By Karen Lapitan
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 00:29:00 06/21/2009
Filed Under: Food, Economy and Business and Finance, Entrepreneurship
Most Read
SAN PABLO CITY – While most local households consider “lugaw” (porridge) an alternative meal in times of financial woe, a couple here has found fortune in selling this affordable food.
Sherwin, 27, and Beverly Aquino, 28, started their porridge business, which they named Lugaw Queen, with only P1,100 as capital. Now, they have nine branches and are in the process of putting up even more.
Lugaw Queen has been a favorite stop of people looking for a combination of affordability, cleanliness and good taste in each meal.
Just for extra income
The couple used to have a computer shop but had to close it down in 2006 since earning from its operation was no longer that much.
Beverly recalled that they wanted to put up a business then to have an extra income since they felt that their combined salaries would not be enough for their needs.
After they decided to close the computer shop, they started looking for other means to earn some extra money.
Sherwin, who was working for a fast-food chain then, was offered by his boss to rent the vacant four-square meter space beside the fast-food branch for P6,000 a month.
“I initially declined the offer. I thought a P6,000 monthly rental was too much. Only three people can be accommodated in the space being offered,” Beverly related.
But they were consistently convinced by the owner, and the couple decided to give in. They chose a food business since Beverly was really into cooking.
Beverly thought of just selling porridge since it does not require a big investment.
She bought 12 pieces of eggs, 1 kilo of rice and the other ingredients needed in cooking porridge. They only had three chairs for the customers.
The couple convinced the owner of the space they rented that they would pay P200 a day instead of P6,000 a month, which they thought was easier to pay.
In November 2007, the first branch of Lugaw Queen was put up in San Pablo City.
“Our initial cost was P1,100,” Beverly said, adding that the first pot they used in cooking was not yet fully paid when the store opened.
“We paid 100 a day for that pot,” according to Beverly, who up to now could not believe how their business succeeded.
Stunning success
“We were surprised how the customers kept on coming in. From three chairs that we had, we had to buy 10 more chairs and tables to accommodate the customers,” Beverly said.
Barely two weeks after the couple opened their business, they had to put up another branch in San Pablo City just to accommodate the hundreds of customers who wanted to try their product.
Sherwin and Beverly were forced to resign from their respective jobs since they wanted to focus on their growing business.
“The number of customers increased, and our capital was literally doubling every day,” Beverly shared.
Lugaw Queen offers a meal for as low as P12.
“Aside from the price and taste, I think customers like our products since we value sanitation in our operation,” Beverly said.
Sherwin’s former boss at the fastfood chain, Eugenio Cheung, 29, also joined the business and helped the couple expand it further.
Months after, four more branches were opened in San Pablo City, Los Baños and Sta. Rosa City in Laguna and in Manila.
Challenges
Despite the success, the couple also faced some problems in running the business.
Beverly said some barangay (village) officials used to complain about their business since it added to the town’s traffic problems.
She added, “There was a time that I wanted to give up the business since I felt too tired, but the people’s patronage of our products is just too overwhelming.”
Sherwin convinced Beverly not to give up the business since aside from helping their family with their finances, they are also giving employment to at least 50 people, whom they value for their hard work and diligence.
“In maintaining a business, you need to value your employees for them to render the service that you want,” Beverly said.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Couple shot in Laguna; wife dies
By Karen Lapitan
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 15:40:00 06/21/2009
Filed Under: Crime
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A lone gunman shot a couple Sunday morning in their residence in Sitio (sub-village) Palua, Barangay (village) Canlubang, Calamba City, police said.
Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador, Laguna provincial police director, said Elizabeth Saturno, 35, died in the shooting, while her husband Mar, 46, was brought to the trauma center of a local hospital for treatment.
Labador said suspect Andy Gabinete was arrested after the couple's son identified him as the shooter. Gabinete voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.
A 9mm caliber gun was recovered from the suspect, who is now detained at Canlubang police station.
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 15:40:00 06/21/2009
Filed Under: Crime
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A lone gunman shot a couple Sunday morning in their residence in Sitio (sub-village) Palua, Barangay (village) Canlubang, Calamba City, police said.
Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador, Laguna provincial police director, said Elizabeth Saturno, 35, died in the shooting, while her husband Mar, 46, was brought to the trauma center of a local hospital for treatment.
Labador said suspect Andy Gabinete was arrested after the couple's son identified him as the shooter. Gabinete voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.
A 9mm caliber gun was recovered from the suspect, who is now detained at Canlubang police station.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Protest leader gunned down in Dumaguete
June 11, 2009 02:38:00
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Public indignation over the constituent assembly (Con-ass) took a violent twist in Dumaguete City when unidentified men shot and killed a peasant leader shortly after he addressed a crowd at 4 p.m.
Fermin Lorico, leader of the militant Kahugpongan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmay’ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros (Kaugmaon), was ambushed along San Jose Extension in Barangay (Village) Taclobo, said Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, the city police chief.
Lorico, a native of Bayawan City and active Catholic lay minister, was on his way to the office of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) to meet members of human rights organizations, Kaugmaon spokesperson Juliet Ragay said.
Like in Metro Manila, protest rallies and marches in key cities nationwide Wednesday condemned President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies in the House of Representatives for pushing through with their plan to amend the 1987 Constitution through a Con-ass.
Protest actions elsewhere were generally peaceful. Some groups even tagged Charter change (Cha-cha) as a more dangerous threat to the people than the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, while others vowed to come out in even bigger numbers on Independence Day on Friday.
Lagdameo in black
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), urged lawmakers who are insisting on Con-ass to heed the nationwide protests.
“The rallies show the strong sentiments of the people. They do not want our present government to tamper with our Constitution without a signal from the people themselves,” Lagdameo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the sidelines of the rally at the provincial capitol in Iloilo City.
“They should harken to the protests of the people because they are (supposed to be) the representatives of the people,” said Lagdameo, who came in an all-black clerical attire in line with the “Black Wednesday” theme of the protest action.
In Pampanga province, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, leader of the Jesus is Lord Movement, asked Ms Arroyo to restore sanity in her administration amid moves by her allies to tinker with the Constitution and corruption scandals hounding her.
‘Better word for shameless’
House Resolution No. 1109, which authorizes the lower chamber to convene a Senate-less constituent assembly, was a “shameless display of arrogance,” Villanueva told reporters in the City of San Fernando on Wednesday.
“If there’s even a better word than shameless, I will not hesitate to use it just to say that the resurrection of Charter change is a no-delicadeza move,” he said.
Villanueva, who ran for president and lost in 2004, said the protests around the country was an occasion for all democracy loving Filipinos “to show unity and solidarity against the threat on the nation’s soul and spirit.”
“Let us turn this deplorable manipulation around and make it an opportunity for us to show that we are going to stand up for our rights and freedom, and nothing is going to stop us,” he said.
Bacolod church bells toll
In Bacolod City, about 1,000 people marched to the plaza amid the tolling of bells from the San Sebastian Cathedral that was decked in red cloth as a sign of protest.
Bishop Vicente Navarra came with priests and nuns for the protest led by the coalition Negrenses United Against Constituent Assembly (Nunca).
In Baguio City, about 100 people led by the Tongtongan Ti Umili and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance marched on Session Road.
Members of the Metropolitan Community Church-Metro Baguio shouted: “Imbyerna ang masa, tsugiin na si Gloria (The people are angry, President Macapagal-Arroyo should go)!”
Manuel Loste, Bayan Muna national vice chair, said people should not trust the Arroyo administration when it promised that no proposal for term extension would be introduced in Charter amendments.
He said Ms Arroyo had lost her political credibility after she turned back on her promise made in Baguio City in 2002 that she would not run for president in the 2004 elections.
Police checkpoints
Bayan members in Central Luzon, as well as Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, went to the protest rally in Makati City. The Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya will hold its protest actions on Friday in major cities in the region.
In a phone interview, Panlilio challenged legislators and other local officials supporting Con-ass to turn the controversy as a “time to restore faith.”
He urged officials to be the “voice of the people, to abandon personal interests and cast patronage ambition aside.”
Police checkpoints were set up in major thoroughfares to screen illegal firearms and weapons, said Chief Supt. Leon Nilo de la Cruz, regional police director.
Southern Tagalog
Protesters in Southern Tagalog had props depicting Ms Arroyo and pro-Cha-cha congressmen as pigs infected with a new strain of swine flu dubbed “Influenza G (C-H-A-2)” or the “Gloria forever virus.”
Christine Macabetcha, Bayan deputy secretary general in the region, said Cha-cha was worse than any flu outbreak that every Filipino should be warned of.
“During Ms Arroyo’s term, almost 1,000 activists, journalists, and government critics have been extra-judicially killed,” she said.
Bicol region
In Legazpi City, militants marched on Washington Drive toward Peñaranda Park in front of the provincial capitol. They held placards bearing the faces of Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara and Rep. Reno Lim with “X” marks.
In Naga City, about 200 people gathered at the Plaza Quince Martires, built in honor of the 15 martyrs of Camarines Sur, to protest against HR 1109.
They also denounced Bicol lawmakers who signed the resolution, but excluded Rep. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of Camarines Norte, Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella of Camarines Sur, Sen. Francis Escudero of Sorsogon, and Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay.
In Sorsogon City, some 500 people joined the street march, according to Paul Vincent Casilihan of Karapatan-Bicol.
Members of the party-list youth group Kabataan in Cebu City wore masks saying “No to Cha Cha virus” during a march from Fuente Osmeña to the Malacañang sa Sugbo at the port area.
Former Mayor Gilbert Wagas of Compostela town in Cebu sported a bald head to express his dismay over Con-ass.
Nineteen organizations launched a coalition that would come up with measures to stop the House plan.
Tacloban City
In Tacloban City, protesters wore black T-shirts to express their indignation.
Jebril Gil Sida, Kabataan regional spokesperson, said a signature campaign had been started at the University of the Philippines-Tacloban.
Torches lit up Davao City as militant, religious, student and nongovernment groups marched. They were joined by thousands of farmers from Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley.
Davao concert
A concert by artists and students under the umbrella of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) was scheduled later in the evening.
Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad said the people should “act now, otherwise, we would be waking up to a day without the sunshine of our freedoms.”
GenSan
In General Santos City, hundreds of people led by Bayan, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente marched around the city and staged a rally in front of KCC Mall.
Edward Flores, Bayan spokesperson, said a bigger rally would be held when Ms Arroyo visits Koronadal City Friday.
Hundreds of people also joined the rally in Cagayan de Oro City. Reports from Romy Amarado, Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Carla P. Gomez, Jhunnex Napallacan, Iste Sesante Leopoldo and Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas; Charlene Cayabyab and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Karen Lapitan, Maricar Cinco, Jonas Cabiles Soltes and Rey Nasol, Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Aquiles Z. Zonio, Carlo Agamon and Riza P. Acac, Inquirer Mindanao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Public indignation over the constituent assembly (Con-ass) took a violent twist in Dumaguete City when unidentified men shot and killed a peasant leader shortly after he addressed a crowd at 4 p.m.
Fermin Lorico, leader of the militant Kahugpongan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmay’ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros (Kaugmaon), was ambushed along San Jose Extension in Barangay (Village) Taclobo, said Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, the city police chief.
Lorico, a native of Bayawan City and active Catholic lay minister, was on his way to the office of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) to meet members of human rights organizations, Kaugmaon spokesperson Juliet Ragay said.
Like in Metro Manila, protest rallies and marches in key cities nationwide Wednesday condemned President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies in the House of Representatives for pushing through with their plan to amend the 1987 Constitution through a Con-ass.
Protest actions elsewhere were generally peaceful. Some groups even tagged Charter change (Cha-cha) as a more dangerous threat to the people than the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, while others vowed to come out in even bigger numbers on Independence Day on Friday.
Lagdameo in black
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), urged lawmakers who are insisting on Con-ass to heed the nationwide protests.
“The rallies show the strong sentiments of the people. They do not want our present government to tamper with our Constitution without a signal from the people themselves,” Lagdameo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the sidelines of the rally at the provincial capitol in Iloilo City.
“They should harken to the protests of the people because they are (supposed to be) the representatives of the people,” said Lagdameo, who came in an all-black clerical attire in line with the “Black Wednesday” theme of the protest action.
In Pampanga province, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, leader of the Jesus is Lord Movement, asked Ms Arroyo to restore sanity in her administration amid moves by her allies to tinker with the Constitution and corruption scandals hounding her.
‘Better word for shameless’
House Resolution No. 1109, which authorizes the lower chamber to convene a Senate-less constituent assembly, was a “shameless display of arrogance,” Villanueva told reporters in the City of San Fernando on Wednesday.
“If there’s even a better word than shameless, I will not hesitate to use it just to say that the resurrection of Charter change is a no-delicadeza move,” he said.
Villanueva, who ran for president and lost in 2004, said the protests around the country was an occasion for all democracy loving Filipinos “to show unity and solidarity against the threat on the nation’s soul and spirit.”
“Let us turn this deplorable manipulation around and make it an opportunity for us to show that we are going to stand up for our rights and freedom, and nothing is going to stop us,” he said.
Bacolod church bells toll
In Bacolod City, about 1,000 people marched to the plaza amid the tolling of bells from the San Sebastian Cathedral that was decked in red cloth as a sign of protest.
Bishop Vicente Navarra came with priests and nuns for the protest led by the coalition Negrenses United Against Constituent Assembly (Nunca).
In Baguio City, about 100 people led by the Tongtongan Ti Umili and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance marched on Session Road.
Members of the Metropolitan Community Church-Metro Baguio shouted: “Imbyerna ang masa, tsugiin na si Gloria (The people are angry, President Macapagal-Arroyo should go)!”
Manuel Loste, Bayan Muna national vice chair, said people should not trust the Arroyo administration when it promised that no proposal for term extension would be introduced in Charter amendments.
He said Ms Arroyo had lost her political credibility after she turned back on her promise made in Baguio City in 2002 that she would not run for president in the 2004 elections.
Police checkpoints
Bayan members in Central Luzon, as well as Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, went to the protest rally in Makati City. The Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya will hold its protest actions on Friday in major cities in the region.
In a phone interview, Panlilio challenged legislators and other local officials supporting Con-ass to turn the controversy as a “time to restore faith.”
He urged officials to be the “voice of the people, to abandon personal interests and cast patronage ambition aside.”
Police checkpoints were set up in major thoroughfares to screen illegal firearms and weapons, said Chief Supt. Leon Nilo de la Cruz, regional police director.
Southern Tagalog
Protesters in Southern Tagalog had props depicting Ms Arroyo and pro-Cha-cha congressmen as pigs infected with a new strain of swine flu dubbed “Influenza G (C-H-A-2)” or the “Gloria forever virus.”
Christine Macabetcha, Bayan deputy secretary general in the region, said Cha-cha was worse than any flu outbreak that every Filipino should be warned of.
“During Ms Arroyo’s term, almost 1,000 activists, journalists, and government critics have been extra-judicially killed,” she said.
Bicol region
In Legazpi City, militants marched on Washington Drive toward Peñaranda Park in front of the provincial capitol. They held placards bearing the faces of Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara and Rep. Reno Lim with “X” marks.
In Naga City, about 200 people gathered at the Plaza Quince Martires, built in honor of the 15 martyrs of Camarines Sur, to protest against HR 1109.
They also denounced Bicol lawmakers who signed the resolution, but excluded Rep. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of Camarines Norte, Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella of Camarines Sur, Sen. Francis Escudero of Sorsogon, and Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay.
In Sorsogon City, some 500 people joined the street march, according to Paul Vincent Casilihan of Karapatan-Bicol.
Members of the party-list youth group Kabataan in Cebu City wore masks saying “No to Cha Cha virus” during a march from Fuente Osmeña to the Malacañang sa Sugbo at the port area.
Former Mayor Gilbert Wagas of Compostela town in Cebu sported a bald head to express his dismay over Con-ass.
Nineteen organizations launched a coalition that would come up with measures to stop the House plan.
Tacloban City
In Tacloban City, protesters wore black T-shirts to express their indignation.
Jebril Gil Sida, Kabataan regional spokesperson, said a signature campaign had been started at the University of the Philippines-Tacloban.
Torches lit up Davao City as militant, religious, student and nongovernment groups marched. They were joined by thousands of farmers from Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley.
Davao concert
A concert by artists and students under the umbrella of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) was scheduled later in the evening.
Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad said the people should “act now, otherwise, we would be waking up to a day without the sunshine of our freedoms.”
GenSan
In General Santos City, hundreds of people led by Bayan, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente marched around the city and staged a rally in front of KCC Mall.
Edward Flores, Bayan spokesperson, said a bigger rally would be held when Ms Arroyo visits Koronadal City Friday.
Hundreds of people also joined the rally in Cagayan de Oro City. Reports from Romy Amarado, Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Carla P. Gomez, Jhunnex Napallacan, Iste Sesante Leopoldo and Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas; Charlene Cayabyab and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Karen Lapitan, Maricar Cinco, Jonas Cabiles Soltes and Rey Nasol, Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Aquiles Z. Zonio, Carlo Agamon and Riza P. Acac, Inquirer Mindanao
Sunday, May 31, 2009
One artist’s labor bears fruit
While most art and culture advocates make use of theater, visual arts and literary pieces to promote culture, Castañeda uses wine as his own way of helping Filipinos – culturally and economically.
With P250,000, he formally started Don Roberto’s Winery as sole proprietorship in 2001 after a year of planning, research, and experimentation.
From sole proprietorship, the winery became Don Roberto’s Winery Corp. after experiencing a year of growth and success in the field of wine production.
More and more people got interested in the business since it offered unique products.
Don Roberto’s Wine is known worldwide for its products: Ripe mango wine, green mango wine and the soon-to-be-launched brewed coffee wine.
“The main aim of the business is for us to be known as the first producer of mango and coffee wine in the world,” Castañeda told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“We also want to enrich the global wine culture with unique, exotic and exquisite mango and coffee wine.”
Starting the winery
Castañeda is a Business Administration graduate who later pursued a career in culture and arts. At some point, he was part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where he served as one of its performing artists.
He was also affiliated with the Centro Cultural de España.
Although he was deep into the promotion of culture and arts, particularly music, his interest in business never wavered. From time to time, he would engage in family business ventures.
In 2000, before he thought of running a winery business, he was planning to put up his own restaurant in Baguio.
For six months, he stayed in the Cordillera where he engaged in the arts, as well as charity work.
He was invited to teach in a seminary, where he also served as hospice volunteer. Later, he mounted a religious musical production there.
The idea of starting a winery came while he was staying in the seminary.
“I really have this passion for cooking, and my interest was caught when I saw a nun in the seminary making wine out of strawberry and pomelo,” Castañeda recalled.
He asked the nun how he could make his own wine.
At first, the nun was hesitant because the concoction was said to be a 100-year-old secret Belgian recipe.
“But out of gratitude, the nun eventually told me how to make fruit wine on condition that I wouldn’t tell anyone how the fruit wines are made,” said Castañeda.
When he returned to his hometown of Imus, he tried to learn all there was to know about fruit wines, hoping to develop his own version which would be different from what the nun had taught him.
“One night, I was watching a news program on TV where the 2001 Cebu Mango Congress was featured,” Castañeda recalled.
He bought some mangoes the day after, having decided to promote local mangoes on his own.
Starting the business was never easy as Castañeda literally had to go places to learn more about fruit wines, specifically, mango wine.
Before he decided to start his winery, he went to Orange County and Europe to study wine-making.
“The preparation process took me a year as I didn’t want to introduce a product below [par],” said Castañeda, who considered research and development to be a crucial phase in the winery business.
After some experimentation, he turned his house in Imus into a winery, where he initially produced 200 vats of wine.
Soon after, Castañeda had to move to a larger winery because of the surprising growth in demand for ripe and green mango wine abroad.
Systematic
Castañeda had set out not only to promote Filipino culture globally but to help other entrepreneurs as well.
He ensured that other people would also benefit from the success of the business, thus, he imposed a systematic way of outsourcing that would benefit not just one mango supplier.
From January to June, Don Roberto’s Winery Corp. would get its mangoes from producers in Luzon. From July to December, mangoes from Visayas and Mindanao producers would be delivered.
In addition, the coffee used in the development of the brewed coffee wine came from Cavite.
The coffee wine will be launched in June.
“Even ordinary coffee peddlers in Cavite benefit from this business,” said Castañeda. “From ordinary peddlers to high-end wine distributors, our winery is doing its part in providing opportunities for many people.”
Globally competitive
Castañeda admitted that one of the challenges of his business was product familiarity among potential buyers.
But Don Roberto’s Ripe Mango and Green Mango wine has been recognized internationally, already reaping a number of awards.
The products have also been featured in a number of business publications in the United States, Japan, Korea and Europe.
But the international publicity that his business has generated made it prone to product imitation.
“Now, there are at least six companies trying to imitate our products, but I am confident they will never succeed,” said Castañeda, adding that his products are all protected by patent.
Castañeda takes pride in using local mangoes in his wine, making Filipino products more popular in the global market.
“The mangoes that we have here remain the best among those I have tasted. And I am happy that I have this opportunity to let other people around the world have a taste of it.”
The brewed coffee wine, meanwhile, is expected to promote the coffee industry in Cavite.
‘Health is wealth’ takes on whole new meaning
Herb Republic, which opened on April 22 in time for Earth Day, is a restaurant concerned not only with the food it serves, but also the health and lifestyle of its patrons.
Owned by the Pantua brothers – Herbert, 40, and Rainer, 33 – the restaurant also maintains its own poultry and mini farm to ensure that only organic and natural ingredients are used in the dishes they serve.
From beverages to the main course, Herb Republic offers nothing but all-organic ingredients.
No alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are not offered in the restaurant since the owners believe that there are healthier options available.
“In coming up with this business, we primarily considered the wellness of the customers since both of us [brothers] are interested in eating ‘green’ food items,” Herbert says.
The idea of putting up a restaurant with a twist started in the latter part of 2008. The planning phase continues to this day, even after the restaurant has already opened to the public.
“Planning is still ongoing since we are not yet done in developing the restaurant area, as well as the things that we can offer to potential customers,” Herbert explains. “We also want people to realize that healthy eating does not always have to be expensive.”
He also wants to shatter the notion that “green” food items are only for the well-off since most restaurants offering such dishes serve them at high prices.
“At Herb Republic, that negative notion is debunked,” Herbert says.
For only P50 to P200, he adds, one can have a healthy meal.
The Pantua brothers refuse to disclose the amount of capital they have raised to start the business, claiming that there are more important things than the money they have spent in putting up the restaurant.
“The time and effort we have been devoting to this business are priceless,” Rainer tells the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
According to Herbert, the business, “is actually a collective effort.”
“Other members of the family are contributing their time and ideas [to help the business grow],” Herbert says. “We want to encourage our customers to do the same.”
Green chicken
The Herb Republic owners are still developing the one-hectare property where the restaurant is located.
A few meters from the restaurant, is the brothers’ poultry facility where they tend to their “green chicken.”
“What we serve here are purely organic chicken,” says Herbert. “It means that each serving of chicken dish in our restaurant is guaranteed healthy since there are no artificial or antibiotic supplements given to the chicken.”
Each chicken is also guaranteed fresh since what they serve are only slaughtered that same day.
The main challenge in putting up and maintaining this kind of business is how to introduce the idea of eating healthy to potential customers.
Health buffs are not only their main targets, according to the brothers.
“Everyone can try eating here so they can appreciate the importance of living a healthy lifestyle,” says Herbert.
Apart from serving up healthy food, the owners of Herb Republic also plan to offer their customers modules and informal lectures on organic farming to raise their awareness.
We are aiming for sustainability here, says Rainer. “It would be interesting if the restaurant goers would learn how to do organic farming themselves.”
Herb Republic is located in Barangay Maahas, Los Baños, Laguna, 62 kilometers south of Manila.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Retiree mines health, wealth in herbal trade
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – When Tito Contado, 73, retired from his job, he had no plans of looking for other sources of income or putting up a business, knowing he had saved enough for his retirement.
As former chief of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Service of Agricultural Education and Extension, his retirement benefits were more than enough to provide for his and his family’s needs.
But through his research, he learned of the herbal supplement business, and decided to pursue it, despite the highly competitive market.
In 2001, Contado formally established the PhilMorinda Citrifolia Inc. here.
PhilMorinda produces PhilNONI, a natural dietary supplement extracted from the medicinal plant Noni.
Sowing the business
The idea of producing PhilNONI occurred to Contado in 1999 when he was on vacation with his family in their hometown in Leyte.
“My sister-in-law kept on telling me stories about Noni, a medicinal plant that is abundant in Leyte, and claimed that her son who had a tumor was helped by this plant,” he recalled.
As someone who was into research work, his curiosity encouraged him to conduct his own study on Noni to prove the claims of his sister-in-law.
Then a skeptic of herbal medicines, Contado did not instantly believe what his sister-in-law told him. “But I observed the changes on my nephew’s health, which somehow convinced me that there was something about that medicinal plant.”
“I immediately recognized it as a common tree in Eastern Samar where I grew up. I had been playing with the smelly rotten fruits and cutting the tree as fencing material,” he recalled.
He gathered as much information as he could from different libraries that he could access. Later, he tried the fruit himself.
Contado was once pricked by a crab shell in Tacloban and his wife couldn’t control the bleeding.
He tried drinking a bottle of Noni fruit juice, hoping to experience relief, the way his nephew had.
“It helped stop the bleeding. The next day, the wound had healed,” Contado says.
This encouraged him to come out with a product that would actually help people.
“As a researcher, it has always been my goal to help people experience the benefits that science brings. This is actually what lacks here [in the Philippines] there are tons of researches but most of them do not give birth to tangible products that the people need,” he says.
His researches led him to the fruit of the plant, unlike other manufacturers of herbal products who focused on the leaves or barks.
Contado has chosen the fruit because of the seeds that contain melatonin, ascorbic acid, potassium and other components needed by the body.
With a million pesos, he formally established his herbal supplement business.
Development
After securing the necessary permits to operate a business, Contado officially sold the products of combined scientific researches – PhilNONI herbal supplement.
PhilNONI’s initial buyers were friends and those referred to him by friends. But the business did not cease growing as more people got interested on the product.
The increase in demand for PhilNONI prompted Contado to export his product in 2006 –particularly in Switzerland, United States, and South Korea.
“I feel elated that this venture has expanded into something I never imagined it could. All I wanted then was to share what I had discovered and proven,” he claimed.
“I do not consider this venture as pure business, but a developmental one in which you combine learning, studying and entrepreneurship.”
Contado admitted that establishing his product in a market already filled with herbal supplements, all claiming to be the best, exposed it to negative notions.
“Some people are cynical about the product, which is understandable, since you see herbal supplements almost everywhere today,” he said. “But our product is different as we have supporting researches to prove it, and we do not deceive our clients and potential clients by claiming that PhilNONI is a cure-all juice.”
Contado clarified that PhilNONI could not replace antibiotics and other medications that a person needs, but it can “help the body help itself.”
“From lowering high blood pressure to improving resistance in fighting cancer, PhilNONI can help,” he said.
For the product to be more accessible to more people, Contado often makes adjustments to his product.
“We now have smaller bottles of the juice and capsules for those who have limited budget but are interested in trying our product,” he said.
After almost eight years in the business, Contado claimed that the profit he got is very minimal.
“The greatest reward that I get is the chance to share how helpful scientific researches can be to the community and the people.”
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
5 friends start book drive for pupils
DISTANCE did not hinder five friends from Los Baños town in Laguna from giving back to their community.
Now based in the United States and Canada, they communicated online and in 2002 decided to help the children of their town by donating books and learning materials.
The five – Sheilachu Paje-Ramos, of Granesville, Florida; Ching Redmond, of Missouri; Rhodora Maligalig, of Glendale, California; Eloisa Labadan-Anton, of Vancouver, Canada; and Arelyne Pacho-Ramos, of Deptford, New Jersey – put up an informal organization that would take charge of the project.
They called their group the Friends of Los Baños Children (FLBC).
Alfinetta Zamora, Pacho-Ramos’ sister, is the coordinator in Los Baños and has been tasked with reaching out to local schools. Her home in Barangay Anos serves as the group’s informal office.
Starting the Project
Each member exerted effort to solicit any amount from Filipinos based in the United States to at least defray the cost of sending the items to Los Baños. Some donated $50 to $100 cash.
Their friends and contacts gave the books and reading materials. When there’s extra money, they buy new reading materials.
Pacho-Ramos said in an e-mail message that the group found it ironic that no single public library for students existed in the 14 barangay (villages) of Los Baños. The friends thought of putting up one, but this was not feasible logistically so they decided to just donate the books and learning materials to the schools.
They deemed that this could help, especially the elementary pupils of public schools who were often given outdated books and did not have enough books to read.
“Each school was asked to submit a proposal so we could determine their needs,” said Zamora.
“Not all [schools] immediately showed interest, which somehow made our task more daunting,” she adds.
On its initial months, the FLBC was able to send 12 boxes containing books, magazines and other library materials.
In 2003, the FLBC started giving books to the Hasik Bagong Buhay Elementary School when it opened in Barangay Bayog. The school library was given a set of Encyclopedia Junior Britannica.
“What makes the project more interesting is that it promotes coordination between parents and school administration,” Zamora said.
The school has not been able to hire a librarian, but a volunteer started working for the library after the FLBC sent several donations.
Barely three years after its inception, the FLBC has given educational materials to 15 academic institutions, mostly public elementary schools.
“From simple books for the children, the FLBC also extended help to teachers who are in dire need of materials,” Zamora said. The FLBC donated office supplies and dictionaries for the teachers.
Ruth Camacho, principal of the Paciano Rizal Elementary School, expressed gratitude for the friends’ initiative. “The great impact of the project is reflected on the eagerness of the students to read since they see updated books in our library.”
“With the help of the FLBC, every shelf in the library is now filled with updated books and encyclopedias. This project has also motivated the teachers to teach in a better way,” Camacho said.
Before she was promoted, Camacho taught at the Bagong Silang Elementary School, one of the recipients of the FLBC. The school is found in Mt. Makiling.
The FLBC has given the school a computer set. “The students had not seen a real computer until the FLBC gave us one. There was no electricity in the area then, but we managed to request for a generator so the students could use it,” Camacho said.
She said Zamora had to walk for more than one hour just to bring the computer set.
Monitoring
The FLBC makes sure that each beneficiary school gives the students access to the books and other materials. “From time to time, we visit the schools to make sure that the children are getting what they need,” Zamora said.
The group is looking at more school beneficiaries. “It [FLBC] may be a small solution to a very big problem, but each part is as important as the whole,” she said.
“As long as you are determined, nothing is impossible.”
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