by Josephine Ramos
Ramona Manlangit from Tayabas, Quezon, finds it extremely challenging to grow up without her parents’ guidance. She was only four years old when her mother passed away while giving birth to their youngest sibling. Her father, in a state of depression, died less than a year later. As a result, she and her three siblings were raised separately by their relatives. But even though they are raised apart, their bond remains strong. After graduating high school, her eldest sibling married a foreigner and worked abroad, supporting their school expenses. With their combined efforts, they all graduated from high school.
When she turned 22, she moved into her husband’s house, living with her in-laws. On the other hand, her husband began working as a seaman, though he would return home occasionally.
Building a business from home
Motherhood gave her a new motivation to earn from home while caring for her child. This desire marked the start of her business journey. She became a load agent while selling frozen foods and rice at home. With this kind of business, she eventually started a sari-sari store.
As their store thrived, the couple decided to modify the place to become their home while maintaining the store in front. She obtained PHP 10,000.00 from CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) to provide additional capital for her business.
In 2023, she invested in a Piso Wi-Fi machine, recognizing that many people were becoming reliant on technology and digital services.
A year later, she established a fried chicken and sisig food stall—street style—which became popular even among students because of its affordable price. She personally marinated the chicken, whereas her brother, who had been a chef at a restaurant for 10 years, prepared the sisig.
In August 2024, she used a loan from CARD, Inc., to buy a coffee vending machine to pair with her Piso-Wifi business. It was a great combination, allowing customers to enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing the internet.
“Always consider the needs and wants of the people around you. In that way, you can tailor your business to meet their needs better,” she said when asked how she came up with her business ideas.
Ramona, who has been a client of the institution for more than a year, has reached a loan amount of PHP 100,000.00, a testament to her good repayment record.
“I used to think that microfinance was just lending, but after becoming a client, I learned more than that. In addition to loans, the institution also offers insurance, savings, and other products, which motivated me to join,” she said.
Her advice to her fellow clients and those planning to become one is to be responsible. Maintaining a good repayment record makes securing a loan from the institution easier when needed.
There is still a long way to go, but she wanted to expand her sari-sari store into a mini grocery store offering rice products. Ramona shared, “If my husband decided to come home for good and stop working as a seafarer, I want him to come home to something we built together.”
