Bangko Kabayan microenterprise loan client Mr. Elino Andres won a Special Award for “exploring new opportunities despite a rare illness” at the recent 2008 Citi Microentrepreneur of the Year Awards
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ELINO ANDRES: Will on Wheels
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Looking at him with his sunny outlook and bubbly mood, you would think that he has never had a bumpy ride nor traveled a difficult crossroad in his life. Yet in reality, his life is like a road trip to an underdeveloped territory, rough and a bit uncertain just like the far places he goes to. But he has the right tools for the journey: a fair grip on faith, a customer-driven sense of innovation, and a steadfast will to make his life better.
Mr. Elino Andres is a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who, upon his return to the Philippines, tried his hand on entrepreneurship. He started by driving a jeepney that he rented daily. However, his income as a jeepney driver proved inadequate, so he shifted to selling fish in the public market.
Being highly sociable and naturally<div class=”mceTemp mceIEcenter”><dl id=”attachment_726″ class=”wp-caption aligncenter” style=”width: 317px”><dt class=”wp-caption-dt”><a rel=”attachment wp-att-726″ href=”http://rbapmabs.wordpress.com/mabs-stories/elino-andres/elino-andres/” mce_href=”http://rbapmabs.wordpress.com/mabs-stories/elino-andres/elino-andres/”><img class=”size-full wp-image-726″ title=”elino-andres” src=”http://rbapmabs.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/elino-andres.jpg” mce_src=”http://rbapmabs.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/elino-andres.jpg” alt=”Bangko Kabayan microenterprise loan client Mr. Elino Andres won a Special Award for “exploring new opportunities despite a rare illness” at the recent 2008 Citi Microentrepreneur of the Year Awards” width=”307″ height=”480″ /></a></dt><dd class=”wp-caption-dd”>Bangko Kabayan microenterprise loan client Mr. Elino Andres won a Special Award for “exploring new opportunities despite a rare illness” at the recent 2008 Citi Microentrepreneur of the Year Awards</dd></dl></div><h4><span style=”color:#ffffff;” mce_style=”color:#ffffff;”>.</span></h4> <h4>ELINO ANDRES: Will on Wheels</h4> <p><span style=”color:#ffffff;” mce_style=”color:#ffffff;”>.</span></p> <p>Looking at him with his sunny outlook and bubbly mood, you would think that he has never had a bumpy ride nor traveled a difficult crossroad in his life. Yet in reality, his life is like a road trip to an underdeveloped territory, rough and a bit uncertain just like the far places he goes to. But he has the right tools for the journey: a fair grip on faith, a customer-driven sense of innovation, and a steadfast will to make his life better.</p> <p>Mr. Elino Andres is a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who, upon his return to the Philippines, tried his hand on entrepreneurship. He started by driving a jeepney that he rented daily. However, his income as a jeepney driver proved inadequate, so he shifted to selling fish in the public market.</p> <p>Being highly sociable and naturally charismatic because he is also a religious preacher, Mr. Andres has accumulated a number of loyal patrons or “suki”. Keen in observing while doing business with them, he discovered that many of his patrons were into the poultry business. Seeing this window of opportunity, he took advantage of his connection with his “suki” and started peddling eggs, which have a longer shelf life than fish. Using a motorcycle and a couple of coolers stacked with egg-loaded trays, his business of “egg delivery” was ready to roll.</p> <p>Later on, a better business opportunity came Mr. Andres’s way in the form of Nestlé’s “Business on Wheels” project. When he joined the promo, he was lent a tricycle intended as a peddling vehicle for Nestlé products. Having a bigger and better transport at his disposal allowed Mr. Andres to sell the Nestlé products and eggs as well.</p> <p>Yet still he was limited by the number of products he could sell and the number of locations he could sell in, so he thought of ways on how to improve and improvise his business. When the Nestlé project ended, he returned the vehicle to the company, sold his old motorbike, and bought his own tricycle. His mobile store for Nestlé products, eggs, and grocery items was realized and finally rolling.</p> <p>However, Mr. Andres’s leveling up did not stop at improved delivery. He innovated even more by using technology to better serve his customers: he introduced his ingenious “Text Mo, Deliver Ko” service to his clients. This involved product ordering through SMS – customers send their product orders via text message to Mr. Andres’s mobile phone – and door-to-door product delivery, which Mr. Andres carries out through his rolling store. True enough, he was able to reach more customers, even from the far-flung barangays of Nasugbu, whose groceries (and some enlightening and kind words from Mr. Andres) could now be delivered right at their doorsteps.</p> <p>In December 2006, Mr. Andres was introduced to Bangko Kabayan. He got his first loan of Php 5,000 (US$100) and used it to fund the construction of a concrete “sari-sari” or retail store. The sari-sari store complemented his eggs and groceries delivery business. And, as another step of diversifying his business, he has added artificial insemination of pigs. He discovered that paying his loan via GCASH and the bank’s <a href=”http://www.mobilephonebanking.rbap.org/article/archive/15#tap” mce_href=”http://www.mobilephonebanking.rbap.org/article/archive/15#tap”>Text-A-Payment</a> service was so easy that he now encourages other clients of Bangko Kabayan to pay via GCASH. He makes additional income be reselling GCASH to bank clients along his regular route. At present, he is planning to avail of a retail stall in the public market that is scheduled for construction near their place. Aside from his steadily growing business, he is likewise able to send his daughter to college and financially support his family.</p> <p>Mr. Andres’s success story becomes even more significant and inspiring when one discovers that he is suffering from a health condition involving a rare cancer of the blood. Fortunately, his doctor registered him with a US-based foundation that now supplies him with his much-needed medicines so he can continue to live and prosper.</p> <p>When asked how he is able to accomplish such tasks despite challenges, jokingly he says with closed fists, “Aja aja!” Although popularized by a Korean television drama series, this mantra, synonymous to “Fight!”, rings true for Mr. Andres. This remarkable man’s life journey maybe uncharted, but given his positive outlook, passion, and entrepreneurial drive, Mr. Andres has no other way but to go forward towards success.</p> <p></p>
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