After losing job as seafarers, couple open fruit juice business

After losing their jobs as seafarers amid the coronavirus pandemic, a couple decided to open their own fruit juice business.

According to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday, Emmanuel and Christine Raymundo planned to be seafarers for 8-10 years when the pandemic halted their cruise liner’s operations.

As seafarers, each of them earned about Php100,000 to Php200,000 every month and they also had the chance to travel the world.

“Sobrang promising po kasi parang binabayaran kami to travel the world …’Yung contract hindi din ganoon katagal. Malaki po talaga ’yung sahod. Makakaipon ka talaga,” said Emmanuel.

“Wala kang binabayarang lunch, walang pinagbabayarang pagkain,” he added.

However, because of the pandemic, their operations were stopped and they had to be under lockdown in Dubai for two months. They were soon repatriated to the Philippines in April.

Because Christine was also pregnant and they have also have a baby, the couple decided to embark on their own business to get by.

“Natakot din ako para sa baby namin. Nalaman ko rin na pregnant ako. Nag-aalala din kami, from that kind of income bigla siyang mawawala,” said Christine.

Emmanuel said a fruit juice business was timely because people needed to drink healthily to boost their immune system.

Spending Php 20,000 for their equipment and supplies, the couple earned over Php 40,000 a month.

If their fruit juice business would further succeed, the couple shared that they would quit their jobs on the cruise ship. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News