Fueled by Grit

For Maricel Pumares of Cabuyao City, Laguna, building a business was never about having the perfect start. It was about finding a way forward whenever life presented a challenge.

Maricel’s journey began after she met her husband, Greg, through mutual friends. During the early years of their marriage, she devoted herself to caring for their growing family while Greg worked as a mechanic for a well-known motorcycle manufacturer.

But as their family grew, so did their expenses. Greg’s income alone was no longer enough to meet their needs.

In 2011, the couple took a chance and turned a small space in front of their home into a motorcycle repair shop. Maricel took charge of selling spare parts and managing the day-to-day operations, while Greg handled major mechanical repairs during weekends.

Their hard work slowly paid off. The shop provided them with an additional source of income, which they eventually used to purchase four tricycles that generated another stream of earnings for the family.

Turning setbacks into opportunities

When Greg’s employer relocated its branch to Batangas, the couple saw an opportunity rather than a setback.

In 2016, they rented a space near Greg’s new workplace and opened another motorcycle repair shop.

Managing the second branch became more manageable because Greg remained closely involved. After finishing his shift, he would make a stop at the shop to check the business before heading home to Cabuyao.

Meanwhile, as their children began attending school, Maricel looked for another source of stable income. She began working as an office staff member and secretary for a Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA).

Her days became a balancing act—selling motorcycle parts at their shop in the morning before reporting to her TODA work in the afternoon.

“Hindi kasi palagi may bumibili ng spare parts o nagpapagawa ng motor, kaya naman may regular na trabaho pa rin kaming mag-asawa para kapag dumating yung panahon na mahina ang kita sa negosyo, may backup plan kami,” Maricel shared.

For the couple, keeping their jobs while running the business was a practical decision. Their regular income served as a safety net whenever business was slow.

As they continued improving their services, they invested in a fuel injector diagnostic tool in 2020. The equipment allowed them to identify motorcycle problems more efficiently without having to dismantle the entire engine.

Then the pandemic struck.

Weathering the storm

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the couple’s growing business to an unexpected halt. Both Maricel and Greg tested positive for COVID-19, forcing them to temporarily close their shop while their children underwent quarantine.

Their medical expenses quickly consumed their savings. To help cover the family’s needs, they were forced to sell three of their four tricycles.

It was one of the most difficult periods they had faced as a family and as entrepreneurs.

Still, Maricel and Greg chose to start again.

By 2023, they had gradually rebuilt their livelihood and regained their footing.

Rising with financial support

Maricel’s journey with CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) began in 2016, when she received her first loan of PHP 3,000. She used the funds as additional capital for their Batangas branch.

Over the years, the support helped her sustain and strengthen their business. Today, she has a PHP 50,000 loan that helps keep their operations running.

Because motorcycle repair demand can fluctuate, Maricel also sets aside part of the loan as a financial cushion, helping the family manage household expenses during days when customers are fewer.

Today, Maricel and Greg continue to work full-time in their respective jobs while running their motorcycle repair business. Despite their demanding schedules, they make time to oversee the shop every day, with the help of three employees who keep its operations moving.

For Maricel, every challenge has become part of the journey.

From a small repair shop in their front yard to a growing business sustained through years of hard work, the couple’s story is one of persistence, sacrifice, and the courage to begin again.

And as they look toward the future, Maricel continues to dream bigger—not simply to expand the business, but to build a lasting source of livelihood that will continue to support her family for years to come.