Chance of a lifetime

It took a housewife many failed attempts before she found herself thriving in an unlikely business.

In 1994, Virginia Hermes Rosete first ventured into selling fruits, vegetables, then poultry, but only to find them collapsing one after another. Had she and her husband Edgar gave up on their entrepreneurial wants early on, they wouldn’t experience the life they dreamt of.

Equipped with 13 employees in the town of Tanauan in the province of Leyte, the Rosete family runs the EAST Marketing and General Merchandise today. From being a small-time electrical supplier in the neighborhood, the couple was able to provide better livelihood to some residents as the business grew, but more importantly send their children to good schools.

It all started with P5,000 loan that Virginia loaned from CARD in 1996 which she used as capital for the electrical supplies she was selling. More than two decades after, CARD continues to support her financially in expanding her inventory.

While life was easier for the Rosete family these days, it wasn’t an easy journey.

After coping with the loss of capital from a number of failed business attempts, the family’s then promising merchandise store was devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda in November 8, 2013. With sustained winds reaching 315 km/h, the deadliest typhoon in the Philippines had completely destroyed the future of the family and their business.

“It was the worst fall that we ever encountered, so terrible that when our driver came to ask for help, I just cried in front of him saying I’m sorry we don’t even have something to eat for today,” the lady entrepreneur recalled.

Days after the typhoon, an international organization came to inquire if Virginia and her husband could source construction materials outside Leyte to facilitate in the rebuilding project. Fortunately, the couple won the contract that includes distributing the construction reliefs to the affected families.

A month after, other non-government organizations came and forged the same arrangement. With the chances given to them, the family managed to rise from their biggest loss.

Four years had passed since Yolanda, the business did not only recover but flourished accordingly. Now, Virginia is planning to expand her business to Tacloban City and to other places.

“There are times in your life that you will think that it is the end, but never lose hope, just stay on track. We have to try and try no matter what happens. If we fail, just stand and look forward to better things, because if you learn to say ‘no,’ it’s your end,” she said.