There is no question that the global coronavirus pandemic has hit every business hard. Everyone is looking for a little relief or a silver lining in what feels like a bad situation that never seems to end.
This is why the G Summit is highlighting the stories of its Diskarte Heroes: eight inspiring small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have come up with the diskarte necessary to survive the uncharted business territory brought about by the pandemic.
Whether it’s through strengthening the core of their business or fully utilizing the reach of social media, these heroes have managed to find their footing, survive, and even thrive. Even better, what they’ve done is something other SMEs can replicate as well.
Read about the inspiring diskarte stories of these heroes below.
Lalamove may be one company that knows what it means to bring disruption. Since it started operating in the country in 2016, it has slowly but surely disrupted the local logistics industry, showing Filipinos the merits of on-demand delivery.
However, Lalamove faced a disruption of its own when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Because of heightened security around the metro, partner-drivers and clients feared for their safety and delivery services were hampered, impacting Lalamove.
Instead of buckling under the pressure, Lalamove instead focused on this diskarte: to build and sustain trust. They pushed for the safety of their partner drivers, and customers, through daily safety reminders and contactless transactions. Dannah says this support is essential since partner drivers make up the core of their business and enabled them to survive the pandemic’s economic impact.
Lalamove was able to assure both partner drivers and customers that their welfare is the company’s top priority through purchasing and deploying mobile phones, laptops, and hotspot devices in a span of 2 days when the pandemic hit. As an internet-based company, they knew that strengthening their digital capabilities was vital to reduce business interruption.
Jana Bunagan founded The Good Trade PH in 2018 with the intention of giving back through promoting purpose-driven brands that offer products created in a sustainable manner. Since its founding, the community has steadily grown and even held a three-month pop-up last year.
When it became clear that the community quarantine was going to extend beyond a month, Jana realized it was time to adapt. They relied on their diskarte to lead with empathy and stay rooted in their purpose. Leveraging the trust she earned from merchants that participated in last year’s pop-up, Jana was able to quickly transition the offline event into The Good Trade Online Marketplace, seeing that going digital in these times is the way for retail to go. The online store even offers a 15 percent discount to all Globe postpaid subscribers until the end of the month, redeemable via the Globe Rewards app.
Let’s Eat Pare started out as a Facebook group in 2016. Mark says he initiated the group as a way to help the growing number of restaurateurs in the country through the sharing of best practices, the creation of food festivals, and building a community to collaborate with.
The onset of the coronavirus pandemic made that collaboration even more important, especially when it came to helping out hospitals and frontliners. Social media helped in mobilizing and galvanizing support. For instance, when Let’s Eat Pare posted a thank you note from the Medical City, more and more people started offering their services. Mark shares that their diskarte to stick together as a community and as an association helped them rise above the pandemic’s challenges.
According to Mark, the technology available now means there’s no better time to start a small business. Just like Let’s Eat Pare, today’s aspiring entrepreneurs can use social media and tools like Facebook Ads to drive up help and support. Tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace (previously known as G Suite), and Zoom have also made it easier for them to conduct business wherever they may be.
Carmen’s Best started out as a true family affair – this famous homemade ice cream was named after Paco’s daughter. Paco grew the business through grit and determination, visiting restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, and resorts and building relationships with them.
While 2019 wasn’t the best year for the business, 2020 had started out looking good, with sales in the first two months exceeding those of the same period in 2019. But just like everyone else, Paco found himself blindsided by the pandemic and the quarantine it brought with it. He knew he needed to stick with his diskarte, which is to make the product so good, it would speak for itself.
Technology proved to be the help he needed during these trying times. He learned how to do mobile banking and fully utilize Facebook and Viber groups. Now, he is setting up an online shop together with Globe’s 917 Group called the RUSH e-Store.
GameOps was started in 2010 by Philippine video game publishing industry veterans and has since grown into a consultancy and service provider for international publishers of online video games.
As a BPO company that needs to ensure the security of their clients’ information, GamesOps performs most of its work on phones that can only be securely accessed in their office. The company had to find a different way of doing this when the pandemic brought about a metro-wide lockdown.
Thankfully, GamesOps had been preparing for this as early as January after hearing about the spread of the coronavirus in China from their partners. Thanks to a stable and consistent internet connection, like the Globe pocket WiFis provided by his Globe myBusiness account manager, as well as partners who followed their lead and sense of urgency, the company was able to work at 100 percent capacity 48 hours after the lockdown was announced.
Danao City’s Rosemont Hills Montessori has been in operation since 2007, and right from the very beginning technology had already played an important part in their growth. Rosemont Hills Montessori founder Von Montilla says that aside from house-to-house visits from teachers, the school also utilized Danao Cable as an advertising tool and a way to introduce themselves to the community.
The global coronavirus pandemic, however, pushed them even further towards the use of technology. As soon as it became clear to Von that the class suspension in March would extend much further than that, she knew it was time to pivot.
As early as April, Von already had her teachers try out Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Edmodo, and Google Classroom. This made it easier for them to transition to their own LMS they have dubbed as VirtRAiLS (Virtual Rosemont Academic i-Learning System). They then advertised on Facebook and used its analytics to help find their target market.
It became clear to Von that the necessary diskarte to make it in the pandemic is a willingness to try out new technologies. Just some of the new tech that Von and Rosemont Montessori so willingly welcomed include Globe’s Campus Link School Management System and Brightspace. Globe myBusiness has been their ever-reliable partner in these trying times, even for administrative needs. And you can find out how by getting a digital consultation with their experts here.
When one thinks of the connection between a salon business and technology, the immediate thought is hardware directly related to haircare: blow dryers, barber-grade hair trimmers, and other similar tools.
But for four-year-old salon HairMNL, the technology they use in their business also includes the internet. Thanks to a Facebook message from a customer in Zambales inquiring about Argan oil, HairMNL CEO and Co-founder Julie Ortuoste realized that an online selling channel would be a great addition to their business.
With the salon business being such a high-touch enterprise, having that infrastructure in place proved incredibly helpful once the pandemic struck. The staff’s openness to technology made it even easier to adjust to the situation. The business and its willing staff went all-in with regards to tech, utilizing Messenger, Whatsapp, and Viber to communicate, Basecamp for project management, and Zoom for training sessions.
On the administrative side, GCash for Business has also been a godsend for the company, facilitating on-time payroll that employees can easily use. It is safer, convenient, and minimizes the need to handle cheques and cash. Julie explains that with most of HairMNL’s employees without a bank account, GCash for Business allows them to easily withdraw their money from convenience stores and other GCash partners. Learn how you can also easily manage payroll and payments by signing up for GCash for Business.
It turns out the diskarte Julie needed to pivot during this pandemic is the courage to take calculated risks. Taking the initiative to be visible online a few years back has now helped them weather the storm brought about by the global coronavirus pandemic.
During these uncertain times, these Diskarte Heroes have been able to pivot and adapt, thanks to swift thinking, good relationships, and fully utilizing the business technologies available to them. With help from partners like Globe myBusiness, today’s SMEs can also find themselves better equipped for the new normal. You, too, can unleash your inner diskarte! Be guided on how to do so with our Diskarte Kit.
Ready to pivot your business? Our business and tech solutions are just what you need to find your diskarte. Schedule a consult with us!
On August 17, 2018, Globe myBusiness, in partnership with Summit Media‘s Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), kicked off Star Bazaar 2018 — its much awaited star-studded business event for SMEs, which aims to inspire entrepreneurs create success through its line-up of celebrity business owners and industry experts.
The event’s purpose was solidified with the presence of Globe myBusiness’ partners like Spark Project, Let’s Eat Pare and the Association of Filipino Franchisers Incorporated (AFFI), which is a free-for-all shopping and learning experience, where attendees can meet and learn from their favorite celebrity entrepreneurs and check out what their businesses have to offer.
Summit Media Executive Director Jo-Ann Maglipon, The Spark Project co-founder Patch Dulay, Let’s Eat Pare’s Mark Del Rosario AFFI President Joyce Yu and AFFI Vice President for Membership Jorge Noel Wieneke III were all present during the event in show of support for Globe myBusiness.
Mark and Joyce, for their part, both described Globe myBusiness as an invaluable business partner, who’s helping them fulfill their own vision for entrepreneurs.
According to Mark, Let’s Eat Pare’s mission is to give food entrepreneurs a platform to tell their stories and share their exciting food products or concepts. He said that Globe myBusiness is helping them fulfill their mission as a community that gives voices to food business owners.
Let’s Eat Pare’s Mark Del Rosario
“Globe myBusiness is a very supportive partner in a sense that they provide avenues such as Star Bazaar that bring entrepreneurs into the picture. They are able to give them a venue to promote their products. We are here today to support them,” Mark said.
He adds that “Globe myBusiness is very invested in SMEs. We are helping them professionalize their business, which Globe myBusiness is helping us do. Because they have different networks of partners, they helps us get the word out and reach young entrepreneurs.”
One of the previous collaborations between Globe myBusiness and Let’s Eat Pare include the Let’s Food Crawl Pare in Poblacion, Makati. The event highlighted some of the businesses that started in Let’s Eat Pare’s community Facebook page and the bars and restaurants around the business district’s premiere food hot spot.
Meanwhile, Joyce also noted how Globe myBusiness is helping AFFI’s mission of empowering home-grown brands in the Philippines, noting that their long-standing partnership has helped their members develop their businesses through technology.
“We are here [at Star Bazaar] to support Globe myBusiness as their partners. We want our members to grow. Globe myBusiness is a big factor in our growth because they are helping us reach more entrepreneurs,” Joyce shared.
“It’s really a great opportunity to partner with Globe myBusiness this year. We are very lucky to be partners with Globe myBusiness, which helps a lot of our members, from wifi to digital [solutions]. Everything is online now and the things we do as businesses are there,” she added.
Among the events that were made possible by Globe myBusiness’ partnership with AFFI is the myBusiness Day, which featured a one-stop shop for those looking forward to start their own business. The AFFI is also part of Globe myBusiness Restaurant Business Network, which is a network of interrelated businesses that aims to support entrepreneurs in the food industry.
With great goals come great partners. Globe myBusiness certainly has an all-star roster of business partners with Let’s Eat Pare and the AFFI, which likewise aims to empower entrepreneurs and help them create their own success!
If you missed Star Bazaar, no worries because we got more in store for you! Get updates on the latest events, seminars, and conferences that can help your business succeed by simply signing up with Globe MyBusiness Academy via this link.
Many top establishments in Poblacion played a key part in the food crawl as pit stops for the participants, who were looking forward to discover the food haven’s best offers. Among the partner bars and restaurants were ABKD, Ñ, Wild Poppy, Alamat, Z Hostel, and Yalla Yalla.
During Let’s Food Crawl Pare’s culmination, Globe myBusiness spoke with the owners of its partner establishments to hear what their business secrets are and what advice they had for aspiring restaurant or bar owners dreaming of success.
Check out these master tips and discover the path to success in the food business:
You may think that ABKD and Ñ are merely two establishments that happened to find their place on top of each other, but the two concepts were actually designed that way to provide a fully stacked experience for its guests.
ABKD, a relaxed back-to-basics restaurant, and Ñ, a modern Filipino-inspired bar, were the brainchildren of none other than Chef Lica Ibarra, a renowned chef and serial restaurateur. She says the two establishments may look different, but they are connected.
“After our guests are done with their meal at ABKD, they can go up and have a completely different feel at Ñ. There is a synergy between the two. After you eat, if you still want to have some fun and grab a few drinks, you go up,” Chef Lica explains.
According to Chef Lica, giving their guests the whole experience was the ultimate goal of ABKD and Ñ. She says it plays an important role in keeping customers, who will in turn talk about their unique offers and invite prospect guests to their business.
“Our goal really is make our guests feel like they are home. We always welcome our guests like they are really visitors coming to our home. That’s the ambiance we want. Besides our food, we want to give them the whole experience,” she says.
Eat your fill of Southeast Asian dishes at the comfort of a garden-inspired restobar in Wild Poppy’s humble abode in Poblacion. One of its co-owners Kaity Chua says Wild Poppy was designed as the place-to-be for those looking for a relaxed oasis at the end of a busy day.
Although Wild Poppy is known for its home-like vibe, the dishes and cocktails it serves let off wild Southeast Asian flavours, creating a perfect balance of sugar and spice for both the easygoing and thrill-seeking markets.
“The customer experience that we really want to give is a wild and interesting one. We want them to have a really good time. That’s one of the reasons we are located in Poblacion. We like the relaxed vibe of the neighborhood: you don’t have to dress up, wear heels, and you can just be yourself and have a good time,” Kaity shares.
She adds: “About the food, we really like wild flavors and we feel that Southeast Asian flavors are one of those. It is different, it has variety and there’s a spice to it. We also translated that to our cocktails, which complement our dishes [very well].”
No matter what your business is, location is important to keep the mill running. That’s the principle that Z Hostel kept in sight as it now becomes one of the most popular destinations for people who want to experience what Poblacion has to offer.
“A lot of establishments are opening here in Poblacion because it’s a lot cheaper to open here compared to other areas. It is also very accessible. The value proposition here is that you can walk from one place to another, unlike others where you have to drive. There are so many restaurants around just one spot,” Rommel Marasigan, Z Hostel President, said.
Z Hostel stands in the heart of Poblacion, surrounded by different restaurants and bars that sport different concepts and cuisines. Rommel says that while competition may be stiff in a tightly packed playing field like Poblacion, there’s a sense of family between establishments in the area. This makes it a fitting place for startups and first time restaurateurs to grow.
“Here, we have a so-called “coopetition,” where everyone is cooperating while competing. There are so many concepts and very few are the same; not everyone is competing directly. It’s a healthy relationship. All the owners are friends and we have this bayanihan concept,” Rommel adds.
In the age of social media, being online is a necessity. On the Internet, businesses are able to reach different markets, no matter where they are around the globe. This is what Yalla Yalla capitalized on as a restaurant that offers unique Middle Eastern cuisine.
According to Ricky Punzalan, owner of Yalla Yalla, one of the reasons they put up the restaurant is to introduce Lebanese cuisine to a bigger market. He says being present online helps them reach customers and capture new markets through reviews and recommendations.
He says their special Lebanese offers are making waves through online channels, helping their brand become more prolific. They likewise help in growing their customer base, who are largely influenced by what’s hip and new on social media platforms.
“We want our customers to be able to try Lebanese food, and social media helps us a lot in spreading the word. On Facebook, you get to connect with people in the demographic you want. There, when you recommend a place to eat, people who know them will know about it. It helps us in that way,” Ricky says.
On top of being one of the most hospitable nationalities in the world, Filipinos have one of the most profound and exciting cuisines. This is what Alamat Filipino Pub and Deli is demonstrating as it packs reinvented local dishes and drinks with its homey restaurant in Poblacion.
Cassandra Laus, co-owner of Alamat, says that the concept behind the restaurant was rooted from their team’s drive to show people the value of loving their own culture. Besides putting its own twist to well-known Filipino dishes, Alamat also offers original local craft beer, which was sourced from different regions of the Philippines.
“We want to show how cool the Filipino culture is and how awesome our ingredients are. It’s not being highlighted enough, which is why we put up a bar that centers on our culture. We offer a fun way to know the Filipino culture and the people behind it,” Cassandra says.
“We want to inspire our fellow Filipinos to love our own more. Hopefully, if they are to put up their own bars or their own concepts, they adopt a local inspiration,” she adds.
Starting up your own restaurant or bar takes a lot of hard work, patience and perseverance. With these masterful tips, you already have a headstart on planning, designing, and building your dream business and racing to your success!
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Let’s Eat Pare provides a platform for both business owners and their target audiences, where they can freely engage and exchange views on everything food. It’s a hub that connects food industry players with one another to make business easier.
One of its latest projects was Let’s Food Crawl Pare, a restaurant and bar hopping event in Poblacion, Makati. Done in partnership with Globe myBusiness, the event shed light on the district’s rich food scene and provided a stage for Let’s Eat Pare’s home-grown food vendors to showcase their offers.
Check out the event’s featured food vendors below and learn how they started and grew their businesses, from Let’s Eat Pare’s passionate community and beyond:
Photo sourced from Smart Snack
Carlo Errazo started Smart Snacks out of his need to eat healthy and lose weight years ago. Today, he aims to fill the need to provide healthy snacks, in the form of dehydrated fruits, for professionals who do not have the luxury of time.
In doing business, Carlo takes every avenue to showcase and market his products, saying “We are very active [on] Facebook; that’s where we take orders. We see the value of being online because that’s where people are right now. We also do bazaars. It gives us an opportunity to meet our customers and get feedback from there.”
In January, Eli Cabanilla and his wife started Gavrie’s Grace of Cakes with only a small capital on hand. Now, their cakes, cookies, and other baked products are selling big thanks to their affiliation with Let’s Eat Pare’s community.
Eli also credits their growth to his wife’s baking skills and their affordable price point. He banks on the taste of their products, which were made from premium ingredients, saying, “Our products are made from premium ingredients, and we don’t have high markups. It’s affordable and delicious at the same time.”
An accountant by profession, Allan Santos started Zip-Sup by riding on the hype of the Christmas season and selling his special cold brew coffee as a gift option for the holidays. Now, he’s driving sales by using the online platform that Let’s Eat Pare provides to extend his business’ reach and further profit growth.
“After the holiday season, we started looking for ways to sell. That’s when we decided to get accreditation from Let’s Eat Pare. We grew, and as of today already have resellers, most of which are members of Let’s Eat Pare,” Allan says.
Years ago, Daddy Mikks’ owner Mikko Cordova was told by his nutritionist to lose weight by eating spicy food. He then added chili garlic sauce to his meals, but later realized that its oil content was simply too much. This inspired him to make a healthier alternative in the form of oil-less bottled chili garlic, which now dons his brand.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, as Mikko can attest. In fact, his products weren’t initially intended for sale, saying “I only realized I can sell it when my family and friends started asking if they can buy the chili garlic I made. I wish I started sooner.”
Rele Hernandez was working from home, thinking of what new meal to cook for his family when he came up with the idea of wrapping longganisa in lumpia wrapper. He soon shared his idea, a fusion of two dishes, with his peers, who encouraged him to turn it into a business venture and offer his products in different flavors at Pop’s Lumpianiza.
“Each province has its own flavor of longganisa and we use those as filling. Now, we are looking at different viands like sisig to become filling. With this product, you get to taste the crunchiness of lumpia and the taste of longganisa in one,” Rele says.
Catherine Anne Dente, the owner of Annechalap’s Kitchenette, started a business that features her family’s special recipes and her love for food. Her business offers different signature dishes like Japanese Beef with Truffle Butter and granola-based treats.
Although she has only started, Catherine’s products have been well-received, especially by the Let’s Eat Pare community. She says “I’m new to this business. My co-vendors in Let’s Eat Pare are helping me grow by giving constructive feedback and advice. We help each other and it’s easier when there’s a support system.”
Nothing tastes better than a spoonful of aligue! That’s what Buddy Isleta, co-owner of Puro, banked on when he started his business, which provides jars of pure aligue to the market. Now, his aligue jars have found their way to the kitchen shelves of high-end restaurants and premier chefs across the Philippines.
“[Contrary to] popular belief, aligue is healthy. Researchers now know that shellfish is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Puro’s crab tomalley only has two grams of fat and 18 calories per tablespoon. As part of Puro’s marketing strategy, I engage people who have these misconceptions,” Buddy says.
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Entitled Let’s Food Crawl Pare, the event brought together business owners, bloggers, members of the press, and Globe representatives to participate in a restaurant and bar hopping journey around Poblacion to see what it has to offer.
With The Ruins as the starting point of the food crawl, each of the six teams would have to visit five more partner establishments and create a short video about their experience. Teams would also have to complete certain tasks in each destination to get a go signal to the next one.
All-time Poblacion favorites like Alamat, Ñ, ABKD, Smokeyard, Yalla Yalla, Bucky’s, Wild Poppy, Pura Vida, and Z Hostel were among the participating bars and restaurants, and these establishments would feature and share their best dishes and drinks to the participants.
Mark del Rosario, Founder of Let’s Eat Pare Community
During the event’s culmination, Debbie Obias, Vice President of Segment Marketing at Globe myBusiness, says Let’s Food Crawl Pare would not be possible without the help of its partners. She adds that one of Globe myBusiness’ goals is empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) towards success, saying that the event is one of the ways they can play such a part.
“We are always in support of SMEs and we hope to contribute to the growing, thriving food tourism sector. We are really here to be one of your best business partners,” Debbie says. “We really want to help SMEs grow, and we do this by providing business solutions. This helps them to be more efficient in their operations, while we lend a hand in their marketing efforts.”
Among the Globe myBusiness solutions that were highlighted during the food crawl was GCash, a secure mobile money service that lets Globe or TM users buy load, purchase items, send and receive money, pay bills, and more using their handsets. It turns mobile devices into virtual wallets, eliminating the need to bring cash while elevating customers’ shopping experiences.
Participating establishments in the food crawl accepted payment via GCash, which helped them elevate the customer experience in two ways: 1.) by providing a secure and fast way to settle their patrons’ bills, and; 2.) by helping their customers go cashless as they partied around Poblacion.
Participants of the Food Crawl learned more about using GCash
Meanwhile, at the close of the event, the winning team’s on-the-spot video was played for everyone to see. The team won P9,000 pesos worth of GCash credits, along with other prizes from Globe myBusiness, Let’s Eat Pare, and PLUD.
Celebrity and former Pinoy Big Brother contestant Joj Agpangan, who was part of the winning team, says the Let’s Food Crawl Pare was an experience she will never forget. Joj says that each establishment in Poblacion has unique offerings that people should definitely try out.
“Poblacion is really the place to be with friends. I’ll be here more often. Every place has something unique to provide, like The Apartment, Ñ, and Wild Poppy. Each of them serves a different taste, parang naikot ko na rin iyong buong Makati because of the food,” Joj says.
Joj also mentioned that participating in the food crawl helped her piece together the qualities of a perfect restaurant or bar, saying “I live nearby but I haven’t gone around, so I didn’t know where to go. Before, I didn’t have an idea of what food or drink I should get. But now, I do. The places we went to have very delicious dishes and I’d recommend them to others.”
Asked about what tip she would give to people hoping to see Poblacion, Joj said “If you’re in Poblacion, enjoy it. Try something new to your senses and it will surprise you every time.”
See what Poblacion has to offer by joining Let’s Eat Pare’s Facebook group and checking out the videos created by the participating teams. Step out and support the food tourism industry by bringing your family and friends, and experiencing Makati’s premier food district together!
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