Women's Month: 3 Filipinas share journey toward financial freedom
MANILA, Philippines — March is Women’s Month, and it is the perfect time to celebrate the milestones that women, particularly Filipino women, have achieved in their struggle to be recognized for their true worth in the face of sexual discrimination.
It is no secret that women used to be regarded as second-class citizens in their own land. But things have changed. From not being empowered to vote and not being educated because they would only end up as housewives, Filipino women have slowly but surely elevated themselves and made people realize that what men can do outside the home, women can also do — sometimes even better. They are also proving that they can keep up with the changing times and do well — even in the digital world.
Over the last decade, the Philippines has successfully halved its gender gap in formal account ownership. Yet, the digital divide remains persistent, and somehow women are still being left behind. As the economy shifts, reports show that only 59% of Filipino women have used mobile money. Compare this to the 71% of men who do. This isn't just about access anymore; it has become about the lack of financial services women need to truly thrive.
For Tala, a financial infrastructure company for the global majority, financial inclusion starts with narrowing the gender gap. Women in a community that is 62% female may be empowered by being provided with access to credit that can spark lifelong progress. Many women use this fund to invest in business and education, thus leading to better financial control and an improved quality of life.
Empowerment affects women from home life to career growth. Here, three women — Ailyn, Mitch, and Berla — talk about how they bridged the gap between limited access to funds and lasting financial stability:
From caregiving student to mom-preneur
Faced with her husband’s sudden illness, Ailyn, a caregiving student from Cagayan de Oro, turned the family crisis into an opportunity for financial growth by seeking flexible, convenient online credit from Tala.
With the loan, she started a small food stall to cover her husband’s medical bills and the family’s daily expenses, and, later on, expanded the food stall into a sari-sari store. This has since become a sustainable source of livelihood for the family. Through hard work, Ailyn is now able to balance motherhood and business, proving that stay-at-home moms can also become breadwinners.
"I used the loan wisely to keep the capital rolling. Even if I’m a housewife taking care of my children, I still want to have my own income," she shared.
Now, Ailyn has moved beyond a paycheck-to-paycheck existence, and her steady income helps enable her to save for her children's academic future. Her sari-sari store doesn't just pay the bills; it givse her greater financial stability and peace of mind.
Turning big dreams into reality
As a single mother, Mitch went through a journey that started with merely covering basic needs, such as household essentials, and staying on top of bills. But her heart was set on something bigger, going from renting the space they first called home to purchasing a decent home of their own. She resorted to making a loan, but she consistently built her credit standing and was eventually able to secure the additional funds that she needed to finally buy the house, while at the same time maintaining the freedom to be present for every moment of her children’s lives.
A strategic mom with big dreams, Mitch paired her big dreams with resilience and hard work, so she can now live a life that is no longer bound by financial stress.
"It was the first thing that came to mind when I needed financial help to reach my goal," Mitch said.
Carving her own path
In the face of a challenging job market, Berla from Baseco, Manila, decided to carve her own path by launching a business through the financial app's support. She relied on her loan for groceries as she established her sari-sari store from the ground up and supplemented her income by transporting goods across Manila Bay via boat.
"I couldn't just rely on the store alone as a single stream of income," Berla explained.
For her, not getting accepted into a traditional job should not be a dead end. Instead, she saw the rejection as an invitation to innovate. "If I couldn’t get hired in any field, then I would just have to make my own opportunity," she said.
Her advice to people with big aspirations: “Trust your abilities and always give your best effort. You’ll never know what’s possible unless you take that first step.”
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