In Photo: From the gateway of Bicolandia, Dominga Perez continues to strive in life with the help of her grass broom business that started in 2011.
“Age is just a number,” a phrase that rings true for 76-year-old Dominga Perez of Camarines Norte, who pushes forward in her business journey with relentless grit and determination.
Not everyone is blessed with decades of physical strength, and Dominga remains grateful for the body that endured the test of time. She had a fair share of struggles, beginning with her days as a miner, then as a housekeeper, and now as a microentrepreneur.
After getting married, she learned to become a miner with her husband. However, after 13 years together, her first husband passed away. Despite the loss, she remained strong and continued her duties as a mother.
Love found its way back to her life when she met her second husband, with whom she was blessed with six children. Mining remained their primary livelihood, as it was common in their community. Dominga has firsthand experience of the job. Unfazed by the dangers and hazardous environment, she would dig the ground and enter holes in search of gold.
There were times when she was lucky enough to find a few grams of gold, but there were also times when all she gained from mining was exhaustion. Nevertheless, she continued doing this work for many years.
In 1996, her husband had to stop working due to an injury. Dominga, too, had to leave mining behind. To support her family, she worked as a house helper while peddling grass brooms made by her neighbors. She travelled to Sta. Rosa Sur and as far as Paracale, seizing every opportunity to sell grass brooms and earn a living.
Knowing that being a house helper was not a long-term solution, she sought to build something of her own. In 2011, she learned the craft of broom-making and turned it into a business. That same year, she became a client of CARD Bank, a microfinance-oriented rural bank that provided small loans to aspiring entrepreneurs like her.
Her initial loan was used to purchase raw materials needed to make the product, while her income as a house helper covered their daily expenses.
When her husband was still alive, he worked with her to make grass brooms, ensuring the products were of good quality and durability. Now, one of her children has stepped in to help keep the business alive.
Crafting grass brooms is a good business decision for her, as it is an everyday, practical, and affordable cleaning tool for the home.
With patience and persistence, Dominga not only sustained her business but also gradually paid for and acquired the land where her home now stands.
“I may be economically challenged, but with my skills and the support of CARD Bank, I started a business and learned how to handle my finances wisely. That is how my life has constantly improved,” she concluded, highlighting how a skill that is supported financially can create a positive change in life.
At 76, Dominga proves that resilience, skill, and financial support can lead to success at any age. (Josephine Ramos, Junior Writer/CARD MRI)
