FROM THE MARGINS

Over the holidays, I came across a fable that teaches valuable lessons about work, perseverance and overcoming adversity.  Aesop’s “The Crow and the Pitcher” tells the story of a thirsty crow that flew far and wide in search of water during a spell of dry weather.  He came upon a pitcher of water at the base of a tree. Unfortunately, the pitcher had a narrow neck, and try as he might, he could not reach the water inside. The crow flapped his wings in anguish and tried to knock the pitcher over. But to no avail — it was too heavy for his weary, dehydrated body. On the verge of giving up, an idea came to him. He picked up small pebbles and dropped them inside the pitcher one by one. Slowly, the water level rose until it reached the top, and the clever crow was able to drink his fill!

This fable resonates, as the crow’s travails remind me of the difficulties faced by many poor Filipinos.  It is easy to despair when life is hard. It is tempting to throw up hands in defeat when one has big dreams but many limitations. But giving up is not an option for our poor kababayans who struggle day by day to survive. Like the clever crow, they rely on their wits, using all means at their disposal to be able to feed their families. Some were able to lift themselves out of poverty and secure a better future for their children.  Whenever I meet people like them, especially the clients of microfinance institutions (MFIs), I feel so honored. I always want to share their stories, to give hope and inspiration to others.

Nanay Lailane

I remember Nanay Lailane Apolinar Gomintong, a microfinance client from Namatican, Sta Lucia, Ilocos Sur.  In 2012, a friend invited her to join an MFI.  Her first microfinance loan was ₱4,000, which she used to buy one sack of white sugar and one sack of brown sugar. She and her husband, Lester, repacked the sugar into one kilo, half kilo and one-fourth kilo packages.  They also bought eggs and cooking oil.  Then, they borrowed the motorcycle of Lester’s parents to sell those items in the neighborhood. Their ‘rolling store’ was a success. Lailane was able to repay her loan.  Later, she borrowed bigger amounts to support their growing business. She was able to set aside savings and put up a sari-sari store.
“Inaalam ko palagi kung ano ang hinahanap ng mga customer (I try to find out what the customers are looking for),” says Lailane. She sold frozen goods and other food items when she realized that there is a high demand for these products.  They also ventured into the agri-supply business. In 2022, they established a small gas station since there is none in their locality.

For 11 years now, Lailane has remained loyal to her MFI, which helped her diversify and grow her business.  She can borrow as much as P100,000 but makes sure to pay within four-five months. Lailane has credit discipline and borrows only for business.

“Sa pagnenegosyo, may ups and downs, kaya dapat, risk-taker tayo. (Businesses have ups and downs, so we should be risk-takers),” says Lailane.  She studies business opportunities that come her way and is not afraid to take risks. So, when a beverage company was looking for a distributor in the area, she did not hesitate to enter into a dealership agreement with the soft drinks manufacturer. She now supplies 21 barangays in their municipality.

Growing business

Lailane says their businesses are thriving and their life has improved a lot. The gross annual sales of their gasoline station reach as high as  ₱13.6 million, while their stores have gross sales of about  ₱9 million a year.  They are very grateful for their blessings.  She recalls: “kayod-kalabaw kaming mag-asawa noong nagsisimula pa lang kami (my husband and I worked as hard as carabaos when we were just starting our business).” In the past, they only had a borrowed motorcycle, but now, they have one truck, two minicabs, two tricycles, and two motorcycles for their business.  They used to be very frugal, always mindful of their budget. Now, they can buy what they need to support their only child.  She and her husband jointly oversee their businesses, but they leave the day-to-day selling to their employees.   

“Itinuturing naming parang pamilya ang aming mga empleyado (We treat our employees like family), says Lailane.  She recognizes their crucial role in the success of their business, so she treats them well, even giving financial help when needed.  
 

Lailane and Lester hope to turn their sari-sari store into a grocery someday. With their resourcefulness, I am sure their plan will come into fruition. They prove these wise words from Orison Swett Marden: “Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance.”

(Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip is a poverty eradication advocate. He is the founder of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually-Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI).)