These siblings from Quezon Province started a pest control business in January 2022. At first, they only worked for houses, small bakeries and sari-sari stores in their area, meeting only up to five clients every month.
But by March 2022, they started catering to malls, groceries, factories and other establishments as far as Palawan.
Pesconex was established thanks to Giovanni Villela, an uncle who wanted to help his nephew, Clark Dennies Demejes, provide for his family.
“Sobrang nakakatakot po nung una, kasi risk-taking po. Kasi ‘yun nga po, umalis si kuya sa trabaho tapos ito na po ‘yung pinasok niya instead na mag-apply sa ibang company. So nakakatakot kasi hindi po namin alam kung makakakuha kami ng clients,” Clarissa Joyce Demejes recalled.
“So ‘yung business namin nag-start po siya with the help of my uncle po, siya po ‘yung tumulong sa amin, siya po ‘yung nag-hikayat sa amin na pumasok sa ganitong business. Dati po kasi siyang nagtatrabaho sa pawn hop and then nag-resign po siya so nawalan po siya ng source of income, which is struggle din po sa amin kasi isa po siya sa nagpoprovide po ng needs ng family namin. And then naisip po ng tito ko na isama po siya sa mga treatments and i-train po siya. Then doon po nag-start, nagkaroon po ng interest ‘yung kuya ko, at kami pong family namin nagkaroon ng interest about doon so pinush na po namin,” she narrated.
Their uncle Giovanni, who also manages his own pest control business in Manila, lent them money to start the business. Their family worked together to manage the business.
Pesconex started with a team of three, which included Clark, Clarissa and their cousin. Their father would drive them to meet clients.
“Sobrang liit lang po ‘yung clients namin dati, as in maliliit lang po na tindahan, maliit na bakery lang po, and then napunta po sa malalaking establishments,” she said.
When Clarissa shared their business journey on TikTok, it went viral with 31,000 views. Through the video, they were also able to reach a lot of new clients.
“Sobrang saya po, sobrang saya po talaga kasi hindi po namin ineexpect, hindi po namin inaasahan na makikilala po kami, na may kukuha po sa amin na ganitong clients. Kasi dati po, nagpapasalamat na kami sa maliliit na treatments, tapos ngayon nandito na kami sa mga buildings, umaabot na po kami sa Palawan,” she said.
Clarissa said that their business helped them sustain their daily needs at home and pay for her tuition.
“Sobrang laking tulong po noong business namin, di po talaga namin ineexpect na ganito ‘yung magiging outcome. Una po, nakabili po kami ng sasakyan which is kailangang-kailangan po talaga namin yon sa business kasi sobrang hirap po ng wala po kaming sasakyan na gagamitin. And then yung gastusin po sa bahay, sobrang laki rin po ng naitulong niya, lalo na po sa akin, nag-aaral pa po ako kahit po sabihin na online class, siyempre may mga kailangan pa rin po ako financially na naipoprovide po ng kuya ko po sa akin,” Clarissa shared.
Clarissa said they wanted to share their journey to inspire other people to go for their dream business.
“Sa business po, risk-taking po talaga ‘yon, kung natatakot po kayo na kunwari naglabas po kayo ng malaking pera para sa business niyo, ‘wag niyo pong isipin na baka bumagsak ‘yung business niyo. I-manifest niyo po na magiging successful ‘yung business niyo, gawin niyo po ‘yung best niyo para mag-succeed kayo,” Clarissa said when asked about her message to people who want to start their own business.
