27/04/2026
Huyyy ๐ฅน๐ Grateful beyond words! Thank you, DTI, for giving me the opportunity to share my journey as a young entrepreneur. From small beginnings to chasing bigger dreams this is just the start. โจ
To everyone whoโs been part of my story, thank you for believing in me. Letโs keep building, growing, and inspiring. ๐ผ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก, ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Meet Ms. Maricris Sumando, a young entrepreneur whose journey is shaped by faith, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to her dreams. She is the owner of LAMICAKES and Cafรฉ situated at Brgy. 9, Dapa, Surigao del Norte.
At just 23 years old, Ms. Maricris began shaping a name for herself in the local baking industry through unwavering faith, discipline, and determination. Her business, LAMICAKES, officially opened on September 18, 2024, but her journey as an entrepreneur started long before that moment, long before there was a shop, a team, or public recognition.
At the age of 16, Maricris was already learning what it meant to be responsible for her own needs. While most teenagers focused solely on school, she sold clothes, skincare products, and various items to help support herself while studying. There were moments of exhaustion and doubt, she reflected, but giving up was never an option. If I could earn, I could surviveโand maybe dream bigger.
That dream slowly took shape during her college years. As a working student in a baking business, Maricris gained hands-on experience in production, customer service, and operations. Every taskโno matter how smallโ became a lesson. I observed everything, she thought, imagining the day I would run my own bakery. Her passion deepened further through memories of her fatherโs former bakery, making baking feel both personal and purposeful.
With limited capital but strong determination, she began producing and selling mini-donuts, even requesting display space just to give her products a chance to be seen. It was intimidating to ask, she admitted, but staying silent would mean staying invisible. That courage marked the foundation of her entrepreneurial mindset.
After graduating with a degree in Tourism Management in 2024, Maricris made a bold decisionโto invest in a physical shop and commit to baking full-time. In the beginning, she wore multiple hats as owner, manager, baker, and seller, often working long hours that led to physical exhaustion and self-doubt. There were moments when I questioned myself, she recalled, but my faith reminded me why I started.
Criticism and discouragement, even from people close to her, tested her resolve. Instead of giving up, she held on to her vision. Not everyone will understand your journey, she reflected, especially before success becomes visible.
A major turning point came when she utilized social media to promote her products, significantly expanding her reach and customer base. What began as a one-woman operation gradually grew into a small team of three staff membersโa milestone that affirmed her perseverance.
Committed to continuous improvement, Maricris actively sought guidance and capacity-building opportunities through various trainings and workshops on marketing, business management, baking and pastries, and sanitation. With the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), she completed the Kapatid Mentor Micro Entrepreneurs (KMME) Program, a milestone that significantly strengthened her entrepreneurial skills and strategic outlook. Through this program, she developed a comprehensive Business Improvement Plan, earning recognition for its excellence. The knowledge, mentorship, and support provided by DTI played a vital role in sharpening her direction, boosting her confidence, and equipping her with the tools needed to sustainably grow LAMICAKES and Cafe.
Today, every successโbig or smallโserves as a reminder of how far she has come. LAMICAKES and Cafe stands not only as a business, but as a testament to faith, persistence, and purpose. Maricris lives by her personal belief: โ๐๐ง ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ธ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ญ๐บ, ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ข๐บ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด, ๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐จ๐ถ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ โ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ธ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐ช๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ช๐ต.โ
Her journey reminds us that success is carefully built over timeโthrough sacrifice, learning, courage, and unwavering belief. Like the treats she bakes, the sweetest rewards come to those who are willing to wait, work, and trust the process.
