It’s Easter! With Hope, Back to the Salt Mines this Monday

Within a span of a week, the greatest and most known travesty of justice and violation of human rights recorded in modern history unfolded in the life of Jesus. After the unfulfilled expectations of HIS countrymen and close followers that happened after the Palm Sunday, a series of events and treacherous acts orchestrated by the political, religious and economic leaders of the day, and yes, even by His so called ‘best friends forever’ (BFFs), evolved.

Two days after that triumphal entry, Jesus ‘cleansed the temple’ by throwing the wares of the merchants and had ‘heated’ debates with the temple leaders. By the middle of the week, Judas colluded with the religious leaders and HE was finally betrayed on Thursday. By Friday, Jesus went through three Jewish trials and three Roman trials. Mock trials if I may say. HE was crucified and killed later that Friday. He was then buried and ‘rested’ on a Sabbath, on a borrowed tomb.

The unthinkable, the impossible and mind-boggling glorious Resurrection from the dead by the Central Figure of the world’s history happened that Sunday morning! Because of this Resurrection, we who claim to be followers of the Way can also be assured that we will be resurrected when we die or be with the Triune God when we are called home to eternity on the last day that the trumpet sounds.

In the meantime… what are we supposed to do as we await the glorious day of HIS appearing or when HE calls us home through our physical death, whichever comes ahead?Let me quote
I Corinthians 15:55-58

Since we are assured that the last enemy - death himself with all of its power - has been defeated, the scripture encourages us to stand firm, immovable, knowing fully that we are victors! We are then encouraged to abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that our work is not in vain.

In practical manner, as we look to fulfill the vision and mission that God has given us through KMBI, let us become Faithful, Available and Teachable (FAT) followers of the Lord Jesus in our respective little corner of work. Let us be faithful to our calling and to the Triune God; Let us be available to follow and listen to his calling on a daily basis through prayers and meditation of the scriptures, and let us be teachable and think beyond the box as we address the various challenges and risks related to our work as Kingdom-changers. Let us be the light and change (transformation) that HE has envisioned us to bring wholeness (Shalom) to the communities that we are working with.

Together let us affirm that “the best is yet to come” with the Triune God leading us!

EDUARDO C. JIMENEZ
President

KMBI Clients and Staff graduated from GEM

Ten (10) KMBI clients and selected staff have graduated from GEM (Grassroots Entrepreneurship Program) hosted by the CMDC (Citi Microenterprise Development Center). The graduation rite was held at Bayan Academy, Quezon City last Feb 29, 2016 and it was graced by Ms. Aneth Lim, Director of Corporate Affairs, Citibank Philippines.

The CMDC is a joint advocacy project of Citi Philippines and Bayan Academy for Social Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Development, Inc. The Center promotes entrepreneurship and growth among microfinance clients by providing quality training, customized coaching and business advisory.

Every year, KMBI sends a number of high potential entrepreneur clients to join the workshop as part of their commitment in providing responsive non-financial services. Both KMBI and CMDC aim for all clients to increase their income, employ more workers, improve their loan performance and maximize the use of their capital for improving their business.

Graduates of the GEM Program are eligible to join the Citi-SBACS (Citi-Small Business Advisory and Coaching Services). It is a small business clinic and advisory center wherein micro entrepreneurs can receive personal mentoring from experts in the field of Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Operations and Legal Requirements.

KMBI is Proud to Announce its New Set of Board of Trustees

Pursuant to the KMBI By-laws and the Corporation Code of the Philippines, the 2016 Annual General Membership (AGM) Meeting was held at the KMBI Head Office located at 12 San Francisco St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City last February 27, 2016.

During the meeting, Ms. Mila Bunker was accepted to become a corporate member and also elected as a new Trustee of the Board. Ms. Mila Bunker currently serves as the President of Bridge Investment Asia, a technical assistance provider. She was the former President and Executive Trustee of Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. (ASHI), a Microfinance NGO , the first Philippine Replicator of the Grameen Business Model. She is also one of the founding members of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines (MCPI).

Ms. Bunker brings in decades of experience in microfinance operations, as well as key insights on Social Performance Management, with focus on inclusive finance, industry standards and practices on SPM.

Mr. David D. Gutierrez remains to be the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of KMBI. In his Chairman’s report, he thanked the Board of Trustees for their time, expertise, commitment, and huge contribution in 2015. "We are well underway in bringing back KMBI as the leading microfinance organization in the Philippines. In the coming years, as we implement our five-year plan, we will continue to expand our operations and launch new financial and non-financial services. We will remain dedicated to our vision and mission as a Christ-centered development organization existing to advocate and work for the integral transformation of the lives of our clients and their communities, by providing sustainable microfinance and responsive non-financial services.” said Mr. Gutierrez.

The full roster of elected Trustees and Officers of the 2016 KMBI Board of Trustees, namely:

1. Mr. David D. Gutierrez - Chairman and Vice-President
2. Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez - President and Vice-Chairman
3. Atty. Romel R. Bagares - Corporate Secretary
4. Mr. Edgardo F. Garcia - Corporate Treasurer
5. Dr. Virginia P. Juan – Member and Trustee
6. Bishop Jose D.Danilo - Member and Trustee
7. Mr. Eduardo Sergio G. Edeza – Member and Trustee
8. Atty. Raineer Q. Chu – Member and Trustee
9. Ms. Mila M. Bunker – Member and Trustee

26 Staff and Clients Attend Bayan Academy

26 KMBI staff and clients attended 2 of Bayan Academy's "Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Management Program" (GEM) last February.

Every year, KMBI rewards deserving program members to participate in the 9-day seminar which was held in NCR and Laoag.

Citi Foundation, sponsor of the event, envisions the program as a catalyst in promoting business growth and entrepreneurship among potential microfinance clients. The said program that started in 2007 provides clients quality training, customized coaching and business advisory.

It aims to have its participants increase their income, employ additional people, improve on their loan performance, and exhibit diverse and productive loan uses for their business.