Enterprising Pinoys abroad

Why stop at nursing? Why not invest and start a small café business in Australia? These were the thoughts of an immigrant who had some time on his hands even while working as a nurse and earning good money.

- CHIT U. JUAN

In Australia, the government is quite conscious about work-life balance and employees are given time off, are able to rest when they want to, and some even just report a few hours each week to have more time for life.

When you have extra time, it makes your mind wander and then you find time to start a small business. Two friends did just that: Vinny Baquiran and Jose Margo Flores bought an existing cafe (a French one) and converted it into what is now called Taguan (Filipino word for 'hideaway'), which would showcase Filipino classics like adobo and pares, and make it their banner products. They also concocted some recipes using ube like champorado, cakes and pies using the now famous purple yam (the new matcha) and offered it to their non-Filipino patrons. The patrons loved the new offerings and actually recommended them to other Aussies who now make up the majority of Taguan's market.

While Filipinos from other coastal towns also drive to Sydney to try Taguan's food, the main attraction is really coffee, as Jose Margo is a staunch Philippine coffee advocate. He started the Facebook group Coffee Home Brewers during the lockdown era in Manila (which now counts over 60,000 members), being a coffee enthusiast himself and a good friend of social media strategist and coffee roaster Ros Juan.