Governor Gwen Garcia congratulated family and employees of the Cebu Court of First Instance (CFI) Community Cooperative during its 53rd anniversary on Saturday, April 15.
Gov. Garcia graced the event held at the Waterfront Hotel that was streamed live to accommodate thousands of members in various parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Gov. Gwen said she is impressed of how far the Cebu CFI has reached all of its 53 years amidst huge adversities.
She said the cooperative has been a part of Cebu’s economic landscape as it helped small traders like Carbon market vendors, small hog raisers and even big businesses in the province of Cebu.
“In a sense, it is also the story of Cebu, when we speak about rising above challenges not only surviving but prevailing,” the governor said.
In her speech, the governor looked back and gave honor to her parents, especially her mother who founded the cooperative, the late Judge Esperanza “Inday” Garcia, and her father the late Governor Pablo “Pabling” Garcia, to the story of CFI and to them as a family.
“The story of Cebu CFI is also a story of us, Garcias,” she said.
Atty. Winston Garcia, the governor’s younger brother and chairman of the cooperative, for his part, shared how CFI has grown in years and narrated that the secret to its survival is its ability to adapt in the changing times and situations.
Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Deputy Speaker and 5th District Congressman Duke Frasco and 3rd District Congressman Pablo John Garcia each gave their highest praise and compliment to the men and women behind the cooperative’s success.
The Cebu CFI was initially organized sometime in April 1970 with only 29 members and a capital of P200.00 in response to the abusive lending practices imposed upon employees of the Courts of First Instance of Cebu.
Currently, CFI is known as a multi-billion cooperative with a membership base of 155,000 members. | Babie Jane Revecoy
