A Profile of Success: Ma. Teresa Y. ‘Tatat’ Estacio

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

This is what sums up Tatat’s journey for her salon business, something that was completely out of her comfort zone. Tatat is Ma. Teresa Estacio, Assistant Department Manager at International Trade Department of Landbank where she has been employed for the past 31 years. Tatat started her salon business in September 2017 at a prodding of a friend, who told her to try to venture into the business and accept an offer from a franchise holder
to open a branch in Muñoz, Quezon City. She initially nixed the offer since she herself was not fond of going to the salon and preening herself. She reconsidered later when she had to move to Quezon City. She realized that going into the business would her give the opportunity to give back, to do good. Providing work for at least 13 people may not be much, but it would be a good start After putting up 50% of the required franchise fee, she opened her salon on September 16, 2017, a day before her mom’s birthday. She chose Santos and Pilar Beauty Salon as her salon’s business name to honor her parents. Thus, Salon 360° International opened in a heavy-pedestrian traffic area in Muñoz, Project 7, Quezon City. The salon’s opening day sales of P35,000 was very encouraging. With the initial jitters of a newbie entrepreneur gone, she thought that going into a salon business was a wise decision. She easily learned the ropes of the business. There were problems, particularly in keeping her trust in her people but she easily overcame them by treating them right and giving them the benefits they deserve. And there’s no stopping from there, as the salon’s income trajectory remained upward. In just two years, she got back her initial investment. In September 2019, she opened her second salon, Salon 888 in Sangandaan, Project 8, also in Quezon City, whose business name is Tres Marias to honor the tres marias in her family (herself, her mom and her sister). Although it was not earning as much as her first salon in Muñoz, it was not losing either. She was just happy making a little margin and providing livelihood for some people.
But then, in 2020, the pandemic struck. And like most businesses, Tatat’s salons were not spared. Her two salons were not earning as much and she had problems meeting her rental commitments and other overhead/operating expenses like electricity and water. She felt it was like starting from
scratch all over again. But this did not deter her. With sheer determination, she decided not to close them, even if she had to dip deep into her pockets to meet her obligations, as she could not have the heart to have her people lose their livelihood , at the time they would need it most. Of course, the salons did close for a few weeks when the government mandated the closure of all personal care and wellness centers.

As an associate member of Countryside Builders MultiPurpose Cooperative since 2014, she approached CBMPC and got a loan of P100,000 in February, 2021 and another P150,000 in August, 2021 as additional working capital for her salons.

The credit assistance from the coop was what helped her tide over the financial difficulties she was having during the pandemic. She was able to purchase the needed consumables for her two salons and a part of it to pay for her rental commitments.

But as the business horizon is looking rosy again and businesses are opening again, she is hopeful that the worst is over.

Tatat is a champion lady golfer and she admitted that golf is her comfort zone. And like the avid golfer that she is, she knows that she can hurdle all obstacles from water hazards to sand traps and she can find that ideal fairway where she can also make that much desired hole-in-one.