Melagros

Milagros, aged 76, is happily married to Ernesto. Together, they have four children. Milagros also has three children from a previous relationship, bringing the total to seven children. Two of her children are already married and live independently, while the remaining five are employed and contribute financially. Their youngest daughter oversees the family's beauty salon business, given Milagros and Ernesto's advanced age. The family resides in the town of Cebu province.

Melagros and her husband embarked on the beauty salon venture two years ago, driven by the necessity to secure income in their advancing years. With their aging, their youngest daughter has assumed the salon's management responsibilities. Situated in the town's public market, the salon is staffed by two workers—an assistant and a manicurist. Services offered include hair treatments, colouring, foot spa massages, manicures, and pedicures. Sales range from 5,000 (£70) to 8,000 (£113) pesos per day, with weekends and holidays seeing increased business. Operating hours extend from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with a monthly rental fee of 10,000 (£140) pesos for the stall. To restock supplies, Melagros' daughter makes fortnightly trips to Cebu, incurring bus fare expenses. The couple looks forward to sustained success and further expansion of their business to support their family.

Melagros, a longstanding member of Lamac-MPC, has consistently repaid previous loans used for operational capital. She has now requested an additional loan to procure essential materials and medicines for their business' daily operations, with repayment expected within six months.