“I still can’t believe that I was elected as the new Chairperson of one of the biggest cooperative federations in the country. Even today, I find myself asking, ‘Is this really true? Am I now chairing a national network of cooperatives that has served and empowered millions of Filipinos through the years?'”
These are the authentic words of Romulo Dex Fuentes Lumawig III, affectionately known to colleagues, students, and friends as “Dex” moments after stepping into one of the most significant socio-economic leadership roles in the co-op movement. Elected by his peers at the NATCCO Board of Directors, Lumawig now captains NATCCO as it gears up for its golden year in 2027. For a leader whose life has been characterized by quiet service, grassroots passion, and a deep-seated humility, this national milestone marks both an extraordinary personal victory and a powerful testament to the democratic spirit of the cooperative movement.
To fully understand the leadership ethos of Chairperson Lumawig, one must travel to the western edge of the Visayas. Born on May 1, 1986, Dex is a proud son of Pandan, Antique. His heritage spans the rich, communal backdrop of Antique. His roots hail from Aklan on his mother Excelsa’s side, while his late father, Democrito A. Lumawig, was from the island municipality of Caluya. Dex himself studied and worked in Iloilo City, before settling back into his current residence in Bagumbayan, Pandan.
Growing up in a province “where the mountains meet the sea” has deeply shaped his worldview. Dex speaks of his home as a pristine paradise filled with fresh air, local produce from nearby farms, bountiful catches from the sea, and crystal-clear waters. More than the geography, however, it is the lifestyle that forged his economic perspective. In Antique, community-driven economics is not an abstract financial theory, it is an everyday way of life. Dex observed early on that people found genuine happiness in the simple things they possessed, and that the fundamental societal fabric relied on a simple principle: helping each other in daily needs and life challenges. It was this vibrant local culture of mutual aid that primed him perfectly for a lifelong advocacy in cooperatives.
A Fifteen-Year Legacy of Grassroots Service
Lumawig’s ascent to the peak of the cooperative sector did not occur overnight. He brings fifteen years of deep-rooted, hands-on cooperative experience to the national federation. His foundational journey began at the university where he was a University Student Council Vice Chairperson of West Visayas State University (WVSU) – 2006-2007. This leadership experience has been reinforced at the grassroots level with his membership at Pandan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a 2025 Kaya Digital Accelerator Award, in Pandan, Antique. Serving diligently as a member of its Board of Directors, Dex learned the intricate mechanics of financial administration, member relations, and localized economic empowerment.
His stellar track record and uncompromising commitment eventually caught the eye of the wider network, leading him to serve as a national Member of the Board for NATCCO before his election to the chair. Reflecting on this transition from provincial to nationwide leadership, Lumawig admits to experiencing an initial wave of nervousness. “The responsibility before me seemed enormous,” he recalls, thinking back to his humble beginnings in Antique. Yet, this transition has only reinforced his core belief that cooperative leadership is never about personal status or authority. Rather, it centers entirely on a genuine, relentless desire to uplift the lives of members and the communities they call home.
The Educator’s Approach to the Boardroom
What makes Chairperson Lumawig’s leadership model uniquely captivating is his professional duality. Since June 23, 2014, Dex has been serving continuously as a dedicated Teacher I at Sebaste High School. His academic background is firmly rooted in education, holding a Bachelor in Elementary Education from West Visayas State University (graduated 2007) and a Bachelor in Secondary Education from Northwestern Visayan Colleges in Kalibo, Aklan (graduated 2013). To further sharpen his skills, he pursued post-graduate studies toward a Master of Arts in Education major in Physical Education at Aklan State University.
While some might see a disconnect between managing a high school classroom and directing a massive national financial federation, Lumawig bridges the two worlds seamlessly. He acknowledges that while a classroom teacher guides and facilitates student learning, a chairperson bears a broader mandate of charting strategic directions that benefit millions of member cooperatives. However, the foundational soft skills remain remarkably identical.
“Teaching taught me that leadership is not about authority alone; it is about guiding, listening, empowering, and helping others succeed,” Dex explains. His years in the classroom cultivated deep patience, active listening, and an appreciation for diverse perspectives. Just as every student possesses unique strengths and challenges, every director in the NATCCO boardroom brings distinct backgrounds and viewpoints. Lumawig sees his primary role not as an autocrat, but as a consensus-builder who listens carefully and encourages constructive dialogue to unite everyone around a shared vision.
Nurturing the Future: Youth and Financial Literacy
With his profound pedagogical background, it comes as no surprise that youth involvement and financial discipline are at the very top of Lumawig’s priorities. His vision is profoundly personal. He fondly recounts how, as an elementary student, his mother encouraged him to save his money and deposit it into a cooperative bank. To supplement his daily allowance, young Dex even sold yema (a popular local sweet), learning firsthand that saving small amounts consistently could build a foundation to achieve personal dreams.
Now, in close collaboration with the Children and Youth Team of NATCCO, the new Chairperson intends to institutionalize this early financial wisdom across the nation. He is an ardent advocate of the Aflatoun Program, NATCCO’s flagship program for the children and youth and a global initiative focused on social and financial education for children. Lumawig’s connection to Aflatoun runs deep. He previously served as a volunteer teacher facilitating the program in schools. Having witnessed how the program helps young people understand the value of planning, budgeting, entrepreneurship, active citizenship, and responsible financial choices, he plans to leverage co-op led school-to-school campaigns to carry the cooperative ideology straight to schools.
As an active user of the Kaya app and ATM, and Pandan MPC a recipient of the Kaya Digital Accelerator Award, he advocates for digitalization in the network. He sees technology as a powerful way to deliver inclusive services to members and attract more young people to the cooperative movement.
Furthermore, Lumawig envisions building strategic bridges with the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Councils) across local communities. By inviting cooperatives to join youth assemblies and activities, NATCCO aims to mold young Filipinos into active partners for local development. “By investing in our youth today,” Lumawig emphasizes, “we are nurturing the future leaders, members, and advocates of the cooperative movement.”
The Art of Balance and the Power of a Smile
How does a leader successfully balance the grueling schedule of a public high school educator with the high-stakes demands of a national chair? Lumawig maintains there is no mystical secret formula. It boils down to rigorous time management, unwavering commitment, and joy for both callings.
To ensure his responsibilities as NATCCO Chair never compromise his students’ academic progress, Dex employs meticulous planning. Whenever national board meetings, conventions, or official conferences arise, he requests permissions from school superiors well in advance. More importantly, he spends late hours preparing comprehensive worksheets, interactive learning activities, and specialized video lessons. This proactive preparation ensures his classes stay perfectly on track even when he is away on national duty.
Recognizing that an energetic, positive teacher is vital to classroom engagement, Lumawig relies on stories and interactive elements to keep his students captivated. To maintain his own health and stamina, he prioritizes sufficient sleep, nutrition, and vitamins. He draws energetic rejuvenation from meaningful conversations and the rich exchange of ideas with his fellow cooperative leaders, friends, and colleagues. Above all, his ultimate tool against stress is simple and infectious: maintaining a positive outlook, smiling often, and never stopping learning from the vibrant energy of the youth.
A Vision of Hope
As Romulo Dex Fuentes Lumawig III embarks on this historic tenure as the “Golden” Chairperson of NATCCO, his ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between the national executive offices and the people working hard in local cooperatives across the country. His journey proves that a big and influential cooperative federation in the Philippines remains deeply democratic, accessible, and rooted in the very people it was built to serve. “As we celebrate 50 years of the NATCCO Network, we are not simply looking back on our achievements, we are opening a new chapter. This is the beginning of the next generation of the NATCCO Network”, Chairperson Lumawig concludes.
From a young boy selling yema in Antique to the national chairpersonship of NATCCO, Dex stands as a symbol of what dedicated, heart-led service can achieve in the modern cooperative movement.