FRUIT VENDOR GOES FROM STRUGGLING TO THRIVING

When Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the island of Leyte, Operation Blessing was among the first to organize relief efforts. But the assistance did not end there. We constructed the Community of Hope (COH), a community development project for Yolanda’s most severely affected families.

This time, we are continuing to assist families in the community by distributing new livelihood project assistance.

Bryan Quirante and his wife, Aines, were COH beneficiaries who used to sell fruits in downtown Tacloban. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryan’s business suffered greatly as demand for his products fell and he was unable to make ends meet.

When Operation Blessing launched its project to provide livelihood assistance to COH families, the couple decided to revive their fruit vending business in the city proper and start a rice retailing business within the COH.

Last September 2022, the couple received two sacks of rice, one box of apples, two boxes of ponkan, two boxes of grapes, and fifty pieces of cellophane worth ₱10,000 ($179.75) from Operation Blessing.

In just three months, Bryan was able to save money from his weekly sales to buy a sidecar worth ₱18,000 ($323.56) for his motorcycle. So on rainy days when he cannot sell fruits, he earns money by riding his tricycle.

Thanks to the livelihood assistance program, Bryan was able to overcome the challenges brought about by the pandemic and turn his business around. He was grateful for the support and continued to work hard to grow his business even further.

“Before I received livelihood assistance, I was struggling to make ends meet and support my family. My fruit business was small, and I was not making enough money to cover all of our expenses. Thanks to this assistance, I am now able to provide for my family and give them a better life,” Bryan said.