Staying alive in a changing world

MANILA, Philippines - Her late father’s primary business is the distribution of quality educational and training materials. But her father’s profession is futurism. This is the story of Mylene Abiva and how her company, FELTA Multimedia Inc., has advanced the conventional “chalk-and-talk” lectures to become what is today the pioneer in robotics in the Philippines.

The late Felicito Q. Abiva, founder of FELTA Multimedia Inc., once looked over the horizon, saw what will happen in the near future, and drew the maps of the foreseen opportunity. The company was thus able to survive the Asian economic crisis and to date has been continuously introducing innovative learning materials for 45 years now.

FELTA, which stands for First in Educational Learning Trends Always, originally offered self-improvement tapes, children’s beginner programs in flashcards and booklets, as well as Filipino Heritage encyclopedias, colored textbooks on primary and secondary science, and educational VHS tapes. Today, FELTA is now offering Lego Robotics kits, Lego computer hardware, language proficiency software, on-line courses, school management system, and laboratory equipment and furniture. 

Established in 1966 by couple Felicito and Teresita through combination of their names, FELTA aims to provide educational aids. Their daughter Mylene soon took the helm as CEO of FELTA, and she has since introduced a number of fresh and ground-breaking educational aids to cope with the educational needs of today.

This is the same business foresight the lady executive got from her father, as both have seen the trend in new learning products and services, acting upon them to shape future educational needs. Today, FELTA aims to be the first in introducing the latest technology in classroom education.

Mind teasers: Lego robotics kits from FELTA

FELTA eventually had to seek assistance from Plantersbank in order to fund a growing need for additional learning equipment.

“At that time, we have decided to partner with Plantersbank because they understand the needs of an entrepreneur,” beams Mylene. “With Plantersbank’s help, we were thus able to install a Planetarium Digitarium and Observatory at the Quezon City Interactive Science Center in which 1,000 public school students from Quezon City would benefit daily,” she added.

With adequate capital in her hands, extensive business training and management skills she gained in an American firm before joining the family business, Mylene was also able to formulate a new distribution scheme for their inventory, talking bold risks to introduce more innovative learning products and services. 

In the end, Mylene’s courage, persistence, and hard work paid off. Not only did she help buoy up FELTA through the crisis but also, in a mere decade, she was able to push the company to new levels of innovation that’s seldom seen in the industry even today.

“My late father had the foresight to know that education would someday evolve into a more sophisticated classroom instruction that minimizes ‘chalk talk,’” reminisces Mylene. “Although I learned business skills from school and work experiences, it was my parents who taught me that success comes from innovation, integrity, compassion for one’s employees, a sense of humor, and putting Christ in the center of all things.”

She continued, “My father also taught me to listen and feel the trend, then walk the uncharted road.” Consistently, Mylene Abiva has lived up these ideals. She thinks ahead and takes advantage of all new opportunities that rapid social and technological advancement are now creating. 

Electrifying facts: Ein-O Science, another FELTA product innovation to make learning fun.

Even in chaotic times — the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, for instance — the lady executive had thought ahead instead of dwelling on the ill effects of the crisis. Despite uncertainties, Mylene also took a bold risk to launch products that lean heavily towards digital education. 

“Don’t be afraid of being a pioneer. If you see an opportunity, grab, lead, and let others follow. An innovative creation would always have a ready market,” the brave executive ends with a smile. Certainly, if Felicito Abiva could only see his company now, he would have been proud at how far his fearless daughter had carried his legacy forward.

For inquiries, call 912-1397 or (02) 438-1756 or visit www.felta.ph. FELTA Multimedia Center is at 18 Notre Dame St., Cubao, Quezon City.