Allow me to take you to a time in Glan when I was small. In the mid to late 60s, Glan was at its golden era of bustling commerce and trade, although it was lacking of major infrastructure, except for a small port and a small power plant which energized at least the poblacion. The small busy port was frequently called by Cebu cargo vessels offloading various goods of local chinese and visayan merchants and backloading of Glan’s primary crops of copra, white corn and abaca; timber and sawmill products to Cebu. Passenger boats that ferry people to and from the town’s coastal villages, Balut Island and Silway Pier in Dadiangas made it busier daily. Sea transport was the only means of conveyance as there were no farm roads and the highway link to Dadiangas was in its rough phase of construction.
Having grown up in our small grocery and rice stall in the public market, I was privileged to enjoy the early morning busy market scene teeming with fresh mountain harvests and the freshest hauls of marine catch. I relished the scent of early morning “painitan” of native coffee and “pan bisaya”, “budbud” and the soft-sticky-chocolaty “moron”. But I was more drawn to and drowned by the aroma of “sikwate” of pure native cacao “tablea” and its perfect pair of salty-sweet, peppery and soothing half-lemony ginger taste of “puto maya”. I have grown accustomed to “sikwate” and “puto maya” in mornings and my parents’ afternoon favorites of “kinutil”, “tinap-anan” and “puto balanghoy”. For the moneyed, “torta” was the primary pick! I learned its local history at an early age and understood our people’s predominant root traced back to Cebuano genes.
With those in memory and as the town was past its age of golden boom, I left Glan for college, employment and residency in the fast growing city of Gen. Santos.
Fast forward… “Pan bisaya” and “torta” are now available only on advance order basis. “Moron” is only available on weekend market days. “Sikwate” is nowhere in Glan “merkado”. “Puto maya” (wrapped in non-biodegradable plastic) is now paired with either hot coffee with milk or commercial and instant cocoa in the market’s “painitan” stalls. Only recently did I realize the cherished “sikwate” tradition’s demise to oblivion after more than three decades of absence in Glan.
So armed with grit and small savings in 2017, we thought of putting up a small “sikwate” house cum souvenir shop and mini art gallery along Ilaya Highway. Instead of regretting in utter dismay and disappointment over the loss of “sikwate” in our senses, we considered “sikwate” and “puto maya” as the store’s signature offering alongside brewed native coffee and “moron” for perfect pairing. With the aid of the culinary skill of a nephew, friends’ and family’s help, hard work officially began towards the soft opening on October 8, 2017.
For its start-up the small shop had so far used the store’s own ABC of Marketing as follows: (A) for Advocacy, rated Difficult (B) for Branding; moderately difficult and (C) for Customer Base and Focus; the least difficult.
Why is advocacy in our list? First, Sweetsbank recognizes the place as a quaint haven of craftsmen and artisans. Raw talents abound waiting to be enticed, encouraged to grow and ripen. Having that, Sweetsbank embraces the cause to bring to the fore local handicrafts (specially coconut handicrafts and food crafts) artworks of old and budding gifted artists. Sweetsbank also believes in the possibility of reviving a lost “sikwate” tradition via its Chef Nico’s Choco Puro to the extent of reintroducing it to its desired customers as a novel thing! The advocacy as envisioned would roll into the whole integration of homegrown industries by way of (1) shifting the coconut industry’s micro and macro directions thru the hundred and one uses of coconut which the town is famous of-that the coconut is not just copra and a flamboyant tuft or fancy costume in the town’s annual mardigras; (2) creating a supply chain; (3) multiplying further to the rebirth and growth of cacao industry by intercropping cacao in Glan’s vast coconut plantation.
Uncertainties of this advocacy are overwhelming and the foremost question is how receptive are our people given the persistent dole-out expectation; and worse the self-undermining of our people’s innate capability and competence. Indeed, the advocacy is enormous in the quest for economic empowerment, therefore, difficult!
Advocacy is difficult because the simplest act of espousing a cause is largely influenced by the prevailing political, economic, socio-cultural systems and institutions. These systems and institutions either pull backward or push forward an advocacy.
Though the store is still initially operating, Branding comes moderately difficult as it sought wisdom from Hitesh Bhasin –


Thenceforth, we chose Sweetsbank as a name for local souvenirs of handicrafts and Chef Nico’s Choco Puro-the name for the Pure “Sikwate” and “Puto Maya”. A lot of effort was exerted for these names to be quite distinctive, catchy and enticing!
On several occasions, Sweetsbank was thought of by passersby as another financial institution-there were even inquiries if it has an ATM ; more inquiries even on credit and loans! At least, it aroused people’s curiousity! Our response had been a short quip by saying, “imbakan po tayo ng mga pampasulubong ng mga turista; meron konting minatamis kasama na pati sweet memories ng kanilang paglalakbay sa bayan!”
The business until now is not fully packaged with creative essentials but just disclosures of the product features; authenticity of materials used; the health benefits of “sikwate”; the purity and quality of its dark chocolate drink that is good for the heart as doctors say. This is truth in advertising, so to speak.
The name Chef Nico’s Choco Puro reverberates a culturally-enriching message to Glan which is the rennaisance of “sikwate” as a novelty from a forgotten local tradition. The truth: It is real and genuine pity for all our middle-aged population (those born in 1979 particularly) that sikwate is unheard by them.
In so short a time the names caught attention of tourists and motorists which led the small business in employing the “C” of its Marketing tool which is Customer Base & Focus inclusive of customer service quality! This has the least difficulty in our short experience, thus far. Word of mouth by satisfied customers; social media; youtubes of vloggers, shared photos from bloggers; the proactive push of DTI and DOT; and support from family and friends are now making the small business to claim its base in the right place and time.
The right place because Sarangani Province has recently become one of the most competitive provinces in Mindanao. NEDA XII in its April 2019 press release also identified six towns (two per province) in the region as emerging urban areas. These are Isulan and Lebak
In Sultan Kudarat; Midsayap and Kabacan in Cotabato Province; Polomolok and Surallah in South Cotabato and Alabel and Glan in Sarangani Province. Therefore, we are in an area where growth prospects are high.
The right time because the business has a timely positioning of its market focus to tourists primarily as the Province of Sarangani posted the highest number of tourist arrivals in 2018 in Region XII which Glan have had hosted the most number grabbing the record from the perrenial holder in the years preceding 2018. The surprising fact had been noted later that only Glan and Sarangani Province offer “sikwate” in Region XII, to date. Yes we see “tableas” in Polomolok, GenSan, Koronadal, especially in Tupi and Bagumbayan but there are no “sikwates” in these areas. Therefore, we are in the appropriate time to make the product appreciated in the region.
If success of our small business were measured by financial performance; gross revenue, bottomline figure, ROI and other financial ratios, Sweetsbank is by now consoled by our Cebuano line of comfort which is “lahutay lang!” Afterall, the small business has just been in the scene for just two years-still in its infancy. As to its future course, we are keeping our pace allowing enough time for its chosen public to know that sweetsbank does not only sell a product.
What is apparent now is its evolution into a local brand-making “sikwate” within Region XII synonymous to Glan, likewise a badge of honor and pride to Sarangani Province!
Our business either perishes/fades or grows as time progresses but with resilience and industry it can be immortalized and so allowing the gem of a tradition to shine incessantly!
Bukid of the South 