Life is not without obstacles and difficulties that may seem insurmountable, but for a strong and resilient woman like Marites, a business owner, nothing is impossible if you are hardworking and patient.
“If you still have dreams to achieve, then you must continue striving for it,” a determined Marites shared.
As a 42-year-old wife, mother of three, and an entrepreneur. Marites, who hails from Bohol, has continuously faced challenges balancing all her roles and responsibilities.
Day by day, she and her husband, Edwin, would work tirelessly, often rising before dawn to prepare for their four lechon manokan branches—Maria’s Lechon Manok and Fried Chicken.
Their daily routine starts with preparing all the materials for their business at 3 AM, cooking, caring for their children, and helping them prepare for school while also managing daily operations, including deliveries, leaving them little room for rest or personal time.
“I feel exhausted. I feel like I am not living a normal life, as we are compelled to work tirelessly…,” shared Marites as she let her tears flow.
Marites emotionally shared the exhaustion she feels from relentless labor, losing sleep, and not having proper rest because she has to prepare for tomorrow’s business operations again.
These are everyday sacrifices that Marites must make for her family’s brighter future. After all, she started this business to ensure that her three children could live better lives.
She reminisced about selling fruits and vegetables back in the day, in which she would carry and market herself. These are a few of her many stories that depict the hardships she faced in pursuit of a better tomorrow.
Understanding these struggles, she also ensures that she lends a hand to those who need it, the same way she received support from Project Dungganon when she needed capital to start her business six years ago.
She employs her relatives in her business, providing them with the opportunity to also provide for their loved ones.
Marites pushes through every day—inspired and determined to change her family’s life and help her community in the process. As her business slowly improves, she expects that more challenges may come, but nothing that she can’t handle.
She holds on to the principle of “Padayon“—to keep on going. She remarked that as long as they have the energy and strength, they will continue to strive for their dream.
“No matter how tiring it becomes, we will not give up,” said Marites.
She believes and understands that you cannot be half-hearted if you want true progress in life; you must pursue your dreams wholeheartedly despite the sacrifices that you have to make.
Marites’ story is a poignant reminder of the realities that many entrepreneurs, women, and mothers face. Despite unavoidable setbacks, she remains committed to her business, her family, and her community, keeping herself inspired by her vision of a better tomorrow.
