JOHN CARLO NOVA
Each year, more and more start-up IT companies are being set up by the Filipino technopreneurs to meet the increasing demand of both foreign and local industries for information technology services. Among such start-ups is Victa Software Solutions, which was established by John Carlo Nova in Olongapo City in 2006.
After Nova earned a diploma in Cyber Programming in 2002 from STI, he first worked with several IT companies for almost four years, taught in a local computer college, and went freelance for some time. He then went to pursue a degree in Computer Science from another school in Libis, Quezon City. When he graduated in 2006, he decided to go on his own and put up his own software development company.
He reveal the reason why he decided to take the entrepreneurship route is because of an advice given from his namesake, businessman John Gokongwei, Jr. in the latter’s book, “The Path of Entrepreurship. Gokongwei, one of Asia’s foremost rags-to-riches taipans, was hailed by Forbes Magazine as the 34th richest man in Southeast Asia in 2005. “I was inspired by Mr. Gokongwei’s advice on how you can create value as an entrepreneur and have the opportunity to be your best self as well,” Nova recalls.
Victa Software Solutions, of which Nova is CEO, is made up of a team of highly motivated people coming from various IT backgrounds. The company has a couple of marketing staff and maintains some IT consultants and a pool of software developers from Comteq College.
The company services both small and large business alike and prides itself in being able to offer better, more cost-efficient services than those normally provided by the market. “We work harder and aim to do better than our competitors because we know that our success depends on our clients’ success,” Nova says.
Very often, the Victa team usually works literally beyond the confines of their office cubicles. “We work while walking around the block, while eating, and even when we are taking a bath. Our thinking never sleeps because people in the industry always need to be creative and imaginative 24/7.”
Victa used to focus mainly on doing short-term projects. Eventually, however, the company went into service outsourcing for big government projects and decided to integrate service outsourcing into its own build-own-operate (BOO) business model. BOO is a low-cost strategy wherein a client company outsources an in-house software project to a private contractor. The private contractor then develops the software, initially runs and manages the application, and trains the in-house IT staff of the client company so they can eventually operate the application on their own.
Nova is a hands-on manager who is not averse to performing line functions and even manual tasks himself. “I am involved in almost every aspect of software development – from analysis and engineering through programming,” he says.
OSCAR GARIN
Aside from being a public servant, Philippine Coconut Administrator Oscar Garin is a successful entrepreneur.
“Enough to feed myself”
When Garin was in his elementary years, he started a store and sold candies to his fellow children in Guimabal, Iloilo. When he was in Grade 4, he tended three cattle. Having calculated his earnings, he asked his mother to allow him to stop schooling. He explained that what he earns from tending cattle will be enough to feed himself with noodles all year round.
His Passion
Garin pursued a degree in civil engineering. However, in the early 1980’s, he went back to his original passion. He stated raising sows in his backyard. His small piggery eventually became a commercial hog farm with 500 sows and named it Octagon Farm Product and Supply.
When the farm started to become profitable, Garin added other livestock like goats, cattle and sheep. He also ventured into poultry production with turkeys, ducks and game fowls. His farm became a major supplier of high quality breeders for hog farmers and backyard growers in Southern Iloilo. Some 30% of the pork his farm produces is sold in the province and the remaining 70% are transported to Metro Manila markets.
An Eco-Tourism Destination
Part of Garin’s business espansion, he put up a resort, theme park and zoo rolled into one. RACSO’s Inland-Wood-land Resort showcases exotic marine and ground animals, trees, flowering plants combined with modern amenities.
RACSO’s Resort is registered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and internationally known as an eco-tourism destination.
One-stop Shop
Garin did not completely forget his engineering background. He uses it to create innovative ideas and expand his knowledge in farming. He was inspired to establish GARINRAM, an integrated farm, training and livelihood center and resort.
Some of the highlights of GARINFARM is the Urban Garden featuring unique recycling ideas, the hydroponics building where plants are grown without soil, and the probiotics area which produces indigenous microorganisms. The farm uses organic farming methods and practices zero waste management.
GARINFARM us a one-stop shop for farmers and anyone interested in agriculture and environmentalism. Garin’s love for animals and passion in raising them remains while he continues to make profitable enterprises and help improve the lives of people around him.
CECILIO K. PEDRO – The Hapee Helper
LAMOIYAN CORPORATION, INC. Chief Executive Officer Cecilio K. Pedro believes that anything and everything can be an opportunity.
Reopening the Doors
In the 1970’s, Pedro’s Aluminum Containers, Inc. was the major supplier of aluminum collapsible toothpaste tubes to Colgate-Palmolive and Philippine Refining Company. However, in 1985, Pedro closed his company because his major clients had switched to plastic laminated tubes for toothpaste containers.
Two years after, Pedro reopened the factory as Lamoiyan Corporation after realizing that he could still use his old equipment. Now, his corporation is best known as the manufacturer of Hapee and Kutitap toothpaste.
Reaching the Top
Pedro’s company became the first Filipino firm to penetrate the toothpaste market that has been dominated by multinational companies. Pedro succeeded in making Hapee the No.3 toothpaste brand in the country.
To give back to society, Pedro has chosen to use his entrepreneurial skills to provide opportunities to others. He helps provide free college education to at least 200 dear-mute students through the Deaf Evangelistic Alliance Foundation, Inc. (DEAF), which he currently chairs. He also employs over 30 deaf-mute staff in his company and helps provide them with free housing.
The Backbone of Success
Lamoiyan is the Cantonese name of Pedro’s grandmother. His grandmother was the first Christian in their family. She remains to be his inspiration.
Lamoiyan’s corporate motto is “To make a difference for the Glory of God.” Guided by this motto, Pedro has made it to a point to take care not only of the physical and intellectual well-being, too.
Some awards receive through the years…
by Lamoiyan:
- Adjudged as Most Outstanding Toothpaste Manufacturer by the Consumers’ Union of the Philippines (1990 and 1993)
- Cited for having the Most Outstanding Program for Equal Employment Opportunities for the Disabled by the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (1993)
- Recognized as Employer of the Year by the Apolinario Mabini Rehabilitation Award (1993)
By Cecilio K. Pedro:
- Chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men, Business Entrepreneurship category, by the Philippine Jaycees (1991)
- Recognized as Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young (2004)
LANCE GOKONGWEI
Lance Gokongwei is the son of the business tycoon John Gokongwei, one of the wealthiest Filipinos. For someone born to a family of entrepreneurs, it is not surprising that Lance engaged in business. His father is his greatest influence and mentor in the business.
Cebu Pacific Air
After graduating, Gokongwei started working in their family business. In 1996, after the government father bought airplanes, leading to the establishment of Cebu Pacific Air. It started with three secondhand DC-9 planes and offered flights to and from three destinations. Lance Gokongwei served as its president and chief executive officer (CEO).
At present, Cebu Pacific Air is the second largest airline in the country in terms of capacity offered, traffic carried and revenue generated. It offers flights to 20 major cities in the country and neighboring countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
Taking on More Responsibilities
Aside from his job as president and CEO of Cebu Pacific Air, Gokongwei has assumed leadership of other family business. He took over the management of their business in 2002 after his father retired.
At present, Gokongwei is the president and director of JG Summit Holdings Inc., Cebu Pacific Air, Universal Robina Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation, JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation and Litton Mills. He is chairman of Robinsons Savings Bank in the Philippines and is a member of the Board of Directors of United Industrial Corporations Limited, Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc. and Singapore Land Limited.
Entrepreneur of the Year
In 2005, Gokongwei was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year for his leadership in Cebu Pacific Air and was given to Tourism Entrepreneur Award for building an outstanding company in tourism.
Gokongwei attributes the success of Cebu Pacific Air to its affordable rates, excellent service, reliability, on-time performance and commitment to safety. He has a pool of honest, hardworking and dedicated people committed to providing customer satisfaction. His employees work as a team and he rewards them also encourage employees to directly talk to the management and asks them suggestions on how to improve their business. His leadership style is what makes his company thrive in the airline industry.
But most importantly, what makes Gokongwei a successful entrepreneur is his passion for his business. He believes that entrepreneurs should love what they do to be able to succeed.
RICARTE A. GAPUZ JR. – Nurse & Entrepreneur
“DIVERSIFY AND INNOVATE” is 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year awardee Ricarte “Ray” Gapuz Jr.’s motto in managing his business.
The Path to Success
Gapuz perceived success as having a good employment abroad. His nurse sister became his role model; however, if not for his parents he would have wanted to pursue a career in journalism or biology.
Gapuz graduated cum laude with a degree in nursing from the University of Santo Tomas (UST). He later on topped the licensure examination for nurses in 1992. Also at UST, he proceeded to pursue his masters degree in nursing.
Gapuz also passed the qualifying exams to practice in the United States (US), but unlike most nurses who rush abroad to earn dollars, he chose to stay in the Philippines. However, instead of practicing nursing, he established a nursing review center, inspired by his realization that several nursing subjects are not taught in Philippine nursing schools.
In 1994, Gapuz opened the RA Gapuz review center in Dagupan, Pangasinan, aiming to fill the discrepancies in the local nursing curricula.
To better understand the learning needs of Filipino students, Gapuz also went back to school for a masters degree in psychology. He constantly revised his review programs, introducing innovations and intensifying his marketing strategies. RA Gapuz Review Center now has thousands of enrollees, has four branches located in Baguio, Davao, Manila and Cebu and nine franchised outlets.
Gapuz also authored the internationally acclaimed book, The ABCs of Passing Foreign Nursing Exams, which reflects his style of teaching as light, witty, entertaining and focused.
Business-minded Nurse
In 1996, anticipating a downturn in his review business because the US closed its market for nurses, Gapuz decided to venture into other businesses. In 2000, he started Gapuz Productions which produces concerts for the benefit of the Philippine Nurses Association. A few months later, he opened Gapuz Publications. He also manages the Ray Gapuz Scholarship Foundation which provides scholarships to nursing students of the University of the Philippines-Manila.
Gapuz also opened the G Salon beauty parlor and a water refilling station. He is also now working on a new concept involving a chain of convenience stores. He also plans to go global and open more review centers.
LYNDON C. TAN
A multi-awarded proprietor who is known as the “King of Lettuce”. He runs the well-known Basic Necessity, an impressive eight-hectare state-of-the-art greenhouse facility of seven varieties of top grade lettuce.
Humble Beginning
Tan was born in Bicol. He was raised in a farming community. He gained his primary to tertiary education in Naga City. While taking his management course, Tan worked in his maternal grandparents’ rice mill to sustain his needs in school. Upon obtaining his college degree, he went for further studies at the Asian Institute of Management where he pursued his Master’s Degree in Management and trained in Harvard Business School for Agribusiness.
Putting Up Basic Necessity
Tan started his agribusiness through the “buy-and-sell” trading of low-end agricultural products. He sold vegetables in Divisoria at night. When his business began to expand, Tan started venturing into producing high-quality vegetables. In his 700 square meter farm lot in Silang, Cavite, Tan put-up an office and living quarters for him and his staff and eventually established Basic Necessity.
Tan made extensive research on the viability and marketability of a variety of agricultural commodities, focusing on vegetables and herbs. He also engaged I developing innovative technologies that help improve farming techniques. Equipped with proper skills and knowledge he gained in his trainings here and abroad, Tan introduce the advanced process of growing plants called hydrophonics. Through this process, crops are propagated under a controlled environment using a mixture of coco fibers and rice husks instead of soil. With the efficiency of hydrophonics, Basic Necessity prospered and became famous because of the high-value lettuce it produced. Tan’s farm became the major supplier of lettuce for elegant hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and other establishments nationwide.
In his desire to include lettuce in the daily diet of Filipinos, Tan introduced his pre-packed ready-to-eat lettuce “Salad Time”. The product is sold in all leading supermarkets and stores and was showcased at the Japan Foodex, the largest food and beverage trade exposition in Asia.
Good Harvest
Tan is an inspiration to many Filipinos who want to venture into agribusiness. In recognition of his earnest effort to boost the Philippines’ agricultural industry, Tan became one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men awardees in 2003. He was also a Gawad Saka Presidential Awardee. His farm has been touted for its world-class standard of hygiene and health sanitation.
