When we think of manikuristas we remember the sweet ladies who remove the ingrown of our toes and tell us their life stories and reciprocate them with our own. The exchange of life advice and stories often made the nail sessions enjoyable. One of those life stories is of Lalaine Santander, 29 years of age and married to Emar Lahaylahay with their four children – Ella Marie, Juliana Meer, Emar Jr., and Ream Lei residing in Purok Bulawanon, Barangay Madisanon, Molave, Zamboanga Del Sur.
This story begins with Lalaine learning and honing the skill that began from her high school MVTS Subject major in Cosmetology. She used this skill to provide the needs of her growing family, which has then become one of their sources of income. She has established several regular clients in the neighborhood. During regular days, she could handle 3-10 customers a day at PhP100.00 rate for both manicure and pedicure for one person. Her husband on the other hand drives a single motorcycle and a part-time collector at a private company.
The couple’s income is almost enough to provide the needs of their kids. But CoVid-19 has proven to be much worse than the expected 1-month lockdown and became an ongoing struggle one year later that has affected Lalaine and Emar to provide for their family. Lalaine’s regular customers stopped availing her services to practice social distancing. And at the same time, her husband also stopped driving because the passengers are restricted to going outside during the community quarantine declaration.
The pandemic brought unprecedented situations to Lalaine’s family as it affected the means of livelihood of the couple. Life became even more difficult for them. Their little savings have been used. Not to mention that Lalaine was pregnant on their fourth child during those time.
Fortunately, Lalaine was listed as one of the DSWD SAP beneficiaries in the Molave, Zamboanga Del Sur and was also qualified to receive the Livelihood Assistance Grant under the Sustainable Livelihood Program. She received the sum amount of PhP5,000.00 last October 6, 2020. Not only did she use this money to purchase nail care kits, nail polish, but she also ventured on other possible means of income such as buying and reselling frozen products such as longganiza.
After a couple of months of community quarantine, Lalaine’s regular customers started availing her services again. While she does manicure/pedicure, she also sells her frozen products to her customers.
Lalaine can now earn PhP400.00-PhP1,000.00 a day from manicure/pedicure services. While her frozen products can earn up to PhP1,250.00 a week. The capital amount she received does not only help her regain her customers, but her confidence too. She makes sure her utensils are sterilized after every customer. She also has more choices of nail polish her customers to choose from. Where they once diminished their savings, Lalaine has now reopened their savings account with a cooperative and now has total savings worth PhP6,100.00.
Nalipay ug mapasalamaton kaayo ko sa DSWD sa tabang nga amuang nadawat sa DSWD gikan sa SAP ug sa Livelihood Assistance Grant kai dako kaayo syang tabang saamuang pamilya. Natabangan ko nga mabalik akoang panginabuhi
Lalaine Santander, SLP Beneficiary
