For Cecilia Natividad owner of Mama Cili Enterprise, the key to making it in the new normal is to continuously search for opportunities.

Mama Cili Enterprises manufacture, sell, and export bottled Bangus. Cecilia also takes pride of her personally produced and guaranteed fresh products. “Our raw inputs were raised from our family-owned fishponds and some sourced from our neighboring fish operators in Anda, Pangasinan,” she shared.

Pre-pandemic, Mama Cili’s enjoys a steady stream of regular orders . Her products were supplied to hotels, resorts, restaurants, and individuals who buy them as gifts.

“I participate in local and international trade fairs sponsored by DTI and DA. Much of my sales came from orders from these trade fairs and when the pandemic happened I was left without these assured market.

Upon the implementation of the quarantine protocols, Mama Cili’s continued to service regular customers but institutional markets have dramatically declined.

“We experienced three (3) months of temporary disruption in operations. My employees were on on-call basis and they were paid from savings of the business.

Fortunately, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) where Cecilia is a member introduced her to Bayanihan CARES . “I’m using the loan proceeds to supplement my operating capital,” she shared.

] “It is important to keep our finances liquid and be cautious in our spending. Mahalaga din na sinisigurado natin na di nagbabago ang ating produkto para ang customer natin bumabalik kahit mawala tayo ng maikling pahanon.”