RAFI Micro-finance outstanding client gives business advice to nanays

Press Release
January 6, 2012

CEBU CITY  –  Have a vision for your business. Be determined to achieve it.

These were the words of advice of Elvira Pantaleon, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance 2011 Most Outstanding Client, to the 3,289 women clients who attended the RAFI Micro-finance 8th General Assembly held at the University of San Carlos gymnasium last Dec. 3, 2011.

“Don’t waste your time. Persevere and work hard for your business because it can provide a bright future for your families. Be patient,” she said during her acceptance speech.

She added that micro-entrepreneurs should be hands-on when it comes to managing their businesses and should learn from the challenges they encounter everyday while dealing with their employees and customers. This way, their ventures will be improved and their skills enhanced.

Pantaleon received P25,000 cash prize and a plaque, which were conferred by RAFI Chief Operating Officer Dominica B. Chua, Mercantile Insurance Micro-insurance Department Manager Jose Ma. J. Dadivas, and RAFI Micro-finance Executive Director Ma. Theresa G. Catipay during the General Assembly program.

The RAFI Micro-finance 8th General Assembly, which was attended by clients from various branches in Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte, also gave out awards to the Best Chairwoman, Best Secretary, Best Group, and Best Center Meeting Place.

Special awards were handed out to clients with the highest amount of savings, to one client with the highest referral of new members, to the loyal client with zero defaults, and to the most active Client Advisory Board (CAB).

An award was given to Virgilia Bonghanoy who made it to the semi-finals for the Citi Microentrepreneur of the Year Award for 2011.

Agnes Lacson, chief operating officer of City Savings Bank, was the keynote speaker. She pointed out three ingredients to becoming a successful micro-entrepreneur – vision, determination, and hard work.

The attendees were entertained by the talents displayed by the clients during the Nanays Got Talent contest as well as dance numbers and comical skits of the Buzy Buddies.

The sidelights of the General Assembly included trade fair where various products from the different towns in Cebu were showcased; medical mission conducted in partnership with RAFI’s Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center, which offered consultations and cervical screening 450 women and children; and a Kid’s Corner where the children of the clients enjoyed a film showing, courtesy of the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund of RAFI.

RAFI Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus area of RAFI, providing financial resources and know-how to women micro-entrepreneurs to nurture financial independence and entrepreneurship. Its other focus areas are Integrated Development, Culture & Heritage, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.