Building a business is never easy. Building one during a time of uncertainty is even harder. But for the founders of PO:YO Manila, a decision made with just ₱35,000 in capital and a determination to keep going would eventually become the foundation of a thriving Filipino brand, earning them recognition as one of the monthly winners of GoGo Xpress' Hustle-Naryo campaign, which celebrates the resilience, creativity, and perseverance of Filipino online entrepreneurs.
Before founding what is now known as POYO Manila, the founders spent years organizing bazaars and working with local merchants. The experience inspired them to build a business of their own. Then, in 2020, the pandemic brought malls and bazaars to a standstill, forcing them to start over.
"After working in a corporation for five
years, we decided we wanted to be our own boss and make our own decisions. It
was a tough decision because we did not know if it would work out for us.
"When the pandemic happened, we realized we had to start over," said
the founders.
Faced with uncertainty and armed with only
₱35,000 in capital, the business partners made what they now describe as one of
the most important decisions of their entrepreneurial journey: launching an
online clothing business. "We didn't know if it would work," the
founders shared. "But somehow, that ₱35,000 changed our lives."
"There were good days, very good days,
and not so good days," according to PO:YO Manila. "But we've always
believed that we would find a way to make it work." Throughout their
journey, building a reliable support system proved just as important as
building a strong brand.
For PO:YO Manila, dependable logistics support
became an essential part of sustaining and growing the business. "I've
stayed with GoGo Xpress because of the ease of using the platform, the Shopify
integration, and the reliability of our pickup rider, Kuya Wil, who has been
with us since day one. Having a dependable partner allowed us to focus on
growing the business," said the founders.
Recently, the founders' entrepreneurial
journey was recognized through GoGo Xpress' Hustle-Naryo campaign, an
initiative designed to celebrate the stories of Filipino online sellers who
continue to persevere, innovate, and thrive despite evolving challenges.
Yet for PO:YO Manila, the recognition was
never just about personal success. After being named one of the campaign's
monthly winners and receiving ₱5,000 in GCash and a TechLife Pad Lite 8, PO:YO
Manila chose to share the rewards with the people who had been instrumental in
building the business.
"Rather than
keeping the prizes for themselves, the founders chose to share the rewards with
the people who help keep their business running every day. The cash prize was given to a parent who
plays a vital role in daily operations, while the tablet was gifted to a staff
member as a gesture of appreciation. "It was an unexpected blessing," they
shared. "We didn't want to be selfish
about it. We wanted to share it with the
people who help make our business possible." said the founders.
For Raffy Vicente, President and COO of QuadX,
the parent company of GoGo Xpress, "Stories like PO:YO Manila remind us
that behind every business is a dream, a sacrifice, and a determination to keep
moving forward. Through Hustle-Naryo, we celebrate the entrepreneurs who
continue to inspire us every day.”
Their advice to aspiring entrepreneurs remains
simple: "It wouldn't hurt to try," the founders shared. "We
didn't know where this journey would take us when we started. But if you
believe in what you're building and continue showing up every day, amazing
things can happen." Six years ago, PO:YO Manila took a chance on a dream
with only ₱35,000 and a determination to survive. Today, that leap of faith has
become more than a thriving business.
It has become proof that sometimes, the most
difficult chapters of our lives become the beginning of our greatest success
stories.
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