About Town | Ka-Cebuana Stories: The Priceless Value of Pawning
During times of need, it pays
to have a friend to turn to for help. After all, even the best ones fall on
hard times and setbacks are inevitable in life. For Gloria Fontanilla of La
Union, Betty Mallon Talavera of Iloilo, and Lordini Yupano of Aklan, help came
in the form of pawning, a practice that provided assistance all three women
greatly needed at several points of their lives. Whether it’s to help finance a
livelihood or to afford basic needs, giving up valuables for instant cash has
proven to be a worthwhile financing solution for many Filipinos.
Gloria Fontanilla
Although single, Gloria took
it upon herself to help her sister’s children finish school. All four of her
nephews and nieces were attending college at the same time so the expenses came
in lumps and there were times when her budget would fall short. During these
instances, she had to pawn her jewelry in order to produce money. For her, it
was worth it because she knows the value of education.
“Mahalaga yung mga na-isanla ko pero mas mahalaga yung pag-aaral nila.
Ayokong mahinto kaya nagsanla muna ako,”
said Gloria about her decision to pawn her items for her loved ones.
Aside from the tuition fees of
her nieces and nephews, Gloria also resorted to pawning to fund her businesses.
An Agriculture graduate, she maintains a small piggery, which she started in
1985. She is also a seamstress just like her mother.
At 59 years old, Gloria has
the choice to support only herself, but she chooses to extend assistance to
loved ones instead. When times are tough and she herself needs some assistance,
she is glad that she has someone to rely on.
“Nakatulong
talaga ang Cebuana. Malaking tulong’ yan sa amin ng mga pamangkin ko. Kung
walang Cebuana, wala akong ibang matatakbuhan. Yun lang ang alam ko. Cebuana
lang talaga,”she said.
Betty Mallon Talavera
Meanwhile, in Molo, Iloilo,
Betty has her own story of sacrifice. With eight children to support, she
cannot emphasize enough the importance of hard work and perseverance. As Betty
juggled household chores and her job in a salon, her husband was plying the
streets as a jeepney driver to support their family. Both of them had dreams
for their children so they did all the hard work that it took to give their
children quality education.
Eventually, their sacrifices
paid off and all eight of their children finished college and became
respectable professionals; a seaman, an
engineer, a nurse, an automotive specialist, a call center agent, two managers
at the Dubai Duty Free office, while one holds a key position in a local
telecommunications company.
For Betty, all the success
that their family achieved would not be possible without the help that they were
given. When asked what she has learned from all the struggles they went
through, she emphasized that God must be the center of the family and that it
is important to pay it forward.
“Dapat humble ka
at dapat tumutulong ka sa iba. At kahit ano man ang mangyari, kailangan pamilya
ang nauuna,”
she said.
Aside from relatives and
friends, Betty has also sought the assistance of Cebuana Lhuillier when they were
in need. She tells that when she was younger, she managed to collect some
jewelry which came in handy when she already had her own family. Through
pawning, she was able to pay her dues when she was strapped for cash. Now with five grandchildren, she realizes that
giving up these items was well worth the rewards.
Lordini Yupano
At the young age of 14,
Lordini, who hails from Aklan, had to step up and take on the responsibilities
of her father when he passed away. As the eldest of a brood of seven, she had
to put aside her own studies and prioritize the education and needs of her
siblings.
Lordini had to find different
ways to make money in order to keep her siblings in school. Although uncertain
about her chances of achieving anything, she eventually decided to try her luck
in Manila where she worked as a maid, as a saleslady, and a street vendor. No
matter how difficult, she was able to sustain the education of her six brothers
and sisters until they finished college, not minding that she herself was not
able to continue her studies after high school.
Whenever she had enough money,
Lordini would reward herself with some jewelry. This was during a time when she
was much younger and gold was less expensive. Little did she know that, as she
would later become a single mother of two, such acquisitions would help her
through some financial difficulties.
“Nakahiligan ko
mag-ipon ng alahas na nakatulong talaga noong nagipit ako at nagsanla. Tsaka ko
nalaman na sobrang lumaki na pala ang halaga ng mga na-ipundar ko. Kaya noong
nalaman ko ang kalakaran sa pagsasanla, ginagawa ko na sya at sa Cebuana ako
kumakapit dahil nakagaanan ko na ng loob ang mga tao sa branch at panatag ako
na hindi mababawasan ang alahas ko dahil naka-seal sa plastic at pinpipirmahan
sa akin kaya safe,” she said.
With her penchant for jewelry
and having discovered the benefits of pawning, Lordini became an alajera and now has her own jewelry
business, which has been her primary source of income. She still continues to
pawn for the needs of her business and for the education of her two children
who are in third year college and grade 7th.
Aside from having been able to
support the studies of her six siblings, the savvy 39-year old is proud to now
have her own home. “Hindi ako
nakapagtapos pero proud ako na napagtapos ko ang mga kapatid ko. Tinandaan ko
yung bilin ng ama ko na huwag ko pababayaan ang pamilya namin. At meron na rin
akong lupa at bahay na na-achieve ko rin dahil na rin sa Cebuana. Sobrang
sakripisyo ang dinanas ko para matupad 'yun. May mga beses na nag-instant noodles ako para lang makatipid.
Pero maganda ang naging balik ng lahat ng mga paghihirap ko,” she said.
Three women with three
different stories of strength, compassion, and success. Gloria, Betty, and
Lordini represent many of the Filipinos have to make countless sacrifices in
order to surpass life’s challenges and put other people’s well-being before
their own. Success comes in different forms and interpretations, and for these
three women, its true essence is being able to share blessings and achievements
with others—be it a sibling, a nephew, or a daughter.
Ka-Cebuana
Stories is a series of articles featuring Cebuana Lhuillier clients and
stakeholders in celebration of the company’s 30th anniversary.
