'Negosyo' Update: Revamping Store and Unboxing Orders

11 May 2025

It's already May, almost a year after I returned home from abroad. Staying longer was not part of my plans, but only God knows which route He wants me to take. Working from home was supposed to be a temporary arrangement, but it has been my primary source of income (at least, for now). And now I'll be starting a small business. From OFW to WFH and a small entrepreneur. Things I never expected in my life. But I must admit that running a cafe was once my dream. Who knows. This could be the start (crossfingers).

May is a busy month for us. Aside from the election, our village fiesta is coming up. I intended to open the business before our fiesta. My goal was to open in the summer, but May is passing by quickly, and our store is still being renovated. The future of this business is still uncertain, but I am determined to try.

There is still a lot to do at the shop. I only have my brother working for me. I occasionally ask my other brothers for assistance when they are not working. It's quite a spacious building, which is why I don't want to abandon it. The electrical wiring was fixed first, followed by the roof and ceilings. The grills and a portion of the wall were removed to create a door for people to dine inside. The tables and chairs will be DIYed using used wood and boards, at least for now.

From this...

To this...

What matters to me is that we can open the building so that we may do whatever we want with it. We can convert it into a snack bar, restaurant, or internet cafe or sell commodities such as rice, vegetables, and other necessities. If the snack house does not work, we will have to come up with an alternative. At the very least, the building will be ready and available by then.

While I waited for the restoration to be completed, I began gathering and ordering items for the business I intended to open. One advantage of online shopping is its convenience and lower prices. Some online stores offer factory prices, and the platform provides shipping discounts. Above all, I don't need to hassle myself by going to different shops in the city just to buy them. Besides, some are difficult to find.

Some of my orders arrived yesterday. Others are still on their way, and some will be ordered in the city.

While unpacking my orders, I can't help but feel excited and grateful. There is an adage that states, "Sometimes the most beautiful things are unplanned. They just happen."

There has been only a little preparation and short planning for this. One day, I thought about it, and over the next few weeks, I began to materialize it. This is preferable to longer planning and preparation because some plans can end up as a "drawing," as we Filipinos call it. At the very least, this time, I'm doing more than simply drawing. I'm also coloring it.

I simply hope and pray to God that this will be fruitful. It requires a lot of effort (and money), which bothers me at times, but I focus on the potential ROI and my dreams for my family (because I have another dream for myself).

As I previously stated, I intended to launch it before our village fiesta, which is on the 30th of this month. Hopefully, we can open the store between the 20th and the 25th, which is about 10-15 days away. It makes me even more excited because I have big ideas for it once it's open! Hopefully, things will fall into place.

That's it for my Negosyo (business) update! By the way, to Filipinos here, VOTE WISELY!