Citi awards outstanding Filipino micro-entrepreneurs

Dreams do come true to those who work hard, while they dream.”

This old adage rings true for Enrico Fojas of Bulacan, a family man who would do everything to earn enough money to put food on the table, send his kids to school, and give his wife the good life she deserves — even if it meant being away from them to work as a caregiver overseas.

“There was nothing going for us in the province; our small sari-sari store wasn’t doing well. My last option was to work abroad to ensure my kids’ future. Well, that’s what I thought,” relates Enrico.

When Enrico’s brother learned about his plan, he offered to help him revive the  family business — an animal feed mill. Enrico took the offer and applied for a  P5,000 loan from the Urban Program for Livelihood Finance and Training or UPLiFT Philippines, a micro lender in Bulacan,  which also provides training and seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs.

With that small amount, sheer determination, perseverance and hard work, Enrico  put up Cookie Mill Feeds, an animal feeds mill which recycles stale breads collected from bakeries in Hagonoy, Bulacan — that would otherwise have been thrown away — into non-toxic, high-protein animal feeds. Enrico distributes the animal feeds to small-scale farmers, livestock and poultry growers.

“At first, I did everything — collecting the stale breads from the neighborhood bakeries, let them dry in the backyard before milling — all by myself. But when the demands grew, I decided to get some help,” relates Enrico.

There ain’t no rest for the hardworking, indeed, as Enrico managed to transform a small animal feeds venture into a million-peso business and create jobs for some of his relatives and other people in his community.

“Through the cookie mill, I managed to provide not only for my family, but for my employees’ families as well. The secret to a successful business is not just patience, determination, and hard work. We must also love our employees who work as hard as we do to help sustain and improve our livelihood,” Enrico asserts.

Enrico’s feat was recognized by Citi Foundation, Bangko Sentral, and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines during the recent Citi Micro Entrepreneurship Awards (CMA) held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. This nationwide search recognizes outstanding Filipino micro-entrepreneurs with an asset size of P300,000 to P3 million.

Enrico is the 2013 winner, chosen among 107 nominees from 23 participating microfinance institutions. He received a trophy, P200,000 in cash, a laptop, and insurance policy as prizes.

Joining Enrico in the elite seven circle are Marylyn Cleto, a former overseas worker who came home and used her meager savings to start a soft brooms (walis tambo) manufacturing business (CMA Luzon); Regina Paller, a former victim of typhoon Frank in 2008, who set up Ken-Ken Diner that serves freshly shucked oysters in Passi City, Iloilo (CMA Visayas); Necy Ann Ty who established Higher Ground, a store that caters to the mountaineering market in Davao City (CMA Mindanao); Rosario Caparas who introduced new variants of flavored butchi (glutinous rice) in Laguna (Special Award for Innovation); Maria Guidella Agrabio for transforming a three-hectare plot of farmland in Negros Occidental into a thriving agri-business that sells sugarcane while providing livelihood for 50 farmers (Special Award for Agri Micro-Business); and Jennilyn Antonio, a CMA Award winner in 2006, who grew a backyard peanut butter-making business into a P30-million enterprise.

Winners were chosen by the National Selection Committee jointly chaired by BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. and Batara Sianturi, chief executive officer of Citi Philippines, with members Marixi Rufino-Prieto, chair,  Philippine Daily Inquirer; Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president, Ayala Corporation; Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III, president and CEO, RFM corporation; Felipe L. Gozon, chair and CEO, GMA Network Inc.; Antonio L. Alindogan, Jr., director, Philippine Airlines; Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and chief operating officer, Robinsons Retail Group; and Dr. Darwin D. Yu, associate professor, Ateneo de Manila University-John Gokongwei School of Management.

“Our micro-entrepreneurs have developed a culture of sharing in words and in deeds. They inspire others who aspire to better their lives through microfinance. Across our country, they prove that humble beginnings can lead to success beyond their dreams and sometimes even beyond our borders,” says BSP Governor Armando M. Tetangco Jr. during the award ceremony.

Through hard work and perseverance, Enrico’s dream is now a reality.