Boredom drives couple into handicrafts

By Karen Lapitan
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 23:46:00 01/24/2009

Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance

PAETE, Laguna—It was boredom that pushed a couple here to go into a business that they never thought would penetrate the international market.

Roberto Cabrera, 62, and wife Vilma, 60, decided to venture into handicraft in 1988, when they felt they were no longer happy managing their small retail. “It was too monotonous,” Vilma recalls of their life before. “We do the same things every day, so we thought of coming up with a new business.”

And so, Rhema-J Handicrafts was born. The trade name was culled from the names of their children: Rhea, Marry Ann and Jassed.

After a while, the name was changed to Cabrera’s Handicrafts.

Today, the company goes by the name R. Cabrera’s Gifts and Collection (RCGC), giving pride to locally made products by invading the global market.

Terrace

With a starting capital of P3,000, the couple hired three production workers and turned their house’s terrace into a workplace.

“What we had then was only a 10-square meter space for the production,” Vilma said.

Initially, they made wooden pendants for a native necklace business of a client who was into export. This client ordered P20,000 worth of products after the couple showed samples of their designs.

That presented a production problem for them, having only P3,000 with which to deliver on a huge initial order.

But the couple did not want to borrow.

“We wanted to expand our business on our own,” Vilma told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

At the time, they did not have their own equipment. Even the packaging of their initial products was simple.

“My husband would just improvise,” Vilma said. “Boxes of cigarettes served as our main packaging material [for our finished products].”

To resolve their problem, they asked for a down payment to buy the raw materials.

After the initial bulk order, other customers went directly to their small office to inquire about their other products.

“We did not have a defined marketing strategy then,” Vilma said. “The clients were the ones who would ask us about our products.”

Apart from wooden pendants, they also made indigenous home decors, paper-based products, event souvenirs, kitchen wares and wooden signs.

More than the profit, the couple stressed that the quality of the products and the integrity of the owners matter most.

“At first, it may look strange that we had to turn down some business deals,” Vilma explained. “But we knew our capacity and we did not want to put our ... credibility at risk.”

Before making a deal, RCGC management ensures that their employees will have ample time to work on the order. They also try to make sure that each product is of high quality.

Continued growth

Ten years after its establishment, RCGC has a firm foothold in the local market.

At first, they introduced overruns to buyers interested in their products.

The local buyers were impressed with the quality and designs of the products, Vilma said.

This additional demand for their products prompted them to open a store in Paete, Laguna.

The terrace that served as their work place was replaced by a larger work area for the production of handicraft and gift items.

“Production [entailed] up to 50,000 pieces of decorative items and other products,” Vilma explained, adding that she and her husband also derived great satisfaction in providing job opportunities.

They now have 25 regular employees and at least 20 subcontract workers, depending on the orders from clients.

In 2001, they opened another store in Olivarez Plaza in Los Baños. This was followed by another in Market! Market! in Taguig, which they named Kyosh Novelty Shop. The couple’s daughter, Rhea, now manages the shop.

After two years, they opened their third store in Phase 2 of Market! Market!

Now, R. Cabrera Gifts and Collections indirectly exports products to Singapore, Europe and North America through their distributors and buyers.

Vilma said they were also planning to open another branch in Metro Manila.

Sharing

The P3,000 in capital and the 10-sq. m. workplace have taken them far.

Vilma said they were thankful for the success of their business, which they also attributed to their workers.

The first artist that they hired when they started more than 20 years ago is still with them.

“It really feels good to know that we have loyal and efficient workers with us,” Vilma said, recalling how some of their other workers became successful later in life.

She added that they do not really treat their workers as mere employees but as family.

“We even eat the same dishes during meals,” Vilma said.

Aside from seeing to the welfare of their workers, the couple is also into charity work, which they claim is their way of sharing with others the success they now enjoy.

Lawyer writes online views from jail

By Karen Lapitan
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 00:12:00 01/22/2009

Filed Under: Regional authorities, Prison, Human Rights, Armed conflict, rebellion

MANILA, Philippines – A labor lawyer and independent online newspaper columnist continues to voice out his legal opinions even though he has been in detention on murder charges in Calapan City for more than 70 days now.

Remigio Saladero Jr., chief legal counsel of the militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, has been held on charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder in connection with an ambush by communist rebels in March 2006.

He is also among the 27 respondents of a complaint filed at the Batangas Prosecutor’s Office for conspiracy to commit rebellion and arson after a Globe Telecommunications cell site was bombed by New People’s Army rebels in August last year.

Saladero was arrested on Oct. 23 last year at his house in Antipolo City by Rizal policemen and members of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines based on a warrant issued by Judge Tomas Leynes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 40 in Calapan on Oct. 8.

Arrest warrants have also been issued against 71 other militant leaders in Southern Tagalog on the same charges.

After 43 days in jail, Saladero resumed writing his weekly column in the online Pinoy Weekly, on Dec. 11 in commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He gives his views on social issues, especially those affecting workers.

In a statement, his wife Maricel, spokesperson of the Free Atty. Saladero Jr. et. al. Coalition (FASC), said he should be “helping workers win legal battles” instead of being put behind bars. Saladero headed the Pro-Labor Assistance Center when he was arrested.

Jobert Pahilga of the National Union of People’s Lawyers said a motion to dismiss the case against Saladero for “lack of probable cause” had already been filed.

On Nov. 27, Representatives Teodoro Casino, Liza Maza, Luzviminda Ilagan and Rafael Mariano filed Resolution No. 887 directing the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the charges against the militant leaders in Southern Tagalog.

Saladero is set to release his book, “Husgahan Natin,” containing his column articles written since 2002 on Feb. 13.

Calamba land fight draws even kids

By Karen Lapitan
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 00:13:00 01/22/2009

Filed Under: Regional authorities, Children, Human Rights, Real Estate

CALAMBA CITY – After experiencing two demolitions-turned-ugly in their slum community, children in Sitio Kabute in Calamba City’s Barangay Real are wishing that no such violence will happen again this year.

“It was raining hard and the police were holding guns,” said 10-year-old Anjanette as she recalled in Filipino how the shanties were dismantled for the first time last year. “I was shivering out of fear.”

“This [land] is the only thing we have,” 12-year-old Jeffrey said in Filipino. He wished that the battle would come to an end.

Jo Vincent, 9, agreed. “We will fight for our homes. We want to live here until we get old.”

The children’s parents and 154 other families of Kabute – mostly vendors, carpenters and unskilled workers – are claiming as their own 2.8 hectares of land that they have occupied since the 1960s.

The sudden appearance of private entities in the area caught them by surprise, according to Mila Elupre, 54.

In January last year, some of the residents received notices stating that the place already belonged to Metrobank. Photocopies of a land title dated 2006 were attached to the notices.

Bank foreclosure

Metrobank foreclosed the whole Kabute after Gotesco Properties failed to settle its loan on its due date in 2000. “Everything here is legal,” said the company’s legal counsel, who refused to give his name to the Inquirer because he was not authorized to speak on the issue.

The bank filed a formal demand for the occupants to vacate the land, he said.

Soon after, a demolition team arrived. They did not show any legal documents that ordered the removal of the dwellings, said Melicia Almario, spokesperson of Samahan ng Maralita sa Sitio Kabute.

“Due to intimidation and given our meager understanding of the law, we voluntarily demolished our homes. But with [the] understanding of our fundamental right [to decent homes], we decided to regain possession of our land and settled back,” Almario said in an open letter.

Court ruling

On Sept. 11, Judge Alberto Serrano of the Regional Trial Court in Calamba ruled against the occupants and ordered them to vacate the land and demolish their shanties.

Another demolition involving armed policemen and a water cannon took place on Oct. 13. The informal settlers resisted and foiled the attempt.

Anjanette, Jo Vincent and Jomari, together with 12-year-old Jeffrey and 10-year-old Joseph, have been actively joining their elders in protest actions.

Looking younger and smaller than their actual age, they enthusiastically shared their stories of resistance. Three of them no longer go to school as their parents can no longer afford the expenses.

“When our parents could not attend rallies, we would go there for them,” said Jeffrey, stressing that they were not forced to do so. “We are doing this because we also have our rights.”

Katherine Scerri, executive director of the Bahay Tuluyan Kibo Chlidren’s Center, a nongovernment organization helping street children, said “the government is accountable for what is happening with the children (in Kabute).”

Their case is not an isolated one, she said, adding that the local government should help them and their families in defending their rights to education and decent homes.

Freedom of expression

“We cannot blame the children if they resort to attending protest rallies. It’s their right to express their opinions on issues that gravely affect them,” Scerri said.

Anjanette, Jo Vincent and Joseph constantly look for jobs to help their parents. They wash dishes in some eateries.

They also want to learn, even outside the formal school system.

Jeffrey said concerned individuals, usually from the academe, would come and help them. For instance, teachers from the Philippine Normal University have taught some of them how to read and write.

Students from the University of the Philippines in Los Baños have been visiting the community to offer assistance.

Art therapy

The Southern Tagalog Exposure (STEX), a multimedia collective, has been extending support through artistic means. In October, it initiated a gig for the benefit of 300 children of Kabute.

Earlier, the group held art therapy sessions for some of the children. Through sessions on shadow play and drawing to help them express themselves, the children made post cards that were sold to individuals interested in financially helping them.

The STEX has been encouraging students from different universities to go on “exposure trips” to Kabute so they can understand the real situation of the children.

Laid off OFW now on job hunt

By Karen Lapitan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:10:00 01/15/2009

Filed Under: World Financial Crisis, Overseas Employment, Employment, Regional authorities

CALAUAN, Laguna – Anna Roselle Ariano went home from Taiwan in December last year not to spend her Christmas vacation but to look for a job.

In her first stint as an OFW (overseas Filipino worker), Ariano, 25, worked as a technical assistant in Advanced Chip Engineering Technologies Inc. (Aceti), a producer of wafer chips, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in March 2007.

She had thought that she would be earning three times the local wage rates, but things did not happen as she had hoped. She was laid off in November; still she remained optimistic that she could find another job abroad.

Ariano’s pay slip reflected a salary of NT23,000 (P34,000) but half of that went to medical insurance, tax, agency and broker’s fee.

“We found our pay slip strange. Too many items were enumerated. Our initial pay slips were written in English so we easily understood the particulars, but they suddenly changed it to Mandarin,” she related.

She said she and the other employees tried to complain to their employment agency, but nothing came out of it.

Despite the relatively low salary, she persisted in working in Aceti as she just wanted to help her parents send her three siblings to school.

“My mother is earning through our retail store, while my father is unemployed. I want to give them a better life, just like ordinary children who want to repay their parents. Only my twin sister and I were working so I hoped to stay longer in Taiwan,” Ariano said.

Other companies in Taiwan are offering up to NT40,000 (P50,000), she said.

Austerity

During the last quarter of 2008, Aceti started imposing austerity measures. It reduced electricity costs even at the expense of production. “We could not even use a cleaning tissue needed in the production,” Ariano said.

Workers were forced to file leaves to lower production costs. “The company eventually resorted to forcing us to file several leaves from work. Since there was a no-work-no-pay policy, we had very little salaries in our last few months,” Ariano related.

She said there was a time when the workers had to file two-week leaves since the company declared no work during the period. Only a few Taiwanese were allowed to work.

“It was hard since we had to pay our dorm and other expenses. Tax, agency fees and other items were still deducted from our pay. What we had was literally too little for us to stay there,” she said.

On Dec. 2, Ariano and her co-workers were called to a meeting by their employment agency. “We were asked about our plans. It was either we stayed or not,” she said.

More retrenchment

Having no assurance of work and with her savings running out, Ariano decided to go back to the Philippines. Thirty-seven OFWs decided to fly home to seek other opportunities – locally or abroad.

“Our agency told us that most companies in Taiwan were laying off, so we decided to look for some other opportunities somewhere,” Ariano said.

Migrante International, a nongovernment organization supporting Filipino migrant workers, reported that as of November 2008, 720 workers were laid off in Taiwan alone and the figure continued to escalate as more companies either shut down or laid off employees.

Ariano had not yet fully paid her placement fee when she flew to Taiwan in 2007. She was only able to pay half of the P85,000 placement fee.

She admitted that she was not able to invest on a single property from her earnings in Taiwan. She said her salary would go to the basic needs of her family.

“I am looking for an employment opportunity abroad that could give me a good pay. Despite the financial crisis, I have to continue looking for work,” she said. “After all, it’s for my family.”

Youth group hits arrest of 15 protesters

By Karen Lapitan
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 18:06:00 12/23/2008

Filed Under: Protest

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna--The youth group Anakbayan in Southern Tagalog slammed on Tuesday the arrest of 15 protesters in Batangas City on Monday, claiming that it was part of a crackdown against militants in the region.

John Paulo Bautista, Anakbayan-ST chair, said, "It is clear that the wholesale filing of criminal cases against activists in the region has become the Arroyo government's policy in facing the protest of the people."

Among the 15 arrested are leaders of militant groups in Batangas.

They are Isagani Iseta, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Batangas spokesperson; Thelma Maranan, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap-Batangas spokesperson, and June Arante, Anakbayan-Batangas secretary-general.

They were arrested at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday while marching toward the city mayor's office.

They were supposed to seek a dialogue with Mayor Eddie Dimacuha, Bautista added.

Other members of militant organizations in the region are facing criminal charges for allegedly being involved in an ambush against government troops in Calapan City on March 2006.

Among them is Pedro Santos Jr., former secretary-general of Anakbayan-Southern Tagalog.

Pols urged to help OFWs in death row

By Karen Lapitan
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 02:44:00 12/23/2008

Filed Under: Labor, Regional authorities

MANILA, Philippines – Citing hat the 2010 elections are already approaching, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) is challenging politicians to start showing off by helping those who are on Death Row overseas like him.

Rodelio Lanuza, 34, has been in jail in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, since August 2000 and sentenced to die by beheading in public.

The beheading was postponed until the son of the victim could decide on it when he reaches legal age, or seven years from now.

However, Lanuza was still worried about his situation. “I don’t know what might happen in the coming days. If the Saudi Arabia authorities would demand it (beheading), it can be done immediately, even tomorrow,” he told the Inquirer in an e-mail.

He was convicted after he allegedly killed a Saudi national in August 2000, which he claimed was a case of self-defense since the victim assaulted him.

He, however, said he was asking for forgiveness from the family of the victim.

Lanuza has tried to seek help from some politicians, but his request for financial assistance has been declined.

He tried to ask for help from the office of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada but this was also not granted, allegedly due to budget constraints.

Lanuza sought the help of other politicians like Sen. Aquilino Pimentel and Rep. Mikey Arroyo but got only a referral to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

He said he was asking for help for the education of his children since his family had no other means to support their studies. He also sought legal assistance.

“The government is neglecting my case,” Lanuza claimed.

He related that the DFA had been sending letters to his family, claiming that the office was acting on the case. “That’s a lie. I don’t even have a lawyer who can help me right now.”

The DFA, he said, tried to give him legal assistance through lawyer Sheikh Saleh Al-Wadani.

“The supposed lawyer was asking for $10,000,” Lanuza said.

“I am appealing to PGMA (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) to personally talk to the King of Saudi Arabia to ask forgiveness on my behalf,” he said. “[After all], the election is [approaching].”

Café also brews freebies for clients

By Karen Lapitan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:52:00 12/12/2008

Filed Under: Restaurants & catering, Beverages

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines — Frequently giving away freebies may be something strange for a high-end business, but for Boston Café it is a customer care strategy that has led to its success barely a year into the business.

When Boston Café opened its second branch on Nov. 10, a long queue of customers greeted its owners, which only proved the patronage of its target market—students and professionals.

Eight young professionals who graduated from different reputable universities are behind the coffee shop that is now setting trends among similar businesses in town.

Michelle Catahan, 28; Lee Anthony Grajo, 28; Rodel Munlawin, 29; Gary Bacani, 29; Francis Benedic Alpas, 29; Marlon Vallarta, 29; Ellen Castillo, 29; and Heidee Ballesfin, 28, had dreamed of a coffee shop similar to those where they always hung out.

The eight friends decided to venture into the business, giving birth to Boston Café, which they own.

The café has emerged as one of the favorite hang-out places in town, packing in students and professionals alike.

The owners of Boston Café needed around P1.4 million to make the coffee shop fully operational.

After a day of deliberation, they decided to name their business as such since they envisioned a local business that would introduce international blends and fine coffee to local residents.

Before the café formally opened, the owners had started experimenting on the different drinks that they could introduce.

Alpas, marketing director of Boston Café, recalled that in college, three-in-one coffees used to be enough. But there are better types of coffee that students and professionals can drink.

Boston Café takes pride in introducing the international taste of coffee in every cup to Los Baños residents.

It was formally opened on April 8, 2007 at the Robinson’s Town Mall in Los Baños. Last Nov. 10, a branch was opened a few meters away from the University of the Philippines campus in Los Baños.

There are at least five other coffee shops near Boston Café’s new branch, but the owners “don’t treat them as competitors that could threaten our sales,” said Alpas.

Alpas said the greatest challenge in putting up Boston Café was in introducing Los Baños residents “to fine coffee.”

Freebies

Boston Café has been popular in Los Baños for its unique marketing and customer care strategy.

Often, baristas of Boston Café give away free coffee, which management calls “Pleasant Surprise.”

Boston Café has also been popular for frequently giving away tumblers to customers.

When its second branch officially opened last November, the first 20 customers who ordered, received their free tumblers.

These do not include the other promotional activities in which they also give away freebies.

Customers who share their Boston Café experiences via the establishment’s website also get something special in return.

Interestingly, Boston Café holds Open Café, an event where patrons can have free coffee.

Giving away products may not be the tack of most business owners, but the management of Boston Café has considered Open Café as a major factor in the success of their business.

In their second branch near the university campus, Boston Café also gives away “bluebooks,” the university’s exam booklets, and pens for free.

Boston Café also offers free Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) connection to customers and allows them to charge their laptops at the café.

‘Barista’ benefits

Ballesfin shared that they had also come up with beneficial programs for their baristas.

The Boston Café management encourages baristas to save their earnings—something that could help them in cases of emergency.

The baristas are also given social security and health benefits.

Having succeeded in putting up their second branch in just after a year, the people behind Boston Café are now in the process of setting up more branches.

“We have also more plans for our loyal customers,” Alpas said.