Success story of Bulakenyo Erwin Ramos shows that anything is possible
On any given afternoon, walk-in customers or buyers aboard a vehicle would drop by the production facility of Erwin and Lanie’s Fishball in Paombong, Bulacan. They would buy five to 10 or more kilos of fishballs. Owner Erwin Ramos would attend to them personally, sometimes even inviting them in for a chat.
He would regale customers with the story of how he started the business with his wife Lanie in 2011. It was his father-in-law’s recipe, he says, which they sold at a fishball stand in San Jose.
With very limited capital, they would only produce three or five kilos of fishballs at a time. Erwin would then travel to nearby towns in Bulacan, as well as to Pampanga and Metro Manila to offer their products.
A new angle
Today, Ramos has something new to add to his story: In 2018, he was named Microentrepreneur of the Year in the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA).
The CMA, now on its 16th year of recognizing outstanding microentrepreneurs across the Philippines, is a signature initiative of the Citi Foundation aimed at generating economic opportunities for low-income people, including youth, around the globe.
The awards program provides entrepreneurs with resources to strengthen their business, including access to networks, capital, tools, and training; and enables individuals to create economic sustainability for themselves, their families and their communities.
The CMA program highlights the combined efforts of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Citi Philippines, and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc. to strengthen microfinance and enterprise development, and financial inclusion in the country.
The prize of hard work and faith. Erwin Ramos (fourth from left) was honored as 16th CMA Microentrepreneur of the Year at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. With him in photo are (from left) BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, Erwin’s Livelihood Development Officer Ma. Isabel Catubay, UPLIFT Philippines Inc. Executive Director Edmon Sison, and Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed.
An innovative idea
An initial loan of P5,000 from UPLIFT Philippines Inc. helped Ramos jumpstart his business.
He uses a type of fish called bidbid, considered a damaging pest in bangus fishponds. Being the resourceful entrepreneur, Ramos makes sure that no part of the bidbid goes to waste.
Aside from making fishballs, he also produces dried fish and fish chicharon. The innards are used in prawn farms as feeds.
Barely a decade after starting his business, Ramos has achieved what he thought was nearly impossible. His processing facility is now fully equipped with manpower and machinery to support the production of more than 2,000 kilos of fishballs daily.
He has one retail store in Paombong, but most of his production volume is allocated for advance orders. He continues to deliver his products personally to customers.
“Hindi na kami umuutang ng 5-6, nakakapag-save na kami. Napapag-aral na po namin ang mga anak namin sa sikat na school. Ang mga tauhan ko, nabibigyan ng trabaho (We no longer have to turn to informal lending, and we are now able to save. Our children go to private schools. Our workers are given stable employment),” Ramos shares.
The positive impact of his business on the community is also evident: bangus farms are no longer plagued by bidbid, and what was once considered a pest has become useful and profitable.
Using his cash prize, Ramos hopes to take his business to the next level. He wants to go into cooking oil production to support his own requirements, and build a spacious freezer storage facility powered by solar panels.
With a growing business, and their fifth child on the way, Ramos and his wife remain steadfast in their faith. Quoting the lines from one of his favorite songs, he says, “Find joy in the Lord and you will achieve everything you ever hoped for.”
Microentrepreneurs in the spotlight
As CMA Microentrepreneur of the Year, Ramos received P200,000 in cash as well as a laptop, life and health insurance coverage for one year.
He also got access to grassroots entrepreneurship management and basic IT training at the Citi Microenterprise Development Center, another Citi Foundation program in partnership with Bayan Academy.
He was also feted during a celebratory town hall in Bulacan.
Ramos and eight other winners were chosen by a National Selection Committee co-chaired by the late BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., and Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed.
The committee members are: Jose Ma. Concepcion III, president and CEO, RFM Corp.; Teresita Sy-Coson, vice chairperson, SM Investments Corp.; Atty. Felipe Gozon, chairman and CEO, GMA Network, Inc.; Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez; Mary Ann Montemayor, Mindanao Private Sector representative, National MSME Development Council; Imelda Nicolas, president, Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran; Marixi Rufino-Prieto, former chair, the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Dr. Michael Tan, chancellor, University of the Philippines Diliman; Orlando Vea, president, Voyager Innovations Inc.; and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president, Ayala Corp.
