WORKING
FOR A BETTER
TOMORROW

Nothing motivated Emma Morales’ drive to succeed more than her two children. She and her husband, Gerardo, worked tirelessly to provide food and shelter for their young family. Emma labored on a sugarcane plantation, while…
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Stunned at receiving no mercy from family in her darkest hour, Mercy Casibo came to the conclusion that a life out of poverty for herself and her family would come through her own volition and…
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Water for breakfast and a scanty serving of dried fish to feed nine mouths each day, Darna Selayo made a decision to change the fate of her family. Her first Project Dungganon loan of PhP1,500…
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Ruth Dongon knew that relying on a catch of fish daily would not provide for her family’s needs and support her dreams of a home, safety and security for her family, and seeing all her…
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It is 2007 and Cecilia finds herself meeting the Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in Malacañang Palace. She is being awarded by Citibank Philippines and Citi Foundation in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas…
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Jocelyn was born in 1968, the tenth of thirteen children. The family of thirteen, raised by their father alone, experienced extreme hardship. Although she had to work to help support her siblings, Jocelyn was able…
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Virginia Lastima, married to Marcelito, was determined to make a living for her family. The little savings that they garnered from Marcelito’s wages was used to buy stocks for a food vending business set up…
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Jamilla Pasilaban knew that reaching her dreams and goals she set for herself and her family would take a lot of work; and she did so a day at a time. While her husband worked…
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One man’s trash is another man’s treasure rings true for Marilyn Catacutan who established her healthy business by creating a niche in the used-clothes market, concentrating solely on second-hand bags and shoes. Marilyn was once…
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“If it seems like are more financially stable now, it is because my husband and I are hardworking people, trustworthy and have complete trust in God. You cannot just dream it. You have to work…
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“Dirty ice cream”, or Sorbetes (traditional Philippine ice cream), has become synonymous with the Mahinay family name in Bacolod City. Susan and her husband, Felipe, set out to become the best “dirty ice cream” producers…
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Marilou Pelaez credits her resolve to hardships she endured in her life: peddling fish in the market as a young child to help provide for her family’s needs, unfavourable dealings with informal money lenders, and…
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Geline and husband, Winnie, met in a meat shop where they both worked for close to five years. They used the PhP7,000 saved from their earnings to start their lechon (roasted pig), swine trading, goat…
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Virginia and Aly Lubguban had foresight, were goal-oriented, and always worked as a team. Early in their marriage they invested in planting Gmelina (Beechwood) trees on their property in the mountains, banking on its future…
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Zosima first started buying and selling firewood that she would peddle to bakeries across her town. Parents of 10 children, she and her husband, Remigio, knew that they needed to start a business that would…
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Like countless others in her community, Jesusa Altamera was no stranger to poverty. It was a constant struggle to provide for her three growing children. Her husband, Gilberto’s, wages wasn’t enough to cover to their…
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Daria Ango was content living her life as a housewife to her husband, Agapito. She would spend her days on watching their four girls while Agapito worked delivering water around the island. Coaxed by her…
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Myrna and her husband, Guillermo, met while she was in high school and married after graduation. They lived in a bamboo hut with a roof weaved from coconut leaves. Myrna didn’t want to raise her…
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Mary Jane shared a shanty with her husband’s siblings in a fishing village. Living conditions were poor and unhealthy, especially for their children. Their worst fears were realized when their first-born was struck by Dengue…
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Julie and Nonito Villanueva are a perfect example of thinking out of the box. The couple saw the opportunity in recycling used ropes and scrap metal, refurbishing them and reintroducing them into the market. In…
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Milagros, her husband Loreto, and their three children are a tight-knit family that together manage and operate their businesses which include rice production, rice retail outlet, sari-sari store (small convenience store), and piggery. Early in…
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Capital, hard work, compliance with business regulations, compassion for employees, strong customer relationships, and product quality–these are the reasons for her success, Rosita Pabalan says when asked during an interview. In 2015, Rosita was nominated…
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Now fifty-four years old, Victoria looks back and recounts her journey through poverty. Daughter of a sugar cane plantation worker and one of thirteen (13) children, Victoria was forced to abandon her education at the…
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