Josephine Ramos, Junior Writer
For more than three decades, the sun-kissed tan skin of Alexander Amado from Atimonan, Quezon, tells a silent story of the long hours he spent under the blazing sun, diligently drying fish to make a living.
He was a fresh graduate when he started making and selling dried fish. Since it was also his mother’s business, he found it easy to get started since he was already familiar with the process. Although Alexander earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED), he found greater enjoyment in running a business, so after careful consideration, he set aside a teaching career to pursue his passion for business.
Alexander handles every step of the drying process himself, from buying the fish in the market to cutting, cleaning, seasoning, and laying them out to dry under the sun. He produces around 30 kilos each day, and just six months ago, his nephew started helping with the cleaning, which has made the workload a bit lighter.
Sometimes, he would personally go around the neighborhood to sell dried fish, while other times, buyers came straight to his house. His products have reached customers as far as Manila. On good days, he can sell all 30 kilos per day. But on slow business days, he only sells about 10 kilos.
In 2015, when he needed additional capital for his business, his sibling, who was already a client, introduced him to CARD Bank, a microfinance-oriented rural bank. That marked the beginning of his journey as a client of the institution, which supported him in sustaining his dried fish business.
His biggest struggle in this kind of business is the unpredictable weather, especially during heavy rain and typhoons. It became difficult to dry the fish; hence, sales would drop due to limited production. To keep the income flowing these days, he switches to selling fresh fish at their house.
Reflecting on his experience, he shared, “In this kind of business, aside from capital, it’s hard work and perseverance that truly matter. There is no room for impatience because drying fish takes time and a lot of patience, especially during the rainy season.”
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