STORIES of Filipino resiliency can be heard from any corner of the globe, especially now that the world is facing an unprecedented health crisis that affects the lives and means of so many here and abroad.
Take it from couple Jobiegaile Jun and Stephane Mae Aquino, who are currently based in Doha, Qatar as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and owners of a health and wellness products and services food supplement distribution business.
Living under the new normal, they were brave enough to gamble in a business that they describe as “pandemic-proof” despite the uncertainty as to when the Covid-19 pandemic would end and everything will just go back to the old ways.
Finding ‘greener pastures’
BORN and raised in Tacloban, Leyte, Jobiegaile went to Metro Manila to work as an accountant in Ortigas, Pasig City. Just like many ordinary employees who seek a better life for their families, he left the country after six years for a “greener pasture” abroad.
“I came from a big family. At that time, I was helping my parents provide for the needs of my nine other siblings. That is why when I got the opportunity to work abroad, I grabbed it so that I can continue providing for my family,” he recalled.
Jobiegaile has been an OFW for almost 12 years. He spent his first seven years in Qatar as a senior accountant for a steel company and then transferred to a Canadian firm based in Doha as a finance manager. With his progressive career, though, he did not forget to practice his faith that paved the way for him to meet Stephane, a Davaoeña whom he is married for about five years now.
“I also went abroad to look for greener pastures. I used to work in the Philippines as a nurse but I was not earning enough for my family. Fortunately, I got the opportunity to work here in the Middle East. I have been an OFW for about 10 years already and, currently, I work here as a school nurse,” Stephane shared.
Business foray in time of crisis
DESPITE establishing their own careers overseas for more than a decade, the Aquinos were not exempted from the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide.
“No one was able to prepare for the pandemic. When the authorities here imposed the lockdowns in March 2020. It greatly affected our jobs. We needed to stay at home, not knowing when everything will go back to normal. We lost almost half of our income,” Jobigaile narrated.
Looking for other ways to earn while isolating themselves at home, he was fortunate to have already known about Santé at that time—thanks to a friend who introduced him to this Philippine-grown provider of premier natural and organic health and wellness products and services that, eventually, became the couple’s saving grace.
At first, he was an avid user of this supplement and even became a member primarily to avail discounts. Seeing that some of his officemates also learned and used it, he turned this as an opportunity to generate additional income by offering different Santé Barley products to them online.
“As days went by, I received many orders from my friends and colleagues—this was when I decided to dedicate more time to this business. I even decided to invest and become a Santé Business Owner,” Jobigaile said.
Hardwork breeds success
IN these trying times, it’s still hard work and the willingness to take risks that will bring success to a starting entrepreneur, according to him.
This served as a guiding principle for Jobigaile, who studied how to run his venture on the web during the strict lockdowns in Doha by attending webinars, training sessions, and product orientation provided by Santé through its Santé Engage.
Such platform offers all business owners the vital educational programs to help them in growing their businesses, improve their leadership skills, and even develop their own personal growth.
But the assistance doesn’t end there. Santé also came up with strategies to help business owners like him adapt to the ever-changing world. For instance, the Santé Mobile App provides them easy ways to handle their business and have a user-friendly web site for hassle-free and convenient shopping of customers.
Supportive of her husband, Stephane also became much more involved in their business as they received orders from their fellow Filipinos in Doha. This led to her membership also in Santé and later the kick off of her own business.
“What’s good about this business is that you can manage it whenever and wherever you are because it is e-commerce ready. While Jun delivers the products to our customers, mostly our neighbors and friends, I will answer all the inquiries we receive in our online store. And then, eventually, I decided also to become a Santé Business Owner. It was our Santé business that filled our lost income during these trying times,” she said.
Pandemic-resistant
MORE than the profits, the couple chose Santé as their business partner because they share the same values and way of thinking.
“As a company, Santé wants to help people live better lives. This mindset solidifies our belief that we found the right business to partner with. As Santé business owners, we are glad that we can help our customers maintain their healthy lifestyles with the natural and organic health and wellness that we offer, particularly during this global health crisis,” Stephane said.
Considering that this is the top producer of barley grass products in the Philippines and soon worldwide, its partners have a business model that revolve around the certified organic Santé Barley grass grown in Canterbury, New Zealand. This Biogro and Halal certified organic barley grass can be found in all Santé product offerings, such as nutraceutical vitamins, health beverages, health, and wellness, among others.
Likewise, they contain natural ingredients filled with a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and carotenoids—pivotal in boosting the immune system to the smallest cellular level.
For Jobigaile, helping others to also reach their dreams via their Santé business is his greatest achievement so far. He said: “I am grateful to all our mentors for guiding us to become great leaders and business owners. Through this business, we are also helping other people have other sources of income. This is important because we are all greatly affected by the pandemic. Some even lost their livelihoods.”
The Aquinos added that all these factors, particularly its products, core values, and willingness to help its distributors through trainings, webinars, and e-commerce readiness, make Santé indeed a “pandemic-proof” business. Giving back the favor to its valuable business partners, the company, through its compensation plan, gives incentives like bonuses in repeat purchases, infinity bonus, free gadgets, and a car and house perk with free downpayment and monthly amortization.
Starting from just being Santé business owners more than a year ago, they are now Executive and Platinum Executive Directors, respectively, and among the leading Santé distributors in Doha, Qatar. Their families in Leyte and North Cotabato have also started their own Santé businesses.
Established by its founders more than 70 years ago, Santé is now one of the fastest-growing distribution and direct selling companies internationally, with a strong presence in the Philippines and New Zealand, as well as key global cities such as Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Abuja, Lagos, and Cyprus.