The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) recently launched the CMA Town Hall series to celebrate the achievements of microentrepreneurs recognized by the program.
The first town hall was held in Siniloan, Laguna to recognize 2012 CMA Luzon Regional Winner Milagros Hiyas with friends and representatives from her microfinance partner, Tulay sa Pag-unlad, Inc. (TSPI) in attendance. Hiyas is a rattan handicraft manufacturer in Mabitac, Laguna.
Funded by Citi Foundation, the CMA is a partnership between Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Citi Philippines and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. The annual program seeks to recognize outstanding Filipino microentrepreneurs who have improved their lives as well as their communities through entrepreneurship.
Aside from cash prizes, the CMA grants winners with three-year microinsurance coverage and access to entrepreneurship training courses at the Citi Microenterprise Development Center at Bayan Academy.
Celebrating Success
The CMA town hall serves as a homecoming celebration for CMA winners. This also allows the winners’ families, friends and community members to partake in their achievement.
(From left) Citi Corporate Affairs Director Aneth Lim and TSPI Loan Officer Joenalyn Nanales flank 2012 CMA regional awardee for Luzon Milagros Hiyas during a town hall celebrating her win. Hiyas’ handicrafts are featured in the background.
According to Citi Corporate Affairs Director Aneth Lim, “The 2012 CMA winners were already awarded last December in Manila but we felt that each individual needs to be recognized in their own hometown. Through the CMA town halls, we are able to highlight the achievements of each CMA winner who can then celebrate their success with their family and community. We hope that by bringing the awards program to the winner’s hometown, we will inspire more Filipinos to partner with microfinance institutions and take proactive solutions to improving their lives through microenterprise.”
CMA regional winner Hiyas transformed the trade of duyan (cradle) weaving she inherited from her uncle into a production of furniture and other handicrafts made of rattan, abaca and bamboo. The success of her business allowed her to provide income for her family and offer employment opportunities among members of her community. She has also become a valued adviser to those who want to learn the trade.
Inspiring Others
Ma. Stella Escuadro, Southwest Regional Head of TSPI, shared that “microentrepreneurs like Milagros serve as an inspiration for others to achieve more in their business endeavors. TSPI is a microfinance institution that gives its members business opportunities through small loans while teaching them to live spiritually fulfilled lives. The CMA has been a great encouragement to both microentrepreneurs and microfinance institutions.”
In addition to the town hall series, the CMA also introduced the Alumni Network in 2012 to serve as a forum for all awardees to share their success stories and motivate one another to persevere in their own businesses.
At the first town hall in Laguna, 2011 CMA winner Corazon Bautista, also a client of TSPI, was present to show support for Hiyas. Bautista’s outstanding story of success in the ready-to-wear business showed many microentrepreneurs that with discipline and determination, one can thrive in their chosen trade.
More CMA town halls were held across the country for the rest of 2012 CMA winners. National winner Floraiwin Cainglet was hailed in Iloilo for her use of innovative technologies including an automatic feeder for swine and use for biogas that reduced their operating costs as well as increased productivity. She started with two piglets in 2004, and now manages a P2.5 million business.
Visayas winner Abella de Dios was feted in Cebu, while Mindanao winner Rabia Mangumpig (Mindanao) was honored in Cotabato City. Abella’s burger joint has become a full blown buffet bar and restaurant with as many as 15 workers during peak season, while Rabia’s dress shop for Muslim brides has grown to a P2.3 million enterprise.
Special awardees for social innovation, Marilyn Fajardo and Lenieflor Ico, also showed remarkable drive and success starting with almost nothing. Marilyn was selling cosmetics and now owns a fleet of pedicabs with 41 drivers, many of whom are ex-convicts that she wanted to give a second chance at improving their lives. Lenieflor had only P100 in capital when she began her icing flower candies business, and now enjoys sales of more than P3 million. Fajardo’s town hall was held in Antipolo, while Ico was toasted in Nueva Vizcaya.