Sewing Through Storms: Aurora Castillo’s Story of Home and Livelihood Recovery

Aurora Castillo

Montalban, Rizal

Business: Sewing and Repair Services

MFI Partner: Kasagana-ka

In a modest corner of Montalban, Rizal, the steady rhythm of a sewing machine is the soundtrack of perseverance. For Ms. Aurora Castillo, a skilled seamstress who has run her sewing and repair business since 2000, stitching garments has always meant more than earning a living. It has meant holding her family together, one thread at a time.

When the Rains Come In

Aurora’s services are versatile—adjustments, customizations, and curtains for neighborhood homes and small businesses. But like many microentrepreneurs, her livelihood has long been vulnerable to forces beyond her control. In recent years, heavy rains and flooding began seeping into her workspace, disrupting both her tools and her schedule. On top of environmental setbacks, she faced another quiet battle: declining demand for tailoring in her area, and the presence of three competing businesses nearby.

A Home and Business Lifeline Through RestartME

When disaster struck, it was not just business that was on the line. It was the delicate balance of a household. Aurora and her husband, together with their four children, had no buffer for long periods without income. However, through Kasagana-ka, she found a lifeline. Relief goods helped the family get through immediate hardships.

More importantly, loan programs, particularly the K Bahay program, enabled her to repair structural damage to her home. The upgrades helped protect her workspace from future flooding and allowed her to operate her business more consistently throughout the year.

RestartME’s support did not stop there. With financial aid directed specifically at business recovery, Aurora was able to purchase the basic but essential supplies that make her work possible: needles, threads, and zippers. These small investments had a compounding effect. She increased her output, attracted more customers, and was even able to raise her service fees from Php 20 to Php 40 – a significant win that marked the start of her business’ rebound.

A Seamstress of Dreams

Aurora’s dreams are still unfolding. She wants to buy more sewing machines, hire staff, and expand her range of services. She is deeply aware of the discipline and responsibility that come with running a business, values she hopes to pass on to one of her children who is showing interest in continuing the trade. Two of her children have already graduated and are now working, while the other two are still in school.

Today, thanks to RestartME and her own unshakeable work ethic, Aurora is not just surviving. She is slowly rebuilding. With both her business and home more secure, she envisions a future where her business grows stronger and her home is more secure. For her, RestartME did not just help patch up the seams. It helped lay down a new pattern for progress.