This story of a millennial from Lipa, Batangas is a proof that with hard work and determination, everything is possible!
Vince Isabelle Lorzano started her fried noodles business in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic due to a “food craving.”
“Nag-start lang siya sa cravings ko ng fried noodles.Pandemic ‘yon eh. So lockdown. ‘Yung fried noodles kasi, go-to meryenda ko siya no’ng college. So, ako, nag-search lang ako ng parang recipe, ng ingredient before sa internet. Then bumili ako sa supermarket,” Vince told The Philippine STAR.
But unlike other business owners, Vince’s business was unplanned and unexpected.
“At first, hindi ko talaga alam na may mag-o-order sa’kin. Nag-post ako sa Instagram ko na nagtitinda ‘ko pero joke lang ‘yon. Parang hindi ko naman talaga intensyon na magtinda talaga,” Vince recalled.
“Sabi ko, “Delivery, sa susunod na araw.” Tapos, ‘di ko [in-expect] na seseryosohin pala ng mga friends at followers ko sa Instagram.‘Yung first order ko talaga, ‘yung first na posting ko na umabot siya ng 70 cups. [One] day lang ‘yon,” she added.
While she was on a work-from-home set up, the orders kept on coming. Their home kitchen served as her place to accommodate and cook orders. Her family also helped her manage her business at that time.
“So nag-start siya na nagluluto ako sa umaga, ide-deliver ko rin siya sa hapon. Ang hirap talaga ‘yung month na nasa bahay lang na wala kang maayos na lutuan, wala kang maayos na storage,” she said.
Vince then decided to open her first branch after five months. Through her journey juggling her day time work and business, Vince admitted that at some point, she wanted to choose between her job and her business.
“May point na gusto ko na talagang iwan. Pero kasi, pandemic naman no’n eh. Work from home ako. So, sabi ko, kaya naman. Tinry ko kasi nasasayangan din ako sa job ko. Parang, gusto ko din ‘yung trabaho ko eh. Pero gusto ko rin ‘yung business ko,” Vince shared while being emotional.
“So tinry ko talaga na kayanin na pagsabayin kasi parang nando’n pa rin ako sa parang nag-uumpisa palang. Pa’no kung hindi maging successful, ‘diba? So talagang nag-adjust ako, tyinaga ko lang. Pareho kasi akong nanghihinayang ‘don sa dalawa. Ayokong mayro’n akong piliin. Pero minsan, may point na gusto ko talagang mag-give up. Ayoko no’ng parang pagsisisihan ko lang din sa huli,” she added.
Currently, Vince has four branches in Batangas and now earns five figures.
She also expanded her team for her fried noodles business. “From a one-man team, ngayon,15 na kami.”
As she looks back on her journey as a business owner, Vince is thankful to everyone who supported her especially her family.
“Naalala ko, umiiyak ako lagi no’n sa mga sister ko kasi nag-night shift ako no’n. So mag-o-open kami ng 11:00 AM, magwo-work ako ng 3:00 PM. Magc-close kami dito, 8:00 PM. So pagkatapos ko dito, uuwi pa ako para mag-work until 12 midnight. Do’n ‘yung point na gusto ko nang iwanan ‘yung trabaho ko. Lagi nila akong ina-advisan na, ‘‘Wag kang maggi-give up,’” she noted.
This 2023, Vince plans to franchise her humble business to reach more places around the Philippines.
“Kailangan malakas ‘yung loob mo. Kung gusto mo sa corporate world, corporate world. Kung kaya mo pagsabayin. Kasi kakayanin mo talaga eh. ‘Pag ‘yung goals mo alam mo, kakayanin mo kahit ga’no pa ‘yan kahirap,” she stressed when asked about her message to fellow millennials.
