by Josephine Ramos
At 49 years old, Mylene Alcazar from Quezon Province has built a life defined by resilience, determination, and love. She has been married for 30 years to Bonifacio Alcazar.
Their story began when Mylene was 19 and Bonifacio was 21. At the time, she had dreams of pursuing a college degree, but those plans changed when they got married in 1992. Bonifacio, a farmer by trade, made farming their primary source of income. With the money they received from their wedding, they invested in three cows and three carabaos, which they bred to start a small livestock business. This humble beginning allowed them to build their first home, made of sawali and plywood.
Seeing the potential in expanding their income sources, Mylene ventured into pig farming, which proved to be another successful endeavor. The couple’s hard work paid off, and together, they raised three children. Their eldest now lives abroad with her own family, the second earned a degree in agriculture, and their youngest is pursuing a degree in hospitality management, currently in her fourth year of college.
In their vegetable garden, Mylene and Bonifacio grow eggplant, chili peppers, corn, string beans, and tomatoes. But farming, like any seasonal business, doesn’t provide a consistent daily income. Recognizing this, they opened a small sari-sari store in 2006 to supplement their earnings. That same year, Mylene became a client of CARD Bank, securing a PHP 5,000 loan to fund her store.
“When we fell short on capital, CARD Bank was there to help,” Mylene recalled. Over the years, she took out several loans, with the largest amounting to PHP 50,000, which she used to further grow her businesses.
In addition to her ventures, Mylene became a konek2CARD agent, facilitating transactions for fellow CARD Bank clients, including load purchases, withdrawals, and loan payments. “The branch and unit office is quite far from our area,” she explained. “If clients go there to withdraw, they end up spending around PHP 400 on round-trip fare. That’s why I became a konek2CARD agent—to help them save on transportation costs.”
Through her experience, Mylene has learned valuable financial lessons. “Whenever you take out a loan, make sure to use it wisely,” she advised. “That way, you won’t struggle with repayments, and you’ll maintain the trust of the institution.”
Looking ahead, Mylene is optimistic about the future. She hopes to further expand her sari-sari store, livestock business, and piggery while continuing to support her family and community.
“Success doesn’t come overnight,” she said. “But with hard work, dedication, and the right support, it’s possible.”
