“Filipinos are like Bamboo…
14 October 2009
By Prem Thomas, KF9, Manila, Philippines
We bend, but don’t break.” These are the words Lala, the Kiva Coordinator, at the Center for Community Transformation Credit Cooperative (CCT) used to describe the Filipinos who have and will bounce back from the flooding caused by Typhoons Ketsana and Parma. My name is Prem Thomas, and today is my fifth day at the head office of CCT in Manila, Philippines. I spent the last four years working in finance in New York; most recently I was at a civic venture capital fund and previously worked at an investment bank. I will be taking over for Merrick Brown (KF8) who has been helping CCT for the last three months.
A CCT borrower out and about, they seem to be everywhere.
The Center for Community Transformation, the parent of CCT, is an evangelical Christian nonprofit organization that is dedicated to transforming the lives of and providing services to micro-entrepreneurs, service workers, itinerant vendors, orphans, and abandoned children in urban poor communities. In addition to the Credit Cooperative, Kiva’s partner MFI, the Center for Community Transformation operates training and development programs, clinics and disaster relief operations. CCT also runs a generic pharmaceutical distribution business called Tindahan Para Sa Bayan which allows micro entrepreneurs to access low cost medicine while funneling any extra income to social service projects.
I am working at the head office of CCT in Manila, but the credit cooperative has 144 branches throughout the Philippines. At the end of 2008, CCT had over 70,000 active borrowers, 4,803 who have been affected by the recent typhoons. Twenty-six members of the CCT staff also were affected. CCT quickly responded to those affected with distributions of food, basic medicines, clothes, blankets and foam mattresses. I did not witness extensive flooding in Manila, but many CCT staff members were stranded at the office overnight due to flooding in excess of 5 feet, and they had to wade through knee high waters as late as last week. The latest typhoon, which stalled and made landfall three times in Northern Philippines, continues to affect borrowers in the region. According to the government approximately 6 million people were affected by the typhoons and more than 287,000 people remain in evacuation centers.
Despite the recent devastation, I have been very busy at CCT. Merrick and I spent the day performing Kiva Borrower verifications. CCT is a Kiva pilot MFI, so part of our job is to make sure that the profiles on the site are accurate. Completing these verifications at different branch offices often requires some creative transportation including taxis, pedicabs, motorcycles, and quite a bit of walking.
Riding on the backseat of a motor-tricycle to visit borrowers.
But even despite all of our efforts and sweating through Manila’s heat, we were only able to track down four out of five borrowers. One of the highlights was a visit with Anita Tubera who used her loan to buy a refrigerator for her ’sari-sari’ (general) store. During our 30 minute visit Anita Tubera had 5 customers visit her store:
I also asked Anita if she had anything she would like to say to her Kiva lenders:
I am very excited to be here at CCT, and if my first four days are any indication of my fellowship, this will be a great experience.
Prem Thomas is serving as a Kiva Fellow working with the new field partner Center for Community Transformation Credit Cooperative (CCT) in Manila, Philippines.
To view currently fundraising loans from CCT click here.
Entry Filed under: KF9 (Kiva Fellows 9th Class), Philippines, blogsherpa. Tags: CCT, Center for Community Transformation, Manila, Prem Thomas, Typhoon Ketsana, Typhoon Parma.
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1. Howard Zugman | 14 October 2009 at 08:57
Hi Prem,
Its nice to see that the folks in your area seem to be bouncing back from the recent weather problems. Thanx for the good work and the post and the videos.
2. blaire huntley | 14 October 2009 at 09:44
wow! great work, prem!
3. nickigoh, KF9, Senegal | 14 October 2009 at 10:56
Great video, Prem and excellent post. Stay safe and dry over there!
4. Jan & John, KivaFriends | 14 October 2009 at 11:36
What a wonderful smile Anita has. We wish her well. I am also so thankful for these MFI’s helping with the disaster. If I went to my bank, I am sure I could not get food or blankets or medicine. Be well in your Fellowship, and remember that you are our eyes and ears. Thanx, jan
5. Julie | 14 October 2009 at 16:54
Anita has my vote for cutest Kiva borrower ever. I want some multigrain crackers now…
6. MPatel | 14 October 2009 at 19:06
Prem! Wow, I love the video postings..sounds like you are already off to a great start despite the recent hardships over there…take care and best of luck!
7. Gemma | 14 October 2009 at 20:21
Prem, I enjoyed the video of Anita, thanks for posting it.
8. Taylor | 14 October 2009 at 22:12
That was amazing, Prem. I felt like I was there!
Stay safe!
9. Tom Inck | 15 October 2009 at 02:56
Prem –
Wow, that video really gave me a feel for what you are doing. Really inspiring!
10. Joe Choorapuzha | 15 October 2009 at 15:08
Wow Prem! Very impressive!
11. Emily Ryan | 15 October 2009 at 16:29
Hey Prem-
Great stuff! Keep the posts coming. The video was great. Be careful and keep up the amazing work.
xoxo!
12. premt | 15 October 2009 at 19:24
Thanks to everyone for reading and all the comments. Hopefully I can share more stories of CCT Kiva borrowers while I am here.
13. RobC | 16 October 2009 at 18:03
Prem, good luck down there in the Philippines. Glad to see you out in the field and reading about your adventures!
14. dave oglaza | 17 October 2009 at 04:34
I expected all my loans from this part of the world to default this month as mant businesses have been devested in the storms. I have no defaults why is this?
15. marydear | 19 October 2009 at 02:37
hey Prem – Great video! Ang Sarrap! Nice to some Philippine love! Thanks for taking the time to post!
Hope to see you in December…amd aybe sooner (cebu over the All Sanits Day Holiday)
Mary
16. Avani | 19 October 2009 at 14:33
Prem – the videos really brought the story of your borrower to life. I loved your interaction with the customer, and also, can you bring me some Sparkle when you get back? Keep it up!
17. Prem Thomas | 19 October 2009 at 17:33
Dave,
I can’t speak for other MFI’s in the Philippines, but CCT guarantees their loans and Kiva is also exploring the option to let them pass along losses to the lenders as a result of the recent typhoons. Also, although many CCT borrowers have been affected, not as many of their Kiva borrowers have been hurt by the storm due the system only being rolled out to 8 branches so far. I will be visiting some Kiva lenders that were hit by the storm tomorrow and will update everyone.
Thanks,
Prem
18. ujmandu | 20 October 2009 at 12:36
Great post, Prem!
Can’t wait to join you soon
.
19. miguel | 20 October 2009 at 17:30
Wow Prem congratulations!
Great Job my son.. God bless You!
Enjoy the real world Prem!
20. miguel | 20 October 2009 at 17:31
Wow Prem congratulations!
Great Job.. God bless You!
Enjoy the real world Prem!