| Alzona, Chico River Quest, BITICK Women's Organization |
Baguio’s league of livelihood trailblazersAs diversity in hardwork brings diversity in achievement, three of the premier movers of the Baguio business core take on different adventures united by a common goal of progress.  A man known for his allied services, Mario Alzona’s main business interest is housing and general engineering contracting and real state. Thus, among his many businesses, he considers ALPA-PCM, which was established 1985, as the flagship of his entrepreneurial ventures.Despite the many challenges faced by ALPA-PCM, it has immensely helped in building significant establishments in the country’s summer capital, for instance the 2-barrack building of the Philippine Military Academy. Among Alzona’s other businesses are CALGRYP Philippines, Inc., Topland Marketing & Management Corp., 2BIG Cordillera Resources and Development Corp., and Realeza Development Corp. Recently, Alzona has instituted IConnect E-Services, Inc., a call center company which is now emerging as a strong player in the local industry. “Having engaged with all these businesses, I would like to impart to other people that really there is nothing impossible if you have your heart on it,” said Alzona, who was among the Filipinos who tried their luck abroad. “Even if you don’t have money, you can do it. It’s all in one’s will and perseverance.” Alzona has also been to different countries—Hawaii, Vietnam, Korea, Australia, Mongolia, and Japan, to name some— for numerous overseas trades.  Another notable business flourishing in Baguio is the Chico River Quest Inc. (CRQI), a family corporation that was able to establish a link with river enthusiasts in the United States for technology transfer and has been active in promoting eco-tourism in Kalinga.CRQI aspires to give prominence to the Chico River, which originates from Mountain Province and drains down to the rivers of Cagayan, not by conquering it but by respecting and protecting it. The company leans such mission toward an extreme and adventurous means: whitewater rafting. CRQI offers open schedules for trips throughout the year, which include river shuttles, food and accommodations, Kalinga guides, fabulous scenery, exhilarating rapids, and a glimpse of the Kalinga culture. Equipped with the latest state of the art self bailing rafts and equipments that passed US Coast Guard standards, CRQI is a pioneer in the country for white water rafting and kayaking having made first descents of Kalinga rivers with Tao Berman, the Guinness Book of Record holder in having kayaked the highest water fall.  Making equal waves in the Baguio entrepreneurial legion is the Bago-Ilokano-Tagalog-Igorot-Cagayano-Kalinga (BITICK) Women’s Organization that proves women and wine can uplift spirits and livelihood in the most inspired circumstances. Established in 2002, a group of women recognized the need to unite for a mutual aid benefit fund that can assist each other during times of death or sickness. Comprising mostly the population of barangay Dagupan Weste in Tabuk, Kalinga, they were able to accumulate a small amount for loan to its members and eventually a road of opportunity for better income sources. In 2003, they registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and started implementing their livelihood or income-generating projects.The group started liaising with the local government unit of Tabuk, Rural Bank of Tabuk and national line agencies for various forms of assistance. Today, they are engaged in food processing, popularizing Tabuk Wine such as rice wine or ‘tapey’ and fruit wine or the ‘bugnay’ wine among local residents and visitors. Tapey is used during special ceremonies like weddings, wakes, bodong (Kalinga peace pact) and during the performance of traditional rituals dedicated to the ancestral spirits, the gods and goddesses, or to Kabunyan, the supreme deity, for the cure of a malady, or a petition for fertility, longevity, prosperity or bountiful harvest. The Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Local Government Units and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority all provide marketing, trainings and technical assistance to gain more market for Tabuk wine. “It’s not hard for us to share home technology for the continuous progress of our livelihood,” said Nancy L. Busacay, the President of BITICK Women’s Organization. “We have grown to be more than just a women’s organization with a great cause. We also act upon our visions.” For their relentless efforts in practicing good entrepreneurship, Alzona, CRQI and BITICK Women’s Organization will be recognized by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as Inspiring Baguio Entrepreneurs, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo Teen Edition slated On July 27 at Teachers Camp, Baguio City. Teen Negosyo is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities outside Metro Manila. The Caravan has already visited Cebu and Bacolod. Teen Negosyo is a project in partnership with the Department of Education-Center for Student and Co-Curricular Affairs through the representation of its Executive Director Joey Pelaez. Teen Negosyo is presented by Philippine Airlines, PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, Philippine Trade and Training Center, DTI-OTOP, and RFM Corporation. Other partners of the event include The Philippine Star, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corporation, The Master’s Lighthouse Foundation, and Full Circle Communications. |
