Gearing Up for Growth: Marfel Pascual’s Story of Hustle and Hope
Marfel B. Pascual
Barangay Sto. Rosario, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija
Business: Motorcycle Buy-and-Sell, Food and Online Sales
MFI Partner: ASKI
From Two Wheels to a Dream
For Marfel Pascual, opportunity came on two wheels. In 2017, she began a motorcycle buy-and-sell business, focusing on affordable Rusi motorcycles. With just Php 100,000 in capital, she was selling up to 10 units a month, and soon reinvested in a Mitsubishi L300 van to scale her operations. Business was steady, the vision was clear, and the road ahead looked wide open.
When the Engine Slowed Down
Then came the pandemic, and everything screeched to a near halt. Lockdowns and travel restrictions drastically reduced mobility which forced Marfel’s monthly motorcycle sales down to just 1 to 2 units. Her business, like many others, was left idling.
Reigniting with RestartME and ASKI
Relief came through ASKI and the RestartME program. In 2020, Marfel received a Php 20,000 loan, and, more importantly, the repayment scheme was restructured from weekly to monthly. This was a critical change that allowed her breathing room to stabilize operations. ASKI also went a step further by facilitating an on-the-job training placement for her child and linking them to the local government unit (LGU).
Adaptation in Motion
Marfel made the most of the RestartME support. She used the loan to purchase more motorcycle units, but she did not stop there. During the pandemic, she quickly diversified by launching online sales of housewares and food products, reaching customers from home and creating new revenue streams.
Later, she expanded further into fish and dog breeding. These additional income sources helped her fund her children's education and even purchase a service vehicle to support the growing business ecosystem she was building.
ASKI’s impact on Marfel's journey goes beyond the financial. Through capital access and financial literacy training, she gained the confidence and tools to dream bigger. Today, her ultimate goal is clear: to help her children finish their studies and set them up for a better future.