Dili, 17 April 2026 (Media Democracia) – A businesswoman who went viral on social media, known by the name Martinha da Silva Almeida, from Baucau Municipality, Laga Administrative Post, currently living in Metiaut, is a woman with big initiative who opened a business selling Obralang (OB) clothes, with one piece of clothing priced at $1, and she also provides jobs for youth.
Martinha da Silva said she got this business experience at a young age when in her free time she always accompanied her father to sell fish in the Municipality, and this experience has motivated her until today.
“I was still in pre-primary school, and after returning from school, I always accompanied my father to sell fish in the Municipality. Then I finished pre-primary, and continued to pre-secondary and secondary school. I had no thoughts of continuing to university because I wanted to choose the path of doing small business. So I also got involved in the theater world and I divided my time on how to do small business, so I decided to sell gasoline, but at night starting from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am because I had to divide my time to join other activities. That really motivated me when I sold gasoline and already got a fairly good income, and at that time I also had a motorbike and I took the motorbike documents to borrow money from someone with an amount of $150 dollars and I also made a promise to my aunt that I would return her money.” said Martinha at the business site in Fomento 2, Saturday 11/04/2026 this week.
She added that she started selling Obralang (OB) clothes in 2020, but a big challenge was during Covid-19 and there were also evictions from the state, which became a difficulty for small business.
“I started selling OB in Sengol, then Covid-19 happened so our government announced that activities were stopped, so I made a decision to sell Nasi Kuning. I managed to sell, but had to comply with social distancing rules and wear masks. After Covid-19, activities resumed and I continued selling OB as usual, but another eviction from the government happened so we had to vacate the place. I started going around Dili to look for a safe place so as not to kill my business will to sell OB. Then my uncle offered me a place in front of the hospital, so I continued selling there. But the place was not sufficient because there were too many customers, so I managed to get a fairly good income. Then the thought came that I had to look for another place to expand the business, and I managed to get one in Kulu-hun, so I continued selling in Kulu-hun too.” she said.
She added that during the business there was no one to help and no assistants, and only some friends always helped when they were free.
“I sold from Sengol, in front of HNGV Hospital to Kulu-hun, I didn’t have assistants yet and at that time I got help only from friends but they also had many activities, so only when they were free did they come help me. At that time at night I always promoted my business through TikTok and Facebook, and with that many customers always came to buy my goods. I continued promoting my goods through TikTok and Facebook, and many youth asked me about working with me to help sell clothes. I managed to accept two youth to help me at that time, and with that my sister and I sat together and decided that we could look for other places to continue opening businesses in some locations.” she said.
On the other hand, Martinha also further declared that she started selling OB at one dollar starting from Sengol until now and also provides jobs for youth. The places they sell are Kulu-hun, Becora Fomento II, and also Kampung Merdeka.
“The income I get from selling OB, at the start I also bought whole bales at $125 and there was a little left that I managed to buy cabidu. From the start I sold pants and shirts from $3 to $10 dollars at that time to get good income depending on the customers. The places we sell are Kulu-hun, Becora Fomento II, and also Kampung Merdeka. In Kampung Merdeka, at that time we sold for a week, but because before that some friends were already selling there, I felt it wasn’t good so I decided to close it and instead open a canteen there because the location is right near the ICS campus, currently in the installation process. Currently there are 27 youth working with me, and with the youth working together I feel the work is a bit lighter. Every month I give salaries to the youth according to my ability, and I can’t disclose the salaries because that is internal between me and the assistants. The goods sold are taken from agents in Dili, not imported by container, and the OB sold each day we open more than ten bales, on Saturday and Sunday we open 30 bales. Like recently on my birthday which was celebrated on March 21, before that I already did promotion through social media TikTok and Facebook at a price of 0.50 cents, and that price attracted my customers. On normal days I sell at the normal price of $.,” she declared.
She explained that during this business she faced many difficulties.
“First, when I started the business I had no assistants or employees, and second was Covid-19. After that my assistants weren’t there and I only had my friends who always helped. Every time some people spoke bad words to me saying Martinha sells clothes at a price like this, sometimes it feels like just a dream, but with those words I don’t take it as an issue and it becomes material or motivation for me to run this business.”
Besides that, the message remains for fellow women and businesspeople that when you want to do any business you must believe in yourself, have patience, don’t be shy and don’t be lazy to fight for this life. She also asks customers to keep coming to our place, and keeps informing customers that we will continue to open more clothes sales in other places to be able to give jobs to youth who want to work.
Report By: Team MD
Photo By: Tea MD