This home-based business started in the middle of the COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020. But with determination and hard work, Jomari Siongco and Denielle Hernandez were able to put up a food truck business with only P2,500 cash on hand.
“Actually it started with him and his brother talaga…nung nagpandemic umuwi siya galing UAE kasi nawalan siya ng work so naghanap kami ng source of income. So tinayo namin ‘yung Tolit’s pero online orders pa lang. pre-order base siya,” Jomari said.
When they were just starting, the couple had to loan money from their families to jumpstart their food business. They started with a capital of P20,000.
“When we started parang P2,500 lang talaga ‘yung pera namin in our pockets to sum up P10,000 from my sister tapos ‘yung truck around P5,000 lang tapos ‘yun lang talaga kasi the rest parang binigay na lang ng daddy niya––’yung manok kasi ‘yung business ng dad nila is poultry so sakanila ‘yung manok,” Denielle recalled.
Originally, Tolit’s Peri-Peri was Jomari’s family business. The business was named after his father and Jomari said that they perfected their family recipe through the years.
Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jomari and Denielle lost their respective jobs.
“When we found out that we’re pregnant sabi ko, since I lost my job nga dahil wala masyadong students na nag-enroll.So sabi ko we need to make ends mee kailangan natin ng source of income. Wala akong work tas wala ka din work so paano? So with Tolit’s, sabi ko sige push through natin––it’s a risk talaga because we don’t know what’s gonna happen like papatok ba siya,” Denielle shared.
In 2020, they decided to use an old truck for their business but the earnings were just enough to cover their daily operation. “Kasi may mga times talaga na talo talaga kami sa pagod eh buntis ako nung time na ‘yun…everyday no matter how small or big ‘yung kita tuloy-tuloy lang.”
In less than a year, the couple managed to expand their business to seven branches around Bulacan.
The couple said that some individuals seeking to franchise their business reached out to them. They launched a starter package franchise worth P160,000. It includes training and initial supply for the business.
At present, the couple has one physical store and six franchised stores in Bulacan. Several franchised stores are also set to open this year in Metro Manila.
“It was really overwhelming kasi for a very small business na ang pangarap lang ay magluto at makapag-provide sa family parang very fast-paced siya ’yung buhay namin and ‘yung business,” Denielle said.
The couple was lauded by netizens after they successfully launched their own brand in the middle of the pandemic
“If you want to earn big, you have to give big. ‘Yung effort, ‘yung oras––lahat and then everything will follow naman,” the couple noted.
They are also aiming to help other individuals who were affected by the pandemic. “Kami diba we started from nothing. So ngayon ang goal namin is to help ‘yung mga taong gustong magka business kasi with the pandemic parang everything’s unsure parang pwede ka mawalan ng trabaho anytime kaya ito this is a perfect offer for those na gusto mag-startup ng business.”
