Nanays get busy with what’s cool this summer

CEBU, Philippines - We always hear the word vacation, relaxation, and island hopping when we talk about summer. A 51-year-old mother, however, thinks about what is good for tourists during the hot season.

“Summer has given me a lot of opportunities, not only with swim wears but most especially with sport outfits and get-ups,” said Placida Nuñez of Cebu City.

A nanay-client of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), she started as a small-scale tailor making dishcloths and rags. Eight years ago, she attended a RAFI Micro-finance orientation featuring its tailoring investments, which helped her through the difficulties in life.

“Working with RAFI is a worthwhile experience. I have been taught how to stand on my own and live my dreams,” she said.

Since February this year, instead of making just swimming outfits, she had been receiving orders from different barangays, companies and organizations to create basketball and volleyball jerseys.

“It’s the season for basketball leagues and team building for companies. Perseverance really helped me get through this. This summer has been very great to me,” Nuñez said.

A determined nanay (mother), she made loads of sacrifices to reach where she is now. She has received numerous orders good for the whole year, according to the seasons of the month. Every January to March, she would mostly be in Liloan, Cebu, where a particular public elementary school orders field demonstration uniforms.

This hot season, she makes two-piece swimming outfits and cycling shorts for men, which cost Php150 and Php75, respectively. Most orders come from professionals who prefer swim wears that fit their budget and size.

“RAFI taught me how to be sensitive to people; their budget, their expectations, that’s why I stand on what I believe is suitable for the people. Maybe, that’s the reason why clients mostly call me for orders. I am a strong-minded woman and I don’t let opportunities slip through my fingers,” she said.

For those who are not into swimming and prefers to relax and stay home, Arlene Abatayo, a 38 year-old RAFI client from Minglanilla, Cebu, said most of her customers prefer short pants, sexy blouses, dusters, and loose dresses because of the humid days and the scorching sun.

Although orders peak in December, she is still busy during summer. “I didn’t have to worry about summer even though I don’t make swimming wears because most of my clients prefer to relax and worry nothing,” she said.

“Since I started with my RTW (ready to wear) business, I already have eight workers helping me take care of the orders. My husband is with me along the journey and we helped each other in pursuing this business for our and our workers’ families,” she added.

Her RTW has expanded to Surigao and Leyte.  She credits RAFI for the blessings 11 years after she was trained and educated by the foundation.  She said she owe RAFI the business skills she learned that helped her support her children’s education in great schools in Cebu City.

“I have never forgotten how RAFI Micro-finance loaned me the money to start this business. I will surely treasure it,” Abatayo said. (FREEMAN)