“No matter the trials, I will rise again for my child.” These were the words of Rosalie “Ma’am Saling” Notarte Ginogaling, a 42-year-old solo parent and long-time member-owner of Makilala Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MAK-MPC). A sari-sari store owner in Malasila, Makilala, Cotabato, she has been a co-op member for eight years, finding strength in both her child and her co-operative.

Life was never easy. She left an unhealthy marriage and returned to her hometown with her child, starting over with help from her parents. Her first sari-sari store was funded through her mother’s ₱80,000 loan from MAK-MPC. However, in 2019, her community was struck by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake that destroyed her home and business.

With the help of a calamity loan from MAK-MPC, she rebuilt both, constructing a new house and opening a new store. In 2020, she expanded into wholesale coconut oil, soft drinks, and groceries. With another loan in 2021, she grew her business, earning ₱300,000 weekly in sales. Today, she supplies 10 sari-sari stores and four larger retailers, with loyal customers across Barangay Malasila.

Success didn’t come easily. “At first, it was difficult to gain customers’ trust,” she said. “I gave discounts and thank-you tokens just so they’d return.” She also faced personal setbacks, including financial loss due to a dishonest partner. But her child remained her source of strength: “Every hug reminded me to keep fighting.”

Determined to grow, she adopted a POS system from Unilever and ventured into hog-raising, using her ₱300,000 loan to build a piggery and purchase land. In 2022, she bought a Bonggo delivery truck and later acquired a 100-square-meter lot to support her growing enterprise.

Through it all, MAK-MPC stood by her. “MAK-MPC is more than a co-op — it’s a life partner,” she says. She maintains good standing through on-time payments and regular share capital contributions. Her staff admire her care, and her children credit the co-op for improving their lives.

Ma’am Saling’s journey is one of strength and perseverance. With MAK-MPC by her side, she continues to rise, proving that through courage and cooperation, even life’s greatest setbacks can become comebacks.