Vergie Bantilan inherited her skills and techniques in candy making from her late mother. She has been into this kind of business since her adolescence years. She recalls that her profit from selling candies was used for her education during that time, which financially aided her to finish her studies.

Now that Mrs. Vergie Bantilan has her own family, she is also sharing this knowledge of candy making to her children, at which her husband also supports her. The candy making business eventually became the family’s main source of living. She recalled that at the start of her business, she only had PhP50.00 for her capital, which is equivalent to 3 kilos of sugar and other candy ingredients until it reached to 1-sack of sugar.

Prior to joining the program, Nang Vergie used to experience difficulties. Before, their income could not suffice their basic needs, especially when her 3 children started their tertiary education. Given all the school fees, she was pushed deeper in debt when she tried to engage business with five-six money lenders.

When she heard about SERVIAMUS Foundation in her place, she inquired on how to join yet members of FSBA rejected her at her first attempt. Instead of being discourage, she showed her willingness to join the organization. She proved to them that she has a clear conscience and trustworthy. Eventually, one group guaranteed her and she was allowed to join.

Recently, Nang Vergie was able to earn her co-members trust and was able to avail loans until now. She is in her 4th Cycle of Regular Loan. Moreover, she also availed Multi-purpose loan as additional capital for her candy production. Now that she is a member of SFI, Mrs. Vergie Bantilan was able to expand her business. She has a regular customer and has recently been given an opportunity to display her products in groceries like Lian Hong. She works with excitement because orders for her products are in demand. Thus her earnings from this business have well financed her children’s tertiary education. She also shares to us that she was able to overcome all of the difficulties through the all-out support of her husband and her children, her hand in hand partners in improving their candy making business.

Nang Vergie ended the short conversation by saying that with the help of SERVIAMUS Foundation, she started to fulfill all her dreams. Her next goal for the coming years is to own a “small factory for candies” in her place which could eventually generate employment in her locality.