For Dagus, who worked in Oman for 24 years, what started out as “replacement income” for when she returned to the Philippines quickly became her advocacy: to develop the coffee shop that was established by her grandmother in 1962 and to promote the local coffee industry of her roots in Jolo, Sulu.
“In search of a replacement income, I stumbled upon something which is more meaningful [...] This is no longer about money, this is something bigger, it’s a legacy,” Dagus said.
Life abroad was good and allowed her family a sustainable income. When her children were grown and about to enter college, Dagus, who never thought of owning a cafe, decided to return to her hometown of Patikul.
At first, Dagus thought of investing her savings into a pampering business like a nail salon or a wellness spa but then she remembered the local coffee shop built by her grandmother, one of the first people to run a coffee shop in their province.
REVAMPING A COFFEE SHOP
The 50-year old advocate decided to take over the operations for what is now known as DCG, now in Zamboanga City, in 2015 despite having little knowledge in both coffee and in business. She claims that even after attending seminars on business and franchising, it was different from running a business itself.
She wrote to Pacita “Chit” Juan, president and co-chairperson of Philippine Coffee Board (PCB), who noticed their humble coffee shop and gave positive feedback about it when she visited Jolo.
Dagus expressed her desire to come home and find a replacement income. Her newfound mentor told her that the coffee shop could be successful if managed properly.
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Agriculture.
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This story is from the December 2019 edition of Agriculture.
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