From hobby to hustle: How these ‘mompreneurs’ turned passions into careers

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MANILA, Philippines – Motherhood is already one of life’s toughest jobs — now imagine adding entrepreneurship into the mix. Juggling kids, household responsibilities, and financial stability while running a business? That’s no small feat.

More than just a means to an end, these mothers’ home-based businesses are an extension of their heart and soul, turning their hobbies into hustles and passions into profits. These three stories show that with passion, creativity, resilience, a willingness to take risks, and a whole lot of love, it’s possible to turn creative pursuits into thriving businesses — all while being present for their families and building careers on their terms.

Passion to pawtraits: Marita de Leon’s artistic journey

From working in corporate advertising to creating handmade pet portraits, artist Marita de Leon is proud to have found a calling that is fulfilling and puts a smile on people’s faces.

After graduating from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts in 1978, Marita’s career took off in advertising, where she worked as an artist, graphic designer, and art director. In between, she contributed to her family’s animation company, specializing in Claymation.

After 15 years in the corporate world, she decided to retire early and pursue freelancing.

“I wanted to get back to working with my hands instead of a computer,” she said.

A resin jewelry workshop reignited her love for creating, and she began making pieces for fun and as gifts. After a chance visit to a craft bazaar, Marita felt the urge to try selling her creations. This led to the birth of her brand, Handmade Lemonade.

“Later on, I rediscovered painting and thought that pet owners might want their fur babies’ portraits done,” she added.

Seeing an artist painting pet portraits at a bazaar inspired her to try it herself. “I made samples to display and offered to paint pets on small wooden keychains and 4”x5” paper at a weekend bazaar.”

This idea evolved into Pawtraits, and soon after, she expanded to painting on stones, calling them Pet Rocks. Now, she accepts commissions on larger canvases and bags.

Marita’s brand name was inspired by a documentary called Lemonade, which tells the stories of entrepreneurs who had been either burned out or downsized from their jobs and later found success.

“The lesson was, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ It resonated with me so much that I made it my mantra for life. For my brand, it’s my tagline, tweaked to, ‘When life gives you lemons, squeeze the creative juices out of ’em!'”

Marita initially relied on freelancing, but opportunities were unstable and scarce. “The ones hiring me were also downsizing and not hiring freelancers anymore,” she shared. She needed something more stable; something of her own. Handmade Lemonade became her baby.

Marita’s love for painting pets was influenced by a Shih Tzu named Peanut. “I came to understand why so many people have pets and treat them as part of the family,” she said.

But like many entrepreneurs, Marita faced financial challenges.

“Most organized bazaars are businesses seeking to make money, so it is very expensive to avail of a table or space,” she said. Choosing which bazaars to join was a challenge, but fortunately, many organizers support the arts and crafts community.

However, Marita said that trying to get known is a challenge. “It’s hit and miss. Currently, I just have FB and IG. YouTube is on my to-do list,” she shared.

This is why face-to-face selling at bazaars is her priority; she makes it a point to engage with the customers and explain the work. “Some people are surprised that I paint the items by hand!” she said.

“My current prices are fair to customers, but I do feel my worth is more. When I started, I sometimes got cajoled into giving discounts. Nowadays, I stand by the price tag,” she said, attesting that pricing is also a tricky aspect to master as an entrepreneur.

Marita feels grateful to be a senior with grown-up kids; she finds that balancing business and family is less demanding. “I’m just here to listen to their problems and support them. I don’t consider my business something that has to be run 24/7. I do what I can when I can and cram when deadlines are near — like most artists.”

Many assume that stay-at-home entrepreneurs can relax all the time, but Marita begs to differ: the amount of work generated from bazaars and social media can be a lot. “A lot of crafters I know are really pushing hard.”

Fortunately, gender-related challenges have not been an issue. “That’s why I love this community. It’s all-inclusive and supportive. It is a very kind community.”

It’s a fulfilling career — one of the most memorable moments so far was when customers who had lost their pets saw her paintings. “They cried when they saw it. They said the painting was full of life and will give them good memories.”

As a mother, Marita wants to set an example for her children, who are also artists. “I can advise them based on experience. I can’t control or influence their own art style, but it’s up to them to pick up on best practices. Sometimes, we collaborate, and hopefully, they can continue what I’ve been doing.”

For moms who want to turn their creative passions into a career, her advice is: “Think things through with finances. On the other hand, it will give you more time to be with your family and nurture your creative spirit.”

For Marita, being her own boss has simplified her family life. “It’s better for my health, and I get to be with loved ones every day. Hard work and some luck pull me through.”

Passion to petals: Myra Santiago’s journey as a florist

For Myra, flowers are more than just gifts — they are an expression of her artistry, a way to share beauty, and a reflection of the life she has built as a stay-at-home entrepreneur.

What started as a simple suggestion from her late husband turned into a full-fledged career, making Myra a well-loved florist who personally crafts every bouquet and arrangement for her loyal customers.

Unlike large floral shops with multiple staff members, Myra works one-on-one with her customers, making sure that each arrangement carries a personal touch. “Sometimes, I call myself a personal florist because I handle every order myself,” whether it’s for birthdays, anniversaries, or weddings, she shared. She also sells cut flowers at the Salcedo Market every Saturday.

For Myra, becoming a florist wasn’t a planned career move. “Life made the choice for me,” she told Rappler. She had a different profession but maintained her floral business as a side hustle for years. When life took unexpected turns, she found herself needing to “simplify” and find a way to work from home. That’s when her passion turned into a full-time endeavor.

Myra is entirely self-taught. Her love for flowers began when her husband suggested she sell them at the newly established farmers’ market in Salcedo Village back then, inspired by their time in Los Angeles. That tiny idea blossomed into the fulfilling career she has today.

“My flowers are my medium. I see myself as an artist. It’s incredibly satisfying to create something beautiful and immediately share it,” she said.

One of her most cherished creations was a grand bridal bouquet for her niece’s micro-wedding during the 2020 lockdown. “She walked down the aisle with just six people in the church, but I made sure she had a bouquet that felt like it belonged in a full-blown wedding.”

Floristry is often romanticized, but Myra wants people to know that it involves a lot of physical work and unforeseen challenges, with the pandemic being the biggest one.

“But I am proud of the fact that on Mother’s Day 2020, I was able to provide fresh bouquets for my customers,” she said. With limited resources, she pulled it off with just her son, a company driver with a travel pass, and a dedicated supplier.

Many people assume that stay-at-home entrepreneurs don’t earn competitive salaries, but Myra believes otherwise. She also has never felt disadvantaged as a woman in her field. “If anything, it’s a gender-related advantage since many of my recipients are women,” she shared.

Her role as a mother has also influenced her business in sweet ways. “Since I have sons, I now provide flowers for their girlfriends,” she said.

Despite a time-consuming profession, Myra has found a rhythm that allows her to balance work and life. “I cook daily, care for my pets, coordinate with suppliers and customers, and create floral arrangements if I have orders. About two to three times a week, I’m at Dangwa in the evening,” she explained. This hands-on approach keeps her genuinely connected to her craft and customers.

Myra wants other aspiring “mompreneurs” to know that it is possible to turn your creative passion into a business. “Just say yes,” she said. She admits struggling with imposter syndrome at the start, but pushing herself to accept orders helped her grow. “Saying yes allowed me to move forward even when I doubted myself.”

And would Myra trade it for anything? Not a chance.

“This is my dream job, and I’m grateful for my husband’s foresight and belief in me,” she shared. “Sometimes, I feel like he knew he would leave me early, and this was his way of taking care of me.”

Passion to profession: Aleth Ocampo’s journey as a chef and potter

“I am a single mom of two amazing daughters, both now adults, which has allowed me to pursue my craft full-time,” Aleth — who wears many “mompreneurial” hats — told Rappler.

Aleth’s initial journey as a catering chef began serendipitously: a friend, obsessed with her homemade hamonado longganisa’t bawang pasta, requested her to cater for his company’s events. Despite having no formal catering experience, she took on the challenge, relying on her brief stint as a restaurant owner. It was successful, and Aleth pursued this path.

Her creative success can also be attributed to her business-oriented yet artistic family — her father, though an engineer, was a gifted writer and artist; her brother, Ambeth Ocampo, is a renowned historian; and her youngest sister is an architect and cake designer. Their mother, a businesswoman, owned a jewelry store in Harrison Plaza and a travel agency. She was also a gourmand, passing down her love for cooking and passion for food. Aleth’s daughters are also into the arts — baking, journaling, and knitting.

Among her mother’s culinary specialties, the Taba ng Talangka holds a special place in her heart. Aleth prepares it only once a year, honoring her late mother’s legacy. The recipe was never written down, and in 2002, Aleth made it alongside her mother for the last time before she passed away in 2003.

Eventually, Aleth decided to shift from catering gigs to full-time entrepreneurship. “Jump, and the net will appear” was her philosophy. She sought alternative income streams, joining weekend food markets in Podium, Mercato BGC, and SM Aura. She also hosted cooking and art classes at home for her daughters’ schoolmates and organized private dinners for friends.

But these had to stop once the pandemic hit. Luckily, she found solace and support within her community — she started baking sourdough bread, painting portraits (something she had to pause due to toxic fumes at home), and cooking meals for her neighbors from home, who became loyal customers.

“Having a consistent supply of good quality ingredients for my cooking has always been a challenge. I continuously have to source reliable suppliers and establish a good rapport with them. Having good connections also helps a lot,” Aleth said. Now, with her younger daughter Gabby helping in the kitchen, Aleth can devote more time to painting and pottery.

“I tried doing pottery in the late ’80s on a whim. My cousins and I took lessons in Sining Kamalig under Lanelle Abueva. I actually used the kick wheel as there were no electric wheels at that time. I was discouraged because 9 out of 10 works did not survive! I revisited pottery in early 2000 under Pablo Capati III, who encouraged me by assuring me my works will survive — and they did! He got me addicted to pottery making,” she shared.

And now, pottery is one of her loves. “There’s something about drinking or eating from handmade pottery. Aside from the fact that it keeps food and beverages cold or hot longer, somehow things taste extra special knowing that an artisan spent hours making that vessel for you,” she said.

Balancing her livelihoods was more challenging when Aleth’s kids were young because they were “totally dependent on [her].”

“I had to put aside my ‘hobbies’ and have a fixed salary to pay for the bills. I also had to make time to be with them, attend school events, and have them around while I worked in my studio,” she said. Yet, she has no regrets about involving her children in her creative world. Some of their fondest childhood memories include the smells of her cooking, the sight of her painting in her studio, and the joy of spending Sunday meals with her family.

Aleth’s current daily routine is dictated by her creative flow and project deadlines. Mornings start with taking care of her beloved Chow Chow, followed by a light breakfast. She dedicates her day to painting and pottery, taking breaks only for lunch and short walks. Since she prefers working with natural light, she paints until dusk. If she is working on ceramics, she often extends her hours until dinner. Afterward, she unwinds with an evening walk with her partner before calling it a night.

The biggest advantage of working from home for Aleth is the lower overhead costs. “I would hire on-call staff only when I have a catering gig or have bulk orders. Being stay-at-home also allows me to spend more time with my daughters,” she said.

The freedom of time is why many people underestimate stay-at-home entrepreneurs, Aleth said. “Some people don’t take us seriously. They think we are merely indulging in our ‘hobbies,'” she shared.

“The thing that annoys me most is when people ask for my work for free or when they comment that it’s too expensive! These things cost money to create, not to mention the hours we spent making them and, before that, the hours we spent learning and honing our skills. We, too, have bills to pay and need to survive.”

But luckily, Aleth’s many talents are working for her; she even has the luxury to merge them for one-of-a-kind experiences — like her first Les Plats Somptueux pre-pandemic, a pottery show wherein 14 guests could enjoy a six-course, sit-down dinner using pottery made by her pottery group. “They go home with a pottery piece of their choice and can buy more during that event. It was an ambitious project to do, but I’m grateful to my pottery group for supporting me,” she said.

Aleth is thankful that she found her niches early on — this is her key advice to fellow moms who want to “create something unique.”

“Your passion will motivate you to keep trying and improving your skills, products, or services,” she said. Make sure to create awareness about your products, too; social media helped build her name.

“Make sure your products/services are consistent. Encourage repeat customers. Word of mouth is your best advertisement. And never rest on your accomplishments,” she advised.

She added: “I always say that I am as good as my last catering gig or art exhibit. Strive for improvement, continue learning, and always keep an open mind.”

Marita, Myra, and Aleth show us that moms really can do it all — and on their own terms! Their inspiring journeys prove that you don’t have to follow a set path to find happiness and live your purpose; if doing what you love brings joy to both you and your family, then that’s real success — and no one gets to tell you otherwise. – Rappler.com

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