Thriving Businessman On the Go
At twelve, Romel Caña Canicula knew already what life is all about: opportunity. That is why throughout his life he hardly ever missed an opportunity. Time has been his ally; and work has been his better half. With these two, he was able to make good use of opportunities not only for himself, but also for others.
Rommel was the fifth child among a brood of 12 – a large family whose means depended largely on tilling the land. At a young, he was exposed to poverty, and he experienced it for the entire 20 years of life; but it did not induce him to think negatively of life. Instead, it encouraged him to look at the bright side. And that he did.
So, young as he was, he began to act twice his age and to show a degree of maturity in his ways. Like an adult, he would preoccupy himself with practical chores that he knew would generate results at the end of the day. From sunrise, to sundown he would help his father till the land, prepare the rice field for planting, and do all sorts of farming tasks. Besides that, he would also help his mother twine and weave abaca fiber, which the latter sold at the market. His hands were always full. Neither time nor work was wasted when he was around. As a result, he was always needed and was able to earn the respect of young and old people alike.
However, he was still youngster and, like children of his age, he was supposed to be in school. But his parents could barely meet ends and could not sufficiently provide for his schooling. So, to give him a decent education, his parents advised him to stay with his married older sister and to enroll at Zamora High School at Bacacay, Albay. During his stay there, he tried to fit in his time at the canteen, helping his sister serve customers, and his time for his studies. Eventually, in the summer of March 1989, he was able to earn his high school degree. But, because he did not have adequate means to pursue college, he opted to work.
“ I believe that academic education is a dire necessity; but to those who have little or no education at all, hope, perseverance, and love for work are the key to success. One has only to seize opportunity when one sees it, and all will be well.”
Armed with knowledge he had learned from his parents, experiences, and the little education he had, he set out for work. He was instantly hired by Soriano Multipurpose Fiber – the first and only company he ever had – as a labourer with a daily wage of twenty pesos in the first week, as a test of his commitment. He did not complain of his meager income but worked at his best. He was poor, yes, but poverty of him is a competitive edge – an advantage that propelled him to exert his best effort because that was all he had, and that was all he could give. Therefore, in a short period of time, his hard work paid off. His zeal and dedication caught the attention of his employer. He became a regular worker and was elevated to material handler; then, he rose to quality controller. As he as dependable and trustworthy, he also became the personal driver of the president; until finally, in 2000, with the efficiency and consistency that he showed in his work, he was promoted area manager of the said company until the time the owner retired and sold the company.
When the owner, Mr. Francisco Soriano, known as the “Father of Coco Coir” in the Philippines, sold off the company in 2006, Romel decided to serve as the full time barangay councilor in Sta. Elena, Malinao, Albay, while initially trying to engage in the buying and selling abaca fiber, abaca ropes, and whole coconut. Not long after, the coconut gave him the idea of fabricating his own decorating marked his first big step to his own business industry, the Southeastern Fiber Products, as it is know today.
When Southeastern Fiber was registered in 2011, he personally manned all its operations. He as a “hands on” man and knew the nitty gritty of the trade. Up until now, he collects and crashes the coco husks, distributes the fiber, does the hauling of the products, and performs odd jobs, which his employees carry out each day. No wonder, he is oftentimes mistaken as the labourer than an employer. On the positive side, this made him an approachable, accommodating, and down-to-earth employer to a 7 deco-operators, 12 twiners, and 6 weavers. It is not surprising to note that, because of his altruistic and humanitarian qualities as a manager, he was able to accommodate within a span of almost 5 years a remarkable less than 1,000 twiners and weavers and still counting.
What was once a small-scale venture is now full-blown and thriving business industry not only because its profit is booming but because more residents are turning to twining/weaving as their main source of livelihood. In fact, the industry flourishes because the Department of Trade and Industry (Thru: Shared Service Facility Program) itself gives provisions, in the form of twining sets, to some 130 twiners, and 10 units of handloom to some weavers who work for Southeastern Fiber.
Now, Southeatern Fiber caters to a number of units and households in different barangays and municipalities from Sta. Elena, Tagoytoy, Tanawan, Sugcad, Libod, Balsa, Baybay and Matalipni, Payahan in Malinao; Tabaco City Jail and fourteen upland barangays in Tabaco City; San Jose in Malilipot; Bacacay Women’s Organization and Bonga in Bacacay; to USWAG Bicol-Tiwi Chapter in Tiwi, Albay. With only labor as capital, these households, particularly those with larger families with measly earnings, earn a daily wage with less worry and stress for they work at their own pace and time. Because of their preoccupation, household members of the barangay and of the whole community.
In fact, given the earnings families get from twining, hand-to-mouth existence is gradually addressed, family necessities are met, teenage members, are kept busy, and the young ones are supported in their education. Likewise, the self-esteem of housekeeper-housewives is boosted. As a result, unemployment and other issued related to poverty are lessened.
In addition, the industry helps other members of the community to share their time and effort in raising the capital income of the community by contributing to the production of these geo-nets and ropes. For instance, inmates from Tabaco City Jail allot some time for the twining coco-ropes in order for them to become fruitful citizens and, in return, they are also given renumeration as well as welcome diversion from the humdrum of their jail compartments.