Heeding the Call to Serve: Service is its Own Reward

Director Estela E. Correa

Who would not have known or e n c o u n t e r e d Director Estela E. Correa, either at the office premises of the Countryside Builders Multi- P u r p o s e Cooperative (CBMPC) or online? As the current Chair of the Membership, Education and Training Committee (METC), she maintains the roster of cooperative members, oversees a list of trainings and seminars required for each member, sets up standards to determine which members are in good standing and properly equipped to handle sensitive positions in the coop.

Before her stint in the coop, Dir. Estela had been with LANDBANK for 35 years, joining the Bank in 1974 as a bookkeeper. Throughout her career, she ascended through various positions, including branch accountant, branch cashier, branch manager, assistant vice president/area head of NCR branches, and vice president/head of Banking Services Group. She contributed to significant major IT systems projects, earning her spurs and honing her skills, not only in frontline banking operations, but also in various backroom activities.

A Certified Public Accountant, a CESO Eligible and a graduate of Executive and Management Leadership Programs at the Ateneo de Manila University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Dir. Estela did not come unprepared, but with her strong academic background, unmatched skills, and years of expertise, it was no surprise that in 2013, the coop membership elected her to the CBMPC Board as one of the directors. In the latter part of that year, a call to serve in another capacity, beckoned. As she is wont not to shirk responsibilities no matter how difficult and uncomfortable the situation was, she heeded the call to sit as general manager of the coop when the incumbent GM then went on sick leave. Her term as GM was not without problems. With the support of other coop officers, she persisted, and served for almost five years as GM. Eventually due to some health concerns, she had to resign, but was persuaded to remain involved as Consultant. In 2019, she was appointed director to fill the vacancy left by the late Mr. Donato Endicia.

After this appointment, she was reelected as Director, and began her initial term as Chairperson of the METC. She has held the position for six consecutive terms. Under her leadership, the Committee aimed to expand membership by accepting members to include 1st and 2nd degree relatives of regular members, either by consanguinity or affinity. and regular employees of LANDBANK Subsidiaries and the staff of the coop. Plans are underway to increase coop membership to 1,000 by year 2027.

For someone who is unafraid on taking on difficult and uncomfortable responsibilities, and with a palpable sense of service, the numbers are not unobtainable.