DTI_Magazine_Revised_11-28-19 (1)

ASENSO KA!
A Publication of the DTI - Region XI Issue No. 11 | September 2019

MA. BELENDA Q. AMBI
DTI-XI Regional Director

PAYING IT FORWARD

In a world where gaining profit is more important than being socially responsible, kindness is often considered as
a novelty. This is why we’re proud of our MSMEs in Davao Region — each one of them is passionate about giving
back to the community. Thus, relevant support from the government and other stakeholders is important to help
them prosper.

To help aspiring entrepreneurs and startups scale up their enterprises, DTI has initiated the Kapatid Mentor ME
(KMME) program. Various business concepts are discussed through different modules and topics. This program
aims to spur economic activity, generate employment opportunities, and mainstream OTOPreneurs who are ready
for business expansion.

Another project from DTI that has been helping MSMEs is the Shared Service Facility (SSF) project. This involves the
provision of machinery, tools, and equipment to the MSMEs. Through this project, DTI aims to enhance productivity,
increase production, and improve the product quality of the beneficiaries.

This issue of Asenso Ka! Magazine will showcase the success stories of our MSMEs who have graduated from
the KMME program and the beneficiaries of the SSF project. We hope that their stories of struggle, success, and
generosity will inspire you to start your own business and support local entrepreneurs.

Whether it is by supporting the indigenous community, empowering women, preserving the environment, or
providing opportunities to the underprivileged, these MSMEs all have one thing in common - their commitment
to help. We are looking forward to helping more MSMEs, with our President Rodrigo R. Duterte pledging his full
support towards the continual progress of the Philippines.

Mabuhay and God bless us all!

DTI ASENSO KA! MAGAZINE EDITORIAL STAFF Layout and Design: About the Magazine
Lowell Mendoza Lunar of PREP
Editor-In-Chief: RD Maria Belenda Q. Ambi Asenso Ka! Magazine is a publication of the
Photography: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI.
Associate Editor: Maura Patigdas of PREP
Jenny Grace Molbog-Mendoza This seeks to recognize the success of the
Marilou D. Laguting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
in Davao region and inspire others to strive
Writer: Dominique Clarabal more. Through this magazine, MSMEs are also

Distribution/Circulation Managers: Provincial encouraged to innovate continuously.
Information Officers/Trade Promo Officers Meanwhile, this showcases as well the impor-

Editorial Consultants: Provincial Directors/ tance of convergence in developing MSMEs.
Program Office Manager
Karla Singson of PREP For inquiries, comments, and suggestions,
please contact:
Design and Copy Editing:
Lowell Mendoza Lunar, Justine Kate Gian, and DTI-XI Regional Office,
Alma Kharisse Cubelo of PREP 3-4/F Mintrade Realty Bldg.,
Monteverde Ave. corner Sales
Creative Director: Sts., Davao City 8000 Philippines
Justine Kate Gian of PREP
Tel. No. (082) 224-0511
Fax No. (082) 221-4952
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook Page: DTI Region 11

www.dti.gov.ph
All rights reserved. No part of this magazine

shall be reproduced without written
permission of DTI-XI.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

04Fashion with a Fusion of Two Communities 22Pastil Kagikit On The Go
(Cheri Lou Rabanoz Aranjuez) (Pastil Queen)

06Creating Livelihood for Decades 24Simple Ingredients, Extraordinary Flavor
(Kiblawan Multi-Purpose Cooperative) (Cacao & Beyond ComVal Tropical Harvest)

08Delicious Meals In Every Dish 26Spreading Cacao Culture in the Philippines
(KHP Dabaw Kitchen) (Cacao Culture Farms)
10From Invasive to Innovative
(Wow Carmen Handicrafts) 28The Taste of Sweet Success
(Magvilla Ice Cream)
12Goodness In Every Pack
(Mira’s Food Trading) 30Tickling Tummies and Taste Buds
(Happi Tummy Foodstuff, Inc.)
14Healthy and Flavorful Sawsawan
(Madayaway Food Products) 32Weaving Wonders with their Hands
(Talogoy Weavers Association)
16Ice Cream and Ice Candy Rolled Into One
(Lamee Ann Ice Cream Candy) 34DTI AT YOUR SERVICE
(DTI Directory)
18Juicing a Healthy Lifestyle
(Shechem Marketing) 35NEGOSYO CENTER

20Natural and Accessible
Healthcare for Everyone
(St. Camillus Hospital)

FASHION WITH A FUSION
OF TWO COMMUNITIES

Cheri-Lou “Che” Rabanoz
Aranjuez is a socially-responsible
fashionista. Through her unique
bags and corporate wear designs,
she is inspiring many people to be
stylish while paying it forward.

Pursuing her Passion for Fashion

Fashion design was not Che’s when she wanted to give up. Che saw Che sayslitbhearttyshtoe dgievseigsnththeeMbeaanddwaoyraksw.omen the
first choice for a degree in the business potential for corporate
college. She graduated with attire designs in Compostela Valley,
a degree in Accountancy, but later this pushed her to finish her course.
on realized that her passion was in Eventually, she stopped renting out
fashion and enrolled herself at fashion bridal gowns and focused on designing
school. At this point, she shares that corporate uniforms for government
she had opened a bridal shop before agencies. Additionally, she started
realizing that she was not equipped offering straw bags handmade by
to manage such a type of business. persons deprived of liberty (PDL)
At the time, she was juggling her fashion at the Montevista District Jail. These
design classes, running a bridal shop, and bags are then embellished with
raising two kids. It was too much for her. traditional ethnic designs from a
She confided that there were moments Mandaya community in New Bataan.

The Mandaya women from New Bataan who supply Che with intricately-designed beadworks.

4 ASENSO KA!

Giving Back to the Community

These womenuasilnsog mthaeikrebteraaddsi.tional jewelry “Fashion is all about creating designs she met the talented and industrious
Aside from bfaagnss,, thhaetsP, DanLd spuarlsseos.create wallets, that have a greater purpose.” This is women PDLs who handcrafted the
Che’s mantra as she started her career coin purses. She formed a partnership
in fashion design. She shares that with the jail’s livelihood program,
she had a great desire to introduce the Business Resource Center, which
products from her hometown to a signaled the start of her bag production.
bigger audience. The problem was that With the help of the Provincial Women
she did not know what to showcase. Development Council of Compostela
Luckily, she discovered a potential Valley, she was also able to meet an
addition to her fashion line as she IP community in New Bataan. These
was visiting the Montevista Municipal Mandaya women provided her with
Hall. Displayed were coin purses made their intricate beadwork which she used
out of straw. This was her eureka to decorate her bags. Thus, she calls her
moment. She will bring these local products a “fusion of communities”
handicrafts with her to the London between the PDL and the IP community.
Fashion Week where she was invited.
Che paid a visit to the district jail where

Comvaleña in the Fashion Industry

Che says that the Department of that this career definitely comes with
Trade and Industry (DTI) has been a challenges and hardships. In her case,
huge help in increasing her linkages one of these difficulties was dealing with
and networks as an entrepreneur. the two communities and their different
She was also able to develop her cultures, protocols, and practices.
brand through the Brand Equity In terms of production, she says that
Development and the Kapatid Mentor their biggest hurdle is the fact that all of
ME programs. Most importantly, DTI the products are handmade. As a result,
provided her with their full-fledged she can not rush the women PDLs nor
support during her participation the Mandaya women with their work.
in the London Fashion Week. She is still trying to come up with a
As a fashion designer who has proven solution on how to hasten production
herself in the industry, Che admits to meet the demands of her buyers.

Inspiring Words for Budding Designers

Despite being hailed as a successful For aspiring fashion designers, Che oAnftdeersifginniinshgianngdfamtsrhaibikoainlngdseccshoirognpolos,.raCteheunnifoowrmfsocwuistehs
designer and entrepreneur, Che believes wants to share some advice. “They have
that she still has a long way to go. She to put it in their minds that fashion creation. It will really show in your
currently has several visions and goals design is not all about glam and glitz. masterpiece if you truly love your craft
for her brand, as well as the communities Behind all the fancy stuff that you see or not. It would not be an expression
that she is helping. Bit by bit, she is on the stage are the hard work, love, of art without your love for it.”
working on trying to achieve all of it. and commitment that comes with each

5 ASENSO KA!

CREATING LIVELIHOOD
FOR DECADES

The coop’s humble office has now upgraded with better facilities to serve their members better.

For the members of Kiblawan fair share of problems. Erlinda I.
Multipurpose Cooperative Sapin, the coop’s retired bookkeeper,
(KMPC), the association is recalls how the grocery store burned
not simply an entity which lets them down years ago. The first muscovado
invest and borrow money from. sugar production did not succeed as
The 48-year-old cooperative also well, which led to its discontinuance.
provides livelihood, education, and “The funding we received from
opportunities through the members’ abroad was used up and the
shared passion for volunteerism. project didn’t prosper. It was very
difficult, but we did not give up.”
A baker from one of the coop’s three Today, with its state-of-the-art office It was then that KMPC received
bakeries around Kiblawan. building and functional facilities, it is assistance from government agencies
6 ASENSO KA! surprising to know that the cooperative to revive their muscovado sugar
started out extremely small. Established production. Through the Shared
during 1971, it initially started out as a Service Facility (SSF) project under
credit union with a meager capital of the Department of Trade and
P1,007. Later on, they formed a separate Industry (DTI), the coop received
consumers’ cooperative and opened a equipment, tools, and a facility for
small grocery store in the municipality. muscovado sugar processing. Their
Eager to make the cooperative former grocery store has also been
prosper, the members did their best converted into a bakery, which now has
to learn the ropes of managing it.
Unfortunately, KMPC also had its

Some of the workers in the muscovado processing facility. Tmsuhubessctcoiotvuoaptdeoitsospurrgeoafuirn,deadofhsuetaghlaetrihrsi.er

Sugarcane is one of Kiblawan’s crops, providing livelihood for many sugarcane farmers.

three branches throughout Kiblawan. manager, says that what keeps the coop capital, several members have already
From its humble beginnings as a lending thriving, even after decades of trials made their lands productive and have
cooperative, KMPC aims to educate and setbacks, are the members’ spirit created a regular source of income.
future generations about the importance for volunteerism. “The coop will not Even after years of servitude, Alvarado
of financial literacy. They established survive if the members are only looking is still willing to allocate her time to
the School Savings Mobilization out for themselves alone. We have the cooperative. Along with others
Program which encourages high to help everyone create a livelihood who have been members since its
school students to save a portion instead of focusing on money matters.” establishment, she aims to help the
of their money in the cooperative. Jessa G. Lagroma, the group’s future generations of Kiblawan
Additionally, the coop also provides accounting clerk, shares that the coop attain a better life through their
scholarships to members’ children. has created plenty of opportunities for humble multi-purpose cooperative.
Juana E. Alvarado, the current KMPC its members. By providing them with a

7 ASENSO KA!

Delicious Meals
IN EV
ERY DISH

Choose ftroocminoa, vloanrgiegtaynoifsah, eeamltbhuytiadnod, aynudmtmaypap.roducts: With tfwooodloccaantieoanssiliyncDurabvtahoeiCr ihtyu,npgeeorpilne tchraevriensgtafuorrabnrte.akfast

KHP Dabanwo mKaittctehrenwhsaertvteismdeeolifciothues dbarye.akfast food The processed hfooomde-tpurrondeudc-tpsrocaersesinagllfacpilriotyd.uced in Khit’s

Tocino, tapa, longganisa, A graduate of Hospitality and make processed food products.
corned beef: these are all Restaurant Management, Khit Her dream was ambitious, she was
well-loved breakfast food worked at a hotel’s kitchen where prepared to go big; little did she
choices which people enjoy eating she learned first-hand how food know, the challenges of making
no matter the time of day. For was cooked and prepared to meet the dream come true were bigger.
Kristine Mae “Khit” Flores, these hotel standards. While she was “Working at a hotel was difficult, it
processed food products are more there, she always dreamt of building was like doing charity work. I had
than just good food, these launched her own business. This motivated to work for nine hours straight.
her career as a young entrepreneur. her to quit her job and instead,

8 ASENSO KA!

Kapatid Mentor ME program, she
has learned to manage her business
more efficiently. Most importantly,
she gained more confidence and
was able to help other aspiring
entrepreneurs struggling to start
their own business ventures.

KHP Dabaw Kitchen’s young owner, Khit Flores. “After I joined the first batch of
Kapatid Mentor ME program, I
That was when I came up with in front of her and tasted these was able to learn a lot. My business
the idea of building a business.” himself. The chef was impressed. Up became more organized; I had
Fortunately, her on-the-job training to this day, Khit has been supplying a better target market; I learned
as a student provided her with them with her delicious products. how to record my sales, and more.
the know-how on longganisa As time went by, Khit attracted The best thing about DTI is that
production. She made homemade a business investor and was they follow up with you even after
longganisa in her own kitchen able to open a restaurant. KHP graduating from the program to
during the day, and went to her Dabaw Kitchen specializes in monitor progress and to help us out.”
job at the hotel in the afternoon. all-day breakfast meals that are
Eventually, she decided to leave both affordable and sumptuous. Today, Khit is a speaker for some of
her job to focus on developing It currently has two branches: DTI’s seminars. After joining The
her meat processing business. located at Guzman Street and Final Pitch, a business reality TV
Naturally a shy person, Khit Malvar Street, Davao City. show and graduating from KMME,
was not so keen on selling and It’s difficult for Khit to pinpoint she has been tapped by DTI as a
marketing her products - this which dishes are her best-sellers mentor and speaker. Despite her
became a big challenge for her. since most of her products are shyness, she can now speak in
She says that it was also difficult consumer favorites. She says that the front of other entrepreneurs and
to compete with big, well-known best-sellers vary from one branch inspire others to work hard like her.
brands in the market. Consumers to another. Khit prides herself
were used to buying those that are in manufacturing homemade She would not say that her business
commonly found in supermarkets, processed meats without artificial has reached a level of success she is
hence, gaining consumer trust flavors, MSG, and extenders. content with since she still has plans
was another hurdle for her. Like her business, Khit has also and goals for it. Nonetheless, she
Her big break came when she was grown as a person and entrepreneur. is thankful for all the opportunities
able to present her food products to With the help of the Department that she has received amid her
a famous hotel in Davao City. Khit of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) little entrepreneurship background.
shares that the head chef of the “For those who want to start a business,
hotel’s restaurant cooked her food you really need perseverance and passion.
There will always be challenges along
the way, so they have to be more patient.
Success will not happen overnight, nor
in five years. It will be a long journey,
so you have to really work hard for it.”

9 ASENSO KA!

From vasive
novative
INto

Water hyacinth, more
commonly known as
water lily, looks attractive
and beautiful. However, the ugly
truth behind this fast-growing
aquatic plant is that it is highly
invasive in fish ponds and lakes.
Wow Carmen Handicrafts created
a solution to this problem by
turning these invasive plants into
an innovative business venture.

In 2015, Wow Carmen Handicrafts The beautiful but harmful water hyacinth, damaging most of Carmen’s fish cages and ponds.
(Weavers of Water Hyacinth in
Carmen, Davao del Norte) was be dried first, then dyed, before
founded as a solution to the growing they can be woven and created into
farm disturbance in Carmen’s tilapia products. It is a strenuous job that
fish cages. Pastor Albert Dillo shares requires more than one person to
that when they got invited to a training finish. The final product is attractive,
on how to maximize the water durable, and of export-quality.
hyacinth, they did not hesitate to join.

This faith-based association makes Thankfully, their weavers will not Sturdy and stylishhysaacnindtahlslemavaedse. from dried water
woven products out of dried have to work as hard as before.
water hyacinth leaves. The talented Wow Carmen Handicrafts is a
weavers from their community beneficiary of the Department
can make slippers, door mats, rugs, of Trade and Industry’s Shared
coasters, bags, tumbler holders, and Service Facility project. They now
centerpieces. Adorned with vibrant have weaving equipment such
colors, stylish designs, and made as flatters, rubber slicers, and a
from sturdy material, these woven looming machine, thanks to DTI.
handicrafts are making waves in Ptr. Albert is also grateful
the local and international markets. for the Kapatid Mentor ME
(KMME) program, where he
Each of their handcrafted learned about the different
masterpieces can take several days to aspects of business operations.
produce, depending on the design.
The water hyacinth leaves need to
10 ASENSO KA!

“Through the KMME, I was able Wow Carmen also offers placemats, coasters, rugs, bags, tumbler holders, etc.
to picture out the entire plan for A weaver works on a rug from a regular buyer. One rug can take about a few days to finish.
the business, from the supply to the
production. All aspects are important
and should be given equal attention
so that the business will prosper.”
Scouting for their products is easy,
since they have displays at the Go
Lokal Store in Abreeza Mall, Davao
City.Theyalsojointradeexpos,design
events, and bazaars. In fact, they
recently showcased their products
at the Manila FAME trade fair.
In addition to helping the
environment by eliminating the
problem in the municipality, Wow
Carmen Handicrafts is also a
socially responsible association.
Most of their weavers are women
in the community who have no
source of income. Through this
association, they now earn at the
comfort of their own homes.

Pastor Albert Dillo proudly poses with some of his talented weavers.
11 ASENSO KA!

Goodness In
Every Pack

The power couple behind Mira’s Food Trading, Mira and Ramel Gelbiro.

It started out as a business idea which turned
into an experimental venture for couple Ramel
and Miraflor “Mira” Gelbiro. Little did they
know that their idea would boom and change
their lives - along with those in their community.

Each pack of Mira’s food products is guaranteed delicious and affordable. Workers must double-time with production to cater the heavy volume of orders.
12 ASENSO KA!

DMealdeectfarbolme FSocoradtch of their resellers tried to imitate their a business, such as delegating
recipe and sold it to their customers. tasks to managing different
Her work in a meat importation They even convinced people that departments like marketing,
company in Cebu before provided it was a sister company of Mira’s. production, and Human Resource.”
them some experience in processing Another challenge is staying on Through the Kapatid Mentor Me
high-quality meat. This marked the top of the market despite the stiff (KMME) project, small business
beginning of Mira’s Food Trading. competition. Mira narrates how owners like Mira and Ramel are
Along with her husband’s superb there were several instances where taught and mentored by successful
culinary skills, they developed a new lumpia products went out businessmen and business experts.
chorizo recipe and tried selling to the market with lower prices, They were lectured and coached
it in Cebu. It proved to have a with up to a four-peso difference. about various business topics
high demand in the market. The “My agent insisted that we should which helped them improve their
couple decided to move their lower our price to match the pricing management and production.
small business to Mindanao. of our competitors. I always stood DTI also helped Mira’s Food
Aside from chorizo, they were firm and said ‘no’. I want the Trading with the branding and
also reselling lumpia shanghai customers to see the difference packaging of their products.
from a company in Cebu. Due when it comes to the taste.”
to the high volume of orders for Amid the presence of competitors, GCoivminmguBnaictyk to the
their chorizo, they decided to stop including a food manufacturer
reselling and develop their own giant, Mira remained unfazed. Gaining sky-high profits is the least
lumpia recipe instead. Building their She stood by her products and of Mira’s concerns. Although she
business from the ground up, the believed that even if customers are is keen on gaining more orders
couple was producing and packing looking for cheaper prices, they will every day, she says that the most
chorizo and lumpia on their own, always go back to the better-tasting important thing to her is giving
in their home’s humble kitchen. lumpia. Sure enough, they did. back. She says that their business
“We did everything on our own. Mira’s Food Trading remained well- is not for them to become rich,
My husband built this processing known in Davao del Sur, Davao but for them to help other people.
center himself because we did Occidental and Davao del Norte She confides at how difficult it is to
not want to spend a lot on as a maker of delectable lumpia, run a business, and that sometimes
labor,” Mira proudly shares. chorizo, embutido, and chicharon. she wants to give up. However, what
The couple spent their days keeps her moving forward is the fact
and nights producing, packing, Learning from the Best that they are able to help people in
and delivering their products. her community by providing jobs.
Sometimes, their children would When asked how the Department of “We also have a vision for this
also help them whenever their Trade and Industry (DTI) has helped business to become successful,
time permitted. Eventually, they their business, Mira emphasizes not just for ourselves, but for the
started hiring a few workers from that it has helped them greatly. people who are working for us.”
the community to help them “DTI helped us learn how to run
with the huge amount of orders.

CanodnqCuoemripnegtiCtohrasllenges From selling chorizo, Mira’s Food Trading is now slowly adding more food products to their line.
13 ASENSO KA!
Like all businesses, Mira’s Food
Trading also went through several
rough patches along the way. One
of their biggest problems are the
competitors. When they first started
marketing their lumpia products, one

Ric’s Vinegar is available in several sizes: pouch, lapad, long neck, large, and small bottles.

Healthy and Flavorful
Sawsawan

Meal times are never “Whenever we visit his home, on, she added more products
complete without the the vinegar would still be there. to the line, such as special hot,
sawsawan made from I thought, what can I do with spicy white, and white vinegar.
vinegar. Whether for snacks like all these? That is when I got To cater to their customer’s requests,
chicharon, or for cooking dishes the idea to make a sawsawan.” their sawsawan also comes in various
like paksiw, vinegar is a ubiquitous All the coconut sap they use for sizes. Customers can choose between
condiment in any home, eatery, or their products are grown in the wide 750 ml and 375 ml bottles, as well as
restaurant. Ric’s Vinegar, dubbed as expanse of their own backyard. smaller bottles, and a tetra pouch.
‘the healthy sawsawan’ from Mati, From the coconut to the bottle, Running a business also came with
Davao Oriental, is slowly becoming it is all a result of their family’s many obstacles. Among them was
a favorite and it is not surprising why. teamwork. Since Jocelyn is a teacher, to go through were the varying
Ric and Jocelyn Quimpan, the her husband is in-charge of the prices of the spices. Since they
owners of this homegrown production but she pitches in with use several spices, such as garlic,
brand, got the idea of producing the work as well. Their nephews chili, ginger, langkawas, and onion,
vinegar from a family member. help them during weekends, too. sourcing these ingredients can be
Jocelyn shares that her uncle was a The first variant which Jocelyn financially constraining for them.
“manananggot”, or a coconut sap developed was the sweet chili,
gatherer. He always had plenty of a sugar-based sawsawan. Later
unused vinegar stocked in his home .

14 ASENSO KA!

Jocelyn Quimpan, the woman behind the idea of Ric’s. Ric’s Vinegar is currently available in pasalubong centers and select supermarkets.

thFe rfoammisloyudrociens gittoalpl atchkemagsienlvge,s. Production takes place in a small facility beside the Quimpan’s humble home in Mati.

Another challenge was the DTI helped us design the branding
production. Jocelyn says that to come up with the name Ric’s.
they wanted to supply for more Joining the KMME program also
supermarkets, but they are made a huge difference on how
still working on maximizing we viewed the business. We can
their time for production. really see the difference between
what we are currently practicing
Fortunately, Ric and Jocelyn are and what we should be doing.”
not alone in their business venture.
Jocelyn expressed her gratefulness For now, their healthy sawsawan Thehcaorcvoensutetdsafrpomusetdhetotrmeeaskine tthheeirvipnregoapreratyr.e all
for the Kapatid Mentor ME business is still in the process of
program of the Department growth. They are looking into
of Trade and Industry, saying adding more products, such as
that it has been a tremendous honey vinegar. They are aiming to
help from the very beginning. expand their market and double
their production, too. Despite the
“At first, we really had no idea hardships of running a family
what to name our product. It was business, customers are starting to
very timely that at the time of our recognize this brand for its delicious
registration, there was a branding flavor.Ric’sVinegar issuretobecome
seminar as well. Sir Peter from a home staple in the coming years.

15 ASENSO KA!

ICE CREAM
AND ICE CANDY
ROLLED INTO ONE

If your lips have never gotten
numb from eating ice candy as
a kid, then your childhood was
not complete. For kids, ice candy is
a cheaper alternative to ice cream
during summertime. It is sold in
neighborhood sari-sari stores and
are usually made out of refrigerated
powdered juice drinks. Lamee Ann
Ice Cream Candy stands out from
the ordinary ice candies by bringing
you two beloved desserts in one stick.

This tasty product is like an ice
cream and ice candy rolled into one.
From the very first bite, customers
will definitely say that it lives up to
its name. In fact, owners Robinson
and Sarita Uyamot share that it is
actually a wordplay for the word
“lami” (delicious). This came from
a customer’s feedback who would
always say that their ice candies are
“lami” every time he bought one.

“We really did not know what
to name our product when we
registered it. Initially, we called it
‘Lami’, but DTI suggested that we
use ‘Lamee Ann’ to make it more
memorable and unique,” Sarita says.

Their ice candies are all made from Owner Robinson Uyamot is all smiles while he attends a food festival held in one of Davao City’s malls.
fresh fruits and natural ingredients.
They use boiled water, starch, Perhaps the best thing about Lamee Ann’s target market is
milk, and fresh fruits to give it that Lamee Ann, aside from its milky primarily schools since students
creamy, delicious flavor. Lamee and creamy taste, is its affordable are more inclined to buy their
Ann currently offers five different price. For an ice cream candy that products. However, it has become
flavors: durian, buko, mango float, tastes exceptionally good, it comes quite challenging for them since
cookies and cream, and avocado. at such a low price that anyone will the Department of Education
be tempted to buy more than one. (DepEd) has become stricter

16 ASENSO KA!

Tchreeawmomcaanndiebse,hoiwndnerthSeariritraesUistyaabmleoti.ce Ice cream oLraimceeceaAndnyn? Idte’sfinhiatredlytloivteesllu! pButot iotnsentahmineg.’s for sure,

One of the very few workers labeling the ice cream candy packaging (left) and packaging the ice cream candies.

with the food sold in school of Trade and Industry (DTI) holds It might not look like a grand
canteens. Apparently, ice candy is several trade fairs every year where business venture, but this humble
considered a junk food even if it Lamee Ann can participate at. The ice cream candy has changed the
is made of all-natural ingredients. Kapatid Mentor ME and Brand lives of the Uyamot family. Sarita
For now, they are focused in Equity Development programs have says that she is able to spend more
joining trade fairs and exhibits also helped them in their business time with her family while making
to gain more market exposure. operations and brand establishment. ice cream candies at home. It also
Apart from supplying ice candies “My husband and I are both provided them with a regular
in school canteens, they are inexperienced in running a business. source of income to provide for
also receiving bulk orders from I was a social worker and he was a their daily needs. Most importantly,
other customers and resellers. government employee before. The the couple is proud that Lamee
It is a good thing that the Department KMME gave us the knowledge Ann puts a smile on their
we needed in running a business.” customers’ faces with every bite.

17 ASENSO KA!

Juicing a Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy and flavorful juice variants from Belle’s Refreshing Juices.

GildawitFhloornees,ofa tphreoiruddelhiceiaolutsh coandcvoocctaioten,s.poses Powdered juices and instant juicing equipment, her colleague
18 ASENSO KA! drinks are the Filipinos’ go- handed down the business to her.
to refreshments during the Gilda shares that she had no idea
sweltering summer months. Despite how juicing worked at first. “I didn’t
being loaded with sugar and know how to use the equipment to
sweeteners, these beverages are still make fruit juices, since I was only in
as popular as ever. One entrepreneur chargeof thebusinesssideof things.”
decided to choose a healthy lifestyle Gilda is a vegetarian who made
by producing all-natural juice her own fruit smoothies at home
drinks, making it accessible to the for their own consumption. These
market and encouraging people smoothies were purely made of fruit,
to be more health-conscious. sans the sugar and water. Her late
Gilda C. Flores, the owner of husband suggested that perhaps they
Shechem Marketing, was already should pursue making juices since
a health advocate even before they already have the equipment.
becoming an entrepreneur. The After joining workshops and
juice business was initially owned seminars, she learned how to extract
by her former colleague. She was juices and make purees. She gradually
in charge of the marketing aspect experimented with different fruits
of the business and owned 35% to create unique and enticing flavors.
of the shares. However, after That was when she started Belle’s
a botched partnership that left Refreshing Juice, an all-natural juice
her with no shares and all the

The apnedopwleorbkeehrisndfroBmellaer’so:uGndiltdhae,irhnereigdhabuogrhhtoero,d.sons,

Fruits paereeledsouevrecreyddafrye.sh and A worker mixfersesthheoninagrdeadiileynbtsastihs.at are produced

brand named after her daughter. future, she is currently growing after being inspired by the mentors.
All 10 flavors of her juices are made stevia, a plant-based sweetener. Aside from being a health advocate,
from freshly-squeezed fruits and “The reason why I started Belle’s Gilda is also helping her community
even flowers. Customers can choose is to deliver healthy fruit juices by providing a few people with
from delicious options which to everyone. Whether I produce livelihood. The employees are
include mango, pineapple, four these or not, people will always neighbors who are responsible for
seasons, cucumber, lemonade, blue drink juice. So why not make the juicing, packaging, and delivery.
bell (blue ternate flower with buko something that is healthy?” she says. Her children are also working with her
juice) and butterfly pea lemonade Joining the Kapatid Mentor ME to keep the business up and running.
(blue ternate with calamansi juice). and Brand Equity programs by the Belle’s Refreshing Juice is currently
The fruits are all freshly sourced Department of Trade and Industry sold in schools, office canteens,
from local markets. In the (DTI) have greatly changed catering services, restaurants,
meantime, some of the ingredients Gilda’s perspective. According and at a hotel. Her vision for
are picked from her own garden to her, she was only focused on Belle’s is to give more people
which she happily tends to. Her gaining profits to sustain their a healthier option, not just in
fruit juices have no artificial daily needs when she first started. Davao, but in other places as well.
sweeteners and are not loaded with After graduating from the KMME
sugar. To substitute sugar in the program, she began to dream big 19 ASENSO KA!

Natural and Accessible
Healthcare for Everyone

It is a sad fact that majority of
Filipinos have limited to no access
to basic healthcare programs. This
is especially true for marginalized
groups and those living in remote
areas. Fortunately, there are kind-
hearted people, like Rev. Fr.
Rolando J. Fernandez, MI of St.
Camillus Hospital of Mati, who
are passionate about providing
accessible healthcare for everyone.

Before the hospital was founded, One root, three variants: turmeric granules, powder, and capsules from St. Camillus.
the ministers conducted community
outreach programs in the register the center at the FDA,
neighboring areas of Mati. They she truly pushed through with it.
discovered that a drastic number
of residents are ill and unable to “They really wanted to pursue the
receive medical care due to poverty. processing, so I said that we will try
As a solution, they provided basic and I will find the means to register it.”
healthcare seminars where they
taught people how to use medicinal Little by little, the healthcare
plants within their environment. center erected a few buildings for
Although the seminars proved training and for processing the
to be helpful, they realized that medicine. They were also able to
there was still a lot more to be purchase the machinery necessary
done. With the help of several for the entire production process.
volunteers, the hospital founded What was a laborious job for
the community-based healthcare the volunteers is now physically
center. Their goal is to train easier and time-saving for them.
people on how to create herbal
medicine and provide traditional The healthcare center now sells a The jolBlye,rnkairnddi,taaAnd. Ohatirbdawko,rkMinIg. Sister
healthcare for the underprivileged. wide variety of Food and Drugs
Aside from Fr. Rolando, Sr. Authority (FDA) - approved herbal acupressure, Ventosa, and traditional
Bernardita A. Otibak, MI was one medicines. Some of these include massage. They also sell organic
of the key persons who made the following: granules (tawa- vegetables, native chickens and pigs,
the healthcare center possible. tawa, turmeric, ginger), powders and fruits that are grown organically
Despite the tedious paperwork (ampalaya, gabon, turmeric), within the center’s grounds.
and requirements needed to capsules, and dried herbs (blue
ternate, alangitngit). Additionally,
they provide acupuncture,

20 ASENSO KA!

Sr. Bernarditoaf ptohseesHweirtbhPsormoceesosfingthfeacviolilutyn.teers in front Some of the food supplSemt.eCntasmainlldush. erbal products made by

Sr. Bernardita says she is extremely the same time, it also helps with Sr. Bernardita says they want to
happy that the center is able to help the livelihood of the volunteers.” develop more FDA-approved
numerous people. She shares that To handle the business aspect of herbal medicines that are
it warms her heart knowing that the healthcare center, they sought approved by the FDA. Together
terminally-ill patients have felt better help from the Department of Trade with Fr. Rolando, as well as
because of the herbal medicines. and Industry (DTI). Through the the industrious volunteers,
“More and more people are Kapatid Mentor ME program, they are hoping to develop the
coming here and buying the they were able to scale up their healthcare center further to
herbal medicines because they business through several modules. provide natural and accessible
can really see the difference. At healthcare to the residents of
Davao Oriental consistently.

These capsules are purely made from turmeric that are grown in St. Camillus. Various medicinal plants are processed in the facility every day.
21 ASENSO KA!

Full-time entrepreneur, wife, and mom Rovelyn Aguilar beside her pastil products.

avory shredded chicken
sitting on a bed of steamed

Srice and wrapped in a banana

Pastil Kagikitleaf - sounds sumptuous? Pastil
is a traditional Maguindanaon On The Go
delicacy that is enjoyed by
people from all walks of life.

Banana Leaves and Bottles

Gracing her throne since 2017,
Pastil Queen’s founder Rovelyn T.
Aguilar got the idea for producing
pastil from her parents. Her mother
used to sell pastil in their carinderia
in Cotabato City, a staple food
for the majority of their Muslim
customers. At first, Rovelyn
started selling traditional pastil
until she received several requests
to have her products shipped.

This was impossible, of course, Pcherifcekcetnfoprasqtiuliicskdeafninditemlyeawlsortohn-etvheer-ygop,estoh.e The hardawnodrkpainckg poefopPlaesbtielhQinudeeenv.ery bottle
since the pastil rice cannot be
shipped or it will spoil. That was
when she thought of bottling
the kagikit (the shredded chicken
toppings) so more customers can
enjoy it for its longer shelf life.
22 ASENSO KA!

For those who want to enjoy pastil any time, Pastil Queen’s kagikit is available in bottles as well.

As a graduate of Food Technology, done manually, so it is definitely was a just spur-of-the-moment idea
she has knowledge on how to a physically exhausting task. when she sought help from DTI.
maintain the quality of her product. Rovelyn says that she considers After that, she was able to join the
Along with her husband who is her biggest obstacle as a “good Kapatid Mentor ME and Brand
a mechanical engineer, and her problem.” Whenever they receive Equity Development programs.
parents who are adept at making a huge volume of orders, they have “I knew that those programs
pastil, she launched her pastil to work double-time since they lack were the push that I needed
kagikit-in-a-bottle. The easy-to-eat manpower. She has no problem with to start a business. Joining our
pastil just got more convenient. marketing her products, however, first exhibit was exactly what we
supplying the influx of orders needed to know how acceptable
“My target market are those can be quite challenging for them. our product is in the market.”
ordinary employees who are Still, she is thankful for all the Sure enough, their customers love
looking for a quick and easy meal. opportunities that came their way. the flavorful pastil kagikit. Some
The pastil kagikit is really a best- For her, everything has been too of them would even buy in bulk or
seller among workers and college swift for them to handle, but it is a visit them everyday to buy more.
students living in boarding houses.” challenge that she will gladly take on. Rovelyn never expected that people
would patronize their product, and
Thus, even if consumers eat Pastil Expanding the Business it was all thanks to the opportunities
Queen’s kagikit on a regular basis, Through DTI and support given by DTI.
they do not have to worry because For those who want to try their
it is healthy. Rovelyn proudly shares When asked how the Department best-selling pastil rice and pastil
that it has no preservatives or MSG. of Trade and Industry (DTI) kagikit, customers can place their
has helped her business, Rovelyn orders in advance. You have been
OBivgegrecsotmOinbgsttahceleirs expresses her utmost gratitude. She warned, though; once you start
notes that if not for DTI, the brand eating Pastil Queen’s products,
Although Pastil Queen has gained would never have been launched. you will have a hard time stopping.
a huge customer base already , they At first, she simply wanted to start a
are still struggling to meet the rising business but she had no idea what it
demand. Everything is manufactured should be. The idea of selling pastil
and packaged in their home by her
parents and a few assistants. Cooking
and shredding the chicken are all

23 ASENSO KA!

Simple
Ingredients,
Extraordinary

Flavor

Through Cacao & Beyotnhde, loowcanlerfaRrmeseiresFianitChoDmipcoosntecloamVbianlelseyh.er love for chocolates and Once you taste bean-to-
bar chocolates, there is
Different variants of the bean-to-bar chocolates offered by Cacao & Beyond. no turning back. You will
24 ASENSO KA! always remember the rich taste
of real chocolate sourced from
pure cacao beans. This is what
COMVAL Tropical Harvest aims
to promote – recognition for the
cacao industry in Compostela
Valley (now Davao de Oro).
Resie Faith Dicon, the CEO of the
company, believes in giving back
to the community. The company
started as a livelihood project
for the residents of Barangay
Antiquera, Nabunturan. The cacao
plantation is located at Maragusan,
which provided jobs for farmers in
the area. What started as a farm for
cacao growing and beans trading
slowly expanded to produce more
cacao-based products that they have
included in their production line.
Resie’s sweet tooth led her to create
Cacao & Beyond, the brand name
for her line of tablea, chocolate
drink, and artisan chocolates. She
never expected that her chocolate
business would become successful.
As sweet as it is, making chocolates
comes with several bitter challenges.
Yet her business prospered and she
was able to provide a livelihood to
several housewives in her community.

Aside from chocolates, they also offer tablea and cocoa powder.

A unique take on chocolate, the Chocolate Bites are truly a delight (and a best-seller).

“We started the tablea production 50% variant also comes in plain, One of the workers packaging their products.
to add value to our cacao products. Arabica coffee, almond, cashew, 25 ASENSO KA!
Eventually, we moved on to and cranberries. Marketing
chocolate-making. I was invited her products is one of Resie’s
to several chocolate-making goals, something that she is
workshops which gave me the currently working on. Because
knowledge that I needed to start it.” her production area needs to be
Unlike commercialized chocolates expanded, she cannot cater to a
that are loaded with artificial large volume of orders yet. Still,
sweeteners, Cacao & Beyond she is glad that the Kapatid Mentor
chocolates are healthy and ME program by the Department
contain less artificial sweeteners. of Trade and Industry has helped
All of the ingredients, except her achieve a few other goals.
for the cranberries, are sourced “Through our products, we are
locally in Compostela Valley. able to promote the cacao industry
Chocolate lovers can choose from in our region. Some Filipinos are
the following variants: 90% dark also promoting our products by
chocolate, 70% dark chocolate, bringing it abroad with them. It
and 50% dark chocolate. The makes me happy to know that they
are proud of what we have to offer.”

Cacao Culture Farm also produces soap from cocoa butter.

SCPURPLEHTAILUDIRIPNEPGIINNCEATSCHAEO

Longing to get away from Cocmoaadteeafrommintuhse thhueskgsuiolft. tThehecaircacoacbaeoantse.a is He says the idea came from their
the hustle of Metro Manila, interest to grow their own chocolate.
Kenneth and Shiela Reyes- Industry (DTI) that pointed them Their previous office-based jobs
Lao were only looking for a lifestyle in the direction of cacao farming. also urged them to “get their hands
change when they first came to dirty” and be more in touch with
Davao City. Nevertheless, when they “DTI told us that cacao was nature. Agriculture proved to be a
saw a cacao fruit for the first time, among the priority crops of completely different yet a fulfilling
they realized that it had the potential Davao. There were also trainings change of pace in their careers.
to become a thriving business. that were scheduled, so I attended
some of those. It was when we GPrroodwuincignganCdacao
From Tech to Agriculture saw a cacao for the first time when
I told my wife that we needed The three-hectare farm that they
For Kenneth and Shiela of Cacao to plant this,” Kenneth shares. are currently leasing in Gumalang,
Culture Farms, producing cacao- Calinan started as a cacao seedling
based products was an unexpected nursery for farmers and farm
path for both of them. Both of owners. Over time, the neighboring
them were tech entrepreneurs based farms started selling their cacao
in Manila when they realized that seedlings to them and they began
they wanted a change of scenery. producing cacao products from it.
After moving to Davao, they At present, Cacao Culture
searched for a business venture Farms is partnering with a
that they wanted to get into and family-owned company called
one of those was agriculture. AEMPLOM to produce tablea.
Cacao Culture provides the
Despite having no prior experience in cacao beans while AEMPLOM
the agriculture industry, their interest
and eagerness to start were there. It
was the Department of Trade and
26 ASENSO KA!

since not everyone has easy access
to it. And because Davao is the
chocolate capital of the country, they
have several competitors as well.
Fortunately, they are able to use
their experience on information
technology through social
media marketing strategies.
Their participation in the
Kapatid Mentor ME program
provided them with business
trainings and market exposure.

Two Steps to Success

Kenneth Lao proves that switching to an entirely different career and succeeding in it are possible. Diving into an entirely new career
is indeed possible, as seen in Cacao
is responsible for the machinery, Like any other business, Cacao Culture Farms. For those who want
labor, production, and packaging. Culture Farms encountered to start a business that is different
Aside from the traditional tablea, obstacles while still starting. from the career path they are on,
they also offer various cacao-based According to Kenneth, one of Kennethsays there areonlytwosteps.
products for sale. These include the major challenges they had was The first one is to do research. In this
cocoa powder, cacao nibs, cacao dealing with old farming practices digital age, all the needed information
and chocolate body soaps, cocoa and introducing new, efficient ones. is at the tips of our fingertips. The
butter, and cacao tea. Kenneth He also adds that global warming second one is to just do it. He says
says tea drinkers will definitely is truly making an impact in people are always waiting for the
appreciate the cacao tea which is agriculture. The drastically right time to do something, when
made from the shell of the beans. changing climate is already all they have to do is simply start.
affecting the harvest schedule, “I think we made the right choice
“It has a tea taste but with the cacao yield, and water supply. when we chose the cacao industry
aroma of hot chocolate. So, it’s In terms of production, they are also because we love it. We did not realize
like drinking hot chocolate without struggling with product distribution. that we loved it until we started doing
the guilt of consuming sugar.” They are still figuring out how to get it. Is it right for everybody? Maybe
the products closer to the customers not, because you really need to find
CChacaalloenIgnedsuisntrtyhe something that you love to do.”

A worker prepares the tablea in the molds. Cacao Culture supplies the beans while AEMPLOM is in charge of producing tablea.

27 ASENSO KA!

All-natural and affordable – Magvilla is known in Tagum for their creamy and delectable ice creams.

The Taste of
Sweet Success

From teenage sweethearbtsuitlot tahemirabruriseidnescosufrpolem, Vscriacttochri.ano and Villa Vicada K ids and kids-at-heart will
28 ASENSO KA! always light up at the
sight of a delicious tub
of ice cream. It is a dessert that is
always present during birthdays
and other celebrations. For couple
Victoriano and Villa Vicada,
making ice cream has always been
a part of their love story, which
then turned into a full-fledged
business when they got married.
Back when they were still teenage
sweethearts, Villa would always make
her delicious homemade ice cream
from scratch. Her then-boyfriend
Victoriano suggested that they sell
her ice cream since he has a stall

in Tagum’s Trade Center. In 2003, All of their ice cream flavors are helpful in their business journey.
they decided to name their brand made from real fresh fruit, giving Aside from joining the Kapatid
Magvilla, adding ‘Mag’ to Villa’s. it that genuine and creamy taste. Mentor ME program, they also
Although ice cream making was At present, they are offering eight participated in the Brand Equity
Villa’s forte, it was her husband flavors: chocolate, ube, cookies and Development program. These
who developed the ingredients and cream, carrot and lemon, helped them establish their brand
and flavors. Both of them worked avocado, mango, strawberry, and and improve their business model.
together, from hand-mixing the ice durian. During exhibits, they also It has been 16 years since Magvilla
cream to selling it. Soon, people produce limited edition flavors, started, and they are not slowing
started to recognize their product. such as squash, malunggay, down anytime soon. Villa says it
From producing, and then selling at lemongrass, and guyabano. was a long but worthwhile journey
their stall, Magvilla Ice Cream has “We realized that anything is
definitely gone a long way. They Aside from its delectable flavor, possible. There are times when we
currentlyhave40 consignmentstores Magvilla Ice Cream is much thought of giving up, but if you enjoy
selling their ice cream tubs. Their more affordable than most what you do, you will be successful.”
production area has also expanded popular ice cream brands as
to cater to their growing market, well. Anyone can enjoy their ice
since they now supply to areas in cream especially that it comes in a
Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro. variety of sizes and price ranges.
The Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) has also been

Magvilla is looking to expanfdorththeierirpircoedcurcetaimon. to cater the growing demand Where it all startefidrs–t stohlde tshtaeilrl iicne Tcrreaadme. Center where they

These workejrusstairne tbiumsey fworitdhutrhiaenicseeacrseoanm. production One of Magvilla’s best-selling mango ice cream.
29 ASENSO KA!

Tickling
Tummies and

Taste Buds

No meal is complete Owners Joshua apnrdodSuacrta, hCUHyIGpoAseSw. ith their flagship
without a dash of spice Hashpopwi cTausimngmtyhheiarsinbfeaenmotousncuhmileirgoaurslitcrasaduecfea.irs
and chili which tickle
the palate. In almost every Filipino
home, you are bound to find a bottle
of hot sauce or chili. For Joshua and
Sarah Uy, owners of Happi Tummy
Foodstuff, Inc., the high demand
for this flavor urged them to create
their flagship chili garlic sauce.
CHIGAS, derived from the words
‘chili garlic sauce’, is a premium
product made of chili oil, dried
pepper, and garlic. Its distinctive taste
and texture make it a quick favorite
among consumers who get to taste
it for the first time. With CHIGAS,
anyone can enjoy siomai, fried tofu,
or dumplings at home just like they
would at their favorite restaurant.
Joshua shares he was not really into
business as an undergraduate. His
degree was under the medical field,
which is totally different from what
CHIGAS is all about. However, he
tried his hand at selling processed
food products at the young age of
23. Little did he know, his humble
tocino, longganisa, ham, and
embutido would take him far in the
business world. As of today, some
of these food products are specially
manufactured for other companies.
Through the Kapatid Mentor

30 ASENSO KA!

With a variety of flavors, CHIGAS adds a kick of flavor and spice to any dish.

ME (KMME) program of the to widen their market and introduce pasta, and vegetables. It can also
Department of Trade and Industry their products to more consumers. be used in meat buns and even
(DTI), he was able to learn the ins Although they have come a long chocolate cakes, giving it that
and outs of the business. They way since they started, there were unique, sweet and spicy flavor.
were able to improve their business challenges that they had to overcome. Consumers will love it even more
model and correct some practices One of which is introducing a new since every bottle of CHIGAS
that they have been doing wrong. product to Filipino consumers. has provided job opportunities
DTI has also opened new doors He says educating consumers from farming to production. The
for them by letting them join trade on how to incorporate their chili freshly-picked chili peppers and
fairs and introducing their products garlic sauce into several dishes wild garlics are sourced from local
to the international market. is important. Once consumers farmers in Mindanao the company
“KMME encouraged us to really learned that CHIGAS is more is supporting. This is also one of
push harder into the market,” he says. than just a dip sauce for siomai, it Happi Tummy’s missions: to create
Joshua is now Happi Tummy’s was well-received in the market. more jobs through their products.
General Manager and is in charge Aside from dipping, this savory For chili sauce lovers out there,
of overseeing operations. On the sauce can be combined with food CHIGAS is available in different
other hand, her wife Sarah, is the in plenty of ways. CHIGAS makes variants: original, kalamansi,
company’s Sales and Marketing for an excellent seasoning when spicy dilis, and extra spicy.
Director. Together, they are aiming cooking meat, seafood, soup,

31 ASENSO KA!

Using a knife with their dexterous hands, these weavers can create high-quality woven products.

Weaving Wonders
with their Hands

Residing in the quaint barangay and food covers. Some of their NongWPoeladvoe,rsthAe hsseoacdiaotfionT.alogoy
of Talogoy, Malita, in Davao newest additions include hampers,
Occidental is a group of boxes, decors, and small tables.
Tagakaolo weavers known as the To create these made-to-order
Talogoy Weavers Association. products, they allot a few days in
Headed by Leopoldo Bancil, crafting each piece to perfection.
the association is made up of Their products are incredibly
25 members who are adept at beautiful and intricate that one
creating quality woven products of their constant buyers is Davao
patronized locally and abroad. City-based exporter Yvette’s Bags
and Beads Collection. Its owner,
Using nito vine which naturally Yvette Marie Celi, buys the trendy
grows in their area, the weavers have fashionable bags the weavers
created a stable livelihood out of their create. These are then added with
inherited tribal skills. Nong Poldo, as embellishments for their company’s
Bancil is known in the community, domestic and international markets.
shares that he first learned to She even trained the weavers herself
weave when he was in elementary. to expand their skills on producing
The talented weavers are able to different bag designs. The group
create high-quality woven products has a strong stream of buyers
such as plates, coasters, placemats,
32 ASENSO KA!

today, it must be noted though The weavers use nito grass which naturally grows around their area.
that weaving was not a promising
livelihood for them before. Giving Some of the talented weavers of Talogoy Weavers Association.
their products exposure to potential
buyers can be difficult, especially Some of Talogoy’s woven products: food covers, plates, and coasters.
that they live in a remote area. 33 ASENSO KA!
Nong Poldo recalls that before the
association was formed in 2016,
there were times when they had very
few orders, sometimes none at all.
“Kung naay order, makahimo mi.
Kung walay order, dili mi kahimo.
Kaning amoa, paningkamot lang
gyud ni.” (“If there are orders,
we will have something to make.
If there are none, we do not have
anything to make. This is purely
hard work and persistence.”)
Fortunately, the Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) has helped
this small association grow. They are
now registered and recognized by
DTI as a small business. By providing
them with trainings, programs,
materials (blowtorch, knives),
and development interventions,
the weavers have become
more productive and efficient.
DTI also promotes the association
by letting them join trade fairs and
festivals to gain customers and
insitutional buyers. Their products
are currently displayed in their
office, allowing customers to order
through DTI. Additionally, DTI
provides the weavers with new
designs and prototypes of woven
crafts so they can offer new products.
At present, Nong Poldo is passing
his weaving skills to the people in
his community, as well as to those
in Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental.
They conduct trainings for these
next generation of weavers in the
center donated by their barangay.
And although he admits that they
still require plenty of practice, small
progress is better than nothing.

DIRECTORY
OF OFFICIALS

DAVAO
REGION

REGIONAL OFFICE REGIONAL OFFICE

MARIA BELENDA Q. AMBI EDWIN O. BANQUERIGO
Regional Director Assistant Regional Director
Program Director, Rural Agro-Industrial
3/F Mintrade Bldg., Monteverde Ave. Partnership for Inclusive Development
corner Sales St., Davao City and Growth (RAPID Growth) Program
Landline Nos.: (082) 224-0511/222-1625 2/F Mintrade Bldg., Monteverde Ave.
Fax No.: (082) 221-4952 corner Sales St., Davao City
E-mail: [email protected] Landline Nos.: (082) 224-0511
Fax: (082) 221-4952
Email: [email protected]

DAVAO DEL NORTE DAVAO ORIENTAL

ROMEO L. CASTAÑAGA JUDE CONSTANTINE S. JAUGAN
Provincial Director, DTI-Davao del Norte Provincial Director, DTI-Davao Oriental
Government Center, Mankilam 2/F Valles Bldg., Rizal St.
Tagum City, Davao del Norte Mati City, Davao Oriental
Landline No.: (084) 216-2390 Landline No.: (087) 388-3735
Fax: (084) 216-3505 Fax: (087) 811-4072
E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

DAVAO CITY COMPOSTELLA VALLEY

RACHEL S. REMITIO LUCKY SIEGFRED M. BALLEQUE
Director, DTI-Davao City Provincial Director, DTI-Compostela Valley
Agoncillo St., Jienos Bldg., Poblacion
2/F Mintrade Bldg., Monteverde Ave. Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province
corner Sales St., Davao City Telefax: (084) 817-0023
Landline No.: (082) 224-0511 E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: (082) 225-4847
Email: [email protected]

DAVAO DEL SUR DAVAO OCCIDENTAL

DELIA M. AYANO MA. JOYCELYN F. BANLASAN
Provincial Director, DTI-Davao del Sur
2/F Medic Pharma Bldg. Program Office Manager, DTI-Davao Occidental
Corner Doña Aurora and Corregidor Sts. Door 2, Mutya & Matt Bldg.,
Digos City, Davao del Sur Geverola St., Poblacion
Telefax: (082) 553-2507 Malita, Davao Occidental
E-mail: [email protected] Mobile No.: (0917) 3112857
E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

DTIRegion11 www.dti.gov.ph/region11

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NEGOSYO CENTER

What is Negosyo Center?

It is a one-stop shop for services intended
to support existing and start – up small
businesses.
Its establishment is provided for in
Republic Act No.10644 (Go Negosyo Act)
authored by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam”
Aquino IV, and was signed into law on
July 15, 2014.
It provides an array of services categorized
into three major classifications:
a) business registration assistance
b) business advisory
c) business information and advocacy
It also conducts several training programs
to further develop MSMEs.

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