado last Sept. 21. We were very encouraged to hear the good Commissioner’s support of microinsurance and financial inclusion. We had a...
