Microfinance frontliners: Unsung heroes of hope (Part 3)

**media[17831]**FROM THE MARGINS(Conclusion)Microfinance has long been recognized as a tool for poverty alleviation, and at its heart are women. Globally, the majority of microfinance clients are women, and in the Philippines, many of the field workers who make microfinance possible are also women. They are the ones who traverse muddy roads, brave the heat, the rain, and sometimes, danger — all towards empowering others.As we close this three-part series on microfinance frontliners, we honor two more women whose stories remind us that meaningful change is often driven by quiet, persistent service.Serendipity and missionCarmela “Camille” Velasco never planned to work in microfinance. In 2010, while accompanying a neighbor who was applying at Kasagana-Ka Credit and Savings Cooperative (K-Coop), she was mistaken for an applicant. She was interviewed, and the rest, as they say, is history. She started as a Socio-Economic Officer and appreciated K-Coop’s family-friendly culture and values since she was a new mother at that time. Over 15 years later, she remains deeply committed to her work. “I stayed because I saw how our organization helps transform lives—especially mothers like me,” she shares. Her job has taken her to vulnerable communities and into emotionally charged situations. Once, she was physically threatened by a client during loan collection. “It was scary,” she admits, “but I had to be firm. Credit discipline is part of protecting both our clients and the cooperative.”Her commitment has entailed sacrifices. During the pandemic, while many stayed safely at home, Camille did field work to help members, risking her own health. “It was hard to be away from my kids, but I knew I had a duty, especially since our clients — mostly mothers — depended on us.”Camille draws strength from them. “My own mother was an OFW. She sacrificed so much for us, so helping other mothers is my way of honoring her.” She also cites Maria Anna Ignacio, her former team leader, as a role model. “She led with integrity and compassion — qualities I try to live by in my own work.”Now part of K-Coop’s Business Development Services Unit, Camille works on programs that go beyond financial access—providing training, marketing support, and product development to help members sustain their businesses. Her employer helped her complete her college education. “I couldn’t have done it without the trust and encouragement I received here,” she says with pride. “Their support inspires me to help others more.”Steadfast behind the scenesUnlike Camille, Levie Sheena Roque mostly works behind the scenes—but her impact is no less profound. A Computer Programming graduate from Nueva Ecija, she worked as a pharmacy assistant before joining K-Coop in 2014. As an Operations Assistant, Levie organizes and encodes client data, which is crucial for the cooperative’s growing operations. She relishes her engagement with members, especially during Pre-Membership Education Seminars, where she orients them on the cooperative’s programs and benefits. “It is fulfilling to help new members understand what the cooperative is really about—service, trust, and community,” Levie shares.Her commitment to serve stayed strong even during the Covid-19 pandemic. With public transportation suspended, Levie biked nearly two hours from Malolos to Pulilan—often through heavy rain and floods. “I’m near-sighted, so I couldn’t bike after dark. I had to work fast to get home safely and avoid the curfews.”When K-Coop migrated its systems, Levie and her teammates worked from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., manually transferring voluminous records to a new platform. “We had to work long hours on weekdays so we can spend time with our family on weekends,” she explains.Despite the challenges, Levie never lost sight of her purpose. “It’s not just a job. We bring hope and dignity to poor women. That’s what keeps me going.”She shared that her job taught her discipline, adaptability, and heart. Her advice to others in similar roles is simple yet powerful: “Do your best, and everything else will follow. Give what is required of you, give your all—because this is not only where we earn our livelihood; this empowers others too.”Women who serveCamille and Levie represent the many women working quietly but powerfully across the country to uplift others, mostly marginalized women in poor communities. They embody the strength, resilience, and compassion that drive microfinance.As this series concludes, we are reminded that the true measure of success in development work lies not in titles or salaries, but in the lives and communities touched. These women — and countless others like them — who serve and uplift other women are the soul of microfinance.Camille, Levie, and other microfinance staff are not just development workers. They are mothers, mentors, motivators, and models of hope — changing the world one loan, one visit, one life at a time.* * *“To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.” — Dr. Seuss(Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip is a poverty eradication advocate. He is the founder of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually-Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), a group of 23 organizations that provide social development services to eight million economically-disadvantaged Filipinos and insure more than 27 million nationwide.)