Melo Villareal
How Two Filipino Entrepreneurs Found New Ways to Earn with Maya Business
For many Filipino entrepreneurs, business opportunities can come from unexpected places. A social media discovery, a conversation with a customer, or a simple idea can lead to new income streams and growth opportunities.
In photo (L-R): Mark Limjuco, Von Bindolo, and Nieves Nale
In Roxas City, Capiz, Mark Limjuco turned a school canteen into a business that offers food and essential digital services. In Cagayan de Oro City, Nieves Nale continued expanding her neighborhood sari-sari stores despite setbacks that tested her determination.
Although their businesses serve different communities, both entrepreneurs share a common goal: finding practical ways to earn more, serve customers better, and keep growing.
As Maya Business became part of their entrepreneurial journeys, Mark and Nieves showed how digital financial services and access to working capital can help small businesses explore new opportunities.
How a Social Media Discovery Helped Expand a School Canteen
Mark Limjuco first discovered Maya Business, formerly PayMaya Negosyo, in 2019 while browsing social media. Curious about the platform, he downloaded the app and began selling mobile load to his co-workers.
When the pandemic disrupted businesses and livelihoods, Mark explored online food delivery. His small online venture eventually developed into a school canteen inside Capiz National High School in Roxas City.
As his business grew, Mark realized that students needed more than food and refreshments. They also needed convenient access to essential digital services.
He began offering mobile load, bill payments, and cash-in and cash-out services through Maya Business, providing students with convenient options for everyday transactions while creating additional income opportunities.
To meet growing demand, Mark needed more working capital, especially to keep sufficient mobile load credits throughout the day. He started with a PHP 1,000 loan through Maya Business, which he used to purchase additional load credits.
“Kahit maliit ang unang loan ko, naging malaking tulong ito para masimulan ang negosyo at mas mapagsilbihan ang mga estudyante,” Mark shared.
As he continued using Maya Business and managing his repayments responsibly, he gradually gained access to higher loan offers, allowing him to reinvest more capital into his business.
Over time, Mark has utilized more than PHP 160,000 in loans through Maya Business, helping him maintain his services and explore additional business opportunities.
Today, Mark continues working as a college instructor while managing his school canteen. He remains the school’s sole provider of digital financial services through Maya Business.
His entrepreneurial ventures have also expanded to include a shake drink stall and school supplies, creating additional income streams beyond food and mobile load services.
What began as a simple social media discovery has become an important part of Mark’s efforts to diversify his business and respond to customer needs.
From a Sari-Sari Store to Two Growing Neighborhood Businesses
For Nieves Nale, entrepreneurship has been a way of life for more than two decades.
She opened her first sari-sari store at home in 2002 and later established a second location. However, her business journey was not without challenges. A fire damaged her second store, forcing her to find ways to recover and rebuild.
Determined to continue, Nieves relied on her business income and additional working capital through Maya Business to help support her recovery.
She first learned about Maya Business through a representative who helped her register. She started offering mobile load and cash-in and cash-out services, giving neighborhood customers more convenient ways to complete everyday financial transactions.
As demand increased, Nieves needed sufficient funds to accommodate customer transactions while maintaining her stores’ daily operations.
Through a loan with Maya Business, she gained additional working capital, which she reinvested in her business to maintain transaction funds and support store improvements.
By managing her repayments and continuing to use Maya Business, Nieves gradually gained access to higher loan offers as her business requirements expanded.
Over time, she has used more than PHP 556,000 in loans through Maya Business to sustain operations, improve her stores, and support business growth.
“Proud ako na Maya Business partner ako dahil napalago ko ang negosyo ko at nakapagbukas ako ng pangalawang store,” sabi ni Nieves.
Today, Nieves continues to operate two stores in Cagayan de Oro City. Her experience reflects more than two decades of entrepreneurship, perseverance, and finding new ways to serve her community.
Turning Everyday Business Needs into More Opportunities
Although Mark and Nieves discovered Maya Business through different channels, their experiences highlight a similar approach to entrepreneurship: understanding customer needs and finding opportunities to address them.
For Mark, expanding beyond food into mobile load, digital financial services, refreshments, and school supplies helped create additional revenue streams within the school community.
For Nieves, offering more services at her sari-sari stores helped attract customers while supporting her efforts to maintain and improve her businesses.
Through Maya Business, entrepreneurs can offer services such as mobile load, bill payments, and cash-in and cash-out transactions. These services can provide additional earning opportunities while helping customers access convenient everyday transactions.
Eligible Maya Business users may also access working capital through Maya Advance to support business requirements, including maintaining funds for daily operations.
For small business owners looking to expand their offerings, digital financial services can provide another way to connect with customers and explore new income opportunities.
Getting Started with Maya Business
Entrepreneurs interested in exploring digital business services can download the Maya Business app through Google Play or the App Store and register using one valid ID.
For more information, visit:
Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Visit www.bsp.gov.ph for more information.
For 24/7 assistance, call 1800-10-845-7777 toll-free or 0919-057-7777 using SMART or TNT.
About Maya
Maya is a fintech ecosystem in the Philippines that includes Maya, a digital banking platform, and Maya Business, a payment processing and business solutions provider.
Maya Bank is a digital bank regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with deposits insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) up to PHP 1 million per depositor.
Learn more at maya.ph and mayabank.ph.
Follow Maya on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok at @makeyourmoneymaya, and on X at @mayaofficialph.
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