They say photographs preserve lifelong memories. These captured moments remind us of the people
and places that have become a part of
us, eventually becoming a priceless
treasure that we keep for as long as we
can.
Flordeliza Taña, a 53-year-old
native of Davao City, likes capturing all
kinds of images. As a result, when she
met her photographer spouse, her career path was altered. She quit her job
as an office secretary and started a business in photography.
She was hesitant at first, but
she has grown to love her new journey
with the help of her husband. She was
able to do what she enjoyed while earning a living and provide for their two kids.
In 2001, they rented a tiny stall in Agdao to enable them to keep operating
their business. However, in 2013, the industry’s competition tightened even further,
making it difficult for them to attract customers. The rental space was subsequently lost
as a result of this.
Starting over was difficult for them. Fortunately, they found a cheaper stall
for rent along San Pedro Street and were approved of a loan from CARD Bank, a
microfinance-oriented rural bank. They used the
loan to acquire a computer
and printer. Additionally,
the institution approved an
educational loan for their
children to support them
in college. They graduated
and are now employed in
their different fields.
“My proudest moment as a mother is that I
have been able to send
my kids to college, and as
a bonus, we are currently renovating our home,”
Flordeliza said.
Currently, they
are now the official photographers for nine different schools in Davao City.
They still cater photography services for wedding
and baptism not only in
their hometown, but also
in Tagum City and General
Santos City.
Years from now,
she hopes to continue capturing special moments for
their customers in a space
they can call their own.
“With the continued support of our trusted CARD
Bank, we believe that we
will soon expand our business.”
More than a bank client
Flordeliza is also an active
client who participates in
the various activities that
CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD
MRI) launches. During the
pandemic, when CARD
MRI introduced its “Ugnayan at Kwentuhan” program to keep clients and
their families productive
despite the community
lockdowns, Flordeliza encouraged her co-clients to
join the different activities.
Their center,
Waling-Waling, was hailed
as the grand winner for
the “Sikat Ang Center Ko”
where they performed a
speech choir. They also
tried their luck in the SineMaya 2022 Community
Short Film Fest where
they bagged major and
minor awards, including
the 2nd Best Film and
the Founder’s Excellence
Award. But for Flordeliza,
one award stood out.
“Never in my
wildest dreams did I think
about fulfilling one of my
dreams, especially at my
age now. CARD MRI has
taught me to continue
dreaming because there
will always be an opportunity for it to come true,”
Flordeliza said in a speech
after accepting the Best
Actress Award.
Aptly titled “Ngiti
sa likod ng mga lente,” the
short film she directed and
starred in captured her
personal story of her journey as a photographer.
“At CARD MRI,
we are encouraged to
discover our endless potentials as individuals.
We must always grab
the chance whenever we
can,”
