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| Ambrosio Cruz, a former cargador in Divisoria |
MALOLOS
CITY—A former cargador in Divisoria who transformed his town into a first class
municipality, and a Business Administration graduate who turned Lugaw Republic
into a booming franchise led the 2012 Most Outstanding Bulacan Businessman
(MOBB) awards.
Eight
others were feted in the awards given by the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (BCCI) at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here on Tuesday
night, February 26.
The
awardees are Ambrosio Cruz Jr., the former mayor of Guiguinto town, Bienvenido
Cruz Jr., Engineer Francis Miguel, Marcelino Garcia Jr., Leonardo Cruz
Jr., Gina Estrella, Elvira Dela Rosa,
Ervine Pangwi and Ramon and Maura Manuel.
Gigi
Simbulan, president of the BCCI said 10 awardees are the province’s emerging
business champions.
“All
of them are champions, they are now only successful, they are leading,
empowering and inspiring,” Simbulan said noting humble beginnings of the
awardees.
She
said that as a high school and college student, former Mayor Cruz worked as a
cargador in Divisoria where his late mother maintained a store to sustain her
10 children.
After
graduating from the University of the East, Cruz worked as an assistance chief
accountant, then moved to Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation in 1971 where
he later became a district manager.
Ten
years later, Cruz resigned from Shell and established his own company and
returned to Guiguinto, his hometown; and was elected mayor in 1998.
Cruz’s
election started the transformation of the town from a fourth class to a first
class municipality.
But
even before he entered politics, Cruz acquired a 100 hectare property in
Barangay Sta. Rita in 1992 and turned it to a first class subdivision with
resort and hotel.
For
his part, Bienvenido started investing on a franchise in 2005 after working abroad
for seven years.
After
a year in the franchise system, Bienvenido decided to establish his own
franchise and called it the “Lugaw Republic,” which is now know as the
“Pambansang Lugaw” and was given the Most Outstanding Food Franchise during the
2011 Top Brand awards.
Lugaw
Republic now have 128 outlets in Luzon, 12 of which are managed by Bienvenido’s
family.
Simbulan
also spoke highly of other awardees.
She
said that Miguel completed his Computer Engineering course from Adamson University
and has worked with telecommunications giants in the country, but in 2005, he
started working on multi-level marketing.
In
2005, Miguel established a networking marketing company Alliance in Motion
Global Inc, (AIM) Global selling innovate products from the United States.
In
2011, AIM Global achieved P1.3-Billion in sales and further increase it to
P1.7-B in 2012.
On
the other hands, Garcia tried sending Filipinos to work abroad after the
success of his liquefied petroleum gas business.
But
the good heart in him bled when real life dramas of his recruited Overseas
Filipino Workers in Lebanon unfold before his eyes.
He also learned the social costs of being a parent away from children, and decided to fold up operations of his recruitment agency.
In
2004, Garcia consolidated his assets and invested in four Mini-Stop branches in
the province, while expanding his LPG distribution business.
Equally
dramatic is the life Estrella whose father died when she was five and live with
her mother who cannot read or write.
She
struggled to finish college and went to work to Taiwan with her boyfriend.
Years later they established their cellphone
business in Greenhills but was robbed twice.
Estrella
returned to her hometown in Balagtas and started her merchandising business.
According
to Simbulan, Estrella’s life story and entrepreneurial skills is fit for a
tele-serye.
So
are the lives of Leonardo Cruz Jr., who formulated Hagibis EF a popular brand
with cockfighting aficionados, Elvira Dela Rosa of Mavis Bakery, Ervine Pangwi
of Santino Metal Industries, and Ramon
and Maura Manuel of Earjon Garments which directly exporting products to Canada
and the United States. Dino
Balabo
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