Page Title
A new venture and new challenges
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
By Heidi M. Pascual
Before going back to the Philippines from Wisconsin, I had planned on building
an Internet Café at the corner of Antler and Adrian St. in Quezon City, my home
address. Our family lot, 396 square meters in all, has been divided into four –
three 100 sq.m. each for my three children (built with townhouses for each of them)
– and one 96 sq.m. for me. This area is still open for construction, and half of it, the
corner-most, is supposed to house my Internet Café. But my youngest son’s home
is still under construction, so I knew it would take awhile before my plan can
materialize.
About the second week of August this year, I saw an advertisement at sulit.
com.ph (a local ad website) for an established Internet Café business for sale in
Quezon City. I was immediately attracted to it, simply because the location isn’t far
from my home (about 2 kilometers away), is very near several schools and within
a commercial district in Quezon City, it has an existing customer base already,
and the price is reasonable, considering the equipment included in the offer. I
immediately contacted the owner, Mr. Epifanio Fajardo, and within the next week
or so, I have become the new owner of Mr. Fajardo’s Internet Café. It was August
21 (my daughter’s birthday). Before signing the Deed of Sale, though, I was
introduced to the building owner and made sure I am accepted as the new
business tenant of Stall #9. The building owner/manager agreed after talking to
me, explaining how much I had to pay up front for deposit and lease advance.
When I said “Okay,” he then set a day for me to pick up the Lease Agreement.
The old Internet Café was then called “WebFair Business Center” and had been
in existence for about 10 years. While it had several positives, its condition did
not pass my standards. It had dilapidated vinyl flooring, unkempt comfort room,
dirty equipment, and dirty walls and ceilings. For a few days, I had help trying to
clean the shop and its equipment, until I decided to completely renovate it. I
closed it for about two weeks while a hired contractor worked on it with his team.
I didn’t realize, however, that almost everything – floor, tiles, walls, and air
conditioning unit – had to be changed. My expenses were immediately doubled in
a week! When the renovation was over, however, I was satisfied to see a more
appealing Internet Café, a place where people can stay for long periods of time
Before going back to the Philippines from Wisconsin, I had planned on building
an Internet Café at the corner of Antler and Adrian St. in Quezon City, my home
address. Our family lot, 396 square meters in all, has been divided into four –
three 100 sq.m. each for my three children (built with townhouses for each of them)
– and one 96 sq.m. for me. This area is still open for construction, and half of it, the
corner-most, is supposed to house my Internet Café. But my youngest son’s home
is still under construction, so I knew it would take awhile before my plan can
materialize.
About the second week of August this year, I saw an advertisement at sulit.
com.ph (a local ad website) for an established Internet Café business for sale in
Quezon City. I was immediately attracted to it, simply because the location isn’t far
from my home (about 2 kilometers away), is very near several schools and within
a commercial district in Quezon City, it has an existing customer base already,
and the price is reasonable, considering the equipment included in the offer. I
immediately contacted the owner, Mr. Epifanio Fajardo, and within the next week
or so, I have become the new owner of Mr. Fajardo’s Internet Café. It was August
21 (my daughter’s birthday). Before signing the Deed of Sale, though, I was
introduced to the building owner and made sure I am accepted as the new
business tenant of Stall #9. The building owner/manager agreed after talking to
me, explaining how much I had to pay up front for deposit and lease advance.
When I said “Okay,” he then set a day for me to pick up the Lease Agreement.
The old Internet Café was then called “WebFair Business Center” and had been
in existence for about 10 years. While it had several positives, its condition did
not pass my standards. It had dilapidated vinyl flooring, unkempt comfort room,
dirty equipment, and dirty walls and ceilings. For a few days, I had help trying to
clean the shop and its equipment, until I decided to completely renovate it. I
closed it for about two weeks while a hired contractor worked on it with his team.
I didn’t realize, however, that almost everything – floor, tiles, walls, and air
conditioning unit – had to be changed. My expenses were immediately doubled in
a week! When the renovation was over, however, I was satisfied to see a more
appealing Internet Café, a place where people can stay for long periods of time
UNABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING?? There should be help. Social Security Disability and SSI - Programs designed to help individuals who are disabled from work. IF YOU APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND/OR SSI AND YOU ARE DENIED, THERE IS HELP! Call 1-800-254-7766 |
| HMP Cyber Hub & Photo Studio is on the second floor of MG Building, Sacred Heart Village Market, Quirino Highway, Quezon City, Philippines. (Left) An open restaurant/eatery on the ground floor caters to drivers, students, and tenants of the building. (Right) Signage and entry to my Internet Cafe. |
A view of Quirino Highway from HMP Cyber Hub
& Photo Studio
& Photo Studio
and feel comfortable. The shop has been repainted all-white and a new lighted signage and tarpaulin banner advertise the new shop
pretty well, I think.
Starting a Business in Quezon City
Applying for business registration and permits, however, proved very challenging. First, I had to go to the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) to register a business name. When I arrived at DTI’s satellite office in Quezon City (2nd floor, within the Quezon
City Hall complex near Elliptical Rd.), the only employee there said their computer is down and advised me to go to their office in
Pasig City, along EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Ave.-place where PEOPLE POWER revolution occurred in 1986) and in front of SM
Megamall. I hailed a taxi and did so. The place was full of business registrants, of course. I got a number and waited until I got my
registration completed in about two hours. The funny thing was, the guy who assisted me there was the same employee who was at
the Quezon City Hall-DTI satellite office! When I told him that my business is a computer shop, he asked whether I am manufacturing
anything related to computers. Of course I said no, so he suggested an Internet Café instead. Okay. When he asked the name of my
business and I said "HMP Internet Café," the guy said everybody is using "Internet Cafe." So my son Dennis (who accompanied me
there) suggested using “HMP Cyber HUB.” I then proposed “HMP Cyber HUB and Photo Studio,” and the DTI person said it’s
understood that I’d be doing everything digital, so 'HMP Cyber HUB'” is enough, he added. What can I say? Okay, I agreed. I just
wanted to get it over with and leave that place.
Next step, another day of course, was to get a barangay business clearance/permit. The barangay is the smallest political unit in
the Philippines, and it’s headed by a barangay chairman. First, I went to the barangay hall in Lagro, Quezon City, which is the closest
barangay hall to my “Cyber HUB.” I was told that another barangay has jurisdiction over the market place where my business is
located, so off I went to look for Barangay Pasong Putik Hall. To my surprise, this particular barangay hall is located closer to my
house rather than to my Internet Café! I didn’t want to further complicate things by asking too many questions, so I went directly to the
Information Desk who directed me to go upstairs to the Treasurer’s Office. The clerk gave me a short note listing the requirements
and a phone number. The requirement said: DTI registration, Lease Agreement, and a letter addressed to the barangay chairman
requesting that I be granted a barangay clearance or permit to operate a business. I went back to the building owner to get the Lease
Agreement, but it took a few more days before I got it. Anyway, I was able to secure a barangay clearance/permit after submitting the
requirements and payment fee of 500 pesos (roughly $13).
The next step in this long process was to apply for a business permit at Market Development Office in Quezon City Hall. The good
thing was, I didn’t have to go there personally; all I had to do was contact the assigned area person to visit the business and assess
the fee. In due time, a guy from this office named “John” came over to do his job. I submitted the requirements the next time John
came (about a week or so after his first visit to the shop) – DTI business registration, barangay clearance/permit, a Lease Agreement
certification from the building owner, and a copy of the former owner’s business permit. Because my business started during the last
quarter of the year, I was assessed about 50% only of a year’s regular assessment. As of this writing, however, I have yet to receive
my own business permit from Quezon City Hall. I hope it won’t take until December this year, because I am required to file another
round of permits from the barangay level and city level to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. For this 2010 quarter, though, I haven’t
reached the BIR level yet because I’m still waiting for the City Hall permit! Meanwhile, I am still using the existing business permit
for the former Internet Café business which I bought from Mr. Fajardo, which is supposed to last until December this year.
HMP Cyber Hub & Photo Studio
I put up a lighted panaflex sign and a tarpaulin banner in front of my Internet Café to advertise”HMP Cyber Hub & Photo Studio,”
the name of my shop. Every day, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., I entertain customers, mostly students, who use the computers for their
school work, FaceBook, or e-mail. I have decided not to offer online gaming for a reason – I prefer to help students learn and
graduate. Once in a while, though, especially on weekends, I allow students to play nonviolent games for a limited time only. There
are a few teachers who come for me to type and edit their lesson plans, their tests, or their class schedules. There are customers
who are applying for jobs so they wanted their resumes to look good. Or customers who are running for elective positions and
wanted their simple brochures to appear professionally made. It is actually fun to be able to do all these. One thing I have observed,
pretty well, I think.
Starting a Business in Quezon City
Applying for business registration and permits, however, proved very challenging. First, I had to go to the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) to register a business name. When I arrived at DTI’s satellite office in Quezon City (2nd floor, within the Quezon
City Hall complex near Elliptical Rd.), the only employee there said their computer is down and advised me to go to their office in
Pasig City, along EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Ave.-place where PEOPLE POWER revolution occurred in 1986) and in front of SM
Megamall. I hailed a taxi and did so. The place was full of business registrants, of course. I got a number and waited until I got my
registration completed in about two hours. The funny thing was, the guy who assisted me there was the same employee who was at
the Quezon City Hall-DTI satellite office! When I told him that my business is a computer shop, he asked whether I am manufacturing
anything related to computers. Of course I said no, so he suggested an Internet Café instead. Okay. When he asked the name of my
business and I said "HMP Internet Café," the guy said everybody is using "Internet Cafe." So my son Dennis (who accompanied me
there) suggested using “HMP Cyber HUB.” I then proposed “HMP Cyber HUB and Photo Studio,” and the DTI person said it’s
understood that I’d be doing everything digital, so 'HMP Cyber HUB'” is enough, he added. What can I say? Okay, I agreed. I just
wanted to get it over with and leave that place.
Next step, another day of course, was to get a barangay business clearance/permit. The barangay is the smallest political unit in
the Philippines, and it’s headed by a barangay chairman. First, I went to the barangay hall in Lagro, Quezon City, which is the closest
barangay hall to my “Cyber HUB.” I was told that another barangay has jurisdiction over the market place where my business is
located, so off I went to look for Barangay Pasong Putik Hall. To my surprise, this particular barangay hall is located closer to my
house rather than to my Internet Café! I didn’t want to further complicate things by asking too many questions, so I went directly to the
Information Desk who directed me to go upstairs to the Treasurer’s Office. The clerk gave me a short note listing the requirements
and a phone number. The requirement said: DTI registration, Lease Agreement, and a letter addressed to the barangay chairman
requesting that I be granted a barangay clearance or permit to operate a business. I went back to the building owner to get the Lease
Agreement, but it took a few more days before I got it. Anyway, I was able to secure a barangay clearance/permit after submitting the
requirements and payment fee of 500 pesos (roughly $13).
The next step in this long process was to apply for a business permit at Market Development Office in Quezon City Hall. The good
thing was, I didn’t have to go there personally; all I had to do was contact the assigned area person to visit the business and assess
the fee. In due time, a guy from this office named “John” came over to do his job. I submitted the requirements the next time John
came (about a week or so after his first visit to the shop) – DTI business registration, barangay clearance/permit, a Lease Agreement
certification from the building owner, and a copy of the former owner’s business permit. Because my business started during the last
quarter of the year, I was assessed about 50% only of a year’s regular assessment. As of this writing, however, I have yet to receive
my own business permit from Quezon City Hall. I hope it won’t take until December this year, because I am required to file another
round of permits from the barangay level and city level to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. For this 2010 quarter, though, I haven’t
reached the BIR level yet because I’m still waiting for the City Hall permit! Meanwhile, I am still using the existing business permit
for the former Internet Café business which I bought from Mr. Fajardo, which is supposed to last until December this year.
HMP Cyber Hub & Photo Studio
I put up a lighted panaflex sign and a tarpaulin banner in front of my Internet Café to advertise”HMP Cyber Hub & Photo Studio,”
the name of my shop. Every day, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., I entertain customers, mostly students, who use the computers for their
school work, FaceBook, or e-mail. I have decided not to offer online gaming for a reason – I prefer to help students learn and
graduate. Once in a while, though, especially on weekends, I allow students to play nonviolent games for a limited time only. There
are a few teachers who come for me to type and edit their lesson plans, their tests, or their class schedules. There are customers
who are applying for jobs so they wanted their resumes to look good. Or customers who are running for elective positions and
wanted their simple brochures to appear professionally made. It is actually fun to be able to do all these. One thing I have observed,
Some of the computer stations inside HMP
Cyber Hub
Cyber Hub
though, is that some people come for scanning
legal documents (such as Deed of Sale,
School Registration Card, Official Receipts,
Certificate of Employment, etc.) and ask me to
EDIT and CHANGE items therein! Whenever I
turn them down by saying it’s against the law
to alter official/legal documents, they either
look surprised or sad and helpless; some
even slam the door when they get out of the
shop. Oh well…
I also have reserved a corner of my
Internet Café for my “Photo Studio,” just to be
able to take ID and passport photos for a fee. I
am doing this because I really miss taking
photographs in Madison. This time, however, I
am taking photos in a much” smaller” scale. I
am also learning how to do a “Rush Photo ID”
offering at less cost! I’m actually enjoying this
new learning experience!
When I’m not busy attending to customers,
I’m busy working on The Capital City Hues’
website and my online magazine, Asian
Wisconzine. The magic of technology has in
fact allowed me to do these virtual wonderful
work while “at work” in the Philippines! Can
you beat that? I feel I am in Madison and
Quezon City (Metro Manila) at the same time. It
is a great feeling to be able to do what you
love, be with family, and be informed of
everything from all over the world through the
eye of a small computer in front of you!
Although, of course, I miss some closest
friends in Madison, its cold climate, and my
home in Fitchburg.
legal documents (such as Deed of Sale,
School Registration Card, Official Receipts,
Certificate of Employment, etc.) and ask me to
EDIT and CHANGE items therein! Whenever I
turn them down by saying it’s against the law
to alter official/legal documents, they either
look surprised or sad and helpless; some
even slam the door when they get out of the
shop. Oh well…
I also have reserved a corner of my
Internet Café for my “Photo Studio,” just to be
able to take ID and passport photos for a fee. I
am doing this because I really miss taking
photographs in Madison. This time, however, I
am taking photos in a much” smaller” scale. I
am also learning how to do a “Rush Photo ID”
offering at less cost! I’m actually enjoying this
new learning experience!
When I’m not busy attending to customers,
I’m busy working on The Capital City Hues’
website and my online magazine, Asian
Wisconzine. The magic of technology has in
fact allowed me to do these virtual wonderful
work while “at work” in the Philippines! Can
you beat that? I feel I am in Madison and
Quezon City (Metro Manila) at the same time. It
is a great feeling to be able to do what you
love, be with family, and be informed of
everything from all over the world through the
eye of a small computer in front of you!
Although, of course, I miss some closest
friends in Madison, its cold climate, and my
home in Fitchburg.