For microentrepreneurs, growth is often accompanied by uncertainty, sacrifice, and difficult decisions. Building a business from the ground up is a journey filled with both hope and hardship. There are days when progress feels slow and challenges seem endless, making it easy to question whether the dream is still worth pursuing. Yet, it is often through these struggles that entrepreneurs discover their strength, resilience, and capacity to grow. 

This is a mindset embraced by one of RAFI Microfinance’s clients, Ate Mercelyn Torrenueva, a 50-year-old entrepreneur from Buenavista, Bohol. For more than two decades, she has dedicated herself to building Torrenueva’s Food Products, a business she started in 2003 that produces local snack favorites such as camote chips, banana chips, kolo chips, and gabi chips. A RAFI Microfinance client since 2023, Ate Mercelyn shared that she was once a member who later stepped away before deciding to return. Looking back, she fondly refers to this chapter as her “Balik RAFI MFI” journey—one that opened new opportunities and helped her continue growing the business she had worked so hard to sustain. 

Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, Ate Mercelyn started small. What began as a home-based food business operated from the heart of her home, where she personally prepared and produced her products while striving to provide for her family’s needs. Armed with determination and an initial capital of only ₱10,000, which covered basic equipment and raw materials, she took a leap of faith to pursue a livelihood that could create a better future for her loved ones. 

Committed to strengthening her enterprise, Ate Mercelyn took important steps to formalize her business and secured her DTI registration in 2020. For her, this was more than just a business requirement, it was an investment in the future of her enterprise and an opportunity to reach more customers and markets. 

However, expansion came with its own challenges. In the early years, much of her business relied on consignment arrangements with different establishments and souvenir shops. While these partnerships helped her products reach new markets, payments could only be collected after the products had been sold. At times, she had to wait weeks before receiving payment, making it difficult to purchase raw materials and maintain production. 

Rather than allowing these challenges to hold her back, Ate Mercelyn sought ways to strengthen her business. Recognizing the need for additional capital, she decided to reconnect with RAFI Microfinance. What initially served as a solution to her financial needs eventually became a turning point in her entrepreneurial journey, providing her with the support needed to sustain and expand her operations. 

Her journey took another positive turn when she was endorsed by the Operations Team as a recipient of the PEER+ Program, implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Through the program, she received an FDA subsidy and participated in product consultations with industry experts, helping her improve both her products and her business practices. 

PEER+ Program Awarding in Bohol last August 22, 2025 

One of the most significant outcomes of the program was the development of a new logo and enhanced product packaging. For Ate Mercelyn, these improvements went beyond aesthetics, they gave her products a stronger identity in the market. With a more professional and recognizable brand, her products became more appealing to customers and attracted new buyers. Promotional support through RAFI Microfinance’s Tindahan ni Nanay page and annual Product Catalogue further boosted her visibility, helping her connect with a wider customer base. 

Today, her products reach customers across Bohol, including Buenavista, Getafe, Inabanga, Sagbayan, Tagbilaran, and Tubigon. They are also available in souvenir shops near the iconic Chocolate Hills, allowing both locals and visitors to enjoy the products she has spent years perfecting. What started as a small home-based venture has steadily grown into an enterprise serving multiple communities across the province. 

The opportunities she received through the PEER+ Program also enabled her to establish a dedicated production area for her products. For Ate Mercelyn, this milestone represented more than business expansion, symbolized the progress she had worked toward for years and affirmed her belief that with perseverance and the right support, small businesses can thrive. 

When asked what advice she would give to fellow microentrepreneurs, Ate Mercelyn’s message is simple yet powerful: be willing to take risks. For her, growth comes from having the courage to embrace opportunities even when the outcome is uncertain. Equally important is maintaining a positive outlook during difficult times and thinking strategically when making business decisions. 

As her story demonstrates, being a microentrepreneur is never easy. The journey is filled with challenges, sacrifices, and moments of uncertainty. Yet Ate Mercelyn’s experience serves as a reminder that business growth rarely happens overnight. It begins with the courage to take the next step, the determination to keep going, and the faith to believe that every challenge can become an opportunity for something greater.