News

KMBI Partners with Asian Theological Seminary

The Asian Theological Seminary (ATS), in partnership with KMBI, conducted a lecture entitled “The Integration of Faith, Scholarship and Life: A Reformational Perspective” last June 27, 2019 held at ATS, Quezon City.

Dr. Yong John Choi from Handong Global University, South Korea discussed the models of scholarship and faith. Joining the seminar were Dr.Tim Gener, ATS Chancellor; KMBI General Counsel and Data Privacy Officer, Atty. Romel Bagares; and KMBI Chairman, Mr. David D. Guitierrez. Other institutions also participated in the lecture including REACH Discipleship Ministries Inc. and Pinoy Ako Insurance Services (PAIS), Inc..

The free public lecture is a promotional activity for a new elective course on Christianity, Politics, and Society that will be offered by the Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) this August under a visiting sponsorship supported by KMBI.

The lecture signals the beginning of future endeavors towards the application of the different aspects of Integral Transformation in the workplace and in the communities, being served by Christian development organizations such as KMBI.

CLC Empowers More than 10,000 Women Leaders Nationwide

A total of 10,300 KMBI Program Members from all KMBI Branches participated in the recently concluded Center Leaders' Conference (CLC) since January 2019. Program Members from other partner microfinance institutions, such as Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI) and UPLIFT Philippines Inc., also joined the series of events.

The programs were made possible through the joint efforts of the Transformational Development and Training Group (TDTG), Management Services Group (MSG) and Credit Operations Group (COG).

Among the topics discussed was responsible citizenship in which KMBI encouraged community leaders to become movers of the nation by actively participating in national events including the recent May 2019 elections. The CLC also imparted financial literacy tips to the participants.

The conferences concluded with a livelihood seminar that taught Program Members how to make beaded accessories, such as earrings, bracelet and necklace.

The events were in coordination with KMBI Partners: First Life Financial Co., Pinoy Ako Insurance Services (PAIS), Standard Insurance, Philippine Bible Society, Philippine Cancer Society, KMBI Development Foundation Inc. (KDFI) and APPEND Inc.

The CLC is a capacity-building program which aims to enhance the leadership capacities of center leaders to make them better in dealing with people and managing their communities.

14 Delegates from APRACA CENTRAB Visit KMBI

KMBI, through the Training and Advanced Education arm of the Transformational Development and Training Group (TDTG), spearheaded the study visit of 10 microfinance practitioners from India, and 4 guests from the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association Center for Training and Research in Agricultural Banking (APRACA CENTRAB).

APRACA CENTRAB selected KMBI as model institution for practitioners to learn about microfinance operations, services, processes and practices in the Philippines. The exposure visit zeroed in on KMBI's approach to microfinance in the agricultural sector.

KMBI's Agricultural Microfinance Program is currently being rolled out in several branches nationwide. The benchmarking allowed the delegates to learn best practices in microfinance as practiced by KMBI, such as the integration of values formation in cluster meetings as part of loan collection procedures.

KMBI holds Regional General Assemblies, Retreat and APPEND Commissioning

KMBI conducted its Regional General Assemblies in Luzon Visayas and Mindanao. The assemblies were composed of back-to-back General Assembly, Spiritual Retreat and APPEND Commissioning, and were spread across three months. The Luzon rollout was held at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City held last January 24-26. The following month, the second leg was held in Mindanao at Waterfront Insular, Davao City on February 14-16, 2019. The last leg concluded in Visayas on March 7-9, 2019 as Seda Atria, Iloilo City.

The General Assemblies centered on the roll-out of 2019 Plans and Activities and various activities such as Road Signs 3 orientation, Microinsurance (MI) Reinforcements, TIN Issuance to clients, Training of Trainers (TOT) for the Gideon Program, and orientation on Human Capital Department's New Hiring tool.

An open forum was held to give officers a chance to directly ask the KMBI Board of Trustees and Management to address present concerns and issues in the operations.

Regional Staff Retreat

The 2019 staff retreat was centered on the Biblical Foundations, Inner Healing and forgiveness. The Keynote speakers were Dr. Gloria Jimenez, Mr. Jerry and. Mrs. Alma Francisco from REACH Discipleship Ministries.

KMBI also launched for the first time its Memory Verse Challenge, with Mr. Michael John Del Rosario from Antipolo Branch hailed as the first national champion. Meanwhile, Mindanao contestant Ms. Jojielyn Ascura from Butuan Branch placed 2nd, followed by Mr. Jeffrey Cardinal from Visayas.

APPEND COMMISSIONING

The event featured the 103 APPEND Party-List nominees composed of KMBI President, Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez; Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI) Board Member, Mr. Peter Montalban; KRCI Board Member, Mr. Nonong San Miguel; APPEND CEO and President, Dr. Virgina P. Juan; and APPEND Chairman and KMBI Corporate Treasurer, Mr. Edgardo Garcia.

The APPEND campaign managers gave an orientation to all staff about the visions and mandate of the party-list and asked for an affirmation of support through oath-taking.

Various microfinance institutions also joined and showed their support to APPEND Party-list, especially as the May 13 National Election arrived.