Peony, the mothers group that became a household name

With 3,000 pesos, Gerlie and her Unbound mothers group knew they could change the course of their lives.

In the U.S., that’s the equivalent of about $50.

In some countries, that amount would barely buy a couple of movie tickets, a dinner for two or a full tank of gas.

But, in Quezon in the Philippines, with just $50 in hand, Gerlie and her mothers group were able to launch a business making and selling dishwashing liquid.

Working together, the group — called Peony — gained access to a loan to buy their start-up materials, and they learned how to make, bottle and market the product.

Three years later, the group has turned their livelihood initiative into a sustainable source of income for the mothers, while giving local retailers and their broader community access to a necessary product at an affordable price and making “Peony” a household name.

Transforming ideas into tangible sources of income

Mothers are strong advocates for their children.

Time and time again, Unbound has seen mothers use their resources wisely to direct their families’ paths out of poverty.

Mothers groups are the primary way parents and guardians participate in Unbound, and it is through these groups that mothers bring the Unbound program to life.

Around 11,000 mothers groups are active worldwide, encouraging learning, leadership, entrepreneurship, accountability and mutual support from participants and motivating them to use what they learn to spearhead community development.

In Unbound’s Quezon program in the Philippines, there are 33 active mothers groups.

Gerlie, who is a widow and mother of four children, is a leader in her Unbound mothers group, Peony, which is made up of 19 mothers.

Three years ago, Gerlie attended a livelihood workshop hosted by her local government that included training on how to make dishwashing liquid. Inspired by the possibilities, she brought the idea back to her mothers group.

“Together, we decided to start the business,” Gerlie said. “The main objective was to help us earn additional income, while providing a product that we, as mothers, use every day in our own households.”

But first, the group needed to increase their starting capital. They requested a loan of 3,000 pesos ($49.34) from Unbound Quezon’s PamBuhay Savings and Loan Assistance Program (PSLA).

According to Unbound Quezon social worker Maria Nona Salamanque, PSLA exists to provide capital loans to families in Unbound’s programs while also equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to build up their savings, establish and grow their own small businesses and collaborate as a team to bring change to their greater communities.

“These types of group livelihoods are not only supported but also actively encouraged and nurtured,” Salamanque said. “This holistic approach allows mothers to transform their ideas into tangible sources of income, fostering both self-reliance and community development.”

With the loan plus some additional funds they raised, the mothers invested in their initial raw materials.

Meeting as a group once a month in either the home of a member or their local community center, they mix and process their product. One kit (containing the mix, scent and thickener) plus one gallon of water typically yields 21 bottles of dishwashing liquid.

Each bottle costs roughly 54 cents to make. Members sell them in the community at a price they each determine individually (typically between 63 cents and 81 cents per bottle), and they collect a small profit as their personal income.

The group also sells the product to sponsored families who own small convenience stores and they, in turn, retail the product to their customers, making Gerlie’s mothers group their main supplier of dishwashing liquid.

Any additional profit is collected by the group treasurer and goes back into the savings program to be available for group members in the form of loans. Gerlie said members with unexpected financial need — such as for medical expenses — can borrow from the program and make interest-free payments.

“We understand that our journey with Unbound will not last forever,” Gerlie said. “We see our livelihood as an important step toward sustainability.”

Peony, beyond the household name

The peony is a flowering plant known for its large, often fragrant blossoms and beautiful layered petals. Symbolically, the peony is associated with prosperity, romance, courage, honor and good fortune.

When choosing a name for their product, Gerlie said calling it “Peony” after the mothers group just made sense.

For three years now, the group has successfully managed their livelihood initiative, not only making the product, but marketing it and ensuring every bottle gets sold.

Gerlie said their product has given the community a more affordable, quality option. Sometimes if demand is high, the group makes and bottles two batches of liquid. While they’ve faced competition from other sellers, they’ve learned to adapt by each mother developing her own creative approach to selling.

“We are grateful that we have never experienced a shortfall in sales, as this product is something that every household uses daily,” Gerlie said. “Its consistent demand has been a true blessing for our livelihood.”

Gerlie said the mothers recognize that relying on one product might not be sustainable for the future, so they have plans to expand the business. They are exploring the possibility of partnering with other mothers groups in their community who are also operating successful livelihood initiatives.

The groups would then share the rental cost of a commercial storefront so that they can gain an even stronger presence in the community. They would expand their product range to include sugar, rice and cooking oil repacking and selected dairy products.

One long-term dream of the group is creating job opportunities for other mothers in the community.

“Through this livelihood, we hope not only to support our own families, but also to uplift others by providing a sustainable means of income,” Gerlie said.

To make their product more appealing, the group is in the process of developing a new label, which will have a distinctive logo and contact number, making it easier to reach and engage with new potential buyers.

With guidance from Unbound Quezon staff, the group also hopes to grow their reach to other communities where Unbound has programs, so they can participate in livelihood bazaars and serve as suppliers.

“None of this would have been possible without the guidance of Unbound staff and the continuous learning they provide through seminars and training,” Gerlie said.

This project is helping us build skills and generate income that will continue to support our families even after we are no longer part of Unbound.”

Unbound Regional Reporter Tristan John Cabrera contributed information and photos for this story.