The iron will of R.udy Oblimar.

(This is a self write-up from the ACE Alumni)

I was born to a very poor family.  Accepting the gospel, I left family to serve an honorable mission and experience comforts in life which I have never tasted before, things like a foam mattress, a study table, decent meals and an apartment.  Liking those basic amenities, this led me to dream of the kind of life I wanted to pursue after my missionary service was done.

Filled with that vision, I went home with much hope. No sooner to realize that my situation when I came home was drastically worst compared to that when I left for my mission.  Instead of enjoying that regular bed that I used to have, I found myself sleeping on our dining table every day. 

Those dreams I had just suffered a reality check.

In the year 1983 (right after my mission), I started my Selling Career for Electrolux Philippines. I was an Aqua Guard Water Purifier Specialist and did well in this path but still had a hard time making ends meet. Since I was an undergraduate, my wife and I thought that finishing college would provide us with better earning opportunities and so I strived to finish my studies while raising two kids. My bachelors degree was completed at the age of 37, which by that time I also enable my wife to finish her studies and so she graduated at the age of 30.

We thought our college degrees were the solution out of poverty but the scarcity of employment again made us suffer further economic distress.

In 2001, I learned about the Academy for Creating Enterprise and immediately took action steps to qualify for their offered training. The curriculum taught in that 8 week stay-in program brought a deep conviction and passion in my heart.  The lessons that were discussed from a book called the E-myth were both sound and provided a road map to which I could initiate my plans to be in business for myself.

Two years prior to attending the ACE program and having been a top notch water purifier salesman of then Electrolux Philippines. (# 2 Nationwide – Recognized at Bulletin Today, March 1988). I started to invent my own water purifier and filter designs.  These water purification models were sold by me through direct selling.  But regretfully, the profits from the sale of my invented appliance were just a hand to mouth existence.

My training at the Academy helped me conceptualize a business plan intended to bring into the market my own brand of water purification system. And after completing my training with the 8^th batch, I went to venture out on my own as an Entrepreneur.

Determined to find funding for my business plan, I approached government agencies and several private entities but to no avail. I was simply turned down because I did not have a track record that my appliance would sell; others needed collateral for a loan, among others.

Discouraged with my initial attempt to find funding for my idea, I ended up teaching business classes in a college, using my BYU-Hawaii certificate credential from ACE and the handbook for my service ticket which contained the ACE curriculum. Hearing about my unique way of instruction, I received a verbal commendation from the School President. I was happy because I was the talk of the school and of the students.

Having the highest evaluation among college instructor was gratifying and brought self-fulfillment. This proved to be consolation to my initial attempts to start my own business.

In October of 2005, for some reason my home was demolished. This was a very life-turning event since we had to live under a bamboo tree for two months. Together with our 8 month old baby, my family temporarily sought shelter at the side of a common toilet adjacent to a pig cage. The smell was indescribable. This went on until a kind member of the Church offered a place for us to stay, at least temporarily.

Even at the midst of hardship and crisis of life, all I can say is that I completely fell down and was striving to get up! Determined to fight poverty and calling upon all my courage, I counseled with my family that the only solution we had available to us was to sell my water purification designs ONLINE. This was a tough decision to make since we were boarding for free at a basement, had very meager resources but needed to have Internet Connection in that little home. 

With the moral support of my family, the Priesthood Service of a Bishop’s Counselor (Licinio Awa)  and the Fast Offering Assistance from the church leaders, I launched my business in the midst of these overwhelming adversities.

Upon working in my business, much of my time was spent in Internet Marketing Sites like Ebay and other sites, offering and selling my centralized filtration system as well as posting my ACE-mentored Business Plan for potential investors.

After several weeks of doing this, I finally met my first client! It was a big hospital located in Butuan City (7 hours from where I was located) called The MJ Santos Hospital. My filtration system and business plan was seen by a foreign investor which paved the way for the acceptance of my products and services.

In June of 2007, my eldest child collected our first check payment worth 90,000.00 Philippines Pesos (approx. US$ 2,000) from that initial deal. The deal was made in such a way that the client agreed to pay 50% down payment for the parts and services I would give.  And the good news was that the 50% given as down payment was more than enough to cover the total project cost and even had a little extra profit attached to it.  

The first thing I did with the profits of that initial deal was grab some groceries for my family. We bought food for the first time in our lives without worrying that we would run out of money.

Today, my family and I no longer live under the scale of poverty living. My family has now the basic conveniences of life- a home, a vehicle etc.  The business I built (www.bgwaterfilter.com) makes a weekly income that helps me take care of my family’s needs. My Industrial and Household filter is sold to clients all over the Philippines.

My company has also managed to fulfill our social responsibility. My Pag-ibig sa Tubig Inc. (translated “Love for Water Inc.”), has rendered Donations to the Rotary Club Of Pagsanjan and to Oro Habitat to provide water access to poor communities. 

Business topics & the Rules of Thumb

A.C.E.Rules of Thumb are a series of practical business principles that are both timeless and worthy to remember. Some of them are listed here. When I finished the 2 month course in the year 2000, we were given a shirt which looked like this:

Nifty, isn't it?

Now we are poised to run our local chapter in Cagayan de Oro City where I am based right now. As we held our first official meeting last April 13, with a coincidental 13 members in attendance, there was a clamor to review certain business topics on a regular basis.

So aside, from the regular monthly meeting set every 3rd Friday of the month, there was a consensus to run a weekly intensive mini business course for at least 6-8 weeks. Everyone voted to have such a course, a sort of review of the financial principles that were taught by both the regular 2 month course and the OTP format.

It was quite a good thing that James Fantone, the Director has cascaded a plan to provide the chapters with ready materials to deal with these kind of training needs. When these materials are available, our lives will be much easier since it will include multi-media videos and other innovations.

Since the materials are still being produced, I will have to refer to my old notes, experiences and do chalkboard classroom instruction for the participants. The draft of module 1 is almost complete in my notes but I am still searching for activities and games that can teach these business principles faster. If you have keen ideas on what to include in this outline, then please feel free to email me.

I feel for the participants, they are all willing and eager to learn. This training will be available to the local ACE Alumni Chapter in the Cagayan De Oro Chapter for all Saturdays starting May 12. Participants do not need to pay any fee except for the training materials (if they can be produced on time).

My Unforgettable 2 month stay

A.C.E. or the Ac.ademy for Creating Enterprise has been here in the Philippines for more than 10 years. Founded by Steve and Bette Gibson, the Academy has graduated many Filipino Returned Missionaries and has evolved into several models which have been started in different countries in the world.

The Academy has closed its 2 month stay-in program and evolved into servicing an On-site Training Program (OTP), where ACE Faculty go to Stakes and Wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines and train interested members on the uniquely-designed curriculum.

I for myself, have been blessed by this school. I attended Batch number 5 of the 2 month stay-in program. When I discovered that something like the Academy was being put-up, I did not hesitate to fill out an application form and send it for processing. It was an answer to my prayers and a solution to my budding desire to become an Entrepreneur.

After a couple of weeks from finishing my Occupational Therapy degree, I started attending ACE. One of the first lessons that were taught when we arrived was the concept of "Taking a Position", it emphasized that each of us is a unique person and is entitled to express our opinions in all issues.

That first lesson, somehow was unique in its message since Filipinos have a tendency to be agreeable, even if deep inside they do not feel the same way as the other person. This lesson helped me become more motivated to do my best while I was there, learning and being taught the precepts of financial & temporal salvation.

In lieu of the 2 year full-time service I willingly gave to the Church when I turned 20 years old, my time at the Academy was very precious and I had a lot of catching up to do in terms of temporal matters, to somehow make up for the 2 years I was gone preaching the gospel.

I remember taking a lot of notes (which I still have with me until now), reading the prescribed books way before entering the school, quizzing the Entrepreneur speakers, participating in a meaningful way in all of the activities.

A reflection paper was required on one of the books entitled the E-myth, written by Michael Gerber. I made sure I wrote down my thoughts earnestly and worked on that E-myth paper like crazy, while contemplating on the particular business that I needed to start afterwards.

One of the useful skills that I learned from ACE, was the adjunct lesson on learning MS Excel on a computer which has been the basis of my ability to analyze financial data using this program and to perform swift financial ratios for the businesses I run.

The lessons on financial statements was mind-boggling, I would have gladly skipped that part if I did not know better than what I know now.

For me, the case-study format that the Academy was using at that time was very interesting, entertaining, life-changing and filled with memorable lessons. I wish our local school system would consider adapting such a method, rather than filling time in schools with things that really do not matter in the grand scheme of things.

It was in the halls of the Academy that I got introduced to many financial authors like Robert Kiyosaki, Michael Gerber, Stephen Covey and many others. These authors and their books seem to have carried over my training to the next levels of education that I desperately needed in the different phases in my life as an Entrepreneur.

Recently, I learned that the books in that hall of the rented facility in Banilad, Cebu City were all owned by Steve Gibson, the founder of the Academy.

Time reminds me of the legacy brought by these "white men" and the other donors and benefactors of the Academy. A once-in a lifetime opportunity, which I am sure if the rest of the world knew of would probably in my opinion, be flat jealous.

If you are reading this article right now and have memoirs of your training, whether it was 2 months or 1 week, then I urge you to stop and look to the time-less principle of the Business Rules of Thumb.

I am sure wherever your are in the continuum of your Business and Financial Experience, you will realize that with a little more effort & perseverance in starting, building and growing your enterprise, success is just around the corner.

When you have it, in one form or another, be sure to give back.

PROFILE NO.2: RABIN S. REDULLA

Life for Rabin S. Redulla is pretty much Family,Church and Work all with fronting capital letters. His goal is to retire early and serve the Lord better.

After completing a successful full time mission in the Philippines Manila circa 1996-1998 under President D. Rex Gerratt, he returned home and married his girlfriend- Janis on April 15, 2003 at the Manila Temple.

Coming from a prestigious school and working his way through a scholarship, Rabin entered the corporate world doing several jobs for Fast Distribution Corporation, a large logistics company that distributes Nestle products. As the Executive Assistant to the company’s CEO and Vice Presidents, Rabin was able to observe from the top on how the business was run and notwithstanding his strong tendencies for salaried employment, the seeds of entrepreneurship nourished within.

After his career with Fast Distribution, Rabin entered the Business Process Outsource Industry (BPO), this time he was in charge of helping the company (a new industry player) set up camp in Cebu and running it’s operations. “The experience enhanced my Interpersonal, Organizational and Communication Skills, not to mention my computer skills!” he sighted.

This was the turning point for Rabin, he realized that if he could operate other people’s businesses, then the likelihood of operating one successfully for himself was probable, and so he decided to shift his life’s direction from being an employee to an entrepreneur.

“Entrepreneurial qualities exist in individuals in a variety of combinations and degrees. It means that almost everyone – and that includes you and me – has entrepreneurial attributes, more or less. These attributes can be apparent or hidden, active or dormant, developed or underdeveloped.” He would often quote this self made proverb to himself..

Enter the Academy.

The Academy for Creating Enterprise program has helped Rabin discover, activate and develop his entrepreneurial attributes. The training that was provided had a tremendous and long-lasting impact on him that helped fuel his fiery enthusiasm. Through the various programs, case studies and inspirational speakers, Rabin discovered a whole new world in Enterprise Creation, a world filled with opportunities with abundance, and not scarcity. “It was a 360 degree change in PERSPECTIVE.” he quipped. I realized that, “To be born poor is not a sin, but to die poor is ultimately one’s fault.” he concluded.

Currently, he is the Managing Partner of a water refilling business, branded as AQUAPOWER. which earned him a nomination as a finalist in the business start-up category of the recently concluded Entrepreneur Academy Awards. He has been able to start this venture with the help of a Canadian LDS partner, whom he describes as 'Manna' from heaven.

“I was deeply touched by my business partner’s vision and righteous desire in helping me and other Filipinos uplift their way of living so that we could serve the Lord better.” he said. But all was not well in the beginning, the Canadian partner, himself an experienced businessman, would question Management policies and practices within the business and very soon, their personalities clashed. There was also the huge problem of losing their water containers to their customers and of course, cash flow.

The capitalization was quite high and so they put their minds together and decided to overcome differences or else they would lose it all. After a few emotional splurges on disagreements and without a hint of discouragement, Rabin and his partner set aside differences, rewrote their business plan and devised a system for their distribution and implemented their plan, which has helped increase their sales while minimizing liabilities thus, increasing profitability.

AQUAPOWER is now a successful refilling station engaged in the production of purified water for distribution in 5-gallon ‘food-grade’ containers. The business gives employment to six (6) Heads of Families, mostly members of the LDS Church, these employees in turn serve in different capacities for the LDS Church. .The station is situated right along the Minglanilla-Naga South National Road in Sitio Abuno, barangay Tulay, Minglanilla Cebu and serves primarily the neighboring city of Talisay and municipalities of Naga and Minglanilla.

The business plan also describes their plan to accept dealerships in the near future and in other areas of the province as it evolves into a micro franchise prototype because of it’s proven systematic water delivery. Rabin’s study, hard work and perseverance has helped the venture hit a monthly gross sales of Php108T (US$ 2297) with an excellent ROI of 37%. Although it’s initial capitalization will have a complete return in 3 years time, it is impressive to note that in just 12 months of operation, Aqua power has been able to return to its investor approximately 25% of the initial capitalization together with a monthly profit share.

As his business experience and skills grow, Rabin is ready to take on newer ventures with greater returns. As his refilling station runs on ‘Auto-Pilot’ (systems dependent business), he is now starting his own logistics business together with another ACE Alumnus. He is also able to better serve in various capacities for the LDS Church. “Had it not been for much of the training I have obtained in the ecclesiastical setting, I would not be in the position where I am in right now.” he said. True enough, had he not been a Returned Missionary, he would not have been able to join the ACE program.

Rabin and Janis are blessed with (3) beautiful daughters. He is currently serving as the 2nd Counselor of the Talisay Philippines Stake for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.