SPECIAL ISSUE

Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc.“Partner for a Progressive Life” July - December 2004

Head Office: KMBI Bldg., 12 San Francisco St., Valenzuela City | (02) 291.1484 to 86 | Fax: (02) 292.2441 | E-mail: kmbi@skyinet.net Vol. 1 No.3

Enlarging the territoryBy ALDY R. DUQUE

ear 2004 for the KMBI can be characterized not only as a year that is full of steps of faith, but also a year of

enlarging its territory. With only seven branches in 2003, God added another 17 branches into the KMBI’s fold, seven were established during the first semester, while another ten on the second. Despite the massive expansion that took place, KMBI continues to acknowledge that it happened only foremost because of God’s grace , and secondly because of its desire to see its vision into realization, - people living in abundance and in right relationship with God and the rest of the creations. The expansion is also KMBI’s response to the call of creating one million jobs in the Philippine network, APPEND, in 2006 by reaching, for its part, 150,000 micro-finance program members or poor Filipino families.

Third quarter storm Like the Philippine government history, the KMBI has its own version of “third quarter storm.” It was on this quarter of 2004 that God stormed the organization with opportunities to open nine more branches within its areas of operation. For Luzon, after Naga and Legaspi branches, KMBI Iriga and Gumaca were birthed out through the leadership of Bicol area manager Vencent Abraham and

Y

the assistance of Ruel de Leon and Sherwin Arcipe, managers of the two branches, respectively. Another branch particularly in San Pablo, Laguna was inaugurated and is now operating with Hazel dela Cruz as manager. The province of Laguna belongs to Calabarzon 2 which is also directed by Mr. Abraham. In Calabarzon 1, two branches were established in the province of Batangas, spearheaded by area manager Carmela Porras. These were Lipa and Batangas City,

“Panagtigum,” which means fellowship, was the theme of KMBI Tagum Unit’s Christmas celebration, held in Tagum City Pavillon on December 11, 2004. It was attended by some 1,700 program members, with Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy as guest speaker. The celebration started with a parade along the streets of Tagum City, headed by the Drum and Bugle Corps of Laureta National High School and escorted by Tagum traffic police officers. KMBI staff and program members from different areas recognized through the colors assigned to each of them followed the parade. It ended at the venue of the event and immediately followed by the planned program itinerary. For his part, Mayor Uy delivered

Turn to page 6 Turn to page 6

City dad joinsPanagtigum 2004By AMOR OÑATE

Baidon Daquit, center leader of center no. 23 in barangay Patadon, reports her group’s input during the participatory rapid assesment initiated by the BDS-Transformation department

I N S I D ERegalo Mula sa Puso ...........2

KMBI in Action ...........3

The Corporate Ladder ...........4

Performance at a Glance ...........5

Know your enemies... ...........7

Just think about this: Do we have enough rest? ...........8

we believe that our vision is, little by little, being put into action, and we are grateful that even just a glimpse of it is happening in our generation,” KMBI Executive Director Rose C. Castro said. At the last minute, the gift-giving project almost seemed impossible to push through because of the occurrences of calamities and unexpected challenges. Naga City was devastated by typhoons Unding and Violeta. Kidapawan was surprised by a military-rebel encounter. San Francisco was threatened by an electric blackout, and other last minute jitters almost hindered its success. But despite the unexpected occurences, the project turned out to be successful. “No amount of obstacles were able to stop us in pursuing this mission of breaking the bondage of selfishness and making love and care prevail. Our volunteers, partner churches, and barangay officials displayed sacrifices not only in terms of material resources, but also of time and energy. Nevertheless, the KMBI as an organization continues to attribute this success to no one but to the Almighty God alone. He deserves all the praises,” Castro concluded.

Aside from uplifting the spirit of giving and sharing among the KMBI family members, the ”Regalo Mula sa Puso” project also aimed to boost the feeling of profusion from its Board of Trustees down to the officers, staff, and program members, as they extend their blessings to the less fortunate commu-nities. During the solicitation and preparation of gifts for distribution, all KMBI program members generously contributed used clothes, shoes, bags, and belts; excess housewares and toys; and surplus business products. Some even managed to donate rice, noodles, sardines, sugar, soap, and other grocery items. Several supporters of KMBI also gave their share in the fulfillment of the project through spending some of their time in sorting, packaging, loading and unloading, and distributing the gifts to the people. It was a classic example of bayanihan. “We always encourage our program members to help themselves and fight poverty, and now here they are, not only helping themselves but also helping others. In this manner,

Regalo Mula sa Puson commemoration of the KMBI’s 18th anniversary and in anticipation of Christmas, a

one-day gift-giving project, the first ever gift-giving venture of the organization, dubbed as “Regalo Mula sa Puso” was held simultaneously all throughout its areas of operation on November 27, 2004. Some 2,000 people from poor families benefited from the organization-wide project. “Regalo Mula sa Puso” was held in different areas, such as Calabarzon 1, Calabarzon 2, Bicol, Caraga, and Southern Mindanao under the supervision of its respective area managers. Some branches, on the other hand, were tapped to sponsor the project on the chosen depressed barangays, such as Central Cavite, Lucena, Naga, San Francisco, and Kidapawan branches. One of the highlights of the program was the distribution of the gathered used items, bags of food and assorted groceries to chosen indigents. In every area, some 400 indigents received gifts – adults and children alike. Spiritual feeding in the forms of short reflection and counseling were also given through the partner churches. The latter part was a simple expression of thanksgiving and get together of KMBI constituents. A parade of production numbers, awarding of

best center houses, and s e l e c t i o n of the most s t u n n i n g G i n a n g KMBI of the day perked the event. Government o f f i c i a l s , m e d i a people, bank m a n a g e r s , and other special guests graced the occasion.

“All goes well for the person who is generous and lends

willingly. He earns an honest living. He will never fail... He is not afraid of bad news. His heart remains secure, full of confidence in the Lord... He

gives freely to poor people. His righteousness continues forever.

His head is raised in honor.”- Psalms 112:5-9

I

Staff of San Francisco branch while preparing the solicited gifts a day before the launching of the project.

By HAZEL CHRISTINE Z. ROSACIA

SPECIAL ISSUE 2004

2

KMB

II.A.

KMB

II.A. (K

MB

I In Action)

KMBI-Caraga staff busy as a bee. The project was hosted by Kidapawan branch (top); KMBI-Bicol staff happily distributing the gifts as hosted by Naga branch (below).

The KMBI-Calabarzon 1 staff while giving gifts to the children in Central Cavite (top); on the same site, beneficiaries lined up, waiting for their turn (below)

Volunteers and program members posed with the KMBI South-ern Mindanao team (top); Below are the Bicol team rendering a Christmas song.

Bicol team dances with the children during the program (top), while the Southern Mindanao team presented their own native dance (below); Caraga staff and volunteers give their best smiles (bottom)

Communi-K

3

SPECIAL ISSUE 2004

4

3RD QUARTER(July - September 2004)

JEANMAR LABANEROGen. Santos Branch

INDICATOR AVERAGE RATING

Client Outreach 332 0.8Loan portfolio (million PhP) 1.17 0.8PAR (%) 0 1Client Turnover (%) 4.84 0.8Loan Administration 4 1Center Management 3 1

AVERAGE RATING 5.4

4TH QUARTER(October - December 2004)

JENETH BINWEKUpper Cavite Branch

INDICATOR AVERAGE RATING

Client Outreach 360 0.9Loan portfolio (million PhP) 1.05 0.7PAR (%) 0 1Client Turnover (%) 3.19 0.9Loan Administration 4 1Center Management 3 1

AVERAGE RATING 5.5

TOP PROGRAM ASSISTANT PERFORMERS

TOTAL NO. OF STAFF(As of December 31, 2004)

DEPARTMENT NO. OF STAFF

MF Operations 462

BDS 2

Support Group 22

TOTAL 486

The Corporate LadderFi

rst

MAGDALENA DE ROXASUpper Cavite Branch

INDICATOR AVERAGE RATING

Client Outreach 362 0.9Loan portfolio (million PhP) 1.12 0.8PAR (%) 0 1Client Turnover (%) 6.79 0.8Loan Administration 4 1Center Management 8 0.8

AVERAGE RATING 5.3

JEANMAR LABANEROGen. Santos Branch

INDICATOR AVERAGE RATING

Client Outreach 344 0.8Loan portfolio (million PhP) 1.28 0.8PAR (%) 0 1Client Turnover (%) 3.38 0.9Loan Administration 4 1Center Management 3 1

AVERAGE RATING 5.5

Sec

ond

MA. FRANCISCA TANUpper Cavite Branch

INDICATOR AVERAGE RATING

Client Outreach 373 0.9Loan portfolio (million PhP) 1.22 0.8PAR (%) 0 1Client Turnover (%) 5.41 0.8Loan Administration 4 1Center Management 1 0.8

AVERAGE RATING 5.3

RACHEL BASIYAGen. Santos Branch

INDICATOR AVERAGE RATING

Client Outreach 337 0.8Loan portfolio (million PhP) 1.18 0.8PAR (%) 0 1Client Turnover (%) 3.9 0.9Loan Administration 3 0.9Center Management 2 0.9

AVERAGE RATING 5.3

Thi

rd

Cont...KMBI receives, fr. p.5because it does not talk of portfolio at risk, number of clients, figures; but of women empowerment and genuine transformation.” “We never aimed for it. We just did our work and God recognized it through OI,” KMBI Executive Director Rosemarie C. Castro replied when asked about the award. The award goes with US$10,000 grant for expanding programs that promote gender equality and for creating a gender policy recording tremendous success in reaching women in poverty and promoting women leadership. Also, an additional gift, the Gender Awards Leadership Scholarship fund of US$3,000 is given for the travel and accommodation expense of KMBI representative to the Global Conference in 2007.

Communi-K

5

of its tireless effort in empowering women in poverty and facilitating holistic transformation. OI particularly gave premium on the testimonies of KMBI’s program members whom they interviewed as part of the selection process. They noticed from the interviewed program members, particular from the southern Philippines, not only economic progress, but also a change in attitude among them through the KMBI success centers. Taking note of the selection criteria, “I think this is our distinctive from other MFIs; aside from providing financial assistance, ours is committed to facilitating holistic transformation in their lives and that speaks of values formation, restored family relationship and a better view of faith in God regardless of religion,” Dr. Gonzales said. She added, “Compared to other recognitions the KMBI had received from OI and other bodies, this award is exceptional

Turn to page 4

BRANCH PERFORMANCE RANKING (4TH Quarter)

RANK TOTAL SCORE BRANCH AREA MO. & YR. OF

INAUG.NO. OF UNITS

CLIENT OUT-

REACH (active)

AVE. NO. of ACTIVE CLIENTS

per PA

LOAN PORT-FOLIO (million

PhP)

PAR(%)

CLIENT TO(%)

FSS(%)

OFC. MGT.

FILE & POLICY ADMIN.

TRANSFOr-MATION

1 18 CENTRAL CAVITE

Calabarzon 1 Apr 2003 2 4316 287.73 16.91 0 7.73 152.56 2.5 2 2.5

2 17.5 METRO DAVAO S. Mindanao Sep 2001 2 4070 290.71 15.01 0 5.85 179.26 3 2.5 2

3 17 GEN. SANTOS S. Mindanao May 1999 3 5991 285.29 23.32 0 8.11 159.52 3 2.5 2.5

4 16 DAVAO PROV. S. Mindanao Mar 2003 2 3973 283.79 14.25 0 7.28 152.91 2.5 2.5 2

5 15 BUTUAN Caraga Sep 2003 2 4081 291.50 15.75 0 11.41 134.88 2.5 2.5 2

6 13.5 UPPER CAVITE Calabarzon 1 Nov 2003 2 4309 307.78 12.42 4.19 4.7 128.76 2 2 2.5

7 10.5 MMSB1 Calabarzon 1 Nov 2001 2 3808 272.00 7.67 3 11.6 150.24 2 1.5 2

Organizational Performance

(As of December 2004)

TOTAL CLIENT OUTREACH: 85,457

AVE. NO. OF CLIENTS PER PA:234

CLIENT TURNOVER: 11.4%

LOAN PORTFOLIO:PHP 232 M

PORTFOLIO AT RISK:0.76%

FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY:116%

Performance at a Glance

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000TOTAL CLIENT OUTREACH

2nd 4th3rdQuarter

100

150

200

250

300

400

500LOAN PORTFOLIO (M Php)

2nd 4th3rdQuarter

150

175

200

225

230

235

240AVE. NO. OF CLIENTS / PA

2nd 4th3rdQuarter

PORTFOLIO AT RISK (%)

2nd 4th3rdQuarter

2

4

6

8

10

12

14CLIENT TURNOVER (%)

2nd 4th3rdQuarter

FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY

2nd 4th3rdQuarter

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

0.10

0.12

105

110

115

120

125

130

135

KMBI receives Gender Excellence award anew By EDWIN C. ROBERTOFor the second time for its service to women and commitment to gender equity and women’s leadership, Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. (KMBI) bagged the Opportunity International’s (OI) Gender Excellence award for the year 2004. The award was received by Dr. Amelia Llenado-Gonzales, BOT Chairman of KMBI, on January 19, 2005 in San Diego, California, USA. KMBI was also OI’s recipient of the same award for the year 2003, which was awarded in Manila, Philippines. Out of various microfinance institutions (MFI) from 36 countries, through the Women’s Opportunity Fund, OI chose KMBI to be its gender excellence recipient because

an inspiring message. He encouraged the program members to be responsible in little things in order for the microfinance institutions, like the KMBI, continue to grow. Other highlights of the celebration include various contests (caroling, dancing, and cheering), Ginang KMBI 2004 pageant, raffle, parlor games and recognition of best program members and center house. Charito Tenebro and Joji Pescador, both mothers, were judged as best program members. The best center

house, on the other hand, was awarded to Area 05 Center 09 of 5th Avenue, Tagum City. Program members were all smile despite the tiresome activities and such result made the KMBI staff fulfilled. One of the program assistants remarked that, “It made us forget all the hardships and difficulties on assigned toil we had encountered after seeing them (the program members) happy.“ Branch manager Orbil S. Driz added, “This activity will not be successful if not because of God’s grace. To God be the glory!”

SPECIAL ISSUE 2004

6

by Michelle Damayo and Danilo Tolentino, respectively. In Mindanao, four KMBI branches were installed during the third quarter. KMBI operations in Mindanao are divided into two areas: Caraga, with area manager Rhanny Barrera, and Southern Mindanao (SM), with area manager Nemwell Arzaga. The new branches in Caraga are located in the municipalities of Compostela Valley and San Francisco. Managers Judith Pabia and Lina May Osorio operate the said branches. For the SM area, two new branches were established in Kidapawan and Digos through the assistance of their managers, Rhodora Ranque and Amelita Andilab. “These expansions, by doing it on our own would be very tiring. But thanks be to God for since it was He who ordered us, it was also He who sustained us,” KMBI Operations Director Edgardo Mercedes said. Asked why in areas with

Cont...Enlarging the territory, from p. 1

insurgency problems, Mercedes replied, “Operating in some areas with insurgency problems like Bicol, Caraga, and Southern Mindanao is not an easy task. But it would not stop us in advancing our objectives. Besides, God has given us the opportunity to expand and we’ve got no other recourse but to grab them. Otherwise, they might slip from our hands.” He added that, “Insurgency problem is partly brought by poverty and by choosing to serve in the areas where God has brought us, will

somehow restore lost hope and dreams of these people.”

New challenge Aside from the opportunity God has allowed to come along the KMBI’s way, the organization realizes the challenge coupled with it, too. Executive director Rose C. Castro is very much aware of the challenge. She explained, “The 24 branches do not speak only of enlarging a territory, it also speaks of managing 500 personnel. A new challenge right now in our hands,

therefore, is how we can effectively mobilize and inspire our people to do the work and efficiently serve some 85,000 program members, and thereby achieve our vision,.” With a new task at hand, all the organization’s departments are now gearing up - enhancing skills, walking extra miles, holding capacity building, entertaining innovative ideas, and the likes - and having expectant hearts that the God who enlarged their territory will also equip them.

Cont...City dad joins, from p. 1

The KMBI Tagum staff bearing the Panagtigum streamer (top); Awarding a raffled gift to one of the winning program members (below)

Program members of KMBI Tagum from different areas on their color-coded attire

The KMBI-Kidapawan team, with branch manager Rhodora Ranque (seated, 3rd from left)

One of the very important principles in war is “Know your enemies.” But this works only if you know your people, too. What is the sense of knowing your enemies if you do not know your own people? Knowing your people helps you put them in proper positions, maximize their potentials to their fulfillment, and work with them in harmony. There are various ways to know people, and one is by knowing their intelligences. Research on human intelligence suggests that every individual possesses multiple intelligences (MI) although level of each intelligence varies. This is the reason some excel in one field while others in another field. Howard Gardner of Harvard University, proponent of MI, has identified eight multiple intelligences a person possesses. He speculates that there may be many more (there are already ten intelligences, to date) yet to be identified. MI has particularly strong ramifications in the workplace, because it identifies people’s different strengths through their intelligences, thus accommodating different people according to their orientation to learning is more successful. They are:

(a) Visual/Spatial, people who learn best visually and organizing things spatially. They like to see

Know your enemies...and your people, toowhat you are talking about in order to understand. They enjoy charts, graphs, maps, tables, illustrations, arts, puzzles, costumes – anything eye-catching;

(b) Verbal/Linguistic, people who demonstrate strength in the language arts: speaking, writing, reading, listening. They have the sensitivity to sounds, structure, meanings, and functions of words and language;

(c) Mathematical/Logical, people who display an aptitude for numbers, reasoning and problem solving. They have the capacity to discern logical and numerical patterns, and the ability to handle change of reasoning;

(d) Bodily/Kinesthetic, people who experience learning best through activity: games, movement, hands-on tasks, building. They have the ability to control one’s body movements, and handle objects skillfully;

(e) Musical/Rhythmic, people who learn well through songs, patterns, rhythms, instruments and music. They have the ability to produce and appreciate different forms of musical expressions;

Some of the words we use are actually acronyms? Here are some examples.

1. RADAR - radio detecting and ranging2. LASER - light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation3. SNAFU - situation normal, all fouled up (army slang)4. SCUBA - self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

So next time, when you look for a laser printer in a computer store, you ask, “Do you have light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation printer?” (Enjoy your day! ) Did yo

u kno

w tha

t...

(f ) Intrapersonal, people who are especially in touch with their own feelings, values and ideas. They have the ability to discriminate one’s own emotions, strengths and weaknesses;

(g) Interpersonal, people who are noticeably people oriented and outgoing, and do their learning cooperatively in groups or with a partner. They have the capacity to discern and respond appropriately to moods, motivations, and desires of other people;

(h) Naturalist, people who love the outdoors, animals, field trips. More than this though, these people love to pick up on subtle differences in meanings. They have the ability to recognize species of plants and animals, and survive in one’s environment.

It pays to know the people around us especially if they are the people working for our goal. It does not only save time, efforts and resources, it also promotes harmonious working relationship. As they say, “People are gifts from God, wrapped in different packages.” Have you unwrapped God’s gifts to you? Try it and you’ll find them wonderful.

Communi-K

7

Communi-K, a quarterly publica-tion of KMBI, derived from the word “communique” - connoting any message, communication, announce-ment, statement, or letter intended to make know to everyone.

Editor: Aldy R. Duque (R&D/Publication Mgr.) Editorial Consultants: Edgardo Mercedes (Operations Dir.), Liza D. Eco (HRD Mgr.), Annalie Concepcion (Finance Mgr.) Contributors: Hazel Christine Z. Rosacia (BDS Ofcr.), Amor Onate, (P.A., Tagum Unit) Editorial Adviser: Rose-marie C. Castro (Exec. Director)

We thank God for all He had done in 2004, and we will continue to thank Him more for all that He is about to do, in and through you and me. Some might wonder, why start it with a closing phrase? We at KMBI always thought of the “ending” and yet we never stop “beginning.” At the start of second semester of this year (right after establishing seven new branches during the first semester), we simultaneously expanded all throughout our five areas of operations in Luzon and Mindanao. Ten new branches were born - two branches in each area. I could still recall everybody’s feelings and reactions during those times: the management team’s continuous strategizing while implementing the plan; the relocated officers and staff’s adjustment to the new environment; staff who were left to stay in the branch to take charge; co-workers and our program members (I guess) who would be missing the replaced staff. Then came the end of the year (but not the plan), I could still feel the feelings and reactions but somehow, this time, they were different. Two months before the closing of the year everybody was so anxious to go back home and rest. Why not! We hit the target! More than 85,000 program members, with 0.76% PAR, outstanding portfolio of PhP232M, with loans from our creditors amounting to PhP214.7M, an operating self-sufficiency rate of 118%, and financial self-sufficiency of 116% - indeed, we’ve got no reason why we could not rest. No doubt, many wanted rest and it was legitimate because our body is subject as well to wear and tear. But what have we become as a person after that long and tedious six months? Have we become better (I hope not bitter) or best? At times we are all tired and worn out...and maybe frustrated or disappointed. Rest, I must agree, was and is necessary. But brethren and fellow workers, just think about this, “We could actually have hit all those numbers while resting.” The reason why we were so tired might be because we were so focused in hitting the numbers. We might have not realize that there was something more than the numbers - that God was (and is) at work in us and with us. I encourage you to look back as to how far we have become, what we are here for, and who really is at work with us. The sovereign Lord says, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him (for they will find rest)” (Isaiah 30:15-18). Thus, my prayer is that in whatever circumstances we are in right now, may we constantly find His rest, and trust that all things work together for our good. Rest, therefore, is understanding that we all have limitations, and beyond these limitations He is the one at work. When God is at work, we can never grow tired and weary, we can only rest under the shadow of His wings. We are so blessed to have you people who are so committed to the vision, mission and objectives of KMBI. Your commitment has served as our inspiration to continuously dream big for our God. And by thinking all of these, I already found rest. I hope you, too. God bless us all!

VISION“To see people living in

abundance with strength-

ened faith in God and in

right relationship with

their fellowmen and the

rest of creation.”

MISSION“To be a sustainable

Christian development

organization contributing

significantly to a poverty-

free and Christ-centered

Philippines.”

CORE VALUESRespect

Integrity

Stewardship

Commitment to the Poor

Discipline

Innovation

Excellence

OBJECTIVE“To reach 150,000

Filipino families

in 2006.”

Do we have enough rest?

Rosemarie C. Castro, Executive Director