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BOAC, MARINDUQUE—Being one of the most flexible and best adaptors under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), the Tanikala ng Pagkakaisa Multi-Purpose Cooperative got the first place for the 2014 Best Technopreneur under the Non-Core Category and took home P30, 000.

DOST MIMAROPA’s Non-Core Category for Best Technopreneur acknowledges micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises that improved their business productivity, profitability, employment, and over-all contribution to the regional economy through science and technology. The award targets MSMEs in the region assisted through the Regional Grants-In-Aid (GIA) funds and other DOST assistance programs.

According to Pacifico Mabato, Head of the Cooperative, they started their cooperative in 2006 when the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) introduced abaca farming in Boac, Marinduque. They started with just 35 members but after two weeks they became 70. Now they already have 735 members.

Once abaca farming became stable in the area, DAR came back to assist them in the processing of abacas. It was 2007 when the Cooperative came up with the livelihood project of utilizing abaca fibers.

Quezon City, Metro Manila— Regardless of the season or the occasion, we find it quite a challenge to come up with unique and quirky gift ideas.

Putting an affordable yet recyclable twist to the usual gift goodies is a concept that couple Angelo Angustia and Khriztina Lim wanted to explore as a potential business venture.

Canned Goods started out as an option for those who find wrapping gifts a taxing chore to do  especially during the Christmas season.

“We thought of an alternative way of wrapping gifts. Then Khriz thought about putting it inside a can so it’s actually sealed,” Gelo explains.

Inside each can is a random novelty item that ranges from yo-yos, stress balls and miniature toy figures to paper clips, crayons and even teddy bears.

A graphic artist by profession, Gelo designs the labels which indicate a hint of what to expect inside each can.

DAVAO CITY, MINDANAO—Malagos Agri-Ventures Corporation is a member of the Puentespina Group of companies and makers of the Malagos Chocolate, a single origin chocolate made from fermented cocoa beans.

Puentespina Group of companies is well-known for growing flowers, plants, fruits, and vegetables that were thought impossible to plant. They are not just popular in Davao region but also in Metro Manila.

Puentespina Farm is managed by Charita and her sons Bo and Rex. Bo is a veterinarian who dedicated his service to help save the Philippine eagle; Rex and his mother went on to become farmers.

At the farm, they nurture different kinds of animals and plants and are producing different products such as gourmet cheese by Olive Puentespina, wife of Dr. Bo.

In 2003, Charita Puentespina decided to grow cacao beans in her backyard farm. When the trees bore fruits, she harvested the cacao pods to make tablea or rolled chocolate tablets. Despite the availability of technologies that can produce tablea easier, she decided to make theirs produced in the traditional way by roasting the beans with firewood, grinding the roasted beans using a fabricated grinder, and molding them using round tables.

Since then they were exporting their cacao pods and tablea in different countries such as the United States. In 2007, a cocoa sustainability team from the makers of M&M’s approached Puentespina to set up the Mars Cocoa Development Center in their farm. Now, part of the farm is a laboratory for farmers to learn basic agricultural practices on the production of cocoa.

TAGUIG CITY, METRO MANILA— When Mano Amiga was established, the social enterprise needed a way to augment and sustain its scholarship fund. Bistro 3846, a social enterprise established by Eleanor Pinugu was established as a food and catering business that offers healthy meal plans for the students of Everest Academy, the international non-government organization that is partnered with Mano Amiga.

Everest Academy accepted the challenge to host the initial site of Bistro 3846. Head Chef Amelia de los Reyes Alba, also the General Manager, developed a menu featuring student’s favorite meals that are prepared in healthy ways.

They would feature different meal plans for students to follow every day. Everyone would have to follow the meal plan unless a kid has allergies. In that case, a kid could be given another food item.

“The focus of Bistro 3846 is to provide school children with age-appropriate and nutritious lunch meals. The comprehensive nutrition program will help inculcate healthy eating habits that would provide nourishment, facilitate proper development, and promote environmental awareness and concern. All of its profit goes to the scholarship fund of Mano Amiga Academy, Inc.,”Pinugu, the co-founder of Mano Amiga Academy, Inc., a non-profit school aims to uplift the quality of education for the marginalized families at FTI complex, said.

Because of the nature of their campaign for underprivileged students, Bistro 3846 also hired some of the parents of the students being supported by Mano Amiga. The parents would work during catering activities with the revenues going to fund their children’s education. In doing so, the bistro is supporting both the parents and their children.

PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA—At the recent Agri-Negosyo Summit of Go Negosyo, Secretary Francis Pangilinan of the Presidential Consultant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization encouraged Filipinos to invest in the agriculture industry.

Go Negosyo Agri-Negosyo Summit (GNAS) aimed to present various business models from farming, fishing, and animal rising. The event recognized inspiring agricultural entrepreneurs oragripreneurs who have significantly contributed to their communities’ development.

According to a research, almost 12 million Filipinos or 60% of the population work in the agricultural sector. Yet agricultural products made up only 8.3% of total Philippine commodity exports and the country’s agricultural exports were the smallest of the five members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with only 5.4%, next to Singapore with 10.1%.

Secretary Pangilinan stated that Filipinos should embrace agriculture because Philippines is an agricultural country. He also said that if someone wanted to succeed, they have to delve into agri-business.

“Agri-businesses especially farming could take two to four years before it becomes profitable. It is a very risky investment but once the time comes that you’re going to harvest your products, your hardships would suddenly become worth it,” he said.

He cited one of the awardees for his exemplary goal to make an eco-tourism farm, which was later realized for his farm, was recognized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as the first agri-tourism destination.

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—For Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camille Meloto, founders of Human Nature, endeavoring in social enterprises is the best way help in uplifting those in the poorest sector of society.

Anna and Camille are following in the footsteps of their father, the founder of Gawad Kalinga Tony Meloto. While some might think their dad’s work is a tough act to follow, the children know that there’s no reason to compete with their dad. It’s simply to take pride in what he’s done and to continue the work he’s done.

And so, in 2008, the Meloto sisters opened Human Nature, a shop that sells environment-friendly beauty and wellness products. It is a social enterprise wherein they aim to serve social needs. In the same vein as their father’s work, they started Human Nature as a means of building collaboration and mutual support among various socio-economic groups.

True to their tagline, “Pro-Poor, Pro-Environment, and Pro-Philippines,” Human Nature makes products that are environmentally-friendly, sourced locally, and made by the people who are part of Gawad Kalinga’s projects.

Some of their products include soaps, shampoos, facial washes, feminine washes, moisturizers, and makeups. They even have pet care products. The sisters also noted that their products are hypoallergenic.

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA— Among various collectibles, few are as unconventional to collect as knives. For Nino Lopez and Wacky Gochoco, the co-proprietors of eXOtic Custom Knives & Tools (XO Knives), knife collecting is a unique hobby that they anticipate would grow in popularity.

XO Knives is among the few specialty knife shops that feature custom-made knives and limited editions brands like Benchmade, Warren Thomas, P.M. Parris, Mark Terrell, Pat and Wes Crawford, Bob Loveless, and other known knife makers.

“I started collecting knives after my stepfather gave me a Benchmade, Buck, Loveless, and a Crawford. I still have these knives and my collection has grown into a business,” Lopez shared.

But before Lopez put up his specialty knife business he was working on a different industry; he was a site chef at an oil company based in Prudhose Bay Alaska, located at about 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

After his tour-of-duty in one of the most remote places on earth, in November 2009, he decided to open his business in the Philippines. That was when he met Gochoco, an electronics communications engineer at that time. Both discovered they had the same interests and fascination with knives, sheaths, holsters, and Kydex, a type of thermoplastic material used as handles for knives.

“It all started when I couldn’t carry a knife in a way I wanted to,” Gochoco said. According to him, there are different ways of carrying a knife just like guns. It would depend on the size of your palms and other considerations.

XO Knives specializes in custom-made knives made of Damascus steel and 1911 grips. New services include customized Kydex solutions for firearms, knives, and tools. Professional knife sharpening, maintenance, and restoration services are also available.

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—Mad for Pizza is the newest addition to the list of specialty pizza joints in the metro. It isn’t just because of its cozy place and 90s ambiance but also because of their “toppings all you want” pizza menu.

Justin Chua, a 21-year-old entrepreneur put up his very first business together with Cyril Reyes at Il Terrazo, Tomas Morato. According to Chua, they decided to open Mad for Pizza to cater to the more adventurous pizza lover who wants to explore how it would taste like with all the toppings he wants, while maintaining value for money.

By offering pizza laden with unlimited amounts of toppings, pizza lovers can bring in their friends, family members, and colleagues to experiment with different flavors without breaking their budget.

“Actually if you look at our menu, our ‘Create Your Own Pizza’ offer is only P280. And that P280 is not just for one person but for two to three persons, and that’s real value for money,” Chua said.

Justin’s Favorite is one of the staple orders in their “Create your Own Pizza” menu. Aside from this anyone can pick their favorite dough from four choices such as Classic, Herb, Garlic, and Spinach Dough. They can choose their own sauce from four different types such as House Pizza Sauce, Roasted Garlic Alfredo, Fra Diablo, and BBQ Sauce. As for the toppings, they offer at least 24 types.