JAIME ARISTOTLE B. ALIP, PhD
Ellenita Mariano, an entrepreneur from Samar opened a store in August 2013 to help support her family. When the business took off, she thought of putting some savings aside, the reason why she joined CARD MRI in October of that year. To its women members and clients, *CARD is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of poor and marginalized women. (See below)
Unfortunately, super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) ravaged the region a month later. And along with many others, Ellenita lost her home and business, almost everything she owned. She, however, did not lose hope. As long as her family was together, Ellenita thought she’d be able to pick herself up and rise from the tragedy. Her conviction was affirmed when she got the proceeds of her CARD microinsurance. Ellenita was surprised to receive insurance benefits amounting to 9,500 pesos as a new member. Her spark of hope rekindled; she used the amount to start all over.
Armed with courage, hard work, and a healthy dose of positivism, she found her footing, and her business grew. Taking out microfinance loans from CARD, she expanded, buying a truck that enabled her to bring her goods to neighboring “barangays” to supply their needs while they made sales. Soon, she employed her neighbors, even giving young students part-time jobs on weekends to help pay for schooling. Her store became a hub of economic activity, bringing hope to the community in the wake of the typhoon’s devastation.
When the Covid 19 pandemic struck in 2020, Ellenita’s store, now a grocery, became a major source of food and other essential community needs when lockdown restrictions limited people’s movements to their surroundings. In this, Ellenita always found ways to give back to the community, always volunteering and giving donations to support civic activities. Ellenita herself became a source of hope to many in these desperate times. ‘Unfortunate events can also be windows of hope and opportunities,’ Ellenita says.
Grace Dalisay, another CARD member from Batangas, saw a creative business opportunity during the pandemic. As Covid 19 forced birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries to a limitation, her family explored the idea of a car trunk surprise for a practical, fun, and safe celebration within the comforts of home.
Grace’s family availed of the Drive Ur Wheels car loan of 1m from CARD SME Bank. This full-fledged thrift bank provides financial assistance, microinsurance, and other community development programs. Touched by this blessing, Grace says, ‘Thank you to CARD SME Bank for giving us a chance to own a car that we never dream of using for our business. With the grace of God, we never lacked anything! For this, I am so grateful!’
Herma Cagada, a flower shop owner from Agusan, thought the pandemic would end her dreams, especially when the lockdown was declared and all the shops, including hers, were forced to close. Little did she know that ornamental plants would become more popular with people. With the rise of ‘plantitas’ and ‘plantitos’ (small plants), she became even more focused on her flower business.
She dreams of expanding her shop and gaining more customers from other parts of Mindanao, including Davao, Surigao, and Bukidnon. Through CARD, Herma secured significant capital for her flower shop. ‘Yes, there will be times when we can’t get customers, but those are the times when the Lord teaches us to wait patiently. The time will come when more people will come to patronize our business.’
Ellenita, Grace, and Herma represent the CARD members – they are unselfish, brave, and resilient! They exhibit women’s solid and unwavering spirit, who CARD helps break boundaries that hamper the road to recognition and success.
*CARD MRI is a social development organization composed of 21 mutually reinforcing institutions that share the same mission of eradicating poverty in the Philippines. Founded in 1986 by a group of 15 rural development workers led by Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, CARD MRI is committed to empowering the unprivileged communities in the country by providing them access to financial services, microinsurance products, health, education, livelihood, and other capacity-building services that will transform them into responsible citizens for their community and the environment.
From its humble beginning in 1986, CARD MRI has evolved as a leader in the microfinance industry, offering financial and non-financial services. CARD MRI has received several prestigious awards from local and international institutions because of its consistently outstanding performance in eradicating the vicious cycle of poverty. One of which is the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 2008.
Contact information
Marilyn Manila
CARD MRI Head Office Address: 20 M.L. Quezon Street, City Subdivision, San Pablo City 4000, Laguna, Philippines
Telephone Number: (049) 562 4309
Website: www.cardmri.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CARDMRIOfficial