Winning Taste of "Ibos-Tinambiran" in Oroquieta City

From "sikad-sikad" and motorcab, now she already bought a multicab to meet her orders that counts from 1,000 to 1,500 "ibos-tinambiran" everyday.

by:  Archie S. Ajias

OROQUIETA City --  After thorough evaluation from the technical working group (TWG) of Microfinance Council of the Philippines, the maker of "ibos-tinambiran" in Oroquieta City becomes the semi-finalist in the "Search for 2009 Outstanding Micro-Entrepreneur of the Year."

It represents Northwestern Mindanao, leaving behind  hundred other entrepreneurs in the region.

Dionesia de la Peña, owner of the business, is the nominee of Paglaum Multipurpose Cooperative for the search.

Members of the TWG coming from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Citi Group of Companies, and representatives from the council came to the province last week to personally meet De la Peña in order to listen to her story and savour the taste of her product, being part of the screening process.

"Manghinaot ta nga mogawas siya nga mananaog, pero bisan og dili siya makadaog sa national, daog na siya daan sa atong probinsya.  Kini nagpakita nga naa gud diay paglambo kung magkugi ang tawo," Paglaum General Manager Gadwin Handumon said.

"Ok na man 'yong performance ni Aling Dionesia, may good story naman siya, good product at least may chance," said Eduardo Garcia, representing the council, when asked about the result of their evaluation.

Winner in the regional level will receive P100,000.00; while the chosen outstanding micro entrepreneur of the year will receive P200,000.00.  Both to be given during the awarding and recognition ceremony to be held at the Metropolitan Museum in Manila on November 18, 2009.

De la Peña was a former sidewalk vendor selling fried banana, hot cake, juice, and other chicheria near the Stella Maris College in Oroquieta City, but was forced to stop in 1978 because the school management cleared their posts.  Not being discouraged, she borrowed instead a small capital from the Paglaum Multipurpose Cooperative, to start a new small business of making a native delicacy, the "ibos-tinambiran," to be able to support the needs of her family.

From then on, her business slowly grows, until she was able to buy a "sikad-sikad" (bicycle mounted with a side car) to deliver the products to her patrons.  Due to increasing order of her "ibos", she replaced the "sikad-sikad" to motorcab in order to carry more of her products and at the same time, deliver them faster.

"Ayohon pagdala ang bisan unsang negosyo nga imong sudlan, ubayi kanunay og pag-ampo; ayohon sa pagtagad ang mga suki, dili moro-morohan, magdaginot, dili makurat sa kuwarta; kung mangutang ug dugang puhonan, bayran aron maka-utro; ug dili usbon ang timplada sa imong produkto, bahala'g magkinaunsa ang presyo sa ingredients," De la Pena shared here secrets.

From "sikad-sikad" and motorcab, now she already bought a multicab to meet her orders that counts from 1,000 to 1,500 "ibos-tinambiran" everyday.

Finally, De la Pena said that she is also proud that from a humble beginning, her small business has grown, enabling her to feed, clothe, and educate her children.