Family fave Ngohiong turns siblings into entrepreneurs

CEBU, Philippines – What used to be just a family favorite, the Cebuano Chinese staple Ngohiong has turned six siblings into young promising entrepreneurs.

The Bernardo siblings are the bunch behind the popular ‘Ho NgoHiong’ food stalls and restaurants in Cebu, which will soon also introduce its first food-truck mobile outlet roaming around the city.

As kids, the kitchen has been the favorite corner of the brood in the house. They all love to cook but they never thought of actually turning their bonding activity into a serious business after they finished their college studies.

Lance, a registered nurse, and Francisco, a licensed physical therapist left for the United States to practice their profession in the place deemed by many as a greener pasture than what our homeland has to offer.

But after a few years, homesickness took a toll and brought the two gentlemen back home with the realization that more than just seeking comfortable lives, real life and true comfort is at home with the family.

Out of boredom, the brothers revisited their childhood bonding and experimented their version of crispy Ngohiong masterpiece and inviting friends and neighbors to dine with them in their house.

Call them lucky, but more than just the compliments they got, calls for orders from unknown customers started to come in bulk.

With no formal entrepreneurial acumen, Lance and Francisco used their own money and borrowed some from their parents to start off a small cart in their garage for commercial testings.

In 2013, the other siblings, Patrick, Niño, Melissa, and Therese joined the fun and chipped in to build a small, dainty restaurant in their front-yard in Andres Abellana to satisfy the cravings of walk-in customers —converting their playground as the first ‘Ho NgoHiong’ outlet.

The rest of the siblings are also degree holders, two of whom are in medical school. Therese, a finance graduate, helps in the financial side of their growing business

The P30,000 start-up capital has grown and gave fruition to five branches around Metro Cebu. Branches are located in Andres Abellana, P. Del Rosario, Mambaling, Labangon and Banilad.

Francisco said they are looking at other potential areas for expansion as the business constantly provides them encouraging returns.

Although, their business' flagship product is Ngohiong, their brand is also known to have the best Cebuano streetfood favorites like Chorizo, tempura, squid rings, pork barbeque, among others. These are all paired with the iconic "puso" (hanging rice).

This kind of business is not something new especially in Cebu, where Ngohiong is sold in practically every corner, and spread in the sidewalks, but what brings magic to this siblings' success is their sincere commitment to offer decent, safe and health-friendly street-food offerings to customers.

In Chinese, Ho means good. Ho NgoHiong, Lance said is not just a piece of cheaper viand to fill a hungry stomach, but a preparation sprinkled with personal touch from the hands of the respected Tiongco-Bernardo clan of Cebu.

While their business expands, Therese related that siblings' playful conflicts cannot be avoided. They are constantly finding the balance of being serious business partners, at the same time brothers and sisters.

But, what’s good about the set-up is, just like their childhood games, conflicts can easily be patched up, especially when Mom and Dad are just a call away, Therese added.

Nevertheless, as the small venture affords them to expand some more, they decided to seek advice from a corporate marketing expert, to start a professional system that will allow the brand to go into franchising and make its presence nationwide.

Innovation

Ho NgoHiong, is so far the first Ngohiong station in Cebu to offer tidy, sophisticated dining ambiance. As health-buff themselves, Francisco assured that Ngohiong fillings are fresh vegetables and meat cooked in Canola cooking oil.

This detail, though trivial for some, is a serious rule being uphold in their home-kitchen-turned-commissary.

Its soon-to-be-introduced NgoHiong food-truck will be one of the first in Cebu. A couple of Ho NgoHiong trucks will be stationed in high populated areas in the metropolis in the next few months. (FREEMAN)