This adage could aptly describe the experience of Ms. Rebecca Lolong of San Miguel, Bulacan on her business. An immense competition on doormat and potholder making was happening in their community when she started her business. The province is well known for sewing enterprise and their barangay is one of the manufacturers of different fabric products. Tailoring shops were present in almost every corner of the barangay. Nevertheless, she humbly launched her own business in the midst of growing textile ventures in the neighborhood.

Ms. Lolong started with a modest starting capital of Php 3, 500. The machine (de-padyak) she’s using is not even fully paid. She put less than half of her starting capital as down payment for the machine she initially used. The remaining funds were utilized for purchasing cloth, threads and other materials. She only has a handful of costumers that time, mostly travelers and small stores.

She wanted to expand her business but she lacks the resources. That’s the time when she came to a decision of getting help from a Microfinance institution. It was 2003 when ASKI became her partner. She sold her old ‘de-padyak’ machine and replaced it with a high-speed sewing machine upon receiving her first loan. Since then, her production grew large together with her costumers. At present, she already has four high-speeds and four workers (tailors) plus a scale machine worth Php 8, 000. Her capital to date soars to Php 50, 000.

Her partnership with Microfinance institution made a great effect on her business and her family. She was able to feed her four children and send them to school. She knew that it would be really hard for them if they will rely on the salary of her husband, an aircon technician. They also re-constructed their house through their diligent efforts.

While continuously developing her crafts, Ms. Lolong was able to lead Kababaihang Barangay Zone 1, a local organization in where she is the chairperson. She is also an officer of a medical mission team called Lingkod Kalinga.

She plans to rent a stall in the public market to sell her products. As the competition grow each day, her confidence grows bigger. It’s from the struggle where she gets her motivation. Ms. Lolong put it this way, “Kung kaya nila, kaya ko rin” (If others can, so can I).