Tricks and Treats
November 10, 2021
Stephanie Julia M. Avila
They say that when one door closes, another one opens. For Clyde Pasague, a fifteen-year-old young business owner, that door came in the form of Swag Taste.
With the help of his love for cooking and interest in business matters, Swag Taste, an up and coming food business with a home in Pilar, Sorsogon was born.
There were a lot of realizations that dawned on us when the pandemic started. For Clyde, it was the fact that it was difficult to make money. He started Swag Taste because of his desire to help his parents save money for his dream of attending college in Metro Manila.
Not a lot of Grade 10 students suddenly get the idea of being one’s own boss, running one’s own business. However, because of the influence of his family, Clyde did.
He also admitted that he took a lot of risks before he formed his business. “I really took my time on it and explored a lot until everything was ready.”.
Just as the school year 2020-2021 came to a close, Clyde started Swag Taste. According to him, it took over two months of preparation before he started his business.
“The money I invested on this business came from my scholarship [at] my school.” He shared.
With the new normal becoming our regular way of living, swab tests have become an everyday occurrence. Thus, the inspiration behind Clyde’s brand came from the term “swab test”. He learned that one of the most effective marketing strategies is to have others better recognize your business name. “Your brand name should be unique but also catchy and idealistic.” For him, that is one way to surely leave a mark.
When asked to define his brand, Clyde said, "...We believe that only with food can love be achieved at first sight, and that positivity should reign supreme from the very first bite. Sa Swag Taste, ang unang kagat ay positive sa sarap!"
Swag Taste offers delights that define its swagness. These include popular items such as bao buns, doughnuts, milk tea, and a classic Filipino treat, iskrambol!
“All [of] the dishes prepared by Swag Taste are from my own recipe. I have not been guided by any recipes at all…”
Since Clyde has his own recipes for his products, I was most curious about his recipe for success.
He replied with three words.
Passion, dedication, and hardwork.
On the topic of passion, I asked him if he thinks passion is enough to make a business successful. “Nope, it is not enough. You also have to be dedicated, committed and hardworking.” He asserted.
“I promote my business by giving details that would allow the potential customers to figure out how it would (the treats) taste and look like.”
With the rise of food-related businesses during the pandemic, you need to have something that sets you apart. For Swag Taste, it would be having a specific location for take-out orders and giving a twist to delicacies by inventing a fusion of different delights.
“Swag Taste is known for giving a unique spin on familiar delights and exaggerating cuisines.”
Beyond packing orders, answering queries, and getting the opportunity to grow more, Clyde has had his fair share of hardships.
The common denominator among the hardships our local business owners face is the pandemic. Clyde shares that due to the limited human mobility, there were some clients Swag Taste was unable to accommodate due to their locations. Additional factors which affected his business include health protocols, environment, and location.
When asked to share some challenging tasks which he handled with his business, Clyde responded; “Before I started and when I was just starting out in this food business, I took a lot of risks that resulted in the wastage of too many ingredients.”
“I admit that I still have a hard time managing my time. I also struggle when it comes to production because everything is still done manually. I lack manpower and I am the only one who’s doing everything.” He revealed.
A typical day in his life as Swag Taste’s owner and chef is both productive and exhausting. But despite all that, Clyde remains optimistic.
The pandemic prompted us into different situations. For Clyde, it was to make risky choices that would then serve as a game changer.
Should the business continue to succeed, he might open more branches soon. Clyde also shared that he still has many products that are yet to be introduced. “When I have the time and my equipment is complete to do it all at once, I will then [introduce other products.]”
Swag Taste has plenty of engagements, Clyde feels thrilled and loved whenever people engage with his posts. “I am delighted and excited to work even more whenever I receive positive comments on what I do. The negative comments I receive also help[s] to further improve my delicacies and crafts.” He remarked when I asked him about what he feels with what others comment about his business.
Overwhelmed as he was when Swag Taste went viral not only in his area, but also all over the country, Clyde excitedly shared that he was expecting his business to be an instant hit. But coupled with the fact that Swag Taste got featured thrice on GMA, once on the Regional TV, and twice on the national news, he truly got more than what he bargained for.
Even with everything he has achieved so far, Clyde doesn’t consider his business a success. “Not yet. But soon, hopefully it will be successful and grow even more.”
Clyde Pasague, the owner and chef of Swag Taste wants to achieve success and gain meaningful experiences with his business.
A message Clyde wants to share with people is:
“Pursue your dreams and take a risk for the things that you love and you like that you think will make you successful.”
More often than not, all of us have experienced missing opportunities, no matter how big or small.
The pandemic has forced many businesses to close down but it has also prompted dreamers like Clyde to take action. Not allowing the situation to hinder their plans for their futures, they navigated the bitter flavor of difficulties.
Starting your own business is difficult enough. Launching it during a pandemic makes it even more challenging. And being young while doing so, puts the cherry on top.
If you ask Clyde who he is, he’ll tell you that he’s the fifteen-year-old owner of Swag Taste, the founder of Black Magma Siopao, a certified risk taker, and a game changer. It was through taking risks did Clyde manage to change the game, taking control of the game called life, amidst the pandemic.
Life, in a way, is one twisted trickster. It throws hurdles at us and if we manage to survive those, we get treated. But when life gives you lemons, you should make a lemonade. And when it tries to play with you, you better be prepared to do so, with tricks and treats.
Tricks and Treats
November 10, 2021
Stephanie Julia M. Avila
Translated by: Anneliese Tanco
Ang sabi nila, kapag nagsara ang isang pinto, may isa pang magbubukas. Para kay Clyde Pasague, isang labinlimang taong gulang na may-ari ng isang negosyo, ang pintuang iyon ay dumating sa anyo ng Swag Taste.
Sa tulong ng kanyang pagmamahal sa pagluluto at interes sa mga usaping negosyo, ang Swag Taste, isang bago at umuusbong na negosyo sa Pilar, Sorsogon, ang naibunyag.
Marami tayong mga bagay na napagtanto nang magsimula ang pandemya. Para kay Clyde, ito ang katotohanang mahirap kumita ng pera. Sinimulan niya ang Swag Taste dahil sa pagnanais niyang tulungan ang kanyang mga magulang na makatipid ng pera para sa pangarap niyang pumasok sa kolehiyo sa Metro Manila.
Hindi gaano karaming mag-aaral sa ika- sampung baitang ang biglang nagkakaroon ng ideyang maging isang amo o tagapangasiwa ng sariling negosyo. Gayunpaman, dahil sa impluwensya ng kanyang pamilya, ginawa iyon ni Clyde.
Inamin din niya na dumaan siya sa maraming mga paghahamon bago siya nakapagpatayo ng kanyang negosyo. “I really took my time on it and explored a lot until everything was ready,” (Talagang ginamit ko ang aking oras dito at maraming sinaliksik hanggang sa maging handa ang lahat.) anya ng binata.
Sa pagtatapos ng school year 2020-2021, sinimulan ni Clyde ang Swag Taste. Ayon sa kanya, umabot ng higit dalawang buwan ang paghahanda bago niya masimulan ang kanyang negosyo.
“The money I invested on this business came from my scholarship [at] my school,”
(Ang perang ginamit ko para sa negosyong ito ay nanggaling sa aking iskolarship [sa] aking paaralan.) binahagi niya.
Sa bagong normal na nagiging ating regular na paraan ng pamumuhay, ang mga swab test ay naging isang pang-araw-araw na kaganapan. Kaya naman ang inspirasyon sa tatak ng negosyo ni Clyde ay nagmula sa terminong "swab test". Nalaman niya na ito ang isa sa pinakamabisang diskarte sa marketing upang mas makilala pa ng iba ang pangalan ng kanyang negosyo. “Your brand name should be unique but also catchy and idealistic,” (Dapat ang pangalan ng inyong negosyo ay natatangi pero nakaaakit din at ideyalista.) Para sa kanya, iyon ang isang paraan upang tiyak na mag-iiwan ng impresyon sa kanyang mga kliyente.
Nang tanungin na ipaliwanag ang kanyang tatak, sinabi ni Clyde, "...We believe that only with food can love be achieved at first sight, and that positivity should reign supreme from the very first bite. Sa Swag Taste, ang unang kagat ay positive sa sarap!” (...Naniniwala kami na sa pagkain lamang makakamit ang pag-ibig sa unang tingin, at ang pagiging positibo ay dapat na maghari mula sa unang kagat. Sa Swag Taste, ang unang kagat ay positibo sa sarap!)
Ang Swag Taste ay nag-aalok ng mga lutuin na tumutukoy sa swagness nito. Kasama rito ang mga patok na bilihin tulad ng bao buns, donut, milk tea, at isang klasikong pagkaing Pilipino, iskrambol!
“All [of] the dishes prepared by Swag Taste are from my own recipe. I have not been guided by any recipes at all…” (Lahat ng pagkaing inihahanda ng Swag Taste ay mula sa sarili kong recipe. Hindi ito hango sa ibang mga recipe…)
Dahil may sariling mga recipe para sa kanyang mga produkto si Clyde, nang-usisa ako tungkol sa kanyang recipe para sa tagumpay.
Sinagot niya ako gamit ang tatlong salita.
Passion, dedikasyon, at kasipagan.
Tinanong ko siya kung sa palagay niya ay sapat na ang passion upang maging matagumpay ang isang negosyo. “Nope, it is not enough. You also have to be dedicated, committed and hardworking,” (Hindi, hindi ito sapat. Kailangan mo ring maging dedikado, nakatuon at masipag.) giit niya.
“I promote my business by giving details that would allow the potential customers to figure out how it would (the treats) taste and look like,” (Itinataguyod ko ang aking negosyo sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mga detalyeng nagpapahintulot sa mga potensyal naming mamimili na malaman kung ano ang lasa at itsura nito.)
Sa pagdami ng mga negosyong nauugnay sa pagkain sa panahon ng pandemya, kailangan mong magkaroon ng isang bagay na maghihiwalay sa iyo sa iba. Para sa Swag Taste, ito ay pagkakaroon ng isang tiyak na lokasyon para sa mga order na take-out at pagbibigay ng twist sa mga iba’t ibang delicacy.
“Swag Taste is known for giving a unique spin on familiar delights and exaggerating cuisines,” (Ang Swag Taste ay kilala sa kakaibang lasa at katangian ng mga pamilyar na delights at lutuin.)
Higit sa pag-ayos ng mga order, pagsagot sa mga tanong, at pagkuha ng pagkakataong lumago pa, si Clyde ay dumaan din sa ilang paghahamon.
Ang karaniwang ugat ng mga kinakaharap na paghihirap ng ating mga lokal na negosyo ay ang pandemya. Ibinahagi ni Clyde na dahil sa limitadong mobility ng mga tao, mayroong ilang mga kliyenteng hindi mabigyan ng serbisyo ng Swag Taste dahil sa kanilang mga lokasyon. Ilan sa mga karagdagang kadahilanan na nakaaapekto sa kanyang negosyo ay ang mga protocol ukol sa pangkalusugan, pangkapaligiran, at panlokasyon.
Nang hilingin na ibahagi ang ilan sa mga mapaghamong gawain na hinawakan niya sa kanyang negosyo, tumugon si Clyde “Before I started and when I was just starting out in this food business, I took a lot of risks that resulted in the wastage of too many ingredients,” (Bago ako nagsimula at noong nagsisimula pa lang ako sa negosyong ito, dumaan ako sa maraming mga panganib na nagresulta sa pag-aaksaya ng masyadong maraming mga sangkap.)
“I admit that I still have a hard time managing my time. I also struggle when it comes to production because everything is still done manually. I lack manpower and I am the only one who’s doing everything,”
(Inaamin ko na nahihirapan pa rin akong ayusin ang aking oras. Nahihirapan din ako pagdating sa produksyon dahil ang lahat ay ginagawa pa rin nang manu-mano. Kulang ako sa manpower at ako lang ang gumagawa ng lahat.) pahayag niya.
Isang tipikal na araw sa kanyang buhay bilang may-ari at tagapagluto ng Swag Taste ay parehong produktibo at nakakapagod. Gayunpaman, si Clyde ay nananatiling optimista sa kabila ng lahat ng iyon.
Ang pandemya ay nagtulak sa atin sa iba't ibang mga sitwasyon. Para kay Clyde, ito ay gumawa ng mga mapanganib na desisyon upang magsilbing isang game changer.
Kung patuloy ang pag-unlad ng negosyo, maaaring magbukas pa siya ng Swag Taste sa iba’t ibang lugar sa lalong madaling panahon. Ibinahagi din ni Clyde na marami pa siyang mga produkto na hindi pa pinapakilala. “When I have the time and my equipment is complete to do it all at once, I will then [introduce other products.]” (Kapag may oras ako at kumpleto na ang aking kagamitan upang gawin ang mga ito nang sabay-sabay, ipapakilala ko [ang ibang mga produkto.)
Maraming mga engagements sa social media ang Swag Taste, nararamdaman ni Clyde ang pagmamahal tuwing nakikipag-ugnayan ang mga tao sa kanyang mga post. “I am delighted and excited to work even more whenever I receive positive comments on what I do. The negative comments I receive also help[s] to further improve my delicacies and crafts,” (Natutuwa ako at nasasabik na magtrabaho nang higit pa sa tuwing nakakatanggap ako ng mga positibong komento sa aking mga ginagawa. Ang mga negatibong komento na natatanggap ko ay tumutulong din sa akin upang higit na ipabuti ang aking mga pagkain at sining.) sabi niya nang tanungin ko siya sa nararamdaman niya sa mga komento ng iba tungkol sa kanyang negosyo.
Labis ang emosyong naramdaman ni Clyde noong nag-viral ang Swag Taste hindi lamang sa kanyang lugar, kundi pati na rin sa buong bansa. Tuwang-tuwang ibinahagi ni Clyde na inaasahan niyang maging instant hit ang kanyang negosyo. Ang Swag Taste ay itinampok ng tatlong beses sa GMA, isang beses sa Regional TV, at dalawang beses sa pambansang balita, tunay na nakakuha siya ng higit sa inaasam niya.
Kahit sa lahat ng nakamit niya ngayon, hindi isinasaalang-alang ni Clyde ang kanyang negosyo na isang tagumpay. “Not yet. But soon, hopefully it will be successful and grow even more,” (Hindi pa. Ngunit sa madaling panahon, sana ay matagumpay at lumago pa ito.)
Si Clyde Pasague, ang may-ari at chef ng Swag Taste ay nais makamit ang tagumpay at makakuha ng mga makabuluhang karanasan sa kanyang negosyo.
Isang mensahe na nais ibahagi ni Clyde sa mga tao ay:
“Pursue your dreams and take a risk for the things that you love and you like that you think will make you successful.”
(Ipagpatuloy ang iyong mga pangarap at kumuha ng mga risk para sa mga bagay na mahal mo at gusto mo na sa palagay mo ay magtatagumpay sa iyo.)
Madalas, lahat tayo ay nakararanas ng nawawalang mga pagkakataon, gaano man kalaki o kaliit.
Pinilit ng pandemya ang maraming mga negosyo na magsara, ngunit naudyukan din nito ang mga nangangarap, tulad ni Clyde, na gumawa ng aksyon. Hindi dapat payagan ang anomang sitwasyon na maging hadlangan sa mga plano nila para sa kanilang kinabukasan.
Ang pagsisimula ng iyong sariling negosyo ay mahirap. Ang paglulunsad nito sa panahon ng isang pandemya at sa murang edad habang ginagawa ito ay mas mahirap pa.
Kung tatanungin si Clyde kung sino siya, sasabihin niya sa iyo na siya ang labinlimang taong gulang na may-ari ng Swag Taste, ang tagapagtatag ng Black Magma Siopao, isang sertipikadong risk taker, at isang game changer. Sa pamamagitan ng pagdaan sa mga panganib, nagawang kontrolin ni Clyde ang laro na tinatawag na "buhay" sa gitna ng pandemya.
Ang buhay, sa isang paraan, ay isang twisted trickster. Nagtatapon ito ng mga hadlang sa atin at kung mapamuhay natin ang mga iyon, pagpapalain tayo. Kaya naman, kapag binigyan ka ng buhay ng mga limon, dapat kang gumawa ng limonada. Kapag sinubukan naman nitong makipaglaro sa iyo, dapat mas handa kang gawin ito, sa mga trick at treats.