News

KMBI, KDFI Visit ASKI for Learning Exchange

Leaders from KMBI and KMBI Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI) embarked on an exposure visit to Alalay Sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI) on April 10-11, 2025 in Cabanatuan City. The two-day learning experience aimed to deepen their understanding of ASKI’s development work and explore best practices that could inform and inspire the organization's own initiatives.

On the first day of the visit, participants were introduced to the organizational structure and the synergistic relationship among the entities operating under the ASKI umbrella. The session highlighted ASKI's journey in forming the ASKI Foundation, including strategic transitions and challenges encountered along the way. Participants gained valuable insights into how ASKI managed staff secondments, mobilized funding for projects, and launched initiatives like the Community Organizing for Empowerment Program (COEP).

In addition to organizational insights, participants gained a comprehensive overview of the services offered by the ASKI Foundation. This included efforts in product development, productization, donor management, and building community relations, and compliance with regulations.

On the second day, KMBI and KDFI leaders explored ASKI’s programs for staff and client development, as well as practices in curriculum design and institutional performance measurement. A key feature of the day was an open Q&A session and casual discussions with the leadership of ASKI Skills and Knowledge Institute, Inc. (ASKI-SKI) where participants learned about the transitions involved in establishing the institute and the strategies used to sustain it.

The exposure visit served as a rich learning exchange, providing KMBI and KDFI with practical knowledge and inspiration drawn from the best practices and experiences of ASKI Foundation, Inc. and ASKI-SKI.

KMBI Operation Leaders Complete Leadership and Coaching Training with BagoSphere

Twenty (20) leaders from KMBI’s Credit Operations Group recently completed a two-part leadership and coaching training program in partnership with BagoSphere, held at the KMBI Panay Conference Hall in Quezon City. The sessions, conducted on March 3–5 and April 7–8, 2025, were designed to strengthen participants' critical thinking, communication, and coaching skills.

During the first leg, leaders engaged in self-assessment and goal-setting activities, explored key leadership and coaching concepts, and took part in practical exercises and mock coaching sessions to enhance their effectiveness. Afterward, they applied their learning in real-world coaching scenarios within their areas of operation.

The second leg focused on evaluating their coaching performance, refining leadership capabilities, and developing individual Coaching Plans to support long-term implementation.

This initiative underscores KMBI and BagoSphere’s commitment to fostering a culture of strong leadership and continuous development, with more training batches planned in the coming months.

KMBI Empowers Leaders through Workshop with BagoSphere

KMBI reaffirmed its commitment to leadership development with a three-day workshop attended by 20 key leaders from the Credit Operations Group. The training, held from March 3 to 5, 2025 at the KMBI Panay Conference Hall, was spearheaded by KMBI's Human Capital Department and facilitated by the Training and Advanced Education Department of the KMBI Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI), in partnership with BagoSphere, a leading provider of human capability development programs.

The leadership workshop covered goal-setting, self-assessment, critical thinking, effective communication, and hands-on coaching sessions. Designed to foster a culture of high performance and succession, the program aims to equip KMBI leaders with the necessary skills to drive organizational growth and change.

A key focus of the initiative was aligning personal purpose with KMBI’s vision and mission. Participants engaged in exercises on effective coaching, delegation, problem-solving, and decision-making—essential skills for fostering a positive work environment and developing future leaders.

KMBI recognizes that people are its greatest assets, and leadership enhancement and development is key to its long-term success. To strengthen its coaching culture, the organization formalized its partnership with BagoSphere through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on December 9, 2024. This collaboration seeks to address challenges in succession planning, performance management, and employee retention by providing leaders with the tools to navigate a rapidly evolving workforce landscape.

KMBI Elects New Corporate Officers and Trustees in Annual General Membership Meeting

In accordance with its By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation, KMBI held its Annual General Membership (AGM) Meeting on March 1, 2025 at the Panay Conference Hall in Quezon City.

During the meeting, a new set of corporate officers was elected to lead KMBI in fulfilling its mission of bringing holistic transformation in the lives of microentrepreneurs nationwide. The newly elected officers are:

• Mr. Sergio G. Edeza – Chairman
• Mr. Sebastian C. Quiniones Jr. – Vice-Chairman
• Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez – President
• Mr. Gary J. Jamora – Corporate Secretary
• Ms. Victoria Esperanza “Perry” Z. Cartera – Corporate Treasurer

The Board of Trustees includes:

• Dr. Rodolfo P. Estigoy
• Bishop Jose D. Dalino
• Dr. Virginia P. Juan (newly elected)
• Dr. Hemmady S. Mora (newly elected)

Dr. Juan is the President and CEO of Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development (APPEND), a network of Microfinance NGOs of which KMBI is a pioneer member. She also served as a Trustee of KMBI for various terms. Dr. Mora is the a former Dean of the College of Communication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She entered KMBI as a Corporate Member in 2023.

The newly elected officers and board members will solidify KMBI’s commitment to steering the organization towards financial inclusion by reaching out to more people and communities and giving them wider access to financial and non-financial services.