{"id":21060,"date":"2025-06-01T17:38:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T09:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/?p=21060"},"modified":"2026-04-21T07:51:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T23:51:17","slug":"micma-katorse-velma-abejero-copy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/?p=21060","title":{"rendered":"MICMA Katorse: <br><strong>Velma Abejero<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"21060\" class=\"elementor elementor-21060\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3e5ca500 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"3e5ca500\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2054eb44\" data-id=\"2054eb44\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a0098dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5a0098dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><p align=\"justify\" style=\"margin-top:5.0000pt;margin-bottom:5.0000pt;text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 2.125rem;font-style: inherit\">From a Wedding Gift to a Business Empire<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 2.125rem;font-style: inherit\"><\/span><\/p><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c9e1bd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c9e1bd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b><i>Velma Abejero&#8217;s Story of Success with Oro Integrated Cooperative<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dda1dae elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dda1dae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-21072\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1a1bc1f5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"1a1bc1f5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-32a5d957\" data-id=\"32a5d957\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4786cbc3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4786cbc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For Velma Dagunlay Abejero, what started as a modest sari-sari store built from wedding gift money has grown into a thriving multi-branch cellphone and gadget business. All thanks to hard work, discipline, and the support of her co-operative, Oro Integrated Cooperative (OIC)<\/p><p>Velma, 43, lives in Tankulan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, with her husband Michael John and their four children. Their entrepreneurial journey began in 2007 with a small store in Lapasan, and her husband peddling eggs and ice cream in nearby barangays. After moving to Manolo Fortich, they decided to shift to a cellphone business, combining her background in business management and her husband\u2019s technical skills in phone repairs.<\/p><p>The biggest challenge was capital. As cellphone models quickly evolved, keeping up with customer demand for the latest units and accessories required constant investment. Velma found her solution in OIC. She became a member in 2008, starting with a \u20b15,000 loan that helped launch their second branch. Over time, she accessed larger loans to grow the business, all while diligently saving and encouraging her children and staff to do the same.<\/p><p>Today, they operate eight branches in Manolo Fortich and neighboring municipalities like Kisolon and Talakag. Through their business, they\u2019ve purchased property in Sankanan, vehicles, and even a condo unit in Cagayan de Oro \u2014 now used by their daughter who studies in the city. Two of their children are in college, and the couple can now support not only their family\u2019s needs but also community events and causes through donations and sponsorships.<\/p><p>Their success also means employment for others. Velma and her husband now have 10 employees, all earning above minimum wage and receiving bonuses and incentives. Some staff have been with them for over 15 years, have built their own homes, bought vehicles, or finished school while working part-time.<\/p><p>\u201cWhenever I need capital, I go to OIC because I feel secure,\u201d she says. \u201cHere, we\u2019re not just members \u2014 we\u2019re owners.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4bec120 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"4bec120\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-facb0d9\" data-id=\"facb0d9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41d05b5 elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"41d05b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Image Carousel\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper swiper-image-stretch\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 6\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY ENIDE.00_00_37_59.Still013\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 6\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_06_03_48.Still016-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY ENIDE.00_06_03_48.Still016\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 6\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_08_08_13.Still018-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY ENIDE.00_08_08_13.Still018\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 6\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_08_17_00.Still017-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY ENIDE.00_08_17_00.Still017\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"5 of 6\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_05_14_02.Still014-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY ENIDE.00_05_14_02.Still014\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"6 of 6\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY-ENIDE.00_05_50_21.Still015-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"NANLIMBASOG_TC_SANNY ENIDE.00_05_50_21.Still015\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From a Wedding Gift to a Business Empire Velma Abejero&#8217;s Story of Success with Oro Integrated Cooperative For Velma Dagunlay Abejero, what started as a modest sari-sari store built from wedding gift money has grown into a thriving multi-branch cellphone and gadget business. All thanks to hard work, discipline, and the support of her co-operative, Oro Integrated Cooperative (OIC) Velma, 43, lives in Tankulan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, with her husband Michael John and their four children. Their entrepreneurial journey began in 2007 with a small store in Lapasan, and her husband peddling eggs and ice cream in nearby barangays. After moving to Manolo Fortich, they decided to shift to a cellphone business, combining her background in business management and her husband\u2019s technical skills in phone repairs. The biggest challenge was capital. As cellphone models quickly evolved, keeping up with customer demand for the latest units and accessories required constant investment. Velma found her solution in OIC. She became a member in 2008, starting with a \u20b15,000 loan that helped launch their second branch. Over time, she accessed larger loans to grow the business, all while diligently saving and encouraging her children and staff to do the same. Today, they operate eight branches in Manolo Fortich and neighboring municipalities like Kisolon and Talakag. Through their business, they\u2019ve purchased property in Sankanan, vehicles, and even a condo unit in Cagayan de Oro \u2014 now used by their daughter who studies in the city. Two of their children are in college, and the couple can now support not only their family\u2019s needs but also community events and causes through donations and sponsorships. Their success also means employment for others. Velma and her husband now have 10 employees, all earning above minimum wage and receiving bonuses and incentives. Some staff have been with them for over 15 years, have built their own homes, bought vehicles, or finished school while working part-time. \u201cWhenever I need capital, I go to OIC because I feel secure,\u201d she says. \u201cHere, we\u2019re not just members \u2014 we\u2019re owners.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[95,45,46,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-member-stories","category-articles","category-asides","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21060"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21085,"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21060\/revisions\/21085"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mass-specc.coop\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}