The saying goes, “For every ‘hat’ a man wears, a woman wears two.” The concept of work-life balance often weighs more heavily on women, who are expected to juggle domestic responsibilities alongside their careers. This rings especially true for Maryjoy Delara, an entrepreneur and a mother, who has supported her family since adolescence while still pursuing her dreams.
Maryjoy’s journey to entrepreneurship began in high school. During the summer of her third year, she decided to sell dried fish to help support her family in rural Bicol. Despite her mother’s initial discouragement, Maryjoy was determined to save up for school supplies for herself and her siblings.
“Even then, I thought of ways to make money. I had P500, so I bought dried fish, dried them, and sold them. It worked out. That’s how I started saving up for school supplies, and by the end of the school break, I had enough to buy things for my siblings and myself. I told my mom, ‘Here’s the money I’ve saved; you can use it for our school needs,’” she recalled.
Her determination and resilience carried Maryjoy through many challenges, including the death of her mother. Fueled by a desire to build a better future for her family, she pursued her dream of becoming an entrepreneur. In 2018, Maryjoy opened a sari-sari store in San Fernando, Pampanga, with her partner. Despite the obstacles, including the pandemic, she was able to adapt and grow her business.
“We were hit by the pandemic in 2019, which caused a setback. But we didn’t give up. We kept going, and by 2021, we were able to buy a motorcycle with the earnings from the store and my partner’s buy-and-sell business. I started with just P5,000 in capital, and now our business is worth over P50,000, plus savings and insurance. I can even buy the things my kids want,” Maryjoy proudly shared.
A key factor in her business’s success has been Converge’s Surf2Sawa (S2S) prepaid fiber, an affordable connectivity solution. The product offers unlimited data, no contract, and a low price point, making it accessible to low-income Filipinos.
“S2S has helped us secure more orders and manage the connectivity needs of our home, especially with my two kids’ e-learning,” she said. “We saved a lot with S2S. Before, we spent about P2,000 a month on data. But with S2S, the kids’ online classes run smoothly, with no buffering, and it’s unlimited data. The P700 plan works perfectly for us.”
Reflecting on her journey as an independent woman who has built a business from the ground up, Maryjoy’s advice is simple: circumstances shouldn’t define your future.
“I never thought I’d be where I am today, coming from a place of almost nothing. At my age, I’m proud of what I’ve built. Poverty shouldn’t be a hindrance if you have dreams,” she concluded.
