The CARD-MRI Development Institute (CMDI), Inc., the education arm of the CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institution, celebrated its 23rd founding anniversary with the theme “Educating the Minds, Connecting Hearts in Pursuing Greater Heights” in Brgy. Tranca, Bay, Laguna on February 14, 2023.
Coinciding with the celebration of the love day, CMDI commemorates the message of empowerment by shaping competent and responsible individuals through quality education which will eventually help them uplift their quality of life.
“For 23 years, CMDI remains committed to our call of ending extreme poverty in the country by facilitating learning on development to our students, staff, and socioeconomically challenged individuals,” said CMDI Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Edzel A. Ramos. Dr. Ramos also urges its community of workforce to embrace within their hearts the initiatives and values of the learning institute and share unparalleled energy in providing better opportunities to Filipino families.
CMDI President Dr. Flordeliza L. Sarmiento also reminisced about the humble beginning of CMDI having a dream for socioeconomically challenged families. “When CMDI opened as a training center in 2000, it opened boundless opportunities for many individuals to improve their quality of life. With its principle of empowering communities through education, CMDI continues to grow and is now gradually recognized as a respected development institute in the country.”
Celebration and highlights
During the celebration, CMDI looked back on the institution’s educational initiatives and success in the academe, workshops and training, scholarship program, and other activities that created an impact on the lives of its students, learners, and the nanays. The two decades of serving the local communities across the country through learning and development led to the growth of thousands of individuals, which also ended the cycle of poverty within their families.
CMDI also celebrated the people behind the success of the learning institute. An awarding ceremony was held for their outstanding resource persons, faculty members, and trainers.
Moreover, CMDI also facilitated its first alumni induction ceremony. CARD MRI Founder and Chair Emeritus Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip is grateful to the first set of alumni officers as they will serve as companions and partners to advocate the importance of education and preserve the institute’s values and culture.
Dr. Alip also emphasized the power of education, “Education is the most powerful tool to end the cycle of poverty. By providing the best learning experience for Filipinos, we will be able to lift the Filipinos out of poverty and make them economically sustainable.”
He also added that CMDI is a gift of love destined to be found here on the very day of love.
CARD MRI Managing Director Aristeo A. Dequito expressed his gratitude to all staff and faculty for their dedication and endless contribution to achieving the central goal of CARD MRI to end poverty in the Philippines. “The entire CARD MRI acknowledges CMDI for serving as our educational arm. I believe that you are worthy to be celebrated along with world’s heart day as you mold everyone to have a courageous heart to rise above the poverty line.”
CMDI is a member institution of CARD MRI that aims to create competent and dedicated people who empower and uplift socially and economically challenged families across the country. CMDI offers senior high school, TESDA, and college courses, trainings to equip CARD MRI staff and partners, and other capacity-building programs to CARD clients and the communities. As of December 2022, CMDI had 1,132 CMDI scholars and 3,350 students enrolled in its senior high school, college, and TechVoc programs both in Bay and Tagum City Campuses.
To learn more about CMDI and its services, visit its Facebook page @cmdiofficial.
