TSKI Client Stories Ep. 8: From Needle To Noodles - Ma. Marilyn Calcetas’ Story of Padayon

Описание: “Sa tanan nga may damgo, magpadayon lang kamo kay maabot gid ang oportunidad sa inyo nga kabuhi.” - Ma. Marilyn Calcetas (Client, TSKI Leon Branch, Leon, Iloilo)

For Ma. Marilyn Calcetas, life has been a continuous act of padayon—moving forward despite limitations, trusting that hard work paired with opportunity will eventually bear fruit.
A long-time client of TSKI Leon Branch in Leon, Iloilo, Ma. Marilyn is known in her community both as a tailor and a batchoyan owner. Her story reflects how small beginnings, when supported with perseverance and care, can lead to lasting transformation.

Ma. Marilyn’s journey began with a skill she already possessed—tailoring. Through sewing, she helped provide for her family, but like many microentrepreneurs, growth was limited by a lack of capital. With the help of a TSKI loan, she was able to strengthen her tailoring business, accepting more orders, improving her work tools, and increasing her income.
This step did more than expand a business; it encouraged her to dream further.

As her tailoring income became more stable, Ma. Marilyn saw another livelihood opportunity. With continued support from TSKI, she put up a batchoyan business, offering a well-loved local dish that became another steady source of income for her family.
From carefully stitching garments to serving warm bowls of batchoy, her work showed resilience, adaptability, and quiet determination. Together, these two livelihoods helped her family stand on firmer ground.
Through her tailoring and batchoyan businesses, Ma. Marilyn was able to send her children to school, build and improve their home, including their house, CR, and other basic needs, and support her family with dignity and self-reliance

What began as a loan gradually became a foundation for long-term stability.

For more than 30 years, Ma. Marilyn has been part of the TSKI family. Her journey mirrors the organization’s commitment to walking alongside clients through different seasons of growth.

As TSKI marks its 40th Anniversary, her story stands among many that show how steady support and perseverance can change lives over time.
Today, Ma. Marilyn continues her work with gratitude. Her message to others remains simple and heartfelt: Magpadayon lang. Keep going. Opportunity will come in its own time.

From needle to noodles, Ma. Marilyn Calcetas’ journey shows what can happen when determination meets opportunity. It is a story of hard work, gratitude, and growth that reflects TSKI’s mission of bridging the gap between poverty and progress.

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