Profiling Ed Revilla

Profiling a Microfinance Unit Manager: Eddie Revilla

Our visit with the Rural Bank of Mabitac (RB Mabitac) last February 18, 2009 gave us a chance to have an up-close and lengthy interview with Eddie Revilla while waiting for our sumptuous lunch at a popular eating place in Bay, Laguna. Ed is the present manager for RB Mabitac’s microfinance operations.

Eddie Revilla, Microfinance Program Head, Rural Bank of Mabitac

To say that Ed is a product of hard knocks is an understatement, after learning from him his personal and family history that helped toughened him and prepared him to be a hard working, responsible, reliable, and persevering person. Born in Mindanao, Ed lost his parents when he was 12 years old. At a very young age, he went where his feet would take him, with or without money in his pockets. He strived to educate himself and pretty much self-supported his education to finish a two-year course. How he came to Luzon and to RB Mabitac is a story in itself. But Ed had one fervent dream: to have a job that he would really love.

Ed joined RB Mabitac as an account officer in 2002. He was promoted as branch microfinance supervisor in 2005, then area supervisor in 2007, and in February 2008 was designated the Microfinance Program Manager overseeing both the individual and group lending products of the bank in 8 branches and 11 field offices. The micro agri-loan product (MAP) came under his responsibility as well in 2008 when Ms. Cecilia Tanael, who used to be responsible for microfinance operations, became the president of RB Mabitac.

“Napakalaki ng challenges (The challenges were great),” Ed spoke of his job, and hoped that he would meet the expectations of the management. Now that he is the manager for microfinance, there are questions that keep playing in his mind: “Can I meet management’s expectations? How can I meet these expectations? Can I take the account officers to the right direction?”

Having been an account officer (AO) himself, Ed knows the difficult work of an AO. He is determined to give the field staff all that he knows, and see to it that they get good training to enable them to do their jobs well. He is determined to do just that. He thinks, too, that it is important to motivate the staff through recognition and awards to celebrate individual performance.

With me at the aster farm are Ed and Cecile of RB Mabitac

As the manager for microfinance, the support of the management has been an important factor to his own performance and motivation. “Ed always delivers what we ask him to do and has met our expectations,” Ms. Tanael said of Ed. We give Ms. Tanael the credit for her sharp skill in spotting a person who has the passion for microfinance and working with poor people.

Ms. Emy Rocero, MABS Agri Microfinance Specialist, and I saw in Ed the qualities that make for good field personnel. During our visit with some aster growers in Bayog, Laguna, we witnessed the confidence and ease with which he relates with farmers, and how much he was enjoying himself. Emy and I had so much fun, too, as you can see in some of the pictures here. This is also where Emy discovered how much she loves flowers!

To you Ed, we say: Keep it up and may your tribe increase!