BUPCC Holds Its First Members’ Night
Divided into two main parts, BUPCC held its Members’ Night with zest. In preparation for our first-ever General Assembly this November, Ramil Cueto, our Chairman, presented the 2026–2029 Business Plan, focusing our efforts on recruitment, capital build-up, and digitalization.
The evening was bookended by prayer — an opening prayer from founding member Renato Cabatay, and a closing prayer from our guest, Bro. Ramil Macalalad — and it was this that set the beautiful atmosphere of learning and oneness among everyone in the room.
The second part of the meeting focused on the delivery of the Pre-Membership Education Seminar (PMES) — for our seven guests, and as a training opportunity for BUPCC members aspiring to become PMES Certified Trainers. PMES asks the question: Is cooperativism for me? Is BUPCC for me? The seminar is also very important because participants are inspired toward leadership and active participation in shaping the future of the Cooperative.
Our guests did not just listen — they engaged, asking real, sometimes pointed questions that pushed the seminar's answers to be sharper and more concrete. That kind of engagement is exactly why we’re now looking at building a Frequently Asked Questions section on the website: a ready reference for prospects working through these same questions on their own time, and a handy resource for our recruiters in the field.
Acknowledgment
Thank you for the graciousness of our host, Vice Chairman Mr. J. Gilbert Rosales, the support of all the Directors (Ms. Nora Escarez, Mr. Jimmy Mendoza, Engr. Robert Ante) and Treasurer Mr. Derrick Gabi, and founding members Mr. Elrio Montalbo, Engr. Carlo Mercado, and Mr. Renato Cabatay, to this event. Very importantly, we’d like to acknowledge the work of Mr. Kenzie and Mr. Lem Acebron in preparing the PMES training props. Special thanks to Director Robert Ante for leading the presentation on BUPCC’s Value Creation Model, which opened up a healthy discussion on why this can be a trigger for a healthy cooperative membership at BUPCC. We also gratefully acknowledge the support of our advisor, Ms. Yolly Briones, for her insights and validation of the assumptions behind our financial projections.
Finally, thank you to our guests — Bro. Ramil Macalalad, Sis. Flor Macalalad, Mr. Albert Perculeza, Mrs. Emma Sun Perculeza, Mr. Boy Arriola, Mr. Goding Aliga, and Ms. Gigi Casao. A special word of appreciation to Mr. Arriola for his pointed questions on share capital and what it truly means to be an active member of the Cooperative — exactly the kind of question PMES exists to invite.
With the Business Plan presented and this seminar behind us, BUPCC now carries real momentum into the General Assembly this November — and into the questions still to come from every member and prospect who takes cooperativism as seriously as our guests did tonight.
Ramil Cueto
Chairman
Batangas United and Progressive Credit Cooperative