Almost everybody seems to dream of a better future for their families and for others who were less fortunate. Ironically, very few are taking right steps to attain it. One of those who courageously fought poverty and defy her limitations as a woman is Consuelo G. Valenzuela of Baler, Aurora.

Ms. Velenzuela is 11th of 15 siblings. Her parents had a hard time nurturing them because of scarcity of livelihood opportunities in their place.

As she examined how to improve their economic situation, she came up with a brilliant idea: to utilize and develop what is abundant in their place. Almost instantly, only one thing rang in her ears: Sabutan. Sabutan is a tree that is comparable to pandan (a palm-like plant used food aroma), the only difference is that the sabutan's leaves were smaller and have thorns on its edges. Sabutan is used for different hand-woven products like fans, mattresses, boxes and hats among others.

Weaving is one of the primary sources of income in the town of Baler. Unable to finish college, Ate Baby (as Consuelo's friends and family call her) decided to focus on developing products out of sabutan in 2002 wherein she only has 10 weavers.

In order to have good location of her store, she "re-activated" their organization called AYEMCO (Aurora Youth Entrepreneur Multi-Purpose Cooperative) and was able to utilize their office which is strategically located in the public market of Baler.

Together with three other members, they decided to renovate the office and allocated a showroom where they can display their products. But capital problem confronted Aling Baby which brought her to ASKI Baler

Branch office in 2004. Surprisingly, she learn that ASKI also provides business consultancy and marketing. "Maganda talaga sa ASKI, hindi sila katulad ng ibang nagpapautang na concern lang sa kung ano ang makukuha nila. Ang ASKI concern talaga kung paano nila matutulungan ang kanilang kliyente (Its different at ASKI, it is not like other lending whose only concerns is what they can get. ASKI's main concern is to help their clients)", says Aling Baby.

It is through ASKI that Aling Baby's idea was opened for bigger business. She then was able to attend different trainings and trade fairs which greatly boost the sales of her products.

She also "networked" with other small entrepreneurs where she gets raw materials needed in producing other items.

After two years with ASKI, there have been remarkable changes in her business, her hardwork and diligence paid off. She now has 25 regular weavers within their community and around 100 weavers dispersed in whole town.

When asked what motivates her to continue despite difficulties, "My town folks. Ayokong nakakakita ng mga batang 'di nag-aaral, pinapapunta ko na lang sila sa bahay para kumita kahit konti para may pambaon sila (I don't want to see out-of-school youths, i would just tell them to come to my house so that they would earn even just a little to come use in school)," she shared with tears building again in her eyes.