One of the projects that I am currently involved in is an interesting story of family, factory, progress, and then innovation. Family because it speaks of one family’s journey in building and growing their fledging export business. Factory, because this family had the faith and confidence in the city of Mandaue to build a factory in what was essentially farmland. Progress is evident in being able to witness the growth and rise of Mandaue from an industrial hub to full pledged highly urbanized city. Innovation comes to mind when you see the transformation of a factory to a “mall” or “Town Square”.

When Eduardo Alegrado set up a furniture factory almost three decades ago in a remote two hectare lot, he would not have been able to imagine that his factory will soon become a place where everyone will come to meet , get together, shop and dine. Back then, I am sure, he was just looking for a place that was convenient enough and at the same time, economically viable to put up a furniture factory catering for the export market. He recounted, “My family’s business has been operating in Mandaue City for more than 3 decades now. We had 2 furniture factories on a 2-hectare property there that was fronting a little street then.”

This new project really started with the onset of the recession. Eduardo recounts, “ when the orders started slowing down, we had to find ways of making all our assets useful. We did not want to just wait for business to be better but we wanted to innovate.” The family took notice that the area where their huge factory was located in was now a bustling thoroughfare and commercial area. They also noticed the expanding tourism market as well as new needs of a growing city.

Mandaue has really come on to its own. It now has a convention center, several large malls and commercial centers as well the largest medical university outside of Manila. It is also an important access from Cebu City to the island of Mactan and the airport as well as the connection from north to south.

The project is anchored on a very unique concept called “Kumprahan” which is a wholesale traders market housed in a supermarket setting. It will be run by producers, wholesalers as well as different cooperatives; thereby almost guaranteeing freshness as well as affordability.

There will be a unique fresh and live seafood restaurant called Oyster Bay which will have a beach setting, a lagoon as well as a salt water pond with live seafood. A lot of people will be surprised to know or will suddenly remember that the owners of Oyster Bay were also owners of Cebu’s first seafood restaurant almost several decades ago also.

There will also be an entrepreneur’s incubation area where many small entrepreneurs can affordably open a first “mall store” and experience a mall setting. There will be a tourist zone as well as a lifestyle strip.

This project really became aptly called, “Bridges”. Not only is it in between two bridges, it is also one of the main access to the north. But it is also the story of bridging the past and the present as well as looking forward to the future. In Bridges, everything really does come together.

On another note, I would like to congratulate Bam Aquino for winning the Catholic Mass Media Awards for the best business feature show. His show about starting small pinoy entrepreneurs called “Start Up” is a valuable resource for many aspiring, starting as well as encouraging entrepreneurs. Bam would also like to invite young people to attend the YoNoy! Event at 11 am today at the Southwestern University. There will also be an open forum with Noynoy Aquino.

Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.

For comments, suggestions or stories that you want to share, email me at stirspecialist@gmail.com , or visit www.stirspecialist.blogspot.com