News

KMBI Empowers Leaders through Workshop with BagoSphere

KMBI reaffirmed its commitment to leadership development with a three-day workshop attended by 20 key leaders from the Credit Operations Group. The training, held from March 3 to 5, 2025 at the KMBI Panay Conference Hall, was spearheaded by KMBI's Human Capital Department and facilitated by the Training and Advanced Education Department of the KMBI Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI), in partnership with BagoSphere, a leading provider of human capability development programs.

The leadership workshop covered goal-setting, self-assessment, critical thinking, effective communication, and hands-on coaching sessions. Designed to foster a culture of high performance and succession, the program aims to equip KMBI leaders with the necessary skills to drive organizational growth and change.

A key focus of the initiative was aligning personal purpose with KMBI’s vision and mission. Participants engaged in exercises on effective coaching, delegation, problem-solving, and decision-making—essential skills for fostering a positive work environment and developing future leaders.

KMBI recognizes that people are its greatest assets, and leadership enhancement and development is key to its long-term success. To strengthen its coaching culture, the organization formalized its partnership with BagoSphere through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on December 9, 2024. This collaboration seeks to address challenges in succession planning, performance management, and employee retention by providing leaders with the tools to navigate a rapidly evolving workforce landscape.

KMBI Elects New Corporate Officers and Trustees in Annual General Membership Meeting

In accordance with its By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation, KMBI held its Annual General Membership (AGM) Meeting on March 1, 2025 at the Panay Conference Hall in Quezon City.

During the meeting, a new set of corporate officers was elected to lead KMBI in fulfilling its mission of bringing holistic transformation in the lives of microentrepreneurs nationwide. The newly elected officers are:

• Mr. Sergio G. Edeza – Chairman
• Mr. Sebastian C. Quiniones Jr. – Vice-Chairman
• Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez – President
• Mr. Gary J. Jamora – Corporate Secretary
• Ms. Victoria Esperanza “Perry” Z. Cartera – Corporate Treasurer

The Board of Trustees includes:

• Dr. Rodolfo P. Estigoy
• Bishop Jose D. Dalino
• Dr. Virginia P. Juan (newly elected)
• Dr. Hemmady S. Mora (newly elected)

Dr. Juan is the President and CEO of Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development (APPEND), a network of Microfinance NGOs of which KMBI is a pioneer member. She also served as a Trustee of KMBI for various terms. Dr. Mora is the a former Dean of the College of Communication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She entered KMBI as a Corporate Member in 2023.

The newly elected officers and board members will solidify KMBI’s commitment to steering the organization towards financial inclusion by reaching out to more people and communities and giving them wider access to financial and non-financial services.

KDFI Strengthens Scholarship Services with Thames Partnership

KMBI Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI), the development foundation arm of KMBI, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Thames International Business School last February 14, 2025 in Quezon City.

This partnership is a manifestation of the commitment of KDFI and KMBI to empowering their members through education and expanding its educational program. This means that hope for a better future through quality education will be closer to the reach of indigent children.

Present during the signing were Mr. Jaime “Joel” Santos, Co-Founder & President of Thames International; Mr. Karl Bryan Sta. Maria, Thames Extension School Head; Mr. Timberlane Barredo III, Learning Tech Manager; Mr. Marc Avedaño, Marketing Manager; Mr. Neil Blanco, Academics Director.

KDFI was represented by Mr. Sergio Edeza, President; Ms. Hazel Christine Bayaca, Executive Director; Ms. Maria Cecilia Wee, Director for Programs & Services Department; Ms. Inmaculada Luces, Social Protection Division Officer; and Ms. Donna Dolor Roxas, Regional Coordinator.

Thames International is a pioneering and innovative College in the Philippines, offering industry-relevant and future-ready online & on-campus degrees in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, and Communication that are globally competitive, industry-linked, and support student mobility in learning.

The institution is offering full scholarship worth PHP 120,000 of tuition per year for each recipient / student and a wide range of opportunities in advancing education, entrepreneurship and preparing Senior High students for digital entrepreneurship.

KMBI, KDFI Host 31st APPEND Leadership Conference in Boracay

The 31st APPEND Leadership Conference took place in Boracay Island, Philippines from May 29-31, 2024, with more than 300 leaders from various network organizations and advocacy partners congregating for the three-day convention hosted by KMBI and KMBI Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI).

With the theme, “Rekindle the Flame: Keep the APPEND Vision Burning for God, His People and the Rest of Creation!”, the conference focused on renewing the bond and distinction of APPEND member organizations as individual institutions as they keep accountable before God for the APPEND Network and its work of transformation.

Member organizations and advocacy partners were greeted with a welcome dinner, followed by a plenary talk from Mr. Arun Gogna, a sought-after national and international motivational speaker, who tackled the essence of being co-workers in God’s kingdom, expounding on the theme verse 1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, and God’s building.”

The popular husband-and-wife tandem Pastor Joseph Bonifacio and Ms. Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio graced the event as hosts for the series of plenary talks that followed.

Prominent speakers who gave talks include Pastor Joey Umali on “Transforming the Lives of Our Clients: Our Shared Vision”, Ms. Marby Tabungar from PREVO Design X Foundation and Ms. Meldy Pelejo from Good Return Limited on “Creating a Human-Centered Workplace”, and scientist and Professor Emeritus Dr. Rex Victor Cruz from University of the Philippines Los Baños on “SSS: Save Earth. Save Lives. Secure Our Future.”

Participants also learned practical insights from breakout sessions. Pastor Joey and Mrs. Digna Umali, together KMBI President Mr. Eduardo C. Jimenez and his spouse Dr. Gloria P. Jimenez shared about the joys and pains of marriage in their breakout session “Usapang Mag-asawa: Kaya Pa Ba?”. Meanwhile, celebrity tandem Pastor Joseph Bonifacio and Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio offered insights on how singleness can become a blessing to render service to God, during their breakout session, “Happily Single”. Lastly, Ms. Malu Tiongson-Ortiz, in her breakout session entitled, “Solo Parenting: Tatay Na, Nanay Pa!”, related the challenges of raising her children as a solo parent.

Participants wore their best rock-n-roll suit as they shared in the fun night themed: “Rock and Roll sa Bora!”. The idea behind the theme was to shake everyone’s spirits and passion in the work that they do in their respective organizations, and inspire them to rekindle the flame of passion within the APPEND community.

The participants, divided into 12 tribes, showcased their musical and artistic talents in their rendition of classic songs by renowned Filipino rock bands.

On the third day, the 12 tribes took on a series of thrilling group challenges designed to promote cooperation among members of different organizations.

The APPEND Network welcomed KDFI and Grameen Pilipinas Microfinance, Inc. as its new member organizations, further expanding the presence of the network in the microfinance landscape.

The ALC culminated with an oathtaking ceremony of newly elected APPEND board members and the rekindling of commitment of network organizations in bringing to fruition APPEND’s vision and mission.

The ALC is an annual conference designed as a flagship program for the annual leadership gathering and empowerment of APPEND’s member institutions. The goal of the conference is to strengthen the spiritual health, leadership and technical competence of APPEND – as a network and of the individual organizations, affiliates and partner institutions’ board, management, staff and clients.