3 Satellite Offices Put Up in 2017

La Union Multi-Purpose Cooperative scored three milestones in 2017 when it gave birth to three
more satellite offices, one in Binalonan, one in Bangar and another in Pugo.

These offices shall offer the same services as the main office and hopefully draw members from
the nearby provinces of Ilocos Sur and Benguet.

The Binalonan office is the Cooperative’s second office outside La Union. Housed in an office in a
residential area fronting the Rural Bank of Pozzorubio, it formally opened to the public on March
28, 2017. Mr. Rodrigo Chan is tasked to manage it, along with the Rosario office.

The Bangar office, managed by Mrs. Andrea Villamil, is conspicuously located in the Gaerlan
building near the market in Barangay Central West 1. July 26, 2017.

Formally opening to the public on October 14, the Pugo office, managed by Mrs. Marilou Guerrero,
is housed in a building rented by the Cooperative from the Holy Family Parish. It has a grocery
store and a restaurant, called Koop Resto Grill, supervised by Mr. Julius Manzano.

Condotel soon to rise in Sto. Tomas

GOD BLESS OUR VENTURE. Rev. Fr. Edwin Fontanilla of the Holy Guardian Angels Parish leads the directors
and the officers in a solemn prayer during the groundbreaking ceremony. On the background is the floor plan
of the four-level building that will soon rise on the site.

With the budget and building layout already laid out, a four-level building shall soon rise on a 1,000
sq. m. lot along the National Highway in Patac, Sto. Tomas, La Union.

Rev. Fr. Edwin Fontanilla, the parish priest of the Holy Guardian Angels, himself a member of the
Cooperative, officiated the blessing for the groundbreaking ceremony on December 20, stating
that the building belongs to all the members and that he looked forward to being invited to
wedding receptions it will soon host.
Dr. Josefina Bitonio of the CDA Regional Office graced the momentous occasion and was among
the first to hold the ceremonial shovel. Also in attendance were the directors headed by Rev. Fr.
Chito Apusen, the CEO, Mrs. Marilou B. Guerrero, the building contractor, Engr. Abraham Aspiras,
the satellite officers, and the employees of the main office. A simple solidarity meal to celebrate
the milestone followed the ceremony.

The construction is set to start early in 2018.

JOINT VENTURE. Fr. Chito Apusen and Mrs.

Marilou Guerrero sign the Memorandum of
Agreement between the Cooperative
Development Authority, of which LUMPC is a
member, and the Department of Agrarian
Reform.
LIGHT GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT. When coins are tossed into the air, Fr. Edwin makes sure
he gets most of them by catching them with his habit.

Koop Resto Grill Now a Hit

One stormy day in October, La Union Multi-Purpose Cooperative’s seventh satellite office formally
opened to the public. What made satellite office number 7 unique is that it has provisions for the
hungry and the friendly who wish to host a little party with a limited budget - the Koop Resto Grill.

Today, the Koop Resto Grill now attracts patrons, members and non-members alike, by storm.
They’re students from nearby schools and employees from nearby offices on their lunch break.
They’re birthday celebrators who come to treat a bunch of close friends with something new.
They’re members of a batch who come to celebrate their friendship that has lasted for decades.
They’re ordinary folks who desire to give themselves a break from home-cooked meals and treat
their taste buds with something new.

The Koop Resto Grill may not be as spacious as the restaurants we’ve been. But the rustic
ambiance it provides is something we are proud of. The fresh air you enjoy as you indulge yourself
in flavor in a bahay-kubo more than makes up for the absence of air-con. There’s a grotto of the
Blessed Mother nearby, reminding you that each spoonful you take is a blessing from above.
There’s also a fountain bubbling with water and down the pool are colorful koi swimming freely,
bringing in more relaxation. There’s a very friendly staff headed by Chef Julius who’s more than
willing to answer your questions about how he prepared the food and what secrets ingredients he
chopped and mixed in to make your Resto Grill meal a delightful experience.

But best of all, there’s the food, flavorfully prepared and tastefully presented to make your mouths
water. Chef Julius makes sure the ingredients he uses are fresh, ensuring flavor with just the basic
seasonings. Well, that is no wonder when we know that he has travelled a lot and each travel is
actually a culinary experience which he incorporates with his Resto Grill cooking.

Who says that opening up a business on a stormy day is a bad idea? LUMPC’s Pugo satellite office
proves that wrong. Come one, come all and dig in.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY FEAST. Sample Koop Resto Grill’s specialty without worrying about the cost.
Among the delights it offers are seafood and Pugo seafoods platter.

AFFORDABLE FEAST, ANYONE? Mr. Julius Manzano

supervises the Koop Resto Grill in Pugo
with helpers Ms. Geraldine Oribello and Ernesto Casilla.
Laid before them is packed lunches ordered by
one of their costumers.
EAT AND BE HEAVY. Children in San Vicente Sur identified as severely wasted enjoy a nutritious
lunch prepared by generous sponsors in a 120-day feeding program. LUMPC gives them a daily dose
of vitamins A and C with fruits.

LUMPC Celebrates 26 Years

WHEN OFFICERS COME TOGETHER. The directors and the CEO have a photo op with the
members of the committee who attend the 26th Anniversary celebration.
The Splash Town Resort Pavilion in San Roque, Agoo, La Union, saw a rare chance of directors,
officers and employees convening to celebrate the Cooperative’s 26th anniversary on April 18,
2017, in a simple program where each was given a chance to introduce oneself.

With the recent opening of its fifth satellite office in Binalonan, the number of employees
skyrocketed, leaving the officers and even the directors unacquainted with the new ones. Miss
Adela Orille, a member of the Election Committee, came up with the idea of celebrating the
anniversary by getting to know one another better and developing closer ties with one another.
After all, LUMPC is one big family whose members rarely get the chance to meet, hence its 26 th
anniversary was an opportunity. Aside from a solidarity lunch, the attendees were also treated to
raffle prizes.

Mrs. Constancia De Guzman of the CDA is a mainstay in LUMPC gatherings, herself a member and
an avid supporter of its causes. She officiated the oath-taking of directors, Mrs. Sabina Gamboa
and Mrs. Resurreccion Orencia. On the other hand, Fr. Chito officiated the oath-taking of the
newly elected members of the different committees.

LAST SELFIE? We hope it is not. St. Mary’s Academy students who had their work immersion at
LUMPC for nine days pose for a selfie with the CEO and the employees on the last day of their
immersion.
FOR THE LOVE OF SPORTS. Dir. Savvy Gamboa and Mrs. Marilou Guerrero present the
Cooperative’s simple gift to Parasapas High School – a volleyball net and ball – to the school
principal, ______________.

Mortuary Benefits Up to P 50,000

Death comes like a thief in the night. So goes a simile most of us are probably familiar with.
Indeed no one knows the hour or the day he will die. Hence, we invest in memorial plans, leaving
our loved ones no worries when that day finally comes.

LUMPC has always desired to be with members in every milestone in their lives – birth of a new
child, birthday, wedding. But it also desires to be felt in moments of grief. Consequently, it had
been offering mortuary assistance of P 35,000.00 to members who succumb to lighten their
family’s burdens in these trying times. Lately however, the directors and the CEO came to a
decision to increase the benefit to P 50,000.00.

Moreover, each time a loan is released to a borrower, three hundred pesos (P300.00) will be
deducted from the amount loaned and will be marked security fee or contribution, provided
he/she does not have a past due account. This will further entitle him/her to a P30,000.00
assistance in an unexpected, but very likely, case of death. Non-borrowers may also be entitled to
such benefit if they contribute P300.00 annually.

Aflatoun reaches La Union schools

Kids don’t have millions to save. So why invite them to join cooperatives?
For starters, cooperatives are not only for adults who have millions to invest. They are also for
those who wish to have better lives and believe that cooperatives can help them achieve this.
They are also for school-age children who have the promise of becoming financially responsible
future citizens being nurtured by cooperative values at a tender age. For this reason, NATCCO’s
Aflatoun program was born.

Being an educator and the person in charge of Aflatoun in LUMPC, Mrs. Resurreccion Orencia has
been going to schools in southern La Union, explaining to principals and learners the benefits of
the program. She has even made an appointment with the Schools Division Superintendent of the
La Union, Dr. Rowena Banzon, to ask for permission to conduct a training for teachers whose
principals responded affirmative. The training finally materialized on December 16 at the LUMPC
Function Hall.

So far, there are six Aflatoun schools in La Union, mostly from the second congressional district –
Agoo Montessori, Agoo West Central School, Sanijubar Elementary School, Pugo Catholic School,
Saint Mary of the Sea Academy, and Amallapay Elementary School.

LUMPC gives each Aflatoun saver twenty pesos (P20.00) as an initial investment in his/her
passbook. A teacher in charge from each school collects money children wish to deposit and a
collector visits the school once a week to collect the deposits. The money earns a one-percent
interest each year. To further encourage learners to save, the Cooperative has a reward scheme
for the top three savers in each school – Top 1 – P300.00, Top 2 – P200.00, and Top 3 – P100.00, all
to be deposited in their accounts.

The Cooperative also designed a voluntary mortuary program for Aflatoun savers. To be entitled
to a P50,000.00 benefit upon death, a saver must have P500.00 in his/her mortuary passbook. Ten
pesos shall be deducted from the amount every time a saver passes away.
SCHOOL-AGE SAVERS. New Aflatoun members proudly show their passbooks which they would
soon fill with their savings. With them are school principal, Mr. Celso Estoesta and Dir. Rexie
Orencia.

FULL FORCE ON THE SHOW OF FORCE. LUMPC directors, officers and employees signify their
support for the Show of Force against tax exemption for cooperatives by flashing C for
Cooperatives in the SACDECO Events Center in Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur. With them are Dr. Jo
Bitonio and Dr. Divine Quemi.

LUMPC Honors Employees in Christmas Party

GROWING FAMILY. From a few employees back when it was founded to almost 60 this year.
This family manning a growing enterprise have come together to celebrate Christmas.

La Union Multi-Purpose Cooperative treated its employees to a whole day of fun, food, games, and
other surprises in a Christmas party on December 9, 2017, at its Pugo satellite office.
That fun-filled day started with a livelihood training LUMPC initiated at the PPC Multi-Purpose Hall.
With Fr. Alex informing the Pugo locals during his masses, thirty women, mostly full-time
housewives, showed up at the venue, eager to learn how to make siomai, buchi, puto pao and
longganisa. The employees in charge of the canteen, Mrs. Lourdes Madera and Mrs. Marilou
Pinzon, taught them how to make these delicacies in a few hours of training. The Cooperative
hoped that with the learning they gained from the training, the participants could start a small
business and earn while at home.

The employees from all the eight offices later convened in the office for the Christmas party. None
of them guessed that the party would also turn out be an awards day when the Board of Directors,
together with the CEO, awarded certificates of recognition and cash prizes to four employees who
have worked in the Cooperative for five years – Mrs. Josie Gali, Miss Sharmen Difuntorum, Miss
Josephine Valdez, and Miss Maricar Sales. Mr. Ronnie Madriaga was conferred the highest honor
of the day, being the Most Outstanding Employee, for voluntarily and willingly doing duties beyond
what is stipulated in his contract. Miss Jonalyn Estoque, on the other hand, also received an award
for willfully accepting the tasks given her, even if it meant being transferred from one office to
another.

The employees’ effort to decorate their offices for the holidays did not come unnoticed. San Juan
made the best stable or “belen”, using recycled materials and spending as little as possible to make
the Christmas characters come alive. Rosario had the best Christmas tree, unique because of its
color (sky blue) and many trimmings.

Mr. Julius Manzano, who supervises the Resto Grill, prepared a special feast for all the attendees.
Becoming a bundle of energy after having their fill, they got up for games specially prepared for
them. There was so much laughter and happy yelling, egging team mates to go faster and
overtake the others. Who says only kids would enjoy games in parties like this?

No one went home empty-handed as each officer and employee received a raffle prize, a cash gift
and a pack of grocery items. To show their gratitude for the gifts and the fun-filled day, Mrs.
Andrea Villamil led them in singing the “Thank You” song.

BLOW, SIR, BLOW! Sir Rod blows a balloon into a hoop held by Melchor during the Christmas
party.
I Went to Prison!
Ellen Carpio

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/center-for-engaged-religious-pluralism/our-projects/the-prison-
religion-project

Not because I was convicted of a crime, but because I got invited by Dir. Savvy and Dir. Rexie to
join an outreach program in Agoo’s BJMP outpost. A prison is the last place in the world I want to
be. I hate to be in small confinements (hello, claustrophobia!). I have always been uncomfortable
with people I do not know. I fear jailbirds. Watching prison scenes of Ricardo Dalisay, Don Emilio,
and the rest of the gang in Probinsyano must have taken its toll on me. Name the reason, I have it.

Nonetheless, I resolved to join the LUMPC team four days before Christmas on a little gift-giving
program at the outpost. Thankfully, assigned by the gate were several officers and interns we
knew. We were searched. We were asked to leave our gadgets to the officer by the entrance. We
were told not to take pictures of the inmates. We observed how the officers dealt with visitors
and packed lunches they brought along. We saw the concern in the officers’ eyes as they
hesitantly helped us unload packs of goodies. There were 408 inmates and the day we came was
visitation day. Lots of relatives, lots of baon, hence lots of things to worry about. We perfectly
understood their concerns.

But they’re not the only ones worrying. We were worrying too. What if a commotion took place?
Where would we hide? Would the officers be able to handle it? Yellow was the color of conviction
and we stood out in our tri-colored uniforms and Santa hats as Rev. Fr. Samuel Banayat celebrated
the mass, along with several church workers. A group of inmates with golden voices sang during
the celebration. We later learned that this group would have a benefit mini-concert and a few
inmates came up to us after the mass, selling tickets.

I didn’t understand the homily that much – I was busy observing the whole time we were there.
Most of them are young. A few are aged, maybe serving their sentence most of their lives or
maybe recently caged. Most have pale skin due to their limited exposure to sunshine. I saw their
quarters and their scanty belongings from where we stood. Painted on the wall for all to see are
their schedules, house rules and several sentences probably gleaned from BJMP manuals and the
Bible to make them realize their worth in spite of their being there. There’s a television set, their
only link to the outside world, on which they can watch at particular schedules. Everywhere are
walls and barbed wires, those everyday reminders that once, or a few times, in their lives, they got
into trouble. I looked into their eyes and they begged for understanding. I didn’t see criminals.
What I saw was loneliness, the longing to be with their families and to finally have a visit from
loved ones, the longing to be free again.

Perhaps, to most of us, these men and women in prison are outcasts in the society. We call them
different names – jailbird, convict, detainee, preso. They are condemned because they have
brought shame upon themselves and their families, but they also feel remorse. They are there, not
because they want to, but for reasons and situations where their lapse of judgment took a wrong
turn.

Surely, it is especially hard for them to be in their cells at Christmastime when everybody else is
celebrating in the warmth of his home. They should be celebrating with their families had it not
been for that dilemma that brought them there. That is why they always look forward to visitation
days when they are allowed to be with their families even for a few hours. There are those,
however, who never get visits, totally forgotten by the families to which they once belonged. And
our hearts go out to them.

La Union Multi-Purpose Cooperative has always had a soft spot for these men and women and
wishes to offer them simple gifts in this season of joy. These gifts were carefully chosen so as not
to breach security (a toothbrush could be turned into a weapon) and packed in transparent bags -
cup noodles and biscuits they can readily eat and a few toiletries for hygienic purposes. Dir. Rexie
was holding back tears as she said that they are not forgotten. They clapped happily when told
they were to receive these gifts and profusely thanked us. Those rare smiles are priceless rewards.

I went to prison four days before Christmas and in spite of my earlier misgivings, I had a very
fulfilling experience. Indeed, behind those high walls are people and organizations that care. La
Union Multi-Purpose Cooperative does.

Korinas of LUMPC
Ellen Carpio

PERFECT FOR MY LITTLE FEET. Mrs. Marilou

Guerrero helps a child find a pair of slippers
that fits her.

Korina Sanchez Roxas’ long-running TV show, Rated K, has always featured simple lives of simple
people, celebrities, travels and food and recipes. Each Sunday evening is a day to look forward to –
what will be featured in Rated K? A mainstay in the show eagerly tuned in by millions is Korina’s
advocacy to make every child walk in slippers. Just before she gives the signal to kids to find the
slippers that perfectly fit them, she goes around looking for the most distressed pair and fishes out
a P500 reward to the child who wears it.

A pair of slippers is something we take for granted, given the quality of footwear we use and the
array of choices we have. But to many children in far-flung areas, it is a luxury. Either they walk
the premises barefoot, or in slippers either too long or too short for them, or in slippers so
distressed you wouldn’t even think of wearing it. So here go the Korinas of LUMPC in their quest
to see children walking comfortably in slippers – Dir. Savvy, Dir. Rexie, and Ma’am Malou.

La Union Multi-Purpose Cooperative coordinated with the school heads who provided the
children’s sizes. First, they went to Narvacan Elementary School, a multi-grade school along the
coast of Sto. Tomas and second home to 89 children. The slippers were laid out on the ground as
the kids lined up. The teachers and the LUMPC team helped them find their right sizes. Ma’am
Malou told them that this was their gift from the Cooperative and asked them if there was
anything else they needed. The children said they needed school supplies and she promised they
would be back in June.

Second stop was Casilagan Elementary School, where they were met by 189 eager learners. In
both schools, they saw all kinds of slippers, some even not suitable for use anymore. The kids
were so happy to be going home with a new pair of slippers. For some who got a size up, they will
just have to wait a little longer or maybe give it to an older brother or sister.

Simple gifts during the Yuletide season and what we get is priceless – sincere Thank Yous and
grateful smiles. No amount could equal that.

Seniors Have a Special in LUMPC’s Heart

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways… Literary enthusiasts have always considered
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnets from the Portuguese the greatest of all love poems. And the
first line of Sonnet 34 is considered the greatest of all love lyrics on poetry.

Having a very big heart for everyone, how does LUMPC answer that question? How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways…

Our Cooperative loves its members, regardless of their age, education, status in life. Its AID (Adopt
an Indigent Person) program shows how much it cares for the poor and the underprivileged. Its
concern for school-age youth is highly evidenced in its scholarship programs. It shows genuine
concern for the environment with its tree-planting projects and for education with its simple
assistance of school supplies, sports equipment, slippers, and manpower during the Brigada
Eskwela week. It has sent its employees and staff to DSWD’s Center for Girls and BJMP’s detention
posts to send a message to the abused, the forgotten, the lonely – WE CARE. Humanity is LUMPC’s
business and we do it with love and compassion. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
A significant number of its members and officers are senior citizens. They are those given special
discounts in restaurants, grocery stores and public transportations. How do I love thee? Let me
count the ways… LUMPC’s answer to that is CAKES on their birthdays. Each time a senior member
celebrates his/her special day, the Cooperative calls to greet them and invite them over for a
simple birthday treat. If they can’t come, it sends an employee to his/her residence to deliver the
sweet treat. A scene unfolds before our eyes : There’s a knock on the door and an elderly lady
opens it. A smiling LUMPC employee wearing a tri-colored uniform says, “Happy birthday!” and
offers a Goldilocks cake to the unsuspecting lady, the pleasant surprise rendering her speechless.
The response has always been gratitude for never forgetting.

A cake is no longer just a way to satisfy someone’s sweet tooth. It has become a symbol of love
and concern. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways… For LUMPC, the answer is a cake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOLO. A grandfather receives a Goldilocks cake from LUMPC as a birthday
gift.