News

KMBI, KDFI Host 31st APPEND Leadership Conference in Boracay

The 31st APPEND Leadership Conference took place in Boracay Island, Philippines from May 29-31, 2024, with more than 300 leaders from various network organizations and advocacy partners congregating for the three-day convention hosted by KMBI and KMBI Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI).

With the theme, “Rekindle the Flame: Keep the APPEND Vision Burning for God, His People and the Rest of Creation!”, the conference focused on renewing the bond and distinction of APPEND member organizations as individual institutions as they keep accountable before God for the APPEND Network and its work of transformation.

Member organizations and advocacy partners were greeted with a welcome dinner, followed by a plenary talk from Mr. Arun Gogna, a sought-after national and international motivational speaker, who tackled the essence of being co-workers in God’s kingdom, expounding on the theme verse 1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, and God’s building.”

The popular husband-and-wife tandem Pastor Joseph Bonifacio and Ms. Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio graced the event as hosts for the series of plenary talks that followed.

Prominent speakers who gave talks include Pastor Joey Umali on “Transforming the Lives of Our Clients: Our Shared Vision”, Ms. Marby Tabungar from PREVO Design X Foundation and Ms. Meldy Pelejo from Good Return Limited on “Creating a Human-Centered Workplace”, and scientist and Professor Emeritus Dr. Rex Victor Cruz from University of the Philippines Los Baños on “SSS: Save Earth. Save Lives. Secure Our Future.”

Participants also learned practical insights from breakout sessions. Pastor Joey and Mrs. Digna Umali, together KMBI President Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez and his spouse Dr. Gloria P. Jimenez shared about the joys and pains of marriage in their breakout session “Usapang Mag-asawa: Kaya Pa Ba?”. Meanwhile, celebrity tandem Pastor Joseph Bonifacio and Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio offered insights on how singleness can become a blessing to render service to God, during their breakout session, “Happily Single”. Lastly, Ms. Malu Tiongson-Ortiz, in her breakout session entitled, “Solo Parenting: Tatay Na, Nanay Pa!”, related the challenges of raising her children as a solo parent.

Participants wore their best rock-n-roll suit as they shared in the fun night themed: “Rock and Roll sa Bora!”. The idea behind the theme was to shake everyone’s spirits and passion in the work that they do in their respective organizations, and inspire them to rekindle the flame of passion within the APPEND community.

The participants, divided into 12 tribes, showcased their musical and artistic talents in their rendition of classic songs by renowned Filipino rock bands.

On the third day, the 12 tribes took on a series of thrilling group challenges designed to promote cooperation among members of different organizations.

The APPEND Network welcomed KDFI and Grameen Pilipinas Microfinance, Inc. as its new member organizations, further expanding the presence of the network in the microfinance landscape.

The ALC culminated with an oathtaking ceremony of newly elected APPEND board members and the rekindling of commitment of network organizations in bringing to fruition APPEND’s vision and mission.

The ALC is an annual conference designed as a flagship program for the annual leadership gathering and empowerment of APPEND’s member institutions. The goal of the conference is to strengthen the spiritual health, leadership and technical competence of APPEND – as a network and of the individual organizations, affiliates and partner institutions’ board, management, staff and clients.

KMBI Announces Roster of Leaders for 2024

The Board of Trustees and Corporate Members of KMBI convened for their Annual General Membership (AGM) Meeting on March 8, 2024 at the KMBI Panay Conference Hall in Quezon City.

The AGM included an election of KMBI Board of Trustees. Mr. Sergio G. Edeza and Ms. Aneth Ng-Lim continue to serve as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, while Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez remains to be President, Mr. Gary Jamora as Corporate Secretary, and Mr. Lemuel David Salmo as Corporate Treasurer.

Other members of the Board include Bishop Jose D. Dalino, Dr. Rodolfo P. Estigoy, Mr. Sebastian C. Quiniones Jr., and Ms. Victoria Esperanza “Perry” Z. Cartera.

Apart from the election of Trustees, the meeting also identified the composition of officers and members in various Board Committees.

The AGM is an annual meeting of key leaders of KMBI pursuant to the Corporation Code and the organization’s By-Laws. The mandatory meeting includes the discussion of KMBI’s fiscal health, evaluation of the organization’s operational and financial performance, voting of new members, and resolution of other organizational matters.

More than 1,500 victims of landslide, flooding receive aid from KMBI

A total of 1,574 KMBI Program Members affected by the recent flooding and landslide in February received assistance from KMBI in the form of relief goods and housing materials as part of the organization's Disaster Preparedness and Response Management (DPRM) program.

KMBI’s branches in Nabunturan, Butuan, San Francisco, Mati, Tagum, Metro Davao 2 and Metro Davao 3 actively took part in the mobilization of resources and swift delivery of relief to the victims of calamity.

The DPRM is among the various non-financial services of KMBI designed to provide relief to victims of disasters and calamities. This aims to mitigate financial vulnerabilities brought about by these unforeseen events.

KMBI's Legal Victory Over The Corporate Dispute

A decade ago, KMBI was faced with an unprecedented challenge of its history. The so-called corporate dispute of 2014 has shaken the confidence of all Kabalikats, posing uncertainties to the future of our organization and its vision and mission. It has been a protracted spiritual, financial, emotional and legal battle. So much has been estranged from us—our dear friends, resources, clients, time, and more. The risk of reputational integrity was hanging like a Damocles sword to all of us! But there is one thing that had never been taken away from us, it is our faith in the Almighty!!!

Indeed, God is never late in His promise of reward to the faithful. A decade later, we have emerged triumphant in this long-winding legal battle. The court has affirmed our legitimacy as an organization, finally putting an end to the decade-long corporate dispute. As tempting as it may be to say that victory is ours, we should be reminded that all these victories are from the Almighty God!

We can now leave behind a decade of struggle as we pick up the lessons we’ve learned along the way. We have been put through a test of fire and came out humbler, more resilient, more unified, and even more faithful to God. True to our battle cry, “ARISE KMBI!”, we rose up from this very fateful incident which we can now look back on—not as a bitter experience, but as a testament of God’s faithfulness to us.

We are immensely grateful to everyone who has stayed around and fought this formidable battle alongside us. We are grateful to our network organizations (APPEND and MCPI), our colleagues in the microfinance community, our trustees who brave the risk of court cases, and of course to our staff and management and the branch people who stayed with the Head Office. We are assured that God has witnessed the sacrifices that each of us made to savor this sweet victory.

We enjoin everyone in prayers for a smooth process in the complete recovery of KMBI’s assets, as well as the healing of many whose hearts have been scarred and continue to suffer from the scars inflicted by the events that had transpired a decade ago. With the subsequent transfer and conversion of our previous PCO offices to what is now a supposedly legal LMI, we will be relentless as we pursue the final completion of what the court has decided, i.e., all branches that sided with the break away group will have to do an inventory of what was taken and how it was used and then return those assets to the legal KMBI or be charged with contempt and other legal suits. We move forward as ONE KMBI!

Tunay na Masaya Dito Sa KMBI because God is with us!

Eduardo C. Jimenez
President, KMBI