citycareer
The Only Career Magazine in the Region!
scan this!
DECEMBER 2013
+
Hail the Newsmakers
The movers and shakers of 2013
holiday
issue
Give Your Workmates
What They Want
This Christmas
What Now?
Steps to take when deciding to shift
from employee to entrepreneur
Job Outlook
What to look forward to for 2014
Battle of the Planners
Plan the year ahead with perky
planners for 2014
Julie Gandionco
Julie’s Bakeshop matriarch pours
her heart and mind out
to inspire everyone
12.13
citycareer
CONTENTS
The Only Career Magazine in the Region!
EDITORIAL
Editor Claire Gamboa
Corporate Learning Director Ronaldo Cocoba
Art Director Christopher Carlos
Contributors Isan de Jesus / Jessa Gail
Lagunday
Web Development Galo M. Matagay
Production Consultant Pierre Pobre
Sales Manager Jason Garrido
Advertising Sales Jan Nino Navidad /
Salvador Ivan Sala / Shine Carampatana
Circulation Giefer Untal
Marketing Mylene S. Bass / Caroline Yau
Sales Coordination Natessha Tallo
Publisher Tracy Guillermo
City Career Guide is the official publication of
Career First Institute
6
Headquarters
2nd Level, JY Square Discovery Mall,1 Salinas
Drive cor. Gorordo Ave., Lahug, Cebu City
Phone (032) 2602797
Email info@careerfirstinstitute.com
On the web
www.careerfirstinstitute.com
8
13
4 inspire me / we recommend
11 what now?
Your answers to our Inspire Me question of
the month and things that caught our eyes.
Steps to take when deciding to shift from
employee to entrepreneur.
6 hail the newsmakers!
12 christmas shopping in colon
Individuals and organizations with noticeable
milestones this 2013.
Isan de Jesus challenges herself to go
Christmas shopping in Colon with a meager
budget.
8 Never Set Limits, Go After Your Dreams
Julie’s Bakeshop matriarch pours her heart
and mind out to inspire everyone.
13 job outlook
What to look forward to for 2014.
10 battle of the planners
14 make it magical!
Plan the year ahed with these perky planners
for 2014.
Give your workmates what they want this
Christmas.
Join our
networks
For latest updates, check out our
Facebook fan page (City Career Guide)
or follow us on Twitter (@Career1st).
citycareer
3
READER’S SECTION
INSPIRE ME / WE RECOMMEND
Inspire Me.
What Would You Like to Get if
Your Christmas Bonus Came in
Kind Instead of Cash?
We Recommend
Our monthly round-up of things that caught our eyes.
I would love to have a 30-day straight
vacation leave so I could go back to our
home town and have a laid back life for
Christmas. It has been a long time that I
have not been with my family, so I need
to catch up. After all, this season is about
sharing and loving, especially with your
family. Not to mention the reunion with
your classmates from high school. Together,
we will reminisce the past years. A long
vacation this December will surely make me
relax and will prepare me for
the next year coming.
- Timotel Malabuyoc,
production supervisor
BOOK
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
MUSIC
If my Christmas bonus were to be in kind,
I’d probably choose grocery items. I’d
then whole heartedly ship them over to
the typhoon victims. I’m lucky enough to
celebrate Christmas with my whole family.
- Jayson Florendo,
e-mail support specialist
A quad bike would be nice. All-terrain
vehicles (ATVs), particularly Honda Foreman
TRX 500 FPA with power steering, are
my weakness. I always fit a quad biking
adventure into my schedule during visits to
my province, but I only rent because I don’t
have a bike of my own. I love
the roar of the engine and
the magnificent panoramic
views of Lanao Lake shore.
- Mac Khalil,
government employee
I would like to get a free shopping spree at a
store of my choice; I would probably pick S&R.
You know, that kind where they would give
you, say 20 minutes to get anything you want
absolutely for free. I would hover in their fresh
produce, organic, delicatessen, and imported
sections selecting items like fine cheeses,
sausages, spices, fruits, vegetables, whole grains
and nuts, and confectioneries. Just fantasizing
about it gets me excited. It would be a lot of fun,
not to mention a real bonus!
Angie Albay,
non-profit organization
specialist
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citycareer
A Very Special Christmas 3
(Various Artists)
Like its two predecessors, A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 3
is a charity album featuring new recordings by superstars.
Like Vol. 2, Vol. 3 is a little weaker than the first collection,
but there are still a number of fun holiday songs on the
record, including cuts by Sheryl Crow, Chris Cornell,
Smashing Pumpkins, Tracy Chapman, Hootie and the
Blowfish, Patti Smith, Sting, and Steve Winwood. (Source:
BarnesandNoble.com)
Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney
recalls the growing pains of
school life and introduces a new
kind of hero who epitomizes
the challenges of being a kid. As
Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t
expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’
this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily
for us, what Greg Heffley says he
won’t do and what he actually
does are two very different
things. (Source: GoodReads.com)
GADGET
Apple iPad Air
The iPad Air isn’t just a waifish version of last year’s tablet.
Inside, it features the company’s new 64-bit A7 processor —
the very same one you’ll find in the iPhone 5s — along with
storage capacities of up to 128 GB. It’s an immensely powerful tablet. And while the battery is
smaller (32.9 WHr versus the previous generation’s 42.5), it still manages to crank out the same
10-hours plus of battery life. (Source: Wired.com – Christina Bonnington)
Sony Bravia KDL – 4OR45OA LED
TV
The R45 is remarkably light for a 40-inch
TV, weighing in at a mere 16.3 pounds with
stand attached. Pulling the large frame from
the box with almost toy-like ease revealed a
handsome, succinct design with a relatively
slim-bezeled panel. The black gloss exterior
is accompanied by a slim, mirrored bar at
the front, sporting the Sony logo. The lion’s
share of the TV is 2-inches deep, with the
exception of a protrusion at the bottom of
the back panel that brings the total depth to
3 inches. (Source: DigitalTrends.com – Ryan
Waniata)
NEWS ROUND UP
More BPO Head Hunters
Join #INSTAJOB Part II
There was no stopping #INSTAJOB last November 7th for slating the finest career fair of the
season.
A day before typhoon Yolanda hit Cebu, all exhibitors from different BPO companies geared up in
accommodating candidates looking for better opportunities. Job seekers lined up, checking out
the job board for openings that fit their skills and qualifications while the Career First Institute
(CFI) team happily ushered them to the exhibitors’ booths and handed them freebies.
Because CFI targeted the ‘hirables’ and highly-trainables who were either currently employed
in the BPO sector or recently graduated, JY Square Discovery Mall provided the perfect location
for its heavy foot traffic. Committed job seekers showed up unmindful of the imminent storm as
they prepared to be interviewed on the spot. Despite #INSTAJOB’s success on its first day, the
CFI team decided to postpone the next day’s event as the typhoon was set to make a landfall in
the city.
In line with our efforts to restore the lives of those who are affected by typhoon Yolanda and help
rebuild the economy by putting more people back to work, CFI is slating another #INSTAJOB
event on December 6th at JY Square Bldg. #INSTAJOB is the job fair that aims to connect top
notch career-opportunity seekers with the leading job creators in Cebu.
For its second outing, many BPO companies will participate as exhibitors. These hiring companies
are popularly known in the employment circle as providing a culture of fun, engaging work, and
clear career path to its employees. So, don’t let anything stop you from presenting your resume
for on-the-spot interviews. Everyone is encouraged to join and be part of the fastest growing
industry in the country.
Be ahead of the pack and submit your resumes earlier by visiting CFI’s office at 2nd Floor JY
Square Discovery Mall, 1 Salinas Drive cor. Gorrordo Ave, Lahug, Cebu City. You may also give a
call at (032) 260-2797 or email us at karenjb@careerfirstinstitute.com.
A Light for a Life
Cebu City, November 16 2013. Fuente Osmena
Circle, a center for cultural, social, and political
happenings, became the meeting place of
Cebuanos for a night of prayer, donation and
fund-raising.
One week and a day after the destruction of
Yolanda super typhoon, Jaze Uy-Garrido of City
Career Magazine put together “A Light for a Life”
with the help of GMA Cebu, Cebu Provincial
Government and netizens to bring together the
community in solemn prayers and gather more
donations for the typhoon survivors.
Donned in white shirts to show solidarity,
participants brought with them clothes, water,
medical supplies, food and monetary help.
The assembly was led by Josh Eballe and
representatives of various groups were given
the chance to share their prayers. Archbishop
Soc Villegas’ prayer during the wake of Yolanda
was read by Ron Cocoba of Career First Institute.
Other thoughts, reflections and hopes were
also shared by Jessa Lagunday, Toby Florendo
of Gawad Kalinga Cebu, Chinkee Sabanpan, Eric
Paolo Smith from Youth For Livable Cebu (YLC).
2013 E-League Champions
When all the best basketball teams collided, shared the same goal
of victory, and the last two teams standing were left to battle it
out—Aegis Vipers and Lexmark Stallions—no one could predict
what would happen.
Everyone lit a candle to quietly share their
prayers and draw more strength to continue the
good work that needs to be done to help rebuild
the lives of those affected by the devastating
typhoon.
Only until the Vipers swept the best-of-three finals series at 2-0,
that they finally emerged victorious with their first championship
title. Ryan Veloso led the team to triumph after scoring 18 points,
11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks, earning him the Finals Most
Valuable Player (MVP). In the end, it was Aegis Vipers with a 7564 win to grab the 2013 E-League for Basketball trophy in the
game held at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym last November 9th.
It was participated by the following groups: City
Career Magazine, Career First Institute, Rock
Ed,Youth for a Liveable Cebu and CebuFinest.
com. - Jessa Gail Lagunday
Along with Aegis’ first-ever title their coach Lou Regidor, a former
PBA player, was named Coach of the Year.
citycareer
5
F E AT U R E
HAIL THE NEWSMAKERS
Hail the
Newsmakers!
City Career presents a hand-picked group of individuals and
organizations whose personal and professional miletstones for 2013
will embarrass the most bemedalled achievers around. They make the
news and shape your community. Therefore, you ought to know them.
Abaca Group of Restaurants
Before coming back to settle in the
Philippines in 2004, Jason worked
as a chef in France, New York, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia, Mexico, and
South America, and then in Hong
Kong for five and a half years as
executive chef.
“Like most chefs, I did jobs during
high school to make extra money.
Everyone starts at the bottom.
For me it was lower than a cook.
I washed dishes. I’ve literally
been in five countries and about
eight cities,” he says in an InFlight
interview in 2011.
His other ‘baby’, the Maya Mexican
Restaurant in Cebu City is also
creating a buzz around the metro.
He plans to put more restaurants
that will cater to Cebu’s small
market. As he claims, “The best will
continue to survive.”
Café Marco Cebu,
Touted Fifth Best Restaurant in the Philippines
Café Marco Cebu entered the year with a bang by making it to Miele
Guide’s Top 5 Best Restaurants in the Philippines. During the awards night
held in January at the Tamarind Hill, Singapore, Café Marco was announced
to be in the fifth place. It was the only restaurant outside Luzon that made
it to the top 5, and the only hotel restaurant in Cebu that was initially
shortlisted.
The Miele Guide was created to better recognize and celebrate Asia’s best
chefs and restaurants by evaluating restaurants across the region, then
releasing an annual ranking of Asia’s Top 20 restaurants as well as the Top
5 rankings within individual countries.
The 2013 Miele Guide praises Café Marco by saying, “Tuck into Asian,
Japanese and western staples at the Cafe Marco, the signature outlet
of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. As befits its standing as a hotel cafe, there is
something to please everyone on the la carte menu. Think sandwiches,
pastas and soups alongside a nice selection of Filipino dishes such as
native chicken soup with green papaya, lemongrass and chili leaves, and
chicken and pork adobo with banana flowers and star anise. There is also
spit-roasted chicken, Australian rib-eye and grilled pork tenderloin from
western kitchen. Those who want a nibble of everything should check out
the daily buffet.”
Tindahang Pinoy
What initially started as a showcase facility for interior decorations and
furnishings has expanded its product lines to cater to the growing tourism
market. Now you can do your Christmas present shopping at Tindahang Pinoy
which sells a variety of locally made products of export quality.
Since the store’s opening last year, Tindahang Pinoy has registered an average of
P300,000 in sales per month. The highest monthly sale it recorded was P500,000.
The one-stop souvenir shop is managed by the Cebu-Gift, Toys and Housewares
Foundation, Inc. and is located at Bridges Town Center in Mandaue City.
6
citycareer
Cebu’s Answer to French
Escargot
What food indigenous to Cebu
not only tastes good but is also
believed to be an effective aphrodisiac and treatment for asthma?
Takyong that is. The lowly bush
snails are endemic in Borbon
town in northern Cebu, and lives
and feeds on the barks of indigenous tree species, such as jackfruit. They are commonly fried,
grilled and stewed and over the
years have been known as a poor
man’s food.
In 2010 however, the Obra
Negosyo Eskwela (a project of the
provincial government and the
Mandaue Chamber of Commerce
and Industry) gave takyong a
new light when it featured the
produce as the star of a business
plan proposed by the students of
the University of the Philippines
College Cebu.
Jason Hyatt,
Jason Hyatt’s Abaca, often referred
to as one of the best restaurants
and boutique hotels in Cebu, is
famous for its flat bread pizzas
and steaks. Obviously, the owner
took the name from the indigenous
material abaca, which is still largely
used around the country.
Takyong
Having saw takyong’s business
potential, the students met with
Borbon town officials to explore
the snails’ revenue capability. The
first business plan called for the
production of bottled takyong.
Each bottle is now being sold for
P150 in stores within the town of
Borbon, Today Borbon is home
to several takyong sanctuaries in
its 19 barangays, with Cajil (the
biggest village) serving as the
trading center where snails (for
farming) are sold at P1 each.
The Spanish-tasting takyong
in corn oil is promoted as
the ‘One Town, One Product’
(OTOP) of Borbon supported by
the Department of Trade and
Industry.
HAIL THE NEWSMAKERS
F E AT U R E
Banjo Norte
Winner of Cobra Ironman 70.3
Philippines 2013
Once again this year’s Cobra Ironman event proved to be a big success
when a 20-year-old triathlete from Cagayan de Oro finished first in the
Filipino Elite Men’s category with a time of 4:26:44.
“Napakaganda dito sa Cebu lalo na sa bike course dahil maraming nag
checheer sayo nang go lang nang go, huwag kang aayaw, think positive.
Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga bata sa run course kasi napupush ka talaga
kasi nag checheer sila sa ‘yo (It is very good here in Cebu especially in the
bike course because there were many people cheering for you to just go,
never surrender, think positive. I would like to thank the children cheering
in the run course because they push you to do your best),” winner Banjo
Norte of Alaska Team TBB said during the press conference as published
in Sun Star.
Some 2,000 athletes from 36 countries joined the event. This year’s event
marked the second year that the Ironman 70.3 was staged in Cebu and the
fifth time in the country after Camarines Sur hosted the first race in 2009.
Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu,
Awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
In May TripAdvisor.com recognized the Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu
with its Certificate of Excellence, an annual award given to the top performing
10 percent of all hotels worldwide that consistently earn high ratings from the
website’s users.
TripAdvisor.com is considered one of the most popular travel websites among
the global online population.
The feat was a revelation to Moevenpick’s management, who is proud that
their guests have chosen to recognize them with such a prestigious accolade
despite the fact that the hotel has been in operation only for less than a year
after undergoing a P500 million renovation and relaunching on December 15,
2012.
citycareer
7
Never Set Limits,
Go After Your
Dreams
By Claire Gamboa
The public often puts champion Filipino entrepreneur
Julie Gandionco on a pedestal given her
accomplishments in the food business. But more
than anything else, she is a source of inspiration
to the young, the working class, and the budding
entrepreneurs.
Every day, the second-grader Cebuana set out
of the house with a basket of merienda rations
that she peddled among neighborhood friends.
She enjoyed the business partnership with her
mother—who cooked and prepared the snack
menus —and considered her assignment a joyful
chore. Little did this girl know that at a very young
age, she was already on a head start in learning
the value of money and running a business.
The little girl is now on her retirement years
and currently clears millions of pesos in annual
revenues.
She is Julia Ramon Gandionco, the matriarch of
homegrown brand Julie’s Bakeshop.
“My mother’s friends welcomed me when I
brought them food. They would pet me, hug
me and pinch my nose. Maybe my marketing
strategy was to look cute. It worked because I
always went home without leftovers,” Julie, as
she is commonly called, recalls.
The mother-daughter ‘business partnership’
eventually ended, but this memory of her
childhood stuck, perhaps, because the
entrepreneurial seed was planted then. However,
it was not until Julie was in her mid-40s that
she ventured in the business she is now known
for. On January 6, 1981 she opened her flagship
Julie’s Bakeshop.
What took her so long? Motherhood and family
life came first. After marrying her husband
Rodrigo ‘Diegs’ Gandionco, Jr. they lived and
worked on a farm with his grandmother so she
had to set aside her ambition of finishing her
studies and becoming a teacher.
“I started having children one after another.
I tried going back to school and working but
couldn’t leave my children behind. So I stopped
and became a full time housewife and mother,”
she says. As a mother of five boys and one girl she
decided they needed her undivided attention.
That decision prompted her to become a stay-athome mom for the next 27 years, sewing dresses
whenever she could to contribute to the family
income.
Why Not!
Sometimes an opportunity will come knocking at
your door, and you would not be able to resist it.
Years after marrying, when Julie’s children were
already grown, she saw a newspaper ad for a
canteen concessionaire in a rattan factory with
On falling in love with his husband Diegs:
“He was very polite. When I looked at him I told myself
that this good man would make a good husband one day.
I didn’t expect to get married so soon, but maybe it was
God’s will.”
Diegs on meeting Julie for the first time:
“I met her at the house of a college friend. It was
supposed to be a blind date, but Julie didn’t believe in
blind dates. So we met. It was a Sunday and there she
was. One look at her and I fell in love!”
On her hopes for her children:
“What’s important to me is their happiness. They should
be where they are happy. As the proverb says, “Give a
8
citycareer
780 employees. She pursued it nonchalantly
wishing to earn more to give her children the
extras in life. She got the job, but had no idea that
her break was the start of something big.
“I never dreamed of having my own business. I
was even surprised when I got the job because
I was just a housewife and had no experience
in the business. But the secretary in the factory
said it was how I answered the interview panel’s
questions,” she says.
She might have been oblivious to a canteen
business but she believed her being a housewife
with six children gave her an advantage: “I told
them during the interview that I was used to
cooking for a big family. I did everything around
the house. My housekeeping experience would
carry me through.”
She was fearless, too. When an employee in the
farm she worked for complained of insufficient
compensation and threatened to hurt her with a
machete, she told him without batting an eyelash:
“Don’t scare me because I am not scared of you. If
you killed me, my children would survive but if I
killed you, your children would go hungry. So you
better think and go there and wait.”
man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how
to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ I also
taught to help and share what they have. These are the
directions I’d like my children to take.”
On her father’s kindness:
“When I was in high school my father ran a pharmacy.
I would help in the store during vacations. I always
observed my father: he was very kind to everyone.
He would be the frontliner at the pharmacy himself.
When some poor folk arrived and asked for the price
of a certain medicine, I would hear my father tell him a
different price, the cost price, because he knew this poor
guy could not afford the actual retail price. He helped
the poor. My father was a very kind soul.”
The first Julie’s Bakeshop outside Cebu debuted in 1988 in Iloilo City, and bore the brainchild for Julie’s Bakeshop’s
nationwide expansion: Franchising. The first full franchise Julie’s Bakeshop openened in 1998 in Mambajao, Camiguin.
Franchising the business was key to Julie’s Bakeshop’s market leadership with its franchise model continuously recognized
with awards of excellence starting just a year after. Julie’s Bakeshop organized Julie’s Franchise Corporation in 1998 to
provide Franchise Management Support. With 210 branches nationwide by 1999, Julie’s Bakeshop was now the country’s
largest bakeshop chain! Today, Julie’s Bakeshop has a continually growing corporate family of numerous employees along
with some 140 franchisees who operate about 99 percent of all Julie’s Bakeshop branches.
(Source: www.juliesbakeshop.com.ph)
A woman who knows how to respond to bullies –
that’s how Julie has always been. “In this world,
if you show you’re scared, the more that people
will bully you. I would often tell my five boys,
‘Don’t be a bully, but don’t let anybody bully
you.’”
Operating a canteen to serve almost eight
hundred employees can be overwhelming. But
Julie proceeded anyway and realized that the
business offered many gains. “I didn’t have to pay
the rent. I didn’t have to pay for electricity. The
kitchen and dining areas came fully furnished.
All I had to do was to get my own pots, pans, and
dishes.”
Clearly her mantra of “Why not! I can do it”
took her a long way. Soon after her first canteen
business, she opened another one in Mandaue
to serve the 500 employees of ADMACOR. When
she was not too sure she could run two canteens
for such a huge market, she did what she thought
was the best solution: She doubled the number
of her employees, mixed the old ones with the
new and assigned two teams to take care of the
two outlets.
She never once wavered in her faith in God. “It
was always God that I called for help when things
got difficult. My other mantra is ‘Never give up.’
Giving up is like being a coward. You have to be
strong and fight. With God’s help tell yourself
you can do it,” she comments. Needless to say,
she always leaned on her husband for support.
Every time an opportunity came knocking, Diegs
readily gave his nod of encouragement.
More importantly, believing in herself provided
her the best weapon during her early years as
an entrepreneur. “If you get scared of doing
something you haven’t tried before, that’s
human nature. But then if you say you can do it
with determination, you empower yourself,” she
notes.
ON FIRING EMPLOYEES
“I usually fire them because of dishonesty, for example
stealing, cheating. I make sure to warn them first – give
them some advice. You cannot fire them immediately;
they’re humans. People are inherently good. I don’t
believe anyone is born a cheater or a crook. They’re
subject to temptations just like everyone of us. As long
as their offense is tolerable, I talk to them. One thing I am:
I’m very strict on guidelines. Why? Because if you don’t
execute strong guidelines, people easily get tempted. I’m
strict with my people because I don’t want to lose them.”
Her employees always get her unsolicited
but very welcome advice. “I tell them to not
limit their dreams because God’s blessings are
limitless. Try and be determined to succeed.
Most of all, believe in God.”
So when it rains it pours. It didn’t take another
year before she would open her third canteen
at Union Carbide Philippines. Looking back she
says, “I was just a shy little girl – very shy, but
I became a different person when I got older.
There were challenges, but the more I became
experienced the more confidence I gained for
myself.”
of proceeding to teach how to bake – as what all
her students expected – she began the classes by
lecturing about three important life lessons: (1)
Believing in yourself; (2) Knowing your country;
(3) Knowing your God.
Bread from Heaven
“I saw the stun on my students’ faces so I told
them, ‘If I don’t teach you these, you will never
succeed no matter how good a baker you are.’
They had no idea I was teaching them the secrets
to success,” she remarks.
From then on, it seems like Julie never looked
back. The bakeshop idea was born out of a bakercontact’s suggestion. “I would buy a lot of bread
from different bakeries for my three canteens.
One day this baker just said, ‘Why don’t you open
your own bakeshop?’” It was another why-not
moment for this woman who welcomed every
opportunity – no matter how big or small.
For the flagship outlet, Julie hired this baker
who still works with her to this day – sharing
over 30 years of mutual respect and loyalty. She
describes him as “very motivated” although, like
any other relationships it was not always a bed
of roses. One anecdote she loves to recollect was
the one time when she did a random inspection
of the breads in the canteen and didn’t like the
product. “When I asked he said, ‘It wasn’t me. The
night-shift baker did them.’ But he was supposed
to be in charge of the whole baking department.”
Using a little of psychology tactic, she told him:
“So if you’re only a baker during the day then I
should split your commission to share with the
night-shift baker.” Her strategy worked. The
baker promised to work more responsibly from
then on.
And so the story goes. Back in the ‘80s, the first
Julie’s Bakeshop opened on a P19,000-capital
and second-hand equipment from a former
bakeshop owner. Their first-ever branch came
just six months after on a bank loan that used the
Gandionco’s house as collateral.
Bold and brave she has always been, but Julie
refuses to take all the compliments. She likes
to share them with her husband and children.
“When Diegs left the sugar business, he joined
and ran one Julie’s branch. In ten years’ time
he was managing over 20 branches. He’s very
aggressive while I’m a little conservative,” she
says.
Through the years as they turned into adults the
children would join in the business. “I didn’t offer
them. I didn’t even invite them. They just asked
if we could help. And of course we did. We’re
lucky our daughters-in-law are very supportive,
as well.”
Hold on to Joys and Values
Julie keeps a special place for the poor in her
heart. She acknowledges that God has blessed
her with so much so it’s important for her to pay
it forward. When she decided to offer baking
classes, she did so for the poor locals. Instead
Her students all came from poor communities
so Julie made sure that when they trained in
the bakeshop she gave them an allowance. After
graduating from the class, her students were
given a choice of working as full-time employees
of Julie’s or finding their fate somewhere else.
“I didn’t brand them ungrateful if they chose to
work some place. No forcing for me. My purpose
of teaching is to help these poor people stand on
their own two feet. I didn’t do it for my business
– that would be selfish,” she maintains.
What gives Julie the most joy? Seeing her
children together and helping others, she says.
“My children are good people. I want them to
stay that way and look after the family legacy.
I will help anyone as much as I can. In fact, I’ve
helped some Julie’s franchisees put up the
business.”
As matriarch of the Julie’s empire, she feels
protective of the brand. The one product closest
to her heart is Julie’s cheese bread. Before she
developed it, the bestseller was their pan de
sal. But when the cheese bread was launched, it
easily became their top grosser.
Even now, Julie still has many ideas running in
her mind. She may forget other things, but not
things about the business, she insists. Despite
her age and achievements – she’s written an
autobiography titled, “Simply, Julie” (Cebu City:
RJ & Sons, 2006) – her retirement plan, it seems,
is having no retirement plan. “I may be the
founder but I owe my success to my six children
and my husband for making ‘Julie’s’ what is
known today—the largest bakeshop chain in the
country. Most of all, I thank God for giving me the
strength to continue.”
She doesn’t have to call it a day just yet. The
point is she is free as a bird and is blessed as an
angel.
citycareer
9
perky planners
for 2014
W
hen it comes to managing your daily activities and prioritizing your time, a calendar
should be your best ally. Make sure you reduce the stress of forgetting appointments,
to-do’s, and to-buy’s by logging notes in a daily planner.
It’s tough selecting one as the market is full of so many super stylish designs. Just the same, you may
be able to choose the perfect daily planner for your needs from this list. Enjoy your pick!
Seattle’s Best Coffee 2014 Dream Journal
P2,150
How to get the Dream Journal? Customers may start collecting their
18 stickers from October 24, 2013 to January 15, 2014. One sticker is
given for each SBC beverage purchase (excluding bottled drinks and
water). Cardholder must accumulate 18 stickers to redeem one SBC
Dream Journal. | Comes in four designs | Available at SBC
Moleskine Peanuts White
2014 Daily Diary / Planner - Large
P1,599
The 12- month and 18-month planners are decorated with Peanuts
images and quotes silkscreened on new white covers. Themed
silkscreen on white cover; themed flyleaves; inner pocket in black
fabric, same color for bookmark ribbon and elastic closure; a new
page for each day. Includes themed inserts; address book and two
sets of stickers. | Available at Fully Booked
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citycareer
The Limited Edition 2014
Starbucks Philippines
Planner
P2,025
Equivalent to 9 Christmas Drinks or 9 Core
Beverages. You can also purchase P5,000
worth of products or load P5,000 into your
Starbucks Card | Comes in four colors |
Available at Starbucks
Brew Your Best Year
Giving Journal 2014
P1,460
Get your own stamp
card at any branch
with 12 drinks to
avail of the Giving
Journal | Comes in
three colors | Available at The Coffee Bean
and Tea Leaf
W H AT N O W ?
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
What Now?
Steps to Take When Deciding to
Shift from Employee to Entrepreneur
The grass could be greener on the other side, but only if you have the right mindset.
T
he fear of uncertainty is what keeps most
people from quitting their jobs to start
their own business. Giving up the security
of a full time, stable job is risky because it
is often a life-altering move that affects not only
the decision maker, but the people around them.
How do you know when it is the right time to take
the plunge? There are many things to consider,
but first you should ask yourself: “Do I have the
money to start a business and keep it going?” If
you have the capital, then go ahead.
Your most important move, however, should be
taking in an entrepreneurial mindset, which is not
as easy as one-two-three. In fact, countless stories
abound of people who have tried and failed. And
if you’re not careful, you could be part of the
statistics.
Game Changer
A mindset shift is leaving the constraints of
‘employee thinking’ and seeing the world through
a business owner’s eyes, describes career coach
and author Maite Baron in the SmallBusiness.co.uk
article “Nine mindset changes that will turn you
from employee to entrepreneur”.
Learning how to set your own priorities and taking
complete personal responsibility for all your
actions tops her list of advice. You just cannot
blame others when things go wrong because you
own the business. “As an entrepreneur…you are
the one who has to carry the can,” Maite writes.
Scenario: Eric worked as a landscape artist for a
parks department in Danao City and loved his job.
But he realized local government employment
was not exactly the most financially rewarding
job, especially for a family man like him who is
raising three children. He spent about six months
researching and concluded his best bet lay on
putting up his own landscaping business. As
an entrepreneur, his net income grew twice as
much as it was when he worked as an employee.
However, he has to work double time to build up
his clientele and market his services because he
knows success depends on hard work.
The scenario shows that entrepreneurs should
understand they cannot wait for things to happen.
You can make education your life-long ally, but
owning a business requires you to take action—
frequently. “With no one to tell you what you
should do, each morning you must wake up with a
plan, not only for the day-to-day management of
your business, but also for moving you ever closer
to your personal and professional goals,” Maite
further explains.
What other critical mindset changes you will
need to make to free yourself from ‘employee
thinking’? Her other advices include:
•
starting to think big picture and see yourself
as the business owner you want to become;
•
refocusing your efforts on seeking valuable
‘outcomes’ and not just on completing tasks;
•
aiming for progress not security;
•
being ready to step outside your comfort
zone;
•
not trying to please everbody; and
•
being competitive.
Go ‘Tekkie’
On the other hand, you can try a startup without
quitting your day job. Some experts refer to it as
‘side project entrepreneurship’ and consider it
lower-risk than dumping a paying job to launch
an unproven business concept. In fact, Forbes
Magazine contributor Shawn O’Connor insists you
shouldn’t hand over your resignation to your boss
until your startup becomes profitable enough to
stand on its own.
“Launching a successful startup is ensuring that
you do not quickly face a liquidity crisis that
forces you to close your firm and return to the
traditional economy as an employee,” he writes in
the Forbes article “Step 5 For A Successful Startup:
Don’t Quit your Day Job”.
“For many entrepreneurs, including myself,
this has meant not quitting one’s day job when
starting a small business, but instead waiting for
the nascent business to produce enough revenue
and profit to sustain the new entrepreneur
through good times and bad,” he adds.
One very good idea where you can go after
your passion without giving up your regular job
lies online. Internet business may be trendy,
but there’s more to it than putting up a site and
waiting for the orders. For instance, Sulit.com.ph
member Alona Ednacot thinks online links are
very important. In her blog posted on September
21, 2009 she stated that links generate more
traffic to web sites than the traditional search
engines.
“Online business is like networking. Spread the
word through your friends so they will check
your site. Add them if you can so they will be
updated with your new products and services,”
she advised.
QUICK FACT
Sixty-one percent of global Internet users
research products online and 44 percent
of online shoppers begin by using a search
engine, according to the study Interconnected
World: Shopping and Personal Finance, 2012.
WHAT FITS YOU
Timing is everything so why don’t you take advantage
of this Christmas season to make it perfect for your
own Internet business? If you’re not sure what to put
up, here are some ideas with potential:
•
Food. Hams, cookies, fruits, confectioneries,
catering—anything that has to do with food
always attracts buyers. You can put up an online
grocery shopping site that sells various products
or you can specialize with just a specific item,
say chocolates. For a value-added service, you
can offer your customers free delivery of the
goods they will buy.
•
Yuletide decors, decorating service. Many
kitchens, bedrooms, and entire homes need
a makeover. Design services are especially
needed for the coming Yuletide season. Here’s
a tip: spend a lot of time gathering information
about your client, their rooms and their lifestyle
before handing over a customized master plan.
•
Personal shopper and errand service. This
business is not quite popular in the country
just yet, but it has huge potential. Your clients
will include those who are either too busy or
simply unable to shop for themselves. It makes
a great home based business for someone who
loves to shop. You can charge by the hour, or a
percentage of what you buy.
•
Party planning. This business has grown
enormously in the past years. Experts attribute
the industry’s good health to several factors,
including the improved economy and the trend
of corporate people to outsource their meetingplanning functions. Why do people hire event
planners? The simple answer is because they
often lack the expertise and time to plan events
themselves.
•
Travel planning. You can start a home business
as a travel planner and be your own boss. A
computer and a telephone will be your primary
tools for searching the Internet to find travel
deals. You need to be familiar with key websites
like Hotwire.com and Travelocity.com. Then you
can work out all inclusive trips that are tailored
to fit specific market (e.g., families, couples,
individuals, corporate).
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11
LIFESTYLE
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Christmas Shopping:
more fun in colon
See how ecstatic
I was in the photo?
That’s pure joy right there.
By Isan de Jesus
I love shopping. Who doesn’t? The joy of buying a new pair of sandals or a really cute cropped top cannot
compare to anything. But feeding my love for shopping literally comes with a price that I sometimes
can’t afford from my monthly allowance.
So I wonder: What happens to shopaholics who have limited budgets? Apparently, they venture off
to the streets of Colon. The reason is obvious: One can find almost anything there. From wallets to
mosquito nets to cool lamps to leather shoes to a plethora of Hello Kitty knick knacks – you name it,
they have it.
Then I did the next best thing. During a friendly chat with my buddies an idea dawned on me: Perhaps
I could buy my whole family and close friends their Christmas presents in Colon with just a P1,000
budget. My buddies were a bit doubtful so I challenged myself and set off.
After spending an afternoon roaming around Colon looking for Christmas presents, I ended the day with
change to spare for snacks! If you don’t believe me, here’s a rundown of what I bought. I challenge you
to take on the same shopping expedition and see how far your P1,000 can go.
Necklaces (For Obligatory Presents)
Rings (for Moms and Elder Sisters)
Cost: P15 to P30
My older sister loved the black plain one while
the gold plated one with black stone was my
mom’s favorite. They thought the rings cost over
P250. You just have to scout really well to find
these great looking accessories.
Cute Clips (for Any Tom, Dick and Harry)
Cost: P35 to P50
Sometimes you get
required to attend
Christmas parties
and bring mandatory,
random gifts for
exchanging later. These
necklaces are perfect
for that. Why? Because
they are easy to find,
affordable, and look
like they cost a lot
more if you know how to choose wisely.
Warning: Be patient when searching for the
best ones. It’ll only take you ten minutes tops.
Cost: P16 per pack
They’re adorable and you
can give it to anyone
from your manita from
the office Kris Kringle to
your baby sister. There are
so many great designs to
choose from!
Cost: P80
Everyone in Cebu needs a pair of sunglasses!
It has a matte finish to it, so it looks classy.
Non-matte models only cost P50, but a matte
kind of girl, so I was willing to invest a little
more. This gift is great for guys because: (1)
Guys like wearing sunglasses; (2) Guys look
great with shades on.
T-shirt (For Brothers or Dads)
Cost: P200
This shirt has
great quality
and the fit is
great on guys,
too. I knew
right off the bat
that it is
something that
my guy friends
or dad will
definitely wear.
Looks 100
percent original, if you ask me.
Dress (For Moms, Elder Sisters or Friends)
Earrings (for Girlfriends)
Cost: P20 per pair
Your barkadas shouldn’t be
left behind. You can buy
them one pair each of these
hippie-styled earrings. The
quality is great; I vouch for
it. They had a large display catalogue of earrings
in this particular store, so I got stuck there for
around 20 minutes just staring at them lovelies.
Sunglasses (For Brothers or Guy Friends)
Bracelets (for the Whole Posse)
Cost: P22 per piece
If you’re one to belong to a big group of friends,
then this will definitely save you a decent amount
of your money. The great part is that they’re
selling it on buy-one-take-one this season. That’s
one bracelet for P11! It is my personal bargainwinner in Colon.
Cost: P200
Black and white
prints are so in
right now, plus
the cut of the
dress is classic.
It’s perfect for
your mom, your
sister or your
friend as ‘girly
girls’ love it. I bet
it would cost
no lower than
P800 if you
bought it in the
mall.
Stationery (For Little Kids)
I’m not so sure if little
boys write on stationery
with a glitter pen since I
was surrounded by girls
my whole life, but this
would be a great gift to
little girls! The glitter pen contains eight
different colours.
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citycareer
I’m ecstatic with my buys, especially because I bought them with my loved ones in mind. Remember,
when shopping, to look for things your loved ones are fond of so as not to take so much of your time.
Displays can overwhelm you and make you spend on things you don’t really need, so beware.
As I realized, you can easily complete your Christmas shopping list with P1,000-budget after all. And
you can even be left with enough change to buy some buttered corn at one of the corner shops in Colon.
Happy shopping!
JOB OUTLOOK
S PE C I A L R E P O RT
Job Outlook: What to
Look Forward To for 2014
College graduate job seekers can count on the service sector to continue
to provide them with jobs, but skilled and semi-skilled workers should be
on the lookout for a larger and broader manufacturing industry.
F
inding the right career involves a lot of
trial-and-error and can literally mean life
or death for some people. The question
that people often ask themselves, “What
career should I be looking into,” therefore, does
not only warrant a “yes” or “no” for an answer
but entails a thorough self-assessment and job
market research.
For instance, a call center or customer service
representative earned the ninth place in the
Philippines’ top 10 highest-paying jobs for 2013,
according to a report by the Department of Labor
and Employment, released in February.
The list included (by rank):
1. Art director
2. Geologist
3. Aircraft pilot, navigator, and flight engineer
4. Mining engineer, metallurgical engineer
5. Computer programmer
6. Systems analyst and designer
7. Production supervisor, general foreman
8. Actuary
9. Call
center
or
customer
service
representative
10. Statistician
Meanwhile some of the worst jobs in the US
identified by research organization CareerCast
included newspaper reporter (first place), actor
(fourth place), and flight attendant (tenth place).
The definition of ‘worst’ or ‘best’ job differs
from person to person and factors that define a
great job may include high pay (starting salary
to highest potential salary); low stress (travel,
deadlines, working conditions); a healthy work
environment (competitiveness, public contact),
job growth potential (employment growth,
income growth), and minimal physical exertion
(physical requirements, stamina)—all depending
on one’s needs, likes and dislikes.
Regardless what kind of job you choose, it is
important that you show your employer that you
possess the following abilities:
1. You can do more with less. You factor the
bottom line in every decision you make.
2. You are emotionally intelligent. You possess
empathy and the ability to anticipate the
needs of other people.
3. You are multi-skilled. You’re willing to get
your hands dirty and take on unconventional
tasks. And you’re always willing to apply
your various skills when necessary.
Revive Manufacturing Sector
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sees a 6.1
percent growth in the Philippines’ gross domestic
product (GDP) for 2014, which means that the
country’s economy will continue to soar. This year,
booming investment, particularly in construction,
and robust consumption propelled growth to 7.6
percent in the first half alone.
The outlook for construction remains bright,
however. ADB sees overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs) and the business process outsourcing
(BPO) sector as main drivers of the growth, with
OFWs channeling investment into housing and
BPOs carrying out their steady expansion for more
offices.
However, the economic boom that the country
is experiencing has failed to translate into more
jobs, the Asian Development Outlook 2013
Update claims. In fact, 3 million people are still
unemployed and 7.3 million are underemployed.
The government’s goal is to add 1 million new
jobs a year, but this year’s job generation has
fallen short of it.
The ADB report further states:
“The country needs to generate about 800,000
jobs each year just to absorb new entrants into the
labor force, which is growing by about 2 percent
annually. Employment growth must exceed this
figure if the 3 million people now unemployed
are to find work and the 7.3 million who are
underemployed are to expand their working
hours and earnings,” the report says.
“Manufacturing grew by 9.9 percent, well above
its 4 percent average pace in 2007–2012. Food
processing, which comprises 40 percent of all
manufacturing, is a key driver, though increases
were seen as well in a range of industries
such as chemicals, furniture and fixtures, and
communication equipment.”
The solution may lie on broadening the sources
and types of work. As services cannot absorb all
the job seekers, the manufacturing sector should
step up to generate substantial and productive
employment for skilled and moderately skilled
workers, according to ADB.
“From the production side, services expanded by
7.1 percent and contributed half of GDP growth.
Service subsectors that performed strongly
included retailing, finance, real estate, and
business services, including business process
outsourcing.”
“Buoyant construction in both the public and
the private sector generated rapid growth
approaching 23 percent for this industry.
Agriculture had a better first half than in 2012,
but unfavorable weather toward mid-2013 held
growth to 1.4 percent.”
citycareer
13
Scarfed for Life
Abstract southwestern scarf,
Forever21.com, $10.80
(P473.00)
Selling Like
Hotcakes!
Chase the Case
Wood iPhone
case (natural),
LoudBasstard.com,
P1,090.00
make it
magical!
Cebu Pride
Pinoy soccer Cebu shirt,
Artwork, P600.00
Give Your Workmates What
They Want This Christmas
Looking for that one Christmas present that will make
you stand out from the rest of the people in your office?
Browse our selection of great and unique gift ideas to suit
any budget.
Choco Loco
Brix Chocolate for Wine,
Rustan’s Supermarket, variety
gift set (wine and glass not
included) – P995.00, smooth
dark chocolate 227g –
P515.00
Let’s Grill Together
Dowell indoor grill,
Automatic Center,
P1,418.00
Self Help
The Science of Getting
Rich by Wallace D.
Wattles, Fully Booked,
P520.00
Scents & Beauty
For the Health Buff
Ozeri Pronto digital
multifunction kitchen and
food scale, Amazon.com,
$15.95 (P700.00)
United Color of Benetton
Body Mist 250ml, Zalora.
com.ph, P495.00
Bag It!
Leather weekender bag
with strap,
Zara, P4,495.00
Locate the Stuff at:
Fully Booked
Cebu Park District, Cebu City, Philippines
+63 32 417 1400
Zara
J.W. Diokno Boulevard
Mall of Asia Complex CBP-1A, Pasay City
Artwork
2nd Floor Ayala Center, Cebu Business
Park, Cebu City
Automatic Center
3rd Floor Ayala Center, Cebu Business Park,
Cebu City
+63 32 232 1001
Rustan’s Supermarket
Basement of the Expansion Bldg.,
Ayala Center, Cebu Business Park 2,
Cebu City
+63 32 238 1130
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citycareer
www.zalora.com.ph
www.amazon.com
www.forever21.com
www.loudbasstard.com
Bathing Time
V&M Naturals Poppy Plush
soap 120g, Zalora.com.ph,
P210.00