The sweetest hustle

 The sweetest hustle

For over three decades, Evangeline Caballero from Pagsanjan, Laguna, has mastered the art of making kalamay, perfecting a homemade recipe that keeps her customers coming back for more. 

Kalamay is a beloved Filipino delicacy made from glutinous rice, brown sugar, and coconut milk. Because making this delicacy requires a lot of effort, it is served only during special occasions. But over time, it has evolved into an everyday treat. 

Mastering the recipe

Originally from Quezon, Evangeline moved to Laguna in pursuit of a good life. She eventually met her husband there, leading her to settle in the province for good. 

Driven by the need to provide for her growing family, she tried her hand at making kalamay. With no prior experience, she closely observed her acquaintances who made the delicacy, and by studying their methods, she picked up the necessary techniques to start her venture. 

“If they can make it, I can do it too,” she shared optimistically. Her relentless trial and error paid off after she captured the exact taste she was looking for. 

Their business started as a temporary stall on the streets, which, whenever local authorities cleared the area, they had to quickly pack up and relocate. For nearly two decades, this unstable routine was their reality. In 2010, however, through a city initiative to support street vendors, Evangeline was among those who were granted a permanent stall at a public market. 

Moving into the market allowed her to maximize her time. Currently, she employs two staff who take turns managing the stall, freeing her up to focus solely on cooking. During peak seasons, her daily production reaches up to 12 kilos, while she produces six kilos on regular days. 

Financing her future

To sustain the growing needs of her business, she currently has a loan of PHP 95,000.00 from CARD MRI Rizal Bank, Inc. (CARD RBI), a microfinance-oriented rural bank under CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions. Looking back, her journey with CARD began in 1996 as a client of CARD, Inc., but as her business grew, she transitioned to CARD RBI to better accommodate her increasing financial needs. 

There are times when sales are slow, but since it is inevitable, Evangeline encourages her fellow entrepreneurs to stay resilient. “A business cannot thrive without perseverance. Always maintain a positive mindset even when things do not go as planned because sooner or later, you are going to bounce back stronger”.(Josephine Ramos)