Want Not…Waste Not
Name: Julie Villanueva
Branch: Hinigaran, Negros Occidental
Project Group: Project Dungganon since 2001
Businesses: Retailer and Manufacturer of Entwined Ropes and Blacksmith Shop
Gone are the days when a blacksmith was employed to make weapons used only for the vanity of war. Instead, a blacksmith today has become a progressive figure where manufacturing of metal into something more useful has become a viable and growing business. Like Julie Villanueva of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, together with her husband, Nonita Villanueva, plunging into the operations of a Blacksmith Shop to utilize scrap iron for manufacturing farming tools like bolos, animal drawn plows, axes, and manual cane plants or fertilizer applicators has been an emerging enterprise that has forged families and friends alike into an era where believing that even in scrap, one can find his or her fortune.
Julie and Nonito started building a life together through selling. Since farm materials are the most salable products around their town, they would do retailing in the market hoping to strike a good sale for the day. The income would keep them afloat each day but it was never big enough for them to start a better business. Through the unyielding pleading of a friend, who was already a member of Project Dungganon, Julie Villanueva gave way and joined the organization in 2001. Her fear of loaning money slowly diminished as she listened to the policies of the project. Amazed with the knowledge of a credit institution offering financing with no collateral and no guarantee, she opted to become a member of Project Dungganon to help her husband with their household expenses and to venture into something that is cut above the rest.
Her first cycle loan worth P3,000 was used as a capital for a better business. Nonito, who saw the opportunity in recycled materials, invented a contraption that can manufacture twined ropes used to hold fishing nets. The rope, which is purchased from ships, is chosen and separated between the good and the bad ones and downsized to smaller ropes that can be used by fishermen and farmers. The income they earned for the next three months from this business resulted to a good performance. Because of this, Julie was ecstatic to find out that she was able to pay her loaned completely.
Together, the husband and wife team worked their way through a stack of used ropes, sifting through each layer until they form a good usable rope as their subsequent loans have grown to their 7th cycle in the amount of P20,000. From this loan, the Villanuevas decided to purchase a welding machine that opened the doors to another enterprise - a blacksmith shop.
Having some experience in welding, Nonito set course, using every skill and talent he knew to start creating products that are most salable in the market. Since most of the materials produced were for clients who need it occasionally, Nonito and Julie felt that although it would be a gamble, this was a conduit to an income-generating business. Taking that into consideration of the finance and accounting, Nonito made sure that they are able to produce quality products that would earn the trust of people. It was also important that there would be a repeat purchase and that, through word of mouth, the products would get free marketing. With the new business, they are now able to expand into other towns reaching out to more clientele.
As the years went by, Julie showed exemplary performance especially in her repayment and is a dynamic member of Project Dungganon. Even after gaining prestige from her Masikap Award in 2004 by Citibank Microentrepreneurship, she has not forgotten her humble beginnings and always remembers the One Being that made everything possible in her life today.
“I believe that this business is God-given so I have to manage it carefully and to always give to Him ten percent of my income,” Julie said.
With her three children finished with college, they are now helping out in their enterprise. Julie feels that after seeing her children complete a degree, she has achieved and gained even more than all the money she has earned in the past eight years. It is every parent’s dream, especially in the Philippines, to see their children graduate from university.
After acquiring two motorcycles that is being used to deliver their products, Julie is planning to buy a utility jeepney that will help them greatly in their growing business. She also hopes that with her next loan of P19,500, they can start a glassware business.
With four full-time employees, Nonito is now busy building sidecars for tricycles, a common means of public transportation used in their town. From this model, Nonito dreams to be able to get into manufacturing other means of transportation that will increase the development of their shop.
With a minimum of P20,000 a month to a maximum of P40,000, Julie and Nonito have not stopped creating and building. Alleviating their family from poverty of enterprise, hard work and faith in God has become the driving force for them to keep expanding. The ingenuity and trust in their product has carried them through leaps and bounds against all odds.
Without any doubt and a grounded conviction, the Villanuevas have revolutionized the power of recycled products and the inventiveness of the blacksmithing industry.
Like Julie would say “MAY PERA SA BASURA!” …and she was right.