Article by:
Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Partido Reporma standard bearer Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Monday said there would be more success stories for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) if he and running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III win in the May 9 elections.
The presidential aspirant made this pronouncement after meeting with Josh Mojica, a 17-year-old entrepreneur behind the "kangkong" (water spinach) chip business at the Alfredo’s Grill & Restaurant in Mendez last March 5.
Lacson added that if the government, whether local or national, heard stories of rising entrepreneurs like Mojica and gave MSMEs the proper support, success stories like these would greatly climb.
"You can just imagine how we can replicate a success story like this," he said.
The Partido Reporma standard-bearer, who hails from Imus, Cavite, promised that under his and Sotto's administration, they would empower small businesses or the MSME sector across the country with correct government interventions, not with more regulations.
Lacson likewise called on government agencies such as the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to support more young entrepreneurs like Mojica thrive in this kind of business.
Mojica lost his grandfather whom he was very close with just when his kangkong chips business was taking off.
The death of his grandfather compounded the daily struggles he was dealing with at the time, which nearly made him give up until he connected with Lacson on Twitter.
"Dahil po doon sa tweet po niya (Lacson), dahil lang po doon, sa isang tweet nagkaroon po ako ng opportunity na makatulong po ako sa family ko, maiahon ko po ‘yung family ko sa kahirapan. Tapos, lahat po ng pangarap ng daddy (Just because of his (Lacson’s) tweet, a single tweet, I was given an opportunity to help my family, lift my family out of poverty. And then, I also get to live out the dreams of my daddy (grandfather)," Mojica said.
Lacson said he came to know Mojica through one of his staff.
At the time, they were thinking about what kind of gifts they could give away to their friends for the holidays.
The senator got curious about kangkong chips and instantly loved the idea as soon as he learned that a young Caviteño was behind it.
“Ang istorya niya (Mojica) nag-backyard siya, parang homemade lang ng kangkong chips. Napanood ng aking staff na naggagawa siya ng ganoon. So, sabi ko, pakuha ka ng sample. Eh nasarapan ‘yung mga staff ko kasi lahat, parang FGD (focus group discussion), sabi ko, order tayo (His (Mojica’s) story is that he started a backyard (business), making homemade kangkong chips. One of my staff watched him online, so I told him to get a sample. My staff tasted it and it was delicious, as they acted like an FGD, a focus group discussion, so I said ‘Let’s order)," Lacson added.
Lacson first tweeted about it on November 21 last year.
“I don’t know him (Josh) but I’m so proud of him. Hats off!” part of his tweet read.
His office ordered 400 packs of kangkong chips as one of the items for their Christmas gift baskets, which gave Mojica the biggest break for his fledgling snack business.
Lacson said Mojica's story proves that the Filipino youth can counter whatever feelings of despair and hopelessness they had over their status in life or the state of affairs in the country by focusing their mind, heart, and soul on their chosen fields.
Apart from Mojica and his kangkong chips crew, Lacson also visited the workers of the Café Amadeo Development Cooperative, which became famous for its ‘Pahimis’ blend of coffee and other products and delicacies. (PNA)
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