‘Don’t be too generous’

CARD MRI OFW Foundation (Hong Kong) chair Rex Aguado (first from the right) and CARD officials pose with one of the graduates.

Look after yourself first.

Consul General Bernardita Catalla issued this call to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the graduation rites of CARD MRI OFW Foundation (Hong Kong) on August 24.

Catalla told the 131 new graduates of the foundation’s financial literacy program that OFWs should not just send money whenever their relatives back in the Philippines ask for it.

“Huwag tayong masyadong generous kasi baka sa huli walang maging generous sa atin. At of course, ayaw nating maging pabigat sa ating mga pamilya,” Catalla told the crowd at the Catholic Diocese Center auditorium in Mid-Levels on August 23.

“Ang importante, may savings sa sarili, may savings sa hinaharap, at may savings para sa emergency,” she said.

“Huwag nating gastusin lahat. Turuan natin ang ating mga kamag-anak na magtipid din sila. Maiintindihan nila na nadito tayo hindi ho panghabang panahon ito. Yung katawan natin nanghihina rin,” she added.

Catalla thanked CARD MRI for providing financial literacy classes and loans that would help OFWs to set up their own business when they return back to the Philippines.

“Itong CARD MRI, ang laking pagkakataon ang binibigay sa atin upang yung ating goals and aspirations, objectives sa ating pagtratrabaho dito ay makamptan natin,” she said.

“Preneprepare tayo para sa ating negosyo, preneprepare tayo para mamanage ang ating buhay, pati buhay ng malalapit sa atin,” she added.

One of the Filipinos who benefited from CARD MRI’s programs was Carmen Mayores, a former Zesto Corporation employee who quit her job to set up her handicraft business that includes making abaca bags.

“Todo suporta ang CARD sa amin. Yun ang maganda sa CARD. Hindi kami pinabayaaan,” she told the graduates.

She started with just P3,000 to start her business and got a boost after CARD decided to lend her P5,000 to buy a machine to expand her business.

“Talagang ang laki ng tulong sa akin ng CARD. Ang ginawa ko sa P5,000, nagdagdag ako ng makina at bumili ako ng raw materials,” she said.
“At mula sa isang makina, nakabili pa kami ng lima. So, anim na. Dumadami na,” she added.

Mayores got another boost from CARD when she was invited to join its bazaar in San Pablo. Mayores met buyer from Laguna and another one who now exports her bags to New Zealand.

“Last month lang, nag-order sila sa akin ng mga bag worth P78,000. Sabi ko, wala akong pera ngayon kasi kadedeliver lang namin ng mga bags,” Mayores said.

Because of her good credit record, Mayores said the foundation helped her and gave her the much-needed financial assistance needed to produce the bags.

“After one week, bayad ako sa kanila. Malaking tulong ang nagawa sa akin ng CARD. At hindi lang sa tulong,” she said.

“Marami silang benepisyo, tulad ng scholarships. Yung insurance. Inabot kami nun ng bagyo, nakakuha rin kami ng pera. Kaya hindi lang utang, marami rin tayong makukuha na benefit from CARD,” she added.

Mayores said her business in Camalig, Albay also helps indigent students get some extra cash.

“Marami kaming natutulungan kahit mga estudyante, mga elementary or high school. Pag uwi nila nagkakabit sila ng mga handle. Meron silang mga pambaon,” Mayores said.

“Kaya walang problema ang mga tao doon, di katulad ng iba kahit pambili ng papel wala. Duon marami kaming natutulungan,” she said.

“Sabi nga ng mga anak ko, ‘Ano ba Ma? Aalis ka pa sa CARD? Sabi ko, habang buhay andyan na ako sa CARD,” she added.