by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 8, 2018 | Business
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. and Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed jointly announced the launch of the 16th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) during the recently held annual conference of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI).
Since its inception in 2002, the CMA awards program, a partnership among BSP, Citi Philippines and MCPI, with funding support from Citi Foundation, has been steadfast in its commitment towards recognizing entrepreneurs who have beat the odds, lifting themselves and others out of poverty. The awards also recognize the strong support from microfinance institutions as key partners, underscoring the role these organizations play in financial inclusion and enterprise development.
Nestor Espenilla, Jr., BSP Governor
In his keynote speech, governor Espenilla took note of how digital technology has made an impact in the development of microfinance in the country. “The digital revolution is fundamentally reshaping the financial inclusion landscape and traditional financial value chains,” he said. “Rapid digital innovations in financial technologies have led to the emergence of more dynamic business models.”
“Amidst all the talk of technology and disruption, it is only appropriate that we continue to showcase inspiring stories through the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards, which has served as a vehicle for inspiring microentrepreneurs nationwide to achieve greater heights,” says Espenilla.
The event saw the introduction of the commemorative book “From Modest Dreams to Microentrepreneurial Triumphs,” which shares success stories of past CMA winners, inspiring tales of winning against adversity through hard work and perseverance.
Aftad Ahmed, Citi Philippines CEO
In his remarks, Citi’s Ahmed said: “The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards are about the passion, energy, and commitment of microentrepreneurs who want to do better for themselves and their families. At Citi, we are proud to help people pursue their dreams because we are committed to making a difference in the communities where we live and work.”
Governor Espenilla and Aftab Ahmed serve as co-chairpersons of the CMA National Selection Committee. Other members include industry and community leaders such as:
- Ayala Corporation president Fernando Zobel de Ayala;
- RFM Corporation president and CEO Jose Ma. Concepcion III;
- GMA Network, Inc. chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon;
- former Philippine Daily Inquirer chairperson Marixi Rufino-Prieto;
- DTI secretary Ramon Lopez; SPARK! Philippines trustee Imelda Nicolas;
- SM Investments Corporation vice chair Teresita Sy-Coson;
- Voyager Innovations, Inc. president Orlando Vea;
- National MSME Development Council-Mindanao Private Sector representative Mary Ann Montemayor; and
- University of the Philippines Diliman chancellor Dr. Michael Tan.
The awards are open to microenterprises with business assets up to PhP3 million. The award categories are Microentrepreneur of the Year Award, regional awardees from the three major island groups (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao), Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year, and special awards for agri micro-business, community leadership, and green/sustainable business.
The national winner of the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards will receive PhP200,000 while the three regional awardees, the youth awardee, and special awardees will each get PhP100,000. The loan officers and MFI branches of each awardee are also given a cash incentive of PhP10,000. Semi-finalists will receive a cash incentive of PhP10,000.
In addition to cash prizes, long-term sustainability of the winning microenterprises is of vital importance, thus, entrepreneurship training and mentoring is also provided at the Citi Microenterprise Development Center.
About Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is the central bank of the Republic of the Philippines. It was established on July 3, 1993 pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the New Central Bank Act of 1993.
The BSP took over from the Central Bank of Philippines, which was established on January 3, 1949, as the country’s central monetary authority.
The BSP is committed to promote and maintain price stability, a stable financial system, and efficient payment and settlement system, conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy.
Since 2000, the BSP has played a key role in increasing access to financial services to the entrepreneurial poor by mainstreaming microfinance in the banking sector. In 2007, the BSP embraced the goal of financial inclusion as a way of bringing the financial system closer to all Filipinos, especially to the financially underserved and unserved.
The overall vision is to build an inclusive financial system where there is effective access to a wide range of appropriate financial products and services for all filipinos. The Philippines is known for having one of the best regulatory frameworks for microfinance, and as a global leader in terms of having a conducive environment for financial inclusion.
About Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation.
About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.
Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at:
About Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc.
The Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) is the national network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and support organizations in the Philippines advocating sustainable, innovative, and client-responsive solutions to poverty in the country.
MCPI is currently comprised of 61 members (48 MFIs, 2 regional networks, and 11 support organisations) which account for 80 percent of the microfinance sector in the Philippines. Its key programs include advocacy, capacity building for MFIs, social performance management and client protection in microfinance, knowledge management, and network development.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 1, 2018 | Lifestyle
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It is filled with moments of love, laughter, and good memories. And the holidays wouldn’t be complete without heartwarming presents!
Whether you are getting a gift for your secret Santa or family, get something that will make them feel appreciated. Here are some tips to choose the perfect holiday gift to create meaningful #ChristmaSMoments:
Make a gift guide.
A list of names and gift suggestions makes shopping a lot easier. Put a lot of thought into what you are giving whom to come up with the perfect idea!
Plan your shopping trip.
Decide on what stores to visit. Save yourself a lot of time and effort by to shopping in places with a wide selection of merchandise like SM Supermalls.
Keep an eye out.
Look through the prospective recipients’ social media accounts and pay attention to their posts. They might be dropping hints about what they want for Christmas. Scroll through and you will likely find at least one that says “NEED.”
Be creative.
Before buying a present, think hard if he/she will appreciate the gift. Whether grand or simple, what matters is that you put a lot of love and effort into your gift. Remember that gift-giving is about sharing a little piece of yourself with others.
Have fun.
After weeks of looking for the perfect gift for everyone on your list, let them know how much you appreciate them as you hand them their presents. After all, Christmas is all about giving with love, without asking for anything in return.
Be someone’s Santa this holiday season by getting him/her the perfect gift from SM Supermalls!
For exclusive news about SM Supermalls
- visit www.smsupermalls.com
- follow SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
- get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through SM’s Viber Public Chat
Tweet your thoughts, upload and share your photos about your memorable moments at SM, then use its official hashtag #EverythingsHereAtSM
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 22, 2018 | Awards and Competitions
Kicking off at Baguio City last July, Shell Bike Fair wraps up this year’s festivities with a bang this Saturday, September 22 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City.
The biker community in the Philippines has grown exponentially as more and more riders consider two-wheeled vehicles as a more practical and convenient mode of transport. Based on the latest statistics from LTO, the number of registered motor vehicles in the Philippines has grown to 10.5 million as of 2017.
Pilipinas Shell, a reliable partner of the biker community, in making their rides better celebrates the courage and resilience of bikers as they take their daily journeys despite the difficulties that they face in weaving through obstacles on the road.
Mark Malabanan, Shell V-Power Brand Manager
“This day is really to express how grateful we are for the support that we received from the Filipino biking community,” said Shell V-Power Brand Manager, Mark Malabanan. “As our theme says, together we ride stronger. We are honored to be chosen as their partner on the road, being there with them through the years. And, as we have for more than a hundred years, Pilipinas Shell continues to strive to make life’s journeys better for all motorists.”
Participants were treated to special offers from Shell and event sponsors as well as exciting games and booth activities. Performances by Rico Blanco, Rocksteddy, and other local acts also rocked the event alongside celebrity guests Daiana Menezes, Yam Concepcion, and Phoebe Walker.
Five winners each brought home scooters or motorcycles that were raffled off as major prizes:
- Honda CBR150,
- Yamaha Mio i125, and
- Suzuki Raider J115.
The biker community was also given the chance to express their creativity through the Modified Bike and Helmet Design contests.
The highlight of the day was the announcement of the big winner of Shell Outriders: the nationwide search for the best bike club.
A total of 17 finalists representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were picked out through careful screening of hundreds of entries received over the past two months. The chosen clubs set up creative displays at the convention hall to showcase their love for riding and how they exhibit personal and social courage. The champions received a cash prize of PHP 100,000.00 and fuel vouchers worth PHP 50,000.00.
Lorrie Ramirez, Shell Advance Brand Manager
“We put up this search because we want to recognize bike clubs who exemplify the brand values and ideals of Shell. We were amazed to see how passionate they are for what they do and how they push to continue to outride anything.” said Shell Advance Brand Manager, Lorrie Ramirez.
This year’s Shell Bike Fair was made possible by Shell Advance and Shell V-Power, led by their passion to be the most reliable partners on the road. As a global leader in power and energy, Shell continually works to deliver smarter products and cleaner energy solutions.
Shell Advance motorcycle & scooter oils and Shell V-Power premium fuels work together in providing complete engine protection and world-class performance and efficiency on the road. With these, riders are empowered to outride the challenges that they encounter on the road.
For more information, visit www.shell.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 14, 2018 | Discounts, Sales, and Giveaways
Good news to all fashionistas and fashion enthusiasts! Citi, in partnership with the SSI Group Inc., will be hosting a Big Fashion Sale happening at the Glorietta Activity Center. Shop for the latest fashion trends and get up to 70% off your favorite premium fashion brands like Marks & Spencer, Gap, Samsonite and more. Plus, enjoy 0% Citi PayLite up to 6 months.
SSI’s Big Fashion Sale will be exclusive to Citi credit cardholders from September 17 to 19, 2018. It will open to the public from September 20 to 24, 2018. To know more about this exciting offer, visit www.citibank.com.ph/bfs.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 6, 2018 | Advocacy
The happiness in giving – the Discovery Shores Boracay team are all smiles as they help the Ati community in Aklan to have access to clean water through their project #TogetherForWater.
The Discovery Leisure Company Inc.’s (TDLCI) group of hotels and resorts — among them Club Paradise Palawan, Discovery Shores Boracay, Discovery Primea Makati, Discovery Suites Ortigas, and Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay — has raised Php 200,000 each for their respective neighboring indigenous communities.
Clean water donations
Today, this life-changing partnership with international NGO Waves For Water has seen the donation of:
- 60 water filters in Sitio Camanga, Coron, Palawan;
- 60 water filters in Sitio Carla, Malay, Aklan;
- 30 water filters and two 1,000-liter tanks as a rainwater harvesting system in Sitio Suha, Norzagaray, Bulacan; and
- 60 water filters in Sitio Yangka, Capas, Tarlac.
TDLCI’s chief operating officer Jun Parreño said, “Once we’ve covered all our beneficiaries’ basic water requirements, we’ve made a commitment to consistently visit them to address their other needs. We’re here to stay for them. That is what Discovery’s ‘Service That’s All Heart’ is all about.”
For more information on TDLCI’s #TogetherForWater project, and to take part of this laudable initiative, please visit https://bit.ly/discoveryadvocacy.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is the central bank of the Republic of the Philippines. It was established on July 3, 1993 pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the New Central Bank Act of 1993.
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.
The Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) is the national network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and support organizations in the Philippines advocating sustainable, innovative, and client-responsive solutions to poverty in the country.
You must be logged in to post a comment.