By Josephine M. Ramos
Even before the sun begins to rise and long before the rooster’s crow can be heard, the rich aroma of hot cacao drink (sikwate) and freshly cooked puto maya already fills the air at Cogon Public Market, Cagayan de Oro City.
At her stall, Nice Floral Nanol works alongside her children and helpers to prepare and serve food that brings warmth to early marketgoers. From as early as 1:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening, they remain busy cooking, serving customers, and keeping their business running.
Story behind her venture
In 1970, Nice started her small business of selling sikwate and puto maya, renting a stall in the old public market. As she worked daily at the market, she grew closer to one of her customers, and their friendship later led to marriage in 1982.
Over time, their eatery became known for its good quality food and affordable prices. Their well-loved combination of sikwate and puto maya is very affordable.
Their snacks were loved not only by local customers, but also by tourists, celebrities and vloggers. To accommodate growing demand, she gradually expanded her space and took over nearby stalls in the cafeteria.
As her business continued to grow, challenges also became inevitable, especially in terms of limited capital.
Nice turned to CARD SME Bank Inc., a thrift bank under CARD MRI, in 2007 for loans to keep her business going. Currently, she has an active loan of P50,000 from the bank, which she uses as additional capital for her business.
There may be other vendors selling the same products as hers, but the years of serving quality food have built each of them a loyal customer, making competition seem almost nonexistent.
Now at 74, Nice remains a hands-on entrepreneur who still goes to the market to help and oversee her business. Through her hard work, she was able to build a house, acquire vehicles, and provide for her family’s daily needs.
With more than five decades of experience in business, her simple advice is to always keep moving. “Work hard, and by doing so, little by little, you will find yourself slowly getting ahead of life,” she stated.
