FBFP TEAM - PHILIPPINES AND INDIA
Crisanto “Billy” Gualberto
Founder Chairman of Obra Palma Land Holdings Group Philippines
Filipino Co-founder & Chairman of Board
Farmers Bazaar Fintech Philippines, Inc (“FBFP”)
Filsatelles Geospatial Agri-tech Inc.
Hailing from one of the well-known clans of Batangas, who served the development of Philippines for many generations, Billy Gualberto is a successful entrepreneur, farmer and environmentalist – all rolled in to one - by heart, soul and action. In his passion for all these three, he is a millennial with abiding energy and enthusiasm. A former cabinet level presidential advisor, Billy, after successfully completing his agricultural education and training in Israel, started his early career in the agriculture by working as a village extension services and development worker, providing training to the small holder Filipino farmers with scientific farming methods that would become the foundation for his innovative approach in solving the problems of the small-holder farmers and agrarian problems. He brought alleviation and improvements to the work and livelihood conditions of the small holder farmers.
Through his vast experience in the agricultural and fisheries sector, Billy has been extensively involved in uplifting the coconut farmers and fisherfolk. He is deeply involved in in the upstream and downstream coconut plantation industry, including developing export-oriented coconut water and multi-fruit processing projects. Billy's agricultural and conservation efforts have been formally recognized by public and private institutions, which so far has given him 80 citations/awards of appreciation and trophies of distinction. Billy is an advisory member of the CAMP (Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines), one of the influencial advocacy groups in the Philippines.
Dr. Benjamin R. Quiñones, Jr (“Dr.Ben”)
Co-founder & President
Farmers Bazaar Fintech Philippines, Inc (“FBFP”)
Dr. Benjamin (“Dr. Ben”), an agricultural economist and rural finance expert by qualification and career, has more than 35 years of national, regional and international experience in the leadership positions with the Government, multilateral and intergovernmental organizations. A well-known expert in agricultural credit and micro-finance in in the Asia-pacific region, Dr. Ben served for 10 years with the Philippines Government, initially as an agricultural economist with The National Economic and Development Authority, abbreviated (NEDA), the premier cabinet-level socioeconomic planning agency of the Philippine Government and subsequently with the The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Central Bank of the Philippines, as its’ supervising and Chief Economist of the Technical board of Agricultural credit, credited for his visionary policies in the agricultural credit for small-holder farmers.
During his 17 years of regional and international career as the Secretary General of Asia Pacific Rural & Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), the regional organization of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNO , Bangkok, Thailand, Dr. Ben led several projects and initiatives to increase the access, efficiency and delivery of rural finance to large number of small-holder farmers and fisherfolk. Through his position as the Founder Chairman of the Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC), he has been tirelessly working for the cause of creating and improving the financial inclusion of the small-holder farmers in Philippines and ASEAN region. Despite his several achievements and awards of recognition, Dr. Benjamin remains as a man of simplicity and humility, demonstrating the Filipino cultural trait of ‘Walang Lamangan’(treating others with equal respect, warmth and hospitality).
Arvind Kumar TJ
Co-founder, Director & Country Director
Aumra Group International
Filsatelles Geospatial Agri-tech Inc.
Farmers Bazaar Fintech Philippines (‘FBFP’)
A former global agricultural commodity markets risk management expert-turned-entrepreneur, Arvind has over 25 years of experience, in leadership positions, with large multinational organizations in Agri-food sourcing, processing, branding and exports; E-commerce and SCM in SE Asia(Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines), Europe, India, USA. His grass-root level work in Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines brought impact to millions of small holder farmers in Coffee, Cocoa, spices, rice, corn, sugar etc. His unique and out-of-the-box learning and experience in business and financial risk management experience largely came from and shaped by observing and learning real-time from the 1997 Asian financial crisis and 2007 US subprime mortgage crisis – which he calls as the once-in-a-lifetime ‘Roadside MBA’ lessons and strategies from the streets of Jakarta and New York.
Born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, in a nationally-respected political and agricultural family, whose ancestors originally migrated from the Saurashtra region in Gujarat, and contributed to the freedom movement, legislature and green revolution of India, Arvind is a long-time resident in the SE Asian countries. He is a fluent speaker of Indonesian and Malay languages, besides English and Indian languages. Arvind is an elected board member of FICCI(Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce of Philippines) and Chairman of Agri-tech committee.
Abhishek Raju
Co-founder & Director
Filsatelles Geospatial Agri-tech Inc.
Co-Founder, Director & CEO
DI-Invest Gmbh Inc., Switzerland
SatSure Analytics India Pvt. Ltd.
SatSure AG, Switzerland
Abhishek is the Founder and CEO (EMEA) of SatSure.Abhishek has a total of 12 years of experience of which 7 years has been as an entrepreneur in the space industry. Abhishek is one of the founding members of the New Space Industry in India. In 2012 he co-founded Dhruva Space which is India’s first private micro satellite company. He has hands on experince in running companies in India, UK, Switzerland, UAE and Australia. He specializes in global compliances and building and operating multinational corporate structures for tax, cost and operations optimization. He is an arts graduate from Bangalore University.
Gina L Banoc
Co-founding Farmer, Director & President
Filsatelles Geospatial Agri-tech Inc.
Farmers Bazaar Fintech Philippines (‘FBFP’)
(represents the ‘Bayanihan’ spirit of Filipino farmers & fisherfolk)
Born in a coconut farmer’s family in Leyte, Visayas island, Gina was exposed to the vagaries and challenges of the lives and livelihoods of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk since childhood. Super Typhoon Yolanda’s massive destruction of her home town and agricultural lands on November 8, 2013, left a deep impact on Gina’s consciousness on the vulnerability of the Filipino farmers, fisherfolk and their families to the frequent natural disasters and the Philippine agriculture and farmers livelihoods without insurance coverage, is a zero sum game. Yolanda also made her to realize that education is most important for the children of the farmers and fisherfolk.
Through her relentless hard work she obtained a degree with Cum Laude in Business Management and got trained in the areas of food processing, BPO(Business Process Outsourcing), Data analytics. At FBFP, Gina represents the Filipino farmers and fisherfolk and handles the communications, public relations and corporate governance.
Faustino “Ting” Caedo
Co-founder and Director
Farmers Bazaar Fintech Philippines (‘FBFP’)
Hailing from a prominent and well-respected Batangueños family, who made important contributions to the development of Batangas economy and society, the DNA of both entrepreneurship and educational service were inherited by Ting Caedo, who further expanded his family business ventures of Caedo Group of companies in Batangas, after receiving management education and training in San Francisco, Tokyo and Spain.
Since 1994, Ting Caedo has been providing his dynamic leadership to the Batangas Industry, Economy and Society in various capacities, including as the Chairman of the PCIC(Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Lipa Chapter, Batangas, President of Batangas Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of ILO-ECOP(Employers Confederation of the Philippines), Batangas, Chairman of Batangas Business Club, Member of Batangas Forum, President of Batangas(Barako) Coffee Revival, Director, Alternative Resources community Development.
As a Board of Reagent (representing the private sector) of Batangas State University, Ting Caedo was instrumental in successfully organizing the knowledge economy partnership between The Batangas State University Knowledge, Innovation and Science Technology (KIST) Park and Embassy of India in the Philippines event on 15 February 2021 for “Jumpstarting the Knowledge Economy and Investments in the New Normal.”
Vice-Mayor Capt. Mannie Barradas
Co-founder & Director
Farmers Bazaar Fintech Philippines (‘FBFP’)
A distinguished alumni of the UPLB LasBanos, Capt. Mannie Barradas is an agriculturist-turned-aviation expert, who pioneered the introduction of airplanes and aviation technology in the Philippine agriculture sector. During his early career with the Del Monte group in Davao as a farm manager in 1970s, he became a licensed pilot and aviation entrepreneur. ChemTrad Aviation, the aviation company he founded in 1980 became well known for fertilizer spraying, cloud seedings and oil spill management and clean ups etc, with Del Monte and Philippine Government as its major customers, besides expanding to other countries in Asia-pacific region.
In his public service, he served as the Vice Mayor of Tanauan,Batangas from 1988-1992 and also the Vice President then of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP). He is also currently serving as the President of UPLB LasBanos alumni and Chairman of Batangas Forum.
Capt. Mannie Barradas is a passionate advocate of using Satellite-technology for Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural disaster response.
A well-known public interest lawyer, Advocate K. Elangoo is formerly the Assistant Solicitor General of India (2008-2009), representing the Union of India in the High Court of Madras. Having been a law practitioner for more than 25 years he has also served as a Special Government Pleader (2006-2008) for the State of Tamil Nadu and appeared on behalf of the State Election Commission. He is the Standing Counsel for the Directorate of Enforcement, Government of India(2006-2008). His clients also include local bodies, (Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, and Panchayats), apart from Cooperative Societies, including AAVIN, Cooperative Banks and Land Development Banks.His specialization has been in the areas of Constitutional law, Public Interest Litigation, Election laws, Civil laws, Criminal cases, Tenancy law, Property law, Company law, Transport cases, Matrimonial law, Tax laws, Consumer Law, Conveyance and Documentation. This apart he is a Social Activist, closely associated with EXNORA International. (www.exnora.org). He is the Gen. Secretary of Anti Bribe Coalition and founder President of THIRD PILLOR, an association to Fight Corruption in Judiciary.
At FBFP, Advocate K. Elangoo represents the Indian side of JV and closely coordinating with FBFP team Philippines on all legal matters pertaining to it, including most importantly Ethics,Transparency and Corporate governance(ETC) compliance.
Balraj S Bhattee
Co-founder & Director
Filsatelles Geospatial Agri-tech Inc.
Farmers Bazaar Fintech Philippines (‘FBFP’)
Balraj S Bhattee , an Indian national and permanent resident in the Philippines, has more than 33 years of combined senior management experience in the banking and insurance services industries (BFSI). He started his career with the State Bank of India, the largest lender to the agricultural and rural development sectors in India. Subsequently, he joined the The New India Assurance Co., the largest Non-Life Insurance company of India. He served as the COO of The New India Assurance Co., Manila operations from 2012-2017, before becoming an independent entrepreuner and investor. Balraj is an elected board member of FICCI(Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce of Philippines).
During the visit of the President of India H.E. Ramnath Kovind, Mr. Balraj Bhattee was instrumental in organizing the MoU signing between SatSure and Malayan Insurance Company, Inc., a major Insurance conglomerate in the Philippines. Mr. Balraj Bhattee also co-organized the MoU signing between SatSure and Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippine Government and coordinating on the much promised and expected SatSure projects and investments in the agriculture sector of BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Mindanao, Philippines, with the support of MAFAR(The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform) of BARMM Government.