Legacy Fund powers women entrepreneurship in Caloocan
Bagong Silang, Caloocan – In one of the busiest thoroughfares of Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan, the aroma of freshly cooked meals draws in residents, passing workers, and students to the small karinderya owned by 54-year-old Eleonor Taladtad. More than serving affordable meals, the karinderya has become an important lifeline for Eleonora and her family. Her husband works as a company driver, and the small business helps them make ends meet amid rising daily expenses.
Just across the neighborhood, Eva Tubale, 60, manages a sari-sari store, makes peanut butter, and cooks breakfast to earn additional income. As the sole provider for her family, Eva finds every possible way to keep food on the table. What started as an unstable livelihood gradually became their family’s primary source of income.
Another entrepreneur, Annaliza Corpuz, 55, has been running her own karinderya to help her husband, a construction worker, support their children’s education. Like many mothers in the community, she hopes their hard work will one day lead to better opportunities for their children.
As their businesses slowly grew, so did the need for additional capital to sustain their livelihoods. All three women eventually became members of the Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative (KCOOP), a microfinance institution dedicated to helping women realize their dreams of a better life.
Journey with KCOOP
Bounded by a shared sense of community, the three women had already been actively engaged in K-Coop’s initiatives even before the pandemic. Among them, Eva has the longest history with the cooperative, having first become a member in 2005.
All three availed of KCOOP’s K-Kabuhayan, a loan product designed to provide capital to small-scale entrepreneurs for business expansion and scaling. As their livelihoods gradually became more stable, they also accessed other loan products, such as K-edukasyon and K-bahay.
“Sa tulong ng KCOOP, unti-unti naming napagawa ang bahay namin. Dati simple lang, pero ngayon maayos na. Pinaghirapan talaga.” Eleonor shared.
[With the help of KCOOP, we were able to gradually improve our house. It used to be very simple, but now it is in much better condition. We really worked hard for it.]
Eva also availed the same housing support to repair their roof and improve their living space. Meanwhile, educational support through K-Edukasyon helped Annalisa continue supporting her children’s schooling.
For the three women, K-Coop became more than a source of financial assistance. It became a partner in steadily improving their lives.
Navigating the pandemic crisis
Business was flourishing for the three entrepreneurs when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, disrupting economic activity and small businesses across the community.
Because of community quarantines and limited mobility, many KCOOP members experienced sharp declines in income. Small neighborhood enterprises that depended on daily customers struggled to stay open.
In response, K-Coop, together with various development organizations, introduced initiatives to address both livelihood challenges and food insecurity during the crisis.
Eleonor, Eva, and Annalisa became part of Project Karinderya, a joint initiative that brought safe, nutritious food to urban poor households while helping karinderyas recover from the business slump.
The project helped keep their business afloat during the pandemic while allowing them to continue serving the communities heavily affected by quarantine restrictions.
Support from Marissa Camacho Legacy Fund
To further strengthen its support for women entrepreneurs in Bagong Silang, KCOOP received assistance from the Marissa Camacho Legacy Fund (MCLF) of the Peace and Equity Foundation in 2021. Named after one of PEF’s Founders, Marissa Camacho, the MCLF is a Php22-million fund supporting women’s entrepreneurship, social enterprise innovation, and youth leadership.
The fund is currently used for K-Kabuhayan and skills development for women entrepreneurs. Through the program, Eleonor, Eva, and Annalisa participated in training on baking, basket-making, food safety, and business management.
In 2025 alone, the MCLF program reached 1,502 women entrepreneurs in Bagong Silang and Camarin.
Better lives through KCOOP
With the cooperative’s support, Annalisa was able to send all four of her children to college, and they are now professionals.
“Malaking tulong talaga ang mga programang na-avail ko. Unti-unting umaangat ang buhay namin,” she said.
[The programs helped us a lot. Gradually, we were able to improve our lives.]
Eva, meanwhile, was able to expand her small store and food business, fully renovate her house, and support her child’s studies.
“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa KCOOP. Hindi lang pautang ang binigay nila. Pati kaalaman at pag-asa para sa akin at sa aking anak,” she said.
[I’m deeply grateful for KCOOP. Not only did they provide us loans, they also shared knowledge and hope for my family.]
Annalisa eventually became a coordinator for Kasagana-Ka Mutual Benefit Association, one of the synergizing organizations under KASAGANA-KA, where KCOOP also belongs. In this role, she supports fellow women entrepreneurs in the community and helps introduce new initiatives and opportunities to members.
“Ngayon, hindi lang ako nagnenegosyo; nakakatulong na rin ako sa iba bilang leader,” she said.
[Now, I’m not just running a business; I’m also helping others as a leader.]
The stories of these women entrepreneurs show that beyond financial support, organizations such as KCOOP and programs like MCLF can create pathways toward dignity, stability, and renewed confidence.
Their journeys are far from finished. As their businesses grow and their roles in the community deepen, Eleonora, Eva, and Annalisa continue to move forward — carrying with them not only the lessons of hardship but also the belief that small opportunities, when nurtured, can transform lives.
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