Thinking About Cebu

While doing our bookings just now....it crossed my mind to make a sidetrip to Cebu from Davao, before planing back to Manila.

UPDATE: We decided not to fly to Cebu from Davao. Since we will be visiting the Visayas area soon, then we will do a Cebu seminar.

Seminar in Cebu? Text me if you are interested so we may swing a schedule there. (0917) 847-2639

Cebu Food Expo 2008

I was glad we did this show!


We got there for ingress, checked in at the Waterfront Cebu where the venue was...never even saw the shadow of the other show upstairs, Cebu Goes Culinary!

It exceeded our expectations. The visitors were focused and knew what they wanted and were at the show for a reason. Our conversations were aligned and limited to the taste and health benefits of eating Sunshines. Oh yes, we also got the inquiries from prospective growers, not just from Cebu but from the surrounding areas too.

Am sure this show will boost our growers in the Cebu area. This was their first real experience of how we market our Sunshine growers in trade shows. I hope the message was clear, we go all out in assisting in promotions.

Amongst the four growers, it was St. Mary's who had dressed Sunshines available at the show. Good timing for him that he made sure he would have his products in time for the Cebu Food Expo.

We look forward to our next visit in the Queen City of the South :)

See You At Cebu Food Expo 2008

We are ready for July 10-12 2008! Cebu Food Expo coincides with the Cebu Goes Culinary2008. This will be at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. We will be at booth 827, near the seminar areas.

Seminars for Raising Sunshine Chicken will be scheduled during our stay in Cebu from July9-12. Our Sunshine growers in the area will be there to market their products.

Cebu Food Expo is scheduling us for two (2) seminars on the benefits of eating grass fed Sunshine chicken, both at the ground floor, Pacific Ballroom:

July 11, 5pm
July 12, 11am

See you at our booth for a more personal talk on raising Sunshines.

Marketing Our Sunshine Growers

For the past month, suppliers have been asking why we do the food trade shows. They know we do the agriculture expos, but now the queries are "Why the food shows?". Suppliers and colleagues have been wondering "why" when the cost of show spaces are very high. And now, they see that we also do the consumer food shows, w/c is some steps past our line.

We do the agriculture shows because our main business is in animal health supplies and services. It spun off to Sunshine Chicken, my passion since.

Asked often if we do contract growing, buy backs, etc. You'll be amazed at how almost everyone asks! Nope, we don't.

There are growers, entrepreneurs, marketing people etc. Possible, but unlikely, that we get them all rolled into one persona. Some may have the capacity to raise, but where to sell?

Long before you see themes of "niche marketing"...I had been saying that. Create a market. Focus. And yes, it is all about niche marketing.

I for one go on gut feel, no feasibility plans etc. You don't need to go far to sell. Start with your circle, going to outer circles little by little. Before you know it, you are selling.

So how do we assist? Any guarantees that a grower makes money? How d0 we work on the marketing for our Sunshine growers?

1) Open up the avenues for them through our joining food trade shows/expos/weekend markets. They join the shows for FREE. No charge for space!
2) Brainstorming on product development
3) Information dissemination
4) Consumer awareness on benefits of getting Sunshine
5) Print and radio exposures

I nurture relationships w/ our growers. Communication is open and constructive points are taken.

Our growers are getting their share in marketing mileage. The ones who work side by side with us see and experience this.

Hopefully, the other quiet growers see the importance of the food trade shows we do for them.

Next stop is the Cebu Food Expo 2008 at the Waterfront Cebu! My three regular growers in Cebu are joining.

If my growers feel we are not helping them any, I pray they let me know :)

Booked For Cebu Food Expo 2008

July 10-12 2008 will be the dates to go and see the Cebu Food Expo that coincides with the Cebu Goes Culinary2008. This will be at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. We will be at booth 827, near the seminar areas.

Seminars for Raising Sunshine Chicken will be scheduled during our stay in Cebu from July9-12. Our Sunshine growers in the area will be there to market their products.

Cebu Food Expo is scheduling us for two (2) seminars on the benefits of eating grass fed Sunshine chicken, both at the ground floor, Pacific Ballroom:

July 11, 5pm
July 12, 11am

See you at our booth for a more personal talk on raising Sunshines.

Sunshines Available In Cebu Supermarkets

Remember Hector Ching of Asian Vegetables & Chicken? He was featured in the Agri Plain Talk of the Manila Bulletin, May 01.

He is growing in the pace that he has planned for Sunshines. First batch was a trial of 200 that went in 4days, 2nd batch was 500 that is ripe for harvest today, and a 3rd batch now ranging is 1000. A new ranging area is being prepared for the next loading of 2000.

Since he had been supplying Fooda Savers Mart and Metro Gaisano, two of the major supermarkets in Cebu, he didn't encounter resistance when he offered his Sunshines. When we were in Cebu, we went to the Fooda Savers Mart that sold his 200 heads in 4 days.

It was so nice to hear the meat section to be saying that the Cebuano clients were asking about it as it was really tasty...."lasang bisayang manok". It was diplayed in the center of the chiller section, side by side with the known commercial chickens!

Good Luck to Asian Vegetables & Chicken. He worked to make his captured market see his other products.

Did You Get That Forwarded Text On Earthquake Prediction?

I have to make this unplanned Cebu trip for the memory of my father. His sister passed away and I am representing family.

No preparations, I take a Cebu Pacific flight this morning. On the way to Park N Fly, my cousin in Cebu texts that the family will understand if flight will be cancelled because weather is bad. Well, bumps on air won't stop me as I know my father will make sure he is represented here.

Flight was delayed...OK...patience. Finally, boarding....runway...oooppps....we are pulled back to parking bay. Announcement that some minor repair had to be made. Mechanics went onboard. Hmmmm....my cousin's text, delayed flight, minor trouble...I thought, one more and I take the cue!

I turned off my cellphone of course, but there is a continous beep I hear. Maybe my neighbor didn't turn off her phone.

But, we took off in 30mins..everything went well. I got to hotel, they can't find my exact booking. Waiting for everything to clear..I still hear that beep. Got to my 18th floor room...still that beep beep beep. I remember I heard it also on the way...gosh...I had an idle sim card in my old phone being used to transfer my phone contacts.

Realized that was the phone that was alerting me to be read. YIKES! It was a forwared message about an earthquake prediction for the Philippines tonight.

Not bothered with it, I rebooked to an earlier flight to go back to Manila as I wanted to be around for IFEX ingress.

Few minutes later, my sister texts that she got a forwarded message about the earthquake too. Can't be from a common friend, because the sim I got was an unused one.

Oh well...I hope that's the end of my "different day" today.

Quite Quiet?

In the blog, quiet, yes...but not a few steps away from this desk!

Unforseen turn of events have me flying to Cebu tomorrow, after a breakfast meeting with my breeder partners at the Park N Fly building.

Hopefully it isn't raining in Cebu so we can take updated photos of growers' ranging areas in the afternoon.

Back to Manila for ingress of IFEX....or so I thought :( Just realized after opening emails that ingress is only until 7pm. Well, option#1, I ask Raymond to fix booth himself. Option#2, we fix booth real early Friday am.

See you at IFEX Philippines 2008. We we will be at the Retail Section, Booth A10. You can't miss us, strategically at a corner. Sunshine as most times, partners with Raymond Rubia of Daily Dose Farm and Chef Bert. Our featured growers for this show will be Rumandan Farms of Batangas, and Sunshine Capon of Joey Rigor in Victoria Tarlac.

Visited St. Mary's Farm In Cebu

Sad that Hector who owns St. Mary's Farm had an emergency the morning we were scheduled to visit. He made the perfect choice when he sent his good friend/marketing consultant to drive us. Romy was the most engaging guide one can ask for.

This farm had always had a soft spot for me as they had been giving livelihood and creating a better of quality of life for the mountainfolks in this part of Cebu City.


Since about September 2007, loading had been regular and they had been targetting the specialty restaurants and end users.

We were served a filling lunch with Sunshines the way they would have it. Sunshines soup with just lemongrass, Sunshine inihaw with feet and head (the crispy skin was to die for). Notice how the chicken was served in a Coca Cola plate..."everyday sweet Sunshine"! They had kept some layers and I sampled them, raw. I had two raw eggs straight right up! It was capped with fresh cheese that the barangay tanod makes from his cows.

Dinner was scheduled at KK that night as the Sunshines there are from St. Mary's....as he was parking, I knew it was him already. Talk about vibes over text messages.

KK's Hainanese Chicken Rice

Zac, Doc Rey and I were supposed to have a small dinner with two of my close friends at Abaca Boutique Hotel to try Chef Jason Hyatt's creations from Sunshines of Earthlink Farm.

Hec of Asian called to invite everyone for dinner while we were at Hec's St. Mary's Farm...I suggested at KK since they were serving Sunshines from St. Mary's.

After last minute calls, we all had dinner at KK, located at the IT Center. They are opening a larger outlet soon.

We met Mr and Mrs Lo. When St. Mary's brought them samples, they were overjoyed to finally find the chickens they had been used to back in Malaysia.

They served us good tasting plain chicken soup...Chicken Rice, rice cooked in chicken stock...Hainanese Chicken that came with ribbons of gizzard (cute actually)... we almost left the other viands untouched. They thought there was something wrong with the others, but there was just too much for us to consume. Well... reheated food does taste excellent for breakfasts.

I am glad we had our 1st year anniversary with good company, great friends, a lot of Sunshine for dinner, in Cebu.

Sad I didn't take a group photo.

Cebu Seminar Again

Due to pahabol calls, we are scheduling another seminar for 9am tomorrow, April 22.

Text me at (0917) 847-2739 for details on exact location. We will be in Lapu-lapu, near Marina Mall.

Am So Excited For Cebu

Been up since 4:30am, for a radio guesting of Doc Rey with Doc Raffy Barrozo at 5am.

Logistics haven't been mapped out yet so I did deliveries for Southern Luzon this morning.

10:11am now and grabbed my Green Tea Latte while checking on emails.

Have to go now to AANI Herbal Garden for 2nd day of 1st WOW Organic Festival.

Tomorrow am excited to fly to Cebu:

1) Visit our 3 regular growers who we will meet for the first time.
2) See a longtime great friend who is at present based in Dumaguete, he goes to Cebu for dinner
3) See another good friend
4) Try the different establishments that serve the Sunshines raised by the Cebu growers
5) Meet up with Pacifica Agrivet, one of dealers

Am sure to be able to write a lot about this Cebu trip.

Cebu Schedule

In the 2days that we will be in Cebu, we have a full schedule already in making farm visits to our growers, meeting with our major dealer for the area, and of course sampling the chef's creations for Sunshines at some of the resto clients.

So far we are keeping April 20 late afternoon, like about 5pm, for people interested in knowing more about Raising Sunshine Chickens.

Text me for final schedules, (0917) 847-2639

Next Trip Scheduled...CEBU

First in our advertising before was Solraya and Sunshine. 2nd step was educating people on how to raise them. 3rd was making known to all the benefits of eating Sunshines...the health and taste benefits!

Most recently we have embarked on making our growers known. When they become bywords, it'll be easier for them to market their Sunshines and themselves.

First was Farmer Tj of Krukukuk Farm and Maawi Farms. Their stories had been featured in different magazines.

Next we fly to Cebu. We currently have three (3) regular growers there who we intend to visit. All three have several ranges so we can see growth of different stages, visit their client restaurants and delis, sample their recipes..perfect time for everyone to meet.

Interview for our new nationwide dealer, based in Cebu, is also on the agenda. When we market our growers, so do we make our dealers in the area known.

We will do a seminar while in Cebu for those interested. We are keeping April 20, 5-7pm, available for those interested to know more about Raising Sunshine Chickens.

We will be staying in the area of Marina Mall. If interested to join, text me at (0917) 847-2639, so I can let you know exact details of seminar.

Our Pampanga/Tarlac growers.... you aren't being neglected. We are just waiting for the proper timings to jive stories with trade shows.

Earthlink Farm's 2nd 200

Earthlink is my evening chat over YM. Destresses me....makulit lang, but overall easy to deal with :)

We are now on vigil for the cute 2nd batch.

See the newly arrived chicks, infrared brooding bulbs ready and warmed brooders, feeders are filled, waterers checked.

Earthlink Farm in Cebu

He wanted to go into white broilers. His father said to go into Bisaya Manok. Bernard found Sunshines.

Middle of December, Bernard and I were chatting on YM. He was asking about Sunshines, I was asking his opinion on my getting a toy. That was one of the funniest chats. If a 3rd party was reading...he wouldn't know how Bernard and I understood one another.

I ended up getting the toy the next morning! And Bernard waited to get his babies after Christmas.

These Sunshines that flew to Cebu are such imps! They missed their scheduled booking on the 1st flight, good 2nd flight accommodated them. Attaching their pics to the email took years to send...well, but see...now that they are there, Bernard isn't on YM. Must be out looking at the stars with his babies.



"Hey Bernard..did I tell you I was getting another type of toy on Tue"?

YM This Morning

My YM this morning. He bought Sunshines from St. Mary's Farm in Cebu.

Bernard Neil Tanchan: ive tasted sunshine chickens already...cooked 2 ways... both very delicious
solraya: see...sarap..how did you cook it?
solraya: how did it compare to bisaya manok?
Bernard Neil Tanchan: same with bisaya manok but meatier and the meat is tender
Bernard Neil Tanchan: one is estopadong manok...have you heard of that?"
Bernard Neil Tanchan: and the other one is tinola
solraya: yes, pero i feel sayang the taste for estopado as the soy can masque the taste
solraya: sarap tinola
solraya: so slow cooking low fire?
Bernard Neil Tanchan: but it was very delicious...yes slow cooking
solraya: do u turbo chicken? rub with rosemary herbs...and turbo
Bernard Neil Tanchan: sometimes we do
solraya: i'm glad visayans know what it is to eat good chicken..luzon people only know whites
solraya: can i post this conversation? it will show your name ha
Bernard Neil Tanchan: maybe coz we are still provincianos hehe
Bernard Neil Tanchan: old people now that native is better than white chickens
solraya: yes but you are young...most people your age here think manok is jollibee
Bernard Neil Tanchan: maybe because my father let us eat bisaya manok every sunday...

Cebu Dealer In Study

St. Mary's Farm, situated in the mountains north of Cebu City, has practiced with two grows.

First batch had been sampled for taste tests and offered to some establishments in the area.

They are going for the niche of the larger sized chickens as requested by the market they surveyed.

Initial talks for possible dealership for Cebu.

St, Mary's New Rangers in Cebu Mountains

See how excited they are to be free. They are really meant to be set on the range, let loose to forage and play around. Happy chickens give us good tasting meat :)

They also got their first batch of island borns, see the photo of the new day olds.....as the importeds are set out, the new batch goes in :)

Sunshine Soon in Cebu :)

"Hi,
It's been 9 days since I first received my first
100 sunshine chicks and was so happy to have them.

As I have sent you thru sms, I lost 1 that was
pressed between the box partition and i'ts base but
generally all the chicks were healthy and lively(pls
see attached pictures).

Nine days after their arrival, the chicks have
grown much livelier and even jumps higher now.

As per our last communication, I'm planning to
order 100 heads(starting with your 1st local born)
every 21 days or as soon as the latest batch are out
of their coop or as they are started to be ranged. I
just want to utilise the vast range area available in
our farm(pls see pics).

And also I'm starting to evaluate the economics of
raising these organic and healthy chickens and plans
to market them here in Cebu, hope you can send me some
infos and or datas which might help me realise their
economic potentials(liveweight price,farm
price,dressed price per kilo,etc...). You have also
mentioned that manual dressing is best,can you send me
also the proper procedure to do them until it's
packing for market so that it's freshness will be
preserved.

Hope you can also send me some valuable tips which
I might find useful in commercially raising healthy
sunshine chickens.

Regards and God bless."


Wouldn't you like to wake up to a text informing that you got an email like this?