30/06/2025
𝐊𝐌𝐌𝐄-𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: 𝐍𝐎𝐄𝐋 𝐃. 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀
Business Name: ELYONG’S VINEGAR MANUFACTURING
KMME 2024 BATCH 1
𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬: 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡
Elyong’s Vinegar Manufacturing traces its roots to the hardworking hands of Mr. Jose M. Valencia Jr., a dedicated sugarcane farmer. Initially, he wasn’t a vinegar producer but focused on making molasses and basi, a traditional alcoholic sugarcane beverage. Over time, he envisioned creating a new product—cane vinegar. The brand name, Elyong’s Vinegar, was inspired by the nickname of his second eldest son, Leonard. However, perfecting the vinegar’s taste and texture proved to be a daunting challenge. Though fermentation should naturally turn basi into vinegar, his initial attempts failed, leaving him with a product no one wanted to buy. But Mr. Valencia was undeterred. His resilience, determination, and love for his family pushed him to refine his formula through countless trials and errors until he finally achieved the perfect cane vinegar taste.
As Elyong’s Vinegar gained popularity, business flourished—until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. With strict lockdowns in place, Mr. Valencia could no longer go out to sell his vinegar. His customer base shrank to the people within his community, which wasn’t enough to sustain the business. But there was a silver lining: cane vinegar, much like fine wine, improves with age. By the time the pandemic restrictions were lifted, his vinegar had reached its best quality, and demand surged. Sales skyrocketed, surpassing even pre-pandemic figures. To keep up with growing orders, Mr. Valencia needed to increase production. Financially strained but determined, he received support from the Department of Trade and Industry’s PPG program, which provided storage drums to help expand his vinegar supply. Everything seemed to be falling into place.
However, in September 2023, tragedy struck when Mr. Valencia fell ill. By December of the same year, he had sadly passed away, leaving his family devastated. The loss of their guiding force was heartbreaking, but his children refused to let his legacy fade. Fueled by their father’s unwavering spirit, they took over the business, determined to honor him. Christian, the youngest son, became the new owner, while the eldest, Noel, and second eldest, Leonard, took on managerial roles. Noel even enrolled in the DTI Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) program, graduating in June 2024. With continued support, the Department of Trade and Industry awarded them a new sugarcane crusher, while the local government of Marcos, Ilocos Norte, built a dedicated facility for more efficient and sanitary production. Through it all, they held onto the memory of their father, drawing strength from his determination and vision. You know the song "If You Could See Me Now" by The Script? It says, "I hope you're up there with God saying, 'that's my kid.'" They know their father is watching over them, proud of the path they have chosen.
Today, Elyong’s Vinegar Manufacturing stands as a well-known brand in Ilocos Norte, with retailers even reaching La Union. The business that once struggled is now thriving, and Mr. Valencia’s children proudly carry forward his dream. Their greatest achievement, they say, is that the business helped them graduate from college—an accomplishment that would surely make their father proud. Christian is now a seafarer, traveling the world, while their only sister, Glenda, has built a life with her family in Canada. Noel and Leonard remain in the Philippines, caring for their mother, their sugarcane farm, and their growing vinegar business. Against all odds, their father’s vision has not only endured but flourished, proving that a simple sugarcane farmer can leave behind a lasting legacy.
