Virginia

Virginia, aged 57, is a seasoned entrepreneur married to Rogelio, a fisherman.

The couple have five children. Virginia's only daughter, a single mother, lives with her and helps run the business. One son, who is visually impaired, also lives at home. Another son is married and living independently, while the third works at a bank and offers financial support when needed. The youngest is currently in college. The family resides in the province of Cebu.

To support the household, Virginia has been selling fish for the past 30 years. Her stall, located in the town’s public market, opens as early as 6am some mornings. She earns roughly £20 in daily sales, serving customers from nearby barangays as well as tourists, thanks to the town’s popularity—especially its white sand beaches, which draw international visitors.

Virginia sources her fish daily from delivery trucks arriving from nearby towns such as Bantayan. To operate legally, she maintains a monthly business permit that costs £60. As customer demand has increased, Virginia decided to seek additional capital to expand her stock.

She applied for a loan from LAMAC, Lendwithcare’s local partner in the Philippines, to purchase more fish and meet the growing demand. Part of the loan will also be used to fully pay her youngest son’s tuition fees. Virginia plans to repay the loan in ten monthly instalments, with the aim of improving her business income and maintaining financial stability for her family.