Mrs. Corazon Guipo, 51 years old, is a resident of Purok Matahimik, Cotta, Lucena City.  She is wife to a mechanic named Antonio Guipo and a mother to 2 girls and 4 boys.

“Aling Cora”, as she is fondly called, started out her business by buying bottles and junks while busy with her small sari-sari store.  It has not been easy for Aling Cora to juggle her time between her family and her small business.  Just like other housewives, she faced a lot of challenges in life, one of which is when her husband suffered from accident while at work.  His left leg was injured, which called for a major surgery.  Yes, he was able to walk again, but he was not able to go back to work anymore.

However, with Aling Cora’s courage to move on, she did not let her painful experience press her down.  She became stronger in her faith in God who guided her in overcoming all obstacles.  Her husband took over their small store while she continued buying scraps, bottles, and junks.  She depended on “Bombays” and other “loan-sharks” for additional capitalization.

It was in April of 2004 when Aling Cora was invited to attend a seminar sponsored by KMBI.  She learned that she could apply for a micro-loan suited for her business at very low interest rate.  Aling Cora immediately formed a group of 30 women engaged in small businesses who elected her as Center Chairwoman.  Out of her first loan with KMBI worth P4,000, she was able to buy a second-hand “padyak” (a bicycle with sidecar) amounting to P2,000.  She used the remaining P2,000 to purchase more scraps and junks.

As the business grew, she was able to acquire parts of another unit of “padyak”, which her husband assembled.  Soon enough, they were able to assemble 5 more “padyaks”.  These “padyaks” were used to mobilize more bottles and scraps at the nearby localities.

With Aling Cora’s hard work and determination, the business flourished.  Her husband also showed improvement until fully recovered from his difficulty in walking.  Aling Cora gradually became a role model, not only to her family, but also to the group of women she handled and the rest of their community.

A year after her membership with KMBI, she was able to buy an old jeepney, which her husband used to buy scraps and junks from neighboring towns and transported goods to Manila.

One day, while her husband and her eldest child were busy buying scraps in a town next to theirs, a pointed metal accidentally hit the left eye of his son.  It was a serious case that they needed to rush to Manila for an “eye-operation”.  The said operation was successful.  However, her son suffered from partial blindness.  It was also during that time when the center/group she is handling was facing financial difficulties.  Yet, Aling Cora remained steadfast.  She was able to elevate the group’s enthusiasm to weather their situation.

Currently, Aling Cora is on her 4th loan cycle with KMBI.  She was able to open three more junk shop branches in Sariaya, Guinyangan, and in Lucena City.  She is earning P10,000 to P20,000 net income every week.

“There are junks in life that make us stronger and prepare us for success.  But rising above adversities and circumstances could not be made possible of we don’t bank on our strengthened faith in God.  I believe that it is only by His grace these blessings flow.” – Aling Cora