Girl who sells pandesal dreams of becoming a restaurant owner someday

[Pandesal is a local bread that Filipinos take for breakfast along with coffee.]

While most of the children in the community aspire of becoming a teacher someday, Jhesie Mae, 10, dreams differently. She wants to have a restaurant business someday.

“I would sell all sorts of food, especially adobo. I love adobo!” she says. Adobo is a Filipino delicacy that contains meat cooked with vinegar, soy sauce and garlic.

The dream came after she experienced that she could save lots of money by giving a little everyday. Jhesie Mae belongs to a savings group for children that World Vision helped form in her community to teach children the discipline of savings at an early age.

“I used to save money in an empty plastic jar. But I don’t enjoy doing it now. It is more fun to do it with other children. There are many of us in our savings group around 10. Sometimes there are children who failed to come because they are sick or doing something or they went to their relatives living in another town,” she says.

Every week, Jhesie Mae and other children gather to save money. She used to keep a portion of her school allowance for savings. After a year, the savings would be returned to the children. In 2020, she was able to contribute a portion of her savings for house repair. In 2021, she purchased a cheap mobile phone that she currently uses for her study.

“I am saving because as the eldest child, I want to give something to help my parents and siblings. The previous year, I gave my savings to my parents as additional money for the repair of our house. I wanted to help my parents repair our house. I am happy to see that some parts of our house are cemented now. I am proud of what I did.”

She continues, “But my mother didn’t spend all money on the repair of our house. Mostly she would buy me things I need for my school. Once, she bought me a dress. I hope many children would also learn to save so they could also buy things they want or help their parents. I am happy that World Vision taught us how to save.”

When the pandemic hit and without school allowance, she decided to help her uncle sell pandesal (local Filipino bread) among her neighbours so she can save money.

“My uncle knows how to make pandesal. I saw him sell it. I wanted to help him. I asked my parents if it’s ok if I also sell pandesal. They said ok as long as I would sell around here where they can see me. I asked my uncle Rommel about my idea. He was happy that I’m willing to help him. So, now I’m selling pandesal.”

Jhesie Mae goes out to sell pandesal around 6 in the morning. She encouraged her neighbour, Daniel, to help her sell pandesal so they both could still save even without school allowance due to school lockdowns.

“Sometimes, Daniel couldn’t come because he is too lazy. I know he wouldn’t come when I see that his hair is not yet combed. That’s when I go out on my own. But I like it better when we do it together because I have somebody to talk to while we sell pandesal, and had fun along the way.”

She usually earns around Php20 (less than a dollar) to Php50 ($1) a day. She would save Php5 to Php10. Jhesie Mae adds that selling pandesal is her way of practicing her business skills. Every day she would take note of her earnings. She also learns to compute fast.

Jhesie Mae is the eldest in a family of four. Her father is a carpenter and her mother is a housewife. Adobo is her favourite dish. Her father’s earnings are so meager that her first taste of adobo was a long time ago. On most days, the family would just eat fried eggs or noodles.

Despite their situation, Jhesie Mae is happy especially when she and her siblings are playing. “Jhena and Jherenn are both playful and stubborn. They always wanted to play with me even if I’m studying. We would shriek, laugh and run outside. Sometimes we quarrel because we couldn’t get what we want. That’s when mother would scold us.” Jhesie Mae laughs.

“When I have my own restaurant, I would always buy ice cream for my siblings and parents. I’ll buy them chocolate ice cream,” the child shares. “I hope I and all other children’s dreams would come true so we would always smile and laugh, and not have any problems. But, I guess, to fulfill our dreams we should study hard, learn how to save, and follow our parents.”