E3 Finalist Brings Cebu to the Global Marketplace

by Camille Carandang

THE LOCAL youth are more innovative than they are given credit for. This is evident in the remaining finalists of the first Entrepreneurial E-commerce Excellence Awards (E3), a competition co-presented by Mozcom and the UnionBank of the Philippines. Launched on November 2006, E3 serves as an opportunity for college and postgraduate students to display their entrepreneurial prowess and technical genius. The entrepreneurial mindset, some believe, is difficult to inculcate among the youth. This is the challenge that E3 presents, and a promising few have responded beyond expectation.

Out of all the local provinces, Cebu has always been known for its unique products. From dried mangoes to dried fish, rattan furniture to wooden guitars, the stamp of quality that they carry is already globally recognized. Proudly displaying their Cebuano roots as they carry the Philippine flag, “Pinoy Republika Sugbo” found the opportunity to capitalize on that.

Composed of four student achievers, the team’s proposed venture involves establishing a premiere online shop that sells a wide variety of Bisdak products. A conjunction of “BISayang DAKo”, the colloquial term “represents the Visayas region as a whole, but since its origin and use came from Cebu, [it] more aptly [translates to] ‘truly Cebuano’”, explains Charmie Homecillo, the team’s leader. The goal of Pinoy Republika is to create a venue for the Cebuano establishments to achieve global recognition online. Aside from contributing to economic progress, it will also encourage these local entrepreneurs to further develop their products.

The venture is particularly promising and holds a lot of potential. “I believe Cebu has a very diverse mix of products that are ideal for export...Pinoy Republika’s mission to bring the ‘Best of Cebu’ products to the Internet is based on proven world-marketable products already. So it’s a relatively low-risk proposition,” says Robertson Chiang, Mozcom’s COO/CTO. There is a “wide market potential [both locally and overseas],” says Bryan Cañedo, the group’s graphic designer. Pinoy Republika Sugbo will carry Best Cebu guitars, mangoes, dried fish, otap, lechon, furniture, fashion accessories, and shoes, among others. These will be made available to both the local and foreign markets.

As students of the Centre of International Education, a business school in Cebu, the four Information Technology seniors are required to operate their own business for a year as a prerequisite to graduation. Apart from their proposed venture in E3, the team members are also separately working on businesses of their own. “Since first year [college], we’ve already thought of [starting] a business and since [then], we’ve tried several ideas,” shares Homecillo. As a burgeoning local venture, e-commerce was also an option for them, but they experienced problems regarding payment. “At that time, Mozcom was providing PayEasy for…Php5,000 a month…and that was a lot for us.” E3 definitely served as their “answered prayer”. Homecillo adds that “this activity really gave us the leg up [that] we needed… It’s tough [to go] into business, [especially] an online business.” The activity has not only honed the team’s management skills, but also developed their “ability to think differently.” Thinking out of the box has always been the challenge posed by their mentors.

Their progress, however, does not lie on the novelty of their idea alone. Team chemistry is just as important. “As a team, their group can only be described as [a] cohesive one,” says Marcial Lumayag, one of the team’s mentors. The members have known each other since their college freshman days. Lumayag had impressive things to share about the members, particularly in the areas of scholastic achievement. All members are consistent Dean’s Listers. Homecillo, is the SK Chairman of their barangay and the SK Federation Treasurer for Cebu.

Despite the challenging schedule, time constraints, and all the other preoccupations that come with being a college senior, the team continues to power through. Speaking for the group, Homecillo shares, “we’ve always believed in Philippine products [and] Pinoy Republika will be a…proud testament [of] Pinoy culture.”