The missing ingredient that helped Noriel rise

Malay, Aklan- At 3:00 a.m., when most people are still fast asleep, wrapped in their blankets and enjoying the warmth of their beds, bakers around the world are already up, kneading dough and preparing fresh bread and donuts, treats that bring comfort and sweetness to every moment.

One of those already awake during these early hours is Noriel Manlitoy, a baker and donut vendor based in Barangay Cogon, Malay, Aklan.

Originally from Luzon, Noriel did not have the typical teenage years. Unlike most young people who spent their adolescence playing in playgrounds and learning in classrooms, Noriel’s playground and classroom were local bakeries. He preferred dough and ovens over pen and paper. By the age of 12, he was already learning recipes, memorizing ingredients, and mastering kneading techniques. He would tag along with his friends to learn and work at bakeries, helping make and sell bread in exchange for PHP 50 a day.

By 16, he had moved from one bakeshop to another, working wherever help was needed, until a stable opportunity came his way in Aklan. He followed his passion, crossed the sea, and became a full-time employee of an established bakery. However, after years of working there, the bakery closed, leaving Noriel to rely once again on uncertain and temporary baking jobs.

After years of job instability, Noriel realized, “Kaya mo magpayaman ng ibang tao, bakit ‘di mo i-try sa sarili mo?” (You’re capable of making other people rich, so why not try doing it for yourself?) With this realization, he decided to take a leap of faith and start his own business.

Together with his wife, Noriel gradually invested in his own equipment and started making donuts with popular fillings such as ube, chocolate, cheese, and ham and cheese. Like dough, his dream began to rise. However, limited capital and the burden of microloan repayments held him back. He needed something more to help his business grow.

Then came the missing ingredient: additional capital from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Like yeast, the PHP 15,000 grant gave their microenterprise the boost it needed to rise.

With the additional funds, Noriel invested in his own oven and dough mixer, both second-hand for the meantime. He was also able to purchase an additional LPG tank to support his daily operations. Beyond helping them pay off their debts, his donut vending business has enabled Noriel and his wife to provide for their family’s needs and wants, earning an average quarterly gross sales of PHP 144,000 and an income of PHP 76,000.

But Noriel’s dreams do not stop at donuts. He aims to expand his business from their home kitchen into a more accessible and spacious bakery. While he plans to continue selling and delivering products directly to customers, he also envisions having his own bakery where he can offer a wider variety of bread, just as he did when he worked in other bakeries.

Noriel is deeply grateful to DSWD-SLP for helping his family move forward. Of course, the seed capital fund is only one of the key ingredients in his growing success. His willingness to take risks, think ahead, innovate, and persevere also played an important role. These qualities were shaped by years of experience working from one bakery to another, where he learned not only the craft of baking but also the value of hard work and determination.

Indeed, Noriel’s story reminds us that building a path toward success is possible, especially when we accept a helping hand along the way. His journey also shows that formal education is not the only path to achieving one’s dreams. With practical skills, determination, perseverance, and the right support, even a humble home-based business can rise to greater heights./cdf/Edda Shaira Santillan

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