From best buddies to business partners

MANILA, Philippines - For most women, friendships are all about shopping, going to spas together and gossiping over a cup of coffee.  Sleepovers are a must while doing a chic-flick marathon and checking each other’s closet. 

But best buddies Mary Ann Therese F. Menchavez and Vanessa Lanceta-Co, both Ilonggas by heart, have redefined girl-to-girl bonding to a higher level.  They have taken their friendship to a higher notch in pursuit of a higher calling.

Mary Ann and Vanessa have also become business partners and educators after they opened the first franchise outlet of CMA Mental Arithmetic Inc. in Iloilo strategically located at the 2nd floor of CBI Bldg., Diversion Road corner Esplanade, Mandurriao in Iloilo City in February.

CMA Mental Arithmetic Inc., the international leader in abacus mental arithmetic education, specializes in two- hand, four-finger method of teaching abacus mental arithmetic with its “total brain development” concept program that unleashes a child’s maximum mental potential.  

The center, managed by a team of highly experienced educators and professionals with proven and tested teaching system and curriculum for over 30 years, is present in more than 20 countries abroad and has 10 franchised branches in the country today.  It caters to both kids and adults from 3 to 83.

With their kids attending the same school at Ateneo de Iloilo, Vanessa says she and Mary Ann were always together. They also share common interest in Math because their kids are open paired in Math competitions.

And so when they first got wind of CMA’s system of teaching and the wonders it can produce in the children’s mathematical skills, they immediately became interested in becoming CMA franchisees.

“I saw CMA on the Internet first. And then during the Franchise Expo in Iloilo last year, I saw CMA again.  I got curious and I inquired thrice,” 39-year-old Mary Ann, who single handedly raised her two kids – aged 13 and 7 – very well, narrates.

She explains when she saw the potential, she started looking for a possible partner. And Vanessa came to her mind.

“She told me ‘I can’t do this by myself.’ So she offered me the partnership,” Vanessa recalls. “She had me watch the Youtube videos and I got amazed.  I called my husband immediately and he liked it as well.”

Fortunately, Vanessa’s family owns a building, which immediately became a candidate for an ideal location for their business. “CMA was very particular with the location.  We had Teacher Anthony (CMA Mental Arithmetic Inc. president and CEO Anthony Esguerra, the master franchise holder in the Philippines) look at the location and before he went back to Manila, it was approved,” enthuses Mary Ann. 

Moreover, Vanessa and Mary Ann – who have been friends since their high school days at the former Sta. Maria Catholic School, now Ateneo de Iloilo – showed that they are really serious and eager in acquiring the franchise deal, making it easier for the CMA management to approve their application.

With that, Mary Ann who took up Business Administration and Vanessa who had Commerce education but opted to be devoted and “stage” mothers to their math wizard kids, were transformed into entrepreneurs and educators with the opening of CMA Iloilo.

“I am a hands-on mom, never got employed since I got married, and became a full time housewife.  I was hesitant at first, because I never had any background with teaching, and I have always hated Math,” 36-year-old Vanessa who keeps her shapely figure even after three kids – aged 13, 11, and 4, confides.  “It’s so ironic, I ended up teaching Math to kids.” 

Mary Ann relates, “ I do tutorial for students, and I was looking for something I would be busy with full-time.  Our kids needed us less since they are already growing up.  If it’s meant to be, everything will fall into place.”

This makes their daily rendezvous doubly exciting and meaningful as they are sure CMA will develop the mathematical skills not just of their own kids but the other children in Iloilo and nearby cities and provinces as well.

Believing in the wonders of learning, she stresses kids should be exposed to a lot of things while younger. Their brains need to be stimulated earlier. “They need to utilize their brain more while they are kids. We are hoping we are going to be part of the development of Iloilo kids, not just our kids.”

The girl friends have found so much satisfaction in what they are doing at CMA that the return of investments is not on top of their minds as of yet.

And why bother too much on the financial side when their families fully support them?

“My husband Philip was very supportive, and perhaps he knew this is coming that eventually I will be helping out to support the family. My mom was very supportive as well and was even happier for me that now I have CMA. They are very supportive even with the preparations for the opening,” Vanessa shares.

With such much-needed support from family, a passion to instill the enjoyment of learning mathematics in children, and a friendship built on strong foundations to lean on, Mary Ann and Vanessa are on the right track in redefining friendship and inspiring others to do the same.