The values that had been passed on

“We all have the ability to overcome every difficulty and hardship that we will experience. And the moment we do, we will become even stronger.”

These were the words of Flordeliza Sarmiento, managing director of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), when she shared thoughts during the Center for Leadership: Values and Culture Workshop at CMDI Bay Campus on February 24, 2018.

Reminiscing the days of her experience as she started as a volunteer in CARD MRI, Ate Flor, as she is most widely known, shared how immersion to communities helped her see the things that are clouded by the ideologies of a hypocritical society. Truth is, poor individuals have the ability to develop and improve. Another truth, women can stand alone and they are always able to gain control over financial matters. Moreover, belonging to a certain sector or group does not mean they should be subject to oppression and discrimination.

The society tells us to just follow the norms, but she saw more of it and decided to help in any way she can.

Family spirit matters

One of the core values of CARD MRI she deems important is family spirit.

“When you have skills or knowledge that your co-worker lacks, you are willing to share and help in any way you can. That, I think, is what family spirit is supposed to mean,” Ate Flor said.

In a corporate setting, family spirit is rare and competition is prevalent. Workers come and go. Most of them become unhappy and not contented, which exhaust them at the end of the day. Sadly, most of them only thought about their own selfish desires.

According to Ate Flor, “if all of us, even in the corporate setting, would take time to know each other, we will be able to relate and develop empathy. We will be able to share what we know and what we can. Things will become easier by then if we treat each other as a family who needed support.”

Leading the family

Last April 2017, Ate Flor was appointed as the successor of Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, the founder and chairman of CARD MRI. She knew she would be carrying a greater responsibility; a whole new level that requires a lot more patience, competence, and excellence and the challenge to remain simple and humble like she always has been.

If it was not because of her passion to help the socio-economically challenged families in the country, she would not even try to get out of her shell. There are fear and hesitation but passion overcame it all. The values that she held for a very long time will forever be treasured and passed on to the generations after another.