Lucila Datuin, a microentrepreneur from Bantay, Ilocos Sur, ensures that her business keeps up with the
changes of time and the tourists
Vigan City is a
popular destination among
tourists because of its notable preservation of the
Hispanic-Filipino culture
throughout time. Its vibrant
tourism opens doors of
business opportunities to
many Ilocanos, including
Lucila Datuin from Bantay,
Ilocos Sur.
Lucila resided
and completed her high
school education in Ilocos Sur before deciding to
pursue her college studies
in Manila. She majored in
business administration
and later worked as a marketing staff in a restaurant.
She met her
husband in Manila. They
had two kids and spent
15 years together before
he passed away. Realizing that she was all alone
raising her kids in Manila,
she decided to quit her job
and come home to Ilocos
Sur. Although she was
born and raised in Ilocos,
it was still difficult for her
to start over because she
had been away for a long
time, and many things had
already changed.
Sewing threads
of hope
When she went
back to Bantay, the first
thing she did was look for
a livelihood. She sold fish
and street foods in their
front yard. She was aware
that her current income
was insufficient to support
the needs of her children,
especially when she became a widow and a single mother to two children.
While selling fish,
she noticed an abel cloth
from a weaver passing by.
She got the idea of turning it into bags. Without a
second thought, she purchased two yards of abel
cloth and produced six
small bags.
After producing
bags, her next step was
to look for potential buyers. Lucila, who used to
live in Manila, had yet to
establish connections or
a network in Vigan City.
Rather than relying on her
acquaintances and relatives, Lucila decided to
go to souvenir shops and
introduce her products to
store owners.
Having no prior
experience, she stumbled when she started
her business in 2007. Her
products often received
criticism and negative
feedback from store owners. Lucila lost count of the
rejections she received
but refused to lose heart.
She remained firm as
an emerging microentrepreneur. She tried other
shops until she found one
store willing to display her
bags for consignment.
She eventually
went back to the store to
check on her bags. Fortunately, the travelers
had shown interest in her
crafts. It motivated her to
work harder. In the following years, she learned that
wallets made from abel
and mats were the items in
demand. Unable to handle
the volume, Lucila hired
staff to assist her in her
business production.
She started with one staff
until she hired more to
meet the increasing orders. Lucila became the
supplier of some of the top
must-visits in Vigan, such
as Heritage and Baluarte.
She learned to
adapt to produce good
quality products while
matching the customers’
and travelers’ changing
needs. Now, she also creates printed shirts, tote
bags, and wallets.
Meeting the
challenges of growth
Challenges continue to test Lucila. Her
former employees created
their own businesses and
competed with her. She
thinks it is always good to
help and uplift others but
not to the extent of imitating and owning her product designs.
Her competitors
also offered their copied
products at lower prices
in the market. With little
choice left, she competed
with their prices; otherwise, she would not generate any income. There
is nothing more Lucila can
do but adjust and innovate. She looked for other
fabrics she used to create
unique souvenir designs
that set her items apart
from others.
“I am of age; my
creativity and imagination
are not as active as before, but I will not let any
of these problems dwindle my hard-earned business,” Datuin stated. Lucila prioritizes the needs
of her customers as fast
as she can. She always
offers the best service for
her clients as she continues to build loyalty.
To date, Lucila has six
staff in her manufacturing
business. In the past, she
started her dream using
a simple portable machine. And in 2007, she
bought her high-speed
machine using her loan
from CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO).
Meet with success
Because of her
passion and dedication,
Lucila was recognized
in the Galing ni Nanay
Awards, a recognition
given by CARD MRI for
outstanding client entrepreneurs. In 2018, CARD
MRI recognized her again
as the Gawad Maunlad
Awardee of Pagkilala sa
Mga Likha ni Inay.
In 2013, Lucila won Galing ni Nanay,
a recognition given by
CARD MRI for outstanding microentrepreneur clients of the organization.
She was also a finalist in
the 2018 Pagkilala sa Mga
Likha ni Inay.
With her perseverance, she built two
houses and two apartments. She also made
land investments and acquired three vehicles used
in delivering orders.
Right now, her
son assists her in business. He is the one who
delivers their products to
souvenir shops, while Lucila’s other child is working
in Vigan City.
“Stay committed
to your goals even if you
feel like crumbling down
with the harsh words
thrown at you,” Lucila advises how to stay long in
the business. In five years,
she envisions her business having its distinct
identity and trademark in
Vigan City. PR
