It is said that anyone who wants to build their own business must start small, but should always dream big. This is exactly what Romina “Mina” Carlite holds in her heart. In fact, she is not only a GrabFood delivery-partner based in Bacolod City but is also a budding entrepreneur who owns several small businesses, and plans to build more. She believes that laying a solid foundation for any enterprise—no matter how simple—will provide you with a road map to success.
Mina’s journey as a GrabFood delivery-partner began in 2022, but her life story is deeply rooted in resilience and adaptability. Before joining Grab, Romina has been into in several jobs, including working as a Production Operator, and Quality Control Specialist before being promoted as a Replacement Engineer in several electronics companies in Cavite and Subic. “18 years old lang po ako nung nag-apply ako ng trabaho. Vocational lang po ang natapos ko pero mataas ang score ko sa exams noong nag-apply ako. At based sa result ng exam, kaya ako natanggap sa trabaho, so out of 200 applicants, sampu lang kami natanggap. Kaya proud ako na kahit bata pa, nasama ako sa mga natanggap (I was only 18 years old when I first applied for the job. I only graduated with a vocational degree, but I scored high during the exams, and based on the results, I was hired. Out of 200 applicants, only 10 of us were accepted. I was so proud because despite being so young, I was one of those hired),” Mina beamed. Unfortunately, when the pandemic happened, the department where she belonged was dismantled, leaving her jobless and facing an uncertain future. From then on, she resolved to be her own boss, never to settle as a mere employee again.
In search of new beginnings, she accepted the invitation of her father (a native of Bacolod) to visit the City of Smiles. Born and raised in Parañaque in Metro Manila, Bacolod was a welcome idea for Mina, a place where she thought she could stay temporarily while assessing her next move. When she got to the city, however, she realized how Bacolod City resonated with her—a place defined by its simplicity, warmth, and absence of traffic. Captivated by the city’s charm, Mina decided to stay indefinitely, rent her own place, and started to embark on a new chapter of her life…as an entrepreneur.
Apart from being a GrabFood delivery-partner, Mina has also ventured into the Piso Wifi (acknowledging that the internet plays a vital role today’s learning, working and entertainment), the Piso Water Vending Machine (a business model coined from ATM machines for dispensing cold drinking water at P1 only), a karaoke setup, and her own “Minakleng” Milk Tea business where she and her younger sister sell popular milk tea drinks and Shawarma.
“Hindi po sinasadya yung pagkapasok ko sa Grab. Minsan noong namamasyal lang ako sakay yung luma kong motor, may nag-overtake sa akin na GrabFood delivery-partner, babae din. Ang astig nya! Sa isip ko, okay yun ah, pwede rin pala ang mga babae maging GrabFood delivery-partner, kaya sinubukan ko. Sa totoo lang po, out of hundreds na GrabFood delivery-partners sa Bacolod, 20 plus lang kaming lady riders! Kaya proud ako. At least dito, hawak ko ang oras ko, wala akong boss, sarili ko lang. Depende sa akin kung magkano yung kikitain ko sa araw-araw. Kapag naabot ko na yung quota ko, o pagod na ako, uuwi na ako at tulungan ko yung kapatid kong mag-asikaso ng mga maliliit kong business (My joining Grab was not on done on purpose. There was a time when I was riding my motorcycle around the city when a lady GrabFood delivery-partner, zoomed past me. I think that’s really cool! I thought, it’s good to have ladies as GrabFood delivery rider, so I tried joining. In fact, out of hundreds of GrabFood delivery-partners here in Bacolod, there are only more than 20 lady riders. That makes me proud. At least, I manage my own time, I am my own boss. My daily income really depends on how much I want to earn daily. If I have reached my quota, or if I am tired, I go home and help my younger sister with my small businesses),” the 43-year-old entrepreneur explained.
Since Grab has expanded its mobility services and operational area in Negros Occidental, particularly in towns and cities surrounding Bacolod City, the company established Ugnayan, a community of GrabCar driver-partners and GrabFood deliver-partners, and Mina is one of the handpicked team leaders of this organization. As such, Mina and all team leaders serve as role models to all Grab partners, gently reminding them of proper customer service and even self-love, while spearheading various programs and projects, from financial education to donation drives around Negros Occidental. “Bilang isang team leader ng Ugnayan, nag-a-attend ako ng mga orientation at seminars sa Grab, at kung meron man gustong ipasabi ang company sa iba pang members ng Ugnayan, tumutulong ako magpalaganap ng mga announcement o good news. Nag-roving para sawayin o i-remind ang mga riders tungkol sa tamang pag-uugali sa kalsada. Kung kailangan ni Grab ng manpower para sumali at tumulong sa mga donation drive nila, kami nagdadala ng mga volunteers (As a team leader of Ugnayan, I attend orientations and seminars in Grab, and if the company has announcements, I help disseminate information and share the good news. We also do regular roving to remind other riders of proper attitude on the road. And whenever Grab needs manpower to participate and help out during its donation drive, we bring the volunteers,” Mina beamed
No wonder why she is proud to be one of Ugnayan’s team leaders as they have become instruments in spreading kindness and goodwill to those who need it most. Their group spearheaded a tree-planting project, turned over several donations to the residents of Barangay Banago in Bacolod City whose houses were razed by a huge fire, and donated goods and other essentials to the families affected by the recent activity of Mount Kanlaon. When Grab organized a Brigada Eskwela project, it was also Mina’s team who helped give away trash cans, plastics for trash can, dustpan and brooms for Monte Vista Elementary school, among many other projects. To put it simply, aside from helping her financially, Grab has also placed her in a position where she can give back through public service, ultimately bringing more meaning to her life, as she has found not just a livelihood but a pathway to stability while having the grand opportunity to be of help to the less fortunate. “Basta pagtulong sa kapwa, karangalan ko po, kasi ang motto ko rin po sa buhay is ‘always choose to be good’. Yan po ang turo ni Ina (Helping others is a privilege for me because actually my motto in life is ‘always choose to be good. That’s what my mother taught me),” she said.
Mina is not just focused on her own success; she actively advocates for financial support for her fellow Grab drivers. She engages with financial institutions, pushing for opportunities that would enable drivers to secure loans and credit. Through her efforts, she was able to obtain a credit card from a bank, providing her with the means to manage her basic needs and further invest in her ventures. When asked where she sees herself five or 10 years from now: “GrabCar driver-partner na siyempre (A GrabCar driver-partner, of course)!” she immediately replies, grinning.
Mina’s fearless entrepreneurial spirit has also made her acquire a kiosk (situated in the streets of Bacolod), where she sold BBQ, beer, nachos, and shawarma, during Bacolod City’s Masskara Festival in October this year, and even gave 10% discount to all GrabCar driver-partners and GrabFood delivery-partners, a noteworthy and outstanding testimony of her dedication to Grab and her respect to her fellow Grab partners. Despite all businesses she has established, Mina has no plans of stopping as she has charted additional enterprises in the next few years. “Gusto ko talagang magkaroon ng lending company, para makatulong sa kapwa ko riders na nangangailangan. Maliit lang ‘yung interest, kasi kaya nga sila humihiram kasi minsan kapos sila. Gusto ko rin magkaroon ng Cash-in business. Pero maliliit lang yan eh. Pero hindi bale na, kasi pag may maayos na akong ipon, magtatayo na talaga ako ng Miss Carlite’s Grill. Full restaurant na talaga siya na maraming pagkain na. Siyempre, lahat ng GrabCar driver-partners at GrabFood delivery-partners magkakaroon ng 20% discount (I really want to establish my own lending company, so I could help my fellow riders in need. I will offer minimum interest because I know that the reason why they loan is because they need money. I also want to establish a cash-in business, like what most digital banks do today. But well, these are still small businesses. If I have more than sufficient funds, my ultimate goal is to establish Miss Carlite’s Grill, a full-on restaurant business that will serve numerous dishes. Of course, all GrabCar driver-partners and GrabFood delivery-partners will instantly enjoy a 20% discount)!” she exclaimed.
Anyone who’s building a business knows that motivation is what gets you started but it’s habit, dedication, self-discipline, and constant hard work that will keep you going. Mina affirms that success is neither magical or mysterious, but a natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals. For her, being a GrabFood delivery-partner is more than just a job; it’s a dignified livelihoodthat offers a pathway to a brighter future, not only for her but also for the lives she has served—whether it be her parents, her sister who co-manages her businesses, her fellow Ugnayan leaders and members, and all those whose lives she has touched.
Looking back, Mina realized that in serving both her customers and the community, she has offered more than just a helping hand, it has given her a sense of purpose. Helping other people succeed has been her greatest and most meaningful success. Until then, she will continue living a life story that is a powerful reminder of how resilience, community, public service, and entrepreneurship can transform lives…including her own.
INQUIRER.net BrandRoom/JC
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