Inspiring Davaoeño negosyantes

MANILA, Philippines - At the age of eight, Myrna Padilla would dive to depths of 10 to 15 feet, gathering shellfish and seaweed. Whatever she earned, she shared with her mother and saved a little for paper and pencil for school.

Hard work and sacrifice are words that are not new to Myrna, the eldest of the six children of a fisherman and a housewife.

She worked as a domestic helper overseas for 15 years, returning home to undergo throat and thyroid surgery.

She stayed for good, eventually starting her own business. She is founder and president of Mynd Consulting and Management Services, a major player in the BPO industry in Mindanao.

Myrna is one of nine small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) who will be recognized at the Go Negosyo sa Davao Caravan on Dec. 4 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Convention Hall in Davao City.

Go Negosyo will honor the “Most Inspiring Davaoeño Entrepreneurs” who excel in business, and are role models who serve the local community and provide employment in the area.

Engr. Remegio Salanatin’s father worked as a panday, sustaining a family of 10 children. When he was in grade school, Remegio already lived on his own, working his way through school to finish a degree in engineering. Remegio placed second in the Civil Engineering board exams.

A year after graduation, he started R.G. Salanatin Construction, is currently on top of numerous projects covering commercial and industrial buildings and infrastructure.

ABFI Inc. is the poultry business that Jonathan Suy’s father entrusted to him. It used to be a contract breeder and hatchery for a major corporation. When Jonathan realized the partnership was not profitable anymore, he decided to strike out on their own.

Now, their business supplies chicken to all major supermarkets in Mindanao. Jonathan also has a paper recycling business, Jomaray Pulp Packing Industries, which manufactures environment-friendly packaging materials for agricultural and food products and industrial accessories. This supports the campaign for a clean and green environment, and provides income opportunities for garbage collectors and households in the area.

Loreta Baroro is general manager of the Philippine Diesel Calibration Cooperative, the first of its kind in the Philippines which started with 16 members under the leadership of Loreta. They used to work for a calibration company, but as the members retired, they decided to start the cooperative. After five years, their assets have reached P7 million.

Katakus Foundation started as a development institute for unemployed women in farms and households. With financial assistance worth P5,000 and mentorship from DEVLINK, a non-government organization producing handmade paper, the foundation focused on making quality handmade paper and paper crafts. Under the leadership of executive director Betty More, the foundation was able to explore the use of durian husks as raw materials. The foundation continues to equip their beneficiaries with the right tools to make them more self-sufficient.

Manuel Paul Villanueva was preparing to be a doctor like his father and grandfather when he explored his passion in entrepreneurship. He put up food businesses during college, waking up early, preparing materials and goods for delivery, and collecting profit. The business is now a reputable restaurant. Banoks (short for barbequeng manok) is popular for superbly marinated chicken barbeque.

Ferdinand Marañon loves to travel and to innovate. Born to a family of sugar farmers, he retired from his work as a marketing manager and went into sugar farming. When a friend offered a plan to set up a trading company, he accepted it. Presently, Sagrex Foods Inc. processes and exports high quality food products made from fresh Philippine native bananas.

Ricardo Talaboc was a math teacher for over 17 years. Tinkering with materials for constructing his home led to Woodworks Kiln-Dried Furniture, which was just a sideline but by 2001, he decided to go full-time and diligently studied how to improve his products. With the support of government agencies like the Department of Science and Technology, Ricardo elevated his business classification from micro to small scale, and is now considered an expert in his field, providing advice for other entrepreneurs in the furniture industry.

Multi-awarded orchid grower Salvacion Leuenberger is known throughout Davao. Before she found her true calling in growing orchids, she worked as an accountant. Salvacion took a course in basic orchid growing and started her hobby. Today, her SUL Orchid farm in Tugbok is a 12-hectare property growing a wide range of orchid varieties.