Recipe of Success​

 

Jessica Perdigon became an entrepreneur by circumstance. She was already training for a supervisory position as a sewer in Triumph Lingerie Philippines when the branch had to close. To earn some income to help support her growing family, she went into buying and selling different small items to friends and neighbors
In 2007 she became a member of ASHI. The joviality she observed during center meetings motivated her to join. She used her initial loan to augment the capital of her small business. She started selling low-priced items such as underwear and blankets.

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As her loan amount increased, she moved up to sell small appliances and other products. Her buy-and-sell business kept growing, allowing her to save money. She invested her earnings in different businesses but some bummed out. For instance, she was scammed by the Bitcoin Company for an estimated amount of Php 200,000 (two hundred thousand pesos). Adding to her burden, the income from her buy-and-sell business and parlor was embezzled by her cousins, almost wiping out her capital. Falling into a deep depression, she locked herself in her room. Her daughter who made her realize that failures and losses are part of life, encouraged her to move on. 

 

After a month, she was back on track. Her husband who works as a sous chef influenced her to open a small eatery. She started by selling halo-halo which was a hit. The response of customers motivated her to expand her food and beverage shop. Although her husband could cook fancy dishes, she opted to offer affordable dishes that the masses could relate to. The dishes she offered were actually the same dishes offered by carinderias in the area. But she made each dish stand out with additional flavors. Just like her halo-halo, the taste of her tapsilog and other dishes were matchless. The lineup of customers was a usual scene in her shop, especially since her place was small, and preparing newly cooked food took some time. Her business was going well until the pandemic hit.

 

Sales dropped during the lockdown so Jessica had to figure out how to beat the prohibitions. If the customers cannot come, then we will bring the goods to them, she told herself. She quickly moved her business online. Orders were received online, and her employees (sometimes her children) took care of the delivery.. Her daughter helped manage the business, and served as advertiser, analyst, and admin of their FB page. Payments for delivery were either in cash or through Gcash. Her idea hit a gold mine because it solved the quandry of customers who could not step out of their homes. With a thriving business, she had to move to a bigger place despite the pandemic. The new place she chose was situated by the roadside, which increased her sales. Last year, she entered into a partnership with the Grab Food Delivery Service. Combining the orders from Grab and those received from their FB page to the El Gallo Food Republic, the delivery service boosts daily sales by an average of ten thousand pesos (P10, 000). Adding two more outlets to her main store in Brgy. Buli, Muntinlupa City, she put up the Cupang branch located in Lovely Purok 4, and the Sucat branch in Muntinlupa. Soon she will open another shop near her first store and one in Batangas. All told, her assets are estimated to reach six hundred thousand (P600, 000).

Jessica’s perseverance through her challenges kept her on a progressive path. Currently, she is earning an average of Php 55,000 (fifty-five thousand) daily which manages to cover school and daily expenses. She was able to send her children to take HRM, engineering, criminology, and nursing/medicine courses. She has in her employ 16 individuals and a few family members. Jessica attributes her success to outstanding products, customer care, and online platforms. Psychological and technical support from family members also played a major role in her success.

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