“Pamahaw!” (Snacks!) — a call that elicits pleasant surprise, excitement, and relief. It signals a variety of food choices that will refresh and satisfy the hungry staff and employees of the Provincial Capitol Building of Aklan, including the SLP Team. The warmth of Elsa’s smile as she announces the items available on her cart perks up everyone’s ears. Often, people can’t help but step out of their offices to personally choose from their favorite snacks. It’s not a grazing table, a charcuterie board, or a high-end buffet spread, just simple refreshments, lovingly prepared with familiar local ingredients, bringing joy and satisfaction to hungry souls who missed breakfast or are eager for a mid-morning or afternoon bite.

Elsa, born Elsa Gregorio Fernandez on January 15, 1974, was born and raised in a humble home. Her family lived an impoverished life that during her elementary years, she had to live with a relative, doing household chores and errands in exchange for food and the chance to access education. It was a difficult time, but she endured the hardship and completed her elementary education.

“Kalisud it sitwasyon nga naga eomon sa ibang balay pero kinahangean tiisun do kabudlay para eang makakaun ag makatibawas sa pangabuhi. Miski kamag-anak mo, pa manimbang ka para maski paalin hay may tinun-an.” (It is hard living with other people because you have to work harder to prove your worth, [and] the food and shelter they provide you with. But it is also a way to get an education.) Elsa regards this as an enriching chapter of her life, one that taught her gratitude and challenged her to rise above the circumstances and break the cycle of poverty.

In 2002, Elsa began selling boiled corn and grilled saba bananas at the Provincial Capitol Building, starting with a modest capital of ₱500.00. Being practical and focused more on sustainability than profit, she priced her goods affordably. She bravely went from office to office, offering her snacks, which the employees warmly accepted. Listening to her customers’ preferences and suggestions, she expanded her menu. Now, she offers a wide variety of snacks, including the following: Macaroni soup / congee, Boiled eggs, Eangkuga (glutinous rice dessert stew), Boiled bananas and corn, Cassava in coconut milk, Boiled / fried peanuts, Veggie fritters, Linupak (mashed boiled banana with sugar and margarine), Banana cue, camote cue, turon, banana fritters, Lumpia Shanghai and Lumpiang Gulay, Burgers, bihon, apples, oranges, bananas, local turnips with shrimp paste, and palitaw (sweet rice cake). She ensures the menu changes daily to avoid monotony, all while maintaining affordable prices for everyone.

Elsa married Carlito Reyes Jr. in 2005, and together they have three children and the couple is committed to ensuring their children finish their education. With the entire family involved in the business, they wake up every day at 3:30 AM to begin food preparation; cutting vegetables and fruits, preparing meats, and packing. The kitchen becomes a busy hive of activity, with each member doing their part. By 8:00 to 8:30 AM, Elsa is at the Capitol, selling her goods until around 11:00 AM. She returns home, prepares a second batch of snacks, and returns between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM for her afternoon round. After her deliveries, Elsa prays the rosary at the Birhen sang Barangay Chapel, accompanied by her daughter Ella, as they visit their neighbors’ homes. They also buy ingredients for the following day’s menu. On weekends, Elsa lives like any other housewife, cleaning the house and doing the laundry. In the afternoon, she cleans the Libtong Chapel as part of her Marian devotion.

“Importante ro pagsalig sa Diyos kag si Mama Mary hay gabulig man sa pangadyi namun, labi na sa mayad nga eawas ag maka tibawas man sa pangabuhi. Natawan man kami abo nga grasya. Sa kaluoy it Ginoo, graduate na sa college ing unga nga panganay. Sige man pagtuon it daywang nabilin.” (Faith in God is important, and Mama Mary’s intercession in our prayers helps a lot—especially in keeping our health and improving our life. We have received so many blessings: our eldest son is now a college graduate, and the younger ones are also continuing their studies.)

“Abo gid ing bulig it Sustainable Livelihood Program sa pagtao it dugang nga kapital kakun,” Elsa adds.

(The Sustainable Livelihood Program has been a huge help in providing additional capital.)

She acknowledges that because she keeps her prices low, there are times they barely get by, especially when a family member gets sick. Yet, with her generous heart, she cared for her mother until her final days, providing for her daily needs and medical expenses. When her mother passed away, Elsa arranged everything for the burial.

“Si Nanay nagturo kamun sa paghugod it mayad sa maskin anong ubrahon, ag maw man inspirasyon ko sa pag-eaha. Abo pa kunta nga gusto kong matao nga kalipay ag kaalwan sang pangabuhi kana pero siguro mas mayad man hay owa na maw nalisdan.” (Mother taught us to work hard and do our best in whatever task we have. She inspired my cooking. I still wish I could have given her more joy and comfort in life, but maybe this is a blessing too — her hardships have ended.)

For nearly two weeks, the Capitol Building felt somber. The familiar sound of Elsa’s food cart was missed. It was as if the air stood still, mourning with the daughter who had just lost her mother. But, like dusk turning into dawn, a new day always arrives. When Elsa finally called out “Pamahaw!” again, it was the sweetest sound for everyone. People rushed toward her like ants to sugar, excited to pick their favorite treats. Between condolences and smiles, Elsa returned to her routine, packing food, computing change, and reconnecting with her patrons. But more than the food, it was the presence of someone deeply loved, someone whose cooking satisfies not just hunger but also brings comfort, breaking the monotony of a long day at work.

What makes Elsa extraordinary is not just her resilience or business acumen. It is her grit, her fortitude to withstand adversities, and her wisdom — that true strength comes not from the walls we build to protect ourselves, but from our openness to nurture the relationships that make us human./Aimee G. Abata