Purpose, Pera Outlet, and Progress: The Persevering Journey of Tatti Boutique in Brgy. Mandalagan

Back in 2008, in Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Rhea Inayan opened Tatti Boutique. Contrary to what many thought, the name wasn’t inspired by a family member or a combination of names, as is common among Pinoys. Instead, it came from the colloquial slang “tatî”, meaning “from the States (United States).”

The name was fitting. All of Tatti’s merchandise came from the United States, sent through balikbayan boxes by her sister abroad. From the beginning, Rhea offered more than just products. She provided personalized service, built trust, and made her shop a friendly and welcoming stop. Even kids loved it here because somehow, Rhea found a treat for them. Soon, Tatti Boutique became a community favorite, the go-to place for those seeking authentic items from the US.

But life took a sharp turn.

When the pandemic hit, Rhea and her boutique were not spared. Business slowed, and challenges mounted, including quarantine periods and the need to let go of non-essentials. Eventually, circumstances forced the store to shut down.

As if the economic downturn wasn’t difficult enough, fate dealt her even harsher blows. Rhea was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that drained her energy and bound her to daily medication. And then, she suffered an even greater loss—the passing of her beloved mother, her strongest source of support.

Rising Above the Challenges to Becoming a Modern-Day Bayani ng Barangay

Determined to start again, Rhea launched a pop-up shop at CityMall Mandalagan in 2023. This was when people seemed to be emerging from the long nightmare brought by the pandemic. It was a fresh start after years of life-changing setbacks, and once again, she found herself welcoming back her loyal customers as well as meeting new faces.

But this time, she noticed a different behavioral trend. Shoppers weren’t just looking for imported goods—they were asking if they could cash in, pay bills, or send money.

Lightbulb! 💡

Rhea recognized the opportunity–both for her business and for giving service. The community’s needs were changing, and she was ready to adapt. Rhea is truly an unrelenting entrepreneur, with the heart and mindset to solve her community’s problems.

After exploring her options, a friend introduced her to the GCash Pera Outlet (GPO) program. It was exactly what she needed—a way to serve her customers beyond retail, while building a new income stream for her boutique. From Rhea’s own words, “Yung nakakatulong ka habang umaasenso.”

For Rhea, passion and purpose came together in one mission: to bring financial inclusion closer to her community. Through the GCash Pera Outlet, she found the perfect channel to help her neighbors while also growing her business and enriching her life in deeper ways than just profit.

How GCash Pera Outlet Progressed Rhea’s Business and Changed Her Life

GCash Pera Outlet is a platform designed for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and general trade businesses to facilitate transactions on behalf of their customers. For years, Rhea’s underserved community in Brgy. Mandalagan had little to no options in this area. The people had very limited choices with local banks. They were forced to deal with high interest rates, timed transactions, and banking hours regardless of urgency and other limitations.

Guided by her personal mission and advocacy to serve her local community, Rhea built her business around the needs of those around her, seeking to give convenience and aid where she could. By helping their lives move forward by making everyday financial transactions easier, she became a trusted pillar in the barangay. That is financial inclusion at the grassroots level!

With Tatti Boutique as a GCash Pera Outlet, residents are now able to easily access several financial products such as Cash In, Cash Out, Buy Load, Pay Bills, and Claim Padala. These five (5) services alone solved an entire community’s cash flow problem, from helping moms budget their meal plans to enabling dads to pay bills on time.

But to make the system sustainable, the entire setup is not just a one-way street. For Rhea, it is a way to turn her business around and improve her quality of life, especially since her disease requires loads of maintenance medication and supplementation. Plus, she was able to employ more people from her community, providing sources of income for several families.

What began with a ₱10,000 capital and a handwritten signage for “Cash-in, Cash-out, E-load” service turned into a full-blown business with several branches in just 2 years! With Rhea’s vision and heart of service, Tatti Boutique is now one of the top GCash Pera Outlet partners across Visayas, operating four GCash Pera Outlet Accounts.

Being a Bayani ng Barangay

Recently, GCash honored Rhea as a Bayani ng Barangay. According to Ms. Lourdes Batac, GCash Head of Communications Strategy and the GCash Stories Campaign Lead since 2023, Rhea is the perfect choice as the featured hero in their latest short film.

“GCash Stories is more than just a thematic campaign for us,” she said. “Rhea’s journey from a small business owner to now a leading GCash Pera Outlet in Visayas captures everything GCash stands for: progress that starts with people and growth that’s shared with the community.”

Hopefully, Rhea’s entrepreneurial spirit will inspire more Filipinos to find innovative solutions and contribute their share to nation-building.

AS Mr. Neil Trinidad, Chief Marketing Officer of Mynt, said, “Stories of progress inspire more progress and continue the movement.”

WATCH: GCash Stories Features Rhea Inayan

Here is the full video of the GCash Stories featuring businesswoman Rhea Inayan of Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Read: GCash Stories Film Follows the Success Story of ‘Bayani ng Barangay’ Rhea Inayan