BongBong’s Piaya and Barquillos marked its 40th anniversary on Monday, January 22, with the launching of its museum at its Alijis showroom in Bacolod City to showcase its success story to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and guests.
The museum tells the story of how Reynaldo Villan and his wife, Ma. Lomer Cañedo Villan, started their business 40 years ago in 1984, with a startup capital of P80 for ingredients and turned it into a multimillion enterprise with more than 70 stores in the Visayas.
Ma. Lomer said they started their business with P80 capital for ingredients at their home at Yulo’s Park in Bacolod City, and borrowed a “kalaha (cooking pan)” from an uncle to cook piaya on a kerosene stove. They also used an empty 7-Up bottle as a rolling pin.
They made 80 piayas a day that they vended on the streets of Bacolod and at the Banago port, she said.
Today aside from piaya they produce multiple delicacies that have become famous pasalubongs from Negros. They also have a capacity to produce more than 200,000 piayas a day when needed.
The Villans believe that “you make things happen. Instead of waiting for them to happen to you”. Action is the main drive to BongBong’s success and hard work is the brand that provides opportunity to grow, Toots Jimenez, their public relations consultant, said.
BongBong’s success is rooted in family cooperation and unity, he added.
The firm also announced on Monday that it is set to hold the first BongBong’s Piaya Festival.
It will be held sometime in February, Jimenez said.
BongBong’s 40 years seal bears the tagline “Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon,
BongBong’s ang Pasalubong.”
Also present at the anniversary rites were Bacolod Councilor Jason Villarosa and Jennylind Cordero of the Department of Tourism who congratulated BongBong’s for its “sweet success”.*