CATALYZING SOCIO-ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN PANAY COMMUNITIES

Who We Are

GRF Hublag Foundation, Inc. is the development finance program of the Gerry Roxas Foundation. Hublag, a local term for “a movement,” opens access to economic opportunities by serving the micro credit needs of communities in Panay Island, particularly in agricultural areas. Among Philippine microfinance NGOs, GRF Hublag is recognized for its unique approach of lending to individual micro-entrepreneurs.

The GRF Hublag mission is to organize, equip, and strengthen the economically active poor with skills and capital to “move” them and become sustainable and effective agents of community
development.

GRF Hublag aims to assist clients achieve financial sustainability through yearly improvements in income or assets and their graduation from micro-enterprise to small business.

Our locations

Our locations

Our History

GRF Hublag began operations in 1987 with P500 loans for the working capital needs of 500 non-bankable micro-entrepreneurs. Today, Hublag microcredit operations evolved to five service windows to respond to the credit needs of a wider range of clients. It serves over 3,500 partners through a network of 7 branch offices in 16 towns with an outstanding loan portfolio of P 54.31 M.

GRF Hublag‘s UNIQUE advantage to provide financial support and ready market access.

GRF Hublag’s holistic approach to assure our partners of a sustainable relationship.

Our VISION

A people’s movement for people’s development

Our mission

To organize, equip and strengthen the economically active poor
with skills and capital to “move” them and become sustainable and effective
agents of community development.

Our GOALS

1. Sustainability for both partners and Hublag
2. Outreach to more productive poor partner and diverse economic activities

OFFICERS

Helen Reyes

Managing Director

Elvin F. Dadivas

Area Manager

Rufino V. Llaguno

Area Manager

Marijoe C. Cam

Accounting Manager

Sweden Buday

Head of Treasury and Administration

Mae D. Alejandro

Quality Assurance Manager

Board of TRUSTEES

Judy A. Roxas

Chairman of the Board

Eduardo A. Yotoko

President

Conrado B. Roxas

Trustee

Francis Enrico M. Gutierrez

Trustee

John Peter Chick B. Castelo

Trustee

Maria Lourdes Socorro R. Ojeda

Trustee

Jorge A. Fores

Trustee

Gloria S. Chavez

Trustee

Agnes Q. Villaruz

Trustee

Cynthia L. Picazo

Trustee

Angela Avelino

Trustee

Atty. Remia D. Fuentes-Bartolome

Corporate Secretary

Angela F. Alado

Trustee

Kim Reyes

Helen (Kim) Reyes, is presently the Managing Director of GRF Hublag Microfinance Foundation Inc, the development program of Gerry Roxas Foundation, based in Roxas Capiz. Hublag began operations in 1987, offers service windows for agriculture, aqua and fisheries sectors. Currently, the foundation serves through a network of 7 branch offices in Panay.

She draws her microfinance experience when she used to work with a large microfinance in Manila as the Finance and Administration Director for seven (7) years and with Catholic Relief Services as Audit Manager.

Before joining Hublag, she was the Finance Director of a Philamfund Project, a 5- year USAID funded program that supports sub-grants to five broad categories: 1) enterprise development, 2) governance, 3) counter trafficking in persons, 4) education innovation challenge grants, and 5) biodiversity conservation.

She is familiar working with international donors as CIDA (Canadian) and JICA (Japan) projects which are geared towards strengthening the enabling environment for good governance and sustainable local economic development.

Kim’s years of her various work experiences for both profit and non profit organizations involved various assignments as project feasibility studies, design and implementation of financial planning and control measures, management Information system (MIS) planning and design, business planning/financial viability projection and financial evaluation.

She is a CPA and was a lecturer on Accounting in the University of the Philippines and the Canadian Institute of Hospitality Industry.

Elvin F. Dadivas

Mr. Elvin F. Dadivas is presently the Area Manager of GRF Hublag Microfinance Foundation, Inc for 13 years.
His expertise as an Area Manager includes continue mentoring and nurturing and set performance goals for all branch staff.

He started as a credit investigator and project appraiser (CI/PA) known today as account specialist (AS) from 2008 to 2010, and was assigned as a special account officer under the legal department before being promoted as Branch Manager. He was promoted as an Area Manager in the year 2021.

RUFINO V. LLAGUNO

He is presently the area manager of GRF Hublag Microfinance Foundation and currently supervises four (4) branches namely: Roxas, Panitan, Pontevedra and Mambusao. His expertise in the field of marketing is an advantage to his microfinance experiences. He draws his experience from being a loan officer of a development cooperative to an enterprise senior account officer, a bank credit relationship manager and eventually as an area manager. His familiarity with credit investigation processess, target monitorings and remedial collections strategies has proved his skills in the marketing of loan products.

Marijoe C. Cam

Marijoe C. Cam is the Accounting Manager of GRF Hublag Micro Finance Foundation for 19 years.
She started as a bookkeeper for Mindanao Operations and was transferred to Roxas office in 2017.

Her accounting accounting expertise played a vital role in the successful management of the transition from manual to computerized accounting, eventually GRF Hublag’s digitalization.

Sweden Butalon Buday

Sweden Butalon Buday is currently the Head of Treasury and Administration of GRF HUBLAG MICROFINANCE FOUNDATION INC.

His knowledge both in operations and administrative tasks have proven his advantage and has acted as branch head OIC .

He has worked for GRF Hublag for 15 years , he started as Administrative Assistant and rose from the ranks as a cashier, and was promoted as Treasury Manager in 2023.

Mae D. Alejandro

Mae D. Alejandro was born in Calinog, Iloilo, in 1977. She earned a Bachelor of Science. She graduated from Iloilo City’s University of San Agustine in 1998 with a degree in accounting. From 2001 to 2003, she worked for a microfinance company. She was assigned as a MIS Filler and MIS Assistant in a several branches. From 2004 to 2011, she served as Area Finance Supervisor. She manages the branch’s finance and accounting activities in her assigned area and resolves any conflicts that arise. Trains and develops, coaches and encourages Finance /cashiers to ensure high staff morale and motivation. She had experience with banking and services. She also works as an internal auditor at a real estate firm. She is currently the Quality Assurance Manager at GRH-Hublag.

Judy A. Roxas

Ms. Roxas is a member of the MDI Board since 2005. She is currently a member of the Compliance Committee and Compensation and Retirement Committee of the Board. She is the Vice Chairman of Araneta Center, Inc. and Progressive Development Corporation; Director and Executive Vice President of Associated Holdings, Inc. (formerly Associated Sugar, Inc.); and Chairman of Philippine Horticulture Center, Inc. She also sits on the board of directors of AB Agricultural & Business Corporation; FCP Properties & Dev’t Corp. (formerly Financing Corporation of the Philippines); Ma-ao Sugar Central Co., Inc.; Manhattan Heights, Inc.; Manhattan Parkview, Inc.; Manhattan Plaza, Inc.; PPI Holdings, Inc.; Talisay Silay Milling Co., Inc.; Chow Baybay, Inc., Jolly Baybay Corporation and Panedra Agricultural Inc.

She is also the Chairman & President of Agricultural Business Venture of Capiz, Inc., Kauswagan Development Corporation, Linampungan Agricultural Corporation and Myapo Prawn Farm Corp.

For social development corporations, she holds the following positions: Chairman of Capiz Women Inc., Gerry Roxas Foundation Hublag Finance Foundation, United Capizenos Foundation, Inc..; President of Gerry Roxas Foundation and J. Amado Araneta Foundation; Vice-Chairman of Makati Medical Center Foundation; Director of TOYM Foundation Inc., President Manuel A. Roxas Foundation, and Assumption Alumnae Association.

Eduardo “Danding” Yotoko

Director at GrainPro Philippines Inc.  President/Trustee of GRF

Hublag Foundation, Inc., the microfinance lending affiliate of the

Gerry Roxas Foundation.  Adviser/Director at Bancom II Consultants, Inc. a financial advisory firm.  Trustee of RoxasKalaw Foundation for the Eradication of Poverty.

Started banking career under the mentorship of the late Andres Roxas at Comtrust in late 1960s.  Served concurrently as monetary economist for the Bankers Association of the Philippines.  Initiated commercial paper dealership desk at Comtrust Treasury.

Worked for many years in investment banking under Sixto Roxas, as head of Financial Markets and International Divisions of Bancom Development Corp. including overseas postings in Hongkong and in Beirut (for American Express), with extensive travel assignments such as to Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, New York and London during 1970s.

Served as president of Anselmo Trinidad & Co. (stockbrokerage), then president of Atrium Capital Corp. (investment banking) in late 1970s.  Worked in Hongkong as Managing Director of a large deposit-taking company funded by American and Arab capital, in early 1980s.

Served the new Cory Aquino administration briefly as Director for

Policy at the Presidential Commission on Government Reorganization, under Luis Villafuerte.  Headed a private think tank, the Philippine Development Alternatives Foundation.  Joined the policy group of Speaker Ramon Mitra in his 1992 Presidential bid.

Has done consulting/contractual work for USAID (government decentralization) and for ADB (Bangladesh capital market development).  Worked with Sixto Roxas and the late Maximo Kalaw Jr. in the environmental movement, especially for the design and advocacy for The Earth Fund, post-Agenda 21.

Worked in numerous private companies in various industry sectors as adviser, consultant or Director, and continuing to do so.  Last service to government was as Adviser to BIR Commissioner Jose Mario Bunag.

CONRADO B. ROXAS

CONRADO B. ROXAS recently retired (July 2016) as a First Vice President at the Landbank of the Philippines and has taken the helm of its Banking Operations Group since 2008. It was during his leadership that the team pioneered a Mentoring Program for LANDBANK, involving the bank appraisers and credit information analysts. The introduction of the new technology retooled the analysts’ know-how in becoming appraisers, which significantly reduced redundancies and uniformly elevated their expertise according to the International Valuation Standards.

He has exhibited savvy in Corporate Management. He took the lead in developing a performance evaluation management system in order to meet and increase productivity of their field managers by promoting internal competition among branches and field offices (reflects KRAs of field managers; point systems are tabulated and measured for ranking). It was also through his leadership that they were able to develop the conceptual framework of their management information system which allowed for more comprehensive analysis reports in making more informed decision-making references at different levels.

His specialization in Internal Audit was further challenged when he served as President of the Association of Government Internal Auditors (AGIA) for 3 consecutive years. Through his leading, the team managed to secure funding from the World Bank to allow the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to conduct the study on how to strengthen and institutionalize the processes and to minimise red tape in government offices. For three years, he managed Landbank’s Audit Group, covering the Regular Audit, Credit Review of Loans, and Institutional Client Assessments, reviewing and enhancing the control systems at all levels of operation. He also formed the Forensic Accounting Service Team, which provided a more efficient means for fraud prevention and detection ensuring transparency in transactions.

FRANCIS ENRICO M. GUTIERREZ

BUSINESS AFFILIATES:
No. 17 Brixton Cor. Reliance Streets
Brgy. Kapitolyo
Pasig City
CAMNORTE RESOURCE CORP. No. 17 Brixton Cor. Reliance Streets
Brgy. Kapitolyo
Pasig City
Chairman

921 Holdings Corp.
No. 17 Brixton Cor. Reliance Streets
Brgy. Kapitolyo
Pasig City
Chairman

GALEO Equipment Corporation
No. 17 Brixton Cor. Reliance Streets
Brgy. Kapitolyo
Pasig City Consultant
SR Metals, Inc.
Chairman

JOHN PETER CHICK B. CASTELO

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Post-Graduate         : Masters in Business Administration

                                        College of Business Administration

                                        University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus

College                        : Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

                                         College of Engineering                                          

                                         University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus

JORGE ARANETA FORES

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science in Ateneo de Manila University
Business Administration Katipunan, Quezon City

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

1987 to Present Vice President
Araneta City, Inc.
25th Floor, Gateway Tower, General
Aguinaldo St., Araneta City, Quezon City

2007 -Present Director/Treasurer
Pol’s Mom’s Place , Inc. (Mamou, A Home Kitchen)
GF Serendra Bonifacio High Street
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, 1634

Present Director
Arancia, Inc. – CIBO, Inc.
6th Floor, Cyberpark 1 Building
Araneta City, Quezon City

Gloria Sollorano-Chavez

Gloria Sollorano-Chavez is a member of the Board of Trustees of GRF Hublag Microfinance Foundation, Inc. Gloria retired from De La Salle Univesity in 2008 after 29 years of both teaching as well as administrative positions. She continues to be involved in educating the youth in the Philippines and abroad particularly in her specialization in Entrepreneurship. She is currently a visiting professor in the Graduate School of Business in Assumption University of Thailand.

Her involvement in social development projects span 40 years particularly in Microfinance non-profit organizations in various capacities as President and member of the Board of Trustees.
She holds a Master in Business Administration and a Doctor in Business Admistration Degree.

AGNES QUIMBO VILLARRUZ

A graduate nurse of St. Paul College of Nursing, Manila, Cum Laude, in 1971. Passed the 1971 nursing board as 8th placer.

Post-graduate studies include Program for Development Managers at Asian Institute of Management, Program on Advocacy and Networking at St. Francis University at Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.

More 20 years in Nursing Education, more than 30 years in Development Management as Executive Director of the Gerry Roxas Foundation. After retirement, accepted consultancy assignments on development management: Office of the Ombudsman, Consulting Managing Director of GRF Visayas. Currently, Member of the Board of Trustees of GRF Hublag Microfinance Foundation.

Personal advocacies include Women Empowerment, Youth Leadership Development, Health Equity and Reform, Mental Health and Wellness.

Personal passions include development of training designs, poetry writing, gardening and art for healing.

CYNTHIA L. PICAZO

Many years of experience in a senior executive capacity in the management of varied businesses in financial services and marketing and distribution covering Hong Kong, the Philippines and the ASEAN markets. Specifically involved in investment and funds management in the Philippines and in the merchant banking services in Hong Kong and other Asian countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. Experienced in managing and supervising investment portfolios engaged in various activities, which include restaurant and fast food operations, garment, and trading, food manufacturing and retailing.

MANAGED as PRESIDENT/CEO one of the oldest Philippine consumer finance company caters to livelihood and business microenterprise lending through a nationwide branch network.

Technically experienced in investment evaluation and funds management as well as project implementation and hands-­on day-­to-­day management activities.

EDUCATIONAL BACKROUND

Graduate School : Wharton School of Business
University of Pennsylvania, USA. Master Degree Program in Economics & Finance

University : College of the Holy Spirit Manila, Philippines
Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Accounting
(Magna Cum Laude)

High School : College of Holy Spirit
Manila, Philippines (Honours)

Grade School : College of the Holy Spirit
Manila, Philippines (Honours)

Board Examination
Passed : Certified Public Accountants Licensure Examinations

PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT

AROCREST MANAGEMENT PHILIPPINES, INC.
Director – 2013 to present

GUEVENT INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Director – 1998 to present

AVIS TRANSPORT CORPORATION
Chairman / CEO – 2000 – 2006, Director to present

BINGO KING SYSTEM PHILIPPINES INC.
Director – 2000 to present

RADIOWEALTH FINANCE COMPANY
President / CEO 1998 – 2012
Director, Advisory Board – 2013 to present

Established 52 years ago, the company is principally engaged in financing small business projects and livelihood loans through a nationwide 216-­-branch office network located in the countryside. At present the company is servicing about 39,000 microfinance business loans including transportation, agribusiness, cottage and export industries, market vendor, fishing and farm equipment and services.

UNITRUST DEVELOPMENT BANK
Executive Director (1997 -­1998)

Main lending activities of the bank include group salary loans, business loans to small and medium enterprises. The bank has 13 branches.

PACIFIC ACCESS ENTERPRISES LIMITED
Managing Director and Partner Hong Kong
(1996-­-1997)

In partnership with one of the largest legal firms in the Philippines, ROMULO MABANTA. BUENAVENTURA, SAYOC law firms managed an investment and financial advisory services office in Hong Kong for overseas and foreign clients seeking assistance in investment and doing business in the Philippines.

MKI GROUP and CHESTERFIELD GROUP
Executive Director for Industrial Trading Division Hong Kong
(1991 – 1995)

The MKI Group & Chesterfield Group, listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, have investment in Hong Kong and China in property development and management, trading & distribution, food manufacturing, food manufacturing and distribution and garment manufacturing & retailing.

In this capacity, responsibilities include group corporate and strategic planning, marketing & business development, investment analysis and evaluation, investment supervision and management of subsidiaries.

CARFORD INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Executive Director /Partner Hong Kong
(1989 – 1991)

A trading company engaged in the sourcing, purchasing and contract manufacturing of fashion apparel for European and U.S garment wholesalers and distributors supply and production is sourced from China, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

FIRST PACIFIC RETAILING SPECIALTY, LTD.
Consultant Hong Kong (1988-­-1989)

The engagement involved seeking out investment opportunities and projects for the FIRST PACIFIC GROUP in the field of retailing, marketing and distribution of consumer products.

DRAGON SEED DEPARTMENT STORE
Vice Chairman -Managing Director/Partner Hong Kong
(1986 – 1988)

Initiated and arranged the investment acquisition of the Dragon Seed Department store chain (one of the older retail store in Hong Kong ), involving Project evaluation, capital financing, and corporate structuring. The chain had 13 outlets, two full-­-scale department stores and eleven specialty boutiques.

Subsequent to acquisition as Managing Director was responsible for supervision and management of the affairs of the company, including corporate and strategic planning, day-­-to-­-day store operations, merchandising and purchasing, advertising and promotion, sale and staff management, and financial and budget controls.

PCI CAPITAL ASIA, LTD.
President – Chief Executive Office Hong Kong
(1981 – 1986)

A Hong Kong deposit taking Finance company, wholly owned by the third largest Commercial bank in the Philippines, which had five other international offices in Europe ( London, Madrid ) and U.S (Houston, New York, Los Angeles ). Primarily responsible in launching & supervising the company’s expansion program into The Asian markets, covering Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Financial activities related to trade finance, short term credits and regional merchant banking business. Opened the first Philippine-­- Indonesian joint-­- venture leasing company in Jakarta, Indonesia with Panin Bank and Duta economy.

BANCOM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Executive Vice President Hong Kong (1978 – 1981)

A regional merchant banking and deposit taking company base in Hong Kong. Chief Operating Officer in charge of the loan and investment portfolio of the Company, the company had joint-­-venture companies, establishing the first Merchant banking operation with local partners in Indonesia (Ficorinvest) Indonesia, (UNIVEST) Thailand and (ASIAVEST) Malaysia through a holding Company, Asian Invest Group (AIG). These companies were the first merchant bank established in their respective countries. Had overall responsibility over credit policy and balance sheet and risk management.

BANCOM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Senior Vice President International Markets Division Manila, Philippines
(1976 – 1978)

As division head, assigned to the Company’s foreign exchange position management, and supervised the currency debt management service for corporate customers. Bancom was the first merchant bank established in the Philippines, which was a joint venture between a local commercial bank in the Philippines and Bankers Trust of New York.

BANCOM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Senior Vice President
Money Market and Treasury Division Manila Philippines (1974 – ­1976)

Managed the Company’s trading portfolio of commercial paper, government securities, and treasury bills. The function included asset and liability and liquidity management . As financial adviser to the Central Bank of the Philippines, the Company introduced the Treasury bill, Commercial paper market in the Philippines.


BANCOM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Vice President
Investment and Trust Service Division Manila, Philippines
(1968-­-1974)

Started as investment and credit analyst in Bancom. Subsequently, appointed as Chief Investment Officer responsible for investment policy and fund management. Client base include corporate accounts, government funds, institutional and pension funds, trust funds, and high network personal account, assumed expanded activities to included marketing and client servicing.


ACTIVITIES / AFFILIATIONS


Past Chairman : Philippine Association of Hong Kong Past Member : Retailers Association of Hong Kong Member : University of Pennsylvania
Alumni Club of Hong Kong

Director : ZONTA MANILA II

Director : HOLY SPIRIT ALUMNAE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

PERSONAL DATA

Born, November 21, 1944,
Married to Ramon E. Picazo, with two children.

Angela F. Alado

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

ElementaryDumolog Elementary School, Roxas City (1972-1978)
SecondaryCapiz Institute of Technology, Roxas City (1978-1982)
CollegeFilamer Christian College, Roxas City (1982-1986)
CourseBachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Accounting
EligibilityCivil Service Commission