Babes H.A. Food Products, branded to be Isabela’s pride, is owned and managed by Mr. Reynaldo R. Reyes and Mrs. Herminia A. Reyes who are considered as low profile, young, and successful entrepreneurs with good reputation.
Before the inception of the above promising company, the proponent started to manage a small restaurant and became popular in the community because of palatable viand that captured the taste of the customers. One of their customers was a sales supervisor of a certain company of frozen food products who saw the potential of the proponent in selling products. The sales supervisor then convinced Mrs. Herminia A. Reyes also known as “Babes” to be a dealer of their products like hotdogs, longganisas, tocinos, and meatballs.
As a dealer, Babes always made it to the top. And being the most promising distributor, she became their distributor in the whole Cagayan Valley Region for four (4) years. Despite the great contribution in terms of sales to the company, Babes noticed biased treatment to her that gave her courage to put up a business similar to what she is distributing.
By then, Babes took the initiative to discover the techniques in meat processing with the help of a friend from the field of food processing who voluntarily offered her service to assist her.
Enthusiasm empowered Babes to put up her family’s food processing plant in Cauayan City, Isabela. With the combined family effort, “Babes H.A. Food Products” plant was finally established in 2006 with a small amount of capital. By that time, all of the equipment were second-hand with a low capacity.
Their lack of capital didn’t become a hindrance as it was filled with hard work, perseverance, self-trust, good attitude towards others, and hope to achieve their dream of success. As Babes said, “yung pangarap namin, hindi lamang puro sa isipan kung hindi sinasabayan din namin ng aksyon at pamamaraan, at higit sa lahat, taimtim na panalangin sa Diyos”
Their products were easily accepted by the market and thus the demand drastically increased by just a few months. However, they can’t cope up with the demand with just a little supply.
One day, a staff from DOST approached Babes and offered her an assistance through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). Although, Babes didn’t show interest since she doesn’t believe in the assistance from the government.
Months passed and the staff from DOST once again tried to persuade Babes to avail SETUP. This time, Babes had the courage to believe on the assistance from the government.
Because of this, Babes H.A. Food Products now operates with upgraded equipment like electronic grinder, electronic meat mixer, meat stuffer, impulse sealer, stainless table, cold storage facility, etc. This paved the way for an increased and more efficient production that can meet the demands of clients.
Besides the assistance in technology acquisition, DOST also provided her trainings and seminars on food processing. She learned the right way of processing meat products, food safety techniques, and how to keep their processing plant clean. If she is doubtful to have visitors in their processing plant before, now, she is very much confident and willing to welcome visitors.
Babes’ unparalleled confidence, strength, and perseverance made her achieve her goal to be one of the most promising women entrepreneur in the region. With the unending support of her husband Rey who is co-equal to her industriousness, the company leaps greater heights from a lowly beginning.
And as a woman entrepreneur who is also a mother, she leaves these words for aspiring entrepreneurs, “Sana ay maging inspirasyon ako lalo na sa mga nanay, na pwede palang kumita ng mas malaki pa kasabay ng pag-aalaga sa mga anak. At sa mga negosyante na pinanghihinaan ng loob at parang gusto nang ihinto ang negosyo dahil sa kakulangan sa puhunan, sana ay gawin nyong inspirasyon ang istorya kung paano ako nagsimula”.