IndiePENdesign: December 2011

2011 is my MOTY or MOST TRAVELED YEAR. And it's because I was part of the team tapped to document this year's MOTY or Citi MICROENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Awards. For about a month, I was able to tour several areas around the Philippines to chronicle little-known-stories of inspiring entrepreneurs mostly from remote places I've never even heard about.

Bantayan Island, Cebu

It's true that I was in for the thrill of going places but this opportunity showed me that there were other things to be more excited about than the trip itself. And these were the very people we put in the spotlight and the many lessons, insights and values we were able to extract from them and somehow fueled my entrepreneurial ways (and this drive to promote social entrepreneurship in what I do now).

Doong, Bantayan Island. On a typical day in the island, both children and adults gather on the neighborhood beach to bond and earn a living, stringing seaweeds together as a productive community activity.

Surviving the cramming and stress of accomplishing one script a day to meet strict deadlines, I found myself getting immersed in each subject with real-life stories that are meant to inspire, motivate, or simply touch one's heart. And finally, after completing nearly 20 scripts in a month or so highlighting different businesses and how they prospered with the help of microfinance, it's nice to look back now and pick lessons we could use up for 2012. It's great to learn about practical, creative and unique business strategies designed by people living in the mountains or remote places where technology is far-fetched. These people have no access to the internet or even the very basic electricity to keep a normal enterprising life and yet they have managed to be successful in what they do.

In between raving about breathtaking sites in various localities and discovering cultural bits and pieces along the way, what made each trip rock were these interesting tales from some of the country's booming microenterprises.

(Quoted from the scripts I wrote)

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

One of the oldest municipalities in Surigao del Sur is Cantilan known as the “Cradle of Towns” and home to a dynamic business carved out of a mother’s dream to give the best for her family.

Like Cantilan which is the mother town of Surigao del Sur, Susana Teves Miranda is regarded as the “mother of furniture”— being the town’s pioneer in furniture business. Susana and her husband embark on creative means to attract more buyers by making their own designs and offering incentives for volume orders. They fully maximize their raw materials like slice woods to come up with intricately-crafted furniture. And as not to waste even a single piece of wood, excess materials are turned into functional wood tiles.

Albay, Bicol

Sunset view of Mayon from hotel terrace.

Ang SILI ng BICOL, one of the town's famous landmarks.

In a remote town of Albay called Brgy. Paulba, one can find a thriving business that happens to be the only manufacturer of hopia products in Bicol. From a small sari-sari store, Belen Lescano’s bakery has become a major supplier of hopia in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Masbate. Belen’s famous hopia has become an instant hit everywhere, even reaching major provinces from Quezon to the Visayas region.

Estancia, Iloilo

Estancia is the center for commercial fishing in Iloilo and regarded as the "Alaska of the Philippines."

In Brgy. Gogo where John Cabillon grew up facing criticisms and discrimination being born a hunchback, he chose to give back to the community by venturing

into different businesses (squid buying and selling, sea cucumber dealer, sari-sari store owner, etc.) intended not only

to augment his standard of living but to also help the poor people in this small fishing village.

In order to motivate fellow fishermen to work harder and value their catch, John and his wife offer to help them in their financial needs— from constructing their boats down to covering gasoline expenses and buying fishing equipment.

By sharing what they have, they continue to gain more each day. Most fishermen directly sell their catch to them strengthening their dealership role in the community.
Negros Oriental

In a rustic town called Mabinay, Anita devotes her time tilling the soil with her bare hands until discovering modern farming which became her tool to be recognized as an exceptional lady farmer.

Negros Occidental

From this little-known town in Negros Occidental called Valladolid began the story of Milagros Galvez, a farm worker who rose from her humble stature to become a major rice trader in the province today.

Babag, Cebu

In this mountainous part of Cebu City called Babag blossoms an important source of livelihood for many families living high above anyone else. Facing a not-so-easy life in the mountains, Virgilia thought of braving the world of entrepreneurship with only P1, 500 in her pocket. She used the amount to open a sari-sari store in 1996 to support her family and benefit many households who have no access to basic supplies. (Flower Farming)

Bantayan Island, Cebu

From Cebu City, a two-hour drive and another hour of ferry ride takes one to Bantayan Island known for its perfect sunrise and sunset, best beach weather and deep blue skies.

While blessed with pristine beauty and rich marine life attracting tourists from around the world, one of the island's 25 barangays called Doong is deprived of regular electricity supply.

Households there even have to share a common toilet.

Doong is an islet located off the coast of Bantayan Island and can be reached via one-hour pump-boat ride. Life in Doong is typically slow until fisherman Anastacio Postrero made all the difference. Armed with only his fishing skills and a dream of a better life shared with his wife Daisylen, this young fisherman started embracing the concept of business. (Seeweed Farming)

San Fabian, Pangasinan

San Fabian, Pangasinan is known for producing the best dried fish or “tuyo” in the country. After a few years of working abroad, microentrepreneur Sylvia thought of investing her savings in a small business. Since dried fish processing is common in her hometown, she joined the bandwagon and has managed to create her own niche.

General Santos

Getting better opportunities in life may be hard for one who is unable to earn a college degree, even harder for someone who didn’t finish primary education.

This is not always true for people like Nanay Andresa Javines who only reached Grade 5 but has made her life productive as a hardworking and street smart entrepreneur from General Santos. (Tuna Packaging)

TOP 8 MICROENTREPRENEURS NAMED

Bagging the MAUNLAD trophy was Carina Gonato of Consolacion, Cebu (owner of the famous Nateck's Chicken Lumpia) while the MASIKAP award went to Corazon Bautista of San Isidro, Taytay Rizal (RTW manufacturer).

From the INSPIRING to the "MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES" part...

THE FOOD TRIP!