Florencio’s Place: a grandfather’s legacy

MANILA, Philippines - Ilocano Genghis Abad may practice dentistry, but growing up helping with the family business ventures trained him early on in entrepreneurship. His family had a gas station business which started in the 1950s (and remains a main source of income to this day), as well as a restaurant and mini bus.

“Although I don’t have a business degree, I had hands-on training in the service industry,” he says, recalling his first job assignments as gasoline boy and bus conductor.

His latest venture, Florencio’s Hotel, is also a family business, built on the property beside their gas station. “We started construction December 2013,” says Abad. A year late, they are close to finishing and plan to be operational in time for the holiday crowd that flocks to the province.

The first hotel in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Florencio’s has a small restaurant, a function room and 30 to 40 rooms, with plans of further expansion in a few years time.

The hotel brings visitors nearer to the famed Bangui windmills and Abang Falls; just a stone’s throw away is Kapurpurawan with its beach and magnificent view of the windmills and the Cape Bojeador lighthouse in Burgos.

More importantly, Abad stresses, the hotel has created employment for some 80 Ilocanos throughout the year. He makes it a point to hire locally and create job opportunities in the community.

This concern for fellow Ilocanos surely stems from Abad’s grandfather Florencio, the hotel’s namesake. “He was a provincial board member for more than 20 years,” Abad says, noting that his grandfather served three different administrations. The dentist-businessman hails his grandfather as a service-oriented man.

Inspired to share with the community, Abad recently organized a charity basketball event in memory of Florencio and his work. The friendly game pit varsity players of the Divine Word College against actors on Star Magic’s basketball team. Young fans flocked to Ilocos Norte’s centennial court to watch the game – but mostly to see teen idol Daniel Padilla in the flesh.

The event beneficiary was Pacaro Medical Center Hospital, the only private hospital in Northern Ilocos, of which Abad is a board member. “We are trying to upgrade the hospital to at least grade three,” says Abad, adding that the funds raised at the event will be used to purchase an ultrasound machine.

With his businesses and projects, Abad hopes to do his part in making Ilocos more competitive in the tourism market. Planning more events, including a concert featuring Sarah Geronimo in March next year, he hopes Ilocos will become a destination of choice for concert series and events, at par with big cities such as Cebu and Davao.

Florencio’s Hotel is located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Photos by FERNAN NEBRES