US-based therapists came home to start own business

CEBU, Philippines - For 12 years, Cebuano Terence Neil Padrique and his wife lived and worked as physical therapists in the United States.

Not until last year when both of them decided to move back home in Cebu for good.

They then wanted to start a business here.

They thought they would not be able to sustain their job as physical therapists especially when they reach the age of 50 considering that their patients are elderly citizens there.

Padrique, 38, from Mandaue City, now manages their own business called The Lemon Co. which sells fresh lemonade juice.

Padrique was among the 26 small entrepreneurs in Cebu that went through the mentoring program of the Go Negosyo, Department of Trade and Industry and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

They recently graduated from the 12-week mentoring sessions.

Having been an employee for more than a decade and being a newbie in business, the entrepreneurial mentoring program was key for Padrique to know more about how the business environment works, among other things.

He's new in business that's why he's still trying to understand everything about the industry.

But of all types of enterprises, why the lemonade juice?

Padrique shared he has always been an avid juice drinker.

The idea of the lemonade business also stemmed from his being hyperacidic, he continued.

He said his father would always advise him to take fresh lemonade juice to prevent hyperacidity, which he said was actually effective. 

From then on, lemonade juice became his remedy.

So it was not hard for him to think of a business idea when he decided to become an entrepreneur.

Since August last year when The Lemon Co. started, the fresh juice seller now has six stalls located in SM City Cebu, SM Seaside, Metro Ayala (2 stalls), Rustan’s Ayala and Rustan’s Oakridge.

He also has a stall at the night market in Vivo place along Escario Street.

Padrique said they had spent P500,000 to start the business.

He shared they had to sell everything they had in the US to be able to have such capital.

The newbie entrepreneur is looking to put up more stalls in malls and universities as his second target.

When asked about franchising the business, he noted he's open to it.

But he said they're focused now on expanding the juice business on their own as much as they can.

"Our business concept can be duplicated so we were left with no option but to expand right away," he said. (FREEMAN)