Int'l Development Workers Trained on Discipleship, Governance

"I appreciate learning what a truly Christ-centered organization looks like from the top to the bottom," said a satisfied participant in the recently-concluded third Transformative Economic Empowerment (TEE) training conference, an annual gathering organized by the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) and the CCT Ka-Partner Network (CCT KN). "I learned that discipleship is about relationship and needs to be a core part of organizational culture," said another.

This year's TEE had the theme "Thy Kingdom Come" from the Lord's Prayer and brought together microfinance workers and volunteers from 12 countries. In her welcome message, Ruth Callanta, president and founder of CCT said, "I praise the Lord for the opportunity to share stories, experiences, and lessons CCT and its people have learned over the years of ministering among the poorest of the poor. It is my prayer that our week together will truly equip and encourage everyone so that when we go from here we will shine as exceedingly bright lights in the dark corners of the world where God appointed us to minister." Attendees were from Burundi, Cameroon, India, Korea, Malawi, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia.

Participants spent about half of the week-long conference on exposure trips and half attending courses on either discipleship or organizational governance.  The exposure trips, meant to give attendees an understanding and appreciation of the scope of CCT work and what God has done in establishing these ministries, involved visits to a microfinance branch, three community centers, a residential school, a feeding activity, a savings group, and a factory.

The plenary sessions, break out group sessions and panel discussions on discipleship and organizational governance involved the following speakers and facilitators:

• Matthew Rohrs, Hope International director of spiritual integration 
• Todd Engelsen, PEER Servants president 
• Jesse Ratichek, Hope International technical assistance manager 
• Malu Garcia, Hope International savings circle program specialist 
• Larry Roadman, endPoverty.org chairman 
• Tammy Wang, endPoverty.org chief operating officer 
• James Tioco, Sowers of the Word Ministries executive director 
• Elizabeth Venegas, CCT Training and Development Institute executive director 
• Bertram Lim, CCT Inc. board chairman 
• Ronald Chua, CCT Credit Cooperative board chairman 
• Ruth Callanta, CCT Group of Ministries founder and president 
• Joey Bonifacio, Victory Fort Bonifacio pastor 
• Carson Tan, CCT Life and Business Mentoring Program volunteer mentor 

The discipleship course covered the Biblical basis for discipleship, encouraging examples of how CCT has integrated discipleship into its daily activities, and case studies of organizations that have excelled in discipling. The organizational governance course covered governance principles, practices and policies that guided CCT as it evolved from a single entity to a group of ministries, and issues and challenges that confronted CCT and its response to such.

The Ka-partner Network is a consortium of North American-based Christian microfinance organizations that partner with CCT – currently including endPoverty.org, Five Talents, Hope International and PEER Servants.

Other organizations represented in the conference were Christian Empowerment Microfinance (Zambia), Christian Service Society (India), Christian Action for Empowering Church and Community (Uganda), Action for Children (Uganda), Ikussasa Empowerment Trust (South Africa), and Women’s Initiative for Health, Education and Economic Development (Cameroon).

The conference was held on November 10-15, 2014 at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center, Cavite, Philippines.

Children cared for at the residential school for girls
in Puypuy, Bay, Laguna welcome TEE participants
with gifts of shell necklaces.

 TEE participants join a friendly football match with young men
 who used to live on the street and who are now cared for
 at the Visions of Hope Christian School in Magdalena, Laguna.  

While observing a once-a-week fellowship meeting of 
microfinance recipients, TEE attendees
 learn an action song led by a
covenant community builder, front-liner in
CCT's microfinance program.  

Brothers and sisters in the Lord -- development workers 
from around the world,
microfinance recipients, and CCT staff. 

Joey Bonifacio, CCT corporate member, discusses discipleship
and the Lego Principle.

Delegates from 12 countries learn a bit of Philippine
history with a visit to a monument honoring
patriot and martyr Jose Rizal.

Buchi King Owners Speak at TEE Opening Night

Christian Caparas, co-owner of Buchi King restaurant, speaking before micro finance workers from 
several countries during the TEE training in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

Alvin Abaja speaks of how he (along with cousin Christian) started Buchi King after he had a vision of himself
making buchi. 

Alvin Abaja and Christian Caparas, co-owners of Buchi King, a restaurant in Binan, Laguna, shared the story behind the  success of their growing business during opening night of the third Transformative Economic Empowerment (TEE), an international training session for micro finance workers.  

Alvin and Christian, who are cousins, manage Buchi King along with Christian's mother, Rosario Caparas.   Rosario is a pioneer member and micro finance recipient  of the Center for Community Transformation Savings and Credit Cooperative branch in Binan.

The cousins spoke of how they started their business after Alvin had a vision, during the pastoral prayer at their church one Sunday, of  himself making and selling buchi.  Soon afterward they started selling buchi to office mates and church mates.  When orders grew, they both resigned from their jobs with private corporations to be able to focus.  They opened the restaurant in December 2012. 

The  signature product of Buchi King is buchi, a ball of glutinous rice stuffed with a variety of fillings.  Traditional fillings are macapuno (coconut), ube (purple yam), and sweetened  mung bean paste.  The innovative cousins have made their buchi a hit with such fillings as cheese, sweet cream, chocolate, and white chocolate.  The restaurant also serves rice meals, pasta, and Chinese noodles.

Aside from being micro finance recipients, the Buchi King owners have benefited from CCT’s mentorship program where  Christian businessmen offer time and expertise coaching fledgling business owners in both spiritual and business matters. 

The TEE training where the cousins shared their testimony was a joint activity of CCT and the Ka-Partner network, a consortium of US-based organizations ministering to the poor. Attendees were from Peru, India, Moldova, Zambia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, and the US.  

The founding members of the Ka-Partner network are endPoverty, Five Talents, Hope International, and Peer Servants.  

Ruth Callanta, CCT founder and president, said the training session allows the sharing of CCT’s best practices and stories, benefiting the poor of other nations.  

Participants in the TEE training session during opening night of the week-long activity. 

New CCT Community Center and Tech-Voc Campus to Rise Soon

Officers and trustees of  Wilcon Foundation, Center for Community Transformation - Training and
 Development Institute CCT-TDI), and AMG Skilled Hands Technological College (ASHTEC)
symbolically break ground at the location of a new building where technical-vocational education, 
pre-school education,  micro-finance, and basic health services  will be offered to the people of 
Rodriguez, Rizal . Left to right: Ramonchito Kung, Wilcon executive security manager; Grace
Aquino Tiong, Wilcon AVP for human resources; Ruel Godino, Wilcon AVP for logistics; 
Mark Belo, Wilcon City Center director; Elizabeth Venegas, CCT-TDI executive director; 
Francisco Pascual Jr., ASHTEC president; Quintin Tan, TDI chairman; Emilio Obispo, 
Wilcon Foundation coordinator; Engr. Jose Gamorot, Wilcon Engineering Dept. head. 

The Center for Community Transformation and AMG Skilled Hands Technological College (ASHTEC) have joined hands with Wilcon Foundation for the establishment of a new community center and technical - vocational campus in Rodriguez, Rizal.

The collaboration stems from a commitment of William Belo, Wilcon Builder's Depot president and CEO, to assist members of the community around the Wilcon Builder's Depot in Rodriguez. "Mr. Belo has always helped young people receive education.  During Wilcon's early years, he would provide tuition for college-age children of employees out of his own pocket," said Emil Obispo, coordinator for the Wilcon Foundation.  "With this partnership with CCT and AMG, we are offering the same kind of help more formally."

 After a visit to the CCT Training and Development Institute in Magdalena, Laguna (where the teaching staff are from ASHTEC), Mr. Belo expressed a wish for a similar school in Rodriguez.  He then allocated a 3,000 square meter lot within the Wilcon warehousing facilities in Rodriguez to be used as a new campus, and plans were started for a new building.  He also agreed to a recommendation that the building do double duty as a community center where other services for the poor (such as micro finance, free pre-school, basic health services, and provision of affordable drinking water) can be offered by CCT.    

Construction of the building is set to start on May 6 and is expected to be completed within a period of six months. 

Mark Andrew Belo watches as a time
capsule containing architectural plans
of the new building and
campus is lowered into
the ground.

Anji Gabriel, CCT-TDI trustee,
 opens the
thanksgiving service with
a prayer.

Emilio Obispo, Wilcon Foundation coordinator,
welcomes stakeholders and guests.

Pastor Jun Gonzaga, CCT-TDI senior pastor,
shares a short message on vision
and Jesus' compassion based on
Proverbs 29:18 and Matthew 9:35 and ff.

Mark Belo of Wilcon Builder's Depot: 
"With this school we hope to contribute to 
alleviating the jobs-skills
mismatch in the country
and to the alleviation of poverty."

Professor Quintin Tan, CCT-TDI chairperson, says,
"It is thrilling to see young people without skills learn 
[new skills at TDI] and
become supportive of their families."

Fransisco Pascual Jr., president of AMG Skilled Hands
 Technological College, states AMG's
commitment to provide underprivileged young people
with relevant skills training. 

Willyboy Torres gratefully speaks of life changes he underwent
while studying at CCT-TDI in Magdalena, Laguna.

Beth Venegas, CCT-TDI executive director explains how the
Wilcon, CCT, and AMG collaboration came about. 

Beth Venegas, Mark Belo, and Dr. Melba Maggay, CCT-TDI trustee.

Staff of AMG Skilled Hands Technological College (in blue uniforms)
 with Beth Venegas, Mark Belo, and Jun Pascual.

Left to right: Beth Venegas, Mark Belo, TDI Trustee Gloria Ison,
Dr. Melba Maggay, Anji Gabriel, Jun Pascual, and
Professor Quintin Tan. 

Officers and staff of Visions of Hope Christian School, CCT
Savings and Credit Cooperative, TDI and Wilcon Foundation, with
Megaconstruct Group Inc, the building contractor. 

New Products for Loyal CCT Partners Announced

The new identification card and passbook for the exclusive use of loyal community partners.

The Center for Community Transformation Savings and Credit Cooperative recently announced a new set of products and  privileges exclusively for community partners who have been active members of the cooperative for five years or more. These products and privileges are:

• Emergency loan of P5,000 - P30,000 for hospitalization of immediate family members
• Study Now Pay Now E-loan of P2,000 to P20,000 for tuition of immediate family members
• Enterprise financing for immediate additional funding for business
• 50% discount on service charge for growth enterprise loans
• 50% discount on service charge for regular business loans

Loyal partners will be distinguished by their use of a new gold-colored identification card and passbook, the first set of which they will receive for free. 

Ruth Callanta, CCT president and general manager of the CCT Credit Cooperative said these products and privileges are given in appreciation of the community partners' faithful patronage of CCT programs and services.

In the world of microfinance, recipients of microfinance loans are referred to generally as borrowers or clients.  At CCT they are referred to as community partners. 

CCT Trains International Microfinance Workers

Eleven microfinance practitioners and volunteers from Sri Lanka, Uganda, South Africa, and the United States were in the Philippines in  April to attend  a training program jointly sponsored and organized by CCT and  Peer Servants, a US-based Christian organization. The trainees attended lectures on Growing and Multiplying Healthy Branches and learned effective microfinance practices firsthand  when they went into the communities to observe how community relationship builders work and to interview recipients of microfinance services. 

 “By God’s grace we have been entrusted with the stewardship of sharing our learning and microfinance experience with younger microfinance institutions,” says Beth Venegas, Peer Servant - General Management of the CCT Training and Development Institute which facilitated the week-long program.

CCT established partnership with Peer Servants in 2008. Ruth Callanta, CCT president and founder, says, "Praise the Lord for this opportunity to be of service to brothers and sisters in the Lord who share our vision for economic and spiritual transformation of the poor."

For information on the CCT Group of Ministries, its programs and target beneficiaries,  please visit  www.cct.org.ph/new/.

CCT Visayas Staff Attend Wholeness Seminar

Dr. Violeta Bautista, life coach 
and leading Filipino psychotherapist,  
wholeness workshop main facilitator.

Part of the work of CCT staff in the communities involves carrying on Jesus original mission of "healing the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds." About 30 staff members from CCT Credit Cooperative branches in the Visayas recently attended a workshop meant to enhance their comfort and competency in leading people they serve toward wholeness.  Journey toward Wholeness: A Training Program on Wholeness Facilitation for CCT Staff was led by Dr. Violeta 'Bolet' Bautista of the Care and Counsel Wholeness Center (CCWC) (http://www.careandcounsel.com/).  Attendees were from different levels of the organization such as pastors,  regional peer servants, area servant leaders, team servants, and covenant community builders. 

Dr. Bolet was assisted by Dr. Annabel Manalo, current head of the counseling department of the Asian Theological Seminary;  Cristabel Fagela-Tiangco, instructor at the University of the Philippines Extension Program in Pampanga (UPEPP), Prof. Rosanne Echivarre, assistant professor at UPEPP; Johnrev Guilaran, psychology instructor at UP-Visayas; and Jeimae Hernandez, psychometrician at CCWC.

Biblical reflections were led by Lorenzo Bautista, professor at Asian Theological Seminary. 

 The five-day workshop will eventually be attended by CCT Credit Co-op staff across the country. The initial activity was held on April 25-29, 2012 at Cecille’s Pension House in Oton, Iloilo.

Prof. Rosanne Echivarre