Summary
Margarita
Rivera is a mother of 2 and the owner of IsKarGu Restaurant located in Calauan,
Laguna. The restaurant is located along a highway with a beautiful scenic view
of rice fields with mountain ranges at the horizon. Margarita started the
restaurant in 2002 on her mother's advice with a small inventory. At
conception, the restaurant only contained 5 chairs and only the necessary kitchen
appliances, which she was able to buy after she and her husband separated. Her
ex left Margarita with Php. 100,000, which was fully invested in the
restaurant.
Because
of the rural ambiance and the excellent food that the restaurant has to offer, it
became a highly attractive restaurant for travelers passing the highway. Margarita
is not only the owner, but also a committed chef. IsKarGu Restaurant currently employs
fifteen workers with Margie's sister as the assistant manager and her brother
as the sous chef. She is also highly committed to her community and uses her
skills as a chef and restaurant owner to sponsor a feeding program for children
from the nearby Don Bosco region.
Unfortunately,
Mother Nature struck Margarita and the restaurant hard when Typhoon Glenda
wiped out her restaurant completely in 2014, leaving her and the workers
unemployed. She is, however, motivated more than ever to reconstruct her
business.
Lendahand
and its local partner NPFC are very proud to support Margarita in her time of
need to rebuild her restaurant by providing a loan, which will be repaid in 18
months.