Rey David

“If wealth is the key to happiness,
the rich should be dancing in the streets..
but only poor kids do that.
If power ensures peace of mind,
then public officials should not have bodyguards…
but those who live simply
are those who go out unguarded.
If beauty and fame bring about ideal relationships…
then celebrities and star should have perfect marriages.
but only those who trust in God completely 
have the most blessed relationships!”

--Glenda Baretto of Via Mare

Good News….The family of ordinary citizen Danilo Alfonso is ecstatic over the quiet ( no media ) response their patriarch got when his “apo” Joy posted  in her blog her “lolo’s”  wish to meet Senator Noynoy Aquino before he died.

You see, Alfonso had followed Ninoy’s funeral cortege in 1983, mourning him as did millions of other Filipinos. He supported Ninoy’s widow during the snap elections, marched with the opposition during rallies and went to EDSA for People Power in l986. He celebrated with the world when Cory became president and when she died last year, he endured the blazing sun and pouring rains to bid her goodbye. Now an ardent supporter of Senator Noynoy  for president, he conveyed to his family his desire to meet him.

Not knowing anyone from the family or his campaign headquarters, the blog was Joy’s resort. Someone spotted it and brought it to the attention of the Noynoy camp. And to the old man’s joy, his idol came quietly one evening to shake his hand and thank him for his support. To his family, the humility and compassion that Noynoy showed, (no media around for photo ops, the family marveled) was just overwhelming.

I am sharing this story with the permission of the Alfonso family now as the old man Danilo died a few days after that visit, happy and with a “bilin” for them to campaign for Noynoy!

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There is an international event this coming week aside from our celebration of EDSA  People Power 1 starting tomorrow that deserve our attention and support.

This is the Asian Advocacy Initiative Conference by the World Federation of Hemophilia and the Hemophilia Association of the Philippines for Love and Service Foundation at the New World Hotel on Tuesday, Feb, 23 to 26. Hemophilia delegates from fourteen countries will be converging in Manila to raise consciousness on the plight of those suffering from this blood disease in one out of every 5,000 boys which prevents their blood from clotting properly.

Speakers are DOH Secretary Espi Cabral, Mark Skinner, WFH president, and Rey Sarmenta, Hemophilia Philippines chairman. Rey and Baby Sarmenta have a grown-up son who has hemophilia. The delegates hope to work towards developing strategies and tactics for planning advocacy activities, especially for government to wake up and take notice of hemophiliacs’ plight. In the Philippines, there are around 1,100 people diagnosed with the blood clotting disorder. Many more remain undiagnosed and untreated. 

And no, it is not a blood disorder that only afflicts people from “royalty.” Hemophiliacs come from all sectors of society and they can die from internal bleeding unless given that expensive medicine that gives them clotting protein.

* * *

I promised to tell you about the DBP through its president and CEO Rey David and their social corporate responsibility projects aside from serious development banking.

Rey was appointed to the DBP five years ago by PGMA, and it turned out to be one of the better appointments she made, judging from the bank’s progress since. The bank’s spectacular growth from the shambles it was during the Marcos’ years (with a paid up capital of only P2 billion in l986) it is  now at a net income of P6 billion, and  its net worth is at P40 billion.

More important, the bank recognizes and takes to heart its corporate social responsibility under Rey who has had a heart bypass to show for his commitment and drive at the helm. His “marching orders” from President Gloria was to make the DBP a “real development bank” and he and his staff took this as their mantra.

DBP has an educational program for which R1 billion has been allocated for ten years assistance and it has helped so far hundreds of brilliant but financially-challenged students in the bank’s accredited schools all over the country. The scholars can pursue a degree or non-degree course. This was launched by PGMA in 2008. This program, incidentally was adjudged the most outstanding CSR project by the group of Developing Financial Institutions in Asia and the Pacific.   

DBP is also in environmental programs like focusing on forest cover through partnerships with government and people’s groups  and the state colleges.(Do you know that one grown tree can reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by as much as four kilos a year?)

Rey was also proud of the bank’s many programs for OFWs, even granting them pre-departure funds for their expenses. Of course they serve as a remittance bank too,  support livelihood projects of OFWs even when they return home and other related programs for them like the I-net project or their savings and loan window.

So, as Atenean David can safely boast, he will leave behind a bank “with a conscience.” And while he does get calls from politicians pushing for their loans, he tells them to go through the proper processes please.