Cirila Gepana

She's a dedicated and hardworking mother who strives hard just to provide for the needs of her family. Her name is Cirila Gepana. She lives in Yulo’s Park, Brgy 14, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. She is 53 years old and is married to Rogelio Gepana who helps her in running their business. The couple is blessed with three adult children and some of them have their own families already. Cirila is happy to have three grandchildren.

Because she had the knowledge and skills to make “Bibingka”, a native Ilonggo delicacy that is made with rice flour, coconut milk, sugar and young coconut strips cooked in a top-fired oven, she started this business in 1996 with the help of her husband. They set up a cart with a specially made "bibingka" oven that enabled them to make and sell hot "bibingka" in different places that have high foot traffic. On Sundays, they setup their mobile "bibingka" bakery in front of the cathedral where Sunday mass goers could buy their product when they come out of the church after attending mass. On weekdays, they setup in front of schools with high student population.

In 2005, she joined NWTF-Project Dungganon to gain access to additional capital for her business. Because of the additional capital, she was able to improve her business income so that on the 3rd cycle, she decided to invest her loan not on her "bibingka" business but instead invest it in a backyard pig-fattening venture. This gave her a good return on her business after three to four months when she sold the pigs, enabling her to increase her income even further. The two ventures give her a combined average income of PHP 3,000 per week, which pays for their household expenses and school expenses, with some left over for savings.

Cirila is happy that her husband and children also help out in her business. For one week this October, they have setup their mobile store at the Bacolod Public Plaza because of the high pedestrian traffic in the area when Bacolod City celebrates its weeklong "Masskara" Festival. Cirila's "Bibingka" has gathered many regular customers and she has started receiving advance orders.

For her previous loan, she borrowed Php 27,000, which she used as additional capital for her business and it was fully paid on time and in full within her loan term. Now she is borrowing for her 12th cycle, a loan of Php 29,500 to be used as additional working capital for her business. The income from it will be be used to improve the living conditions of her family and some will be set aside as savings for future emergencies.

About NWTF:
In a world full of challenges, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. has answered the calling of not just a few but thousands of women. Through the alleviation program, these women have progressed from earning less than a measly $1 a day, to surpassing the realities beyond their dreams. They have learned to live a life where they can finally be called honorable. This is Project Dungganon.

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