As part of convergence initiatives, the Municipal Action Team of Boac is currently participating in Marinduque Expo 2019 held on April 14-21, 2019 in Moriones Arena in Boac. The provincial government, along with the Department of Trade and Industry, conducts the exposition as part of the yearly celebration of Moriones Festival. The expo, which started in 1998, aims to promote the products of Marinduque during Lent.

During the Parent Leaders’ meeting, MAT Boac conducted an initial consultation with Pantawid beneficiaries for the consolidation of data on existing products in the municipality. Bangbangalon Consumers Cooperative, the leading Sustainable Livelihood Program Association in Boac, attended and gave their full commitment to the initiative. They consolidated all the products of the beneficiaries and manned the booth during the expo. Other associations that participated were the Federation of Marinduque Agriculture Cooperatives (FEMACO) and Tanikala ng Pagkakaisa Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

According to Ezra Mae Reforma, MAT BOAC member, initiatives like this provide an avenue for Pantawid beneficiaries to showcase their skills in cooking, handicraft making, and others. Also, the activity has provided a market for the products, contributing to the objective to attain sustainability. “One of the problems encountered in this livelihood project is the lack of market opportunity and advertising skills to market their products. Because of this initiative, beneficiaries will have an access to market for their products and provide additional income to the members. The Bangbangalon Consumers Cooperative plans to establish this kind of initiative as their primary business and be the first SLP Association to consolidate different DSWD-assisted products in Marinduque. This will be more possible with the aid of different government agencies such as DTI, Marinduque State College, Department of Agrarian and Reform, and Local Government Units.” she added.

“It is tiring but indeed joyful to do this kind of business. It is our first time engaging in retail business, selling not only our products but also the products of other beneficiaries. We also learned how to deal with different type of customers,” shared Annielor Lamoc, Chairperson of Bangbangalon Consumers Cooperative.

This activity aims to promote the products and showcase the stories behind. Through their participation in similar activities, they show that they are proactive and not dependent on the grant received by the program.

Contributor:

John Paul Abaincia, Project Development Officer, Marinduque

Sa bayan ng Torrijos sa Marinduque ay payak na naninirahan ang pamilya ni Aida Rogelio. Si Aida, 52 taong gulang, ay mayroong limang anak sa asawang si Angelito, 57 taong gulang. Ang kanyang pamilya ay kasama sa bilang ng mga maituturing na mahihirap sa probinsya ng Marinduque. Si Aida ay mayroong kondisyon na tinatawag na orthopedic disability o kapansanan sa buto dulot ng pagkahulog sa tulay noong taong 2006 na nagresulta sa isang seryosong operasyon. Si Angelito naman ay mayroon Retrograde Amnesia o pagkawala ng memorya sa mga pangyayaring naganap na dulot ng stroke noong 2014.

Sa kalagayan ng kalusugan ng mag-asawa, hindi maikakaila na nakararanas ng labis na kahirapan ang pamilya. Dagdag pa sa gastusin ng pamilya ang gamot. Wala ng kakayahan si Angelito na maghanapbuhay kung kaya’t si Aida na ang tumayong haligi ng tahanan. Bagama’t mayroon ding iniindang kapansanan, hindi ito naging hadlang upang makapagbanat ng buto ang masigasig na ina. Siya ay nagtatrabaho bilang kasambahay, labandera, magsasaka, at tagapag-alaga ng hayop na ibebenta sa palengke. “Palagi na sumasakit yung opera ko sa hips. Nung nagpadoktor ako, kelangan ko na daw ulit magpaopera. Pero sabi ko sa sarili ko e nakakalakad pa naman ako kaya dinidisregard ko na lang ang sakit hangga’t kaya pa namang tiisin. Yung pera imbis na sa gamot e sa pag-aaral na lang ng mga anak ko. Sila talaga ang priority ko,” ani Aida.

Simula nang magkasakit si Angelito, nagkaroon ng malaking pagbabago sa pag-uugali nito. “Pag galit yan, hindi mo talaga mapigilan. Lahat damay. Nung nagkasakit, naging sobrang tigas ng ulo. Nakukuha pang mag-bisyo, mag-inom at manigarilyo kahit na bawal sa kanya,” kwento ni Aida. “Nagpapakahirap ako magtrabaho, lahat ng pwede pasukin na trabaho sinusubukan ko para lang makaipon ng pampagamot sa kanya tapos ipangbibisyo lang. Basta ngayon, ang mga anak ko talaga ang priority ko. Kung ano kailangan nila dapat maibigay ko,” dagdag niya.

Katuwang ni Aida sa paghahanapbuhay ang kanyang panganay na anak na si Gizelle, 23 taong gulang, nagtatrabaho bilang production operator sa Maynila. Ang ikalawa naman na si Ghieanamae, isang Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA) scholar ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, ay graduating student sa kursong Education. Ang tatlong anak na sina Gladys, Ghielyn, at Gellian ay nasa ika-labindalawa, ika-siyam, at ika-anim na baitang. Ang lahat ng kanyang mga anak ay kanyang itinataguyod na makatapos ng pag aaral sapagkat naniniwala siya na ito ang daan upang magkaroon sila ng maayos na buhay. “Ayoko na maranasan ng mga magiging apo ko ang kahirapan na dinanas ng mga anak ko kaya ako nagsusumikap na mapagtapos sila,” sambit niya.

Lubos naman ang paghanga ng kanyang mga anak sa kanya dahil sa kabila ng kanyang kapansanan, naitataguyod pa din niya ang kanyang malaking pamilya. Nagpapasalamat din ang mga kapatid ni Aida sapagkat nagkaroon sila ng ate na tumatayong ama’t ina sa kanila. Ayon sa kanyang kapatid, inuuwi pa ni Aida ang kanyang pagkain mula sa dinaluhang training upang ibigay sa kanilang magkakapatid.

Si Aida ang tumatayong sekretarya ng Magandang Buhay SLP Association sa ilalim ng proyektong Chicken Broiler Production na nagsimula noong Marso 2018. “Masaya ako na makita na nagagamit sa dapat paglaanan ang pondong ibinigay sa akin ng SLP. Meron kasing iba dyan na sa tindi ng pangangailangan ay ginagamit sa ibang bagay. Ang mapapayo ko sa mga kasapi ng asosasyon, pilitin niyo na maging productive ang proyekto na mayroon kayo kasi doon kayo kikita,” ani Aida.

Bukod sa posisyon sa nabanggit na SLPA, si Aida ay nagsisilbi ring Barangay Focal Person para sa mga Persons With Disabilities (PWD), Public Information Officer ng Municipal Federation for PWD, at auditor ng Farmers Association. Siya din ay dating Parent Leader ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program at KALAHI volunteer. “Sa kabila ng kapansanan at kahirapan, hindi dapat sumuko sa buhay sapagkat kung tayo ay nagsisikap ay may matatamo tayong tagumpay. Nandyan ang Panginoon upang sa atin ay gumabay,” ani niya. Ang mga katagang ito ang pinanghahawakan ni Aida upang magsumikap at mapagtagumpayan ang hamon ng buhay. ###

Contributor:

Fatima Concepcion Pelaez, Project Development Officer II, Marinduque

Sa kabila ng lahat ng hamon sa buhay na kanyang pinagdaanan, si Mercedita Oracion ay masasabing isang huwaran at ehemplo sa mga kababaihan upang magkaroon ng positibong pananaw sa buhay. Si Ditas, 43 taong gulang, may asawa, ay lakas-loob na itinataguyod ang kanyang anim na anak.

Taong 2011 nang magsimula ang kalbaryo ni Ditas dulot ng pagkakasakit ni Anulfo, ang kanyang katuwang sa buhay. Ang sakit na diabetes ni Anulfo ay nagkaroon pa ng ibang komplikasyon na gout na nagresulta sa kanyang pagkalumpo. Lubos na naapektuhan ang pamilya Oracion sapagkat hindi na kaya pang maghanapbuhay ng kanilang haligi ng tahanan.

Simula noon, si Ditas at ang kanyang panganay na anak na nakapagtapos sa kolehiyo, ang magkatuwang na nagtaguyod sa kanilang pamilya. Kahit anong maaaring pagkakitaan ay kanyang tinatanggap magkaroon lamang ng pantustos sa pang-araw araw na gastusin ng pamilya.

Dumagdag pa sa kanyang pasanin ang problema ng kanyang anak sa habitwal na pangingialam at pagkuha ng gamit sa iba. Ilang mga kamag-anak na ang nawalan ng gamit dahil sa kanyang anak. Dahil dito, isinangguni ni Ditas sa Department of Social Welfare and Development o DSWD ang kaso ng anak. Kinupkop ng DSWD ang kanyang anak sa loob ng anim na buwan at sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng trabaho ay unti-unting nakita ang magandang dulot nito sa kanya. Ngayon ay nagtatrabaho na siya bilang laborer sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Naranasan na din niya na mawalan ng bahay dulot ng bagyo noong 2016. Walang natira sa kanilang munting tahanan. Sa kabutihang palad ng kanyang mga kapatid na nag-aruga sa kanilang pamilya ay muling nakabangon ang pamilyang Oracion. Nakatulong din ang halagang ipinagkaloob ng DSWD mula sa Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) Fund.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari, nabatid ni Ditas, “Kung isang katulad ko na mahina-hina sa problema ay bumigay na o iniwan na ang yung asawa. Kapit lang talaga sa taas (Diyos), palakasan lang ng loob”. Hindi naging dahilan ang mga problemang kanyang naranasan upang siya ay sumuko at mawalan ng panahon sa ibang bagay. Bagkus siya ay gumawa ng makabuluhan at aktibo pa ring nakikiisa sa mga gawaing pangkomunidad sa kanilang barangay. Sa katunayan, siya ang itinalagang Business Operations Manager sa catering service ng kanilang kooperatiba, ang Bangbangalon Consumers Cooperative. Siya ang cook at regular na nag-a-asikaso at nagsasaayos ng ilan pang mga papeles ukol sa negosyo tulad ng feeds retailing at renta ng mga gamit. Siya din ay dumadalo sa iba’t ibang pa-training ng mga ahensya tulad ng Cooperative Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, at Deparrtment of Agriculture. Masasabi na isa si Ditas sa nagkaroon ng malaking ambag sa natatamasang pag-unlad ng kanilang samahan ngayon.

Sa kasalukuyan ay hamon pa din sa kanya na tustusan ang gamot ng kanyang asawa na aabot ng mahigit Php 3,000.00 kada buwan. Nakakahingi din siya ng tulong sa munisipyo ng Boac subalit sa tuwing nauubusan ng pondo ay kailangan na maghanap pa ng mapagkukunan ng pera upang masuportahan ng tuloy-tuloy ang gamutan. “Laging tumawag lang sa Itaas at wag bumitaw. Kung ano mang problema ay wag masyado dibdibin, at kung kayang ihingi ng tulong sa ibang tao ay ihingi ng tulong, at sa ibang mga ahensya ng gobyerno ay may mga taong handa ding tumulong sa nangangailangan. Para mga katulad ko na dumadanas din ng mga mabibigat problema ay relax at positive lang at wag makinig sa mga masasamang sasabihing ng iba.” ###

Contributor:

John Paul Abaincia, Project Development Officer II, Marinduque

In line with the objective of the Sustainable Livelihood Program to create an enabling environment for accessing income-generating opportunities to address basic needs, the scheme of the program is to create a group called SLP Association that will manage a microenterprise. One of the major challenges the program faces is the sustainability of operation of the SLPA itself. In the project implementation stage, beneficiaries are challenged to be continuously capacitated towards self-governance and sustain the operations since there is a limited access to technical assistance, which can be associated to the geographical location and terrain of MIMAROPA. Technical experts and resource persons are challenged to reach beneficiaries from far-flung areas which affects the timely and efficient delivery of services.

In the aspect of marketing the products, most of the microenterprises have no appropriate branding and packaging for their products. Thus, there is a challenge in meeting the standards of the competitive market nowadays. Thus, the Ambulong SLP Association of Brgy. Limon Sur, Looc, Romblon focused on addressing this concern.

Womenpreneurs of Ambulong

Ambulong SLPA is a 100% women-owned business composed of 20 members engaged in banana chips processing. It was funded in November 2017 under the Seed Capital Fund and Cash for Building Livelihood Assets amounting to a total of PHP 245,000.00. Before the implementation of the program, most of the members worked as vegetable vendors and housemaids earning PHP 3,500.00 to PHP 4,000.00 a month. There were also housewives who wanted to earn extra income to support their families.

Upon market analysis, the SLPA identified banana chips processing as a viable livelihood considering the abundant resource of banana in the municipality. They built a small processing center along highway where they sell their products.

To further improve their skills in the chosen microenterprise, members enrolled in series of trainings involving techniques in banana chips processing. After a few months of operation, they have already acquired assets including additional tables and kitchen utensils. They can also afford to purchase bigger quantity of raw ingredients such as sacks of sugar and liters of oil.

Good Practices Leading to Improvement 

Product Enhancement

• The banana chips became thinner and crispier. They replaced the existing cooking oil they use with the one of a better quality. Though the replacement is a little expensive, customers’ feedback on banana chips is more favorable.
• After the training, the number of flavors of banana chips increased from two to five. Flavors include Original, Sweet, Salted, Sour Cream, and Pandan.
• Based on the customers’ feedback, the use of wood than LPG in cooking results to better and tastier banana chips.

Product Packaging

• The association outsourced a graphic artist to create the official logo of the product.
• To maintain the crispiness of banana chips, the association sought the technical assistance of DTI to improve the packaging from the ordinary clear plastic sealed through heat sealer machine to resealable plastic pouch.
• The packaging has label that includes the (1) manufactured and expiration dates, (2) ingredients, (3) weight, and (4) promotional ad of the product.
• The SLPA has already secured barangay, mayor’s, and sanitary permits. It has also been a CSO-accredited association since 2017. DTI has shown its unwavering support through the provision of packaging and labeling of banana chips that is product-appropriate and bear relevant information about the product.

Lessons Learned

• The quality of a product is critical in satisfying the customers, thus a business should always maintain the highest possible standards.
• Always consider the feedback of customers. This will help improve the quality of a product.
• Food safety and sanitation in a food industry should not be underestimated.
• Having the right marketing strategy is important to promote and sell the products.

Implications for Replication 

The initiative of the SLPA to seek for technical assistance form external partners/agencies that can potentially contribute to the development of a product is very commendable. Members should find experts who can help provide new knowledge and skills to the project participants.

Microenterprises should prioritize product development and product packaging. Other associations can also outsource an expert to create their own logo and packaging. Also, associations must secure all the important documents to avoid inconvenience in business transactions.  These include business permits, Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding, Constitutions and By-Laws, and many more. ###

Retail industry is a thriving business nationwide, particularly in rural areas. One type of retail is the convenience store, usually put up in or near the owner’s house, that proves the ‘convenience’ and practicality of working at home.

The PPMC Women’s SLP Association is an organized microenterprise managing a convenience store in the municipality of Sta. Fe, Romblon. The women-led association is composed of 20 members from four barangays – Pandan, Poblacion, Mat-I, and Canyayo hence the acronym PPMC.

Melody F. Ocampo, 20 years old, is the youngest member of the association. She is married and blessed with three children. Her husband has an irregular job while Melody tried her luck in business as she lent capital from the lending service amounting to PHP 10,000.00 that she used to put up a convenience store beside her small nipa house. 

After few years of living together, Melody and her husband separated. She was left alone to raise the kids as her husband did not provide any support. An opportunity opened to her when the association was organized. She received a Seed Capital Fund which she used as an additional capital in her existing store.

Later on, Melody put up another store along the highway. She rented the lot for PHP 250.00 a month. Years passed and her store gave her a profitable income. Aside from paying her debts from the lending company, she decided to expand her store by selling vegetables such as squash, eggplant, sitaw, and okra.

Business expansion did not end here as Melody ventured in retailing of feeds where she saw the demand for it. She even sold gallon of purified water. “Lahat ng pwedeng ibenta at pagkakitaan ay susubukan ko makaraos lang,” she stated.

At present, Melody has already invested in many things including her concrete house, motorcycle, and tuition fee of her kids. Melody is very thankful for the opportunity given by SLP. She has proven that the capital given by the government can be effectively utilized through proper planning, hard work, and perseverance. Melody, a versatile business woman, is an inspiration to other solo parents out there not to give up easily.  ###

Contributor:

Lina Phie Macatubal, Project Development Officer II, Romblon

Bangwayin Peanut SLP Association is an association in  Torrijos, Marinduque with 22 members who are mostly farmers. They have a proposed group project of Peanut Production, that was funded last July 24, 2018 with a total of PHP 220,000.00.

From August to September, the association has started the land preparation including site selection, land clearing, and land cultivation. Then, they began planting peanut last October with nine salop of peanut seeds to an estimated land area of 300 square meters.

The staff of Department of Social Welfare and Development assigned in Torrijos joined the planting of peanut and gave technical assistance on their projects. After three months from the date of planting, project participants expect to harvest ten sacks of peanut from their first production cycle. Participants target small businesses in Torrijos which use peanuts as raw materials for their products such as peanut butter. The association is planning to expand and increase their production volume for the succeeding cycles of their project and also to seek other possible consumers/ buyers from neighboring municipalities to sustain the supply of peanut. ###

Contributor:

Arjay Historillo, Project Development Officer II, Marinduque

Si Hossana Brigole Vargas, 40, ang presidente ng Palbong Farmers Association sa Brgy. Batong Buhay, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Ang asosasyon ay sumali noong 2015 at naaprubahan noong 2017. Sa kasalukuyan, si Hossana ay nakaka-apat na cycle na ng pagtatanim simula nang maging miyembro ng Sustainable Livelihood Program.

Noong unang cycle, ginamit ni Hossana ang puhunan na Php 10,000 na Seed Capital Fund sa pagbili ng abono at iba pang kagamitan sa kanyang bukid. Nang dumating ang ikalawang cycle, naisipan niya na dagdagan ang pinagkakakitaan kaya naman nagpasya itong bumili ng mga biik na aalagaan. Dito naranasan ni Hossana ang pinakamabigat na hamon sa kanya bilang isang magsasaka. “Noong 2^nd cycle, bale hinati ko ‘yung puhunan ko. Kalahati sa maisan na dalawang ektarya at kalahati sa babuyan,” panimulang salaysay ni Hossana.

“Kung kailan pagulang na ‘yung mga mais, na malaki na siya, inatake siya ng mga daga, ng mga peste sa loob lang ng dalawang gabi. Kinain talaga mula tuktok hanggang dulo. Pagpunta namin doon noong unang araw, konti lang yung bawas. Noong pangalawang araw, as in totally inubos ng daga. Kinain lahat. Walang itinira. 15 days na lang aanihin na sana. Wala talaga kaming napakinabangan,” kwento niya.

“Noong time na ‘yun, nanghina ako syempre bilang tao. Muntik na ako magpakamatay. Buti na lang ‘nung iinom na sana ako ng lason, buti na lang naramdaman ng mister ko. Kaya ayun umiyak ako humihingi na lang ako ng panalangin. Sabi ko ipag-pray mo ako. Hindi ko kaya ‘to. Kasi ang laki ng gastos namin doon nasa Php 70,000 tapos ganun ganun na lang. Dalawang gabi lang tapos inubos na ng mga pesteng daga,” hinagpis ni Hossana.  

“Pero salamat sa Diyos dahil mayroon din namang pambawi. Yung mga baboy na inalagaan ko, iyon ‘yung naging daan para makabawi ako sa mga utang ko sa mais tsaka at the same time ‘yung utang ko sa SLP,” dagdag niya.  Mula sa kinita sa SLP, napalago na ni Hossana ang kanyang bukid at babuyan. Nakapagpundar na din silang mag-asawa ng sariling welding machine kung saan tumatanggap na ng kontrata ang asawa.

BIlib din si Hossana sa kapwa mga miyembro niya na nakapagpundar na din ng kani-kanilang kagamitan at hanapbuhay. Masaya din siya na nabayaran na nila ang paunang utang sa SLP noong ikalawang cycle pa lamang. “Gusto naming patunayan na ang mga taga-Palbong ay hindi lang magaling mangutang. Ang panimulang tulong ng gobyerno ay ginamit talaga namin upang umangat ang buhay,” ani Hossana.

Masasabi din niya na ang asosasyon ay handang tumulong sa kapwang nangangailangan. “Ang project ng SLP, hindi lang kami ang natulungan niyan. Nakatulong din sa labas na hindi miyembro. Minsan may isusugod sa ospital dito sa amin pero walang pera pambili ng krudo ng sasakyan. Eh gabi na noon. Nakahiram agad siya sa amin at naitakbo agad sa ospital noong gabing iyon din ‘yung may sakit,” kwento ni Hossana.

Bilang miyembro naman ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program o 4Ps, hindi din niya nakakalimutan ang responsibilidad sa programa. Nakatatak at isinasabuhay niya ang mga natutunan sa Family Development Session. Ayon sa kanya, “Yung unang pinapangalagaan ko, bilang ako ay Parent Leader, ayoko na ako ang kakitaan nila na leader na hindi nagbabayad. Ayoko isipin nila na kapag bumagsak ka, magiging dahilan iyon para hindi ka makapagbayad. Kaya sinikap ko na maibalik kung ano man yung mga inutang ko. At ganun din ang lagi kong sinasabi sa mga members ko. Marami ding mga members na nasira yung mga tanim tulad nung isa. Pambayad niya sana sa utang niya sa asosasyon pero nasira din ng peste. Pero lagi ko lang sinasabi sa kanila na huwag niyo isipin na hindi niyo kaya. Kaya niyo ‘yan. Naumpisahan natin ito kaya matatapos natin ito na tagumpay. Walang talunan.”

Patuloy din ang pagbibigay-inspirasyon ni Hossana sa mga kapwa magsasaka na nakararanas din ng mga pagsubok. “Bilang magsasaka, kapag magsasaka ka kasi, para kang laging tumataya sa sugal. Hindi mo alam kung mananalo ka. Ang laki ng pinupusta mo, pero hindi mo sure kung mananalo ka. Pero bilang kaming mag-asawa ay magsasaka, ang masasabi ko lang ay fight fight lang! Laban lang ng laban! Kasi hindi naman laging talunan. Darating din naman na maganda din ‘yung ating ani. Hindi tayo papabayaan ng Diyos,” ani niya. Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy ang paglago ng hanapbuhay ni Hossana at ng ibang kasamahan niya sa asosasyon. ###

A mother has a heart of a soldier. It beats to protect her children. In its veins flow endless compassion and care. Its walls are strengthened by hope and grace. It sees the ugly and transforms it into a multitude of admirable beauty. Its muscles are collections of wisdom that reflects in the heart of her children.

Lilian Garcia, 46, a mother of four has survived countless defeat and has won numerous battles. She married at an early age and since then, she has been fighting to keep her family’s head above water. Her husband, a farmer, barely compensates to the lack of financial capacity to send all their children to school. But her sheer desire to fulfill her dream of seeing all the children finish their education fuels her motivation to fight harder.

A couple’s story

Farming was the major source of income the Garcia couple has in the early stage of their marriage. The meager amount they earn a day cannot cover daily expenses for a family of six. Aurello, her husband, had to wake up at four in the morning to fish so Lilian could vend the catch in hope of stretching their financial stick. Even with two sources of income, the couple barely met the needs of their family.

“Minsan talaga, noon, kapag walang wala na kami makuhanan ng pera, humihingi na din ako ng tulong sa mga magulang ko kapag meron silang extra,” recalled Lilian. Her determination was not weakened by her financial circumstance. Lilian is naturally resourceful. She shared, “ako talaga ang iniisip ko ay mapagkakakitaan parati. Ginawa ko talaga yung kinikita naming sa pagtatanim at pangingisda at yung tulong mula sa magulang ko, inipon ko para makapagtayo ng maliit na sari-sari store.”

The absence of electricity in their area in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro made it difficult for Lilian to manage the store at night. She remembered having to light up a small candle, hoping it would last until ten in the evening so she can save the money to buy another one.

Her family suffered a massive blow when one of her husband’s leg got paralyzed due to a dysfunction in the veins. Aurello had to stop farming for at least 3 months, which meant losing half of their earnings at that time. “Doon ako talaga sobrang nahirapan, kasi gastos sa gamot sa pang araw-araw pa, kaya talagang hirap na hirap ako,” shared Lilian.

A shed of light

The Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development aims to alleviate poverty by providing financial assistance for livelihood purposes. Lilian is fortunate to be granted a total amount of Php 10,000.00 as a start-up capital for a business. She used the capital to add items to sell in her sari-sari store. Sitio Balagnan is situated far off the town of Abra de Ilog where most markets are.

Residents in their community have to ride a boat for an hour and a half to get to town to stock up groceries consumable in a week or a month.  This gave Lilian an idea to begin retailing rice and other goods in their sitio to help people save time from visiting town for groceries. The sari-sari store and rice retail began to flourish and her monthly income increased. Now, her family has enough money to spend for their daily expenses.

Money became a bit tighter when two of her children stepped in college. A huge chunk of the budget had to be allocated for their studies. Instead of having one of them to stop schooling, she welcomed the opportunity of venturing into another business, the selling of ready-to-wear clothes. Lilian then had extra money saved which she used to buy clothes to sell.

With a clear goal to increase her profit, she was able to earn the capital back and kept all her business afloat. As today, three of her children have already graduated and two of them are now employed. Her store earns steadily and she continuously saves for future use. She assures to deposit a fixed amount of money on a monthly basis.

Sharing the success

Lilian’s dream of seeing all her children complete their college degrees is nearing its realization. She has her youngest at junior highschool and part of her savings will be allocated to his college studies. Lilian proudly said, “Umalwan na ang buhay naming at patuloy pa din sa pagsasaka ang mister ko para malaki pa din ang kita namin sa buwanan.” 

SLP has provided a platform for success to the Garcia family and Lilian is now ready and determined to inspire the community with her story. She is a leader of 25 other grantees and serves as a guide as to how they can spend the cash grants wisely. Lilian has fought adversities and stood resilient against challenges brought by financial incapacities. Like a real soldier, she fought and now marches on the road to the glorious finish to her greatest battle yet – influencing the whole community into becoming a success in their own business venture. ###

Contributor:

Dwight Macabuhay