A former overseas Filipina worker (OFW) in Dubai went home to the Philippines and found success in the food business industry.
Rica Penalosa established her first food cart beside the De La Salle University in Manila back in the days when the premises of the university were less crowded.
“Nag-pushcart kami everyday, nagtutulak talaga ako ng cart,” Penalosa told ABS-CBN’s My Puhunan.
Through her little pushcart, Penalosa sold students’ meals, including bacon, footlong, and hotdog with fried rice and egg.
Establishing the business, however, was Penalosa’s least of problems as there were many struggles along the way – one of the hardest, Penalosa recalled, was being caught by the authorities from time to time.
“Hinuli ng pulis tapos tataob yung paninda mo. Buti na lang hindi sumabog yung gasul na dala ko. Tapos matatapon yung mga kanin. Kung ano sa TV ganun talaga siya,” Penalosa said.
Several months passed and Penalosa began to see the fruits of her hard work.
Earning more than PhP5,000 per day, Penalosa decided not to return to Dubai and stay in the Philippines to focus on her business.
“Kung itong PhP5,000 a day, hindi kikitain ng isang ordinaryong empleyado yun. Sa isang linggo, PhP25,000, hindi ka pa ba masaya nun?”
Penalosa said her success enabled her to spend time with her family in the Philippines.
“Mas naramdaman ko yung saya na nandito kasama pa yung pamilya mo,” Penalosa said.
