MikeLigalig.com

By Loy Palapos
Bohol Sunday Post

The influx of tourists, foreign and local, indicates that the island-province of Bohol has, at long last, gained the consciousness of travelers from all walks of life. With tourism fast becoming the saving-grace of our economy, aside from foreign remittances from OFWs, after the agricultural sector hit below the projected target, investments in the tourism industry are shots-in-the-arm that could propel the province at decade's end.

One progressive company that has an ultra-bright future in the tourism business is Islands Souvenirs, with Jay Aldeguer as its President. As its name indicates, IS specializes in souvenir items for tourists and travelers. As a part of the Aldeguer Group of Companies, Islands Souvenirs has a steady climb in sales from its six outlets in Bohol. Manning the Bohol operations is Michael Moreno Dispo (MMD), a BS Accountancy graduate of Columban College, Olongapo City. How he came to Tagbilaran City as an Area Manager is a long story by itself, commencing with a purchasing job at Subic, and later transferring to Islands Souvenirs as a sales clerk. IS has now more than 50 outlets all over the country, with those in Bohol enjoying a lead, a justification of Bohol being dubbed Souvenir Island.

LMP: Was your first employment at Islands Souvenirs?
MMD: No. I used to work with the purchasing staff at a Taiwanese Firm in Subic, before transferring to Islands Souvenirs.

LMP: What was your first position at Islands Souvenirs?
MMD: I was a sales staff first, and then I became an Area Supervisor.

LMP: How many outlets of Islands Souvenirs do you have here in Bohol?
MMD: We have 6 existing boutiques.

LMP: How about the entire Visayas?
MMD: More than 30 na.

LMP: In Mindanao?
MMD: We have 4 boutiques.

LMP: In the NCR?
MMD: We only have 1. It's actually a franchise.

LMP: In Luzon?
MMD: We have two.

LMP: How many Islands Souvenirs outlets do you have in the whole country?
MMD; Approximately 50 plus.

LMP: What distinguishes Islands Souvenirs from other establishments selling the same items?
MMD: We are on top of the line when it comes to Souvenirs. We also focus on the quality of the shirts, and the designs.

LMP: You have your own staff in designing the shirts?
MMD: Yes. Our head office is based in Cebu. It's owned by Jay Aldeguer.

LMP: Is he related with this Aldeguer in boxing?
MMD: Yes. Mr. Antonio Aldeguer is the father. He owns the ALA boxing gym.

LMP: So Jay Aldeguer is the owner or the proprietor?
MMD: Yes. He's the current president of Islands Souvenirs. He's also a member of the Board in the Aldeguer Group of companies.

LMP: What other companies do they have aside from Islands Souvenirs?
MMD: Part of the Aldeguer Group of Companies are the USA Sports. They have Lualdi, a top of the line apparel for the ladies, and then Bisaya Espisyal, then there's Cebu TV, and Life for Long, the manufacturer and distributor of Penrox.

LMP: How did you become affiliated with Islands Souvenirs?
MMD: Actually, I applied for the position of Area Supervisor. They considered me since I already handled the operations of Subic for a year and a half.

LMP: What year was that?
MMD: 2004 to 2005. Then I transferred to Cebu in 2006. Last March, Bohol was turned over to me.

LMP: You mentioned about the quality of the products, how about it's price?
MMD: Sa price, Sir, medyo taas compared to other souvenir shops because you're paying for the quality of the shirt and the designs kasi. We have actually marketing strategies like our new campaign ad which is called 'My Bohol Trip', to boost the tourism of Bohol with the use of the souvenir shirts.

LMP: How about the outlets that you have in Bohol, are they doing well?
MMD: Yes. Actually this year, the sales dramatically increased based on our figures.

LMP: Does that mean that the tourism in Bohol is also going up?
MMD: Yes, definitely. Actually, Sir, the souvenir industry is still a cottage industry, a sleeping giant pa.

LMP: So, it still has not yet reached its full potentials?
MMD: Sort of. But it's nearly approaching the target, especially with the tourist's arriving in Bohol. Our sales increased because the tourist arrival in the Philippines and in Bohol doubled up every year; 20-40 percent increase every year. This survey of Bohol tourism shows that Bohol already reached the projection for this year. So, sumasabay din kami sa increase.

LMP: Can you again name the Islands Souvenirs outlets here in Bohol?
MMD: We have the Island City Mall Boutique, the Island City Mall Dept. Store, the BQ Mall, and the Sundry Shop of Metro Center. We also have the tourist spot outlets in Chocolate Hills, Hinagdanan Cave, and Blood Compact site.

LMP: Now as far as your products are concerned, don't you market it in a consignment basis?
MMD: We actually have a lot of marketing strategies. We don't only sell in department stores and malls, we also have institutional accounts in hotels and resorts. Right now, we are negotiating with Eskaya to customize and design a shirt exclusively for them. That's what we did in Shangri-La in Mactan. Jollibee is also a part of our negotiations. We're very active in festivals, and Jollibee has always been our partner in festivals like the Dinagyang and the Sinulog. We customize shirts for those festivals.

LMP: If there are any plans of expanding the business here in Bohol, where would it be?
MMD: We're planning to put up an outlet in Loboc.

LMP: Is it not there yet?
MMD: We have, but only a minimal, institutional lang. We're targeting to have a set of Islands Souvenirs boutiques in Loboc.

LMP: Possibly near the river?
MMD: Yes. At the docking area.

LMP: And when will that be?
MMD: We are still negotiating with the LGU of Loboc.

LMP: You mentioned that Islands Souvenirs here in Bohol is growing fast, what is the estimated percentage growth of your product sales every year?
MMD: We change products every year, and as we observed, we have increased by 5-10 %.

LMP: Do you have any problems in coping up as an Area Manager?
MMD: At first, when they turned over Bohol to me, there were problems with the operations, the relationship with our suppliers, and with our current partners.

LMP: How many employees are under you?
MMD: Here in Bohol, I have 15 staff.

LMP: Do you have your own accounting, your own auditing?
MMD: All of that are in Cebu. Our Head office is located there.

LMP: Are the people you have all Boholanos?
MMD; Yes, they all are. Because they already know the market. Sila yong magsasabi kung mabenta ba 'to, because they know what Bohol is about, anong meron sa Bohol. Alam nila kung ano ang dapat i- market.

LMP: What kind of manager are you?
MMD: I am more of a helping manager siguro. If ever my staff have problems or the outlets, I personally check them, talk to them.

LMP: As far as managing people is concerned, what have been the main problems?
MMD: So far, wala naman masyado, minimal lang siguro, like the attitude of some of the staff. Some of them are not yet mature enough for this responsibility or for the position. It's more of the training.

LMP: How often do you visit the outlets?
MMD: Everyday. Except for Chocolate Hills kasi malayo siya. I go there every week.

LMP: What do you believe is the reason why people buy your products?
MMD: Of course first, they want to have some souvenirs from Bohol. Number 2 they want to have quality shirts to share with their friends. Something na maipagmamalaki nila.

LMP: Does it follow that wherever is your outlet, it is depicted on the shirt?
MMD: Yes. Like in Subic, we have diving which is also depicted in the shirt, also the nature. For Cebu, the landmarks like the Magellan's Cross and the Lapu- Lapu Shrine. For Bohol, it's a lot. We have diving, nature, the country side tour, everything.

LMP: Aside from the shirts, what other products do you sell?
MMD: We have a lot of product lines aside from shirts. We have bags, accessories.

LMP: How long have you been with Islands Souvenirs?
MMD: 3 years already.

LMP: How long will you be staying with the company?
MMD: Probably 10 years or more. I'm happy with Islands Souvenirs. The job is challenging, you meet other people in other areas. This has been my first time in the Visayas.

LMP: how would you compare the people in Luzon and Visayas as far acceptance of Islands Souvenirs is concerned?
MMD: When it comes to selling the souvenir items here in Visayas, it's more kusog than in Luzon. Because naa sa Visayas ang daghan ug tourist spots. But when you say class na customers, naa sa Luzon. Everytime we have an analysis, mas malaki yong percentage ng mga Tagalog because they have a lot of pasalubong.

LMP: Are you planning to marry a Boholana? How do you describe the Boholana compared to the Cebuana?
MMD: Boholanas are soft-spoken. Cebuanas kasi are medyo talkative. They're both sweet though but that's the difference siguro.

LMP: What are the peak months of this business?
MMD: It's in the summer season and during festivals.

LMP: What are the principles that you follow in order to achieve more?
MMD: The best trait is not knowledge. Perseverance second na siguro yon, the best is attitude, towards your job, the people and towards your boss. LMP: What can make you mad?
MMD: Babae.

LMP: In what way?
MMD: Mga misunderstandings, jealousy.

LMP; What are you looking for in a woman?
MMD: Siguro patience lang. I'm the type of person kasi na mabarkada. Mahilig akong maglakwatsa. So siguro dapat yong girl has to be patient with me. LMP; What is your main goal in life?
MMD: I wan to help people through my job. I need not go to politics to help. I could do that by giving them jobs. Through Islands Souvenirs' projects and programs. I want to be involved in various projects in Bohol.

Michael M. Dispo has his hands full leading his staff of 15 in 6 outlets, and he has no qualms in professing that his job at Islands Souvenirs has made him a man fulfilled. He affirms that his superiors' trust has been a bullet-proof vest against companies wanting to pirate him. There have been some offers a less discerning man could not refuse, but his loyalty to his bosses who trust him well, and who have manifested their utmost confidence in his capabilities, is unwavering.

Still single at age 26, he is not in a hurry to get entangled in the marital knot. His Cebuana girlfriend can wait, and he has not closed his doors to more intimate discoveries in Bohol. He has found the Boholana sweet, soft-spoken and sympathetic; thus, the possibility of him permanently residing in Bohol and he himself becoming a Boholano is not remote.

He perceives a great future of the tourism industry in Bohol. He wants to be of help in realizing this dream. Customized shirts and accessories would be his contribution. That way Bohol would then become the tourist's Souvenir Island.


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