An entrepreneur, a businessman, who wandered into teaching after finishing his MBA. Now a full time entrepreneur and businessman, discovering what works and what does not work. Surrendering idealism for Pragmatism In entrepreneurship, you do not really know until you find out...
I am a businessman and entrepreneur and an educator on entrepreneurship by accident/or on the side. I am first and foremost a businessman and entrepreneur. I made this blog to gather my thoughts on the subject, make this as a legacy for future entrepreneurs.
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
PHL is now considered one to the giants in the BPO industry. It brings in about $30 billion a year to the Philippine economy, one of the legs of PHL industry, the other is OFW remittances and the remaining 1/3 are from agri and electronics subcontracting.
That is about 30% of the PHL gdp. It fuels a lot of industry: housing, food and retail, transportation, retails etc. It is fraught with danger because US wants to bring back job to USA and this includes the call center.
What would happen to the Phil economy if the BPO were to shrink. You can see the effect of POGO closure on office and housing rental market.
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
This post was invited for a consultation by a professional running a facility and which is now experiencing financial difficulty: low revenue, low gp. Their chairman wanted the firm to declare bankruptcy and/or undergo dissolution Surely jobs will be lost and investments too.
However the person whom I talked too was in canvassing mood and therefore was in 2nd and 3rd opinion. I was the 2nd opinion and verbally voiced out some options. For his 3rd option, he invited a CPA and gave out all the financials. I hope the said professional, trained only in producing fs, not doing business analysis can come out with something solid to turn around the firm. Surely, this will take time, and no propert rx can be done. It will be more of an audit, rather than coming out with rehab/turn around plan
Surely you go a business consultant, an expert Someone who has run numerous businesses before
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
This post was a GSB professor and a businessman. However, the experience with other group of professionals was not very pleasant. A cousin specialists asked me to accompany her in business deals. She however charged my daughter a pf when she consulted the latter.
Another releative likewise invited this to a dinner, talked about their business problem but charges me for the check up
Just the other week end, had talks with another specialist and was seeking ways to turn around his failing business. But we did not talk about fees. How come? He was shopping around
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
Michael Milken, a financial genius back by his boss Joseph at Drexel Lambert found opportunities in junk REIT bonds, and backed Steve Wynn in his Golden Nugget in Atlantic city.
Such opportunities can exist in the retail (not in subprime mortgage)
1. You must have higher purpose if you are go to expand business. Just shooting for money stunts business growth
2. Its not about more money: but building a system, and using your mental capital that counts, that mean more rather than having more php
3. Money velocity is more important than the quantity of money
(Kuwento: In a town where people were indebted to one another. A wealthy man deposited $1,000 to the hotelier for him to get a great place to stay. Immediately he paid the butcher who owed him $1,000 for the meat delivered, and butcher paid the farmer, to whom he likewise owed $1,000 who immediately paid the trucker to whom he owed $1,000, wh in turn paid the hotelier to whom he owed board and lodging. The wealthy man changed his mind and got back his deposit. Nothing was gained or lost, but the debt was paid)
Each of transaction increased economic activity but m0ney being utilized is the same. Money velocity though is x 4
4. Love connects matter to persons and persons to persons. We cant go by the matters, physica and chemistry alone.. You must have passion for life, and for the
business. You must be aman for for others. No love (passion) no big business
5. Discipline, knowledge, determination are key ingredients for business success
6. You must build a business that is exceptional, that is amazing so that the product sell by itself. From zero to one. If you build a me too product, its 0 to n. A me too business will not last long
2. Applications/explanations
1. Higher purpose: In the service of humanity and others
1. Helping churches
2. Helping needy individuals
3. Education Foundation
4. Health care - hospital, meds, assistance (tie with Malasakit
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2. Intermediate purpose
1. Generate profits
2. Generate sales
3. Create products and services
3. Beginnings
1. Scanning opportunities
2. 2. Seizing opportunities feasibility and business/marketing plan preparation
3. Seizing
1. Organizing the team recruitment
2. Finalizing ITO (coding, process flow, having a software)
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
It was posted yesterday that a newly elected Congressman from an island province defended on line gaming and its ban could mean loss of revenue for the govt and loss of job.
Maybe its no longer a question of good or bad economics but bad morality, and ill effect on society.
As a businessman, I have been against gambling. It is a zero sum game. It does nto create anything new - there are losers and winners. A good business creates value like agriculture, manufacturing, schools, but not Casinos. They can take your money away and can improverish you. You cant win vs a casino but the lure of free shuttle, free hotel for the high rollers always draws in crowds. Its a big business that is why most tycoons are into it: Razon, Tan etc. Even VC bet big in gambling; casinos. Even the biggest controversy now E sabong and mainiyope debts show ill effects of gambling.
Phil is now the number 1 gaming center in South East Asia, beating even Macau. And so many on line gambling what with POGOS converging in the Philippines.
It may be good for investors, tycoons, but definitely not for the lives of many. Owners of casinos and on line gambling rake it but not the msses
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
This started in China. It has now 45,000 stores valued at $10B, and spread across SEA (low cost low income markets). What will happen if it moves to US and Europe.? Started by Zhang Hangshao He started with ice cream (just like Tan Cak Tiong Jollibee) priced at 1 Yuan = 15 US cents
Its theme: "I love you, you love me"
Its strategy: low cost, franchising (low entry) and its own logistics.
This post would favor low cost, low price, low margin vs other business model that favor higher margins and profit. What would you favor?
The trillionaire companies like Alphabet, Meta are in the FREEMIUM business model.
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
When there were news that there were disenfranchised (for the secondary license) lending investor, I checked with the scion running the company if we were included. The feedback was that it was non op for several years, and declared at SEC.
Now I told in the meeting last night that this lending investor can ride the fintech revolution The payment apps, since are not authorized by BSP cant take advantage of the opportunity to take in deposits or make advances with interest.
For the deposit taking side, .....
For the lending side we can have an app that takes in borrowers on line through the fintech and offer 24 hour approval loans, no visit, other than they are verifiable and of good standing (even in the internet - we will go to that later)
We can go into the details later. We can start with our existing customers
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
An elementary school classmate, now fmr President of the Company she founded is aghast over her non election as Board Member and ultimately as CEO. It was the company she founded. My wife joked that they did not request mentoring from me, or that did they really take up MBA as required by law if you are going to be head of such a health unit. Yes they did But they simply dined the professor so as not to make the study hard. This post did not fall for that. Yes I could see through that but they have to comply with academic standards. They had to study and work hard.
Now I researched why this happened It seemed that their adversary purchased a lot of common stocks and they became the majority. Their group had the majority and elected the board, and the board elected their President of choice.
Lessons:
1. The right of first refusal should be exercised to prevent loss of control majority;
2. The Pres should really have defended watched what was going on had security strictly observed;
3. May be they did not observe the protocol of some such unit that only founding shareholders to elect board, and other common as non voting They had a smart lawayer employed to devise such a strategy to oust my classmate.
Huhuhu. I idont know how she will ever get back to power. fIt will be a long legal battle to be fought in courts, not in the board room
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
Our group was offered an existing project in Southern Tagalog region and these were some of our salient findings/observation:
1. The seller wants to price it at P15,000/sm of the developed area;
2. There are four similar projects in the area;
3. Ite is located in populated area 160,000 but mostly dormitory residents in an industrial zone in nearby PEZA town That means 50% of that number of 80,000 would be active buyers or 20,000 households 30% of that would be active buyers or only 6,000. Inventories in the locality would be about 25,000. Inventories is 5x of possible demand, hence the very low sales
4. The project has sold only 112 u nits since 2021; thats roughtly 30 year. This year only 7!!! How come. Price too high
It was reported that owner who is a US resident plans to go back to the state
Negotiation points:
1 Price - At 15,000/sm of developed area, the pricing would be roughtly P200m. Only 20% of the project is built up
PV, DCF pricing for next 20 years would place its selling price at only P30M!
2. Why is the owner selling? Low sales
3. Why is the number of sales low? Bad/non existing marketing?
4. What is unique about the product?
The business is going to be challenging for both the prospective buyer and seller. It may not be sold at
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
Last year, we spent an entire year trying to negotiate for development of a 3.2 hectare property in this Rizal town. However, we entered into a dead end since there is this so called title over the vast area of this town which are entitled known as xxxx Estate (the SC doctrine mandates that this no longer a subject of a discussion). You cant have a titling completed unless you get a waiver or DOAS from the now owner of the Estate. They are not selling.
Lately this post read that Infradeve, the developer who lost P44 b on a subway project (they signed the project with Makati but later on SC ruled that the site of the project now belongs to Taguig) the Pres Tiu transferred the HO to this town to focus on the 2,000 land they have in this town.
Tius company has so far developed the Sunshine, Aurora Casistas, and lately Bauhinia at Mahabang Parang.
Many tax dec. owners will definitely feel the heat soon as Infradev goes on full scale development in this Rizal town
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
He was a pilot of RAF. His invention was never acknowledged by UK govt. He had nervous breakdown whiel the jet engine was being developed. He moved to the US, where he eventually died because of lung cancer.
The world owed so much to this inventor who made air travel affordable, convenient and safe. (Except for occasional rogue weaather, pilot error and freak accident)
Copied from YT
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The story of Frank Whittle, RAF pilot, mathematician of genius, and inventor of the (turbo) jet engine (April 1937) months before Hans Von Ohain and Heinkel's first mixed axial and centrifugal turbojet engine (September 1937).
In 1929, a twenty-two-year-old maverick named Frank Whittle - a self-taught aeronautical obsessive and risk-takingly brilliant RAF pilot - presented a blueprint for a revolutionary, jet-powered aircraft engine to the Air Ministry. His idea could potentially change the course of history, but it was summarily rejected.
Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, CB, FRS, FRAeS (1 June 1907 – 8 August 1996) was an English engineer, inventor and Royal Air Force (RAF) air officer. He is credited with inventing the turbojet engine. A patent was submitted by Maxime Guillaume in 1921 for a similar invention, which was technically unfeasible at the time. Whittle's jet engines were developed some years earlier than Germany's Hans von Ohain, who designed the first-to-fly (but never operational) turbojet engine.
Whittle demonstrated an aptitude for engineering and an interest in flying from an early age. At first, he was turned down by the RAF, but determined to join the force, he overcame his physical limitations and was accepted and sent to No. 2 School of Technical Training to join No 1 Squadron of Cranwell Aircraft Apprentices. He was taught the theory of aircraft engines and gained practical experience in engineering workshops. His academic and practical abilities as an Aircraft Apprentice earned him a place on the officer training course at Cranwell. He excelled in his studies and became an accomplished pilot. While writing his thesis, he formulated the fundamental concepts that led to the creation of the turbojet engine, taking out a patent on his design in 1930. His performance on an officers' engineering course earned him a place on a further course at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he graduated with a First.
Without Air Ministry support, he and two retired RAF servicemen formed Power Jets Ltd to build his engine with assistance from the firm of British Thomson-Houston. Despite limited funding, a prototype was created, which first ran in 1937. Official interest was forthcoming following this success, with contracts being placed to develop further engines, but the continuing stress seriously affected Whittle's health, eventually resulting in a nervous breakdown in 1940. In 1944 when Power Jets was nationalized, he again suffered a nervous breakdown and resigned from the board in 1946.
In 1948, Whittle retired from the RAF and received a knighthood. He joined BOAC as a technical advisor before working as an engineering specialist with Shell, followed by a position with Bristol Aero Engines. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1976, he accepted the position of NAVAIR Research Professor at the United States Naval Academy from 1977 to 1979. In August 1996, Whittle died of lung cancer at his home in Columbia, Maryland. In 2002, Whittle was ranked number 42 in the BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
Whittle was born in a terraced house in Newcombe Road, Earlsdon, Coventry, England, on 1 June 1907, the eldest son of Moses Whittle and Sara Alice Garlick. When he was nine years old, the family moved to the nearby town of Royal Leamington Spa, where his father, a highly inventive practical engineer and mechanic, purchased the Leamington Valve and Piston Ring Company, which comprised a few lathes and other tools and a single-cylinder gas engine, on which Whittle became an expert. Whittle developed a rebellious and adventurous streak, together with an early interest in aviation.
After two years attending Milverton School, Whittle won a scholarship to a secondary school which in due course became Leamington College for Boys, but when his father's business faltered there was not enough money to keep him there. He quickly developed practical engineering skills while helping in his father's workshop, and being an enthusiastic reader spent much of his spare time in the Leamington reference library, reading about astronomy, engineering, turbines, and the theory of flight. At the age of 15, determined to be a pilot, Whittle applied to join the RAF.
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
Follow SNAP for more productive sales pitches presentation. Rather than clutter your presentation with details on background on history features focus on this instead:
SNAP
S - tory
N - eed
A - nswer
P - roof.
We may start the pitch by saying: We are 40 years in business, We have __memorial parks. Here we do the following. Compare this with
Story: There was this person in an island province who inquired about a MP lot at need. We said it is P130. My its too big. Yes because it is at need and it +30%
Need: You can buy ahead and for small amount monthly, we can own a lot shortly
Answer: You can reserve now, by making a reservation fee of P______and complete the dp in 45 days. All you need is to make a monthly of ____for __years
Proof: There are now thousands of invidivual who own lots and are prepared for any eventuality regarding end of life events.
Nation building via learning and being the best in business
Clessie Cummins was imbued with deep passion for building things. At 11 he built his own first diesel contraption. He made the world take note of diesel engine so that it will be the workhorse for commercial transportation. Diesel being dirty, slow and heavy.
Cummins was alsmost bankrupt but in 1931 Clessie did an audactious publicity of having a car with diesel engine race at Indy. It finished 13th but made the world notice the diesel engine - the car did not refuel for the entire race. (Audis diesel engine did likewise at Le Mans. Even BMW diesel engines have fantastic torque)
He was almost hanged for treason (for having collaaborated with enemies to license his diesel engine - not proven)
In 1955 he was ousted in company he founded. Who says only Steve Jobs was fired from the company he founded.
Cummins continued ot invent for diesel engine although he was no longer the company. Today Cummins continue to make engines to meet stringent pollution regulations and to assist green earth.
Now cummins engine are specified for heavy equipment, tractor heads, military equipment.
My uncle (as seasoned agri businessman) and I were discussing what possible businesses to introduce to constituents of an elected relative to provincial positions. While mine was agri forestry which takes 5 or more years to harvest, he proposed cassava. It grows every where is not dependent on too much water, not prone to diseases and not very much affected by typhoons. It bears tubers in five years or less.
Why not try?
He suggests area of 100 hectares or more mechanized. Cassava can be used for flour, startch (as what Liwayway now Oishi did) ethanol, pharmaceutical and confectionary and beauty products (as sorbitol)
and even biogradable plastic
While the issue of rice importation, tariffs are highly politicized, may it be suggested that we work on substitutes or alternatives.
It could be at par with Vietnam at 6.1% and only India would surpass Ph at 7%. China would only be 4.5%
Is PHL be poised for growth due to PBBM or it would grow inspite of its Presidency. Domestic consumption would be a prime driver. Countries dependend on exports would be vulnerable to external shocks. Inflation is down to 2.4% and BSP is expected to lower interest rates (The governor was a batchmate in college)
The phenomenal rise to power in 2022 and achievements at Bukina Faso under the leaders of Capt Ibrahim Traore is nothing short of phenomenal. After removing fetters of colonialism (not entirely 100% because he depended on little help from China) his country are into dam developments, irrigation, Renewable energy, military hardware, highways, infrastructure, healthcare, gold refining, and many more
We have seen that having military dictators, if they have nation building in their hearts and head can be good for the country. They are forceful, mission oriented and clear. And this is the new model - for African nations to get clear of multinationals and Western colonists.
We must congratulate Capt Ibrahim for his achievements and let this be a motivation for our leaders to lessen eyeing each other, destroying each other, but build our nation/country to greatness.
This post was wondering whether this should be posted under scams. But it should be here. There are legal loopholes on how not to pay taxes at all. Tax avoidance - legal, vs tax evasion (illegal)
1. Not selling stocks when they rise in value but rather borrowing against it, and paying off the same with dividents or partial sale of shares of stock. Unsold shares are not taxed with capital gains. So the wealthy simply borrow vs their shares
2. Declaring all legal business expenses which are deductible
3. Having perks: clubs, memberships, travel charged vs business (but there now de mimimis provision at least in local BIR rulings
4. Saving on CGT, donors tax donees tax. A large bank's owner (not deceasedd) set up a foundation that does art patronage, awards to teachers saving on donors and doneees tax and estate tax. He donated all his shares to the foundation, and appointed his sons and daughters to the foundation. The foundation votes on the shares of the stock of the bank electing the directors. As a matter of fact the President of the foundation is the EVP of the bank (he just retired)
So they say, taxes are only for the poor.
Take note also why sale of art work is flourishing. Buying an art work is an expense, not an investment and profits from the appreciation of the works of art are likewise treated as expenses and thus untaxed. So ever wondered why art works (even those ugly ones) comman high prices. They are tax shelters.
This post has criticized the practice of junior officers of sharing their computations to the adversary in negotuation or emailing vibering dm, information being requested by the other parties or customers.
The negative effect is once the customer or the adversary learns of this: he/she can formulate at his own time his counter attack on your proposal, go to others for the same deal, or leave you turn down your offer.
It is better:
1 To give the info face to face. Avoid the email or viber thing. It is the fastest way to lose the deal
Give only limited info, and ask if this the thing he needs to close the deal. Make him/her work hard to to get info from him. This is the porcupine effect. Even on sales. No info is free. You give it in'
exchange for something
2. Find out his situation why he she needs the deal
There was a business deal being proposed where our party is required to issue pdc. I object to that because there is a prima facie act that you committed a crime ie that your pdc is unfunded Let it just be civil transaction not a criminal deal.
It is a window dressing, a result of asset revaluation How could such an event take place if the net cash flow is negative? Rappler reporters do not hink so
It defies the basic definition of business is creating customers. It is simply a result of accounting mumbo jumbo, asset revaluation and not a result of hard effort to build customer base, sell more inventories. It is just asset revaluation and not even supported by land valuation assessment by licensed real estate appraiser. No disclosure, no audited financial statement report. Is this dishonesty, a scam?
That is why while in GSB, I removed the guy from my list of idol iconic businessman.
This post got a friend request from a former business colleague (we built houses for him) whom I heard lived abroad and left his very very wealthy wife and laws. And so later on he inquired whether I have known about an international finance company aid to poor retired people like me. He referred me to a person, a Chinese who could help me process the grant. The legit website, a World Bank affiliate is inaccessible and only accepts loan application.
I got through the Chinese agent and less than an hour said my grant of $100,000 was approved. However I had to fork out $ for delivery charge which amounted to about 10% of the grant. A variant of the Nigerian scam.
I relayed the information to the former business associate but he never replied. Is he part of this suspected scam? How could he? I dealt with him straight while in the Philippines.
This post stayed off the DM of the Chinese agent and the former business colleague. I hope I never hear from them again
We should have closed this deal last January. We have beeing courting the owner of the project for sale since October of 2024 and we have done all our research, computation, and even asking the contractor to visit the site and make estimates. We even solicited marketers and sellers.
However, one problem remains - the existence of a joint venture agreement with a famous contractor (he seems to be all over the province.) We requested for a termination of the joint project agreement which is registered with DHSUD (and probably annotated at the titles) We requested for a certified true copy of the title, and we did not get any (is the owner keeping something secret from the buyers)
They did send a termination of contract (unilateral) via LBC. Our lawyer recommends:
1. An acknowledgement and quit claim
2. Document jointly terminating the agreement
I remember there was a jv partner who wanted to rescind a contract, but our lawyers counter, was that he needed our consent and thus was unable to proceed with the termination of the agreement
Without that the lawyer said, there is the Damocles sword hanging that anytime, the registered developer can create chaos and unreasonable claims on the project. We heard that the said developer has such an MO in the province.
Kaya lang sayang ang deal. At times I am tempted to disregard the lawyer and go ahead.
Sorbitol can be produced from a tuber that is grown widely in Nigeria. It can is used as sweetner for chewing gum, other confectionary products, and cosmetics because of certain chracteristics for skin moisture and appearance.
It seems to be safer alternative to aspartame which is very popular in softdrinks and other FMCG products. Can this be used as sweet substitute for many diabetic patients around the world? Can this be an opportunity for tuber grower. Sorbitol has minimal glycemic index and taken in right amount, does not cause any spike in blood sugar. (It is slowly absorbed undigested in the gut)
The world hungers for solution to plastic that clog drainage and cause flood. There was reported to be an island in the Pacific which consist of floating plastic waste.
Thus the search is on for solution:
1. To lessen plastic packaging
2. To get rid of the waterways and the earth of plastic.
I heard from the father of a mangkin who is based in Italy that they are funding research on plastic that decays. I just dont know what they are researching on but the solution seem to be at hand - from cassava that grows and that can be grown a plenty here in the PHL. This is a business opportunity and yes also saves the earth
Met with my uncle after a long while (he had his eye operated on) and met long for possible agri venture. (He is into broiler, eggs, and cattle farming) Our goal was to interest a relative in a big Region 3 province to have alternative sources of income, while at the same time provide livelihood (not ayudas) to his constituents, and thus strengthen further his political clout. He just won a legislative position in his province.
My idea is have plantation agreements in idle lands with landowner and partnership for high value products like white lamuan, and /or agar or trees with fragrance (since there are all ready such, owned by foreigners with their laboratories and who are expanding - quite an opportune moment
My uncles idea was different - to go on contract growing of a popular tuber that can be substitute for rice and which has numerous other uses: flour, starch, textile, paper, ethanol, sorbitol costmetic products etc.
This project certainly could:
1. Provide many jobs since harvesting and processing can be labor intensive;
2. Save $ for rice importation
3. Provide opportunities for high value products like sorbitol.
Nigeria is currently the leader in cassava production and there are reports that those who engage in such business are now wealthy.
This piece of property consisting of 15 hectares, 2+ titled and rest rights cost only 7 numbers. I t is a montanoso and going there requires lot of horsepower from your vehicle - roads are steep and difficult to go to. A hotel was built by former contractor and had P5 million debt with a govt bank. Eventually, his property was foreclosed and the govt bank wanted P40M for the property. Somebody else deposited half of the amount and soon took over. From what I heard, he is unable to raise the balance and now wants 9 numbers for the property.
Politicians would always want to be popular with the masses, the working man at the expense of economy and over all health of the nation. There is the prospect that the P200.00/day wage hike will be passed. We hope that our lawmakers will study and debate well this proposal. Surely, without the study, it will mean higher prices and many new SMEs unable to meet the said wage: either they violate or they close shop. We copy the US example and now they have $37 trillion budget deficit, not to mention industries leaving their country. Not to mention foreigners investors doing their business elsewhere.
Think about this.
We cant just keep printing money or borrow from capital and money markets. We must keep our prices and costs in line with each other, and investors a just return for their capital
This shows the seriousness and focus of Pangasinan province to lift agribusiness. Its just fitting because of reported demand for bamboo in Bayambang, where there is a bamboo factory by a former mayor.
This food might throw many multi million stem cells clinics out of business (skin clinics and beauty soaps). All you have to do is to consume food with young bamboo shoots. This food is common in Chinese cuisine
Young bamboo shoots promote: angiogenesis, (re growth of blood vessels especially if they have grwon brittle and occluded as you age) and stem cells.
"Bamboo shoots are also rich in silica, a mineral that aids collagen production, which supports the skin and other tissues. As collagen is vital for tissue structure and repair, it works hand-in-hand with stem cells to maintain youthful, resilient skin and a healthy body.
According to Dr. Li, consuming bamboo shoots regularly can boost your body’s natural stem cell production, effectively doubling their activity in some cases. This means that by simply incorporating this nutrient-dense food into your diet, you could enhance your body’s ability to repair itself and maintain youthful energy."
There are plenty of bamboo in the Philippines and this is an impetus to grow bamboo and harvest bamboo shoots for this grand slam in food and agribusiness.
There were several videos this post has seen: one is CDO, a branch of Vietnamese company, and the other one would be at Pangasinan where you have Saint statue clad with bamboo veneer. The owner has 5,000 hectares planted with bamboo. Investing in the future, in sustainable wood industry..
Yes textiles and fabric can be made from bamboo. But since processes are complicated, they can be more expensive. They are better than silk and are soft to touch. They are used for towels, shirt, blankets.
Yes there is giant bamboo variety and can grow heights up to 50 meters, but is thin. This is all ready being grown in Mindanao
There is a lot of agri business opportunity in the Philippines - that can generate wealth and create jobs, and lift PHL further up from LDC to middle income economy.
This Norwegian scientist with PhD sees great hope in saving planet earth from the dangers it faces now like climate change and global warming and depletion of natural resources
1. Bamboos grow incredibly fast up to 40 cm per day;
2. It needs little care
3. It matures and is usable only after 3 years, (unlike timber that takes 50 up to 100 years before it can replenish used wood resources
4. It is very versatile and can be used as 1. tea 2. food - young bamboo shoots 3. for paper pulp
for textile and 4 for variety of construction uses: floors, as veneer, structural beams, scaffoldings, etc.
Thus it will create plenty of jobs and wealth for those:
1. Who grow bamboo;
2. Harvest and transport the bamboo to factories for processing
3. Those who work in factories
4. Those who sell bamboo products
5. It is carbon negative and can soak up 40 tons of CO2 in a year. What can 1M hectares of idle land planted with bamboo do to global warming
The worldwide bamboo market is worth $70 billion China controls 50% of that. Thus we see plastic spoon fork and knives serrved at HK fastfood
Developments in the Philippines
1. Passage of Bamboo Industry Development Act of 19th Congress. (although no budget yet)
2. Bamboo growers association in Mindanao c/o Manny Pinol former DA Secretary
3. Former mayor Cesar Quiambao having 5,000 hectares planted to Bamboo in Pangasinan; the province's goal is to have 30,000 hectares planted to bamboo
"What does it take to turn a dream into a billion-dollar reality? Get a peek at the exhilarating ride with the main trailer for Mad Unicorn, a captivating series inspired by the true story of Thailand’s first unicorn startup. Directed by the award-winning Nottapon Boonprakob (Come and See), the series promises a blend of high-stakes business drama and personal transformation.
The trailer introduces viewers to Santi, a driven young entrepreneur who transitions from a life in the mountains to the high-pressure world of express delivery. As he navigates betrayal and fierce competition, themes of ambition, resilience, and redemption emerge, painting a vivid picture of his quest to make his business succeed in Thailand.
In Mad Unicorn, Ice-Natara Nopparatayapon (One for the Road, Delete) stars as Santi, the ambitious protagonist who dreams of lifting his family out of poverty. Armed with fluent Mandarin taught by his mother, Santi spots an opportunity in the express delivery industry and launches “Thunder Express.” When a ruthless tycoon, Kanin, portrayed by legendary actor and musician Ek-Thaneth Warakulnukroh (The Sea is Watching), betrays him, Santi teams up with a sharp-witted financier, Xiaoyu (Janeyeh Jiranorraphat), and an antisocial coding prodigy, Ruijie (Dr. Palang Rocksilp).
Mad Unicorn weaves a narrative rich in cultural authenticity and innovation. Set against the backdrop of Bangkok’s dynamic business landscape, the series takes viewers on a wild ride through the world of express delivery services.
Join Santi on his relentless pursuit for his dreams in Mad Unicorn, debuting on May 29, only on Netflix."
The schoool where I studied only charged P700.00 sem, It is now no 9.
Does studying in these schools make you a better person or wealthy. The reality is that they dont. Most who went abroad among my classmates ended up as civil servants abroad. A waste of local scarce resources. No wonder we are being left behind.
I have an aborted appointment with a Pastor who was soliciting PHP from our office. I had helped him before with 6 number donation for Bibles. He expects me to continue with that despite unpleasant experience.
Just to help him I proposed a scheme wherein his non profit (a religious organization) can raise money and be self sustaining organization. Most non profit are in a situation of cash burn - they merely spend the donation and do nothing to be sustainable. Catholic churches run schools and invest to make themselves less dependent on donations. Donors experience donor fatigue.
However non profits would not want to have headache in running a profit business. It is easier to get dontion Hence the pastor does not want to meet with me.
Number of cases is rising. The most prominent of whom was a LGU exec of an island province in Eastern Visayas
Take the necessary precaution. Wear face masks, Social distancing. Strengthen immune system. Avoid crowded spaces. Wear long sleeves. Practice high standards of hygiene.
Lately because of the Jessica Soho feature everybody was enamored with agri forestry. Even this post. That is why this post devoted a lot of time and research into this new "opportunity" It is said to earn zillions in 5 years. However it seemed to me that there are gaps in the business model
1. Selling lumber for 5 years tree There was a post on the White Lauan that was 5 years old and had only about 6 inches diameter although it is about 30 ft tall, not enough to have 500 board feet as computed
2. Dense planting (1.5 x 1.5 meters) of widely spaced (3 x 3 meters)
3. End of the value chain - marketing
This post verified this (checking reality) with a business partner who is from the island province and is into agriventure. and told me that the difficulty really is with no. 3. There are many who are into this in their province. That is why her business partner who who has a 4.5 hectare planted to mahogany cut his trees and converted into our type of business. But the difficulty is in marketing. After the trees are matured and there a all ready the fragrances, the buyers are hard to come by, just like the nata de coco fiasco of yesteryears -- many went into this because this was so easy to do. Only to end up with containerloads of nata de coco wihtout buyers. I know of a feed dealer who lost his shirt in nata de coco.
That is why it pays if you make a plan or proposal to incorporate/use the GROW template:
G -oal
R - eality
O -ptions
W-hat to do next.
The reality portion deands that you:
1. Do a market competitor research
2. Ask those who are in the know
3. Ask the hard questions. Question the assumption
Health is wealth. As I took the public transportation today, this post wore face mask. Because, friends warned me Covid maybe back. Coupled with rising number in HK and Singapore:
1. Friends in the memorial business are noting rising number of deaths due to respiratory, pneumoniia
like causes;
2. Diagnostic centers are reporting positive csses of covid 19
3. N pox too
So be careful when in public places. Wear face masks in crowded places Social distncing, Handwashing. Get yourself a vaccinations vs covid 19.
The DOH may not want us to panic and/or re following orders not to mention report covid 19 again under this administrations. Nor spend again on vaccines
A companion in 4x4 who was reported to be the first Filipino to climb Everest 20 years ago (2015) communicated to me some grandiose plan for evangelization. He has become a pastor Initially helped him with donation of hundreds of thousands worth of P40.00@ bible.
Instead of dole out and charity, I plan to talk him into introducing agri forestry in the areas he will be proslytizing with livelihood eg agro forestry so that he can be self sustaining.
Yesterday this post joined a meeting regarding the meeting for signing of an amended contract.
Since Friday last week there was a request for the meeting to review the contract. This was the result of a month long effort by the parties of the contractor, a CE and project officer, plus the redrafting of the legal consultant. There was another scheduled meeting last Monday, and then Wednesday, and then finally we had this last Thursday.
My impression upon seeing the draft was the document was a new contract. There was a recitation of articles that are in a new contract (and were recited before in the old contract) However in reality there were 3 things that need to be documented as ageed upon:
1. That the contractor changed org from enterprise to a corporation;
2. That there was a request and approved verbally for an x amount of escalation;
3. That there were additions and subtraction in the scope of work
So I suggersted that:
1. The title of the agreement was "Amendment to a Cosntruction Contract"
2. And incorporate at the above 3 in the amendment as a resolution or course of action.
I was apprehensive that these suggestions opinions would be contrary to the legal counsel draft and their discussion A draft could be made and signed yesterday Friday. But the new heads opted for a legal counsel review
A new contract that was presented was a novation and that meant you have opened yourself to:
1. Doing an operation without contract
2. More changes etc
An addendum or amendment would be simpler and in keeping with the spirit of reality
This post met with the contractor and explained the situaiton ie that the amendment (the revision of the docs) is subject to review and verbally told him that essentially we have agreed on 1 to 3. He was satisfied.
This post has taught in a GSB in the 4 walls of the academe but always wanting to be extraterritorial. We went to restos, to sites of businesses owned by the students, we went on experimentation to give reality to what we were talking about in the classroom. We asked students to come with illegal business ideas, we asked for business plans. Not so much of lectures or academe (but which the succeeding dean killed ending my teaching career)
It was going back to textbook reading, chapter by chapter and answering review questions. Life was never made that way. And having departmental tests: select the best answer. True or false
My post here are not lectures but real experiences as we navigate negotiation and formulation of business ideas. In real world. Not from textbook
It was mentioned that harvessting from the wild especially in the mountains of Samar Leyte in Mindanao are covered. Those in the wild command the best price and quality. The domestic inoculated ones are not that regulated. However the germination planting, harvesting and trading need DENR and CITES approval. This adds another layer of complexity to the growing and marketing of AGAR. You need to inoculate this. However some say that in China, they do not encourage inoculation because the process causes lower quality and hence price.
This post thought there was a law, but only DENR regulations. They say they have to do this because Aquilaria is endangered because of the poaching because of the high value.
The first to be legalized farming is that of IBA Botanicals headed by Ben Mead. They collaborated with Gourmet in Silang and now selling seedlings.
However it does not seem to be endangered. There seems to be millions all ready planted here in the Philippines.
Why do they seem to make it so hard? No wonder many Filipinos are poor. Our regulations keep us from becoming wealthy
Many would not believe this but I have been busy lately not so much for myself for the others. True to the goal of alma mater to be a man for others. So I mentor people so that they can be good in business, This post evaluate opportunities for them for free, and give them advise on how to close the deal. I do not ask for PHP but advise them to seek PHP for themselves. So the beneficiaries are landowners (if we have land dev project or even agri forest project) the workers who will be hired, the LGU to whom the taxes who will be paid, and even those who ask for grease money (yest we do)
Sometimes too all you need is trust from people so you can seize project without PHP or get the investors right in the locality where you are putting up the project
I have heard this often from elders: "Its who you know not what you know"
In your research and study of feasibility you have to seek connection: who can produce who has the source, who has the money and who is going to buy your product.
Thus as I study how to make a farm lot project feasible I had to research:
1. Whats the extraordinary thing I can do about this Ans - with business in the farm lot?
2. What could be: agroforestry: the flowering trees, timber and agar
3 Sources: for timeber: yong mga nagseseminar, Dr M, ; for flowers from contact in Palawan
4. Buyers: Goldwood contact for Lauan, for partners; resto owners, the fragrance buyers.
These plus
1. Determination
2. Hard work
3. Problem solving
4 Being positive
5. Getting the right people
6. Being scared often you should be +++ always but realistic enough to reflect:
1. Are my assumptions hypothesis right
2. Is the data correct or all you got is an impression or single event
3 Is the market solid?
4 Can you trust the people you are talking with supporting you now
As this post was researching on fragrances: plantation, for aquilaria and ylang2, there grew a back up in case you cant esport your produce. You need to sell this to local and international and buyers One of the best ways is to look for users of these stuff for manufacturers of fragrances.
This morning we came across persons who:
1. Used to formulate cosmetics for a billionaire (now) fragrant manufactuer;
but now manufacture her own staff (Ayesha) She became millionaire because soap, fragrance
all parts of beauty business is a big business
2. Office mate who went into fragrances;
3. The uncle who owns goldwood, the uncle of the contact person who did furniture before for
