The Story: 

Marlon was a credit investigator working in Planter’s Bank back then, and as such investigating business loans was his dawn till dusk officio. One fine day while talking to a retired bank employee, whom he is investigating, he was struck and dumbfounded by the irony of the situation: “never allow yourself to be a bank employee for more than five years, look at me; I make millions of pesos during my prime, not for myself but for the bank, but now here I am trying to make a loan for a small business and you’re investigating me.”

That was the very words that retired employee said to him which serves as his inspiration and motivation to start off their Miguelito’s Ice Cream business.

If you have motivation inside of you and the knack for making things work, chances are whatever comes along will be seen as an opportunity. In the case of Marlon and Michelle, opportunity came when they attended a business expo, spoke to one of the Ice Cream Machine agents and after which, they decided to rent the machine and tried it out in front of their LPG dealership business, sort of testing the water. Little they know that they are in for a big surprise with a turn out of P6,000 income per day for a P5 per cone ice cream.

The water was tested and it was good, but the price of P250,000 of the machine to some extent impeded them. For a small-time entrepreneur like them they cannot afford to make big risks, they have their LPG dealership business still in infancy and needs buffering. But gut feel finally won over their desire to do good business. Marlon finally decided to borrow money from his father who has a barbershop business. He managed to seek a P100,000 loan from the old man, and with Michelle’s ever protective miser (a wife’s inherent) attitude, that money served beyond its purpose. Miguelito’s Ice Cream was finally born!

Their every day was always filled with struggle and motivation, tears and laughter as every common business owner encounters, with no MBA or degree in business whatsoever they tread the water head on while learning along the way. Their humility serves a great purpose in their lives, alongside the Ice Cream Machine they would put sago or fish ball in order to augment the income, and in no time they managed to buy vehicles to help them with their growth. They also ventured into hiring a chemist in order for them to make their own ice cream premixes which they sold eventually. Importing machines also became their next target, one thing led to another and in a short time, Michelle found herself in front of the ice cream manufacturer in China. With the help of a Chinese friend they managed to order 3 machines at first, of which had been sold out as soon as it arrived Philippine shore—and the rest was history.

The growth didn't stopped there. Their creative mind and calculated risks landed them other kinds of business -- waffle making machines, baking machines, and other food related machines were added to their list. Today, they are slowly putting up franchise for their Churros City and another business on Waffle Island, Fried Ice Cream and the newest Mini Donut Factory, all by Miguelitos :). Palau and Cambodia were the only two neighboring countries on which Miguelito’s Ice Cream reached so far, as far as selling machines is concerned, but in no time at all the lists will be filled as they go international.

Kabuhayang Swak na Swak, a livelihood program of ABS-CBN finally noticed them last July of 2007 and they got featured alongside other successful business in the country, and indeed from the very words of Marlon and Michelle: “It maybe a cliché but still sipag at tiyaga, pati sakripisyo, will go a long, long way.”