CARD MRI keeps the art of ‘Balagtasan’ alive among employees
Posted on December 23, 2022
By: Edrian B. Banania
Mr. Archie C. Dilao, Mr. Joemarie Jordan, and Mr. Jimmar E. Valencia (4th to 6th from left) from CARD Bank, Inc. bagged the 1st place in AM category during the Balagtasan Awards Night on December 08, 2022, at Maharlika Square San Pablo City. The awards are presented by CARD MRI Founder and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip (7th from left) together with CARD MRI Senior Advisers and CARD MRI Executive Committee Members.
The CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), a group of institutions with a common goal of poverty eradication, launched a Balagtasan Competition among its staff and officers in August 2022 in time for the celebration of Buwan ng Wika. After a series of screening, eleven groups competed in a final round held on December 7-8, 2022. Finally, on the evening of December 8, 2022, Balagtasan champions were named in an awarding ceremony in Maharlika Square Events Place, San Pablo City, Laguna.
“In any country that aspires for development, a strong sense of self-identity as a nation is very important. Programs such as this Balagtasan Competition allow us to stay connected to our roots as Filipinos. As our National Hero reminds us in perhaps his most famous quote, we should always look back where we came from,” CARD MRI Founder and Chair Emeritus Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip explained. He also mentioned that engaging CARD MRI staff and officers in such programs also develops a deeper appreciation of the core values of CARD MRI and its mission of nation-building.
Below are the winners for each category:
Account Officer (AO) category: Mr. Denver A. Pagunsan and Ms. Sheena Kisha P. Abecia from CARD Mutual Benefit Association (CARD MBA) and Ms. Charline P. Vela from CARD MRI Rizal Bank, Inc. (CARD RBI)
Unit Manager (UM) Category: Mr. Joal D. Modi from CARD RBI, Ms. Dianne P. Palomares and Ms. Elaine S. Rico from CARD MBA
Area Manager (AM) Category: Mr. Archie C. Dilao, Mr. Jimmar E. Valencia, and Mr. Joemarie Jordan from CARD Bank, Inc.
Lakandiwa ng Taon: Mr. John Christopher Ulit from CARD Bank, Inc. (AO Category); Mr. Joal D. Modi from CARD MRI Rizal Bank, Inc. (UM Category); Archie C. Dilao from CARD Bank, Inc. (AM Category)
Prinsipe ng Balagtasan: Mr. Joel D. Baquing of CARD Bank, Inc. (AO Category); Mr. Nicknel D. Nepumoceno from CARD SME Bank, Inc. (UM Category); Mr. Joemarie Jordan from CARD Bank, Inc. (AM Category)
Prinsesa ng Balagtasan: Ms. Charline P. Vela from CARD RBI (AO Category); Ms. Dianne P. Palomares from CARD MBA (UM Category); Ms. Ma. Rovi O. Maṅalac from CARD, Inc. (AM Category)
“At CARD MRI, we aspire to build an environment that allows our staff and clients not only to grow professionally but to also explore their endless potentials as individuals. We aim to create a workplace that nurtures the diversity of our talents and skills. This 2023, we are looking forward not only for Balagtasan 2.0 but also for other programs that build the capacities of our staff holistically,” CARD MRI Managing Director Aristeo Dequito concluded.
The said program is facilitated by CARD MRI Hijos Tours, the heritage tour operator of the CARD MRI group. Established in 2017, Hijos Tours has been offering both in-person and virtual heritage tours not only to CARD MRI clients and staff, but also the general public. To learn more about Hijos Tours, visit its Facebook page: www.fb.com/HijosToursOfficial.