In this episode of Disrupt Davao Podcast, I'm excited to talk to Doctor Angeli V. Guadalupe M.D., M.S.C, the co-founder of SurePlus Davao that started as a project at first and then launched as a business just last March of 2020. Other SurePlus co-founders are Jason Occidental and Leizl Salera. Others are quick to question their reasoning behind launching a business in this pandemic, but you'll be impressed and inspired after knowing their purpose and the vision they have for our city. Sureplus is a social enterprise (won YSEALI Seeds) that aims to tackle the problem of food wastes & undernutrition in Davao City by reselling repurposing & reallocating surplus food in order to minimize food wastage & hunger in Davao City. Through their website and upcoming app, excess food from local farmers, groceries, and restaurants are sold at prices lower than usual. Donations for food subsidies are also gathered then they are directed to specified individuals, families, and charities. Part of our proceeds is also given to our partner charities. Listen in and learn more about Doc Gel and Sureplus. We discussed: What were some of the challenges they've encountered as a new business? What are the changes they've made that will stay after this pandemic? As social entrepreneurs, where do they get their support from? What do they identify as Surplus food? As she's a doctor and entrepreneur, how does she balance and manage her time well?  Great entrepreneurial advice and experience shared especially to those looking to start a social enterprise How can you best support Sureplus? Shop at their website for surplus foods from farmers and their other store partners here: https://www.sureplus.net/ Shop at their physical stores at the YMCA Cup of Grace - Kape ug Kaagi: Art & Start-up Hub - YMCA's cafe is located in front of Sutherland, near Bangko Sentral. Like and share their Facebook page to your friends.    

In this episode of Disrupt Davao podcast, I’m really excited to talk to Naprey Almario, popularly known as one of the Pinoy Big Brother housemates, an advocate for Persons with Disabilities, a blogger, our very own Influencer here in Davao, and an entrepreneur. He owns: Almario Budget Travel & Tours HUB International Education Cebuana Lhuillier Deca Laundry Vuitton Deca Tacunan We talked about: What's the new normal for him and his family? How hard his travel agency business got hit because of the Covid-19 Pandemic How did he communicate this change to his clients considering he's the middle agent between the airlines, hotels, and his clients How he uses his greatest strength to get his entrepreneurial life started His inspiration behind starting a travel agency How he opened 2 new businesses despite this pandemic and his thinking around it - Cebuana Lhuillier Deca and Laundry Vuitton Deca Tacunan His advice to our fellow entrepreneurs out there Let's show our love and support to Naprey by liking his businesses on Facebook: Laundy Vuitton Deca Cebuana Lhuillier Tacunan Almario Travel & Tours Hub International  

To start her new online kitchen concept, Chef Garet needed to take a small step back, redeploy her resources, and closed her brick-and-mortar restaurant to create Chef Garet and is now happier, healthy, and more successful. These are the stories we love here at Disrupt Davao podcast. We discussed: How she started and her love for food and cooking? Opening and closing her first venture - Ninety Ninety Bar The struggles in the food industry Opening an online kitchen - Chef Garet Advantages and Disadvantages of having a physical restore vs online kitchen The rewards of being a great leader or employer Her top Davao restaurants Her support system especially during this pandemic Lessons she learned in this journey Please like her page: https://www.facebook.com/chefgaret/  

To start off this second season, we have one disruptor and a successful entrepreneur who brought Bacolod Chicken Inasal in Davao. A businessman for 50 years till today, Insurance Man for 34 years, Pastor, veteran toastmaster, owner of BC Chicken House, Bernard Guirgen. We discussed: When and How BC Chicken House started? How he braved through the tail end of the Asian Economic Crisis by opening BC Chicken House How Davao accepted Bacolod-style chicken Setting his family’s expectations after opening a new business How Sir Bernie view this pandemic or crisis that we are in now How he continues to serve the Davaoeños despite the losses How BC Chicken House became the first Drive-Thru Dine-in Restaurant in Davao City The advantage of having an open-air space Closing BC Chicken Pequeño branch Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday Toril Branch just before Gaisano Mall 10:30am to 8:00pm Quimpo Branch 10:30am to 9:00pm You can also avail of their Bacolod Chicken Inasal via Food Panda.      

Very interesting discussion about the pandemic and Chef Patrick's positive approach. There is a lot of stigmas around the pandemic. One of the reasons why we want to get Chef Patrick on is because there are a lot of stories of people and businesses struggling and understandably so, but his approach to the pandemic through servicing our community has been one of the stories that we have loved. Chef Patrick Co is our city's celebrity chef and mastermind of Davao restaurants, Fat Cow and Asian Cow, both by the way, landed on the list of Philippine Tatler’s T. Dining Guide as Best Restaurants in the country for 2020. We talked about: How he got started and his love for food/cooking Why the name Fat Cow? His experience as a restaurant owner during the onset of the pandemic in March/April Some of the changes he made to keep running as a business The challenges he encountered as a restaurant owner ie supplies, raw materials, employees, logistics, etc. What's his favorite food Advice or insights he'd like to share with other restaurants owners in the city during these unpredictable times Links: Order Fat Cow and Asian Cow menu online and have it delivered to your doorsteps - https://thefatcowgroup.com/ Asian Cow Staples Bread Cooked Steak Desserts Fat Cow Staples Frozen Goods Party Trays Samgyup at Home Sets Fat Cow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theFatCowDvo/ Asian Cow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/asiancow            

In this episode, we have the creator and lead of BGS Davao (Biggest Garage Sale Davao), Marj Alawi-Bulahan. Her work in the last two years focused on connecting, engaging people, and building communities. She works closely with local creatives who supported the initiative that created the Biggest #GarageSale Davao events. Biggest #GarageSale Davao is run by an all-volunteer community of creatives committed to inspiring and educating individuals and communities on reuse, recycle, repurpose, and upcycle lifestyle gearing towards #ZeroWasteDavao. BGS events were designed to create a culture that embraces sustainable practices at the community level. And local creatives committed to inspiring a more sustainable lifestyle with creative solutions. Marj and I talk about: Her life before becoming a community builder Our city's waste management What is Biggest Garage Sale Davao - events and its processes What does it mean to have a Zero Waste Lifestyle in the Philippines? Creatives getting involved in teaching creative solutions in upcycling, recycling our things or wastes Some of the challenges they encountered because of the pandemic Developing tech that creates a space for people to connect and engage in a marketplace of events. Events that anyone can host and helps anyone to find the nearest neighbor who sells things that can be reused, repurposed, recycled, or upcycled. Advice for community leaders and entrepreneurs Links: Website: http://www.biggest-garage-sale.com/ BGS Events FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/biggestgaragesaledavao Davao's First Online Garage Sale - Nov 9 - 15 - https://www.facebook.com/events/395300518263783 Register: http://bit.ly/garage-sale-davao  

I am very excited to have Jessica Madrazo on Disrupt Davao podcast, aka Digital Davaoeña. She's a digital marketing veteran and one of the virtual assistant pioneers in Davao City. She's the founder and Operations Director of Coffeebot, a Davao-based digital marketing agency that helps businesses locally and from across the globe grow through social media marketing, search engine optimization, web development, strategic lead generation, and customer support. And I find comfort in knowing that we're part of the same industry and I look forward to hearing her story and experience during these times. We discussed: The changes Coffeebot has to go through as a business during this Pandemic The challenges in transitioning to home-based as a creative team Virtual Assistant Industry: Then and Now, Local vs Foreign Clients Seeing more and more businesses adapting to online systems Marketing your businesses online - hiring an agency to do it for you VS doing it yourself in-house What is Digital Davaoeña Links: Coffeebot Solutions Digital Davaoeña Linkedin Upcoming FREE events: Mindanao Goes Global Nov 4 - for professionals wanting to learn how to work online  Nov 11 - for businesses wanting to learn how to market online - TBA

In this episode, I have the owner and founder of Rez Language Institute in Davao City, a test preparation center for IELTS, OET, TOEFL, PTE, and TOEIC. These are English standardized tests for visa applications. Rez is also an active member of Toastmasters International for over 10 years. Toastmasters is a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of promoting communication, public speaking, and leadership. Rez and her business, along with others in the education industry were directly affected because of the COVID19 Pandemic. Listen in as we talk about her experience, her transition, and her plan of getting back in the game. If I don't adapt, I'll be left behind. - Rez Gaid We discussed: Her experience during the onset of the pandemic How she underwent DABDA: 5 Stages of Coping - Denial · Anger · Bargaining · Depression · Acceptance Her experience in letting go of her physical office, closing it down, and moving back home with her parents How she embraced technology and learning new skills that will be relevant in the future Her personal transition (weight loss) and the new things she's doing now  The self-defeating thoughts and how to overcome them Being prudent in our expenses and giving up a comfortable lifestyle in times of crisis, Paying taxes and what's due on time How support systems are important most especially during these times And so much more! Links: Rez Language Institute Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/RezStudy/ Rez Language Institute Contact Number - 09212077343

A rising tide lifts all boats. With the exciting news of Davao City being named the "Cacao Capital of the Philippines", I am excited to have one of the founders of Cacao Culture on the show - Shiela Reyes-Lao.  Cacao Culture Farms is a social enterprise that seeks to help cacao farmers and women in our community by developing and promoting cacao-based products and encouraging entrepreneurs to use high quality, locally and ethically sourced cacao products from the Philippines. Cacao Culture Farms' cacao products are proudly locally grown, harvested, and processed in Davao City. Sheila and I talked about: Transferring from Manila to Davao City - Why Davao? How Cacao Culture as a business, dealt with the pandemic How badly did this pandemic affect them?  Customers changing their shopping methods How their online presence helped them during these times The overwhelming support for local entrepreneurs  The adjustments they did because of the pandemic - processes, platforms, logistics, etc. Embracing technology in these times One piece of advice for other entrepreneurs during these times Re-opening of Cacao City physical store  Links: Cacao Culture Farms - your one-stop shop for all cacao needs YouTube Channel Instagram Shoppee Lazada Shiela Reyes-Lao Instagram  Cacao City - a cooperative of different cacao producers and stakeholders in Davao City such as Malagos, Cacao de Davao, & Rosario's Chocolates.  About  Kenneth and Shiela Reyes-Lao were tech-entrepreneurs based in Manila. They ran a tech startup company funded by Globe Telecoms under Kickstart Ventures in 2013. They decided to move to Davao City in 2016 seeking a new pace and lifestyle away from the busy corporate and technology startup scene. Looking for opportunities, they found themselves attending agricultural seminars hosted by local organizations. They did not have any experience in agriculture but fell madly in love with Cacao and the idea that they can grow their own chocolate. They jumped into the opportunity and never looked back.  

On this first episode of Disrupt Davao Podcast, we will be discussing: Our own experience of pivoting in this crisis as a BPO company in Davao City Staying positive in times of crisis Quote of the day