MoTHER HiFi coop set up in the US
Los Angeles-based Perla Bermudez Santos and MoTHER members crossed oceans or traveled time zones to get to what they believed was the “land of milk and honey”.
But they soon realized that reaching the US was not enough. Individually, they had difficulty fulfilling their dreams. They decided to join forces.
Probably inspired by the poet John Donne who said, “No man is an island”, they joined MoTHER, or the International Mother Movement. MoTHER stands for Movement to Help Eliminate Rape and other Violence against Women.
Initially, the group rendered community service and taught self-defense in response to the rising number of Asian hate crimes. They also participated in other groups’ activities to promote the prevention of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension through awareness, physical activity like dancing and Zumba, and self-care education, as well as activities organized by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) or the Philippine Consulate.
Recently, they formed the MoTHER HiFi Credit Union (MHCU), a financial cooperative.
“We’re in the process of completing the requirements for application to register in California,” Santos said.
The group was inspired by engineer Deal Noel Benegrado, who was a resource person in one of the weekly Health and Wealth Webinars conducted by MoTHER last July. Benegrado was president and chief executive officer of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology National Multi-Purpose Coop (MSU-IIT NATCO) from 2000 to 2014 and served in several capacities in the cooperative network such as chair, manager, and a member of the board of directors for coops for the last 25 years.
“We started with P87 initial contribution and then asked our members to build up their coop,” he said.
In 2000, the coop’s assets were P72 million, with 850 member cooperators within the university. Fourteen years later, in 2014, its assets grew to P1.3 billion, and it had a staff of 300, a total of 25 branches/offices, and 45,000 members all over Mindanao.
The coop was one of the fastest-growing cooperatives not only in Mindanao but nationwide. Its financial strength grew by catering to the needs of its members.
“We developed leadership and good governance. We aim to be a sound, sustainable, and stable financial institution. We build our coop’s legacy,” Benegrado said.
He gave his commitment to continue to mentor the MoTHER HiFi team, whose officers are Perla Santos, president; Engineer Rey Anton Roa, vice president; Fe Israel Wiest, secretary; and Elizabeth San Diego, treasurer.
Committee chairs are Yolanda Lasmarias, Credit; Cres Go, Audit; Lilia Tabafunda, Membership; Dr Veronico Agatep, Training and Education; and Rosana Munoz, Election.
The other cooperators and committee members are Teresita Nones, Raphia Binudin Maglinao, Joyce Garcia, Edith Fuentes, Malou Villacisneros, Nena Ruiz, and Heidel Cano.
Subcommittees will meet and work on their specific tasks and submit their recommendations to the body at their next in-person meeting on Sept. 2.
Induction of officers is tentatively set for Oct. 10 at the Philippine Consulate with a Department of Migrant Workers officer in attendance.
