| Michael Escaler |
Letting Cabalens taste the sweet life despite adversities Even before the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, PASUDECO, a company involved in harnessing the sugar milling and refinery requirements, existed as a moneymaking operation. Established in 1921 by sugar planters of the province, PASUDECO stood to become an enduring symbol in the Pampanga sugar industry.Initiating a sugar mill co-owned by the planters themselves and not by one monopolistic family or corporation, Jose de Leon, Sr., locally known as “Don Pitong” pushed PASUDECO’s ground-breaking vision of sharing their hard-earned success to their kababayans, who have painstakingly helped them achieve their goals. Other than its milling operations, the company was founded on the vast sugar and rice land holdings of its owners. The calamity of 1991 may have seen the end of the company but its owners, who were well respected in the sugar industry remained firm on their vision, and had in fact maneuvered their company out of its “dark days.” After successfully rehabilitating the PASUDECO sugar mill in the mid-90’s, Michael Escaler started the tactical diversification that would further reinforce the core sugar business. He pursued the leasing of immense trails of sugar land which have been abandoned by CARP farmer beneficiaries for not having adequate funds. Escaler’s total dedication to the Pampanga sugar industry also encouraged him to create a second modern sugar mill in the town of Porac. Cristino Panlilio, on the other hand, made the PASUDECO Group trek the unfamiliar territories of non-sugar industries. In 1997, the group acquired the Balibago Waterworks System, Inc. (BWSI) which services the water requirements of Balibago, Angeles, Pampanga. From a single branch, BWSI now runs in twenty-five towns, mostly in Central and Northern Luzon serving its franchise areas through an extensive system of deepwells and water pipelines into the faucets of its customers’ homes. In 2003, the PASUDECO Group co-pioneered the first environmentally-sound and world-class landfill in the country. Known as the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC), this five hectares of plastic-sheeted landfill takes on both treated hazardous wastes and domestic garbage from communities located near the Clark Ecozone in Pampanga and Tarlac. The duo then went on expanding their company, touching on several other industries such as the business process outsourcing and even electricity distribution. All through its existence, the PASUDECO Group has never lost faith in the province it has utterly regarded as home. Despite several adversities, the Group has managed to stand tall, facing its challenges straight out, and pushing more means of livelihood for their kababayans. Because of these, Escaler and Panlilio will be honored by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as among Pampanga’s Inspiring Entrepreneurs. An award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, this recognition will be among the highlights Go Negosyo sa Pampanga slated on October 8, 2007 at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando. Go Negosyo sa Pampanga is part of PCE's latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities in the country. The Caravan has already visited Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, and Manila. Go Negosyo sa Pampanga is presented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Major partners include PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, San Miguel Corporation, Splash Corporation, PLDT, Smart, RFM Corporation, Unilever, The Philippine Star, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Creativoices Productions and Full Circle Communications. |
