The Solid Rock Group members headed by Rosario Bacaling (front). (Contributed Photo)
Taking over the reins of leadership is hard to refuse.
Rosario Bacaling, 54, accepted the challenge to lead their group.
Her fellow members, composed of 22 mothers, looked to her to continue guiding them after the death of their leader, Estelita Sordilla late last year.
Bacaling is the new chairperson of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance Solid Rock Group in barangay Bato, Sibonga town in southern Cebu.
Bacaling was optimistic that she would be able to handle the group the way her predecessor did.
Sordilla steered Solid Rock to the Hall of Fame during the RAFI Micro-finance general assembly last year. Bacaling was also awarded outstanding secretary in the same occasion.
“Daku kaayo ni nga hagit nako nga makabuhat sab ko og kaayohan sa among grupo susama sa nabuhat sa nitaliwan namo nga leader (This is a big challenge for me to do something good for the group like what our departed leader did),” she said.
“Paningkamotan lang jud nako nga ipadayon ang nasugdan (I will just do my best to continue what we have already started,” she said.
Before she became chairperson, Bacaling was group secretary for more than five years.
“I’m a bit afraid because this is my first time to lead a group. Aside from being a chairperson, I also have a family to take care of,” she said, adding that she is still adjusting to her new role.
Bacaling said she is busy doing many things, such as bringing her grandchildren to school, tending her sari-sari store and maintaining a piggery, which is her primary source of income.
“Busy man sad ko pag-una maong nahadlok ko mo-commit ani. Sa akong bahin, gusto gyud ko ipadayon ang grupo kay solid gud among pangalan. Kahibawo pud ko tabangan ko sa akong mga members nga mahimong best group na pod sunod assembly (I was very busy so I was hesitant to make any commitment. But I want the group to continue as it has already established a name. I’m also confident that the members will help me get the outstanding group award in our next assembly),” she said.
She remembered Sordilla encouraging them not to give up and instead prove to the rest of the Micro-finance nanay clients that they deserve the award.
“Kami nag-aim gihapon nga mahimong best group sa sunod (We are still aiming to become the best group next time),” she said.
“I want to follow her (Sordilla) footsteps. She taught us how to be good leaders. It’s really a challenge to keep this group stay ‘solid.’ We always consider her as our sister,” she added.
Among the rules Sordilla implemented that are still being practiced by Bacaling are the following: members who have been absent without an excuse letter have to pay a fine; members who do not wear uniform or identification cards during meetings will pay a fine of P20. All the fines collected go to the savings of the group for outreach activities.
Bacaling said they also hold a flag ceremony at the center before the start of their weekly meetings. /CHRISLEY ANN HINAYAS/RAMON ABOITIZ FOUNDATION INC.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
