Our Branch Staff
Here we feature Brenda Absin, Branch Manager of UPLIFT-Luzon Branch, and Gemma Mamucod, LDO of UPLIFT-Bayan-Bayanan Branch.

Brenda Absin
Brenda Absin has been with UPLIFT for more than six years now. Her dedication to her work and valuable experience are essential traits of a Branch Manager, that is why she is in her fifth year as a Branch Manager in our branch in Luzon Avenue, Quezon City.
Ate (elder sister) Brenda, as she is fondly called, started as a Loan Development Officer in 1999 at the said branch. After a year, she was chosen as the Officer-In-Charge and in 2001 became the Branch Manager. Brenda, along with LDOs Analiza Yumping and Evelyn Dalawang-Bayan comprise the UPLIFT-Luzon Branch.
She lives with her husband, Alexander, and children Alexenda and Brenxel, on the same street as the branch office. She only takes a short walk to and from work! We asked her some questions and here are her answers:

What is your role as Branch Manager?
" I compile all the collections from the LDOs and assign them their tasks. I also analyze, plan and monitor the activities and statistics, aside from supervising the branch operations."

Why do you choose to stay with UPLIFT?
" I chose to stay with UPLIFT because, above all, our programs and services have good intentions for people."

What are your memorable moments in UPLIFT?
" The moment I will never forget is when I became a member of the UPLIFT Family."

How did your work affect your personal life? What lessons did you learn?
" The effect of my work in my life is that I've learned how to deal with different types of people. The important lesson I learned as a BM is that of having my own decision, or proper decision-making. When I was an LDO, I was the one asking questions. Now, I am the one that has to find the answers for my staff."

What is your message to the UPLIFT staff? To our Partners?
" To the entire UPLIFT staff, I hope that we can help more people. To our partners, thank you very much for being with UPLIFT."

Gemma Mamucod
Gemma Santos-Mamucod is our Loan Development Officer in UPLIFT-Bayan-Bayanan Branch in Malabon City. Under Branch Manager Aurora Alojacin and with fellow LDO Visitacion Alip, they cover several areas in Malabon and Navotas. Being an LDO is not an easy job, especially in Malabon-Navotas area where some places are affected by floods and high tides.
Let us read what Gemma has to say about her work:

" I am Gemma Santos-Mamucod, 40 years old. I am married to Adriano, 42, a jeepney driver. We have three children--Rea Andrea, 19, Roan Adrian, 15, and Genieva Ann, 6 years old. We live in 32-A Bonifacio Street, Barangay Flores, Malabon City.

" Before I worked with UPLIFT, I was a plain housewife but when my husband suffered from complications due to diabetes, I had to find a job and fortunately, I found UPLIFT needed an LDO. Thank God, I was hired.

" Right now,in my work as an LDO, I can say that it is both pleasant and exhausting. We go into the communities and areas, enduring the floods, heat and rain. But all of this is worth it because we know that we are helping fellow Filipinos.

" This is what pleases me the most, that we know we are helping people to save and improve their small businesses and become entrepreneurs."