No shortcut to success for 2 Ilonggos

MANILA, Philippines – It all started with the need to survive.

At the age of 17, Arsenio Rafael began working as a clerk in Amon Trading Corp., a business established in 1954 in Iloilo.

After years of hard work, he was promoted to salesman then later became the manager of the company.

In December 1997, after Arsenio was awarded for 25 years in service, he was also told that Amon Trading had decided to close down.

Arsenio was already 44 years old back then and could not fathom getting employment in other companies at his age.

But with the future of his family in mind, Arsenio drew strength from his wife and two sons and decided to establish his own business.

In January 1999, he rented Amon Trading’s 500 square meter building after making a deal with the company to consign the remaining inventory in exchange for his retirement pay.

He also began to source out additional items from local hardware stores. With him as salesman, his wife as cashier, plus a clerk, another salesman and his two sons pitching in during their free time, they started the A.M. Builder’s Depot.

Now, the former 500 square meter building with four employees has grown into a 6,520 square meter property with 360 employees.

A.M. Builder’s Depot already has several branches in different areas in Panay, Kalibo, Roxas, San Jose (Antique), Numancia (Aklan), Iloilo and Bacolod.

Even with his success, Arsenio looks back and remembers his hard work in establishing A.M. Builder’s Depot despite the limitations and problems he encountered.

Arsenio’s passion for the company’s products became his basic foundation in leading the company to success. He also lived a frugal life, plowing back all income into their business.

Admitting that he is not good at everything, he surrounded himself with good people whose strengths are his weaknesses.

“When I first thought about establishing the business, I was not thinking about branding or the business itself, I was just thinking about feeding my family,” Arsenio said.

The company’s name stands for many things in Arsenio’s life. First, it stands for his name, Arsenio, and his wife’s name, Melinda. It also stands for the “morning” in Arsenio’s business life.

At present, Arsenio is focusing on expanding further his business and importing systems from China.

A.M Builder’s Depot is also working on distribution centers in Cebu and Manila and is opening another branch in Bacolod this month.

Like any other hardworking entrepreneur, Arsenio believes in 99 percent perspiration and one percent inspiration in everything he does.

His advice to the young and aspiring entrepreneurs: “Find your passion in life and work hard for it. Give it your all. Remember that there is no shortcut to success and that Rome was not built in a day. Also, remember that excellence is a never-ending process because the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. There is no such thing as luck. You create your own luck. So, work, work and work.”

Sweet success

Central Azucarera de San Antonio Inc. is an established family business in Iloilo, spearheaded by Antonio Steven Chan as the company’s major shareholder.

Steven’s father, Antonio “Tony or Achan” Chan, started a sugar milling business in 1979.

Even before he passed away, Tony’s sugar milling business was passed on to his children.

Central Azucarera de San Antonio (CASA) constitutes an expansion of the Chan family’s sugar milling business.

Other sugar milling businesses are also being managed by Steven’s siblings in different areas in the Philippines.

CASA was established in Iloilo in 1994.

The Chan family decided to institute the business in Iloilo as a way of giving back to their father’s place of origin. CASA serves as their father’s legacy in Iloilo.

Since the company’s fledgling years, the heavy smuggling of sugar and the 2010 schedule of WTO Tariff Agreements have become the two most challenging factors that CASA has been facing, Steven said.

As part of his business, Steven is also pushing for the capitalization and the maximization of the untapped potentials of sugar.

He said his company is even ready to go for biomass production.

With concerns over soaring oil prices and power costs in Panay, CASA decided to invest in a co-generation project.

The capacity of this project will enable CASA to produce five megawatts for the local electric cooperative during milling season, at substantially lower costs.

According to Steven, this is only one of the untapped potentials of sugar.

The sugar milling industry is capable and willing to provide the cheapest electricity for consumers.

However, negotiating for power sales agreements with cooperatives and retailers and getting permits from governing bodies in the power sector remain a challenge to the company, Steven said.

Presently, CASA has increased its production capacity, with new sugar mills in their system, and has improved systems for sugar refining.

Steven also has some advice to budding entrepreneurs: “They must have a good background of what they are running into. Never underestimate the basics – all the paperwork and the legalities. Some careless entrepreneurs haven’t even started, but they have already lost money. Also, always tell yourself that you never know too much.”

Awardees

Arsenio and Steven will be given the Most Inspiring Ilonggo Entrepreneur Awards on Sept. 12 at the Go Negosyo sa Iloilo, the latest leg of the continuing Go Negosyo campaign spearheaded by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. Concepcion III, at the Rose Memorial Auditorium of Central Philippine University in Iloilo City.

Go Negosyo sa Iloilo is presented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with Iloilo Business Club chairman Antonio Jon, DTI Region VI director Dominic Abad and Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. president Angel de Leon.

Go Negosyo sa Iloilo will also be graced by Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is also chairman of the Cabinet Oversight Committee for MSME Development.

Member agencies will also be present to reach out to the participants.

The awardees were endorsed by the Iloilo Business Club, Micro Finance Council of the Philippines, and Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc.

Go Negosyo sa Iloilo is also made possible with major partners Iloilo Business Club, PLDT SME Nation, Smart Communications, Globe Business, Condura, RFM Corp., Ariel, Entrepreneurs School of Asia, and San Miguel Corp.

Go Negosyo also thanks its corporate partners – Splash Corp., V-cargo, Kettle Korn, and Iloilo Supermart; media partners – The Philippine STAR, GMA 7, QTV 11, Philippine Daily Inquirer, ASPAC-LAW, Full Circle Communications, Select Media, Creativevoices, Idealminds, ABS-CBN Iloilo, MOR For Life! Iloilo, GMA Iloilo, Super Radyo Iloilo, and Campus Radio Iloilo; venue partners – Central Philippine University and Amigo Terrace Hotel; government partners – the President’s Social Fund, Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee-Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Department of Trade and Industry, Iloilo provincial government, and Iloilo City government; and other partners – Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business–Center for Continuing Education, Bennch Transport Services and Rent A Car and F & E Enterprises.