The sweet taste of bitter gold

Momordica Charantia Linn.

Sounds like some exotic writer of mystery novels, or a shadowy figure from some forgotten time and place–possibly Mata Hari’s sister or the long lost niece of Jack The Ripper.

Believe it or not, the name stands for something Filipinos are familiar with–the ever-faithful friend of pakbet fans: ampalaya or bittermelon.

Grace Galindez-Gupana, vice-president of marketing for ABS Herbs International Corp., saw the potential of this cross between a shriveled melon and a vegetable when she herself went through what she could only describe as a very bitter experience.

"I used to be a strong-headed businesswoman back in 1992, and a millionaire at the age of 21," Grace recalls. "I used to manage seven businesses. I would work day and night, and my business was my life. Then, at 33, I hit rock-bottom. All my businesses closed. My house was mortgaged, and I ended up with estafa cases left and right because of the loans I made in my businesses. I was so hard up, it came to a point I began selling squid balls at the Quezon City Hall grounds. It was a bitter time, and a great humbling experience for me."

But like all success stories, hitting rock bottom only added to the sweet taste of success that would, after three long, grueling years, finally come her way. A chance came for Grace to go to the States and begin a network of foundations there. Little did she know that what began as an innocent question would eventually open the door to a whole new beginning for this re-born entrepreneur.

"Grace, why don’t you find a way to bring malunggay and ampalaya to the States," her friends suggested. "We don’t have these vegetables here." A close American friend came up with the idea of bringing these vegetables to the States in capsule form. He also told Grace about his findings on the ampalaya and how it could effect blood cleansing.

It was interesting, she thought, but Grace found the whole business concept ludicrous at first. Besides, she was asked to visit the US to begin a network of foundations in the East Coast, not start a business. But, sensing an opportunity, she began researching and establishing contacts with concerned individuals and agencies.

"I am not a doctor of medicine, nor am I in any way or form involved with the practice or the manufacture of herbal medicine," Grace smilingly admits. "But I have a brother who is a doctor, and a sister who is a pharmacist. I began consulting them."

Grace admits it was not easy convincing her brother, Dr. Cirilo R. Galindez, about getting into herbal medicine, particularly the use of ampalaya. He was reluctant and skeptical, but not hostile, towards the idea. Grace was "interrogated" by her brother about ampalaya, herbal medicine, its efficacy, possible side effects, probable dangers, etc. Since she was not a doctor, her first challenge was to find out more about what she was getting into. Grace started a series of consultations with local folks and with her American friend. However, things did not proceed as planned.

Her American friend left without saying a word, but Grace was convinced enough about this new venture she started it up on her own. To make this fairy tale short, what began as an outlandish idea offered new hope for many people, but more so for Grace who now looks at the bitter side of life with a new perspective.

"I never thought the demand for our products, especially the Charagen Ampalaya and ABS Bitter Herbs capsules, would grow to such an intensity and level that we would be known worldwide," Grace perks up. "My brother now agrees with me. And I owe all these blessings to God."

To ensure the quality of the product, Grace personally looks into the production of every capsule. The 350 mg Charagen Ampalaya capsule is a diabetic herbal supplement, proven to lower blood sugar when taken as a suplement to regular medication. It has been approved and certified by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (bfad).

"Ampalaya is rich in iron, calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin B," Grace relates. "In Puerto Rico and Cuba, it is being used to help alleviate diabetes. Ampalaya also has twice the amount of beta carotene in broccoli, and twice the calcium found in spinach. This very bitter vegetable is, by all standards, a potent health food."

The ABS Bitter Herbs capsule contains extracts of seven potent ingredients: ampalaya, andrographis paniculata (called the king of bitters), turmeric (luyang dilaw), peppermint, malunggay, saluyot and lagundi. Most of these herbs are used individually to treat various illnesses. Regular users testify to lower sugar and cholesterol levels,. Other claimed benefits include increased stamina, cleansing of toxic deposits in the body, strengthened immune system and improved metabolism.

With such commitment to quality, it is not surprising that the Parangal ng Bayan Awards Foundation and the National Consumers Council conferred on her products the National Consumers Excellence Award as the Most Outstanding Herbal Based Product recently. No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the honorary guest. The capsules were likewise exhibited as the only Filipino product accepted in the recent Herbal Expo 2001 held at Anaheim, California.

"We are not introducing a new drug. We do not intend to replace medications for diabetes that are now widely used. Our products act as a potent food supplement to strengthen and support current conventional therapies for diabetic patients. We have built a whole range of clients–from ordinary persons to movie stars who use our products. Senator Juan Flavier has supported our cause through the years. From their testimonies alone, we know our product can help patients. That’s all we want to do–to help and support what is already there," Grace concludes.