A rejoinder to my post Entrepreneurship 101.
My second major undertaking happened after high school. My dad had passed away in September 1985. His demise nipped in the bud my lifelong dream of becoming an architect. At that time, I had to leave the UP College of Architecture and move back to Bacolod to study Fine Arts.
On the side to studying, I was running a small operation a world apart from architecture or advertising. It concerned two trucks hauling sugarcane. My cousin, Manong Joemarie, let me haul his cane from their farm in Granada to the sugar mill. Reckoning was on a weekly basis.
I'd have to say that while the operation was quite manageable especially for a 17-year-old, I had to give it up eventually due to the trucks breaking down from natural wear and tear. It would have been costly to put them back together so these where sold.
For that short stint, I was able to learn how to keep costs down, shop around the junkyards and get my hands dirty to find replacement parts (it was more like a treasure hunt searching for REO 6x6 parts), learn to nego with the 2nd hand parts dealers.
Overall, I'd say, it was a good exercise for the duration of it.
hi. one thing about REO trucks, the underchasis parts aren't as sturdy as the old faithful, post-war 6x6's. When you buy from a second hand dealer, you just point to the part you need as if you will use it for some other reason. The moment this dealer senses you need it badly, he will overprice the item!
ReplyDeleteHa, the good ole days of this sugarcane business. Too bad it didn't last much longer for our generation to enjoy.
can't help but ask lloyd... why didn't you pursue architecture when you moved back here? knowing your artistic genius in what you do, you would have improved the architectural landscape of the city a long time ago. haven't you noticed it's just in the recent decade that we're seeing really good designs in the city?
ReplyDeletei just felt that since i had to take on the reins of the advertising biz, being in fine arts would be more useful than architecture. ok lang. no regrets.
ReplyDeleteindeed it didn't last longer. then again, maybe it was also for our own good that we didn't have to perpetuate the sugarbiz. while the sugar boom brought so many perks, even in my teens i personally was bothered by the inequitable distribution of returns to those who actually poured out sweat in the fields vis a vis the landowner. oh well, that's just me...maybe that's the social activist in me just speaking.
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