OFW returns home, sets up fast-food store for her kids

She was earning enough as a domestic worker in Japan and Hong Kong.

But Rolinda B. Galon’s yearning to be there for her children won over her desire to earn more.

So, the 42-year-old Galon decided to return home and set up a fast-food type

business.

Galon, a resident of barangay Looc, Mandaue City, said she had experience in running this kind of business when as a child she assisted her mother, who then owned an eatery.

Galon, a single mother of two children and a college dropout, said her children were her motivators to work hard and earn.

She invested P3,000 to build the small fast food store along the road in barangay Looc, near the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu-Mandaue campus in 2007. This was after she returned from working in Hong Kong.

Her store could seat up to 20 people.

“My customers are mostly employees from nearby establishments like Nature’s Spring, and UCLM students, as well as my neighbors,” said Galon.

As early as 4 a.m. Galon is already up to buy her ingredients at the public market for the day’s menu. After arriving from the market, she then prepares her dishes for her customers at lunch.

At night she also cooks canton soups for night travelers since her store is located right along the highway where there are many vehicles passing by.

Galon said she could earn from P500 to P700 profit from her store.

The income however isn’t enough for the family’s needs especially since her eldest son, now 17 years old, is now in college.

“My daughter is also only 3 years old and have her own needs. I realized I needed to earn more income so aside from the food business, I started selling ready-to-wear items and joined in direct selling like Avon, Red Logo and more,” said Galon.

Galon said she has sold many different products already in her store just to add more to what she earns from the food business.

She even tried selling health supplements and beauty products on top of her food business which some neighbors also buy from her.

As of now Galon is doing everything on her own in running the business because she still cannot afford to hire a helper for her store.

Galon said she planned to expand her business and add more products to sell in her store and eventually have someone to help her tend the store.

“My only dream is to assist my children until they finish a degree and move on to achieving their goals as well. It is difficult on my part because I’m a single mother, but I think it is my obligation to to really help them. So all these hard work are for them,” said Galon.

Galon is one of the 20 women entrepreneurs in Mandaue City who were selected for the Search for WINNERS or Women In Need Now Entrepreneurs and Rolemodels organized by the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the annual Mandaue Business Month celebration every August.