Serving hope one scoop at a time

By: Josephine Ramos

Valencia, Bukidnon- Ice cream is one of the most popular desserts in Filipino households. For many, it is more than just a sweet treat; it is their comfort food, often enjoyed as a refreshing way to unwind,
especially on hot summer days.

One of the ice cream sellers in Valencia, Bukidnon, is the couple, Sherilyn and Mario Donque.
Since getting married in 2005, the ice cream business has been their main source of income.
Through years of hard work, their business has also helped them build a resilient life.

Crossing paths

Sherilyn was a high school graduate when she decided to leave home and work in Cebu. She
spent a year working as a housekeeper before a close friend invited her to visit Bukidnon for a
vacation. During her trip, she met the man who later became her husband, Mario Donque.
Their relationship eventually blossomed, and soon enough, they got married and began
building a life together.

Even before they met, Mario was running his humble ice cream business, using the skills he had
learned from a relative. Through their shared effort, the business became the family’s
foundation and main source of financial support.

Mario started selling ice cream at around 9:00 AM and usually came home at 6:00 PM. When
he returned, they would prepare another batch of ice cream for the following day. This has
become their daily routine. Through daily hard work and teamwork, they sustain their
livelihood and provide for their families.

While Mario is out selling ice cream, Sherilyn manages the household and prepares ingredients
for their products.

As with any business, there were times when their sales would slow, especially during the rainy
season. However, despite these, they understood that business was never constant. The good
days and slow days are part of the journey, so they just kept moving forward.

“Para sa akin, importante talaga na may negosyo kasi magagamit mo yung income sa iba’t ibang
pangangailangan ng pamilya mo. (For me, business is really important because your income
becomes something you can depend on when needs come up), Sherilyn stated.

To gain additional capital for their business, Sherilyn became a client of CARD, Inc. (A
Microfinance NGO) in 2019. Since then, she has been able to access financial assistance
whenever their funds fall short for production needs.

Currently, she uses her PHP 50,000.00 loan from the institution to purchase raw ingredients for
their ice cream business. Aside from buying ingredients, her previous loans from CARD, Inc.
were also used to renovate their house.

In the coming years, the couple hopes their business will continue to grow. Although they do
not expect rapid expansion, they are happy to see it steadily and consistently grow over time.