Carmela

Carmela, a widow residing in Cebu province, is 55 years old and lives alone in her house. She has two sons and one daughter, all of whom are married and live independently. She is a resilient entrepreneur and has been managing her restaurant for over 35 years to sustain the needs of her children.

Carmela's establishment is strategically located in front of a school, drawing a majority of her customers from college and high school students. Offering a diverse menu of 11 items daily, including pork dishes, fish, vegetable soup, and frozen products like hotdogs and chorizo, Carmela also caters to snack enthusiasts with items like sweetcorn and pancakes, along with a selection of cold drinks. On school days, Carmela achieves sales of up to 3,500 pesos (£50), and during weekends, she expands her offerings to include roasted pork (barbecue) and cold drinks, ensuring a continuous income flow throughout the week. Carmela takes pride in personally selecting and purchasing fresh ingredients, particularly pork and fish, from the local market every afternoon. Additionally, she procures vegetables, seasonings, and sweetcorn twice a week from the carbon. Operating her business from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, she has chosen to manage the entire operation single-handedly without hiring additional help to save on expenses. Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about the continuous growth and success of her business, which serves as her sole source of income.

Carmela is an active member of Lamac-MPC, having successfully repaid several loans in the past. Currently seeking her 5th loan amounting to 40,000 pesos, she plans to allocate the funds to purchase additional menu ingredients required for daily cooking. A portion of the loan will be used to acquire essential kitchenware, such as kettles, plates, spoons, and more, to enhance the efficiency of her daily operations. Carmela aims to repay the loan in 12 monthly instalments, demonstrating her commitment to the growth and sustainability of her business. Carmela is dedicated to maintaining and expanding her business, and she believes that this loan will contribute significantly to the enhancement of her culinary offerings and the efficiency of her establishment.