Sun.Star: Man overcomes problems to become business success

GENERAL SANTOS - World War II is long over but Japan is still invading the Philippines. This time, however, there are no frightening bursts of gunfire and bombs but a noiseless struggle that's gaining a foothold in mainstream society. Behind the quest is Edgino S. Bogayong II, a man with a dark past perhaps many would prefer to keep secret until their death to avoid shame. He was a drug addict, college dropout, and abandoned by his wife in their early marriage years. Emotionally and financially broke, Bogayong, fondly called Kuya Chito, had attempted to commit suicide that fortunately went puff. "It was a blessing that I was unsuccessful in killing myself," recalled Bogayong, owner of Kuya Chito's Takuyaki, a local food cart venture that now has branches in big malls across the country. Takuyaki is a Japanese snack delicacy shaped like a ball with vegetable fillings drizzled with mayo and topped with chicken or fish flakes. Hot or sweet sauce maybe added depending on the preference of customers. But it's not all easy ball for Bogayong in steering the business that started with a P40,000 capital, a loan courtesy of his four best friends that took pity on him. He opened his first branch in 1997 at a local mall here but his Takuyaki balls were not an instant hit among the shoppers. But he kept on sailing the rough tide, at the same time trying to woo back his wife Junith, who is a good cook. Junith, seeing the changes in her husband, eventually accepted him. Both confessed food lovers, they experimented to have the flavor of their Takuyaki suited to the taste of Filipinos. In 2001, after a series of trial and error, they finally hit the right mixture for Takuyaki, which Kuya Chito initially sold using the original Japanese flavor that was taught him by a cousin. "Since we changed the flavor to suit the Filipino taste, we noted that sales were going up just months after we altered [the mixture]," he said. Queries for franchise eventually came, which Kuya Chito was hesitant to grant at first due to lack of knowledge on franchising operations. He attended a franchising seminar that's now auguring well for his business. Barely over a decade now, Kuya Chito's Takuyaki has 39 outlets across the country located in big shopping department stores like Shoe Mart, Robinson's and Sta. Lucia in Metro Manila. By the end of this year, Bogayong said they target to open 16 more outlets in the country through franchising schemes. Bogayong currently grants a franchise at a cost of P180,000, which includes the brightly red-colored food cart, the equipment and training of staff. He gets five percent royalty from the sales of each franchisee. The franchise is renewable for five years at a lesser price, said Bogayong, adding that requests for franchises abroad are being considered. Under the contract, Kuya Chito's Takuyaki will supply the franchisees with the ingredients, forks, cups and tissue paper. In Cagayan de Oro City, he revealed that his franchisee was earning a net income of P300,000 monthly from six outlets. Bogayong said the venture is successful because the company offers "quality, delicious and nutritious product." Of course, he declined to share how they concoct the ingredients, noting it is their trade secret. Due to his successful business venture, Bogayong was recently featured by one of the country's giant television stations. Locally, Bogayong bagged this year's "Entrepreneur of the Year" award given under the city government's Yabong Maliliit na Negosyo" program. His wife Junith, on the other hand, was also recognized for product innovation. It was the first time that a husband and wife tandem bagged the coveted awards, making them richer by P160,000 from the cash prize plus plaques. Bogayong handles the company's marketing, planning and research aspects while the wife takes charge of production. Avel Manansala, a close friend of Bogayong, said that perseverance, commitment and faith in God are among the factors that brought Kuya Chito's Takuyaki to success. "They never wavered despite the challenges and hardship, Manansala added. Bogayong, now 42 years old, recalled his dark past with somber smiles but echoing a sense of victory. "It taught me a lot. I was born to a rich family. I grow up with money to spend and had my parent's string of businesses did not fail, I would have been drug-crazed even up to now," he said. He was also thankful for the support of his friends who lent him the money to start the business. "They loaned me the money to start a new life," Bogayong said. On board his newly-acquired top of the line Mazda sports car, supposedly one of the only two so far in this city, he said he is "very contented" with the way things are turning for him and his family. "It's hard to be super rich. You can't do what you want because you fear being the subject of kidnappers," he added. Bogayong, who plays golf, airsoft games and practical shooting, expressed confidence the business would stay for a long time because they have taught their children how to run it. - Sun.Star