The Carl E. Balita Review Center (CBRC) has established itself as a powerhouse in the Philippine education sector, offering a diverse range of over 40 review programs.
Founder and CEO Carl Balita’s dedication to inclusivity is evident in the center’s full scholarships for individuals with disabilities, indigenous peoples, high-performing students and single parents.
“It’s more than a review center,” Balita said. “I believe it has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people we’ve mentored.”
“I personally mentor students and for programs I am not familiar with, I surround myself with the best instructors who are experts in their field,” Balita said.
CBRC’s network of 200 branches across the Philippines stands as a testament to its legacy. From aspiring nurses and engineers to teachers and law enforcement officers, CBRC equips individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their chosen fields.
CBRC champions diversity and excellence in education, offering full scholarships to differently-abled individuals and indigenous people, ensuring equal access to their comprehensive review programs. To encourage academic achievement, CBRC also extends full scholarships to students who graduated with Latin honors. It also offers a 50-percent discount on review programs to single parents, acknowledging the challenges they face in balancing education with family responsibilities.
This commitment to inclusivity and support allows students from diverse backgrounds to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
“Philanthropy is in our DNA. We give free reviewers and we even allow our students, who live far from the city, stay in some of our satellite centers in the provinces during the last few days leading to the board exam,” Balita said, adding that it is the first review center to offer free online review on the Licensure Examination for Teacher (LET).
He believes in investing in the people who contribute to its growth, forging alliances with former students to expand branches and create new opportunities. His commitment to is equally impressive. Five janitors, who have been with CBRC since its inception 15 years ago, are now partners and share in the company’s profits. This demonstrates Balita’s deep appreciation for their dedication and loyalty, creating a culture of mutual prosperity and shared success.
CBRC prides itself on being the first and only ISO certified review center in the Philippines, on top of shoring up many awards. Some of these are 2017 Most Outstanding Franchise Awardee, 2017 Best Marketing Overall Program Awardee, ASIA CEO Awards Circle of Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awardee and one of the finalists for the AGORA Awards.
The face of CBRC
Multi-awarded himself, Balita took a divergent path to success when he decided to set aside his profession as a nurse and pursued the life of an educator. Fueled by entrepreneurial spirit and a desire for new horizons, he resigned from his tenured position as a professor at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila to embark on the establishment of his own review center.
“I don’t have much of a choice. Nursing was the most popular course that time, and my parents were expecting that once I graduate I will join my aunt who was a nurse in Saudi. But I finally found my true calling—one that really resonates to who I am and I am really glad that I followed my heart,” he said.
From then, he has published 53 reviewers, some he authored, and four books including his best-selling business book “Prosperity”, which is one of the top-selling books endorsed by the country’s biggest bookstore.
Balita is the face of CBRC, his core business. He has graced the cover of several books and more than three dozen reviewers.
“I may sound narcissistic. A lot of people may interpret it as narcissism because it’s my name, it’s my face that’s all over the cover of my books, reference materials and reviewers. Even my review center is named after me. And so do some of my businesses and the holdings company that pools together all my other assets,” he said.
“But come to think of it. The ownership is mine, but the journey wasn’t all about me. I don’t know why people think of me as a superstar. Whenever I speak before a crowd of hopefuls, they see something of me, in me, that touches them. I guess they all look up to me as a mentor, somebody who can help them cross the bridge and reach the other side.”
Roadmap 2030
Having Roadmap 2019 as a guiding light was a game-changer for CBRC. It allowed them to not only survive but also thrive in the midst of the global health crisis.
“We embraced innovation before it became the norm. We taught online before the pandemic forced our hand,” Balita said, noting that the company already has six foreign-based branches that share in the company’s mission to educate more and help more board candidates become board passers.
CBRE is crafting a new set of business through the Roadmap 2030, which aims to sustain its leadership in the industry. Innovation and digitalization will drive company growth along with providing the best mentoring and coaching to each and every candidate who have signed up with CBRC.
CBRC is active in Saudi Arabia and Thailand. It has adapted to the changing global landscape and continues to promote hybrid learning platforms, although the center noted the significant of physical presence or face-to-face session to humanize the process of learning.
One innovative approach to delivering messages is the use of performing arts. Balita’s 2017 film “Maestra,” which garnered numerous awards both domestically and internationally, serves as a prime example. This moving picture emphatically portrays the selfless dedication of teachers.
“We made this film to give pride to teachers. I am a teacher myself, and the only thing that can bring us joy, apart from imparting knowledge, is to be recognized for our contributions to society,” he said.
Roadmap 2030 not only hems in efforts to strengthen CBRC’s influence as the country’s leading mentoring center, it fleshes out programs that contribute to sustaining humanity.
Guided by its new roadmap, CBRC has embarked on an ambitious initiative to plant one million trees by 2024, galvanizing its vast network of alumni to participate in this nationwide reforestation effort.