A Profile of Success: Ma. Theresa Rodriguez

It was the worst of times.

Thus, this was how Tess summed up how she felt when Atty. Alexander, her husband of 23 years died in September 2017, after spending a week at the Philippine Heart Center. She was heartbroken. One, just two months earlier, she was out of work as she had availed of the early retirement program of Land Bank after 26 years of service, most of which were spent at the Bank’s Provident Fund Office. Two, all of their four children were still in school.

But there was little time to grieve. Tess knew she needed to move forward, no matter what challenges lie ahead, for her children’s sake. With her retirement pay and her late husband’s survivorship pension, plus some help from her brother who regularly sends some school allowance for her oldest daughter, her family was able to get through rough times.

Today, seven years later, Tess seems to have found her peace, displaying a calm and pleasant demeanor, and a very positive attitude on matters she did not care much about. She is considering returning to her apostolic work at her parish, which she had put aside for a time after her husband’s death. Understandably so because her children are almost done with school. Her older son, James Vincent is now a CPA and works in a private company. Her second son, Alexander, Jr. is set to take the CPA board examination this November. Her youngest, Pauline, finished Architecture in June of this year. Her eldest, Rachel Dorothy although a licensed physical therapist, chose to pursue further studies and is now in her second year medicine proper.

Tess is also very grateful for the assistance the CBMPC has extended to her and her children throughout their life’s journey. Tess was an associate member of the coop in 2009 when she was still with LANDBANK. She became a regular member when she retired in 2017, allowing her to access loans at reasonable interest rates. Since 2019, she has secured loans to help her cover her children’s tuition and other school fees. She is now applying for another educational loan to pay for her daughter’s medical school expenses. “Alam natin na talagang mahirap magpa-aral ng doctor. But I am glad na nandiyan ang coop at tumutulong maipagpatuloy ng anak ko ang kanyang pangarap.”

CBMPC was an able support system. “Ma’am Lydia (de Asis) was the one who encouraged me to avail of the coop’s services.” She also has this advice to her fellow retired Landbankers, “Sumali po kayo sa coop at marami ang maitutulong nito sa inyo sa oras ng inyong pangangailangan.”