Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc. (MCPI), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and CITI Foundation, in cooperation with Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. (KMBI), reenacted the awarding ceremony of Citi Microenterprenuership Award for Ms. Millare in front of her family, friends and co-program members last January 31, 2017.

Dubbed as “Town Hall Celebratory Activity”, the moment of awarding was recreated in front of her loved ones in Koronadal, making them feel as if they were all present during the main awarding rites at the BSP held last December 06, 2017.

Highlights of the event were attestations of Ms. Millare’s contribution to her community. The Barangay Chairwoman and former neighbor of Ms. Millare recounted the tough times Ms. Millare had gone through in the past. “Di ko alam papano nya nagawa na umayos ang buhay…pero ito nagawa nya,” she shared. (I couldn’t figure out how she could muddle through…but she still made it.)

Husband of Ms. Millare also shared their business secrets in his testimonials. According to him, the secret formula for any business endeavor is giving your best and not settling for anything less. He also emphasized the importance of putting extra hard work in everything we do.

Ms. Millare herself took the final testimony. She gave credit to God, declaring that her accomplishment is a blessing from above, and that ‘apart from Him, everything is nothing.’

She also shared the humble beginnings of their business. She recalled the complaints of their customers on the blandness of their pies. But with a mindset of a microentrepreneur, she used the feedback of their customers to make necessary adjustments on their recipe and put extra effort in marketing their products. She also shared the importance of dressing up to display professionalism.

She closed her testimony by thanking KMBI for being her partner in transforming her family’s lives from poverty to a success story.

The celebration was capped off by VisMin Regional Director, Ms. Amy Andilab, and Deputy Executive Director for Credit Operations Group, Ms. Rachelle Basiya, who imparted messages to the Program Members present in the event. They encouraged the audience to follow the footsteps of Ms. Ivy Millare.

Furthermore, they assured the Program Members that KMBI will continue to support the microentrepreneurs and work continuously to elicit holistic transformation in their lives.