CARD MRI hosts media lakbay aral in CDO

By JOSEPHINE RAMOS
June 9, 2026

SAN PABLO CITY – Thirteen media practitioners from Northern Mindanao joined the second leg of the 2026 PANAGHIUSA: CARD MRI Exposure Tour Program from May 25 to 27, 2026, held at Cagayan de Oro City. The program aims to expose media practitioners to CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) programs, highlighting its efforts to eradicate poverty.

“CARD MRI’s mission has always been anchored on its commitment to poverty eradication and finding ways to better serve our clients through products and services that truly respond to their needs,” said CARD MRI Publishing House President Marilyn Magampon Manila. “We aim to work closely with like-minded media practitioners to help amplify this message and, in doing so, raise greater public awareness of the meaningful impact of microfinance in improving lives and communities,” she added.

Participants were Panguil Bay Journal COO Cyril Cabrera; Malindang Newsline Mobile Journalist Cush Berenguel; Misamis Network News Mobile Journalist Glenn Ray Roluma; RMN INC News Director Menzie Montes; Radyo Asenso 106.7 Mobile Journalist Yvonne Berenguel; Radyo Trumpeta Anchorman Ercel Maandig; DXCC RMN Newswriter and Reporter Joanna Mae Ricote; RMN DXIC Iligan Station Manager Ghiner Cabanday; PBS Radyo Pilipinas Broadcast Program Producer Sharif Timhar Habib Majid; Philippine News Agency Bureau Chief Nef Lucson; Net25 Correspondent Laura Pobadora; MisOr Radyo Media Events Marketing Director/Reporter Stephanie Berganio; and Malindang Newscooper Mobile Journalist Nyce Grace Cabajar.

To provide them with a deeper understanding of how CARD MRI reaches and serves communities, participants were divided into two groups for the center meeting visits. The first group visited the CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) Balulang 1A center, while the second group visited the CARD SME Bank Piaping Puti center. During the visits, participants observed how center meetings are conducted and how financial transactions, such as loan repayments, are carried out without the need to travel to offices or banks, an advantage especially to those living in far-flung areas.

Several CARD MRI offices located in Cagayan de Oro were also visited during the tour, including CARD, Inc., CARD SME Bank, CARD Mutual Benefit Association (CARD MBA), and CARD Pioneer Microinsurance Inc. (CPMI). Through their visit, they learned how these institutions work closely together to provide inclusive support to clients and the communities they serve.

In addition to learning about CARD MRI's operations, they had the opportunity to interact with several clients whom the organization has assisted, such as the couple, Jaime and Candelaria Bedro. They conducted a product demonstration of chicharon, a snack made from fried pork skin, and longanisa, a sweet, garlicky pork sausage.

They also had the taste of the traditional Filipino snacks, puto maya and sikwate, prepared by Nice Nanol, a CARD SME Bank client for more than 15 years.

The itinerary also included a storytelling session for children led by CARD MRI Publishing House, featuring its children’s book Ang Lapis ni Anya. With 21 children in attendance, the activity promoted literacy and a love of reading, encouraging young learners to develop positive reading habits and reduce excessive screen time.

On the final day, participants gathered for a media briefing to clarify any questions or concerns they had about CARD MRI's operations. Present during the briefing were CARD MBA Deputy Director for Operations Janicekith Navera, CARD MBA Cluster Manager Ann Jaraine Balacuit, CARD MBA Provincial Manager Francis Ann Vargas, CARD SME Bank Area Manager Mark Ordiz, CARD SME Bank Acting Area Manager Mary Chris Momville, CARD Pioneer Provincial Leader Joycee Sanoy, CARD Pioneer FPRO Joecil Abenoja, and CARD, Inc. Unit Managers Mary Ann Buhoy, April Jane Adecer, and Ritchel Santua.