Empowering banana entrepreneurs
Business World - Online Edition
October 4, 2010
Ireneo D. Dalayon
Chief Executive Officer
Federation of ARB/Banana-Based
Cooperatives of Davao (FEDCO)
The Philippine Cavendish banana is considered one of the nation’s top income-generating crops. Not only is it a strong source of foreign revenue, it is also a primary source of employment for thousands of small farmers in the provinces. These, precisely, were the reasons why Ireneo D. Dalayon, CEO of the Federation of ARB/Banana-Based Cooperatives of Davao (FEDCO), decided to focus on the banana industry for his business and advocacy.
Mr. Dalayon first saw the potentials -- and the problems -- in the industry when he worked for a fruit company. His job was to look for small farmers to grow fresh bananas. His interaction with the farmers provided him with an understanding of the inner workings of the industry, gaining deeper insight and knowledge on banana production and growership agreements.
His personal assessment was that there were some inequities and flaws in the system. Many small farmers claimed they remained poor because big export corporations purchased their produce at a fixed price, depriving them of the maximum profit they could earn.
Mr. Dalayon recounts that he has met so many small banana farmers who owe millions to banks. They are unable to earn enough to pay off their loans due to the low buying prices of traders. This was what motivated him to do something to help uplift the lives of these small farmers.
To further enhance his knowledge of the industry, Mr. Dalayon became a banana grower himself. His objective was to initiate gradual yet sweeping changes in how growership agreements were conducted.
"Experiencing for myself the challenges banana farmers faced inspired me to negotiate for better prices, so that small farmers can get better returns on their labor," he says.
To achieve this goal, Mr. Dalayon spearheaded the establishment of FEDCO in 1999. Since its inception, FEDCO has served as the umbrella organization for banana growers’ cooperatives. It is composed of farmers who are agrarian reform beneficiaries operating in Davao City and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley. From a starting membership of seven banana cooperatives, FEDCO has grown to nearly 20 member cooperatives with around 3,600 farmers owning 5,000 hectares of land.
Traditionally, banana growers under contracts with multinational banana corporations have limited freedom to manage their own farms. The corporations can dictate the entire production process, from planting to harvesting and packaging. In some cases, the cost of production is even deducted from the growers’ small earnings.
Through FEDCO, Mr. Dalayon helped organize these cooperatives to give banana growers better control of their operations and more freedom to negotiate the selling price of their produce, based on market demand and the quality of their crops.
FEDCO also plays an important role as the marketing arm for its member cooperatives, promoting the benefits of direct linkage with international buyers. Early on, FEDCO worked on negotiating contracts directly with foreign buyers in Japan. By going directly to the buyers, Mr. Dalayon was able to raise banana buying prices to 10 times their previous rate. Under his leadership, FEDCO consequently went on to conduct trade missions and make direct contracts with global fruit buyers in China, Korea and the Middle East.
Given the opportunity to market directly to international buyers, banana growers were able to eliminate costs from third-party marketing channels and middlemen.
Freed from restrictive growership agreements that delineated their production practices, growers had more flexibility to optimize operations. Greater profits also meant that they could afford to invest more in innovations that reduced their cost of production.
"Happily, our efforts are paying off. Big fruit importers now deal directly with small banana growers, offering them much higher prices for their produce," says Mr. Dalayon.
To keep up with the high global standards demanded by foreign buyers, FEDCO collaborates with different local government agencies to continuously provide banana growers with training, seminars and market exposure. More importantly, FEDCO sees to it that its best farming practices are followed by growers in all the member cooperatives -- from planting and fertilizing to harvesting and packaging.
Over the years, FEDCO has nurtured a more inclusive and proactive business environment for its members. Beyond just improving the production process, FEDCO also keeps its members well informed about sound business practices and strategies to help them grow.
Mr. Dalayon avers, "Transparency in doing the business is very important for you to gain the trust and respect of people with whom you do business. Without mutual trust and respect, you won’t last."
Today, FEDCO continues to build relationships and export directly to the international market. In late 2009, the Japanese government sponsored a FEDCO trade mission to their country to help promote the understanding of the banana market and to assist FEDCO connect with more Japanese fruit buyers.
Mr. Dalayon is also optimistic about increasing FEDCO’s global market share once other small banana growers see the benefits of joining the cooperative.
FEDCO is also developing new products from banana by-products such as fiber, chips and animal feeds. Mr. Dalayon is optimistic that this will maximize productivity and limit waste. FEDCO has begun planning for the manufacture of its own organic fertilizers and other farm inputs, catering to the international demand for fruit products produced using organic-based pesticides and fertilizers. Anticipating potential demand, FEDCO also has plans to expand into palm oil production and collaborate with potential local and international buyers.
In the long run, FEDCO’s initiatives have helped growers better enjoy the fruits of their hard work.
Growers have also become more motivated to ensure quality in the fruit they produce. Being a member of the Davao Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP), FEDCO aims to empower more banana growers in the region and further improve and sustain the operations of all its member cooperatives.
Mr. Dalayon hopes to inspire all small banana farmers in Mindanao to take charge of their future, and to work together to strengthen and improve the industry.
He says, "We measure our success by how much we’ve helped banana growers improve their lives. By helping banana growers upgrade their practices and businesses, FEDCO can truly become an instrument of change in the industry."
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on Oct.12 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Nestle has 43,000 food boxes for Sarangani school kids
Nestle has 43,000 food boxes for Sarangani school kids
Mindanao Magazine
October 4, 2010
Alabel, Sarangani – Nestle Philippines has been delivering P5.5-M worth of Koko Krunch cereals for a total of 42,696 of 330-gram cases since last week for Sarangani school children.
“The last of the four trucks of Koko Krunch arrived today,” Alcantara Foundation (AF) project officer Angelie Christine Budo said.
“The cereals will be distributed to Grade I-VI pupils on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from October to February. This is also in partnership with the 57-75 Education Reform Movement,” Budo said.
Nestle Philippines and AF are members of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). PBSP provided transportation for the food.
PBSP will augment the cereals with milk as feeding program for the children in Alabel, Kawas and Alegria Central Elementary Schools.
“This is a big help for the children in their learning. Pupils’ attentiveness is affected and they are easily disturbed because they have empty stomachs,” said Abdul Madsid, school principal.
Madsid said school teachers of Kawas Central Elementary School assist the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) in their enrollment campaign.
“Most of the parents are not employed. They wanted their children help them make money so that they have something to eat during the day,” PTA president Serafin Jorolan said.
“We thank the Alcantara Foundation for helping our school and we hope that with this feeding program, more pupils will attend classes,” Jorolan said.
Kawas Central Elementary School is also the province’s library hub. Madsid said textbooks and workbooks from the Department of Education will arrive here by the end of this month.
Sarangani launched its Education Revolution “Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan” last week as the province’s battle cry against poverty. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Mindanao Magazine
October 4, 2010
Alabel, Sarangani – Nestle Philippines has been delivering P5.5-M worth of Koko Krunch cereals for a total of 42,696 of 330-gram cases since last week for Sarangani school children.
“The last of the four trucks of Koko Krunch arrived today,” Alcantara Foundation (AF) project officer Angelie Christine Budo said.
“The cereals will be distributed to Grade I-VI pupils on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from October to February. This is also in partnership with the 57-75 Education Reform Movement,” Budo said.
Nestle Philippines and AF are members of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). PBSP provided transportation for the food.
PBSP will augment the cereals with milk as feeding program for the children in Alabel, Kawas and Alegria Central Elementary Schools.
“This is a big help for the children in their learning. Pupils’ attentiveness is affected and they are easily disturbed because they have empty stomachs,” said Abdul Madsid, school principal.
Madsid said school teachers of Kawas Central Elementary School assist the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) in their enrollment campaign.
“Most of the parents are not employed. They wanted their children help them make money so that they have something to eat during the day,” PTA president Serafin Jorolan said.
“We thank the Alcantara Foundation for helping our school and we hope that with this feeding program, more pupils will attend classes,” Jorolan said.
Kawas Central Elementary School is also the province’s library hub. Madsid said textbooks and workbooks from the Department of Education will arrive here by the end of this month.
Sarangani launched its Education Revolution “Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan” last week as the province’s battle cry against poverty. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
PBSP calls for entries to BID contest
PBSP calls for entries to BID contest
News Today Online
October 4, 2010
The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is calling on individuals who have new and innovative ideas on how to achieve poverty reduction while gaining profit to join its annual competition.
Dubbed Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines, the competition aims to generate business plans that are geared toward hitting poverty reduction and reaping profit at the same time.
Donna Cariño, BiD Challenge Philippines program officer, said the project is an enterprising concept that seeks to harmonize profit with development.
It is a poverty reduction program which encourages the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a means to spur economic activities in marginalized communities of developing countries. This concept took root in The Netherlands as a means to promote its commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Viable ideas are matched with potential investors,” she said.
First launched in Manila in September 2006 through the PBSP, BiD Challenge Philippines was the first to host its own BiD Network with the support and participation of local partners. It has produced international winners over the years and has extended P20 million worth of financing in the form of loans and grants to local BiD entrepreneurs.
News Today Online
October 4, 2010
The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is calling on individuals who have new and innovative ideas on how to achieve poverty reduction while gaining profit to join its annual competition.
Dubbed Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Philippines, the competition aims to generate business plans that are geared toward hitting poverty reduction and reaping profit at the same time.
Donna Cariño, BiD Challenge Philippines program officer, said the project is an enterprising concept that seeks to harmonize profit with development.
It is a poverty reduction program which encourages the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a means to spur economic activities in marginalized communities of developing countries. This concept took root in The Netherlands as a means to promote its commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Viable ideas are matched with potential investors,” she said.
First launched in Manila in September 2006 through the PBSP, BiD Challenge Philippines was the first to host its own BiD Network with the support and participation of local partners. It has produced international winners over the years and has extended P20 million worth of financing in the form of loans and grants to local BiD entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship is an attitude
Entrepreneurship is an attitude
Business World Online
October 3, 2010
Edgar J. Sia II
Chairman and CEO
Mang Inasal Philippines, Inc.
The Philippines is the 12th most populous country in the world with over 90 million mouths to feed. Without a doubt, getting into the food business remains a very viable opportunity for entrepreneurs. But with so many players, how does one stand out to be noticed? More importantly, how can another food business make it big time?
Edgar "Injap" J. Sia II answered these questions by conducting his research in a very methodical manner. He looked at the 16 different regions in the Philippines and recognized that each has a unique set of culinary traditions and eating habits. He then analyzed and identified what type of food would have the most potential and mass appeal. This was the ubiquitous barbeque (inasal in Ilonggo).
With much perseverance, innovative thinking and a deep understanding of business, Mr. Sia created Mang Inasal in Iloilo City in 2003. Today it has emerged as the country’s sixth largest fast food chain and its growth seems to be unstoppable.
That the boyish Mr. Sia would venture into business comes as no surprise. Born into a family of Chinese-Filipino entrepreneurs, he was exposed to business from a very young age.
He recounts how, at the age of 10, he would spend his after-school hours stacking merchandise or manning the counter in his parents’ grocery store in Roxas City. "While many of my friends were playing or riding their bikes, I would be moving inventory and counting soap," he recalls.
The family store became the training ground that cultivated Mr. Sia’s drive for success. Learning from the example of his industrious parents, Mr. Sia developed what he refers to as an almost "sixth sense" for business. At 20, he was already running multiple businesses -- a photo developing franchise, a 58-room three-star hotel and a laundry shop in Iloilo City.
Mr. Sia seized another opportunity that came knocking in December 2003 when he was offered a 250-square meter space behind Robinson’s Place Iloilo. The space, in an unused car park, was being offered at a very attractive price. Listening to his well-honed business instincts, he jumped at the chance to acquire it. In retrospect, Mr. Sia admits that he acted on a hunch.
"The price was so attractive that I couldn’t forego it, even if I had no business plan in mind. I bought the space not knowing what to do with it! You can say that the space came ahead of the concept."
While mulling over ideas, Mr. Sia was sure of one thing -- whatever he came up with had to have the potential to expand on a nationwide scale. After much consideration, he eventually decided to go for the time-tested appeal of the Ilonggo’s comfort food, chicken barbeque or inasal, served fast-food style. Mang Inasal fuses Filipino cuisine with the fast food dine-in concept.
Mang Inasal was Mr. Sia’s first venture into the food industry and the challenges he encountered were daunting. When he started, the concept of a fast food restaurant serving traditional Filipino dishes was a novelty and Mr. Sia knew he was up against the top players in the Philippine fast food industry. Without a real system in place during his first year of operation and no commissary to supply their raw materials, he had to learn the hard way.
Mr. Sia in fact had to do most of the work, from managing the business to preparing and serving the food to cleaning up afterwards. This complete lack of hesitation to do backbreaking work, however, enabled Mr. Sia to achieve in seven years what others have taken twice as long to achieve.
Barely a year after Mang Inasal opened, Mr. Sia was able to set up another branch, this time in his native Roxas City. Their second year of operation saw six more branch openings and, in their third year, over 20 more. This phenomenal growth brought an flood of franchise offers but Mr. Sia held back until 2005 when he was completely confident of the stability and brand recall of the business. Only after a year of sustaining market demand and developing his customer base was he convinced that Mang Inasal was en route to expansion.
When Mr. Sia finally opened Mang Inasal for franchising, he concentrated his efforts on his own backyard -- Visayas and Mindanao -- where inasal is most popular. Not long afterwards, potential franchises from Luzon showed much interest, paving the way for Mang Inasal to penetrate Metro Manila. Mang Inasal now counts 260 branches nationwide of which 28 are company owned.
As Mang Inasal gained popularity, there was a need to maintain top quality. To safeguard consistency in all aspects of the business, such as product quality and cleanliness, Mr. Sia established several monitoring systems and procedures. A highly skilled research and development team was tasked to handle product development and guarantee a consistent inasal taste. To facilitate smooth transactions with their commissaries and ensure consistent supplies, Mr. Sia implemented an advanced online supply ordering system for his branches.
Mr. Sia considers sheer hard work and innovation as the primary reasons of Mang Inasal’s success. He also cites the uniqueness that allowed him to beat the odds as a new player in the fast food industry.
He says, "Mang Inasal is a truly Filipino-style fast food chain. Our concept, ambiance and even the way our food is served on banana leaves is authentically Filipino."
This, according to Mr. Sia, differentiates them from the other fast food giants in the country. In addition, Mang Inasal was one of the first quick service restaurants to offer unlimited rice, which strongly appealed to diners.
Despite the success of Mang Inasal, Mr. Sia recognizes there’s still a lot that can be done to even make it bigger. He is constantly thinking up new ideas to maintain Mang Inasal’s competitive edge, such as their recently launched delivery service.
Variations in the breakfast menu are being developed and he is also looking at giving fast food dining a whole new feel with patented combo cups. The company is preparing to go public by the end of 2010 to solidify its stronghold in the Philippine fast food industry.
While he listens to his instinct, Mr. Sia is very calculated and strategic in his approach to business. He firmly believes in hard work and perseverance, and encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to do the same.
He also urges them to believe in their capacity to make their dreams come true, saying "Nothing is impossible with the right attitude. Do not be intimidated by problems. Instead, look at them as opportunities for growth. I was lucky to acquire the right entrepreneurial attitude as a young boy. You could say I developed the right asal (behavior) for inasal," he quips.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on 12 October 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
Business World Online
October 3, 2010
Edgar J. Sia II
Chairman and CEO
Mang Inasal Philippines, Inc.
The Philippines is the 12th most populous country in the world with over 90 million mouths to feed. Without a doubt, getting into the food business remains a very viable opportunity for entrepreneurs. But with so many players, how does one stand out to be noticed? More importantly, how can another food business make it big time?
Edgar "Injap" J. Sia II answered these questions by conducting his research in a very methodical manner. He looked at the 16 different regions in the Philippines and recognized that each has a unique set of culinary traditions and eating habits. He then analyzed and identified what type of food would have the most potential and mass appeal. This was the ubiquitous barbeque (inasal in Ilonggo).
With much perseverance, innovative thinking and a deep understanding of business, Mr. Sia created Mang Inasal in Iloilo City in 2003. Today it has emerged as the country’s sixth largest fast food chain and its growth seems to be unstoppable.
That the boyish Mr. Sia would venture into business comes as no surprise. Born into a family of Chinese-Filipino entrepreneurs, he was exposed to business from a very young age.
He recounts how, at the age of 10, he would spend his after-school hours stacking merchandise or manning the counter in his parents’ grocery store in Roxas City. "While many of my friends were playing or riding their bikes, I would be moving inventory and counting soap," he recalls.
The family store became the training ground that cultivated Mr. Sia’s drive for success. Learning from the example of his industrious parents, Mr. Sia developed what he refers to as an almost "sixth sense" for business. At 20, he was already running multiple businesses -- a photo developing franchise, a 58-room three-star hotel and a laundry shop in Iloilo City.
Mr. Sia seized another opportunity that came knocking in December 2003 when he was offered a 250-square meter space behind Robinson’s Place Iloilo. The space, in an unused car park, was being offered at a very attractive price. Listening to his well-honed business instincts, he jumped at the chance to acquire it. In retrospect, Mr. Sia admits that he acted on a hunch.
"The price was so attractive that I couldn’t forego it, even if I had no business plan in mind. I bought the space not knowing what to do with it! You can say that the space came ahead of the concept."
While mulling over ideas, Mr. Sia was sure of one thing -- whatever he came up with had to have the potential to expand on a nationwide scale. After much consideration, he eventually decided to go for the time-tested appeal of the Ilonggo’s comfort food, chicken barbeque or inasal, served fast-food style. Mang Inasal fuses Filipino cuisine with the fast food dine-in concept.
Mang Inasal was Mr. Sia’s first venture into the food industry and the challenges he encountered were daunting. When he started, the concept of a fast food restaurant serving traditional Filipino dishes was a novelty and Mr. Sia knew he was up against the top players in the Philippine fast food industry. Without a real system in place during his first year of operation and no commissary to supply their raw materials, he had to learn the hard way.
Mr. Sia in fact had to do most of the work, from managing the business to preparing and serving the food to cleaning up afterwards. This complete lack of hesitation to do backbreaking work, however, enabled Mr. Sia to achieve in seven years what others have taken twice as long to achieve.
Barely a year after Mang Inasal opened, Mr. Sia was able to set up another branch, this time in his native Roxas City. Their second year of operation saw six more branch openings and, in their third year, over 20 more. This phenomenal growth brought an flood of franchise offers but Mr. Sia held back until 2005 when he was completely confident of the stability and brand recall of the business. Only after a year of sustaining market demand and developing his customer base was he convinced that Mang Inasal was en route to expansion.
When Mr. Sia finally opened Mang Inasal for franchising, he concentrated his efforts on his own backyard -- Visayas and Mindanao -- where inasal is most popular. Not long afterwards, potential franchises from Luzon showed much interest, paving the way for Mang Inasal to penetrate Metro Manila. Mang Inasal now counts 260 branches nationwide of which 28 are company owned.
As Mang Inasal gained popularity, there was a need to maintain top quality. To safeguard consistency in all aspects of the business, such as product quality and cleanliness, Mr. Sia established several monitoring systems and procedures. A highly skilled research and development team was tasked to handle product development and guarantee a consistent inasal taste. To facilitate smooth transactions with their commissaries and ensure consistent supplies, Mr. Sia implemented an advanced online supply ordering system for his branches.
Mr. Sia considers sheer hard work and innovation as the primary reasons of Mang Inasal’s success. He also cites the uniqueness that allowed him to beat the odds as a new player in the fast food industry.
He says, "Mang Inasal is a truly Filipino-style fast food chain. Our concept, ambiance and even the way our food is served on banana leaves is authentically Filipino."
This, according to Mr. Sia, differentiates them from the other fast food giants in the country. In addition, Mang Inasal was one of the first quick service restaurants to offer unlimited rice, which strongly appealed to diners.
Despite the success of Mang Inasal, Mr. Sia recognizes there’s still a lot that can be done to even make it bigger. He is constantly thinking up new ideas to maintain Mang Inasal’s competitive edge, such as their recently launched delivery service.
Variations in the breakfast menu are being developed and he is also looking at giving fast food dining a whole new feel with patented combo cups. The company is preparing to go public by the end of 2010 to solidify its stronghold in the Philippine fast food industry.
While he listens to his instinct, Mr. Sia is very calculated and strategic in his approach to business. He firmly believes in hard work and perseverance, and encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to do the same.
He also urges them to believe in their capacity to make their dreams come true, saying "Nothing is impossible with the right attitude. Do not be intimidated by problems. Instead, look at them as opportunities for growth. I was lucky to acquire the right entrepreneurial attitude as a young boy. You could say I developed the right asal (behavior) for inasal," he quips.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on 12 October 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
Go Green Cebu Fair at Shangri-La Mactan
Go Green Cebu Fair at Shangri-La Mactan
Sun.Star Cebu
October 4, 2010
ON OCT. 8 and 9, 2010, Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, a two-day comprehensive conference and exhibit on the subject of going green will take place at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu, the only resort in Cebu to be awarded with two ASEAN Green Hotel Awards.
The conference aims to convene corporate executives, government agencies, various non-government organizations, private institutions and students to learn through interactive discussions and forums, how businesses and individuals affect the environment.
To set the tone for the two-day conference, Gregory Burns, an award-winning Paralympic and world-renowned motivational speaker, will share with participants his colorful life experiences and motivational techniques with the aim of developing catalysts of change that will nurture a culture of caring for the environment. Khoo Swee Chiow, a Singaporean extreme adventure enthusiast and motivational speaker who recently traversed the length of the Philippine archipelago in a kayak, will share with participants his personal experience of the natural beauty of the coastal communities of the Philippines.
Other lectures
Other noteworthy lectures will be delivered by Efren Penaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year 2009, founder and head of Dynamic Teen Company, Lisa Christensen, founding and managing editor of Ecovision Asia, an organization advocating climate change issues, sustainability and ocean conservation issues, and Roberto Aboitiz of Ocean Care Advocates and the Aboitiz Foundation.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will be represented by Pat Gallardo, director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, who will be talking about the environmental efforts and best practices of various Shangri-La hotels and resorts throughout the world and the effects they have on the business of hospitality.
Day one of the conference will include lectures, forums and an exhibition, while day two will include an underwater clean-up dive, a beach clean-up and plenary sessions on coastal preservation and marine biodiversity. Topics for the breakout sessions include vermicomposting, bag making from recycled materials with Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera and Barangay Luz Women’s Group, recycled jewelry making, permaculture and green cooking.
To participate in Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, guests may choose from a two-day pass for P3,000, which includes buffet lunch at Tides for two days, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers, a one-day pass for P2,000, which includes lunch buffet at Tides, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers or a one-day conference pass for P500 that includes snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers. Government employees, teachers and students enjoy a special rate of P300 for the one-day conference pass.
Sun.Star Cebu
October 4, 2010
ON OCT. 8 and 9, 2010, Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, a two-day comprehensive conference and exhibit on the subject of going green will take place at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu, the only resort in Cebu to be awarded with two ASEAN Green Hotel Awards.
The conference aims to convene corporate executives, government agencies, various non-government organizations, private institutions and students to learn through interactive discussions and forums, how businesses and individuals affect the environment.
To set the tone for the two-day conference, Gregory Burns, an award-winning Paralympic and world-renowned motivational speaker, will share with participants his colorful life experiences and motivational techniques with the aim of developing catalysts of change that will nurture a culture of caring for the environment. Khoo Swee Chiow, a Singaporean extreme adventure enthusiast and motivational speaker who recently traversed the length of the Philippine archipelago in a kayak, will share with participants his personal experience of the natural beauty of the coastal communities of the Philippines.
Other lectures
Other noteworthy lectures will be delivered by Efren Penaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year 2009, founder and head of Dynamic Teen Company, Lisa Christensen, founding and managing editor of Ecovision Asia, an organization advocating climate change issues, sustainability and ocean conservation issues, and Roberto Aboitiz of Ocean Care Advocates and the Aboitiz Foundation.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will be represented by Pat Gallardo, director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, who will be talking about the environmental efforts and best practices of various Shangri-La hotels and resorts throughout the world and the effects they have on the business of hospitality.
Day one of the conference will include lectures, forums and an exhibition, while day two will include an underwater clean-up dive, a beach clean-up and plenary sessions on coastal preservation and marine biodiversity. Topics for the breakout sessions include vermicomposting, bag making from recycled materials with Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera and Barangay Luz Women’s Group, recycled jewelry making, permaculture and green cooking.
To participate in Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, guests may choose from a two-day pass for P3,000, which includes buffet lunch at Tides for two days, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers, a one-day pass for P2,000, which includes lunch buffet at Tides, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers or a one-day conference pass for P500 that includes snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers. Government employees, teachers and students enjoy a special rate of P300 for the one-day conference pass.
Shangri-La's Mactan holds Go Green Cebu Fair 2010
Shangri-La's Mactan holds Go Green Cebu Fair 2010
The Freeman
October 4, 2010
CEBU, Philippines – With the success of the first Go Green Cebu Fair in March 2009, Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu sealed its commitment to continue efforts to advocate programs for sustainable living and environmental conservation in Cebu and its surrounding communities.
On October 8 and 9, 2010, Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, a two-day comprehensive conference and exhibit on the subject of going green will take place at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu, the only resort in Cebu to be awarded with two ASEAN Green Hotel Awards. The conference aims to convene corporate executives, government agencies, various non-government organizations, private institutions and students to learn through interactive discussions and forums, how businesses and individuals affect the environment.
To set the tone for the two-day conference, Gregory Burns, an award-winning Paralympic and world-renowned motivational speaker, will share with participants his colorful life experiences and motivational techniques with the aim of developing catalysts of change that will nurture a culture of caring for the environment. Khoo Swee Chiow, a Singaporean extreme adventure enthusiast and motivational speaker who recently traversed the length of the Philippine archipelago in a kayak, will share with participants his personal experience of the natural beauty of the coastal communities of the Philippines.
Other noteworthy lectures will be delivered by Efren Penaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year 2009, founder and head of Dynamic Teen Company, Lisa Christensen, founding and managing editor of Ecovision Asia, an organization advocating climate change issues, sustainability and ocean conservation issues, and Roberto Aboitiz of Ocean Care Advocates and the Aboitiz Foundation.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will be represented by Pat Gallardo, director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, who will be talking about the environmental efforts and best practices of various Shangri-La hotels and resorts throughout the world and the effects they have on the business of hospitality. Representatives of the Philippine government will also attend, including Mayor Ed Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa, who will share with participants how he managed to create a thorough and effective greening program for a local government unit, while Senator Miguel Zubiri will discuss how appropriate legislation such as the Renewable Energy Bill can help address the country's environmental issues.
Day one of the conference will include lectures, forums and an exhibition, while day two will include an underwater clean-up dive, a beach clean-up and plenary sessions on coastal preservation and marine biodiversity. Breakout sessions will give participants the chance to learn simple steps and practical skills that they can use to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. Topics for the breakout sessions include vermicomposting, bag making from recycled materials with Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera and Barangay Luz Women's Group, recycled jewelry making, permaculture and green cooking.
To participate in Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, guests may choose from a two-day pass for P3,000, which includes buffet lunch at Tides for two days, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers, a one-day pass for P2,000, which includes lunch buffet at Tides, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers or a one-day conference pass for P500 that includes snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers. Government employees, teachers and students enjoy a special rate of P300 for the one-day conference pass.
Go Green Cebu Fair 2010 is presented by Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu in partnership with Banco De Oro and Cebu Pacific Air. Silver sponsors include Dedon Manufacturing, Inc., Pilipinas Shell and Primewater Tech Systems. Bronze sponsors include Limtong Press, Purcia, Italian Food Specialists, Laundry Supplies and Equipment, Tri-Star Paints Center and Avis Philippines.
For inquiries and ticket sales, please call Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu at (63 32) 2310288 or e-mail events.mac@shangri-la.com. (FREEMAN)
The Freeman
October 4, 2010
CEBU, Philippines – With the success of the first Go Green Cebu Fair in March 2009, Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu sealed its commitment to continue efforts to advocate programs for sustainable living and environmental conservation in Cebu and its surrounding communities.
On October 8 and 9, 2010, Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, a two-day comprehensive conference and exhibit on the subject of going green will take place at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu, the only resort in Cebu to be awarded with two ASEAN Green Hotel Awards. The conference aims to convene corporate executives, government agencies, various non-government organizations, private institutions and students to learn through interactive discussions and forums, how businesses and individuals affect the environment.
To set the tone for the two-day conference, Gregory Burns, an award-winning Paralympic and world-renowned motivational speaker, will share with participants his colorful life experiences and motivational techniques with the aim of developing catalysts of change that will nurture a culture of caring for the environment. Khoo Swee Chiow, a Singaporean extreme adventure enthusiast and motivational speaker who recently traversed the length of the Philippine archipelago in a kayak, will share with participants his personal experience of the natural beauty of the coastal communities of the Philippines.
Other noteworthy lectures will be delivered by Efren Penaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year 2009, founder and head of Dynamic Teen Company, Lisa Christensen, founding and managing editor of Ecovision Asia, an organization advocating climate change issues, sustainability and ocean conservation issues, and Roberto Aboitiz of Ocean Care Advocates and the Aboitiz Foundation.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will be represented by Pat Gallardo, director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, who will be talking about the environmental efforts and best practices of various Shangri-La hotels and resorts throughout the world and the effects they have on the business of hospitality. Representatives of the Philippine government will also attend, including Mayor Ed Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa, who will share with participants how he managed to create a thorough and effective greening program for a local government unit, while Senator Miguel Zubiri will discuss how appropriate legislation such as the Renewable Energy Bill can help address the country's environmental issues.
Day one of the conference will include lectures, forums and an exhibition, while day two will include an underwater clean-up dive, a beach clean-up and plenary sessions on coastal preservation and marine biodiversity. Breakout sessions will give participants the chance to learn simple steps and practical skills that they can use to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. Topics for the breakout sessions include vermicomposting, bag making from recycled materials with Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera and Barangay Luz Women's Group, recycled jewelry making, permaculture and green cooking.
To participate in Go Green Cebu Fair 2010, guests may choose from a two-day pass for P3,000, which includes buffet lunch at Tides for two days, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers, a one-day pass for P2,000, which includes lunch buffet at Tides, snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers or a one-day conference pass for P500 that includes snacks and round-trip city shuttle transfers. Government employees, teachers and students enjoy a special rate of P300 for the one-day conference pass.
Go Green Cebu Fair 2010 is presented by Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu in partnership with Banco De Oro and Cebu Pacific Air. Silver sponsors include Dedon Manufacturing, Inc., Pilipinas Shell and Primewater Tech Systems. Bronze sponsors include Limtong Press, Purcia, Italian Food Specialists, Laundry Supplies and Equipment, Tri-Star Paints Center and Avis Philippines.
For inquiries and ticket sales, please call Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu at (63 32) 2310288 or e-mail events.mac@shangri-la.com. (FREEMAN)
Buhisan's coming (winged) attractions
Buhisan's coming (winged) attractions
Buhisan is a step closer to becoming an eco-cultural
tourism destination with the butterfly sanctuary on the way
Architect Socorro Atega of Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water Foundation (CUSW) has said that the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve, where the Buhisan Dam rests, is a perfect spot for butterflies.
This was one of the details she considered when she created the site development plan for Buhisan, envisioning it as a nature center where the public can enjoy scenic spots, stroll in peace and be more aware of the environment at the same time.
That was on 2008, when Atega, who chairs CUSW, partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Lexmark International (Philippines), Inc. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation for the launching of the Save the Buhisan Watershed Project.
The five-year project aims to ensure sustainable water supply for Metro Cebu and promote the Buhisan Watershed as an eco-cultural tourism destination, which, in turn, will redound to the benefit of the communities around it by having alternative sources of livelihood.
Now, the butterfly sanctuary is on the way to completion. The Julian N. Jumalon Foundation, which is known for its successful butterfly sanctuaries, is tasked to layout Buhisan's butterfly sanctuary.
The sanctuary is just another aspect of the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, which is one of the expected outputs of the five-year project.
The nature center is also expected to be formally turned over on the first week of November by PBSP and its partner groups and companies.
Buhisan is a step closer to becoming an eco-cultural
tourism destination with the butterfly sanctuary on the way
Architect Socorro Atega of Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water Foundation (CUSW) has said that the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve, where the Buhisan Dam rests, is a perfect spot for butterflies.
This was one of the details she considered when she created the site development plan for Buhisan, envisioning it as a nature center where the public can enjoy scenic spots, stroll in peace and be more aware of the environment at the same time.
Site Development Plan of the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve
Nature Center drafted by Archt. Atega.
Nature Center drafted by Archt. Atega.
That was on 2008, when Atega, who chairs CUSW, partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Lexmark International (Philippines), Inc. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation for the launching of the Save the Buhisan Watershed Project.
The five-year project aims to ensure sustainable water supply for Metro Cebu and promote the Buhisan Watershed as an eco-cultural tourism destination, which, in turn, will redound to the benefit of the communities around it by having alternative sources of livelihood.
Now, the butterfly sanctuary is on the way to completion. The Julian N. Jumalon Foundation, which is known for its successful butterfly sanctuaries, is tasked to layout Buhisan's butterfly sanctuary.
The sanctuary is just another aspect of the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, which is one of the expected outputs of the five-year project.
The nature center is also expected to be formally turned over on the first week of November by PBSP and its partner groups and companies.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Clustering of government hospitals
Clustering of government hospitals
Mindanao Newsbits
Manila Bulletin
October 2, 2010
Clustering of gov't hospitals
DAVAO CITY – Clustering of state-run health institutions per region is expected to propel delivery of services especially those underserved in rural areas, the Department of Health (DoH) said Friday.
Romulo Busuego, DoH assistant secretary for hospital operations, said they are eyeing this to streamline the resources of hospitals so that they would be able to respond efficiently to the community.
“Our hospitals need to develop its infrastructure, equipment, technology and financing resources,” Busuego said this as he spoke to reporters in a press conference held at the Southern Philippines Medical Center Friday morning.
Busuego said he was told by DoH Secretary Enrique T. Ona to come up with a strategy to cluster hospitals and turn them into a network system where they could merge by referring patients one to another depending on the kind of health service they need.
“This way, bigger public hospitals would no longer attend to patients who are suffering illness that could be attended by health workers in centers located in the countryside,” he said. (Mick Basa)
Men Outnumber Women in Zambo
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Of the 25 provinces in Mindanao, only Zamboanga del Sur boasts of more male than female population, the Region 9 office of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB 9) announced here.
NCSB 9 chief Mewchun Pamaran said that of Zamboanga del Sur’s latest total population of close to 915,000 gathered by the National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO), at least 51.1 percent belongs to the stronger sex while 49.9 percent comprises the weaker sex.
The data represent a sex ratio of 105 males for every 100 females in the Muslim-Christian province, Pamaran said, adding that the superiority in number of the former over the latter is most apparent in the age bracket between zero to 59 years old.
Pamaran also noted that almost 55 percent of the province’s population is of voting age starting at 18 years with the male voters outnumbering their female counterparts – 51.2 percent against 48.2 percent.
The NCSB official added that the area’s population age 10 and above, 46.9 percent is married while the remaining ones were “never married.” (Tony Pe Rimando)
TB Cure Center Up in Koronadal
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – The Department of Health (DoH) is working for the establishment of a regional treatment center for Tuberculosis (TB) in Koronadal City to help effectively address the growing cases of the disease in Region 12.
Heidi Florentin, TB program coordinator of South Cotabato, said the DoH and partner agencies like the National Lung Center and the Philippine Business for Social Progress have signed a Memorandum of Agreement with local government officials for the construction of a TB Multi-Drug Resistant or MDR Center for the region.
Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato. Based on the agreement, she said the facility would be set up beside the City Health Office compound along Alunan Avenue in Koronadal City.
As counterpart for the project, Florentin said the city government of Koronadal will provide five medical personnel to manage the treatment center, which would be absorbed by the local government after five years.
Mindanao Newsbits
Manila Bulletin
October 2, 2010
Clustering of gov't hospitals
DAVAO CITY – Clustering of state-run health institutions per region is expected to propel delivery of services especially those underserved in rural areas, the Department of Health (DoH) said Friday.
Romulo Busuego, DoH assistant secretary for hospital operations, said they are eyeing this to streamline the resources of hospitals so that they would be able to respond efficiently to the community.
“Our hospitals need to develop its infrastructure, equipment, technology and financing resources,” Busuego said this as he spoke to reporters in a press conference held at the Southern Philippines Medical Center Friday morning.
Busuego said he was told by DoH Secretary Enrique T. Ona to come up with a strategy to cluster hospitals and turn them into a network system where they could merge by referring patients one to another depending on the kind of health service they need.
“This way, bigger public hospitals would no longer attend to patients who are suffering illness that could be attended by health workers in centers located in the countryside,” he said. (Mick Basa)
Men Outnumber Women in Zambo
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Of the 25 provinces in Mindanao, only Zamboanga del Sur boasts of more male than female population, the Region 9 office of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB 9) announced here.
NCSB 9 chief Mewchun Pamaran said that of Zamboanga del Sur’s latest total population of close to 915,000 gathered by the National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO), at least 51.1 percent belongs to the stronger sex while 49.9 percent comprises the weaker sex.
The data represent a sex ratio of 105 males for every 100 females in the Muslim-Christian province, Pamaran said, adding that the superiority in number of the former over the latter is most apparent in the age bracket between zero to 59 years old.
Pamaran also noted that almost 55 percent of the province’s population is of voting age starting at 18 years with the male voters outnumbering their female counterparts – 51.2 percent against 48.2 percent.
The NCSB official added that the area’s population age 10 and above, 46.9 percent is married while the remaining ones were “never married.” (Tony Pe Rimando)
TB Cure Center Up in Koronadal
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – The Department of Health (DoH) is working for the establishment of a regional treatment center for Tuberculosis (TB) in Koronadal City to help effectively address the growing cases of the disease in Region 12.
Heidi Florentin, TB program coordinator of South Cotabato, said the DoH and partner agencies like the National Lung Center and the Philippine Business for Social Progress have signed a Memorandum of Agreement with local government officials for the construction of a TB Multi-Drug Resistant or MDR Center for the region.
Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato. Based on the agreement, she said the facility would be set up beside the City Health Office compound along Alunan Avenue in Koronadal City.
As counterpart for the project, Florentin said the city government of Koronadal will provide five medical personnel to manage the treatment center, which would be absorbed by the local government after five years.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Quality to crow about
Quality to crow about
Business World Online
October 1, 2010
Tennyson G. Chen
President
Bounty Fresh Food Inc.
When asked when Tennyson Chen first considered himself an entrepreneur, he laughingly replied, "Me? I consider myself a farmer. When people ask what I do, I tell them ‘I grow chickens’." But behind this humble statement lies a deep passion for innovation and quality, one that has propelled Bounty Fresh Food, Inc. (BFFI) to preeminence as one of the country’s largest and most reputable food producers. The quality of Bounty Fresh chickens is undeniable. Last year, the company won the 2009 Asian Livestock Industry Award, the first time any company from the Philippines had ever won this prestigious regional accolade.
No stranger to change, Mr. Chen started out doing general construction work after graduating from the De La Salle University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. However, when the business took a downturn in the mid-’80s, Mr. Chen decided to switch tracks and explore the food production industry. With his siblings, he started an egg layer farm. After a few years, however, feeling that the business wasn’t growing enough, Mr. Chen once again changed directions. This time, he decided to try his hand at breeding and growing broiler chickens, which are young and tender chickens used primarily for roasting.
"We knew nothing about the business," he confides. "So my siblings and I went to live on a broiler farm for six months to learn everything we could about the breeder business." In 1993, Mr. Chen applied for a Board of Investments incentive and set up the company which later became BFFI. Yet, Mr. Chen and his siblings still had much to learn -- on their first day, it took them 16 hours to dress 1,000 chickens. A stark contrast to the 6,000 birds an hour produced today with BFFI’s state-of-the-art facilities. By 2005, the company was producing 70 to 80 million birds a year, doubling the industry volume. Today, sales are estimated at P9-11 billion annually.
In addition to the steep learning curve, Mr. Chen also had problems dealing with wet market vendors with unscrupulous practices. Fortunately, he was able to land a contract to supply Makro and business started improving. "Our first delivery, we could hardly supply the order. We didn’t know anything, really. We had to go through the process of learning from scratch." He also relates how other integrators in the market gave them just six months to survive. But with persistence, determination and a keen eye for opportunities, Mr. Chen was able to push the business into becoming the billion-peso enterprise it is today.
From the very onset, Mr. Chen believed that technology would be a powerful differentiator in the industry. Making a leap of faith, he scoured the world for the most advanced industry technology, and brought them into the country. Despite being a smaller start-up, Bounty Fresh pioneered many of the systems now used by the country’s other integrators, such as temperature and climate control, single-stage hatcheries and others. "The industry needed to upgrade itself. Some of the practices were over 30 years old. I felt that we needed to modernize if we were to compete with our Asian neighbors."
With the technology he brought in, Mr. Chen was able to keep a tight control over costs while ensuring top quality for his products. "For example, we brought the first climate-controlled single-stage hatchery into the country in 2000. This allowed us to ensure better sanitation, bio-security, and control over the climate and humidity. The chicks grow healthier and stronger, and the resulting chickens are of better quality."
Unsurprisingly, this commitment to quality has translated into ISO certification in Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems, Environmental Management Systems and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems for BFFI, as well as a string of national and regional awards such as the Philippine Grand Slam Award for Best Meat Establishment from 2006 to 2009.
Every stage of the production process is imbued with the same focus on technology, even down to the vacuum packaging and tamper-proof trays for their products. "We’re very critical about ensuring food safety and freshness. Do you know that the amount of bacteria on a chicken in ambient temperature doubles every hour? To ensure that no bacteria comes in contact with our products, our chickens are processed, chilled and vacuum-packed immediately to seal in the freshness. Our technology also allows us to keep our costs low, so we can give more value to our consumers."
This commitment to value is what prompted Mr. Chen to take BFFI into the next stage of its evolution in 2008. Through Bounty Agroventure, Inc., a sister company of BFFI, he conceptualized the Chooks To Go brand to retail freshly roasted chicken directly to consumers. "When we first opened, we sold our cooked chicken for P139. People went crazy over them! That year, in December, the Urdaneta branch sold 900 heads. People queued for almost 100 meters just to buy our chicken," he relates in amazement. In just two years, Chooks To Go has mushroomed, with over 700 outlets around the country. The brand opens three to four outlets a day and retails 100 million chickens a year.
Mr. Chen candidly shares that he still doesn’t know how they did it, but he attributes the success of the business to the dedication and capabilities of his people. The company works with close to 1,000 contract growers, toll feedmills, hatcheries and other partners around the country. BFFI helps these groups modernize their facilities and improve their productivity by providing advice, feasibility studies, technology recommendations, assistance acquiring land or equipment, and other support.
The company also gives back to the community, in particular the town of Pulilan, Bulacan, where the main plant is based. They support Pulilan children through education grants and feeding programs, engage in tree-planting, conduct blood donation drives, support medical missions, provide antirabies injections, and recently established a livelihood project for farmers in Abra. Their waste water, which is rich in natural fertilizer, is also provided to local farmers.
Under his leadership, BFFI continues to advance and improve its facilities and processes. "We’re employing foreign technology in our facilities, which cost more. But they can perform better in the long run. I want to buy the best technology and look at it in the next 20 years. The point of view of a contract grower is they want return in as short a time as possible. That’s not my philosophy. I want to spend on the best technology and invest in a long-term strategy." Today, the company’s feedmill in Tarlac is considered the best in the country. They have also begun construction of an even more advanced hatchery, and their next generation feedmill is already on the drawing board.
Thinking back on the challenges he had to overcome to bring his company to where it is today, Mr. Chen believes that risks should always be viewed as opportunities. "You have to act quickly and decisively," he advises would-be entrepreneurs. "Do the best you can, employ the best technology, and keep moving forward. Tackle issues, don’t hide from them."
Sage advice from a self-proclaimed farmer whose vision has revolutionized an entire industry.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on 12 October 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
Business World Online
October 1, 2010
Tennyson G. Chen
President
Bounty Fresh Food Inc.
When asked when Tennyson Chen first considered himself an entrepreneur, he laughingly replied, "Me? I consider myself a farmer. When people ask what I do, I tell them ‘I grow chickens’." But behind this humble statement lies a deep passion for innovation and quality, one that has propelled Bounty Fresh Food, Inc. (BFFI) to preeminence as one of the country’s largest and most reputable food producers. The quality of Bounty Fresh chickens is undeniable. Last year, the company won the 2009 Asian Livestock Industry Award, the first time any company from the Philippines had ever won this prestigious regional accolade.
No stranger to change, Mr. Chen started out doing general construction work after graduating from the De La Salle University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. However, when the business took a downturn in the mid-’80s, Mr. Chen decided to switch tracks and explore the food production industry. With his siblings, he started an egg layer farm. After a few years, however, feeling that the business wasn’t growing enough, Mr. Chen once again changed directions. This time, he decided to try his hand at breeding and growing broiler chickens, which are young and tender chickens used primarily for roasting.
"We knew nothing about the business," he confides. "So my siblings and I went to live on a broiler farm for six months to learn everything we could about the breeder business." In 1993, Mr. Chen applied for a Board of Investments incentive and set up the company which later became BFFI. Yet, Mr. Chen and his siblings still had much to learn -- on their first day, it took them 16 hours to dress 1,000 chickens. A stark contrast to the 6,000 birds an hour produced today with BFFI’s state-of-the-art facilities. By 2005, the company was producing 70 to 80 million birds a year, doubling the industry volume. Today, sales are estimated at P9-11 billion annually.
In addition to the steep learning curve, Mr. Chen also had problems dealing with wet market vendors with unscrupulous practices. Fortunately, he was able to land a contract to supply Makro and business started improving. "Our first delivery, we could hardly supply the order. We didn’t know anything, really. We had to go through the process of learning from scratch." He also relates how other integrators in the market gave them just six months to survive. But with persistence, determination and a keen eye for opportunities, Mr. Chen was able to push the business into becoming the billion-peso enterprise it is today.
From the very onset, Mr. Chen believed that technology would be a powerful differentiator in the industry. Making a leap of faith, he scoured the world for the most advanced industry technology, and brought them into the country. Despite being a smaller start-up, Bounty Fresh pioneered many of the systems now used by the country’s other integrators, such as temperature and climate control, single-stage hatcheries and others. "The industry needed to upgrade itself. Some of the practices were over 30 years old. I felt that we needed to modernize if we were to compete with our Asian neighbors."
With the technology he brought in, Mr. Chen was able to keep a tight control over costs while ensuring top quality for his products. "For example, we brought the first climate-controlled single-stage hatchery into the country in 2000. This allowed us to ensure better sanitation, bio-security, and control over the climate and humidity. The chicks grow healthier and stronger, and the resulting chickens are of better quality."
Unsurprisingly, this commitment to quality has translated into ISO certification in Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems, Environmental Management Systems and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems for BFFI, as well as a string of national and regional awards such as the Philippine Grand Slam Award for Best Meat Establishment from 2006 to 2009.
Every stage of the production process is imbued with the same focus on technology, even down to the vacuum packaging and tamper-proof trays for their products. "We’re very critical about ensuring food safety and freshness. Do you know that the amount of bacteria on a chicken in ambient temperature doubles every hour? To ensure that no bacteria comes in contact with our products, our chickens are processed, chilled and vacuum-packed immediately to seal in the freshness. Our technology also allows us to keep our costs low, so we can give more value to our consumers."
This commitment to value is what prompted Mr. Chen to take BFFI into the next stage of its evolution in 2008. Through Bounty Agroventure, Inc., a sister company of BFFI, he conceptualized the Chooks To Go brand to retail freshly roasted chicken directly to consumers. "When we first opened, we sold our cooked chicken for P139. People went crazy over them! That year, in December, the Urdaneta branch sold 900 heads. People queued for almost 100 meters just to buy our chicken," he relates in amazement. In just two years, Chooks To Go has mushroomed, with over 700 outlets around the country. The brand opens three to four outlets a day and retails 100 million chickens a year.
Mr. Chen candidly shares that he still doesn’t know how they did it, but he attributes the success of the business to the dedication and capabilities of his people. The company works with close to 1,000 contract growers, toll feedmills, hatcheries and other partners around the country. BFFI helps these groups modernize their facilities and improve their productivity by providing advice, feasibility studies, technology recommendations, assistance acquiring land or equipment, and other support.
The company also gives back to the community, in particular the town of Pulilan, Bulacan, where the main plant is based. They support Pulilan children through education grants and feeding programs, engage in tree-planting, conduct blood donation drives, support medical missions, provide antirabies injections, and recently established a livelihood project for farmers in Abra. Their waste water, which is rich in natural fertilizer, is also provided to local farmers.
Under his leadership, BFFI continues to advance and improve its facilities and processes. "We’re employing foreign technology in our facilities, which cost more. But they can perform better in the long run. I want to buy the best technology and look at it in the next 20 years. The point of view of a contract grower is they want return in as short a time as possible. That’s not my philosophy. I want to spend on the best technology and invest in a long-term strategy." Today, the company’s feedmill in Tarlac is considered the best in the country. They have also begun construction of an even more advanced hatchery, and their next generation feedmill is already on the drawing board.
Thinking back on the challenges he had to overcome to bring his company to where it is today, Mr. Chen believes that risks should always be viewed as opportunities. "You have to act quickly and decisively," he advises would-be entrepreneurs. "Do the best you can, employ the best technology, and keep moving forward. Tackle issues, don’t hide from them."
Sage advice from a self-proclaimed farmer whose vision has revolutionized an entire industry.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on 12 October 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Entrepreneurial diplomacy
Entrepreneurial diplomacy
Business World Online
September 30, 2010
Junie S. Del Mundo
Chief Executive Officer
EON
In communications, the way one packages a message is often as important as the content of the message itself. In a rapidly digitizing and intensely sensory world, people are bombarded with thousands of messages each day, making it even more challenging to ensure that messages are transmitted with unequivocal precision. Particularly in sectors such as business or politics, misunderstandings can have extensive repercussions. This is the world of professional communicators like Teodoro "Junie" S. Del Mundo, CEO of EON.
Educated in the Philippines, the United States and France, Mr. Del Mundo spent 13 years of his professional life strengthening ties between countries. He built a career in foreign service with postings in the Philippine embassies in Paris, France and Dakar, Senegal and at the Philippine Mission for UNESCO in Paris. After deciding to return home for good in 1995, Mr. Del Mundo felt a burning need to explore other avenues for his career and future. Serendipitously, he was asked to help organize the 1996 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Manila. Gaining much knowledge and confidence from this experience, he followed his instincts and entrepreneurial spirit, making the jump from government service to the private sector. He founded EON in 1998 and focused on events organizing.
His past experience in facilitating communications and bridging ideas proved invaluable in helping him build trust and cooperation -- this time among clients, media, investors, businesses, and government and nongovernment organizations.
Happy with EON’s events management services, Mr. Del Mundo’s clients also requested him to handle their publicity requirements. This opened up a new avenue of opportunity, enabling EON to evolve into a full-service communications agency. EON’s services expanded to include public relations, corporate communications and stakeholder relations. The company also affiliated itself with Edelman, one of the world’s largest global public relations network.
A defining service that EON provides to its clients is stakeholder relations, which involves building trust-based relationships between an organization and its stakeholders such as media, the government and business entities. "Different stakeholders will necessarily have different issues and concerns. We need to internalize the unique needs of each stakeholder, then tailor tightly focused strategies for each group. Using a broad-based communications platform just won’t work," Mr. Del Mundo explains.
EON is a forerunner in rendering this innovative and personalized communications model. To help others understand stakeholder relations, Mr. Del Mundo illustrates it with the work done recently for a client. "We managed a corporate social responsibility project for one of our clients, a global oil and gas company with drilling operations in the Sulu Sea. They wanted to do something for the town closest to their operations, so they initiated a water pumping project. To make this work, not only did we need to raise awareness of community’s very pressing needs for potable water, we also needed government and media groups to buy in and support the whole thing."
In addition to developing an effective community profile for their client, EON also facilitated dialogues with media and government groups, including arranging for these concerned groups to see the situation for themselves.
Over the years, EON’s client base has grown to include both local and regional companies, 95% of which are multinational corporations. EON has done projects in Uzbekistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Del Mundo hopes to win more regional projects within the next five years. The firm has been accredited by the Asian Development Bank and is the only Filipino agency with a specialization in Central Asia. He intends for EON to be a regional player using the Philippines as a hub, believing in the creativity, ability and resourcefulness of Filipino professionals. He draws encouragement from the success of projects such as one done in Uzbekistan, where all online requirements were done out of the Philippines.
Recognizing the huge potential and growing importance of the online landscape, Mr. Del Mundo created a separate company called Tangerine in July 2010. This spin-off company will offer web content development and design, blogging research and Web site-related interaction.
In an industry that relies hugely on talent and aptitude, quality people will always be a professional services company’s greatest asset. Mr. Del Mundo expects his people to differentiate themselves from competition in terms of professionalism, immediacy and quality of response, speed in delivery, and intelligence. To ensure that EON can deliver consistent high-quality work to meet the specialized requirements of its clients, he also focused on building a strong and experienced management team to guide and mentor the young and enthusiastic staff. From 36 people in 2009, the company has now grown to 60 employees in 2010.
One of EON’s core values is joy. Mr. Del Mundo constantly works to promote a happy, friendly, light and interactive culture within the company. He is involved with Hands On Manila and the League of Corporate Foundations and encourages his employees to fully embrace the ideal of personal and corporate social responsibility. With his staff members, they support 10 scholars under World Vision by contributing through voluntary salary deduction.
While he may have left the foreign service and has found his niche in entrepreneurship, Mr. Del Mundo remains a diplomat at heart. "I still get to apply my people-relation skills because we do a lot of business with local and foreign governments. And really, if you think about it, our job is to act as envoys for companies and organizations. I’m really still building bridges and connecting ideas between people," he muses.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at a banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Business World Online
September 30, 2010
Junie S. Del Mundo
Chief Executive Officer
EON
In communications, the way one packages a message is often as important as the content of the message itself. In a rapidly digitizing and intensely sensory world, people are bombarded with thousands of messages each day, making it even more challenging to ensure that messages are transmitted with unequivocal precision. Particularly in sectors such as business or politics, misunderstandings can have extensive repercussions. This is the world of professional communicators like Teodoro "Junie" S. Del Mundo, CEO of EON.
Educated in the Philippines, the United States and France, Mr. Del Mundo spent 13 years of his professional life strengthening ties between countries. He built a career in foreign service with postings in the Philippine embassies in Paris, France and Dakar, Senegal and at the Philippine Mission for UNESCO in Paris. After deciding to return home for good in 1995, Mr. Del Mundo felt a burning need to explore other avenues for his career and future. Serendipitously, he was asked to help organize the 1996 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Manila. Gaining much knowledge and confidence from this experience, he followed his instincts and entrepreneurial spirit, making the jump from government service to the private sector. He founded EON in 1998 and focused on events organizing.
His past experience in facilitating communications and bridging ideas proved invaluable in helping him build trust and cooperation -- this time among clients, media, investors, businesses, and government and nongovernment organizations.
Happy with EON’s events management services, Mr. Del Mundo’s clients also requested him to handle their publicity requirements. This opened up a new avenue of opportunity, enabling EON to evolve into a full-service communications agency. EON’s services expanded to include public relations, corporate communications and stakeholder relations. The company also affiliated itself with Edelman, one of the world’s largest global public relations network.
A defining service that EON provides to its clients is stakeholder relations, which involves building trust-based relationships between an organization and its stakeholders such as media, the government and business entities. "Different stakeholders will necessarily have different issues and concerns. We need to internalize the unique needs of each stakeholder, then tailor tightly focused strategies for each group. Using a broad-based communications platform just won’t work," Mr. Del Mundo explains.
EON is a forerunner in rendering this innovative and personalized communications model. To help others understand stakeholder relations, Mr. Del Mundo illustrates it with the work done recently for a client. "We managed a corporate social responsibility project for one of our clients, a global oil and gas company with drilling operations in the Sulu Sea. They wanted to do something for the town closest to their operations, so they initiated a water pumping project. To make this work, not only did we need to raise awareness of community’s very pressing needs for potable water, we also needed government and media groups to buy in and support the whole thing."
In addition to developing an effective community profile for their client, EON also facilitated dialogues with media and government groups, including arranging for these concerned groups to see the situation for themselves.
Over the years, EON’s client base has grown to include both local and regional companies, 95% of which are multinational corporations. EON has done projects in Uzbekistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Del Mundo hopes to win more regional projects within the next five years. The firm has been accredited by the Asian Development Bank and is the only Filipino agency with a specialization in Central Asia. He intends for EON to be a regional player using the Philippines as a hub, believing in the creativity, ability and resourcefulness of Filipino professionals. He draws encouragement from the success of projects such as one done in Uzbekistan, where all online requirements were done out of the Philippines.
Recognizing the huge potential and growing importance of the online landscape, Mr. Del Mundo created a separate company called Tangerine in July 2010. This spin-off company will offer web content development and design, blogging research and Web site-related interaction.
In an industry that relies hugely on talent and aptitude, quality people will always be a professional services company’s greatest asset. Mr. Del Mundo expects his people to differentiate themselves from competition in terms of professionalism, immediacy and quality of response, speed in delivery, and intelligence. To ensure that EON can deliver consistent high-quality work to meet the specialized requirements of its clients, he also focused on building a strong and experienced management team to guide and mentor the young and enthusiastic staff. From 36 people in 2009, the company has now grown to 60 employees in 2010.
One of EON’s core values is joy. Mr. Del Mundo constantly works to promote a happy, friendly, light and interactive culture within the company. He is involved with Hands On Manila and the League of Corporate Foundations and encourages his employees to fully embrace the ideal of personal and corporate social responsibility. With his staff members, they support 10 scholars under World Vision by contributing through voluntary salary deduction.
While he may have left the foreign service and has found his niche in entrepreneurship, Mr. Del Mundo remains a diplomat at heart. "I still get to apply my people-relation skills because we do a lot of business with local and foreign governments. And really, if you think about it, our job is to act as envoys for companies and organizations. I’m really still building bridges and connecting ideas between people," he muses.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at a banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The branding of non-brands
The branding of non-brands
Business World Online
September 29, 2010
Benjamin I. Liuson
President
The Generics Pharmacy Franchising Corp.
For a country where medical treatment is both prohibitively expensive and sadly insufficient, the concept of generic medicine is a godsend. With little government subsidy on health, Filipino families are hard-pressed to provide for their family’s needs. According to latest data, Filipino families spent an estimated P127.3 billion on healthcare in 2007, 54.3% of the Philippines’ total health expenditure.
The Generics Pharmacy, under the leadership of Benjamin I. Liuson, is doing its best to help society and the pharmaceutical industry by carrying only generic medicines. The company traces its roots back to Pacific Insular Co., a German wholesaler and importer of medicine in 1949. In 1960, Mr. Liuson’s parents bought the firm, which he joined in 1970. He eventually took over in 1974 when his father passed away.
Under Mr. Liuson’s guidance, the company started implementing innovative marketing strategies in 1983. Seeing how the average consumer struggled to make ends meet, they lowered their gross margin to around 30% from the usual 400%. To save on costs, they also did not give out samples and did not employ an agent. Instead, they sold directly to doctors and hospitals. After the Generics Act of 1988 was implemented, the firm established DLI Generics, to serve the needs of government hospitals.
In 1996, doctors from the Philippine General Hospital started referring their patients to the DLI Generics’ office in Quezon City. Mr. Liuson recalls that they had to turn the patients away since the company was a wholesaler and therefore not allowed to sell products to them. This inspired him to open the Philippines’ first generics-only retail store, DLI Pharmacy, in 2001. To set it apart, they focused on selling generic medicines exclusively. They also carry only one generic product for every type of medication. "When a consumer is in a rush to buy medicine, the last thing they need is to get confused by too many brands or chemical names. It also makes inventory-keeping simpler and more efficient," he explains.
The drugstore started to gain acceptance and in 2006, regular customers complained that the lone branch in Quezon City was not accessible to provincial residents. With this, Mr. Liuson re-branded DLI Generics into The Generics Pharmacy in July 2007. They also began franchising outlets through The Generics Pharmacy Franchising Corp.
To help jumpstart the franchise stores, Mr. Liuson had all stocks in the stores on consignment. Having been in the pharmaceutical business for 50 years, he was confident that they understood the needs of their market. Second, as a concession to the first 100 outlets, the company offered to refund the franchising fee should the franchisees opt out for any reason in the first three years.
"We might have been in hot water had it not clicked," Mr. Liuson muses. The strategies seem to be working because the firm now counts over 300 franchisees nationwide. To date, The Generics Pharmacy has 900 franchise stores, only one of which is company-owned. "With only one company store, our franchisees trust us more because they know that we’re not competing with them ourselves," Mr. Liuson says.
Because it only sells generics, the firm can set its own retail price for all its products for the franchisees to follow. It encourages franchisees to put up outlets in areas with heavy foot traffic, even if there are already big drugstores in the vicinity. "Being near a big drugstore is one of my key success criteria. Consumers can more easily compare products. In the end, the public wins," he says.
Over the next three years, the company plans to open 450 more stores. By December 2013, it expects to have a network of 1,500 pharmacies. Mr. Liuson says that they are also considering opening outlets in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and the United States.
The company also plans to introduce more products. In the pipeline are dermatological, cosmetic and antiseptic products, as well as medical supplies.
Mr. Liuson believes in the value of building long-term trust and partnership relationships with franchisees, suppliers and retailers. "We work closely with those who share our goals," he relates, "An example is one supplier who, despite objections from a huge competing drugstore chain, chose to continue working with us because their CEO shared our vision of providing the public with affordable and effective medicine." The Generics Pharmacy would eventually become the supplier’s biggest local client.
Besides sound business relationships, Mr. Liuson emphasizes the importance of quality, affordability, accessibility, communication, God’s help and social responsibility to maintain his company’s growth. A deeply religious man, Mr. Liuson acknowledges God’s help in all his achievements. That is why, aside from the usual corporate social responsibility projects, the firm is also involved in what he calls "corporate spiritual responsibility." For three years now, the company sponsors the printing of 200,000 Bibles annually through the Philippine Bible Society. Free copies are distributed with the aim of having one Bible in every home in the country. Copies are also sent to the country’s top corporations.
Reflecting on the company’s success, Mr. Liuson shares that he received the best comment from a franchisee -- that Generics Pharmacy was heaven-sent. This affirmation of how much the company helps people provides powerful motivation to work even harder. "The more people you help, the more successful you are," Mr. Liuson says.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. Winners will be announced on October 12, 2010 at a banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Business World Online
September 29, 2010
Benjamin I. Liuson
President
The Generics Pharmacy Franchising Corp.
For a country where medical treatment is both prohibitively expensive and sadly insufficient, the concept of generic medicine is a godsend. With little government subsidy on health, Filipino families are hard-pressed to provide for their family’s needs. According to latest data, Filipino families spent an estimated P127.3 billion on healthcare in 2007, 54.3% of the Philippines’ total health expenditure.
The Generics Pharmacy, under the leadership of Benjamin I. Liuson, is doing its best to help society and the pharmaceutical industry by carrying only generic medicines. The company traces its roots back to Pacific Insular Co., a German wholesaler and importer of medicine in 1949. In 1960, Mr. Liuson’s parents bought the firm, which he joined in 1970. He eventually took over in 1974 when his father passed away.
Under Mr. Liuson’s guidance, the company started implementing innovative marketing strategies in 1983. Seeing how the average consumer struggled to make ends meet, they lowered their gross margin to around 30% from the usual 400%. To save on costs, they also did not give out samples and did not employ an agent. Instead, they sold directly to doctors and hospitals. After the Generics Act of 1988 was implemented, the firm established DLI Generics, to serve the needs of government hospitals.
In 1996, doctors from the Philippine General Hospital started referring their patients to the DLI Generics’ office in Quezon City. Mr. Liuson recalls that they had to turn the patients away since the company was a wholesaler and therefore not allowed to sell products to them. This inspired him to open the Philippines’ first generics-only retail store, DLI Pharmacy, in 2001. To set it apart, they focused on selling generic medicines exclusively. They also carry only one generic product for every type of medication. "When a consumer is in a rush to buy medicine, the last thing they need is to get confused by too many brands or chemical names. It also makes inventory-keeping simpler and more efficient," he explains.
The drugstore started to gain acceptance and in 2006, regular customers complained that the lone branch in Quezon City was not accessible to provincial residents. With this, Mr. Liuson re-branded DLI Generics into The Generics Pharmacy in July 2007. They also began franchising outlets through The Generics Pharmacy Franchising Corp.
To help jumpstart the franchise stores, Mr. Liuson had all stocks in the stores on consignment. Having been in the pharmaceutical business for 50 years, he was confident that they understood the needs of their market. Second, as a concession to the first 100 outlets, the company offered to refund the franchising fee should the franchisees opt out for any reason in the first three years.
"We might have been in hot water had it not clicked," Mr. Liuson muses. The strategies seem to be working because the firm now counts over 300 franchisees nationwide. To date, The Generics Pharmacy has 900 franchise stores, only one of which is company-owned. "With only one company store, our franchisees trust us more because they know that we’re not competing with them ourselves," Mr. Liuson says.
Because it only sells generics, the firm can set its own retail price for all its products for the franchisees to follow. It encourages franchisees to put up outlets in areas with heavy foot traffic, even if there are already big drugstores in the vicinity. "Being near a big drugstore is one of my key success criteria. Consumers can more easily compare products. In the end, the public wins," he says.
Over the next three years, the company plans to open 450 more stores. By December 2013, it expects to have a network of 1,500 pharmacies. Mr. Liuson says that they are also considering opening outlets in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and the United States.
The company also plans to introduce more products. In the pipeline are dermatological, cosmetic and antiseptic products, as well as medical supplies.
Mr. Liuson believes in the value of building long-term trust and partnership relationships with franchisees, suppliers and retailers. "We work closely with those who share our goals," he relates, "An example is one supplier who, despite objections from a huge competing drugstore chain, chose to continue working with us because their CEO shared our vision of providing the public with affordable and effective medicine." The Generics Pharmacy would eventually become the supplier’s biggest local client.
Besides sound business relationships, Mr. Liuson emphasizes the importance of quality, affordability, accessibility, communication, God’s help and social responsibility to maintain his company’s growth. A deeply religious man, Mr. Liuson acknowledges God’s help in all his achievements. That is why, aside from the usual corporate social responsibility projects, the firm is also involved in what he calls "corporate spiritual responsibility." For three years now, the company sponsors the printing of 200,000 Bibles annually through the Philippine Bible Society. Free copies are distributed with the aim of having one Bible in every home in the country. Copies are also sent to the country’s top corporations.
Reflecting on the company’s success, Mr. Liuson shares that he received the best comment from a franchisee -- that Generics Pharmacy was heaven-sent. This affirmation of how much the company helps people provides powerful motivation to work even harder. "The more people you help, the more successful you are," Mr. Liuson says.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. Winners will be announced on October 12, 2010 at a banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Teacher builder
Teacher builder
Business World Online
September 28, 2010
Engr. Remegio Salanatin
Corporate President
R.G. Salanatin Construction
Civil engineer Remegio Salanatin, founder and president of R.G. Salanatin Construction, considers himself a "lucky entrepreneur" because he never planned things to happen but they just fell into place. And while he attributes his good fortune to "getting the right breaks at the right time," he blended vision, insight and expertise to transform this luck into a thriving construction business.
Entrepreneurship was not Mr. Salanatin’s original career track; it was in academe. After graduating valedictorian from the University of San Agustin in 1965 and placing second in the civil engineering board exams, he took up graduate studies in Structural Engineering at the University of the Philippines and Business Administration at the De La Salle University. He worked in Manila briefly before returning to the province to pursue his interest in education and learning. He joined the faculty of the Notre Dame Midsayap College and taught introductory courses on engineering.
However, it seemed that a quiet life as an educator was not his destiny when he was approached by two big schools in Cotabato City to help them with the construction of their buildings. Seeing an opportunity to put his knowledge into practice, he established R.G. Salanatin Construction in 1967. These initial projects became the foundation of his reputation as a dependable contractor. Looking back he says, "In those days, if people know that you are a faculty member, your credibility increases. Suppliers trusted me because they trusted my credentials."
Mr. Salanatin added innovation to his credibility. He developed two strategies that would be the hallmark of his company: the Design & Build (D&B) construction scheme, and Easy-to-Pay (ETP) terms.
D&B is a holistic approach to construction, offering the full suite of services from planning to design and the actual physical construction. This differs from the costly industry practice where owners first seek architects for the project design and then hire a builder.
Mr. Salanatin also offered the ETP option which would require his clients to pay only 30-70% of the contract price upon the project’s completion. The balance would then be paid off monthly over a six to 24-month period. Again, this was not typical in the industry where a downpayment and periodic payments are the norm.
While the D&B and ETP proved very popular with clients, Mr. Salanatin also came up with other methodologies to increase construction work efficiency. He formulated a unique construction scheduling method for project managers and supervisors called Milestone dates, on top of the standard Time Bar Chart construction schedule. This was done to enhance overall efficiency on project completion.
Mr. Salanatin also takes pride in having authored a handbook for construction supervisors. Based on his own experiences, this handbook serves as a best practices guide on how to become an efficient supervisor. He emphasizes the importance of completing a project on schedule with quality workmanship and within budget. He encourages construction supervisors to be committed to achieving these goals, as they largely determine the success of a project.
With his methodic and pedagogic approach to his business it is not surprising that majority of R.G. Salanatin Construction Company’s clients are academic institutions. The company lists among its many projects educational structures, including libraries, gymnasiums, high school and grade school buildings, and faculty and student housing. "Learning has always been a part of my life," he says with a smile. "From being a student, to a teacher, and now, as a builder of learning institutions. I help the country because I build schools, which is essential for education."
Having established the company’s reputation in the Cotabato region, Mr. Salanatin relocated to Davao in 1980, aspiring to become one of the five leading construction companies there. With determination, he was able to build up his company in Davao in less than five years. The company is now looking to expand further in the country, eyeing the Visayas region for potential opportunities.
Still a teacher at heart, Mr. Salanatin encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to do their best while still in school. He says, "Always strive for excellence even as a student. It is a person’s innate competence that will define his level of self-confidence. And you can’t be a true leader or manager without confidence."
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. This year’s winners will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011.
Business World Online
September 28, 2010
Engr. Remegio Salanatin
Corporate President
R.G. Salanatin Construction
Civil engineer Remegio Salanatin, founder and president of R.G. Salanatin Construction, considers himself a "lucky entrepreneur" because he never planned things to happen but they just fell into place. And while he attributes his good fortune to "getting the right breaks at the right time," he blended vision, insight and expertise to transform this luck into a thriving construction business.
Entrepreneurship was not Mr. Salanatin’s original career track; it was in academe. After graduating valedictorian from the University of San Agustin in 1965 and placing second in the civil engineering board exams, he took up graduate studies in Structural Engineering at the University of the Philippines and Business Administration at the De La Salle University. He worked in Manila briefly before returning to the province to pursue his interest in education and learning. He joined the faculty of the Notre Dame Midsayap College and taught introductory courses on engineering.
However, it seemed that a quiet life as an educator was not his destiny when he was approached by two big schools in Cotabato City to help them with the construction of their buildings. Seeing an opportunity to put his knowledge into practice, he established R.G. Salanatin Construction in 1967. These initial projects became the foundation of his reputation as a dependable contractor. Looking back he says, "In those days, if people know that you are a faculty member, your credibility increases. Suppliers trusted me because they trusted my credentials."
Mr. Salanatin added innovation to his credibility. He developed two strategies that would be the hallmark of his company: the Design & Build (D&B) construction scheme, and Easy-to-Pay (ETP) terms.
D&B is a holistic approach to construction, offering the full suite of services from planning to design and the actual physical construction. This differs from the costly industry practice where owners first seek architects for the project design and then hire a builder.
Mr. Salanatin also offered the ETP option which would require his clients to pay only 30-70% of the contract price upon the project’s completion. The balance would then be paid off monthly over a six to 24-month period. Again, this was not typical in the industry where a downpayment and periodic payments are the norm.
While the D&B and ETP proved very popular with clients, Mr. Salanatin also came up with other methodologies to increase construction work efficiency. He formulated a unique construction scheduling method for project managers and supervisors called Milestone dates, on top of the standard Time Bar Chart construction schedule. This was done to enhance overall efficiency on project completion.
Mr. Salanatin also takes pride in having authored a handbook for construction supervisors. Based on his own experiences, this handbook serves as a best practices guide on how to become an efficient supervisor. He emphasizes the importance of completing a project on schedule with quality workmanship and within budget. He encourages construction supervisors to be committed to achieving these goals, as they largely determine the success of a project.
With his methodic and pedagogic approach to his business it is not surprising that majority of R.G. Salanatin Construction Company’s clients are academic institutions. The company lists among its many projects educational structures, including libraries, gymnasiums, high school and grade school buildings, and faculty and student housing. "Learning has always been a part of my life," he says with a smile. "From being a student, to a teacher, and now, as a builder of learning institutions. I help the country because I build schools, which is essential for education."
Having established the company’s reputation in the Cotabato region, Mr. Salanatin relocated to Davao in 1980, aspiring to become one of the five leading construction companies there. With determination, he was able to build up his company in Davao in less than five years. The company is now looking to expand further in the country, eyeing the Visayas region for potential opportunities.
Still a teacher at heart, Mr. Salanatin encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to do their best while still in school. He says, "Always strive for excellence even as a student. It is a person’s innate competence that will define his level of self-confidence. And you can’t be a true leader or manager without confidence."
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. This year’s winners will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011.
Sarangani arms tanks, troops with books
Sarangani arms tanks, troops with books
PIA News Agency
September 28, 2010
Alabel, Sarangani -- In its battle to end poverty through education, Sarangani local government, the private sector and the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched the Education Revolution "Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan" Monday (September 27) with military tanks and trucks carrying thousands of books.
Hundreds of men in uniform, local officials, parents, teachers and pupils put on their green "Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan" armband at the launching program in Alabel Central Elementary School.
Four trucks of the Philippine Army"s 1st Mechanized Infantry and troops from the 73rd Infantry Battalion carried 37,570 workbooks for the province"s Grade I and Grade II pupils to be distributed within the next three days.
In his State of Sarangani Education Report, Governor Migs Dominguez stressed the strengthening of the community"s participation for education through parent mentoring.
"Before, our province marked the lowest scores in testing centers," Dominguez said. "We have increased our National Achievement Test from 41% in 2006 to 69% this year."
"This is despite our lack of 282 classrooms and 319 teachers for our children," the governor noted.
Department of Education assistant regional director Allan Farnazo congratulated the local government for building 28 new integrated high schools in Sarangani for the province"s remotest communities.
"I am also proud to announce that your province has the highest participation rate in the whole region," Farnazo said.
For his part, Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said "through education, we do not only give our communities fish to eat, but we teach them how to fish so that they will have a better future."
The "joint forces" of the private sector, provincial government, officials and employees of Sarangani"s seven towns - Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum and Malungon - will lead the distribution of workbooks to Alabel"s 30 elementary schools simultaneously in the afternoon.
Distribution of the rest of the workbooks to the other 200 elementary schools in the province was scheduled on September 28-29.
Private sector entities joining the Education Revolution were UnionBank"s Educational Learning System "As A Filipino" Reading Program (workbooks for Grade II), Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), Synergeia Foundation, Alcantara Foundation (AF), Conal Holdings Corporation, Finfish Hatchery, Inc., Southern Philippines Power Corporation (SSPC), Philippine Army"s 1002nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade and 73rd Infantry Battalion.
"We are joining Sarangani"s Education Revolution because we understand education as the key to prosperity and it is our corporate social responsibility to help the children," SMI general manager Mark Williams said. "We have already shown our commitment to improve human capital through education."
SMI was awarded regional outstanding stakeholder for education in 2009.
"Parents and children - you are the stars of our celebration today," SPPC human resource manager Joel Aton said.
"We have seen how much you need for education and so we focused our programs on education by giving scholarships, building classrooms, and giving of school supplies," Aton said.
SPPC has been reproducing workbooks for Sarangani schools and committed to continue this effort until 2018 with increase in the number of books to be reproduced every year.
"All you need now is to read more and study harder," Conal Holdings Corporation project assurance manager Rommel Tomas Falgui said.
"For a successful revolution, we need access to weapons, that is our books, in our fight against poverty through education," AF executive director Richlie Lyndon Magtulis said.
Nestle Philippine also launched its Koko Crunch Project with 42,000 boxes of Koko Crunch cereals worth P5.5 million for Sarangani school children with the Philippine Business for Social Progress P520,000 fund to buy milk. (PIO Sarangani/PIA SarGen)
PIA News Agency
September 28, 2010
Alabel, Sarangani -- In its battle to end poverty through education, Sarangani local government, the private sector and the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched the Education Revolution "Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan" Monday (September 27) with military tanks and trucks carrying thousands of books.
Hundreds of men in uniform, local officials, parents, teachers and pupils put on their green "Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan" armband at the launching program in Alabel Central Elementary School.
Four trucks of the Philippine Army"s 1st Mechanized Infantry and troops from the 73rd Infantry Battalion carried 37,570 workbooks for the province"s Grade I and Grade II pupils to be distributed within the next three days.
In his State of Sarangani Education Report, Governor Migs Dominguez stressed the strengthening of the community"s participation for education through parent mentoring.
"Before, our province marked the lowest scores in testing centers," Dominguez said. "We have increased our National Achievement Test from 41% in 2006 to 69% this year."
"This is despite our lack of 282 classrooms and 319 teachers for our children," the governor noted.
Department of Education assistant regional director Allan Farnazo congratulated the local government for building 28 new integrated high schools in Sarangani for the province"s remotest communities.
"I am also proud to announce that your province has the highest participation rate in the whole region," Farnazo said.
For his part, Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said "through education, we do not only give our communities fish to eat, but we teach them how to fish so that they will have a better future."
The "joint forces" of the private sector, provincial government, officials and employees of Sarangani"s seven towns - Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum and Malungon - will lead the distribution of workbooks to Alabel"s 30 elementary schools simultaneously in the afternoon.
Distribution of the rest of the workbooks to the other 200 elementary schools in the province was scheduled on September 28-29.
Private sector entities joining the Education Revolution were UnionBank"s Educational Learning System "As A Filipino" Reading Program (workbooks for Grade II), Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), Synergeia Foundation, Alcantara Foundation (AF), Conal Holdings Corporation, Finfish Hatchery, Inc., Southern Philippines Power Corporation (SSPC), Philippine Army"s 1002nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade and 73rd Infantry Battalion.
"We are joining Sarangani"s Education Revolution because we understand education as the key to prosperity and it is our corporate social responsibility to help the children," SMI general manager Mark Williams said. "We have already shown our commitment to improve human capital through education."
SMI was awarded regional outstanding stakeholder for education in 2009.
"Parents and children - you are the stars of our celebration today," SPPC human resource manager Joel Aton said.
"We have seen how much you need for education and so we focused our programs on education by giving scholarships, building classrooms, and giving of school supplies," Aton said.
SPPC has been reproducing workbooks for Sarangani schools and committed to continue this effort until 2018 with increase in the number of books to be reproduced every year.
"All you need now is to read more and study harder," Conal Holdings Corporation project assurance manager Rommel Tomas Falgui said.
"For a successful revolution, we need access to weapons, that is our books, in our fight against poverty through education," AF executive director Richlie Lyndon Magtulis said.
Nestle Philippine also launched its Koko Crunch Project with 42,000 boxes of Koko Crunch cereals worth P5.5 million for Sarangani school children with the Philippine Business for Social Progress P520,000 fund to buy milk. (PIO Sarangani/PIA SarGen)
Monday, September 27, 2010
From hotelier to rainmaker
From hotelier to rainmaker
Business World Online
September 27, 2010
Annabella Santos-Wisniewski
President and CEO
Raintree Management Partners, Inc.
Seasoned travelers rave about two major observations on the Philippines. First is the ethereal, almost unearthly beauty of the land; second is the endearing warmth and hospitality of Filipinos in general. These two standout qualities were the fundamental strengths on which Annabella Santos-Wisniewski capitalized to build her business, Raintree Management Partners, Inc.
Mrs. Wisniewski has built a tourism development group that leverages on the best aspects of the Philippines. Raintree-managed properties attract a sizeable chunk of local and international tourists. These include Discovery Shores Boracay and Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay. Combining her extensive experience in the hospitality industry with an innate entrepreneurial spirit, she has helped to greatly enhance the standards of quality and service in the travel industry.
Mrs. Wisniewski says that she was born with entrepreneurship running in her veins. She began her entrepreneurial journey in the United States where she worked in various segments of the hospitality industry for over 20 years, renovating and reselling foreclosed hotels with much success. She reprised her success in Singapore where she helped jumpstart the Ascott chain of serviced residences. She was recognized to have been instrumental in the company’s success, which led to its going public in 1987.
In 1995, the chairman of the Ascott group asked her to return to the Philippines to head their local country operations. However, instead of accepting the offer, Mrs. Wisniewski experienced an epiphany and decided to establish her own company instead: "I thought to myself -- ‘The Philippines is a goldmine! Why am I doing things for other countries when there is so much to do for my own?"
In 1996, Mrs. Wisniewski set up Raintree Management Partners, Inc. as an independent consulting services firm serving established hotel chains such as the Four Seasons and the Shangri-La. Mrs. Wisniewski recalls that she started small, "Really small! It was just my driver, my secretary and I." She now has 1,000 employees.
In addition to the consulting business, Mrs. Wisniewski ventured into operations to build market presence. HSAI Raintree Hospitality Management was formed to operate luxury hotels. In 1998, Raintree entered into a technical service and a long-term management agreement with Discovery Suites to pioneer the full serviced-apartment concept. The tie-up received international recognition and the company was named the Best Employer for Asia in 2003 by Hewitt Associates.
Raintree Management Partners, Inc. believes in injecting innovation into their projects such as providing free Wi-Fi in all Raintree-managed luxury hotels and resorts; revolutionizing corporate food service; and giving quality dining experience in their tastefully designed restaurants that occasionally feature art exhibits and other events.
Mrs. Wisniewski ensures that each innovative approach is market driven and location specific. "After all, we are in the ‘people business’ and it is the people who lounge by our infinity pools and enjoy the amenities our luxury hotels and resorts provide," she states.
Quick to recognize opportunities, Mrs. Wisniewski likewise went into the food service business when she was approached with a proposal to develop a food court at the Enterprise Center on Ayala Avenue. She pioneered a new concept -- themed food parks in a corporate setting, combining easy and affordable dining with events and entertainment. With the initial success of The Enterprise Center Food Court, Raintree started to receive numerous inquiries and offers from other Makati building owners.
To manage the growing demand, she created FoodParks by Raintree in 1998. At present, FoodParks operates the Food Park at the Enterprise Center, Food Odyssey at the LKG Tower, Food & Art Galerie at GT Tower, Food Patio at the PBCom Tower and Food Arcade at the PhilAm Tower.
Being revenue minded, Mrs. Wisniewski knew that it was not financially sufficient to just sublease spaces in the food parks. She organized a subgroup, the Retail Food Group, to operate various food and beverage stalls like Lola’s Kitchen, Pinoy Sizzlers, City Bites, the New York Cafe and FP Express. Seeing that the business was rapidly growing, Mrs. Wisniewski asked her son Andrej to oversee the FoodParks business. The Wisniewski family is very involved in the business and in fact, she says: "My husband and my sons are major players in all my endeavors, and their support and encouragement constantly inspire me."
From FoodParks emerged yet another division -- Raintree Restaurants. The division runs the M Cafe in the Ayala Museum Complex. This was followed by Chelsea Market & Cafe at Serendra, Mr. Jones in Greenbelt 5 and Momo in the Eastwood Mall.
Mrs. Wisniewski’s deep knowledge of the hospitality industry provides Raintree with its competitive edge and is primarily responsible for the group’s market leadership and successful ventures. Moving forward, plans are underway to launch a new generation of hotels and resorts. It is currently developing two beachfront properties in Baler -- one is moderately priced for the budget-conscious traveler and the other, an exclusive high-quality resort and an eco-adventure destination. Discovery Bay Albay will also be opening soon.
While being aggressive in growing the business, Mrs. Wisniewski is also passionate about people development. Key people are sent for training to institutions like Cornell University and the Asian Institute of Management and industry experts are invited to conduct in-house seminars.
With a robust organizational structure backed by a solid business framework, Raintree’s growth has been impressive, but Mrs. Wisniewski recalls when it wasn’t so. "At the beginning, we had to overcome the perception that only international hotel groups could deliver world-class quality." This did not deter her as she steadfastly believed that commitment, effort, optimism and passion can overcome any difficulties: "There’s just no substitute for tenacity and hard work. These are valuable traits that anyone must live by."
Annabella Santos-Wisniewski tirelessly works to enhance and develop the country’s best qualities, particularly its people. Her advice to young entrepreneurs is this: The Filipino can! Success takes a lot of believing. Believe in yourself and in your dreams, and do not fear failure. In the end, it is not the falling but the rising that counts.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Business World Online
September 27, 2010
Annabella Santos-Wisniewski
President and CEO
Raintree Management Partners, Inc.
Seasoned travelers rave about two major observations on the Philippines. First is the ethereal, almost unearthly beauty of the land; second is the endearing warmth and hospitality of Filipinos in general. These two standout qualities were the fundamental strengths on which Annabella Santos-Wisniewski capitalized to build her business, Raintree Management Partners, Inc.
Mrs. Wisniewski has built a tourism development group that leverages on the best aspects of the Philippines. Raintree-managed properties attract a sizeable chunk of local and international tourists. These include Discovery Shores Boracay and Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay. Combining her extensive experience in the hospitality industry with an innate entrepreneurial spirit, she has helped to greatly enhance the standards of quality and service in the travel industry.
Mrs. Wisniewski says that she was born with entrepreneurship running in her veins. She began her entrepreneurial journey in the United States where she worked in various segments of the hospitality industry for over 20 years, renovating and reselling foreclosed hotels with much success. She reprised her success in Singapore where she helped jumpstart the Ascott chain of serviced residences. She was recognized to have been instrumental in the company’s success, which led to its going public in 1987.
In 1995, the chairman of the Ascott group asked her to return to the Philippines to head their local country operations. However, instead of accepting the offer, Mrs. Wisniewski experienced an epiphany and decided to establish her own company instead: "I thought to myself -- ‘The Philippines is a goldmine! Why am I doing things for other countries when there is so much to do for my own?"
In 1996, Mrs. Wisniewski set up Raintree Management Partners, Inc. as an independent consulting services firm serving established hotel chains such as the Four Seasons and the Shangri-La. Mrs. Wisniewski recalls that she started small, "Really small! It was just my driver, my secretary and I." She now has 1,000 employees.
In addition to the consulting business, Mrs. Wisniewski ventured into operations to build market presence. HSAI Raintree Hospitality Management was formed to operate luxury hotels. In 1998, Raintree entered into a technical service and a long-term management agreement with Discovery Suites to pioneer the full serviced-apartment concept. The tie-up received international recognition and the company was named the Best Employer for Asia in 2003 by Hewitt Associates.
Raintree Management Partners, Inc. believes in injecting innovation into their projects such as providing free Wi-Fi in all Raintree-managed luxury hotels and resorts; revolutionizing corporate food service; and giving quality dining experience in their tastefully designed restaurants that occasionally feature art exhibits and other events.
Mrs. Wisniewski ensures that each innovative approach is market driven and location specific. "After all, we are in the ‘people business’ and it is the people who lounge by our infinity pools and enjoy the amenities our luxury hotels and resorts provide," she states.
Quick to recognize opportunities, Mrs. Wisniewski likewise went into the food service business when she was approached with a proposal to develop a food court at the Enterprise Center on Ayala Avenue. She pioneered a new concept -- themed food parks in a corporate setting, combining easy and affordable dining with events and entertainment. With the initial success of The Enterprise Center Food Court, Raintree started to receive numerous inquiries and offers from other Makati building owners.
To manage the growing demand, she created FoodParks by Raintree in 1998. At present, FoodParks operates the Food Park at the Enterprise Center, Food Odyssey at the LKG Tower, Food & Art Galerie at GT Tower, Food Patio at the PBCom Tower and Food Arcade at the PhilAm Tower.
Being revenue minded, Mrs. Wisniewski knew that it was not financially sufficient to just sublease spaces in the food parks. She organized a subgroup, the Retail Food Group, to operate various food and beverage stalls like Lola’s Kitchen, Pinoy Sizzlers, City Bites, the New York Cafe and FP Express. Seeing that the business was rapidly growing, Mrs. Wisniewski asked her son Andrej to oversee the FoodParks business. The Wisniewski family is very involved in the business and in fact, she says: "My husband and my sons are major players in all my endeavors, and their support and encouragement constantly inspire me."
From FoodParks emerged yet another division -- Raintree Restaurants. The division runs the M Cafe in the Ayala Museum Complex. This was followed by Chelsea Market & Cafe at Serendra, Mr. Jones in Greenbelt 5 and Momo in the Eastwood Mall.
Mrs. Wisniewski’s deep knowledge of the hospitality industry provides Raintree with its competitive edge and is primarily responsible for the group’s market leadership and successful ventures. Moving forward, plans are underway to launch a new generation of hotels and resorts. It is currently developing two beachfront properties in Baler -- one is moderately priced for the budget-conscious traveler and the other, an exclusive high-quality resort and an eco-adventure destination. Discovery Bay Albay will also be opening soon.
While being aggressive in growing the business, Mrs. Wisniewski is also passionate about people development. Key people are sent for training to institutions like Cornell University and the Asian Institute of Management and industry experts are invited to conduct in-house seminars.
With a robust organizational structure backed by a solid business framework, Raintree’s growth has been impressive, but Mrs. Wisniewski recalls when it wasn’t so. "At the beginning, we had to overcome the perception that only international hotel groups could deliver world-class quality." This did not deter her as she steadfastly believed that commitment, effort, optimism and passion can overcome any difficulties: "There’s just no substitute for tenacity and hard work. These are valuable traits that anyone must live by."
Annabella Santos-Wisniewski tirelessly works to enhance and develop the country’s best qualities, particularly its people. Her advice to young entrepreneurs is this: The Filipino can! Success takes a lot of believing. Believe in yourself and in your dreams, and do not fear failure. In the end, it is not the falling but the rising that counts.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Vacation with a heart for the environment
Vacation with a heart for the environment
By Cris Evert Lato
Inquirer Visayas
September 25, 2010
GETTING a fair share of the tourist market is not just about providing the best room service to guests. To Cebuano-owned Be Resort, the developing strategy lies in their recently coined word—voluntourism.
A fusion of two words, volunteerism and tourism, voluntourism seeks to develop a culture of environmental awareness among guests while still allowing them to have fun on their vacation.
“Simply put, this is vacation with the heart for the environment,” said Joy Benedicto, managing director of Be Resort.
Benedicto (not related to this page editor) said voluntourism is the “first of its kind in the country” where the resort comes up with series of events and vacation packages that focus on fun and environmental awareness.
Benedicto said guests could opt to include in their vacation package participating in clean-up drives or mangrove planting or island-hopping to Olango. Guests will receive certificates of participation for their involvement in any of the environmental activities.
The resort has partnered with environmental organization, OceanCare Advocates Inc., in organizing island-hopping to Olango, the cleanup drives and the mangrove planting.
The program was launched on Sept. 11 but even before that, it has attracted both local and foreign guests, who have expressed interest in participating in mangrove planting and clean-up drives.
“We hope to do this on a regular basis because for us, it is also our responsibility to inform our guests that we need to take care of the environment,” said marketing and communications manager, Andrea Lugue.
Experimental learning
The group of Manila and Cebu media practitioners joined the Sept. 11 launch and was treated to a different kind of vacation—wading through waist-deep seawater, enduring the sun’s scorching heat and planting over 2,000 mangrove propagules on Olango Island.
Since the island is also home to the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, the group was privileged to see migratory birds resting on the island before migrating to a warmer country. The group stayed in the observatory deck and used a telescope to see the birds.
Mario Marababol, administrator of OceanCare Advocates, said Olango Island has been part of the East Asian Migration Flyway. Birds from Siberia, Mongolia, Japan and China seek temporary shelter on the island on their way to New Zealand and Australia.
The migration normally starts in September. Peak season, where most birds are found on the island, is November.
“We are very blessed here. The island is the resting ground for rare and endangered species and the number of birds resting on the island has grown every year,” Marababol said.
As of August 2010, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has counted more than 3,000 birds.
Marababol said planting mangroves, participating in cleanup drives and observing the birds are the activities they would like hotel guests to experience to deliver the message that taking care of the environment needs extra and conscious effort.
Marababol, who gave a short talk on proper mangrove planting and biodiversity, said the culture of apathy was still apparent in many people, young and old alike.
Hence, he said, there was a need to further raise the level of awareness through experiental activities such as the voluntourism program initiated by Be Resort.
Sustainable
He said the program ensured low-impact but sustainable development in the lives of the locals living in the area. He cited the example where residents could sell buko to guests while they stay for the day on the island.
“Many government units think of high-impact projects, constructing ala-Disneyland with all the rides but they don’t think that we can do something like this out of eco-tourism. This is eco-tourism—low impact but sustainable,” said Marababol.
Benedicto, who joined the team composed of 10 divers, said they were able to collect a total of 150 kilos of garbage including firecrackers, PVC pipes, tin cans, CFL bulbs, disposable diapers and flashlights, from the sea.
Antonio Aboitiz, president of Philippine Business for Social Progress Visayas, was also one of the volunteer divers.
“All around the country, cleanup drives and mangrove planting are happening. For us in Be Resort, we want to give back to the environment because it provides us with so much. For voluntourism, we are combining vacation and the giving back aspect. We are inviting everyone to be the spark,” she said.
By Cris Evert Lato
Inquirer Visayas
September 25, 2010
GETTING a fair share of the tourist market is not just about providing the best room service to guests. To Cebuano-owned Be Resort, the developing strategy lies in their recently coined word—voluntourism.
A fusion of two words, volunteerism and tourism, voluntourism seeks to develop a culture of environmental awareness among guests while still allowing them to have fun on their vacation.
“Simply put, this is vacation with the heart for the environment,” said Joy Benedicto, managing director of Be Resort.
Benedicto (not related to this page editor) said voluntourism is the “first of its kind in the country” where the resort comes up with series of events and vacation packages that focus on fun and environmental awareness.
Benedicto said guests could opt to include in their vacation package participating in clean-up drives or mangrove planting or island-hopping to Olango. Guests will receive certificates of participation for their involvement in any of the environmental activities.
The resort has partnered with environmental organization, OceanCare Advocates Inc., in organizing island-hopping to Olango, the cleanup drives and the mangrove planting.
The program was launched on Sept. 11 but even before that, it has attracted both local and foreign guests, who have expressed interest in participating in mangrove planting and clean-up drives.
“We hope to do this on a regular basis because for us, it is also our responsibility to inform our guests that we need to take care of the environment,” said marketing and communications manager, Andrea Lugue.
Experimental learning
The group of Manila and Cebu media practitioners joined the Sept. 11 launch and was treated to a different kind of vacation—wading through waist-deep seawater, enduring the sun’s scorching heat and planting over 2,000 mangrove propagules on Olango Island.
Since the island is also home to the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, the group was privileged to see migratory birds resting on the island before migrating to a warmer country. The group stayed in the observatory deck and used a telescope to see the birds.
Mario Marababol, administrator of OceanCare Advocates, said Olango Island has been part of the East Asian Migration Flyway. Birds from Siberia, Mongolia, Japan and China seek temporary shelter on the island on their way to New Zealand and Australia.
The migration normally starts in September. Peak season, where most birds are found on the island, is November.
“We are very blessed here. The island is the resting ground for rare and endangered species and the number of birds resting on the island has grown every year,” Marababol said.
As of August 2010, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has counted more than 3,000 birds.
Marababol said planting mangroves, participating in cleanup drives and observing the birds are the activities they would like hotel guests to experience to deliver the message that taking care of the environment needs extra and conscious effort.
Marababol, who gave a short talk on proper mangrove planting and biodiversity, said the culture of apathy was still apparent in many people, young and old alike.
Hence, he said, there was a need to further raise the level of awareness through experiental activities such as the voluntourism program initiated by Be Resort.
Sustainable
He said the program ensured low-impact but sustainable development in the lives of the locals living in the area. He cited the example where residents could sell buko to guests while they stay for the day on the island.
“Many government units think of high-impact projects, constructing ala-Disneyland with all the rides but they don’t think that we can do something like this out of eco-tourism. This is eco-tourism—low impact but sustainable,” said Marababol.
Benedicto, who joined the team composed of 10 divers, said they were able to collect a total of 150 kilos of garbage including firecrackers, PVC pipes, tin cans, CFL bulbs, disposable diapers and flashlights, from the sea.
Antonio Aboitiz, president of Philippine Business for Social Progress Visayas, was also one of the volunteer divers.
“All around the country, cleanup drives and mangrove planting are happening. For us in Be Resort, we want to give back to the environment because it provides us with so much. For voluntourism, we are combining vacation and the giving back aspect. We are inviting everyone to be the spark,” she said.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Finding strength and happiness - in numbers
Finding strength and happiness -- in numbers
Business World Online
September 24, 2010
Paolo Benigno Aquino IV
Mark Joaquin Ruiz
President/Managing Director
MicroVentures, Inc.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." These often-quoted lines by poet Robert Frost aptly describe the journey of school friends Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV and Mark Joaquin Ruiz. Years later, their minds would meet and together would embark courageously on the road not taken. They would co-create a revolutionary microenterprise business model to address the economic and social inequity for those marginalized by the status quo -- the more than 50% of the total Filipino population who lives on less than $2 a day.
They had gone on different career tracks after graduating with Management Engineering degrees from the Ateneo de Manila. After college, Mr. Aquino established himself in the public service sector, while Mr. Ruiz ventured into the corporate world.
"I always considered myself a social entrepreneur," Mr. Aquino says, "because I was driven by a strong public service perspective." As a fresh graduate, he joined the ABS-CBN Foundation’s Special Projects Group and was involved in a rehabilitation center for abused and neglected children, disaster management projects, relief operations and volunteer recruitment. He then spearheaded the National Youth Commission as its commissioner-at-large in 2001 before becoming its chairman and CEO in 2003. "In government, I witnessed programs that had short-term gains but no long-term effects for the people it served. That influenced me to think of something that could make a lasting, transforming difference for Filipinos."
Mr. Ruiz, on the other hand, joined global company Unilever as customer development executive and merchandising supervisor. There he honed his skills in customer marketing, promotions development and planning. In just six years, he rose to the position of senior customer marketing manager and CMD head. Mr. Ruiz says, "Unlike Bam, I only considered myself an entrepreneur when I resigned from Unilever to collaborate with him. But being in sales and marketing, I always pushed for social development through innovation and entrepreneurship -- the intersection of my passions and skills."
Mr. Ruiz’s experience in marketing fast-moving consumer goods led to the idea of leveraging on the Filipino sari-sari or convenience stores, usually found in lower-income communities, that make up around 40% of total retail sales in the country. Seeing both the problems and the potentials of the sector, they theorized that for the stores to grow and be truly viable, they needed to enter a new phase of microentrepreneurship development.
After exchanging ideas on innovative microfinance development with like-minded individuals -- among them Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, founder of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development-Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD-MRI) and with whom they would eventually tie up -- Mr. Aquino and Mr. Ruiz concretized their plans and developed a business plan for aggregating microretail outlets, which led to MicroVentures, Inc. (MVI)
MVI started its formal operations in 2007 as a social business enterprise working with CARD-MRI and its borrowers through its flagship project, the "Hapinoy Store Program." A combination of the words "happy" and "Pinoy," Hapinoy aims to "make every Filipino happy" by using an ecosystem management approach to improve local microenterprises. Through the program, a borrower who has top credit scores can borrow capital to convert an existing convenience store into a small Hapinoy Store or a larger Hapinoy Community Store, which serves over 50 small stores.
Recognizing that sari-sari stores are usually owned and run by the woman of the household (the mother or nanay), the Hapinoy Program focuses on increasing these Nanays’ profitability. Nanays are given access to business management and marketing knowledge through the "Path to Prosperity," a four-tiered program designed to assist a fledgling Hapinoy store. Mr. Ruiz says, "We believe that empowering the woman microentrepreneur is a pivotal factor in reducing poverty. Increasing her profitability leads to an improved quality of life for her family and her community as well."
The Hapinoy Program harnesses the potential of smaller enterprises through microfinancing, aggregation, value chain integration, business model innovation, branding and training. By linking Hapinoy Stores with established manufacturers and microproducers, MVI brings sari-sari stores into an organized supply chain. Moreover, MVI is able to get goods directly and at a lower cost and is able to pass these savings on to Hapinoy Stores. "Our partner companies do very well on their own, but they also see the intrinsic value in helping the community," Mr. Aquino says.
As marketing and branding consultant, merchandise consolidator and training provider, MVI teaches each Nanay to make her own business more resilient, profitable and sustainable. Through a training program named Sariskwela, members are equipped with best practices on pricing, inventory and credit management, business expansion and goal setting. Veering away from the traditional patronage relationship between an organization and its beneficiary, Hapinoy empowers each Nanay to be a proactive manager accountable for her own business decisions. While the program teaches each Nanay ways to increase her monthly earnings from P3,000 to P18,000 within six to eight months, MVI’s ultimate goal is to improve her entrepreneurial ability and, consequently, her family’s livelihood, self-esteem and dignity.
In this respect, the Hapinoy Program is different from similar microfinancing or social enterprise models in Mexico or India, where the main focus is on raising funds for the organization’s goals. Village stores in Southeast Asia exist but are not consolidated systematically. Mr. Ruiz mentions that international microfinancing organization Grameen Foundation has singled out Hapinoy’s uniqueness -- while social in nature, it is run like a real business.
"We envisioned Hapinoy as a flexible and wide-ranging platform, giving us more areas of application such as retail, production, mobile banking, technology and healthcare," Mr. Aquino adds. In fact, a grant from the Science and Technology Innovations for the Base of the Pyramid in Southeast Asia has enabled MVI to pilot its Hapinoy Health Hub, which makes affordable medicine available in Hapinoy communities.
Currently, there are 150 Hapinoy Communities of around 10,000 stores concentrated in Southern Luzon. MVI hopes to expand operations in North Luzon by next year and, eventually, establish a Hapinoy presence in every town in the country. Groups in other countries have also expressed interest in replicating the program, and both Mr. Aquino and Mr. Ruiz foresee international expansion.
Mr. Ruiz acknowledges, however, that the present business environment is not quite ready for large-scale social enterprises; for example, there is not much "patient" (long-term) capital source available given the developmental aspect, and for-profit organizations cannot accept donations without being taxed. Mr. Aquino sees this as an opportunity for advocacy, saying that, "It’s time more people push for social entrepreneurship. As donations for non-government organizations get scarcer, social enterprises need to take the lead." Both believe that in the long term, they can help microenterprises integrate into the formal economy and create a system of entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs. They dream of changing the world, one happy Pinoy at a time -- it is the road they have taken.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Business World Online
September 24, 2010
Paolo Benigno Aquino IV
Mark Joaquin Ruiz
President/Managing Director
MicroVentures, Inc.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." These often-quoted lines by poet Robert Frost aptly describe the journey of school friends Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV and Mark Joaquin Ruiz. Years later, their minds would meet and together would embark courageously on the road not taken. They would co-create a revolutionary microenterprise business model to address the economic and social inequity for those marginalized by the status quo -- the more than 50% of the total Filipino population who lives on less than $2 a day.
They had gone on different career tracks after graduating with Management Engineering degrees from the Ateneo de Manila. After college, Mr. Aquino established himself in the public service sector, while Mr. Ruiz ventured into the corporate world.
"I always considered myself a social entrepreneur," Mr. Aquino says, "because I was driven by a strong public service perspective." As a fresh graduate, he joined the ABS-CBN Foundation’s Special Projects Group and was involved in a rehabilitation center for abused and neglected children, disaster management projects, relief operations and volunteer recruitment. He then spearheaded the National Youth Commission as its commissioner-at-large in 2001 before becoming its chairman and CEO in 2003. "In government, I witnessed programs that had short-term gains but no long-term effects for the people it served. That influenced me to think of something that could make a lasting, transforming difference for Filipinos."
Mr. Ruiz, on the other hand, joined global company Unilever as customer development executive and merchandising supervisor. There he honed his skills in customer marketing, promotions development and planning. In just six years, he rose to the position of senior customer marketing manager and CMD head. Mr. Ruiz says, "Unlike Bam, I only considered myself an entrepreneur when I resigned from Unilever to collaborate with him. But being in sales and marketing, I always pushed for social development through innovation and entrepreneurship -- the intersection of my passions and skills."
Mr. Ruiz’s experience in marketing fast-moving consumer goods led to the idea of leveraging on the Filipino sari-sari or convenience stores, usually found in lower-income communities, that make up around 40% of total retail sales in the country. Seeing both the problems and the potentials of the sector, they theorized that for the stores to grow and be truly viable, they needed to enter a new phase of microentrepreneurship development.
After exchanging ideas on innovative microfinance development with like-minded individuals -- among them Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, founder of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development-Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD-MRI) and with whom they would eventually tie up -- Mr. Aquino and Mr. Ruiz concretized their plans and developed a business plan for aggregating microretail outlets, which led to MicroVentures, Inc. (MVI)
MVI started its formal operations in 2007 as a social business enterprise working with CARD-MRI and its borrowers through its flagship project, the "Hapinoy Store Program." A combination of the words "happy" and "Pinoy," Hapinoy aims to "make every Filipino happy" by using an ecosystem management approach to improve local microenterprises. Through the program, a borrower who has top credit scores can borrow capital to convert an existing convenience store into a small Hapinoy Store or a larger Hapinoy Community Store, which serves over 50 small stores.
Recognizing that sari-sari stores are usually owned and run by the woman of the household (the mother or nanay), the Hapinoy Program focuses on increasing these Nanays’ profitability. Nanays are given access to business management and marketing knowledge through the "Path to Prosperity," a four-tiered program designed to assist a fledgling Hapinoy store. Mr. Ruiz says, "We believe that empowering the woman microentrepreneur is a pivotal factor in reducing poverty. Increasing her profitability leads to an improved quality of life for her family and her community as well."
The Hapinoy Program harnesses the potential of smaller enterprises through microfinancing, aggregation, value chain integration, business model innovation, branding and training. By linking Hapinoy Stores with established manufacturers and microproducers, MVI brings sari-sari stores into an organized supply chain. Moreover, MVI is able to get goods directly and at a lower cost and is able to pass these savings on to Hapinoy Stores. "Our partner companies do very well on their own, but they also see the intrinsic value in helping the community," Mr. Aquino says.
As marketing and branding consultant, merchandise consolidator and training provider, MVI teaches each Nanay to make her own business more resilient, profitable and sustainable. Through a training program named Sariskwela, members are equipped with best practices on pricing, inventory and credit management, business expansion and goal setting. Veering away from the traditional patronage relationship between an organization and its beneficiary, Hapinoy empowers each Nanay to be a proactive manager accountable for her own business decisions. While the program teaches each Nanay ways to increase her monthly earnings from P3,000 to P18,000 within six to eight months, MVI’s ultimate goal is to improve her entrepreneurial ability and, consequently, her family’s livelihood, self-esteem and dignity.
In this respect, the Hapinoy Program is different from similar microfinancing or social enterprise models in Mexico or India, where the main focus is on raising funds for the organization’s goals. Village stores in Southeast Asia exist but are not consolidated systematically. Mr. Ruiz mentions that international microfinancing organization Grameen Foundation has singled out Hapinoy’s uniqueness -- while social in nature, it is run like a real business.
"We envisioned Hapinoy as a flexible and wide-ranging platform, giving us more areas of application such as retail, production, mobile banking, technology and healthcare," Mr. Aquino adds. In fact, a grant from the Science and Technology Innovations for the Base of the Pyramid in Southeast Asia has enabled MVI to pilot its Hapinoy Health Hub, which makes affordable medicine available in Hapinoy communities.
Currently, there are 150 Hapinoy Communities of around 10,000 stores concentrated in Southern Luzon. MVI hopes to expand operations in North Luzon by next year and, eventually, establish a Hapinoy presence in every town in the country. Groups in other countries have also expressed interest in replicating the program, and both Mr. Aquino and Mr. Ruiz foresee international expansion.
Mr. Ruiz acknowledges, however, that the present business environment is not quite ready for large-scale social enterprises; for example, there is not much "patient" (long-term) capital source available given the developmental aspect, and for-profit organizations cannot accept donations without being taxed. Mr. Aquino sees this as an opportunity for advocacy, saying that, "It’s time more people push for social entrepreneurship. As donations for non-government organizations get scarcer, social enterprises need to take the lead." Both believe that in the long term, they can help microenterprises integrate into the formal economy and create a system of entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs. They dream of changing the world, one happy Pinoy at a time -- it is the road they have taken.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Veco to plant 5T seedlings in Tabunan
Veco to plant 5T seedlings in Tabunan
Cebu Daily News
September 24, 2010
More than a hundred employees and contractors of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) will plant 5,000 tree seedlings to cap off the Philippine Business for Social Progress’ (PBSP) annual reforestation caravan tomorrow, Sept. 25.
The seedlings of lumbang, narra, tagilomboy and hambabalod will be planted in sitio Sayaw, barangay Tabunan, Cebu City.
The planting site is located within the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed and Forest Reserve, one of the protected areas of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The CCPL is instrumental in providing Metro Cebu its major source of potable water. It is also where most of Cebu’s rainforests are located, making it one of the most ecologically diverse spots in Cebu.
Also joining Veco are 130 employees from the Metrobank Group and Petron Corporation.
PBSP's annual reforestation caravan, which runs for 15 Saturdays, kicked off last June with more than 731 volunteers from 54 institutions.
Part of the major environment initiatives of PBSP, the program aims to encourage the business sector to get directly involved in the protection of the CCPL by either adopting a hectare for reforestation or bringing their employee volunteers to plant.
Cebu Daily News
September 24, 2010
More than a hundred employees and contractors of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) will plant 5,000 tree seedlings to cap off the Philippine Business for Social Progress’ (PBSP) annual reforestation caravan tomorrow, Sept. 25.
The seedlings of lumbang, narra, tagilomboy and hambabalod will be planted in sitio Sayaw, barangay Tabunan, Cebu City.
The planting site is located within the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed and Forest Reserve, one of the protected areas of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The CCPL is instrumental in providing Metro Cebu its major source of potable water. It is also where most of Cebu’s rainforests are located, making it one of the most ecologically diverse spots in Cebu.
Also joining Veco are 130 employees from the Metrobank Group and Petron Corporation.
PBSP's annual reforestation caravan, which runs for 15 Saturdays, kicked off last June with more than 731 volunteers from 54 institutions.
Part of the major environment initiatives of PBSP, the program aims to encourage the business sector to get directly involved in the protection of the CCPL by either adopting a hectare for reforestation or bringing their employee volunteers to plant.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Soup is good food...and business
Soup is good food... and business
Business World Online
September 23, 2010
Adelfa Lepura Borro
President and CEO
Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy
The humble batchoy -- comfort food to many Ilonggos -- has become the iconic food of Iloilo. A bowl of steaming batchoy may look appetizing yet simple but, if one digs deeper, you will find an interesting story of an entrepreneur and his progeny.
Teodoro "Ted" Lepura invested all of his 10 pesos to start his eatery in a public market. He served what became his signature dish -- La Paz batchoy. While the soup originates from the town of La Paz, Mr. Lepura perfected its broth and added round noodles called meke. This was way back in 1945 when he sold batchoy at 20 centavos a bowl.
Among his children, it would be his daughter Adelfa (now Borro) who would inherit both his penchant for cooking and entrepreneurial spirit. At 10, she was already trained to be the cook and templadora (one who mixes and adjusts the taste of the broth). To this day, she has maintained the original flavor of her father’s famous batchoy or as what others may say, "just like the old times." Indeed, a bowl of Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy holds much history.
For as long as he was alive, Mr. Lepura lorded over his kitchen. Ms. Borro took over managing the business only after acquiring her Commerce degree from the Western Institute of Technology in 1973. By that time, the business had grown from its stall in the La Paz Public Market into a full-fledged restaurant called Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy. Mrs. Borro’s skills in the kitchen and her inherent understanding of the Filipino merienda mentality were instrumental in helping the business thrive.
"One of the things we needed to ensure was a consistent ’old-timer taste’ for every bowl of batchoy," she relates. "Some of our loyal patrons had been coming to us for years and we couldn’t disappoint them."
Banking on the Filipino habit of merienda (mid-morning or late afternoon snacks), Mrs. Borro decided to use her own savings and a bank loan to expand the family business. She opened a branch on Valeria Street, Iloilo City in 1985.
At first, the restaurant served batchoy with puto or pan de sal as side dishes. She started to introduce batchoy options like other choices of noodles. She also came up with Namit (Yummy) Meals, All-Day Breakfast Meals and Pancit Guisado Specials. These new products were well-received by customers, kept competitors at bay and generated more sales for businesses.
"Sipag (hard work), tiyaga (perseverance) at tibay ng loob (guts)," Mrs. Borro says, are the necessary ingredients to success.
These values have continually pushed Ted’s to its steady growth. Seeing that the business was gaining a major foothold in the market, she started streamlining operations in 2002 by establishing a company profile and formalizing the operations manual. A year later, Mrs. Borro embarked on a more aggressive expansion route through franchising. Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy now has 12 franchises all over the Philippines in addition to 23 company-owned restaurants.
However, expanding the business came with its own set of challenges. When the company decided to open a branch in Mindanao, they were faced with a non-pork eating clientele. Mrs. Borro responded by introducing the beef batchoy.
"Although the basic ingredient is beef, it still has the rich meaty taste and distinct flavor of the original recipe. You can barely tell the difference!" she enthuses.
The beef batchoy became a huge hit and is now offered in all Ted’s branches nationwide.
Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy has already become a household name in the food industry with branches all over the country and still growing.
Yet Mrs. Borro has never been one to rest on her laurels. Understanding the need to nurture the business into the future, she began to explore the next stage in Ted’s evolution. She initiated renovations at all her restaurants, outfitting then with modern decor and architecture.
In keeping with the times, she started exploring the cafe concept where ambience and comfort complement delicious and affordable food. When Ted’s opened its newest branch on May 16, 2010 at Diversion Road in Iloilo City, this cafe concept was adopted. The food offerings now include a variety of coffee concoctions and an assortment of cakes and pastries for Dulgie’s -- Ted’s sister company owned by Mrs. Borro’s daughter, Allen Mae. Eventually, steaks and grilled specialties will be worked into the menu.
These innovations helped Mrs. Borro score a coup for Ted’s; the concept became popular not only among longtime patrons but also among the young and upwardly mobile crowd. She is also looking at ways to target home consumers.
Working close-ly with the Department of Science and Technology, Mrs. Borro is planning to develop an instant noodle version of the famed dish. She is confident that the product will stay true to the taste of the original La Paz batchoy. Richer in flavor and fuller in taste, Mrs. Borro believes that her instant La Paz Batchoy will be unlike any other being sold in the market.
Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy has been recognized for its excellent reputation and customer service. In 2005, it was declared the Best La Paz Batchoy by the National Shoppers’ Choice Awards. Mrs. Borro is committed to maintaining this position by focusing her efforts on continuously enhancing product quality, restaurant ambience and customer service.
"I always remind my employees that their good service reflects not only on the business but on the Ilonggo culture where good food must be prepared and served with the highest quality," she emphasizes.
She also believes in adopting a hands-on management approach to running the business. "As an entrepreneur," she reasons, "you have to stay on top of operations and know every aspect of the business. Being hands-on is crucial in driving business growth."
A formidable business figure in her own right, Mrs. Borro has come a long way from being her father’s little kitchen helper. Now the visionary behind Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy, Mrs. Borro knows all too well the value of hard work and perseverance. Of all the lessons Adelfa Lepura Borro has learned since taking over Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy, the most lasting is that a strong belief in oneself and the fearlessness to take on calculated risks can do wonders for the business. Her father’s legacy has taught her that good old hard work almost always results in abundance.
"As an entrepreneur, you have your work cut out for you. And yet all you really need is the determination to see it through," she says.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 has concluded its search for the country’s most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines is a program of the SGV Foundation, Inc. with the participation of co-presenters De La Salle University, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Stock Exchange and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Business World Online
September 23, 2010
Adelfa Lepura Borro
President and CEO
Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy
The humble batchoy -- comfort food to many Ilonggos -- has become the iconic food of Iloilo. A bowl of steaming batchoy may look appetizing yet simple but, if one digs deeper, you will find an interesting story of an entrepreneur and his progeny.
Teodoro "Ted" Lepura invested all of his 10 pesos to start his eatery in a public market. He served what became his signature dish -- La Paz batchoy. While the soup originates from the town of La Paz, Mr. Lepura perfected its broth and added round noodles called meke. This was way back in 1945 when he sold batchoy at 20 centavos a bowl.
Among his children, it would be his daughter Adelfa (now Borro) who would inherit both his penchant for cooking and entrepreneurial spirit. At 10, she was already trained to be the cook and templadora (one who mixes and adjusts the taste of the broth). To this day, she has maintained the original flavor of her father’s famous batchoy or as what others may say, "just like the old times." Indeed, a bowl of Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy holds much history.
For as long as he was alive, Mr. Lepura lorded over his kitchen. Ms. Borro took over managing the business only after acquiring her Commerce degree from the Western Institute of Technology in 1973. By that time, the business had grown from its stall in the La Paz Public Market into a full-fledged restaurant called Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy. Mrs. Borro’s skills in the kitchen and her inherent understanding of the Filipino merienda mentality were instrumental in helping the business thrive.
"One of the things we needed to ensure was a consistent ’old-timer taste’ for every bowl of batchoy," she relates. "Some of our loyal patrons had been coming to us for years and we couldn’t disappoint them."
Banking on the Filipino habit of merienda (mid-morning or late afternoon snacks), Mrs. Borro decided to use her own savings and a bank loan to expand the family business. She opened a branch on Valeria Street, Iloilo City in 1985.
At first, the restaurant served batchoy with puto or pan de sal as side dishes. She started to introduce batchoy options like other choices of noodles. She also came up with Namit (Yummy) Meals, All-Day Breakfast Meals and Pancit Guisado Specials. These new products were well-received by customers, kept competitors at bay and generated more sales for businesses.
"Sipag (hard work), tiyaga (perseverance) at tibay ng loob (guts)," Mrs. Borro says, are the necessary ingredients to success.
These values have continually pushed Ted’s to its steady growth. Seeing that the business was gaining a major foothold in the market, she started streamlining operations in 2002 by establishing a company profile and formalizing the operations manual. A year later, Mrs. Borro embarked on a more aggressive expansion route through franchising. Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy now has 12 franchises all over the Philippines in addition to 23 company-owned restaurants.
However, expanding the business came with its own set of challenges. When the company decided to open a branch in Mindanao, they were faced with a non-pork eating clientele. Mrs. Borro responded by introducing the beef batchoy.
"Although the basic ingredient is beef, it still has the rich meaty taste and distinct flavor of the original recipe. You can barely tell the difference!" she enthuses.
The beef batchoy became a huge hit and is now offered in all Ted’s branches nationwide.
Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy has already become a household name in the food industry with branches all over the country and still growing.
Yet Mrs. Borro has never been one to rest on her laurels. Understanding the need to nurture the business into the future, she began to explore the next stage in Ted’s evolution. She initiated renovations at all her restaurants, outfitting then with modern decor and architecture.
In keeping with the times, she started exploring the cafe concept where ambience and comfort complement delicious and affordable food. When Ted’s opened its newest branch on May 16, 2010 at Diversion Road in Iloilo City, this cafe concept was adopted. The food offerings now include a variety of coffee concoctions and an assortment of cakes and pastries for Dulgie’s -- Ted’s sister company owned by Mrs. Borro’s daughter, Allen Mae. Eventually, steaks and grilled specialties will be worked into the menu.
These innovations helped Mrs. Borro score a coup for Ted’s; the concept became popular not only among longtime patrons but also among the young and upwardly mobile crowd. She is also looking at ways to target home consumers.
Working close-ly with the Department of Science and Technology, Mrs. Borro is planning to develop an instant noodle version of the famed dish. She is confident that the product will stay true to the taste of the original La Paz batchoy. Richer in flavor and fuller in taste, Mrs. Borro believes that her instant La Paz Batchoy will be unlike any other being sold in the market.
Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy has been recognized for its excellent reputation and customer service. In 2005, it was declared the Best La Paz Batchoy by the National Shoppers’ Choice Awards. Mrs. Borro is committed to maintaining this position by focusing her efforts on continuously enhancing product quality, restaurant ambience and customer service.
"I always remind my employees that their good service reflects not only on the business but on the Ilonggo culture where good food must be prepared and served with the highest quality," she emphasizes.
She also believes in adopting a hands-on management approach to running the business. "As an entrepreneur," she reasons, "you have to stay on top of operations and know every aspect of the business. Being hands-on is crucial in driving business growth."
A formidable business figure in her own right, Mrs. Borro has come a long way from being her father’s little kitchen helper. Now the visionary behind Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy, Mrs. Borro knows all too well the value of hard work and perseverance. Of all the lessons Adelfa Lepura Borro has learned since taking over Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy, the most lasting is that a strong belief in oneself and the fearlessness to take on calculated risks can do wonders for the business. Her father’s legacy has taught her that good old hard work almost always results in abundance.
"As an entrepreneur, you have your work cut out for you. And yet all you really need is the determination to see it through," she says.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 has concluded its search for the country’s most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines is a program of the SGV Foundation, Inc. with the participation of co-presenters De La Salle University, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Stock Exchange and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wealth in and of water
Wealth in and of water
Business World Online
September 22, 2010
Gabino M. Abejo, Jr.
Abejo Builders Corp.
Cebu City is the hub of trade, industry, tourism and education in the Visayas. Steeped in history and rich in local traditions, it has been consistently rated among the top island destinations in Asia. However, it is also a known fact that Metro Cebu has had a water supply problem for some time now because of deforestation and seawater seeping into its underground water supply. That water is a basic human necessity cannot be ignored in this populous area and 27-year-old Gabino M. Abejo, Jr. has risen to this challenge. He has channeled his drive, energy and boundless enthusiasm into projects to provide clean, safe water to barangays in Talisay and Consolacion, Cebu.
Leveraging on the resources and experience of Abejo Builders Corp., Mr. Abejo guided his family’s business into diversifying from construction into bulk water production. The company was created in 1999 as a family-owned construction business based in Mandaue City. At that time, Mr. Abejo’s brother Gerry headed the company that was involved in small piping projects with the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD). Seeing an opportunity to supply potable water by engineering their own water delivery system, the Abejo family began shifting their focus to water production. The company partnered with a Manila-based water distribution consultant to learn more about the industry.
A big break occurred in 2003 when the company won a bid to supply a minimum of 4,000 cubic meters (cu. m.) of potable water to the MCWD for distribution in Talisay City. As this was the company’s first venture into the business, it took 12 months to build the system. In 2005, Gerry stepped down, and his younger brother, Gabino, took over as vice-president of the business.
Mr. Abejo has had some experience in the water industry. After graduating from Northwood University in Florida in 2004, he came home and set up a water refilling station in Mactan, where water is mostly brackish. The success of his business led to two more branches within the next nine months.
As head of the company, Mr. Abejo saw the huge potential of expanding into the bulk water system. He decided to restructure the company with water supply as its primary service and construction as a secondary service. Under his leadership, the company made significant investments in their water system model to ensure cost efficiency. This allowed the company to offer reasonable and competitive prices to both customers and water districts.
From an initial supply of 4,000 cu. m. daily, the Talisay bulk water system increased production to an average of 5,600 cu. m. daily by 2007. A year later, the company won another MWCD contract to supply a minimum of 7,000 cu. m. daily of potable water to the town of Consolacion. Despite being a fledgling in the water business, they were able to supply the MCWD with up to 15,000 cu. m. a day.
Moreover, lessons from their previous project enabled Abejo Builders to complete the new system in just six months or half the time it took to complete their first water system. The six-month turnaround is now a standard guarantee in their contracts.
With an eye for opportunity, Mr. Abejo also envisioned a way to help the communities where their bulk water supply system was located. Noting that not all houses in the barangays had ready access to the water supplied by the MCWD, Abejo Builders provided communal faucets in as many as 12 to 15 areas in the barangay. Water is available 24 hours a day and is free of charge. This was the start of his "Barangayan Water Project."
However, the water needs of the community proved to be too great, prompting Mr. Abejo to expand the project into a level three water supply system. This meant installing water meters in all houses and providing water directly to the barangay residents, at no cost to the local government.
Mr. Abejo also pegged the price per cubic meter at P1 lower than the MCWD’s to further subsidize the expenses in the community. The connection fee of P4,000 is also charged over a 12-month installment plan.
Mr. Abejo sees this as building a sense of social responsibility in his company. He hopes to replicate this system in other barangays wherever the company’s bulk water supply system is located.
Inspired by his company’s rapid growth and success, Mr. Abejo aggressively pushes on, aiming to further increase the volume he supplies to the MCWD by an additional 25,000 cu. m.
This year, he has already won five new supply contracts, two systems of which they have started to build. Apart from servicing the MCWD, Mr. Abejo is also in talks with two private companies to supply them with 4,000 cu. m. a day using surface water technology and brackish water desalination technology.
To undertake new and bigger projects, Mr. Abejo relies on his employees to deliver. To him, they are the company’s strongest assets, and he makes it a point to meet with his management and staff regularly to discuss problems and opportunities.
Every six months the company also organizes team building activities for the staff. He believes that employees continually become more efficient and innovative due to their culture of mutual trust, respect and teaming. He considers this to be the key to Abejo Builders’ growing competitiveness.
Confident of his team and optimistic about the opportunities in the water sector, Mr. Abejo is keen about the company’s expansion. There are plans to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange, acquire other bulk water supplier companies with existing contracts, and to bid on projects for other water districts outside Cebu, such as in Southern Luzon and other parts in the Visayas and Mindanao.
With youthful exuberance, Mr. Abejo is charting a course that he hopes will help improve the lives of his fellow Cebuanos and other Filipinos.
"It truly motivates me when I see poor people in the barangays living better and healthier lives because of the 24-hour potable water our company supplies directly to their houses. The never-ending show of gratitude whenever I visit these barangays inspires me to work harder and to duplicate this project in areas not served by the local water district," he says.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
Business World Online
September 22, 2010
Gabino M. Abejo, Jr.
Abejo Builders Corp.
Cebu City is the hub of trade, industry, tourism and education in the Visayas. Steeped in history and rich in local traditions, it has been consistently rated among the top island destinations in Asia. However, it is also a known fact that Metro Cebu has had a water supply problem for some time now because of deforestation and seawater seeping into its underground water supply. That water is a basic human necessity cannot be ignored in this populous area and 27-year-old Gabino M. Abejo, Jr. has risen to this challenge. He has channeled his drive, energy and boundless enthusiasm into projects to provide clean, safe water to barangays in Talisay and Consolacion, Cebu.
Leveraging on the resources and experience of Abejo Builders Corp., Mr. Abejo guided his family’s business into diversifying from construction into bulk water production. The company was created in 1999 as a family-owned construction business based in Mandaue City. At that time, Mr. Abejo’s brother Gerry headed the company that was involved in small piping projects with the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD). Seeing an opportunity to supply potable water by engineering their own water delivery system, the Abejo family began shifting their focus to water production. The company partnered with a Manila-based water distribution consultant to learn more about the industry.
A big break occurred in 2003 when the company won a bid to supply a minimum of 4,000 cubic meters (cu. m.) of potable water to the MCWD for distribution in Talisay City. As this was the company’s first venture into the business, it took 12 months to build the system. In 2005, Gerry stepped down, and his younger brother, Gabino, took over as vice-president of the business.
Mr. Abejo has had some experience in the water industry. After graduating from Northwood University in Florida in 2004, he came home and set up a water refilling station in Mactan, where water is mostly brackish. The success of his business led to two more branches within the next nine months.
As head of the company, Mr. Abejo saw the huge potential of expanding into the bulk water system. He decided to restructure the company with water supply as its primary service and construction as a secondary service. Under his leadership, the company made significant investments in their water system model to ensure cost efficiency. This allowed the company to offer reasonable and competitive prices to both customers and water districts.
From an initial supply of 4,000 cu. m. daily, the Talisay bulk water system increased production to an average of 5,600 cu. m. daily by 2007. A year later, the company won another MWCD contract to supply a minimum of 7,000 cu. m. daily of potable water to the town of Consolacion. Despite being a fledgling in the water business, they were able to supply the MCWD with up to 15,000 cu. m. a day.
Moreover, lessons from their previous project enabled Abejo Builders to complete the new system in just six months or half the time it took to complete their first water system. The six-month turnaround is now a standard guarantee in their contracts.
With an eye for opportunity, Mr. Abejo also envisioned a way to help the communities where their bulk water supply system was located. Noting that not all houses in the barangays had ready access to the water supplied by the MCWD, Abejo Builders provided communal faucets in as many as 12 to 15 areas in the barangay. Water is available 24 hours a day and is free of charge. This was the start of his "Barangayan Water Project."
However, the water needs of the community proved to be too great, prompting Mr. Abejo to expand the project into a level three water supply system. This meant installing water meters in all houses and providing water directly to the barangay residents, at no cost to the local government.
Mr. Abejo also pegged the price per cubic meter at P1 lower than the MCWD’s to further subsidize the expenses in the community. The connection fee of P4,000 is also charged over a 12-month installment plan.
Mr. Abejo sees this as building a sense of social responsibility in his company. He hopes to replicate this system in other barangays wherever the company’s bulk water supply system is located.
Inspired by his company’s rapid growth and success, Mr. Abejo aggressively pushes on, aiming to further increase the volume he supplies to the MCWD by an additional 25,000 cu. m.
This year, he has already won five new supply contracts, two systems of which they have started to build. Apart from servicing the MCWD, Mr. Abejo is also in talks with two private companies to supply them with 4,000 cu. m. a day using surface water technology and brackish water desalination technology.
To undertake new and bigger projects, Mr. Abejo relies on his employees to deliver. To him, they are the company’s strongest assets, and he makes it a point to meet with his management and staff regularly to discuss problems and opportunities.
Every six months the company also organizes team building activities for the staff. He believes that employees continually become more efficient and innovative due to their culture of mutual trust, respect and teaming. He considers this to be the key to Abejo Builders’ growing competitiveness.
Confident of his team and optimistic about the opportunities in the water sector, Mr. Abejo is keen about the company’s expansion. There are plans to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange, acquire other bulk water supplier companies with existing contracts, and to bid on projects for other water districts outside Cebu, such as in Southern Luzon and other parts in the Visayas and Mindanao.
With youthful exuberance, Mr. Abejo is charting a course that he hopes will help improve the lives of his fellow Cebuanos and other Filipinos.
"It truly motivates me when I see poor people in the barangays living better and healthier lives because of the 24-hour potable water our company supplies directly to their houses. The never-ending show of gratitude whenever I visit these barangays inspires me to work harder and to duplicate this project in areas not served by the local water district," he says.
--
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 is sponsored by SAP Philippines. The official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air-France KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2010 will be announced on October 12, 2010 at an awards banquet at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2011. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Taiyo Yuden Philippines plants 10K seedlings at Buhisan
Employees of Taiyo Yuden Philippines planted 10,000 native and endemic tree seedlings on a four-hectare site in Toong, Cebu City.
The activity is led by their EMR Director Koichi Iguchi, General Managers Toshihiko Uemura and Akira Takahashi, Assistant General Manager Keiichi Kimura, and EMs Shozaburo Kanai, Satoshi Miyamae, Toshiaki Nakano, and Koji Taketome.
Taiyo Yuden Philippines has been a partner of PBSP for its reforestation efforts since 2001. The company will continue to adopt four hectares for reforestation every year until 2015.
Veco employees plant trees with PBSP
More than 70 employees of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) planted 12,500 seedlings over five hectares of the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve.
This activity is in partnership with the Visayas Regional Office of PBSP.
In 2010, Veco also partnered with PBSP for a five-year reforestation park project in the Cebu Hillylands. The Veco Refo Park Project aims to plant 1 million trees over 540 hectares of the Cebu Hillylands.
Art 'N' Nature's Venus Genson is Woman Entrepreneur of 2012
Congratulations to Ms. Venus Genson for bagging the Women Entrepreneur award for her trailblazing feats in social entrepreneurship and community development through Art 'N' Nature Manufacturing Corporation.
The award is one of the citations given during the recently capped Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2012 awarding ceremonies.
Ms. Genson is also the president of the Venus Group of Companies, a member company of PBSP.