Ika-28 ng Hulyo 1961 ang naging pormal na pagsisimula ng SDCC matapos na pagtibayin ng dalawampu’t walong (28) founding members and Articles of Cooperation at By-Laws nito; subali’t, noong ika-8 ng Setyembre 1961 lamang napahintulutan ng Cooperative Administration Office (CAO) ang pagpapatala nito bilang isang Credit Cooperative, na siyang naging kaunaunahan namang credit union na pang komunidad sa bansa.
July 28, 1961 formally marked the beginning of SDCC after twenty-eight(28) founding members approved its Article of Cooperation and Bylaws. However, it was not until September 8, 1961 when the Cooperative Administration Office (CAO) approved SDCC’s registration as a Credit Cooperative, becoming the first community-type credit union in the country.
Hulyo 28, 1961Nagmula ito sa puso at diwa ng mga lalaki’t babaeng, kahit mga nag-aaral pa at bago pa lang sa kani-kanilang propesyon, ay nakatuon na ang pansin sa bayan at mga bagay na pambalana. Nagsagawa sila ng mga gawaing pangkomunidad at palagiang nagkaroon ng mga talakayang ukol sa pulitika, relihiyon at bayan. Sila ay nagbuo ng mga asosasyon upang mangalap ng tulong at kumilos para abutin ang layuning pinagkaisahan ng lahat. Sa mga gawaing ito ay unti-unti silang nagkaisa sa isang pananaw na magkaroon ng pamayanang nakatutugon sa sariling pangangailangan at nakatutulong sa paglago ng bansa.
It started in the hearts and minds of men and women who, even as students and young professionals, train their sights on things, community and their attention on social matters. They organized community activities and regularly held discussions on politics, religion and social issues. They formed groups or association to mobilize support and to work on a common objective. These activities gradually shaped a shared vision of a community that was able to meet their own needs and contribute to nation building.
Tiwala ang isang mahalagang salik na kailangang matamo ng SDCC sa simula. Marami ang pagdududa sapagkat ang konsepto ng kooperatiba ay isang bagong kaisipan para sa mga kabaryo. Isang organisasyong inihahain ang serbisyong hawakan ang salapi ng mga tao at pamahalaan ito ay pawang wala sa katinuan, dahil sa mga panahong iyon ay hindi pa ito nasubukan. Pinaalalahan pa ng mga nagdududa ang mga “pioneers” ng SDCC na “walang humawak ng palayok na ‘di naulingan.” Hindi sila natinag, buo ang tiwalang ang konsepto ng kooperatiba ang sagot sa kanilang hinahanap-hanap.
Trust is a critical factor that SDCC had to earn in the beginning. There was much doubt then because the co-operative idea was new to the community. An organization that proposed to collect money among the people and promised to manage it for them sounded almost crazy as it was untested then. The pioneers of SDCC were reminded by some cynics that “no one who holds the clay pot is not dirtied by it” (Walang humawak ng palayok na ‘di naulingan). But they persisted, confident that the cooperative idea was the answer to what they were looking for.
Ang kalagayang lumalaking-bilang ng mga mahihirap sa paligid ang nagbunsod sa kanilang gawing gabi-gabi ang talakayan upang makahanap ng matitibay na solusyon. Bumaba ang inspirasyon sa kanilang kamping bilang mga Rover Scouts sa isla ng Corregidor noong Hunyo 1961 kasama si Fr. Franciso Wittezaele, katulong na pari ng Kura Paroko ng simbahan ng San Andres, na siyang kanilang naging masugid na kakampi; at si Fr. Walter Hogan ng Institute of Social Order (ISO), na siya namang nagsusog sa kaisipang magbuo ng credit union. Iminungkahi ni Fr. Hogan na kanilang imbitahan ang kapwa Heswitang si Fr. Gaston Duchesneau, direktor ng ISO noong panahong iyon, sapagkat ang huli ay higit ang kaalaman ukol sa credit union. Ang matibay na paniniwala ng mga Rover Scouts sa “pag-ibig sa Diyos” at “pag-ibig sa bayan” ang siyang nagtulak sa kanilang magbuo ng credit union.
It was the plight of the growing number of poor people in their neighborhood that turned the nightly discussions into a search for concrete solutions. The inspiration came during a camping trip of the Rover Scouts in the island of Corregidor in June 1961. The group was accompanied by Fr. Francisco Wittezaele, Assistant Parish Priest of St. Andrew’s Church, who became an ardent supporter, and Fr. Walter Hogan of the Institute of Social Order (ISO) who brought up the idea of forming a credit union. Fr. Hogan suggested that they invite a fellow Jesuit and director of ISO at that time, Fr. Gaston Duchesneau, because the latter has more knowledge about credit unions. It was the Rover Scouts’ strong belief in ‘love of God’ and ‘love of country’ that helped push the idea of forming a credit union.
Pagkatapos ng mga seminar, nagdesisyon silang itatag ang San Dionisio Credit Cooperative Union, Inc. (SDCCUI). Dalawampu’t walong pioneers, na binuo ng dalawampu’t anim (26) na Rover Scout at dalawang (2) babae, ang nagtatag ng kooperatiba noong ika-28 ng Hulyo 1961 nang may panimulang kapital na P380.00. Ang unang tanggapan ay isang lamesa sa bilyaran ni Bb. Adoracion L. Marquez, isa sa mga founder. Ang mga unang opisyal ay sina Benedicto A. Allanigue, Pangulo; Jose T. Garcia, Ikalawang Pangulo; Ismael M. Allanigue, Kalihim; at Herminio C. Hernandez, Ingat-Yaman. Mga kasapi ng unang nahalal na Lupong Patnugutan ay sina Felino V.. de Leon, Sr., Dr. Arsenio G. Santiago, at Antonio C. Guerrero.
After the seminars, they decided to form San Dionisio Credit Cooperative Union, Inc. (SDCCUI). Twenty-eight(28) pioneers composed of twentysix (26) Rover Scouts and two(2) women founded the cooperative on July 28, 1961 with an initial capital of P380.00. The co-operative first held office inside a billiard hall – a small table, actually owned by Ms. Adoracion L. Marquez, one of the founders. The first elected officers included Benedicto A. Allanigue, President; Jose T. Garcia, Vice- President; Ismael M. Allanigue, Secretary; and Herminio C. Hernandez, Treasurer. Members of the first elected Board of Directors were Felino V. de Leon, Sr., Dr. Arsenio G. Santiago, and Antonio C. Guerrero.
Pagkatapos ng kanilang mga pag-uusap sa Corregidor, muling nagtagpo ang grupo upang ayusin ang planong magtatag ng kooperatiba. Inimbitahan nila si Fr. Duchesneau upang magbigay liwanag ukol sa credit union. Si “Fr. Duke,” ang panlambing na tawag sa kanya, ay nagbigay ng credit union pre-membership seminar, apat na oras bawat gabi, sa loob ng siyam na magkakasunod na Biyernes. Malinaw ang kanilang misyon: Gaganyakin nila ang mga kabaryo, lalo na ang mahihirap, na tulungn ang kanilang mga sarili sa pamamagitan ng credit union. Ito ang nakita nilang sagot sa matagal na paghahanap ng paraan para sa kaunlarang pangkabuhayan at pambayan.
Right after the meeting in Corregidor, the group again met to firm up plans to organize a co-operative. Fr. Duchesneau was invited to enlighten them on credit unions. “Fr. Duke,” as he was fondly called, conducted the credit union pre-membership seminar at least four hours each night for nine consecutive Fridays. The mission was clear: They would mobilize people especially the poor to help themselves through the credit union. This was the answer to their long quest for economic and social advancement.
Malaki ang naitulong ni Fr. Wittezaele sa pagdami ng mga bagong kasapi sa pamamagitan ng “pagkatok sa mga pintuan” upang maengganyo ang mga taong dumalo sa pre-membership seminar. Hinikayat niya ang mga mayayamang pamilya, ang simbahan at ang lokal na paaralan na mag-impok sa bagong credit union.
Fr. Wittezaele was most helpful in recruiting new members by “knocking on doors” to encourage people to attend the pre-membership seminar. He also encouraged wealthy families, the church, and the local school to put up their savings in the new credit union.
Sa kasalukuyan, ang SDCC ay nakatala sa Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) sa ilalim ng bagong Cooperative Code na Republic Act (RA) 9520.
As of today, SDCC is registered at the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) under the new coop code RA 9520.
2024