TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental (PIA)--"You need to have passion for what you are doing because when you have passion within you, everything will fall into place."

Marigold Alvarez, a micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) graduate of the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) program of the Department of Trade and Industry Misamis Occidental (DTI-MisOcc), shared how her passion has turned into business at the young age of 23.

"You just have to be determined, and you really need to have a passion for what you are doing," said Marigold Alvarez during the Let's Talk MisOcc online forum hosted by Philippine Information Agency Misamis Occidental via Zoom.

She started Golden Munch Cakes and Pastries while a student. She said she was not too nervous to choose such a path after graduating college because she is used to it and has already had it programmed in her mind that, by hook or by crook, Golden Munch will rise to the top.

Alvarez talked about how she started her own business in 2020, which was mostly run by students at the time. In February 2023, they opened their first physical store.
 
Why cake and pastries?

So cakes and pastries kay before when I was a kid mamaligya na jud mi daan [we were selling back then], when I was still in grade 2, I would sell munchkin donut dayon among parents ginatudloan gyud mi [then our parents would teach us] how to handle our finances well."

Alvarez had envisioned opening a cake and pastry shop when she started college.

"Cake and pastries because I am challenged in this field being not a creative person. Knowing how to bake cakes and pastries requires creativity, especially in designing cakes and other pastries," she said, adding that she is really challenged with such because making designs is not her specialty.

However, her love for challenges and feeding her curiosity for heartwarming food made her pursue the said business.

Sharing how she became an entrepreneur, Alvarez said her family really pushed her to do better, and as a fresh graduate, she took on the challenge of doing business instead of looking for jobs.

"That's very risky sa akong part knowing nga daghan na kaayo ug graduates and with the help of my partner na ginasuportahan sad ko so nindot kaayo kay naa gyud kay family to support you sa imong mga decisions," she said.

(That's very risky on my part, knowing that there are many already in the business. I'm a graduate, and with the help of my partner, who supports me, it's nice because you have a family to support you in your decisions)

After joining the Kapatid Mentor Me Program of DTI, Alvarez said the program was really helpful, especially for newbies like her. She also cited the sessions conducted, like the concepts on finances, legal aspects, marketing, and supply chain management, as being essential guides to her business.

Seeing growth and good opportunities in running a business, Alvarez encourages young people to start a business and achieve financial freedom at a young age.

"There's nothing wrong with working an 8-5 job, but with business, you hold your time, and it will challenge you to do better, and eventually you will achieve your financial freedom," Alvarez said. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)