Opening doors in Mindanao

Last July 23, at Fully Booked-BGC, we launched Opening Doors in Mindanao: The CARD Paglambo Story, a book I co-wrote with Pia Benitez Yupangco. Surrounded by friends, partners, and champions of inclusive finance, I felt both joy and humility.

- JAIME ARISTOTLE B. ALIP, PHD

This book is more than a chronicle of a program—it is a tapestry of faith and resilience, woven by the people of Mindanao themselves.

The event began with Pia and I unveiling the book, sharing the inspirations and stories behind it: the first Shari'ah-inspired financing program designed specifically for Muslim communities. It tells of journeys through fishing villages, bustling markets, and remote barangays, of conversations in council halls, and of countless moments that revealed both the challenges and the deep well of hope in Mindanao.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Assistant Governor Arifa Ala honored the book as a story of faith, resilience, and inclusive finance — one that uplifts without eroding the culture and values of the communities it serves. Her words reminded me why we embarked on this journey in the first place.

The story of Paglambo traces its roots to 2017, when the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) connected CARD MRI with another Magsaysay awardee, Indonesia’s Dompet Dhuafa. As RMAF President Susan Afan shared, this meaningful encounter led to lasting, values-driven change.

Our colleague, Pauline Landicho, read excerpts from the book, recounting our early challenges: navigating unfamiliar cultural contexts, building trust, and designing products that honored Muslims’ faith while meeting their economic needs. Her reading segued into the heart of the launch: the voices of Paglambo clients themselves.

Fuel for a better future