UPLIFT is proud to have helped these people achieve their dreams, whether through microfinance, savings, or social services. They are living testimonies to the value of hardwork, determination, and a little help from UPLIFT.

Erwin and Ida Perante
Erwin and Ida Perante of Barangay Baritan, Malabon, are exemplary partners who were able to make their dreams come true.
Erwin is a pedicab (a taxi bicycle with sidecar) driver when a friend recommended him to join Uplift. So in May 2002, he went to Uplift-Bayan-Bayanan branch, became a partner and received an initial Php2,000 loan. They used this loan to set up a small stall in front of their relatives' house, selling foods for schoolchildren. Through Skills Training, Ida learned how to make peanut butter, cheese pimiento, sandwich spread, and other items which she also sold in their stall.
The Perantes are especially hardworking; while Ida takes care of the foodstall, Erwin drives his pedicab. Eventually, they were able to separate from their relatives and rent a house. They built a store in front of the house, which sold very well. Even if there are big stores nearby, the neighbors still buy from them! Up until now, Erwin still drives his pedicab, and also drives a school transport service. Ida manages the store, which is still open up until midnight-they earn a minimum of Php1,000 and up to Php6,000 daily! They are can now meet their two daughters' needs and secure their future.

Arsenia Garcia
Arsenia will start her 19th loan with Uplift. Her last loan was a Php18,000 loan.
She built a small recycling activity based company; she buys old and damaged materials, restores, and sells them in her own shop. She works with any materials: plastic, steel, iron… She joined Uplift ten years ago, and from then on, her situation keeps improving significantly. She now owns her house that she renovates, has a small ca,r and generates a daily income of Php2,000! Her daily salary is close to Php1,200 per day, and her savings is reaching Php50,000!
The whole family had benefited of her improving situation: her 6 children are married and one of them is working as an engineer. Her husband helps in her micro-company.

Edeluisa Sanque
The Sanque family used to live in Araneta, Quezon City until a fire destroyed their home and had to relocate in Luzon Avenue, Quezon City. It was not easy for them to move. Her husband, Regino, had to leave his job as a jeepney driver. Fortunately, a relative was looking for a tricycle driver, and Edeluisa recommended her husband. Meanwhile, Edeluisa joined various small lending schemes and borrowed from loan sharks. She used the money to sell meat products.
in 2000, a neighbor told Edeluisa about Uplift. She was attracted to the low interest rate and the CBU savings program, and became a partner. She was noted for her discipline in her savings. In her 5 years with Uplift, she only withdrew 5 times from her account, which she uses to expand her business. From meat products, Edeluisa has also sold biscuits, processed fish, shoes, bags and clothes, cellphone cards, home appliances and auto parts. Regino, on the other hand, drives a tricycle everyday. When they have saved enough, they bought their own tricycle, then another tricycle, and a jeep which they used for school transport. Now, they are no longer worried about their financial needs.

Zenaida Yap
Zenaida Yap of Muzon, Bulacan, is not your ordinary housewife. A mother of three, she is an active participant in meeting her family's needs.
She used to sell jewelry and other women's products. Although she had buyers, the time spent on going from house to house lessened time with her family, especially her children who were still young.
This is when she thought of opening a small 'sari-sari' (variety) store in their house in Phase 2, Pabahay 2000, Muzon, Bulacan. She started with a meager Php50 capital, selling snack foods which sold well with children. From then on, she expanded her commodities and included instant noodles, canned foods, etc.
In 2000, Zenaida discovered Uplift-Muzon branch, which was then based in Pabahay 2000. She received an initial Php3,000 loan to further improve her business. Slowly, her sari-sari store grew.
Aside from loans, Zenaida also benefitted from the CBU Savings program. In fact, her savings helped her with the ocassional, large spendings such as school fees.
Right now, she is in her 8th loan cycle. She is now a Micro-Entrepreneur Loan beneficiary, where a partner may have loans ranging from Php21,00-Php80,000!
With her inquisitive attitude, determination, being a responsible partner, and discipline in savings, Zenaida hopes to continuously improve her business until it becomes a grocery store within her community.

Linda Llorente
Linda and her husband, Ariel, moved to the city in the hopes of a better life. With money they saved from their province, they settled in Bagong Silangan in Quezon City, and built a 'carinderia' (eatery) in front of their house. In 2002, she joined Uplift through a recommendation from her neighbor and became a partner, attracted by the low interest rate. After two loans, she chose to instead continue as a partner-saver. Everytime she needed money, she does not have to loan. Ariel bought a billiard table for rental which also provides them income. Their carinderia has a daily minimum income of Php1,400.
As a sign of good savings discipline, Linda divides her savings according to their necessities; there is one piggy-bank for the water bill, one for the electricity bill, and so on. They were soon able to fix their house and buy appliances and other needs. Their daughter, Angeline, has a bright future ahead, thanks to their determination to succeed.

Clemencia Paller
Clemencia is an Uplift Partner who lives in the very depressed area of Navotas. She starts her 4th loan with Uplift, and had the kindness to explain us how she uses her previous loans.
With her 1st loan of Php2,000 she bought a mobile shop on a tricycle and stocks to sell food to people in the street.
With her 2nd loan of Php3,500 she renovated a small shop that she is renting.
With her 3rd loan of Php5,000 she bought canned food and drinks.
With her 4th loan of Php8,000 she bought cooking materials to prepare rice and other cooked food.
Before she met Uplift, Clemencia used to consider her life was really hard and that she will not able to raise her child. But now he goes to school!
Today her net income is reaching Php2,000 per day and she earns Php300 daily. Her husband is owns a motorized tricycle and earns Php200 per day. But he is very happy of her wife's success and is grateful to Uplift.

Sherwin Balog
Like every Filipino youth, Sherwin Balog of Navotas hopes to have a job to support his family, but finding work has not been easy for him. Her mother, Luz, is an Uplift partner, and so in 2005, when she learned of the benefits of the Access to Company Employment (ACE) service of Uplift, she encouraged her son to join the PEJHET training which enhances a person's job-hunting skills. Sherwin wasted no time and attended the training in May of that year.
After the training, he was then referred to a job opening at a popular travel inn. After two interview sessions, he was successfully hired as hotel staff.
Now in his sixth month of work, Sherwin helps in his family's daily expenses and can now support his own needs. He thanks Uplift, especially the ACE service, for giving him the opportunity to maximize his potential, find a decent job, and use his time in a productive manner.

Rustica Sambilay
Rustica dreamed of having her own handicraft business. She wanted to design and create handmade butterflies. In 2004, she met some friends that happened to be Uplift Partners. They encouraged her to go to any Uplift branch office. She became a Partner and borrowed 5 times to get a stock of necessary raw material, she needed fabrics and steel components to make her dream come true: crafting small decorative butterflies.
The amount of loans went up gradually, starting at Php2,000 to reach Php5,500 today. She is now facing more and more orders: in malls, outside churches, in handicrafts shops, and in house to house selling. Her 2 children go to school. Her husband resigned from his work to support her. One of the main concerns of Rustica is that some of her customers pay her 30 days later, so she is sometimes facing cash-on-hands management problems. This is why she had 2 missed payments with Uplift. Nevertheless she was able to manage and was still supported by Uplift. Her weekly salary is around Php4,000, which make it a real success for a woman capable to build her own business!

*(Currency rate as of mid-2006: US$1=Php52; EU1=Php67)