KABUTE SA KUBO MUSHROOM PRODUCTS: OPPORTUNITY ARISES WHEN MUSHROOM EMERGES

“When mushroom emerges, opportunity arises”, a phrase which best describes the business story of Mr. Emmanuel B. Sadsad, owner of Kabutesa Kubo Food Products Manufacturing from Paete, Laguna.

His story of success started from a disappointment. In 2017, Emmanuel was victimized by an investment company that cost him a portion of his family’s savings. This led him to find alternative sources of income to sustain their family’s finances. Until one day, a video posted from a social media site featuring mushroom cultivation caught his attention. Like as how mushroom grows, ideas suddenly emerge into his mind. He then watched several video clips about business trends to study the current demand for mushroom products. Bringing with him the belief that this may be the opportunity that his family has been waiting for, Emmanuelsought pieces of advice from the local agricultural office and other several farm owners regarding mushroom farming. One agriculturist gave him information about a local farm in the province of Bulacan that would facilitate seminar on oyster mushroom production. On February 2018, he, along with his wifeCriselda, went to Bulacan to attend the said seminar. Through the program, he was able to learn how to cultivate mushrooms and what are the possible products that might be produced using it. After the session, his desire to engage in such business became more evident.

After a month, Emmanuelbought a dozen of fruiting bags– a material which is used for planting mushroom. One fruiting bag can produce 350 to 500 grams of mushroom for at least three months of cultivation. The first mushroom farm of Emmanuelwas placed in a “kubo” near his residence in Paete, Laguna. It took him several months before he was able to harvest his crops. Later on, he started selling his harvested oyster mushroom in their locality. His products were always sold out before the day ends. Encouraged by the recent developments on his new venture, he had decided to expand his mushroom farm. He also started exploring on food products made from mushroom. On May 2018, he was introduced to the production of mushroom chicharon.

Mushroom chicharon became Emmanuel’s flagship product. He had been able to sell the product on various market stores in Paete, Laguna. This new product resulted in a considerable amount of income for his family. With the opportunity becoming evident, Emmanuel went to their municipal office to inquire the process of business registration. He was then referred to a nearby Negosyo Center, a joint program of the Department of Trade and Industry Laguna Provincial Office (DTI-Laguna) and the local government unit which facilitates business name registration. It was on August 2019 when Emmanuel went to Negosyo Center Pakil to register his business name. Thus, at the same date, the Kabutesa Kubo Food Products Manufacturing was established. The name was inspired by the “kubo” where they first started their mushroom farming. After securing their business name and business permit, Emmanuel had begun offering their products to several stores and food establishments in the other municipalities within the fourth district of Laguna. Fortunately, their mushroom chicharon products were highly patronaged in the said areas. Due to the increasing engagements of Kabutesa Kubo, Emmanuel was frequently invited to attend the SME Roving  Academy (SMERA) program organized by DTI through its Negosyo Center. Seminars on Entrepreneurial Mindsetting, Costing and Pricing, Generating Business Ideas, and Market Opportunities were all attended by Emmanuel and his wife.

Last October 2019, the Kabutesa Kubo through Negosyo Center Pakil was invited to attend a local product trade fair and exhibit at the Provincial Capitol Ground of Laguna. This provided an opportunity for Kabutesa Kubo to showcase their mushroom chicharon product in Laguna. Recognizing the need for business and product development, Emmanuel became interested in the other programs offered by DTI. On December 2019, Kabutesa Kubo was invited by Negosyo Center Pakil to participate in the Kapatid Mentor Me program facilitated by DTI Laguna Provincial Office. Although the program was rescheduled due to the outbreak of Covid 19, Emmanuel was very pleased for the opportunity and recognition that was given to him.

Before the outbreak, several known restaurants in Laguna were already reselling their products. Plus, the products of Kabutesa Kubo were distributed through resellers from the other municipalities in Laguna such as Mabitac, Liliw, Siniloan, Kalayaan, Pangil and Los Banos. Also, Kabutesa Kubo has relied to social media and online platform to continuously offer their products during this community quarantine. Once order has been made, Emmanuel delivers their products to their client. Aside from that, fresh mushrooms have become the alternative ingredient for their neighbors’ dishes.

At present, Kabutesa Kubo Food Products Manufacturing is now engaged in producing mushroom viands such as mushroom sisig, mushroom tapa and mushroom tocino. They are also developing their new product, a dessert – the mushroom polvoron.

The story of Emmanuel B. Sadsad and his Kabutesa Kubo Food Products Manufacturing showed that the value of success is best known to people who have experienced failure. People who failed were also given opportunity to rise again. Though, it is still a matter of having the right mindset and the motivation to move forward intelligently.