This 27-year-old pharmacist from Laguna left her job to pursue a new business venture: backyard piggery.
Iloisa Marie Lebrilla immediately worked in a hospital after passing the board exam. For two years, she acquired knowledge and experience during her hospital duty.
“Pero hindi kasi ganun talaga kaganda ‘yung salary po. Pero maganda talaga ‘yung work experience ko sa hospital pero ‘yun nga po, sa considering the distance po tsaka ‘yung salary kaya nagdecide na din po ako mag resign po. Parang pinag iisipan ko nga po na mag abroad. Nagrereview na po kami ng for IELTS. Tapos habang nagrereview po, dumating naman po ‘yung sa pagbababoy po. Kaya pinush po namin ‘yun,” Iloisa told The Philippine STAR.
But her work transition wasn’t easy for her after several people judged her decision. Despite all of the bad feedbacks, she remained focused on her professional growth.
“Para sakin po kasi, parang wala, wala lang po sakin ‘yung mga ganun. ‘Yung sinasabi nila na college graduate pero nagtitinda lang ganun kasi parang sakin kahit college graduate ako wala namang masama na magtinda sa palengke. Tuloy-tuloy lang kahit may mga pagsubok ganun. Tsaka ‘wag tayong magpapadala sa mga sinasabi ng iba. Alam naman natin mga Pinoy, madaming sinasabi,” she noted.
Iloisa and her husband started their business with a capital of P75,000. After selling their first pigs, they already regained their investment.
She also said that her salary from being a full-time health worker to being a business owner is quite different.
“Nung nag-hospital po ako, less than P15,000 ang starting ko po dun eh. So nung nag-piggery business po kami, nagtitinda din po kasi ako sa palengke. ‘Pag nagtitinda po parang nasa P1,000 to P2,000 per day po ‘yun, ‘yung kinikita po ‘dun. Tapos po sa nung nagstart na nga po kami mag-alaga ng baboy, magtinda ng mga napalaki naming mga baboy, sa 10 heads po less than P100,000 din po,” Iloisa said.
She shared that she got the inspiration from her parents, who sold meat products since they were kids.
“Simula pinanganak po ako, dun po nila kami napalaki sa pagtitinda po ng baboy sa palengke. Apat na magkakapatid po kami, natapos po kami lahat sa pagtitinda po nila ng baboy po. So ‘yun po, na-inspire naman po ako, sila din naman po ‘yung nagpu-push sa akin na parang soon, ganto, magkaroon kami ng farm,” she shared.
Iloisa managed their backyard piggery business while working as a roving pharmacist. According to Iloisa, her background as a pharmacist is helpful especially when giving medicines and vitamins to the pigs.
“Parang nagpra-practice pa rin ako ng pagiging pharmacist kasi may mga gamot din naman po kaming tinuturok sa baboy. Nag-aaral ako ng computation ng mga gamot ng baboy. Nag-eenjoy talaga ako sa ginagawa ko,” she said.
Iloisa stressed that there is nothing wrong with working or entering a business that is far from one’s degree.
“Kung gusto niyong mag-try ng ibang path, parang hindi pa naman huli ang lahat. Parang nasa satin naman ‘yun kung gusto natin na i-push ‘yung ibang business. Kung gusto natin mag-business aside from work, pwede naman natin pagsabayi,” she said.
“‘Wag tayong mawawalan ng pag asa na ituloy ‘yung pangarap natin. Parang dun tayo mag focus. Focus sa goal. Pero syempre hindi lang puro focus, hindi lang puro pangarap, dapat nasa gawa din,” she added.
