Sardines and Small Businesses

March 17th, 2010
Tito Mike's

Hi everyone,

By now you’ve probably seen our latest TV commercial – the one about sardines. Now that I’m back in Manila, I’d like to take this time to tell you a quick story behind it.

Sometime in 2007, I received an e-mail from a supporter thinking as far ahead as 2010. Mike, a former OFW, said that his sardine company would commit Spanish-style sardines (all the way from Dipolog!) to my staff so that none of us would go hungry during the campaign. It was very touching! And it made me remember the reason for the e-mail.

Mike was a beneficiary of the DTI Sulong Program (at the time I was still the department’s cabinet secretary). This initiative allowed him to access a loan of P500,000 to start his sardines business. This same company later won an award for being an outstanding small and medium enterprise in 2003. Today, “Tito Mike’s” now exports 90% of its products to the US and Canada. In case you’d like to taste them yourself, the sardines are MSG-fee and can also be found in your local Pan de Manila!

The point of this story is: he got the loan and the award because of his initiative and his sound business idea. He didn’t know me or anyone else at the DTI but he was treated on the basis of his merits and potential… and not because of connections! That’s what he was grateful for. His offer of support was not based on utang na loob (because I didn’t intervene in his behalf)… but because he saw first-hand how government could work if those in power didn’t dispense favors but instead supported good ideas.

Ito po ang nangyayari kung merong tapat at tuwid na pamumuno na nakatutok sa pagtulong sa maliliit na player sa merkado: sila ay lumalaki rin. In this real life example, hundreds of fishermen are now able to sell their catch regularly to food processors like Tito Mike’s. A small business – which started out with a simple loan – is now able grow itself and even compete abroad! Millions of Filipinos in different other industries deserve this kind of opportunity. Let’s help each other make this happen this 2010… not just for food processors like Mike but for every Filipino who deserves a fighting chance to succeed. Kung tapat at tuwid ang pamumuno, tiyak ang asenso.

M.

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  • ricardo tambong

    Dear Sen. Mar: Hari nawa'y maitaas mo ang BANDILA (BANsa-DIwa-LAban) na siyang sagisag, tanda at himalang tagumpay, pagkakisa, panindidigan at pagbabago ng sambayanang Pilipino. Kayo ni Sen Noynoy ang tatanghalin kung hindi kayo tatalikod sa panginoong diyos na makapangyarihan sa lahat. Sana'y pansinin po ninyo ang naidulog ko sa inyo, ang BANDILA na tanging paraan na ang panginoong lumikha,, bansa, diwa't laban ng mamamayan ay magkatagpo at nagkaisa. God bless us. Viva Pilipino!!! Lalaban Tayo!!!

  • josephineacostapasricha

    Hi, Noynoy and Mar:
    Greetings on the new beginnings of Spring, even in the Philippines.
    This is a fantastic story. It shows that the power of democracy is the power of group genius. This is the secret of the United States, even of the emerging economy of India and China.
    Victory can no longer be in silos, alone and lonely on a throne in Malacanan. Power is in groupthink and group genius — by the people, for the people, with the people.
    We hope that you will both continue to hold conversations with and tell stories about fishermen, farmers, teachers, soldiers, government workers, the ordinary Filipinos in the street who are the real power in the country.
    May they show their real People Power for change management and transformational leadership on May 10.
    Mabuhay, Philippines.

  • James Lorenzana

    Mr. Vice President,
    Thanks for the inspirational story. I wish you all the success in the coming May elections. I hope many more Filipinos benefit from your public service and dedi.cation to our Country

  • james purganan

    it's the same story as the coffee farmers that you posted in your Facebook fanpage, but no less inspirational. why didn't you post the story of the coffee farmers here in your main site as well?

    i for one am hoping to be able to set up a small business in our province, perhaps an internet cafe. sana mabigyan din ako ng loan when i graduate in 3 years. sana pag vice president na kayo, matutukan niyo parin ang dti at ang pagyabong ng mga msme.

    hindi pa ako 18 kaya hindi pa ako makakaboto. pero susubukin kong hikayatin mga kaibigan kong bumoto sa iyo.

  • bbaylon

    Greetings Sen. Mar. I really like the way you answered questions posed by Sen. Legarda last night at ABS-CBN's Harapan. I hope people who watched the show were awakened on whom to vote for our country's sake. I am sure 100% that my vote will not be wasted. Go for good governance.

  • Jing Ramirez

    Very touching naman itong sardines article ni Mar…. kaya nga ikaw na ang vice president ko, kung tumakbo ka sanang president, ikaw pa rin iboboto ko.

  • http://dollarparts.weebly.com/ Adrian

    Hi, Mar.

    I find this a very inspiring article, hopefully qualified individuals would be able to have access to these resources in the goverment and to promote entrepreneurs in the country

    Thanks
    Adrian

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