By Mary Rose Javier
TACLOBAN CITY — The CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) recently hosted media practitioners from Laguna, Davao, Leyte, and Samar for its Panaghiusa: CARD MRI Exposure Tour Program in Samar and Leyte.
“The goal of this exposure tour program is to give media participants a chance to interact with communities and see how microfinance and microinsurance services empower socio-economically marginalized communities,” said Marilyn Manila, President of CARD MRI Publishing House.
Organized by CARD MRI Publishing House, the media participants visited centers and clients of CARD, Inc. (a Microfinance NGO) and the CARD Bank Tacloban Branch, where they learned about the success stories of microenterprises.
The tour also included visits to Tacloban City, the Banig Weaving site in Saob Cave, Basey, and the historic bells at the Balangiga Massacre site in Balangiga, Eastern Samar. These visits were facilitated by CARD MRI Hijos Tours and highlighted the rich history of Eastern Visayas.
An exposure tour to the Kaunlaran Caravan in Basey, Samar, allowed media participants to personally witness various CARD MRI programs and see firsthand the positive impact of microfinance and microinsurance services on communities through financial services and development programs.
“To grow and strengthen connections with individuals and organizations who share the same purpose is one of CARD MRI’s missions. This Lakbay Aral Program is our way to connect with media to help spread information about our mission of eradicating poverty in the country,” said Manila.
The three-day event in Leyte was attended by 12 media practitioners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The participants included Carmela Estrope from Newscore Bulacan, Kervin Roi Katigbak from Ang Dyaryo Natin, Dexter Visitacion from Periodico Norte, Jefferson Crisostomo from Balitang Parehas, Dominic Abrematea from the Tacloban Star, Marie Tonette Marticio from Manila Bulletin, Justine Grace Traya from RMN Tacloban, Tito Tepace from the Leyte Samar Daily Express – Catarman, Roel Amazona from the Philippine News Agency Tacloban, Ruby Espina from the West Leyte Express, and Ricky Bautista from the Samar Weekly Express and The Samar Chronicle.
The Media Lakbay Aral program, organized by CARD MRI Publishing House, aims to elevate the capacity of CARD MRI clients by sharing progressive and positive stories. The institution plans to organize another tour program in Tuguegarao in August of this year.
