A Muslim Migrant Worker’s Journey:The Inspiring Story of Mary Queen Z. Dabandan
The 2025 National Women’s Month Celebration carries the sub-theme: “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas.” Such is the story of Mary Queen Z. Dabandan, a 23-year old mother of two who comes from the Muslim Migrant Workers sector in San Jose, Antique. She is a strong and determined woman who did not let challenging circumstances defeat her. Her journey has been filled with hardships, but she has turned her struggles into success through perseverance and resilience.
Due to financial difficulties, Mary had to stop her studies in Grade 10. Instead of giving up, she started working at a Chinese trading store for a daily wage of only Php170. When the pandemic hit, she lost her job but did not let that stop her. She started a small street food business, but she was forced to close it because she could not sustain it due to lack of capital.
Seeking stability, she applied as a cashier at a local mart but had to leave after six months due to family issues. In 2020, she found another opportunity at Golden Dawn Cellphone and Accessories Trading in San Jose, Antique. However, being a “bolante”, a term for someone who has to commute far for work, she faced daily struggles—waking up early, enduring long hours, and still not having enough savings.
Determined to improve her life, she started another business with her Muslim live-in partner, the father of her second child. But her real breakthrough came when she reapplied at Golden Dawn. This time, with her experience in cellphone repair, she wisely invested her Php 15,000 SLP grant from the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) into her own business.
The capability building sessions on Financial Literacy and Project Management gave her the right mindset on how to invest wisely by separating personal expenses from that of the business. Moreover, she learned how to treat the investment as a business.
In due time, she was able to realize positive sales and income from her own business.
Today, Mary is happy and grateful. Her hard work and wise financial decisions have led her to a stable income and a better life for her children. She believes that even with a small amount of capital, a business can grow if managed wisely and without unnecessary spending. Her journey is a testament that success is possible with determination, resilience, and the right opportunities. She hopes that SLP will continue to support people like her—dreamers who are willing to work hard for a brighter future./NAGEbojo/ Bella Albuera and Judelyn Navarro
#BawatBuhayMahalagaSaDSWD
#SustainableLivelihoodProgram
#SulongKabuhayanTungoSaPagyabong