Charito Cabatingan is not the type who’s content to stay at home all day.
“I believe that nothing will happen to me if I just stay at home and wait for miracles to happen, so in 1988 I started to sell fish in our neighborhood,” said Cabatingan, a resident of sitio Pilit, Cabangcalan, Mandaue City.
Described by her neighbors as a generous, loving mother and understanding wife, Cabatingan also has drive and an entrepreneurial spirit that made her win the Search for Winners organized by the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry last month.
This drive was evident in Cabatingan’s door-to-door selling of fish with her then 2-year-old son in tow.
“I thought before that it would be difficult but I had to start right then even if it meany tagging along my son and knocking on every door,” she said.
Several years later, Cabatingan opened a vegetable stand and a small grocery in her home.
While her business slowly grew, Cabatingan continued to sell fish to her steady customers.
Cabatingan said the business helped her earn income to support her family, including their four children.
“My husband pays the school tuition while I take care of extra spending for the children’s allowances, money for projects and other needs of the family,” she said.
The road hasn’t always been easy but Cabatingan said she is thankful that she persevered.
She said she reminds herself that there are always risks in business.
“(It’s) always risky especially for me. I had no knowledge of business at all when I started. I make decisions, sometimes good and sometimes bad for the business, but I always tell myself there is always risk involved,” Cabatingan said.
Cabatingan said she motivated herself by having faith in God and making her family her main inspiration.
At present, Cabatingan runs a small eatery just beside her small store that sells vegetables and other household needs.
Being a cook herself, Cabatingan said she opened an eatery since she already has a store that supplies her ingredients and it would be a good way to expand her business.
She said her small businesses helped her impart some lessons to her three daughters.
“I tell them every day to be extraordinary and look for ways to earn on their own and not just rely on having future husbands.”
With her victory in the Search for Winners, Cabatingan won P50,000 as seed capital, which she plans to use for her business.
“I started my business because I wanted my children to finish their education and earn college degrees. That remains my motivation. That is why I work hard and ensure that my business continues to grow,” she said.
Faith in God, perseverance and hard work, said Cabatingan, are necessary ingredients.
“When you have all these, you will love what you do and enjoy doing it every day,” she said.