The sweet life for Cabalens

Even before the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, PASUDECO, a company involved in harnessing sugar milling and refinery requirements, existed as a moneymaking operation. Established in 1921 by sugar planters of the province, PASUDECO stood to become an enduring symbol in the Pampanga sugar industry.

Initiating a sugar mill co-owned by the planters themselves and not by one monopolistic family or corporation, Jose de Leon Sr., locally known as Don Pitong, pushed PASUDECO’s groundbreaking vision of sharing their hard-earned success with their kababayans who have painstakingly helped them achieve their goals.

Other than its milling operations, the company was founded on the vast sugar and rice land holdings of its owners.

The calamity of 1991 may have spelled the end of the company but its owners, who were well respected in the sugar industry, remained firm in their vision, and had in fact maneuvered their company out of its dark days.

After successfully rehabilitating the PASUDECO sugar mill in the mid-’90s, Michael Escaler started the tactical diversification that would further reinforce their core sugar business. He pursued the leasing of immense tracts of sugar land which had been abandoned by CARP farmer beneficiaries who did not have   adequate funds. Escaler also set up a second modern sugar mill in the town of Porac.

Cristino Panlilio, on the other hand, made the PASUDECO Group trek the unfamiliar territories of non-sugar industries. In 1997, the group acquired the Balibago Waterworks System Inc. (BWSI) which services the water requirements of Balibago, Angeles, Pampanga. From a single branch, BWSI is now in 25 towns, mostly in Central and Northern Luzon, serving customers in its franchise areas through an extensive system of deep wells and water pipelines.

In 2003, the PASUDECO Group co-pioneered the first environmentally-sound and world-class landfill in the country. Known as the Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC), this five-hectare plastic-sheeted landfill takes on both treated hazardous wastes and domestic garbage from communities located near the Clark Ecozone in Pampanga and Tarlac.

The duo then went on to expand their company, touching on several other industries such as business process outsourcing and even electricity distribution.

Throughout its existence, the PASUDECO Group never lost faith in the province it has regarded as home. Despite adversities, the group has managed to stand tall, facing its challenges head on and pushing more livelihood for their kababayans.

Because of this, Escaler and Panlilio will be honored by President Arroyo and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as among Pampanga’s Inspiring Entrepreneurs. An award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, this recognition will be among the highlights Go Negosyo sa Pampanga slated on Oct. 8, 2007 at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando.

Go Negosyo sa Pampanga is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions to key cities in the country. The Caravan has already visited Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, and Manila.

Go Negosyo sa Pampanga is presented by Philippine Airlines, Pagcor, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, Philippine Trade and Training Center, DTI-OTOP, and RFM Corp. Other partners of the event include The Philippine STAR, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corp., The Master’s Lighthouse Foundation, and Full Circle Communications.