Gonzaga (right) assists a neighbor in drying fish along the coast of Gibitngil Island in Medellin. (Contributed)
It’s not easy falling short of basic family budget thresholds.
That is why it is fulfilling when you are able to provide for the family’s needs.
But for Esperanza Gonzaga, it is more fulfilling to help those who have less.
Gonzaga, fondly called Pansang by her neighbors, of Gibitngil Island in Medellin town, northern Cebu, is the biggest supplier of dried fish in Medellin.
“It’s not easy to manage your own business. You can either fail or succeed. But as long as you put your heart into it, everything will go smoothly,” Pansang said.
Pansang was first engaged in the buy-and-sell business. She bought fish in Gibitngil and sold them in mainland Medellin.
She, however, only earned a little. She later tried venturing into the dried fish business.
Pansang started with a few drying racks for fish. After she was able to secure a loan of P5,000 for start-up capital from the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. micro-finance, she bought some containers to store her dried fish.
“I never thought that we would reach this far. From that small capital, we were able to grow our small business,” she said.
Currently, Pansang employs 15 people who earn minimum wage. At least 10 fishermen also deliver freshly caught fish to her.
“I want to rest from this business but I can’t. If I stop, the fishermen will also lose their income,” she said.
She said that some fishermen would even borrow money from her, especially if their fishing gear, like nets, get damaged.
“I am still doing this business because of the people who need jobs so they can send their children to school and put food on the family’s table,” Pansang said.
In 2012, Pansang purchased a generator to provide electricity to 60 households for P50 a night.
“When the typhoon (Yolanda) struck, we had no electricity. I also lost most of the drying racks. We started our business all over again,” she said.
She also sent her two sons-in-law to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to learn skills. Her two sons-in-law are now working in Saudi Arabia.
“I don’t want my neighbors to think that I’m rich. I am just the same Pansang they know some 20 years ago—still striving to earn for the family’s future,” she said.
“We wanted a brighter future for our kids. If you want to succeed, you also need to help yourself and other people. They are the secret to the success of our family,” she added.