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HARVEST OF HEROES All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form - graphic, electronic or mechanical - including photocopying, recording, taping or by information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Published by: Land Bank of the Philippines 1598 M.H. Del Pilar cor. Dr. Quintos Sts. Malate, Manila Philippines Design by: OP Communications, Inc. Authored by: Jose Dalisay Contributing writers: Daniel Pineda Glenn Diaz Homer Novicio Om Narayan Velasco Photographs by: Edwin Tuyay Doroteo Palines Michael Mariano HARVEST of HEROES by Jose Dalisay CONTENTS 6 Message from the President of the Philippines 8 Foreword From Countryside to Countrywide: The LANDBANK Story 12 Some Called It Hope A Creation Fable 14 The Bounty of Earth and Water Farmers and Fishers 52 Small Steps to Big Dreams Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 98 Coming Home to New Hopes Overseas Filipinos 112 All Together Now Cooperatives 174 Fertilizing the Grassroots Rural Banks 196 Partners in Wealth Creation Corporations 214 Hands Across Borders Multilateral/Bilateral Partners 220 LANDBANK Vision/Mission MESSAGE A nation’s progress is borne of interwoven tales of industry, determination, and solidarity. It relates to a broader platform the triumphs of a people whose individual successes created tides of empowerment, cleared the path for development, and collectively attained milestones of greater magnitude. The Harvest of Heroes introduces us to some of these personages and provides us with narratives to emulate as we propel the growth of our regions. May this compilation be a source of inspiration for our citizens, as we maximize the opportunities afforded to us by our resurgence. Let this book galvanize us all to follow the footsteps of the stakeholders and partners of LANDBANK, whose diligence and business acumen contributed to our shared task of nation-building. Filipinos continue to lengthen their strides towards equitable progress and affirm the promise of our people. As our government enables our countrymen to retool for our rapidly-evolving milieu, we rely on every Filipino to help transform our communities from the grassroots and make tangible the more inclusive and prosperous tomorrow we envision. Together, let us demonstrate the prowess of a united citizenry and sustain today’s positive momentum. President Benigno S. Aquino III Republic of the Philippines FOREWORD From COUNTRYSIDE to COUNTRYWIDE THE Landbank STORY THIS BOOK FEATURES THE INSPIRING STORIES OF unsung Filipino heroes—a representative crop of clients, beneficiaries, and partners who have worked with the Land Bank of the Philippines over the past half century to realize their dreams and to make a difference in the lives of the people around them: their families, their communities, their industries, and ultimately the nation itself. This is just the first of a series of books through which LANDBANK hopes to chronicle some of the best and brightest success stories in its history. This is our way of paying tribute to the heroes in our midst with whom we envision, lay down, and work towards the fulfillment of our development plans and programs. We continue to draw inspiration from all of them and from every Filipino who has been part of our journey and continue to inspire us to dream bigger, aim higher and work harder. Above all other Philippine banks, LANDBANK has most keenly felt the pulse of the countryside. Created in 1963 by RA 3844 or the Agricultural Land Reform Code of the Philippines, LANDBANK has always had its feet on the ground—on the farm and on the shoreline, with a hand prepared to reach out to ordinary Filipinos in need of assistance. These are Filipinos who were imbued with fervent dreams to improve their lives and the future of their families by starting a business or making more out of farming and fishing, but who may have been considered unworthy credit risks by most traditional banks. But where these other banks saw potential failure, LANDBANK saw hope and likely success. HARVEST OF HEROES That’s the hope that LANDBANK brought and encouraged across the vast Philippine landscape, particularly in corners and areas unreached or neglected by urban-based and urban-oriented banks. Where few dared to tread, LANDBANK was there, with an open heart and an open mind, ready to listen and to help people who, at that point, were also ready to assume bigger challenges and to change their lives. It is today the single largest lender to small farmers and fishers, and the leading provider of financial assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises among GOCCs and government financial institutions. It is also the biggest credit provider to the LGU sector, financing projects in agri-infrastructure, schools and hospitals, farm-to-market roads, housing and livelihood, and other development projects. Because of the faith it has placed on the vision and the capability of ordinary Filipinos, LANDBANK has become a leader in the banking industry, with consistent growth in net income, assets, capital, deposits, and loans. It maintains its rank among the top five banks in the industry and remains the biggest government bank in the country, with total assets reaching P1.051 trillion and net income of P12.1 billion as of December 31, 2014. These resources have been significantly plowed back into the projects and efforts of the bank’s core constituencies. As of end-2014, LANDBANK’s loans to priority sectors reached P331.3 billion, representing more than 85 percent of the Bank’s regular loans of P385.8 billion. LANDBANK also plays a key role in major government programs including the Conditional Cash Transfer program where it is the disbursing bank. It also supports other government programs such as the Food Supply Chain Program which it implements in partnership with the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture; the Agrarian Production Credit Program implemented with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform; and the Department of Agriculture’s Sikat Saka Program and Agriculture and Fisheries Financing Program; the Overseas Filipino Workers Reintegration Program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. 10 THE LANDBANK STORY To better serve these sectors and growing depositors, LANDBANK has continuously expanded its physical network nationwide to make banking services more accessible to those who may otherwise have limited access to financial services. LANDBANK is the first universal bank to cover all Philippines provinces with 351 branches and 1,338 ATMs as of December 31, 2014. While we take pride in what LANDBANK has accomplished so far, we acknowledge that we are barely halfway through realizing our vision to promote inclusive growth and improve the quality of life especially in the countryside. Ultimately, we want people to treat LANDBANK as their partner in growth. Generating profits is, of course, important, but foremost in our agenda is to empower farmers and fishers, micro, small and medium entrepreneurs, and our other clients, partners, and stakeholders to improve their lives and be productive participants in the economy. The national leadership clearly shares our vision. In March 2014, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law RA 10374 which extends the legal existence of LANDBANK for another 50 years. As it completes its first half century of service, LANDBANK pledges anew to be at the forefront of helping its clients, stakeholders, and the entire country grow. As we give thanks to those who toiled the land and planted the seeds before us, we take stock of the lessons and gains harvested from the past and gear up for a new growing season. Part of that harvest is in this book, captured in stories of ambition and achievement, of endurance and perseverance, of industry and innovation, of community and cooperation. Together, they are the story of LANDBANK itself, and of how and why it has become what it is today. To enable heroes is in itself a noble and heroic task, and the Land Bank of the Philippines claims this distinction proudly as it stands on the threshold of its next half-century. Gilda E. Pico Sec. Cesar V. Purisima President and CEO Chairman 11 HARVEST OF HEROES SOME CALLED IT “HOPE” A Creation Fable by Jose Dalisay The Almighty made the earth and sky, The seas and rivers And all the creatures in them; The trees bore fruit, And the fish fed the beasts, And the Universe seemed complete. But the Almighty could not sleep Because he had forgotten To make man, who would master earth And sky, and all else within Man’s sight and reach. And man made what he could Of the Almighty’s gifts Making a home of cave, tree, and shadow. Man speared, man fished, man learned To seed and water, to wait and harvest. Man made more men. And the Almighty awoke in his fitful sleep Surprised to find the earth That he had so kindly left to man Now stripped and short of space As man pushed man And many had little or nothing Left to catch or grow. And the Almighty said, I should not have slept too soon! And he looked through the clouds For the worthiest of his subjects— Their feet caked in mud, or wet in water— And put a coin in each roughened palm. The coin was nameless. Some called it “Capital,” some called it “Opportunity,” some called it “Enterprise.” Some simply called it “Hope,” and felt its godly magic: Spent well and wisely, It kept returning to its spender’s palm, And at last the Almighty Smiled in his slumber. The BOUNTY of EARTH AND WATER FARMERS AND FISHERS—TILLERS OF the soil, harvesters of the sea—are LANDBANK’s fundamental reason for being, the Bank’s direct connection to the land that its very name bears.