One More Day with Stephanie
From an online seller to a cake bakery owner.
Stephanie Banguis has been a CARD Bank, Inc. member for more than four years. Hailing from Bogo, Cebu, she was recruited by her mother who currently serves as CARD Center Chief, CARD Mutual Benefit Association (MBA) Coordinator, and CARD Microinsurance (MRI) agent.
Stephanie used to work in a private company in Cebu City while managing an online business to augment her salary. She used to sell items online like clothes for men and women, beauty products, and accessories. This gave her an additional gross income of Php600.00 daily. According to Stephanie, she had many plans for her online business including expanding her line of products for sale.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic happened in 2020, Stephanie became one of the many Filipino workers who lost their jobs due to the series of lockdowns imposed by the government to curb the virus. Her sales from the online business also declined because many people also lost their jobs and had to prioritize other necessary needs.
Stephanie decided to go home in her home city of Bogo and stay with her family. For a time, she felt depressed and could not accept the reality of having no livelihood and income. But it was also during this low period of her life when she focused her energies toward a new interest: baking cakes.
With a starting capital of Php1,000, Stephanie started baking cakes which she found was a hit among consumers. She eventually added milk tea and mango float on her menu of items. From having no income during the pandemic, Stephanie was suddenly earning a gross income of Php1,500 daily. At the same time, she was able to restart her online business of selling personal items.
Stephanie was eventually offered her job back but declined the offer, believing that she can earn more from her newfound business while being able to stay at home with her family.
In March 2021, Stephanie borrowed a loan of Php30,000 through Project Revive MFI-Ph. She used the loan as additional capital to purchase new tools and equipment for her cake-making business. She plans to expand her cake bakery by adding other kinds of breads.
Stephanie said: “Masaya ako na maging CARD member dahil maganda ang produkto at serbisyo nila para sa mga negosyanteng tulad namin na nagsisimula pa lang. Mabait din ang mga staff nila.”
(I am happy to be a CARD member because they have really good products and services for small and starting entrepreneurs like us. Additionally, CARD staff are very kind).