Kernels of Hope

Like the kernels of corn that endure heat, pressure, and time, yet remain full of potential to grow tall and strong, Chella Baraquel, a corn vendor from San Vicente North, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, embodies survival and resilience in both life and business. From a simple kariton they built themselves to a permanent stall in the market, Chella and her family turned their humble beginnings into a lasting space to sell corn.

At an early age, Chella learned the values of perseverance and self-reliance. She had to leave school early due to family circumstances, having only reached the third year of high school, which prompted her to start working and support herself. She left home at the age of 16 and worked various jobs: a household helper in Manila, a contractual factory worker in Laguna, and then a cashier and waitress in Batangas. Each role refined her work ethic and determination to persevere.

When she returned to Oriental Mindoro in 2007, fate introduced her to Jeffrey Casalla, the man who later became her partner. Together, they faced the daily challenges of making ends meet. With little to no capital, they started selling root crops and fruits, such as singkamas and rambutan, using a kariton they had built themselves.

By 2009, they turned to selling corn, which soon became their steady source of income. Without a fixed supplier, they learned to adapt, constantly finding ways to keep their business running. Their persistence enabled them to meet customer demand and support their growing family.

But in 2014, everything changed. A series of financial challenges struck their family, draining their business capital and even their daily funds for food and expenses. With no resources left to sustain the business, Chella made the painful decision to seek work abroad in Egypt as a domestic helper. Unfortunately, even there she faced hardships. Chella experienced maltreatment and abuse by her employers and was forced to return home after several months.

That same year, her partner, Jeffrey, became a client of CARD Bank,  a microfinance-oriented rural bank, and applied for a PHP 5,000 loan to revive their corn business while Chella was abroad. In 2015, when Chella decided to stay home for good, she also became a member of CARD Bank and applied for another PHP 5,000 loan to help expand their small enterprise. Together, they slowly rebuilt what they had lost.

By 2016, their perseverance paid off. They were able to rent a stall in the Calapan City Public Market while continuing to sell at the night market. Their stall became a familiar sight, offering a variety of corn cobs. They also continued selling from their kariton, but this time, they improved it into a more durable food cart. They nurtured a simple yet thriving business that continues to sustain their family.

Their business helped them send their children to school. Their eldest is now a college nursing student, and the younger two are in senior and junior high school.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, their most formidable challenge yet. Lockdowns halted their selling, their savings were depleted, and they were forced to sell their tricycle just to survive. Before this happened, they had taken out a loan of almost PHP 80,000 from CARD Bank to expand their business further. That very loan became their lifeline, helping them keep their business afloat by selling within nearby neighborhoods and covering their daily expenses. After the pandemic, they gradually repaid the loan little by little while rebuilding their business.

With only limited resources left, they began again with just two sacks of corn as their supply, steadily earning and saving until their livelihood regained its strength. They expanded their product offerings to include peanuts, boiled corn, and buttered corn. They were even able to purchase a new tricycle, gradually recovering what they had lost during the pandemic.

Chella believes that true capital in life and business is not just money, but also patience, hard work, and perseverance. Like a kernel of corn that grows into a strong, sustainable livelihood, her story reflects steady effort overcoming challenges.

In the future, she and her partner, Jeffrey, hope to have their own non-rented stall and expand into fruits and condiment retail, a dream they will once again pursue step by step, believing that setbacks are never final for those who keep moving forward.