Four successful entrepreneurs: Stories of resilience, innovation, and hope

Success in entrepreneurship is rarely instantaneous.

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It is built through perseverance, sacrifice, creativity, and the courage to rise after setbacks. Across the Philippines, four remarkable entrepreneurs — Josefina Quinto Mantuano, Clemente Bombales Ramos, Rose Ann Desagon Toledo, and Shella Ann Porras Magno — embody these values. Their journeys show how determination, coupled with access to finance, can transform lives and inspire others to pursue their own dreams.Josefina Mantuano

At 62, Josefina Mantuano of Lipa City proves that modest beginnings can lead to extraordinary success. She founded “Josie’s Home Made Candies” 22 years ago with a vision to provide quality sweets to local markets. Starting with just 25 packs of yema candies and a P200 investment in a single mold, she gradually expanded into pastillas and mazapan.

Her resilience shone during Typhoon Ondoy, when she delivered up to 2,000 packs twice a week despite harsh conditions. A major turning point came in 2008 when she accessed her first B5,000 loan from a microfinance-oriented thrift bank. Over time, as her business grew, her loans increased, enabling her to purchase delivery vehicles and improve operations. Today, she employs staff, supports suppliers, and maintains a culture of care by providing rice, snacks, uniforms, and bonuses to employees.

From a makeshift home sustained by her husband’s earnings as a jeepney driver, she has found stability — and now dreams of reaching new markets. Her advice is simple: “Start small, but stay consistent. Determination and strategy will take you far.”

Clemente Ramos