History of San Dionisio Credit Cooperative

Fr. Walter Hogan 

During the scouting activity of the Rover Scouts in Corregidor and Bataan, Fr.

Walter Hogan asked those coming from San Dionisio what activities were being
undertaken by the group in their community. They responded that based on the Rover
Scouts' doctrine, their activities revolved around service, love of God & love of country.

The Rover Scouts

Thus, such community projects as artesian wells, playgrounds, basketball courts

and cleanliness of environment were realized.

Fr. Hogan introduced the concept of Cooperatives which the group agreed with.
One of the Rover Scouts who was also a member of an institutional cooperative,
introduced the group to Fr. Gaston Duchesneau, a Jesuit priest who was then the
director of the Institute of the Social Order (ISO).

Dr. Angel Mendoza, who was a barrio lieutenant at that time, called for an
assembly to address the needs of the community, particularly the need for organizing a
cooperative. Although many of those present agreed, there were also those who were
against the concept because most of them were already old and thus not up to the task
anymore. Mr. Jaime Ferrer, a strict disciplinarian, who was a leader of the Hunter’s
ROTC guerrillas in Parañaque and a colleague of Dr. Angel Mendoza in Club Tamorgo,
boosted the morale of those who were interested.

There were forty five (45) participants who attended the seminar for nine (9)
consecutive Fridays, only twenty eight (28) of whom were able to finish it. The speaker
of the said seminar was Fr. Gaston Duchesneau, assisted by St. Andrew Asst. Parish
Priest, Fr. Francis Witizelae.

St. Andrew's Church

At last, San Dionisio Cooperative Credit Union, Inc. (SDCCUI) was organized on

July 28, 1961 by the twenty eight (28) founding members with three hundred eighty (P
380.00) pesos as starting capital. It was subsequently registered with the Cooperative
Administration Office (CAO) on September 8, 1961.

The name San Dionisio Cooperative Credit Union, Inc. was named after the Patron
Saint of Bgy. San Dionisio, St. Dionysius
The Founding Members

At first, the CAO was reluctant to register SDCCUI, because of the provision in
the by-laws about minor depositors. It was also the first time ever that a community
cooperative was organized. Later, however, the CAO agreed.

On October 4, 1973 San Dionisio Cooperative Credit Union Inc. was re-registered with
the Bureau of Agricultural Cooperatives Development (BACOD). Later on, the
cooperative was re-registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) under
R.A. 6938 and 6939 bearing the name San Dionisio Credit Cooperative (SDCC).

On October 16, 2009, SDCC was again registered with the CDA under R.A.
9520, also known as the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008.

It may be worthwhile to note that with the help of the Varsitarians, a Parañaque
civic club, the neighboring barangays of San Dionisio such as Tambo, Don Galo,
Sto.Niño, La Huerta and Las Piñas were motivated to organize their own cooperatives
during the early 60’s.

History of Holy Cross Credit Cooperative

The Parish of the Holy Cross Credit Cooperative (PHCCCO) was founded in
1990 by then Parish Priest of Gen. T. de Leon, +Fr. MAR DJ ARENAS with 63 other
parishioners, with an initial capital of P20,000.00. Its first office was in a humble room at
the Parish rectory with only 2 personnel (1- full-time cashier/clerk, in the person of
+Delia V. Santos and 1- part time manager/bookkeeper, in the person of +Perpetua R.
Cezar (Sis. Pet), operating 3 days in a week. The first Treasurer was Benita C. de Leon
(Sis. Bennie) who, with Sis. Pet, spear-headed all efforts with Fr. Mar in the beginning.
The founding Board of Directors were on a voluntary basis who agreed to work without
perdiem and met twice a month to discuss, plan and resolve problems that arose in the
operation.

At that time, they had little knowledge about cooperatives but they were armed
with deep faith and high spirits to pursue their goal. They sought the help of a more
experienced cooperative, the St. Martin of Tours Kilusang Bayan sa Pagpapautang, Inc.
(SMTKBPI) to provide the basic knowledge about cooperatives. The group further
embarked on a continuous literacy program (which is being practiced up to now) that
provided them with knowledge and skills they needed to efficiently operate the
cooperative. First, they lent small loans to founding members in need and soon, other
people in the parish took interest in the cooperative. Membership poured in numbers as
weeks passed. The first years of the Cooperative were sure tough but because of the
dedication, cooperation and determination of the leaders, PHCCCO managed to take off
and started to grow steadily.

Msgr. MAR DJ ARENAS was the first Parish Priest of the Parish of the Holy
Cross, Gen. T. de Leon, Valenzuela City. He believed that pooling together of talents
and treasures among the people can help uplift the condition of the community, so he
and 63 other parishioners started PHCCCO IN 1990.

Msgr. MAR dedicated his life for the welfare of not only the Church and HCSCCO, but
the whole cooperative movement in the country. At different instances in his life, he
served as Chairman of the Board of various cooperative federations in the country
including government organizations geared at the cooperative movement. He will
always be remembered as one of the great cooperative leaders.