Our fathers in negosyo

This Father’s Day, let’s honor our father’s role as head of the fam-ily. I am a father myself to five children; and my father, Joecon, is father to eight children and 29 grandchildren. In celebration of Father’s Day, it is but fitting that we share the stories of these four fathers as told by their children who pay tribute to them to reflect on the roles of our fathers and our roles as children.

These men’s determination, hard work, and courage have not only given their families a better future and a comfortable life, but have also provided livelihood to others so that they, too, can have a better quality of life. Let me share with you some of the successful and inspiring fathers in negosyo...

One of the inspiring dad-preneurs we’ve met is Winston Desiderio of 10 Inch Lights and Sounds. For a decade now, his company has been powering up the biggest and the brightest concerts and events in the country. He was also one of the entrepreneurs who helped Go Negosyo bring the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit to life last year.  As a teenager in the ‘80s, Winston got into the mobile-disco scene as a hobby, which eventually became the foundation of his successful negosyo.

It all started in 2001, when he realized that there were more opportunities in being an entrepreneur; and that his hobby could be a lucrative negosyo, as entertainment is always in demand all year round. He then started renting out his personal sound system for parties; and he made it a point to invest in more equipment as he earned more. Winston fondly remembers that his big break was a Barbie fashion show in 2004, organized by one of our Go Negosyo advocates, Myrna Yao of Richwell Trading. Since then, doors have kept opening for Winston; and he credits it to hard work and to his practice of continuously improving his negosyo.

Sweet Corner owners Voltaire and Cholly Magpayo

 There are plenty of challenges in managing your own business, but Winston’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and, even to his own children, is to always focus on going up no matter what failures come your way. He also stresses the importance of being masipag. As a father, Winston encourages his three kids to follow what they enjoy, but he is happy that one of them is already showing signs of following in his footsteps and continuing his negosyo in the future.

Another dad who has successfully balanced family life and running his own negosyo is Voltaire Magpayo, the man behind the sweet corn food cart franchise Sweet Corner. Voltaire set up his negosyo in 2009 along with his wife, Cholly, after visiting Cholly’s family in South Cotabato. There, he was able to reconnect with a friend who was looking for someone who can help the local corn farmers in bringing their products directly to Manila. The father of two saw the opportunity and came up with the concept of selling organically grown corn products in malls here in Manila.

Voltaire recalls that he and his wife did everything in the beginning, from the preparations to delivery. They set aside glamour, and worked hard instead. And it paid off. Just three years after opening their first branch in SM Fairview, Sweet Corner already has 30 branches all over the Philippines, and they are targeting to open more Sweet Corner franchises this year.

He shares that his father and his late grandfather, who was also a food cart vendor during his time, were a great influence especially in dealing with the challenges that come with managing a negosyo. He learned from them his principle in life — that one must continue to move forward and persevere, even when hope seems to be nowhere in sight. As a father himself, he is grateful for the blessings and the better life that his children would enjoy. But he also takes pride in the fact that he is helping to bring more livelihood to local farmers and that their children, like his, would enjoy a better, more comfortable life.

Roberto Locsin had always wanted to put up his own negosyo. Having been taught and guided by his father, who was also a great negosyante, Roberto didn’t have a doubt he would be successful; and so, when the opportunity came, he gave it a try. Today, Robert is the driving force behind his own company, Locsin International, a manufacturer and exporter of outdoor furniture. His products are exported to 21 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and in the United States.

Winston Desiderio of 10 Inch Lights and Sounds

He shared that his interest, when he started in 1979, was really on importation; but opportunities led him to exportation of furniture and he saw that it was good business. Like many successful entrepreneurs, he also started small. He did everything when he was starting to lessen overhead expenses and make his negosyo grow. At first, it was just buying and selling goods; and eventually, he was able to expand his business and put up his own factory in Bulacan.

His advice to those who dream of being an entrepreneur is to start with a need, focus on it and work hard. He also pointed out the importance of always being honest in all your dealings. These are also the values that he instilled in his children and his grandchildren. And now that they are grown, one of his four children, Regina, has joined him in his negosyo, and is currently handling marketing of domestic furniture.

Roberto, 61, revealed that he is ready to pass his negosyo to his children, but he is also encouraging them to start their own. And as a father myself, I agree with him that children should be encouraged to develop their own; and that you cannot force your children to pursue something that their heart is not into.

Another dad-preneur who has an inspiring story of triumph in negosyo is Carlos “Jun” Albino Jr. I first found out about him and his company, Krirub Industrial Sales, a stainless steel fabrication company that focuses on industrial and food equipment, from Facebook when his daughter shared how her father built his negosyo from ground up. And, I thought it was very sweet to do this for her Dad who was able to send all six children to good schools because of this negosyo and his hard work.

Jun, now a mechanical engineer, balanced the life of being a student and an employee since high school in order to finish his education. When he graduated, he found employment in an industrial company where he worked as a helper, then as a machinist, and eventually as a plant manager. That’s where he mastered the ins and outs of running the plant as well as how to look for clients and market their services. Equipped with the skills needed and the confidence to make it on his own, he put up Krirub in 1993.

Carlos Albino Jr. of Krirub Industrial Sales

Jun and his wife Isidra started their negosyo in their own home in Quezon City and sub-contracted jobs to their friends, who were happy to accept extra income. He stresses that in negosyo, it’s very important to have a good relationship not only with your clients, but with your suppliers as well.

Today, Jun’s negosyo is catering to the biggest food manufacturers in the country. And he is also planning to expand his operations in Cebu, where food industry is booming. This father of six also hopes that in the future his children, five of which are girls, would still continue the negosyo despite it being “a man’s job.” His wish is not just for his family, but for his workers and their families who depend on the negosyo as well.

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Contact me at mailto:feedback@gonegosyo.netor Joey Concepcion Facebook account. Visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the top rating entrep show GO NEGOSYO: Kaya Mo! on GMA News TV, Saturday and Sunday 8-8:30am. Get daily Go Negosyo Text Tips in your mobile phone by sending GONEGO to 2910.