Merlynd Quiniano of Balatan, Camarines Sur is a store owner and manager. A former housewife who, from time to time, helps out at the ginger farm of her husband, Merlynd was content in her small world that comprised of home and farm. “I barely interacted with the community before. The store has widened my view of what a community is and how I could form part of it in a meaning way,” shares Merlynd.

A bigger world opened up to Merlynd when she met SEDP. It all started when she became an entrepreneur – an idea that did not enter her mind until a SEDP staff explored it with her. The prospect of earning income from her own efforts and meeting new friends motivated her to take the leap of faith. She availed a business loan of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000) from SEDP in 2006 and put up a sari-sari (variety goods) in front of her parents-in-law’s house.

“The success of the store heavily depends on the quality of service and availability of a wide range of products. I personally serve the customers and extend to them the kind of service they appreciate, i.e. friendly, accommodating and humble. This includes allowing the practice of getting products on credit. I just insist on my customers to indicate a specific date for payment. Come due date, most of my customers show up with payment. The others eventually show up, despite delays by days or weeks, to pay up and to also get another batch of products on credit. I am happy to be able to help my customers cope with their financial situation,” says Merlynd. Such compassion is rewarded by her customers with respect and loyalty.

For the many good things that came her way, there was also a time when Merlynd needed help. And her neighbors did not disappoint. Her only son became ill and needed a large amount of money for medical treatment. She was forced to draw from her business capital to settle the hospital bill. Members of her borrowing group helped her meet subsequent financial and business obligations to keep the store running until she could avail of a new business loan from SEDP. With enough funds on hand, she determinedly restocked her store and from then on kept the business on its expansion track.

Daily earnings from a thriving store supplemented by seasonal earnings from much larger operations of the ginger farm enabled Merlynd and her husband, Joven to acquire and live in their own house, build a store in their own land, finance the education of their son, and pursue bigger dreams. Having successfully added mobile money transfer to the store’s range of products and services in partnership with a telecommunications company and with support from SEDP, Merlynd has next set her sights to establish a water refilling station. This will make potable water easily accessible in the community.

Merlynd remarks, “My efforts to expand the store’s range of products and services have gone beyond the pursuit of the goal to adequately provide for the needs of my family to that of satisfying a broader set of needs of my community. The Bible studies I have attended as part of SEDP membership activities raised my awareness about stewardship. As a recipient of a ‘gift’, I am only too happy to use this ‘gift’ to serve others.”