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| Kathleen Yao (left), a volunteer coach with the Business Development Services unit of the Center for Community Transformation, tries some siomai-lunggay made and sold by Erna Gonzaga. Kathleen, who teaches entrepreneurship in a Singapore university, trained the CCT micro finance partners on how to package their product, how to approach a customer, and how to close a deal, during the expo. |
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| Visitors to the Food and Drinks Asia 2012 crowd around the CCT booth for a free taste of salabat or ginger ale. |
Ever heard of siomai-lunggay? It's your traditional siomai (Chinese pork dumpling) made more nutritious with the addition of malunggay leaves. It is also a product made and sold by Erna Gonzaga, recipient of a micro finance loan from the Center for Community Transformation Credit and Savings Cooperative.
Erna and two other CCT micro finance recipients recently joined Food and Drinks Asia 2012, an international exposition of local and imported food and drinks where they displayed siomai-lunggay, buko (young coconut) drink, and ginger ale. Their joining helped them gain business contacts and learn business techniques from experts in the field.
The CCT Credit and Savings Cooperative offers loans, savings, insurance, training, and business mentoring to micro entrepreneurs who often do not have access to such financial services. Unlike other non-government organizations that offer micro finance, CCT couples its financial services with evangelism and discipleship.
The expo was held at the World Trade Center in Manila on September 6 - 9, 2012.
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| (Left to right) Emelinda Ramos (maker and distributor of buko drink and buko salad), Erna Gonzaga, and Jennifer de Castro (maker of ginger ale powder). |
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| Emelinda Ramos of Silang Cavite started her buko juice business in the year 2000. |
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| Jennifer de Castro of the CCT Las Piñas branch started her salabat business when her family was still in Catanduanes. |
Photos and reporting: Michelle Taway
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