Santiago Branch joins Brigada Skwela

Last May 23, 2015, Santiago Branch embarked on Brigada Skwela, a yearly endeavor in Santiago City National High School wherein students, parents and volunteers clean up and maintain their public school for incoming students.

The volunteers swept the school, helped in the gardening and repaired some of the furniture. "We are doing this to foster good relations within our community and possibly promote the services of KMBI with other volunteers like us", Earl Benito, Branch Manager of KMBI Santiago said.

19 KMBI Scholars visit APPEND Rep in Congress

19 KMBI scholars visited the House of Representatives last May 20, 2015 as part of a symbolic meet and greet with APPEND Partylist Congressman, Pablo Nava and Commission and Higher Education (CHED) representative.

The short meeting intends to further encourage the scholars to pursue their education diligently and to acknowledge the beneficiaries of scholarship grants from APPEND.

Currently, the scholars are under the "Tulong Dunong" program wherein children of clients of APPEND member organizations like KMBI can avail for state university scholarships thru CHED, even while in their 2nd or third year of college. According to APPEND, education has always been a major thrust of the party list thus, it is their hope to have more scholarship recipients in the coming years.

2 KMBI Clients Graduate from Bayan Academy Training

Two KMBI clients from Digos and Mandaue branches graduated from their nine-day training in Entrepreneurship sponsored by Bayan Academy and Citi Foundation at Tagbilaran, Bohol last May 7, 2015.

This year, clients Beth Corgio and Fe Vargas attended trainings on basic marketing, finance, people management, and operations management that geared towards growth oriented micro-entrepreneurs.

"I just realized now how important it is to know about numbers. I knew I was making money, but I did not know whether I was growing the business or not", said Ms. Beth Corgio in Cebuano.

KMBI sponsors selected loyal clients, with loans amounting to Php20,000 (or more) and growth oriented businesses to join these business enriching activities as part of their add-on service.

Currently, the Citi-Microenterprise Development Center program is at its fourth year of implementation.

KMBI Strengthens Values Formation Program thru Pamilyang Ok

In its effort to strengthen clients’ values formation program, the Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. (KMBI) distributed at least 3,000 Pamilyang OK books to its ENTREP Centers nationwide.

“We want to deliberately educate our clients on the value of unity and strong family ties. Since Pamilyang OK has Students’ and Teachers’ Manual, our Loan Officer assists our clients on each module so that they can easily understand the different scenarios described on the book, and clients can openly share their personal experiences during discussion,” said Rizaldy R. Duque, Executive Director.

The book, which consists of 12 main topics on forgiveness, appreciation, togetherness, humor, everlasting life, responsibility, satisfaction, sacrifices and offerings, orderliness, understanding response and life at its fullness, is now actively discussed during KMBI center weekly meetings. Each topic contains discussion points and activities so that clients can easily grasp and remember the values being taught every week.

“We really appreciate the book since the topics are very timely. The stories are similar to what’s happening in our own home that’s why I also encourage my daughter to read it! We are also grateful because our Program Assistant is very good in explaining the weekly topic. Our weekly discussion now is more engaging. Just this morning one of my neighbors asked me if she could also get a copy of that book,” shares Cecilia Fenuliar, KMBI Valenzuela client.

KMBI invested at least Php400,000 for the acquisition and distribution of Pamilyang OK book. The book is part of the LIFE Series Book 3 and authored by Ptr. Joey Umali.

Implementation of LIFE Series is in partnership with APPEND, Inc.

Repost from: http://www.bwtp.org/kmbi-may-2015.html