“Paano mo malalaman kung di mo susubukan?”
This couple from Pangasinan shared another essential lesson in life: believe in yourself and disregard the noises around you.
Rozelle Mae Benedito and Mawi Mendoza Rillorta admitted that they received several negative reactions after they announced that their 500 sqm property they bought in 2018 would be the location of their coffee shop.
Since it is located in the middle of a rice field in the province, many people doubted their ability to grow their small business.
But the couple held on to their vision and were determined to pursue their business.
“Mga friends po tsaka mga tao po dito, ‘yon po ‘yong sabi nila na, ‘bakit magpapatayo dito’, ‘sino pupunta jan’, ‘sobrang layo’, ‘walang magiging customer ‘yan’,” Rozelle recalled.
“From 100% po na feedback, kami lang po ‘yung 2% dahil naniniwala kami sa sarili namin. 98% po nangagaling po sa labas ‘yung feedback,” Mawi echoed.
Rozelle and Mawi proved them wrong. They are now earning around P50,00 daily. From being the only one working in their business, they now have 15 employees.
They added that Ber months are the peak of their business as they can feel the breeze in the area.
“Soft opening namin, ‘yon nga pong gamit namin na machine non is hindi po pang comercial. So pang bahay lang talaga, di namin inexpect na sobrang daming tao,” Mawi said.
“Nakakatuwa po talaga kasi ang haba po ng pila po talaga, talaga pong pinipilahan nila. Tapos ‘yong long bamboo bridge po namin, talagang umaabot po siya doon. Kaya po nakakatuwa po talaga po na magdaming sumuport samin,” they recalled.
The couple started to construct their coffee shop in 2021 after going home to the province from Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Isa pa po na struggle ‘yung sa pag-construct kasi nasa gitna po kami ng bukid. Ang time lang po talaga namin na summer. So pinaka time lang po namin starting po ng April tsaka May, ‘yun lang po. ‘Yon lang po yung pwede kami magpaconstruct ma’am, kunware may babaguhin po kami. Di na po kami pwede magpasok ng materyales, ng gamit,” the couple explained.
They opened ag.KAPI.ta to the public on July 17, 2021. They invested around P1 million in the business.
As coffee lovers, the couple crafted their own recipes and started the business all by themselves.
Ag.KAPI.ta offers hot and cold drinks that cost around P80-P115. Pastries are also available at the shop. They are open from 7 AM to 10 PM, Monday-Sunday.
In a bid to help other entrepreneurs, food stalls that showcase different local and international cuisine are also available beside their coffee shop.
Located in Daang kalikasa, Mangatarem, Pangasinan, ag.KAPI.ta, is an Ilocano phrase meaning “magkape tayo.” Local tourists, riders and bikers are among their customers who travel three hours from Manila.
The couple plans to expand the coffee shop and open a second branch this year.
They said that believing in themselves and disregarding the negative comments of other people were the key to their success.
“Paano mo malalaman kung di mo susubukan?” the couple stressed.
“Habang nagiisip po kayo, pakinggan din po natin ‘yung puso natin kasi mas maganda kung buong puso mo gagawin ‘yong design. Parang po si misis, actually di naman niya po ito magagawa kung hindi niya mahal ‘yung ginagawa niya,” Mawi said.
“At kung hindi po dahil sa support niya. Iniisip ko po na ‘kung magboo-boom kaya?’ Kaya pinalakas niya rin po talaga ‘yong loob ko na ‘sige go, try natin,’ kaya po nabuo si agKAPIta,” Rozelle added.
