Black beans make a difference in Sogod
Life changing.
That was how a student described his immersion with a family in Sogod town, northern Cebu where he and classmates helped revitalize a micro business under the Obra-Negosyo- Eskwela Countryside Enterprise Business Upliftment (ONE CEBU) Program.
The Escasinas family in the mountain barangay of Liki made a living preparing salted black beans or “taosio”.
For 13 years, they were using traditional cooking methods and firewood. It would take Johnny and Delia eight hours to process the beans this way.
“We helped them innovate,” said Christopher Briore, University of Cebu – Banilad Campus coach.
A gas stove replaced the open cooking fire. Now it takes less than an hour to cook the beans, which came from a supplier in Cebu.
Product packaging was improved. To ensure its safety for consumers, they registered the product with the Bureau of Food and Drugs and the Micro Business Enterprise Program.
Each pack of salted beans weighs 15 grams and is sold for 12 pesos each.
Today “JD Salted Black Beans” and “White Turkey Special Taosio” are being sold again in Danao City with better product labels and design courtesy of the UC-Banilad students.
The Escasinas family regained their old market in Danao which supplements their presence in Carbon Market in Cebu City.
Contest judges saw the product as having “more potential to succeed” and awarded it the top prize in Season 1 of the ONE CEBU program for the individual category.
The improved product has not only helped the Escasinas family. The beans were the first micro business product ever registered in Sogod town.
“It’s about helping people and empowering their lives. Boosting their morale and giving them hope that anything is possible,” said Jezreel Ezer Archival, who shared his experience in a speech at the One Cebu Business and Sustainability Summit on Tuesday at the Cebu International Convention Center.
As he spoke, photos were flashed of students interacting with the family in Sogod.
Another presenter, communications officer Girlie Garces of San Miguel Corp. Brewery, shared their experience with students from Southwestern University who helped develop edible snails or “takyong” in Borbon town as a commercial product.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who spoke at the start of the summit, said the ONE CEBU enterprise program “best epitomizes” the innovative entrepreneurship that is central in the partnership of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Provincial Capitol.
She said the program helps bring a “new face” to Cebuano products.
ONE CEBU is a collaboration of the province of Cebu, MCCI and some Cebu-based universities and colleges offering business and management courses. It aims to develop micro and small enterprises in the countryside.
The summit was one of the activities of the Mandaue Business Month.
Also present during the summit were Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board members Thadeo Ouano and Jude Sybico, and a delegation from the Iloilo City Investment Board headed by Felix Tiu.
