EAP Scholar-Success Community Enterprise Specialist
Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation

Arnold, 23 years old, single and presently residing in Sampaloc, Manila is the eldest of four (4) children of Ruben de Chavez a carpenter/fisherman and Marites de Chavez a plain housewife of Parang, Calapan City, Mindoro, Oriental. He was able to finish his high school through Alay Buhay’s Educational Assistance Program (EAP) - regular subsidy. In 2003, he graduated as salutatorian in Jose J. Leido, Jr. Memorial National High School Annex in Mindoro. From 2nd year to 4th year he received from Alay Buhay the amount of Php 1,700.00 a year for his schooling.

Alay Buhay continued to assist him in his studies in college through the EAP-regular subsidy where he received Php 7,200.00 per year for his schooling. He graduated in 2008 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering.

After graduation and going through the rigors of living alone in Manila and with financial subsidy from Alay Buhay, Arnold was given a part-time job in Alay Buhay doing the filing of documents and monitoring the grades of other Alay Buhay scholars. In May 2008 he was hired as Community Enterprise Specialist by Alay Buhay.

To date, Arnold is still supporting the needs of his brother Alvin who is in 4th year college and his sister Gladys who is a freshman in college also in the same school were Arnold took-up his studies.

Like the others, Arnold has plans for the future. He would like to manage his own business, presently he is into food processing and “buy and sell” business. If he will become a successful businessman someday, he will support Alay Buhay as one of its donors. He is very grateful to Alay Buhay for without Alay Buhay he will not have fulfilled his dream of finishing college.

Convenience Store and Food Vendor
Center: Maria
Loan Officer: Yolly Fuentes

In the year 1993, I arrived from Singapore where I worked as a baby sitter for six (6) years. On my return, I started a small business selling fried quail eggs and tapioca drinks. In 1999, I heard about Alay Buhay Microfinance and I attended a seminar and I passed. This was supposed to be help for additional school allowance for those in the Educational Assistance of Alay Buhay and at that time, I had a scholar of Alay Buhay who is now a graduate from a Computer Technician Course from Samson Technological College .

I was also able to obtain an Asset Loan for my new refrigerator and since then I have been able to sell cold drinks aside from the bread and finger foods that became added to my wares. In truth, I started with a loan of two thousand pesos (P2, 000) which slowly increased until it reached fifty thousand pesos (P50, 000) and through which I was able to have my daughter's house fixed as well as the three rooms which I rent out and which generate a monthly rental of four thousand pesos (P4, 000). I was also able to buy two (2) tricycles in Bulacan which my brother plies and which earns six thousand pesos (P6, 000) a month. I also earn money from selling breakfast, snacks, having a convenience store, selling toys from Divisoria and slippers.

Sometimes, I also dream of having a computer and a Xerox (photocopying) machine and maybe someday this will happen. But most of all, all my children have graduated from college. My eldest daughter graduated with a degree in Commerce major in Accounting, my eldest son, graduated as a Computer Technician and my youngest son graduated as a Radio and TV Technician. I have also paid for the lot on which my house stands, 24 sqm with a price of thirty five thousand pesos (P35, 000) on October 2, 2006 . I have made improvements on my house even more this time with the help of Gawad Kalinga.

Now, I am very happy and thankful to God for the graces that He has given me. I am also thankful to Mr. Stephen Tindall and to all the people behind Alay Buhay. The kind people who helped us to renew ourselves and had a good life and for our success. All I owe to you for helping us. You can be proud of this as a Filipino. Thank you to you all. It will be up to God to repay you for your kindness. Thank you very much.

Respectfully,
Partner Susan S. Morada