Feature: A Ray of Sunshine

(Formula of Litang’s culinary success)

“Litang’s Barbecue” has always been associated with weekend dips in the beaches of Talisay.

The establishment has become a common stopover for beachgoers who would want sumptuous chicken barbecue added to a bevy of dishes prepared for a shared meal while enjoying the sand, surf, sky and sea.

Manolita “Litang” Abarquez, blessed with a happy and fruitful partnership with Nening, said that despite society’s treatment to lady men like her, she is proud of being born that way.

She calls her personality a gift as this has enabled her to get through the hardest part of her younger years when she and her other siblings had to work instead of studying full time.

She said her father was a “kutsero”, while her mother was a dressmaker whose earnings sometimes complemented her father’s income.

She narrated that her sisters started young as house helps while an elder brother worked as a welder at a docking area in Mactan in a bid to survive the hard times. Unfortunately, her brother, at 22, got electrocuted while at work.

From weighing scraps to sanding wood, learning shell crafts, to fetching water, marketing at the Carbon Public Market for a fee, and doing domestic chores – these were among the numerous odd jobs Litang went through to be able to finish high school.

Later on, Litang worked at a newly opened barbecue stand where she met Nening she never expected to one day become not only as her business partner, but a woman she shared a romantic relationship with.

When Litang decided to start her own barbecue business, saying she wants to be on her own, Nening decided to be with her against all odds.

“Didto mi nagsugod. Naa man niya ang talent. Naa pod ko’y guts. Kini maoy nahimong foundation sa pagsugod namo sa among gamay’ng negosyo,” Litang said.

After a month of planning, the couple opened their makeshift barbecue stall on June 11, 1977 near the old Pardo Public Market. There was only one table, two bangketos, and a kerosene lamp to light the table.

The initial capital was P325. The amount enabled them to buy 10 kilos of pork meat, five kilos of chorizo, five kilos of chicken, two cases of softdrinks and ingredients for their barbecue recipe.

When daily sales fluctuated from earning to losing after a week, Litang decided to quit operations and even drove Nening away because of an “unsecured future with her.”

But Nening, according to her, remained steadfast and determined. Did not leave her and even encouraged her to go on as that’s how businesses normally run.

After operating for a month, Litang discovered the flaw that caused all of the trouble. She found out that the meat vendor from where she got her meat supply deceived her by using a defective weighing scale.

So Litang looked for another meat vendor and informed him right away of her predicament with the previous meat trader.

“Sultihan gyod nako siya’s tinood. Kay sa pangwarta, maayo nang makuha namo ang balor eksakto gyod sa unsa’y among gibayad. Way tikas,” Litang said.

Back to square one, the couple opened their stall at the same location. Soon, their barbecue became popular and their wares were all sold in most of the days.

Then came a time when there was already the need to own a refrigerator in order to stock few of the wares left on days with low sales.

“Lisod ang pagpanguta adto nga time. Wala pa ko’y pangalan. Daghang kuti. Pero salamat sa Ginoo, nakautang ra gyod ko,” Litang said.

Within a year, the refrigerator was fully paid by the proceeds of the nightly scrapping of softdrink bottle caps.

The means of transporting barbecue from their house to the market also developed from mere wooden pushcart to later on hiring a tricycle, purchasing a motorcycle, and then acquiring a jeep.

As she didn’t have much idea about vehicles, Litang was tricked into buying a second-hand motorcycle. She later learned that it was a smuggled vehicle. So they had to purchase a brand new motorcycle they religiously paid in installment basis.

She was later on introduced to the Chinese owner of Pete’s Kitchenette who allowed her to choose the chicken meat she would want to sell.

“Sa una man god dili man ko papilion sa akong komprahanan. Nya mamili man gyod ko kay naa may tubigon. Kasagaran man god injectionan man na nila aron mobug-at ang timbang,” she disclosed.

Litang earned the trust of the Chinese who offered to lend her money so she could buy a jeep. Trust, she said, is the very core in the success of her business.

Because of trust, she obtained credit lines for her refrigerator, motorcycle, jeepney and even in the purchase of the 500-sq. m. lot where Litang’s and Nening’s home now stands.

“Maayo gani ka mobayad, ang utang na ang mogukod nimo,” Litang said.

Today, Litang’s and Nening’s business continues to prosper, helping several lives. In barely a decade of operations, Litang was able to build a house for her parents and helped in the studies of several nephews, nieces and even sons and daughters of their employees. They now have 20 helpers all staying with them in their house like a family.

Litang was able to open another branch in Kinasang-an. But Litang said that would be the only branch. She is not solved to the idea of opening many branches as this would “lose the essence and genuineness of the original recipe.”

“Lisod na bantayan ang daghan, personal man gyod kang moatiman; ako sa Kinasang-an, si Nening dire sa simbahan,” she said.

Looking back at what she and Nening had been through, Litang said they have been very blessed.

“Lisod baya himoong normal ang abnormal parehas nako; nya dili baya gyod ni normal among relasyon ni Nening. Pero nakaya namo,” she said.

When asked of her formula for her success in this culinary endeavor, Litang said, “magnegosyo gani, dili gyod na dad-on ang problema sa balay o personalon kay mayabo gyod.” — /MEEV