“Patience, care, and love” are the guiding values of Meliton Darwin “Melty” Arcenal when it comes to business and life. Melty is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and was accepted by his parents even during his younger years. Growing up, he already knew what he wanted, and that was to be a well-known and respected beautician in his hometown, Majayjay. After graduating from high school at the early age of 18, Melty already worked for several renowned beauty salons in Majayjay, such as Totie Salon, Arnel Salon, and New Image Salon. After working with several salons, he started opening a small salon in 2005. But with only PHP2,000 monthly net income, he had to close the salon and look for a more stable job. In 2009, Melty found his way to the Big Metro to work for Ystilo Salon. After working in Ystilo Salon, he had to leave the company to work abroad and earn more to provide his parents with a better life.
From 2010 to 2012, Melty worked in Dubai, a city that is known for making a person’s dream into reality, as a hairstylist for Men. While making his name in Dubai, he had to leave his job and return home after his mother suffered a stroke. With his few savings from his previous career, he opened again “Asher Salon” in 2012 for him to look out for his parents and be able to achieve his dream. But with all the money he is earning from the salon, problems keep on blocking him. He had been addicted to many vices such as drugs, alcohol, and men. All of the money he earns from his business goes straight from all of his vices. But Someone made him change, that Someone whom he has been longing for a very long time, that Someone is God, our Saviour. After reviving his faith in the Lord, everything changed. He started earning more and felt happier and more contented. And in 2018, he fully recovered from all the addiction he previously had.
In 2020, COVID-19 shocked everyone and brought down those up-and-coming businesses and those successful ones. Asher Salon is one of them. Melty is forced to close his business with all the lockdowns and restrictions, but he still provides his staff with the things they need. In 2021, he was blessed to be included in the list of beneficiaries for the Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB) Program DTI-Laguna. He said that the livelihood kit he received was able to earn four times the amount of the Livelihood Kit. All the learnings he learned from the program helped him immensely with his business operation.
This year Asher Salon was already approved with a PHP100,000 loan from the CARES Program, which he used to extend his salon for the manicure and pedicure area. He was also able to buy hydraulic chairs and some products for the salon. He shares that from a PHP2,000 net monthly income when he started; now, he is earning a net monthly income of PHP50,000.
With the ups and downs in life, Melty keeps fighting for his parents and all the people relying on him. “Para sa mga nagsisimula pa lang or gustong mag-simula ng Negosyo payo ko lang na wag kakalimutan ang Patience, Care, at Love. Hindi lahat ng bagay makukuha mo agad kailangan patient ka. Pangalawa, huwag mong ituring na basta customer lang ang mga customer mo, iparamdam mo na sila ay parang pamilya mo. At ikatlo, Love, mahalin ang pamilya, ang sarili, ang mga kliyente, at ang mga staff, dahil hindi mo maaabot ang tagumpay kung wala sila. Sila ang tumulong sayo nung nahihirapan ka, kaya ngayon sila naman ang iyong tulungan. At ngayon napatunayan ko na ang pangarap ay natutupad. Sa DTI naman, salamat sa tulong at tiwala, kayo ay tunay na nagmamahal sa mga may Negosyo nawa ay ipagpatuloy nyo pa ang paglilingkod sa bayan,”, he said.♦
Date of Release: 30 May 2022