SARI-SARI (variety) stores are an important part of Filipino culture. Across the archipelago, from the most far-flung provinces to urban centers, there are thousands of stores providing Filipinos easy access to their daily needs from canned goods and cold, bottled beverages to toiletries and school supplies.

At the same time, these sari-sari stores serve as the main source of income for countless enterprising Filipinos and have kept the wheels of the local economy moving. However, the microentrepreneurs behind these sari-sari stores often have limited funds to expand their operations.