Thought Leadership
Report
Villa Mercedes Nature and Farm Resort
Owned by: Mrs. Mercedes P. Yadao, CPA
Project by: Future Entrepreneurs’ Union
Members:
Francis Matthew P. Jimenez
Nicole Shayne Manuel
Jonathan D.R Alcantara
Dana Pauline E. Axalan
Franzel C. Daleon
Eman Lauren F. Ortiz
Aleckza Nicole B. Macale
MGT1101-SEC6
Submitted on: 11/12/2021
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Table of Contents:
Title Page ........................................................................................................................................1
Table of Contents ...........................................................................................................................2
Overview of Villa Mercedes Nature Farm and Resort ...............................................................3
Company Address and Contact Details .......................................................................................3
Date of Interview ............................................................................................................................3
Resume of the Person Interviewed ...............................................................................................4
Questionnaire Template ................................................................................................................7
Transcript of Interview .................................................................................................................8
English Transcript .....................................................................................................................14
Photo Documentation ..................................................................................................................20
Individual Reflection Paper……………………………………………………………………21
References……………………………………………………………………………………….23
Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………23
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Overview of Villa Mercedes Nature Farm and Resort
The business we selected is called Villa Mercedes Nature Farm and Resort, solely owned
by Mrs. Mercedes P. Yadao and her family. Mrs. Yadao acts as the operations manager, pretty
much spearheading each decision taken for the business. The business was designed with the
original intention of being a place where the owner’s family could relax on the weekends and
holidays, meaning that they had built the place with what they had genuinely thought to be the
ideal relaxation spot. Having three swimming pools for people of all ages and many cottages to
accommodate plenty of guests as well as a hotel to serve patrons who wish to spend the night in
the resort, while the intention of creating the perfect resort can be seen in the architecture of the
place. According to an article published by Architecture Bhakti Dhoria (n.d.), there are 10 things
to remember when designing a resort and aesthetic appeal is one of them. By looking at the
overall design of the Villa Mercedes Nature Farm and Resort, we could see the use of cottage
core aesthetic in the buildings, which is an architectural style popularized by the younger
generations that highlights a comfortable urban visual which fits the area where the resort is
situated in, surrounded by trees and farmland, allowing the guests to immerse themselves in the
therapeutic urban environment. With that in mind, Mrs. Yadao’s mission and vision for the
business can be seen, and that mission is to provide a heartful hospitality service that will
engrave a positive memory in the hearts and minds of every guest, while the business’s vision is
to become the guests’ preferred destination.
Company Address and Contact Details
Villa Mercedes Nature Farm and Resort is located at Barangay Namnama, City of Ilagan,
Isabela. You can contact them on 0917 326 8271, email them at
villamercedesresort@yahoo.com, and message them on their Facebook page, Villa Mercedes
Nature Farm & Resort.
Date of Interview
The interview was conducted last November 7, 2021. It started at exactly 5:58 pm and it
ended at exactly 6:30 pm. Google meet was used as a medium of conversation.
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Resume of the Person Interviewed
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Questionnaire Template
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Engaging in business entails a lot of investments in terms of money, time, and sacrifices.
And despite all these investments, many have still failed in their business ventures. Based
on your personal observation as a businessperson, is it a reality that not everyone is
destined to be a successful entrepreneur?
What was the reason why you started your business?
Why did you choose this type of business? / Why did you pursue this type of business?
Would you say that your business has become successful ever since you started it?
How do you advertise your business?
Have you earned a college degree or formal training in business or entrepreneurship prior
to starting your business? Based on your experiences, are the knowledge earned and
learned in a formal education or training very much applicable in starting a business?
In our university, we have core values of Fortitude, Excellence or Uprightness, do you
also have certain values that follow and observe in your business operation? If yes, may
we know what are these?
In life as well as in business, nothing is certain or future proof. Do you plan to obtain or
have obtained insurance security for your business?
Do you plan to create a mission and vision for your business? If yes, then do you mind
telling us? If no, then why?
Have you ever felt that you failed as a leader? If so, how were you able to come up with
new ways and new strategies in order to improve your past performance?
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Transcript of the Interview
Start
Mr. Jimenez: Good evening po. We are Future Entrepreneurs’ Union. 1st year BSA students
from Far Eastern University. Uh As part of our final requirement in the subject Leadership and
Decision Making, we were tasked to interview a businessperson, tapos ikaw po ‘yung napili
namin. So, without further ado, the first question is, what was the reason why you started your
business?
Mrs. Yadao: Uh... pwede ba munang ako ang mag interview? [laughs]
Mr. Jimenez: Sige po.
Mrs. Yadao: Uh may I ask everyone to ano... to please uh introduce yourself. Formal na formal
ba ‘to?
Mr. Jimenez: Hindi naman po uh as long as nainterview ka po namin du’n sa 10 questions na
binigay.
Mrs. Yadao: Ah sige. Please uh identify yourselves. A simple introduction para ano para
maganda. So, I know already MJ. May I hear from the others?
Mr. Ortiz: Uhm hello po! I’m Eman Ortiz and I’m the classmate of Francis po.
Mrs. Yadao: Okay Eman.
Mr. Alcantara: So ako po si Jonathan. Ako po yung pinakagala dito sa Binangonan. Ang
pinaka... ang pinaka... ang most memorable trip ko po is 23 hours po akong nagstay sa Japan
para matulog.
Mrs. Yadao: Okay
Ms. Manuel: Hello ma’am, I’m Nicole po *inaudible*
Mrs. Yadao: Si Nicole ang choppy? Clear ako?
Mr. Jimenez: Opo
Mrs. Yadao: Clear ba ako? Clear?
Mr. Ortiz: Yes po, yes po.
Mrs. Yadao: Ah si Nicole ang choppy. Okay. So, you are only four, where are the three others?
Wala na?
Ms. Daleon: Good evening po. I am Franzel
Ms. Macale: Magandang gabi po. Ako po si Aleckza po.
Ms. Axalan: Uh Good evening po, my name is Dana, and I’m sorry I can’t turn on my camera
right now po. May technical issues din po on my end. I’m really sorry
Mrs. Yadao: So everybody done already introducing? Aleckza, Dana.
Mr. Jimenez: Opo.
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Mrs. Yadao: Uh ako muna mag question sa inyo ha bago kayo [laugh]. Okay lang?
Mr. Ortiz: Sure po, sure po.
Mrs. Yadao: Oh si Mj ang sasagot sa akin. Bakit ako napili... bakit ako napili... bakit ako pinili
niyo? Walang iba?
Mr. Jimenez: Eh ano po... ikaw po yung kilala namin... ako po, kilala kita tapos sinabi ko po sa
kanila tapos okay naman daw po sa kanila kaya ayun.
Mrs. Yadao: I hope hindi kayo nagkamali ha [laugh]. Okay so we can just proceed for the first
question.
Mr. Jimenez: So, for the first question, what was the reason why you started your business?
Mrs. Yadao: Okay, aahhh... just like any– any other businessperson, we ventured into business
because uh—we want *inaudible*. Uh... for me uhm— I started the business to earn additional
profit or... salary because I am uh... employed in the government so aside from my salary in the
government, ah... I would— I'd also like to have other income uhm... to sustain the needs of my
family. So ‘yon. So I’m a government employee and the same time venturing into uh—uh...
business.
Mr. Jimenez: uh, for the next question, why did you choose this type of business or why did you
pursue this type of business po?
Mrs. Yadao: Parang very formal kayong lahat [laugh]. Okay, uh [laugh], uh we enter, or
pursued this kind of business uh—actually, I am presently at the resort or one of our businesses,
uh, this uh—resort is uh... uhm... also with a hotel and a farm. Ah... we venture in this kind of
business because uh, first—at first actually we did not plan to have this kind of business but
uhm, our only... uh purpose of having this uh—we could say uhm... a place where we can spend
qualit—quality time with uh, my family but uhm... our only dream before is to have a place
wherein uh—we can have our hang out— hang-out especially during holidays, during weekends
spending quality time with a family but uh... as we proceed on expanding the—the place or
constructing uhm... the—the swimming pools, the—the hotels, uh, why not uh—we asked
ourselves, why not we—we convert this place uh into business? Aside from—we can use it for
our visitors while relaxing, we can also earn from it. That’s why uh—we choose this uh
*inaudible* the purpose is for business but a place wherein uh—we can spend uh, weekends or
holidays. So ‘yun siya. That’s the story behind having this kind of business so uh... ano bang
tawag ‘don? Uh, hindi sinasadya or... uhm tawag ‘don... uh another things is that uh—things uh...
as an accountant, noh, as an accountant maybe uh... when we spend, we also want a return from
our—from the amount we spend so ‘yan, naging negosyo siya.
Mr. Alcantara: *inaudible* Nakakatuwa naman po na hindi niyo inaasahan na lalaki nang
ganiyan yan. So onto the next question—
Mrs. Yadao: Parang, parang andiyan na kasi siya. Parang andiyan na siya, kailangang habang
nagre-relax ka, kailangang may pumapasok rin kahit papano.
Mr. Ortiz: *inaudible* Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mrs. Yadao: Yeah.
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Mr. Alcantara: Next question po is: engaging in business entails a lot of investment in terms of
money, time, and sacrifices, and despite of all these investments, still many have failed in their
business ventures. Based on your personal observations as a business person, is it a reality that
not everyone is destined to become a successful entrepreneur.
Mrs. Yadao: For me, uh to become a successful entrepreneur is not a destiny. Uh it entails a lot
of hard work, uhm uh a lot of you know... Uh you have...you must possess the technical knowhow. Uh the first thing that you must have is uh you have to be compassionate, or... or... I mean
you have the passion; you have the interest on the business that you venture into. Kailangan you
love doing... you love doing the thing. Parang here in our resort, as I've said kanina, we started
na parang for the family, so, uh, ang tendency, the tendency is when you spend, kailangang uh...
may return; when you invest, there is return, therefore, since you have uh... since you have uh
spend a lot of money there, kailangang your aim, your goal must be clear that to have income or
return from it. So, what are you going to do? You have to... to... first, paano ba mag... paano ba
mag manage ng isang resort. So, you must know the technical know-how, dapat alam mo, and
uh... dapat alam mo kung paano. So uh... you need to be... you must have the technical knowhow, and you have the passion that is you enjoy doing... doing your job, and ‘yon. Uh dapat
when you acquire the technical knowledge, uh continue lang siya... hindi ka na... uhm... hindi
ka... kumbaga ‘yung napag-aralan mo nuong unang panahon, eh kailangang you go with the
trend. Kung ano young pagbabago, dapat alam mo ‘yon, kung ano yung nangyayari sa inyong
environment, alam mo ‘yon. You must be updated from that old learning. Kumbaga, you must be
creative and innovative. ‘Yon.
Mr. Alcantara: Napakaganda po ng advice niyo, thank you po, and for the next question po:
would you say that your business has become successful ever since you started it?
Mrs. Yadao: Parang mahirap ‘yung tanong [laughs]. I cannot say that uh.. Our business is now
successful. Actually uh... our business is four years old... four years old. So, we are still in the
process of ano... you know... the process of expanding. Actually, may mga ginagawa pang
expansion sa aming business, so, I cannot say na talagang successful na siya, but I can say na we
are sustaining it. So, uh... yung goal na sinet namin for... for the business is uh... we attain it. I
can say na we sustain... nasusustain namin kung ano ‘yung... ‘yung needs. I cannot say
successful because we have a big amount of earnings, or kita from the business, but at least, may
pumapasok naman, and uh... And that earnings or savings is we are using it for the expansion of
our business. So, hindi ko masasabing so successful because it is in the process of uh... we are in
the process of expansion.
Ms. Daleon: Uhm for the next question po: how do you advertise your business?
Mrs. Yadao: Uh okay... advertisement. When we say advertisement before, very... very
expensive ang advertisement ‘no. When you go to television, to the radio, pero ngayon may libre
nang Facebook. So, we have our... our Facebook page, and uh another is by word of mouth.
‘Yung pumunta ka rito, definitely, definitely, you ask... ikwento mo sa iba, and uh... babalik sila;
magdadala sila ng bagong... bagong guests. So, by word of mouth, mostly by word of mouth.
Even when we have uh... visitors here; they go as a not paying customer; just a visitor. We invite
visitors here, and from them, by word of mouth, we uh... maraming uh... maibabalik na
customer. So simply, from our... from social media, and by word of mouth. ‘Yun ang
advertisement namin. Magtanong lang kayo kung meron kayong gustong tanungin.
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Ms. Manuel: Okay po. Uhm. Ma'am Mercy, have you earned a college degree or formal training
in business or entrepreneurship prior to starting your business? If so, based on your experiences,
are the knowledge earned and learned in a formal education or training very much applicable in
starting a business?
Mrs. Yadao: Ah yes. Uh... the answer to your question... Ah yeah. The question is college
degree. So, I am an... just like you once, I was once an Accountancy student, and now I’m a
CPA. I have also earned units in my masteral [inaudible] because I am connected to the
government. Uh, I can say that my being a CPA and I have earned... and from being a CPA or an
accountancy student, we have uh... uh... subjects related to management, uh... business, so, I can
say that malaking bagay... malaking bagay yung being a CPA, uh... I was able to use my
learnings, the knowledge I have when I uh... I have uh... started our business; malaking tulong
siya. Since you are accounting students, so, ma... [inaudible] investments. So, those are the
things that we have learned when we are in college, so, maaapply natin ‘yon.
Ms. Manuel: Okay. So, in our university po kasi, we have core values of Fortitude, Excellence,
and Uprightness. Do you also have certain values that is being followed and observed in your
business operations? If yes, may we know what are these?
Mrs. Yadao: Uh... core values yes. Uh... pag sinabing core values... also we have core values in
our business. First uh we have the uh... I used the acronym from the word C.A.R.E. So, first is uh
Compassion. That is being kind and caring to everyone we encounter; and Accountability is
being responsible for our words, actions, and results. Then we have Respect; we value everyone
and treat people with dignity and professionalism; and Ethics and integrity to complete the
acronym C.A.R.E. is doing the right thing in an honest, fair, and responsible way. So that’s our...
that's the core values we are applying in managing our business.
Ms. Macale: Uhm...
Mrs. Yadao: Yes? Any violent reaction? [smiles]
Ms. Macale: Wala naman po. Sunod na tanong po, uhm, in life as well as in business, nothing is
certain or future proof. Do you plan to obtain or have obtained insurance security for your
business?
Mrs. Yadao: Ah... yeah... I don’t know how did you prepare your questions but uh... Insurance
‘no? Insurance ang pinag-uusapan. Uh actually our properties are not insured but uh because I
have uh a bad experience with... with about insurance with especially uhm the [stuttering] the
effect or purpose of having a... tawag dito... educational plan! Educational plan is just like an
insurance. So... so I have two educational plans for my children before pero ‘di ko siya nagamit
so I was discouraged just like... to mention is the college assurance plan before na... pero lahat
‘yon pumalpak kase so... I have a bad experience on it so with the properties I have now uh ‘di
sila naka insured except for those na hmm insurance that is a requirement of the... the
accreditation of our business especially we are accredited by the Department of Tourism so we
are required to... we are required to uh have a liability insurance but for a third-party liability
insurance that is for our customers but not for our properties. So, sa ngayon kase, binabalance ko
palang ‘tong “should I go on insuring our properties or uhm I will use the amount... for other
purposes” ... so I have to weight eh. I have to weigh the amount to spend for the... of insurance
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and the benefit. Parang ganun lang. So... sa as of now, our properties are not insured. Yun sinabi
ko kanina we have bad experience about insurance.
Mr. Ortiz: Okay po. So ‘yung question ko po is uh. Do you plan to create a mission and vision
for your business? If yes, then do you mind telling us? If no, then why?
Mrs. Yadao: Okay so mission, vision, core values... actually those are the prerequisites that you
have when you have your business pero for me uh I have those pero they are not written in a
formal black and white. Yeah, parang when you go to an establishment you can see na posted
there yeah, the company’s vision, the company’s mission, the company’s core values yan
nandiyan lahat yan eh but for us, yeah, we have also but they are not written in black and white
parang hindi siya pormal. Parang ganon. So... but these are required when we- we- uh- uh- our
business is a hospitality uh service or uh a tourism related business so in we uh a... they require
us to have this in black and white but for me uhm uh the question a while ago is what is our
vision and mission right?
Mr. Ortiz: Yes po.
Mrs. Yadao: So for me... fo-for me uh uh our vision is a to be the guest preferred destination. So
it is the preferred destination of choice, ito yung preferred destination of choice ibig sabihin ito
yung preferrence nitong customer as a- as a destination and to create a hospitality service yun
yung vision natin and our mission is to provide a heartful hospitality service that will engrave a
unique experience in the heart and mind of every guest. So, ‘yun ‘yung ating vision and mission
so more on the excellent service- hospitality service since we are uh in the hotel and resort
industry, kumbaga ‘yun yung kakaiba yung hindi- yung babalik-balikan at hindi makakalimutan
ng bawat guest ‘yon. That’s our vision and our mission.
Ms Axalan: So, for our last question naMrs. Yadao: Oh last na [giggles].
Ms Axalan: Have you ever felt that you failed as a leader? If so, how were you able to come up
with the new ways and strategies to improve your past performance po?
Mrs. Yadao: So, leader and ano yung isa? Past performance strategies. Uhm strategies- failure.
As a leader- actually I am … I’m a leader in my workplace as a government employee and as a
department head and at the same time as a leader uh as a boss, sabihin na nating boss, the owner
of the- my business. I can say that there are some times you fail … in leading and in order to not
repeat the same again, we have to evaluate why we failed. So we first is uh as a leader we must
learn how to listen no? We must learn how to listen- welcome constructive criticism so yung
naririnig mo di mo pwedeng baliwalain baka pwedeng may magagawa ka baka pwedeng
makakatulong. Second uh as- dahil uh napag-usapan natin uh kanina when you lead, dapat clear
yung vision, ano ba ‘yung purpose or- or yung goal in your business, dapat clear and you have to
communicate this decision to your subordinates or to your employees so that you can attain this.
Uh, another thing is uh … strategies so you have to listen, you set the goal, you have to listen,
and also uh you maybe failed because uh the way you manage your people maybe uh they need
some recognition no? The employees should also be recognized with the … a good performance
they have rendered. Another is uh maybe... as of now our business is managed by family
members but also with that, I am the operations officer, I am the cashier, I am the manager and at
times ako lahat [giggles] parang ganon. So pag- uh para di siya magkakaaberya maybe we have
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uh we must learn how to deligate employees para kahit wala yung- wala yung isa, merong
marunong. Okay? And uh another thing is uh dapat hindi nahuhuli yung- yung- the old old uh
yun yung, we need to uh- we failed maybe because hindi tayo creative and innovative so uh we
must apply yung advancement ng technology ngayon na dati lang is uh kumbaga hindi tayo
nahuhuli- what is the trend, iyon, dapat sa lahat ‘yon alam natin and it’s one way of maybe that’s
the reason why we failed dahil alam natin ay the old old process pero ito na pala siya so ‘yon
that’s the reason how to strategize our- our uh performance para we will succeed so iyon siguro
no? Iyon yung mga factors that we need to consider. Yes? Okay na ba iyon?
Mr. Jimenez: Okay na po.
Mrs. Yadao: Any other uh... questions or clarifications?
Mr. Ortiz: I think wala na po.
Mrs. Yadao: Wala na?
Mr. Jimenez: Uh ano po, pinaparequire po kasi kami na hingin yung résumé ng iinterviewhin
namin.
Mrs. Yadao: Anong gusto niyang makita ro’n?
Mr. Jimenez: Siguro po credibility para po malaman niya na hindi kami nagsisinungaling sa
ininterview po namin.
Mrs. Yadao: So, I will be sending you my résumé. Mga first year kayong lahat?
Mr. Jimenez: Yes po. Magkakaklase po.
Mr. Ortiz: Yes po. First year.
Mrs. Yadao: So, you are coming from different places? May taga probinsiya ba rito?
Ms. Manuel: Ako po, ma’am. I’m from Isabela po ma’am Mercy.
Mrs. Yadao: Si Nicole?
Ms. Manuel: Yes po, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Saang town?
Ms. Manuel: Gamu po, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Oh. Gamu, so malapit ka lang dito sa amin.
Ms. Manuel: Yes po.
Mrs. Yadao: Pasyal kayo rito sa amin [giggles]. So that you can see that our swimming pool
was then uhm... tawag dito... a swimming pool of pato. Our swimming pool namin dati is yung
swimming pool ng pato na naging... cinonvert naming swimming pool for the family naging...
dahil biglang napalaki, parang nasayangan ako sa pagpagawa ng swimming pool kaya cinonvert
ko, ginawa kong business. That’s the story behind... Ang swimming pool namin nuong una is
only for my bunso, who is ngayon, a 10-year-old, pero... ang swimming pool namin is just a
kiddie pool. When we say kiddie pool para sa bata. So, dahil para sa bata, wala kaming
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swimming pool ni husband, so, gumawa kami ng... nagpagawa kami ng swimming pool naming
mag-asawa, then nung nakita kong napakalaki namang swimming naming mag-asawa, ‘yon
naging... nag-introduce kami ng other amenities, then we converted it into a resort sa ngayon. So
we also have our function hall now for trainings, for venue, yung mga birthdays ganyan... uh
ngayon, resort na talaga siya, hindi na hang out ng family, but uh it’s now a business. So, pag
‘yung mga taga diyan sa Manila, you can come and visit us. Nandiyan naman si MJ tsaka si
Nicole. Si Nicole is from our neighboring town ‘no, neighboring town ng Ilagan, Isabela, so
malapit lang. So, I hope... Ano ng requirement? Ano na lang yung utang ko sainyo?
Mr. Jimenez: Résumé po.
Mrs. Yadao: ‘Yung résumé.
Mr. Jimenez: Opo.
Mrs. Yadao: Résumé na lang. So, I will be sending to your email MJ tomorrow.
Mr. Jimenez: Opo. Thank you po.
Mrs. Yadao: Sesend ko bukas. Sana ano bibigyan kayo ng professor niyo ng mataas na grade
diyan.
Everyone: [Smiles]
Mr. Alcantara: Yes, thank you very much po. So, to properly end our interview po, we would
like to thank you, ma’am Mercedes for sharing with us your experiences, and giving us insights
into the business world. Thank you po, and have a good night.
Mr. Ortiz: Thank you po.
Mrs. Yadao: Yes, it’s my pleasure... it’s my pleasure, being interviewed by... soon... future
colleagues... my future colleagues in the profession. Soon to be Certified Public Accountants
after 4 or 5 years. So, it’s my pleasure being with you tonight. Thank you very much.
Everyone: Thank you po!
End
English Transcript:
Start
Mr. Jimenez: Good evening. We are the Future Entrepreneurs’ Union. 1st year BSA students
from Far Eastern University. As part of our final requirement in the subject Leadership and
Decision Making, we were tasked to interview a businessperson and you were the one we
selected. So, without further ado, the first question is: what was the reason why you started your
business?
Mrs. Yadao: (Jokingly) May I first be the one to interview everyone here?
Mr. Jimenez: Sure.
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Mrs. Yadao: May I ask everyone to please introduce yourselves? Is this a formal interview?
Mr. Jimenez: It does not have to be formal as long as we get to interview you about the ten
questions given.
Mrs. Yadao: Okay. Please identify yourselves. A simple introduction would be great. I already
know MJ (Mr. Jimenez). May I hear from the others?
Mr. Ortiz: Hello, I am Eman Ortiz, and I am the classmate of Francis po.
Mrs. Yadao: Okay Eman.
Mr. Alcantara: So, I am Jonathan Alcantara. I’m the most itinerant person in Binangonan. My
most memorable trip is my 23 hours stay in Japan to sleep.
Mrs. Yadao: Okay.
Ms. Manuel: Hello ma’am, I’m Nicole- I’m from Isabela-.
Mrs. Yadao: Is Nicole choppy? Is my audio clear?
Mr. Jimenez: Yes, Ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Is my audio clear?
Mr. Ortiz: Yes, Ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Ah so Nicole is choppy. Okay. So, you are only four? Where are the three others?
Ms. Daleon: Good evening, Ma’am, I am Franzel
Ms. Macale: Good evening, I am Aleckza.
Ms. Axalan: Good evening, my name is Dana, and I’m sorry I can’t turn on my camera right
now due to some technical issues on my end. I’m really sorry.
Mrs. Yadao: So, everybody is done introducing? Aleckza, Dana...
Mr. Jimenez: Yes.
Mrs. Yadao: I’ll be the first one to ask questions before you guys [laughs]. Is that okay?
Mr. Ortiz: Sure.
Mrs. Yadao: I want MJ to be the one to answer me. Why was I selected? Were there no other
options?
Mr. Jimenez: You were the one we know. I personally know you, then I introduced you to the
other members and they agreed to have you.
Mrs. Yadao: I hope you made the right choice [laughs]. Okay, so we can just proceed to the first
question.
Mr. Jimenez: So, for the first question; What was the reason why you started your business?
Mrs. Yadao: Just like any other businessperson, we ventured into business because we want to
earn additional profit to sustain the needs of my family. I am a government employee at the same
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time venturing into business. Aside from my salary in the government, our business helps as an
additional income.
Mr. Jimenez: For the next question; Why did you pursue this type of business?
Mrs. Yadao: I am currently present in the resort, one of our businesses. This resort also has a
hotel and a farm. At first, we did not plan to have this kind of business; our original intent was to
have a place where we could spend quality time with the family, a place where we could spend
time together, but as we proceeded to expand the place and construct the swimming pools and
the hotels, we asked ourselves “Why not convert this place into business aside from we can use it
for visitors while relaxing, we could also earn from it.” We chose this theme to have a business
where we could spend weekends or holidays. It was an unplanned venture, and as an accountant,
maybe it was a habit to expect returns from the amount we spend.
Mr. Alcantara: Engaging in business entails a lot of investment in terms of money, time, and
sacrifices. And despite of all these investments, still many have failed in their business ventures.
Based on your observations as a businessperson, is it a reality that not everyone is destined to
become a successful entrepreneur?
Mrs. Yadao: For me, to become a successful entrepreneur is not destiny. It entails a lot of hard
work, and you must possess the technical know-how. You must have the passion and interest in
the business you venture into. Here in our resort, as I said earlier, we started it for the family, so
the tendency when you spend, you need to have returns. Since you spend a lot of money on your
business, your goal must be clear to have income or returns from it. You need to first know how
to manage a resort or have the technical know-how and have a lot of passion for what you are
doing. When you acquire technical knowledge, you need to keep updating your knowledge along
with the changes happening around you. You must be creative and innovative.
Mr. Alcantara: You gave us a very beautiful piece of advice, thank you. For the next question,
would you say that your business has become successful ever since you started it?
Mrs. Yadao: That seems like a tough question. I will not say that our business is now successful.
Our business is only four years old, and we are still in the process of expanding, which is why I
cannot say that our business is successful. What I can say is that we are sustaining the needs of
our business; there is some income from it and those earnings are used for expansion.
Ms. Daleon: For the next question, how do you advertise your business?
Mrs. Yadao: When you say advertisement before, it is very expensive especially when you go to
television or to the radio to advertise your business, but now we have Facebook which is free.
We have our Facebook page, and another is by word of mouth. When you come here, you will
mention it to others, and they will also visit. We mostly use word of mouth especially when we
have visitors, let them stay for free, and they would be the ones who will bring in more people
who are willing to pay. Simply, we advertise our business using social media and word of mouth.
Ms. Manuel: Ma’am Mercy, have you earned a college degree or formal training in business or
entrepreneurship prior to starting your business? If so, based on your experiences, are the
knowledge earned and learned in formal education or training very much applicable in starting a
business?
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Mrs. Yadao: Just like you, I was once an Accountancy student and now I am a CPA, and I have
also earned units in my master’s degree. Being an Accountancy student, we have subjects related
to management and business. It is a big thing being a CPA; I was able to use my learning and
knowledge when we started our business. It is a big help. Since you are an accounting student, it
is a [inaudible] investments. Those are the things we learned when we are in college and we can
apply it.
Ms. Manuel: Okay. So, in our university, we have core values of Fortitude, Excellence, and
Uprightness. Do you also have certain values that is being followed and observed in your
business operations? If yes, may we know what are these?
Mrs. Yadao: Core Values... Yes. We also have core values in our business. We have an acronym
for the word C.A.R.E. The first is Compassion. That is being kind and caring to everyone we
encounter. A is for Accountability, it is being responsible for our words, actions, and results.
Then we have Respect, we value everyone and treat people with dignity and professionalism.
Last is Ethics to complete the acronym C.A.R.E. It is by doing the right thing in an honest, fair,
and responsible way. That’s the core values we are applying in managing our business.
Ms. Macale: For our next question, in life as well as in business, nothing is certain or future
proof. Do you plan to obtain or have obtained insurance security for your business?
Ms. Yadao: I don’t know how you prepared your questions, but we’re talking about insurance.
Actually, our properties are not insured because I have a bad experience regarding on insurance,
especially the [inaudible] The purpose of having an educational plan is just like having an
insurance. I have two educational plans for my children before, but I wasn’t able to use it; I was
discouraged because all of my insurances before failed. I have a bad experience about insurance,
so with the properties I have now, they are not yet insured except for those insurance that is a
requirement for the accreditation of our business. We are accredited by the Department of
Tourism. We are required to have liability insurance. But for our third liability insurance, it is for
our customers, not for our properties. As of now, I am balancing my decision whether should I
go for insuring our property or I’ll use the amount of money
for other purposes. I have to
wait on the amount we spend for the premiums of insurance and the benefit. So that’s it for now,
our properties are not yet insured.
Mr. Ortiz: Okay. So, my question is do you plan to create a mission and vision for your
business? If yes, then do you mind telling us? If no, then why?
Mrs. Yadao: Okay, so vision, mission, and core values. Those are the prerequisite you should
have when you have a business. We have those but it is not written. When you go to other
establishments , you can see the company’s vision and mission are posted on their walls. It’s all
there. But for us, we have also but it is just not written or formal. But these are required. Our
business is hospitality and tourism-related business. In our accreditation, we are required to
publish it in black and white. So, the question a while ago is vision and mission, right?
Mr. Ortiz: Yes
Mrs. Yadao: Our vision is to be the guests’ preferred destination. It is a preferred destination of
choice which means it is the preferred destination of the customer as a relaxing destination. Also,
to create a hospitality service. That’s our vision. Our mission is to provide a heartfelt hospitality
service that will engrave a unique experience in the heart and minds of every single guest. That’s
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our vision and mission. It’s more on the excellent service of our hotel and resort industry. It is to
let all our guests have an unforgettable and unique experience. That is our vision and mission.
Ms. Axalan: So, for our last question—
Mrs. Yadao: Oh, it’s the last one already [giggles].
Ms Axalan: Have you ever felt that you failed as a leader? If so, how were you able to come up
with the new ways and strategies to improve your past performance?
Mrs. Yadao: I am actually a leader in my workplace as a government employed head
department and at the same time an owner of a business. I can say that there are some point of
times we fail as a leader and in order to not repeat the same failure, we have to evaluate why we
failed. First, as a leader, we have to learn how to listen and welcome constructive criticism. We
should not ignore any criticism because it can help us do better. Secondly, since we discussed
earlier about how we should lead with a vision, we should also communicate our clear purpose
and goals to our subordinates so that we can attain them together. But in between of these
strategies, failure may still arise and it can be based on how you manage your people. They also
need recognition so we have to recognize them for rendering a good performance. One more
thing, since I mainly manage all the positions in the business along with my family as of now, we
must learn how to delegate employees who can still perform the job when we are away so we can
avoid having problems in operating the business. Failure can also arise when we stick to the
traditional and fail to be creative and innovative. For us to be not left behind, we should learn
how to adapt to the advancement of technology and trends nowadays and in that way, we can
strategize better performances to succeed. These are the factors we need to consider.
Mr. Jimenez: That is all, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Any other questions or clarifications?
Mr. Ortiz: No more, ma’am. I think.
Mrs. Yadao: Sure?
Mr. Jimenez: Ma’am, we were also required to ask for the résumé of our interviewee.
Mrs. Yadao: What do you want to see there?
Mr. Jimenez: Probably the interviewee’s credibility, and also a proof that we really interviewed
a businessperson.
Mrs. Yadao: So, I will be sending you my résumé. Are you all first-year students?
Mr. Jimenez: Yes, ma’am. We are classmates.
Mr. Ortiz: Yes, ma’am. First year.
Mrs. Yadao: So, you are coming from different places? Does anyone live in the province among
of you?
Ms. Manuel: I do, ma’am. I’m from Isabela, Ma’am Mercy.
Mrs. Yadao: Nicole?
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Ms. Manuel: Yes, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Which town?
Ms. Manuel: Gamu, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Oh, Gamu. You live nearby then.
Ms. Manuel: Yes, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: You should pay us a visit [giggles], so that you can see how we converted our little
pool for the ducks to a massive swimming pool. Since the pool was so big, it would come to
waste if it would stay as our personal pleasure, so I decided to turn it into a business. It was
initially a kiddie pool made for my youngest child, who is now a 10-year-old. Since the pool was
made just for our youngest child, my husband and I decided to make another one for the both of
us. After that, we introduced other amenities, until we converted it into a resort. Now, we also
have our function hall, which is used for venues of birthday parties and other things. As of now,
it really is a resort, a business and not just a place for my family to hang out. So, for those who
are from Manila, you can come and visit us. MJ and Nicole are here, Nicole is from our
neighboring town of Ilagan, Isabela, so, it’s pretty much close from us. With that said, what is
the other requirement you need from me? What do I still owe?
Mr. Jimenez: Resume, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: The resume.
Mr. Jimenez: Yes, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Resume. So, I will be sending it to your email tomorrow, MJ.
Mr. Jimenez: Yes, ma’am. Thank you.
Mrs. Yadao: I will send it tomorrow. I hope you’ll get high marks from your professor for this.
Everyone: [Smiles]
Mr. Alcantara: Yes, thank you very much, ma’am. So, to properly end this interview, we would
like to thank you, Ma’am Mercedes for sharing with us your experiences, and giving us insights
into the business world. Thank you, and have a good night.
Mr. Ortiz: Thank you, ma’am.
Mrs. Yadao: Yes, it’s my pleasure being interviewed by my soon future colleagues in the
profession. The soon to be Certified Public Accountants after 4 or 5 years. It’s my pleasure being
with you tonight. Thank you very much.
Everyone: Thank you, ma’am!
End
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Photo Documentation
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Individual Reflection Paper
Alcantara, Jonathan D.R
I have gained a better understanding of the relationship between leadership and
management along with the importance of having expert power and being open to new concepts
and ideas as well as corrections as a leader, and above all, being passionate towards your goal.
This project had not only shown me examples of some of the lessons we discussed but also
elaborated on the importance of said involved lessons which inspired me to become a much more
capable person as I work to achieve something I am passionate about.
Axalan, Dana Pauline E.
As a student, I still do have a lot of experiences to go through, and a lot of advices to
follow in order to gain new knowledge. Interviewing someone who has greater experiences, and
a visible success is a beneficial reference point for an aspiring leaders like us. Mrs. Mercedes
Yadao, a business owner, government employee, and a CPA shared that she believes that being
an entrepreneur was never a destiny. She said that she worked hard for what she have, and
adviced everyone that for someone who wants to become a successful business owner or a
leader, It is a prerequisite that he/she must be passionate and interested enough in the business
he/she is investing into. These prerequisites mentioned are what defines Mrs. Yadao as our
interviewee. She showed passion, interest, and enjoyment based on how she told us the story of
her growing business. Throughout the interview, there is no trace of frowning from Mrs. Yadao,
it seemed that she enjoyed our company and she enjoyed sharing the successes she gained. And
for me, a true leader, is someone like her; someone who does not try to intimidate but instead
willing to inspire many and is compassionate enough to share his/her knowledge and
experiences. We did not have a hard time interviewing Mrs. Yadao because she was interactive
and full of positive stories. As for my group members, I wanted to applaud everyone because we
delegated tasks, done our part, and some evidently embodied a leader’s skills. This may not be
considered as half on the way of becoming a true leader, but this is an experience; and as how the
saying goes, “Experiences are the best teacher.” This certain requirement was an experience, we
are taught, that’s why we are ready.
Daleon, Franzel C.
Before the said interview, I thought that starting a business is just plain and simple, that
one must think of a profitable business then it would be successful. Now, I have realized that it is
very much challenging to start a business and that profitability does not equate to success. Also, I
have realized that becoming a great entrepreneur is not just a person's destiny because it takes a
lot of hard work and sacrifice to attain success. Moreover, being an entrepreneur entails a great
deal of responsibility because many people rely on you. There will be instances when you will
fail as a leader. However, you should assess why you failed and use the experience to become a
better employer.
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Jimenez, Francis Matthew P.
I've realized that if you want to be a competent leader, you have to work hard for it. If
you want you and your business to excel, you must listen to your employees, pay attention to all
the small details the customers have to say about the business, innovate, and know the
technicalities of managing your business. Before we parted ways, she expressed her desire to see
us work in the same field as her, accounting, in the future. That statement alone gave me the
chills and will serve as a motivator in my mind for the rest of my life.
Macale, Aleckza Nicole B.
It was a privilege to do an online interview with Mrs. Mercedes B. Yadao. Since, the
interview has filled me with some concepts about how we can become entrepreneurs. As Mrs.
Yadao stated, when we invest, we must expect a return. And I applaud her for having that
mentality and the commitment to invest in their nature farm and resort. In addition, I learned that
with the aim of being a better leader, I presume that it is necessary to have fortitude, be liable, a
heart for managing a business, and a goal to embrace what I'm doing. Lastly, if I opt for being a
leader, I would always prefer to serve people in compassionate ways while remaining successful
in my enterprise.
Manuel, Nicole Shayne
As the discussion worked on, my grasp and knowledge on leadership was filled with
realistic and valuable insights. Getting to subjectively hear how a person can be a leader both in
business and life was a lot revitalizing in comparison with reading stories published in books. It
was an eye-opener for future professionals with big ambitions like us that a good approach and
mentality as a leader can take you to unexpected positions in life. It expressly geared us how to
utilize our skills as a leader to have a good rapport with the professional world.
Ortiz, Eman Lauren F.
I learned a lot in this course about leadership. It taught me of how leaders should be.
Being successful is different from being efficient. Leaders should not focus on personal gain but
on the entirety of the group. In decision making process, I should analyze more the effects of my
decisions in long-term view that can affect my group. I learned that building healthy
relationships and connections with peers is also important to have more efficient environment.
Every member gain chemistry and works as a group on achieving the goal. I also learned that a
leader has certain powers to influence its members which should be utilized for the betterment of
the group and must not be abused. This should be practiced for maintaining the group organized
and less conflict. I learned also that Values and Ethics should be observed in every workplace.
“Doing the right thing” matters more than being irrational and unethical. Values is also important
such as integrity in every workplace. These learnings can be applied in my life and as a student
before becoming professionals and a leader someday.
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References
Dhoria, B. (n.d.). Rethinking the future. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/rtf-freshperspectives/a1310-10-things-to-remember-when-designing-a-resort/
Appendices
Leadership and Decision-Making Approval Form
Group Member Names: Francis
Section: Section 6
Date: November 1, 2021
Matthew P. Jimenez
Jonathan
D.R Alcantara
Nicole
Shayne Manuel
Franzel
Daleon
Dana
Pauline Axalan
Aleckza
Macale
Eman Ortiz
Leader Name:
Mercedes P. Yadao, CPA
Submitted by: Future Entrepreneurs’
Union
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Position:
Owner
Organization/ Business
Villa Mercedes Nature Farm
and Resort
Approved by:
(SGD) Prof. Leonardo F. Cada,
Jr.