Author: Tom

Because of you… When an earthquake hit Sagbayan, Philippines in 2013, Jessica Basi’s store and home were completely destroyed, leaving her unable to continue her business. In the aftermath, many people with destroyed homes had to relocate to another barangay  (village), but her family decided to stay put, as they were dedicated to rebuilding their… Continue reading With Gratitude

Hi (again)! Morgan and Natalia here. Part of our role here in the Philippines has been to help our local partners assess the impact of Wisconsin Microfinance loans by determining the changes in the beneficiaries’ quality of life over multiple loan cycles. Although WMF beneficiaries have maintained a high repayment rate since the start of… Continue reading Notes from the Philippines | Entry 4

Hi again! This week we are writing to you all from the island of Bohol. The island is in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines and approximately a two hour ferry ride from Cebu City. For those of you who don’t know, Bohol is home to all of WI Microfinance’s current loan recipients. Over… Continue reading Notes from the Philippines | Entry 3

Hi everyone! As we traveled around Cebu and the island of Bohol this week to visit some WI Microfinance beneficiaries and co-op partners, here’s what was on our minds: As a newly-industrialized country, the Philippines is in a crucial stage of development. On one hand, countries which are still “developing”, per se, have an opportunity… Continue reading Notes from the Philippines | Entry 2

Our interns Morgan and Natalia are in the Philippines. This is the first entry of their weekly blog posts where they’ll provide updates about their trip. Be sure to check in next week to see what they’re up to! Hi, all! Morgan and Natalia here. We are happy to share that our first week in… Continue reading Notes from the Philippines | Entry 1