Location: Tipo, Hermosa Bataan
Skills: Bag Sewing and slipper making
Cezar Fuentes has a skill and dexterity to turn the juice pouches foil and tire soles into bright and attractive slippers. He first learn how to make slippers when he was 14 years old and later master the craft when he worked in one of the well known slipper company in town, but his efforts were all gone to waste as he only earned as much as 700 pesos a week, not that much considering that he has 3 children.
Soon he got laid off from his work due to company’s closure, and got included with one of the many skilled workers out of work.
In 2005, the recycling of juice pouches became a boom and together with his other colleagues, Cesar tried his luck by submitting samples of recycled juice bags and slippers. Sooner than expected, his designs have penetrated the German market. The big order he received made him earn enough to pay for a small residential lot in their village and build a small house for his family.
During peak season of orders, he can earn as much as 500 pesos a day. That is very good money considering that the average daily wage for a skilled working man in the Philippines is about 300 pesos. He could also hire other assistants to help him meet the purchase order.