When you listen to the story behind Mekeni Food Corporation president Pruds Garcia, it does not feel like a typical business narrative. It reads more like a story about people — about families who had to leave, quiet sacrifices, and a longing that never truly fades.

True to his name, Garcia embodies the values of P.R.U.D.S.: purpose, resiliency, uplifting others, discipline, and stewardship.

For many Filipinos, working abroad has never been just about ambition. It has always been about responsibility. Parents leave so their children can stay in school. Families are sustained from a distance. Their decision is anchored on two things: survival and hope — survival in enduring homesickness to provide, and hope in the promise of one day embracing loved ones again.

In an exclusive interview with THEPHILBIZNEWS, Garcia shared that Mekeni continues to create opportunities not only for employees, but also for vendors who support their own families through the business.

This reality has shaped not just livelihoods, but generations of consumers.

This writer remembers being an ordinary student, enjoying Mekeni tocino before school. Years later, meeting one of the pioneers of the Philippine food industry feels like a reminder that life often comes full circle, and that sometimes, the unexpected tells the best stories.

Garcia recalls how their journey began from the ground up after the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. He returned to the Philippines after a call from his father to help run the family business. It was not an easy choice, but driven by love for family and a sense of stewardship, he took the risk.

Over time, Mekeni found a deeper purpose. What they built was not just a food brand, but something that reconnects people to where they came from.

“We want to bring back the memories back home, because we realize people who are working abroad do not [always] have the chance to go home.”

That intention became real in a chance encounter. Garcia once met a Filipino in the United States buying Mekeni’s fish balls and kikiam.

It was a simple moment, but meaningful. The man shared how the products had been part of his early struggles in the Philippines: “I want to tell the story to my family, and now they are also benefiting [from the fruits of the struggles], and they have a good life in the United States.”

Stories like this reinforced a deeper truth. Garcia even handed his business card to the man and encouraged him to learn more about the company’s journey, emphasizing that, “when they see the product from the Philippines to create memories, this is not by accident.”

Through something as simple as food, fragments of home are restored. A meal becomes a memory. A familiar taste brings back stories long untold. Even from across the world, people remain connected.

This perspective also shapes Garcia’s leadership. For him, resilience is learned and lived.

He shared another deeply personal story: After 23 years, they were blessed with a daughter, Faith.

She became a reminder to never give up, to keep believing even when the odds seem impossible. That same belief continues to guide how decisions are made and how the company moves forward.

Even in uncertain times, the focus is not just survival, but purpose: building a community that grows with impact. More than four decades of commitment to food safety and quality have positioned Mekeni as a pillar of the Philippine food manufacturing industry, bringing staple products across the country and to Filipinos worldwide.

Looking ahead, the company is eyeing expansion into Taiwan and Hong Kong to serve overseas Filipino workers.

In the end, Mekeni’s story reminds us that home is not always a place we can return to.

Sometimes, it is something we carry, with every shared meal, every memory, and every intention shaped by care.

And in its #TimplangAtin, that sense of home endures — even from miles away.

At the recent TEDxForbesPark event, Prudencio “Pruds” Garcia, President of Mekeni Food Corporation, shared a deeply moving message on the true measure of success. For him, success is not about wealth or recognition — it’s about the number of lives one uplifts along the way.

In his talk, Pruds recounted the inspiring story of Mekeni, a humble backyard venture from Pampanga that has grown into a world-class food company, now serving markets in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and the Middle East.

His journey as a young boy selling ice candy to a respected industry leader is a testament to how faith, resilience, compassion can turn humble beginnings into global impact.

When Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, devastating Pampanga and displacing countless families, Garcia and his brothers left behind successful careers abroad to rebuild their community. They expanded their family’s small business not for profit, but to provide jobs, dignity, and hope to those who had lost everything. That selfless decision became the cornerstone of Mekeni’s identity, a company built on service, not self-interest.

Through crises like the foot-and-mouth outbreak, the Asian financial crash, African Swine Fever, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Mekeni’s compass never wavered. One defining moment came when employees proposed job-sharing so no one would be laid off during financial hardship, a powerful reminder that Mekeni’s greatest strength has always been its people.

Pruds attributes Mekeni’s enduring success to the principles behind his own name, PRUDS, which stand for Purpose, Resilience, Uplift, Discipline, and Staying Focused. These five values serve as his personal and professional guideposts, shaping how he leads and how Mekeni continues to thrive.

Driven by his unwavering faith in the “Galing ng Pilipino”, the innate talent, resilience, and excellence of the Filipino, Pruds made it his mission to bring proudly Filipino-made products to the global market. This belief in the Filipino’s world-class capability fueled Mekeni’s transformation from a local enterprise into the first food company in the Philippines and in Asia to earn ISO certification in hotdog processing, now exporting to more than 23 countries worldwide.

Yet for Pruds, these milestones are not simply business triumphs, they are stories of gratitude, perseverance, and love for God and the country.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Pruds said, “Looking back, I’ve learned that it was never about the profit.It was always about the people, the family, the community and glorifying God.”

“That is the very reason why when you enter the lobby of our plaint in Balubad, Porac, Pampanga, this is what you will see: “Christ is the head of this business, the unseen manager in every department, the silent partner in every transaction,” Pruds added.

“Everything we do, we leave it to God. We take conscious effort to make Him the owner of the business. Whenever there are crises, we leave everything to Him, and He has not abandoned us even in the most challenging times,” Pruds underscored.

Today, Mekeni stands as a beacon of Filipino excellence and compassion — proof that when business is rooted in purpose and people, it can uplift entire communities. Through his values and vision, Pruds reminds us all that true leadership is not measured by titles or trophies, but by the lives we touch and the hope we leave behind.

”I am a firm believer that success is not what you gain, but what you give back,” Pruds concluded.

“It was a fruitful and meaningful visit from our distinguished guests”, said Pruds Garcia, President of Mekeni Food Corporation when the delegates from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (PCCIJ) and officials of the Embassy of the Philippines-Tokyo paid a visit in the country’s most advanced and world-class meat processing plant of Mekeni Food Corporation in Balubad, Porac, Pampanga.

The contingent is led by no less than Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan Chairman Allan Reyes, and Agricultural Attaché Jose I.C. Laquian. Part of the agenda of the plant visit is to get a better and deeper perspective on how Mekeni Food Corporation embarks their best practices in the company being the first in Asia and in the country to get ISO 22000 Certification for hotdog processing, and second in the world.

Apart from that, the delegates also got an extensive understanding of how Mekeni implements its food manufacturing process and biosecurity measures

Being a home-grown brand, Mekeni brandishes its expansion to the international market and is the first and only meat processing company in the Philippines that is allowed to manufacture meat products for Japan market since the company is accredited by the Japanese government to export products to Japan

Mekeni pioneered food safety and quality in the Philippines by investing in the ISO certification program. Thus making them the first in Asia and second in the world to be certified compliant with ISO 22000 for hotdog processing in the Philippines. Apart from that, it has earned FSSC 22000 under its belt for marinated meat processing plant in the Philippines.

These milestone accreditations demonstrate that Mekeni meets the highest and globally recognized standards of the food safety management system.

PCCIJ aims to further develop and advance the relationship between the Philippines and Japan through partnerships and trade. The visit gave a glimpse of how Mekeni is at par with global organizations in terms of food safety and quality.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Mekeni President Pruds Garcia said, “We at Mekeni expressed our heartfelt gratitude to our delegates. Needless to say, we are truly honored to show some of the processes that we have in place. And I am sure, as we go along and when an opportunity to collaborate is there, we can further enhance our world-class standard.”

“We Filipinos can learn a lot from Japanese. As someone who has been dealing with Japanese businessmen and Japan, I admire their philosophy of “Kaizen”, which is continuous improvement. This is something we can all learn from them. They see the opportunity to improve instead of being complacent. That’s how any enterprise should embrace given the rapid transformation brought by technology, unforeseen circumstance and a lot of other factors. Japan has mastered this,” Pruds added.

“We hope that they learned from us, and we look forward to working with PCCIJ in the future as well as the Japanese government,” he said.

By Monsi A. Serrano

Who would have thought that a backyard business In Balubad, Porac, Pampanga started by the couple Felix Garcia and Meding Santos Garcia in 1986 has conquered the US market? Yes, you read it right, Mekeni products are now in the US! But it wasn’t a walk in the park.

Just like any start-up, Mekeni’s journey wasn’t easy,

As background, with 5 growing children, the Garcia couple, Tatay Felix Garcia and Ima Meding Santos Garcia decided to find a way to supplement their income as public school teachers didn’t receive that much. So the idea of having piggery and poultry came into their minds and their entrepreneurial spirit was imbibed by their children, Adrian, Pruds, Lito, Doods and Nards.

More than the resiliency attributed to Mekeni by their community and even other business owners in their province, it is faith in God and faith in the people working with them that makes the company successful amidst the challenges they encountered.

Battered by Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991, challenged by Foot and Mouth Disease in 1994 and Asian financial crisis in 1997, and then the controversial ASF that they were accused of but later on was cleared by the Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company and by the Food and Drug Administration. Not to mention the global pandemic that disrupted many businesses.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Mekeni Food Corporation President Pruds Garcia said, “There are many things we learned in the crises we experience in our business. In our case, we learned how to adapt quickly. When a crisis comes our way, we welcome it and treat it as an opportunity to improve how we will respond to that.”

“At the same time, we always find ways how to prevent a crisis to happen and this is the reason why we decided to invest in the ISO program. Modesty aside, Mekeni is the first recipient of ISO 22000 Certification for hotdog processing in the Philippines and in Asia. The second in the world. But the reason why we embarked on this is that we want to show to the world ang galing nating mga Pilipino (We want to show to the world what we Filipinos can do and our skills). We didn’t even think that we would be the first in the Philippines and in Asia, and second in the world. Our objective is how we can make our business better and produce products that are world-class. Something that we can feed to our own family,” he explained.

From the Philippines to the world

Not many Filipinos know that Mekeni’s first venture outside the Philippines was when Japanese investors chose them to supply pickled ginger to Japan in 2014. While their core business is meat processing, the partnership with the Japanese investors paved the way for another but different opportunity outside the meat processing business. This time it was non-meat, something that Mekeni has never done before.

“There is one thing we espouse in Mekeni, that is, not to be afraid to take a risk. Of course, a calculated risk, Garcia said. “Pickled ginger business opportunity is something that we never thought we will do. First, we have never ventured into something outside the meat processing business. Second, we don’t know how the processing on the pickled ginger works, and lastly, where we will source the ginger.”

But Mekeni’s Japanese partners assisted them in creating the pickled ginger palatable to the Japanese market. Apart from that, the idea of helping local farmers was the main reason why Mekeni took the chance.

The pickled ginger business was a totally different venture. It was an idea broached by the Garcias’ Japanese friend Satoshi Tateno who said why not supply pickled ginger to Japan since both Pruds Garcia and Satoshi Tateno have an advocacy to help Filipino farmers.

“It was a leaped in the dark. Our strength is in processing world-class meat products that are close to the heart of the Filipinos. Pickled ginger is something way beyond our core comptency. However, Mr. Tateno was very confident we can do it and he also promised to help us in all the minute steps of making world class pickled ginger and the rest is history,” Pruds added.

More than producing world-class quality food products that continue to bring honor to the country, Mekeni Food Corporation is remembered and recognized as a Filipino family-oriented company that offered employment opportunities to the lesser privileged which contributed in building a happy, committed and productive community despite the major calamity.

Mekeni lives up to its name of always being open and welcoming. Through the years, they have gladly welcomed both challenges and opportunities, relying on their faith in their people and an even stronger faith in God. So whenever awards and recognitions are accorded to Mekeni, it is not only the company that takes pride in its own achievements but also the whole community shares in the joy and honor given. Because Mekeni believes that their best asset is the people who stick with them through thick and thin.

Now celebrating its 36th Year, Mekeni continues its mission to provide employment opportunities and contribute to the improvement of life within and beyond the community and the recent feather on its cap is capturing the US market which was described by Pruds as a plan of God.

“It was something we include as a plan, but never expected to be that soon. But who are we to refuse God’s plan right?, Pruds added.

He also noted that this new development in their world-market journey is a testament to their commitment to uplift the lives of Filipinos and bring pride to the country.

“This is another step for us to introduce our own Timplang Atin to the rest of the world. When we introduced our first batch of Mekeni-branded products to the US, we want Filipinos abroad and foreigners alike to have access to the world-class quality and taste we offer,” said Pruds.

Our Mekeni Kikiam and Fish Balls are available on the West Coast also through its partnership with Island Pacific Supermarket, one of the area’s biggest Asian/Filipino supermarkets.

The products were widely accepted by the Filipino community on the West Coast. Stocks immediately ran low just a few days after the new products were announced by Island Pacific on their Facebook page.

Meanwhile, Marilou Uy, Mekeni AVP for Export said, “We received a lot of positive feedback from families, friends, and friends of friends in the US about our Mekeni products in the US. Some even asked us to bring more Mekeni products to the US, which for us is elating and inspiring.”

“This is a major feat for a brand like Mekeni that started as a backyard business of a simple family. This milestone is a celebration of the efforts of the whole Mekeni family through the years,” Pruds said.

Mekeni is grateful for the trust and confidence of the Filipino people in their brand and products and also the valued customers in the Philippines and the world.

With their commitment to build people, Mekeni hopes and prays that they would sustain their passion, commitment, loyalty and pride in both triumphs and challenges. It is their faith in their people and most of all their faith in God that makes them what they are now, 30 years of world-class quality food products and dedicated people.

In photo: Mekeni President Pruds S. Garcia talks before Mekeni employees during the company’s kickoff event held at Marriott Clark

Mekeni Food Corporation, one of the leading meat processing companies in the country has already gone global and continues to seek opportunities to bring the name of the country to the world with their inspiring story and world class products. But this was not a walk in the park for them.

To begin with, who would have thought that this backyard family business will grow by leaps and bounds, and has been silently conquering the the global market to satisfy the cravings of the Filipinos who miss their typical Pinoy breakfast or ulam (viand), that they can be assured of having highest world class qualities.

In its recent company planning together with its leaders and department heads, Mekeni Food Corporation President Pruds Garcia recalled how the company chartered with the globally challenging crisis, and that is the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For two years, we threaded thru the competition through virtual meetings and coordination. It was especially hard for us because before COVID, we experienced one of the greatest threats in our business,” said Prudencio S. Garcia, president of Mekeni. “We looked at 2020 as our renewal year, and although it did not go as planned, the last two years gave us valuable lessons for us to further realize our mission.”

Not new to challenges, the company is bullish about its operations this 2022.

Despite the threats and challenges brought by COVID-19, African Swine Fever, supply chain issues, and global conflicts, Mekeni managed to improve its revenue, launch a new product line for entrepreneurs; grow its business in Visayas and Mindanao; maintains its presence in export markets such as in Dubai, Australia Brunei, Bahrain, and just recently, its marine products are exported to the US.

Last February, it also launched its new campaign—Timplang Atin, Timplang Mekeni—and the new look of its flagship store and products, which signaled a new chapter for the brand.

At the event, Pruds Garcia thanked its employees for their role in the success of Mekeni.

“Our people are instrumental on why and how we survived the difficult times; and this event is a celebration of all our achievements especially the past two years. Moreover, we are here to remind each other of our bigger purpose—to raise others,” he said.

Despite the uncertainties brought by the COVID pandemic, Mekeni remained true to its mission to serve the community through its social responsibility programs such as Galing ng Batang Mekeni, community pantry donations, emergency response efforts, and annual gift-giving activity to select organizations. 

Mekeni is intent on growing the business here and abroad; and continue helping its community. “Now that the company’s priorities are set—end consumers, business partners, and employees—you can expect a better Mekeni in the coming months and years,” Pruds concluded.

Aside from hospitality, the Philippines is known for its sumptuous dishes. Filipino food has gained much fanfare all over the world through time as it offers a little something for everyone. In fact, it’s been tagged as the ‘next big thing’ to look out for in the culinary world.

But what makes Filipino food unique? There are various reasons. One reason that sets Filipino food apart is that it has complex and distinct flavors.

There’s no shortage of flavor in Filipino food. With regions having distinct flavors, the Philippines offers a wide array of flavors that is inherently our own.

The range of diversity in flavor is broad and tends to form a unique profile as bold flavors layer with the ingredients. Pinoy dishes are definitely locally flavored—thoroughly infused with our very own flavors, they leave your taste buds tingling.

For this reason, Mekeni Food Corporation, hailing from the culinary capital of the country, Pampanga, has made it their commitment to deliver flavors that truly represent what Filipino dishes are made of and what we can call our #TimplangAtin—one that captures hearts and palates, satisfying the different taste preferences of Pinoys here and abroad.

“As a company that started as a regional brand and now recognized as a world-class company, we have always been proud of our heritage. Our unique taste preferences inspire us to develop and produce products that are truly ours and we can all be proud of,” Pruds Garcia Mekeni Food Corporation President said.

Even though Pinoy dishes have influences from the Spanish, American, and Chinese culinary landscapes, we have made it ours by adding our own twist to it that represents our region or culture. A famous example of this is longanisa, which has at least 10 different kinds—from garlicky to salty and sour to peppery to gluten-free.

Another example is the favorite silog combo, tocino. Despite it being originally a Spanish staple, Mekeni for instance has made two variants of it—Classic Sweet and Tamis-Alat blend—to suit the discerning palates of Pinoys.

Apart from having distinct flavors, it is also no surprise that certain Pinoy foods can be served and eaten at any time of the day, like the breakfast staples tapa and hotdog. These delicious and mouth-watering dishes are not just served at daytime; they are always welcome at the dining table at whatever time of the day.

Our differing taste preferences do not only reflect our love for food. It is also a reflection of our rich culture. You must always remember that regardless of the season and your location, there is a #TimplangAtin flavor that is for you. 

To know more about Mekeni’s various #TimplangAtin favorites, visit its official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mekeniph.

In photo: MEKENI Food Corporation President, Pruds Garcia during the First Business Conference of Quezon City Business Council 2019 (File photo/THEPHILBIZNEWS)

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play a huge role in the stability and recovery of the economy. They are the drivers; the movers and shakers; and the lifeblood of many countries, particularly developing ones.

Here in the Philippines, MSMEs are considered the backbone of the economy. In 2018, they account for 99.5% of all enterprises and employed 63.2% of the labor force. MSMEs were also responsible for the 35.7% value-added growth to PH’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019.

However, MSMEs continue to be in a vulnerable position due to external factors including changes in the business environment, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Prudencio Garcia, Vice President of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham) and the President of Mekeni Food Corporation, noted that MSMEs have shown resiliency amid all the difficulties that the COVID-19 crisis brought.

“Our MSMEs faced tremendous challenges at the onset of the pandemic. The quarantine measures brought compounding struggles to even the most dedicated and passionate micropreneurs. But while many succumbed to these difficulties, many were able to find a way to keep going through the help of the government and the private sector,” said Garcia.

The Garcia clan’s Pampanga-based food manufacturing company, Mekeni Food Corporation, is known as a staunch supporter of MSMEs. In the wake of the crisis, Mekeni tapped external distributors to expand its reach and provide income for starting entrepreneurs through its Mekeni Home2Home (H2H) Partners Program.

Launched in April 2020, the Mekeni H2H Program helped more Filipinos kickstart their small businesses with Mekeni products that they can sell at home and even online. The reseller’s program entails low investment costs and is customizable based on the micropreneur’s capital. For as low as P1,500 worth of products, many micropreneurs were allowed to get back on their feet and uplift the lives of their loved ones.

“It has always been our priority to help aspiring micropreneurs in developing their businesses as well as their skills. We are with them every step of the way—from helping them put up their business with the capital that they have to walking them through the tools that they need to grow their ventures. Seeing them grow and succeed keeps us going and persevering to better serve them” shared Garcia, who, as an active member of GoNegosyo, also mentors MSME owners. Through the H2H Program, Mekeni was able to help nearly 150 micropreneurs from Luzon.

“Micropreneurs play a crucial role in the country’s efforts to recover from the crisis brought by this pandemic. And as we honor the significant contributions of our very own micropreneurs, we at Mekeni would like to assure them of our unwavering support and commitment to serve them even better with products and services that will continue uplifting their lives and their communities,” Garcia furthered.

Interested resellers and future entrepreneurs can be part of the Mekeni Home2Home Program by sending a message through Mekeni’s official Facebook page.

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

Even before the prevalence of the buzzword resilience, Mekeni Food Corp. epitomizes what being resilient is.

As a backyard business that started in 1986, and then leveled up and later on became the country and Asia’s first ISO certified meat processing company had been through a lot of challenges.

When they were planning to expand, Mekeni Food Corporation was welcome by the devastating eruption of the dormant Mount Pinatubo in 1991. Six years after recovering from the damage brought by Pinatubo, in 1997 the Asian Financial Crisis affected many companies that resulted in the Philippine peso to plunge versus the mighty US dollar, thereby inevitably devaluating the peso value and the financial performance and cash flow of many businesses. Then in 2001, the unexpected advent of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that plagued the entire swine industry and scared the consumers to buy any pork-based products hit them.

Given all these external challenges, Mekeni continues to thrive and in its 35th year, the coronavirus pandemic has again disrupted the world, and many businesses are affected and the negative effects of the COVID-19 also affected the resilient company.

For Mekeni Food Corp. President Pruds Garcia, all these challenges are spices of life and something that would last. The most important is to trust in God, focus on the essentials and get your team to act together because no matter how long the storms batter you, they don’t last long.

Doing business under the new normal

At the onset of the pandemic, changes in the supply chain and consumer behavior have knocked many companies off balance. Mekeni, however, was able to navigate through the challenges and make these difficulties into a meaningful change that benefited everyone in and beyond their circle.    

“Wading through uncharted waters over the past few months have been extremely difficult, but we have remained steadfast and resilient because of our people and communities that we serve. We have established programs and implemented agile operations to keep the business afloat while we prioritize our people’s welfare in the face of the crisis,” said Mekeni President Prudencio Garcia.

Last 2020, Mekeni has become one of the beacons of hope. The company came up with several long-term solutions to augment the livelihood of those who have been displaced and crippled by the economic crisis brought by the pandemic. Among these programs include the Mekeni Home2Home Delivery, reseller programs for distributors and employees, and the Bayani product line.

“We wanted to ensure that our customers will have access to quality food from the safety of their homes, so we launched our online delivery service. Also, we ought to find viable ways for our aspiring micropreneurs to continue earning their livelihood that’s why we strengthened our reseller program and diversified our product lines to cater to them,” said Garcia.

Mekeni is among the first companies that made delivery of frozen processed goods possible. The reseller program, on the other hand, is a manifestation of the company’s commitment to empowering its communities. Mekeni was able to embrace the new normal in business by enabling micropreneurs, which eventually helped revive the country’s MSMEs. 

Helping Filipinos get through the pandemic

Apart from keeping the business afloat, Mekeni has always been keen on extending help to its communities may it be through donation drives or outreach activities. 

The company has continued to deliver donations to select beneficiaries through various non-government organizations (NGOs) since mid-March when the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon was implemented. Mekeni has donated to several organizations all over Luzon. They’ve assisted frontliners in Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) Quezon City, Saint St. Luke’s Medical Center BGC in Taguig City, and Lugud Balen, a movement initiated by Kapampangan chefs, restaurant owners, and private individuals.

Mekeni also helped non-medical frontliners in Pampanga and has partnered with Caritas Manila and pledged food donations to over 700 families until year-end through its program Mekeni Bayanihan Pack. 

Aside from helping their nearby communities during the pandemic, the company extended its efforts to far-flung areas devastated by natural disasters. Mekeni employees have spearheaded donation drives and turned over boxes of essential items to the displaced communities across the country.

Journey to recovery

Admitting that the COVID19 has affected the business, Garcia said, the company would rather embrace the challenges and have the right attitude in doing business under the new and better normal instead of falling into the analysis-paralysis trap.

“We will continue to innovate and ensure that the company will continue to explore and adapt to the necessary changes we need to do in the food manufacturing industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Garcia said.

“Our aim is not just for Mekeni to survive, but also for others to survive and recover in the process,” the President of Mekeni added.

“The pandemic led to many unforeseen negative effects. Many lost their jobs, others have their job but do not have the full working days since most of the business operations were downsized for the time being until we all go back to normal life and full-scale business operations,” Garcia explained.

“Given this situation now, Mekeni continue to endeavor in providing an opportunity to every household by becoming our partner in earning money by delivering quality products and services. The company promises to be the steady hands behind every aspiring entrepreneur, guiding and supporting them to fulfill their dreams,” Garcia underscored.

“Our path to recovery is clear: we will continue prioritizing our people and our community’s welfare with malasakit and Bayanihan engraved in our services. This is who we are when we started and is what we will continue to do and perpetuate the legacy of our founders, Nanay Meding and Tatay Felix, because it was them who prodded us to come home and help our community during the Mount Pinatubo eruption,” the President of Mekeni explained.

“Now that we are back at home, all of us including my brothers and the entire employees of Mekeni have in our DNA to help, to keep the Bayanihan alive, and contribute to the nation-building and make every home look forward to the road to recovery,” Garcia concluded.

With the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupts the world’s economy and continues to threaten job displacement due to business closure, many were caught flat-footed with the adverse effect of this crisis and did not know what to do.

This led to many enterprising Filipinos working on something that would provide them with a source of income for their family and the phenomenal growth of e-commerce in the Philippines continue to rise. But many admitted that it is challenging to just sell anything online. Others continue to search for business opportunities that are feasible, investment-friendly, and a market for the products.

Recently, the Garcia family decided to open the livelihood opportunity to the Filipino people through its Mekeni’s Home2Home Partners Program.

Having survived various crises in business such as Mt. Pinatubo eruption, Asian Financial Crisis, FMD, and allegation about ASF, the Philippines’ and Asia’s first ISO certified meat processing company is no stranger to challenges that affect not just their business but also their community in Barangay Balubad, Porac, Pampanga.

Thus, the Mekeni’s Home2Home Partners Program is a reseller program intended for those who wish to start their own home-based business. With its simple mission statement of we will rise by lifting others, the opening of reseller of Mekeni products is a living testimony that they are true to their mission.

For as low as P1,500, you can kickstart your own Mekeni reseller business. All you have to do is sign up via Mekeni’s Facebook page (www.facebook/mekeniph). Your application will undergo verification and assessment, and in a week, you may already start your business.

“We all have a role to play amid the pandemic; and for us here at Mekeni, it is all about making sure that our communities are given the opportunity to flourish and thrive even in the most difficult times. We will never get tired of helping this new breed of Pinoy entrepreneurs achieve their aspirations,” Prudencio Garcia, Mekeni president quipped.

To date, Mekeni has many successful resellers nationwide. Through its Home2Home Partners Program, it has helped a lot of unemployed and temporarily displaced workers affected by the pandemic. The company tapped its distributors all over the country to serve the demand.

“During the pandemic, we are grateful to Mekeni because we are able to also help those who temporarily lost their jobs by giving them an alternative source of income,” said Shiela Alfons, an exclusive distributor from Davao.

Another reseller, Jenalyn Silvestre of Tarlac said, “Mekeni has helped us a lot because it’s our primary source of income. Furthermore, we were helping our family get a job, and share also the opportunities of reselling to our friends, and our regular customers. Now are encouraged to sell especially this time of the pandemic.”

Apart from the individual resellers, Mekeni also looks into tapping dealers and wholesalers to be able to cater to more interested resellers nationwide.

Aside from income security, Mekeni’s Home2Home Partners Program can also be a good donation option. If you are looking to help Filipinos pull through this pandemic too just like Mekeni, you can gift the package to a beneficiary. The help is more long term as what you are giving them is a chance and hope to start their own business.

“There is always something you can do to help others. With our Home2Home Partners Program, we hope that we can spark inspiration and motivation to go on despite the challenges we are facing,” Garcia added.

If you are interested to become a Mekeni reseller or to donate a reseller package, send a message through Mekeni’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mekeniph to know more.

While the whole world contends with the coronavirus pandemic, and even if our own country is badly affected, there are some companies still doing their part to help the community without fanfare or headline-grabbing. Today, I’m giving props to five companies that have been easing the burden of Filipinos in need and frontliners tasked to essential duties.

For us in THEPHILBIZNEWS, they are what we call “The Silent Bayanis” that are doing their share to help the country without blowing their trumpets. They are not exempted from the economic woes or business challenges, but the spirit of Bayanihan is very much alive in them and in their people.

The companies are listed here in alphabetical order.

ALC Group

This company name may not ring a bell. But the ALC Group of Companies is founded by a low-key tycoon named Antonio L. Cabangon-Chua who founded various companies like Fortune Life, City State Bank, City State Hotels, Brown Madonna, Manila Grand Opera House,  BusinessMirror, Cook Magazine, ALIW Broadcasting Corporation (97.9 Home Radio and DWIZ) Sandari Batulao, Philippine Graphic Publication, Isuzu Gencars, Eternal Plans, Eternal Life, and many more.

Since the start of the pandemic, the chairman of ALC Group of Companies D. Edgard A. Cabangon has opened its doors to the medical frontliners. They provided free accommodations in their various hotels in Metro Manila to ensure that our health workers have a temporary home while attending to the patients with COVID-19.

CDO Foodsphere

Jerome Ong, President of CDO Foodsphere intimated to me that while its plant operations have stopped, it has been helping out in the various communities of Metro Manila and the provinces. The food packs it deploys make sure various frontliners have something to eat. Many of them do not have time to buy their food since most of their time is spent in the hospital and even have to work beyond the call of duty and working hours.

This is a commitment of CDO Foodsphere to the Filipino people, to always be there when they are needed.

Lydia’s Lechon

The Lechon Queen, Lydia Pasion-De Roca never forgets her humble beginnings of Lydia’s Lechon. They provided food to medical frontliners at the National Kidney Institute when called to help by THEPHILBIZNEWS in the first week of March. Immediately, the De Roca family and Lydia’s Lechon operations manager, Bong Cu, prepared something not only for the NKI frontliners but also to the police and military contingent manning the community quarantine checkpoint. On a regular basis, they continue to provide food.

Last March 22, Benigno De Roca, a.k.a. “Boy Lechon,” husband of Lydia Passion-De Roca, dubbed as the country’s Lechon Queen, passed away. But this never hindered the De Roca family from providing food to the frontliners.

Mekeni Food Corporation

The Garcia family of Mekeni Food Corporation composed of Tatay Felix, the late Ima Meding and five children Adrian, Pruds, Lito, Doods and Nards are no strangers to challenges as they endured 3 major setbacks when they were starting their backyard business and until they built their world-class plant and facilities, the first in the Philippines and in Asia. First, when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991. Then, in 1995, the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that affected piggery and meat processing companies in the Philippines, and then in 1997, the Asian financial crisis. On those occasions, Mekeni did not stop helping out to the community who come to ask for their help.

In this time of COVID-19, Mekeni has been providing food, personal protective equipment or PPEs and other assistance to the frontliners in various areas in Luzon, believing that these frontliners need more support and moral encouragement through the simple act of kindness as they continue to put their lives on the line to stop the enemy they cannot see.

Okada Manila

The hospitality industry is one of the major sectors affected by the COVID-19 as hotels and restaurants and attached industries are not allowed to operate.

But as early as mid-March of 2020, the management of Okada Manila doled out P50 million to the Philippine General Hospital for three much-needed testing machines, testing kits, and other medical supplies. This is to ensure that the hospital would be able to provide help to the patients who need COVID-19 testing and treatment.

While Okada Manila is a Japanese company, it is their “magokoro” (sincerity of heart) and “omotenashi” (anticipating the need) philosophies that made Okada voluntarily give their little share to the people affected by the COVID-19 even of no one came to them to ask for their help.

Bayanihan Spirit, We Heal As One

There are many Bayanis out there. The food delivery drivers, workers in the groceries and supermarkets, line personnel in Meralco, Telcos, and other utility industries. They are real heroes, too, and unsung ones at that.

This is the kind of formula we need for us to rebound and adjust to the transition period, which I do not personally want to call a new normal. To my mind, the healing of the heart and spirit are “a priori” for those who lost their loved ones, their jobs, business and even their sanity. This kind of setup is depressing, especially for the ones who are not used to solitude. The call for empathy for all of the victims, would not be enough, without a genuine intention to help.

We have seen how the whole world sympathizes with us, as they are also affected by the virus, lost their loved ones, business, and a lot more. This virus permeated in the whole world breaking the distance, country, religion, race, interest, and all possible barriers. The world has shown so much anger against China, but it’s the great love for the Philippines and for our fellow Filipinos that made us all Bayanis in our own little ways.

Let us just wish and pray that the government will do its share to uphold and value the love, help, and sympathy to our people. Filipinos are touched by all kinds of morale-boosting support from various groups and personalities. In these trying times, we know who our real friends are and who are those cashing in opportunities from the pandemic.

Looking at this overwhelming love and support, it is high time to use this as a springboard to come up with a “Holistic Bayanihan Rehabilitation Program”, not just the cliché  “We Heal As One” for the victims, but more so to be WHOLE AS ONE.

We Heal As One will never happen if there is no transparency, and sincerity from our leaders. It is more than putting together the scattered pieces of our being and praying for those who have lost their loved ones, jobs, business, and other treasure left in them like their dignity.

Thus, politics and proselytization have no place here. No political prep or jockeying for 2022 by taking advantage of the vulnerable sectors. This is what we need to do now, a Holistic Bayanihan Spirit.

We want to make it easier for them. We want everyone to bounce back and live a new life with hope and zest to live their life to the fullest as they begin their journey to pick up the scattered pieces of their being. We are Filipinos, and the Bayanihan Spirit is just particular to our culture. Shouldn’t that make us proud?

I am personally dreaming that our renowned architects, engineers, doctors, bankers, psychologists, tycoons and other professionals would work together “gratis et amore” for the victims while others like myself and ordinary citizens will continue to contribute in whatever capacity we can. Some of us might not have been able to give to the victims the material things that we wanted to give. But that is just fine. As long as we contribute and support the “Holistic Bayanihan Spirit”, that is more than enough.

As the Greek physician Hippocrates, dubbed as the Father of Western Medicine said, “Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” Also, the great American industrialist Henry Ford said: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is a success.”