MOJO: Proudly Philippine-Made

How is one supposed to act when people find out you are related to royalty?

Me, I've always known someone in my family would become famous.  True enough, my eldest brother is the first Filipino Vice President of Sony-Columbia Pictures (in California), and even tried his hand at producing not one, but TWO full-length movies, the first of which won numerous nominations and awards in several film festivals in the US.  My eldest sister is a self-proclaimed tourism adviser and is actively promoting Philippine tourism to foreigners abroad.  My second sister is a high-ranking executive of Boeing, the makers of the longest running commercial airplane in the world.  She gets sent to Europe on business, and her husband gets to go with her for free!

But the subject of this blog is my second brother, who, at the young age of 12, was already dabbling in business and investments.  He started with selling bread in his dormitory in high school.  Today, he is in the process of expanding his footwear enterprise (better known as MOJO) from Manila to all over the country.  In fact he has outlets in almost every major mall, including SM, Ayala and Robinsons, and in the local malls like Gaisano (CDO).

Last June 2010, the brand was awarded Brand of the Month by Robinsons Pioneer in Mandaluyong City, having sold more than P100,000 in a single month.  Fantastic!  Then, just recently, he and his business partner successfully completed an interview with several marketing applicants in Cebu.  Interestingly, they will conduct another set of interviews in Davao later this year.  Awesome!  And to think, their products are made from pure Philippine rubber (found in Bukidnon), unlike the competition which still import their materials.

So what does one say when asked how they're related to Joey Cuerdo, president and general manager of MOJO Enterprises, makers of quality outdoor slippers and sandals (and soon to come, apparel)?  Me, I just say, "He's my brother," and smile.

MYFP (Make Your Family Proud)!!!

spotted at the Philippine Airlines (NAIA 2) 
pre-departure area on June 15, 2010;  
the logo is blurred but only 
one brand of sandals can be that simple

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

Just when you thought life couldn't get any better, God throws you into a whirlpool of new ideas and uncertainty.  I think it's His way of saying, "You aint seen nuthin yet!"

A couple of weeks ago, I graduated, along with 36 others, from a two-week seminar for Regional Tour Guide Accreditation.  This was arranged by the Department of Tourism Region 10 (DOTR10) Office and we were rated by DOT officials and tour operators from Manila. To qualify for the seminar, all applicants had had to undergo screening and interviews, and then, those who were chosen had to pay a fee of P3,000.  The seminar literally took 14 days, taking even our Saturdays and one Sunday.  We were warned that if we were absent for more than eight hours, our accreditation certificate would be forfeited.  I was scheduled to have a road trip tour to Surigao del Norte that week the seminar started but due to some Divine Intervention, it was canceled and I was able to attend every day of the coveted class. 

Maybe it was because we were thrown together for such a short period of time or maybe it was because we all had to undergo extreme stress from Day 1, our class had formed a bond of friendship that is difficult to let go of or to forget.  Where can you find a group as diverse in occupation (teachers, chefs, students, entertainers, colorum tour guides, river guides, mothers, business people, and, of course, the unemployed) or as far apart in age (18-40) as ours?  In my opinion, ours was a picture of the individual AMUMA (caregiver, nurturist): 

Ness (smart classy, gikawat ang niyog para pang-display) - Alvin (cariñoso pero nag-vertigo) - Gina (nag-emcee impromptu) - Gen (ms. city tourism) - Spy (the silent owner of Bugsay) - Gabby (so much love, so much drama) - Shay (the born storyteller) - Mayen (camera ready, pero absent palagi) - Sittie (has hidden talent) - Rye (chef napabayaan sa kusina) - Mae (this is Liceo and Rodelsa Hall and... should I stop talking na?) - Rhandi (chose Region 10 over El Nido, nakaka-touch) - Ying (sa sobrang stress nagpakalbo!) - Cy (pwede na mag-guide sa Gingoog) - Cocoy (smiling guide) - Great (another great storyteller) - Vonette (ms. city knows all) - Nap (loves XU) - Anne (unsuspecting valedictorian!!!) - Binggoy (hidden talent din basta may beer) - Ren-Ren (Junjun?) - Golda (the businesswoman) - April (pirmi bang first?) - Rob (the entertainer) - Karen (the photographer) - Weng (the expert first aid kit) - Emie (best in interior design) - Daley (youngest/crush ni...) - Shiegz (always a word in edgewize) - Carmz (ms. energizer bunny) - Jan (proudly Red Rafts) - Eper (teaches computer tourism) - Ian (ian ang guide) - Apple (mestiza gwapa) - Pren (proudly Liceo) - Eman (the cowboy-man) - Mitch (you can find her at Lasang) - Aidz (a natural guidener) - Kumar (3-star presentation)

Even today, two weeks and a few days having gone by, there is still that tie that holds us together.  It's that tie that gets us texting each other, chatting with each other, asking each other...  MAY UPDATE NA BA?

Go, Go, Go, AMUMA!

We Have Been Challenged!

It has been over a week since the North Bukidnon Chamber invited the Regional Director of the Department of Tourism - 10, CATALINO E. CHAN III, to present the state of tourism in Bukidnon.

He mentioned points I already knew about, like our brand of hilot is famous all over the Philippines; and the Kaamulan Park is the most serene place in Malaybalay, where one can commune with nature; and that Bukidnon has the most ideal climate and has been judged the CLEANEST PROVINCE in the whole country. He was proud to say that the municipality of Maramag spent almost P10 million in promoting the 132 natural springs found there. He praised the developers of the Longest Zipline in Asia, located in Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich.

However, he also mentioned some negative facts, which I also knew about. He said there are no accredited tour guides, only a few accredited travel agencies, almost nil promotions for local tours and only a few good hotels in the whole province. In Manolo Fortich, he was sad to say, there was absolutely none of these accredited tourist facilities. And... Bukidnon has the lowest tourist arrival in the Philippines.

Why?

Is it because our government doesn't know that tourism brings in revenues? Is it because our politicians are so intent with their politics that they would rather spend on campaign materials and public appearances than making the citizens proud of themselves and their province? Or is it because "tourism destroys the environment"? Eh, come again?

This was our predicament back in 2004, when Ed and I decided to change career, from agriculture (though we still have a farm) to tourism. There was a new mayor in town and the first thing she did was scrap the tourism accomplishments and projects of the previous one. The reason she gave for cancelling the annual 4x4 Off-Road Competition in Mangima was because the event was causing massive erosion on the hillside. Hello? The event lasts 3 days every year, and nothing is altered -- no trees are cut, no grass removed. The organizers DO place a tarpaulin matting on the deep places to catch water as part of the obstacle route. For 3 days, the grass underneath cannot breathe and subsequently dies. Is this what she meant?

If she hadn't done that, I believe Manolo Fortich would have developed much faster.

Director Chan challenged us by giving an example. In Camiguin, his home province, all accredited resorts are organized into one association. They have what they call a Bed Tax. For every bed booked for the night, the resort will pay the association P10. This encourages the association to promote its member resorts and help develop teamwork and camaraderie among the resort owners. "Do Not Compete... Instead, Compliment."

As for us, we are almost there. There is just one tiny technicality which we have to overcome for La Montaña Tours & Vans to be accredited. One tiny factor which will make us the FIRST travel agency of Manolo Fortich.

Pray that it gets done this week. It will make a wonderful Christmas gift!