Success built on decades of hard work

By: Josephine Ramos

Cagayan De Oro- Even before the sun begins to rise and long before the rooster’s crow can be heard, the rich aroma of hot cacao drink (sikwate) and freshly cooked puto maya already fills the air at Cogon
Public Market, Cagayan de Oro City.

At her stall, Nice Floral Nanol works alongside her children and helpers to prepare and serve
food that brings warmth to early marketgoers. From as early as 1:00 in the morning until 7:00 in
the evening, they remain busy cooking, serving customers, and keeping their business running.
Story behind her venture

Limited financial resources forced Nice to stop studying after her first year in college. Instead of
doing nothing, she followed her mother’s footsteps in selling puto maya and sikwate. Helping in
the family’s business while growing up gave her an advantage and made it easier for her to
start a venture.

In 1970, Nice started her small business of selling sikwate and puto maya, renting a stall in the
old public market. As she worked daily at the market, she grew closer to one of her customers,
and their friendship later led to marriage in 1982.

Over time, their eatery became known for its good quality food and affordable prices. Their
well-loved combination of sikwate and puto maya is sold for PHP 40.00, with an option to add
ripe mango for a sweeter taste.

As word spread, Nice’s business began attracting not only regular customers but also tourists
from outside the city, including some celebrities and vloggers who came to try her well-loved
snacks.

The visits of well-known personalities further boosted the business’s popularity, leading to
more customers. To accommodate growing demand, she gradually expanded her space and
took over nearby stalls in the cafeteria.

As her business continued to grow, challenges also became inevitable, especially in terms of
limited capital. Nice uses around 30 kilos of glutinous rice daily, so when funds fall short, she
turns to CARD SME Bank, Inc., a thrift bank under CARD MRI, for loans to keep her business
going.

She became a CARD SME Bank client in 2007, encouraged by its low-interest loans. Currently,
she has an active loan of PHP 50,000.00 from the bank, which she uses as additional capital for
her business.
There may be other vendors selling the same products as hers, but the years of serving quality
food have built each of them a loyal customer, making competition seem almost nonexistent.

Now at 74, Nice remains a hands-on entrepreneur who still goes to the market to help and
oversee her business. Through her hard work, she was able to build a house, acquire vehicles,
and provide for her family’s daily needs.

With more than five decades of experience in business, her simple advice is to always keep
moving. “Work hard, and by doing so, little by little, you will find yourself slowly getting ahead
of life,” she stated.

For those who wish to try their snacks, Nanol’s Sikwate & Puto Maya is located at the cafeteria
of Cogon Public Market in Cagayan de Oro City.