As the new school year begins this June, a small tailoring shop in Zone 5, Lobrigat Village, Putik Tumaga Road, Zamboanga City is bustling with activity—thanks to the support provided by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under its Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day (MTD) Program.

Erminda Aguilar, a local entrepreneur and owner of the tailoring shop, was among the latest beneficiaries of the MTD initiative through the OVP-Western Mindanao Satellite Office (WMSO). In May, she received ₱15,000 in additional capital to help sustain and grow her business.

With over 12 years of experience in tailoring, Aguilar continues to attract loyal customers, especially during the back-to-school season when demand for school uniforms surges. Beyond uniforms, she also specializes in making high-quality jerseys through sublimation printing, a skill she proudly honed over the years.

“Hilig ko kasi magtahi kahit noong bata pa ako kahit kamay-kamay lang tapos ‘yung aunty ko noon, tinuruan niya ako (magtahi) kahit sa padyak lang. Tapos sabi ko parang maganda naman siya at nalilibang kasi ako kapag nananahi tapos naging ano ko na siya, 12 years na ako nagtatahi salamat sa Diyos,” (I've loved sewing ever since I was a child, even if it was just by hand. Back then, my aunt taught me how to sew, even just using a manual sewing machine. I thought it was nice, and I found it really enjoyable. Eventually, it became a real passion of mine—and now, I've been sewing for 12 years. I'm grateful to God for that,) Aguilar said.

Thanks to the MTD grant, Aguilar’s tailoring shop remains operational and thriving, accommodating increasing orders, including those from local schools.

“Depende kasi sa job order, halimbawa magpagawa sila ng mga t-shirt mga around siguro pinaka mababa 100 pcs, sa 1,500 ang sa amin, sa 500 ‘yun na ‘yung mga materials, pati labor lahat ng gastos. Pag nagtatahi kami sa eskwelahan, ‘yung mga PE uniforms, maramihan ‘yan siya,” (It really depends on the job order. For example, if someone asks us to make t-shirts—let’s say the minimum is around 100 pieces—we usually charge about ₱1,500. That ₱1,500 already covers everything: materials, labor, and all other expenses. When we sew for schools, like PE uniforms, those are usually in bulk orders,) Aguilar explained.

In addition to her tailoring business, Aguilar’s family recently launched a small printing press, further expanding their enterprise and income opportunities.

“Sa ngayon kasi wala pa kaming sariling printing pero meron kaming heat press, ipa-print namin sa labas tapos i-press lang namin dito sa amin,” (Right now, we don't have our own printing equipment yet, but we do have a heat press. So, we have the designs printed outside, then we just do the pressing here on our end,) Aguilar said.

The MTD Program is a livelihood support initiative of the OVP that aims to empower small business owners across the country by providing them with financial aid and entrepreneurial support.

For Aguilar, the assistance has made a real difference stating that; “Syempre natutuwa tsaka excited. Nakadagdag (income) talaga ‘yan kasi katulad nito hindi na kami mahihirapan pa. Halimbawa, meron kaming bibilhin meron nang perang pangdagdag, ‘di na kami mag-antay pa ng customer para mag downpayment sa amin, meron na agad na mga material na magagamit. Malaking tulong talaga (MTD) ‘yan,” (Of course, we're happy and excited. It really adds to our income, because now, things are easier for us. For example, if we need to buy something, we already have extra money to use—we don’t have to wait for a customer to make a down payment. We already have materials ready to use. The MTD has really been a big help.)

As the OVP continues to expand its reach through programs like MTD, stories like Aguilar’s demonstrate the impact of inclusive support for grassroots entrepreneurship in communities across the Philippines.