Story told by ASKI Founding Executive Director and ASKI Group of Companies President and CEO Rolando B. Victoria
Thirty years ago, the Philippines celebrated a milestone after the revolution contested by the population. We championed the freedom and democracy.
However, unemployment and poverty were widespread because of political issues and transition of leadership.
This is why, a group of Christian business leaders in Nueva Ecija decided to establish an organization that will help the people.
They saw the urgent needs and the difficult situation of the community at that time.
On March 23, 1987, the founders finally made it official. But, just like any other organization, funding support and manpower was an issue. In spite of these concerns, they still continue.
On the last week of May 1987, I was informed that I was one of the prospective managers of ASKI.
I was asked to meet the group. At first I was hesitant to go since I was running an accounting office then and had no knowledge on what kind of business the group was involved in and who were the people behind it.
But fate intervened. On July 1, 1987, the Alalay Sa Kaunlaran Sa Gitnang Luzon Inc. started to operate as a non-stock, non-profit, educational, charitable, spiritual, cultural, civic and a social service corporation.
I became the Executive Director without any compensation in the first few months because as a new microfinance institution, ASKI had no capital to speak of.
The prominent Diego Building owned by Mr. Norberto Diego Sr. became ASKIโs first office of operations.
As they say, behind the dark cloud lies a silver lining. Mr. Diego offered the whole of the 2nd floor of Diego Building, including water and electricity for free for one year.
We borrowed the wooden chairs, our first table and an old manual typewriter. I had to bring the electric fan which was a wedding gift to me and my wife. During the pilot year, I also had to bring bond paper, carbon paper and other office materials for ASKIโs use. Even the telephone was provided by Mr. Diego. After one month, we lost the typewriter and the electric fan.
We thought of introducing the organization to the public by having a simple inauguration of the office. All of us had to bring foods. Selected people were invited. We invited a pastor to bless the office. I remembered we had to make contributions for his transportation.
After the inauguration, there were two problems ASKI had to face. The first challenge was to make it credible as an institution that would cater to the financial needs of poor entrepreneurs and how to produce the local cash counterpart of P150,000. We resorted to Christmas carolling and approaching the friends of our board to raise the needed funds.
By Godโs grace, we were able to start our operation with a loan portfolio of P460,000 (US$21,905). The support came from Mr. Bill Taylor from Brisbane, Australia through Maranatha Trust of Australia .
We started with three employees, I as the Executive Director, Lovie Feleo who worked at Diego printing press and also the secretary of the Rotary Club of Cabanatuan became our secretary-typist and Danilo Batisan as project officer.
I went around the market in Cabanatuan City and other businesses to hear business ownersโ reaction towards ASKI. I asked where they got their capital, the interest rate, collateral and mode of payment.
At first, people did not believe that we would lend money at only 12% per annum. At that time, interest rates went as high as 40%.
We had our first 25 clients during our pilot year. They created 79 jobs and benefitted 642 people.
Access to government funding in a form of loan poured in after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit the Northern and Central Luzon in 1990 and the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991.
These calamities became an opportunity for ASKI to serve its purpose. Support for the rehabilitation program in a form of livelihood project came in from the National Livelihood Support Fund or NLSF, Philippine Business for Social Progress and the Department of Trade and Industry.
More funding support came when Mr. David Bussau fully supported ASKI and introduced to various international organizations like the PhilippineโAustralia Community Assistance Program or PACAP- a bilateral development program run by the Governments of the Philippines and Australia.
He is also instrumental in getting support from the Tear Fund of New Zealand for the KOHA Project- a five-year block program for the indigenous peoples in the Philippines, and the Schmitz Stifttung Foundation in Germany for microcredit program for women.
With the implementation of these programs, on September 23, 2004, ASKI adopted a new name- Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc., in line with its expansion program in other regions.
Being with ASKI for the last 30 years, I can say that there is nothing more rewarding than to reach a significant milestone in its history and see the fruits of the hard work of the people behind its success.
We were able to nurture award winning micro-entrepreneurs, empower persons with disabilities by giving them the opportunity to run their small businesses, and to provide access to education by giving scholarship to poor but deserving children of ASKI clients.
In return, recognitions from the international and local front poured in for our financial and non-financial services which served as our inspiration to continue with our mission.
ASKI took part in the formation of networks like the Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development or APPEND , the Microfinance Council of the Philippines or MCPI and the RIMANSI Organization for Asia and the Pacific Inc.
Slowly, we also realized our dream of setting up the Strategic Business Units of ASKI to provide more services to our clients. These institutions were part of our innovations to address the socio-economic problems in the regions of our operation.
We have the ASKI Microfinance- the credit arm of now the ASKI Group of Companies. It offers a wide-range of loan products from livelihood or business, to agriculture, housing, education, green energy, insurance and salary loans.
ASKI Mutual Benefit Association, is our in-house insurance arm which promotes the welfare of the poor and extends financial assistance to its members and immediate family in forms of death benefits, medical subsidy and loan redemption assistance.
ASKI Foundation Inc.,- is our corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm. The main assistance to families, groups and communities include, Education, Health, Outreach and Environment, and Community Development Services.
ASKI Multipurpose Cooperative- which provides marketing venues to micro-entrepreneurs and sell commodities at reasonable price. The AMPC links clients' products to a wider local and global market through a wide network of trading partners.
ASKI Skills and Knowledge Institute, Inc.,- it conducts training programs for ASKI personnel, clients and other organizations. It offers technical and vocational courses like microfinance technology course, bookkeeping, housekeeping, cookery and information and communication technology. It also offers its Senior High School Program having received permits to operate Grades 11 and 12.
ASKI Global Limited- it is committed to promote inclusive development among Filipino migrant workers in Singapore and Hong Kong. Courses on Financial Education and Basic Entrepreneurship are being offered to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit and change the remittance behaviour of migrant workers. It aims to achieve asset building, job generation and family reunification.
Alalay Holding and Trading Corporation- handles the life and non-life insurance, and group accident insurance of clients in partnership with third party insurance providers.
iSynergies,- takes charge of technological breakthroughs in order to serve ASKIโs clients. An in-house system accredited by the government is developed for microfinance operations. It also provides other hardware products like computers, CCTV, printers and many others.
ASKI School of Knowledge- provides free pre-elementary and elementary education, health and nutrition coupled with values formation to less privileged children below 7 years old residing near the dumpsite in Cabanatuan City.
ASKI Employees Credit Cooperative- is a cooperative owned and managed by ASKI employees. Its primary objective is to help improve the quality of life of its members- the ASKI personnel.
LOLC-ASKI Finance Inc.- registered as a stock corporation catering the financing needs of Small and Medium Enterprises, and
Royal Bon Voyage Travel and Tours Corporation- caters the travel needs of everyone and promotes local eco-tourism in the areas where ASKI operates.
We responded to the needs of our clients not only by providing financial assistance but also creating new opportunities to ensure a viable way to put poverty in history. This gave birth to an idea of working and giving beyond the boundaries of microfinance.
Our accomplishments are manifestations of our rise from humble beginnings and the joys and challenges that we have gone through in the past.
We take pride in sharing with you some ordinary people with special stories to tell. Our award-winning microentreprenuers like Dina Lava, Consuelo Valenzuela, Herminigildo Dulatre, Zenaida Avellaneda, Zenaida Guray, Leniflor Ico, Maricel Quiap and Lolly Cabbigat. We shared their hopes and dream their dreams.
From a small office in Cabanatuan City, ASKI blossomed and continuously grows to serve not only those in the rural communities but overseas Filipino workers as well. Today, we have 75 branches in Regions 1, 2 and 3 and serving more than 120,000 clients and insuring more than 600,000 clients and their families
Our clients and partners are our allies in spreading the good seeds that we expect to yield better results to improve more communities.
As we journey to another three decades, I have high hopes that our programs and services will continuously transform lives and build sustainable communities.
At first, I thought it was hard to continue. I was right. But nothing is easy in this world. Success does not happen overnight. We took the hard work. And the hard work paid-off.
Seeing the dreams of the poor turning into a reality is our biggest achievement. I can sayโฆ it was all worth it.
