http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fazPNAYfYk

"NSCC Success Stories" : Flordeliza Frando Bernardino

“From rugs to riches.” This is the right phrase to describe the success story of a business tycoon from Bangued, Abra.

Her name is Flordeliza Frando Bernardino, born and raised together with her nine siblings at Bantaoay, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. The 34 year old nursing graduate is married to Apollo Bernardino, a politician from San Juan, Abra and they are blessed with three children.

With the desire to help her family, she pushed her luck and put up a business (pharmacy) located in front of Abra Provincial Hospital.

According to her, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives played an important role as one of the foundation of her business’ success. She has known NSCC through his father who is also a member and she was encouraged by a Developmental Officer from Vigan Branch to join the said cooperative in the year 2008.

In the beginning, problems arise after the establishment of her business. She was baffled on how she can provide the needs or wages of her two employees and other expenses with just a little income (400 pesos per day) from her pharmacy at that time.

She thought of another way to sustain her business. She decided to distribute (medicine, medical supplies, etc) from her pharmacy to hospitals, pharmaceuticals and other related firms based at Ilocos Province, Abra and Ifugao. This is the turning point of her business career because she has established her business name and it gained more income through this strategy.

Her hard work pays off and she built a house worth of more or less five million pesos and bought lots (land properties) and brand new cars.

With the consistent success from her medical enterprise, she has put up businesses such as eatery to fill in the spaces in front of her pharmacy, and landscaping services. She is also planning to expand her business by establishing another branch, and to put up additional business which is a lodging house.

As a return for the success of her endeavour, she established scholarship program with the help of her husband who is a Sanguniang Bayan Member for three terms. Since 2010, they are helping the beneficiaries to finish school particularly in the secondary level. She also gives medicines and medical supplies to medical missions that seek support from her.

Flordeliza Bernardino is indeed an inspiration for all the entrepreneurs who wanted to be successful. Her story of success shows the importance of perseverance and resilience. She continued to work hard until her business career is transformed “from rugs to riches.”  From an initial capital of 20,000 pesos that she borrowed from NSCC to put up her pharmacy, she has a total income of 740,834.14 pesos in the year 2012 and total assets of 21,558,761.37 pesos in the same year.