Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
Crystal Sand Beach Resort in Boracay
Let us capture the best sunrise and sunset in the Philippines.
And where else can we see this if not in the famous white beach at Boracay?
Let us enjoy the comfort of staying in a home away from home, Crystal Sand Beach Resort.
Crystal Sand Beach Resort is located in the midst of the long white crystal sand of Boracay beach. This is the reason why it is named Crystal Sand Beach Resort. It has enough rooms to accommodate visitors coming from the different parts of the world.
Indeed, the comfort of the visitors is the top priority of the hotel that is why first class amenities are offered to visitors.
The 24 hour air conditioning to make the occupants of the room warm and comfortable is the number one feature. Added to this cable TV, in case the visitor gets tired of roaming around the island, is provided in all rooms. A telephone and hot and cold shower are other plus factors in their room accommodations.
For those who are occupying the suite and superior rooms a refrigerator is an additional provision. To assure that there are always lights around the vicinity even in case of brown outs there are 2 standby generators. And of course to add colors to the experience of the visitors the resort has its bar and restaurant where different people meet and exchange stories. As the saying goes, this is where East meets West.
For the rates of the hotel these vary according to season and the type of rooms one is occupying. But definitely, the price is fair and reasonable.
For the super peak season which covers the period from December 23 to January 23 including the Chinese New Year as well as Holy Week the prices are a little bit higher. For standard a single room the charge is 10445 PhP and an additional fee of 4400 PhP for an extra night. For a double room the price is 6300 PhP and an additional payment of 2200 PhP for an extra night.
For superior single room the resort is charging 12150 PhP and an additional 5250 PhP for extra night. In case it is a double room the cost is 7450 PhP and an extra fee of 2630 PhP for another night. Again, this is for super peak season.
During the super peak season the cost of single suite room is 14745 PhP and an additional charge of 6550 PhP for an extra night. For twin or double room the rate is 8310 PhP and an additional 3275 PhP for extra night.
However during peak season which starts every January 24 to June 15 the rates per type of room are different. For single standard room the rate is 8550 PhP and an additional payment of 3400 PhP for extra night. For double or twin room the hotel is charging 5390 PhP and an extra fee of 1700 PhP for an extra night.
For single superior room the charge is 10150 PhP and an additional 4250 PhP for another night. For double or twin room, superior type the rate is 6200 PhP and an extra 2125 PhP for an additional night.
For single suite room during peak season the cost is 12745Php and an additional 5550 PhP for an extra night. For double or twin room the charge is 7480 PhP per night and another 22775 for extra night.
The lowest rates of the hotel can be experienced by the visitors during the low season which starts every June 16 to October. For a single standard room the rate is only 6100 PhP and an additional of 2085 PhP per night. For a double room the charge is 4400 PhP and an extra payment of 1300 PhP for an extra night.
For single superior room the rate is 6900 PhP and an additional charge of 2500 PhP for an additional night. For a double or twin room the cost is 5100 PhP and another 1570 PhP for an extra night.
For the single suite room the hotel is charging 8250 PhP only and an additional 3290 PhP for an additional night. For double or twin room the cost is 5500 PhP and an additional charge of 1800 for an extra night.
So we can see that the rates differ according to the seasons which are all reasonable in the sense that all these payments include 3 days and 2 night’s room accommodations, daily breakfast, roundtrip airport transfer and welcome drinks.
Indeed visitors who will come to this white beach of Boracay in the Philippines will really experience the first class hospitality of the Filipinos once they decided to check in at Crystal Sand Beach resort. From the time they arrive to the airport up to their stay at the hotel until their departure they will feel their being important as visitors and will never regret that they have chosen this resort to be their home away from home.
Exotic Bohol’s Seafood Festival Bargains
“Fresh” is the operative word here. Fresh seafood. As in just plucked out of the sea a moment ago and cooked before your very eyes. Freshly slaughtered suckling pig roasting in a pit of hot coals. Fresh vegetables. Harvested just a few steps away. Some garnish the seafood; some are processed for salads and side dishes. Fresh fruit. A local picks them off the bushes, shrubs or trees and ably adds these to the growing menu.
We are going to have a fiesta. In these parts, fiesta is a vital component of celebrating life. What seems like a growing cacophony of food preparation activity is actually an orderly exercise in merrymaking. It is the lifeblood and the tradition of these islands.
These are the Philippine islands. Home to a warm and hospitable Filipino people. And if there is anything Filipinos love to do, it is to eat well. Compared to many other nationalities worldwide, Filipinos share the peculiar reputation of celebrating the small and big events of their lives with food. To them, food is indispensable as a means of merrymaking. It seems well entrenched in the national psyche that good food; processed and handled and served well, is every homemakers status symbol. It is a widely held belief that a self-respecting Filipino will go to great lengths to transform the humblest of food into something special at the dinner table.
Native cuisine is often an eclectic mix of Chinese, Spanish, American, and local food reflecting influences from their neighbors, colonizers, and trading partners. The staple food is rice, fish, and vegetables, but pork and chicken is also popular. Each region of the Philippines is justifiably proud of its local specialties which take advantage of the dazzling range of fruits, vegetables, fish, and meats available. But let us focus on Bohol’s restaurants and its unique seafood festival.
Scenic and historical Bohol Island is a popular tourist destination located among the cluster of Visayan Islands in south-central Philippines. It is home to some spectacular dive sites that attract international divers who very often take up long-term residence here. Add to this the seasonal tourist, the resident mix-blood whose ancestors traded with or colonized the islanders, the local migrants, and the islanders themselves, and you get a picture of a Bohol island which is peopled by a merry mix of nationalities, all of whom have their own food tastes and preferences. This gives rise to a clientele for a wide variety of restaurants in Bohol which cater to every need, want and budget.
Yet most Bohol restaurants are no different from that which is typical to the Philippines or from similarly situated tourist destinations throughout the world. Even the mildly unique restaurant structures that are set partly on land and partly on the shallows of the beach are typical in many coastal tourist destinations. Fresh catch may be the operative word here, but that is true in most all quality restaurants throughout the world.
But what is unique to Bohol restaurants is the sheer variety of fresh catch and the price for which they can be had. A recent World Bank publication and the United Nations Development Program have cited a good number of marine resources scientists who claim that the Philippines is at the center of the world’s marine fish biodiversity. That study rings most true in Bohol which is situated at the center of the Philippine islands. The sheer variety of fresh catch at near bargain prices. This allows for a seafood festival unique to Bohol restaurants.
Diving Spots You’ll Never Get Enough Of
Bohol is a province in the Philippines located to the south of Luzon, north-west of Cebu and northeast of Leyte. Considered as one of the most beautiful locations in the Philippines, it is also known for its historic attractions such as the Baclayon Church, the oldest church in the country, the Blood Compact Site, the wonder of Chocolate Hills, and the exotic tarsier, the World’s smallest primate. In addition to that, certain places in Bohol are now a diving spot wherein divers can see more of what Bohol has under the sea.
Panglao Island is located at the tip of Bohol, often called “Tourist Haven” for its beautiful scenery and crystal clear water. The world-renowned Alona beach is just 3 minutes away from the island by foot. Below are the lists of diving locations around this island:
Cervera Shoal – Known as the “Spaghetti Shoal” or “Snake Island“, Cervera Shoal is a definite diving spot for those who wants to get a glimpse of large pelagic fish and other sea snakes for a change (since there aren’t sea corals around here). Cervera got its name from the black-and-white sea snakes which can be found in numbers.
Kalipayan – Not far from the white-sand Alona Beach, Kalipayan (also known as “Happy Wall”) houses Alona Beach’s reefs. Divers will surely enjoy watching small gorgonian sea fans and other school of fish wandering around corals of the island.
Pungtud Wall – The famous coral garden of Pungtud Island, Pungtud Wall is also perfect for snorkeling. Soft and stony corals can be found at this diving spot along with groupers, sea urchins, clownfish, puffer fish and other sea creatures.
Arco Point – At the southeast of Panglao Island lays the famous vertical funnel of Arco Point (or the “Hole in the Wall”). Most divers for its calm condition, either little or no current at all. Divers can enjoy the scenic beauty of the underwater along with its inhabitants such as the moray eels, wrasse, butterfly fish and sea snakes.
Napaling – Perfect for underwater photographers and the likes, Napaling is known for its wonderful coral garden. White tip reef sharks can be spotted occasionally while the caves are patrolled by squirrelfish, scorpion fish and royal angelfish, among many others.
Duljo Point – Take a drift-dive at the sandy slopes of Duljo Point located at the southwest part of Panglao Island. The wall is covered with sea fans, a variety of sponges and colorful corals. The current here is usually rough where trigger fish, batfish, surgeon fish and other pelagic fish can be found.
On Balicasag Island you’ll find some of the best diving spots the Philippines has to offer; located 6km southwest of Duljo Point. Below are the diving locations where you can find around Balicasag Island:
Black Forest – Take a fast drift-dive in the steep sandy slope of Balicasag Island’s Black Forest. A variety of coral can be found here and as you go deeper, large groupers, tuna, and others can be located. Advanced divers often pick this spot.
Rico’s Wall – Another beautiful coral garden lies southwest of Alona Beach, Rico’s Wall is famous for its bountiful sea stars, small reef fish, and a wide variety of leathery, stony and soft corals. Diving down would lead you to a number of small caves and overhangs where lionfish, moray eels and sometimes grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks and barracuda can be found.
Rudy’s Rock – If you continued diving to the eastern part of Rico’s Wall, you’ll find Rudy’s Rock. Get a chance to see large green turtles. Also big eye trevally can be found here which will circle around you for awhile.
Bohol’s Bargain World Class Dive Sites
Many renowned international divers hail Bohol dive sites as a dream of a lifetime. Located at the center of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, these dive sites are ideal for all types of divers. They feature gentle slopes, magnificent sheer cliff walls, extensive multi-colored coral cover, and a rich variety of marine creatures. Certainly an opportunity for great underwater photography. And all this at near bargain prices. But hype is hype so you be the judge.
That tall assertion notwithstanding; recent studies published by the World Bank as well as World Ocean Day Celebrations spearheaded by the United Nations Development Program in coordination with over 100 marine resources scientists have placed the Philippines at the center of the world’s marine fish biodiversity. Its 26,000 square kilometers of coral reef is reported to have the highest concentration of marine species per unit area. If the Philippines is at the center of all this, and central Philippines is made up of that cluster of islands collectively called the Visayan Islands or simply the Visayas; this is where Bohol island is located. Needless to say, it is surrounded by the aforesaid dive sites.
But let’s not get too scientific. Instead, let’s celebrate diversity. From the biodiversity of exotic flora and fauna to marine biodiversity, to the very diversity of inhabitants that people this place; Bohol dive sites are unique in the world. Bohol is home to a gentle and friendly people, to the exotic chocolate hills, to pristine sandy shell coralline beaches and hidden coves. Would it be immodest to say spectacular dive sites? You be the judge.
Your staging point will be the southwestern most town of Tagbilaran, the capital city of Bohol. Directly opposite Tagbilaran city is Panglao Island. Diving is done by boat entry; known locally as a “banka”, or boat with outriggers, or by shore entry from a number of international class resorts on the island. On the popular northern and western sections of the island, you will frolic in both narrow and shallow reef platforms at 4 to 6 meters width, the edges of which terminate in perpendicular submarine cliffs plunging down to depths of 30 to 48 meters. Immersed in crystal clear waters with all round visibility of about 30 meters, the sheer variety of multi-shaped and multi-colored corals is breathtaking.
Want to get serious? Go further southwest on a “banka” or outrigger canoe to Balicasag Island. In just 4 short kilometers from Panglao reef, you will break land on pristine white sand beaches surrounding the island. On your approach, your eyes are drawn to peer through the crystal clear waters which hint of the reef set against the white sand bottom. Striking? This is a narrow reef shelf some 49 meters in width. The tops of the submarine cliffs are an extensive forest of black coral cover and sponges and gorgonians populate the lower levels. This is home to sea turtles and sea snakes; and swirling schools of jacks, barracuda, and mackerel abound.
Want to get more serious still? For large marine life encounters, go directly southeast of Panglao island onto Pamilacan Island. This is an almost year round convergence point of hammerhead sharks, tuna, dolphin, grouper, and mackerel. However, the real reputation of Pamilacan Island is that of a prime site for whale and dolphin watching. Endemic species include several of dolphin, melon-headed whales, beaked whales, and the legendary sperm whale. Diving here is nothing short of spectacular. At near bargain prices, can anything be more serious? Of course though, hype is hype and so you have got to be the judge.
Bohol Beaches: For the Best Vacation of Your Life!
Looking for a great beach destination? Have we got the place for you! When we say vacation we usually see white sand beaches, warm, tropical nights, beautiful sunsets, exotic food, AND exotic people. It is also an advantage if your destination is affordable (not cheap!) and can AND will cater to your every vacation desire. The beaches in Bohol are all that and more.
Bohol is a little island lying southeast of Cebu and a mere 1 hour and fifty minutes from Manila. Known for its Chocolate Hills and the lovable tarsier, Bohol boasts of equally stunning and famous beaches that are favorites of locals and tourists alike. What makes the beach destinations here unique, however, are the pristine waters and protected diving areas where world famous seashells like the Golden Cowrie and “Gloria maris” thrive and abound.
The more exclusive beach resorts are often found in Panglao Island, that little piece of land jutting next to the bigger island of Bohol. The more known beaches include Dumaluan Beach, where some of the best resorts, like the Bohol Beach Club are located. It lies on the south of the Panglao Island, and is a great place to view killer sunsets, go barefoot in powdery white sand or simply, relax.
Alona Beach also boasts its own string of known resorts, and is probably the most developed beach on Panglao Island. It has a number of diving establishments, not to mention some of the best restaurants in Bohol. There is absolutely no better way to cap off a great day of diving than eating delicious seafood at the best beach front restaurants this island has to offer! Snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts have the time of their lives here, although they have to be wary of the occasional sea urchin that may be lurking beneath the waters. A good, sturdy pair of water shoes will take care of that though.
Other beaches include the Doljo, Bikini, Anda,and Momo beaches, perfect for those who prefer quiet, leisurely strolls to the activity and hustle of the more popular beaches and resorts.
True, there are a lot of beaches out there, too many, in fact, that at times it may seem hard to choose. However, there is no doubt that you will have a memorable vacation experience spent exploring in Bohol’s beautiful and world-renowned beaches. Aside from the good food, excellent swimming and diving amenities and romantic sunsets you get the genuine tropical experience that only Bohol can offer.
TLRC Programs for Home Businesses
Gloria Mendoza is a home businesswoman. She owns a bakery store right in front of her home and makes her products at her own backyard where she set-up a mini-factory. Her story is just one of the many success stories from this side of the world, in the Philippines, thanks to the government’s Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC).
The home business was built in 1992. She didn’t know anything about baking and relied heavily on the skills she acquired from TLRC. Her baker died two years prior to that and she nearly closed her bakery. But she mustered her strength and enrolled in TLRC and took up baking courses.
“I searched through newspapers and directories and it was there that I found TLRC.” She narrates. “I personally visited them and told them I wanted to learn because I didn’t know anything about baking.”
Gloria started taking courses at TLRC in 1994. First she enrolled in Basic Baking course and moved on to advanced courses like Bread-making, Cake Baking, and Cake Decorating. She has taken six courses in TLRC to date.
These are just some of the courses offered by TLRC. The center had already developed more than 300 courses in home-based, agri-aqua, and crafts-based business. The course also come in video and print formats which serve as references and easy-to-follow gyides for technology applications at home.
TLRC pioneered in the development of livelihood and business technology training aimed at providing would-be and practicing entrepreneurs with the skills and techniques in putting up and managing a business.
It continues to provide and disseminate knowledge, skills, technology as well as financial intervention through loans for the Filipino SMEs. They also have developed such as the Program for Countryside Economic Empowerment and Development (PROCEED) which aims to bring TLRC services all over the country. The program will establish Technology and Livelihood Development Centers (TLDCs) at the local level and will serve as channels for TLRC’s livelihood and technology programs.
The center was also able to promote the application of information technology Services Group (ITSG). ITSG pioneered the development and implementation of computer-related projects and also provides other information technology (IT) related services for the SMEs.
In 2001, SMEs started to enjoy a fast and easy access to TLRC’s programs through its e-Library project. It has made technology information and livelihood information available to local government units throughout the country.
After Gloria’s trainings at TLRC, she was able to supervise every detail of her baker business. “Using what I learned from TLRC, I was able to monitor the operations of my bakery,” she says.
She states everything that she had learned at TLRC, she was able to apply in her home business. At present, the bakery employs more than 20 personnel and earns a net income of P3,000 a day.
There’s Money In Wax
Rose started a home business with an ordinary but in-demand item: candle. The road to success is difficult but rewarding especially when you see the business picking up well. And yes, there’s money in making candles particularly in a religious country like the Philippines.
The secret is keeping the prices of their candles lower than that of their competitors. For example, the regular white, red and yellow candles usually thriving near the churches are sold for only fifty centavos (P.50), other candle-makers sell them for P.75 cents to a peso. A single scented candle of about six inches tall and three inches thick can be bought for as low as P40 pesos, much cheaper indeed than when you buy them from the mall. Their most expensive product, the pascal candle or those gigantic candles used during church rites, is only priced at about P850 pesos.
There is yet another secret to this. Rose learned from her in-laws the importance of recycling. They collect used candles and those wax balls we usually form in the cemetery during All Saints’ Day. They are bought for P10pesos per kilo. Then they are thrown to the furnace for melting and are made into new candles.
“We use the recycled wax only with the red and white candles that we sell for cheap prices. It’s not really practical if we’ll use pure paraffin wax..
“Besides we really can’t sell the candles if they’re too expensive. People around here cannot afford it, unlike in Manila. And we sell them for the same price even during peak season.”
Business is fairly good, with growing clientele and the continuous demand for candles. Even some TLRC classmates come to her for additional supply. Rose admitted that making scented and decorative candles is quite costly that’s why the bigger bulk of their production is still the regular non-scented ones.
Rose was kind enough to show us the step-by-step process of making candles. Here’s how it goes:
1) Candle-making basically starts with the wick. Buy cotton strips from textile mills costing about [45 pesos per kilo. Use pure cotton for better quality, making sure there’s no nylon material mixed in the cotton strips.
2) The cotton strips are cut and made into knots. Soak them in hot wax to make them stiff and hard and ready for candle-molding.
3) Tie the wicks to a stick about two feet long and carefully place them at the center of the hot wax in the mold.
4) Add the scent while the wax is being poured into the mold.
This small home business has become the bread and butter of the Ludgarda Family. And this home business is what Rose can proudly pass on to her children and grandchildren. Judging from the way she puts her heart into her work, there is no doubt on the very bright future for Rose Candles.
Starting Small for the Big-Time
Entrepreneurial seafarers can take their first shot at business and all they need to get going is of course the capital. They can start with a capital of as little as P2,000.
Easily, the hottest and trendiest option for many entrepreneurs is franchising. It is one venture that offers you some small success even before you start. What’s good with franchising is that you’re linking up with established names such as Jollibee, Goto King, Foto Me, 3M Pizza, Shell, Caltex, and many others. Other than the financial resources, an interested franchisee only needs to present a letter of intent detailing his initial business plan. This is because companies understandably screen their prospective franchisees to ensure that the business’ image is not tarnished.
So rather than spend your hard-earned money in shopping or placing them in banks which could only earn a measly two percent interest annually, why not pick from among the following business undertakings you can possibly venture into:
? Gas Station – Investing in a gasoline station business would require a capital of from P3 to P5 million. That is if you apply as dealer of the Big 3 oil companies: Shell, Caltex, or Petron. New oil players such as Total and Flying V offer lower packages, while others can make you a gas station owner for less than P200,000. Of course, the location must be considered to realize profits early.
? Fastfood Chain – You don’t need to despair if you can’t afford the franchising cost of Jollibee, McDonald’s, Max’s, or Goldilocks which cost at least P10 million. A relatively smaller capital can give you a franchise of a smaller, but nonetheless, recognized fastfood chain. Why not try 3M Pizza, Goto King, Mister Donut, Potato Corner, Lapid’s Chicharon and Todits? A Potato Corner franchise costs from P200,000 to P300,000. Sure you can also get a food franchise for P100,000 but these are the less popular ones. Pooling your resources, however, can still bring your dreams of becoming an owner of a big-ticket fastfood franchise.
? Laundry Shop – Today’s fast-paced and highly urbanized lifestyle led to the instant success of laundry shops. The old reliable neighborhood lavandera can still do your laundry, but the trend nowadays is the laundry shop. A Lavandera Ko franchise would not cost at least P800,000, including self-serve washing machines, dryer, and chemicals. For around P500,000, you may consider opening your own laundry shop. Laundry machine suppliers offer friendly financing terms. Go check out the telephone directory.
? Water Station – Some 20 years ago, a group of students in a masters business class proposed a plan to undertake the possibility of a bottled water industry as part of their thesis. Their professor, however, thinking that such idea was too far out did not approve it. The rest, as everyone knows, is history. With pollution all around us, tap water nowadays is no longer considered safe and is largely used only for washing and bathing. To be a water station owner carrying known brands such as Agua Vida, you have to shell out from P25,000 to P500,000. You can check daily newspaper advertisements for details.
Making A Dormitory as Home Business
Corte Real started out as an idle space until Illac Diaz, a man with great entrepreneurial spirit turned it into the Philippine’s first dormitory for seafarers. From a 20-bed dormitory in Intramuros (Manila), Illac strived to make it 600-bed strong. The first months since its opening in Jun e 2001 were bad but it picked up quickly.
Illac recalls with fondness the very first tenants his dormitory had. “I was sitting inside my room then, planning for the dormitory. I was very worried. I mean, I had more than 600 vacant beds and what would I do with that? It was such a low point for me. Then all of a sudden someone knocked in and asked if he can stay. What is interesting is that his name was Amen. He was my very first tenant. So it was like an answer from the heavens since I was praying hard for my business.”
Illac considers Amen, who stayed for one night, as his angel, a heavenly sign for his business. True enough, after Amen left, more tenants knocked in to his dormitory.
“I knew I had the intentions. Mine was for social development, using industry for a better society. I mean, it’s how you change the lifestyle of your seafarers by using a business model.”
Corte Real strives to change the lifestyle of seafarers, which Diaz describes as one of the abused sectors of our society. Along with keeping his rates affordable for seafarers, he makes it a point that the dormitory will not just be a space to stay but a community as well.
“We offer more than the space. We are not all about business. They pay much more for the services than the space.” Illac contends. Apart from the recreation, the dormitory offers free use of game materials such as chessboards, television, a nearby basketball court and billiards hall; they also hold self-defense lessons for seafarers every Saturday. Add to that the weekly religious activities they hold.
Corte Real also gives assistance to seafarers with legal problems and assist them in finding a job. Just outside the dormitory premises are job listings for seafarer-tenants. They also have 24-hour security, and comprehensive record of their tenants including the manning agency they belong to.
Illac has high regard for the country’s seafarers which probably explains his commitment to elevate their status. “Our seafarers are well-trained, very calculated as regards to their movements. I only encountered a few problems with regards to the seaman, perhaps 1 or 2 among the 3,000 that have been here. They have a high level of accountability to their family and company.”
He also tries to accommodate then in every way he can. The dormitory for instance offers credit facilities and accepts delayed payments for seafarers. Aside from this, a new dormitory will be opened in nearby Ermita where a plan of accepting women seafarers is being considered.
Get Into The Catering Business
One great example of a home business that anyone with interest in food and parties is the business of catering. Just arm yourself with a sizable capital not less than P100,000, an assistant cook, at least 3 waiters, a couple of helpers, a driver (unless you can drive) and your on your way to income galore.
Here’s a Q&A with a friend-entrepreneur who decided to make use of her cooking abilities.
Q: How do you plan for your menu?
A: Initially, I inquired from other caterers. Then, I tried to come up with m own menu. It is important to highlight your specialty. But you have to be flexible too in order to meet your client’s preference and budget.
Q: How much effort does one put into this business?
A: Like any other business, you have to give it your full time. Catering needs your personal touch and attention all the time. Even if you have a cook to assist you, you are still the one in charge of the kitchen. Even if you have waiters top serve the guests, you will have to be there to attend to the needs of your clients.
Q: You mentioned “personal touch” but what if you have to cater to different events in a day? What do you do?
A: It is really hard when you have two or more events in one day. You have to exert extra effort, especially of the events are scheduled at the same time. There was one time when I had two events to cater on a Saturday evening. One was in Quezon City and the other in Pasig. I asked my partner to attend the one in Pasigs while I attended the one in Quezon City. But during the affair, we were in constant communication (thanks to cellphones!). It is really hard but at the end of the day, you find yourself fulfilled. It is rewarding!
Other caterers I know, they have people to contact to whenever events overlapped and they find it difficult to go to all those catering parties for the day. What is important is that you have someone to take your place if you cannot be there. That someone should be able to answer the questions of the guests, be there to build contacts for you, someone who could really represent you and our catering business.
Q: In terms of profit. How much do you earn from this business?
A: With all the effort that I put into this business, the returns are quite rewarding. Mark up can be around 50%. But you cannot actually save much because as I mentioned, the moment you earn from a particular event, you definitely used a big part of your earnings in buying additional things you need to upgrade. You spoons and forks or plates and glasses would not last forever. Expect some of them to get broken or be misplaced. But taking everything into consideration, you really earn quite an income from this business.
Q: Any advice for those interested to enter into the catering business?
A: If you don’t really have much investment to put into it, it is advisable to start small, that is by the order (per shaffing dish). Just try to build contacts first before going into a full-blown catering service. In my case, it was my friends who became my first clients.
You must also maintain the quality of your food and service. No matter how big your business gets, your personal touch is still important. The quality of your food is very necessary. You must also continue to update yourself with trends in the catering business. Enroll in cooking classes from time to time.
