CARD MRI exposure tour highlights community services

By: Jayrand Macalla

San Pablo- CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) held this year’s last Panaghiusa: CARD MRI Exposure Tour Program for Media in Laguna from August 26 to 28, 2026.

Led by CARD MRI Publishing House Inc., the program aimed to deepen media practitioners’ understanding of CARD MRI’s diverse community development services, including healthcare, business development, education, and community livelihood initiatives.

“Ending poverty takes more than offering microfinance. It requires an integrated community development approach that tackles core challenges like healthcare, education, and business support. By bringing our media partners on this exposure tour, they can see these connected programs in action, helping us raise awareness of how we do things in empowering Filipinos and eventually eradicating poverty in the country,” said Marilyn M. Manila, President of CARD MRI Publishing House.

During the tour, participants visited several client-facing institutions to witness CARD MRI’s diverse programs firsthand. These included the CARD-MRI Development Institute, Inc. (CMDI), CARD MRI’s school and learning institute; Bay New Town, a one-stop housing and community project; healthcare facilities under CARD Care Network, namely BEST Health Clinics, BotiCARD, CARD Clinics and Allied Services, and CARD Astro Laboratories; Mga Likha ni Inay (MLNI), its marketing arm; CARD Indogrosir, its grocery distribution arm; and the CARD-Business Development Service Foundation Inc. (CARD-BDSFI), an institution focused in organic farming, value chain, and business development.

One highlight of the exposure tour program was the Heritage and Lagos Tour, facilitated by CARD MRI Hijos Tours, CARD MRI’s community-based tour company. The tour allowed participants to experience local culture and history by visiting several lakes in San Pablo City, as well as the historical City Hall and the Cathedral of Saint Paul the First Hermit.

In addition to learning CARD MRI’s operations, participants met and interviewed Rhodora Angeles, a CARD SME Bank client from Brgy. Mabacan, Calauan, Laguna, known for producing homemade “Trio Juice.”

The participating media saw firsthand how community development works from the ground up. This lets them share real, human-centered stories that build awareness and inspire action toward poverty eradication.

The tour brought together eight media practitioners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao: Sheila Mae Butlig of Gold Star Daily News from Cagayan de Oro City; Menzie Montes of RMN INC and iFM CDO; Edalyn B. Acta of Capiz Times Publishing from Roxas City, Capiz; Maritess Fernandez of Mindanao Examiner from Zamboanga City; Dexter A. Perez of MindaNet Balita from Davao de Oro; Marlon Alexander S. Luistro of Dyaryo Veritas from Batangas City; Claire S. Cariño of Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. from Manila; and Sheena Ann Ancheta of Pahayagan ng Kabitenyo from Cavite.