Taking its first flight towards community development, CARD MRI Publishing House, CARD MRI’s publishing institution, launched its first Koa Kafe Pop-up Event at CARD Bank-Barleta Branch on March 25, 2021.
Named after the publishing company’s owl mascot “Koa”, the event primarily strives to introduce the publications and communication materials of CARD MRI Publishing House.
The one-day event enabled CARD Publishing to give away free copies of its newspaper, Sulong: Ang pangkaularang pahayagan ng CARD MRI, to clients of the bank and to the general public.
Copies of other publications such as Microfinance and Beyond and CARDventures travelogue were also displayed and can be read by the event-goers while enjoying free coffee and Indomie Mi Goreng from Mga Likha ni Inay.
The main highlight of the program was the storytelling for kids, which was aligned to CARD Publishing’s advocacy of raising a new generation of readers. The featured storybook for the event was “Ang Lapis ni Anya,” a timely piece about the wise use of gadgets among children.
“Koa the Kwago” is designed after the Philippine Eagle Owl. Owls are often associated with wisdom and keen observation, values that CARD MRI Publishing House exemplifies. The word “Koa” also means bravery, a trait that CARD MRI exhibits as it continues to serve its members despite the challenges. Visitors can also purchase Koa’s merch such as stuffed toys and school supplies for their children.
“What really inspired us to make this event possible is the ambience we feel in a café. To be able to spark fun and light conversations about social development over a cup of coffee, that is how we want to work towards community development. It brings this kind of intimate interaction that really leaves an impression. We make it fun for kids and informative for their moms, so that we can work towards social change, one page at a time,” CARD MRI Publishing House President Marilyn Manila on how Koa Kafe came to be.
Koa’s launch starts a series of pop-up cafes with programs for CARD MRI clients and their children nationwide. For more information and to know where Koa will fly next, visit CARD MRI Publishing House’s Official Facebook Page at facebook.com/PublishingHouseInc.
