UCLM wins anew in "Business Idol"

CEBU, Philippines - A healthy sherbet made of “malunggay and carrots” was the product that helped the Lapulapu-Mandaue campus of the University of Cebu to once again, clinch the top plum of the Business Idol 2009 contest held the other day.

Being last year’s champion, the UCLM team was more challenged to outshine the other teams. And at the end of the day, managed to retain the title by presenting a new kind of sherbet different from those already in the market.

The Business Idol competition is a brainchild of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is one of the highlights of the Mandaue Business Month, which is celebrated the whole month of August.

This year, MCCI partnered with the Cebu Provincial Government on all of their activities including the Business Idol contest, which is intended for students taking business-related courses wherein they would make and present their business plans of new or revised products together with corresponding financial projections.

Mary Joy Celoso and John Roy Lastumen defended their business proposal to the judges, which was composed of respected businessmen in Cebu as well as to the panelists who were all teachers from the other participating schools.

Celoso and Lastumen represented their group of five students named Sajina Corporation together with their coaches, Dr. Marlon Montecillo and Jun Veril.

The Malunggay Sherbet with Carrots, as explained by the two, is a good product since it is both a delicious and nutritious snack with Malunggay and carrots having high nutrients that could be healthy especially for children.

The duo stressed the product’s uniqueness compared to the established products of ice-creams from major companies stating that their product would contain all the nutrients needed as “Malunggay,” or Moringa in English and Sajina in Indian, contains numerous vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to a lot of people.

Both Celoso and Lastumen also explained that though customers would think that the product may not taste good as the main ingredients are vegetables, they have ensured that it would be as appetizing as other ice-cream or sherbet products. This was affirmed by the judges who acknowledged the good taste of the sherbet after trying out the samples.

The winning group said that their initial target market would be the UCLM students but said that they would also be including other UC campuses in their first years of implementing the product and afterwards other schools as well.

The team’s head coach Dr. Marlon Montecillo said that the product is also best for parents to buy for their children because of its nutrients. He said that they are looking forward to the growth of their product and would be observing how it would do in the market so that they could make changes and also encourage investors to venture in their sherbet in the future.

Sajina Corporation’s presenting team brought home P50,000 and a trophy with their business coach and business panelist also winning P7,000 and P3,000 respectively.

Second Prize went to the University of San Carlos named the “Entarpreneurs,” who presented their business plan of recycled tarpaulins built into uniquely designed bags called the “Terra bags.”

 The University of San Jose Recoletos tied up with the University of the Philippines in third place. USJR presented their healthy kropeck made of Gotu Kola while UP ventured in to events organizing as their business.

Saint Theresa’s College also participated for the first time in the event with their organic fertilizer product.

Award-winning Philippine Designer Kenneth Conbonpue, who has been a judge in the contest for the past two years, said that they had a hard time judging as the teams came very prepared and they were again amazed with the products and the proposals that the schools have come up with.

Others in the panel of judges were Avatar Accessories Managing Editor Gil Zaire Carungay, President of Taft Property Ventures Inc. Jack Gaisano, Café Laguna Owner Lita Urbina and Former Project Finance Manager of Saudi Industrial Development Fund Romeo Briones.