Carmelita Erejer

Talent and skill would be a great help in order to achieve success in business. This is how Carmelita and her husband sustain the needs of their family. They were engaged in weaving native hats and it was the major source of their income.

Carmelita Erejer, 54, is a resident of Toledo Cebu City. She is married to Alvin Erejer, 46. They were blessed with one son who is now 20 years old and still studying.

The couple has been engaged in business for a long time in weaving native hats. This is their primary business that was already part of their lives because it was the major source of their income. The couple has a great talent in designing and weaving native hats that they have focus their attention to this kind of business. The initial capital for this kind of business was just small because the most important things to be considered are talents and skills. The raw materials in making native hats are from the leaves of “anahaw” and “buri” palm, a native palms that found in the Philippines. The leaves of these native palms are being processed before weaving to attain the quality of the finished products.

The couple helped each other in their business. After they have finished weaving some hats, the couple sells it to nearby towns and barangays. During summer seasons, the demand for this native hats is so high that the couple were able to save money for the education of their son. The couple’s dream for their only son is to give him a good education because they have no other things they could left for him.

The couple did their best to meet the demand of their customers but sometimes due to lack of capital they only accept "made to order" which minimizes the cost. Through her proper management of their business they were able to sustain the education of their son. They have no interest in any material things as long that they could give their son a bright future. She admitted that their income on their business was just enough for their needs but their passion in weaving hats are already in their hearts.

Additional capital will be a big help for Carmelita and her family. She wanted to have an established business for the future of her son. She wanted to purchase more raw materials for their business to increase their products. She also wanted to bring their products to the market to generate more income.

Additional capital will be a big help for Carmelita and her family. All that she wanted is a bright future for her son.