2018 Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards

Photo courtesy of Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. — From left: Giovanne Gonzales, RMB Business Advisor; Arnold Viado, Regional Awardee; Marixi Rufino-Prieto, CMA National Selection Committee Member, John Thomas Deveras, RCBC SVP for Strategic Initiatives and RMB Vice-Chairperson of the Board; and Raymundo Roxas, RMB President.

The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) has reached its 16^th year of celebration as it recognizes outstanding microentrepreneurs nationwide. Held at the Metropolitan Museum of the Philippines last December 7, 2018, nine outstanding Filipino entrepreneurs were awarded for their innovation and progress as budding business moguls.

Presiding the awarding ceremony were Ms. Chuchi Fonacier, Deputy Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Mr. Aftab N. Ahmed, Citi Philippines’ CEO.

Rizal Microbank client, Mr. Arnold Viado was awarded as the 2018 Regional Awardee for Mindanao. As a Rizal MicroBank client since 2012, Mr Viado’s humble beginnings told the story of how his “balut” business came to be. With his initial loan of PHP 50,000, Mr. Arnold Viado was able to fund his production and create a lasting financial partner with Rizal MicroBank.

Launched in 2002, CMA was part of Citi’s 100^th anniversary celebration in six Asian countries including the Philippines. Since then, CMA has given recognition to over one hundred microentrepreneurs and those with notable contributions in community leadership and agriculture.

The CMA Awards include the CMA Microentrepreneur of the Year, Regional Awardees (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year, Special Award for Agri Micro-Business, Special Award for Community Leadership and Special Award for Startup Micro-Business.