By Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, PhD
Published Jun 30, 2025 12:05 am
FROM THE MARGINS
As graduation season sweeps across the country, thousands of young Filipinos are stepping off the stage and into a world filled with hope, uncertainty, and possibility. Some are chasing dreams in the cities. Others are weighing offers or waiting for doors to open. But for those seeking not just a job — but a purpose — there is a quiet but powerful path worth considering: the world of inclusive finance.
Across the Philippines, ordinary individuals are doing extraordinary work — connecting with rural communities, helping families rise from poverty, and empowering women to build livelihoods. They are microfinance workers — people like Sheila, Khristian, Ricson, and Jaya, whose journeys remind us of everyone’s potential to change people’s lives.
A leap of faith
At 33, Sheila Mae Jolero of Bacolod City never imagined she’d find purpose in her job. After bouncing between short-term cashier jobs, she was invited by her cousin to apply at Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), where she began her journey as a loan officer in 2012.
From riding horses to reach far-flung areas, to conducting meetings in dialects she barely understood, Sheila embraced the unfamiliar. What inspired her most were the clients themselves: women in remote areas who never missed a payment, despite life’s challenges. “They’re more responsible, more committed—even if they live at the edge of the mountains,” she shares.
Thirteen years later, Sheila has not only built a stable career, but also her own small business. “I’m so blessed,” she says. “This job gave me the chance to help others and grow myself.”
Coming home to serve
After working in Laguna for years, Khristian Lajo longed for home and returned to La Carlota, Negros Occidental. In 2016, he became a Loan Officer at NWTF, driven by the idea of serving his own community.
The job wasn’t easy. One of his earliest challenges was dealing with a client who fled with a loan. “The threats scared me,” he admits. “But I chose to stay.”
Khristian patiently explained the program to skeptical families and stood firm through difficult days. What made it worth it were clients who treated him like family. “Some of them were like mothers to me,” says Khristian, who lost his own. “When I help them, it brings joy to my heart. This job gives me a new chance to lift someone up.”
Braving the waters
In Bantayan Island, Cebu, Ricson Sombreno’s work with CARD for over a decade has taken him across seas—literally. He takes pump boats to other islands, sometimes through stormy weather and towering waves, just to reach members. “There are days when the waves are bigger than the boat,” he recalls. “It’s scary, but we go, because someone is waiting.”
Despite accidents, exhaustion, and separation from family, Ricson stays grounded. He tailors loans carefully, encourages struggling clients, and offers counsel when needed. For him, it’s not just about numbers—it’s about restoring dignity.
“To work here, you need humility, sacrifice, and prayer,” Ricson says. “We’re instruments of change. If we don’t go to them, who will?”
From client’s daughter to leader
At just 18 years old, Jaya Dela Cruz began her career with ASHI, a microfinance institution where her mother was a member. Starting as a Development Officer, she worked tirelessly—walking through floods and late nights—to ensure payments were collected and that the mothers she served understood the value of their membership.
Now an Accounts Officer managing three Development Officers, Jaya balances paperwork and fieldwork. She validates member applications and trains new aspirants to uphold the institution’s mission.
“I’m a product of ASHI,” she says. “I came from hardship, and seeing others like me improve keeps my passion alive. This isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. We really care for our clients, who are mostly mothers.”
Jaya’s dedication was recognized when she received an award as Outstanding Accounts Officer. Even now, she pursues leadership skills to better serve her team and community.
Why this work matters
From mountain barangays to coastal islands, microfinance workers do not just deliver loans — they deliver hope. They do not just process applications — they build trust, walk with empathy, and stay long after office hours to help someone believe again in their potential.
Their work shows that inclusive finance is not just about numbers — it’s about dignity, compassion, and hope.
An invitation to new graduates
To the graduates donning caps and gowns this season: consider the road less traveled.
A career in microfinance or financial inclusion may not be glamorous—but it is meaningful. It offers a front-row seat to real impact, a chance to help communities rise, and a deeply fulfilling way to serve the country. Whether in a fishing village, upland farm, or coastal barangay, you can be a bridge to better lives.
If you're looking for work that matters—this is your invitation.
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“Don’t just follow a career, build a life that matters.”
(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.)
