Candle-making lights the future of the Ludgarda family from Angono.
Mrs. Rose Lugarda came to Angono (from Darangan, Rizal, Philippines) in 1972 to work for Rosin Candles owned by her soon-to-be husband’s family. Almost three decades of experience enabled her to master not only the candle-making process but the business operations as well.
It was 8 years ago when Rose and her husband decided to build a separate factory and run their own candle-making business. Unfortunately, this decision was the result of problems and misunderstandings with her in-laws. But fate has a funny way of turning bad things into good.
In 2000, upon the advice of her cousin, Aling Rose attended a two-day training on aroma candle-making at the Technological Livelihood and Resource Institute (TLRC).
“It was my cousin who told me about it. She herself wanted to have her own business. She told me about the TLRC training for aroma candle-making. Since I have a lot of clients asking me about aroma candles, I attended the two-day training last year.
“It was also at TLRC where I learned the art of decorating the candles,” Rose said.
Starting the business was not easy. Aside from shunning away from the shadow of the “original” family business, Rose and her husband needed a fairly large capital.
“We invested an initial capital of P120,000. We got the money from selling about 15 pigs that we raised for some time. Our workers are composed of family members. So this is now our own family business.”
On regular days, only three workers are needed to get the work done as large demand for candles is only seasonal. I visited the factory and found the whole family busy molding and packing their products for immediate delivery.
“Actually, bigger profit only comes when there are special occasions. But we continuously make candles all year round because we have dealers all over Rizal—Antipolo, Morong, Binangonan, Cardona—who sell our products. Even some of our clients from the other factory now come to us for their supply.”
Rose Candles has established quite a respectable network of dealers around the province of RIzal. Most of them are found in churches or small stalls and stores. Rose herself is renting a small place just along Kalayaan Road in Angono to sell her candles.
Rose is hoping that she can raise a bigger capital to help her business. Part of her dream is putting up kiosks in malls around Manila. “If we will have money, we would like to increase our production, purchase new and better equipment, and maybe have some stores in Manila.”
Sari-sari stores have been a tradition of community-based micro consumer businesses and have in fact become a basic entrepreneurial institution in the Philippines. They pop up here and there, often side by side.
But do they really make money?
A decent start with this business costs about P50,000. Some start it with P30,000 or less. But if the sari-sari store itself is not yet constructed a capital of P70,000 to P100,000 could be realistic enough.
A 16 square meter area ought to make for a spacious sari-sari store and would cost some P48,000 to P50,000 to construct if we use a P3,000 per square cost estimate factor. With a P70,000 capital and a P48,000 sari-sari-store construction cost, P22,000 is left for merchandise capital.
This remaining capital is distributed to at least 5 basic product items: canned items, sweets items, drinks items, plain food items, and miscellaneous items. We have left out wet items, hardware items, accessory items, and gifts and novelty items---items that can also easily make money. They may be added at a later time.
Say, for canned items we put P5,000, for sweets P2,000, for drinks P7,000, for food P5,000, and for miscellaneous P3,000. Drinks need more capital for buying drink cases and bottles in this business. Often, the experience among sari-sari store owners is that drinks, sweets, and canned items are the top three products that really make money. Under drinks are included soft drinks and beer and liquor. Sweets include affordable chocolates and candies. Canned items are sardines, corned beef, tuna, salmon, and cooking oil.
Then, we need to have a return of investment at the soonest possible time. If daily sales of the sari-sari store amount to P3,000 and three quarters of that is capital, we earn clean P750 daily. Not bad for a business to make money. We allot P150 of that for food for a day, P15 for next year’s business permit renewal, P135 for light and water bills for the month, P100 for miscellaneous. So we have P350 as daily savings. Now we have a good idea of how long before a capital of P50,000 or P70,000 can be returned to us. A P50,000 investment will take some 143 days or some 5 months to break even. That is if we make P3,000 sales daily.
Sari-sari stores have been around to make money for countless small proprietors. It is a business worth considering for a gradual entrepreneurship take off.
With cities getting more congested and the thoroughfares more clogged---and the prices of fuel soaring, to top it all---the bike is a good transportation alternative.
In fact many have already opted for a bicycle for their transportation mode going to and from the office, daily. Some have alternating days for bike-riding to the work place. Many have been using bikes for cross city or even cross province treks. Biking is affordable, easy, cheaper to maintain, and good for the health. Here are some tips to further enhance the use of bikes as a transportation mode option.
Always wear a quality helmet and goggles when biking. Bike helmets are not that strong against strong impacts, but they’re better than nothing. They’re not designed for head banging competition, anyway, but for added bike transportation safety. It is expected of bikers to avoid any collision. Goggles are important to prevent dust and other small particles from hurting the eyes while biking. They also prevent perspiration from getting to the eyes. These are important transportation safety factors when biking.
Wear light and slightly fit clothes while riding a bike. Loose clothing can easily get tangled with rear view mirrors or any projecting parts from other vehicles. On the other hand, don’t wear clothes that are too tight. Free-flowing blood circulation while biking is important. Remember, this transportation mode is dependent on pedal power, and that means constant leg pumping that perks up air and blood circulation in the body. Let these processes flow freely in the body.
Always wear biking gas masks. Check the pollution level in the city one is in and make some pollution precaution accordingly. Never assume that a place has tolerable pollution levels. With the trend these days, any city in the country, and in the world, is likely to have high pollution levels. Active lungs while pumping the bike pedals would easily take in carbon dioxide. So a health safety precaution for this open transportation mode is the gas mask solution.
Leave early for work or any destination. Arriving early gives enough time for rest and shower after biking. Bring a small back pack to keep extra shirts and the office uniform, if any. A portable clothes iron may also be handy. Usually, bikes take 25 to 30 minutes to travel a 20-kilometer distance. So adjust traveling time for more rests after a sprint with this transportation option.
A practical transportation option today is a bike. It meets the demands of everyday city life.
Easter Sunday is celebrated almost worldwide. But nowhere is it celebrated with more gusto and commitment than in the Philippines. This religious feast, sometimes “Pasko ng Pagkabuhay” (Christmas of the Resurrection) or “Pista ng Pagkabuhay” (Feast of the Resurrection) in the vernacular, is very special second to Christmas. In fact, thousands flock to the provinces for this Philippine fiesta.
The whole Lenten Season, in fact, is observed like a religious feast. Though the faithful is urged to observe it in silent and sorrowful rumination (and self-sacrifice), most Filipinos, including tourists, celebrate Holy Week in the countryside with feasting (instead of “fasting”) and fun. A lot of town fiestas coincide with Good Friday and the Philippine fiesta of the Resurrection or Easter.
The religious feast is observed this way. As early as 4:00 in the morning (after a “Pabasa” or rhymed and tuned reading of the gospel the night before) devotees of this Philippine fiesta, Easter, rise up to prepare a sumptuous lunch and supper for the guests. At times the community jointly does this, sometimes it happens per household. Some proceed to the church this early for a Sunrise Service (the protestants have their “Dawn Worship") as a preliminary celebration of this religious feast, Easter. Then later in the morning, more Easter Sunday masses are held to accommodate as many devotees as possible.
In some Catholic and Protestant churches, this Philippine fiesta is observed with games and fun, like Easter egg or bunny hunting and other treasure hunting games. If the occasion coincides with the town fiesta (which often happens), the town plaza will be filled with carnival fun and games the rest of the day. The reason for this extravagant religious feast is that there ought to be as much merriment in Easter as possible because Jesus rose from the dead.
The hearty meals that follow are full of native dishes and delicacies, often local specialties. Anybody can join and eat. In summary, the Ilocanos of the North would serve their Pinakbet among others, the Tagalogs their Kare-kare among others, the Visayans their Aros Valenciana among others, and so on. Often, the town mayor has prepared a special Easter program at the plaza for residents and visitors in this Philippine fiesta. Awarding ceremonies usually follow recognizing citizens’ efforts in the community and in preparing for this religious feast.
The Feast of the Resurrection, or easter, is a Philippine fiesta well celebrated with dole outs of food, prizes, and awards. It is one of the religious feasts vacationers and tourists wait for in summer time. Easter is a celebration of recovery and abundance.
According to a local myth, the sun was designed to be on earth. To begin with, it was supposed to light up the Earth. So, how come the sun ended up in the sky?
In the beginning, according to this myth, the Earth was so dark because there was nothing in the sky that could give light to it. Hence, there was no day. All throughout the day, 24 hours daily, there was only night time. So what the ancients did, says this myth, was to make bonfires to light up their surroundings, dry clothes on, and keep warm, aside from cook food, boil water, or burn debris. Sometimes, they had to build huge fires to light up whole surroundings on special occasions and community rituals. But they eventually realized, the myth adds, that bonfires, no matter how huge, were not enough to provide enough heat and light drive for all of them. Bonfires were not enough to sustain any kind of development.
So the people thought of ways to remedy the situation. The myth continues that they knew there had to be some kind of a continuous supply of heat and light from a permanent source that didn’t need human supervision. The supply had to be self-sustaining. So what did the people do? What they usually did. They resorted to what they discerned to be gods and goddesses that they believed controlled nature, the myth says.
After some worship rituals and offerings, finally the god of fire purportedly came down from above, according to the myth, and answered their supplication---a perpetual source of heat and light. The god was said to create a very big ball of fire. The myth says, the giant ball of fire was enough to warm and light up the whole surroundings---and even beyond. Miles upon miles of land was amply lighted up by this ball of fire. But it merely rested on the Earth. The myth continues, it was so big and hot that everybody had to stay inside caves to avoid being burned. Even the ground where it rested started to melt.
Seeing this, the god of fire threw the ball of fire to the sky. It was hurled away so strongly that it reached the sky and stayed there.
The local myth about the sun shows us that mere human efforts at life survival and progress is not enough. The sustaining power of nature and belief in a superior force or presence is needed.
The beautiful skyline of Legazpi and the tranquil, calm waters of the Gulf all help boost ecotourism in this city. When visiting this province, it’s a good idea to make a list of Legazpi sightseeing places to capture the unique beauty of this part of the Bicol region.
Ranking number one when it comes to Legazpi sightseeing is the Mayon Volcano. One might wonder why the Mayon Volcano is a famous tourist destination and really, this is something that one must see to appreciate. Words cannot describe the majesty of this Legazpi sightseeing spot and the Mayon Volcano stands proud and tall at a little over eight thousand feet. It’s not the height of the Mayon Volcano that makes it special though but rather its perfect cone that is simply captivating. This Legazpi sightseeing spot got its name from the Bicolano word “magayon” which literally means “lovely”. Although the Mayon Volcano erupts frequently, such eruptions are not dangerous and merely add to the majesty of this natural wonder. At night, the bright red lava that pours down its sides is amazing to watch.
Another good Legazpi sightseeing destination which fits all age groups is the Albay Park and Wildlife found just outside the city. One might think that the Albay Park and Wildlife is no different from a typical zoo but on the contrary, this place has several activities to offer both adults and children. The Albay Park and Wildlife is home to some 300 species and its lush jungle makes one feel as if one went right in the middle of the forest. Aside from viewing the animals and occasionally feeding them, children can go on a boat ride which goes around the entire Albay Park and Wildlife for a quick tour of the premises. There are other rides at this well known Legazpi sightseeing destination and these cater to both children and adults.
The Kapuntukan Hill is a landmark in Legazpi with its beautiful hillside that has a unique shape. The hillside here looks like a lion in slumber and aside from being picturesque, many wonder how this came to be. Once at the Kapuntukan Hill, one can trek all the way to the top to get a magnificent view of the entire Legazpi City as well as some distant islands. The ascent itself is not difficult at all and provides one with a natural high.
By just looking at the pictures on the menu your mouth will begin to water. It even has a teaser tempting you to take a fork and stick it in the menu for a bite. You definitely can't do that, but the mere picture alone is enough to make one really hungry. That's what you get when you visit the Italiani's Restaurant.
When you walk at the front door, you can't help but breathe the aroma of fresh ingredients. You can just imagine yourself as one of those old Looney Tunes cartoons where you see cartoon characters floating in mid-air at the smell of food. The Italiani's Restaurant does have that effect.
Let's sample the restaurant's menu shall we? On top of the list is a garlic tuscan bread topped with marinated Roma Tomatoes, pesto sauce and Asiago cheese. That's called the Toasted Bruschetta, sounds yummy.
Italiani's branches are all over Metro Manila. Check out the different Italiani's branches whenever you're around. They have a branch in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City at the Corte De Las Palmas. There's also an Italiani's at Gateway Drive, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
If ever you're in the business district of Makati, you'll find an Italiani's Restaurant in Glorietta 4, Level 2, or at the Greenbelt 2. There's an Italiani's at Connecticut Carpark at the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, Metro Manila.
If you're in the business area of Eastwood, just head on to the One Luna Style Center at the Felina Park Place in Libis, Quezon City. There's an Italiani's Restaurant in Parañaque City on Doña Soledad Avenue. And they also have an Italiani's at the ever-popular SM Megamall in Manila.
The Italiani's menu has a wide variety of dishes to tease your eyes and delight your palette. If you're into veggies try the delectable Grilled Eggplant Parmagiana. Its grilled aubregine topped with marinara cream sauce (really spicy!) with parmesan and mozarella.
Seafood, anyone? Try the Fried Calamari, this is lightly breaded fried squid, served with marinara sauce. Or you may want to sample the Mussels Lombardi. These are mussels simmered in white wine, topped by garlic, oregano, and parsley in olive oil.
Italiani's will not be Italiani's without the ever-popular Italian food. Included in our foray, we'll find Margherita, Pepperoni, Quattro Formaggio, Smoked Salmon, and the Classic Italiani's Pizza. Add Linguine, Fettuccine, Lasagna ala Ravina, Seafood Cioppino, Ravioli into the Italiani's entourage.
However you look at it, Italiani's is a great restaurant to take your friends and family for a really great dinner. The many choices among the gourmet dishes in the menu are as wide as your appetite.
Boracay is known in many different parts of the world as one of the best places to go to for that beach holiday. Here, basking in the sun the whole day and bar hopping at night are activities that are perfectly okay and many Boracay hotels allow you to do this every single day of your vacation.
Enjoy the sun and the pristine white sand beaches of Boracay at Friday’s Resort where cottages are made out of all Filipino products and pampering is a part of everyday life. For those traveling in big groups, Friday’s Resort has 5 cottages that are interconnected so one can have a private party every night if one feels like it. All the 34 cottages at the Friday’s Resort are made from bamboo and wood, all immaculately maintained and have modern necessities. 18 of these 34 cottages at Friday’s Resort look out directly to the beach and the view is simply magnificent. These 18 premier rooms have its own coffee and tea maker, all have king sized beds, fully air conditioned and a bathtub. This Boracay hotel is also very proud of its restaurant that serves excellent International and Asian cuisine and their facilities are first class. Friday’s Resort has a very large swimming pool, a gym, game room and a conference center for those who are in Boracay on business.
If upscale is what one is after, live it up at the The Panoly Resort which is nestled on its very own private land on the northern part of Boracay. This Boracay hotel is rather large, with 55 elegantly furnished rooms, some of which are connected, a spacious bathroom in each one, a mini-bar, IDD telephone, cable television and a fridge. Room service is available 24/7 at The Panoly Resort and because this Boracay hotel is committed to ensuring the privacy of their guests, one never has to worry about the place being too crowded especially during peak season.
The Panoly Resort has 6 different restaurants each one with a bar for the guest’s dining pleasure. Each restaurant has different specialties and one can choose to dine while looking out to the ocean or to a view of their massive swimming pool. Among the other facilities at the The Panoly Resort are a gym, a business center and the best part is, they have equipments for rent for any water sport that one can think of. This Boracay hotel also offers services such as massage, laundry and room service. The hospitality at The Panoly Resort is truly one of a kind in that one will not find a Boracay hotel with staff that is exceptionally accommodating.
Cebu City, being the prime city in the Visayas region of the Philippines, has several destinations for sightseeing and other activities in and around the city. These destinations include historical and cultural sites as well as natural and mad-made wonders. These places make Cebu City an ideal place to visit and have fun.
The Magellan Marker is in Punta Engano, Lapu-lapu City. Punta Engano is the site of where it is believed that Ferdinand Magellan was killed by Lapu-Lapu.
Magellan’s Cross is located in Magallanes Street in Cebu City. This is where Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross in 1521 as a way of commemorating the baptism of Rajah Humabon and his followers.
Fort San Pedro in Pier Area, Cebu City was a fort for what is considered to be the first settlement by Spain in the Philippines. It was turned into the American Warwick Barracks during the American Rule in early 1900s. During World War II, Fort San Pedro was used by the Japanese soldiers.
The Lapu-Lapu Monument is located in Punta Engano Lapu-Lapu City. This monument depicts local chieftain Lapu Lapu with a bolo and a pestle in both of his hands.
Different museums showcasing the Cebu culture and history are scattered around the city. Casa Gorordo Museum and Fort San Pedro National Museum highlights Cebu culture from the Spanish times up to early 1900s. The University Of San Carlos Museum, on the other hand has a collection of artifacts that have anthropologic and biological value. While the Southwestern University Museum has collections from prehistoric to Spanish Colonial period.
For visitors who enjoy being outdoors with nature, Cebu City has destinations for swimming, scuba diving and adventure. Mactan Island, Moalboal, Badian Island, Malapascua Island and Camotes Islands are prime destinations for water activities. For the sightseeing tourist who is more adventurous Kawasan Falls is a perfect site to hike for picnics and bathing. The Olango Wildlife Sanctuary, on the other hand, allows one to see migratory birds.
For sightseeing about religion and culture, Cebu City has several destinations for the traveler. The Catholic and Spanish influences are evident in the historic Basilica Minor del Santo Nino. Other noteworthy destinations are the Taoist Temple and Phu-Sian Temple in Beverly Hills, Heavenly Temple of Charity in Peace Valley, Chapel Of The Last Supper and Celestial Garden.
Other noteworthy destinations are the Liloan Lighthouse, Beverly Hills, Cebu Golf and Country Club, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club and Fuenta Osmena.
Aside from its beautiful tourist spots, the City of Laoag is also known for its tremendously fine universities and colleges. These educational establishments are crucial in the overall success of the highly impressive Laoag education system. These tertiary schools offer students good quality academic programs, beautiful school facilities and a perfect atmosphere for learning and study.
Previously known as Saint William’s College, Divine Word College of Laoag was established in 1946. Many people refer to it as the ‘Pride of the North,’ mainly because of the superior quality of education that it consistently provides to students. Situated along General Segundo Avenue, this school has very good curricular programs. Its impressive graduate programs include Master in Business Administration, Master of Arts in Education and Doctor of Philosophy Major in Development Education. Likewise, its undergraduate programs are also very good. It has a School of Education that offers Bachelor of Secondary Education and Bachelor of Elementary Education. Additionally, it features the School of Business and Accountancy, which offers ladderized programs such as Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management as well as Bachelor of Science in Office Administration.
Founded in 1946, Northern Christian College is popular in the area because of its good academic programs that work well with lots of students. More importantly, the Commission on Higher Education in the Philippines widely recognizes the expertise of the school in various kinds of academic disciplines particularly in areas such as Communications, Commerce and Accounting. Furthermore, it also features good programs in Environmental Science, Education and Counseling. Because of its close affiliation to the religious group called United Church of Christ in the Philippines, it also provides courses in Theology. There are also undergraduate programs in Public Administration, Political Science and History.
Situated in the municipality of Batac, Mariano Marcos State University is also part of the Laoag education system that offers students good quality services and education. Just like some of the topnotch schools in the country, this university also has a graduate school with extensive academic programs including Master of Arts in Nursing, Master in Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy. Its College of Engineering offers courses like B.S. in Ceramic Engineering, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and B.S. in Civil Engineering. For those who wish to enter the College of Health Sciences, they can enroll in highly interesting courses, namely B.S. in Pharmacy, B.S. in Physical Therapy and B.S. in Nursing.