Innovation

Ecura’s delicacies started by offering healthy pasalubong snacks. Pasalubong (a Tagalog word for "gift or souvenirs from a traveler") is the Filipino tradition of travelers bringing gifts from their destination to people back home. Tourism in Aurora Province was booming, so they initially offered healthy pasalubong snacks such as banana and taro chips, Sampaloc candies, and roasted peanuts.

Aurora province is blessed with an abundant supply of “saba,” a variety of bananas most commonly used in making banana chips, and “gabi” or taro, a root crop that is very common in the province. Instead of buying their raw products, such as bananas and taro, from market traders, they directly purchased their raw materials (banana and taro) from local farmers. “Kung kukuha ka kasi directly sa farmers malaking help sa kanila kasi wala ng middleman they get paid ng tama para makatulong din sa kanila dahil minsan ang baba ng kuha sa kanila [ng traders] (If you buy directly from the farmers, it is a big help to them because there is no middleman, thus they get paid correctly because sometimes the amount they get [from traders] is low.” This technique eliminated middlemen, giving the farmers a more competitive selling price and a higher income.

Ecura’s Delicacies is aware of the problem the world faces through the use of plastics so they incorporate eco-friendly and reusable packaging with their products. Aurora province is known for its traditional craft, “sabutan”. Sabutan is a species of the Pandan plant weaved to create hats, mats, bags, and other novelty items made from this indigenous material. The business maximizes the use of sabutan products as packaging. Instead of plastic bags, they use bags and baskets made of sabutan: "ang ginawa ko ginawa kong packaging yung winiweave nila para magkaroon din sila ng income (what I did is I used what they weaved [sabutan bags] as packaging so they can also have income." Sabutan weaving is one of the common livelihoods of most women in the province. By using these sabutan products, they are not only minimizing the use of plastic in the business but are also helping the local weaver’s livelihood.

They also offer Bilao Orders of Pancit, Palabok, Pasta, Baked Mac, Lumpia, and Kakanin, such as Buchi, Empanada, Puto Cake, Cakes and Cupcakes, and Homemade Ice Cream.

Ms. Hayreen Ecura and her mother during one of trade fairs they attended.

Inspiration

Mrs. Vieulah Ecura, equipped with her culinary skills, made cooking and baking the bread and butter of Ecura's family. This supported their family for years, but without a formal business, they were limited to only accepting orders from friends and colleagues. Seeing the opportunity to venture this livelihood into a business, in 2018, her eldest daughter, Hayreen Fe M. Ecura, decided to register Ecura's Delicacies, giving a face and name to the business. "Nakita ko na there's a possibility to gain greater profit tapos yung heart ko to help my family to be financially stable, nakita ko na through the business pwedeng mangyari yun tapos yung hope na ibless yung ibang tao by providing them a job (I saw that there's a possibility to gain greater profit and my heart to help my family to be financially stable, I saw that through this business that is possible to happen and the hope to bless other people by providing job to other people is also there."

When Ms. Ecura registered their business, there were already established pasalubong sellers in the province, and they initially struggled to infiltrate the market. Ms. Ecura maximizes the programs and training from the Department of Trade and Industry to learn more strategies and management skills. With the newly acquired knowledge in managing the business's different aspects, such as management, marketing, and product development, she enhanced the product's packaging and revamped its product labels. With this new development, they are now ready to showcase their products. They actively participate in local trade fairs and regional product exhibitions to broaden their market reach. They maximize social media platforms and online selling apps to promote and sell their products.

Overall impact

Ecura's Delicacies has produced sustainable, healthy pasalubong and snacks that positively impact the community.

They have been helping the local farmers' and weavers' livelihoods by patronizing their produce and products: “Pag bumili ka kasi directly sa mga local farmers they get paid ng tama what they deserve so mas ok na sa kanila na mag source para makatulong din sa kanila. (If you buy directly from local farmers, they get paid right, which is what they deserve, so it’s better to source directly with them in that way. You are also able to help them)”. By doing so, they provide a more stable income for their suppliers' families and improve their financial security.

Incorporating "sabutan" bags to minimize the use of plastic has a significant impact on the environment. Sabutan weaving is an integral part of the traditional crafts of Aurora. Sabutan is a species of the Pandan plant weaved to create hats, mats, and bags. Sabutan weaving is a livelihood for many women in Aurora. Integrating sabutan bags minimizes the use of plastic bags. Besides eco-friendly packaging, these sabutan bags have fashionable designs and can be repurposed or reused.

Since starting their family business five years ago, they have been able to hire five regular employees, providing these individuals with a stable income: “Thankful din kami that we have employees na may malasakit sa business, na kasama mong nangangarap for the business to prosper.” (We are thankful we have employees who care for the business and dream with you for business prosperity.)

Business benefit

Ms. Ecura acknowledged the success in trade fairs, bazaars, and word-of-mouth promotions, but most importantly, their product quality makes them competitive. Although the pasalubong products they offer are common in the pasalubong business industries in the province, they stand out. They also sell their products online and through resellers because "dahil hindi makakapunta sa Aurora ang mga tao (Because people cannot go to Aurora), we will bring Aurora to you through our products)."

By purchasing directly from the local farmers, they can ensure that the raw materials they use for their snack production are freshly harvested, guaranteeing a quality product.

Sabutan bags are typically sold as a separate pasalubong or souvenir. Combining both the product and the sabutan bags creates another sellable item. By purchasing a pasalubong snack package, they enjoy two types of pasalubong. You tasted the food and were able to use the bag as well. Using sabutan bags in the business contributes to an increase in consumer groups. The pasalubong package that uses the sabutan bags is used as a token in seminars and trainings.

Through these product innovations, they increased their sales. The business has expanded, providing more jobs and business opportunities to the local farmers and weavers.

From a home-based food production business, they opened a physical store within three years. They're also able to open another business that offers healthy home-cooked foods for family gatherings and government training.

Social and environmental benefit

Ms. Ecura mentioned several social and environmental benefits of the business despite being a small business in the industry.

Utilizing "sabutan" products as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic packaging contributes positively to environmental conservation efforts. It's like hitting two birds with one stone: plastic use is reduced while the livelihood of the local weavers is promoted.

Direct purchases made to the farmers ensure that no farm produce goes to waste and that Ecura's delicacies are there to purchase their products.

By offering decent employment opportunities and fair wages to its workers, the company enables its employees and their families to enjoy an improved quality of life. “Lagi naming sinasabi sa kanila na pag nag prosper si Ecura’s [Delicacies] kasama sila” (We always tell (our employees) that if Ecura’s [Delicacies] prosper we will all [prosper].

Ms. Ecura is a product of a scholarship program during her college days. She is well aware of the value and importance of education. "Gusto kong makatulong sa mga batang matalino na nangangarap na makapagtapos pero hirap and family nila. Napakalaking bagay ng education para ma uplift yung status ng pamilya" (I wanted to help the bright students dreaming of finishing their studies, but their parents cannot sustain their education. Education plays an integral part in uplifting a family's [financial] status). She is now using their business to be a blessing to students. In 2022, she launched the Ecura's Scholarship Program. They now have sent two student scholars to college.

The heart of Ms. Ecura to help other people and the community is evidenced by the efforts she made to the business, making sure to maximize all the help she can give to the community through her business.

Interview

Hayreen Fe M. Ecura, Owner