A proud native of Sogod town in northern Cebu was named as the top winner of the Sugbo Negosyo Season 2.
Merry Rose Pepito, owner of Pepito Handcrafted Furniture, has been granted a P500,000 worth of capital voucher as the top prize during the awarding ceremony at the Capitol Social Hall on Monday, Dec. 4, following the presentation of business plans of the Top 10 winners.
Pepito’s achievement greatly represents a success for Sogod in general, a town that’s home to some of Cebu’s best handcrafted furniture and home decor makers.
HOW IT STARTED
Pepito’s business was born at the height of the pandemic, a testament to her inherited passion for weaving.
Taking over the business from her father, the young entrepreneur has led the way in crafting sustainable furniture products from indigenous materials, notably “ratan”.
Starting with an initial capital of P800 only and producing a single product, her journey began with the creation of her first ever product — the rattan jar, now fondly named “Padayon,” a Visayan word that translates to mean “carry on” or “moving forward” — the vey hallmark of resilience.
The product stands as a mark of her business’ resilience and its ability to thrive, continuing to flourish and carry on despite the myriad of challenges along the way.
RUNNERS UP
Nicola Enriquez of Bez Acre Farm Products from Toledo City, is this season’s second top winner, while Dalaguete native Shareen Rivera of Whisk and Beyond Cakes and Pastries clinches the third spot.
Enriquez and Rivera will receive P300,000 and P200,000 of capital vouchers, respectively.
The rest of the Top 7 winners will each receive P100,000 as additional capital for their respective businesses. | Carlo Lorenciana