Stories of inspiration

Mula sa Maliit na Tindahan Patungo sa Mas Matatag na Kinabukasan: Ang Kwento ni Alma Cajan

July 29, 2026

Kuwento ni: EJ San Jose, PSFI Program Officer

Sa Zone 6, Barangay Sta. Rosa del Sur, Pasacao, Camarines Sur, unti-unting nababago ang buhay ni Alma Cajan, isang ina at may-ari ng maliit na sari-sari store. Sa pamamagitan ng Roots to Shoots (RTS) Pasacao 2.0 Program, na ipinatutupad ng Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) sa suporta ng Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), nabigyan si Alma ng kaalaman at oportunidad upang mapabuti ang kalusugan ng kanyang pamilya at mapalago ang kanilang kabuhayan.

Kasama sa programa ang kanyang apat na taong gulang na anak na si Princess Cajan, na nakinabang sa Mother and Child Care (MCC) component ng RTS. Sa mga learning sessions, natutuhan ni Alma ang tamang nutrisyon, wastong pag-aalaga sa bata, at kahalagahan ng paghahanda ng balanseng pagkain. Aniya, dati ay umaasa lamang siya sa mga nakasanayang paraan ng pagpapalaki ng anak na kanyang namana mula sa mga nakatatanda.

Isa sa mga pagbabagong labis niyang ipinagmamalaki ay ang pagbabago sa eating habits ng kanyang anak.

“

Dati, hirap kumain ng gulay ang anak ko. Ngayon, paborito na niya ang gulay dahil sa mga natutunan ko sa tamang paghahanda ng pagkain.

Alma Cajan RTS Pasacao 2.0 Program Participant

Hindi lamang sa kalusugan ng kanyang anak nagdulot ng positibong pagbabago ang programa. Bilang may-ari ng isang sari-sari store, nakatulong din ang livelihood at financial literacy trainings ng RTS upang mas mahusay niyang mapamahalaan ang kanilang maliit na negosyo. Dahil sa mas maayos na paghawak ng kanilang kita, naipagawa nila ang harap ng kanilang bahay upang magsilbing mas maayos at permanenteng pwesto ng kanilang tindahan.

Isa rin sa mga una niyang naipundar mula sa kinita ng negosyo ay isang secondhand refrigerator na nagkakahalaga ng ₱3,000. Dahil dito, nakapagbenta siya ng mas maraming produkto, kabilang ang malamig na inumin at iba pang madaling masirang paninda, na nakatulong upang madagdagan ang kita ng kanilang pamilya.

Para kay Alma, higit pa sa kabuhayan ang naibigay ng RTS Pasacao 2.0. Ang pinakamahalagang natanggap niya ay ang kaalaman at kumpiyansang gumawa ng mas mabubuting desisyon para sa kanyang pamilya.

Ang kanyang kuwento ay nagpapakita kung paano ang pinagsamang suporta sa nutrisyon, kaalaman, at kabuhayan ay maaaring lumikha ng pangmatagalang pagbabago. Sa pamamagitan ng Roots to Shoots Pasacao 2.0, patuloy na tinutulungan ng PSFI, sa suporta ng Metrobank Foundation, Inc., ang mga pamilya sa Pasacao na bumuo ng mas malusog, mas matatag, at mas maunlad na kinabukasan.

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