Positive outcomes blossom in the aftermath of adversity.

In the midst of the 2020 global pandemic, as the world came to an indefinite standstill, Mariane Gonzales seized an opportunity. Like many others, Mariane faced the challenges and constraints imposed by the pandemic. Her husband, in particular, grappled with ‘no work, no pay’ conditions, putting strain on their family’s financial stability. Recognizing the need for action, Mariane, acknowledging her prowess in sales, decided to embark on her own entrepreneurial journey.

Banking on the Filipinos tastebuds and the love for food, Mariane established her business, Mariane’s Sweet & Leyte’s Delicacies Store, selling the best kakanin desserts from Bato, Leyte. Her menu varies from choco moron, ginaling nga pilit, chocobud Magsaysay, nilambiran, and mangobud to name a few.

“Ni focus gyod ko sa kakanin, during gyod sa pandemic, kay didto man to makita nga ang mga tao dili kagawas, so tanan, nakatutok gyod sa cellphone, sa sigeg scroll scroll. Then, didto mo gawas ang mga pagkaon. Mag craving sa pagkaon. Didto nako nakita nga, nindot ni siya na opportunity kay ang kakanin, in a sense, pwede siya sa tanan. Kita mga Pilipino, love kaayo nato ang kakanin, especially naay sikwati or coffee,” Mariane shares.

As if by destiny, the constraints imposed by various restrictions became stepping stones to success for her fledgling business. Mariane discovered a reliable supplier, her husband navigated borders to fulfill delivery commitments while working temporarily as a food delivery rider, and a steady stream of orders started flowing in. However, the journey was not without its hurdles. There came a point where Mariane had to decline customer requests due to her supplier’s delivery shortcomings, product quality falling short of assurance standards, and the risk of spoilage during transit. Moreover, insufficient funds posed an additional challenge. Yet, these obstacles failed to deter Mariane, who persevered through the difficulties. She consistently innovated and sought ways to enhance her services. Eventually, she found a more dependable and trusted supplier, effectively overcoming the initial challenges that threatened her start-up.

“Dapat gyod, once you have a business, dapat love nimo or passion nimo. Kay once its passion, lisod na gub-on nimo. Kung dili love nimo ang usa ka butang, di gyod na nimo ipadayon. Pero once you have love, you will fight for it. Ayaw kahadlok nga magsugod ug ginagmay. Walay nidako nga negosyo ng ani start sa dako. Bisag kinsa pa na, nagsugod na sa ginagmay. Pananom na ug sugod ron, para sa umaabot, naa tay anihon,” she explains.

Tindahan Ni Nanay

Mariane’s Sweet & Leyte’s Delicacies Store fully operated online since its inception. Mariane, a member of RAFI Microfinance (MFI), bumped into another great opportunity for her business, as a representative from MFI asked her to be part of the merchants under Tindahan ni Nanay. For the go-getter that she is, of course it was an instant, yes.

RAFI in its pursuit to improving the economic well-being of communities has a program called the RAFI MFI. During the pandemic, Tindahan Ni Nanay was established which was a Facebook group that was created as an online platform to serve and elevate the lives of Ate and Kuya micro-entrepreneurs during the year 2020 by allowing them to advertise their products, increase their sales, achieve a wider market reach, and create profit online.

Tindahan Ni Nanay has progressed into more than just a local market over the last three years. It evolved into a platform for business development services delivered through a value chain approach, whether through clustering for product consolidation and curated products both offline and online. This has improved the lives of countless micro-entrepreneurs which Mariane is a part of.

“Grabe mo supporta ang RAFI Microfinance sa imong business. I-lift up ka nila, nga ayaw kauwaw. I-guide ka nila and mangita sila’g mga possible partners or mga pwede nimo ma displayhan. Nakasulod ko ug mga trade fairs sa malls for free tungod nila to showcase my products. Nakakuha ko ug mga reseller from one of my trade shows. Makaingon ko nga daghan kog nakaila ug nacustomer tungod ato. Mas ni dagdag pod akong confidence, nga ma showcase akong products sa kaning big establishments,” Mariane shares.

Business with a purpose

As Mariane’s business expands, transitioning from a reseller to an official distributor, she is eager to share her journey. Her intent is not only to promote her products but also to inspire and encourage more women entrepreneurs. Mariane aspires to motivate full-time homemakers, like herself, to explore alternative avenues for earning income while continuing to excel in their roles as nurturers of home and family.

She expressed how in times of wanting to stop, she is reminded that by continuing her business, she has opportunities to help other people. By doing business, she is giving business to others through her products and the delivery drivers who transport her products.

“Naay mo ingon, naka tigom-tigom gyod ko dam, nakapalit gyod ko ug sanina para sa akong mga anak and sa panahon nga walay kwarta ilang bana, naa silay mahatag. At the same time, naa pod koy mga clients na single moms, nga mo ingon sa akong bana nga, ang akong halin ani sir, akong ipalit ug school supplies sa akong mga bata,” Mariane explains.

To support her long-standing clients, Mariane also provides those without a big capital to start, an opportunity to sell their products first before asking for the payment.

Mariane’s dream

In the future, Mariane hopes to expand her business. She dreams of establishing a kakanin café, providing a space for customers to dine in and savor the delicacies she takes immense pride in. Her aspiration is for this venture, driven by her unwavering dedication and passion, to serve as a sustainable source of income for her family. In doing so, she aims not only to elevate her own life but also the lives of her customers, her supplier, and all the individual’s integral to the success of her business.

Mariane’s entrepreneurial journey serves as a testament to the belief that dreams, as long as we persist and work towards their realization, can indeed become our reality.