This document is the June 2010 issue of the magazine "OTOPreneur" which focuses on highlighting success stories of small businesses through the One Town One Product (OTOP) program in the Philippine countryside. The issue includes 16 stories from each region showcasing unique products made by local artisans. It also features the story of the muscovado industry in Antique province which has grown through cooperation between stakeholders. Additionally, the issue discusses how the OTOP program aims to boost economic growth in rural areas by helping small businesses succeed and create jobs.

1. Homegrown business partners in the countryside
JUNE 2010 ISSUE
Homegrown business partners in the countrysideHomegrown business partners in the countrysideHomegrown business partners in the countrysideHomegrown business partners in the countryside
JUNE 2010 ISSUE

2. Maitum, Sarangani Shores Photo by Omar Gallinero
Front: DTI OTOP product
Back: Bangsi Festival, Region 10

3. June 2010 Issue / 1
HOMEGROWN BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
One Town, One Product
In every town or city in the Philippines, one unique treasure stands out.
Each product is each town’s gift to the country; each town’s gift to the rest of the world.
Filipino craftsmen mold the vast natural resources available to them.
Wood is sculptured into works of art, capiz shells are shaped for window panes
and twigs are turned into grand centerpieces.
Local resources and technology converge into export and import substitute products.
Technology-enabling mechanisms offer possibilities to overseas Filipino workers
to become investors.
The brawns of these artisans are molded by the rugged terrain of the archipelago;
their minds draw inspiration from the country’s vibrant past;
their creativity and resourcefulness driven by endless possibilities technology offers.
Collectively, their artifacts, services and constantly evolving products are called
One Town, One Product Philippines.

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OTOPreneur
© 2010 DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY PHILIPPINES
2 / June 2010 Issue
OTOPreneur
OTOPreneur is published by the
Regional Operations and Development Group
Department of Trade and Industry
Makati City, Philippines
Executive Editor: Merly M. Cruz, Undersecretary, DTI-RODG
Managing Editor: Rey F. Reroma
Editorial Consultant: Maria Lourdes M. Luces
Art, Design & Production: Ideabank, Inc.
Special thanks to Omar Gallinero and Sam Igloria

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HOMEGROWN BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
The story of
the stone soup
Jesli A. Lapus
Secretary
any years ago, a man appeared at the
village square and asked for a big pot
with water. The townspeople gave him
the biggest pot they could find, filled it
up with water, and watched as the man took out a
stone from his bag and dropped it into the pot. “Now
this will be a fine soup, ”he said,” but a little bit of
garnish would make it wonderful!” One villager ran
home and returned with a handful of parsley and some
onions. As the soup was boiling, more villagers went
back to their houses and brought out whatever they
had. Soon barley, carrots, beef and cream had gone
into the great pot. When the soup was done, they
gathered around a table and had the most memorable
meal of their lives. In the morning the stranger awoke
to find the villagers around him, offering their best
breads and cheese. An elder said, ”This is our way of
thanking you for sharing with us the secret of how to
make soup from stones.” The man said: “There is no
secret but this: “It is only by sharing that we can make
a feast.”
This is an old story that has undergone many
variations around the world, but has retained its basic
message: cooperation is essential to success. It is the
fundamental principle behind industry clustering-the
core strategy in implementing One Town, One Product
(OTOP) Program. In industry clustering, related and
supporting firm are linked together so they can share
resources, enhancing their overall productivity and
competitiveness.
Among the stories in this edition of OTOPreneur,
the story of the muscovado stakeholders in Antique
stands out. By coming together and collectively
dealing with the challenges with full recognition
of their potentials and resources, the muscovado
producers emerged from a deeply entrenched
individual village-level mill paradigm to an organized
industry strengthened by partnerships even among
competitors. The growing industry in Panay province
demonstrated the power of collective efforts among
government and non-government agencies and the
stakeholders.
But there is another story. The Antique success
can be traced to the success of the industry clustering
approach in Northern Mindanao that drove the DTI to
push for the replication of the strategy in the Visayas
province. Shared experiences and best practices from
Mindanao were no small ingredient considering that
today, the muscovado industry in Antique enjoys
productive collaboration among stakeholders and is at
the verge of market expansion.
The concept of collective action to achieve
tangible results is the main ingredient in the stories
in this issue of OTOPreneur, showing how far public
and private sector partnership can take us. It is the
contemporary variation of the stone soup story.
Let this publication be a tool for the promoting
micro, small and medium enterprises to rev up the
economic engines in the countryside. One successful
enterprise means several jobs. Another two or three
and more will mean more and more jobs. It is thus
our goal for the OTOP program to help business grow
and become successful as a significant contributor in
creating a robust economy in the countryside.
Who then was the man in the story who made
the stone soup. He could stand for anyone; he could
also be an institution, such as DTI, acting as stimulus
generating contributions or ingredients from everyone
so all of us can sit around the table and enjoy a
sumptuous meal.

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OTOPreneur

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HOMEGROWN BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
t the outset, let me congratulate all the
awardees in the 2010 OTOP Congress!
Since the inception of the OTOP Program
in 2004, our enterprises--particularly those in the
countryside, have been ushered into new and better
opportunities giving rise to new partnerships tapping
into a wealth of home grown talents.
It is therefore appropriate and fitting that we
honor their exemplary performance as we celebrate
their remarkable achievements and contributions in
propagating One Town One Product Philippines. Not
to forget are the local governments and government-
and private-sector partners whose investments
boosted the dynamo on countryside trade and
employment. To all of them, our congratulations!
This year’s congress also made special
citations of OTOP flagship enterprises. With their
local governments, these green enterprises advocate
sustainability by using green materials and employing
green practices. We hope that others follow their
outstanding examples.
To all the awardees, guests--led by President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, partner agencies,
supporters, and all the men and women making up
the OTOP community, we thank you for joining us in
that important occasion.
Marking that same day was the launching
of the OTOPreneur magazine. The maiden issue
captured the evolution of a selection of flagship
products now having a life of its own creating an
impact in our countryside growth.
Meanwhile, we are particularly proud to
present the fruits of the hidden talents of our
provincial and regional staff who wrote the stories for
this edition. I say “hidden” because they never knew
they have it until today.
Engaging with entrepreneurs is a daily
occurrence in the DTI. But writing about the
entrepreneurs’ compelling narratives was a surreal
experience to some of our staff whose writing
experience revolves mostly on the technical rather
than on the creative genre.
“It is always exhilarating to hear stories of
determination, hardship, and eventual triumph. But
to hear it first-hand and be the one to share it to the
world is certainly a thrill,” said Fatima Parahiman of
her writing experience.
Roger Petinglay was grateful for the
opportunity. His story on the muscovado industry in
Antique tells the world that, “we are creating small
ripples in our province that when put together form a
tidal wave of success.”
It was maternally insightful to Fahmela
Racquel Villanueva, who wrote her story with
someone kicking in her tummy. “I really thought
pregnancy and writing don’t mix well. But the entire
experience proved me otherwise. Writing the story for
our SMEs was like nurturing a life in the womb…both
required passion and dedication,” she mused.
Sixteen stories, one from each region, reside in
these pages. We promise to continue to capture and
document our collective efforts and spread the good
news happening in the countryside.
Join us in this journey. The success stories
captured in these pages could be well your story too.
Inspiring journeys
Merly M. Cruz
Undersecretary
Regional Operations and Development Group
t the outset, let me congratulate all thet the outset, let me congratulate all the
awardees in the 2010 OTOP Congress!awardees in the 2010 OTOP Congress!
Since the inception of the OTOP ProgramSince the inception of the OTOP Program

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HOMEGROWN BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

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HOMEGROWN BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

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OTOPreneur
Indag-an Multi Purpose Cooperative
Barangay Indag-an, Miag-ao, Iloilo
Behold the beauty of hand-woven textiles
Norberto Ferolino
Manager
+63 (33) 315-9722
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OTOPreneur