How Mekeni conquered life’s challenges to be where they are today

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Mekeni is one of the most successful brands not only in the Philippines, but throughout Asia. But like any successful company today, Mekeni started as a small family business. And like any successful business, Mekeni experienced several crises throughout its life—and conquered every single one of them.

It was in 1991 when the company experienced its first major crisis with the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June of that year. Back then, Mekeni was just a small business with less than 25 employees, operated by Tatay Felix and Imang Meding Garcia—former public school teachers who started a small business with their life savings— and their sons Doods and Nards in the backyard of their home in Porac, Pampanga.

When Mount Pinatubo erupted, Porac was one of the most devastated in the province, and their backyard meat processing plant was almost completely destroyed. But instead of being disheartened and losing hope because of seemingly insurmountable odds, they decided to steel their resolve and help their kababayans by providing livelihoods and uplifting their community.

Mekeni founder Tatay Felix Garcia (4th from left) poses with sons (from L to R) VP for Admin and Finance Angelito Garcia, VP for Supply Chain Management Adrian Garcia, VP for Sales and Marketing Nardo Garcia, President Pruds Garcia, and VP for Manufacturing Diosdado Garcia. Pruds and his brothers have been helping the company grow even as it faced different crises throughout the years.

By enlisting their children’s help, including their sons Adrian, Pruds and Lito, who were then based overseas, they made it their life’s mission to make a difference in the lives of others.

“It was the peak of my career,” said Pruds Garcia, president of Mekeni, recounting his time working as an accountant in Saudi Arabia. “But I had to leave my high-paying job so that I can go back and help my parents rebuild the business.”

Eventually, the business recovered and even grew exponentially thereafter. By 1994, a new processing plant had been constructed with a capacity to process 3,000 kilos of meat a day, which operated 24 hours daily. Employee count had also grown to about 35 people, all of them neighbors of the Garcia family. But not long after, back-to-back challenges sprung up but this did not dishearten the family behind Mekeni. 

Though the thought of closing down the business crossed their mind, a timely reminder from their father helped them make the right decisions. “My father said: ‘Son, I just want to remind you the reason why you came back. It's not for us, it's not for you. It's for the people’,” Garcia recounted.

Through perseverance and dedication, the family got through the obstacles they faced and enjoyed a period of growth and success that propelled the company to what it is now—one of the most awarded processed meat companies in the country.

Over the years, Mekeni has encountered many problems, but they always went back to the most important things to them: their people and their community. This kept them centered. And now that the country faces one of the greatest challenges in our history, Garcia has a simple advice for businesses of all sizes.

“In times of crisis, you go back to the mission and vision of the company,” he said.

Having experienced numerous major crises over the course of its life, Mekeni has proven that with hard work, perseverance, and a profound sense of dedication to service, any business, no matter the size, can conquer any challenge that life throws at it.

“Crises will always be there. The important thing is to always go back to your ‘why.’ Why did you start this business? You can always change the process, you can always change the strategy, but never that goal,” Garcia said.

Converge ICT Provides Free Internet to PH Covid-19 Task Force

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Converge ICT augments the government’s response against COVID19 by providing the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) with fast end-to-end fiber internet connection. With this, the IATF has been managing their communication channels and data transmissions better, allowing them to work and disseminate important information to the Filipinos more efficiently.

“In this era of Covid-19, we are very happy that Converge ICT Solutions quickly responded to our need for a stable internet connection. We no longer experience any disconnection issues during our data transmissions and virtual meetings. We definitely now have a more efficient and smoother workflow to help more Filipinos in fighting this pandemic,” shares Usec Eliseo Rio Jr., Undersecretary DICT.

For the past five months, the IATF has been tracking and recording COVID-related statistics in order to create the National Action Plan. With two circuits of Converge ICT’s enterprise class fiber internet, the IATF is able to do uninterrupted coordination through VOIP, video conferencing, and other applications. 

Converge ICT’s Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Anthony H. Uy explained, “We understand and empathize the importance of the timely and fast dissemination of COVID-19 information for the government during this critical period. A stable and reliable internet connection is necessary for the success of our pandemic response and no agency needs it more than the IATF. Converge provided this support in order to help them fulfill their mandate to keep the public informed, healthy and safe.” 

This is one of the many ways on how Converge ICT responded in this unprecedented situation. Aside from giving more than a thousand units of personal protective equipment to Angeles City Hospital, Converge also wants to ensure that Filipinos will get the chance to enjoy fast connection with the best quality experience. 

For inquiries, you may visit www.convergeict.com

Araneta City hails its mommy frontliners

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If there are real-life superheroes, they would certainly be our moms. From keeping the house clean to ensuring we are well nourished, they have proven they can do all these and then some.

Many of our moms are doing double duty amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, serving also as frontliners to help others during these difficult times. One of these moms is Teffany Taruc from the sanitation team of Farmers Market in Araneta City. Mommy Teffany has never missed a day of work. She sacrifices to make sure her two children have everything they need.

Teffany Taruc, a Sanitation team member of Farmers Market, strives to provide a better life to her children by continuing to work amid the enhanced community quarantine brought about by the spread of COVID-19. She is one of the mommy frontliners that Araneta City recognized during Mother’s Day.

“Being a mom is very difficult, but if there’s anything that makes it worthwhile, it would be the love of my children,” Taruc said in Filipino. “I salute all moms who are working hard to provide for their children during this pandemic.”

Amalia Lopez Guerrero, a CCTV operator in Gateway Mall, is inspired to continue serving amid the pandemic because of her child who is studying in one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

For Amalia Lopez Guerrero, a CCTV Operator of Gateway Mall, her daughter has been her reason to work hard despite COVID-19. Mommy Amalia wants to ensure her daughter, a student of the University of the Philippines Integrated School, has a bright future ahead. “The thought of my daughter graduating from one of the most prestigious schools in the country inspires me,” Guerrero said.

Rowena Pantohan, another member of Araneta City’s Sanitation team, balances her time at work and with her family to ensure that she has quality bonding moments with her kids.

To have a better life for their children is what drives most moms. For many of them, there is also the need to balance this with spending more quality time with the kids. Rowena Pantohan from the Sanitation team of Araneta City has this piece of advice for other mommy frontliners. “Let’s always take care of ourselves so that we can have more time with our families”, Pantohan said.

Lenvie Dinero, General Manager of Dampa in Farmers Market is one of the frontliners of Araneta City that continues to serve amid the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure that she continue to provide for her children.

Keeping safe amid this pandemic is paramount for moms who also attend to their kids after work. This is why Lenvie Dineros, general manager of Dampa in Farmers Market, is thankful to her company for the effort they are doing to keep her healthy.

“I am grateful that my company continues to give us the opportunity to help others while ensuring that we have the resources we need to stay safe during this COVID crisis,” Dineros said. “To all brave moms who continue to serve while doing our utmost for our kids, let’s keep fighting!”

As a simple gesture of appreciation to heroic moms, Araneta City distributed sweet treats from Dairy Queen to mommy frontliners last Sunday to celebrate Mother’s Day. 

“Our mom frontliners have shown dedication both with their families and with their work. We look up to them as #HERoesInTheCity. They are the heroes that we need in this day and age, and it is fitting to celebrate their courage and selflessness this Mother's Day,” said Marjorie Go, Assistant Vice President for Marketing of Araneta City.

For more information about activities going on in Araneta City, like and follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/AranetaCity.

Hit the right notes, win cash prizes in ACAPERRA Online Singing Contest

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Make the most of your time at home by embracing your musical side. Whether you’ve

been training formally for years, been practicing only in the shower, or you’re a master at the karaoke bar, this contest is finally your time to shine.

Anyone can join along to share their talents while potentially earning themselves cash prizes in Insight 360’s ACAPERRA, a brand new online contest for all the prospective musical artists stuck at home practicing social distancing.

Presented by BRIA Homes and NutriAsia, ACAPERRA seeks to celebrate the power of raw undiscovered Filipino talent even in these extraordinary and trying times. Even now, the world famous natural Filipino musical ability can shine through.

“We are giving millions of talented Filipino singers a platform to be discovered and win cash prizes while on community quarantine,” said award-winning and critically acclaimed music and film producer Chris Cahilig. The innovative talent competition is the brainchild of this renowned OPM advocate.

“This is an advocacy I had from the very beginning. Our talented artists and our beautiful, unique music deserve to be heard by all Filipinos,” he added. 

Aside from his viral and award-winning films, Cahilig has produced multiple hit singles such as “Hayop Sa Ganda” by 1:43, “Pusong Lito” by Myrus, and “Sa Iba Na Lang” by BOU. He also produced 1:43’s hit album “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” whose titular lead single won the 2013 Song of the Year in the PMPC Star Awards For Music as well as earning 1:43 the Most Promising Recording/ Performing Group award in the 2014 GMMSF Box- Office Entertainment Awards.

Likewise, Cahilig has collaborated with iconic Filipino artists including Moira dela Torre, Gloc9, Jim Paredes, The Bloomfields, Princess Velasco, Pepe Smith, Tanya Markova, McCoy Fundales, Barbie Almalbis, Markii Stroem, True Faith, to name a few for “Tunog Natin” compilation albums which won two awards at the 52nd Anvil Awards. 

Joining ACAPERRA is easy. Simply record a video of yourself (in landscape orientation) performing an acapella rendition of the chosen song of the week and email the video file to castings.insight360@gmail.com. Remember that natural singing talent is what’s being judged. No digital enhancements or alterations are allowed. The entries and announcement of winners will be posted on Insight 360’s official Youtube channel. 

Every week, one winner will be selected and awarded a P3,000 cash prize! Of the sixteen weekly winners, the field will then be narrowed down to eight lucky performers who will duke it out in the grand finals. In the end, only one contestant can become the Grand ACAPERRA Winner and take home the P25,000 cash grand prize as well as have the chance to become a recording artist!

The second week of the contest has already begun. The song of the week is “Huwag”

by Yesh Burce. The deadline for entries in the first week is Sunday, May 24.

Your dream of having a house of your own may not come true! Find out BRIA Homes

can help you by visiting this link now: https://apps.bria.com.ph/r/8ui.

So get your pipes ready, it’s time to sing your heart out for cash prizes with the ACAPERRA! 

GCash helps extend budgets during COVID-19 emergency with GCredit

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GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, is making it easier for Filipinos to have access to a credit line that they can tap amid the national health emergency caused by the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). 

GCredit, which works like a flexible loan or credit card, gives GCash access to money that they can use to buy groceries from supermarkets like Puregold, medicines from pharmacies like Mercury Drugs, and even utility bills. 

“We at GCash are aware of the need for access to credit, especially during emergencies. With GCredit we are providing Filipinos with an alternative source of finance to help them cope with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak,” GCash Chief Data Officer and Head of Financial Services JF Darre said.

GCredit is a revolving credit facility that can be tapped when a GCash user has a healthy GScore, the first trust score in the country. GCash users earn points in their GScore whenever they use GCash to settle any payment or even when simply cashing in. 

Any GCash user with a GScore of 400 and up are entitled to use GCredit. The higher the GScore is, the higher the credit limit that a user can tap. A GCash user may have access to up to P10,000 in credit line with a low prorated daily interest rate. 

While it is similar to a credit card, GCredit does not require users to submit extensive documentary requirements and wait in long lines to gain access to the revolving credit facility. 

Today, GCredit may be used to transact with over 6,000 merchants, including billers such as Meralco, Globe Telecom, and Maynilad, among others. GCredit users may also tap their credit lines to pay for their physical transactions via QR or Barcode. 

“With everyone affected by COVID-19, we at GCash are helping our users gain more access to financial tools such as GCredit, which allows users to extend their budgets,” Darre said.

Amid the national health emergency, GCash is providing GCredit users with temporary relief from penalty fees. GCredit customers with existing loans and due dates from March 17 to April 30, 2020 are eligible for the waiving of penalties. 

With this, GCredit users may settle their accounts on their next due date next month. However, customers may still opt to pay for their GCredit to ensure that their credit lines are replenished and they have more flexibility during emergencies. 

“These are uncertain times that require us to be prepared for emergencies. With GCredit, we are providing Filipinos with another safety net. We hope that this financial service will be of great help to many people,” Darre said.