Business
The Courage To Start Again
By: Edrian Banania
Los Baรฑos, Laguna – Returning home with renewed hope and the courage to start anew, Norman Maranatos came back with a question that many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can relate to: What comes next after two decades of working abroad?
For Norman, now 63 and living in Los Baรฑos, Laguna, with his family, the answer was not to look for another job. Instead, he opened a small fruit stall in their local public market and decided to build something of his own.
Starting Small
Choosing not to go abroad again after returning from South Africa in 2005, Norman took a chance for a fresh start by selling fruits at the local public market in Los Baรฑos, his hometown in Laguna.
His small stall slowly became a stable business. Over the years, he expanded his offerings, adding honey and local favorites such as alamang (shrimp paste). His customers eventually reached beyond his own community, with some of his products making their way to Pampanga
and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon.
But running a market stall is not easy. Some days are good; others are not. The weather alone can make a big difference in how much he earns. “If there’s a typhoon, we can’t sell our products,” Norman says.
For a small business, a few bad days can quickly affect the money available for the next round of inventory. Norman needed a way to keep the business going even when sales slowed.
That was when microfinance became an important part of his journey.
Through CARD Bank, a microfinance-oriented rural bank that provides financial and non-financial services, Norman accessed loans he could use in his business.
At first, microfinance programs in the area were mainly intended for women, so Norman’s wife was encouraged to join. He was hesitant at first. But when CARD Bank opened its services to male microentrepreneurs, Norman saw an opportunity and decided to take it himself.
He started with a PHP10,000 loan. Over time, his active loan amount grew. The additional capital gave him room to buy more inventory, manage slower periods, and keep his stall stocked when sales were unpredictable.
Aside from business loans, he also accessed microinsurance products for future safety nets.
A business the family shares
The stall is no longer Norman’s responsibility alone. His youngest son now helps him run the business and takes care of the stall when Norman and his family rotate between the morning and afternoon shifts.
Their business has become a reliable source of income for Norman and his family. It also became a livelihood that his children can eventually carry forward.
For Norman, their fruit business is the result of taking a chance after returning home, learning to manage uncertainty, and finding courage to keep moving forward even when circumstances are difficult.
“I’m happy because I have a business,” Norman says. “I can help my family, and my son can continue it. With determination, access to financial services, and the support from family, a small business can become a foundation for greater stability.
“Resilience is not about avoiding difficult days. It is about making sure there is a way to keep going when they come,” Norman concluded.
