Domestic worker now a ‘haciendera’ in Oriental Mindoro

Dela Marquez spoke during the CARD Hong Kong Foundation graduation ceremony at the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town on Nov. 18.

This domestic worker is now a haciendera.

Rosemadelyn Dela Marquez used to work as a domestic worker “with no education” in the Philippines but that all changed when she joined a financial literacy program.

Thanks to the financial lessons she learned from CARD MRI and the loans she took out from its affiliate bank, Dela Marquez’s family now owns nearly 100 hectares of farmland in Oriental Mindoro.

“Walang-wala ako nun. Katulong ako pero hindi ako pinalad na makarating sa ibang bansa pero, Thank God and thanks sa CARD, nandito ako,” Dela Marquez said during the CARD Hong Kong Foundation graduation ceremony at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town on Nov. 18.

“Wala kaming tinungtungan. Mahirap lang kami. Sobra. Wala akong pinag-aralan kaya sobra ako humahanga sa inyo. English-speaking kayo. OFW kayo. Hindi ako sanay magsalita dito. Sa katunayan, giniginaw ako,” she added.

CARD MRI provides Filipinos with educational and training programs to build their capacities in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Dela Marquez said she learned about CARD MRI back in 1997, and it changed her life.

“Dumating sa buhay ko ang CARD noong 1997 at doon ako nagsimulang matuto paano humawak ng pera. Ang first loan ko ay P2,000. Inisip ko paano palalakihin yung P2,000 na yun,” Dela Marquez said.

“Namili ang ng bote at natutong magluto ng kakanin. Naglalako ako sa bahay-bahay, at nag-aani ng palay. Lagi kong iniisip na yayaman kami,” she added.

Dela Marquez said they initially had a quarter of a hectare of farmland but, with the loans and financial knowledge from CARD, they were able to make this grow.

“Nung umabot yung loan ko ng P50,000 sa CARD, ibinili namin ng tractor. Yun po ang umpisa… lumawak ng lumawak ang aming lupa nang nagkaroon ng traktora,” Dela Marquez said.

“Sa tulong ng CARD, nagkaroon ako ng hacienda. Masasabi ko sa inyo na 93 hectares ang meron ako ngayon. May mga sasakyan ako, at mahal na mahal ko ang mga tauhan ko,” she said.

Dela Marquez added that from a loan of P2,000, she has now availed of loans from CARD of up to P8.5 million.

“Napakaganda ng buhay na humarap sa negosyo. Ang CARD ay dagdag puhunan basta gamitin niyo lang sa ayos at konting tipid,” said Dela Marquez, a 2017 Gawad Maunland National Awardee of CARD MRI.

“Hihikayatin ko kayo na magnegosyo. Kasi kung dito kayo mananatili, magkano sweldo niyo? Hindi ko kayo minamaliit. Hinahamon ko kayo,” she added.

Dela Marquez said loans are good if they are intended for lofty goals like setting up a business.

“Mangutang kayo,” she said to the laughter of the crowd. “Totoo yun. Kasi pag may utang, iisipin ninyo ‘May utang ako. Kailangan ko magtipid. Kailangan ko magsipag kasi may bayarin ako.’”

Jessica Mendiola, CARD Hong Kong Foundation secretary, said a total of 368 students (seven batches) graduated from their Financial Literacy workshops while 157 students (two batches) graduated from Entrepreneurship and Livelihood programs on Nov. 18.

For those who are interested, kindly like the group’s Facebook Page: CARD Hong Kong Foundation or call or SMS 56002526, 95296392, 54238196.