Some businesses start by thinking that producing and selling their product would make them become well-off in life.

But to Perfecto Lasquite, Jr., the co-owner of Sossybites Food Trading, it is not – it is an art.

Lasquite, a government employee, with his wife and daughter, and their love for cooking thought about producing and selling varieties of food such as lumpiang shanghai; pancit palabok and spaghetti; kakanin (native Filipino snacks) like black and ube kutsinta, biko, pichi-pichi, puto-bumbong and sapin-sapin; and assorted muffins and dessert products.

“We started our business in 2018 with the hope that it will just bring extra income to our family since we have bills to pay, for food, for the education of my daughter and the like,” he said.

In his journey to finding out more where their passion would lead them, he enlisted to join the Department of Trade and Industry in Ilocos’ (DTI-1) multi-sectoral Kapatid Mentor Micro Entrepreneur -  Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Online Program of which he graduated in June 2021.

“At first, hesitant ako kasi hindi ko naman alam kung ano ang patutunguhan ng programa na ito pero nung patapos na ang mga modules na pinag-aralan namin, doon ko na-appreciate kung gaano kaganda ang journey na ito,” he told.

He said that the program, which was spearheaded by the DTI and was facilitated by caliber speakers from Go Negosyo is very different because he appreciated more how to become a real entrepreneur.

“Dito ko nalaman na ang business mo ay dapat may value, at ito ay kung ano ang gusto natin marating sa hinaharap at kung ano ang maibibigay nito sa ating mga kliyente,” he added.

He said that the program taught him the Business Model Canvas or the holistic approach to better his craft.

From packaging, to improving the taste, to incorporating innovative ways to further market their product and creating networks online.

The program even allowed them access to assistance from the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) of the Department of Science and Technology, and was granted kitchen equipment.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we want to extend our gratitude to DTI and to our mentors for considering SossyBites in the program and for continuously supporting micro entrepreneurs like us,” expressed Lasquite.

“Ang pandemya ay maraming pinabagsak at pinaluhod na mga maliliit na negosyo, to our President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership, and through the intervention of DTI, naisakatuparan ang mga programa upang matulungan kaming makabangon,” Lasquite said.

Sossybites has started with only a capital of P3,000.00.

Currently, they are earning an average of P10,000.00 per day from P1,000.00 per day when it was established.

It is also being promoted online to expand its reach, targeting more consumers outside the Ilocos Region.

“Madaming beses na rin kaming bumagsak, pero ganun talaga ang negosyo. Kailangan nating maging creative at maging risk-taker dahil hindi tayo patatalo sa pandemyang ito, kapit lamang,” he stated.

The rising local business is located in San Fernando City, La Union. (JCR/AMB/AHFF/PIA-1)