PHCCI Coffee Table Book

Humans can be ironic and contradictory. There are moments when a person wants to be alone. At
the same time, an individual cannot bear to be alone for long; the individual craves to belong to a group.
Instinctively, people understand that to fully actualize each other’s aims, indeed, to survive at all, we must be
a part of a community.
The Filipino tradition of individual and communal cooperation is expressed in the idea of a barangay
with its iconic image of a group of people literally putting their shoulders side by side while carrying a house.
This typical Filipino image brings home the idea that a burden or a task is most successfully accomplished
when individuals join together in an act of togetherness and cooperation.
The Perpetual Help Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PHCCI-MPC) testifies to a venture inspired by the
spirit of cooperator to benefit not only its members but the entire community.
Founded on February 16, 1969 and initiated by the Redemptorist Fathers, with 33 original cooperators
and with an initial share capital of Php 1,201.94, the PHCCI has now over 33,000 members At present, it
has over a billion pesos in total assets.
Like any organization of this nature it was guided by an overarching vision: to build an institution
whose programs, services, and projects would directly address a perennial and particular socio-economic
condition: poverty and its concomitant ills which block people’s efforts to improve the quality of their lives.
This year, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of PHCCI’s existence. The vision of the Redemptorist
missionaries (Father Flan Dafy and Father Tony Martin as the cooperative’s spiritual advisers at its inception)
and the unstinting support of so many people not only of Tacloban but also of many other places has paved
and lighted the way towards the relief and succor of those who, without the services of this organization could
have failed to find grace in their difficulties.
The men and women of PHCCI is proud to have contributed its share in human development. We
humbly dedicate this coffee table book to everyone – in the past, at present, and in the years to come – whose
dedication, sacrifice and loyalty have helped and will continue to help us sustain the PHCCI’s vision .
With heartfelt gratitude to God who has richly blessed our endeavors, and in obedience to the words of
the scriptures to serve the “least of our brethren,” we fervently invite everyone to join us in this celebration.

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“Big man with a big faith and a big heart who left us
with a big example so that the small ones will end up

reaching their big dreams”.

This is no other than FR. FLANNAN DAFFY, CSsR, the brain of PHCCI. Fr. Daffy,
became a byword to everyone at PHCCI as its founder priest and to the
community served by the Redemptorist Church. He is well-remembered as a
foreigner speaking Waray and embracing a Taclobanon heart, and a servant in
its full essence whose unparalleled works and selfless service to the people were
extraordinary. The love that he had for the people of Tacloban was definitely
reciprocated as he was loved not only by adults but even by children, beggars,
and the mentally challenged. Fr. Daffy is remembered affectionately addressing
each one as “Charlie” while sporting his famous ear to ear contagious smile.
He highlighted his role as a missionary who went out of his way to do evangelism
and ministries of service, emphasizing social justice and economic development,
thus the birth of PHCCI Tacloban. In Year of Jubilee and the beginning of the

New Millenium, Fr. Flan saw the analogy between Pope Jon Paul II’s
opening of the Holy Door at the St. Peter Vatican Basilica and PHCCI’s
throwing a door open as its core mission to the community. Fr. Daffy
asociated PHCCI to an open door that welcomes the world to its
abode, specifically as an “open door that welcomes the needy and
good people in financial distress”. He further stressed that the same
open door also significantly “welcomes generous people who are
willing to share what they have received and place it at the service of
the needy”. He then gave the challenge of service to the coop leaders
to go out through this open door to the wide world. After all, the
basic tenet of leadership is for the officers to “go into the highways
and byways and proclaim to all the “little people” every service and
resource they have to offer”, pronounces Fr. Flan.
On a more personal note, his attendance during PHCCI General
Assemblies meant celebrating the Eucharist and gracing his presence
during the business meeting together with the officers and members.
Fr. Daffy had always been overwhelmed by the Coop’s growth that he
always wanted its updated status in terms of asset, revenue, programs

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and services. Closest to his heart, though, was the members’ welfare whose
lives, as he expected, are uplifted as financial support and technical assistance
are extended to them. He was actually envisioning members who could
stand on their own, members who would not solely rely on loans for daily
subsistence, members who would be burdened by the cycle of borrowing,

but members who are helped
by the COOP improve and uplift
their lives through maximization
of their resources, and members
who are active part of the
growing community, not only
helping themselves but others
as well. He envisioned the Coop
with members coming together
with one common goal—helping
and building each other not just
merely through availment of
loans but favorably for a continual savings deposit generation, for saving does not end up only as a
personal gain but it yields a hundred fold help extended to those financially incapacitated.
As overly emphasized by Fr. Daffy, the core mission of the coop is to help every little man down
there, and that they will actualize self-help. Thus, while PHCCI naturally envisions climbing up the
ladder of success, he sees the Coop also bringing along the little men down there to be in steps,
going up as well.
Fr. Daffy may have gone too soon but he left a remarkable example in the context of PHCCI that with
big faith, journeying cooperatively and together even with small steps will lead to the achievement
of a big dream.
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“ Today is the perfect time to invest on the youth who will live up to
the name of PHCCI-MPC as the perpetual help for members and the
community it serves. With this, I envision PHCCI to be bigger and more
relevant in the next 50 years without betraying its founding principles.”

This is the ultimate hope of MS. ROSALIA R. PEDROSA, one of its founders, for
PHCCI-MPC to reach another significant milestone in its journey!

Mommy Rosing or Mana Rosing, as she is dearly called by many, is an institution
at PHCCI being one of the originals of the 33 founding members. “I’m certain that my
cofounders had never imagined PHCCI to grow humongously as it is now, because its
humble beginning that started in 1968 to its crucial decade was an uphill slippery climb,”
as disclosed by Mommy Rosing. She, together with the other founders hoped that the
seed capital of Php1,201.93 would grow into a tree of thousands that would uplift the
lives of the small people. The tree of billions which PHCCI has now, is the product of hard
work, service and PAG-UGOP (commitment) by the founding members. She is indeed a
personal witness of the first wobbly footsteps of the coop up to its giant steps today.

Mommy Rosing happily recounted the olden days by comparing it with the luxury
and comfort of today as she shares, “contrary to the present time, PHCCI was then housed
in a small simple cottage at
the Redemptorist Church
compound manned by
only one staff. Membership
campaigns meant walking for
kilometers or rugged driving
to remote areas using dilapidated motor vehicle”. She further recalled that the best
tongues to convince people to join PHCCI were not enough, thus the facilitators,
Redemptorist priests and youth had to pull out drama performances, movie viewing
in the yard, community-based meetings and formations. She also recollected how
they would individually knock on the houses of borrowers for their payments and
how the group often convened to check if their savings had increased to suffice
the granting of a Php100 loan. Fast forward, she sees coop services just at arm’s
length, and this is one heap of blessings to thank God through the intercession of
our Mother of Perpetual Help.

At a very gracious age of 82, Mommy Rosing has remained an active officer Master of Ceremony during the
of PHCCI. Her love for the coop is deeply rooted in her heart. She wishes nothing PHCCI 4th General Assembly on March 25, 1973.
but for PHCCI to age gracefully as well with its vision and mission as the core of
its existence. Mommy Rosing then fervently prays that the members of the BOD
will see the urgency to transform the youth as the empowered successors and
leaders of PHCCI, because without the young blood as successors of today’s gains,

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With the Voethlaesrcmo,eRmobsearlsiaofRt.hPe eCdrreodsiat Committee. Sapayan
Narcisa M. and Lilia T.
(L-R)

Heading the PHCCI-MPC Tacloban delegation to the Facilitating the roll-out of the PHCCI-MPC Tacloban Code of Discipline
VICTO General Assembly inBoracay Island, Aklan on May 2016. to the employees at the Function Hall, Fr. Flan Daffy Building in 2017.

22 everything would be like a popped balloon pricked by a needle. This she has
to significantly remind everyone: “We are here only for now but the youth
will continue the legacy. PHCCI may continually go through challenges but it
will consistently end up triumphant if the people behind its brain and heart
are very well-grounded of the coop’s ideals”. As one of the founders who
sweated blood and tears for PHCCI, there is nothing more painful than to
see everything folds and dies just because the bloodline of tomorrow has
been neglected by the leaders of today”.
Yes, Mommy Rosing believes that PHCCI has to keep the faith high
on the youth of today because they are to perpetuate the principles upon
which PHCCI was organized.

“After the rain, surely a rainbow will come out.
We have to be positive”

This quotation is the byword of MR. VALENTE U. QUINTERO that
propelled him to face the many challenges he overcame as the First
Chairperson of the Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative (PHCCI)!

Mr. Quintero, Tente to his friends and relatives, was a young
entrepreneur and a civic leader — a JAYCEE and organizer of the Sto. Nino

Parish Foundation, was enticed to join the cooperative
movement through FR. FAULKNER of the Redemptorist
Community in Tacloban City. Through a consensus among
the founding mem bers of the coop, he became PHCCI
First Chairperson. Immediately the biggest challenge
for Mr. Quintero was to establish a solid foundation and
a framework for sustainability. Daunting as it was, he
was never discouraged but rather emboldened by the
confidence bestowed upon him. Bearing the strongest
of weapon, the fact that the Redemptorist Community
was behind the coop, he, together with the rest of the
officers and the founding members marched on.

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An 8 weeks Pre-Membership Educational
Seminar was conceptualized in order to recruit more
members for the coop, Tente, together with MS.
ROSALIA R. PEDROSA, in his old and rusty jeep, would

scour the dusty if not muddy road that would be
dark as ink when the night fell, to remind would-be
members and also to round up trainors for the Pre-
Membership Education Seminars (PMES).

The recruitment program would become Mr.
Quintero’s battle cry. Every opportunity that the
public would be informed of the membership
seminar was the officers’ primordial concern.

Hence, every celebration of the Holy Mass at
the Redemptorist Church, the homily would be
replete with the reminders of the recruitment

process and was replicated at
every celebration in the far flung barangays. It’s no
wonder that as the First Chairperson, he was able to
establish success for the coop. The membership and
deposit grew by leaps and bounds. From the minimal
Php1,201.93 seed capital, it reached tens of thousands
of pesos by the end of his term in 1970.

Hats off to MR. VALENTE U. QUINTERO, for
you had displayed the meaning of commitment and
service to PHCCI’s cause!

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“The no nonsense leadership style ...
earned her the illusive trust and

confidence of the public and the board ...”

That is, MS. OBDULIA R. CINCO, the woman of sterling
character!

Ms. Cinco, was one of the pioneering leaders of PHCCI-
MPC Tacloban, in fact, the 2nd Chairperson of the Board of
Directors from 1970-1972, who masterfully nurtured the seed
of foundation of the coop planted by the Redemptorist Fathers,
specifically, FR. FLAN DAFFY, CssR. As the chairperson then, her
greatest challenge was to keep the membership campaign ablaze
and to continue its upward swing, besides the equally essential
task to improve the financial portfolio of the coop.

Already immersed in public service being the better half of the First Mayor of Tacloban City then, she breezed
through her priority agenda. Together with the set of directors, the coop was able to muster a hundredth fold
increase in its membership. From the 33 original members it ballooned to almost a thousand members and so
with the total assets. It had reached the hundred thousand mark, a no ordinary feat at that time when the public’s
awareness and knowledge about cooperative was still in its infancy. Thus, the trust to part with hard earned money
was so difficult if not impossible. With the good leadership of Ms. Cinco, she was able to serve as chairperson

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for 3 years which she reciprocated by serving in the board for 2 more years even if she was no longer the Board
Chairperson.

From the cooperative Ms. Cinco moved on to become the elected mayor of Tacloban City.

For its 50th Founding Anniversary, PHCCI-MPC humbly thank you for your great sacrifices dedicated to what
it is today. Peace and happiness in Heaven, MS. OBDULIA R. CINCO!

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“... his passion for the cooperative is comparable
to the lava of an erupting volcano...

an opportunity of plenty in the future”

He is known to be a very passionate man, thus, it’s no wonder ATTY. FEDERICO
N. TRISTE is highly loved and respected by people who knew him at PHCCI-MPC!

Atty. Triste, fondly called Mano Peding by his family and among his circle of
friends and colleagues, became a member of PHCCI at its infancy where dedication,

Mano Piding in an intermission number during the Cooperators’ Area trustworthiness and a spirited volunteerism were essentials
Convention at the People Center, Tacloban City in October 2011. for a good foundation if the coop was to bloom and serve
its purpose of uplifting the lives of its members and the
communities it is likely to serve. Atty. Triste epitomized these
traits! In 1974, few years after its inception, he was given
the privilege to serve PHCCI as the Chairperson of the Board
of Directors. This was his first time to lead the reign of the
coop where the emphasis of his leadership was anchored
on transparency and the strongest push to educate and
encourage the members to save and readily have a fallback in
times of need. He served as the Chairperson not just once but
4 times particularly, in 1973-1974; 1977, 1990 and 1995. These
representations did not only cover the individual members
of the coop but, also served as an able representation of the

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Raising a point in the open forum of the 2012 PHCCI Posing for fosterity with the Board of Directors
General Assembly Meeting held at the and Committee Officers.

Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome). coop as well as garnering numerous recognitions the latest of which
was the, “Natatanging Lingkod ng Kooperotiba ng Pilipinas Award,” in
Output presentation during the PHCCI Performance Review 2016 given at SMX in Pasay City.
and Planning on March 7, 1998.
Mano Peding lived and breathed for the coop. His passion for
28 the coop was not only ignited but, it raged and overflowed as if the
lava oozing out of an erupting volcano that envelope its slopes until
the recesses reach its foothills providing an opportunity of plenty in
the future. His commitment to the coop was not only felt at home
but, to other endeavors of his as well. He introduced the concept of
cooperative and savings at STEFFTI where he was also connected; not
to mention the strongest of encouragement to some of the workers in
our local government during his short stint there.

Remarkable in Mano Peding is his consistency in defending
what is right regardless if such stand is unpopular among peers and
colleagues, especially in representing the voiceless in the organization.
All these speaks of his passion for the cooperative as manifested in
his unparalleled dedication and commitment, basically guided by the
belief that every chance is an opportunity of plenty in the future”.

“.... the meticulous lady
with persistent patience
as long as the stretch of the horizon”

Thoroughness paired with patience equal good leadership —
the leadership style that speaks of MS. ERLINDA B. SABANPAN.

Ms. Sabanpan was the 4th Chairperson of
PHCCI-MPC Tacloban in 1975. She was then working
in a private bank when she was introduced to the
cooperative world and from there she embraced
the cooperative movement not just at work but,
most importantly in her life as well. Her exposure
to the cooperative movement was generated by
her association with FR. FLAN DAFFY and the other
Redemptorist priests while then working as a
volunteer of the Redemptorist Parish Church.


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As the Chairperson of PHCCI, her propensity
for details and an unending emphasis on the
economic objective of every endeavor more than
the other purposes of a given program were
remarkably apparent in Ms. Sabanpan’s leadership.
In her heart, she also believed that uplifting the dire
conditions of the coop members must always be
given primary considerations because economic
independence is the beginning of the total
development of the individual member. Moreover,
she also emphasized good customer service, thus
she encouraged employees to be smart, efficient
and cheerful particularly, by extending proper
greetings to everyone who come to the coop. What
she envisioned was like that of a well-oiled assembly
system in all process of transactions, the members-
owners are provided with a degree of satisfaction
and professionalism. On the personal level, the
essence of self-help and providing opportunity to
the community as the basic tenets of cooperative
were embraced by Ms. Sabanpan through and
through. Until her demise, she engaged in a number
of livelihood programs in collaboration with the coop
that generated opportunities not just for herself but,
for the community as well.

Peace and happiness in heaven, MS. ERLINDA
B. SABANPAN, and thank you for being a part of
PHCCI-MPC successes as it celebrates its 50th
Founding Anniversary!

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“ great sacrifices and teamwork of people working
in synergy allowed PHCCI MPC to reach its
Golden Anniversary “

“The success of one, is the success of everyone,” is a principle that is believed
in by ATTY. ADOLFO A. IBAÑEZ, a cooperative stalwart who worked hard so that
PHCCI MPC gains its steady steps to success.

For more than 40 years, Adol or Mano Adol, has been actively involved in volunteer
work with the PHCCI. He was a PMES facilitator, a Director, Chairperson and now,
its General Manager. While he was in the PHCCI Board, he introduced measures
which gave him
some degree of
fulfilment being
a true believer
in coopertivism.
These measures
served as
the basis of
some major programs of the cooperative, namely: CooPagtutulungan, a
mutual assistance program in case of death of a member; CooPaninda, a
micro financing program for vendors and small scale store owners and
entrepreneurs; KIDDY-KOOP, a savings mobilization program for kids;
CooPalengke, a modern wet and dry market for lease to PHCCI members;
and TOGA, the Ten Outstanding Graduates Awards, given by the coop as a
fitting recognition for the academic excellence of the top college graduates
in Region VIII. Some of these programs that he initiated has maintained
their relevance to the present times and are still being marketed by the
cooperative today.

Briefing the Managers and Supervisors

As a passionate advocate of cooperativism, Atty. Ibañez has this on Financial Operations

to say, “Cooperative advocacy and development have been a lifetime at the Function Hall, Fr. Flan Daffy Building.

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Conferring with the Supervisory Committee.
passion for me. I got immersed in cooperative work right after graduation from college in the early
70’s primarily, because I personally experienced how a functional and pro-member cooperative really helps alleviate the
financial status of the marginalized members of the community.” He still vividly remembers the earlier decades of PHCCI’s operation as very
challenging times because of poor awareness level and the low trust of the people in Tacloban City on the cooperative. According to him,

“All of us officers, together with some Redemptorist Priests and
Brothers, particularly BRO. JOHN LETIGIO, would literally knock
on the doors of prospective members to convince them to join the
cooperative”. Adol’s passion for cooperativism has always been
on high gear since day one. An indefatigable cooperator, even the
parents of his pupils when he was still a teacher in Brgy. Palanog,
Tacloban City, did not escape the campaign for membership in
the cooperative.
Atty. Ibañez is ever grateful to PHCCI for having availed
of its loan services which left an imprint on him. His 1st loan
was used to buy a motorcycle used for a motor cab or tricycle
to augment his income as an elementary grade teacher in Brgy.
Palanog; the 2nd was used to finance his wedding with his wife,
Lolita Corpin-lbanez; and the 3rd was used to finance his Bar
Examination Review in 1975, among others.
May more members walk in synergy with you towards the
quest for the PHCCI-MPC centenary. Long live ATTY. ADOLFO A.
IBAÑEZ!
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A Helpful and Articulate Leader

Atty. Cabugoy, Jr., simply called Atty. Michael or Mike Cabugoy
at PHCCI, was elected to the Board of Directors in 1979 and became
active for 5 years. He was BOD President from 1979¬1981; 1st Vice-
President in 1982; and BOD member in 1983. Since then, coop lost
contact with him due to his transfer of residence and his legal practice
in Manila.

Under his leadership, PHCCI joined the Credit Mutual Life
Benefit System (CLIMBS) for insurance benefits of members.
Likewise, loan sharks were denied the coop loan services. In his last
term as President of PHCCI in 1982, Atty. Cabugoy reported that the
BOD approved the PHCCI Medicare System for members, however,
nothing was reported about it in the succeeding general assemblies.

As to Atty. Cabugoy’s persona, the following statements may
give us a peek into the man for who he was. “Michael’s presence
in a crowd of coop leaders could not be missed. He was a mestizo
and he talked eloquently,” recalled ATTY. ADOLFO A. IBAÑEZ, “He
was not bossy. He was strict with the official documents and office
correspondence, but he was kind; he took time to do the editing
disclosed by MS. FLORENDA FABELLA-SOLEDAD, the manager then
of PHCCI.

What a leader and a man, ATTY. IRENEO MICHAEL MC.
CABUGOY, JR.!

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A Coop Leader, Poet and Songwriter

The PHCCI Hymn, written by the man, MR. FLORENTINO M. NALDA,
is indeed a legacy that has been planted in the minds and hearts of all the
members of PHCCI-MPC Tacloban.

Mr. Nalda, intimately called Dodong by loved ones, friends and
colleagues, joined PHCCI on January 28, 1978 at the age of 46. At that time,
he was already established in his profession at the Department of Education
Culture and Sports. Understandably, he was convinced to run for a leadership
position in the BOD which he handily won. He was elected as the Chairperson
in 1986, the position he held until 1988 and again in 2000-2001. In the years
that he was not the chairperson of the BOD, he was its 1st Vice-President

which automatically made him the Chairperson of the
Education Committee. It was a position that he cherished
the most because it allowed him to get actively involved
in the pre-membership seminars. The topic he loved the
most to lecture on was “Man and his Relationship with
God and the Community.” In 2013, Mr. Nalda was awarded
as the Outstanding Coop Leader in Region 8 by CDA in
its Regional Gawad Parangal held at the CDA Tacloban
Extension Office by CDA Regional Director, Atty. Patac;
while on October 30, 2013, he was awarded as the Most
Outstanding Cooperative Leader in Tacloban City during
the 1” Tacloban Gawad Parangal held at the Convention
City Hall by Mayor Alfred Romualdez. His involvement in
PHCCI-MPC stopped only because health issues confined
him at home until his demise on January 7, 2018.

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Mr. Nalda ably captured the essence of a cooperative in
the following lyrics of the song:

No burden is so heavy it can’t be made so much light
There’s no need to be forever down when help is just around
When in cooperation and in love friends pull you up
And you give help for help it’s coop life, that’s all about ...
Where people of good will gather arm in arm their lives they
share Sure it’s loved by our Dear God on high, my PHCCI!
Unknown to most of his colleagues, he also wrote the
coop hymn of the Provincial Cooperative Development Council
(PCDC) which he once chaired.
Farewell to a good steward, MR. FLORENTINO M. NALDA,
whose memories will definitely linger on every time the PHCCI
Hymn is sung!

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A Nurturing Leader

If the country has Carlos P. Romulo, the great statesman, PHCCI-MPC has
MR. REY B. MARMITA, who shares the same denominator, small but terrible!

Fondly called Mano Rey, Mr. Marmita has been a member of PHCCI from
November 1974 to the present. For 16 years, he was a member of the BOD and its
Chairperson from 1991-1994. Serving as a member of the Education Committee
as facilitator in the Pre-membership Education Seminar for new members is one
commitment he has retained up to this time. He assisted in devising the training
modules used in the PMES and served in the recruitment outreach program of the
coop.

When asked about his major contribution as a member
of the BOD, Mr. Marmita categorically said that it was a
collective effort of committed members of the board. His
leadership skills and innovative ideas brought into the coop
were the key reasons for the success of his leadership when
he was BOD Chairperson. He gave his tireless service to
PHCCI during his tenure to achieve growth and success.

The lot acquisition and construction of the
PHCCI Building was initiated during his term and was

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inaugurated in June 1993. Outside of this milestone,
the coop embraced the technology rage with the
computerization of coop’s financial operations. Until
today he actively participates in important PHCCI
gatherings including mid-year and year end planning.

Unearthing PHCCI’s souvenir programs of
yesteryears, Mr. Marmita’s picture surfaced with this
description that speaks of the man: A big man in the
coop world belying his small build and short stature.
His forte: accounting, auditing, organizing. Being
articulate and handy with humor, he is a natural
lecturer in Pre-membership sessions for would-be
PHCCI members.

You’re an exemplar, MR. REY B. MARMITA, of
the old folks’ saying that, never a big thing can be a
mote in an eye!

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A Humble and Work-Oriented Person

MR. ANASTACIO G. ABAD, whose aspiration, “nothing but the best for
the coop,” moved him to serve PHCCI¬MPC for about a decade!

Mr. Abad, fondly called Tacy by those who knew him, had the privilege
to sit as the Chairperson of PHCCI while serving his 4th term as a director. Such
privilege was borne out of the experience and knowledge gained in serving the
different committees of the BOD, specifically the committees on Assets and
Delinquency.

The cohesiveness of the officers and the
transparency programs implemented were major keys
in the growth and development of the coop, and it was
during this time that the expansion of the coop took place.
Plans of diversified services and reaching out to more
members were not just confined in the drawing board
but was little by little implemented. Giving up his seat as
the Chairperson of BOD to serve as the Manager of the
CooPalengke was never an issue to Mr. Abad. Without a
doubt, he readily accepted the task because this would
bring him closer to the members of the coop and at the
same time answer a call of duty. From the CooPalengke

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assignment, the other expansion program became
his responsibility particularly, the construction of
the Calanipawan building dubbed now as the FR.
FLAN DAFFY Building. While he prided himself
with these successes, not everything in the coop
was a sweet story. The challenge that rocked the
coop left him helpless but thanks to the masterful
handling of the issue, everything was eventually
settled that gave rise to a new breed of coop
leaders ushering a new dawn for the coop. The
sacrifices and perseverance were precursors for
the best that is yet to come, the coop becoming
a billionaire! Looking back, Tacy could smile
contentedly with the fact that he was a big part
of the coop becoming the best not only in Region
VIII but the whole country, and that it will not stop
there. It will sustain such state.
MR. ANASTACIO G. ABAD, your handprint
at PHCCI-PMC will forever be one of the Coop’s
hallmarks of greatness!

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“PHCCI’s growth is really a miracle, just as it
is a great miracle for having the right people

working behind its continuous growth”

MR. MANUEL B. MARTA, one of the Chairpersons of PHCCI-MPC
Tacloban, is a personal witness that miracles do happen as evident in
PHCCI’s existence.

“I, together with my four siblings, came to know PHCCI at a young age
because it was an ultimate and perpetual partner of Mama in successfully
sending us all to school”, shares Manuel Borrel Marta. He further shares
how her mother emphasized to them that without her “utang-bayad”
experience (credit and pay) with PHCCI, none of them would have graduated

from college. So, when Manix, as he is popularly known, was
given the opportunity to serve PHCCI as a Board of Director,
he gladly accepted the responsibility as a “time to give back
and help”.

One of the highlights of his short stint chairmanship
was Tulong sa Preso”, a socio-economic project of PHCCI that
was heavily supported by the local government and religious
groups. Its objectives were also anchored on the aspirations
of the coop’s founding fathers, that of livelihood development
and basic ecclesiastical teaching for the disadvantaged.

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policy of transparency and justice. His PHCCI directorship, As his brainchild, the project endeavored to
though short-lived, was never a walk in the park, but with bring out the cooperativism movement to one
the constant reminders and guidance of no other than the of the marginalized sectors- the prisoners.
founding priest Fr. Flan Daffy, and his mother who served Hence, this became the concrete hollow block
the cooperative for quite a number of years as an officer, he (CHB) making project of the Tacloban City jail
opted for peace and the good of many. detainees. The project was in collaboration
with the city government of Tacloban and the
He advances further how happy he was to see the City Prosecutors Office. This project brought
fruits of his team’s causes which were formally instituted PHCCI special commendations and recognition
with the subsequent set of officers, and even until the from both civic and religious groups, specifically
present time. “Having the right causes with the right people from DILG-BJMP, CBCP-ECPPC, and from the
working as team to achieve goals is one great gift of miracle President of the Philippines. “Gospel” was
that PHCCI is blessed”, Manix closes. also a project under his chairmanship where
snippets of the gospel and bible stories would
be aired through the radio with PHCCI as the
sponsor.
Deeply aware of the value, essence and
mission of the cooperative to its members
and the community, Manix advocates a

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“.... the coop is member-friendly and has remained
true to its tagline, We Serve Best”

A testimony of faith and commitment accurately stated by MR.
FRUCTUOSO C. BALITON!

Mr. Baliton, an

academician, is remembered

to be the youngest Chairperson

and the first to serve as the

General manager of PHCCI-MPC

Tacloban. He became a member

of PHCCI in 1998 and since becoming a member of the coop, he has enjoyed

the benefits and privileges available to members. He availed several loan

windows too, such as auto, express, emergency and calamity loans that

addressed his specific needs. In 2002, backed by his experience as the former

BOD Chairperson of PSHS-EVC MPC and with the hope of serving the coop,

he ran for PHCCI-MPC Board membership representing the youth sector and

won. During his Board tenure, adherence to parliamentary procedures during

Board meetings became a practice because of his audacity in promoting its

adoption by the Board. The practice was welcomed by the Board and has

became his legacy in the cooperative.

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of the members with TESDA accredited skills for PHCCI-MPC just like any other institution
free. It was availed by approximately 540 PHCCI had its ups and downs that in 2002, four (4) of its
members. In 2015, he became PHCCI’s 1st General Directors served as Chairpersons for the entire
Manager and he introduced 2 major practical single term of the Board. When the 1st BOD
performance measures, namely, Monitoring, Chairperson resigned in May, 2002, Mr. Baliton was
Evaluation, Adjustment (MEA), to ensure that the elected as 1st Vice-Chair. In August, 2002, the 2nd
operations of the coop’s branches are in the right BOD Chairperson also resigned, thereafter he was
direction; Follow-up, Assessment, Feedback (FAF), unanimously elected as the 3rd BOD Chairperson.
to maintain the financial records and accounts of He served only until December 23, 2002, thus, a
the coop. 4th BOD Chairperson was elected.
DuringhiswatchasChairperson,heauthored
a project named, Entrepreneurial Enhancement
Seminar (EES), and was implemented with TESDA
as partner. It aimed to enhance the business skills

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“When you are living in a glass palace,
do not throw stones”

Atty. Sionne A. Gaspay, tough out compassionate, is well remembered as the
only Chairperson for six straight year from 2003-2009.

Setting up of PHCCI branches in Alang-alang, Dulag, Ormoc City and Sogod,
So. Leyte, plus the provision of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in selected
offices are attributed to the collective desire of Atty. Gaspay to bring the coop
services closer to the members-owners of the community, besides the conscious

effort to sustain members’ satisfaction even beyond
office hours. With transactions focused mainly on deposit
and withdrawal services and availing of loan facilities,
the former City Prosecutor admitted that her first few
experiences in presiding board meetings were just plain
ordeals but, her firm resolve to be a good chairperson
carried her through to complete 6 straight years as PHCCI-
MPC BOD Chairperson, a record only Atty. Gaspay holds.

Among her secrets as BOD Chairperson were
constant consultations with Fr. Flan Daffy, sensitivity
to local business developments and critical analyses of

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information from the grapevine. Her concern for the member’s
money made her extra careful in entering into some business
ventures offered to PHCCI.

One motivation that drove her further in fulfilling her duties
and responsibilities in the coop was her desire to live up to the
position, that is, to see to it that everything was in order. Worth
mentioning also was her focus on the coop’s physical beautification
and cleanliness, that is closest to her heart. During ownership
meetings and general assemblies, her challenge was the preparation
of all the accomplishments and data well-deserved by the owners.
She personally edited the souvenir program and visited the venue
a day ahead to check the preparations. Finally, she posited that if,
“a person has pure good intentions, the expected outcome will be
realized at the right time.”

It’s walk the talk, ATTY. SIONNE V. AUJERO- GASPAY!

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“.... my involvement with PHCCI was kind of come and go “
but this engagement with the cooperative never wavered.

The surface meaning of this message maybe light but, its deeper meaning is
about commitment - commitment to PHCCI-MPC only ATTY. PEDRO B. PANIS could
fathom!

Atty. Panis, lovingly called Peter, by his family, friends and colleagues in the
profession, has been a regular member of PHCCI for 30 years. He had availed of its
loan services that helped him finance the schooling of his daughter who is now a

licensed Dermatologist in Tacloban City and
for the rehabilitation of his house in V&G
which was damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

As a member of PHCCI for a long period of time, he has served the coop in different
capacities. He was elected as member of the Board of Directors in 1996 and again in 2008.
In 2009, he became the Chairperson of the Board and served the cooperative from 2009
up to 2010. In 2011, he returned to
the PHCCI Board as a Director and
served continuously until 2017. After
a year’s rest, he was again elected to
the PHCCI Board in 2018 and is now
an incumbent member of PHCCI’s
Board of Directors. Moreover, his
election to the Tacloban City Council
as City Councilor during the period
1988-1995, then subsequently from
1998 to 2007, made his involvement
with PHCCI a kind of come and go

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incident but his commitment
to the cooperative has never
wavered.

Aside from being an
officer of PHCCI, he was also
actively involved in the affairs
of secondary cooperatives
and in two cooperative
banks, notably: VICTO; PCF;
NATTCO; and NCCB, as a
member of the respective
Board; CLIMBS, as Ethics
Committee Chairperson;
Cooperative Bank of Leyte, as Chairperson; and the Tacloban City Cooperative Development
Council (TCCDC), as PHCCI’s Representative. As a VICTO accredited trainor, he was invited as a
resource person to speak in various seminars conducted for coop officers on topics covering
the provisions of the Cooperative Code of the Philippines, parliamentary procedures and
coop governance particularly, labor laws and other related social legislations. Besides, he
also became a founding member of the Board
of Trustees of the PHCCI Tacloban Academy,
a DepEd recognized elementary school
operated to cater primarily to the educational
needs of the children of PHCCI members.

As a Board of Director for many years, he had the opportunity to help craft policies
for the conduct of its business, set goals and priorities and approve annual, short-term
and medium-term plans to address primarily, revenue-generation, profitability and
loan delinquency, including the creation of new loan products and enhancing existing
ones. Through the years, he has seen the phenomenal growth of PHCCI to what it is
now with Php1.8 billion assets, a coop enterprise which is the biggest in Region VIII
(Leyte and Samar) in terms of assets and net surplus. In fact, PHCCI-MPC is one of the
few billionaire coops in the Philippines.

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The brain that ushered PHCCI-MPC to the club
of billionaire cooperatives in the world.

“What you sow, is what you reap,” is exactly what MS. EVELYN D. CLARIN
did as she steered the wheels of PHCCI-MPC to its zenith, that of a billionaire
cooperative!

In March, 2007, Ms. Clarin assumed office as Chairperson of the PHCCI-MPC
with a clear mission, to lead PHCCI’s further growth as it takes steady steps towards
continued stability. The 5-year Development Plan which she pursued served as the
growth engine for the coop during her incumbency as its Chair. Designed to increase
its meagre share of the regional cooperative market pie, PHCCI competed through
better programs, a sound marketing strategy and active collaboration with other
cooperative
organizations.
Executing
the growth blueprint required shrewdness in decision making,
hard work, commitment to the ideals of cooperativism and, as
Ms. Clarin had said, “a lot of Divine interventions.” With these
guideposts in mind she executed the plan to open the satellite
office in Babatngon in 2010, the construction of the coop’s office
building in Alang-alang in 2011, and the opening of satellite offices
in Carigara, Tanauan, and Borongan City in 2012. Furthermore,
her careful but calculated supervision of the operations of the
cooperative’s branches in Alang¬alang, Dulag, Ormoc City, and in
Sogod, So. Leyte, and of its satellite offices had contributed largely
to PHCCI’s monumental growth in terms of assets, membership
and return on investments.

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During Ms. Clarin’s term as
Chairperson of PHCCI, she was also
elected Chairperson of VICTO and
PCF, two cooperative federations in
which PHCCI is a member. She was
given recognition by the Tacloban City
Cooperative Development Council
(TCDC) and has received CDA’s Gawad
Parangal as an Outstanding Cooperative
Leader of Region VIII in 2015. Through
her stewardship, PHCCI-MPC joined the
ranks of cooperative billionaires with the
coop garnering the highest ROI it has ever
achieved since its inception.

Congratulations, MS. EVELYN D.
CLARIN for a job well done!

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“A leader is one who knows the way,
goes the way, and shows the way”

The tenet from which MS. FLORDELIS B. MENZON, Chairperson of
PHCCI-MPC Tacloban from 2013-2015 had lead the coop!

Ms. Menzon’s leadership paved the way to the sustained success
of the coop as it maintained the mileage of being the Top Cooperative
in Eastern Visayas and that of being one of the billionaire cooperatives
in the country. During her term as Chairperson of the PHCCI Board, she

focused on the realization of the priority programs
of the cooperative, which were: reactivation of the
Laboratory Cooperative and organization of its interim
Board; the adoption of measures that would impact
on the drive for delinquency reduction; establishment
of its Head Office following the hiring of a General
Manager and an Assistant General Manager for
Administration; construction of a new building for the
PHCCI-MPC Tacloban Academy (formerly the Perpetual
Help Learning Center); and, opened additional grade
school levels for the coop’s school. Ms. Menzon
shepherded the Cooperative when it initiated a Fraud

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