CARD microentrepreneurs nominated in the ASEAN Business Awards 2017

From left to right: Esther Shiela Vitto (Bahag Footwear/CARD Bank client), Victoria de Torres (Princess Rasec Garden/CARD Bank client), Adela Rivadera (3 Sisters’ Homemade Banana Chips/CARD Bank Client), Myrna Frago (Forestwood Garden Garden/CARD Bank client), and Maria Andal (Andal’s Barrio Meals/CARD SME Bank)
From left to right: Esther Shiela Vitto (Bahag Footwear/CARD Bank client), Victoria de Torres (Princess Rasec Garden/CARD Bank client), Adela Rivadera (3 Sisters’ Homemade Banana Chips/CARD Bank Client), Myrna Frago (Forestwood Garden Garden/CARD Bank client), and Maria Andal (Andal’s Barrio Meals/CARD SME Bank)

As an institution that celebrates the successes of its microentrepreneur clients, the CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions nominated its five clients to the ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) held on September 6, 2017 at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City. The award-giving body recognizes the outstanding enterprises in the region that serve as a platform to spread information on the ASEAN Economic Community, and spotlight SMEs that have the potential of becoming global economic players in their respective industries (www.aba2017.com).

Nominated in the category Women Entrepreneur Award are Esther Shiela Vitto of Bahag Footwear, Myrna Frago of Forestwood Garden Garden ,Victoria de Torres of Princess Rasec Garden, and Adela Rivadera of 3 Sisters’ Homemade Banana Chips/CARD Bank Client. All four are clients of CARD Bank. Meanwhile, Maria Andal of Andal’s Barrio Meals, a CARD SME Bank client, was nominated in the SME Excellence Category.

“While we were not able to bag any of the awards, we take this as a big leap for microentrepreneurs like us who really came from humble beginnings. Representing the more that 4.3 million CARD Nanays in this prestigious awards is already a big achievement for all of us,” said Esther Shiela Vitto, who was the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) Regional Winner for Luzon in 2015.

“Our CARD Nanays have really gone a long way. It has always been our dream for our clients to be empowered that they can compete with other remarkable and competitive economic players in the country and even in the ASEAN Economic Community,” said Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, who was also present in the event.

With various endeavors including trainings and seminars, product development, and marketing, CARD MRI prepares its more than 4.3 million clients composed of MSMEs from rural and urban communities like the five nominees to be globally competitive in support of the envisioned ASEAN Economic Community.