IN a Cagayan de Oro village named after the known home of Jesus Christ are two young people who have found a sense of purpose in life working with a microfinance group.
They are Jayson Empase and Jay Ann Mamintas, and both work for ASA Philippines Foundation Inc. at Nazareth, a village about 7.15 kilometers from the city.
The two told the BusinessMirror that working with ASA gives them purpose as they are given the opportunity to help make a difference not only in their families but also the marginalized sectors of society.
The 22-year-old Empase relates with the latter as he described his childhood as full of challenges and difficulties.
In an interview with the BusinessMirror, the graduate of computer programming course from Saint Jude College of Science and Technology Inc. in Midsayap, North Cotabato, recalled he was already a working student in his elementary days until high school.
“I was already up at 5:30 a.m. to sell puto [steamed rice cake] and attended classes after I have finished selling it,” he recalled.
After classes, Empase collected the payments for the goods he sold in his morning sales. The evening had been allotted to study his lessons.
Making a difference
WHEN Empase finished secondary school, he went to Midsayap to study college.
Empase said he had to double, if not triple, his efforts to finish his college. To save money, he worked as a cleaner at his boarding house so he can stay there for free.
“I was blessed when I went to Midsayap when those kind souls supported me in my college studies,” the native of Parang, Maguindanao, pointed out.
To be able to support his family particularly his parents, he applied and worked in a fast-food chain for seven months. Nevertheless, he sought greener pastures because his monthly income was insufficient to support his family.
And then he applied at ASA Philippines, a nonprofit, nonstock corporation specializing in microfinance.
ASA Philippines, was a familiar name to Mamintas since his parents were members of the group founded in Jakarta, Indonesia. In fact, his parents encouraged him to work in the organization.
“They urged me to work in ASA Philippines because they told me it is a great organization,” he told the BusinessMirror. His first assignment was assigned at Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, in 2016.
“After my stint there, I realized it is a great employer that aims to make a difference in the lives of the marginalized,” he added.
ASA’s assets
MAMINTAS, 24, said she chose to work with ASA because it was a generous employer and at the same time helps the marginalized sector in improving their lives.
Mamintas, a graduate of BS Education at Governor Alfonso Tan College, said she decided to work in ASA Philippines because she wants to help the family in their daily needs, especially to support her younger sister in her studies.
“Since I am the only one in the family who has a college degree, I am in a better position to help the other family members who are in need of my assistance,” she said. “ASA Philippines has also given me the opportunity to make my life better.”
Mamintas said she enjoys working with ASA Philippines because the organization helps her in developing her character and personality. Since the clients of ASA Philippines come from the bottom of the pyramid, she said she needed a lot of patience in dealing with clients.
“We need to be patient with our clients because they are our assets,” Mamintas said.
Given the chance
EMPASE said working with ASA Philippines has given him a high degree of satisfaction, as well as the financial capability to support his parents.
“As a company, I realized that working here is great [and] has helped me [a] lot, [which] I have been given the chance to help my other family members,” he said.
Empase has learned a lot of skills when interacting because each client has different types of personalities.
Mamintas, now on her seventh month with ASA Philippines, said she has experienced different situations in dealing with clients regarding their loans.
“As a microfinance officer, I am aware of their situation because I was also in that situation.”
She added her education background has been helpful in dealing with various situations involving the clients.
“I need to develop a high degree of patience in dealing with stubborn clients.”
Harmonious relationship
FOR Empase, dealing with clients is on a case-to-case basis.
He said a microfinance officer must also know how to inspire and motivate the clients so he or she will know how to maximize the benefits of loans from ASA Philippines.
“We treat them like our parents so they develop a strong working relationship with us.”
Mamintas concurred that a microfinance officer needs to develop different skills when they’re interacting with clients because each client is unique in their situation and status.
“At first, it was challenging in the early months,” she said. “Later, I learned to adjust which made my job easier.”
Empase said their batch brings fun and sense of humor to make meetings livelier and funnier. For Mamintas, millennials can make a connection with the clients in a shorter span of time because of their open and more casual attitude.
Empase said ASA Philippines knows well to motivate the staff.
“If they ask you to increase your target and you were able to achieve it, they will give incentives,” he said.
Empase said microfinance officers need to embrace positivity to develop a strong rapport with clients so they can develop a strong and harmonious relationship.
ASA’s face
ASA Philippines Regional Administrator Lenie Delguera said their microfinance officers were given the proper guidance and values to become responsible citizens toward nation-building. They are molded to become disciplined citizens. Part of their regulation is that microfinance officers are discouraged to smoke and drink alcohol.
Moreover, microfinance officers also receive salaries above the minimum wage. Since some of them are breadwinners in their families, the compensation they receive is a big factor in tiding over the expenses, Delguera said. She added that ASA staff stay in a staff house for free and are given rice and laundry allowance.
“We want to motivate and inspire our MFOs for their work in helping common people to uplift their lives,” she said.
Empase and Mamintas were two of the microfinance officers whom ASA Philippines Foundation Inc. President and CEO Kamrul Tarafder recently hailed as the true heroes during the group’s recent 15th anniversary celebration.
“The task of microfinance officer is extremely difficult. Some of them have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Their task is not a mere job but a vocation to improve the quality lives of their poor countrymen,” Tarafder said in his opening remarks during the celebration. “Without them, we would not have come.”
He credits microfinance officers for the ability of their group to reach out to 1.8 million families across the country.
“The face of the microfinance officer is the face of ASA Philippines.”
Image credits: ASA Philippines Foundation Inc.