Microfinance: Meet Belinda Belo Curit
October, 2021Belinda Belo Curit is an enterprising microentrepreneur from South Laguna who has transformed a roadside vegetable stall into a thriving sari-sari store and community cafeteria. Despite completing only secondary school and coming from a modest background, she has continually sought ways to support her family and create sustainable income opportunities.
Belinda began her first business venture in 2016, selling vegetables from a makeshift roadside structure. Over time, she added home-cooked dishes to reduce food waste and generate extra income, and expanded into small-scale livestock trading and selling banana leaves to local food vendors.
She became a member of Grameen Pilipinas Microfinance Inc. (GPMI) on 7 July 2020, receiving a ₱15,000 (AUD 394) hardship loan during the COVID-19 pandemic to upgrade her business. The funds helped her build a stable structure and purchase cooking equipment, turning her stall into a combined sari-sari store and cafeteria that provides affordable food to her community.
Belinda has taken that trust seriously, completing three loan cycles on time and now serving as the Centre Leader for Purok 3, Masapang. Her business continues to grow, providing essential goods and hot meals while inspiring others in her community to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
“This business isn’t just about earning – it’s about giving my family stability and helping my community have access to food they can afford.”
– Belinda Belo Curit
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