Istoryahe Cebu

03/09/2026

One of my biggest takeaways from my conversation with Darvin Tocmo of Kontak App:

Trust has to be designed into the business.

Kontak App started with something as simple as a leaky faucet. But Darvin saw a bigger problem: how do you make it easier and safer for people to hire service providers they don't know?

For me, that's a great reminder for entrepreneurs:

Don't start with the technology. Start with the problem.

Build something that genuinely solves it, and the technology becomes the tool.

There's a lot more to Darvin's story and the thinking behind Kontak. Worth watching if you're building something of your own.

Special thanks to Workplace Cafe for being our Venue Partner.

He spent almost a month trying to find someone reliable to fix it. And like many Cebuano homeowners, he eventually turned to Facebook to look for one.

02/09/2026

One of the things I really appreciated from my conversation with Mel of Mil Dim Handcrafted Creations is how they think about building a business around something that is difficult to copy.

They don't compete by making the cheapest shoes.

They don't try to produce thousands of pairs.

They built around craftsmanship, local artisans, Filipino materials, storytelling, and a customer who actually values those things.

And for me, that's a powerful business lesson.

Your advantage isn't always what you sell. Sometimes, it's the capabilities, relationships, reputation, and story you've built around it.

That's what makes a business difficult to replace.

If you're building a business and want to understand how this can actually work in the real world, watch our conversation with Mel. There's a lot more to learn from their journey.

That small adjustment eventually became MIL DIM Handcrafted Creations, a slow-fashion brand built around something much bigger than shoes.

01/09/2026

If you get the chance to interview this iconic person, what would you ask him?

01/09/2026

Distractions everywhere. Deadlines looming. Sometimes your best workflow strategy is simply packing up and changing your ZIP code.

Head over to Workplace Cafe to trade the bed-rotting and household chores for high-speed focus and proper fuel.

31/08/2026

Happy work wife, happy life. 😂

So who actually gets the final say when the Abli Cebu team disagrees?

Apparently, the answer is less about "who's right?" and more about "what's best for the customers?"

Every decision comes back to one question: Will this make the customer experience better? Will it strengthen the brand? And ultimately, will it leave a positive impression?

They may have different opinions, but compromise seems to be their secret weapon. No "bahala na ka" decisions - if someone gives way, they make sure everyone understands why.

Because when you're building a business with people you trust, you don't just need someone to lead. You need everyone willing to row when the boat starts sinking.

Hear the Abli team talk about decision-making, compromise, and keeping the partnership afloat.

https://youtu.be/QgK8jJoqoJ4

31/08/2026

A failed café can still lead to a better business.

Kristine and Kath Kwan of 88Garden Cafe learned that the hard way.

From a cancelled first venture to building their café, the sisters turned setbacks, sibling disagreements, and obsessive attention to detail into a business they can grow.

Sometimes, the best business lessons are found in the things that didn't go according to plan.

29/08/2026

HP Acebedo Optical Clinic by Dr. B. HP ACEBEDO Optical Clinic Bianca Lopez Salimbangon Dr. Bianca Lopez-Salimbangon - Dr. B

29/08/2026

"I found the perfect location." - Karen 👀

The funny part? When Karen, Abli Cebu's co-founder who is currently overseas, told the team she found the place for their business, they didn't exactly have much room to debate.

She had gone on ocular visits for potential locations and found one that, according to her, "called out to her." It felt magical. ✨

The catch? She had already paid the reservation - with her last money. 😂

So basically... wala na silay choice.

But eventually, the rest of the team saw exactly what Karen saw. And what started as a somewhat impulsive decision turned out to be the place where Abli's story would unfold.

Sometimes, you don't find the perfect location. Sometimes, it finds you first.

Hear the full story on our YT Channel - https://youtu.be/QgK8jJoqoJ4

29/08/2026

What happens when you inherit a business with four generations of history?

For Dr. B of HP ACEBEDO Optical Clinic, the answer isn't simply to continue what the family started.

It's to build on it, modernize it, and make it relevant to the next generation.

Her story touches on family legacy, technology, personal branding, health, fitness, and knowing when not to rush growth.

A good reminder for business owners: Your legacy should give you a foundation, not a ceiling.

Read the full story on Istoryahe Cebu's YouTube Channel.

18/08/2026

Every successful business starts with a decision.

For Jam Rezaba, that decision was to never let a difficult childhood determine her future.

Today, D’Grazings Cebu PH serves premium clients across Cebu.

Watch her story soon on Istoryahe Cebu.